Spend Saturday in Racine
The inaugural Top of the Hops Beer Festival is a good bet for beer aficionados on Saturday. It takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Racine Civic Centre (5 Fifth St.) in downtown Racine. You get in the door for the general admission price of $34.99 (which sounds kinda like what you’d pay for some unnecessary late-night TV product). But wait, there’s more! You also get a souvenir two-ounce sampling mug, unlimited sampling of more than 150 beers, entertainment and access to seminars about beer. The list of breweries in attendance is solid – Three Floyds, New Glarus, Hinterland, Bell’s, Lakefront, and many more will be there.
Take Off Hoser
For some reason, I spent an hour this week scouring YouTube for clips from Strange Brew, arguably the best movie about beer ever made. Although it’s hard to tell from this decidedly out-of-date clip. Beauty, eh?
Barley Pop of the Week
I’ve been meaning to try Nebraska Brewing’s Black Betty Russian Imperial Stout for a while. It was enticing for two reasons – I’m on a quest to sample any bourbon barrel aged beer I can get my hands on, and since I’m from Nebraska I feel a sense of loyalty to the Cornhusker State. (Go Big Red!) Back to the beer. The dark stout mixes chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with tasty bourbon, and it has a nice slightly bitter finish. Black Betty is roughly 20 bucks for a 750mL bottle. Treat yourself.
Quick Taps
I haven’t had a chance to try anything from 3 Sheeps Brewing, Sheboygan’s new craft brewery. I’ll put that on the “to do” list.
Madison Beer Week started last Friday and continues through Sunday. Check www.madbeerweek.com for event info.
Lakefront’s latest My Turn series beer has made it to bars around town.
Brad Made a Scottish Ale comes on the heels of the well-received Dan Made a Baltic Porter.
Events Brewing
Wednesday, May 9: The third release in Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy series starts showing up this week. The Imperial IPA hits Romans’ Pub (3475 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) at 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 10: Meet Dick Leinenkugel and try food pairings with the Big Eddy series of beers at the Rumpus Room (1030 N. Water St., rumpusroommke.com). Small plates will be paired with the newly released Big Eddy Imperial IPA, Big Eddy Imperial Stout, Big Eddy Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, and Sour Cherry Stout, which is not yet released.
Thursday, May 10: Try some of the good stuff that Leinenkugel’s is brewing at the Tenth and Black Brewery from 4 to 7 p.m. at Discount Liquor Milwaukee (5031 W. Oklahoma Ave.).
Friday, May 11: Capital Brewery brings new Hop Cream Ale, Dark Doppelbock and Maibock to Discount Liquor Milwaukee from 4 to 6 p.m.
Friday, May 11: Capital Brewery is at Discount Liquor Waukesha (919 Barstow St.) from 4 to 7 p.m.
Friday, May 11: Sprecher beer and cheese pairings start at 7 p.m. at Wisconsin Cheese Bar (1048 N. Old World Third St.). Cost is $12. Call 272-3544 for details.
Saturday, May 12: Bring mom to Three Cellars (7133 S. 76th St.) from 1 to 4 p.m. for a tasting of “beers for mom.”
Saturday, May 12: Discount Liquor Milwaukee doles out samples of Furthermore from 12 to 2 p.m. and Krombacher from 12 to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 12: Discount Liquor Waukesha hosts Tenth and Blake (12 to 2 p.m.), Krombacher (3 to 6 p.m.) and Schlitz (12 to 3 p.m.).
