I’m largely offline for first two days this week, so here is a summarized version of news and happenings in the beer scene for Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9. As always feel free to contact me any time to send news and info my way so I can include that in upcoming news.

Monday, April 8

Belmont Station in Portland welcomes Finnriver Ciders for Finnriver’s ‘April Sours Bring May Flowers’ Release Party from 5 to 8pm: “Taste and enjoy a trio of limited release farm-crafted sour ciders from the folks at Finnriver! They will be sampling:
~Pome & Stone – “Lambic-style” stone fruit sour cider
~Barrel & Bramble – “Lambic-style” sour cider with blackberries
~Plum Cyser – A sour blend of honey & apple juice with wild harvested plums
Come learn more about the great ciders of Finnriver and plan to take some of these delicious sour ciders home with you!”

There are several McMenamins Friends & Family night fundraisers taking place today at various locations, where 50% of the night’s proceeds (starting at 5pm) gets donated to the selected organization. These are:

• McMenamins Sunnyside in Clackamas, benefiting Clackamas YMCA
• McMenamins Sherwood, benefiting Smockville Montessori school
• McMenamins Oregon City, benefiting Sunshine to Love

Tuesday, April 9

Conversion Brewing (Lebanon) has its monthly Head to Head tasting series starting at 7pm Tuesday, featuring Flanders style beers: “We will pit two beers in the same style against each other and see who comes out on top. This is a blind beer tasting with food pairing sample. We will have an open discussion about the beers and what we like about them. This Head to Head will include two (2) 5 oz. samples of Flanders beers. Our special complimenting food sample pairing will be smoked, cured meats. Cost is $20. Seating is limited & tickets may be purchased online.”

Tuesdays are always Community Pints days at the Deschutes Brewery locations (Bend Pub, Bend Tasting Room, Portland Pub), where $1 from every pint sold benefits a local non-profit organization. It’s a good day to stop in for a pint or 3 and help out the community.

McMenamins has a bunch of Friends & Family night fundraisers going on all over, giving you plenty of options to help out a group in need:

• The Power Station Pub at the Edgefield in Troutdate is benefiting Human Solutions
• The Gearhart Hotel in Gearhart is benefiting Lunch Buddy Mentoring Program
• The White Eagle Saloon in Portland, benefiting Opal Creek
• St. Johns Theater & Pub in Portland, benefiting Holy Cross Catholic School
• The Wilsonville Old Church & Pub is donating to Boones Primary School
• In Roseburg, the Roseburg Station is raising money for A Safe Place Oregon
• McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove is benefiting Banks Middle School

General News

Cascade Brewing (Portland) announced the release of its latest One Way or Another Project in 500ml bottles and draft. From the press release: “The beer will be available in 500ml bottles and on draft at Cascade’s two Portland pubs and through its distribution channels. Based on a collaboration recipe originally designed with Bruery Terreux, the 2017 One Way or Another combines whole, Northwest-grown marionberries and Meyer lemon zest with sour blond ale aged in oak barrels for up to 16 months. The finished blend captures notes of blackberry pastry, fresh citrus and spruce tips with a lively acidity and dry finish.”