The Short Pour Seems a Little... Off

Or, why wouldn't you take beer advice from a woman wearing a fez?

• Put on your gardening gloves. It's known that Bill's Beer Garden will be open St. Patrick's Day, weather permitting. But Bill & Co. are also contemplating opening the preceding Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday, if Mother Nature cooperates. Keep an eye on the space at 218 S. Ashley or, probably easier, follow Bill's on Facebook.
• Beer. Books. Beer books. The Michigan Beer & Book Club has done yours truly the honor of selecting Ann Arbor Beer: A Hoppy History of Tree Town Brewing to discuss at their March meeting, which takes place Wednesday, March 19, at the Wolverine State Brewing taproom at 7:30 p.m. It's technically a "closed" group, but you can sign up and RSVP really easily here. I'll be in attendance to take all these critics' slings and arrows, as well. Should be fun!
• IPAs? Or stouts? Also on March 19, Jet's Pizza in Chelsea is putting 20 IPAs on tap at one time, while Ashley's in Westland is busting out eight Bell's stouts: Cherry Stout, Expedition Stout, Java Stout, Kalamazoo Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Rye Stout, Sweet Potato Stout, and Double Cream Stout (a firkin!). Tap list and time at Jet's are unknown; Ashley's is starting at 6 p.m. and will also have the Bell's crew on hand.
• A-tisket, a cask-et. Speaking of Ashley's in Westland, early bird tickets are now on sale for their May 3 Michigan Cask Ale Festival (yes, that's the same day as the National Homebrew Day Big Brew). Buy through March 19 and tickets are only $30. After that, they go up to $40. More info and ticket-buying widget are here.
• Deliberately drink bad beer. I guess we can't stop talking about Ashley's in Westland. That's where you'll want to be April 6 for the Cicerone Certification Program Off-Flavor Training Course. Ever wonder what the hell beer dorks are talking about when they say a beer tastes of diacetyl? Or that it's oxidized? Or been light struck? My Certified Sisterone-in-Law, the fez-wearin' Annette May, will take you through many of the "off" flavors you may encounter in your beer drinking journeys. Tickets are $39 and space is limited; you can buy online here.