Unless you're a school kid enjoying the surprise days off, February is indisputably the worst month of the year. And this has been an especially bad one in the Dallas area, what with the ice storms making us look like cheap clueless hicks in front of the world -- and we didn't even get the hookers we were promised! No less ugly for its brevity, it's the kind of month where, frankly, straight brown liquor is a lot more appealing than beer.
But for beer lovers, there are a couple of events on Saturday that will give you a reason to get out and celebrate the month's two primary holidays: Valentine's Day and Snow Day(s). Yeah, one is a Hallmark-created stressor on your romantic relationship or lack thereof and the other leaves serious property damage and injuries in its wake along with those impromptu days off work and school, but you'll be looking on the bright side after a couple of pints.
Unfortunately, Saturday's events are going on at basically the same time. It just wouldn't be February if there weren't something to gripe about.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. in Fort Worth will mark the one-year anniversary of the brewery's roof collapse during its Saturday tour. Along with the usual look-see and tasting, the day's events include a check presentation to Trinity Habitat for Humanity (beneficiaries of September's Rahr Oktoberfest 5K fundraiser), a fun run (weather's supposed to be nice) and early registration for the next Oktoberfest 5K.
Most important, it includes the chance to be among the first to sample Snowmageddon, an imperial oatmeal stout created to commemorate the Great Roof Collapse. Word from Rahr is it's a "full-to-medium-bodied stout featuring the subtle sweetness of oats."
Doors open at 11 a.m. to those participating in the 11:30 a.m. fun run, as well as to past Rahr 5K participants. Ten bucks gets them food and a complimentary Rahr pint glass, plus beer to put in it. Or you can register for the next Rahr Oktoberfest 5K for $30, which also includes tour admission, beer and food. The tour opens to the general public at 1 p.m. for $7, with complimentary beer and a pint glass.
If you run, drink and drive fast (not recommended), you can make it to the Fort Worth Ginger Man Pub location in time for the 2:30 p.m. Beer and Chocolate tasting. Or if you're skipping the Rahr event, you can go to any of the beer-centric pub chain's five locations (Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Houston or Austin) for the Valentine's themed event. For $35 per person, you can try 10 different beers, each paired with several different chocolate varieties. Call your closest location to reserve your spot. Beer and chocolate -- see, we told you there was a bright side to this Valentine's Day nonsense.
