The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Things to Be Thankful For

Witch's Hat owners Ryan and Erin Cottongim at the
newly expanded and relocated brewery.

Good health. Good friends. Good beer. These are just some of the things we have to be thankful for, and maybe not even necessarily in that order. But whatever the case, may you enjoy all three in abundance as we enter the frenetic but festive holiday season. Here is your usual smattering of suggestions for where to go and what to do.

Thursday, November 13

» Get your Belgian on at the Arbor Brewpub, 114 E. Washington St. From 7-9 p.m., the joint will be awash with a couple dozen Belgie brews, including lambics, Flemish sours, dubbels, trippels, maybe even a Trappist ale or two. Tuck into the appetizer buffet as well, and don’t forget to listen to see if your name is called to win some sweet swag to take home. Tickets are $35; call 734-213-1393 or buy at the door, if available.

Friday, November 14

» Join Ryan and Erin Cottongim, proprietors of Witch’s Hat Brewing in South Lyon, as they host a dinner featuring their beers at Karl’s Cabin, 6005 Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The evening includes six courses paired with six brews, along with all the merriment you can possibly handle. Tickets are $59 (including tip but excluding tax) in advance; call 734-455-8450 to reserve your space.

Saturday, November 15

» Out with the old, and in with the new. The new, more spacious, and decidedly-not-a-strip-mall location of Witch’s Hat, 601 S. Lafayette St., South Lyon, opens to the public today at noon. With any luck, it will also mark the return of Holy Confusion Barleywine, along with Well Water Reserve Ale and New Beginnings Double IPA.

Monday, November 17

» Ashley’s, 338 S. State St., kicks off a week of “Beers We Are Thankful For” featuring a series of Bell’s tappings and events, beginning tonight at 6 p.m. with a keg of Quince Love Ale, a variant of Wheat Love Wheatwine aged with quince fruit in second-use Black Note Stout bourbon barrels. Beware: It doesn’t quite taste like the 13% ABV bomb it is. Also rotating throughout the week: Amber Ale, Cherry Stout, Christmas Ale, Expedition Stout, Hopsoulution Imperial IPA, Imperial Red Ale, Java Stout, Kal-Haven Ale, Oarsman Ale, Oracle DIPA, Oarsman Ale, Porter, Special Double Cream Stout, Sweet Potato Stout, Third Coast Beer, Third Coast Old Ale, and Two Hearted Ale.

Tuesday, November 18

» Get on over to Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower Blvd., for happy hour with Tapistry Brewing. Look for several of the Bridgman brewery’s beers on tap from 5-7 p.m. at the Wine and Beer Bar. List TBD.

» Back by popular demand at Ashley’s: Bell’s Black Note Deconstructed, beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy a flight of the popular bourbon barrel aged beer’s constituent parts: Special Double Cream Stout, Expedition Stout, and Four Roses Bourbon. Also, of course, a sample of the finished product after it goes through the magic of blending and aging. Cost is $18; pre-register here.

Thursday, November 20

» World of Beer, 1330 South University Ave., knows what you’ve been looking for – and they’ve got it! At 7 p.m., they’ll be tapping a keg of the rarely-seen-in-the-wild Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. One keg only and once it’s gone, it’s gone, so get there early to try some.

» Back at Ashley’s, enjoy a Venus Listening Party after 6 p.m. with the Bell’s crew, featuring bottles of Venus, the second beer in Bell’s Planet Series, inspired by the work of composer Gustav Holst, who will be rocking the jukebox while you sip. What’s Venus? A 7.5% ABV blonde ale brewed with honey, apricot, cardamom, and vanilla.

Wednesday, November 26

» It’s become an annual tradition around these parts: the pre-Thanksgiving release of Terminator Doppelbock at the Arbor Brewpub. Get over there from 6-7 p.m. for a taste of the malty 8% ABV traditional German-style brew, along with some light snacks. Tickets are free for Mug Club members, and $10 for the hoi polloi. During the party, growlers of Terminator are 25% off. A portion of the proceeds from ticket and Terminator sales will be donated to The Breakfast at St. Andrew’s as part of Arbor’s commitment to “terminate hunger” in Washtenaw County.

Notes on the Napkin

• Coming, well, right about now to the NULL Taphouse and by extension, one hopes, the Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery: Persimmon Ship Ale, an oak aged collaboration between Jolly Pumpkin and Upland Brewing in Indiana. If you’ve ever wondered what a beer flavored with Hoosier persimmons and Thai dragonfruit would taste like, now’s your chance to find out.
• Maybe you knew and loved her cart at Mark’s Carts, or had the pleasure of interacting with her as a manager at Bill’s Beer Garden, but Phillis Engelbert’s vegan restaurant, The Lunch Room, 407 N. Fifth Ave., has been open in Kerrytown for a while now. But the big news is they are now serving drinks! Former Red Hawk bar manager Jeff Kapnick has developed a list of wines, cocktails, and most relevant to you, Dear Reader, beers to go with that tasty, vegany fare. Check out the list at thelunchrooma2.tumblr.com/bar. Happy hour is 4-6 and 8-9 p.m. daily.
• Make your reservation now for the first-ever beer dinner at Knight's Steakhouse, 600 Liberty St., taking place December 1. Five beers with five dishes for $50; call 734-887-6899.