You’re not going to find many parties more enjoyable than this weekend’s Big Red Ball Homebrew Contest. More than a dozen homebrewers are bringing more than 30 of their own beers to the competition, which crowns the “Official Beer of Kickball.” The winner will have their recipe brewed at Stone’s Throw Brewing just in time for kickball season. This is always a relaxed, enjoyable time tasting beers you can’t find around town. Last year, a blonde ale by Ice IX Brewing took the crown. If you want to check it out, tickets are still available. Admission is $25; the VIP ticket is $35 and gets you in a half hour earlier. The contest is at Next Level Events near downtown Saturday at 7 p.m. VIP admission starts at 6:30.
Before the competition, Stone’s Throw will be releasing its Roxie’s Red Rye ale for #NewBrewFriday. This 5.5 percent ABV brew is an Irish red brewed with rye grains for a peppery finish. In the past, this one has been brewed with wild yeast from Dunbar Community Garden, which gave it a bit of a sour note. This time around, it looks to be a more straightforward rye ale. It goes on tap at the MacArthur Park location at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Lost Forty has a big annual release today for its Freshcut Monday release. The taproom will have on its Bourbon Barrel-aged Love Honey Bock starting at 4 p.m. today. The brew teams rest its classic Love Honey Bock in bourbon barrels for several months for a boozier draw and a smooth finish. This is one of the brewery’s better annual releases, so you should make plans to check it out this week. Lost Forty is releasing this by the glass, in crowlers and growlers to go, and in four packs that will get limited distribution around town. Check with your favorite liquor store to see if they’ll be getting it.
Rebel Kettle this week is bringing back a stout that hasn’t been on tap in almost a year and a half. This week’s 4:30 Thursday release is “It’s Chocolate, It’s Mint, It’s Delicious!” It’s a mint chocolate chip cream stout brewed with mint grown at Heifer International. The brew features Rebel Kettle’s classic cream stout recipe spiked with notes of chocolate and mint for a smooth, sweet finish. It’s available by the glass and in growlers to go.
And in case you missed it, Moody Brews released its Earl Grey ESB on Friday for the first time in more than two years. I’ve had it several times, and it’s even better than I remember. You can get it at Vino’s by the glass, or you can fill up a growler for pretty cheap (about $14).
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