Beer Geeks to Converge @ BeerConn in December!

In a few weeks on December 13, we have a good hunch where you’ll be: at the inaugural BeerConn at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. The brouhaha is so brew-centric that there are actually two sessions: Session 1 goes from 12:30-4 and Session 2 goes from 5:30-9!  Tix are just $35 per person (tax and fees extra), $45 the day of (if there are any left), and just $10 for those saintly designated drivers. You should be able to buy these tickets today, so keep checking their site!

And, as for the drinkable deets, here we go:

Drinks, food + fun at A Novel Affair 2014 fundraiser for The Ferguson Library – Stamford, CT

 

Quite the novel idea…

Last year we were invited to attend A Novel Affair, The Ferguson Library‘s annual fundraiser, right in the library.  While it seemed pretty naughty to be eating and drinking in a library (we were even TALKING), we got over that quickly and had a blast.  All in, $160,000 was raised for the library during that event between ticket prices, donations, and auction items.  And, this year around, the needs

Half Full will be pouring out some magic!

of the library have not disappeared.  They still need to fund the awesome events and classes they put on for kids and adults, purchase books and materials, help make initiatives happen, and maintain the library as a beacon light in the Stamford community.   

So, please join us at this year’s event on April 10 from 5:30-8:30, for food, drinks, and tons of fun.  Tickets are $125 and can be purchased here (sponsorship options available, too) or by calling (203) 351-8205.  Like we said, not only will you be helping to fund the library’s offerings and collections, you’ll also be able to take advantage of some of the area’s best food and drinks.

Just look:

Hoptimists Rejoice: Half Full Brewery of Stamford Expands into Hartford, Windham, and Tolland Counties…and???

When we went to the January Rare Beer Night at Half Full Brewery, we had these crazy flashbacks.  Images of the building shot into our heads…images of the building’s guts torn apart, images of Conor and crew ripping apart a second floor to make way for a tasting room, and images of a half-finished brewery.  And, we woke up from our flashback, looked around and saw the tasting room packed, people eager and thirsty for some Half Full beer.  Damn, it was amazing to see what a difference a year could make!

Celebrate IPA Day with CT Brews and Vote for CT’s Best IPA!

Awesome IPADay banner from The Drink Nation

August 1.  It’s a day each year when we pause to remember the brilliant men who loaded hops into beer to preserve it on a long voyage on ships to India.  We salute you, o’ brave and tenacious travelers.  And, we thank you!  Your invention far surpasses the usefulness of things such as wheels, pulleys, levels, and even filtered water.

Yes, it’s on this day when we profess our love of IPAs!  Say it loud, say it proud:  I drink India Pale Ales!  And, to help you fuel up this day, we’re providing you with a list of IPAs made locally that you should try.  Also, please vote below by Thursday (8/8) for your favorite CT IPA.  We’ll announce a first, second, third, and OmNomCT choice winner next Friday, 8/9.

Two Roads Brewery + Food Trucks = Weekend Fun!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

and I, I took the one that lead to the brewery

and that has brought me all the hops and barley in the world.

-Robert Frosty Mug

We heard about Two Roads Brewing a while ago and were happy when they opened up in December. But, because they are in Stratford and we were in Greenwich, we weren’t sure when we could travel out there. Well, as a stroke of pure genius, we decided to break up an annoying drive to Ikea to return some glöreögköps  and kröakelörigöbrigs (sp?) with a trip to Two Roads.

It’s pretty easy to get to, just past Bridgeport and right off exit 31. And, parking wasn’t too hard to get even though it was packed. We rushed out of our car because we were dying of hunger and Fryborg (RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!), a food truck serving up french fries, sandwiches, natural sugar sodas, and other fried goodness was there. We knew that we wanted fries, but what kind and variation?

1. Dutch Fries with a mound of fries topped with curry ketchup, mayo, and minced onion?
2. BLT Fries with hand-cut fries topped with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, chopped bacon, and mayo?
3. Italian Fries with crispy fries topped with pesto mayo, tomato, and Pecorino cheese?
4. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Fries with Belgian style fries topped with a fried egg, melted American cheese, and bacon?
5. Assimilation Fries with golden brown fries topped with a fried egg, American cheese, 1000 island dressing, and onion?
6. Chili Cheese Fries with our delicious fries topped with truck-made chili and cheddar cheese?

