Pete’s Brass Rail in Danville is known for a great selection of beers, usually 20+ on tap.  But if you’re a big beer fan the time right for a visit.  I popped in yesterday for a happy hour pint and found the following on tap: Anchor Old Foghorn, Sierra Bigfoot, EJ Phair Bourbon Barrel Aged Shorty’s Revenge, Moylan’s Double Kilt Lifter, Lagunitas Old Gnarlywine, Rubicon Winter Wheat Wine, and Schooner’s Old Diablo.

Check ‘em out (and if you’re looking for a great sammich try the turkey dip!)

Well I’ve found myself at The Trappist twice in five days….go figure.  In addition to their usual obscene offering of worldly goodness, they now have Alagash Four on tap.  This beer is made with four malts, four hops, four sugars, and four yeast strains.  So if you happen to find yourself at The Trappist, I wouldn’t hesitate to order up a Four.

A Night of Ales: A Firestone Walker Beer Dinner by Sean Paxton, the Homebrew Chef, at the Peacock Lounge, sponsored by the Toronado
Thursday, February 12; 6:00-10:00
$ 95 (tickets are available at the Toronado)

Have a one-of-a-kind meal prepared by the Homebrew Chef, Sean Paxton, across the street from the Toronado at the Peacock Lounge, featuring the beers of Firestone Walker Brewing of Paso Robles, California.

Stone Beer Dinner at the Monk’s Kettle
Wednesday, February 11; Happy Hour 5:30pm ( ½ price on all beer ); Dinner at 6:30pm
$70, plus tax and gratuity

On Wednesday, Feb 11th, The Monk’s Kettle hosts a beer dinner featuring the award-winning beers of Stone Brewing Co of San Diego. Arlen Arnsten from Stone will be on hand for an evening featuring a 5-course menu by Chef Kevin Kroger, featuring some of the breweries’ finest, including a few rarities from the Stone catalog.

“Wanna git my Eastern Peanut Butter in yer Western Chocolate”
Monday, February 9, 6pm-9pm
$50, four-courses with beer pairings

Witness Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head and Shaun O’Sullivan of the 21st Amendment in an East vs. West Coast Slam pairing Dogfish Head beers with West Coast foods and 21A beers with East Coast food. Think Tupac vs. Biggie, Spicoli vs. Sam from Cheers, The Grateful Dead vs. Velvet Underground. It will be a legendary showdown, featuring some of the best craft beer around, no matter which coast you’re from. You won’t want to miss it, and the $50 price includes a fantastic 4 course dinner orchestrated by the 21-A’s Chef Lorenzo Kersavan.

Call the 21st Amendment today to reserve tickets for what will surely be a sold out event. 415-369-0900 www.21st-Amendment.com

“A Beer Dinner with the Homebrew Chef”
Sunday, February 8, 6pm-9pm
$50, all inclusive

Sean Z. Paxton, chef and brewer extraordinaire is paring and cooking with the beer Monk’s Blood, that he guest brewed at the 21st Amendment for this year’s Strong Beer Month. Monk’s Blood is an extraordinary brew made with exotic sugars and ingredients and is based on the beer “Saucerful of Secrets” that he designed and brewed at Firestone Walker Brewery with Matt Brynildson. The price is $50 and includes the four course menu and beers. 21st Amendment Head Brewer Jesse Houck is also looking into the great 21A library beer cellar for tasty surprises to be served the night of this amazing dinner.

Call the 21A today for reservations at 415-369-0900. www.21st-Amendment.com

“Brewer’s Sunday Tea”
Sunday, February 8, Noon-3pm
$30 ( price includes 10 tasting tickets and Fatted Calf sausage )

This event is a Strong Beer Month Festival at the 21st Amendment with Taylor Boetticher of Fatted Calf and beers from Magnolia and the 21st Amendment with a few special surprises. Enjoy Fatted Calf’s delicious handcrafted sausages grilled outside in the 21A’s beer garden while enjoying great tasting strong beers. The $30 price includes 10 tasting tickets and a yummy sausage with all the fixings, yes fixings. You can purchase tickets in advance at the 21st Amendment for what will surely be a popular event.

Call the 21st Amendment at 415-369-0900 for details. 21st-amendment.com

The Celebrator Beer News will celebrate its 21st anniversary with its Best of the West Beer Fest on Sunday, February 15, 2009, from 4 to 8 pm at the Oakland Convention Center/Marriott Hotel in Oakland, Calif. More than 50 breweries will pour their favorite brews. Meet Celebrator staff and writers, brewers, brewery owners and beer industry luminaries including pioneer figures in the craft beer movement. Breweries pouring will include some of the top breweries from the West Coast and beyond.

Brewing memorabilia, special bottles and other items will be available to bid on at a silent auction benefiting the California Small Brewers Association. All profits from this event go to the CSBA to further the interests of the brewing community.

Tickets are $35 per person.
For more information, call 510-538-2739. Ticket sales by Visa/MC, phone 800-430-BEER or visit Celebrator.com

On Tuesay, Feb 10th, the Triple Rock Brewery and Jupiter Brewing Company, just blocks away from each other in Downtown Berkeley, offer another barrel-aged tasting event, this time featuring beers aged in all manner of vessels, from port and brandy barrels to whiskey and wine barrels, and everything in between. This event will feature the beers of Triple Rock and Jupiter, plus many diverse guests. This event will begin at 4pm at both locations, and ends once the last keg is dry. The $20 tasting price includes a logo tasting glass that you get to keep, which may be used at both breweries