Beer - Expand your beer world

If you missed Creative Loafing’s recent Beer Fest in Woodruff Park, you missed a great opportunity to expand your beer world, as well as your beer gut. But don’t panic, there are a number of upcoming events that feature great beer, and in many cases great food, as well. Some of these are ongoing events, while others are one-shot deals, so don’t miss out again.

Act quickly if you would like to enjoy a specially prepared five-course meal of seasonal and organic ingredients paired with five craft beers from two of Atlanta’s best brewers. Both locations of 5 Seasons Restaurants celebrate summer with brewers’ dinners next week. On Tuesday, June 26, 5 Seasons North in Alpharetta will have its SeasonBrau Brewer’s Dinner with a seasonal menu crafted by Executive Chef David Larkworthy and craft beer pairings from Brew Master Crawford Moran. The following night, Wednesday, June 27, the Prado location will feature a Brewmaster Dinner created by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Rainwater and Sous Chef Daniel Gordon, along with beers from Brew Master Glen Sprouse, including his Bourbon Oak Aged Imperial Coffee Oatmeal Stout (which is probably as big of a mouthful as its name). Both dinners feature five courses and five beers and kick off at 6:55 p.m. The cost of the SeasonBrau in Alpharetta is $75 per person. Call 770-521-5551 for reservations. The BrewMaster Dinner at the Prado location is $55 each. Call 404-255-5911 to reserve your seat.

The Flying Biscuit Café in Candler Park serves a four-course meal paired with four beers from Atlanta Brewing Company Friday, June 29. A representative from the brewery will be on hand and there will be a raffle for beer-related prizes. This is to be the first in a series of local beer dinners this summer at the Flying Biscuit, so keep your eyes peeled. Reservations must be made with a credit card and the cost is $45 per person. Call 404-687-8888 for more information.
 
It might be too late to get in this week, but Muss & Turner’s in Smyrna has a regular Thursday night beer tasting 6:30-8:30 p.m. hosted by resident “beer maestro” Ric Brown. Each week features a theme such as this week’s Dogfish Head vs. Avery, a battle of eastern and western craft brewers. Next week will be a sampling of fruit beers. At least six beers are included, and the cost is $12. Twenty slots are available and a ll attendees will receive 10 percent off dinner or any purchases in the store that evening. For reservations, e-mail charlie at mussandturners.com or call 770-434-1114.

The Brick Store Pub in Decatur celebrates its 10th anniversary through next Wednesday, June 27, with nightly beer specials and rare cask beers. Atlanta’s best beer bar is a shrine to the barley god, so go supplicate yourself and give thanks and praise. Wednesday, June 21, featured the first ever cask-conditioned Terrapin India Brown Ale, a new beer from the Athens brewery that is so far available only in kegs at local bars. A cask-conditioned Sweetwater Georgia Brown Ale will be tapped Thursday, June 22. Check inon the pub’s website to see what is coming up for the rest of the celebration. The Brick Store also has a regular Beer & Cheese Tasting on the first Monday of each month. Five beers and five cheeses are paired for $25.

Speaking of Terrapin’s India Brown Ale, try another unique take on this beer at Summits Wayside Taverns on Monday, June 26, when they will “Randallize” an IBA over Liberty hops. A Randall is a device invented by Dogfish Head brewmaster Sam Calagione that draws tap beer over fresh hops when it is tapped. Summits Randallizes a different beer every Monday night.

Talking Head columnist Jeff Holland can be reached at jeff.holland@creativeloafing.com.