The Week in Beer: Football, Fundraisers, and Furry Fiddle Players

Violin Monster Autumn Ale releases on September 3. Awooooo!
Via Violin Monster on Facebook.

The unofficial end of summer as marked by Labor Day also brings the start of many new things, including a new season of college football as well as new brews designed to go with the oncoming fall. But that's really only the tip of the iceberg where your Week in Beer is concerned. There are new beer-related events to explore, a new beer book to read, and even a chance to help others out through the magic of tossing back good brew. It's all here waiting for you.

Thursday, August 29

» Dan’s Downtown Tavern, 103 E. Michigan, Saline, is hosting a New Belgium tap takeover. Beginning at 7 p.m., nine drafts of New Belgium beers will flow, including Pumpkick and French Aramis IPA. Plus, get a chance to win tickets to the New Belgium tailgate party before this Saturday's football game.

» Ashley's, 338 S. State, continues the year-long 30th anniversary celebration by welcoming San Diego’s Stone Brewing for a tapping event beginning at 6 p.m. Stone has created an exclusive brew for the occasion: Stone Mixtape Ale Vol. 6: Ashley’s 30th Anniversary Blend, a mixture of Imperial Russian Stout and Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, aged on orange peels and oak hips for good measure. Also on tap: the aforementioned Imperial Russian Stout and Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, 2011 and 2012 Vertical Epic ales, Arrogant Bastard Ale, IPA, Old Guardian Barleywine, Oaked Old Guardian Barleywine, Ruination IPA, and RuinTen Anniversary IPA. It’s the perfect event for Stoners everywhere!

Friday, August 30

» Be at the Wolverine State Brewing taproom, 2019 W. Stadium, from 6-9 p.m. for the event of the season: the first official “Ann Arbor Beer: The Book” release party. Your correspondent and famous author will be there slinging copies of his new tome on Tree Town’s beer history and defacing them with his illegible scrawl, upon request. Look smart to all of your friends with one of these babies gracing your bookshelf or toilet tank. The book’s unofficially official photographer, Wolverine’s Allen Williams, will also be on hand to talk about getting that awesome aerial view of the city for the cover shot. Look for other stops of the 2013 World Tour at the Ann Arbor Beer Facebook page.

Saturday, August 31

» The Michigan Wolverines football team takes the field at 3:30 p.m. to square off against the Central Michigan Chippewas in the opening game of the season. But the Wolverine taproom will be kicking things off at noon, opening early and serving $1 off 15 oz. pours. Even better, if Michigan is winning in the second half, the beers are $1.50 off. Stick around after the game when the Ben Daniels Band takes the stage at 8:30. (I’m told they attract lots of chicks, and who doesn’t love chicks?) Go Blue and go brew!

» Around the time the Wolverines get going, the last German Park picnic of the summer also begins at the park grounds at 5549 Pontiac Trail. I’m informed the German brews this time around are Warsteiner Verum Pilsener, Konig Ludwig Weissbier, and Paulaner Oktoberfest. Of course, all the usual bratwurst, knackwurst, spatzen, sauerkraut, potato salad, strudel, and landjaeger will also be there so you don’t drink all those buckets of beer on an empty stomach. Prost!

Monday, September 2

» Happy unofficial end of summer. Take off those white pants and go grill something to eat that pairs well with good beer. Cheers!

Tuesday, September 3

» He’s furry. He’s ferocious. He plays a mean fiddle. Now, he’s lending his name and image to a new beer. Check out Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, from 6-8 p.m. for the release of Violin Monster Autumn Ale, a 9.5% beast of a beer brewed with midnight wheat malt and ingredients from Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands. Violin Monster himself will be on hand to throw back some brews with us villagers. Tickets are $10 and include light snacks and samples of the beer; call 734-213-1393 or buy at the brewpub. (A limited number of free passes for Mug Club members are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Email beth@arborbrewing.com for info. Include your number and membership location when requesting a ticket.) Awooooo!

» Brewer’s Night returns to the Old German, below Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington, from 6-9 p.m. If you haven’t checked out Ann Arbor’s newest basement bar, now would be the perfect excuse to do so. There will be beer sampler specials, brewery tours, scintillating conversation, and a cask of of Hellion Double IPA aged on oak chips and dry-hopped with U.S. Fuggles.

Wednesday, September 4

» Jim “Largebeat” Gertz has been a fixture in the Ann Arbor music scene since 1978. He’s also the longest-standing employee of Arbor Brewing. So when he was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, his ABC family decided to hold a fundraiser to help him defray the cost of his treatment. That fundraiser kicks off at 8 p.m. at Arbor and features live music (covers picked by Mr. Largebeat himself) and a silent auction of local art, gift certificates, and more. All funds raised will go to help Largebeat with his medical bills. No cover, but a $5 donation is recommended. And be sure to check out the delicious Largebeat Wheat IPA.

Notes on the Napkin

• Tickets are on sale now for the September 26 A2 Art & Brew fundraiser for the Ann Arbor Art Center. The Center has partnered with six local breweries (and six area artists for an evening of pub-crawling, art-viewing, food-noshing fun. Ticket pricing is $50 before September 15 and $60 thereafter. Visit the Art Center’s website for all the details. 
• Save the date! The next beer dinner at Grange Kitchen & Bar, 118 W. Liberty, is October 23 and will feature the beers of Founders.