The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Beery Christmas to You

These guys again.

It’s Christmas time in the city, and don’t forget to stop as you hustle home with your treasures to check out the numerous festive occasions involving Santa’s favorite beverage. (Although he’s widely regarded as loving milk, Santa is a beer man all the away – just look at that bowl-full-of-jelly gut.) Here’s your holiday guide to where the good stuff is.

Thursday, December 11

» Get into the spirit with Arbor Brewing’s annual Holiday Beer Tasting. From 7-9 p.m. more than two dozen Christmas ales, doppelbocks, old ales, meads, spiced beers, and whatever else seems appropriate will be pouring at the brewpub at 114 E. Washington St. Tickets are $30 and include beer samples, an appetizer buffet, tasting notes, and the chance to take home some groovy door prizes. Buy at the pub or call 734-213-1393.


» The Jet's Pizza Sportsroom, 506 N. Main St., Chelsea, is celebrating the season with a tap takeover from Rogue Ales, an ugly Christmas sweater party, and a special tapping of four exclusive beers from Saugatuck Brewing. Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest sweaters. Rogue taps include Brutal IPA, Dad's Little Helper Black IPA, Dirtoir Black Lager, Hazelnut Brown Nectar, McRogue Scotch Ale, OREgasmic Ale, Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout, Yellow Snow IPA, and 19 Original Colonies Mead. Beers tap beginning at 11 a.m.; sweater party starts at 5:30.

» It’s Bourbon Day at World of Beer, 1300 S. University Ave., beginning at 6 p.m. when they tap into four delicious bourbon barrel aged beers including Epic Big Bad Baptist, Founders Backwoods Bastard, Oskar Blues Ten Fidy, and Wolverine Massacre. Can't decide which to drink? Sample them all with a flight special, and stick around for live music beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Friday, December 12

»  The Twelve Beers of Christmas begin tonight at Ashley's, 338 S. State St., and go through December 23. One beer a day will be tapped for your holiday enjoyment in the following order: Bell's Christmas Ale, Alaskan Winter Ale, Arbor FIGJAM Quadrupel, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, Dark Horse 4 Elf Winter Warmer, Delirium Noel, Short's Juicy Tree IPA, Harpoon Winter Warmer, Anchor Christmas Ale, Odd Side Merry Elf Winter Warmer, Petrus Winter 9 Belgian Strong Ale, and The Bruery 7 Swans A-Swimming Quadrupel.

Saturday, December 13

» Deck the halls at the Wolverine State Brewing taproom, 2019 W. Stadium Ave., with Fa-La-La-Lager time beginning at 6 p.m. On tap will be the Lagers of Wolverine Past, Present, and Future, including summer’s Au Sable IPL, the recent Massacre Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Lager and Revilo Red IPL, and the new Kurios Black Stout Lager. There will also be food specials, $2 Mug Club 15. Oz pours all day, a Christmas tree full of giveaway swag, games including a euchre tournament. Get all the juicy details here.

Monday, December 15

» Christmas is a time for giving, and Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery, 311 S. Main St., is again getting in on the act with their 5th annual Rare Beer Auction to benefit the Peace Neighborhood Center, which helps less fortunate local families with a variety of programs. Get to the café beginning at 7 p.m. and prepare to bid on rare and vintage brews from the deep Jolly Pumpkin vault. Each year this event raises thousands for the Center, so come be a part of it.

» Can’t get even bourbon barrel aged beer? Head over to Fraser’s, 2045 Packard St., at 5 p.m. when they tap into both Founders KBS and Arcadia Shipwreck Porter. ’Nuff said.

Tuesday, December 16

» It’s happy hour once again at Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower Pkwy. Hit the Wine and Beer Bar from 5-7 p.m. for specials on drafts of Short’s beers. Tap list TBD.

Sunday, December 21

» Back at the Wolverine taproom, check out the 5th annual Family Holiday/Solstice Singalong to benefit Food Gatherers. From 2-4 p.m., join entertainer par excellence Kevin Devine as he leads the merriment, including a sleigh full of rhythm instruments for kids to play along with. Santa will make an appearance for photo ops, and of course there will be plenty of great beer. Bring a bag of canned or other nonperishable goods and get $1 off your beers during the singalong.

Monday, December 22

» Fraser’s does it again! This time they’re tapping kegs of the hard-to-find Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA as well as the new BEER Thousand, a Dogfish brew made with 10 grains, 10 hop varieties and inspired by the 1994 Guided by Voices album Bee Thousand. Rumor has it another can’t-find-it-anywhere-else Dogfish keg will also be tapped. It all starts at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, December 23

» Last-minute shoppers are in luck. The Arbor Brewpub is marking down all gift sets and Mug Club memberships and offering a buy $25, get $5 gift card special. Take care of all the beer lovers on your list in one fell swoop.

Thursday, December 25

» Although it’s been said many times, many ways, beery Christmas to you!

Notes on the Napkin

• Dan's Downtown Tavern, 103 E. Michigan Ave., Saline, recently acquired the 900 square foot space adjacent to the existing multitap beer bar and plans to expand with a second bar early next year. Read more about it from the Ann Arbor News's Jessica Webster.
• Looking for Christmas gift ideas from local vendors? Check out Ben Freed's Ultimate Ann Arbor-Area Holiday Gift Guide. On the list, naturally, is Ann Arbor Beer by yours truly. Makes a great stocking stuffer, especially if paired with a fresh, local beer!
• Finally, anyone planning on attending this year's Detroit Santarchy December 20 should be aware that there will be no Ann Arbor bus. Pickup is only in Ypsilanti, with the Arbor Brewing Microbrewery aka Corner being the most likely spot. Follow Detroit Santarchy on Facebook for the unfolding details.