Beer dinners, beer dinners, beer dinners. Chef Brandon Johns of Grange Kitchen & Bar is just one of many talented chefs who know what to do with food and brew.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, May 16

>> The ACBW celebration continues at Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, as today brewery and brewpub workers, Michigan Brewers Guild Enthusiast members, and homebrew clubbers all receive 20 percent off all retail merchandise and half off pints all day. Time to update your summer wardrobe?

>> Ashley's, 338 S. State, also celebrates ACBW with the Coast to Coast Toast tonight at 6 p.m. Look for four of craft beer pioneer Sierra Nevada's brews on tap for the occasion, including Ruthless Imperial Rye Ale, Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale, Torpedo Extra IPA, and this month's "Brewer's Dozen" limited release, Belgian Blonde IPA. And don't forget Ashley's is part of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Progressive Craft Beer Tour going on all this week. Stop by for a passport (or a sticker for your passport) and a pint and enter to win some great prizes. Details here.

Friday, May 17

>> Arbor is tapping a firkin of something special at 4 p.m., and once again, this is a case of your correspondent advising you to pay a visit to the brewpub and find out for yourself  just what said firkin is. (Another way of saying I don't know.)

>> The brewers from Bellaire make a trip down to our neck of the woods when they take over the taps from 5-7 p.m. for happy hour at the Wine and Beer Bar of Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower. It's a relatively tame lineup, considering some of the, um, unique things Short's brews, but I note their excellent summer seasonal Nicie Spicie is among the offerings. See the full list here.

Saturday, May 18

>> Arbor Mug Club members get some extra love today in the form of half off all pints all day. Those wishing to join this exclusive club of drinkers get $25 off new memberships. I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member, but this strikes me as a pretty OK deal.

Sunday, May 19

>> Head back to Arbor from noon to 1 p.m. for a Meet the Brewer party and behind-the-scenes tour with head brewer Mike Moroney. You get the sense these Arbor people are taking this Craft Beer Week thing seriously, don't you? No cover, but RSVP in advance to beth@arborbrewing.com.

Monday, May 20

>> Over in Ypsilanti, Red Rock Downtown Barbecue, 207 W. Michigan, hosts its Monday Beer Enthusiast Night with special guest Blue Point Brewing. Beginning at 6 p.m., check out five drafts from this Long Island brewery, including Toasted Lager, Hoptical Illusion IPA, Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, Old Howling Bastard Old Ale, and White IPA.

Tuesday, May 21

>>Whether you entered a beer in the annual Grizzly Peak Mug Club Brew-Off or you just want to watch the drama unfold, pull up a stool at the Den, 122 W. Washington, and grab a beer while you wait to see whose brew wins the grand prize this year. Head brewer Duncan Williams and his hand-selected panel of beer geniuses will sit in judgment. But remember, regardless of what happens, everyone's a winner because beer.

>> Got dinner plans? Now you do. The Lake Street Tavern, 127 E. Lake, South Lyon, and Arbor are teaming up for the Brewfest and Feast from 7-10 p.m., featuring five courses paired with five beers. Tickets are $45; call 248-446-8898. Menu is here.

Wednesday, May 22

>> Terry B’s Restaurant, 7954 Ann Arbor St., Dexter, teams up with Bell’s for a spring feast from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Your correspondent has seen a sneak peek of the menu, and as per usual Chef Doug Hewitt looks poised to hit another home run. Here are just a few hints: Michigan Shrimp Chowder, Smoked Trout "Sandwich," Chili Bacon Wrapped Tenderloin, and Butterscotch Pot de Creme paired with the likes of Roadhouse Imperial Red Ale, Two Hearted Ale, and Black Note Stout. If there are any spaces left, you'd be crazy not to jump on one.Call 734-426-3727 for pricing and more information. Weather permitting, the deck will be open to enjoy all this al fresco.

Thursday, May 23

>> Original Gravity, Arbor, and Great Lakes are the featured breweries for the Craft Brew-Ha-Ha dinner at Paesano, 3411 Washtenaw, also taking place in the great outdoors, weather permitting. The beer and food bonanza starts at 6:30 p.m. on the patio. Call 734-971-0484 for prices and to reserve (if seats are still available); see the full mouth-watering menu here.

Notes on the Napkin

• Congratulations to both Arbor and Liberty Street Brewing, who both received medals at this year's World Expo of Beer, taking place this weekend in Frankenmuth. Arbor snagged silver in the Sour Ale category for Flamboyant Red Wild Ale and Liberty earned silver for its Glutenous Minimus Gluten-Free Beer in the fierce Specialty Beer category and bronze in Amber Hybrid for Steamy Windows California Common Ale. Now go out and drink yourself some of these award-winning brews, and see all of the winners here.
• The long-awaited bottling of Wolverine's The Gulo Gulo India Pale Lager is here: Beginning May 17 at noon, you can purchase this hop lover's delight by the bottle, sixer, or case at the Wolverine tap room, 2019 W. Stadium. Stick around for a more formal release celebration with live music and other fun in the evening, and look for six-packs in the more sensible retail outlets soon as well.
• The Farmers Market is back for the season at Original Gravity, 440 County, Milan. Hit the brewery from 5-7 p.m. every Wednesday for fresh produce from the likes of Zilke Vegetable Farm as well as happy hour prices on beer because all that shopping makes a body thirsty.
• The bus to the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival leaving from Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, Plymouth, and Witch's Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, is filling up fast. If you're looking to have someone else drive you to this signature event, look no further than Motor City Brew Tours. Get more details on bus and festival packages or bus-only tickets from MCBT, and be sure to check out the latest Witch's Hat news here.
• Your next date with beer and fine cuisine is June 25 at Grange Kitchen & Bar, 118 W. Liberty, when the beers of Dark Horse are featured alongside Chef Brandon Johns's farm-to-table courses. More information on this and other upcoming events at Grange is here.
• Another week, another correction: Grizzly Peak's 1995 throwback beer pricing takes place from May 20-26, not, as incorrectly stated by your sheepish correspondent, during Craft Beer Week.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. He is also working on a book about Ann Arbor’s illustrious beer past and present. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

L to R: Larry Bell toasts 30 years of Ashley's and Bell's with help from Jeff More, Laura Bell, and Roy More.

Photo: Erik Smith

So one-time Ann Arbor resident Larry Bell (that guy who founded a little brewery in West Michigan) told me in a recent interview for my forthcoming book. "It's been our No. 1 market; we sold more beer in Ann Arbor and Detroit than we were selling in Kalamazoo," he said of the early days.

Why do I bring this up? Because Michigan has three cities in the 2013 BeerCity USA poll — last year's co-winner Grand Rapids plus Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor — and some people seem to think Tree Town is not a worthy contender compared to its western brethren. Maricat Eggenberger helps dispel that notion in a Pure Michigan blog post today (with an assist from yours truly), plus if time and space allowed, I would add another couple dozen reasons why Ann Arbor is a great place for beer, and has been for a long time!

So vote Ann Arbor for BeerCity USA 2013, and then check out just why you made the right choice in your latest Week in Beer.

Thursday, May 9

>> You want to be at Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, from 7-9 p.m. for the monthly beer tasting, this time focused on malty bocks, doppelbocks, and Trappist ales. More than two dozen beers, tasting notes, an appetizer buffet, and prize drawings to cap off the night — all for $30. Call 734-213-1393 or buy at the door, if available.

Friday, May 10

>> Free Beer Friday is back at The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and this time it's West Coast represent with free samples of beers from California's Lagunitas Brewing. Pouring will be Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale and Lagunitas IPA. Follow The Produce Station on Facebook to keep up to date with all this free beer.

Saturday, May 11

>> From 9-11 a.m., homebrewers registered in the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild Brews Crews competition have one last chance to drop off their entries at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, for judging for the June 8 award ceremony at the Corner. Be warned: Depot Town and environs are going to be a madhouse due to the Color Run. For more information on the Brews Crews, see brewscrews.aabg.org.

>> Michigan Brewers Guild Enthusiast members have the chance to tour the brewhouse, beer cellar, and winery — yes, winery — at Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, Plymouth. But wait, there's more, including a pizza lunch, glass of beer of your choice, a little something from special from the cellar, and the charming company of brewers Jim Satterfield and Joe Walters. Reservations are required; RSVP to candy@libertystreetbeer.com. Tour begins at 1 p.m.

>> Pause a moment to raise a glass at 6 p.m. in honor of "Michigan Victory Day," when in 1933 beer again became legal in our fair state following the national nightmare known as Prohibition.

Sunday, May 12

>> Happy Mother’s Day! Take Mom out for a beer.

Monday, May 13

>> Beginning today is a little something we like to call American Craft Beer Week, and it runs through May 19. What's that mean for you? Beer. Duh! And also some neat specials at various beer-centric locations around town. Par example:

• Get in on the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Progressive Craft Beer Tour! Pick up your passport at one of the nine participating bars and breweries, then visit them throughout Craft Beer Week and collect stickers for ordering (discounted) Michigan craft brews. You could win fabulous prizes! See all the details on the official Facebook event page or the Arbor/Corner events page.
• Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington, is celebrating 18 years of beer by offering 1995 throwback prices: Enjoy any brew on tap throughout Craft Beer Week for $2.95. Deal!
• At Bar Louie, 401 E. Liberty, buy any Sam Adams draft during happy hour (4-7 p.m.) any day of the week and take home a cool Sam Adams glass.
• The Creekside Grill and Bar, 5827 Jackson, is also offering keep-your-glass specials all week, only with Sierra Nevada beers and glasses.
• Red Rock Downtown Barbecue, 207 W. Michigan, Ypsilanti, is putting three different New Belgium beers on tap beginning at 6 p.m. for its Beer Enthusiast Monday: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Heavenly Feijoa Tripel, and Hoppy Bock.

Tuesday, May 14

>> Ashley's, 338 S. State, is pouring a number of Arbor beers beginning at 6 p.m., including the Belgian collaboration brews Mundus Novus Rye Chocolate Dubbel and Mundus Vetus Rye Tripel. Also on tap: Phat Abbot Tripel, Ryeclops Imperial Ryle Ale, Strawberry Blonde Ale, and Buzzsaw IPA.

>> The Detroit Draft Divas are turning two, and you might think that means they're not legally old enough to drink, but you'd be wrong. These ladies are experienced professionals. Join them at 6 p.m. at Witch's Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, as they raise a glass at the second annual Diva Anniversary Toast. They'll be hoisting a little something special in those glasses, too: Saison D'Va, brewed at Witch's Hat by the Divas themselves. If you took part in the brewing, you'll want to see how it turned out. If you didn't take part in the brewing, you'll want to see how it turned out. Also look for the beer (and the Divas) to make an appearance at next weekend's World Expo of Beer in Frankenmuth.

>> The Wurst Bar, 705 W. Cross, Ypsilanti, joins the Craft Beer Week party with a New Belgium tap takeover featuring the impressive lineup of Fat Tire Amber Ale, La Folie Sour Brown Ale, Rampant Imperial IPA, Rolle Bolle Summer Ale, Shift Pale Lager, and Imperial Coffee Stout. Also, from 7-9 p.m., order a Sierra Nevada draft and take a Sierra glass home with you.

>> Basically, this week is a great week to start that Sierra (or Sam Adams) glassware collection you've always wanted. Banfield's Westside, 5510 Jackson, is also doing the Sierra glass thing from 7-9 p.m.

Wednesday, May 15

>> Today is the last day to submit entries to the Grizzly Peak Mug Club Brew-Off, taking place May 21 from 4-7 p.m. in the Den. For more details, see here.

Thursday, May 16

>> Today's highlight for Craft Beer Week is the Coast to Coast Nationwide Toast. Join Matt Trautmann of Blue Point Brewing from 6-9 p.m. as he leads the proceedings at Red Rock. On tap from the Long Island brewery will be Toasted Lager, Hoptical Illusion IPA, and Summer Ale.

>> Ashley's will also be toasting at 6 p.m. and giving away Sierra glasses for those who partake of Torpedo Extra IPA, Ruthless Rye Ale, plus a couple other possibilities (hey, it's Ashley's — they have a few taps).

>> Arbor is offering 20 percent off all retail merchandise and half off all pints all day long for brewery and brewpub workers, homebrewer clubs, and Michigan Brewers Guild Enthusiast members. They've also got some good Craft Beer Week festivities lined up heading into the weekend; to see what they've planned, go here.

Notes on the Napkin

• Last week your correspondent stated that the Arbor beer dinner at Lake Street Tavern, 127 E. Lake, South Lyon, is on May 22. It's apparently moved to Tuesday, May 21. Heck, I dunno. What I do know: The menu looks pretty darn tasty and can be found here. And you can call Lake Street at 248-446-8898 for more info and to reserve your place.
• Concentrate Media is killing it on the beer news front. Check out their recent stories on Arbor Brewing, Wolverine State Brewing, World of Beer, Unity Vibration, and Jolly Pumpkin. See? Killing it.
• Don't forget to get your tickets to the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival. Sales are online only this year, so if you had the notion you'd snag a couple tickets next time you dropped by your local for a pint or two: NOT. Get them now.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. He is also working on a book about Ann Arbor’s illustrious beer past and present. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

World of Beer co-owner Chad Wilson hopes to attract a more sophisticated kind of beer lover to South U when he and Steve Rossi open their 40-tap bar in June.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, May 2

>> Bill's Beer Garden, 218 S. Ashley, is officially open for the season, 7-11 p.m. Thursday through Saturdays and 5-9 p.m. Sundays. Later in the season, the hours and days expand. Check their website for more info and an updated tap list. On an unrelated note, Violin Monster is back in town, and I am still agitating for him to play a gig at Bill's! How about it, guys?

