The Week in Beer: Beer Isn't Always On Time

Wolverine Massacre Bourbon Barrel Aged Lager coming at you again.

Hola, beer-ficianados. As the former AnnArbor.com gets absorbed into MLive.com, things be all like whoa. Consequently, the regular Week in Beer feature you've adored for the last four years is in the process of becoming the Every Two Weeks in Beer, or something like that. I don't yet know what the new schedule is supposed to be.

For the time being, my plan is to keep updating the blog every Thursday like normal. If it ends up making more sense to synchronize it with MLive or just go back to keeping a Google calendar or saying fuck it and embarking on a month-long, soul-searching bender until God tells me what to do, well, I'll let you know. In the meantime, enjoy your latest Week in Beer, yo.

Thursday, October 10

» Over at the Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, Ypsilanti, “A Little Bit of Local” is in the house from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. This special Michigan libation tasting includes liquors from New Holland Brewing and Detroit’s Two James Spirits as well as wine from Bell’s Brewery. Yes, you read that right. Light appetizers, expert booze talk, and some free swag are part of the action. Tickets are $16; call 734-483-5230 or buy online. More details here.

» Hey, it’s still October, so why not keep celebrating Oktoberfest? That’s what Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, has in mind for the latest beer tasting, which features more than two dozen Marzen- and Vienna-style beers, as well as an assortment of fall specialty ales and lagers from close to home and across the globe. There will also be the customary appetizer buffet and prize drawings. Tasting runs 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $30; call 734-213-1393 or buy at the door, if available.

Friday, October 11

» You know where you want to be after leaving work? Whole Foods Market, 3135 Washtenaw, where from 5-8 p.m. your correspondent will be signing copies of his future Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Ann Arbor Beer: A Hoppy History of Tree Town Brewing.” Oh, not enough to entice you? How about some samples of awesome local beers, including Witch’s Hat Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale and an early taste of Wolverine State Brewing’s 2013 vintage of The Massacre Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Lager? Yeah, that just happened. Or will happen. Anyway, be there or be square.

» On the other side of town, at the other Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower, Michigan brewery happy hour rocks from 5-7 p.m. with beers from Arbor Brewing. Which ones? What do I look like, some kind of savant? Go there and find out. After you buy a signed book from me at the Whole Foods on Washtenaw, of course.

Saturday, October 12

» Head down to Original Gravity, 440 County, Milan, for the Ha-Has for Ta-Tas breast cancer fundraiser beginning at 5 p.m. Raffles, t-shirts, pint glasses, and a small-batch beer release are all a lead-up to a free comedy show starting at 8. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Tuesday, October 15

» Hey, Linus, get over to Ashley's, 338 S. State, beginning at 6 p.m. where you can be sure to catch the Great Pumpkin. Or at least some great pumpkin beers. As of this writing the lineup is TBD, but a little zombie told me to look for Southern Tier Pumking Ale, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, New Belgium Pumpkick Ale, and several others. Of course, I may have misunderstood, because what he really said was more like “Mmmgggrrrhhhggglllbrrrraaaaiiiinnnnsss!”

Wednesday, October 16

» The Michigan Craft Beer Gala is rocking Karl's Cabin, 6005 Gotfredson, Plymouth, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dig samples from Witch’s Hat, Liberty Street, New Holland, and Right Brain breweries, along with a “chef’s buffet” of delicacies. Cost is $35 in advance; call 734-455-8450 to reserve your place. More information here.

» Get ready for 10 taps of New Belgium beer at the World of Beer, 1300 S. University, pouring forth beginning at 7 p.m. Look for Fat Tire Amber Ale, Shift Pale Lager, Pumpkick Ale, Rampant IPA, Ranger IPA, Biere de Garde (collaboration with Brewery Vivant), Coffee Imperial Stout, Heavenly Feijoa Tripel, Yuzu Berliner Weisse, and French Aramis IPA. Read all about it in WOB’s weekly newsletter.

Notes on the Napkin

• Going to the Michigan Brewers Guild Detroit Fall Beer Festival, or want to go? You can still get tickets (for Saturday, October 26) and a bus ride, leaving from Witch’s Hat or Liberty Street Brewing, from Motor City Brew Tours for the low, low price of $65. Go here and get to it.
• Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery, 311 S. Main, has on tap a new brew known only as No. 47, made with Thai basil and ginger. And while you’re bellying up, look for the return of North Peak Hoodoo Midwest Wet Hop Ale. Further down the line, stay tuned for Sobrehumano Grand Reserve. Or don’t, because if all y’all buy it all before I get some, I’ma be mad.