DRAFT Magazine

McGillin’s Olde Ale House of Philadelphia has found a solution to the unbearable end-of-summer stretch before Octoberfest: begin serving the seasonal brews in August! McGillin’s is the oldest continuously operating tavern, and with all the historic events it has seen, it might as well make a little history itself. McGillin’s plans to start pouring Octoberfest beers on Aug. 26—while most breweries are just beginning production.

McGillin’s Octoberfest celebration commemorates the German beer-inspired holiday marking King Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Theresa von Sachsen-Hildurghausen in 1810. Since then, the day has become an annual celebration with horse races, performances and beer. McGillin’s has taken the tradition and grown it to a month-long Octoberfest celebration complete with German fare like mussels steamed in Octoberfest Lager served over hay and straw noodles. The festival will culminate on Oct. 4 with the Midtown Village Fall Festival. With live entertainment, outdoor performers, face painting and vendors McGillin’s will transform Drury Street into a Beer Garden; sounds like a celebration so grand it will remind McGillin’s patrons why Octoberfest wasn’t worth waiting for.

Zane Lamprey is taking time off from shooting his drinking-trek around the world on his TV show, “Three Sheets,” to bring the party to you. Although Zane has made his name sampling local wine, spirits and beers around the world (and having a pretty good time doing it), this time, he’ll be doing the international imbibing without leaving the States, and you’re invited. Fans can sign up for a ZaneCrawl, one of three celebrated, weekend-long pub-crawls visiting “international” drinking establishments in Boston, San Francisco and Chicago; go to www.zanecrawl.com for your chance to crawl.

“Like a great barleywine, NY Brewfest continues to improve with age,” Heartland Brewery founder Jon Bloostein says; and with more breweries from a wider geographical scope joining the fest as well as reorganization that will cut down time spent waiting in line, patrons are sure to agree. The Brewfest will take place Friday, September 12 and the $50 tickets are expected to go fast.

The over 5,000 beer enthusiasts who attend the festival will get to sample more than 300 craft beers from 100 local, regional, national and international breweries. Guests will also enjoy authentic Spanky’s BBQ and a live music line-up of the Bagpipe Dudes, Los Blancos, Bernie Clarke & the Rhythm Sharks and Donna Jean & the Tricksters. The NY Brewfest is co-sponsored by Heartland Brewery and the New York State Brewers Association. Get your tickets today at www.nybrewfest.com or at any of Heartland Brewery’s five New York City locations.

All of Portland’s drinkers of fine beer will gather July 24, 25, 26, and 27 to celebrate craft brew at the Oregon Brewers’ Festival. Seventy-three craft breweries will proffer handcrafted brews to the over 60,000 who are drawn to the festival each year. Nearly 200 brewers and beer lovers will kick off the weekend with the annual old-fashioned parade through the sidewalks of Portland to the opening ceremonies. Attendees of the festival will spend their time sampling beer, enjoying live music, becoming educated on hops and the ins and outs of the industry and can even sign up to become a SNOB (Supporter of Native Oregon Beer). See www.oregonbrewfest.com or call 503.778.5917 for more information.

Now the honor of All-American can also be given to a beer list. Vons Grand City Café in downtown Seattle has taken all imports off its beer list, as well as all Miller, Coors and Budweiser products, and replaced them with American drafts. Get your patriotic fix with fresh live drafts, 25 in all!

21st Amendment Brewery, the popular brewpub in San Francisco’s South of Market district, has canned two of its award-winning beers “Hell or High Watermelon” watermelon wheat beer and “Brew Free! Or Die” IPA, announcing, “We drink what we can, we can what we drink!” The beers will be available throughout California in limited supply with wider distribution to follow.

“The can is actually a brilliant CAN-cept all around for craft beer,” employee Nico Freccia says. “Cans are simply better for the beer—they keep it fresher by protecting it from light, they are lined so they don’t affect the flavor of the beer and they fit the craft beer drinker’s lifestyle by going places where glass just doesn’t dare—like beaches, pools, boats, parks and golf courses.” 21st Amendment will host its Can Release Party at Toronado Pub to celebrate the new packaging. For more information about getting your hands on these cans, see www.21st-Amendment.com.

In its most recent and acquisition, McMenamins has purchased a historic property in downtown Portland that it expects to be a whole new gateway to the same old good times it has gotten a name for over the last few decades. Renovation has begun, and the hotel is to open in early 2009. McMenamins — pioneers of the Pacific Northwest microbrew — expects this project to be the “perfect complement” to bars and music venues in the area, as well as “a great connection between the Pearl District and the West End,” Renee Rank, McMenamins’ marketing director said.

McMenamins plans to preserve the property’s past through original artwork and old photographs displayed in the hotel. Since its inception in 1911, the site has existed as a series of hotels, men’s bathhouses and nightclubs; the company aims to commemorate its historic evolution from a pioneer residence to a tire shop to a live jazz club to — most recently and significantly — part of Portland’s gay triangle.

The (yet unnamed) hotel will have 50 rooms on the second, third and fourth floors; and the first floor will host a full-service restaurant celebrating fresh seasonal ingredients of the Pacific Northwest. In the basement guests can enjoy a heated saltwater soaking pool and spalike massage rooms, as well as a Subterranean Cellar Bar that will connect with McMenamins Ringlers Annex Pub next door. The company also expects that the hotel’s one-block proximity to the legendary Crystal Ballroom (another of the McMenamins’ successes that has hosted a range of live acts from Rudolph Valentino to the Grateful Dead to Modest Mouse) will draw concert-goers, wedding parties and other visitors.

Reservations will be accepted prior to the opening of the hotel; see mcmenamins.com to find out how to plan your own historic getaway to the Northwest!

Attention all Dogfish Head enthusiasts: The Dogfish Tasting Room in Milton, Del. is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for sampling and beer and merchandise sales. To add to the excitement, the brewery is also offering multiple free tours Tuesday through Saturday afternoons. Tours are limited to 25 people per tour and the brewery asks that all participants wear closed-toe shoes—a particularly good idea if you decide to play a round of bocce on the tasting room’s bocce courts while waiting to take your tour. Also check out the once-a-week distillery tour on Wednesdays at Dogfish Head’s Rehoboth Beach brewpub, during happy hour. Call 302.684.1000 or go to www.dogfish.com for more information and to make reservations.