Happy Happenings For The Third Week Of May

This recent installment brings you two happenings this week. I am not one to mince words, so that being said, I will only fully endorse the Thursday night event because of the guys putting it on. More in the details.

Thursday May 20, 2010:

If you are following this fledgling blog and have not heard of PortlandTaps.com, shame on you my friend. These guys have created the best sort of website; a simple database of bars, beers, prices and happy hours. They have done some serious leg work for all of us and it cannot be denied, they have succeeded amazingly. There is virtually no beer left unturned in Portland on the site and if they cannot find you a sweet happy hour, no one can.

Tomorrow marks their 5^th Third Thursday event. This month, they are showcasing Shipyard's new American Wheat beer at Brian Boru. Feel free to review the link below for Caleb's words about the beer. I will tell you this: I think Shipyard is a sub-par brewery. Budweiser has an American Wheat, but I am not rushing out to get a 6-pack. Everything they have done has been lackluster at best. Even the Pugsley series feels like the same old tired attempts at keeping up with the craft scene.

Worst case scenerio, go out and support PortlandTaps.com because they deserve it. My advise is to try the Shipyard, but stay for something else, show your love for PortlandTaps.com and fuck Shipyard.

http://portlandtaps.com/blogs/best-local-beer-you-havent-had

Friday May 21, 2010:

This event is a big deal. For beer lovers in Maine, I don't need to tell you about Novare Res. You've been there, you've got your chalice, you've drank you paycheck away. Novare does everything right and without the pretension of most of the bars you've been to. This Friday marks their second anniversary and they are throwing the sort of party we've come to expect from this multiple award winning bar. Trailing their annual Belgian Beer Fest, they are apt to have some fantastic raraties on tap that you've not seen in Maine. To top this all off, I have it on good authority that there will be at least two different versions of their personal house beer, Primus Tumultus, on hand. One (or two from what I understand, although I don't know that both will be on offer) was brewed in conjunction with the amazing Maine Beer Company. The other, once again, brewed in conjunction with the equally amazing Marshal Wharf Brewing out of Belfast.

If you are not convinced, you don't love beer. Full stop.

http://www.novareresbiercafe.com/events.htm

See you at the bar, friends!

First Friday: Rum Riot Brewing at Two Point Gallery

I've been intending to post this since Wednesday, but I've been a busy bee. You know, busy drinking beer and stuff. Anyway, here is what you should do with your First Friday.

Today, as with the last four six First Friday's, Two Point Gallery is hosting Rum Riot Brewing First Friday. Every First Friday, these brewers bring out there beer to share with us, for free. Yes, you read that right, FOR FREE. Having been to several of these, I can offer you two pieces of advise:

1. 
   
   
   BE THERE. These guys make some fun beers and for the most part, this is the only way to get it.
2. 
   
   
   GET THERE EARLY. While they normally have 2-3 different offerings, they will typically run out of beer around 7:30 – 8:00. Get there at 5 and hang out.

Today, here is what the fine fellas at Rum Riot are bringing to us:

Summah' Time Beah' Drinkin' Kolsch - Hells yes, it is.

Fresh Summah' Bittah' – Today is a good day for a bitter.

F'in Kiwi Wheat – I've had this before and it's awesome. Just a hint of kiwi and very drinkable (by the pound).

I hope you are all doing the First Friday Art Walk today and I strongly suggest you give Rum Riot a stop. They really are worth it. And did I mention, the beer is FREE? See you all there.

Belgian Biere Fest at Novare Res

As some might know, Novare Res started their annual Belgian Biere Fest this past Saturday. This should be a pretty huge deal for Portland beer drinkers as a large portion of what will be offered through these 3 weeks are rare for our neck of the woods.

Eric Michaud pulls all stops for this event. The tap list is all Belgian styles, some from their homeland, some from right here in the States, all well worth your cash. Among some sampled from the beginning weekend are: Kerkom Bink Blond (Belgian Pale 5.50%), Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux (Saison 9.50%) and Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus (Lambic 5.00%). That is some serious beer right there.

If you are a Belgian fan, you’ve probably already been a couple times in the past two days (Hi!). If you are not a fan, or don’t have enough knowledge to make up your mind, this is the place you need to be to change that. These beers are all over the place and you will certainly find something you love.

Planned breweries for the fest include val dieu, slaghmuylder, het anker, blaugies, ellezelloise, chimay, augustijn, geants, jandrain-jandrenouille, alvinne, kapittel, serafijn, st. bernardus, la rules.

While this isn’t Novare Res’ “We’re not fucking around” Fest, they are not slouching on this fest either. Get in and give them a try. A few trips are advised.

For a current tap list, visit their website at: http://www.novareresbiercafe.com/draught.htm

Stay tuned. In the next few days, there will be a couple more postings regarding events. See you at the bar!