TUESDAY 5/14: Beer Geek Tuesday at Cypress Street Pint and Plate

It’s the Beer Geek Tuesday at Cypress that you know and love but it’s a special edition for Craft Beer Week. They’ll be pouring ALL LOCAL BEER starting at 7PM so come by and have a few pints of Let There Be Light with our President Nick and Apostle of Ales Sarah.

WEDNESDAY 5/15: Patio Party at No. 246 

What better way to kick off the season than with a ping pong, craft beer and oyster filled evening in the back yard at No. 246? Let There Be Light (and other fun) will be flowing for this shindig from 6 to 8PM – Nick  and Sarah will be on-hand to talk beer here, too! $20/person.

SATURDAY 5/18: East Atlanta Beer Fest 

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the East Atlanta Beer Fest is going down on Saturday 5/18 from 1 to 6PM. Check out 175+ brews, including our very own Let There Be Light, Invocation and Ode to Mercy.

THURSDAY 5/30: Craft Beer Pairing Launch Party at Seven Hens

From 7 to 9PM our neighbors at Seven Hens be giving out schnitzel samples and we’ll be on-hand with FREE tastings of Ode to Mercy and Invocation (along with some other choice breweries, selected by Ale Sharpton himself). Reserve your spot now by emailing: pr@vigorbranding.com

THURS 5/30 – SUNDAY 6/2: Atlanta Food & Wine Fest 

Craft beer at a food and wine fest? You bet! We’re beyond honored to be a part of this most excellent annual festival. Come by the tasting tents all weekend to get your Wild Heaven fill, including Eschaton (yep, it’ll finally be back in stock at the end of this month!).

Thursday, April 25: Square Pub Drink Local Night 

Join us and our friends at The Square Pub for a night of local beer drankin’. 10 local breweries will be on hand (including us!) to talk shop and indulge. Other breweries include SweetWater, Terrapin, Red Hare, ABC, Jailhouse, Monday Night, Blue Tarp, O’Dempsey’s and Burnt Hickory. Come support your local brewers!

Friday, April 26: Draft Filling Station Grand Opening – In-store Promo w/Glassware Giveaway

We’ll be in-store on FRIDAY night from 7 to 9 PM to get your weekend started right. Get a free goblet or curved pint with purchase of any Wild Heaven growler.

Saturday, April 27: Heritage Sandy Springs Beer Fest

This third annual fest benefits Heritage Sandy Springs, a nonprofit organization which builds community through preserving and promoting the historic and cultural identity of Sandy Springs – takes place at Heritage Green, a 4-acre park in the heart of Sandy Springs.  Click here for tickets!

Eric’s backyard brewing system – 50 gal. capacity

A little background on the style…though Saisons are old hat among craft beer enthusiasts they may not be as well known to some folks. For those that don’t know, the origin of the saision style is Belgian in its roots – what a great fit for us at Wild Heaven, right? Right. Specifically originating in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium, you’ll usually see saisons being described as French or Belgian ‘Farmhouse Ales’. These farmhouse beers were typically brewed in the autumn or winter for consumption during the summer for seasonal farm workers, called les saisonniers. And as you can probably guess, ‘saison’ is French for ‘season’.

Things haven’t changed much from the origin and purpose of the style if you ask us; the perfect beers after yard work (somewhat urban farming, eh?) are saisons, pales and hefes/wheats even.  Depends on how high you are comfortable going ABV-wise though, saisons nowadays are usually on the higher side – 5 to 8% vs the old days where they were more like 3 to 3.5% ABV. So yeah, the modern-day versions clock in at around 7% most of the time and are highly carbonated, fruity, spicy, refreshing… DELICIOUS.

Alright, now back to the point of this post…Eric brewed a saison back in February with pink peppercorns and lime zest and then he aged it on chardonnay-soaked oak chips. For now it’s going by the name ‘White Blackbird’ and the ABV comes in at around 6% (to see more pictures from our brew day click the link after the event listings below).

There are THREE very fantastic opportunities to try this beer during the month of April, info below:

Classic City Brew Fest in Athens: Sunday, 4/7: We’ll have our regular lineup at this most excellent event, plus a cask of White Blackbird is making its 2013 debut. This is a fest that we never miss; get tickets now ‘cause they’ll be sold out very soon.

Hop City Beer Tasting at Octane Westside: Wednesday, 4/17: Join us and our friends from Hop City for a FREE beer tasting from 5:30 to 7PM at Octane Westside. We’ll have a cask of White Blackbird in addition to the regular lineup. Free glass w/purchase of a pint!

Parker’s on Ponce Beer Dinner: Thursday, 4/18: Join us for a 5-course meal at Parker’s on Ponce. We’ll not only have our usual lineup (psst, Eschaton is making a special appearance) but also some White Blackbird. $45 per person.

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Some Shots from our Brew Day…

*Must be 21+ to enter (sorry, kiddos). Passports for Hawktoberfest can be purchased on-site with valid photo ID.

**Tag us in the status post in text, not the actual photo. Facebook doesn’t notify us when a picture is tagged but we can see the status posts.

We had a blast at Suwanee Craft Beer Fest and Secret Stash Bash earlier this month, it was great to hang out with all our craft beer homies for sure.

We’ve got a handful of choice events going on around town in the next few weeks, so check it out and join us if you can:

>>Saturday, March 30: Hawktoberfest @ Philips Arena

Time: Starts at 5:30 PM, runs through the 3^rd quarter of the game

It’s a craft beer festival during the Hawks game featuring 8 local breweries, including Wild Heaven. They’ll have authentic German food and live music. We’ll be pouring Ode to Mercy, Invocation and Let There Be Light.

>>Sunday, April 7: Classic City Brew Fest in Athens

Time: 2:30 to 6:00 PM

An excellent festival we never miss at the Foundry Park Inn & Melting Point featuring around 300 rare, regional & world craft beers. Plus they’ll have a Cask Ale Pavilion with 18 unique, one-off real ales. Get tickets here before they sell out.

>>Wednesday, April 17: Beer Tasting at Octane Westside

Time: 5:30 to 7:00 PM

Join us and our friends at Hop City and Octane Westside for a FREE beer tasting. We’ll have our regulars there for sampling, and a special saison cask. Plus brewmaster Eric Johnson will be there to talk about the beers and the upcoming plans for the brewery.

>>Thursday, April 18: Beer Dinner with Parker’s on Ponce

Time: 7:00 PM

A match made in Decatur heaven indeed! Join us for a 5-course beer dinner at Parker’s on Ponce. Lineup includes Let There Be Light, Invocation, Ode to Mercy, Eschaton and a special saison. Brewmaster Eric will be there to tell you all about each beer. Menu and pricing coming soon!

Tuesday, 2/12: Beer Dinner at TAP 

Join us for a beer dinner at TAP! Dinner starts at 7:30PM and is $55 per person (includes tax/tip). 5 courses paired with all 5 Wild Heaven brews, including Ode to Mercy Winter Ale. Click here for tickets.

Saturday, 2/16: Growler Shop Glassware Giveaways in Smyrna & Dunwoody

1:30 to 3PM: Stout Brothers in Smyrna (it’s their official Grand Opening!) 3:30 to 6PM: Total Wine & More Dunwoody – When you buy a Wild Heaven growler at either shop you’ll get a free curved pint glass. Apostle of Ales Sarah will be in-store at the noted times so stop in and say hello.

Sunday, 2/24: Beer Dinner at Atkins Park Smyrna

Atkins Park and the Stout Brothers in Smyrna are hosting the first ‘last supper’ of 2013, and we’re thrilled to be the featured brewery. Join our brewmaster Eric Johnson for a 5 course meal with menu by Executive Chef Sarah McDaniel. Tickets are $75 (excl. tax/tip) and there are only 12 seats available – call Atkins Park at (770) 435-1887 to reserve your spot today! Dinner starts at 7PM.

Saturday, 3/2: Taste & Brews Food Truck Beer Fest

A new festival involving two fantastic things – craft beer and food trucks. We’ll be there from 1 to 6PM. All inclusive tickets are $45 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Saturday, 3/9: Secret Stash Bash @ Taco Mac/5 Seasons Prado

This ridiculously incredible event is not to be missed but unfortunately we can’t direct you to buy tickets cause they’re already SOLD OUT! Eric’s got a super special brew for sampling here – an imperial stout made with mint, fresh orange zest, tons of cacao nibs…all aged in a sherry barrel coming in at 15% ABV. 2-6PM.

Saturday, 3/16: Suwanee Craft Beer Fest

We’ll be pouring up in Suwanee from 1 to 5PM, click here to get tickets.

Image courtesy of Reid Ramsay, beerstreetjournal.com. Taken on the outdoor patio at Seven Lamps.

So have you been to Seven Lamps yet? For those that know, there are MANY, many reasons to go check it out…but we have one in particular that we’re quite excited about; one that involves our Imperial Brown Ale Ode to Mercy (and we’re not just talking beer here).

The uber-talented Arianne Fielder, Head Mixtress (or ‘Beverage Manager’ if you prefer) at Seven Lamps, has developed a beer cocktail using Ode to Mercy and it’s called ‘Field of Dreams’. And Arianne knows a thing or two about beer-tails, people. Back when she was head bartender at Ormsby’s,  she created the first-ever beer cocktail menu in the South. You may have also seen her heading up the bar at Southern Art’s Bourbon Bar or maybe at Atlanta’s oldest bar, Five Paces Inn.

Take all those years of experience and you’ve got a mastermind for mixing. So, what’s in this incredible beer-tail, you ask? Here’s the recipe, straight from the Mixtress herself:

What You’ll Need

• - 1.5 ounce Kentucky Vintage bourbon
• - .25 ounce Shrub and Co ginger shrub
• - .5 ounce rosemary infused sorghum syrup
• - 3 ounces Wild Heaven Ode to Mercy

Method

Combine bourbon, shrub, sorghum and beer in mixing glass. Stir to release carbonation. Add ice and shake. Strain into a cocktail coupe and garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig.

We’ve had a chance to try this divine concoction out and boy, it’s a home run.  Go check it out for yourself and tell Arianne we sent you. Cheers!

>>Saturday, 1/19:

Total Wine Brewery District Glassware Giveaway: 3PM to 7PM
@ Total Wine Dunwoody
Get a free curved pint with growler fill of Ode to Mercy Winter Ale, Let There Be Light and Eschaton*. Or, get a glass when you pick up a 4-pack of Ode to Mercy or Invocation, they’ll have bottles in-stock. And yes, tastings are allowed here, people! Our Apostle of Ales Sarah will be in-store to tell you all about the beer and the plans for the brewery.

>>Saturday, 1/26 (yep, it’s gonna be a busy, doozy of a day):

The Beer Growler Grand Opening and Local Tap Takeover: 10AM to 10PM
@ The Beer Growler Sandy Springs
Local tap takeover for their latest grand opening – stop by and welcome ‘em to the neighborhood! While you’re there, get a free Wild Heaven glass with a growler of Let There Be Light*.

Atlanta Winter Beer Fest: 2PM to 7PM @ Masquerade
Heads up: Ticket prices increase this Thursday (1/17), so get ‘em now by clicking the link above. If you haven’t tried Ode to Mercy Special Winter Ale yet, this fest would be a perfect opportunity!

Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting: :3PM to 6PM @ 5 Seasons Sandy Springs & Taco Mac Prado
Nick and brewmaster Eric will be reppin’ our cask here, make sure to stop by and talk beer!

>>Tuesday, 1/29:      

January Pint Night at Three Blind Mice, Lilburn: Time TBD @ Three Blind Mice
Crazy good prices on Ode to Mercy, Invocation and Let There Be Light – $3 gets you a full pint AND you get to keep the glass*. Like what you taste? You can buy 4-packs of Ode to Mercy and Invocation at the TBM market afterwards. Apostle of Ales Sarah will be here to talk beer, Lilburn neighbors.

>>Saturday, 2/16:   

Stout Brothers Grand Opening & Tap Takeover: 1PM to 2PM @ Stout Brothers
Stop by Stout Brothers in Smyrna on Saturday 2/16 and get a free curved pint with your Wild Heaven growler fill*. Apostle of Ales Sarah will be in-store for the big grand opening so drop by and say hello, Smyrna neighbors!

>>Saturday, 2/9:

Winter Beer Carnival 3PM to 7PM @ Atlantic Station (Special Events Area)
Sample over 100 beers and play some carnival games…double win!

>>Tuesday, 2/12:

TAP Beer Dinner: Time TBD @ TAP: A Gastropub
Chef Nick McCormick is working up a 5-course menu for 2/12; stay tuned for more delicious details. Enjoy all 5 Wild Heaven brews and learn more about them from brewmaster Eric. Call 404-347-2220 for reservations, space is limited.

*While supplies last; one per customer, please!

