Here’s a general events calendar for the next couple of weeks encompassing most of the United States. Watch this space for more events. Coming soon a variety of New Years events.

North East:

Maine
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December 17: Grand Opening of the Shipyard White Cap Lodge Brewhaus at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry – Skiing and beer! What better way to relax after hitting the slopes? Now there’s an actual Brewhaus attached to Sunday River, serving Shipyard. For more info call 207-824-3000 or visit http://www.shipyardbrewhaus.com.

New York
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December 16: Flying Dog Night at The Pony Bar in NYC – Fourteen draft lines and two special cask ales to make the good Doctor proud. For more info call 212-586-2707 or visit http://www.theponybar.com.

Massachusetts
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December 17: Wachusett Brewing Company’s 15th anniversary party at the brewery in Westminster – Celebrate a decade and a half of beer from Wachusett with live music, food, and I’m sure they’ll have some kind of beverage available. For more info call 978-874-9965 or visit http://www.wachusettbrew.com.

December 17: Samuel Adams Open House at the brewery in Boston – Featuring food from The Upper Crust Pizzeria. For more info call 800-372-1131 or visit http://www.samueladams.com.

Rhode Island
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December 21: Stoudts comes to Doherty’s East Avenue Café in Pawtucket – A Stoudts pint night hits Doherty’s next week, featuring Shawn Dunn of Global Brewers. For more info call 401-725-1800 or visit http://dohertyseastave.com.

Vermont
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December 14-15: Holidazed & Confused at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth – Keep warm by the hearth, and enjoy the festivities and madness of winter ales, cellared wonderment, and big, bold seasonals. For more info call 802-861-2999 or visit http://www.americanflatbread.com.

December 17: Life and Limb release party at Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier – One keg to rule them all, of Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head’s combined masterpiece. Only five gallons are available, so move fast. For more info call 802-223-8277 or visit http://www.threepennytaproom.com.

Connecticut
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December 18: Thomas Hooker Open House at the brewery in Bloomfield – Get a pint glass, and all the brew you can do. For more info call 860-242-3111 or visit http://www.hookerbeer.com.

Mid-Atlantic:

District of Columbia

Thursday, December 24th: Stone Beer Tasting at Chevy Chase Wine and Spirits – Finish off your Holiday shopping the right way by picking up something special for yourself while sampling some of the highest rated beers on the planet. Mid Atlantic Stone rep Lee Marren will be on hand to pour you samples of the entire Stone Line up from 4-7pm. 202-363-4000 or www.chevychasewine.com.

Thursday, December 24th: Methuseleh of St. Bernardus Abt 12 – Brasserie Beck will be pouring a methuseleh (six-liter bottle) of St. Bernardus Abt 12 table-side for $8/glass. Christmas specials menu at 202-408-1717 or www.beckdc.com.

Thursday, December 31st: Wooden, Gravity-Cask of Aventinus Ice Bock at Brasserie Beck – This New Year’s Eve they’ll pour a wooden, gravity-cask of Aventinus Ice Bock – $15/glass off of the bar. There were only two kegs like this brought into the United States and they were able to get one of them! New Year’s Eve specials menu at 202-408-1717 or www.beckdc.com.

New Jersey

Thursday, December 31st: New Years Eve Celebration at Tap Room at Somerset Hills Hotel – Celebrate New Years Eve in The Tap Room at The Somerset Hills Hotel. They’re having an elegant Holiday Buffet, topped off with our signature Viennese Dessert Display and Chocolate Fountain. Dance the night away with the band Overboard and toast in the New Year with a champagne toast. Also open bar (which includes their great tap beer selection) from 9pm to 1am, dinner reservations start at 9pm. Price is $145 per person,all-inclusive. Call 908-647-6700 ext102 and ask for Sandy. www.thesomersethillshotel.com.

Southeastern PA

Thursday, December 24th: Winter Solstice Celebration at Tulune’s Southside Saloon – Featuring Brouwerij Huyghe 2006 Delirium Noel. Begins at noon. 814-536-1001 or www.southsidesaloon.com.

