The entire craft beer scene in Savannah is not confined to the festival on Hutchinson Island. Several of the city’s bars and restaurants have Craft Beer Week specials events. Break open your organizer and start filling in dates:
Wednesday, Aug. 29
The Distillery showcases beers from Georgia Crown Distributing tonight, including brews from Anchor Brooklyn Brewing Co., Uinta and Harpoon – almost 20 beers. The tap takeover begins at 6 p.m.
Taco Abajo hosts a four–course ($45) dinner tonight featuring beers form Missouri’s Crown Valley Brewing Co. The brewery was a hit at last year’s fest – but isn’t represented this time around. Reservations required, 480–9050. Beers will include Wooden Nickel IPA, Farmhouse Lager, Black Cabin Smoked Ale, and Plowboy Porter (draft). This is not a taco dinner, but a sneak peek at the upscale Southern fusion menu of Taco Abajo’s sister restaurant, Temperance. All week, the restaurant features New Belgium Cocoa Mole on draft.
Aqua Star at the Westin will offer a prix fixe, three–course dinner all week leading up to its signature festival event, the International Tasting. The three dishes ($38) have been hand–crafted by internationally recognized Chef Roger Michel and will be paired with a trio of German beers: Franziskaner Hefe Weiss, Tucher Dunkles Hefe Weizen and Mai–ur–Bock. Call for info or reservations, 201–2085.
Green Truck Pub will showcase Allagash Confluence on draft. Meet Les Addis of Allagash Brewing.
Your Pie Downtown will send Terrapin fans away with a free Terrapin Brewery pint glass with beer & food purchase.
World of Beer offers $1 off Southern beers (6–9 p.m.) with names like Terrapin, Wild Heaven, Highland, Mother Earth, & Sweetwater.
Johnny Harris BBQ will celebrate the remodeling of its historic Maple Room vaern will 2–for–1 drafts through Sept. 2, 4–7 p.m. Drafts include Allagash White, Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Coastal Empire Savannah Brown, Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.
Thursday, Aug. 30
The Distillery turns it taps over to United Distributors who will showcase beers from Abita, Boulevard, Crispin, Sierra Nevada, Sweetwater, Terrapin, Rogue, Mother Earth and Woodchuck. 6 p.m.
Green Truck Pub hosts Red Brick Brewing President Bob Budd. The bar will feature Red Brick 17th Anniversary Ale on draft.
Your Pie Downtown: Buy food & beer and get a free Stone Pint glass.
World of Beer offers a chance to win brewery SWAG tonight to anyone who buys a draft between 6–9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 31
Kick off the weekend at Moon River Brewing Co.’s 6 o’clock toast. Expect to meet some visiting brewers and sample a secret beer that brewmaster John Pinkerton will tap at the toast. Stop in Saturday and Sunday for unofficial festival after–parties with beer and food specials for folks showing their festival admission tickets.
The Distillery and Savannah Distributing brands host “Night of the Beer Geek 3.0” beginning at 6 p.m. Among breweries are 21st Amendment, Allagash, Avery, Bell’s. Burnt Hickory, Dogfish Head, Duck–Rabbit, Great Divide, Heavy Seas, Moon River, Stone, Oskar Blues, The Bruery, The Lost Abbey, Thomas Creek, Highland, and Weyerbacher.
At World of Beer, it’s Terrapin night, featuring 10 beers on tap from the Athens–based brewer. Start time is 6 p.m.
Green Truck Pub celebrates IPA–style beers with six rare or hard to find IPAs on draft.
Your Pie Downtown: Buy food and beer and get a free Dogfish Head pint glass.
Saturday, Sept. 1
Green Truck Pub offers rare special reserve drafts. Every night offers free pint glasses while supplies last.
Your Pie Downtown: Buy food and beer and get a free Coastal Empire Brewing pint glass.
Sunday, Sept. 2
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse hosts the annual beer vs. wine dinner, pitting hard–working Steve Hayes of Terrapin Brewing Co. against Ruth’s Chris GM Doug Snyder. The multi–course dinner is $65 per person – guests vote on their favorite paired beverage. Reservations, 721–4800.