Friday, May 3

>> Buckle up your shopping cart seatbelts as Michigan brewery happy hour returns to Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower, for the second week in a row. From 5-7 p.m., belly up to the Wine and Beer Bar and enjoy multiple taps of TBD beers from Battle Creek’s Arcadia Brewing. Full glasses are $3 and samples are $1, so how could you possibly go wrong?

Saturday, May 4

>> Today is like Christmas for homebrewers: the annual American Homebrewers Association Big Brew in honor of National Homebrew Day (which is actually May 7). Adventures in Homebrewing, 6071 Jackson, is hosting a huge brewing demo event befitting the occasion that includes celebrity (to homebrewers) guests Chris White of White Labs and John Blichmann of Blichmann Engineering. More details at homebrewing.org.

>> Farther afield, the Sons of Liberty club is hosting a homebrewing demo outside of Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, Plymouth, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The South Lyon Area Brewers (SLAB) club are doing likewise outside of Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, beginning at 2 p.m.

>> Farther farther afield, Ashley’s plays host to their sixth (and largest yet) Michigan Cask Ale Festival at the Westland location, 7525 Wayne Road. More than 30 casks of real ale will be pouring outside in the (we hope) warm spring sunshine, including one-offs like Admiral Ashley’s Imperial Fugglicious English IPA, brewed by Short’s to commemorate Ashley’s 30th year in business. Others of note include Arbor Brewing’s Sodibo Sour Blonde Ale and the Arbor/Brouwerij de Musketiers (Troubadour) collaborative Mundus Novus Rye Chocolate Dubbel and a Liberty Street/Sherwood Brewing collaboration, Resinator Doppelbock. Tickets are $35 at the door. More information, including the full list of beers, is available here.

Sunday, May 5

>> Little darlin’, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter, but warm halcyon days are here again. Halcyon Sundaze returns from hibernation for the summer season in the beer garden at Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, and, as it also happens to Cinco de Mayo, look for a special Mexican-themed menu along Casa Grande Dark Vienna Lager on tap. Relaxing tunes provided by the coolest DJs commence at 2 p.m. and go until the noise ordinance kicks in, sometime around 9ish. Bonus: Say goodbye to Arbor/Corner brewing alums Bill Gerds and Aaron Stryker as they prepare to move on to their next brewing adventures.

>> People, get ready! The Detroit Draft Divas are celebrating Mexico’s victory over something or other with a downtown Ann Arbor pub crawl, to begin at noon at Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery, 311 S. Main. From there, Grizzly Peak, Blue Tractor, and Arbor Brewing are all on the schedule followed by a visit to Tio’s, 401 E. Liberty, for a New Holland Cinco de Mayo beer and spirits celebration and, if anyone is still standing, Ashley’s and maybe even Dominick’s. Viva la cerveza!

>> Down in Milan, Original Gravity, 440 County, is hosting the official afterparty for the annual Cone Azalia dirt bike race, which includes live music on the patio from 2-4 p.m. and Cone Azalia Red Ale, a 4.7 percent alcohol-by-volume beer brewed with German and American hops a hefty dose of Vienna malt.

Tuesday, May 7

>> New Belgium Brewing takes over the taps of the Wurst Bar, 705 W. Cross, Ypsilanti, beginning at 6 p.m. Six brews including the ever-present Fat Tire Amber Ale, Rolle Bolle Summer Ale, Shift Pale Lager, Rampant Imperial IPA, Imperial Coffee Stout, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale will be pouring. Need I say more?

>> At the Grizzly Peak Den, 122 W. Washington, Brewer’s Night rocks the house from 6-9 p.m. with beer sampler specials, brewhouse tours (see the new Old German under construction!) from head brewer Duncan Williams or one of his minions, and a cask of something special on the bar: This time, the fabulous Le Poisson Rouge, a wood-aged version of Grizzly standard Steelhead Red Ale. Vive la biere!

Wednesday, May 8

>> Beers from the middle of the Mitten take center stage at the Jet’s Pizza Sportsroom, 506 N. Main, Chelsea, as six taps are given over to Mount Pleasant Brewing beginning at 5 p.m. As of this writing, no list of brews is available, but I bet if you go there you can find out — and even be able to ask a brewery rep all about what you’re drinking.

>> Although not necessarily beer-oriented, the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber’s 4th semi-annual Grub Crawl from 6-9 p.m. includes several of Ypsilanti’s most beer-friendly (Corner Brewery, Sidetrack Bar & Grill, Red Rock Downtown Barbecue, etc.) stops. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12, who obviously can’t drink any beer but can instead learn all about their parents’ vices firsthand. To register and for more information, go here.

Thursday, May 9

>> Arbor Brewing’s monthly tasting series focuses on malty bocks, doppelbocks, and Trappist ales from 7-9 p.m. You know the drill: more than two dozen beers, tasting notes, appetizer buffet, and swag drawings to cap off the night — all for a mere $25 in advance (or $30 the day of). Call 734-213-1393 or pick up your ticket at the pub.

Notes on the Napkin

• Two more beer dinners for your calendar, but they’re both on May 22 so a decision is in order. Arbor Brewing beers will be featured at the Lake Street Tavern, 127 E. Lake St., South Lyon, while Terry B’s, 7954 Ann Arbor St., Dexter, teams up with Bell’s for a spring/summer feast. Call Lake Street at 248-446-8898 or Terry B’s at 734-426-3727 for more information or to reserve.
• Congratulations to Liberty Street Brewing, whose Steamy Windows California Common Ale and Liberty One Porter took bronze medals in the World Expo of Beer competition, as well as to Arbor, whose Flamboyant Red Wild Ale brought home silver in the sour ale category. I look forward to drinking more of all of these beers because I liked ’em before they were famous. (/hipster)
• June 17 is the current target date for the grand opening of World of Beer, now under construction on the first floor of the Landmark student high-rise on the corner of South University and S. Forest. Michigan alums Chad Wilson and Steve Rossi plan to offer 40 craft brews on tap (many of them Michigan beers) as well as 500 bottled selections in an area not exactly known for discriminating beer taste. Wilson, who with Rossi is a veteran restaurateur, hopes their higher standards will coax traffic from downtown and other areas as well as cater to the students who do appreciate good brew. Live music and an outdoor bar are part of their strategery as well. AnnArbor.com business reporter Lizzy Alfs has the full story.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. He is also working on a book about Ann Arbor’s illustrious beer past and present. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Ann Arbor needs another 60 votes today to make it on the ballot for Charlie Papazian's 2013 Beer City USA poll, to be held in May.

Photo courtesy Bill's Beer Garden

Is Ann Arbor Beer City USA? We'll never know unless you vote now to put Tree Town on Charlie Papazian's 2013 Beer City USA poll, to be conducted May 6-10. The nominating poll closes today.

Four hundred votes are needed to make the full Beer City USA poll and two Michigan cities — Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo — are far ahead of the other choices. Kalamazoo in fact has already qualified with over 500 votes. Ann Arbor is still about 60 votes shy.

Some Kalamazoo boosters are getting downright nasty, leaving comments such as these:

"Ann Arbor? Who are they kidding? Kalamazoo is far superior in every way...including BEER."

"Ann Arbor? Anyone with even a little research would know that Ann Arbor is not a place of craft beers."

"Beer in Ann Arbor has an imported and somewhat pretentious aroma to it. Ann Arbor has sub-par microbreweries who have not yet perfected their batches."

"Ann Arbor is Michigan's version of Gary, Indiana."

And that's not even counting the numerous insecure people posting that Ann Arbor's votes are all the result of a conspiracy to take votes from Kalamazoo.

I don't know about you, but to me them's fightin' words.

The Kalamazoo area's claim to fame is to being the home of Bell's Brewery, Michigan's largest and oldest and undisputed maker of many excellent brews including Two Hearted and Oarsman ales. But let's go over just a few things the Ann Arbor area brings to the table:

• Larry Bell purchased his original brewing equipment from Ted Badgerow, who was first to open a microbrewery, Chelsea's Real Ale Company, in 1982. Ted later ran a homebrew supply shop on Ann St. and still lives in Ypsilanti, where he says his eventual return to commercial brewing is "probably inevitable."
• Founded in 1983, Ashley's annually makes national lists of best beer bars and has 72 taps, the most in Michigan. Ashley's was also an early adopter of Bell's beers, back when Larry himself distributed them from his van.
• Ann Arbor has four breweries — Arbor Brewing, Grizzly Peak, Blue Tractor, and Wolverine State — and will add a fifth when Biercamp gets their brewing operation up and running. Six other breweries, including the Chelsea Alehouse, Jolly Pumpkin, and the Corner Brewery, are a short drive away.
• Arbor and Grizzly in 1995 were among the first brewpubs to open in Michigan following changes in state law that made it easier to do so. Grizzly has for years been Michigan's top-selling brewpub. Arbor just opened a brewpub in India.
• The Ann Arbor Brewers Guild, officially founded in 1986, is the state's oldest homebrewing club. And also one of the most active: As but one example, they annually put on the huge Brews Crews homebrew competition, which last year judged some 400 entries.

You get the idea.

We're happy giving our friends in Kalmazoo their due, but let's keep the competition friendly and get both of these worthy Michigan cities added to the 2013 Beer City USA poll, where they can join last year's winner Grand Rapids in representing the Great Beer State.

VOTE FOR ANN ARBOR HERE.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. He is also working on a book about Ann Arbor’s illustrious beer past and present. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

The Corner Brewery crew collaborated with two Belgian brewers Feb. 7 to create Mundus Novus Rye Chocolate Dubbel Ale, releasing today.

Photo: Frederic Culpepper

Thursday, April 25

>> A bit of Belgium comes to downtown Ann Arbor from 4-7 p.m. during the release party for two collaboration beers brewed by Arbor Brewing and Ghent, Belgium's Brouwerij de Musketiers, makers of the Troubadour series of beers. The collaboration brews include Mundus Vetus (Old World) Rye Tripel Ale, brewed in Ghent, and Mundus Novus (New World) Rye Chocolate Dubbel Ale, brewed at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. Also on tap will be a few other awesome Troubadour beers: Antigoon Double Blonde Ale, Troubadour Magma, and Troubadour Obscura. Brewers Stefaan Soetemans and Kristof Deroo will be joining in via Skype from Ghent for an international toast.

>> Wine has long dominated as the elegant choice for cheese pairings, but beer is fast catching up. See how the two stack up at the Beer vs. Wine Taste-Off from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at babo market, 403 Washington. Cost is only $12 for five pairings; pay at the door and you’re in. Visit babo's blog for more information and to see the full menu.

>> More beer and food pairing is going down at Grange Kitchen & Bar, 118 W. Liberty, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Chef Brandon Johns is using locally sourced ingredients and matching them up with beers from Short's like Ginger in the Rye Ale, Joyous Almondo Brown Ale, Huma Lupa Licious IPA, and more. Event is likely sold out, but you never know when someone is going to cancel, etc. Tickets are $55 excluding tax and tip and can be purchased here, if available.

>> Who loves beer? Women do. (So do men, but that's, like, duh.) Find out how much at a 6:30 p.m. screening of The Love of Beer at the Wolverine State Brewing taproom, 2019 W. Stadium, co-sponsored by Whole Foods. Following the film, join Wolverine's Beer Wench E.T. Crowe as she leads an educational beer tasting session. Admission is $5, which will be donated to Slow Food Huron Valley. Must be 21 for the tasting part, natch.

Friday, April 26

>> And while we're on the subject of Whole Foods, this is a good time to mention the Midland Brewing Co. happy hour at the Cranbrook location, 990 W. Eisenhower, from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy $3 glasses ($1 samples) of an as-yet-unknown number of as-yet-to-be-determined beers from your correspondent's old stomping grounds at the elegant environment of the Wine and Beer Bar, located, of course, by the cheese.

>> Bill’s Beer Garden, 218 S. Ashley, has announced another "pop-up" weekend before the regular season commences May 2. Enjoy brews at downtown Ann Arbor's premier (and only) beer garden this Friday and Saturday 7-11 p.m. and Sunday 5-9 p.m. With any luck, you will not need a parka.

>> Drop in to The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, for your weekly dose of free beer. Samples of Bell's beer will be available from 5-7 p.m. As of this writing, which Bell's beers will be sampled is unknown. You'd better go and report back to me.

Saturday, April 27

>> Miss out on Thursday's Arbor/Troubadour collaboration beer release? Head to Fraser's Pub, 2045 Packard, where both beers will be tapped at 6 p.m. Arbor folks will also be on hand to toast and talk about what it was like brewing with Belgians.

Sunday, April 28

>> I hope you're planning on going to church early because you'll want to be at Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery, 311 S. Main, at 10 a.m. when JP's Biere de Mars Grand Reserve goes on sale. It's $12 per 330ml bottle, with a limit of three per person. Plus if you want to try it on draft, it will be pouring at the bar. (But no growlers, unfortunately.)

Tuesday, April 30

>> It's that time of year when Arbor Brewing pays annual tribute to its namesake holiday, Arbor Day, by partnering with Ann Arbor's Adopt-a-Park for a fundraiser that the Lorax would totally get behind. On tap look for Spruce Ale, the proceeds from which will help underwrite tree plantings throughout the city's park system. Drink some tree beer for the trees!

Wednesday, May 1

>> Ashley's, 338 S. State, continues its exclusive beer releases commemorating 30 years in the bar business with Admiral Ashley's Imperial Fugglelicious 30th Anniversary IPA, brewed up specially by Short's using... wait for it... fresh whole-leaf Fuggles hops. Tapping is at 6 p.m., and there are sure to be other great draft Short's beers pouring as well.

Thursday, May 2

>> Up in Howell, the Shark Club, 1140 S. Michigan, is hosting its annual Short's De Mayo celebration in honor of the famous Mexican holiday. Fifteen beers from Short's, including Aorta Ale, Rye Not?, Hopstache, Ginger in the Rye, and plenty more, will gush forth from the taps while you enjoy your quesadilla and explain why you don't need no stinkin' badges.

Notes on the Napkin

• Four breweries (with a fifth on the way) inside the city limits. Six others a short drive away. A legendary 72-tap beer bar atop a list of many other decades-old neighborhood watering holes. Great festivals like Oktoberfest, German Park, and (just down the road) the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival. A rich brewing heritage. Great restaurants that host some incredible beer dinners. A vibrant homebrewing community dating back to the early 1980s. These are just some of the reasons you should vote to nominate Ann Arbor for the 2013 Beer City USA poll. You don't have to register for anything, or give your email address, or do anything other than click your mouse twice. Ann Arbor needs 400 votes to get onto the main poll, where it will go up against the likes of Grand Rapids; Portland, Ore.; and Asheville, N.C. Vote here and let's get A2 on the list! Do it now, as voting ends April 26.
• Is it tea? Is it beer? However you want to categorize it, it's delicious, and now you can belly up to the bar and try it at Unity Vibration's new tasting room. It's kombucha beer, and it comes in an increasing number of flavors. Unity, which set up operations at 93 Emerick St. in Ypsilanti about a year ago, is expanding into markets in California, Florida, New York, and elsewhere, but it remains committed to the local community. Read all about Unity Vibration and their unique beverages in this AnnArbor.com story by Tom Perkins.
• Homebrewers: Registration is now open for the seventh annual Brews Crews Competition, to take place at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, June 8. For more details on drop-off points and times, etc., etc. check out brewscrews.aabg.org or the event's official Facebook page.
• Are you into crafts as well as craft beer? Fashion a cool hat mixing the themes of the Kentucky Derby and beer and you could win a case of Wolverine beer at Wolverine's May 4 Derby-themed party. More details here.
• Tickets are on sale for the May 23 Craft Brew-Haha beer dinner at Paesano, 3411 Washtenaw. Five courses paired with beers from Arbor, Original Gravity, and Great Lakes Brewing are on the menu. Cost is $45 per person (exluding tax and tip). Call 734-971-0484 to reserve, and check out the mouthwatering menu here.
• Robert Redford's new movie, The Company You Keep, opens Friday at the Michigan Theater. Although it was filmed entirely in Canada, there are scenes set in Ann Arbor. I haven't seen the movie, but if you do, look to see if Arbor Brewing makes a cameo in the form of a wall poster. Some time ago I sent the set decorators said poster along with other Michigan beerphernalia, so hopefully something made it into the finished product.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. He is also working on a book about Ann Arbor’s illustrious beer past and present. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Buildout of the new Old German bar has commenced in the basement of Grizzly Peak in Ann Arbor.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, April 18

>> Founders freaks! Get thee to Howell where the Shark Club, 1140 S. Michigan, is tapping a baker’s dozen of beers from the famous Grand Rapids brewery. Look for rarities like Nemesis Barleywine (2010 vintage), KBS Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, Backwoods Bastard Barrel Aged Scotch Ale, and 10 other awesome brews. See the fill list here.

>> At the Jet’s Pizza Sportsroom, 506 N. Main, Chelsea, Long Island’s Blue Point Brewing is pouring flavors including Toasted Lager, Hoptical Illusion IPA, RastafaRye Ale, Spring Fling Copper Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, Old Howling Bastard Barleywine, Toxic Sludge Black IPA, and White IPA. Brewery rep Matt Trautmann will also be there to demonstrate the proper way to drink Blue Point beer. (It involves a hand, a glass, and your mouth.) The fun begins at 6 p.m.

Friday, April 19

>> What’s better than beer? Free beer! And that’s just what you get Fridays at The Produce Station, 1629 S. State. This time around, it’s Brewery Vivant’s recently released seasonal Zaison Imperial Saison Ale that’s pouring gratis. from 5 to 6 p.m., enjoy samples of this delicious (but potent) brew made with Tellicherry black peppercorn and orange peel.

Saturday, April 20

>> Can it really be one year already? Yes, it can, and Red Rock Downtown Barbecue, 207 W. Michigan, Ypsilanti is celebrating with an anniversary party all day long. On tap look for Bell’s Hopslam Ale, Founders KBS Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, New Holland White Hatter Belgian-Style Pale Ale, Old Crafty Hen Vintage Ale, and others as yet to be named. Also, barbecue. Mmm, barbecue.

>> It’s 4/20 and that number means something to certain people, especially certain people in the Land of Fruits and Nuts. I mean California, of course, and one of that state’s many great breweries, Lagunitas, will be in the house at Ashley's, 338 S. State, to commemorate every stoner’s favorite digits. On tap beginning at 7:20 p.m. (AKA 4:20 Pacific time) will be Lagunitas IPA, Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale, and Waldos’ Special Ale, a limited-run double IPA of which there are only six kegs in Michigan. Check it out, maaaan.

Wednesday, April 24

>> Extended Rat Fest draws to a close at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, as beers from the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild, Hopheads division, go on tap at 6 p.m. They include Blueberry Pancake Barleywine, Chocolate Raspberry Stout, Lemonheads IPA, and Domo’s Best Brown Ale. Gee, for hopheads, they kinda sound like fruitheads! Growlers available at 9, if anything’s left. Learn more about the brews here.

>> Are you part of the “beer and cheese” crowd? That’s right, craft brew is challenging another traditional bastion of wine, and it’s coming on strong, like a whiff of Limburger. (Sorry, that was lame.) Intrigued? Check out the Bell’s beer and cheese pairing at The Last Word, 301 W. Huron, beginning at 7:30 p.m., where five Bell’s brews will be paired with five cheeses selected by The Produce Station’s Eric Lundy. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at The Produce Station or online here.

Thursday, April 25

>> Head to Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, 4-7 p.m., for a little taste of something old and something new. It’s the official release party for Arbor’s collaboration beers with Brouwerij de Musketiers of Ghent, Belgium: Mundus Vetus (Old World) Rye Tripel Ale, brewed in Ghent, and Mundus Novus (New World) Rye Chocolate Dubbel Ale, brewed at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. Both are available only for a limited time, so you’ll want to make sure you try them while you can. There’s no cover for the event, and your first sample is free, even!

>> As if to emphasize the point above about beer vs. wine pairings, babo Market, 403 Washington St., plays host to its own Beer vs. Wine Taste-Off from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Five rounds of beer, wine, and food pairings, where you decide which goes better: suds or grapes. Cost is only $12; pay at the door and you’re in. For more information and to see the full menu, which looks pretty amazing, check out the babo blog.

>> The second beer dinner of the year for Grange Kitchen & Bar, 118 W. Liberty, commences at 6:30 p.m. It’s a feast of (really) locally sourced dishes paired with the beers of Short’s Brewing. Imagine the flavor palette Chef Brandon Johns has to work with! Tickets are $55 excluding tax and tip and can be purchased here.

>> Also at 6:30 p.m., Whole Foods Market and Wolverine State Brewing team up to present the movie The Love of Beer in The Gulo Room of the Wolverine taproom, 2019 W. Stadium. The movie follows women who are making their way in the craft beer world, battling stereotypes, struggling with their rising fame, and working to raise their families — not in the name of feminism or equality, but for the love of beer! Following the movie, Wolverine’s own Beer Wench, E.T. Crowe, will lead a complimentary tasting of Wolverine flagships Premium Lager, Amber Lager, and Gulo Gulo India Pale Lager; answer questions; and give tours of the brewery. Admission is $5, 100 percent of which goes to benefit Slow Food Huron Valley. Cash bar and must be 21 to have beer (duh), though anyone can view the film. More information at wolverinebeer.com.

Notes on the Napkin

• Demon Cleaner Belgian-Style Tripel Ale is back on tap at Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, and if it lasts until April 24, you can enjoy it while you peruse local artists’ work during Gallery Night at the Hat from 2-11 p.m. Witch’s Hat is also installing a new tank, glycol chiller, and pump as you read this. Keep up with all the things going down there with the Witch’s Hat newsletter.
• At Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, Plymouth, check out Siamese Dream (AKA Liberty Two) Imperial IPA, on tap now at a whopping 9.8 percent alcohol-by-volume (ABV). This bitter bomb will be joined this Saturday by another hop monster, 42nd Parallel IPA, which will also be available in bottles for take-out, albeit in limited quantities.
• Need moar IPA? Chelsea Alehouse, 506 N. Main, Chelsea, is now pouring Irontown IPA, too. It’s a hophead’s world.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. He is also working on a book about Ann Arbor’s illustrious beer past and present. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Wolverine head brewer Oliver Roberts and Grizzly Peak head brewer Duncan Williams judge a previous year's Mug Club Brew-Off. Can your beer impress these guys?

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, April 11

>> Tonight from 7-9 p.m., Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, is coming on strong. That is, the theme of this month’s tasting is strong (aka “high-gravity”) beers, and there will be more than two dozen of them pouring along with the requisite appetizer buffet and groovy prize drawing. Tickets are $35 at the door, if available, or call 734-213-1393.

Saturday, April 12

>> Missing Michigan football? Well, it’s back! Sort of. The so-called spring game, where Michigan takes on Michigan, begins at 12:30 p.m. If you’re going to the Big House to observe in person, you might consider first stopping by Fraser’s Pub, 2045 Packard, for a warm-up breakfast beer. And I mean warm-up beer: Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA is going on tap as soon as the pub opens at 8:30 a.m. Just don’t have too much or you might miss that spring game.

Tuesday, April 16

>> 120 Minute IPA is one of a dozen Dogfish Head beers pouring beginning at 6 p.m. at Ashley’s, 338 S. State. Also on tap: 60 Minute IPA, 90 Minute IPA, Aprihop IPA, Bitches Brew Imperial Stout, Burton Baton Double IPA, Hellhound On My Ale Imperial IPA, Immort Ale English Strong, India Brown Ale, Midas Touch Ancient Ale, Rhizing Bines Imperial IPA (a collaboration with Sierra Nevada), and World Wide Stout. Prepare your liver!

>> Today through April 18, Terry B’s Restaurant & Bar, 7954 Ann Arbor St., Dexter, is showing some compassion toward taxpayers, even if the IRS isn’t. Said compassion is in the form a 15 percent discount off your entire bill on any of these days. This isn’t directly related to beer, but they do always have something good worth drinking and, frankly, right about this time I’m going to need it. Chef Doug Hewitt also kills it in the kitchen. Call 734-426-3727 with questions; their website isn’t any more specific about this deal.

Wednesday, April 17

>> The ongoing Rat Fest Redux at Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, begins again at 6 p.m. as beers from the Detroit Draft Divas go on tap. Enjoy Chipotle Chocolate Stout, Divalicious Biscotti Stout, Juniperus Zizania, and Fig Cream Ale. As always, if any beer’s left at 9, you can get growlers to take home with you. Read more about the beers here.

Thursday, April 18

>> Get your Founders on up in Howell when the Shark Club, 1140 S. Michigan, taps into a baker’s dozen of beers from the nation’s 30th largest craft brewery by sales volume (sayeth the Brewers Association). Look for rarities like Nemesis Barleywine (2010 vintage), KBS Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, Backwoods Bastard Barrel Aged Scotch Ale, and 10 other awesome brews. Check out the fill list here.

>> If you haven’t been initiated into the awesomeness that is the Jet’s Pizza Sportsroom, 506 N. Main, Chelsea, then maybe a little tap takeover action will motivate you. Long Island’s Blue Point Brewing is the guest of honor, and among the flavors are Toasted Lager, Hoptical Illusion IPA, RastafaRye Ale, Spring Fling Copper Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, Old Howling Bastard Barleywine, Toxic Sludge Black IPA, and White IPA. Blue Point rep Matt Trautmann will also be there to explain all those tastes in your mouth. Well, at least the beer-related ones.

Notes on the Napkin

• The Chelsea Alhouse, across the parking lot from Jet’s, can haz April happy hour special! Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. get $1 off all drafts and growler fills. If you’re a Founding Member, you get, like, the double secret discount.
• Grange Kitchen & Bar, 118 W. Liberty, is hosting its second beer dinner of the year April 25 and featuring brews from Short’s. The menu will showcase “hyperlocal” cuisine paired carefully with some of the many interesting flavors Short’s comes up with. Tickets are $55 excluding tax and tip and can be purchased here.
• The 2013 Grizzly Peak Mug Club Brew-Off has been announced! Grizzly Mug Clubbers have until May 15 to enter their latest version of the Best Beer Ever (and we mean beer: no meads or ciders are accepted). The first place brewer wins the opportunity to brew a commercial batch of his or her beer to be served on tap at the Peak. Second place takes home a set of four pint glasses. (Yeah, that’s a steep drop-off.) Judging will take place May 21, 4-7 p.m. in the Den. Call 734-741-7325 for more information on how to enter.
• Area homebrewers will definitely want to be at Adventures in Homebrewing, 6071 Jackson, in Scio Township for the American Homebrewers Association Big Brew observance of National Homebrew Day on May 4. Not only will there be loads of brewing outside in the fresh spring air, but Adventures’ Tyler Barber and Jason Smith have booked Chris White of White Labs to answer your yeast-related inquiries and John Blichmann of Blichmann Engineering will also be on site demonstrating the cutting edge of homebrewing equipment. Free yeast! Free base grains! Raffles! Men with beards! This is kind of a big deal and you don’t want to miss out. More details are here; and check out the signup sheet if you plan on brewing.
• Our very own Ashley’s was recently named one of America’s Best College Bars by Travel and Leisure magazine. That’s a no-brainer, of course, but your correspondent is amused by the blurb writer’s confusion over the “Budweiser tap takeover” — an April Fool’s joke he or she apparently believed actually happened. Like Ashley’s would ever put Budweiser on tap!
• You work hard for the money. So you may as well keep some of it when you go out to blow off a little steam. Beginning on April 14 and every Sunday night thereafter, Fraser’s Pub is offering 25 percent off to service industry workers from 8 p.m. until close. Just bring a pay stub or something else to prove your bona fides and you’re good to go.
• The final bit of Fraser’s news is sad: Bill “Red” Fraser, who founded the pub in 1962, passed away last Friday. This column hopes you are enjoying the fountains of beer that must be all over heaven, Mr. Fraser.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Fun and FestiFoolery are on tap in downtown Ann Arbor this weekend. Hey, that's not a beer!

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, April 4

>> Drop in to Dan’s Downtown Tavern, 103 E. Michigan, Saline, for a spring celebration featuring Arbor Brewing beers including on tap: Bollywood Blonde Ale, Ypsi Gypsi Pale Ale, Bliss Hefeweizen, Buzzsaw IPA, Strawberry Blonde Ale, and Ryeclops Rye Ale (pouring from a firkin!). Check it out beginning at 7 p.m.

Friday, April 5

>> The voice of the turtle is heard again in our land. Longtime Detroit Tigers fans know what I’m talking about, and any that aren’t going to The D for Opening Day might want to check out the doings at Original Gravity, 440 County St., Milan. OG opens early, at 11:30 a.m., in preparation for the 1 o’clock game. And they’ll have house-smoked pulled pork and chipotle gouda cheese nachos (while supplies last) and happy hour beer prices until 6 p.m. Go Tigers!

>> The brewery of honor at the Whole Foods Cranbrook’s Michigan Beer Happy Hour is Brewery Vivant, makers of fine Belgian-style brews. Grab your reusable save-the-planet shopping bag and head over to 990 W. Eisenhower at 5 p.m. to try out $3 drafts of Vivant’s ales. As of this writing, no tap list is available, but it’s Vivant, so it’ll all be good.

>> Bill’s Beer Garden, 218 S. Ashley, is back in action for the weekend, opening 5-11pm tonight, Saturday, and Sunday. Word is there will be another April weekend opening, too, before the regular summer schedule kicks in beginning in May. For a current list of which eight Michigan beers are on tap, check out the official site.

>> Downtown Ann Arbor gets foolish beginning at 7 p.m. as the FoolMoon parade kicks into gear. The street around Washington and Ashley will be full of luminaries, glowing artistic sculptures created by various of our local village idiots. What else is at Washington and Ashley? Oh yeah, Grizzly Peak, which will be pouring beer at a tent outside, including their special collaboration (with Blue Tractor): FoolBrew, a witbier made with pink peppercorn, green trea, and coriander. Your correspondent has tried some and can vouch for its deliciousness.

Saturday, April 6

>> The Michigan men’s basketball team is in the Final Four for the first time in two decades, which means that a substantial number of current Michigan students were not yet born when this last happened. (Insert standard joke about how old I feel here.) Anyway, the place to watch the game is Wolverine State Brewing, 2019 W. Stadium, which will be rocking with 15-ounce glasses of Wolverine Premium Lager and Wolverine Amber Lager for just $1 each for the duration of the game. Tip-off is around 9 p.m., and let’s hope Syracuse goes home very sad.

Sunday, April 7

>> On this day in 1933, the first legal crack in the iron curtain of national alcohol prohibition appeared with the passage of an amendment allowing 3.2 percent alcohol by weight beer to be produced and sold. (Officially, that is; full repeal would not come for another eight months.) To celebrate, Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, is tapping their special Ladylegger Pale Ale, a 4 percent alcohol by volume (which is roughly 3.2 percent alcohol by weight) beer brewed with Cascade and Amarillo hops for a crisp, fragrant refresher of an ale. But the most attractive part of the beer may be that glasses of it are just $1 all day (or until it runs out).

>> At 6 p.m., the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, is releasing the long-awaited collaboration beer Mundus Novus, brewed with the guys from Belgium’s Brouwerij de Musketiers, makes of the Troubadour series of beers, among others. The result is a “chocolate rye dubbel” that, again, your correspondent has sampled and heartily approves of. Join Corner head brewer John Ritenour and owner Matt Greff as they talk about the beer, the collaboration process, and whatever else you want to ask them about. And, of course, try the beer!

Monday, April 8

>> Beer Enthusiast Monday at Red Rock Downtown Barbecue, 207 W. Michigan, Ypsilanti, features four beers from Grand Haven’s Odd Side Ales: Simcoe Sensation Session IPA, Java Mint Stout, Citra Pale Ale, and Peanut Butter Stout. The beers flow at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9

>> The Wurst Bar, 705 W. Cross, Ypsilanti, is welcoming spring with a Bell’s and Bingo event beginning at 4 p.m., when Bell’s “Jazz Series” of beers - Le Batteur, Le Pianiste, and Le Contrabassiste - is tapped, along with the delicious dry-hopped Quinnanan Falls Special Lager, Oberon Ale, and Oarsman Ale. Stick around for bingo and the chance to win some Bell’s booty, too.

>> Beer. Bloggers. Beer with Bloggers. An evening of brew and BS is in the offing at the Corner Brewery from 7-9 p.m. as Ypsi blogger extraordinaire Mark Maynard again convenes a gathering of digital wordsmiths and their readers. Last year, something like 75 showed up for the fun, informal event (alas, yours truly was not among them). For more details, check out co-host Eclecta Blog’s post on the subject and check out the event on Facebook. (Note: As Mr. Maynard himself says, all bloggers are welcome, not just those with a decidedly leftish political view of the world.)

Wednesday, April 10

>> Rat Fest Redux continues at Corner beginning at 6 p.m. as beers from the Brighton Brew Club go on tap for a second time. Enjoy Bombs Away Carbomb Stout, Imperial Lemoncello Weizen, Jack Goes to Scotland Scotch Ale, and Jaeger Blonde Ale. As always, if any’s left at 9, you can get them in growlers to take home with you. Read more about these beers here.

>> At Ashley’s, 338 S. State, the 30th anniversary celebration continues with Rye Kwon Do, a rye malt-brewed version of Dark Horse’s Scotty Karate Scotch Ale, along with a number of other DH brews on tap. Unfortunately, Dark Horse being Dark Horse, there’s no list of taps available just yet. But the party, whatever form it takes, is definitely on.

>> Over in Chelsea, Jet’s Pizza, 506 N. Main, is hosting a beer dinner from 6-8 p.m. featuring four sumptuous courses paired with four different Arbor Brewing beers. Unfortunately at this time, I have no further info, so interested parties are directed to call Jet’s at 734-433-9700 for the full scoop.

Thursday, April 11

>> Tasting time at Arbor Brewing is here again. From 7-9 p.m., enjoy more than two dozen high-gravity brews (translated to regular English that means “strong stuff”), a buffet spread fit for a beer drinker, and the tantalizing prospect of coming home with some cool beer-related swag. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on tasting day. Drop by the pub to get your ticket or call 734-213-1393.

Notes on the Napkin

• Whole Foods Cranbrook recently announced on their Facebook page that they will be tapping some “magnificent but hard to find on draft” Belgian beers (from Belgium) from time to time as an occasional treat. First up: Delirium Tremens Strong Ale. More, please!
• The Chelsea Alehouse will now be open at noon on Saturdays and Sundays beginning April 6. An even further expansion of hours is coming soon; check chelseaalehouse.com for updates. (Also on April 6, the Alehouse will be projecting the UM-Syracuse Final Four game at 9 p.m. for those wanting to follow the action.)

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

On tap now at Ashley's: The Klucking Kat Belgian-style Ale from Witch's Hat Brewing Co., just named 2012 Best Small Business of the Year.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, March 28

>> If you make just one trip this week, make it up to Howell, where the Shark Club, 1140 S. Michigan, is tapping a dirty dozen of Dogfish Head brews. Okay, they are likely not dirty but perfectly clean beers, but they’re also not often found on tap ’round these parts. Look for Burton Baton Imperial IPA, Namaste Witbier, My Antonia Imperial Pilsner, Immort Ale English Strong, Palo Santo Marron Brown Ale, Tweason'ale Gluten-Free, 90 Minute IPA, Ta Henket Ale, Midas Touch Ancient Ale, 60 Minute IPA, Black & Blue Belgian-Style Golden Ale, and 120 Minute IPA. Yowza. Yes, you’ll want to bring a DD.

Friday, March 29

>> Like Michigan men’s basketball? Like March Madness? Like cheap beer (that doesn’t suck)? If you answered yes to all three of those nosy inquiries, then you will want to hustle on down to the Wolverine State Brewing taproom, 2019 W. Stadium, to catch the Michigan Wolverines taking on the Kansas Jayhawks in some Sweet Sixteen action. (That sounded dirty and possibly illegal, but I assure you it is neither.) From tip-off at 7:37 p.m. to the end of the game, all Wolverine Premium and Wolverine Amber lagers are $1 per 15-ounce pour. You read that right. So go cheer on the maize and blue with some amazing brew. (Whoa, I should trademark that or something. Except probably someone else has written that before.)

>> In Ypsilanti, Red Rock Downtown Barbecue is going all out for March Madness, too. For any game day — not just the Michigan game — head over to 207 W. Michigan for $5 burnt ends, 50 cent wings, and $3.50 on draft beers (and they have some really good ones). Man, I’m getting hungry and thirsty just typing this.

Sunday, March 31

>> Happy Easter!

Monday, April 1

>> At 6 p.m., Ashley’s, 338 S. State, is quietly dropping their latest 30th anniversary celebratory beer: Rye Kwon Do, a version of Dark Horse’s ever-popular Scotty Karate Scotch Ale. But don’t worry, there will be a proper party, Dark Horse style, later in April. Stay tuned for details.

>> The Michigan Beer Scene will be broadcasting live from the beer garden (weather permitting) of the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, beginning at 8 p.m. On tap: a roundtable of professional brewers including Matt Greff (Arbor), Brad Sancho (Original Gravity), Bryan Wiggs (Dark Horse), Oliver Roberts (Wolverine), Stacey Block (Corner), Joe Walters (Liberty Street), and BeerTodd Parker (Copper Canyon). Following that, around 9, will be a panel of highly decorated homebrewers including Chris Frey (Ann Arbor Brewers Guild), Phil Sullivan (Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers), Fred Bonjour (CRAFT), and more. That not enough incentive to show up? Beers are on happy hour for the duration, and $2 tacos are available all night. Come thirsty and hungry!

Tuesday, April 2

>> Get ready for another Brewer’s Night at Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington. From 6-9 p.m., it’s another jolly old time as head brewer Duncan Williams and his minions conduct brewery tours and bless you with samplers and a special cask brew called Fantome d’Automne, a wood-aged version of last fall’s Biere d’Automne (you know, the one brewed with candy corn). See you there.

Wednesday, April 3

>> Rat Fest Redux continues at Corner beginning at 6 p.m. as beers from the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild, Yeasters division, go on tap for a second time. Enjoy Belgian Dark Strong Ale, Rye Saison, Belgian Ginger Wit, and Pea Biryani Red Ale, and if there’s any left at 9, you can get them in growlers to take home with you. Read more about these beers here.

>> Also at 6 p.m., Witch’s Hat Brewing takes over Ashley’s! OK, maybe not takes over, exactly, but you’ll be able to check out a half-dozen draft WH beers at once, whether or not you’ve yet made the trek to 22235 Pontiac Trail in South Lyon. On tap: Train Hopper IPA, Big Doedish Double IPA, Rumble Under the Red Light Amber Lager, Royal Rumble Double Red Ale, Night Fury Molasses Imperial Stout, and The Kipper Scotch Ale. Though unconfirmed at this writing, owner/brewer Ryan Cottongim will likely be there to answer questions and generally be a cool dude.

