Kind of late notice on this one, but if you’re free this evening Adam Avery brewer/owner Adam Avery of Avery Brewing out of Boulder, CO will be in St. Louis tonight.  This was kind of an impromptu  visit, which is why this is such late notice.

I’ve been told by Brian Dix of Major Brands Distributing that Adam and the Major Brands crew will be visiting Bridge Tap House at about 7PM tonight and then they’ll be heading over to the International Tap House in Soulard later this evening.

Sorry for the lack of specific times, but this is all being played fast and loose.  If you have a free evening, this is a wonderful chance to meet one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in all of brewing.

Big news late yesterday from the STL Today’s website.  According to Evan Benn, Free State Brewery out of Lawrence, Kansas will begin distributing in Missouri starting next month.

According to the post on STL Today, Free State will be using Major Brands for state-wide distribution, which means we’ll begin seeing bottles and kegs in St. Louis sometime in the next few months.

Here’s a list of the beers that received label approval in Missouri:

• Ad Astra Ale (Altbier)
• Copperhead Pale Ale (American IPA)
  
• Oatmeal Stout
• Stormwatch Ale (Indian Brown Ale)
  
• Wheat State Golden Beer (American Blonde Ale)

Cicero’s Italian Restaurant continues their fall Beer School semester this Wednesday from 5:30-6:30PM. Cicero’s Beer School provides background about beers and beer styles usually directly from people directly in the beer industry.

It’s a perfect opportunity to learn more about a style you’re unfamiliar with or to just brush up on a style you haven’t enjoyed in a while.

This week’s school is being taught by Mitch Turner from Major Brands. Mitch will be on hand to discuss and sample some Avery beers including White Rascal Belgian, IPA, Old Jubilation and Mephistopheles Stout. Go out and take advantage of one of the few places where you can drink and learn!

If you can’t make it out to the Beer School, you can check out all of the classes via podcast at Cicerosbeerschool.com.

Sorry guys for the really late posting on this one, but I was without internet all day.  So, I’m pleased to announce that the winner for the two tickets to tonight’s Avery Experience at the International Tap House is Alex Chosid! Congrats to Alex and thank you everyone for entering. Once again, if you didn’t win, don’t be too upset, I’m going to have a few more things to give away in the next few weeks.

I once again want to thank Brian Dix from Major Brands for providing the tickets to this event.

You want to attend the Avery Experience at the International Tap House? Well today is your lucky day, STL Hops is giving away two passes to one of the coolest tastings I’ve seen in quite some time.

All you need to do is email contest@stlhops.com with the subject of “Avery Experience” and include your favorite Avery beer.

I want to thank Brian Dix from Major Brands for providing the tickets to this event. This contest will end on October 5th at 9AM CDT when I will pick a winner at random.  A couple of quick notes:

• If you’ve won something from STL Hops in the past 6 months, please be cool and let someone else enter.
• You much be 21 or older to enter.
• No multiple entries.

If you don’t win this one, don’t worry I will be holding more contests like this in the future, so you’ll have another chance then. Good luck!

Cicero’s Italian Restaurant concludes their Winter Beer School semester this Wednesday from 5:30-6:30PM. Cicero’s Beer School provides background about beers and beer styles usually directly from people directly in the beer industry.

It’s a perfect opportunity to learn more about a style you’re unfamiliar with or to just brush up on a style you haven’t enjoyed in a while. Also, you can’t participate in next week’s graduation ceremony unless you’ve attended one class, so tonight is your last shot.

This week’s school is being taught by Mitch Turner of Major Brands Distributing. Mitch will be on hand to discuss and provide samples of Chimay Red, White and Blue as well as Avery Maharaja. Go out and take advantage of one of the few places where you can drink and learn!

If you can’t make it out to the Beer School, you can check out all of the classes via podcast at Cicerosbeerschool.com.

On January 17th, at 5PM, Sara from Major Brands will be hosting a Schlafly beer tasting at Rendezvous Cafe and Wine Bar in O’Fallon, MO.  Sara will be pairing Schlafly beers with cheese and sausage, and let’s be honest, there are few better things in life than beer, cheese and sausage.  The cost for the event is $10 per person and you can RSVP by calling 636-281-CAFE.

Information about this event and other events can be found on Rendezvous’ event calendar.