Here’s the final Oregon beer news for April 2012 (already!). This weekend saw the Oregon Garden Brewfest which had me otherwise occupied, but we’re back into the swing of things now and looking ahead to May. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day, so check back often for the latest updates. And if you have some news to share, please contact me and I will get it updated.

GoodLife Brewing (Bend) released the latest beer in their expanding lineup, Comatose Imperial IPA, over the weekend. This beer is 9.5% abv and 95 IBUs and should make hopheads happy, as well as being an interesting new addition to the local beer scene!

Breakside Brewery (Portland) is going to be celebrating their 2nd anniversary on Saturday, May 12! “We are throwing a huge party for our second anniversary on Saturday, May 12 from 1 until 7. (The restaurant will be open regular hours, but the special events are for the designated times). The party will feature live music, special release beers, and guest ‘celebrity’ chefs at the outside grill. To celebrate the big day, we’ll be pouring from all the draught lines inside plus an addition 8-10 beers outside.” Brewpublic has all the details including the beer list that will be pouring.

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): Tomorrow is their latest edition of their Deschutes Brewery University, offering up brewing classes and May’s class is Yeast & Beer Part 2: “In this DBU sessio, brewer Ryan Wibby will walk you through 8 different beers, each highlighting a unique strain of yeast. We bet you want to know what styles of beer he’ll be pouring so here they are: saison, weiss, lager, sour, wit, kolsch, ale, and Belgian. Starting with this class, we are changing things up a little. Not only will you get a top notch beer education and the chance to sample a variety of beers, but you will also be treated to some tasty snacks from our talented kitchen staff.” Cost is $25 but they’ve added more spaces because it takes place in the new “Tap Room” pub event space; if you’re interested you can buy tickets here.

Deschutes  has also announced two beer dinners to celebrate the release (finally!) of Conflux #1, aka Collage, their first collaboration beer that they started with Hair of the Dog two years ago: first at Wildwood Restaurant in Portland on Monday, May 14, and then at the Bend Pub on Friday, May 18. Cost for either dinner is $85 per person, with portions of the proceeds going to select charities. Gary Fish and Alan Sprints will be on hand for both, and beers paired with each of the courses will not only be Collage but also each of the component barrel-aged beers that went into Collage: The Dissident, The Stoic, Fred, and Adam.

The Green Dragon (Portland) has a Green Dragon Brew Crew release this Wednesday May 2: Dangerous Blonde Belgian Ale. “1st place winner in the Belgian Strong category at the 2012 Slurp & Burp competition, this Belgian Blonde Ale boasts a nice golden color with a big white lacey head and has aromas of the fruity Ardennes yeast along with hints of coriander, coconut, and some bubble gum as it warms. Added to the kettle was coriander, bitter orange peel, grains of paradise, Saaz hops, and Thai palm sugar.” 7.5% abv and sounds awfully interesting.

And speaking of big beers, Cascade Lakes Brewing (Redmond) has a new big beer available: “‎30″ Brown Ale now on tap at the Lodge and Seventh Street. This is our IMPERIAL BROWN seasonal offering.” The name is a play on their 20″ Brown, an easy-drinking 5.3% abv brown ale; I can only imagine how “Imperial” this one is (not listed), but me I’d shoot for around 8%.