Weekend Tap (And Bottle) Update – Green Edition

Don’t forget – yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day post about different styles of stouts you shouldn’t miss follows this one, so please check that out as well!

Although St. Patrick’s Day weekend is usually known more for the sheer volume of beer available (or its coloring) instead of any surprise factor when it comes to new craft beers on tap, there are still a few unexpected gifts coming our way. These will be found both in bottle form (yes, Weekend Tap Update is making an exception for this weekend) or yes, on tap, at some of the events planned for the next couple days, and though I’m sure to miss a couple, here are some of the most noteworthy.

The weekend kicks off with a 15 beer tasting tonight at Wine Gourmet. This is by far one of the largest of their Friday beer tastings I can remember WG having, and will feature styles you might expect considering the weekend which is upon us, and a few others as well. A few which will be included in the tasting are Wexford’s Irish Cream Ale, Porterhouse Brewing’s Oyster Stout, Brooklyn Brewing’s (NY) Dry Irish Stout, Heavy Seas’ (MD) Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout, Starr Hill’s (VA) new coffee cream stout Little Red Roostarr as well as their Wee Heavy PsychoKilter, Rogue Brewing’s (OR) Kell’s Irish Lager, as well as a couple Devils Backbone beers and others. If nothing else, grab yourself a taste of the Porterhouse (check out yesterday’s section about Oyster Stouts), the Roostarr, or the Siren Noire, all of which are standouts among the group.

Local Roots Restaurant, in Grandin Village, has added Brooklyn Brewing’s solid Dry Irish Stout to their taps, as well as Reilly’s Red, a good Irish Red Ale from Virginia’s own Devils Backbone. If you do plan on making it down to Local Roots, do not forget they also still have the world class Nugget Nectar from Troegs Brewing (PA) still on draft as well. Blue 5 has added taps of Heavy Seas’ Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout and Anderson Valley’s Barney Flatts Oatmeal Stout for the weekend. It also looks like a firkin (cask conditioned ale) of New Holland’s (MI) delicious oatmeal stout The Poet may make an appearance, likely on Saturday. As stouts go, especially ones that are not limited run beers, The Poet is an excellent blend of deeply roasted coffee and rich, bittersweet chocolate, with a little sweetness and a full-ish body. The effect of the firkin should even more so embellish it’s velvety body and accent its flavors.

On Saturday, Martin’s Bar and Grill downtown begins their festivities at 1pm with an outdoor beer garden and stage, providing brews and live music until 1am. Also, Corned Beef and Company will have an outdoor tent with live music just outside the restaurant, and word is that Billy’s Restaurant will have a special version of Starr Hill’s Dark Starr Stout on cask.

You might be able to forgive yourself for wearing things like spinning green bowties with lights on them after this weekend, but you won’t forgive yourself so easily if you don’t seek out some of the delicious beers that will be newly available between tonight and tomorrow. New favorites are waiting to be found, and new tasting experiences are to be had! Cheers, everyone, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!