Build a Craft-Beer Menorah: It's a He'Brew Hanukkah at Brass Tap and Riverside Market

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday and there's a kosher-certified craft beer to pair with your latkes.

Two craft beer establishments in Fort Lauderdale are paying homage to the Jewish festival of light with He'Brew beer, otherwise known as the "chosen beer" that's proudly brewed by Shmaltz Brewing Company out of Clifton, New York.

Starting at 8 p.m. on December 8, the Brass Tap in Fort Lauderdale will feature Smaltz's newest limited-release holiday seasonals. (The puns are strong with this brewery.)

This year's limited releases include Jewbelation 19th-Anniversary Ale, brewed with 10 malts, nine hops, and sits heavy at 11.9 percent alcohol-by-volume; and Chanukah in Kentucky, an eight percent ABV dark ale brewed with eight malts, eight hops, aged in Heaven Hill and Jim Beam barrels. A third limited release that you'll also find in the variety pack is the Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer, an eight percent ABV dark ale brewed with eight malts and eight hops.

Two days later, on December 10, The Riverside Market Cafe owner Julian Siegel hosts the inaugural Chanukah Ho Down. Starting at 7 p.m., Riverside will be featuring Shmaltz's Pass The Beer, Slingshot American Craft Lager, and Chanukah in Kentucky as well as a little dreidel-spinning action. You can also get in on the variety of latkas being offered. 

If that isn't enough, Shmaltz itself recently kicked off its sixth-annual "Build Your Own Beer Menorah Contest"

There are five different menorah categories this year: Shtick in a Box Menorah; Vertical Jewbelation Menorah; Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass the Beer Menorah; Chanukah Meets Christmas Menorah; and Best in Show Menorah.

Once you decide which beers you'll be building your menorah out of, enjoy your beers. Then build your menorah the empty bottles, the candles, and presumably the cardboard case, if you want to get really creative.

Take a picture of the final product all lit up, then share it with friends on the Shmaltz Brewing Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram profiles with the hashtags #BeerMenorah #ShtickPic. The picture with the most likes wins a special bag of Smaltz swag. If you live in New York state, you'll also receive an invitation for a tour and private tasting at the Shmaltz brewery. L'chaim!

Brass Tap is located at 551 North Federal Highway, Suite 600 in Fort Lauderdale. Call 754-200-8648 or visit brasstapbeerbar.com/FtLauderdale.

The Riverside Market Cafe is located at 3218 SE 6th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-524-8986 or visit theriversidemarket.com. 

Shmaltz Brewing Company is located at 6 Fairchild Square, Clifton Park, New York. Call 518-406-5430, or visit shmaltzbrewing.com.