October Decatur Hopdate

October in Decatur. San Diego-style weather makes for ideal patio beer sessions with good friends. There are 2 beer festivals this month in the Great Decatur Craft Beer Festival & Brick Store's Hop Harvest Festival, but I wanted to highlight the recent offerings from your locally owned Decatur better-beer spot.

Raging Burrito- Best Patio in Decatur, which is delightfully hidden in the back off of Church Street. RB has some killer beer on tap at recession prices- New Belgium Hoptober, Sweetwater Happy Ending '08, Leffe Blond. Sierra Pale, Wet Hop Harvest (13th release) & Anniversary IPA are $3.60 everyday as are Terrapin India Brown Ale and RyePA. Sweetwater pints are now $3.75 Monday through Wednesday (IPA, 420, Road Trip)

The Grange has expanded to 19 taps, now pouring Chimay, Spaten Optimator, French Broad Wee Heavier, Brooklyn Pumpkin, Atlanta Brewing Octoberfes & Terrapin Sunray is now their permanent wheat beer. Grange's front patio is very nice this time of year as well.

Steinbeck's is the little pub in Oakhurst, around the corner from Mojo Pizza on Oakview. Recently, they have stepped it up big time in the beer department. Now pouring- Ayinger Oktoberfest, Avery Kaiser (9% Oktoberfest-style), Loose Cannon Double IPA, Great Divide Hercules DIPA, Coney Island lager, Avery IPA & & St. Bernardus Abt 12 to name just a few.

Jordan @ Twain's has brewed a new IPA called Milkbone. I had two pints last night and the Bone is quite good. ESB-style maltiness with a very clean floral hop profile.

Last but not least, Brick Store Pub has some whoppers on right now including the latest from the Midnight Brewing Project between Terrapin & Left Hand- Depth Charge Espresso Milk Stout. Excellent roasty bitter espresso nose and very smooth body. Nogne O Porter on as well, which is an extremely rare keg from Norway. Oddly enough, this is an American-style porter, go figure. The monday (10/18) after Decatur Craft Beer Festival is one of those beer dinners that is truly "once in a lifetime." Brick Store Mike, take it away!

You read that correctly. Our first Beer Dinner in almost a year and we’re going to bring it back in style my friends. The evening will be hosted by Orval’s own Francois de Harenne
A slightly different format this time in that we will have 6 different chefs (actaully 7) preparing 6 courses paired with the following beers.

Orval (fresh), Westmalle Tripel, Achel Brune, Rochefort 10, Rochefort 8, and Orval (Aged). I mean you gotta be kidding me, right?!!

The line up of Chefs for the evening
Eric Ottensmeyer, Robert Lupo & Rian Tittle - LEONs Full Service & Brick Store Pub
Chris Hall – Local 3
Mel Toledo – 5 Season’s Brewing ( Prado)
Todd Mussman – Muss & Turners
Ryan Smith – Holeman and Finch
Richard Neal – Cakes & Ale (Bon Appetit Top 10 Best New Restaurant of 2009)

If you are interested please email me back with your phone number at: michael@brickstorepub.com
I will call you to confirm your reservation and take payment at that time including tax and gratuity. The price per person for this dinner is $75 pp + tax & gratuity. It will be a 6 course with trappist pairings. We will limit it to the first 55 people. Tickets are still available.