Today seems like a pretty good day for a beer to start this week off right. Okay maybe you can’t have a beer yet but how about some Oregon beer news? That’s what I’m serving up here for this Monday, May 21; as usual, I’ll update this post from time to time throughout the afternoon, so check back occasionally for the latest. And feel free to contact me if you have any news to share as well.

Central Oregon Beer Week continues throughout this week, culminating in the SMaSH Fest on Saturday at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. Today, Silver Moon Brewing features its Week Of Barrel Aged Beers running through Sunday: “Silver Moon Brewing will be offering a special barrel aged flight all week featuring:
Boysen the Wood Boysenberry Baltic Porter aged 9 months in Whiskey Barrels. – 8.4%ABV
2016 Dark Tranquility Imperial Stout aged 6 months in Oregon Spirit Distillers Whiskey Barrels. – 9%ABV
2016 Ale-X Oud Bruin aged 8 months in Pinot Barrels – 9%ABV
Barrel Rye’d Barley Wine with Rye aged 6 months in OSD Whiskey Barrels. – 10.5%ABV
And a ginger ale to cleanse your palate!  Four 4oz Tasters for $10”

Portland’s Little Beast Brewing is opening its new taproom today at the former Lompoc Hedge House Pub on Division Street! “Little Beast will pour 16 taps, including two devoted to wines and another pair for guest beers. And those taps aren’t just reserved for farmhouse styles. A first look at the opening beer list reveals a surprisingly diverse lineup, with a Vienna lager, a Belgian coffee porter and a righteous Belgian quad (with a deceptive 11.25 percent ABV) joining the year-round saisons and farmhouse ales. Managed by Briana Donovan, the taproom will be the exclusive home to some of Little Beast’s special barrel-aged and bottle-conditioned releases. On Monday, Porter will pour both Black Cap, a Foeder-aged ale poured over raspberries, and Golden Stone, a stone fruit brew pungent with peach, apricot and nectarine; both were brewed last year. Look closely, and you’ll even find an IPA, a collaboration with hop whisperer Mike Hunsaker of Grains of Wrath brewing in Camas.”

Don’t forget, throughout the month of May at many McMenamins locations the company is partnering with the Oregon Humane Society to raise funds with its Muttly Brew Pale Ale, with $1 from every pint and $2 from every growler sold benefit of the OHS. About the beer: “Founded in 1868 by noted humanitarian Thomas Lamb Eliot, the Oregon Humane Society is the third-oldest humane society in the nation and the oldest in the Northwest. They’re celebrating their 150th Anniversary this year, so we made them a beer to honor the occasion and help in the fundraising efforts! This Pale Ale is delightfully balanced with flavors of tropical fruit and a crisp, hazy body.”

More Central Oregon Beer Week: Bend’s Oblivion Brewing brewed the official beer for this year’s COBW, Hazy Sunset ISA, and the brewery is sending it out into the market today. Keep an eye out for it at the usual places!

Fort George Brewery‘s annual 3-Way IPA is coming out on June 1, and the New School has details on this year’s collaboration and releases: “3-Way IPA rises every summer like a Monolith, no a Triolith of IPA reverence, this year featuring Holy Mountain from Seattle, Modern Times from San Diego, and Fort George Brewery from Astoria, Oregon. Each year new friendships are forged. An exchange of brewing knowledge and techniques are passed along. Pints are shared. And by the start of summer, the fruit from this collaborative process is packed into 16-ounce cans, exclusively for the Pacific Northwest. Look for 3-Way IPA at Pacific Northwest locations near you starting June 1st.”

Vertigo Brewing (Hillsboro) has a new beer release out today: “Today (5/21), come enjoy the sun and try our latest offering, Cerveza del Playa or Beach Beer. This is our TBD Blonde infused with the zest of oranges and limes. A perfect beer for a warm and sunny day like today and hopefully the rest of this week. See you soon.”