The Ultimate Excuse to Enjoy a Beer: National Beer Day 2011

Today we celebrate a great day in American history: National Beer Day. 78 years ago on this day the ban on alcohol sales known as Prohibition was lifted. People waited in lines on April 6 until midnight when they could legally buy beer for the first time in 13 years. Today is a day to honor those men and women who fought hard for our right to enjoy an ice cold beer. Image courtesy of Beer Advocate.

Can you even imagine what a world without beer would be like? None of these upcoming events would have been possible!

The East Nashville Beer Festival
April 9 in Nashville, Tenn.
Takes place at the East Bank Greenway and the festival will play host to 35-40 craft breweries.

SOLD OUT! More info HERE.

Stoudts’ Battle of the Brewery Bands
April 30 in Adamstown, Penn.
Brewery bands compete for the Golden Keg and the charity of their choice with delicious food and drinks by Stoudts Brewery.

American Craft Beer Fest
June 3 and 4 in Boston, Mass.
The East Coast’s largest craft beer festival. The festival features over 100 different breweries and 400 different beers. There are a total of three sessions.

2nd Annual Boulder SourFest
June 11 in Boulder, Colo.
If you enjoy the taste of sour beer then this festival is for you. The second installment of this festival will feature 80 different sours for you to taste.

SOLD OUT! More info HERE.

20th Annual Microfest at Stoudts Brewery
June 11, August 27 and October 15 in Adamstown, Penn.
Three different dates to check out this great annual beer festival put on by Stoudts. Great beer sampling, food and entertainment.

Ticket Alternative Sponsors Atlanta Foursquare Day

We’re happy to be a part of the second annual Atlanta Foursquare Day, happening on Saturday, April 16. We’re joining sponsors like Engauge, Fifth Group Restaurants, Sweetwater Brewery and others in celebrating some great deals and a fabulous party at W Atlanta Downtown.

This year there will be more special deals all day from the likes of Rita’s (free Italian ice), Dancing Goats Coffee Bar (BOGO on all coffee/espresso drinks) and more (check out the full list and details HERE).

There will also be a party held at W Atlanta Downtown on the hotels rooftop bar. There is no need for an invite, folks just have to check-in “2011 Atlanta Foursquare Day Party” venue at the hotel to get entry. Party-goers will be treated to a complimentary “Foursquare Cocktail,” as well as Foursquare buttons, coozies, stickers and, for the first 100 entrants, a free Foursquare T-shirt. The W will also be bringing in bites from their well-known restaurants, and a cash bar will feature drink specials.

Local charities Atlanta Community Food Bank and Atlanta Humane Society are also involved and will be benefiting from this event. Attendees can bring non-perishable food for ACFB, and at check-in there will an opportunity to make a pledge to Atlanta Humane Society. That pledge will be multiplied by the number of check-ins (capped at 250) to give the final pledge. So if a person pledges 10 cents and the number of check-ins is 250, their final pledge would be $25. More information about this event is available HERE.

Tickets for 2nd Annual Boulder SourFest on Sale Wednesday, April 6 at Noon! – SOLD OUT!

UPDATE: This event is SOLD OUT! We hope you got your tickets, they went fast!

10 years ago if you were to ask your local bartender for a sour or wild ale he/she would have probably looked at you with a puzzled face and responded “What is that?” If you were to ask that same bartender today there is a very good chance you would be greeted a “What kind would you like?”

Sour/wild ale has become a very popular choice for avid beer drinkers in the past 10 years. This style of beer is definitely an acquired taste due to its pungent smell and tart taste. For those that enjoy it there is no better place to taste different kinds than The 2nd Annual Boulder SourFest at Avery Brewery. There will be over 80 different sour/wild ales on hand for tasting. A nice feature about the festival is that it caps off at 450 people to ensure that everyone gets ample tasting of all of the offered beers.

A lot more care goes into these beers than just letting them go sour in a barrel. The process is very tedious and requires a trained brew-master to produce these lip-puckering ales. Whether you are an avid sour ale drinker or you had your first today, The 2nd Annual Boulder SourFest is not to be missed.

2nd Annual Boulder SourFest

Saturday, June 11 at Avery Brewing Company in Boulder, Colo.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 6 at noon.

A Beer Advocate’s Dream Come True: Stoudts Announces Dates for 20th Annual Microfest

Come down to Stoudts Beer Garden in Adamstown, Pa. for the 20th Annual Microfest! Sample some of the best beers the industry has to offer in your very own festival tasting glass. Chef Jim Carr will be offering a variety of delicious dishes that are sure to compliment the great beers featured at the Microfest. Some of the dishes include smoked brisket, a Pulled Beef sandwich in Fat Dog Stout Jus, sliced Pork Sliders with APA Jus, Asian BBQ Drummies, Veggie Pasta Primavera, Macaroni salad, and our famous German Potato salad. How good do those sound? Stoudts is proud to offer the freshest ingredients from local farmers and purveyors, changing the menu each season to ensure that the best food accompanies some of the greatest beers in the world!

Tickets are $35. With the ticket you also get great entertainment, and a free shuttle to and from select local hotels.

There are three different days to come to the festival; June 11, August 27 and October 15. Each day will have two sessions, each lasting for four hours.

American Craft Beer Fest – The East Coast’s Premier Craft Beer Festival

Get ready for the 4th annual American Craft Beer Fest featuring over 400 craft beers from over 100 American brewers. Held at the Seaport World Trader Center Boston, ACBF is the largest celebration of American craft beer on the East Coast. The festival will take place on June 3 and 4. There will be one session on June 3 and two  sessions on June 4.

What is a craft beer? A craft beer can be defined by three characteristics:

1. Small: Annual production of beer less than two million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.

2. Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.

3. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50 percent of it’s volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

The three  sessions are as follows:

* Friday Session (June 3, 2011, 6  – 9:30 p.m.)
* Saturday Session One (June 4, 2011, 1 – 4:30 p.m.)
* Saturday Session Two (June 4, 2011, 6 – 9:30 p.m.)

Tickets are $45 per session and include: entry into one session, access to over 400 craft beers, all 2oz beer tastings, compostable tasting cup, and festival guide.

Be safe and have a great time!

SOLD OUT: The East Nashville Beer Festival on April 9 — And A Couple of Tips!

Online tickets for The East Nashville Beer Festival are all sold out! But for those who got tickets for this inaugural beer fest, we’ve got some tips for you, below the event information.

The East Nashville Beer Festival’s goal is to provide a fun and safe environment for beer drinkers to learn and enjoy the finest craft beers from around the United States. All paid attendees will receive a souvenir tasting glass (sorry, DD’s but no cup for you), unlimited samples, bag of goodies, and the opportunity to be part the Inaugural East Nashville Beer Festival. The festival also features live music, various other vendors, and Beer Education area.

Here a couple of tips for getting the most out of the festival:

1. Eat and then eat some more. Fill your tummy with something yummy before attending and make sure you eat plenty at the festival. A full stomach helps slow alcohol’s entrance into your bloodstream and you’ll feel much better in the morning.

2. Pace yourself. This isn’t a college kegger. You may be surprised how quickly your buzz can turn into something more severe when you hurry from booth to booth, especially when some of those booths are pouring high-octane ales or stouts.

3. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. You will spend the majority of the day on your feet walking around the festival.

4. Talk to the brewers. These lucky people make beer for a living. They will be more than open to answering any questions about the beers they are pouring.

5. BE SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT TIME!

Smith’s “New” Bar: Smith’s Olde Bar Makes Changes, but Sticks to Its Roots

When Atlanta natives want to go hear the best local music, many a time they visit Smith’s Olde Bar. Smith’s, located at 1578 Piedmont Avenue, has been a staple in the Atlanta music scene for almost 20 years now. What Smith’s also offers is a great neighborhood hangout everyday of the week, with great food and drink specials to boot. To maintain their status as Atlanta’s favorite local hangout spot Smith’s has made some necessary changes.

Smith’s is proud to announce that they have become a smoke free facility. Smoking will of course be allowed on the outdoor patio. Speaking of the outdoor patio, a renovation of patio, with new furniture, should be finished by this weekend.

Smith’s realizes it has some of the loyalest patrons in the city and they have decided it is time to reward them. They have instituted a loyalty program, with the new Official S.O.B. Loyalty Card, that allows regulars to earn points that can be used towards various rewards. With all of these changes for the better, Smith’s Olde Bar still maintains their old-school feel. The venue looks forward to supporting local music and providing a friendly neighborhood hangout for the next 20 years.

