Here’s the Oregon beer news for the final day of May! I’ve gotten a bit later start to the day but as usual I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back for the latest updates. And if you have some news to share please contact me and I can get it posted.

Rock Bottom (Portland): Tonight they have a tapping party for their new Thunderdome Imperial IPA from 5:30 to 6:30. “Come try Rock Bottom’s most anticipated beer Thunderdome Imperial IPA. This beer is basically an iron facemask and a pair of leather shorts in a glass. ABV.: 8.0% & IBU: 1,000,000 !!!!! Complementary tasting and presentation provided by our brewer, Charlie Hutchins.”

The Horse Brass (Portland): Today starting at 1pm, they are hosting the “Big Beer Bash” blind tasting of Imperial IPAs—for $7.95 you (presumably) get all five available beers and get to try to tell them apart. (Don’t know if there’s a prize for guessing correctly or not.) The five are: Pliny the Elder, Green Flash Palate Wrecker, 90 Minute IPA, Lagunitas Waldo’s Special Ale, and Astoria Bitter Bitch IPA.

McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro): The winner of last night’s Roadhouse Beer Invitational was Black Jack Imperial Stout, from the Thompson Brewery and Public House. To celebrate, the Roadhouse will have Black Jack on tap this afternoon. And now also, the Roadhouse has McMenamins’ summer seasonal, Copper Moon, on tap early (normally it’s released on June 15).

And speaking of the Thompson Brewery, tonight at 5pm the Salem brewery is holding its Blackthorn Beer Release, a special beer brewed in memory of Jeff Jacobs, friend of Thompson brewer Jen Kent.