(Bend, OR) – Oodles and oodles of Deschutes news…the brewery announced among other things late last night, the release of two new beers to come later in 2008, its 20th anniversary year:

[6/26 Update: Please refer to this article for full photos. The beer is now on sale!]

Deschutes Black Butte XX – The next special reserve (think The Abyss) release; this Imperial porter (2008 is the year of the Imperial porter!!!) marks the 20th anniversary of the initial release of the original Black Butte Porter; this will be available in June on draft and in wax-tipped bottles; the beer features Bellatazza coffee, Theo’s cocoa nibs, and Stranahan’s whiskey barrels (see Oskar Blues Ten FIDY and Great Divide Whiskey-Aged Yeti). The beer has been available on tap recently. [And credit to SurlyDuff for being the first to mention Black Butte XX as the next release]

Deschutes 20th Anniversary Wit will be available as a Bond Street Series release in June to commemorate the brewery’s 20th anniversary (to be celebrated during the weekend of June 27); the beer was “brewed with zested Curacao orange peel” and spices.

Deschutes Hop Henge Imperial IPA will be next up in the Bond Street Series; everything about the original Hop Henge recipe has been reformulated according to Head Brewer, Brett Porter (kind of vague, is it reformulated from the original Imperial recipe?); the beer is scheduled to be available from April and June.In addition, Deschutes has also been busy working on the new Portland Pub for which the Grand Opening will be on May 2. The Abyss will be available on draft for the opening.

Back in Bend, there appears to be some compelling events coming up in the spring and summer. The 4th Annual Barrel Tasting on June 14 showcases a list of beers that sounds especially impressive (along with free food, tickets are $35):

The Abyss – Aged in a Combination of Pinot, Oregon Oak and Bourbon Barrels.
St. Tanith – Aged in Oregon Oak Barrels.
Black Butte XX – Aged in Bourbon Barrels.
Mr. Big Ed Brown – Aged in Bourbon Barrels.
Green Lake Organic Ale – Aged in Cabernet Oak Casks.
Mirror Pond – Aged in French Oak Pinot Noir Barrels
The Dissident – Aged in Oregon Pinot Noir Barrels.
Inversion IPA – Aged in Cabernet Oak Casks

There was a lot more covered in the most recent newsletter and I encourage you to check it out yourself.

Last but not least, Deschutes announced recently that it would be expanding distribution into Texas. This is great news for a state that hasn’t had a great reputation for incoming distribution. The regular version of the Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale are available now in some areas.