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This Week in Beer: Freaking Sweet Events in Your Hood

Ribs. BBQ. Beer....events that shock and awe. Don't miss the Brew Kettle on your Cleveland Beer Week tour
I have usurped control of this column for this week. This is primarily for the sole reason that this is the most mindless and least intimidating of all of our columns. Hooked yet!? No really, I need some spiritual soul seeking, and a look at the beer calendar might just satisfy my urge.
What, pray tell, did our squad do last week, you ask? Lots. Depending on who you asked, we either visited some pretty amazing beer taps in New Orleans (Brooklyn Detonation Imperial IPA!!!!), hung out at Brouwers Cafe’s Washington Beer Fest, dabbled in a first-time Jillian’s craft beer night, soaked up an epic and undeniably amazing Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Fest (we all were there – no way to miss that) or we brewed a massive batch of our very first pumpkin beer during Harvest Fest 2010.
Yep, we were busy. But, as we spend the week saturating the blog with mouth-watering tales of yesteryear – we focus on the week ahead. Giddy up.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Hoptoberfest Brewer Shenanigans: Seattle, WA
All Month Long @ Beveridge Place Pub
Since we are already a bit late on this event, I thought I would borrow from the comments of the amazing people over at Washington Beer Blog, Kendall and Kim Jones. Today, they ran a piece on the Elite Eight selections for the Hoptoberfest at Beveridge Place Pub. Hoptoberfest is an annual event spanning the month, during which Beveridge Place Pub slowly eliminates IPAs to eventually select its house IPA for the next year to come.
They are now down to the final eight at the mid-point of the month and the heat is on to make the final 3. Kendall Jones at Washington Beer Blog has been discussing the rumors of brewers sending in-house squadrons down to stuff the ballot box to ensure that they land in the top 3. Black Raven is trying to remain at the top spot, while Boundary Bay is trying to grab back what was their’s just two years ago.
By 6 PM, Kendall and Kim were already there at the Pub. But since that time, nothing to report on. Hopefully, they are simply inundated with enjoyment to give us an update. Regardless, if you want IPA, you still have two weeks of madness over at Beveridge Place Pub. Check it out and don’t forget to vote.
UPDATE: Black Raven sent in a “gorilla” contingent last night. Washington Beer Blog caught it all on video and its a must see. Check it out by following this link.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Can You Handle the Randall?: Cleveland, Ohio
Part 1: 4:30 – 6:30PM @ Winking Lizard Tavern (Gateway Location)
Part 2: 7:00 – 9:00 PM @ Winking Lizard Tavern (Cleveland Heights Location)
If you have yet to explore the wonderful world of Dogfish Head Randalls – do not miss this event! Dogfish Head started using Randall at many of their nationwide events several years back. If you have no idea what this is, check this picture, and then understand that you stuff it full of flavorful things and pump beer through it.
We have had the pleasure of tasting the Aprihop with fresh apricots and hops, as well as the 90 Minute Double IPA with Woodford Reserve soaked oak chips. Both were incredible. Well, now here is your chance at two different locations. More from the event pub kit:
Part 1
Donn B. from Dogfish Head and Kev from Winking Lizard hit the Gateway Winking Lizard Tavern with Randall the Enamel Animal and a keg of 90 Minute IPA! Randall will be packed full of fresh hops and filter the 90 Minute IPA through it imparting even more hoppiness into an already ultra-hoppy Imperial IPA!
Part 2
Randall the Enamel Animal leaves Gateway to make an appearance at the Coventry Winking Lizard Tavern. This time Randall gets packed full of fresh Saaz hops and hooked up to a keg of Dogfish Head Midas Touch. Find out what happens to Midas Touch, Dogfish Head’s mead-like ale, when it gets filtered through Saaz hops! Can you handle Randall?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Farm to Table & Field to Pint: Boulder, CO
7:00 – 10:00PM @ Avery Brewing Company
Everybody is going local these days. Join the movement.
