Here is the news in Oregon beer for this sunny Wednesday, May 18. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

McMenamins Kennedy School (Portland) is hosting the Oregon Brewshed® Brewfest today from 5:30 to 9:30pm: “See the forest for the beer… The Oregon Brewshed® Brewfest is a celebration of fantastic Oregon craft beer and the wild watersheds that make it possible, featuring the breweries and other businesses committed to watershed protection through their partnership in the Oregon Brewshed Alliance. Hosted by Brewshed® Partner McMenamins Pubs, Breweries & Historic Hotels at the Kennedy School, up to 20 local Oregon breweries will be pouring a special beer of their choosing for craft beer lovers to try. Your ticket gets you 10 tastes, a special tasting glass, a Brewshed® Brewfest Passport, one raffle ticket and entry. Additional tastes and raffle tickets will be available for $1 each. McMenamins pub fare will be available for purchase. $25 per ticket online ($20 in advance with special promo code THINKWILD16). Tickets will be sold for $30 at the door by cash or card.” It’s for a good cause and it’s always great to see McMenamins hosting other breweries for these types of events.

Over in the Columbia River Gorge and the town of Cascade Locks, Thunder Island Brewing is helping to co-host a “Green Drinks season” event starting at 6pm: “Join us in Cascade Locks to kick off the 2016 Green Drinks season! Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Thunder Island Brewing Company, and Port of Cascade Locks are teaming up with Gorge Owned and Gorge Current to help you plan your summer’s hiking and biking adventures. Learn about the Trails to Ales outings, Gorge Towns to Trails, public transportation options to trailheads and network with other outdoor enthusiasts while you sample local beer and cuisine.”

The Green Dragon (Portland): Today’s Green Dragon Brew Crew release is a Hellesbock: “This week’s release from the Green Dragon Brew Crew is the art of simplicity in a glass. Hellesbock was crafted with just four ingredients, 55 lbs. of German Pilsner Malt, 2 oz. of German Magnum hops, water and Zurich yeast. But simple doesn’t mean bland. Hellesbock is a grand showcase of pilsner malt, balanced with the lemon and citrus notes from the yeast. Don’t let the pale color and light aroma fool you either, this brew comes on strong with an ABV of 7%.” The beer will be tapped at 5pm.

McMenamins Oak Hills Brewpub (Portland) has their “From the Fishbowl” beer tasting today from 5 to 8pm, featuring Ginger Snap Spiced Belgian Wheat: “This tasty beer is light, easy drinking and full of flavor. Lemon peel was added in the brew kettle while fresh ginger was added to the finished beer. The two spices intertwine with the Belgian Yeast to make a complex one of a kind Belgian Wheat Ale.” That sounds a bit interesting, though depends on how much ginger was used…

Portland’s The BeerMongers today is hosting Corvallis’ Block 15 Brewery for the release of Block 15’s Anthem of the Sun: “Block 15 is releasing Anthem of the Sun Dry-Hopped Sour, and so are we. In addition, we’ll also be pouring Sticky Hands, The Cardinal, The Prophecies, Wonkas Wit and possibly more.” The release will start at 5pm.

The Platypus Pub (Bend) is welcoming Corvallis’ Mazama Brewing tonight for a beer tasting from 6 to 8pm: “Please join us Wednesday night as Matt and Jeff from Mazama Brewing will be sampling out a few of their great beers. We will have their Rasplendent, a raspberry Witbeer and the Mosaic Eruption IPA on draft and also available for samples.”

Ruse Brewing (Portland): I don’t know that I’ve featured Ruse here yet. They have a new beer on tap: “New dry-hopped saison now available. “Time Lapse” is a fruity saison with hints of tangerine and white wine grapes. 5.8% ABV, 25 IBU”

PFriem Family Brewers (Hood River) has a perfect warm weather beer back on tap: “Helles is back on draft! Come by our tasting room and grab a glass filled with aromas of fresh bread, a touch of herb, and a hint of honey. This toasty lager is savory and smooth and would pair well with our new pork schnitzel!”

Three Mugs Brewing (Hillsboro): It’s Beer Randall night at Three Mugs tonight from 6 to 9pm. “We’re breaking the randall out again to infuse beers with yummy stuff. Come out for a taste or a pint. The big favorite last time was the Endless Glory Porter infused with coconut…mmmmm.” (Sounds like they experiment with different beers and randall filling.)

Bend’s Broken Top Bottle Shop is hosting Eugene’s Falling Sky Brewing today for a beer tasting from 4 to 6pm: “Our friends at Falling Sky Brewing are coming to Bend and they’d like to pour tasters at BTBS from 4-6! We will have Bare Hands Bitter and Rubber Soul Nw Red, both on tap.”