Your weekly planner
UPDATES WEDNESDAY 12/9
– A easy-drinking German-style Roggenbier (rye beer) is today's weekly small-batch release at Iron Goat, while Daft Badger is pouring an imperial IPA.
– Zythum, which is open only the second weekend of each month from now through March, will have Christmas music and pizza by the slice Saturday starting at 4 p.m. along with a special Vanilla Bourbon Porter.
UPDATES TUESDAY 12/8
– Gig Harbor's 7 Seas Brewing, which has just started distributing to Spokane, is featured in a launch party today from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Lantern Tap House, with $2.50 pint specials.
– Hale's Red Menace Big Amber, Troll Porter, El Dazzle Winter Stout and Akademik Bourbon Black Ale will be featured in a free tasting Wednesday at 3:30 p.m at Pilgrim's in Coeur d'Alene.
– Seven Deschutes beers will be on tap at the Idaho Pour Authority in Sandpoint on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of a fundraiser for the Idaho Conservation League, with live music and appetizers.
A look at the upcoming week in local craft beer:
– The downtown Onion officially opens its Area 51 Taphouse today at 5:01 p.m. Like the Area 51 at its sister North Side restaurant, the remodeled lounge will feature 45 rotating craft beer taps along with cask cocktails, wines and root beer.
– River City hosts a Community Pint Night today from 5 to 9 p.m., with $1 from each pint sold benefiting Friends of the Centennial Trail.
– Trickster's is bringing its Cougar Bay Blonde, Bear Trap Brown and Juice Box IPA to O'Malley's in Rathdrum for Monday Night Football, with prize raffles at every commercial break, followed by a seven-tap takeover Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the new Tapped in Moscow and more raffles.
– A Cherry Vanilla Spin Cycle Red will be pouring for No-Li's Brewsday Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
– A cask bourbon/oak Scotch ale will be tapped for Slate@8 on Wednesday at Slate Creek, along with live music and pizza by the slice.
– Nectar Wine and Beer will pair cheeses with four Arrogant Bastard beers from Stone – original, Oaked, Double Bastard and Depth Charge Espresso Double Bastard – in a tasting Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
– The Lantern Tap House hosts a limited Deschutes tasting Thursday at 6 p.m. with six-ounce pours of Green Monster, Jubelale (2014 and 2015) and Abyss (2013 and 2015) plus light appetizers for $20; sign up at the bar. That's a prelude to the Ugly Sweater Weekend on Friday and Saturday, with a Deschutes tap takeover and pint and taster specials, plus a Holiday Beard Competition on Saturday at 6 followed by a Holiday Round of communal music at 7:30.
– The Steam Plant on Friday releases both its perennial Stack Frost winter ale and a new Steam Bock.
– The Valley Total Wine offers a Laughing Dog tasting Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
– A dozen Odell beers will be paired with food from the adjoining Scratch Bistro, along with live music, for The Filling Station on 5th's 12 Beers of Christmas on Friday at 6 p.m. (beer and food selections sold individually).
– Pints Alehouse hosts a Widmer barrel-aged beer event Saturday starting at 3 p.m., with 2012, 2013 and 2015 Brrrbon plus the ginger and vanilla versions from 2013, 2013 rum-barrel Kill Devil imperial brown and all three Widmer/Cigar City Gentleman's Club barrel-aged imperial stouts.
– Five Trickster's beers will pour in a tap takeover Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Steady Flow Growler House, with owner Matt Morrow on hand.
– Manito Tap House launches its Twelve Beers of Christmas starting Saturday, with a rare beer tapped daily at 6 p.m. through Dec. 23.
– A big barleywine aged in Woodinville Whiskey barrels is the star attraction at Twelve String's fourth anniversary party Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., with catered food from O'Doherty's Barbecue.
– An Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest is underway at Cheney's New Boundary Brewing; buy a pint and have a photo taken in your atrociousl apparel, with judging Dec. 19 for a growler/pint glasses prize package.
And as always, keep coming back for more information about everything happening throughout the week.