Tastings

Bear Republic Was a Blast

The fifth Hollingshead’s beer tasting was a sellout success! Come see the fun here. We sampled Sonoma County’s best from Bear Republic Brewing Company. You know them for such award-winning beers as Racer 5 IPA, Hop Rod Rye, and Red Rocket Ale.

Highlights of the tasting:

• 15 beers were on tap, including some never before tasted in Southern California (even at the Stone annual party).
•Bear Republic Brewmaster Richard Norgrove and his son Ricardo were our guides and answered questions.
•We enjoyed great appetizers as well as palate-cleansing crackers.
•Everyone went home with a souvenir pint glass and a goodie bag of Bear Republic coasters and beer labels.
•At the end of the evening, a show of hands voted these four beers to be served on tap at Hollingshead’s for the following week: Double Rocket, Racer X, Heritage and Peter Brown Tribute.

12 Ales of Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the deli, the ales were quite tasty, the cheeses quite smelly. The 12 Ales of Christmas tasting on Dec. 17 was a feast for the senses. Check out the photos here. We sampled a dozen holiday ales and had local brewers in attendance to answer questions. Lots of folks found great gift ideas for the beer lovers on their Christmas lists.

Tastings in 2009

In 2009, Port Brewing’s Tommy Arthur will be our guest speaker at a tasting in the near future. Come and drown your sorrows with Tommy’s award-winning beer and our great food. We will be featuring his Lost Abbey series as well as his year-round delicious selections.

Updates on this tasting will be posted right before your very eyes as soon as the Hollingshead’s finish the last few details with Tommy himself.

Price will be $60 a person (his Lost Abbey stuff is very expensive). We will, of course, pair his outstanding beers with our delectable foods. Prost!

In the fall of 2009, by popular demand, Vinny will be coming back to Hollingshead’s. Russian River Brewery rules! Bottoms up!