Beer Here, There, Everywhere

I’m not a beer drinker.

Truthfully, I’m not much of an alcohol drinker of any sort. When I do partake in an adult beverage, it has to taste good (at the very least). Even then, I’d rather eat dessert.

I’m okay with this. In fact, this has been my personal preference in regards to alcohol throughout my life. The reasons why have fluctuated over the years, and let me tell you,  it’s never fun to suffer from the Asian flush. Amusingly I’ve encountered people who cannot grasp this outlook, but I tell them to chill out and go eat a cookie.

Ben, my husband, makes up for my lack of beer drinking. And for those of you situated in his camp, the rest of this post is for you.

It’s short notice, but tonight (July 19) there is a beer cooking demonstration at Mint the Restaurant. It’s from 7-10 p.m. and for $35 you will enjoy three courses, each prepared with an Lazy Magnolia beer. This is a Top of the Hops promotional event.

On Thursday evening, July 22, a similar event is being held at the Parker House (one of my favs).  For $50 they are having a beer dinner consisting of five entrees paired with five different beers. I believe it’s another Top of the Hops promotional event.

Naturally, now you may be wondering, what is this Top of the Hops?

And I’m happy to tell you… Top of the Hops is the first Jackson Beer Festival being held at the Convention Center on Saturday, July 31. Tickets range from $35-60 in advance or $40-65 at the door. We’re allowed to bring in pretzel necklaces. Makes me want to find a pretzel necklace.

(Not long after is the Snowden Beer Festival on August 7. It’s being held in Southaven, MS which is spittin’ distance from the Tennessee border.)

The Top of the Hops is capping off Mississippi Craft Beer Week.

What Beer Week! When did this happen, you exclaim?!
Read the article about that here – Governor Haley Barbour signs “Mississippi Craft Beer Week” proclamation.

Apparently increased support for craft beer is somewhat of a big deal for beer drinkers, because Mississippi is the only state in the country that limits alcohol by weight for beer to only 5%. It’s for real people, check it out on The Mississippi Code.

So, if you are a Jackson local or Mississippi native and a craft beer lover, stay in the mix with these two brew focused blogs.

• Raise Your Pints, a Mississippi grassroots, non-profit group on a mission to “help bring the highest quality beers in the world to Mississippi.”
• Mississippi Brew Blog

And as I say, everything in moderation, no drinking and driving, and pretzel necklaces for everyone!