June looks to be a great month for craft beer fans in Virginia. Here are two great events coming up next month. It's not to late to make your plans to attend.

World Beer Fest - Richmond
The folks at All About Beer magazine are bringing their World Beer Festival to Richmond for the first time. I've enjoyed this event in Durham and Raleigh, NC in past years and it's always a fun time. The one-day event offers two sessions on June 12. You can buy your tickets here.

Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest - Leesburg
The 3rd Annual Summer Brewfest will be held June 26-27 at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. This event is always well-run and a lot of fun. Short lines and good craft beer, what else could you ask for? Get your tickets online here or at the gate.

Either, or both, of these events would be a great kickoff to Summer. Hope to see you in line!

This weekend will be a busy one in Fredericksburg.  The University of Mary Washington graduates on Saturday and Mother’s Day is on Sunday.  If you haven’t already done so, you need to make reservations for Mother’s Day brunch now!  Here are a few of my favorite places for brunch:

Jake and Mike’s - 806 William Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401  (540)-370-4590

This is, by far, my most favorite place for brunch and lunch.  Their prices are good and the food is delicious!  Their brunch menu offers a combination of breakfast and lunch options.  Portions are big.  This place is pretty small, so you will want to call early to get a seat at a good time.  Brunch is served from 10am-2pm every Sunday.  Jake and Mike’s offers both indoor and outdoor seating.   

Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen- 1000 Charles Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401  (540) 373- 2035

Mother’s Day brunch will be served at Poppy Hill from 10am-4pm.  They are featuring a “Pick Your Own Two Course Brunch Menu.”  This menu includes your choice of champagne, mimosa, or bellini.  The menu also includes a selection of breakfast and dinner foods.  Poppy Hill offers indoor and outdoor seating. 

The Otter House - 1005 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, VA  22401  (540) 656-2969

The Otter House is one of our newest restaurants downtown, but it is good and I hope it stays.  Brunch begins at 10am and features a selection of breakfast foods and lunch items.  Portions are generous and the waitstaff is charming.  Service is fast and you may have luck getting the brunch time you want since not many people know how good this place is yet.  The Otter House offers both indoor and outdoor dining. 

The Hospitality House - 2801 Plank Road Fredericksburg, VA 22401 (540) 736-1005

You know, the old Holiday Inn Select in Central Park.  The Hospitality House has kept many of the Holiday Inn’s traditions including the Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet.  Yes, it is hotel food.  However, the Hospitality House has stepped up their culinary dedication and the food has improved.  Since Claiborne’s no longer exists, this may be your best bet if you are looking for a buffet this weekend. 

Brock’s Riverside Grill- 503 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401   (540) 370-1820

I have mixed feelings about Brock’s.  The food is usually pretty good, but sometimes the service leaves something to be desired.  The setting is quite lovely, with some seating available on balconies overlooking the Rappahannock River.  There is ample seating in this restaurant, so it may be a good choice if you are running out of options and still want to ensure a good meal.   

I hope this list helps!  And Happy Mother’s Day!

JOHN KENNEDY TOOLE: the omega point traces the roots of Mr. Toole’s old-line, New Orleans family with a narrative woven neatly through interviews with associates of the author and scholars seeking the truth to his life story. Representational photography, legacy format production, rare historical films, newsreels, a custom score and traditional New Orleans music combine to give the story a unique dimension, a combination that peels back the layers of the riddle that is New Orleans, the mystery that lies at the center of the author’s life.

His friends wonder, the scholars speculate and the film explores. One thing is certain in this story; in one fatal moment the world lost a great observer of mankind, a brilliant author in his prime and a writer with the potential to tell the story of the mysterious South.

The film was inspired in part by the memoir, Ken and Thelma, by Fredericksburg resident and Toole friend, Joel Fletcher – a personal exploration and memoir of Toole’s life. Joel Fletcher will take part in a panel discussion with Mr. Sanford and Toole Scholar, Cory MacLauchlin.

Screenings are on May 8th, 7 & 10 PM

A Panel discussion immediately follows the 7:00pm screening.

Fredericksburg's kybecca wine bar will host their first Beer and Tapas Dinner on Wednesday, April 21. The five-course dinner will feature various beers imported from Quebec by Jocelyn Cambier. The beers to be presented are new to the U.S., and kybecca is the only local source for them. One of these, Le Trou du Diable, is extremely limited. Only 10 cases made it to the United States!

The Menu

1st Course: German potato salad with pancetta paired with Simple Malt Altbier
2nd Course: Spicy lentil soup paired with Simple Malt IPA
3rd Course: Smoked oysters on the half shell paired with Simple Malt Double Porter
4th Course: Garlic chicken and cannellini beans paired with Le Trou du Diable La Buteuse Strong Ale aged in Calvados Barrels
5th Course: Cheese course with Colston Bassett Stilton paired with Enigma Barleywine aged in Port Barrels

The cost for the dinner is $45 per person. Tickets are limited and available by calling kybecca at (540) 373-3338.

