Time to warm up your taste buds cause there’s a couple of beer events coming up this week. First up, Tabica Grill is hosting yet another of their very popular beer dinners. Ryan Launer, a homebrewer and chef, always comes up with some wonderful pairings at these events and the “Sam’s and Sliders” dinner looks to be another sure bet. Contact information and menu is listed below. See you there!

Tabica Grill
901 W Indiantown Rd # 1
Jupiter, FL 33458-6811
(561) 747-0108 (Call for reservations)

Sam Adams Brewery
“Sam’s and Sliders” Beer Dinner
Wednesday September 23th, 8:00 pm
$50 per person

1st Course
Sam Adams Blackberry Wit
Lobster and Scallop Cake with Sweet
Mustard zip-zap Arrugala and crumbled bacon

2rd Course
Sam Adams Boston Ale
Kobe Blue Burger with
Radicchio Slaw and Chipotle Mayo

3th Course
Sam Adams Imperial White
Spicy Citrus Chicken Patty
With Smoked Gouda Cheese

4th Course
Sam Adams Imperial Double Bock
Grilled Bratwurst Burger on Pretzel Bun
With Caramelized Shallots and Grain Mustard

5TH Course
Sam Adams Imperial Stout
Dark Chocolate Brownie Stack
With Cappuccino Mousse and Raspberry Drizzle

Treasure Coast Beer Festival
The Treasure Coast Beer Festival will flow forth for the second year this coming Saturday from 1-5pm behind Fort Pierce City Hall in the parking garage. Parking garage, you say? Yes, and before you chortle under your breath, let me tell you how well this venue works. For one, it’s completely shaded, no searing sun to deal with and two, because it’s an open air kind of place, you get a nice breeze and there’s plenty of room to roam and sample your favorite brews.

Speaking of those, there will over 200 beers to try at the fest, twice as many as the inaugural event, including homebrew offerings from the Treasure Coast Brew Masters. Check out the website for directions and ticket information. http://www.treasurecoastbeerfest.com/

Magic Hat #9

Magic Hat brewery has introduced it’s most popular beer, the #9 to the South Florida beer market. It’s available at all of the places listed below and probably a few more at this point.

Time to make my point. The brewers were nice enough to send me a sample all the way from Burlington, Vermont and I brought it over to the Pope’s house for a tasting (his last name is Pope, that’s all I’m revealing here). Ok, so we taste and while #9 is a pleasant tasting, even refreshing beer, there was something tickling my taste buds I couldn’t quite identify. It seemed like fruit. Only thing is, there isn’t one thing mentioned about fruit in any of the promotional material which accompanied the beer. Hmmm. Why am I tasting fruit? Could it be the yeast? Even on Magic Hat’s web site, they’re a bit mysterious about the flavor profile.

“A beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers.”

My question was answered days later when I spoke to a fellow beer geek who told me, “oh yeah, #9 is an apricot fruit beer”.

So what Magic Hat is doing is performing a bit of marketing slight of hand for what has become their most popular beer. Fine. I get it, but I’m not going along with the game guys. #9 is a light, fruity apricot ale whether you want all of us to know that or not. And while it’s ok, it most certainly is not the best beer your esteemed brewery makes. I also understand you’re in business to make money first and impress the Beer Guy second…or maybe 10th…but I want to taste your good stuff guys. Anyhow, Magic Hat is a fine brewery and the #9 is a good fruit beer so I encourage you to try at one of the locations listed below.

Guanabanas Restaurant and Island Bar
997 N. Highway A1A
Jupiter, FL 33477

Bar Louie
1500 Gateway Blvd. #100
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

Yard House
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue,
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Roxy’s Pub
309 Clematis St.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Jo Jo’s Raw Bar and Grill
13889 Wellington Trace Suite A-20
Wellington, FL 33414

Monk in the Trunk now in bottles

After two years worth of anticipation, Monk in the Trunk is now available in the bottle. The product of Inlet Brewing Company in Jupiter has been on tap in bars throughout our area but now you can take a sixer home to the wife and kids too. It’s on the shelves at all Total Wine, Whole Foods, Crown Wine and Spirits, Sunshine Liquors in Palm Springs, and Christopher’s Market in Jupiter.