As summer begins to wind down (yes, it's August already!), Fort Lauderdale's craft beer mecca is pulling out all the stops to make sure that it doesn't end with you thirsty. The Riverside Market is hosting events galore.
Based on the success of their previous offering, Riverside is bringing back the Beer Academy for 'Session Two', beginning August 13th. The six week academy will focus on all things beer, educating students on the wide varieties of styles that exist and holding discussions on the finer points of craft beer. What's the difference between a stout and a porter? How do you actually brew a beer? These questions and more will be answered every week during the hour-long sessions.
See also:
- Alex Postelnek Now Lead Brewer at Funky Buddha Brewery
- Choose the Right Beer Glass, Get the Most Out of Your Brew
Stewards of the program include award winning home brewer Eric Guerrero from Angry Union Brewing, Evan Benn beer columnist for Esquire Magazine, Adam Fine, President of Native Brewing and Brett Hubbard, host of By the Glass. The cost is $125 to enroll, and must be done via registration on their website.
'Beer School' might be good for some, but others just want a night to hang out and win some prizes. This is where monthly Beer Bingo comes in. Hosted at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month (August 7th and September 4th are the next two events), Beer Bingo is the sophisticated alternative to just sitting around with a beer in hand. Participants can purchase bingo cards for $5 each (and play with the same card all night if you wish), drink some awesome craft beer, and attempt to take home some awesome brew related swag.
Finally, Riverside has set a goal to keep you homebrewers busy during the summer (like you aren't already brewing) with the End of Summer Homebrew Competition on Saturday, September 21st at 7pm. Amateur brewers can enter beers they've brewed into a maximum of five out of 12 categories for $25 per category. These include, IPA, DIPA, Pale Ale, Stout, Amber Ale, and Belgian among others. Teams must be registered by September 10th, 2013 and brewers must be prepared to offer up 240 ounces of their concoctions for judging.
Worried about entering this contest or don't think you have enough 'talent' to make a good beer? Riverside's last homebrew competition was won by a brewer who was competing for the first time. It can be done.
Make sure you register your beers on their website.
With events like these, it's no wonder Riverside is considered the premiere craft beer destination in the area. So even if you can't make these events, stop on by during the week to sample one of the hundreds of unique beers on offer.
The Riverside Market is located at 608 SW 12th Ave in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-358-8333, or visit theriversidemarket.com.
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