Thursday, April 4

» Over in Saline, drop in to Dan’s Downtown Tavern, 103 E. Michigan, for a spring celebration featuring Arbor Brewing beers, including on tap: Bollywood Blonde Ale, Ypsi Gypsi Pale Ale, Bliss Hefeweizen, Buzzsaw IPA, Strawberry Blonde Ale, and Ryeclops Rye Ale (pouring from a firkin!). Check it out beginning at 7 p.m.

Notes on the Napkin

• Congratulations to Witch’s Hat Brewing for being selected as one of the dozen companies (out of 13,000) to receive a 2012 Best Small Business Award from the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) of Grand Valley State University. According to MI-SBTDC, Witch’s Hat and the other companies were chosen due to their success in creating jobs, increasing sales, and improving their business strategy. Not stated was success at creating great beer. Congratulations to owners Ryan and Erin Cottongim!
• If the Ashley’s event and the award winning finally move you to visit Witch’s Hat’s taproom in South Lyon, look for their new gluten-free IPA this week, along with a spring bock.
• Sayeth the Brewers Association: Michigan ranked No. 5 among states in number of new breweries opening in 2012, with 19. Also, the beer biz contributed $2 billion to the state economy last year, according to one study. So anyone who left Michigan for dead following the decline of the auto industry: Neener neener! We’re good at other things, too.
• Now on tap for your consideration at Blue Tractor, 207 E. Washington: Two Mad Cows Java Stout, an imperial milk stout brewed with coffee and vanilla. Get some!
• At the Chelsea Alehouse, 420 N. Main, Chelsea, look for Hollier 8 Double Brown Ale, named in honor of a car model once manufactured in Chelsea. (See ad here.)
• Grizzly Peak will soon tap into this year’s edition of Fool Brew, a Belgian-style wit brewed with tea, coriander, and pink peppercorn to go with the foolish festivities surrounding the Fool Moon and FestiFools parades, coming up April 5 and 7, respectively. Word is, as last year, Blue Tractor, and Jolly Pumpkin are contributing their own versions again as well. More details to come.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Sample beers from Whole Foods Cranbrook's spiffy new draft system.

Photo: Whole Foods Cranbrook Facebook page

Thursday, March 21

>> The 51st Ann Arbor Film Festival is in full swing, and Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, is showing its support with American Magic Wheat, a refreshing 6 percent alcohol-by-volume (ABV) ale brewed with orange peel, tamarind, and ginger originally in celebration of the AAFF’s 50th anniversary. Check it out on tap this week throughout the duration of the festival.

>> Head over to Fraser’s Pub, 2045 Packard, at 5 p.m. for a beer battle between Arbor Brewing and… Arbor Brewing? Yes, it’s the Kill the Keg challenge, pitting a sixth-barrel of Buzzsaw IPA against one of Mr. Delicious Double IPA. Which will blow first? Which one do you plan to drink more of? Prizes and fun and beer abound.

Friday, March 22

>> It’s been a long week, and you deserve a trip to the grocery store. Stop by Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower, from 5-7 p.m. for a happy hour featuring the beers of Greenbush Brewing, pouring fresh and beautiful from the Wine and Beer Bar’s brand-spanking new and reconfigured draft system. Which beers? Guess you’d better go and find out.

Sunday, March 24

Never mind the snow, the calendar says it’s spring, and so spring it must be. You know how else I know? Bell’s Oberon Ale is back, officially tomorrow, but there are a number of midnight tappings for those who want a taste before going to bed and waking up on Oberon Christmas.

>> Beginning at 9 p.m., Ashley’s, 338 S. State, is hosting an Oberon countdown party. Bell’s rep Monica Mooney will be there to hand out prizes, including one for whomever orders the last Bell’s Winter White Ale of the season. Dress in your “Oberon best” (however you interpret that) for a chance to be crowned King or Queen Oberon for 2013, and hoist a glass of Michigan’s most popular beer as the ball drops (yes, there is an actual ball drop) to midnight.

>> Elsewhere in Ann Arbor, Conor O’Neill’s, 318 S. Main, and TGI Friday’s, 3015 Lohr, also plan to unleash the Oberon at midnight.

>> Not to be outdone, Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, Ypsilanti, will have $3 pints and cool giveaways all day leading up to the midnight tapping of Oberon.

>> In Plymouth, Hermann’s Olde Town Grille, 195 W. Liberty, is your Oberon headquarters with Two Hearted Ale on tap until midnight, when Oberon is tapped.

>> Up in Whitmore Lake, get your Oberon at Bobber Down Bar & Grille, 8475 Main, which will have pint specials and a midnight tapping.

>> Oberon not your thing? Head over to Arbor Brewing for the last after-party of the Ann Arbor Film Festival from 9 p.m. to midnight. No cover, and all proceeds from beer sales are donated to the festival. And heck, if you’re still up this late anyway, you may as well go grab some Oberon on your way home.

Monday, March 25

>> Or you could go to bed early, skip work, and join the Downtown Ann Arbor Oberon Pub Crawl, sponsored by local Bell's distributor Rave Associates. Join Bell's and Rave reps beginning at 11:30 a.m. as they kick off the fun at R.U.B. BBQ, 640 Packard, then move to Conor O'Neill's at 1 p.m.; Old Town Tavern, 122 W. Liberty (2 p.m.); The Arena, 203 E. Washington (3 p.m.); Buffalo Wild Wings, 205 S. State (4 p.m.); Sava's Cafe, 216 S. State (4:45 p.m.); Red Hawk Bar & Grill, 316 S. State (5:30 p.m.); and, finally, Ashley's at 6:15 p.m. If you're visually minded, you can check the map here.

>> In Ypsilanti, be at 207 W. Michigan at 6 p.m. for Red Rock Downtown Barbecue's Monday tap takeover, which features meads from Ferndale's B. Nektar Meadery. Look for Fang Banger Blackberry and Clove Mead, Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser, Evil Genius IPA Mead, and Necro Mango Mango and Black Pepper Mead.

Tuesday, March 26

>> Another sign of spring: Arbor Brewing's release of Bavarian Bliss Hefeweizen, that fruity, spicy, refreshing beer made just for outdoor drinking in Ann Arbor, at least when it isn't freezing. The party runs from 6-8 p.m. in the Tap Room and includes all the Bliss you can handle, light munchies, and discounts on take-out beer. Cost is free for Mug Club members and $10 for the 99 percent.

Wednesday, March 27

>> Extended Rat Fest  at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, continues as the leftovers from the Craft Beer in Michigan brew group go on tap beginning at 6 p.m., including Brew Like a Homebrewer Belgian Strong Ale, Rat Fest Recipe, Cinnamon IPA, and Kentucky Julep Cream Ale. Learn more about the beers here, and if there’s any left at 9, you can take them home in growlers.

>> Third time's the charm? One more spring beer makes its appearance at 3 p.m. today at Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, Plymouth: Clementine Lemon Thyme, a light wheat ale brewed with orange and lemon zest and, yes, a dash of thyme. Good beer, but there's bad news: This year's batch is very limited due to production demands for Liberty's core brews, which should return to store shelves in bottles at some point later in the year.

Notes on the Napkin

• Good news! Beginning at the end of April, Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery, 311 S. Main, will offer $85 lifetime Mug Club memberships, which comes with your choice of an amazing handblown glass mug from the Glass Academy. Read all about it here.

On St. Patrick's Day, Jessica French of Sidetrack Bar & Grill wants to buy you a beer. Maybe.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, March 14

>> For the basketball-minded, the Wolverine State Brewing tap room, 2019 W. Stadium, is opening early for the Big Ten Tournament’s Michigan vs. Penn State game. Tip off is at 2:30 p.m.

>> Get your St. Patrick’s Day weekend started right with a big stout tasting at Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, from 7-9 p.m. More than two dozen Irish stouts, milk stouts, chocolate stouts, coffee stouts, Russian imperial stouts, and other such dark brews will be pouring, plus the usual appetizer buffet and swag raffle. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Call 734-213-1393 to order or stop by the pub.

Friday, March 15

>> Bundle up! Bill’s Beer Garden, 218 S. Ashley, is open for the weekend (Fri. - Sun., 5-11 p.m.), though the forecast is calling for highs only in the upper 30s. Luckily, Bill and co. have those great fire pits to go along with the great Michigan beer they pour. See the current tap list and more at billsbeergarden.com.

>> Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, keeps the pre-party going beginning at 7 p.m. when Millish takes the stage. On the taps? Move over, Guinness. How about Chocolate Mint Stout, Milk Stout, and Cocoa Oatmeal Stout? For hopheads, 22-ounce bottles of Big Doedish Double IPA will also be on sale for $10 apiece, while supplies last.

>> Also in South Lyon, the Lake Street Tavern, 127 E. Lake, which always has good beer on tap, is running Irish food specials including Corned Beef and Cabbage, Homemade Shepherd's Pie, and Slow Roasted Lamb Stew.

Saturday, March 16

>> For something a little different, head up to the Northville Winery, 630 Old Baseline Road, Northville, for some fine ciders and live music, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with Steve Mullan and continuing at 8 with Josh Gierada. (As an aside, the winery plans to eventually produce sour ales as well, which beat both cider and wine in my book!) No cover.

>> At the Wolverine tap room, local sensations Dragon Wagon take the stage at 8 to provide the soundtrack for your St. Practice Day. Food will also be available from Debajo Del Sol “with an Irish twist.” Spanish + Irish = Spirish food? I’m down. Also look for Snakes on a Shamrock Irish Red Lager, along with other amazing Wolverine brews.

>> At the Chelsea Alehouse, 420 N. Main, Celtic Jam provides traditional Irish and Scottish tunes while you sip your beer beginning at 8 p.m. Come back Sunday from 3-5 p.m. and you can join in the Celtic Jam yourself, at least if you’re a musician who plays Irish music and you want to join in on the session.

Sunday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day

Is it all right to skip church if you’re celebrating a saint’s feast day? Whether or not it is, a number of local joints will get the ol’ Irish ball rolling early.

>> Ashley’s, 338 S. State, opens its doors at 6:30 a.m., with the beer flowing at 7. $10 cover includes breakfast and a 2013 St. Paddy’s Day T-shirt, while supplies last. Throughout the day, drink specials include $4 glasses of Guinness and $3.50 for Arcadia Brigid’s Irish Red Ale. Food specials include Corned Beef Sandwich and other Irish-inspired stuff. Slainte and all that!

>> Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, opens at 7 a.m. and features a breakfast buffet as well as a morning happy hour until 11 a.m. Try five stouts on tap: Michael Faricy’s Irish Stout, Blackheath Sweet Stout, St. Pat’s Strong Stout, Espresso Love Breakfast Stout, and Steamroller Russian Imperial Stout. At 7:30 p.m., dig the live stylings of Dragon Wagon. No cover.

>> Casa Dominick’s, 812 Monroe, is officially open for the season, but God help you if you try going anywhere near it today.

>> In Ypsilanti, the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, also opens at 7 a.m. with happy hour prices plus an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet of Corned Beef Hash, Biscuits and Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Lucky Charms, various fruits, coffee, and orange juice for $8 (or only $6, if you present this coupon). After 11 a.m., food specials include Irish Nachos (now we’re doing Irican food?) and Shepherd’s Pie. Kevin and the Glen Levens rock the house from 3-8, and stouts on tap include Faricy Irish Stout, Sarsaparilla Stout, and Girl Scout Cookie Stout. The beer garden will be open, weather permitting. No cover.

>> While in Ypsi, drop by Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, for some free beer. Oh yeah, I said it. If your name begins with Mc, Mac, or O’, then Jessica French will buy you a pint. (Details and coupon here.) There will also be plenty Irish-inspired eats: Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish stew, Shepherd’s Pie, Soda Bread, Potato Leek Soup, and Chocolate Guinness Floats. Live bagpipers and fiddlers round out the fun. No cover.

>> Original Gravity, 440 County, Milan, opens at noon and brings the stout: seven of them, in fact. In addition to the rotating tap of Lumpy Oatmeal Stout, there will be small batches of Imperial Chocolate Mint Stout, Dry Stout, Foreign Extra Stout, Milk Stout, Coffee Stout, and Ginger Dry Stout. Also, while they last, enjoy house-cooked corned beef sandwiches on bread made with oatmeal stout and baked potato salad from the Erie Bread Co.

>> For more St. Patrick’s Day ideas, check out AnnArbor.com’s mega-guide (though note: I don’t believe the ABC to Corner shuttle is happening this year).

Tuesday, March 19

>> Get help filling out your March Madness bracket at the Wolverine tap room beginning at 7 p.m. when famous sports guys Ira Weintraub, Sam Webb, Pete Tiernan, and John Bacon. More details are here.

Wednesday, March 20

>> Extended Rat Fest continues as the leftovers from the Ugly Mug’s brew club go on tap beginning at the Corner Brewery at 6 p.m., including Cascara Pale Ale, Del Diablo Dark Ale, Mango Blonde Ale, and Imperial Scotch Ale. Learn more about the beers here, and if there’s any left at 9, you can take them home in growlers.

