Gnome Week 2013

Brown Distributing recently announced "Gnome Week" 2013 in their newsletter. The week is dedicated to "Brasserie d’ Achouffe", the Achouffe Brewery in Belgium and includes events throughout Florida. Brown provided the following details about the week:

Beer weeks are fun and give the whole community an opportunity to experience different beers, beer pairings, unique products from National and Local Breweries and on and on... but this upcoming week is different from all other "Beer Weeks". It is Gnome Week! Gnomes are mystical creatures that date back hundreds of years in lore... What do they possibly have to do with beer?

Brasserie d'Achouffe was founded in the 1970s by Christian Bauweraerts and Pierre Gobron in the quaint village of Achouffe, Belgium. Belgium, being long known for the quality of its unique style of beer, hadn't seen a new brewery open in ages much less one that could produce the quality of the beer that the Brasserie does.

The legend goes that there was a colony of gnomes who once brewed enough beer to keep the entire nation of Belgium drunk year 'round. The beer flowed from a spring in the woods that was once the secret meeting place of the Knights of Templar and also became known as the Valley of the Fairies.

Years later the area was devastated by plague and collapse, thus the goblin brewery was destroyed. The lone survivor, a goblin named A'Chouffe visited the brother-in-laws and imparted the recipe of the classic golden La Chouffe to them. They have included his image on every bottle ever since.

Join us this week for some fun events that celebrate the Gnomes who have passed down this recipe and kept it alive for us to enjoy. They brew some great beer and there will be lots of fun gnomes floating about in their red gnome hats all over town... Will you catch one near you?

There are several "Gnome Week" events planned for our area:

  • Dress Like a Gnome Run
    Location: World of Beer - Palafox (Pensacola)
    When: Wednesday, September 18th, 6pm
    Dress like a Gnome for World of Beer's Run Club. Special discounts for run club participants which will have Chouffe beers available.

  • La Chouffe Brewery Night
    Location: Hopjacks Filling Station (Pensacola)
    When: Friday, September 20th, 6pm
    Brasserie d' Achouffe beers will be available for tasting and drinking as well as glassware and gnome hat giveaways.

  • La Chouffe Brewery Night
    Location: Beach Liquors (FWB)
    When: Friday, September 20th, 6pm
    Gnome Week tasting and beers from Brasserie d' Achouffe. There will also be some glassware and gnome hat giveaways during the event.

  • La Chouffe Brewery Night
    Location: KCs Tap Works (FWB)
    When: Friday, September 20th, 7pm
    Glass giveaways, raffles, and great beer from Brasserie d' Achouffe.

2013 Destin Beer Festival

If you missed the 2013 Emerald Coast Beer Festival or still haven't gotten your craft beer festival fill, you're in luck. The 4th annual Destin Beer Festival is right around the corner. Taking place Saturday, September 28th from 2 to 5pm, the festival will feature an impressive lineup of close to 40 craft beer breweries, culinary delights, and live entertainment.

Brought to you by Chans Wine World, owner Chan Cox is excited about the current craft beer scene:

We are excited to help bring the craft beer movement to the Southeast. Craft beers are skillfully brewed and sought after much like fine wines, and I personally believe that the craft beer boom that is currently happening parallels the surge in the wine industry 25 years ago.

Tickets are $35 per person in advance or $40 day of the event. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $50 in advance and $60 day of event. VIP ticket holders can enter the festival an hour early (1pm), have access to the VIP tent for the entire festival, and most importantly, get to sample beers only found in the VIP tent.

Be sure to keep up on the latest festival news by following the Destin Beer Festival on either Twitter or Facebook. Entertainment will be supplied by Hotel Oscar and Nick and the Ovorols. Proceeds from the event benefit Children in Crisis, Inc.

Destin is only an hour away from Pensacola, so get your tickets today and enjoy some great craft beer while supporting a great cause.

Event: Destin Beer Festival
Location: 4424 Commons Dr. Suite E3, Destin, FL 32541
Contact: Web Mail | 850.269.2909
When: Saturday, September 28th 2pm-5pm (VIP ticket holders enter at 1pm)
Cost: $35 in advance, $40 Day Of |VIP $50 in Advance, $60 Day Of (Limited Number)
Tickets: Website

Hopjacks Oktoberfest Beer Dinner

Hopjacks Oktoberfest Beer Dinner is taking place on Thursday, September 26th at Hopjacks - Nine Mile. The planned courses with beer pairings for this dinner are:

1st Course
Oktoberfest Fairground Snack Combo - Pretzel with Spiced Cheese, Weisswurst and Mustard.
Paired with Hofbräu Original Lager.

2nd Course
Kartoffelnsuppe (potato soup), Fried Sauerkraut & Sausage Fritters.
Paired with Paulaner Oktoberfest.

3rd Course
Schweinebraten (pork roast), Brown Butter/Caraway Cabbage, Cheese Spätzel Dumplings, Pan Gravy.
Paired with Augustiner Maximator Dopplebock.

4th Course
Lebkuchen (gingerbread cookie), Hazelnut Cream, Strawberry Sauce.
Paired with Hacker-Pschorr Weissbier.

Seating is limited and Hopjacks monthly beer dinners are very popular so make your reservations soon!

Event Summary
Event: HJ Oktoberfest Beer Dinner
Location: Hopjacks - Nine Mile
When: Thursday, September 26th, Starts at 7pm
Cost: $40 per person + tax & gratuity
Reservations: Call 850.497.6076 Extension 3