Technically, you will be meeting the three candidates, but after the election in December, one of the three candidates will be the one. According to City Beat, Dec 3rd at 7pm, there will be a forum at city hall where you can meet all three candidates.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=20&p=1226586342

As always, your local retailers are offering free tasting events this weekend.

Friday, November 14 - 5:00 - 8:00pm
Total Wine, Fredericksburg
Friday 5 @ 5 Beer Tasting:
Brooklyn Winter Ale, Flying Dog Tire Bite Golden Ale, Corsendonk Pale Ale, Peroni, Behaven Scottish Ale

Friday, November 14 - 5:30 - 8:30pm
Virginia Wine Experience, Fredericksburg
Beer Tasting:
New Holland Cabin Fever Brown Ale, Sam Adams Chocolate Bock

Friday, November 14 - 5:30 - 7:30pm
Corks and Kegs, Richmond
Beer Tasting:
Cabin Fever Brown Ale, Bald Eagle Brown Ale, Bell's Best Brown Ale

Saturday, November 15 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Kybecca, Fredericksburg
Beer Tastings in 2 Locations:
William Street (Downtown):
Southern Tier Krampus Imperial Helles Lager, Legend Chocolate Porter, plus 1 Customer Choice
Plank Road (Next to Ukrops)
Southern Tier Krampus Imperial Helles Lager, Legend Chocolate Porter, plus 1 Customer Choice

Saturday, November 15 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Rick's Wine, Alexandria
Beer Tasting:
Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner, Anchor Christmas Ale, Left Hand Snowbound Ale, Left Hand Warrior Fresh Hop IPA, Lagunitas Brown Shugga

Saturday, November 15 - 1:00 - 5:00pm
Total Wine, Fredericksburg
Sam Adams (Boston Beer) Tasting
Including Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock

Every Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Blue & Gray Brewery, Fredericksburg
Beer samples and brewery tours

Please support the folks who bring us these events. Let them know there is an active craft beer community in the area. When you attend any of these events, tell us about it in the comments, and be sure to let the proprietor know you heard about it here.
Have something to add? Let me know, my contact information is here.

Event schedules subject to change. Call ahead before traveling.

Local beer fans gathered at the new Fredericksburg Capital Ale House Friday evening as a keg of Smoke Out was tapped. Smoke Out is the GABF Pro-Am Silver medal beer brewed by local homebrewer Lyle Brown and Starr Hill Brewing of Crozet, Virginia. Members of The Fredericksburg Brewing and Tasting Society, the Fredericksburg Brewing Insiders, along with other friends and family came out to celebrate with Lyle.

The evening also marked the first Friday of business for this new Capital Ale House location. By the time the keg was officially tapped at 5:00PM there was already a large crowd on hand. While many patrons where likely unaware of the significance of the event, Lyle proudly carried a tray of samples through the bar offering them to the gathered crowd. I am sure many of the folks on hand learned something and found a new beer to enjoy that evening.

Smoke Out is a full-bodied, bright golden hued beer. The smokey bacon-like flavor hits just the right balance with the malt backbone. Smoke Out has limited availability at all four Capital Ale Houses, just one keg at each folks. It's listed on the beer menu as Starr Hill Smoke Out. Lyle is talking with Mark Thompson at Starr Hill about the possibility of brewing the beer again, but I suggest getting by closest Capital Ale House before the beer is gone. Incidentally, in a testament to brewing skill, Lyle says that the large batch he brewed at Starr Hill for the GABF Pro-Am, is identical in taste to the homebrew he developed. This recipe also won first place in the Smoke beer division of the 2008 Sam Adams Longshot Competition.

The staff at Capital Ale House handled their first Friday evening crowd with aplomb. Service at the bar where I spent the evening was quick and cheerful. I also enjoyed a Brat & Knack Plate for dinner, consisting of a Usinger's knackwurst and bratwurst served with kraut, sweet & sour red cabbage and warm German potato salad. It was the ideal compliment to the Smoke Out beer.

