Happy Monday! I was thinking today was Tax Day, since the 15th was yesterday, but it turns out tomorrow the 17th is Tax Day this year—so you have one more day to get those taxes done. As usual I will be updating this news post periodically throughout the day, so check back often for the latest. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it updated as well.

I missed this one on Friday/Saturday, but Lompoc Brewing in Portland also released (in addition to Heaven’s Helles) a tax-themed beer that’s on tap at the Sidebar: 1060 EZ Taxation Ale, that sounds quite like a cream ale, “made with pale malt and corn, using Noble hops in the kettle. It’s light straw in color with a malty nose and a mildly sweet mid mouth feel provided by the corn. It has a light, dry, crisp finish. This beer is sneaky strong at 6%.” Worth checking out, as long as you finish your taxes on time!

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene): Today’s “Pints with a Cause“—for which 25% of all pint sales in their tasting room is donated to a local cause or charity—is supporting the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides. “They work to protect community and environmental health and inspire the use of ecologically sound solutions to reduce the use of pesticides. It’s a fun and easy way to help out your community.” Particularly by drinking beer!

This Saturday, April 21st, is Portland’s annual Cheers to Belgian Beers festival, lasting from noon to 9pm at Metalcraft Fabrication on North Tillamook Street in Portland, not far from the Rose Garden. Now in it’s 6th year, this is a good capsule description: “The Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers festival started in 2007 as a celebration of Belgian style beers, with participating breweries producing beers from the same strain of yeast.” Hopworks Urban Brewery and Logsdon Farmhouse Ales won the People’s Choice last year and the right to pick this year’s yeast, which is a Canadian/Belgian Ale strain, Wyeast #3864, and Roeselare Ale Blend, Wyeast #3763, respectively. Cost is $15 for the glass and five tickets, $20 for the glass and 10 tickets, with $1 per ticket additional. Should be a great day!

Beer Valley Brewing (Ontario): Sounds like they have an interesting thing going on at their brewery this Saturday the 21st: “We will be hosting a brew-out here at the brewery in Ontario. We have members of the Snake River and Boise Homebrewer’s clubs coming out to brew some beer but anyone who would like to come and brew is welcome. We will provide 180 degree, ph adjusted brewing water, power, hose taps, regular tap water, and our own house strain of ale yeast for those who would like to use it. Starts at 9:00 am.” If you homebrew and you’re near there, you really should stop by.