TGIF and happy Friday! Today would ordinarily be Tax Day but due to Emancipation Day falling on a Saturday this year (tomorrow), you’ve got a reprieve until Monday—that’s worth a beer or two this weekend! Here’s the news for the weekend of the 15th; as usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Cascade Brewing (Portland) is teaming up with The Bruery’s Bruery Terreux on a year-long collaboration and this Friday evening at the Barrel House they are holding the kick-off party with some special pours: “The evening begins at 5pm with the tapping of five Bruery Terreux sour beers and one non-sour (from The Bruery). Fans can look forward to tasting Filmishmish, Humulus Terreux, Oude Tart with Cherries, Sourrento, Blue BBLS and White Chocolate. Also at 5pm, we’ll put on our collaboration blend, The Elaborate Rueuze, which includes 50% Bruery Terreux Rueuze, a Belgian-style lambic; 40% Cascade Frite Gaulois, a sour blond with coriander, orange peel and salt; and 10% Cascade Grapefruit Wheat. The Elaborate Rueuze is both refreshing and complex, capturing notes of stone fruit, barnyard funk and a kiss of grapefruit. A limited 10 gallon batch was created solely for this event, so get it while you can.” The Bruery Terreux team will be on hand as well, so don’t miss out!

The Bier Stein (Eugene) teamed up with Springfield’s Plank Town Brewing to brew up an Imperial Stout, named From Russia With Stout, and this Friday the 15th starting at 5pm the Stein is hosting the bottle release of this beer: “One of the ways we enjoy our local brew scene is to actually go and brew. Chip, one of the owners, used to brew before starting the Stein, and has collaborated almost yearly with a local brewery on something that inevitably turns out delicious. This year, instead of a walloping hop bomb, he went over to Plank Town in Springfield and brewed a Russian Imperial Stout with his old friend and brewing mentor Steve van Rossem. The 15th just happens to be the 3rd anniversary of our tenure in the new space. It’s wonderful to mark the occasion with a beer brewed with friends and the support of our community!”

McMenamins Bagdad Pub (Portland) has their Before the Film beer tasting taking place Friday from 5 to 8pm, featuring the Edgefield brewery’s Mayan Apocalypse, which you might definitely be interested in tasting: “The latest in our Edgefield Barrel Series is a Three Rocks Rum Barrel Aged Nut Brown with Cinnamon and Chili Peppers. Dark brown with a fluffy white head, this beer has aromas of spice, a little heat, and vanilla. Flavors of chilies, cinnamon, and Rum pair well with the underlying bready character of the Nut Brown. Sit back with this great sipper and enjoy!”

Humble Brewing (Portland), one of Oregon’s smallest brewers, has decided to cease brewing commercially, and tonight (Friday) they are throwing their last bash at the Bridgetown Beerhouse starting at 6:30pm: “Batch #177 was our last. It’s time to make our triumphant return to the ranks of home brewers. But FIRST, come party with us one last time! We’ll have some special beers on draft for this last hurrah, including the ~9% IIPA, coffee porter, and our “best selling” Saaz Saison.”

And talking about small brewers: Gold Beach’s Arch Rock Brewing will be at the Tin Bucket in Portland for a meet the brewer on Friday starting at 5pm: “We fell in love with Gold Beach Lager the first time we ever tasted it. It’s the only constant beer on our rotating tap list. That being said we are please to host meet the brewer nigh with James the head brewer.” They’ll have five of Arch Rock’s beer on tap.

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): This Friday at both pubs in Bend and in Portland, they are holding the release celebration for their latest summer seasonal to hit bottles, Hop Slice Session IPA. The Portland pub will host a sampling station, culinary specials, swag, and even a “selfie station” (photo booth?), while in Bend, the pub’s upstairs Tap Room will host a “Wheel of Fun,” complimentary snacks, swag, BBQ, tasting bar with samples, and more from 5 to 9pm.