Thursday, December 31st: Craft Beer in the New Year at Triumph Brewing – Beer dinner featuring your option of either three course’s for $35 or 5 courses for $60, each of which will be paired with one of their original brews. There will also be a number of special guest brews from local breweries including Victory, Yards, Flying Fish and Iron Hill, and there may just be a few rare surprises in the lineup throughout the night. No cover charge and some amazing entertainment featuring live music from one of the regions best new bands, Si Senorita. A Champagne Toast will be provided at midnight and plenty of great beer will be flowing all night long. Reservations are being accepted and are highly recommended. 215-625-0855 or www.triumphbrewing.com.

South:

Florida

December 15
Highland Brewing Beer Dinner
Kickbacks Gastropub, Jacksonville, FL
7 courses of food accompanied by 11 selections from Highland Brewing Co. $49. 6:30-10:30 pm.
904-388-9551

December 17
Dogfish Head Ancient Ales Dinner
Pacific Time Restaurant, Miami, FL
5-course beer dinner, including Pangaea, Midas Touch, Sahtea, Theobroma and Chateau Jiahu from Dogfish Head. $75 in advance; $85 at the door. 8-10 pm.
http://www.pacifictimerestaurant.com or 305-722-7369

December 18
SW FL International Beer Fest
Ice House Pub, Punta Gorda, FL
Over 75 different beers to sample. Tickets $25. 5-9 pm.
http://www.theicehousepub.com or 941-575-0866

December 18
Craft Beer Tasting
Liquor Barn II, Clermont, FL
Sample 15 varieties of winter brews and other specialty craft beer. 5-7 pm.
407-347-8908

January 16-17
Central Florida Scottish Highland Games
Central Winds Park, Winter Springs, FL
Enjoy the competition with beer, Scottish food and other wares for sale. There is also a Friday night whiskey tasting.
http://www.flascot.com

January 30
Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival
Abacoa Town Center, Jupiter, FL
Save the date!
http://www.jupitercraftbrewersfestival.com

Georgia

December 15
Christmas vs. Hannukah Beer Dinner
The Porter Beer Bar, Atlanta, GA
4-course dinner featuring Barrel Aged Lenny’s RIPA, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, Jewbellation 13 and Gouden Carolous Noel. 6-9 pm.
http://www.theporterbeerbar.com or 404-223-0393

December 16
Dogfish Head Beer Dinner
Graveyard Tavern, Atlanta, GA
Learn more about Dogfish Head and Flat Creek Lodge with a 4-course beer dinner featuring seasonal produce. $35. 7-9 pm.
http://www.graveyardtavern.com or 404-622-8686

December 16
Stone Beer Tasting
Octane Coffee Bar and Lounge, Atlanta, GA
Free Stone beer tasting. 5:30-7:30 pm.
http://www.octanecoffee.com or 404-815-9886

December 17
Holiday Beer & Cheese
Muss And Turner’s, Smyrna, GA
Taste at least 6 holiday beers and learn from Jessica Moss, their resident “beer maestro.” $15 per person. 6:45-8:45 pm.
http://www.mussandturners.com or 770-434-1114

December 23
Christmas Beer Class
The Porter Beer Bar, Atlanta, GA
Taste 3 Christmas beers and 3 barleywines. 7:30-9:30 pm.
http://www.theporterbeerbar.com or 404-223-0393

January 30
Beermuda Triangle Homebrew Competition
Five Seasons Westside, Atlanta, GA
Deadline for beer submission is January 30, 2010. The winner will get to brew their beer with 5 Seasons and have it on tap in the Westside location. Judging will take place the week of February 1.
http://www.hopcitybeer.com or 404-350-9998

North Carolina

December 15
Bell’s Two Hearted Cask Night
Busy Bee Cafe, Raleigh, NC
The Busy Bee’s inaugural cask night, featuring 2 firkins from Bell’s. 6 pm.
http://www.busybeeraleigh.com or 919-424-7817

December 16
Charlotte Beer Club Christmas Party
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Charlotte, NC
This party is OPEN to all beer lovers. Admission includes 3 pints of your choice, appetizers and live music. Tickets $20 in advance; $25 at the door. 7-10 pm.
http://www.meetup.com/beerclub or 704-804-0395

December 16
Holiday Porter Tapping
Woody’s @ City Market, Raleigh, NC
Continuing this annual tradition, they will be tapping a barrel of Atwater Vanilla Java Porter. 9 pm.
http://www.woodyscitymarket.com/ or 704-804-0395

