Splitting the G With Beer Events & Social Updates
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You never know where you’ll find emotionally resonant beer content.
This week, a newsletter I read called The Hustle reported on the necessity to ration Guinness in the UK due to a recent spike in its popularity. They also linked to this TikTok from someone who was literally brought to tears by splitting the G in their last pint of Guinness in Dublin.
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IDK, y’all, maybe I’m just a big softy these days but seeing someone moved so strongly by a sip of beer in a bar was pretty heartwarming. It was also a good reminder of how very strongly some beers are tied to a sense of place. Even though Guinness+Dublin is certainly a special case, I’m certain that all of us could name a beer or three whose flavor brings us back to a sense memory of vacation, of good times with friends and family, of adventure and of discovery.
I guess what I’m saying is that hope at least one beer in 2025 brings you this much joy.
Programming note: I’m guessing there won’t be a ton of beer news next week, so we’ve got some alternate things planned for Monday and Friday as we approach the end of the year.
And now, onto this weekend’s upcoming…
This Weekend:
Waypost Brewing’s final organized event before their closure takes place tomorrow night: A release of their Belgian Quartet by candle and firelight.
For a unique sausage experience, head to Dovetail tomorrow for a special bratwurst made by Paulina Meat Market and cooked in a special way: Over pinecones that were foraged by owner Bill Wesselink.
It makes sense that a brewer named St. Nicholas Brew Co. would do something Santa-themed around now, and they are - a Polar Express style train trip from DuQuoin to Carbondale and back on the 22nd.
Cantillon Fou’Foune alert: It’s pouring on Sunday only at The Beer Temple.
Get ready to celebrate Tighthead’s 13th birthday on December 23rd with live music, food, a visit from Santa and (of course) beer.
Need a last minute present for a whiskey lover? Longman and Eagle will be selling some hard-to-find bottles including Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, Weller and others starting this Monday. Guessing they won’t last long.
Next Week & Beyond
Schlafly celebrates their 33rd year in business on the 26th, for those of us who are in STL on that date.
There’s going to be a lot of NYE parties going on, but we really like what Union’s got planned for their celebration: A 90’s / Y2K themed beer dinner.
Head back to Dovetail for a full weekend of special Beer Hall events on Friday, January 10, starting with their very first “Don’t Come to the Bar” Czech-style beer service.
White Rooster’s Stout Fest returns on January 11, putting ten of their stouts on tap at 8am (five imperials! five milk stouts! with pastries! and donuts!).
If that’s a bit too far of a drive, Haymarket’s Beerthday Party (14 years in Chicago / 8 in Michigan!) takes place the weekend of the 11th-12th.
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Congrats to Bart Watson, who was named the new CEO of the Brewers Association this week.
This new hoppy English Brown Ale from Banging Gavel looks great, and cheers to them for getting to a full year being open at their long-awaited Vogt House space!
Another brown ale alert, this one aged on amburana from Foreign Exchange as they get ever closer to opening their Aurora space.
Premium Subscribers won’t be surprised by this new look for Surly’s Nice lager. And happy 10th birthday to Surly’s Beer Hall, whose brief COVID-related closure stirred up some anti-unionization drama a few years back.
Longtime friend of beer, Chef Cleetus Friedman, must have a pretty deep cellar at his place because he’s launched a new IG/Youtube series called Drink It Or Dump It, starting with a 2015 Stone beer I’d forgotten all about.
Happy 6th birthday to Hairy Cow Brewing.
This is exciting: Crystal Lake Brewing is hard at work on a true Real Ale program with beers made specifically for firkins. Awesome.
Riverlands Brewing welcomed Brianna Levi as their new assistant brewer. They also just released this delicious-sounding session stout.
Cruz Blanca’s Luchador series presale is up on Oznr through Sunday, and I’m very intrigued by the idea of the draft-only Candy Cane Rey Gordo.
Maplewood has entered their corn-beer era with this West Coast IPA brewed with Iowa’s Barntown Brewing.
Goose Island is celebrating their 10,000th batch of beer (unspecified as to whether that’s in total or just at Fulton…) by releasing this oak-aged Belgian-style strong ale called Grand Cru.
IDK what’s going on at Warehouse Liquors but some sort of interpersonal conflict resulted in the cancellation of a Double Eagle event.
The midwest’s newest Cask Marque certified destination is Indy’s Broad Ripple Brewpub.
Half Acre’s new dark lager, Ridge Tree, sounds delicious.
Here’s another dark lager alert from Midwest Coast.
As someone who used to host a show on WONC-FM called Midnight Metal Madness, I’m happy to report that Holzlager Brewing now hosts Midweek Metal Madness.
50 orgs sent 115 people from five states for this week’s Vibes from the Heartland brew day at Solemn Oath, which appears to have been a success.
Any time a brewer starts a post with “Hello, everyone,” it almost always means bad news, but thankfully, Garage Band Brewing managing partner Craig posted this update about his recovery from unforseen medical issues that will allow him to get back into the brewhouse soon. Sounds like he’d love for y’all to pay them a visit.
Thank you all for being here! Have a great weekend. See y’all on Monday.
~Karl, a Guy Drinking … IDK, maybe some Cantillon tonight?