On Friday from 6 to 8pm, The Growler Guys‘ southeast Portland location will be hosting the release of their new collaboration brew they participated in with Breakside Brewery and Fat Head’s Brewery, a “New England style” IPA named Pulp Free IPA: “Mike Hunsaker of Fat Head’s Portland and Ben Edmunds of Breakside Brewery have teamed-up for a “Pulp Free IPA” inspired by east coast juicy IPA flavors. Pulp Free IPA will be tapped at a release party this Friday, April 15th at The Growler Guys – SE Portland with multiple beers from each brewery on tap and both brewers in attendance. Pints of Pulp Free will be $5 and you can fill a 32oz Crowler for $8 or a 64oz growler for $14.”

Portland’s Montavilla Brew Works will be the guest of honor at Imperial Bottle Shop this Friday for a meet the brewer event taking place from 6 to 9pm: “Come meet our friend Michael Kora from Montavilla Brew Works! We’ll be pouring 5 of his delicious brews on tap, including: Stick & Frame Blonde, Lil’ Righteous ISA, Flam Tap IPA, Baseline Brown Ale, and DeGeorger EnForcer Imperial Stout. Beers by the glass or get a killer deal on a sampler tray of all 5 for only $7!”

All day Saturday, The Bier Stein has their Tapping Into Community event benefiting the Bridgeway House: “As part of our Tapping Into Community program, we are hosting a benefit for Bridgeway House in Eugene, a nonprofit that serves the needs of children with autism and related disabilities while educating and supporting their families. How do you contribute? Have a beer! We will feature beer from Bigfoot Beverages, one of our local distributors– each will donate $2 per pint sold to Bridgeway House.” They have three such special beers and ciders lined up.

Here’s an interesting pairing: on Saturday, Salem’s West Side Tap House is hosting McMinnville’s Grain Station Brew Works and Baker City’s Barley Brown’s for a dual tap takeover starting at 6pm: “This is a special event, we are doing a double tap takeover to showcase some great beers. We will have Grain Station and Barley Browns doing a joint event for double the fun!”

Cider fans! Over in Hood River on Saturday, Visit Hood River is hosting the third annual Hard-Pressed Cider Fest (the first I’ve heard of it): “Now in its third year, the Hood River Hard-Pressed Cider Fest gives seasoned and novice cider drinkers alike the chance to sample cider from Hood River County’s very own cider makers, as well as a variety of additional Northwest cideries. More than 20 cideries will be participating, with more than 30 ciders on tap. The day-long event also features local food carts, a kid’s area and a line-up of local music, from bluegrass to classic rock – guaranteeing a great time for the whole family. Spring showers aren’t a problem, as the tasting takes place in a covered hall. And, just a friendly reminder, pets are not allowed at the event.” It’s $5 for just the entry or $10 gets you the full pass that includes 4 tasting tokens and the commemorative glass.

And in Roseburg on Saturday, the Brew HaHa Craft Beer Fest is taking place at the Douglas County Fairgrounds: “Join the annual fundraising event in April at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Our “BREW HAHA”, features Craft Beer and wine tastings and served to you by off-duty Douglas County Firefighters, Local 2091, along with beer making demonstrations, live music, raffle giveaways, games, vendor booths, food and fun. Proceeds from the 2016 Brew HaHa will go to benefit the Treven Anspach Memorial Fund and the Douglas County Responders First Foundation.” It takes place from 4 to 10pm and $12 gets you the tasting glass and 4 taster tickets.

Salem Ale Works (Salem) is releasing their Double Bit Double IPA this Friday starting at 4pm: “The return of Double Bit! Back by popular demand, our tip of the hat to high alcohol hoppiness. Five hop varieties give this double IPA plenty of hop character. Piney, resin aromas and flavors blend nicely with light citrus and pair well with the malt base. Enough bitterness to let you know it’s an IPA, with an ABV that leaves you pleasant and content.”