Freshcraft is a new bar and restaurant in downtown Denver, with an impressive beer list. They are joining forces with one of our favorites, Avery Brewing, for a night of local food and amazing beer. Check out these fairly rare Avery brews:
Freshcraft is one of Denver’s hottest new craft beer / fresh food joints to hit the scene. Owners Jason and Lucas have a particular fondness for great beer, and that’s where we come in! Freshcraft has devised a three course meal paired with three Avery brews (duganA, Fumator and Out of Sight), and Society members can sit down the for the entire meal or pick and items a la carte. The Avery crew will be out in force for this evening, and Freshcraft will be bringing a speaker from one of their local produce suppliers to talk about farm to table.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Founders Night: Cleveland, Ohio
Part of Cleveland Beer Week!!!
6:30 – 9:30 PM @ The Brew Kettle
This is one of our favorite joints in all of Cleveland. The Brew Kettle is putting on a pretty special lineup for the festivities of Cleveland Beer Week, which spans from this past weekend through the end of this weekend.
The Brew Kettle is down in Strongsville, OH, about 20 minutes outside downtown Cleveland. This place has amazing BBQ, phenomenal taps and even a U-Brew component in the back.
We noticed their quite impressive affiliation with Grand Rapids brewer (and my personal favorite) Founders Brewing when we visited back in September. Here is a chance to meet the brewer and taste their hop shocker, Devil Dancer Triple IPA:
Come meet Founder’s John Host and Dave Engbers as they walk you through a lineup of six beers which will include some seasonal/specialty offerings including DEVIL DANCER TRIPLE I.P.A. The beers will be complemented with different appetizers.
For a backup event: do not miss Light Up Night at the ABC Tavern in Cleveland. Founders Brewing’s & Victory Brewing’s brewers will be on hand to pour their amazing ales until 2:00 AM!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Naked City Brewing’s 2nd Anniversary Party: Seattle, Washington
All day long @ Naked City Brewing & Taphouse
You might have read about this can’t miss event on our website today. I am re-posting because of the urgency of this event. Its happening one day only people – be there. Here is the presser:
Join us for Naked City’s 2nd Anniversary Celebration Friday, October 22nd Open-Close! We will have prize giveaways and some very special one-off beers on tap for the occasion. Here is a sampling: Double Header Anniversary Ale (Oak Aged Imperial IPA) New Riders of the Purple Sage (Blackberry Sage Porter) Tay Yay Inna Win (Barrel Aged Sour Ale) Whiskey Oaked Brimstone & Treacle (Cask Old Ale) The Big Lebrewski (White Russian Imperial Stout) Boo Radley Pumpkin Ale Big Chocolate Wood (2010 Pro-Am by Dan Hansen & Will Fredin) Broken Bicycle (Fresh Hop Saison) You get the picture…Mark your calendars!!!
Backup event: I would have made this THE event, but I feel partial. If you are in Cleveland for beer week, do not miss this one-time event at The Brew Kettle:
Tapping of a keg of Breakfast Stout that was brewed in 2008. Part of Brew Kettle’s vintage and rare keg tapping series (every day at 5pm during Cleveland Beer Week).
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Bay Area Craft Beer Fest: Martinez, California (near Vallejo, CA)
12:00 (VIP start time) or 1:00 – 5:00 PM @ Martinez Waterfront Park
This is the first go-round for this festival. But, its located in a very cool inland area on the Bay and it has a fairly exhaustive list of Bay Area brewers on tap.
Check out the website for further details on the festival layout and how to get there. Ticket prices are $35.00, and they offer a DD option.
Check out the list right here:
21st Amendment Brewery
Third Street AleWorks
Ale Industries
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Black Diamond Brewing Co.
Blue Frog Grog & Grill
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Gordon Biersch Brewery
Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Hoppy Brewing Company
Iron Springs Pub & Brewery
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Lost Coast Brewery
Marin Brewing Co.
Russian River Brewing Co.
Sierra Nevada
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
Stone Brewing
Trumer Brauerei
Two Rivers Cider Co.
Uncommon Brewers
Amazing Alternative: Check out the Pizza Port Hoptoberfest! This string of Southern California brewpubs took major metal home from GABF this year:
Join us for a rooftop party with lots of hoppy beers and a Pig Roast! We’ll be pouring around 40 (yes 40!) beers with tasty hops… wet hops, IPAs, Imperials IPAs, and maybe even a worthy strong pale ale or two!
…
For your convenience and hoppiness, we’ll also be running a bus from Pizza Port Solana Beach and Pizza Port Carlsbad up to the event. $54 includes roundtrip transportation, beer on the bus, and admission into Hoptoberfest. Bus trip ticket will be on sale at pizzaport.com
Sunday, October 24, 2010
BeerTownAustin & Craft Austin Bike Pub Crawl: Austin, Texas
2:00 – 6:00 PM @ Flying Saucer, Draught House, Thunderbird Coffee Koenig, Billy’s On Burnet, Black Star Co-op
We very seldom come across a beer event down in Texas. But, if we were to find one, we would guess it would be in Austin.
Two great Austin beer groups are joining forces to put together one heck of a beer crawl by bike. So hop on your pedal machine and get moving. You do not want to miss this one:
Join us Sunday, October 24th for the most epic of pub crawls. It will be a clash of the fanboy titans as BeerTownAustin and Craft Austin go head-to-head in gruesome bike-pub-crawling. There will be biking. There will be pub crawling. There may be copying/pasting.
We will start the ride at Flying Saucer, hit up Draught House, then onto Billy’s on Burnet, with a swing through Thunder Bird, and end up at Black Star Co-op, with local beer specials along the way for everyone on the ride.
Have anything else to announce? Feel free to post below in comments or contact us at beerblotter@gmail.com! Have good beer drinking!
Georgetown Brewing Wows with Lucille IPA at Beveridge Place Pub in Seattle
So, we went and we conquered. Beveridge Place Pub‘s Georgetown Brewer’s party was certainly a hit, adding interactive fun to an afternoon/evening of drinking.
The night centered around the two year anniversary of Beveridge Place Pub’s new location at the Fauntleroy and California junction. But the hit of the party was Georgetown’s first ever IPA release – Lucille IPA.
Throughout the event, we tweeted on several occasions, our initial reaction to the party and to the beer. Hopefully some of you were listening and high tailed your ass down to Beveridge Place.
But for the rest of you – lets talk beer.
We began our evening with a Black Raven Trickster and a Walking Man IPA. Both beers are very good – but very different. Trickster is now the house beer at Beveridge Place, after unseating perennial powerhouse – Boundary Bay. The beer is extremely hoppy, with a sweet and syrupy complexity. Most would say that this beer closely resembles Cigar City, Southern Tier, and Great Divide schools of citrusy IPA brewing. But add a bit more maltines, as this one finishes up with a caramel sweetness.
Walking Man is a different type of beast. This IPA is all about the bitterness – citrus, pine and herbal aromas. The beer virtually wipes out the malt, though the residual sugars are indicative that the malt was once there (and remains).
Both beers were used as precursors to trying the new Georgetown offering. One sweet and one bitter – we were ready to pounce on whatever Georgetown owners Roger Bialous and Manny Chao threw our way.
We spoke with Roger before the Lucille keg was tapped. Apparently, the namesake of Lucille actually was born from an endearing nickname given to the brewery’s hoe, or rake, used to clean the mash from the brewing system. Unfortunately, in an article on Wednesday, I had assumed that the name came from Lucille Road, a close block or two from the brewery. I was wrong – here is the fact.
Roger also discussed that the new IPA was composed from Centennial, Amarillo and Cascade hops. The plan to create an IPA had been in the mix for Georgetown over the past few years. But recent years have brought the hop shortage, and ensuing price gouge which shut down hoppy ales in the Northwest.
With stabilization in the market (and actually a surplus), more and more brewers can make an IPA – or even an Imperial IPA – nowadays. Thats exactly what Georgetown did this year.
Lucille IPA was crafted to test out on the public over the next few months and see whether or not it might join the normal rotation. Roger tells us that to do so would cause a major shift to the production schedule, as Georgetown does not currently have the capacity to brew another regular rotation ale. But, we will let them figure that out.
So…….Lucille.
For its first outing, we are drinking Lucille from a glass keg provided to Georgetown by its distributor. The glass keg allows them better monitor the beer and makes for a hell of a party favor.
Lucille IPA is born from the brew kettle. In my opinion, its exactly what American IPA has been sorely missing in the past few years – since IPA took off.
When we all started drinking IPA we loved the floral aromatic and sugary sweetness that poured from the glass. But, times have changed and each and every brewer has now mimicked exactly that which made IPA famous.
Georgetown took the scent of the brewery on brewing day and condensed it into your glass. Thats right – this IPA is a malt monster. It carries with it an enormous scent of freshly roasted and brewed malt, along with an incredible fruity, pineapple scented hoppiness that undoubtedly results from the addition of Amarillo.
I could not put this glass down. There is something about making a difference in the beer world that makes a beer so darn sexy. Lucille carries that sex appeal. It has everything that beer brewers forgot about when they started figuring out what sold in an IPA. It marries a perfect balance of hop aroma and brew kettle malts.
We hope that the rest of the public agreed and poured praise over Georgetown’s owners for this amazing ale. Georgetown enjoys a wonderful tap listing in the city of Seattle. If they brew Lucille, we will see it across our fair city on a quite regular basis (similar to what we see with Manny’s Pale Ale).
Roger informed us that Georgetown will begin filling growlers of the new IPA in the coming weeks, at the brewery. If you have never visited the brewery – now is the time.
Seattle Thursday: Events include Beer at Beveridge Place and Art at OHGE, Ltd.
Well well, its Thursday and that signals the beginning of the perennial Easter 4-day drinking weekend! We are looking forward to a pub crawl on Saturday in Georgetown to celebrate Beer Blotter writer Timperial Stout’s new role with Lazy Boy Brewing. Then on Sunday, a magnificent Waterwheel Lounge Brunch up in Ballard!
But for tonight – what say we? Here are some options:
- Beer? Go to Beveridge Place Pub
Seattle Beer News put out an article illustrating the mind melding lineup that Beveridge Place Pub will be showcasing tonight. From Geoff’s site:
….. Beveridge Place Pub always has plenty of great beers on tap. But, tonight they plan to throw on gems such as Green Flash Le Freak Belgian IPA, Bockor Cuvee des Jacobins Flanders Red, Catherine the Great Imperial Brown Stout, Port Mongo Double IPA, Dogfish Head Aprihop, and more.
Plus, don’t forget that their month-long I.P.April kicks off today as well. A dozen of their taps will pour IPAs all month long.
Yuck. Ok, April Fools. This is amazing.
- More Beer. Go to Naked City
Ohhhhh, its beer you like. Well then hop on over to Naked City Taphouse to sample a little firkin love from Firestone Walker. Tonight the bar will be serving a firkin of the brewery’s Double Barrel Ale (DBA).
Should go pretty fast, but if they run out, do not despair. Take a gander at this taplist:
Port Townsend Imperial Bourbon Porter – my goodness gracious this beer is incredible.
Black Raven Brouwers 5 – no secret that their IPAs are the best in Washington at this point. This one is intriguing; rye and lemongrass – yum.
Naked City Impact – The brewery’s own double IPA. I still haven’t had this one, but dying to give it a try. If anyone has had it, please leave a comment below with some notes.
- Art. Go to OHGE, Ltd. for an incredible opening.
***This event includes beer, so we will call it “Bert” (beer + art – we’re clever).
Feeling like you need a little culture? Want to enjoy the best of both beer and art? Then head over to the international district to see the OHGE, Ltd. opening this evening. The event begins at 6 PM and yes, there is beer. Lazy Boy’s Amber will be on tap.
OHGE, Ltd. is an art space owned by Alex Ohge and managed/curated by Erin Toale. Their show “You’re so cool” opens tonight, showcasing art from 16 amazing artists from around the country.
Stop by, check out some amazing art, whet your whistle with some of Everett, WA’s finest, and applaud Erin Toale on her latest and greatest. Hope to see you all there!
