Ray’s Wine & Spirits (8930 W. North Ave.) has learned to embrace Wisconsin winters, and the fifth iteration of Wückfinter is happening on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The 3 Floyds Brewing takeover is like Dark Lord Day in Milwaukee. This year, Ray’s will be pouring 30 different 3 Floyds and WarPigs brews, including Zombie Ice Undead Pale Ale and a barrel-aged Wücking Stout. But wait, there’s more. There are also four Dark Lord variants and Three Floyds cocktails.
“Wückfinter, to me, is a culmination of things,” said Orey Laev, president of Ray’s Wine & Spirits. “It’s a rejection of Old Man Winter and embracing the elements. Add in a sprinkling of some of the best beer made in the country and the most gourmet ‘parking lot’ food Wisconsin has to offer. I get just as excited for the food as the beer. You literally get to reject Mother Nature and will spring to arrive, or so I tell myself. But seriously, it’s basically a great hang with your friends, and an excuse to get loose on a Sunday in February when everyone has been cooped up.”
Tuesday, Feb. 21
Preorders have begun for this year’s Mystic Knot release by Third Space Brewing. This year’s batch of barrel-aged stouts sounds as amazing as usual and includes: Mystic Knot Barrel-Aged Coffee Cream Stout; Mystic Caliente made with cacao, cinnamon, and chili peppers. Mystic Dude, White Russian-inspired stout, and Mystic Double Shot Rum, an espresso cream stout aged finished in rum barrels. The release is March 11, but it’s a good idea to reserve your four-pack now.
The Annex at Foxtown (6375 W. Mequon Rd.) hosts a Fat Tuesday beer pairing from 5 to 9 p.m. The four-course dinner includes five pours and costs $70.
It’s Downtown Racine Craft Beer Week. A number of businesses are hosting beer-themed events like tastings and beer specials throughout the week. Visit as many as you can to up your chances at winning a craft beer basket at the end of the week.
The kickoff for Klub Kombat, the sequel to Klub Kölsch, is happening at New Barons Brewing Co-op (2018 S. 1st St.) from 6 to 8 p.m. The months-long event gives homebrewers the chance to create a beer and compete for it to hit the tap lines.
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Lakefront Brewery (1872 N. Commerce Ave.) celebrates Margarita Day (yes, that’s a thing) by offering a free pint of La Gose Rita with any in-house purchase from 3 to 9 p.m. The limit is one freebie.
Thursday, Feb. 23
MobCraft Beer (505 S. 5th St.) is pairing beer with Pop’s Kettle Corn at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $23 and includes four pours and four popcorn flavors. The taproom also has another soup and bread pairing from 5 to 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 24
Gathering Place Brewing’s small batch release in Riverwest (811 E. Vienna Ave.) is an Italian Grape Ale and in Wauwatosa (7208 W. North Ave.) it’s Kuraokami Winter Saison.
Couple, Two, Tree is a West Coast IPA and it’s the weekly release at 1840 Brewing Company (342 E. Ward St.). Presale begins at 9 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Barleywine Fest is happening at Central Waters Milwaukee (1037 W. Juneau Ave.) starting at 11 a.m. Central Waters is releasing several barrel-aged options on tap and to go.
Menomonee Falls Downtown is hosting a beer crawl from noon to 6 p.m. For just $40 you can sample different brews in a dozen locations throughout downtown.
Yoga comes to Lion’s Tail Brewing (8520 W. North Ave.) at 11 a.m. The $20 ticket gets you a yoga session and beer when you’re done.
Hacienda Beer Co. (2018 E. North Ave.) is releasing It Just Does Weird Things, a hazy IPA.
Try samples from 18th Street Brewing and Public Craft Brewing at Discount Liquor Milwaukee (5031 W. Oklahoma Ave.) from noon to 5 p.m.
Discount Liquor Waukesha (919 N. Barstow St.) is offering samples from 3 Sheeps Brewing from noon to 2 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 26
Wückfinter is happening at Ray’s Wine & Spirits from noon to 5 p.m. See details above.
Black Husky Brewing (909 E. Locust St.) teams up with Sweetly Baked for a beer and dessert pairing from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets are just $35.
The Mercadera Makers Market comes to Indeed Brewing (530 S. 2nd St.) from noon to 5 p.m. Support local businesses and have a beer or two in the process.
