Time to get back on the wagon after last week’s incredible Craft Brewers Conference in Portland. I have a number of things to write about spinning out from that, but in the meantime let’s check out the news in Oregon beer for Monday, April 20. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

The Bier Stein (Eugene), likely to no one’s surprise, is hosting Lagunitas Brewing‘s “Waldo’s 4/20 at 4:20” today: “Each year, Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, CA puts out Waldo’s Special Ale, a big, hoppy Imperial IPA sort of beer. They like to be cheeky and have us tap it at 4:20 pm on April 20th, and that’s just what we do!”

Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland) is releasing the final beers in their 30 Beers for 30 Years series to wrap up their 30th anniversary project: Kill Devil Brown Ale and Massive Upheaval Imperial IPA. “For the last two releases in the series, Widmer Brothers brewed two of the biggest beers in the series. Kill Devil Brown Ale – a rum-barrel-aged imperial brown ale brewed with palm sugar, two kinds of molasses, and Calypso hops – was originally released as part of the Brothers Reserve Series in 2012. Massive Upheaval IPA is the last beer in the series and the second series release that wasn’t previously brewed and distributed in some fashion. Massive Upheaval is a look to the future as Widmer Brothers took the recipe for Upheaval IPA, which was developed in 2013 and released in the year-round lineup in February of 2014, and brewed a bigger, imperialized version for the 30 Beers for 30 Years Series.”

Saraveza (Portland) also has a tapping of Waldo’s 4/20 today at… 4:20. “MONDAY IS 4/20!!! and to celebrate we’ll be tapping our yearly keg of “Waldo’s Special Ale” along with the very limited “Pekko” IPA, AND the newest “ScareCity” Wheat Wine. Raise your glasses with us and toast to the “Head”iest Holiday of them all!”

Though the CBC is over, there is still some great out-of-the-region beer to be found, and the New School lists some of your options for trying it: “Southeast Portland’s Roscoe’s is hosting a great summit this Friday their 2nd Chance CBC Summit on April 24th. Last night I found Bell’s Two Hearted Ale and Kalamazoo Stout on tap at the Horse Brass and they also had a keg of Founders Centennial IPA. Belmont Station also has lots of leftovers. Roscoe’s 2nd Chance CBC Summit will be tapping kegs for you beginning at 2PM. Some of the breweries that will be represented will include: Modern Times, Pizza Port, Founders, Marble, Bells, Alpine, Highland Park, Monkish, Cismontane, Barrelhouse, La Cumbre, Green Bench, and many more. Taster trays will be available.”

A bit of interesting news coming from The Oregonian this week. First, the Oregon Brewers Festival will be switching back to plastic from glass: “Organizers for the biggest and best-known brewfest in Portland announced the change on the event’s website, attributing it to a Portland Police Bureau mandate made for “safety reasons.” Festival director Art Larrance said the PPB approached him after last year’s festival, asking him to switch the tasting glasses from real glass to plastic, not citing any specific incidents. He said he accepted without issue.” They had started using glass for the first time in 2013.

Next, John Foyston reports that “Oregon State University‘s fermentation science program has received a $1 million gift from Carlos Alvarez.” Alvarez owns The Gambrinus Company, which in turn owns Portland’s BridgePort Brewing. “The gift from Alvarez will fund the purchase of a new research brewery to be housed in Oregon State’s Wiegand Hall Pilot Plant Facility, where fermentation science students participate in each step of the brewing and packaging process. Oregon State’s collaborative relationship with BridgePort spans more than 15 years. Most recently, Shellhammer, OSU fermentation science students, and BridgePort brewmaster and OSU alumnus Jeff Edgerton collaborated on a session brown ale that won a gold medal at the European Beer Star competition in Germany.”

Chetco Brewing (Brookings) has re-released their own 4/20-inspired beer today: “And a joyous April 20th to you! Re-releasing the incomparable Willa-Nelson IPA today, first poured on 4/20/13. smile emoticon Get a growler full at Ray’s Market on 5th in Brookings, or join us for a pint this Saturday at The Vista Pub for our 2nd Anniversary Party.” And oh yeah, apparently this Satuday the 25th is their 2nd anniversary!

Speaking of anniversaries, Grants Pass’s Griess Family Brews is celebrating their 1st anniversary this Saturday, the 25th, from 4 to 10pm: “GFBrews has been in business for 1 year! Come celebrate with us! On Saturday, 4/25, from 4-10pm, Brothers Reed will play, Chance Kersten will perform, Apple Outlaw will be doing free tastings, Rosso’s and Rumgrill BBQ will be catering, and we’ll be raffling off GFBrews merchandise every hour! New brews on tap and anniversary pricing all day! Grab your friends and come on down!”