image of Brouwer's Cafe at night, courtesy of P D Gibson's Flickr page

Located in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, Brouwer's Cafe has three fun events planned from late November thru early December. 

Thursday, November 20th, Firestone Walker returns for their annual "... Ugly Sweater Party". Featured during this event will be Firestone Walker beers and awards for the best (or is it worst?) looking ugly sweater.

We have moved the date of this around and thought we would try earlier this year before the Holidaze take over and everyone of us has too many social engagements to stay on top of.  The formula is pretty simple.  We tap some Firestone Walker beers, invite people to join us, encourage them to wear Ugly Sweaters so that they can win prizes.   In the past years, pretty much everyone that wore an ugly sweater has left with some kind of prize. Tom comes up with some games to keep the party going, last year there was lots and lots of limbo going on, and everyone in attendance probably is still sick of the limbo song.  That’s the idea.  This year there will be the option to cross stitch your own ugly sweater ornament.  Supplies will be limited. 

  • Firestone Walker 15th Anniversary Ale
  • Firestone Walker Parabola 2013
  • Firestone Walker Mocha Merlin
  • Firestone Walker Agrestic Sour
  • Firestone Walker Merlin
  • Firestone Walker Union Jack Ipa
  • Firestone Walker Wookie Jack Black Rye Ipa
  • Firestone Walker DBL Jack Imp Ipa
  • Firestone Walker Pivo Pilsner
  • Firestone Walker Opal

The event starts at 6pm, with doors to the 'Cafe opening at 11am. Note, there is no gurantee any or all of the listed Firestone Walker beers will be on draft, prior to the event's official start.

Less than a week later, Seattle's Elysian Brewing Company stops by to encore their assortment of pumpkin beers. 

image courtesy of our Flickr page

The formula for this one is pretty straight forward.  Elysian does their Pumpkin fest we do a Roadshow edition here the night before Thanksgiving.  We tap 8 Elysian beers and 8 or a few more from other folks.  We are happy with the list this year.

Look for the following Elysian-brewed pumpkin beers as well as the following 'guest' pumpkin beers. 

Elysian Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale
Elysian Punkacinno Coffee Pumpkin Porter
Elysian Dark o the Moon Pumpkin Porter
Elysian / Lost Abbey collaboration Avant Gourde
Elysian Mr. Yuck Sour Pumpkin Ale
Elysian Cohche Mexican Chocolate Amber Pumpkin Ale
Elyisna Gourdgia
Elysian Bourbon barrel-aged Dark O' the Moon Pumpkin Porter
Reuben’s Pumpkin
Destihil Sam Hain Pumpkin Porter
Almanac Dark Pumpkin Sour ( or Heirloom)
Gigantic/ Commons Pumpkin Dinner Not Dessert
Southern Tier Pumpking
Midnight Sun Treat
New Belgium Pumpkick
Seattle Cider Pumpkin

Finally, Brouwer's Cafe celebrates their annual Big Wood Festival (December 4th).

image "Barrels of fun" from fmgbain's Flickr page & sourced via Creative Commons

Much like their other 'festivals' (e.g. Hard Liver, Back in Black, Sour Fest, etc.) Brouwer's Cafe will dedicate most of their 65 taps to wood-infused beers. 

The list is incomplete, but currently the following breweries has committed a keg of something to the event:Almanac, Avery Bainbridge Island, Ballast Point, Bear Republic, Black Raven, Boneyard, Boulevard, Crux Fermentation, De Struise, Deschutes, Destihil, Elysian, Engine House #9, Fremont, Full Sail, Great Divide, Hales, Holy Mountain, Jolly Pumpkin, Goose Island,  Logsdon, Lompoc, Lost Abbey, Midnight Sun, New Belgium, Pelican, Perennial, Pike, Port, Reuben’s, Schooner Exact, Seven Seas, Sound, Surly, Stone

Brouwer's Cafe is located at 400 N 35th Street in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood.