I love,  love, LOVE these releases from Urban Artifact.  Their barrel aged series of spontaneously fermented beers has been insane, already, and when you couple that up with the creativity that gets thrown in the mix with these – I’m in heaven.

UA is putting together not just a really big, and fun bottle releases, but they’ve coupled it up with a food event upstairs in their sanctuary that will make you rethink just showing up and waiting in line like a “normal person”.  Let’s start with the beer, though.

The Epicurean Releases

The brewery is planning a full 5-course “meal” of beers that are worth making a trip down just by themselves.  You’ll be able to snag these in the taproom at 4 pm on 11/21. Check these out:

  • Cranberry – This is a spontaneously fermented sour ale, aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with 7.1 pounds per gallon of cranberries.
  • Cherry Pie and Black Coffee – Spontaneously fermented sour ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with 5.33 pounds per gallon of Montmorency cherries and cold brew coffee.
  • Autumnal Roast – Spontaneously fermented sour ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with mirepoix, wood ear mushrooms, sage, rosemary, thyme, black peppercorn, and yellow miso.
  • Shaved Asparagus Salad – Spontaneously fermented sour ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with asparagus, lemon zest, garlic, and black peppercorn.
  • Braised Carrot Soup – Spontaneously fermented sour ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with carrots, ginger and lemon zest.
  • Wine Poached Pear – Sour ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with Italian pears, Louise Swenson grape must, red raspberries, cinnamon, vanilla beans, clove, nutmeg, and ginger.

These will be released in the taproom just like a normal release.  They’ll be $18.99 per 500ml bottle.  If you love what these guys are doing lately, you’ll also be happy to see that they’re releasing Pachycephalosaurus, which is a spontaneously fermented sour ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with 7.1 pounds per gallon of marionberries.

I mentioned before that they’re also hosting an event that they’re calling Bon Vivant Northside.  Before I dig into that, though, you should know that if you show up for it you also get first dibs at two exclusive variants.  Whatever isn’t purchased at the Bon Vivant event will eventually make it’s way down to the taproom for sale, starting 11/23.

  • Cranberry Chutney – Spontaneously Fermented Sour Ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with 4 pounds per gallon of cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, vanilla beans, black pepper, clove, coriander, and nutmeg.
  • Pie & Coffee a la Mode – Spontaneously Fermented Sour Ale aged in a blend of red wine and neutral oak barrels with 5.33 pounds per gallon of Montmorency Cherries, cold brew coffee and vanilla.

Bon Vivant Northside

If the bottle release sounds great, but you don’t want to wait in line (and you want some food to go with your beer) you should pay attention here. If you buy your ticket (they start at $25) you get a pretty sweet deal.

Since these epicurean beers are built and inspired by food, they are inviting some of their favorite chefs to come in and pair it all up.  Think of this as the culmination of the brewery teams efforts to bring food and beer face to face.

There will be 6 tables set up, each offering up a beer, paired with a flavor combination that will entertain and amaze you.  They’ll also have two cocktails available, that again… have been specially crafted to showcase exactly what this is all about.

There are two options for tickets that will get you into the event:

  • Full Tasting – $35 presale, $35 at the door – this includes a tasting glass, 1 pairing at each of the 6 tables, access to event only beers and the ability to purchase up to a full allotment without waiting in line.
  • Unlimited Pass – $50 presale, $60 at the door – Includes a tasting glass, all you can eat and drink at each table, access to the event only beers, a goodie bag, and the ability to purchase up to a full allotment without waiting in line.

Bon Vivant kicks off at 4 pm on the 21st, and like is mentioned above, while the bottles go on sale at 5 for everyone else, you’ll have a chance to buy up to a full allotment without having to wait in line with all of them.

If you’re really curious to hear a little bit more about this event, and especially about the beers – make sure you’re subscribed to Cincy Brewcast on your favorite podcast platform.  The next episode is us diving into just that – keep your eyes peeled on Monday morning for it!

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