Darkness all around — and that’s a GOOD thing: beer events for the week of November 27

Black Beer Friday Fundraiser
11 a.m. -11 p.m. Friday Nov. 27, Green Dragon, 928 S.E. Ninth Ave.;
Forget about conspicuous consumption and the mall – hang out instead at the Green Dragon, where they’re pouring two dozen different CDAs, stouts, porters, and more. Better yet, part of the proceeds go to help my friend Angelo Brewpublic with his mounting medical bills, and that’s a good thing. Plus, you can satisfy that shopping urge across the street at the Rogue Ales garage sale where you can purchase cases, kegs and merchandise and pub surplus at near cost.

Roscoe’s Black Friday Holiday Beer Summit
Noon Friday-Sunday, Nov. 27-29, Roscoe’s, 8105 S.E. Stark St.;
Celebrate the flavors and beer styles of the holiday season with the Roscoe’s crew: a few of the beers to be featured are: Deschutes vintage 2013 Bretted Yule Goat, St Bernardus Vintage 2011 Christmas, Mikkeller Vintage 2013 To From, Migration Grand Marnier infused Old Silenus, New Belgium/Lips of Faith 2012 Tart Lychee brewed with cinnamon, a special keg of Oakshire Cranberry Berlinerweiss, pFriem vintage 2012 Christmas, Ecliptic cask Filament Winter IPA, Hopworks 2011 Noggin Floggin, Double Mountain Brett the Red, Fremont Brewing Bonfire Winter Warmer, and many more…as always, taster trays are available.

Black Friday featuring Bourbon County
Noon Friday Nov. 27, NWIPA, 6350 S.E. Foster Rd.;
The N-Dubs folks have been storing away the finest in big, black and barrel aged beers all year long for this special day, and they’ll celebrate at NW IPA by pouring 2014 BCS and Vanilla Rye kegs plus many more. Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout is released in a special event at John’s Market in Multnomah Village on this day too.

Heater Allen Thanksgiving Tasting
Noon -5 PM Friday & Saturday Nov. 27 & 28, Heater Allen Tasting Room, 907 NE 10th Ave., Mcminnville; $10, includes beer samples and light snacks.
The crew will be pouring Pils, Coastal, Dunkel, 2015 Sandy Paws,vintage Sandy Paws (rotating between ’12, ’13, and ’14), and another beer or two they haven’t quite decided on yet. No growler fills this weekend, but they will have Pils, Coastal, Dunkel and a limited amount of the 2015 Sandy Paws available for purchase in bottle.

Homebrew Holiday Sale
Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 29 & 29, Portland U-Brew, 6237 S.E. Milawukie Ave.;
Whether you’re looking to make a special brew in time for the winter holidays or looking for that perfect gift for yer favorite homebrewer, you’ll find it at Portland U-Brew, where they’re taking 15 percent off all their prices this weekend.As an added bonus, your first pint at the pub is only $2.50 (cash only)—make mine a Grapefruit IPA, if you would…

Holiday Beer Extravaganza
4-10 p.m. Monday Nov. 30, Lompoc Sidebar, 3901 N. Williams Ave.;
They do love their winter beers at Lompoc and they’ll be pouring all eight of this year’s offerings at the Sidebar Monday. All beers will be available at the four other Lompoc pubs beginning Dec. 2, including Lompoc Tavern on NW 23rd Ave, Oaks Bottom Public House on SE Bybee Blvd, Hedge House on SE Division St, and Fifth Quadrant on N Failing and Williams. C-sons Greetings is available now in 22-ounce bottles. Here are the descriptions from the press release:

8 MALTY NIGHTS: Dark brown in color and lightly hopped with English style hops, this chocolate rye beer features a roasted chocolate flavor and a sweet finish. Raise a glass and toast l’chaim to Portland’s first Hanukkah seasonal. 6.5% ABV

BLITZEN: A bright straw colored holiday favorite, Blitzen is dry-hopped with Centennial hops, dried lemon peel and coriander. The hops and lemon peel combine for a citrusy aroma and flavor while the coriander gives a slight spice at the back end. 4.6% ABV

BREWDOLPH: This Belgian style red ale features a malty and creamy body. Brewed with the Belgian Ardennes yeast strain, it boasts a mild fruitiness and a spicy clove character. 7.7% ABV

C-SONS GREETINGS: Brewed and dry-hopped with all seven “C” hops, this beer features a deep copper color with a piney, citrusy, floral and resinous aroma. A rich, caramel malt finish and an endless developing hop presence complement its full hop flavor. 8.0% ABV

CHERRY CHRISTMAS: This red ale was aged for two years in Maryhill Winery Merlot barrels on 45 pounds of sour cherries. It has a malty body, a strong oak aroma with hints of cherries, and finishes tart. 6.2% ABV

JOLLY BOCK: This lager was brewed with a generous amount of Munich malt to develop the deep amber color and rich malt flavor. The malty flavor is balanced with a spicy hop bitterness. 7.3% ABV

OLD TAVERN RAT: This dark amber-colored barleywine was aged for almost a year prior to its release. It has a strong bitterness that is balanced by the sweetness of caramel and toffee flavors. 9.4% ABV

WHORES & AMATEURS: Aged in bourbon barrels for six months, this beer is not for the faint of heart. Brownish red in color, this winter warmer has a big malt presence with notes of oak, raisins, toffee and coffee. Ladies of the night and rookies should steer clear of this awesome beer. 6.5% ABV

20th Annual Holiday Ale Fest
Wednesday-Sunday Dec. 2-6, Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 S.W. Broadway, $35 includes mug and 12 tix.
The popular festival will feature more than 50 specialty ales that have either been crafted specifically for the event or are hard-to-fine vintages, underscoring the event’s reputation as one of finest gathering of winter beers anywhere in the nation. Chris, I’m only doing this much because – despite PW issuing no press passes this year – because we love you and all you do for Oregon beer. Besides, the HAF is one of the best established events of the Oregon Beer Year and will do jes’ fine without press…but still…

Talkin’ About Abraxas Draft Release
6 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 2, NW IPA, 6350 S.E. Foster Rd.;
St. Louis’s Perennial Artisan Ales are now available in Portland thanks to Running Man Distributing and you can taste Abraxas, an imperial stout with ancho chill pepper, cacoa nibs and cinnamon sticks, on draft with Coffee Abraxas and Vanilla Abraxas on draft plus Saison de Lis.

Hair of the Dog/Stone Brewing Master Pairing Dinner
6:30 p.m. Thursday Dec. 3, Hair of the Dog Brewing Co., 61 S.E. Yamhill St.; $75 inclusive. 
Hair of the Dog’s Alan Sprints and Dr. Bill from Stone Brewing Co, have devised a special five-course pairing dinner that promises to be one of the best. Featured beers include Stone Matt’s Burning Rosids Imperial Cherry Wood Smoked Saison; Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale; Insurgente Xocaveza Mocha Stout; Stone 24 Carrot Golden Ale; and HOTD Putin.

contact John Foyston with info on your beer events at johnfoyston@comcast.net