What’s Brewing – March 2014 – party month

This Irish toast is so fitting for the month of March, the de facto “party month” where almost everything is allowed, expected, and forgiven on and around St. Patrick’s Day.

“A keg of Guinness does not an Irish bar make” – that’s one of mine. It takes more than an Irish stout and a few pictures on a wall to really have true Irish bar ambiance. Everybody knows that, too.

This is the month for trying Shepherd’s Pie, Bangers ‘n Mash, Guinness Beef Stew, Corned Beef ‘n Cabbage and Fish ‘n Chips (best with Malt Vinegar sprinkled on top).

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, I expect you all to get out and about and enjoy what the Greater Jacksonville area “brews and chews” establishments have to offer during the month of March. Wear green by the way – that will make you look Irish.

Culhane’s Irish Pub (967 Atlantic Blvd. Atlantic Beach, 249-9595)
Fionn MacCool’s Irish Restaurant & Pub (Jacksonville Landing, 374-1547)
Lynch’s Irish Pub (514 1st St. North, Jax Beach, 249-5181)
O’ Brothers Irish Pub (1521 Margaret St. 854-9300)
Fly’s Tie Irish Pub (177 East Sailfish Dr., Atlantic Beach, 246-4293)
Donovan’s Irish Pub (7440 US Highway 1 North, St. Augustine 829-0000)

in other news
Coming to Jacksonville March 1 will be the tasty creations of 5 Rabbits Brewery based in Bedford Park, IL. For more info on this exciting brewery, visit www.5rabbitbrewery.com
Bold City Brewery At the 6th Annual Flip Cup tournament at Bold City on March 15 there will be a total of 16 teams and 5 people per team. Sign up your team starting Thursday, February 27, for $25 a team.
There will be a Charity Pint Night for Police Unity Tour VIII Fri, March 28, 7 pm.
Sensory Saturdays at Bold City Brewery
March 1 – 77D’s performing in the brewery, 7 pm
March 8 – Post to Post Links II error: No link found for term slug "Bay Street Band" performing in the brewery starting at 7 pm. Note: this is also Trolley Night!
Bold City Brewery Special Tappings
March 6 – The Bold City D Coffee Stout
March 15 – Bold City Irish Red (Flip Cup Tournament)
March 20 – Bold City Roxy s Finest Imperial Cream Ale
April 3 – Oktoberfest (kind of half-way to the real Oktoberfest!)
Brewer’s Pizza (14B Blanding Blvd., Orange Park , 276-5159) – Founders Brewing Company spotlight March 11. Back-Woods Bastard will be there!
European Street Café (992 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 249-3001) (2752 Park St. -384-9999) Pint Nights with Cigar City Brewing every Thursday from 6-8 pm during the month of March.
Engine 15 Brewing Company (1500 Beach Boulevard, Jax Beach, 249-2337) – Pint night Summit Brewing on the 19th of March from 4-7 pm.
Intuition Ale Works (720 King Street 683-7720) River Run After Party at the brewery on Saturday, March 15th. Intuition is awaiting permit approval to close down the street and have a killer block-party! They will be opening early at 10 am and will have two food trucks serving some impressive food, including brunch items such as a “Kegs and Eggs” kind of thing! Look for some breakfast-themed beers from the talented and creative brew staff! Intuition will also be tapping their popular Irish Red Ale that day.
They have partnered up with local chefs, food truck owners and artisans to bring you a series of tastings, book signing events and beer-pairing dinners that feature recipes from their recently released cookbook, “Cooking with Intuition!” Make sure to follow the cookbook on Facebook, www.facebook.com/IntuitionAle, to get updates on these events and more:
3/6 Book-signing with Taverna at San Marco Bookstore, 5:30pm
3/10 Beer dinner at The Blind Rabbit, 7pm
3/12 Beer dinner at Tapa That, 6pm
3/27 Craft Beer + Chef’s Bites at Post to Post Links II error: No link found for term slug "Cafe Nola at MOCA", 6pm
Regarding their Beer Collaborations, Intuition states: “Over the next two weeks we’ll be tapping a couple collaboration brews in the tap room – watch our FB page for details! Amsterdam Falafel is a collaboration with Engine 15 and is the first brew in a series we’re calling Partners in Crime. This Baltic porter comes in at 8.2% ABV and is a smooth, dark concoction brewed with a lager yeast. Mologna is an English IPA brewed in collaboration with Brother Keegan, a fellow local brewer. We brewed this one with Scottish malt and all English hops, and it’s around 6.75% ABV. Also, watch for Liver Kick, our black IPA, to be back on tap soon!”

Tickets are now on sale for the Slow Food First Coast Slow Down in the brewery on Friday, May 2nd at 6 pm. This is one of their most popular events and tickets are guaranteed to sell out so secure yours now by visiting: www.eventbrite.com/e/slow-food-first-coast-slow-down-at-intuition-tickets-10687874721.

The Slow Down is their annual fundraiser for Slow Food First Coast and features over 20 local chefs, restaurants, farmers and artisans. Intuition will be closing down the street and turning the event into a block-party this year, so it’ll be bigger and better than ever!

Veterans United Craft Brewery Another brewery is opening in Jacksonville! – Veterans United Craft Brewery will be open soon. The Brewery is owned by veterans sharing an enthusiastic desire for producing and enjoying quality craft beer. Their founder, Ron Gamble, is a former Naval Flight Officer and has been a brewer in the craft brewing industry since 2007 – and a passionate homebrewer since 1999! Ron’s vision is to take the same spirit, pride and dedication of his military service and infuse this energy into a company that creates great tasting and innovative craft beers. Veterans United Craft Brewery is committed to making a positive contribution to the Jacksonville community and beyond.
Mile Marker Brewing (3420 Agricultural Center Drive, St. Augustine, 217-4294) will be hosting a charitable event scheduled for March 28 with Pink Up the Pace. For more information, visit their website and Facebook: www.milemarkerbrewing.com and www.facebook.com/MileMarkerBrewing.