From October 11 to 17, local taprooms, eateries, breweries and beer aficionados will join forces to pay homage to all the creative combinations of hops, malt, yeast and water - better known as beer. The first ever Houston Beer Week will be eight days of beer magic taking place in Houston bars, restaurants and retail establishments. The week will conclude with the Monsters of Beer Charity Festival on Sunday, October 17, 2010, organized by Co-Chairs Cathy Clark, founder of the popular Houston Beer Camp and the Live it Big charity, and Kevin Floyd, our favorite Beer Nerd and co-owner of Anvil Bar & Refuge. All proceeds from Sunday's event will benefit local charities.
Below is an overview of events at time of press [updates are ongoing]. For a complete event listing, including day-by-day itinerary, check out www.houstonbeerweek.com.
Sunday, Oct.10
Kick-off party at The Usual Pub 4pm, FREE A homebrewer's tutorial with Scott Defalco of DeFalco's Home Wine and Beer Supplies and Southern Star Brewery.
Monday, Oct. 11
Featured Beer Dinner: Beaver's Ice House 2310 Decatur St. 6pm, $70 per person Chef Jonathan Jones of Beaver's Ice House & Ben Fullelove of Petrol Station present a beer & cocktail reception followed by a 5-course dinner paired with beers hand-selected by Ben. To reserve, call Beaver's, 713-864-2328; a credit card is required to confirm your reservation.
Connoisseur Tasting at The Ginger Man: Artisanal Imports 5607 Morningside Dr. $11.25, 7:30pm Join Chris Campana of Artisanal Imports of Austin for a tour through his incredible portfolio of international brews including Urthel (Belgium), Malheur (Belgium), Sunner (Germany), Triple Karmeliet (Belgium), Koningshoeven (Belgium) and Tilburg (Netherlands).
Tuesday, Oct. 12
Featured Beer Dinner: Canopy 3939 Montrose Blvd $65 per person (Limited to 20 people), 7pm Chef Elizabeth Brooks of Canopy and Brock Wagner of St. Arnold Brewery are your hosts for five exquisite courses and an evening you won't soon forget. If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Brock yet, he is very entertaining. This one will fill up fast--reserve a spot a spot now if you're interested by calling 713-528-6848.
Moylan's Tasting at Petrol Station 985 Wakefield Drive Sample the entire line of Moylan's Brewery (at least those available in Texas).
Matinee Movie prices & a Beer Specials at Alamo Drafthouse 1000 West Oaks Mall 531 South Mason Rd Popcorn is for suckers. Happiness is a horror flick and a cold Hefe. Matinee prices for movies (excluding special events), $3 craft beer pints, and Growler specials.
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Featured Beer Dinner: Catalan 5555 Washington Ave $100 per person, 7pm Chef Chris Shepherd Catalan & Kevin Floyd of Anvil Bar & Refuge: food nerd joins beer nerd to host the ultimate beer & food pairing. You'll be lucky if you have any taste buds left after this. Hors d'oeuvres at 7pm, followed by a 6-course dinner paired with beers hand selected by Kevin. $100 per person; to reserve, call Catalan 713-426-4260; a credit card is required to confirm your reservation.
Stone Brewing at the Flying Saucer 705 Main St. Meet Jason Armstrong of Stone Brewing and enjoy specials on pints of 4-5 Stone selections.
Thursday, Oct. 14
Featured Beer Dinner: Divino 1830 W Alabama St. $65 per person + 18% gratuity (seating is limited to 20), 7pm Chef Patrick McCray of Divino and Pike Brewing treat you to a reception at 7pm followed by 4-courses paired with Pike beers. Reservations can be made by calling 713-807-1123 or via email [email protected]; a credit card is required to confirm your reservation.
Connoisseur Tasting at The Ginger Man: Brooklyn Brewery 5607 Morningside Dr. $11.25, 7:30pm Nadine Jones will discuss the array of award-winning beers from Brooklyn Brewery, plus there will be a cooking demonstration with beer and instructional lecture regarding designing your meals around your beer of choice.
Southern Star Tasting at Rockwell Tavern 12640 Telge Rd, Cypress 6pm-8pm Southern Star tasting and dinner special of Buried Hatchet Fish and Chips, showcasing a classic way to cook innovative and tasty meals with craft beer.
Friday, Oct. 15
Featured Beer Dinner: Vic & Anthony's 1515 Texas Ave $85 per person + gratuity, 7pm Chef Carlos Rodriguez of Vic & Anthony's will start with drinks at 7pm followed by a 7-course dinner paired with beers from Brew Dog, a maverick Scottish brewery. To reserve, please call Stacie Chambers at 713-228-1111; a credit card is required to hold your reservation.
Gravity Cask 2010 at Anvil Bar & Refuge 1424 Westheimer Featuring beers custom-made for Anvil Bar & Refuge -- you will not find these beers any place else. With rare and unique casks from local and continental European breweries, including Southern Star Smoked Porter flavored with cocoa nibs and vanilla and a cask-conditioned Independence Oatmeal Stout infused with Anvil's bourbon cherries.
Dixie Cup Homebrew Competition: Strange Brew The Dixie Cup is one of the nation's oldest homebrewing competitions and is noted for its great mix of irreverent fun as well as its seriousness about beer. For more information, contact Scott Weitzenhoffer by email at [email protected] or call DeFalco's at 713-668-9440.
Saturday, Oct. 16
Brenner's Beer Festival 1 Birdsall Place $45 advance/$55 door, 2pm-6pm Brenner's Steakhouse on the Bayou will host its first beer festival featuring more than 50 beers from local and regional craft breweries. Many breweries will showcase their fall seasonal selections. Jason Armstrong of Stone Brewing will also be in attendance. Enjoy live music by Ezra Charles & The Works. Only 400 tickets are available. Tickets are on sale online at www.brennerssteakhouse.com.
Connoisseur tasting at The Ginger Man Pub: Duvel-Moortgat Brewery 5607 Morningside Dr. $11.25, 3pm Prescott Carter will discuss the renowned family of beers including Ommegang (New York), Duvel (Belgium), Maredsous (Belgium), and the Chouffe Brewery (Belgium).
Sunday, Oct. 17
The Monsters of Beer Festival Adjacent to 13 Celsius, Anita St. Twelve Texas breweries, including 2010 Great American Beer Festival winners Saint Arnold and Real Ale, will be in attendance. The festival will focus on Texas craft breweries and the growing Texas craft beer movement. Several breweries will be bringing special cask and firkin beers as well.
There will be live music by Mason Lankford & The Folk Family Revival along with other bands yet to be announced; food will be provided by Hubcap Burger's food truck, Mélange Crêperie, and from the 13 Celsius menu. A silent auction of aged beers, beer tours, beer paraphernalia, and all things good in beer will raise additional monies for charity. To learn more, visit www.monsterofbeer.com or follow on Twitter @monstersofbeer.
Proceeds from this event will go to support Live It BIG's 2010 focal charity Friday Harbour, which provides housing assistance to cancer patients receiving treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children's Hospital and their families.