Events for the Week of January 18, 2010
Where to go? What to do? What to drink? These are all very pertinent questions for this week and every week for that matter. We, at Beer Blotter are here to tend to your beer going and beer drinking needs.
Monday, January 18, 2010
- Flight Night: Chicago, Illinois
11:00AM -2:00 AM @ Quencher’s Saloon
Stop by Quencher’s Saloon to 1.) continue to dominate Stout Night OR 2.) spend a mere $15.00 and taste 5 different beers (6 oz pours) on tap. We at Beer Blotter love this concept, being able to taste a variety of beers without breaking the bank or suffering from public drunkenness on a Monday evening. This does occur every Monday, so if you can’t make it tonight there will be endless opportunities.
- Women Only, No Boys Allowed: Stout and Porter Night: Escondido, California
7:00PM- 9:00PM @ Stone Brewing Co.
Its Sex and the City, but without the Cosmos and catty conversation…so its nothing like Sex and the City—> its Stout and Porter night with female beer enthusiasts and Stone’s own, Kathryn Bouscaren. This night will be tasty and informative as the women in attendance will learn all about the history and brewing process affiliated with Stouts and Porters. A few of the featured beers include: Alaskan Smoked Porter, Deschutes The Abyss and Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout. Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased at the Stone Company Store or HERE!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
- Green Flash Brewing Co. Night: Seattle, Washington
6:00 PM – 2:00 AM @ Brouwer’s Cafe
Finally, another amazing beer from California has entered the Seattle market. Appropriatly so, Brouwer’s Cafe is featuring 9 Green Flash beers on tap which include: 7 anniversary, West Coast IPA, Hop head Red, Imperial IPA, Double Stout, Le Freak, Triple, Coffee Stout and a Barleywine. Read more about these beers on Green Flash Brewing’s website.
- Three Creeks Brewing Bottle Release: Portland, Oregon
5:30PM -7:30PM @ The Beermongers
Oregon’s newest brewery, Three Creeks Brewing made a splash with Rudolph’s Imperial Red Ale. Now they are ready to release more brews and the brewer will be at the Beermongers to give out some samples. While you are tasting these brews, check out Beermongers’ bottle selection, its AMAZING!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
- Emelisse Brewery Debut Party: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Keg is tapped at 4:00pm until its gone @ Tria
Known in the Netherlands as Bierbrouwerij Grande- Cafe Emelisse, this international brewery’s Imperial Stout is featured at Tria for one night and one night only. This is the only keg in all of Pennsylvania and according to Tria’s website, its a “small” one. If anyone gets to have this beer, please leave a comment or email us at beerblotter@gmail.com!
- Festival of Hops: St. Paul, Minnesota
12:00 PM- 12:00 AM @ The Muddy Pig
For twelve straight hours (and through January 24, 2010) come enjoy hop heaven in the middle of winter. Take a break from those winter warmers, stouts and barleywines (although all are equally amazing) and indulge in some hops! The 2nd Annual Festival of Hops at The Muddy Pig will feature over 60 + Pale Ales and IPAs. $8.00 will get you 3 5-oz pours. No tickets necessary.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
- Belgiumfest 2010 Preview Event: Seattle, Washington
3:00 PM- 2:00 AM @ Beveridge Place Pub
Come preview many of the great Belgium style beers brewed by Washington brewers that will be present at this Saturday’s Belgiumfest 2010 in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. Check out Beer Blotter’s post about this event and CLICK HERE, NOW! Oh and stop by Beveridge Place Pub and wet your whistle.
- Dogfish Head Beer Dinner: Longwood, Florida
6:30PM – 9:30PM @ Cravings Restaurant
We wish Dogfish Head would have a dinner somewhere, ANYWHERE in Seattle. The beers are so flavorful and complex, the perfect pairing to a well seasoned meal. Tonight’s menu and DFH pairings include some of the following items: Warm Raspberry Bacon Vinaigrette infused with Midas Touch, tossed with mixed greens, heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers paired with Midas Touch, Braised Short Ribs with a 90 minute demi glace, fire roasted root vegetables, and Smoked Gouda Risotto cake paired with 90 Minute IPA and 120 Minute Ice Cream in a Cream Puff with White Chocolate Ganache paired with 120 Minute IPA. An IPA Cream Puff??? “I want to go to here.” Tickets are $45.00 all inclusive and there is limited seating so call 407-951-8662 for reservations!
