Hops to It

The biggest beer gut and the most cultured palate go hand in hand at today’s Blues & Brews event. More than 50 breweries from around the world bring their best ales, lagers, and stouts to the third-annual Stan Hywet tasting. “You can see how beer can go beyond pizza and the sports page,” says organizer Donna Spiegler. “It’s a really involved learning experience, with so many diverse flavors.”

In addition to all of the homegrown stateside brews on tap, Belgium, Germany, and other faraway locales offer some of their finest creations. “This is one event where you can really taste a lot of beers you won’t get at your local supermarket,” says Spiegler. Area favorites like Thirsty Dog, Barrel House, and Great Lakes Brewery also get in on the action. There will even be some mead -- that sweet, heavy beverage that’s like a cross between beer and wine -- for those in a medieval mood. Visitors can sample up to 15 different beers, feast on food supplied by Winking Lizard, and listen to live music by the Bluestones. Plus, local chefs demonstrate the culinary possibilities of beer -- as both a high-end ingredient and meal accent. They’ll also pair brews with chocolate, cheese, and other delicacies. “Beer-drinking can be refined,” says Spiegler. “It can really be wonderful when you realize how many options are out there. Beer can be so civilized.”
Sat., July 28, 2-6 p.m.