Speaking of gifts, how about a Wild Heaven t-shirt for your loved ones? Our online store is finally up and running HERE, so get those orders in before it’s too late! We’ve got a couple of other crucial updates to send you off into next week and the new year with some holiday beer cheer, so check it out:

- Eschaton is coming back THIS WEEK! Kicking off the return right, we’re having a special tasting opportunity at a few local watering holes just in time for…

- THE END OF THE WORLD, this Friday 12/21/12. Did you know that Eschaton means ‘the end of all things’? Well, it does, so we thought it’d be appropriate for everyone to celebrate the end of the Mayan calendar with what else but the dangerously delicious Belgian-style quad and wait for it…HIGH GRAVITY CRAFT BEER ICE CREAM!   Yep, we’ve teamed up with our pals at Frozen Pints and they straight up knocked it out of the park with a custom ice cream flavor using Eschaton and buttery pecans; it’s fittingly called ‘Pecan Eschaton’ and will be available for a limited time only. It’s an end of the world craft beer & ice cream pairing… because come on, what else could you want for your last meal? More info on the collab and where to get the pairing here:

Participating locations include: Augustine’s, Bottle Rocket, Cypress Street Pint & Plate, Family Dog, H. Harper Station, Ormsby’s, The Midway, The Porter, Thinking Man Tavern

- Ode to Mercy Special Winter Ale has hit the town and can be found at the following locations*:

By the growler: Beer Growler Nation, The Beer Growler, Ale Yeah Craft Beer Market, Exhibit A(Le), Gremlin Growlers,  Greene’s Growlers, Intown Market, JUGS Sandy Springs, Hop City, Moon Dog Growlers, Savi Urban Market (Inman Park location), Stout Brothers/Smyrna Beer Market, True Vine Wine & Gourmet (Saint Simons Island)

By the glass: Augustine’s, Battle And Brew, Bottle Rocket, The Distillery (Savannah), Green Truck Pub (Savannah), Heirloom Cafe (Athens), Mac McGee’s, Muss & Turner’s, Ormsby’s, Six Feet Under (Grant Park), Taco Mac (Metropolis, Midtown), The Family Dog, The Midway, Three Blind Mice, Trappeze Pub (Athens)

*Important note: there’s a chance that some of these folks have either: a) not put the keg on the lineup yet or b) they’ve run out already, so call ‘em and ask to be sure you can get some.

That’s all we’ve got for now.  Happy holidays and cheers to the New Year, neighbors! See y’all in 2013.

The next few weeks are shaping up to be mighty deeelish (yes, that’s spelled with three e’s) so mark those calendars:

Thursday, November 15: Beer Dinner at The Shed at Glenwood – 7PM:                    Space is filling up fast, make your reservation today and join us this Thursday in Glenwood Park at The Shed. Reception and 3 mouthwatering courses to be served featuring pairings from the talented Chef Todd Richards. {404.835.4363}

Friday, November 16: Tap Takeover at Gremlin Growlers,  4 – 7PM: Drop by to see our Apostle of Ales Sarah and the #JugDogs to get a free curved pint glass with purchase of growler*! We’ll be pouring ALL FOUR brews, including the ahh-mazing Eschaton.

Saturday, November 17: Beer Growler Nation’s Grand Opening Party: Go see our friends at Beer Growler Nation this Saturday anytime after 11AM for some live music, giveaways/raffles, tastings from Sprig Restaurant, Pine Street Market, Scott Stroud Cheeses and Frozen Pints, beer specials and more! Plus, get a  special Wild Heaven treat w/purchase of a growler*.

Late November/Early December: Ode to Mercy Special Winter Ale Arrival: 

What could be better than spreading some beer cheer for the holidays? Coming very soon: the highly anticipated release of Ode to Mercy’s bourbon-soaked brother ‘Ode to Mercy Special Winter Ale’. We’ve got a bigger-than-ever batch hitting the town in the next few weeks, so we’ll be sure to keep you all posted as we add locations that’ll be carrying it. Limited time only…once it’s gone, it’s gone until next winter!

Wednesday, December 5: Beer Dinner at Aspens West Cobb – 7PM: Join us at Aspens Signature Steaks – West Cobb in Marietta for a reception featuring a special Let There Be Light cocktail by Jason Kemp followed by 3-courses of inspired pairings by Chef John Sweeney. {770.419.1744}

*While supplies last.