Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Thursday, May 18. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Cascade Brewing (Portland): Their very first Sour Flower Fest kicks off today and runs through the weekend! This looks to be a pretty stellar event. “April showers bring May flowers, or in the case of Cascade Brewing, sour ales made with flowers. Cascade Brewing will present its inaugural Sour Flower Fest May 18 through May 21 at its two Portland pubs, the Cascade Brewing Barrel House and the Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub. The event is free to attend, beer sampling costs additional. The Sour Flower Fest will showcase more than half a dozen new small batch blends made with floral ingredients. (Please note, all beers will be pouring at the Barrel House throughout the event; the Raccoon Lodge may rotate taps, so call ahead if you really want to try something specific, 503-296-0110.)”

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Woodbox Cider for a tasting tonight from 5 to 8pm: “Portland-based boutique cidery, Woodbox, will be in the bottle shop pouring free samples of their Pippin, Americana and Heritage 8 ciders.”

Bend’s Platypus Pub is hosting Hop Valley Brewing out of Springfield for a beer tasting tonight from 5 to 7pm: “Please join us Thursday night as Maggie Lenart from Hop Valley Brewing will be here to sample a couple of their beers. We will have Solid Baby IPA and Sir Orange Lot on tap and for samples.”

Three Mugs Brewing (Hillsboro) is taking over the taps at Hops On Tap in Tigard this evening starting at 5pm: “We’re takin’ over the place! Come enjoy a plethora of Three Mugs beers. Besides awesome beer, we’ll have drawings for great prizes, like shirts, hoodies, hats and growlers.”

Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland) has a new beer tapping today, a Czech-style dark lager: “Named after one of the oldest streets in Prague, and a popular style amongst the pubs where it was named, our latest Small Batch Beer, Celetná Street Lager, is a dark Czech Lager. Tapping today at the pub, it’s a balanced roasty lager with a moderate malt body and dry finish. Na zdraví!”

Portland’s Imperial Bottle Shop is hosting the second annual GDI IPA Smackdown, an event put on by General Distributors, Inc., from 5 to 8pm tonight: “Come sample and vote from a flight of the best IPA’s and Double IPA’s that General Distributors, Inc. offers. The winner of each catagory gets a handle on at Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom for the entire month of July!”

The Civic Taproom in Portland is hosting Coalition Brewing for a tap takeover tonight starting at 6pm: “Come into the Taproom between 6-9pm to try beers from Coalition Brewery, including the hemp and CBD infused Two Flowers IPA. We will have representatives on hand to talk to you about and taste you on their beers. For every Coalition beer you buy you also are entered in a raffle for prizes from the brewery.”

Baerlic Brewing (Portland) has a beer release today, featuring Lucky Cuss Meyer Lemon Pale Ale: “Lucky Cuss Meyer Lemon Pale Ale – 5.4% ABV. We brewed a classic American Pale Ale and added meyer lemon peel and juice for a pithy and springy finish!! ABOUT THE BEER: Brewed with 2 Row Pale and German and British Caramel malts and Amarillo, Cascade and Centennial hops. We added 3% acidulated malt to the grist to further promote the brightness of the Meyer Lemon Peel and utilized particular dryhops that tend to exude brighter citrus and lime flavors and aromas—Amarillo and Centennial.” The fun starts at 4pm.

Burnside Brewing (Portland): Their Lime Kolsch is back for summer! Today they are celebrating the release of Lime Kolsch all day long: “Join us in celebrating the return of summer and the return of the Lime Kolsch. $1 off pints of Lime Kolsch all day!  Summer cocktail & food specials!” I really enjoy this beer, it’s certainly not traditional but drinks really well.