Yours For Good Fermentables blogger Thomas Cizauskas drove down from Fairfax, VA to enjoy and record the events. We deemed the evening the first official gathering of the Chesapeake Region Alliance of Beer Bloggers (C.R.A.B.B.). See Tom's post on the event here.

More pictures from the evening are here.

On Friday, November 7 there is a special event at the new Fredericksburg Capital Ale House. The GABF Pro-Am Silver medal Smoke Out rauch-hellerbock that Lyle Brown brewed with Starr Hill will be tapped. Come by Capital Ale House at 5:00PM for that. On Saturday, the Fredericksburg Brewing and Tasting Society (FABTS) will meet at Kybecca to discuss and taste "beers to serve with Thanksgiving dinner."

And as always, there are plenty of free tasting events at local retailers.

Friday, November 7 - 5:00 - 8:00pm
Total Wine, Fredericksburg
Friday 5 @ 5 Beer Tasting:
Heavy Seas Winter Storm, Wild Goose Snow Goose, Schneider Aventinus, Duvel, Fiddler’s Green IPA

Saturday, November 7 - 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Rick's Wine, Alexandria
Beer Tasting:
Clay Pipe Pursuit of Happiness, Delirium Noel, Left Hand Twin Sisters, Cape Ann Brewing Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout

Friday, November 7 - 5:30 - 7:30pm
Corks and Kegs, Richmond
Beer Tasting:
Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout, Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, Schloss Eggenberg

Saturday, November 8 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Kybecca, Fredericksburg
Beer Tastings in 2 Locations:
William Street (Downtown):
Beers TBD, plus 1 Customer Choice
Plank Road (Next to Ukrops)
Victory Baltic Porter, New Holland Cabin Fever Brown Ale, plus 1 Customer Choice

Saturday, November 8 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Rick's Wine, Alexandria
Beer Tasting:
Bell's Winter White, Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux, New Holland Cabin Fever, Gouden Carolus Noel, Stone Double Bastard

Every Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Blue & Gray Brewery, Fredericksburg
Beer samples and brewery tours

Please support the folks who bring us these events. Let them know there is an active craft beer community in the area. When you attend any of these events, tell us about it in the comments, and be sure to let the proprietor know you heard about it here.
Have something to add? Let me know, my contact information is here.

Event schedules subject to change. Call ahead before traveling.

Looking for some excitement this weekend. I was updating the events listing for this website and pulled out a few freebies that I thought folks might be interested in.

First, start off with First Fridays. Even though the weather has turned a bit colder, the art galleries and businesses downtown that support artists are still putting on this great series of shows this Friday. Come out and check out your favorite artist, or find something new that you haven't seen before.

Then head out for a little post First Fridays camaraderie and listen to these NO COVER bands:
The Griffin Bookshop - Laura Shepherd, 7:30pm
Colonial Tavern - Ashland Miller Band , 9pm
Bistro Bethem - Bucky & The Blues Buckets, 10pm

Saturday, if you have children, or are a big kid yourself, you might want to head over to Spotsylvania Towne Center for the arrival of SANTA at 10am. If you're the artsy type, there is a craft show at the armory. Finally, if you missed the good music on Friday night, Shoredigger's Cats is playing at The Griffin Bookshop for no cover at 7:30pm.

While you're out spending a little dough, don't forget to get your Boys & Girls club raffle ticket. Drawing is November 12th.

I'm adding a link right under the title banner on the website so that visitors can immediately find this posting at InTheBurg.info

2008
Nov 8 - Craft Show @ Armory
Nov 15 - Urban Trail Ride Downtown
Nov 15 - First Annual Fall Tree Planting @ Maury Park
Nov 28 - Children's Christmas Tree Lighting @ Hurkamp Park
Dec 4-5 - Holiday POPS @ 7:30pm Dodd Auditorium UMW
Dec 6 - 23rd Annual Fredericksburg Christmas Parade
Dec 13-15 - 38th Annual Candlelight Tour
Dec 31 - First Night Fredericksburg

Open Mic Night happens every Second Thursday of the month @ the Wounded Bookshop

(Shows listed on this page are gathered from other websites, and are subject to change. Check the original links to verify.)

