The Week in Beer: How to Cure That Halloween Hangover

Gourd to Death Pumpkin Ale, Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery.

Happy All Saints Day, also known as Halloween Hangover Day. The best way to recover? A little hair of the werewolf. There are some good upcoming furry opportunities for you to get your groove back, so let's get right to your Week in Beer.

Friday, November 2

» Beginning at 6 p.m., Ashley's, 338 S. State, taps three beers from Paw Paw Brewing, a small brewery in the West Michigan town of the same silly name. Pouring forth for the first time in our area, so far as this reporter knows, will be St. James English Mild Ale, Kalamazoo Urban Assault Pale Ale (KUA), and 2Paws IPA. Celebrate All Souls Day with some new beers!

Sunday, November 4

» The fourth annual Rouge Brew is happening 4-6:30 p.m. at Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, to benefit Friends of the Rouge, a nonprofit that promotes stewardship of the Rouge River. Michigan Beer Guide editor and publisher Rex Halfpenny takes participants on a guided tasting of beers brewed within the Rouge watershed. Advance tickets are $30 for FOTR members, $35 for nonmembers, or $40 at the door if still available and include pizza and a take-home souvenir glass. Space is limited; visit the FOTR website for more info and to register.

Tuesday, November 6

» At long last, the interminable campaign season comes to an end. Celebrate with another edition of Brewer’s Night at Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington. From 6-9 p.m., dig beer specials, brewery tours, cool peeps, and a cask of Ballast Pan-Atlantic IPA (aka Sheerwater IPA dry-hopped with Centennial hops and oak chips). Sounds delish.

» For many of us who discovered good brew back in the early and mid-1990s, beers from an innovative Oregon brewery by the name of Rogue were among the first we tried in our explorations. Today, Rogue Brewing is commemorating the 15,000th batch brewed by their brewmaster, John Maier, with the release of Batch 15,000, a Belgian-style strong stout. Ashley’s, of course, will have some of this limited-edition beer along with plenty of other Rogue offerings tapped at 6 p.m. like Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Yellow Snow IPA, John’s Locker Stock Wet Hop Ale, and several from the Chatoe Rogue series, including OREgasmic Pale Ale, Chatoe Single Malt Ale, and Dirtoir Black Lager. Bottles of First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale and possibly Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale will also be available. All this, plus plenty of Rogue freebies to go around. Don’t miss out!

Wednesday, November 7

» What’s the difference between an ale and lager? A porter and a stout? How about English IPAs vs. American IPAs? Let Patti “TeacherPatti” Smith and Tammy Coxen of Tammy’s Tastings help un-confuse you at the Know Your Beer tasting beginning at 6:30 p.m. at The Last Word, 301 W. Huron, or the Bar Formerly Known As Goodnight Gracie. Tickets are a mere $25; visit Tammy’s Tastings to reserve your place.

» In Dexter, Terry B’s Restaurant, 7954 Ann Arbor St., the “Campfire Beer Dinner” featuring the beers of Bell’s also commences at 6:30 p.m. Chef Doug Hewitt has put together a five-course feast paired with various libations from Michigan’s largest brewery. Spots may still be available as of this writing; call 734-426-3727 to reserve, and check out the menu here. $65 plus tax and tip.

Thursday, November 8

» Arbor Brewing’s biggest, baddest beer tasting of the year, Belgian ales, is going down at 114 E. Washington 7-9 p.m. More than two dozen brews, including actual Belgian ales from Belgium as well as “Belgian-style” beers from closer to home, will be pouring, including everything from malty Trappist ales to sour lambics to Flemish browns. The usual appetizer buffet and swag raffle are part of the fun, as well. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of, if available. Call 734-213-1393 or stop by the pub to get yours.

Notes on the Napkin

• Everyone knows drinking and writing go hand in hand, at least in the romantic view. That’s especially true for Wolverine State Brewing’s Beer Wench, E.T. Crowe, who in addition to being part owner of a brewery is a prolific author of romance novels, some of which have brewery and beer themes to them. Curious? Visit her at her first-ever book signing at Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. (Westgate Shopping Center), November 4 at 3 p.m. Read all about Crowe’s second (or third or fourth?) career in this article from AnnArbor.com’s Jenn McKee.