Friday, January 22, 2010
- Winter Brew Fest: Denver, Colorado
7:00PM- 10:00PM @ Mile High Station
Come for Mile High Station’s semi-annual festival (summer and winter fests) and enjoy some winter brews while they are still in season. $30.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door, a souvenir glass and UNLIMITED tastings will be offered. Featured breweries include: Great Divide Brewing Co., Big Sky Brewing Co., Avery Brewing Co., and Fort Collins Brewing Co.
- IPA Firkin Tapping: Spring House, Pennsylvania
5:00 PM-12:00 AM @ Drafting Room- SpringHouse
Once a month, the Drafting Room celebrates the history of beer by tapping a firkin keg, tapped and poured in the traditional way of driving a spigot into the front of the keg with a wooden mallet. This month/this weekend has IPA’s galore, such as Green Flash West Coast IPA, Green Flash Hop Head Red with Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA, Weyerbacher Hotel (just released in December) and Weyerbacher Quad pouring on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Experience beer and a taste of history!
- Heavy Seas Beer Dinner: Alexandria, Virginia
7:00PM- 9:00PM @ Bilbo Baggins
Hosted by Heavy Seas beer founder, Hugh Sisson, come enjoy beers made by Clipper City Brewing Co. and indulge in a mouth watering menu. Enjoy a unpretentious night of beers and good food with items such as Assorted Bilbo Baggins’ gourmet flat bread pizzas and Handcut french fries topped with Wisconsin cheese curds and homemade gravy paired with the following beers: Small Craft Warning – Loose Cannon – Peg Leg – Winter Storm – Holy Sheet – YuleTide – 2008 Below Decks. Come hungry and thirsty!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
- Day Two of the Three Day Big Beer Event: Norristown, Pennsylvania
11:30AM- 11:30PM @ Capone’s Restaurant, Inc.
No need to go into much detail about this event: Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, Victory Old Horizontal 2008, Allagash Interlude 2008, Stoudts Old Abominable Whiskey Barrel Aged 2008 and Lost Abbey Angel’s Share 2008, should do the trick. There is more, just go and make us jealous!
- BELGIUMFEST 2010: Seattle, Washington
12:00-4:00PM OR 6:00PM-10:00PM @ The Engine Room at Georgetown Studios
Stop by for one of two sessions for $30.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door. Advance ticket sales end at 5am on Saturday, January 23rd, or as soon as the event is sold out. Check out Beer Blotter’s post of BELGIUMFEST 2010 including details and beers to be had by moving your cursor here and clicking.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
- Belgium Beer Dinner: Milford, Massachusetts
5:00PM-7:30 PM @ Prezo’s Grille and Bar
Lets continue to celebrate all that is Belgium and all that is beer by flying overnight from Seattle, WA to Milford, MA. Well maybe not, but please leave a comment if you go to either, all or any! 4 of the 7 (although we all know there are only 6 in Belgium with the 7th in the Netherlands) Trappist breweries will be featured. Orval, Chimay, Rochefort and Westmalle, oh my! Call (508) 634-0101 for reservations! Cheers!
- Festival of Hops Continues: St. Paul, Minnesota
12:00 PM- 12:00 AM @ The Muddy Pig
LAST DAY!
Done, Complete! Writing this event post every week sparks interest in:
1. travel by means of a transporter,
2. stopping time in order to enjoy all of these beers and
3. checking out places like Milford, MA and Norristown, PA.
Beer is everywhere and that is a great thing! Have a wonderful week and as always, if you attend an event, have more information about an event, want to mention an event, or just want to voice your opinion, leave a comment or email us at beerblotter@gmail.com.









