Get Weird With Beer: James Beard Award-winning food site (and our friends) First We Feast and iconic craft beer leader (and our friend, again) Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewing are teaming up for a new series on beer called “That’s Odd, Let’s Drink It.” The first episode will feature Chef Mario Batali collaborating with Sam to create a beer with past-ripe produce, bruised tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables deemed unable to sell. There’s a lot of good people on this project, so get comfortable and get excited.
Your Cowbell Prescription Has Been Filled: A Will Ferrell-themed bar has opened in the Lower East Side, officially marking one of the most dedicated fan tributes we’ve ever heard of. Owner Zach Neil did not consult the actor before putting together the vivid decorations and impressively reverent drink menu, but we can’t see Mr. Ferrell having too much of an issue with a walk-in shrine. The official opening is October 25.
Lock, Stock, And Barrel-Aged: Just because summer weather is finally giving up the last gasps to autumn’s chill doesn’t mean you have to put away your gin. Barrel-aged gins are a fairly rare style in the modern spirits scene, but the extra complexity and heartiness brought to play by the wood can help punch up summery cocktails for cold-weather use. These are also excellent neat or with a little ice whenever you feel like shaking up your “pensive sipping” routine.
Accio Plane Tickets!: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London has announced that it will be hosting an adults-only Harry Potter-themed dinner in the set of Hogwarts’ Great Hall on Thursday, December 3. The age limit was imposed to allow for more mature drinks to be served as guests dine in the Great Hall, explore the sets, and help themselves to plenty of food and dancing. Tickets start at £230, which seems steep until you remember that it’s completely worth it.
Brooklyn Distilleries Go Hard: According to state licensing data, Brooklyn now has the highest number of active distilleries of any area in New York. We’re leading the charge with fifteen distilleries, handily beating second-place Buffalo’s five. With walking tours, new bars and more liquor stores than you can shake a muddler out, it’s totally on you to get out there and try the new booze in your neighborhood too.
Booze By Text: A new entrant to the booming instant delivery field called Drinkeasy is promising orders fulfilled via text. Aiming to occupy the same space as that one freakishly in-the-know friend, Drinkeasy will text you once a week with a special offer on a limited, new, or otherwise hard-to-find bottle of liquor. Text back that you’re interested, and that sweet firewater will be on its way to your door before you can shake out an ice tray. Keep an eye on these folks for more good ideas.