I received the following press release from All About Magazine today:

Tickets on Sale Today for the World Beer Festival
Presented by local charity, FETCH a Cure, the World Beer Festival is one of the premier beer events in the country

March 30, 2010 (Richmond, Va.) – Tickets go on sale today, March 30, for the World Beer Festival, premiering in Richmond on Saturday, June 12, 2010. Produced by All About Beer Magazine, the World Beer Festival is one of the top beer events in the country. The event celebrates the world beer culture, offering attendees a sampling of hundreds of beers from more than 200 domestic and international breweries. Festival goers can also enjoy educational sessions by industry experts, food from a variety of local restaurants, plus live entertainment by local musicians. The festival is presented by local Richmond charity FETCH a Cure, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping pet owners make better, fully informed decisions about caring for their aging pets.

“Tickets for the festival in both Durham and Raleigh sell out fast,” said Ola Nilbrink, events and operations manager for the World Beer Festival. “Although this is our first festival in Richmond, we are noticing a lot of excitement building in the community. Ticket sales during our pre-sale period out-paced advance sales for our first year festival in Columbia, SC, a sure sign of interest here in Richmond. As awareness grows, we expect tickets to continue selling, and sell quickly.”

The festival offers two four-hour sessions, from noon to 4 p.m., and from 6 to 10 p.m. General admission to a single session is $40 in advance, $50 day of the event, which includes beer samples, music by local bands, educational sessions by industry experts, and a festival tasting glass. VIP tickets are also available for an additional $35. Added VIP benefits include admission to the VIP lounge, which offers samples of special limited-availability beers available, music and free catered food, as well as a commemorative festival glass. VIP tickets are only sold online.

“We are pleased to bring our World Beer Festival to Richmond, and join its burgeoning beer culture,” said Daniel Bradford, publisher of All About Beer Magazine. “We hope that the World Beer Festival-Richmond becomes a gathering place for all interested in the exciting world of beer—consumers, retailers, wholesalers and suppliers.”

Tickets and information about the World Beer Festival–Richmond are available at www.allaboutbeer.com.

The World Beer Fest Richmond will be held on Browns Island. It should be a great time!

Details TBD. To be informed about the upcoming 2010 Rappahannock Independent Film Festival, please get connected to us via Facebook, Twitter or join our email list.

Pouring of beer that is. There was indeed some rain as well on Saturday, but the intermittent and sometimes heavy rain didn't dampen enthusiasm at the Blue & Gray Brewing St. Patrick Day parade and festival. By the time I arrived for a late lunch, the parade was over but the event was still packed with folks enjoying themselves. I ended up parking quite a ways away and walking through the industrial park to the brewery.

One of the notable aspects of this annual Blue & Gray event is the family-friendly atmosphere. The annual parade is much anticipated and folks always stay afterwards to enjoy the festivities; inclement weather notwithstanding.

The entertainment was under a large tent which was filled to standing room only. I ate my meal of bangers and mash standing inside the future home of "Lee's Retreat", the brewpub under construction at the brewery. My meal was followed by a welcome pint of Blue & Gray Stonewall Stout as a foil against the cool damp air. Stonewall Stout has a nice balance of roasted malts and mild sweetness. The finish is slightly bitter. It has a creamy mouthfeel with light carbonation. Overall it's a well-done stout that is sure to satisfy and is my favorite among Blue & Gray's year-round beers.

I've posted a few pictures from the event here.

 

Just what I needed, less hours in my day.  But alas, the time has come for us to spring forward an hour this Sunday,     March 14 at 2am.   (Yes, this means I will be grumpy Monday – Thursday while my body adjusts to the time change).

 

This is also a good time  to change your smoke detector batteries and replace your heating and air conditioner filters.

If your schedule is anything like mine, your calendar fills fast. This seems especially true during the summer. So it's not too early to start making plans for the two annual Northern Virginia BrewFests.

3rd Annual Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest
Saturday, June 26, 2010 - 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Morven Park, Leesburg, Virginia
Advance tickets are now on sale here.
See http://novabrewfest.com/summer/ for more information.

You can see my report from last year's NoVA Summer BrewFest here.




4th Annual Northern Virginia BrewFest
Saturday, October 23, 2010 - 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 11:00 AM - 7:00PM
Special Events Center, Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville, Virginia

Tickets go on sale online August 15, 2010
See http://novabrewfest.com/fall/ for more information.

Read my report from last year's NoVA Brewfest here.

Both of these are not-be-missed events for craft beer fans in Virginia and surrounding areas. Mark your calendar today!

The 8th annual St. Patrick's day parade at the Blue & Gray Brewery will be held on Saturday, March 13. There is a full day of events planned. The parade starts at noon on Saturday, March 13, through the Bowman Center. Irish entertainment will take place at the brewery from 11:00AM - 3:00PM.  The Rappahannock Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will be giving rides on historic rail cars on nearby tracks starting at 11:00.

Beer by the glass and food will be available for purchase. Homemade soda and hot dogs for kids too!

Like all Blue & Gray events, the St. Patrick's Day celebration is family-friendly. This is a always a fun day and I look forward to seeing you there and enjoying some fresh, local beer.

Pictures from previous years are here and here.