Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Tuesday, the 9th of April. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often for the latest news. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Breakside Brewing (Portland) is holding their Spring Beer Showcase today in partnership with Portland’s Tabla, where they will be featuring 16 beers on tap as well as the bottle release of their new Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. “Join Breakside Brewery and Chef Adam Berger for an evening of beer and food at Tabla, 200 NE 28th Ave, Portland OR, on Tuesday, April 9th from 5:00-9:30pm. Rather than a seated meal or coursed dinner, this will be a casual night of eating and drinking: guests can arrive at any time and stay for as long as they like. Tickets for this night of indulgence are ONLY $25 ($30 at the door); entry gets you all you can eat and drink! Call Tabla at 503-238-3777 to reserve a spot.”

McMenamins White Eagle Saloon (Portland) is holding a special “Meet The Edgefield Brewers Night” tonight from 5 to 8pm, featuring their Night Court Rum Barrel-Aged Barleywine: “You’ll have no objections by the time you’ve finished your glass of this Three Rocks Rum barrel-aged iteration of our Barley Legal Barleywine. We decided to throw the book at it and some vanilla beans, then put it in lock up for a month. Now the flavors of vanilla, smooth American, spirits and the untamed hop-forward attitude of the original ale have co-mingled into a complex and mellow citizen. We’re realeasing this on parole today for you to judge!”

Cascade Brewing (Portland): Tonight’s Tap It Tuesday at 6pm at the Barrel House is featuring “Live” Elderberry: “This NW style sour red ale is a blend of beers that were aged between 12 and 24 months in oak wine barrels, then additionally aged on elderberries for five to 12 months. Aromas of dark leather, aged port, raisins, black currants and hints of red peppercorns are present at first. Tart, dark fruit and aged port, followed by leather, black currants and hints of blackberries on the palate lead to a slightly drying finish of tart  elderberries, dark fruits and aged port. 8.89% ABV, $7.5 glass, $2.5 taster. Tonight’s barrel is a sneak peek at a very popular beer that we were able to bottle this year. This small bottling will be available only at the Barrel Hose and the Brewery, NO internet sales; it is still bottle conditioning and will likely be ready sometime in May.”

Occidental Brewing (Portland): Their Kölsch is now in cans! “Yes, it is true, cans are here. Available Wednesday in the taproom, 16oz 4-packs, $10. Also, look for them at select Fred Meyers, New Seasons and Whole Foods! Cheers!” I kind of like that pared-down, throwback look for their can design too.

I kind of love this anecdote from McMenamins about their popular Ruby Ale: “Here’s a true relic: a short-lived beer tap name plate of the mid-’80s once used at McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub. Twenty-seven years ago, our hopped-up, raspberry concoction debuted as Ruby Tuesday Ale, a nod to the Rolling Stones song. Not too much time passed before we received formal notice from the Ruby Tuesday restaurant chain to stop using its name. To this, we took umbrage, but, rather than go through a drawn-out, expensive legal process, we decided it didn’t mean that much to us. We dropped Tuesday from our new beer’s name and never looked back.”

BridgePort Brewing (Portland): This year’s Stumptown Tart is nearly here, and this year the beer is made with blueberries. From the press release: “Each year, BridgePort Brewing Company chooses a different fruit to include in its limited edition beer, Stumptown Tart. With Oregon’s variety of incredible produce it can be a difficult decision. This year, the brewery turned to an Oregon favorite – blueberries. These indigo berries were blended with Oregon grown raspberries and blackberries, creating a brew that is rich in color and in taste. The addition of blueberries gives off a remarkable amount of flavor. That flavor, when blended with an increase in Belgian yeast, yields a nice balance of fruit and noticeable Belgian characteristics.” BridgePort is holding the release party for the beer next Thursday the 18th from 5:30 to 8:30 at their brewpub.