(Pittsburgh, PA) – East End Brewing is doing it up huge for this year’s 4th anniversary event which takes place this coming Tuesday 5-7pm at the brewery. Owner/Head Brewer Scott Smith sent out a newsletter this past Wednesday, noting that he doesn’t think he will run out of any beer though it may be close on the Homewood Reserve 2008. Here is an excerpt from the newsletter with all the details on the SEVERAL beers to be released that night:

“WOO-HOO! FESTIVAL OF DARKNESS KICKS IN JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
The F.O.D. hits full stride this TUESDAY NIGHT at Growler Hours, with
a massive spread of THREE F.O.D. BEERS ON DRAFT for Growler fills plus
as many as THREE F.O.D. BIG-BOTTLE BEERS. (Two for sure, but as of
now one is still under Federal label review…fingers crossed.) And
yes, I realize 6 beers is two too much for a 4th anniversary, but I
hope you can forgive me for the excess. Here’s the breakdown:

1. SO YOU GET A SMALL BEER THIS YEAR AFTER ALL…
We have a small announcement to make: TOASTER, the imperial version
of your fav-o-rite Black Strap Stout had a baby a couple weeks ago,
and well… it’s a beer. As some of you are painfully aware, due to
some technical issues here, you didn’t get a “small beer” release
from the second runnings of Gratitude this time around (aka The Bitter
End), but we got one from TOASTER instead. “Session Ale #19: Black
Sumthin'” is too light bodied to be a stout, to roasty and dry to be a
porter, and too completely devoid of any color but black to be just
about anything else….hence the name. At just over 3% abv, it’s
definitely qualifies as a “Sesson Beer” (unlike some other so-called
session lagers around here…), but it’s not short on flavor. In
fact, for a beer of this size, there’s quite a bit going on: Smokey,
roasty, not at all sweet, but with a little English hop character,
it’s an interesting and unexpected surprise addition to the Festival
of Darkness lineup – and there’s only 4 barrels of it here, or rather
WAS 4 barrels, as it went on tap about 2 weeks ago!

2. and 3. AND THE OTHER TWO F.O.D. DRAFT BEERS…
As we talked about last time, Session Ale #17 “Dry Stout” is a classic
low gravity beer with a bit of wheat to give it a head that never
quits and a bit of a tang at the end. Session Ale #18 “Cherry Stout”
is this same beer fermented with sour Michigan cherries, not super
sweet, but certain to compliment any holiday dessert table. Both just
went on tap last night!

4. 5. and 6. AND THE BIG BIG-BOTTLE NEWS:
We had a little taste testing last night, and the beers have
conditioned nicely!

SMOKESTACK HERITAGE PORTER

will be sporting a
new color-shifted label by Wayno, and is best known in these parts as
“the best smoked beer in the world” (see BeerAdvocate.com if you don’t
believe me), HOMEWOOD RESERVE is what we’re calling the Barrel Aged
version of your nearest and dearest Black Strap Stout… aged in a
bourbon barrel, but with very light bourbon notes, and a more
prevalent oak aged character. And last but far from least is

East End TOASTER

is our 4th Anniversary beer, an imperial version of Black Strap Stout
clocking in at over 10%. It’s the thickest stuff we’ve ever brewed
here – just wait until you see how it colors a glass. It will be
wearing a brand new label by brand new label artist Tracey Ryan who
has rapidly cranked this out in the midst of a holiday crush. (Thanks
Tracey!)

PRE-RELEASE IS POSSIBLE TOO…
Like I say, we’re hoping to have all 3 bottles ready to go on Tuesday
Night for all you last-minute Christmas shoppers out there, and
there’s a chance we will have something ready for you on Saturday as
well, but it’s too soon to tell right now. Keep an eye on the website
for the latest.”