Thursday, March 21

>> Fraser’s Pub, 2045 Packard, is the battleground as they and Arbor Brewing host a Kill the Keg challenge beginning at 5 p.m., with a sixth-barrel of Buzz Saw IPA against one of Mr. Delicious Double IPA. Which will blow first? Head to the pub and find out. Did I mention there will be cool prizes?

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

The aptly named Mr. Delicious Double IPA from Arbor Brewing.

David Bardallis | Contributor

As we patiently await the signs of new life and warmer days ahead, let's celebrate this time of transition with some of those great brews, which are abundant as always in our tasty little neck of the woods.

Saturday, March 9

>> Big doings at Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, beginning Saturday at 7 p.m. with the return of Big Doedish Double IPA in 22-ounce bottles. It’s a limited release, and bottles are $10 apiece, but there is no per-customer limit, so feel free to stock up as necessary. Plenty of other Witch’s Hat news is available here.

Monday, March 11

>> If you missed it last week, or you just want more, Stone Brewing’s big, bold, badass, aromatic Enjoy By 04.01.13 Double IPA is on tap tonight at Red Rock Downtown Barbecue, 207 W. Michigan, Ypsilanti. To refresh your memory (probably necessary after a glass or two of this 9.4 percent alcohol-by-volume beast), visit the Enjoy By website for info, videos, gadgets, and Twitter stuff.

>> On tap today at the Wolverine State Brewing tap room, 2019 W. Stadium, the Wolverine Beer of the Month for March: Snakes on a Shamrock Irish Red Lager, a 4.6 percent ABV palate pleaser to help you warm up for the very stouty weekend ahead. See the pretty artwork here, and get the latest updates from the Wolverine Beer Wench's blog.

Tuesday, March 12

>> Another month, and Ashley’s is still 30 years old. This time, the fine folks of New Holland are helping celebrate, with a special Ashley’s exclusive anniversary beer and a series of events throughout March. Details on said series are TBD, but we do know about the 30th anniversary beer: It’s a special edition of the much-loved Dragon’s Milk Barrel Aged Stout, with Michigan cherry puree added and an additional aging step in cherry bitter barrels. Head on over to 338 S. State at 6 p.m. for this special tapping, along with a dozen or so other great beers from New Holland. Ashley’s should turn 30 more often.

Wednesday, March 13

>> Rat Fest is the beer festival that keeps on giving. Be at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, at 6 p.m. for the (re-)release of Rat Pad brews from the Sons of Liberty Homebrewing Club, including Almond Joy Porter, Twice Baked Potato DIPA, Gingered Wit, and Chocolate Vanilla Chai Tea. Find out more about the beers here.

>> Back at Ashley’s, it’s time to welcome another new brewery to Michigan: Southampton Publick House, based on Long Island, New York. East, west, or right here at home, we’re happy to try any beer, so long as it’s good. Make up your own mind beginning at 6 p.m. when the Ashley’s team of beer slingers release the following hounds: Biere de Garde, Biere de Mars, Burton IPA, Double White Ale, and Saison Deluxe. Let’s see what the East Coast has to offer.

>> All right, it’s not beer, but it does involve malt and alcohol. Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, Ypsilanti, celebrates beer’s bigger, brawnier cousin, bourbon, with a bourbon tasting and food pairing. This is also the perfect opportunity to check out the new space Sidetrack has added after acquiring the building next door. Tickets are $25 and include six bourbon samples, tasting notes, commentary from bourbon geeks and distillery reps, and some bourbon-friendly snacks. Buy here or call the lovely and talented Jessica at 734-483-5230 to order by phone. And check out updates on Sidetrack's Facebook page.

Thursday, March 14

>> The second Thursday of the month means it must be beer tasting time at Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, and the month of March must mean that the beers being tasted are stouts. And so it is from 7-9 p.m. that more than two dozen Irish stouts, milk stouts, chocolate stouts, coffee stouts, Russian imperial stouts, and other such dark brews will be on offer, along with the requisite munchie buffet and, of course, the chance to win earthly riches, at least if your idea of earthly riches is T-shirts and glassware. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 if purchased the same day. Call 734-213-1393 to order or stop by the pub.

Notes on the Napkin

• Early bird tickets are on sale for the Michigan Cask Ale Festival, to be held May 4 at Ashley’s Westland location, 7525 Wayne. This year’s edition of the largest such festival in the Mitten is bigger than ever, with at least 30 breweries from around the state, country, and world (world meaning the U.K.) invited to provide real ales. What’s a real ale? What are you, a n00b? (It’s OK if you are, by the way. Start here.) Anyway, tickets are just $25 until March 15, after which they rise to $30, and, if available, $35 at the door. Buy online here.
• It might as well be spring. Bill’s Beer Garden, 218 S. Ashley, returns for a sneak peek at the new season. Well, OK, it’s really just for St. Patrick’s Day. Look for Ann Arbor’s newest outdoor watering hole to open March 15-17, 5-11 p.m. Apart from another one-off weekend in April, regular hours will commence in May. Follow Bill’s on Facebook for the latest.
• Gonzanova? Georgia Town? Duke of Earl? Oh man, this whole March Mania thing can be so confusing. But never fear — you can get professional help for filling out that bracket your co-workers are making you do so they can bump up the prize for the office pool. Just hit the Wolverine tap room March 19 beginning at 7 p.m. and, while you enjoy some high quality local beer, you can get advice from famous sports guys like Ira Weintraub, Sam Webb, and John Bacon. You may need to buy these gentlemen some beer though, I’m not sure. More details are here.
• The rumors you’ve heard (from me) are true: Your correspondent is writing a book on Ann Arbor’s illustrious beer and brewing history. Research is already well under way, and I’ve developed a list of people to interview (you know who you are, and if you don’t, you will). However, any hot tips, especially for groovy historical photos or photographable artifacts in private collections and whatnot, are more than welcome. Hit up your author-to-be at annarborbeer@gmail.com. Please, and thank you. I’ll sign your chest when I’m famous, or something.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Beer is so versatile you can even bake with it. Pictured: Oats and Blonde Ale bread, made (and paired) with Arbor Brewing's Bollywood Blonde Ale.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Today, more and more people have discovered the amazingly wide range of flavors that real beer can offer. More and more people now know you can pair beer with meals, like wine snobs have been doing with their beverage of choice for decades, and it kicks wine's ass. You can drink it. You can cook with it. And, as I recently discovered, you can even bake with it. I would not be surprised if it is soon discovered that beer can cure cancer. So pledge to raise a glass to beer, and allow me to give you some ideas about where and when to do so in your latest Week in Beer.

Thursday, Feb. 28

>> Today is Mug Club Appreciation Day at Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail. All day, Mug Clubbers get to enjoy Barrel Aged Train Hopper IPA, 20 percent off all merchandise, happy hour prices, and half off growler fills. Raffle tickets to win a lifetime Mug Club membership will also be available for $10 each. See the latest Witch’s Hat newsletter for all the brews you can use.

Friday, March 1

>> It’s been a long week. You just want to pick up a few things from the grocery store on your way home from work and then get down to the business of relaxing on the couch. Not so fast, my friend! The grocery store has eight beers from Arbor Brewing on tap, and they are all on happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Where is this marvelous grocery store? It’s Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower. Better stick around for a glass or two, and have some nice chat with brewery reps and fellow beer lovers. Your waiting spouse will understand.

>> Get fresh at Ashley's, 338 S. State. Fresh beer, that is, in the form of Stone Brewing’s Enjoy By 04.01.13 IPA, which, just like it sounds, is meant to be quaffed while all those hops are at the peak of their aroma and flavor. Ashley’s has just one of eight kegs sent to Michigan (well, two, because Ashley’s in Westland also has one), and there’s a bit of a competition to help Stone determine whether or not we deserve future shipments. Hit the Twitters this week and use the hashtags #EnjoyBy #AnnArbor to show our friends on the West Coast that we appreciate their contribution to our awesome local beer scene. Find out more about both the beer and the Twitter competition here. Brew taps at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5

>> Ashley’s is also Ann Arbor’s headquarters for welcoming another Western brewery to the Great Beer State: Oskar Blues of Lyons, Colo. (that’s between Denver and Fort Collins for you geography buffs). This brewery has a big following, already distributing to 30 other states. At 6 p.m., the following hounds will be released: Dale’s Pale Ale, Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Old Chub Scotch Ale, G’Knight Imperial Red IPA, Deviant Dale’s IPA, and Gubna Imperial Red Ale. Find out more about the rollout here.

Wednesday, March 6

>> Rat Fest Redux continues as the leftovers from the January “homebrew” festival are released at 6 p.m. each Wednesday at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti. This week the beers from the Muskrat Mashers are on tap: M.M. Brown Ale, Chocolate Rye Porter, Rat Fest IPA, and Cayenne Cherry Rye. More details are here.

Thursday, March 7

>> Over in Chelsea, the Jet’s Pizza Sportsroom, 506 N. Main, is welcoming New Belgium to the taps, offering nine drafts: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Dig American Pale Ale, Rampant Imperial IPA, Shift Lager, Lips of Faith Biere de Garde (collaboration with Brewery Vivant), La Folie Wood-Aged Sour Ale, Imperial Coffee Stout, and Peach Porch Lounger Saison. The fun kicks off at 5 p.m. and will include a brewery rep there to talk about the beers and their stories.

>> Dexter’s Pub, 8114 Main, Dexter, is hosting its first tap takeover event, with guest of honor Bell’s Brewery! Starting at 6:30 p.m., check out Hopslam Ale, Red Nose ESB, Hell Hath No Fury Ale, Smitten Golden Rye Ale, Two Hearted Ale, Midwestern Pale Ale, and Java Stout. Bell’s rep Monica Mooney will be there to talk (and drink) beer and, most likely, hand out some cool goodies, as she is wont to do.

>> How about a cross-border road trip opportunity? Down in that 19th century “war zone” between Michigan and Ohio, Toledo is hosting the seventh annual Glass City Beer Fest, featuring 175 beers from 40+ breweries. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and include 12 three-ounce pours. Proceeds benefit the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation and The Arc of Lucas County. Find out more on the official Facebook page. Good to see our southern neighbors start to bring beer civilization to their benighted state!

Notes on the Napkin

• So you were wondering what’s going on at the Chelsea Alehouse, weren’t you? I thought so. They’ve just released the first in a series of brown ales, Hollier 6 Brown Ale, a 6.2 percent alcohol-by-volume (ABV) brew to be followed eventually by the Hollier 8 and the Hollier 10 brown ales. The name is a tribute to an early 19th century automobile manufactured by a Chelsea family, explained a little on this poorly written website.
• We are warned to beware the Ides of March! I don’t know what the hell an ide is, so my recommendation is to get ready for another exclusive 30th anniversary beer to be released at Ashley’s March 12: Michigan Cherry Dragon’s Milk, a blend of three-month bourbon barrel aged Dragon’s Milk Stout finished off in cherry bitters barrels with Michigan cherry puree. Sounds like liquid awesomeness to me.
• As a longtime bachelor, I think the last time I baked anything was in my seventh-grade home economics class. But the idea of “Baking with Beer” sounded intriguing, so I signed up for the class of the same name at Zingerman’s Bakehouse. I mostly learned that I don’t have a career in the kitchen, but it was a good time and worthwhile if you like beer and baking. The next class is on May 19, and spots are still available for $100. If that sounds a bit steep, realize it’s a four-hour class, and you will wind up taking home a huge loaf of bread, a dozen scones, a bag of crackers, and a tin of cornbread to share with your friends and family, who will marvel at how awesome you are. Just sayin’. Sign up here.
• What’s the best brewpub or microbrewery in Washtenaw County? How about the best sports bar? Best place for your 21st birthday? Outdoor festival (hint, hint)? Vote for these and about 800 more categories in Current magazine’s annual Readers Choice poll. Get your ballot here, and remember to vote early and vote often.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Saturday, Feb. 23

>> Whoo! Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival! Watch this space for my usual play-by-play Twitter feed, live from Grand Rapids. It’s the next best thing to being there! (But if you’re also there and tweeting, the official hashtag is #miwbf13.)

>> For those sticking around town, consider checking out the craft beer pairing event at Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson. Instructor Kevin Heslip leads a tasting of various beers paired with breads, meats, cheeses, and pickled condiments. Cost is $75; for more information and to register, go here.

Tuesday, Feb. 26

>> Ashley's, 338 S. State, has a treat for the hopheads among us: an IPA tap takeover! Beginning at 6 p.m., they’ll bust out Greenbush Brother Benjamin, Southern Tier Unearthly, Arbor Buzzsaw, Witch’s Hat Big Doedish, Stone Ruination, Arcadia Hop Rocket, Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree, Founders Devil Dancer, Bell’s Hopslam and Hopsoulution, New Holland Mad Hatter, and Mount Pleasant Freight Train. Get your bitter buds ready.

Wednesday, Feb. 27

>> Remember last month’s Rat Fest, which showcased all those great beers produced by local homebrewing clubs? Well, there are some leftovers. Actually, there’s a lot of leftovers. And the Corner Brewery needs your help in drinking them up. So beginning with today’s regular Rat Pad release at 6 p.m. and continuing each Wednesday into April, look for what’s left of Rat Fest’s three dozen brews, organized by club. Today, brews from the Motor City Mashers will be featured. Check Facebook for the full schedule, and if you can’t remember or don’t know which clubs brewed which beers, go here.