Dayummm

Cheers! Local Wine and Beer Blind Tasting at Bottlerocket of Westport, CT

A while back, we told you about Bottlerocket opening up in Westport.  Yup, they’re the guys who have a fun way to organize their wines.  Select your wine by checking out the seafood, meat, poultry, treats, take-out, organic section, or any other of the themed sections in the store.  But, they also have a great beer and liquor selection, if you haven’t stopped by yet.  

They’ll be showing off some of their wine and beer on 9/27 from 7-8 with their first ever Happy Hour.  The focus?  A blind tasting of local wine and beer.  Tickets are $25 in advance (call them at 259-3939) or $30 at the door.  They’ll have some local drinks and some “out-of-towner” drinks.  It’ll be up to you in the blind tasting to see if you have a sharp enough palate to spot which are New England and which aren’t.  Think you’re up to the challenge?  You’ll definitely want to stop by, then.  Well, let’s say you’re not up for the challenge.  That doesn’t matter.  Come by any way and try some great brews and wines.  

Cheers, OmNomivores!

Food Trucks, Over 30 Breweries, and Music at Harbor Brew Fest! Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT

Looking for info on the 2013 Harbor Brew Fest?  Click here! 

Last September, we were so torn.  Do we attend Blues, Views, & BBQ or the Beer and Wings festival that fell on the same day?  Both had their enticing features, but when Bob LeRose let us be guest BBQ judges, we knew what we had to do.  Turns out that the Beer and Wings festival was postponed, but we did keep in touch with Kelly Scinto (who is aweeesome). She told us about the reincarnation of this event, aka Harbor Brew Fest a few weeks ago.  Yes, Fairfield County’s first ever beer festival!  Picture it:

• Over 30 different breweries represented…craft, local, international, domestic!  We’re talking Blue Point, Thomas Hooker, Beaver, Kona, Redhook, Widmer Brothers, Berkshire Brewing, City Steam, Brooklyn Brewery, Olde Burnside, and more…

• Music from The String Fingers Band, Twiddle, and more…

• Food from FIVE of CT’s favorite food trucks:  Super Duper Weenie, Fire Engine Pizza Co., LobsterCraft, Melt Mobile, and Christophe’s Crepe Truck.

• A portion of the sales will go a wonderful charity for children called The Harbor Light Foundation, after all, they are the peeps putting this together!

• Oh, did we mention that there’s beer?  Renzo Kian-Kubota who is the Beerologist at Harry’s in Fairfield (and who happens to be freaking aweeesome, too) wants to know if you have any other beers that you’d like added.  Check him at harrys@snet.net.

Yeah, look, it’s a ways away…we’re talking Saturday, 9/22/12 from 12-5 pm, but we’re telling you about this for a reason.  Listen closely.  The tickets just went on sale today.  This is the kind of event that will sell out, and will sell out quickly.  This kinda beer, this kinda food, this kinda fun time?  Fuggedaboutit!

There are three pricing options:

Ticketing – General Admission $35.00

Your general admission ticket to the Harbor Brew Fest will get you a tasting mug, a pretzel necklace, rocking music on the ears, access to CT’s most popular food trucks, and a day of beer tasting all for just $35.00 per person. 1-5 pm.

Ticketing – Designated Driver $10.00

Your general admission ticket to the Harbor Brew Fest will get you complimentary bottle of water, a pretzel necklace, rocking music on the ears, and access to CT’s most popular food trucks. 12-5 pm.

Brewer’s Special – VIP $50.00

Your brewer’s special ticket to the Harbor Brew Fest will get you an early access pass to the venue and special brewers choice, a day of beer tasting, a tasting mug, a pretzel necklace, rocking music on the ears, and access to CT’s most popular food trucks, all for just $50.00 per person.  12-5 pm.

Harbor Brew Fest

9/22/12

12-5 pm

Ballpark at Harbor Yard

500 Main Street

Bridgeport, Connecticut