If anyone events, contact me and I'll gladly add them.

The Fredericksburg Brewing Insiders (FBI) held a "Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day" event at the Blue & Gray Brewery on Saturday, November 1. Many club members were on hand to give advice and offer samples of their beers. The club brewed an American Blonde Ale, and Aaron Zaccagnino (aka Zacc) took the lead on the brewing demonstration. I spent a couple of hours watching the demo, talking to the members, and of course, tasting some of the homebrews on hand.

The club put together a very nice display table with different hop and malt varieties. Visitors were encouraged to touch, taste and smell the ingredients. During the brewing demonstration we were also able to taste the wort at various stages in the process. There seemed to be a good amount of interest in the brewing process from visitors, and Zacc and other club members stayed busy answering questions.

I was able to sample a few of the members' homebrews. There's little that can beat fresh beer. I didn't get the brewers' names but I tasted a nice red ale and a very tasty porter. I also had a taste of Jamie Wilson's Big Bug Wheat which won a silver at the 2008 Dominion Cup homebrew competition a few weeks ago. Even though I don't homebrew it would certainly be a joy to visit a meeting of the FBI to enjoy more of these beers.

Not beer but coffee...

I enjoy a good cup of coffee as much as I do a good beer. Coffee Roasters of Fredericksburg was on hand at the brewery showing off some of their fresh roasted coffees. I tried all three of the coffees being offered and was especially impressed with the Indonesian Sumatra Mandeling with its deep roasted flavor. If you are looking for locally roasted and blended coffees, these are the folks you need to see. You can even call in or email an order and pick it up on Saturdays at the Blue & Gray Brewery!

The weather on Saturday morning was clear and warm. It was a perfect morning to spend time with friendly folks to talk about, and taste, homebrewed beer. Roxbury Farm and Garden was on hand with a display of homebrewing supplies they sell. Thanks go out to Jeff and the gang at Blue & Gray for their support of the event.

Pictures from "Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day" are here.

Saturday, November 1 is "Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day." The Fredericksburg Brewing Insiders will be at Blue & Gray Brewery doing a homebrew demonstration 10:00AM to 2:00PM.

Don't forget the tastings offered by our local retailers.

Friday, October 31 - 5:00 - 8:00pm
Total Wine, Fredericksburg
Friday 5 @ 5 Beer Tasting:
Brooklyn Pennant Pale Ale, Weyerbacher Hops Infusion, Shock Top Belgian White Ale, Eggenberg Hopfenkonig Pilsner, Duvel

Friday, October 31 - 5:30 - 7:30pm
Corks and Kegs, Richmond
Beer Tasting:
Avery Samael's Oak Aged Ale, Wychwood Hobgoblin Dark English Ale, Bell's Hell Hath No Fury Dubbel Dark Ale

Saturday, November 1 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Kybecca, Fredericksburg
Beer Tastings in 2 Locations:
William Street (Downtown):
Brasserie D'Oc La Mousska, Mandrin Biere au sapin, plus 1 Customer Choice
Plank Road (Next to Ukrops)
St. Rieul Grand Cru, Dogfish Head Brown Ale, plus 1 Customer Choice

Saturday, November 1 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Rick's Wine, Alexandria
Beer Tasting:
Reaper Ales Deathly Pale Ale, Redemption Red Ale, Mortality Stout, Tröegs Mad Elf 2008

Every Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Blue & Gray Brewery, Fredericksburg
Beer samples and brewery tours

Please support the folks who bring us these events. Let them know there is an active craft beer community in the area. When you attend any of these events, tell us about it in the comments, and be sure to let the proprietor know you heard about it here.
Have something to add? Let me know, my contact information is here.

Event schedules subject to change. Call ahead before traveling.