Happy May Day! Here’s the news in Oregon beer for you as you enjoy the first Wednesday of the new month and dance around the maypole. I’ll be away from the computer for much of the day collaborating on a fun project (details forthcoming), but if I get a chance to update this post with any latest news I will, but in the meantime here’s the roundup of news and events for today.

Tickets for the 13th annual Oregon Brewers Brunch, which takes place the morning of the Oregon Brewers Festival before the Oregon Brewers Parade to the fest, are on sale starting today! Ecliptic Brewing is hosting this year’s Brunch which takes place Wednesday, July 24, from 8:30 to 11am and costs $49, which includes a buffet brunch, two Ecliptic beers, a souvenir T-shirt, and the official OBF tasting mug. From the press release: “The brunch menu, prepared by Ecliptic Brewing executive chef Michael Molitor, will offer seasonal fruit and berries; assorted Grand Central Bakery pastries; house made hazelnut granola with labneh, almond milk and honey; roasted potato, pepper and black bean hash; scrambled eggs with fine herbs; shrimp cocktail; Applewood smoked bacon and house made lamb breakfast sausage (vegan sausage patties optional); and a selection of juices, Caffé Vita coffee, and Steven Smith teas. Ecliptic will have a variety of its award-winning beers on tap.” The Parade afterward will be lead by the Unipiper, this year’s Grand Marshal, and will walk to Tom McCall Waterfront Park to kick off the Fest. If you want tickets to the Brunch, don’t wait, because they will sell out.

Bend’s Broken Top Bottle Shop kicks off its 7th annual April Showers Bring May Sours event, which lasts from today through Sunday, May 5. “Time to Pucker Up! BTBS’ Annual Sour Ale Tap Takeover featuring 6 Sours on Tap. This year includes (but is not limited to) the following: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Suburban Kriek; Cascade Brewing, Manhattan; The Ale Apothecary, Ralph; pFriem Family Brewers, Bosbessen; Double Mountain Brewery, Viola; 10 Barrel Brewing, Ambre Roche. We will pour until they are gone!”

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Heater Allen Brewing for the release of Heater Allen’s Lenzbock in cans: “Join Heater Allen brew crew members Patrick and Rick as we help them release their latest canned beer, the ever-popular Lenzbock. Cans will be available to take home and we will be pouring their tasty Maibock in the taproom.” Lenzbock is a helles-style Maibock, the brewery’s spring seasonal. The party takes place from 5 to 8pm.

The Bier Stein (Eugene) is hosting Piñatas and Pints with Modern Times today from 5 to 8pm: “Modern Times is providing the craft supplies and candy, stop by to make a piñata with us from 5-8pm on May 1st!”

Oregon City Brewing is hosting a spring fundraiser for Zenger Farms today, all day long: “Join us Wednesday, May 1st to celebrate the first day of Spring and 15% of all beer sales will go to benefit Zenger Farms. About Zenger Farm: Zenger Farm is a nonprofit farm in outer Southeast Portland that promotes sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, community development, and access to healthy food for all. Since 1999, Zenger Farm has been teaching people of all ages where good food comes from, how it’s grown, and the importance of eating well. We host more than 10,000 visitors each year for community events, children’s camps, and field trips. More than 250 families receive fresh produce through our sliding-scale CSA program annually. Learn more at www.ZengerFarm.org”

The forthcoming Long Timber Brewing in Monroe got some nice press from Eugene’s KVAL news site: “Welcome to Monroe, home to 642 people – and one of the most anticipated new breweries in Oregon. Long Timber Brewing is a nearly $3 million startup. Local lumber mill owner Todd Nystrom and his wife Amy are the brains behind the brewery. Wood is everywhere in the brewpub, with 218 beams of old logs filling out the 2-story structure. There’s also a collection of old mill equipment.” Head brewer Matthew Maller will be brewing on a 10 barrel system.

Hair of the Dog Brewing (Portland) announced a new head brewer yesterday: “Very happy to announce the return of Jesse Shue as our new Head Brewer. Jesse brings years of experience and knowledge and a genuine love for Beer. Isaac will be exploring other interests but will still be a part of our team.” Shue was previously at Golden Valley Brewery.