Beer - Our Mug Runneth Over!

The calendar is jam-packed with great ways to enjoy beer this week. Get out. Have fun. Be safe.

OskarBlues Beer Dinner at 5th Earl Market

Monday, Feb. 18, Georgia Oskar Blues rep Kerri Allen hosts a beer dinner at the 5th Earl Market in Decatur, starting at 7 p.m. The Lyons, Colorado brewery’s four regular beers will be paired with everything from beef carpaccio to pecan wood-smoked venison ribs. No vegans allowed. Call the 5th Earl Market at 404-377-5477 for reservations, or check out their website for more details.  

On a related note, cans of Oskar Blues’ remarkable Ten Fidy Imperial Stout have been spotted in local liquor stores. Atlanta is one of the few markets outside of Colorado to receive the limited run of cans, so snatch them up while they last.

5 Seasons Feast

Chef David Larkworthy has gone overboard with 5 Seasons’ beer dinner scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 20, cooking up 12 courses to serve with 6 of Crawford Moran’s beer creations. The menu selections highlight winter cuisine and include two courses of complementary plates matched with beer. A cellared Belgian tripel is served with “drunken” rabbit and suckling pig, for example; an ESB is paired with two classic British dishes, fish and chips and shepherd’s pie. Come hungry and thirsty. Cost is $65 per person. Call 770-521-5551 or send an email to info.5seasons@gmail.com to make your reservation.

New Styles on Tap at Twain’s

Brewer Jordan Fleetwood has rolled out two new beers at Twain’s this week. Captain Stormfield’s Abbey Ale is an unfiltered Belgian strong pale ale in the tradition of Duvel. At 7.8%, it’s a sticky, grainy, yeasty mouthful of fruit and spice, like a good bread pudding, with a bit of rum in it. The Stubborn River Bitter is a mild, pleasantly-bitter session ale with a grassy hop flavor and a bit of cidery, tea-like malt character. With an ABV of just 5.6%, you can have a few and still shoot straight at the billiards table.

Terrapin Brewery Up and Running

Terrapin Beer Company at last has gotten all its paperwork finalized and has begun brewing at its new brewery in Athens. Production will ramp up slowly, with the first batches going into kegs until the bottling line is complete. The plan is to have most of their beer brewed at the new facility in about 3 months time. The 45,000-square-foot building in Athens is now open for tours every Monday and Thursday from 5-7 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 2-5 p.m. Stop in and sample the wares from one of the best breweries in the Southeast. To keep up with the goings-on at Terrapin, which promises some surprise new releases this year, sign up for their newsletter here.

Atlanta Brewing Company Introduces Helles Bock

Not content to rest on its laurels after winning a gold medal for its Red Brick Blonde Ale at the Great American Beer Festival, Atlanta Brewing Company will be rolling out its new draft-only spring seasonal, Red Brick Helles Bock, at all Taco Mac locations in the Atlanta area this weekend, Feb. 16 and 17. Brewed with European pale malts and lagered for over 3 months for clarity and high attenuation, this is not a malt-heavy amber lager like a traditional bock. Also known as a maibock, the moderately-high alcohol Helles Bock is typically tapped in May for spring festivals. Ah, spring!
 
Atlanta Brewing Company continues its Friday afternoon brewery tours with a new starting time of 6 p.m., which will be appreciated by those negotiating the Midtown traffic mess. The evening revelry features regularly scheduled musical entertainment at their new facility in the Westside warehouse district. Friday, Feb. 15 the Stooge Brothers take the stage from 6-8 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 22, Jackass Flats will provide the soundtrack. Tours are also available on Wednesday nights and on Sunday afternoons from 5-7 p.m. Call 404-355-5558 for details, and check out their Myspace page for the live music schedule.

Fancy French Beers at Muss and Turner’s

Muss and Turner’s in Vinings continues its Thursday night beer tastings next week after taking a break for Valentine’s Day. The themed tastings are hosted by “beer maestro” Jessica Moss and are limited to 20 people. The tasting on Thursday, Feb 21 from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. will feature Bieres des Gardes, the rare and expensive farmhouse-style ales from the north of France, making it well worth the $15 cover. Call 770-434-1114 or e-mail reservations@mussandturners.com to reserve your spot.

Duck-Rabbit Released in Georgia

Look for North Carolina microbrewery Duck-Rabbit’s line of dark beers in stores this weekend. They include a milk stout, porter, brown ale, and amber ale. If you hurry, you have a rare chance to sample all four of Duck-Rabbit’s exceptional seasonals at the Brick Store Pub. Owner Paul Philippon told me at the kick-off party Tuesday that this is the first time all four beers have been on tap at the same time ever!