The spirit of Western Mass Beer Week is best embodied when businesses come together for a collaboration, such as brewing a beer together or planning a thoughtfully paired dinner. 2017’s Beer Week is packed with special collaborative releases and food pairing events.
Exclusive Beer Week Collaboration Releases
(in order of release date):
Beer: “Abandoned at Lefty’s”
Breweries: Abandoned Building and Lefty’s Brewing
Details: An imperial stout aged on scotch barrel chips
Release Info: On draft at Abandoned Building beginning Saturday, June 10 with three different versions on tap--original, with cacao nibs, and with vanilla bean.16 oz cans will be distributed throughout the state at Lefty’s retailers during the week. Special versions will additionally be tapped at Beer Week events at the Brass Cat in Easthampton and Riff's North in Turners Falls on Thursday, June 15.
Beer: “A for Effort”
Breweries: Abandoned Building and Brewmaster Jack
Details: The second Beer Week collaboration from this duo is an IPA brewed and dry hopped with lupulin powder.
Release Info: Draft release Sunday, June 11, 1 to 6 p.m. at Abandoned Building Brewery with a special cask tapping at 2 p.m. Cans will hit Brewmaster Jack retailers beginning Monday, June 12.
Beer: “Mo Way! Another IPA”
Breweries: Two Weeks Notice and Vanished Valley
Details: Two the newest western Mass. breweries combine their passion, love, and dedication to the art of brewing in the release of Mo Way! Another IPA.
Release Info: Sunday, June 11, 2 to 6 p.m. at the Hangar in Amherst. This will a very limited draft-only release.
Beer: “Manhan Trail Pale Ale”
Businesses: Abandoned Building Brewery and Beerology
Details: Brewed both on Abandoned Building’s commercial system as well as Beerology’s home-brew setup, this New England pale ale is named for the bike path that connects the two locales.
Release Info: Monday, June 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. cans of Manhan Trail Pale Ale will be available for sale at Abandoned Building exclusively. Stop by Beerology any time during Western Mass Beer Week for a complimentary sample of the homebrewed version of this beer, and pick up the ingredients to brew it at home.
Beer: “Toasted Coconut Creme Stout”
Businesses: Amherst Brewing and Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters
Details: Amherst Brewing’s third seasonal release with Shelburne Falls. For this batch they’re working with a crowd favorite, Toasted Coconut Creme, blended with Amherst’s Two Sisters Stout.
Release Info: Tuesday, June 13 at the Hangar Pub and Grill in Amherst during open business hours. Available for nitro pours on the bar and wax dipped bottles will be available for purchase.
Beer: Worthy’s 2016 Homebrew Winners’ Collaboration
Breweries: Two Weeks Notice, Drunken Rabbit and Amherst Brewing
Details: An IPA brewed with the best hops from each brewery’s award-winning homebrews plus some Idaho 7 to give it another unique flavor.
Release Info: Thursday, June 15 at 4 p.m. #TapThatThursday at Smith’s Billiards as well as at the Worthy Brew Fest on June 17, upstairs at Smith's later that night, and at the Hangar in Amherst, Westfield, and Greenfield.
Beer: “Down to the Wire”
Breweries: Amherst Brewing and Vanished Valley
Details: A new unique IPA
Release Info: Released exclusively Thursday, June 15 at Europa’s Beer Dinner and on draft at the Hangar in Amherst, Westfield and Greenfield
For more information about all special beer releases during Western Mass Beer Week, visit this link.
Beer Pairing Dinners
Location: Taphouse Grille, West Springfield
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 13, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Details: A five-course gourmet beer dinner featuring IPA's from western Mass. breweries: Abandoned Building, Brewmaster Jack, Building 8, Fort Hill and Iron Duke.
Tickets: Seats are $65/person plus tax & gratuity. Call for reservations: 413-363-1000.
Location: The Bistro at Gateway City Arts, Holyoke
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 13, 7 to 9 p.m.
Details: Five courses paired with five local brews: Fort Hill Hera Pilsner, Abandoned Building Lola Saison, Building 8 IPA, Element Red Giant, and Berkshire Brewing Coffee House Nitro Porter. Tickets: Limited to 50 tickets at $50 each. Call The Bistro 413-650-0786 to purchase. June 9 is the last day to make reservations.
Location: Sevenstrong, Northampton
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 14, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Details: Chef Jonathan Adler, formerly of the 3-Michelin star rated Saison in San Francisco, will be serving a special seven course dinner paired with five Brewmaster Jack beers at his new Northampton restaurant, Sevenstrong. As the menu changes frequently at Sevenstrong, they will be waiting to finalize the menu until early June.
Tickets: $75 per seat and includes: seven courses, five beer pairings, and tax. Gratuity not included. Call 413-341-3395 for reservations. $50 deposit required with reservation (refundable if reservation is canceled by June 11). Beer flights will also be available at the bar for $19.
Location: Bistro 63, Amherst
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 14, 6 to 9 p.m.
Details: Taco + Beer pairing dinner, featuring 5 tacos and 5 local beers plus a beer-themed dessert.
Tickets: $40 plus tax and gratuity. Ticket link coming soon.
Location: Europa Black Rock Bar and Grill, Ludlow
Date & Time: Thursday, June 15, 6 to 9 p.m.
Details: Join Amherst Brewing and Vanished Valley Brewing Company as they feature some exciting beer and food pairings with the help of Europa Black Rock Bar and Grill. This is 5-course meal event with each course being paired with either an Amherst Brewing or Vanished Valley beer. One of the courses features the Western Mass Beer Week Amherst Brewing and Vanished Valley collaboration brew, Down to the Wire IPA.
Ticket: $50.00 per person (tax and tip included). Tickets are available at Europa for purchase or by calling 413-547-6443.
Other participating restaurants like Hope & Olive and Sierra Grille will feature daily menu specials with recommended western Mass. beer pairings. For information about all beer dinners and food pairing events, visit this link.
Events are still being confirmed for Western Mass Beer Week 2017. Please visit www.westernmassbeerweek.org for the most up-to-date calendar listings.
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About Western Mass Beer Week
Western Mass Beer Week is a coordinated week of events mid-June at breweries, bars, retailers and restaurants in western Massachusetts celebrating the beer brewed in the region. Its mission is to call attention to western Massachusetts as a beer destination and to develop a stronger synergy between the breweries, beer venues and all of the exciting things happening in the region’s beer scene. For more information, visit www.WesternMassBeerWeek.org.