• It’s Craft Beer Thursday! Tonight’s big event is a Sam Adams winter beer tasting at Whole Foods Chandler. There’ll be five rare beers, plus Winter Lager, but the highlight of the evening will be a raffle for a bottle of 10th anniversary Utopias signed by Sam Adams founder Jim Koch. Utopias, with a whopping ABV of 29%, retails for $190 a bottle (if you can find it). The fun starts at 6 p.m.
• If you bought VIP tickets for this weekend’s inaugural Phoenix Brewers Invitational, there’s a VIP party tonight at Phoenix Ale Brewery. There’ll be beer samples and live music by local band Dirty Lingo from 7-11 p.m.
• At 6 p.m. today, Taste of Tops in Tempe will tap a special firkin from Odell: a pumpkin-spiced version of their winter seasonal Isolation Ale. Also on tap from the Fort Collins. Colo., brewery will be its IPA, Mountain Standard double black IPA, 5 Barrel pale ale, and regular Isolation Ale.
• Bison Witches in Tempe hosts a Sierra Nevada tap takeover today. Get five different beer samples for $10.
• The third annual Jewish Christmas Party, a.k.a. “Jewmas,” has been moved from Harvey American Public House to the Hungry Monk. Food and drink specials for the Dec. 15 event haven’t been determined.
• Vintage 95 in downtown Chandler has announced a Behrens Family Wine Dinner for Jan. 9. No price has been set yet, but RSVPs are being taken here.
• If you like Fresh & Easy, this news isn’t good.
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