It’s halfway through the week and the penultimate day of March, and (here in Bend at least!) the weather is warming up nicely! Here’s the news for Wednesdsay, March 30, in Oregon beer. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Anderson Valley Brewing today for the kickoff of their Briny Melon Gose, today from 5 to 7pm: “With the kickoff of Briney Melon Gose, it must mean warmer sunnier weather is just around the corner. Right? Well, even if the real weather won’t cooperate, you can always feel sunnier with a few sips of this tasty Anderson Valley brew. We will be holding a tasting of Briney Melon and many other AV beers in the bottle shop and in the taproom, we will be pouring a couple of specialty beers: Dreef Fooper IPA, dry-hopped with dry-hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, and Citra, and Horse Tongue Thribble Currant, a wild ale made with black currants.”

Saraveza (Portland) is hosting McMinnville’s Heater Allen Brewing tonight for a “Helles Different Helles” tasting comparison, taking place from 6 to 9pm: “It’s gonna be a gorgeous week, so let’s drink some gorgeous beers! The friendly family folks at Heater Allen have brewed up two “identical” Helles lagers, but with one major difference! One batch uses predominately Weyermann’s “Floor Malted Bohemian Pilsner” barley, the other predominately Mecca Grade’s “Pelton” Oregon grown floor malted barley! We haven’t had a chance to taste them both yet ourselves, but we will have them both on tap starting at 6pm Wednesday. Even Rick and Lisa will be joining in to talk about the beers!”

McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro): Today’s end of the month beer tasting is dubbed “The Professor’s Snack Fest” and features six beers which definitely fit the “snack” bill: Creamsicle (Cream Ale with orange zest and vanilla bean), Nilla Vanilla Ale (Golden Ale with Nilla Wafers and vanilla bean), Nutty Buddy (Golden Ale with Nutter Butter cookies), Royal Palm Porter (vanilla bean and toasted coconut), Plum Loco Sour Ale (Plums), and Pad Chai Porter (chai and roasted peanut extract). This is definitely the most interesting lineup I’ve seen in a while, so get a taster tray! The tasting runs from 6 to 9pm.

McMenamins on Broadway (Portland) has their “The Tasting Technique” beer tasting taking place today from 5 to 8pm, featuring Summer’s Ready Espresso Porter: “Ready or not, summer is coming! Here’s a little kick start to get the people going. If you’re a coffee drinker, this one is for you. It has the final look of winter with a brown hue, and a slightly off color head. You’ll be met by the smell of roasted malts and roasted coffee beans, preceding a rather light bodied Espresso Porter with big flavor. This just might be the jump you need to prepare for a relaxing, but busy, summer season.”

The Green Dragon (Portland): This week’s Green Dragon Brew Crew release is Cascade Single Hop IPA: “This week the Green Dragon Brew Crew celebrates the Cascade hop with the release of Cascade Single Hop IPA. Loved for its strong grapefruit, citrus, floral and spice notes, the Cascade hop has come to define the Pacific Northwest style of brewing. Today, it is the most widely used hop in the United States.” Starts at 5pm.

The Platypus Pub (Bend): Tonight they are welcoming Lagunitas Brewing for a tasting from 6 to 8pm: “Sam Caylor from Lagunitas will be here Wenesday at 6:00 for a tasting of a few of their beers. We will have a couple of their one off’s on tap and available for samples. We will have the Copper Fusion, a sessionable red ale and Bitter Oats an Imperial IPA. Sam will also be sampling out other varieties from Lagunitas. Maybe a surprise??”

Buoy Brewing (Astoria): I’ve been writing lately about how Sunriver Brewing has been canning their first beers, and Buoy is now canning as well, along with a Facebook contest: “Kicking off this epic event with an awesome contest! #ReachForABuoy Excitement Contest
1. Like this post and follow Buoy Beer’s page.
2. Tag beer loving friends for one entry this post.
3. For additional entry, post your photo of enjoying a Buoy Beer with #ReachForABuoy.
Winners will be picked on April 29th to win a gift card + t-shirt. Visit our Twitter, Instragram, and Untappd pages for other chances to submit & win.”

Also in Astoria, Fort George Brewery has a new beer going on tap: “Abracadabra Berliner Weisse goes on in the Taproom today. This juicy, tart German wheat beer is traditionally served with syrups, and the Fort George kitchen did not disappoint. Raspberry, rosemary, or licorice fern root — at just 3.7% ABV you might try all three. Opens at 4:30pm today.”

Portland’s gypsy brewer Awesome Ales has details on a beer they have out (or soon to be): “‘The 4:19’ – Northwest IPA / Take a minute to try this ONE. An updated classic Northwest IPA with a light body and heavy hops. The use of six different hops gives this a fully rounded hop quality, heavy with grapefruit and tangerine notes. It’s an updated classic Northwest IPA with a light to medium body and with earthy, slight citrus hop notes. The use of six different hops gives this a fully rounded hop quality. ABV %6.9 IBU 89”