Autumn is in full swing, and with the season comes a passel of activities in the food and beverage scene across the city (and beyond). Here are some items to put on your docket in the coming weeks.
Port City Brewing, 3950 Wheeler Ave.
Fresh off a successful trip to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Port City is celebrating a silver medal for its Colossal V. On Thursday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 9 p.m., the brewery is hosting a “silver celebration” complete with an aged batch of Colossal V for the tasting — and an opportunity for attendees to check out the silver medal for themselves.
Colossal V, the latest in the Colossal lineage, is an old ale-style beer with a rich, deep taste. Check it out — or any of Port City’s other offerings — and enjoy Rockland’s barbecue, stationed outside in the restaurant’s food truck, to round out your evening.
Sugar Shack, 804 N. Henry St.
It’s a month full of events at Sugar Shack. First, the doughnut purveyors have sponsored a Halloween-themed “skull hunt” throughout October. The folks at Sugar Shack have hidden 40 orange skulls within Alexandria and Arlington businesses and other locations, and each one found is redeemable for a free doughnut.
Then on Nov. 5, Sugar Shack is teaming up with Arlington’s New District Brewing (2709 S. Oakland St.) for an event pairing four of the brewery’s beers with four different doughnut holes — a sweet twist on a typical beer tasting. Pay the brewery a visit between 2 and 6 p.m. to have a taste.
Captain Gregory’s, 804 N. Henry St.
Speaking of Sugar Shack, Captain Gregory’s, the city’s favorite speakeasy-within-a-doughnut-shop, is hosting a second edition of its now-annual Halloween party on Saturday, Oct. 29, complete with costumes and a “prix-fixe menu” consisting of two Halloween-themed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, flatbreads, and sweets.
Now, about those costumes: Wear your favorite to vie for a prize in the Captain’s costume contest, or cheer on your more outlandish compatriots. The festivities start at 10:30 and continue until last call; tickets are $65.
Rustico, 827 Slaters Lane
Forget Oktoberfest — Rustico is continuing the festivities into the coming month with their fifth annual Novemberfest on Saturday, Nov. 5. The block party will span the breadth of the afternoon, from noon to 5, and is the culminating event that follows several smaller “preview” events over the past few weeks.
For the main event, Rustico is bringing together 30 breweries from around the region to show off 50-plus different beers. Look for some rarities and some new favorites to crop up from larger and lesser-known brewers alike, as well as sandwiches and other items to munch on. Admission is $10 at the door.
Hope Nelson owns and operates the Kitchen Recessionista blog, located at www.kitchenrecessionista.com. Email her any time at hope@kitchenrecessionista.com.