December 22
Christmas Craft Beer Tasting
Soiree, Mooresville, NC
The Charlotte Beer Club has teamed up with Soiree to bring you a beer and food pairing unlike any other. $15 per person. 6:30-10:30 pm.
http://www.woodyscitymarket.com/ or 704-804-0395

January 23
Winter Warmer Beer Festival
Haywood Park’s Grand Ballroom, Asheville, NC
Shake Up your winter blahs with 16 regional breweries and live music. $37 per person. 3-7 pm.
http://www.brewscruise.com/beerfest or 828-545-5181

South Carolina

December 16
COAST Porter, Smoked Cask
The Griffon, Charleston, SC
A firkin of Coast’s smoked porter will be served via a traditional, portable beer engine. 7-9 pm.
http://www.griffoncharleston.com or 843-723-1700

January 1
New Year’s Beer Brunch
Barley’s Taproom, Greenville, SC
Nothing better than a little hair of the dog and brunch. 12-2 pm.
http://www.barleystaproom.com or 864-232-3706

January 16
World Beer Festival
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC
All About Beer Magazine and Green’s Discount Beverages present a tasting of hundreds of exceptional beers. $40 in advance; $50 at the gate. There will be two sessions: 12-4 pm and 6-10 pm.
http://www.allaboutbeer.com/wbfcolumbia or 864-286-1070

January 28
Terrapin Beer Dinner
Laura Alberts Tasteful Options, Charleston, SC
Four course dinner with beer pairings by Executive Chef Matt Brigham. $45 per person. 6:30-9 pm.
http://www.lauraalberts.com/beer or 843-881-4711

Northwest:

December 24: Rare Beer Revelry, Beveridge Place Pub, Seattle, WA – Enjoy some wonderful, rare draft beers including Avery Samaels, Deschutes Abyss and Schooner Exact Hoppy the Woodsmen, just to name a few. Information is available at: www.beveridgeplacepub.com.

December 28: Brouwer’s Café, Seattle, WA, Life & Limb, Limb & Life Joint Release – Enjoy both of these beers that were jointly brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company with Dogfish Head Brewery. Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head travelled to Chico, CA for the brewing event. Life & Limb is a 10% abv beer brewed with maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in MA and estate barley grown on the Grossman “farm” at the brewery in Chico. The yeast is a blend of both brewery’s yeast strains. It is bottle conditioned and naturally carbonated with birch syrup from Alaska. Limb and Life is made from the second runnings of Life and Limb and will be a hop forward session beer available in draft only.

December 31: New Year’s Eve, 2010, Brew It Up, Sacramento, CA – Enjoy an outstanding dinner with Chef’s specials & seasonal favorites. You can also choose an optional 4 course prix fixe menu for $30/per person. The Brewery Bash will kick off at 9:30 with Dane Drewis Band. Reservations are required and can be made on line at www.brewitup.com.

January 5: Cinder Cone Red Bon Voyage, Deschutes Pubs (Portland and Bend) –Come help us celebrate the last run of this great beer at either pub. The events begin at 6pm and you can give us your own words on the “Memorial Wall” of your memories of Cinder Cone Red. Win great raffle prizes including ski lift tickets, lodging, beer and more. More information is available at www.deschutesbrewery.com.

January 23: Belgianfest, Georgetown Studios at the Engine Room, Seattle, WA – Enjoy more than 50 Belgian styles brewed by Washington breweries at this event. There will be two sessions 12-4pm and 6-10pm. 400 tickets will be available for each and separate admission is required. Tickets are $30advance/$35door and are available at www.washingtonbeer.com/belgian.htm. There will also be a Belgian beer dinner in conjunction with this event although specific details haven’t yet been released. Stay tuned to the website for details on this event as it will be spectacular.

