October is my FAVE.  Seriously.  As the witty geniuses at McSweeney’s put it, “You’re either ready to reap this freaky-assed harvest or you’re not.” And we at Jackalope most definitely ARE ready. One thing I think most people love about this time of year is the incorporation of pumpkin into just about everything you can possibly think of:  muffins, lasagna, bread pudding, pasta, lattes …and of course, beer.  That’s right, we decided it’s time to pump-kin up the jam (another thing we love here: late ’80s/early ‘90s hip hop…Bailey has been practicing her sweet Technotronic dance moves…), so we brewed a pumpkin pecan beer for the month of October that we are christening “Jack-Ale-Lantern.”  

Proceeds from Jack-Ale-Lantern will go to the Community Food Advocates. Community Food Advocates is an organization with a rich history and a big mission: to end hunger and create a healthy, just, and sustainable food system.  They are a movement of farmers, parents, students, persons of faith, community gardeners, and health advocates united by a commitment to the idea that all members of our community should have access to food grown in a way that promotes the health of people, planet, and community.  To learn more about Community Food Advocates, please go to http://www.communityfoodadvocates.org

But wait, we have even more news for you all!  First, you know that mysterious “big brewing system” we always talk about?  Well, we ran water through the whole thing on Saturday.  Lookit!  Water!  Giant steel tanks!  Steve!

All the pumps and valves work and we only flooded the floor once.  Great success!  Next stop: test brews (actually, next stop: steel passivation, then test brews).

Next…do you like Halloween?  DO YOU LIKE PARTIES!?  Well then make a date with Jackalope on October 29^th, because we’re having a Halloween party.  We’re ironing out all the details but here’s what I know for sure: it will be from 5pm-9pm, there will be some awesome DJs, and I am currently scouring Martha Stewart’s website for crazy decorating ideas.  I know what you’re thinking — Martha Stewart Decoration!?  This party’s going to be off the hook! We will also have multiple costume contests, so drop everything and get crackin’ on those costumes (in full disclosure, Bailey’s sister has been working on hers for a month already. You people have some fierce competition.).   More details will emerge throughout the month, so just keep checking the blog and facebook.

Lastly, as some of you have noticed over the past month or so, we’ve limited the food that we serve in the taproom.  We still have our phenomenal cheese plates prepared by the Bloomy Rind, and usually we’ll have a food truck in the parking lot, but we want to give you another option.  We’ve decided to go BYOF – Bring Your Own Food.  If you guys want to bring food in (or have it delivered), go for it, just clean up when you leave. And if you have anything really good, like brownies or cookies, bring enough to share with your friends behind the bar… it’s the nice thing to do.