Happy post-Easter Monday! I hope your chocolate and egg hangovers aren’t too bad. Meanwhile, here’s the news in Oregon beer for  April 9. I will be periodically updating this post throughout the day so if you have some news to share, please contact me—and check back often for the latest updates.

Gigantic Brewing (Portland) has brewed their first batch of beer and has an opening date, according to the New School: “The first beer brewed on Gigantic’s system will help calibrate and dial everything in, with the initial batch of beer going into a 660 gallon wooden barrel to produce a sour beer in time… On Saturday Gigantic brewed the beer that will be the company’s first release, a dark Belgian-style ale that will be its entry into Portland’s Cheers To Belgian Beers Festival on Saturday, April 21st. Once that’s dialed in they will move on to making their one and only year-round beer and flagship, the IPA.” Then on Wednesday May 9th they will have their public grand opening, with both their initial beer and the various collaboration beers they’ve been brewing around the state on tap.

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River): This Thursday, April 12, Full Sail is having their last Brewmaster Dinner of the season (until the fall), and it’s a big one—seven courses all paired with Full Sail beers, for only $40 per person. The menu looks like a really fresh, bright, spring-themed meal, one not to miss if you can help it. It starts at 5pm and is first-come, first-served. (The regular menu is available if you don’t want the Dinner.)

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting a tasting and meet the brewer with Portland’s Coalition Brewing tonight from 5 to 8pm: “The Southeast Brewpub you all know well is now bottling three of their fine brews: Two Dogs IPA, King Kitty Red, and Rooster Cream Ale. They’ll be here pouring tastes and telling you the stories. Ask them why the hops in the cream ale are still hip but not hip-hop anymore.”

Hop Valley Brewing (Springfield) is having a release party for their new Scruggs Extra Pale Ale today starting at 4pm (with $2.50 pints all day to celebrate). The beer is named after bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs.

Falling Sky Brewing (Eugene): Eugene’s newest brewery is pouring beer and sounds like they’re growing quickly: “Falling Sky Beer has landed in Portland. Look for us at Horse Brass Pub, Bailey’s Tap Room, Beermongers, and Bridgetown Beerhouse! Headed to many more of your favorite PDX spots soon. And of course, if you are driving down the I-5 past Eugene, you now have a new destination to stop for grub & refreshment!” I’d love to see them get over to Bend soon… (hint, hint!)

Holy smokes (or smoked meat!), apparently Saraveza in Portland has a free bacon night tonight from 6 to 10pm: ” Come on down to Saraveza for a beer and get your pork on! All craft beer pours are paired with our house smoked bacon. Seriously. Free. Bacon.” And from their site it looks as though this is a monthly event, on the 2nd Monday of the month! That just sounds awesome.