Don’t forget about these great upcoming shows that Smith’s Olde Bar has to offer:

Saturday, March 12
Special Early All-Ages Show with Derek Webb

Saturday, March 12
Mark Knight Ft. Matt Abts of Gov’t Mule & Co.
AutumnAttics
Sons of Bill

Wednesday, March 16
Working Angels Animal Rescue Benefit & Shilpa Patel Memorial
Featuring:
Dave Franklin & Nelson Nolen Duo
Jeff Hix
Tim Butler Duo
Julie Gribble

Sunday, March 20
Mishka

Tuesday, March 22
Hugo
HUGO

Wednesday, March 23
Danny Barnes / The New Familiars

Friday, March 25
CD Release: Five Eight
Darling Norman
Wife

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Ticket Alternative Events!

Thankfully the time for sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions is coming to an end. That’s right: St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Which means a week of great drinking events. Check out all the boozy, yummy, green, festive Irish events that Ticket Alternative has popping up all over the country for this great holiday!

2011 Meehan’s Shamrock & Roll at Meehan’s Public House, March 12

Ed Kowalczyk of Live, Yacht Rock Revue’s newest project, U2 tribute Uno Dos Tres Catorce and more will be entertaining the masses at Meehan’s.

2nd Annual Tower Whiskey Dinner at Fado Irish Pub in Atlanta, Ga. on Tuesday, March 8

Kick off your week of drinking in a style with four-course tasting menu pairing different Bushmills whiskeys with various tasty bites.

St. Patrick’s Day 2011 Outdoor Festival at Fado Irish Pub in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, March 17

Get an early start on the big day by arriving at Fado at the early opening of 7 a.m. Throughout the day there will be bagpipers, Irish dancers, live music, food, drink and more!

St. Patrick’s Day Outdoor Festival Parade Day 2011 at Fado Irish Pub in Denver, Colo. on Saturday, March 12

Start off Parade Day on March 12 with a full Irish breakfast and a good pint, and then stick around with the family in the afternoon for face-painting and more great fun for the kids. Later on there will be plenty of drinking, live music, Irish dancing and great fun into the night.

St. Patrick’s Day Outdoor Festival 2011 at Fado Irish Pub in Denver, Colo. on Thursday, March 17

Doors open at 8 a.m. for you to get your full Irish breakfast and pint, and then there’s a killer line-up of live music starting at noon.

St. Patrick’s Day 2011 Outdoor Festival at Fado Irish Pub in Austin, Texas on Thursday, March 17

Austin’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Outdoor Festival kicks off at 6 a.m. with the street festival starting at noon with 12 hours of live music, traditional Irish dancing and more.

Fado St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Music Festival at Fado Irish Pub in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, March 17 – Saturday, March 19

Columbus’ Fado has a huge three days of festivity starting on St. Patrick’s Day and going into the weekend. Get cozy with a pint in the huge heated party tent starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday, check out live music all weekend, shave your head for charity (St Baldrick’s Charity Event) and come out of the weekend a balder, happier person.

Win a Pair of VIP Tickets to The Atlanta Winter Wine + Jazz Festival!

We’re excited to announce that we are now selling tickets for the Atlanta Winter Wine + Jazz Festival. Taking place Sunday, February 20 at the Georgia Freight Depot in downtown Atlanta, the festival lets participants experience and learn about great wine with tastings and seminars for VIPs. The experience will be enhanced by some great food, fantastic live jazz tunes, an indoor street market, prizes and more!

The VIP experience will be enhanced with early admission, wine seminars, special door prizes and giveaways.

To celebrate the announcement of this latest event, we have a pair of VIP tickets to give away to one lucky winner. Enter to win the competition by filling out the form below, or buy tickets at the button below for a sure thing.

Steamhouse Lounge Oysterfest Just Announced!

It’s that time of year again! The Steamhouse Lounge in Atlanta’s midtown welcome’s back its famous Oysterfest for another year on February 26 and 27. This year is going to be bigger than ever, with express lines for those who bought their tickets in advance – so buy yours now! And of course there will be the usual buckets of fresh roasted oysters, the restaurant’s legendary lobster bisque, drinks galore and live music from The Best Brothers, The Georgia Satellites and more.