American Craft Beer Week In Roanoke – Ready For A Fast and Furious Finish?

There’s always so much to look forward to when the week hits Wednesday. Usually it means, for most people, the end of the work week can be seen from here. But here’s another reason to feel a little more excited, especially if you’re one of the many craft beer curious folks in and around Roanoke. Today also means that the events being held in the Star City for American Craft Beer Week only ramp up from here. Last night gave us all a taste of what’s to come. Here’s a recap, and a look ahead:

Local Roots Restaurant held their Devils Backbone (VA) event, featuring a wood aged version of the brewery’s Kilt Flasher, their Scotch Ale on Tuesday night. They also had plenty of their Striped Bass pale ale on hand, sales of which benefits the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

It looks like the beer is beginning to flow from the newly installed 40 tap system at Mac N’ Bob’s Restaurant in Salem. According to staff at the restaurant, things should be running on all cylinders by the weekend. Of note on draft is Starr Hill’s (VA) new seasonal Grateful Pale Ale. The tap system by far offers the largest selection of craft beer in one place in Salem, and considering Mac N’ Bob’s was a favorite haunt of mine during my college days, I’ll definitely be back over there to check it out soon.

Blue 5 Restaurant kicked things off Monday night with two ciders that were created out of a collaborative effort between Fox Barrel and Crispin. What’s most interesting is that they were both inspired by the cult classic movie The Princess Bride. Titled “As You Wish”, and “Prepare To Die”, both should be still available to taste. Last night, the downtown restaurant featured Blue Mountain Brewery for Craft Beer Week, putting on tap a Weizenbock (dark wheat beer) called Summer Haze that you normally would only be able to get if you traveled to the Charlottesville area.

LOOKING FORWARD:

Wednesday – Local Roots is hosting their special three course dinner which they will pair with various beers from Belgium by way of Cooperstown Brewery Ommegang. Available will be Fleur de Houblon, a tasty Belgian Pale, Three Philosophers, a Quadrupel, Rare Vos, a Belgian style amber, and Gnomegang, a darker strong ale. Thursday night the restaurant is featuring special pricing on Foothills Irish Red Ale, 20 oz servings for just $2!

Blue 5 will continue to feature Virginia based breweries the remainder of the week, and on Wednesday celebrates one located just around the corner, in Salem, Parkway Brewing. Thursday night, expect a Devils Backbone event, Friday may see Wild Wolf featured, and then on Saturday, the Blue 5 debut of Sunken City Brewery beers, which just opened up at the Smith Mountain Lake area last week. Each event should include at least one beer from that night’s featured brewery not normally available in our area, and likely plenty of glassware to give away, if you’re the collecting type.

Friday will also see many Virginia brews on hand at this week’s Friday’s on Franklin event in downtown Roanoke. On hand will be beers from Sunken City, Devils Backbone, Bold Rock Ciders, Starr Hill, and Apocalypse Ale Works.

The Wine Gourmet beer and wine store is offering 10% discounts on all beer the rest of the week. 15% on case quantities.

Of course, I’m sure Parkway Brewing will be open their usual hours as we head into the weekend, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Check out their facebook page for any updates.

American Craft Beer Week rolls on here in Roanoke. Have you had anything new and exciting? If not, these events might give you just that chance! Cheers!