CHEERS: Laurelwood and Upright Celebrate Their Birthdays Tonight; Sunday

Upright Brewing's brewing equipment.

Between the two of 'em, they've got a dozen years of experience slaking local thirsts. This weekend, Laurelwood Brewing Co. turns 10 and Upright Brewing is virtually ready for its big boy pants as it celebrates its second anniversary. Naturally, each brewery is commemorating the occasions with special beers and beer specials.

Pop into Laurelwood's Northeast Sandy location for $2.50 pints all night tonight including four brand new offerings. For those who routinely down a couple pints of Workhorse IPA, now you can get all that hoppy goodness in a single glass with their Imperial Workhorse. The alcohol content is kicked up from 7.5% ABV to practically 10%, one percent alcohol by volume for each year (candles are so passé). Also look for the release of their third organic ale, "The Big O" Pale Ale, plus—to wash the Irish out of you from yesterday—a Mexican Mocha beer made with South American malt, cinnamon, chocolate, and Serrano chilies. And manager Micah Bell tipped us off to another rare tapping: Bourbon barrel aged Moose & Squirrel, a whopper of a Russian Imperial Stout. Note that the first two will be bottled this spring and the Impy Stout will be gone in a flash.

Come hungry enough to eat a whole pig since food specials tonight include slicing into a whole roasted hog.

Then on Sunday, March 20, Upright Brewing fetes itself from 1-6 pm with return of its anniversary beer, Four Play. Fans of their year-round Four, which exemplifies their Franco/Belgo approach to farmhouse style ales, will find something titillating in every glass and bottle. Four Play began life as Four a full year ago when it was poured into pinot noir barrels then soured with wild yeasts and kicked up some notches with the addition of cherries. We can tell you from a pre-sample that the aroma is funky to the hilt and the taste is pleasantly tart. Hurry if you want to take some home—only 67 cases will be available. Another rarity on hand will be last year's Apricot Anniversary Ale aged in Ransom Spirits Old Tom Gin barrels. The unique approach to artisan spiritmaking follows through by infusing the beer with a medley of botanicals, further solidifying Upright's claim as Beervana's premier Belgian-style brewers. Of course, a few other surprise offerings may show up.

GO:
5115 NE Sandy Blvd., 282-0622. 5-11 pm Friday, March 18. Upright Brewing, 240 North Broadway, 735-5337. 1-6 pm Sunday, March 20.

WWeek 2015

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