UPDATED with new events (4:34 p.m. Tuesday)
I'm on the road to Pennsylvania and Florida this week, where the nostalgic flavor of Yuengling Lager and the tropical-citrus punch of Cigar City Jai Alai IPA await.
But St. Louis beer news waits for no one. Here's a rundown of sudsy events happening this month. Be sure to check back for the latest additions.
Urban Chestnut Wolpertinger
When 1-6 p.m. Saturday • Where Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., 3229 Washington Boulevard • How much $30 • More info urbanchestnut.com
For its first birthday, Urban Chestnut is hosting a party to celebrate the spirit of craft beer in St. Louis. Called Wolpertinger, the event will feature beers from Urban Chestnut as well as 4 Hands, 2nd Shift, Augusta, Buffalo, Cathedral Square, Charleville, Civil Life, Exit 6, Ferguson, Kirkwood Station, Morgan Street, O'Fallon, Perennial, Schlafly, Six Row and Square One breweries. Tickets include unlimited samples from a commemorative tasting glass.
Weatherbird ‘Birdday' Tweetup
When 6-9 p.m. Thursday • Where 4 Hands Brewing Co., 1220 South Eighth Street • How much Free admission; beer and food extra • More info birdday.eventbrite.com
The Post-Dispatch's unflappable cartoon mascot, Weatherbird, turns 111 this month. 'Bird likes to party — and tweet — so toast with a tweetup at the new 4 Hands Brewing Co. Join Weatherbird and friends, including Dan Martin, who draws the Weatherbird cartoon every day in the P-D and will be on hand to make sketches for attendees. Food trucks Guerrilla Street Food and Sarah's Cake Stop will provide the grub.
Schlafly Cod & Cask Festival
When 5 p.m.-midnight Feb. 10, 11 a.m.-midnight Feb. 11 • Where Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust Street • How much Free admission; beer and food extra • More info schlafly.com
I am an unabashed fan of the Tap Room's fish 'n' chips, especially when paired with a cask-conditioned ale. What better festival, then, than one that celebrates both? The St. Louis Brewery flies in thousands of pounds of Icelandic cod to beer-batter and fry, and Schlafly favorites like English IPA, Pale Ale, Scotch Ale, Oatmeal Stout and more will be poured from casks so the beers are naturally carbonated and served at cellar temperature.
Valentine's Beer Dinner (sold out)
When 4 p.m. Feb. 12 • Where Bigelo's Bistro, 140 North Main Street, Edwardsville • How much $44 (sold out) • More info 618-655-1471; bigelosbistro.com
Bigelo's Bistro turned to Kansas City's Boulevard Brewing Co. to find beers to pair with its upcoming Valentine's dinner. The brewery's peppery and dry Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale begins the evening, followed by the limited-edition Saison-Brett paired with roasted poblano peppers and cheese quesadillas. Boulevard's Double-Wide IPA matches with a Mexican jambalaya for the second course. The cherry-infused Bourbon Barrel Quad should be a nice complement to roast pork loin with a chile-cherry reduction and bourbon-cured bacon. A Missouri chocolatier teamed with Boulevard to brew its recently released Chocolate Ale, which Bigelo's will pair with dessert.
Chocolate and Beer Pairing
When 8 p.m. Feb. 15 • Where Perennial Artisan Ales, 8125 South Michigan Avenue • More info 314-631-7300
Perennial is pairing five of its beers with confections from local chocolate-maker Kakao Chocolate.
Winter Cask Festival
When 5 p.m. Feb. 18-noon Feb. 19. • Where 2nd Shift Brewing Co., 1401 Olive Road, New Haven • How much $150 for one ticket, $210 for two • More info 1-573-237-3421
Fresh off December's successful Saturday Beer School, 2nd Shift Brewing Co. is hosting an overnight festival Feb. 18-19 that will feature cask-conditioned beers from eight St. Louis-area breweries: 2nd Shift, 4 Hands, Charleville, Civil Life, Exit 6, Perennial, Schlafly and Urban Chestnut. Tickets include dinner on the 18th, a room that night at the adjoining Cedar Creek Conference Center, breakfast on the 19th, snacks and plenty of cask beer throughout the fest.
Boogaloo and Perennial Beer Dinner
When 7 p.m. Feb. 21 • Where Boogaloo, 7344 Manchester Road, Maplewood • How much $40, plus tax and tip • More info 314-645-4803
This four-course, four-beer dinner includes wilted spinach salad with Saison de Lis, steamed cod with Southside Blonde, jerk beef skewers with Hommel Bier and chocolate crème brûlée with Black Walnut Dunkel.
Square One's 6th Anniversary
When 4-7 p.m. Feb. 22 • Where Square One Brewery & Distillery, 1727 Park Avenue, Lafayette Square • How much Free admission • More info 314-231-2537
Square One will toast its sixth birthday with free appetizers and giveaways. Head in for a chance to win free growlers of beer for a year or bottles of Square One's own Spirits of St. Louis liquors.
Evan's pick: Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA
Lowdown: Sierra Nevada's new spring seasonal is this hoppy ale brewed with a large proportion of malted rye. The result is a piney, grapefruity bite up front — though not as severe as some of Sierra Nevada's other brews —and a smooth, velvety finish with some peppery spice from the rye. Along with Founders Red's Rye, this is an exemplary display of brewing with that grain.
Price: About $8 for a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles
Where to find it: The Wine and Cheese Place, 7435 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton
