Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! I… won’t actually try to write like a pirate for the Oregon beer news today. But feel free to drink a few hearty ales and talk as much like a pirate as you want! As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often for the latest news. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

McMenamins Corvallis has their Curious Corvallis beer tasting today from 4 to 6pm, featuring Ol’ Sage Robust Porter: “Eastern Oregon’s desert areas are perfect for camping. The smell of sagebrush fills the air out there and provides an environment perfect for lots of animals. It also makes a great spice which is why we added it to the keg after fermentation. Think of Ol’ Sage as referring to the wisdom of age or knowledge. Take some time to relax and let this Porter show you the way.” Now this is interesting… the only other sage beer I’m aware of were the early versions of Sagefight IPA by Deschutes. Artemisia sagebrush is actually toxic in large enough quantities so I hope brewer Gary Nancy used a light touch!

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Ninkasi Brewing tonight for their Fundraising for Firefighters: “Throughout the month of September for every Ninkasi keg sold in Portland $5 will be donated to support the work of Local 43, Local 314 and Local 452. Sporting a Firefighter helmet, Ninkasi’s very own Ryan Brentley will have pre-addressed Ninkasi postcards to write to our local firehouses and thank them for their courage, dedication and steadfastness in caring for our health and wellbeing. Belmont Station will donate $1 for every pint of those two Ninkasi beers sold to their firefighters fundraiser!” The fundraiser runs from 5 to 8pm.

And at Ninkasi’s Tasting Room in Eugene today, their Pints for a Cause is raising money for Rogue Farm Corps: “Join us at the Tasting Room for Pints for a Cause! From noon to 10pm, $1 from each pint sold in the Tasting Room will go to Rogue Farm Corps.”

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): Tuesdays are Community Pints days at the Bend and Portland pubs, where $1 of every pint sold is donated to a local non-profit organization. In Bend this month, they are benefiting Equine Outreach Horse Rescue. In Portland, they are benefiting Rock’n’Roll Camp for Girls. Make sure to hit the pubs today and help out with a pint or three!

Cascade Brewing (Portland) has a big release today: Vitis Noble. “A cousin of The Vine project, Vitis Noble – which literally means Noble Vine – features sour wheat and blond ales aged in oaks barrels for up to 16 months with Willamette Valley grown chardonnay grapes, one of the most celebrated noble varietals. This Northwest sour ale captures the vibrancy of chardonnay complemented by a kiss of French oak and notes of melon, apple and tropical fruit. Chardonnay grapes complement an oaky characteristic from additional oak staves in the barrels. The end product is a wonderful balance between the beautiful flavors of the Northwest grown chardonnay grapes, oak tendencies and a bright clean finish.” It’s release in bottles and on draft at both their Barrel House and the Raccoon Lodge.

And Cascade’s Tap It Tuesday tonight at 6pm at the Barrel House is featuring Prime Time Sub Lime Paradigm: “This week’s live barrel is Prime Time Sub Lime Paradigm, a blend of two and three year aged sour blonds and wheats aged on lime zest, vanilla beans, and noyaux in Chardonnay barrels. This sour beer has a refreshing tart lime character backed up with mellow flavors of vanilla and almond. A tropical paradise escape in every glass (7.5% ABV).”

Coin Toss Brewing (Oregon City) has a beer release today: Haze Craze. “You say you want a cloudy New England-style juicy IPA? Haze Craze is here. So exclusive that it will only be available 2 days a week. Curious? Get into our taproom on Tuesday and Wednesday and check it out for yourself.”

Sedition Brewing (The Dalles): Their latest Liquid Education Beer School event takes place tonight at 5:30pm: “Want to learn more about the beverage we know and love, craft beer? Join us Tuesday, September 19th at 5:30pm in the pub at Sedition Brewing Company. Classes focus on various ingredients and aspects of craft beer making. The classes will last for approximately 30 – 45 minutes with time for tasting and mingling to follow. All participants must be 21 and up, as you will be sampling beer throughout class.”

Oktoberfest continues today at Portland’s Loyal Legion, as well as at Beergarden in Eugene. And tonight from 5 to 7pm at Beergarden they are welcoming Agrarian Ales in for a tasting.

Crux Fermentation Project (Bend) has their first fresh hop on tap: Dr. Jack Fresh Hop IPA! “Get it while it’s super fresh. We canned Dr. Jack this morning and now 20 cases of 4-packs are waiting for you in our tasting room. We also tapped the first keg so come on down.”