>> Greenbush Brewing out of tiny Sawyer in West Michigan is launching their beers in bottles, and The Produce Station is helping kick things off with a 7:30 p.m. Greenbush tasting party at The Last Word, 301 W. Huron. Brewery rep Jennifer Piotter will be on hand to talk about the brewery and lead a tasting of five GB beers including Anger Black India Pale Ale, Closure American Pale Ale, Distorter Porter, Dunegras IPA, and Brother Benjamin Imperial IPA. At the end of the event, guests will be able to place orders for the beers, to be picked up at The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, the following week. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in person at The Produce Station or online here.

Thursday, Feb. 28

>> Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, appreciates its Mug Club members and isn’t afraid to show it! All day, WH Mug Clubbers can enjoy some Barrel Aged Train Hopper IPA, 20 percent off all merchandise, happy hour prices, and half off growler fills. Raffle tickets to win a lifetime Mug Club membership will also be available for $10 each. (Plus a clarification from last week’s column: Yappy Hour for beer drinkers bringing their pooches in is on Mondays only through March.) Get the full scoop on Witch’s Hat happenings here.

Notes on the Napkin

• Indiana beer blogger Eric Strader recently visited Ann Arbor and a few of our beery establishments. His conclusion? “Ann Arbor is a top notch beer destination.” Hey, that’s what I’ve been saying! Read his full account here.
• Guess what’s back on tap at Wolverine State Brewing, 2019 W. Stadium? The beer that made me fall in love with Wolverine in the first place: Faustian Stout Baltic Porter, which I was fortunate enough to first try during that one Summer Beer Festival that involved hunkering down in tents while a monsoon struck. Learn more about it and also the interesting Basement Fire Smoked Lager at the Beer Wench’s blog.
• For those heading to Grand Rapids for the Winter Beer Festival, here’s the official list of brews. And the Michigan Brewers Guild’s annual “Great Beer State” mag is also out and online here.

Beer and you: a match made in heaven.

Photo by Flickr user Eric Goodwin

Thursday, Feb. 14

>> On tap today at Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, is their annual Valentine’s Day beer: Sledgehammer Chocolate Porter, pouring while it lasts. Then, from 7-9 p.m., get ready for the Hopheads Beer Tasting, with more than two dozen hoppy and/or bitter brews, along with an appetizer buffet and the usual chance to win sweet beer gear. Tickets are $30 the day of; call 734-213-1393 or buy at the door, if available.

>> Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, Plymouth, is also tapping a special brew for Cupid: Red Velvet Red Ale, a chocolatey version of the ever-popular Red Glare Amber Ale reminiscent in taste and color of the cake of the same name. The pub opens at 3 p.m.

>> Up in South Lyon, Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, is closed to the public for its special Valentine’s Day beer dinner. Unfortunately, if you don’t have tickets, you’re out of luck: The event is sold out. But consider checking the Hat out tomorrow at 2 p.m., when they are again open and releasing their brand-spanking-new Demon Cleaner Belgian-Style Tripel Ale.

Friday, Feb. 15

>> Firkin Friday returns to Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery, 207 E. Washington, with a 4 p.m. tapping of Serrano Mango Porter. Also, last week’s column stated Firkin Friday happened every week, but I’ve since been informed it is every other week until further notice. Cheers!

>> Today’s grocery store beer action is taking place at Ann Arbor’s other Whole Foods Market, on 3135 Washtenaw, from 4-7 p.m. Erin and Ryan Cottongim of Witch’s Hat will be paying a visit while three of their beers are served. Which flavors are not known as of this writing, but since they’re all good, and Erin and Ryan are really cool people, I recommend going in any case. And don’t forget to pick up some organic, fair trade, free range spinach while you’re there.

Sunday, Feb. 17

>> The seventh annual Depot Town Chili Challenge kicks off at 3 p.m. at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti. Pick up your $5 “chili kit” at Corner or outside of Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, and go on a tasting spree of chili from, apart from Corner and Sidetrack, Aubree’s, Harvest Kitchen, and the Ypsilanti Food Co-op. Then head back to the Corner, cast your vote, and relax with a beer or two until the winner’s announced at 6 p.m. All proceeds from the Challenge benefit SOS Community Services.

Monday, Feb. 18

>> It may be the start of another work week, but there’s good news: It’s Beer Enthusiast Monday at Red Rock Downtown BBQ, 207 W. Michigan, Ypsilanti, featuring beers from a selected craft brewery. In this case, the focus is on Original Gravity Brewing, with six great beers from the Milan brewery on tap: Primordial Porter, 2-Wheeler Witbier, County Street Amber Ale, Southpaw IPA, 440 Pepper Smoker Ale, and a small-batch Mocha Java Stout brewed especially for this event! My recommendation: Pair that 440 Pepper Smoker Ale with a sampling of Red Rock’s delicious smoked meat. Brilliant!

Tuesday, Feb. 19

>> At 6:30 p.m., Grange Kitchen & Bar, 118 W. Liberty, is hosting its latest beer dinner, this time featuring brews from Bell’s: Red Nose ESB, Expedition Stout, Oarsman Ale, Smitten Golden Rye Ale, and Hopslam Ale. Like the Witch’s Hat Valentine’s Day dinner, however, it is sold out and I’m just mentioning it to make you feel bad you don’t have tickets. Unless you do, in which case, bon appetit!

Wednesday, Feb. 20

>> Don’t be afraid of the dark, because if you are, you’re going to miss out on some awesome beer, ya big sissy. Bell’s continues showing the love for Ashley’s with a Black Beer Under the Black Lights event at the downstairs bar, beginning at 6:30 p.m. On tap will be some primo Bell’s brews: Best Brown Ale, Black Note Stout, Cherry Stout (2011 vintage), Expedition Stout, Hell Hath No Fury Ale, Java Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Porter, and Sweet Potato Stout. Sounds like the perfect chance to explore your dark side.

Notes on the Napkin

• Tickets are on sale for a Feb. 27 release party and beer tasting with Greenbush Brewing at The Last Word, 301 W. Huron. The Produce Station is sponsoring the event, which celebrates Greenbush beers’ availability in bottles. Greenbush’s Jennifer Piotter will talk about the upstart brewery then lead a tasting of five GB beers: Anger Black India Pale Ale, Closure American Pale Ale, Distorter Porter, Dunegras IPA, and Brother Benjamin Imperial IPA. At the end of the event, guests will be able to place orders for all of the beer releases, to be picked up at The Produce Station during the following week. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in person at The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, or online here.
• Much like the groundhog, Bill emerged briefly from his hibernation, glanced around, and announced hours of operation for Bill’s Beer Garden’s 2013 season: March 15-17 (Friday-Sunday), 5-11 p.m.; April 5-7 (Friday-Sunday), 5-11 p.m.; May-June, every weekend (Thursday-Sunday), 7-11 p.m.; July 4 through September, Tuesday-Sunday, 5-11 p.m.; October through early December, every weekend (Thursday-Sunday), 5-11 p.m. Hurry up, spring!
• Coming soon to our area: beers from Hideout Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids. They’ve signed on with Ypsilanti-based O&W to make Washtenaw their only market outside of GR. We can look forward to Gangster IPA, Hazelnut Stout, Tommy Gun Red Ale, 9am Coffee IPA, and Aviator Ale making the rounds in the near future.
• Back on tap at Wolverine State Brewing, 2019 W. Stadium, Revilo India Red Lager is the beer for lovers! At least lovers of 7.3 percent alcohol-by-volume (ABV) brews with a hefty 85 International Bitterness Units (IBUs) of hop goodness (Saaz, Hallertau, Zythos). On Valentine’s Day, take advantage of Wolverine’s two-for-one deal on medium pours of Revilo (plus black Wolverine “horizon” T-shirts). Also look for World Expo of Beer gold medalist Hopstadt Altbier, an easy-drinking 4.2 percent ABV brew in the style of Dusseldorf alts.
• It’s not too early to start thinking about St. Patrick’s Day. Tickets are on sale for Lake Street Tavern’s annual bus to Detroit’s Corktown St. Patrick’s Parade (which, oddly, is on March 10, a week before the Big Day). Cost is $50 before Feb. 20 and $55 thereafter and includes the bus ride, beer, a box lunch, a Lake Street commemorative T-shirt, and some St. Patrick’s beads to whip around. Call 248-446-8898.
• Now through March, Witch’s Hat says bring your pooch in for “Yappy Hour” and get $1 off a pint of your choice. Certain conditions apply, of course, like the dog has to be leashed, you can’t give it beer, and the dog can’t be a jerk.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Brouwerij De Musketiers owner/brewers Stefaan Soetemans and Kristof Deroo of Ghent, Belgium, are in town for the Ashley's Belgian Beer Festival in Westland and to collaborate on a beer with Corner Brewery.

Photo courtesy Ashley's and Brouwerij de Musketiers

Thursday, Feb. 7

>> Tonight’s the night Ashley's in Westland, 7525 Wayne Road, transforms into “Little Belgium” as the third annual Belgian Beer Festival kicks off. It’s a wee drive out of the Ann Arbor bubble, but the reward is 160 different Belgian beers on tap and in bottles, along with some Belgian-inspired entrees to pair with them. This year’s featured brewery is Brouwerij De Musketiers of Gent, makers of the award-winning Troubadour series of beers, and owner/brewers Stefaan Soetemans and Kristof De Roo are “in country” for a 5-7 p.m. meet-and-greet happy hour. Tickets are $10 and include four beer samples and appetizers. To see the full schedule of events and list of beers, check out the official Belgian Beer Festival website and like on Facebook.

Friday, Feb. 8

>> It’s another Free Beer Friday at The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, from 5-6:30 p.m. Stop in for samples of two great Michigan beers. I believe somebody around here stated that New Holland Night Tripper Imperial Stout and Dark Horse Thirsty Trout Porter were pouring last week, but it appears they are on for this week. I will blame a nameless intern for the error and apologize on his behalf. (Note to self: Find intern.) For the latest and greatest, follow The Produce Station on Facebook.

Saturday, Feb. 9

>> From 1-7 p.m., Wolverine State Brewing, 2019 W. Stadium, hosts its second Ann Arbor Indie Fair, themed “Gifts of Love in All Shapes and Forms.” Admission is free; beer, alas, is not. Visit the Ann Arbor Indie Fair on Facebook for a list of vendors and other info, and read the Beer Wench’s latest update on her blog.

Sunday, Feb. 10

>> Head back to Wolverine from 2-5 p.m. for the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s fourth annual Chili Cook-Off, featuring 14 chili cooks, beer tastings, a live auction, and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $20 for 10 chili and five beer samples or $10 for just the chili. Children 10 and younger eat for $5, and 4 and younger eat for free. Proceeds go to benefit A2CT. You can buy in advance by calling 734-971-2228 or just pay at the door. For more information about this event, read my fellow AnnArbor.com community scribe (and chili judge) Mary Bilyeu’s previous article on it.

>> What goes better with dinner, wine… or beer? You have a chance to weigh in at the Beer vs. Wine Dinner at Red Rock Downtown BBQ, 207 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are only $30 and include six — six! — courses paired with specialty wines and Bell’s beers. You can see the food and beer menu here; as for the wine, I’m guessing they’ll have… red and white? Call Red Rock at 734-340-2381 for more info.

Monday, Feb. 11

>> Speaking of Red Rock, do you know about their Beer Enthusiast Mondays? Each Monday beers from a different craft brewery are featured on tap, and this week said brewery is Lagunitas Brewing of Petaluma, Calif. Unfortunately no info on which beers is available as of this writing, but you can always give a call or just show up and be pleasantly surprised.

Tuesday, Feb. 12

>> It’s Fat Tattoosday at Ashley’s, 338 S. State, with Bell’s representative Monica Mooney passing out Bell’s temporary tattoos as you enjoy Consecrator Doppelbock on tap along with paczki (while supplies last). At 6:30 p.m., a firkin of Hopslam Ale will be added to the fun.

>> Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, from 7-11 p.m. with a menu of Cajun-inspired food and the release of Hurricane Beer, based on the famous New Orleans cocktail and brewed with almonds, cherries, pineapple, grapefruit juice, and juniper berries. At 8 p.m., local band Hullabaloo provides live ska, afrobeat, jazz, and funk music. No cover.

>> For something a little different, head to Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, for movie night with WCBN, at 8:30 p.m. Tonight the feature is one of the best movies ever: Barbarella, a 1968 acid trip starring Jane Fonda. If you’ve never seen it, it really is best viewed with a good beer buzz. The movie is free, but Arbor will insist you pay for the beer. And beware the biting dolls!

Thursday, Feb. 14

>> Two more Arbor Brewing notes. First, look for the release of their Valentine’s Day beer, Sledgehammer Chocolate Porter, on tap all day. Then, from 7-9 p.m., get ready for the Hopheads Beer Tasting, with more than two dozen IPAs, double IPAs, super duper IPAs, imperial deluxe x-treme IPAs, and other assorted hop bombs, along with an appetizer buffet and the usual chance to win groovy beer gear. Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 the day of); call 734-213-1393 or buy at the pub.