The Rockies:

December 21-23: Oskar Blues says “Merry Christmas” with 3 Special Brews in Longmont, CO. Celebrate the season with a special treat in the Tasty Weasel, the brewpub at Oskar Blues Brewing in Longmont. Monday, (12/21), they will tap a 5-gallon keg of “Heather and Rose on the Chub”, which is Old Chub with a special mix of heather tips and rosehips infused into the beer. Tuesday the 22nd will be the long-awaited premiere of “Sour Cherry Barrel-aged Ten FIDY”.  This is a soured barrel-aged Ten FIDY with tart pie cherries added to the barrel.  This beer has been aging in the barrel since February and the cherries were added at the end of September. Wednesday the 23rd will be a Firkin Wednesday (since they will be closed on the 25th).  This will be a firkin of Dale’s Pale Ale dry-hopped with whole flower Cascade hops for a fresh, vibrant citrus aroma. 5pm each day. 303-776-1914 www.oskarblues.com

December 24: It’s “Drain The Kegs” at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs, CO. Each year, Trinity only brews two kegs of their special Cherry Awaken Stout. Last year, they were both gone in 1 hour and 57 minutes. Help beat that record today. 12noon. 719-634-0029 www.trinitybrew.com

December 29: Beer and Cheese Pairing at Great Divide Brewing in Denver, CO. If you are not too stuffed from your holiday feast, come see how awesome beer and awesome cheese makes each other…well, awesomer. 5 Great Divide beers will be paired with 5 different artisan cheeses. RSVP to info@greatdivide.com. $18. 5-8pm. 303-296-9460 www.greatdivide.com

December 29: Tasty Tuesdays at the Tasty Weasel at Oskar Blues Brewing in Longmont, CO. Tuesdays can make you mighty thirsty. Good thing the brew folks at Oskar Blues Brewing understand. Every Tuesday is Tasty Tuesday and they celebrate by cracking open some very special tasty brews. Today, it’s pints and pints of dry-hopped Dale’s Pale Ale. Get yourself to the Tasty Weasel at the Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont by 5pm for yours. 303-776-1914 www.oskarblues.com

December 30: New World Porter Tapping Party at Avery Brewing in Boulder. First brewed 12 years ago, this is one of the original Black IPA’s in the country. New World Porter displays many characteristics of a traditional robust porter with flavors of mocha, chocolate and sweet caramel.  In typical Avery fashion, they have gone way beyond the style guidelines and add an assertive and pronounced Columbus hop character, giving this beer the body of a porter and the soul of an IPA. 5-8pm 303-440-4324 www.averybrewing.com

December 31: Ring In The New Decade at Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO. Say “hello” to 2010 with live music from Romano Paoletti & The Blue Mtn. Ranch Hands and plenty of OB brews. 303-823-6685 www.oskarblues.com

December 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration at Oskar Blues’ Home Made Liquids & Solids in Longmont, CO. Get a beautiful room at Courtyard by Marriott in Longmont, complimentary Oskar Blues’ bus service, 2 $30 Home Made Liquids and Solids gift cards, guaranteed tickets to see Chris Daniels & The Kings, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Bus runs from 7pm until the music stops. Reservations: http://cwp.marriott.com/denlg/oskarbluesandmarriott/ $195 plus tax. 303-485-9400 www.oskarblues.com

December 31: Wynkoop Brewing’s New Year’s Eve Bash in Denver, CO. First, it’s a fabulous dinner in the main restaurant, then the party moves upstairs with a live DJ in the Billiards Hall and complimentary sparkling mead and champagne toast at midnight. Dinner and comedy packages are available at the Impulse Theater, too. Call the Implulse 303-297-2111 or Wynkoop Brewing 303-297-2700 www.wynkoop.com

December 31: Around the World News Year’s Eve Fun at Pagosa Brewing in Pagosa Springs. Along with the usual great food and brews, the gang at Pagosa Brewing are kicking up their New Year’s Eve celebration by toasting each time zone as it celebrated midnight. Everything starts at 4pm (which is midnight in Paris.) Say “Bon Jour Décennie Nouveau.” www.pagosabrewing.com

IDAHO EVENTS

December 31: New Year’s Eve at Portneuf Valley Brewing in Pocatello, ID. The night will start with pesto salmon and prime rib specials by candle light. At 10pm the party livens up with the music of Volcano, combining classic jazz, soulful R&B and infectious Latin rhythms. Complimentary champagne will be served with the dinner specials and at midnight. 208-232-1644 www.portneufvalleybrewing.com

UTAH EVENTS

December 31: Tracks Brewing’s New Year’s Eve Bash in Tooele, UT. It’s their biggest party of the year. Royal Bliss plays live. VIP packages are available or $20 general admission. 435-882-4040. www.tracksbrewing.com