VOTE NOVEMBER 4TH!!!

Simple enough. On November 4th voting should be everyone's priority. Go early, go late, go Obama or go McCain just make sure that you go. I am not a huge political guy but even I am getting chills about the 4th. My day will start early to avoid any possible long lines, then it's off to do some volunteer work and by the end of the day, like most, I'll watch all the media coverage for the results.

After your vote has been cast there are several options for an evening of celebration or a place to simply drown your political sorrows.

Devil's Den
A special tapping of Avery's Ale to the Chief "Presidential" Pale Ale.

Tria Fermentation School
Get Stoned on Election Day. Head Brewer Mitch Steele of Stone Brewing Co. brings a variety of acclaimed Stone beers for a tasting. He has also shipped some rare specialties just for the class.
Tickets are required for this event, $55.00, 6pm-8pm.

Ortino's Northside Celebrates 5 Years
Northside celebrates B-Day number five. The party will roll with Victory Brewing, an appetizer buffet, give aways and keep the pint glass specials. Other draft specials will flow during the week including Russian River's Pliny the Elder and Flying Pig, Founders Breakfast Stout, Southern Tier's Unearthly and Cherry Saison and more.

Memphis Taproom

Pittsburgh Transplant Happy Hour. OK, this has nothing to do with politics but it does give you an interesting twist for an after the vote beer. As always the, every-first-Tuesday-of-the-month event will feature Pittsburgh beer (Iron City and Penn Brewing) and Primanti Brothers style sandwiches. This Pittsburgh transplant still needs to make it down one month. I promise it will happen.

No matter where you go everyone should at least raise a glass and toast to the end of all those annoying political ads.

You Betcha!!!

A Rock Star Cometh

If beer enthusiasts were trying to vote someone to the position of craft beer rock star Sam Calagione's name would surely be on the ballot. Sam is the founder and owner of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and has been creating innovative beers since 1995. Sam's rock star status not only comes from his imaginative creations but from his various involvements in the beer arena. He's a successful entrepreneur and author of books dealing with the business of beer, homebrewing and the benefits of pairing beer, instead of wine, with food. His Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats in Rehoboth Beach Delaware also houses a microdistlery that produces specialty vodka, gin and rum. There are now two Dogfish Head Alehouse restaurants. Sam can also label himself an inventor with the creation of Randall the Enamel Animal; a 3 foot high cylinder packed with whole hops and hooked into a draft line. Beer flowing from the tap is infused with the hops in the cylinder and thus creates a true fresh hop experience. He's been on national television promoting the virtues of beer. Oh, don't forget that Sam is also part of the funk/hip hop/rap duo the Pain Relievaz. All of that and the guy brews beer. It's no wonder why he is considered a star in the beer world.

When all is said and done it does come back to the beer. Some of his most inventive and historic have been the recreations he has worked on with senior research scientist Dr. Patrick McGovern at the University of Pennsylvania. The two have already created Midas Touch; a honey-grape-saffron beer based on traces of a drink found in the tomb of King Midas. A beverage from the preserved pottery jars of a Neolithic village in China was the basis for the rice-honey-fruit beer Chateau Jiahu. The latest Dogfish recreation, Theobroma, was released this month in bottles and is based on an ancient alcoholic chocolate drink from Honduras.

On Tuesday Sam Calagione travels to Philadelphia to spread the word about his ancient brews and some of his other creations. He will conduct his class, Off Centered Ales and Ancient Brews, at Tria's Fermentation School from 6:30-8PM. Unfortunately this one is already sold-out. The good news is that Sam is appearing earlier at Tria's Washington Square location to pour Theobroma and other Dogfish Head beers. The meet and greet runs from 5-6PM and is Pay-as-you-go.