>> At Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, nothing says “I love you” like a Valentine’s Day dinner featuring sumptuous fare paired with their Belgian Tripel, Big Doedish Double IPA, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Night Fury Molasses Imperial Stout. Two seatings at 6 and 8:30 p.m.; tickets, if available, are $55. Get the full menu and more details here.

Notes on the Napkin

• This is just a note because that darn nameless intern wasn’t able to learn specifics, but every Friday at 4 p.m. is Firkin Friday at Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery, 207 E. Washington, when head brewer Tim Schmidt busts out a cask of something special. Previous weeks have included Bacon Maple Porter and Chocolate Raspberry Porter, which I guess is bad news if you’re not a fan of porter, though I expect it will not always be a porter. (Note to self 2: Have intern look into that.)

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Bell's Marketing Director Laura Bell and crew are pulling out all of the stops to help Ashley's celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Photo courtesy Erik Smith and Ashley's

Thursday, Jan. 31

>> Today at 4 p.m., Wolverine State Brewing releases The Barista Lager at the taproom at 2019 W. Stadium. It was brewed in collaboration with John Roos of Ann Arbor’s RoosRoast Coffee Works and Wolverine brewer Karl Hinbern describes it thus: “It’s not a coffee porter, or stout, or anything that beer drinkers expect from a ‘coffee beer.’ We created a layered malt base so we can display John’s fantastic Colombian coffee up front and center.” Roos will also be on hand for the festivities, manning an espresso machine for anyone who wants to chase their beer with some coffee (or vice versa).

Friday, Feb. 1

>> This year Ashley's, 338 S. State, turns 30 years old, and to celebrate they’ve commissioned a dozen breweries to create some exclusive beers to be released throughout the year at the pub. First up is Bell’s, which has brewed Ashley’s 30th Anniversary Ale, a malty brown brew created by Larry Bell himself and described by daughter and Bell’s Marketing Director Laura Bell as “a very malt-forward beer with almost no aroma hops. It’s got this wonderful, complex, malty, bready, dark characteristic to it. It’s very different than what the popular trends are today.” Ashley’s is tapping it at 3 p.m., with a celebratory toast at 6 p.m.

>> Dark Horse Nation returns to Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower, for another Michigan Craft Beer Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m. On tap will be Boffo Brown Ale, Raspberry Ale, Too Cream Stout, Fore Smoked Stout, Crooked Tree IPA, Reserve Special Black Ale, and Scotty Karate Scotch Ale. It’s sure to be another raucous evening of drinking and grocery shopping.

>> Over at The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, from 5-6:30 p.m., the beer is free! Well, samples of two Michigan beers are free, anyway. Swing by for a taste of New Holland Night Tripper Imperial Stout and Dark Horse Thirsty Trout Porter. Find more details on the Produce Station’s Facebook page, where you can also submit requests for future Free Beer Friday feature brews.

Saturday, Feb. 2

>> Grab your gloves and parka and get ready for the annual Winter Warriors event at Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington. From noon to 5 p.m., sit outside on the sidewalk patio and enjoy $1 draft beers for the duration. But don’t worry about freezing to death: Arbor is also featuring hot beverage and chili specials to help warm you up.

Sunday, Feb. 3

>> There’s a football game on tonight or something? Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, is staying open later and offering happy hour prices ($1 off) on their delicious beers all day long. Check witchshatbrewing.com for the current tap list.

Tuesday, Feb. 5

>> Bell’s is back in force at Ashley’s for more 30th anniversary fun. Marketing Director Laura Bell leads a day-long “30 Years for 30 Beers” event, featuring the release of Bell’s new seasonal, Smitten Golden Rye Ale, along with 29 other great Bell’s beers on tap. Stop in at 3 p.m. for live jazz music from guitarist John Lawrence as Bell’s “jazz series” of beers — Le Batteur, Le Pianiste, Le Contrabassiste, and This One Goes to 11 Ale — are tapped. Then join the Bell’s crew in Ashley’s Underground at 4 p.m. for a Bell’s Beer 101 seminar including a beer and cheese pairing (limited to 25; cost is $10 - tickets on sale Jan. 31). There will also be opportunities at 6 and 9 p.m. to win Bell’s gear from the Bell’s Wheel of Prizes, trivia contests, and other challenges and activities. So, basically, whooo! If you love Bell’s, you’d be a fool to miss this event.

>> From 6-9 p.m., Brewer's Night returns to Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington, with tours of the new brewhouse (see more below), beer sampler specials, and a cask of year-old Draconus Belgian Strong Ale.

Thursday, Feb. 7

>> Anyone wanting to road trip over to Westland beginning today through Feb. 17 can check out the third annual Belgian Beer Festival at the other Ashley’s, 7525 Wayne Road. More than 160 Belgian beers on tap and in bottles will be featured, making it the country’s largest such festival, and that’s just the beginning. Belgian-inspired entrees, Valentine’s Day beer and chocolate pairings, special happy hours, meet-the-brewer events, and more are also on the docket. Check abbf.ashleys.com for the latest beer lists and schedule of events.

>> While in town for the Ashley’s Belgian Beer Festival, brewers Stefaan Soetemans and Kristof Deroo from Brouwerij de Musketiers of Ghent, Belgium, will be dropping by the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, to brew Mundus Novus Chocolate Rye Dubbel Ale, a collaborative brew to be paired with Mundus Vetus Tripel Rye Ale previously brewed in Ghent. The two beers will be released at Arbor Brewing sometime in May. Stay tuned for more details.

Notes on the Napkin

• The new Grizzly Peak brewhouse is just about up and running, with brewing to re-commence this weekend. In the meantime, on tap are two great easy drinkers, Bitter Tony’s Rye Bitter Ale and EOB Extra Pale Ale, coming soon is another good session brew, Little Giant Lager, and for those needing more bite, Edwyn’s Warm Up Ale, an 8.1 percent alcohol-by-volume (ABV) pale ale.
• At Liberty Street Brewing, 149 W. Liberty, Plymouth, Pub House Brown Ale makes its long-awaited return to the taps, though it’s been bumped up to 4.5 percent ABV from its previous 3.25 percent. Also on tap is 8 Ball Black IPA, and, on Feb. 6, look for a special beer brewed to meet specific customer demand: You Asked for Wheat Ale.
• There are still a few tickets available for the Valentine’s Day dinner at Witch’s Hat, featuring sumptuous fare paired with their Belgian Tripel, Big Doedish Double IPA, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Night Fury Molasses Imperial Stout. Tickets are $55; get the full menu and more details here.
• Grizzly Peak is not the only brewery undergoing an expansion and upgrade. Wolverine State Brewing has just installed new fermentation and conditioning tanks, doubling their brewing capacity, meaning even more great lagers from head brewer Oliver Roberts and the gang. Also in 2013, look for Gulo Gulo India Pale Lager to join the bottled Wolverine offerings available in stores.
• Finally, over at Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery, 207 E. Washington, look for For a Few Shillings More Scottish Export Ale, a 7.1 percent brew to keep your kilt warm.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

Grizzly Peak's new brewhouse will double brewing capacity from seven to 14 barrels at a time.

David Bardallis | Contributor

Thursday, Jan. 24

>> Beginning at 7 p.m. tonight at Dan’s Downtown Tavern, 103 E. Michigan, Saline, get ready for some Short’s. Twenty-two taps, to be exact, including the likes of the Soft Parade, Bloody Beer, Key Lime Pie, Bellaire Brown Ale, Huma Lupa Licious IPA, Autumn Ale, Chocolate Wheat Ale, Pontius Road Pilsner, Captain Fantasy Pear Saison, Woodmaster Pecan Brown Ale, The Magician Red Ale, Bourbon Barrel Aged Wizard Barleywine, and more.You go, Dan!

Friday, Jan. 25

>> Are you hip to FREE BEER FRIDAY yet? Every Friday from 4-6 p.m., The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, just, like, gives you beer. For real. This Friday, they’re going to give you two beers from New Belgium: Trippel Ale and Biere de Garde, a collaborative brew with Brewery Vivant of Grand Rapids. Okay, so that’s sort of like one and a half beers from New Belgium. But both are awesome, and they’re even more awesome when they’re free.

Saturday, Jan. 26

>> The place to be today is the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, from 2-5 p.m. That’s because it’s the annual Rat Fest, a celebration of, um, interesting beers created by area homebrew clubs on the Corner’s “Rat Pad” 10-gallon system. This year’s edition will be bigger and better than ever, with 36 beers from nine groups pouring forth like nectar from the gods. Or something. Anyway, read all about it in my post from earlier this week. And if you’re planning on going, get your ticket now.

Sunday, Jan. 27

>> Return to the scene of the crime from 1-5 p.m. as the Michigan Brewers Guild buys Corner beers for volunteers willing to help count out tokens for the upcoming Winter Beer Festival. More free beer!

Thursday, Jan. 31

>> Head over to The Last Word, 301 W. Huron, at 7:30 p.m. for a beer tasting and meet-and-greet with owner Russell Springsteen of Right Brain Brewery, whose beers are now being distributed throughout the state. Russell will talk a bit about the Traverse City brewery and lead a tasting of Mangalitsa Pig Porter and three other brews. Tickets are $15 and include 6-ounce samples and Russell’s right-brain musings; buy tickets at The Produce Station, 1629 S. State, or online here.

Notes on the Napkin

• This week Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington, is installing its new brew system. It doubles the brewing capacity of the previous system, from seven to 14 barrels, meaning head brewer Duncan Williams and his hardworking team of beer gnomes can maintain Grizzly’s status as the No. 1 beer-selling brewpub in Michigan and also occasionally get some sleep, or else work harder and make even more beer. The move will also support plans for a new basement bar reminiscent of the Old German, which occupied the space for 67 years.
• Head brewer and owner Brad Sancho has been busy at Original Gravity, 440 County, Milan, rolling out interesting new beers. Now on tap for you to try: Bourbon Barrel Aged Bellywasher Scotch Ale, a small-batch Vienna Lager, and Funky Enough IPA, a Belgian-style black IPA. I know, there’s no such thing as a Belgian-style black IPA, or at least there wasn’t. But there is now!
• Up in South Lyon, Witch’s Hat Brewing, 22235 Pontiac Trail, has introduced the “growlette,” a half-sized (32-ounce) growler for those times when you want to take home some fresh draft beer but just don’t think you can put down a half-gallon in one sitting. (One wag proposed the name “howler” for “half growler” and I gotta say it’s hard to argue with that.)

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.

The Corner Brewery promises this year's Rat Fest will be "bigger, better, and more mindblowingly awesome than any before."

David Bardallis

Rat Fest has grown wildly every year of its brief existence and continues to evolve. Last year’s event, confined to the lounge area of the brewery, was too crowded, so this year the Corner is closing to the public and throwing open the outdoor beer garden for more space. Not to worry — there will be heated tents to keep festgoers and brewers warm.

Each group brewed four beers, including one using a common grain and yeast recipe but with any hops or additional ingredients chosen by the club. As in past years, prizes will be awarded for Best Group of Beers, Best Group Theme, and Best Overall Beer. Two new categories this year include Most Interesting Execution of Predetermined Recipe (try saying that after three hours of drinking) and Most Unique Beer. Also new this year: Festgoers can download an official iPhone app (iTunes search: Rat Fest) with which they can cast their votes. A web-based app for non-iPhoners will also be available for the same purpose.

Now for the nitty gritty. This year’s brewing groups include the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild (AABG) Hopheads, AABG Yeasters, Craft Beer in Michigan, Brighton Brew Club, Detroit Draft Divas, Motor City Mashers, Muskrat Mashers, The Sons of Liberty, and The Ugly Mug. And the beers (drum roll, please) are as follows:

• Blueberry Pancake Barleywine
• Chocolate Raspberry Stout
• Lemonheads IPA
• Domo's Best Brown Ale
• Belgian Dark Strong Ale
• Rye Saison
• Belgian Ginger Wit
• Pea Biryani
• Bombs Away Stout
• Imperial Lemoncello Weizen
• Jack Goes to Scotland
• Jaeger Blonde Ale
• Brew Like A Homebrewer Belgian Strong
• Rat Fest Recipe
• Cinnamon IPA
• Kentucky Julep Cream Ale
• Chipotle Chocolate Stout
• Divalicious Biscotti Stout
• Juniperus Zizania
• Rat Fest Recipe Fig Cream Ale
• Salty Dog Grapefruit Gose
• Peanut Butter Cup Stout
• Winter Spice Ale
• Toasted Coconut Porter
• M.M. Brown Ale
• Chocolate Rye Porter
• Rat Fest IPA
• Cayenne Cherry Rye
• Almond Joy Porter
• Twice Baked Potato DIPA
• Gingered Wit
• Chocolate Vanilla Chai Tea

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here are the other key details you need to be aware of: Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door, if available (which they likely will not be, as this event always sells out). The cost includes unlimited beer samples, appetizers, and a commemorative tasting glass. Call 734-480-2739 or buy in person at the Corner Brewery.

That’s it. You know what to do. See you on Saturday.

David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit “All the Brews Fit to Pint” at AnnArborBeer.com, follow @allthebrews on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com.