The 2nd Annual Cleveland Beer Week kicks off tonight, and if you’ve checked out the event list, you know that there is a lot going on.
So here, I’m narrowing things down. This is largely completely subjective, based on my own personal tastes (smaller crowds, bars/restaurants/shops I love, low price tag or definitely worth the splurge, etc). However, I’m definitely considering factors such if the event will feature a hard-to-find beer, first taste of a seasonal or other rare tapping.
This post is the “weekend edition,” which covers today through Sunday. I’ll have something up for the rest of the week for you by Sunday night. Cheers!
Today (Friday, Oct. 15)
Stone 10/10/10 Vertical Epic Tapping
All Winking Lizard locations are tapping kegs of the much-anticipated annual Vertical Epic brew from Stone. This year’s version is made with muscat, gewurztraminer, sauvingon blanc grapes and chamomile. Seriously, Stone Vertical Epic is some of the most-coveted craft brew of the year. Read: get to your closest Wink as soon as you’re out of work. Cost: whatever they’re charging for a glass.
Saturday, Oct. 16
Pumpkin-Palooza
From noon-7, Lilly Handmade Chocolates will be pairing four of her delicious truffles with four different pumpkin ales: Southern Tier Pumking, The Bruery Autumn Maple, Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale and DogfishHead Punkin Ale. Cost: $12
Cheese and Beer Pairing with Lucky Penny Farms
At the Buckeye Beer Engine, from noon-1, they’ll be pairing beers with locally made cheeses (with dairy from that were raised at a local farm): Buckeye Witless Belgian Wit with Lucky Penny Chevre, The Bruery Hottenroth Berliner Weisse with Lucky Penny Feta, The Bruery Autumn Maple with Lucky Penny Gouda and The Bruery Rugbrod paired with Lucky Penny Swiss. Cost: $17.
All Hail the Ale Night Bicycle Ride
Starting at 7:30 at Century Cycles in Peninsula (1621 Main Street/Route 303), bike the Towpath Trail with fellow craft-beer lovers and end up at the Peninsula Winking Lizard, where they will tap special kegs from Left Hand and Sierra Nevada. Cost: free, plus the cost of beers afterward.
Sunday, Oct. 17
Clambake and Weiss Beer Festival
From noon-6 at the Tremont Tap House, enjoy a seasonal clambake and see how the food pairs with Witbiers, Hefeweizens and American Wheats. Get a 4-beer sampler for $8, or purchase full glasses of any beer that the Taphouse has, well, on tap. They’ll also be playing the Browns-Steelers game, and I can’t think of a better place to drown your sorrows. Clambake cost and menu TBD… I’ll update this post as soon as I find out.
**Update: Clambake cost is $25 for 1 dozen clams, corn, sweet potato, bread and chicken. You can add on a 1.25 lb lobster for $15 or another dozen clams for $10. Also, I just spoke with Christian from the Taphouse on the phone, and tickets are going fast (and you need them), so swing by ASAP if you’re interested.
Thirsty Dog Meet & Greet
From noon-3, head over to Tower 230 and grab your first-of-the-season 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale from Akron’s own Thirsty Dog. (In my opinion, this is better than the much-loved Great Lakes Christmas Ale.) Also, Mitch from Thirsty Dog will be on site, and they’ll be playing the Browns-Steelers game. Cost: $3/pint. Seriously. I might have to take this over the Taphouse. Life is full of tough decisions.
Side note on Beer Week: If you have an iPhone, there is a pretty slick app for Beer Week this year that makes looking at events and other info pretty easy. Check it out.
So, Cleveland, enjoy Beer Week. But do it responsibly. Please have a DD or call a taxi. Also, the Crowne Plaza hotel is offering discounted rates for Beer Week if you mention it.
Filed under: Weekend Picks | Tagged: bar specials, Cleveland Beer Week | Leave a Comment »
