There are so many free drinks up for grabs this week that, much like fishing with dynamite, it’s not even fair. Local breweries are offering all kinds of samples as part of Austin Beer Week, which runs through Sunday, and of course, Halloween is right around the corner. So, go out and enjoy some free tastings, embrace the costumed chaos, and keep an eye out for zombies (word on the street is that they’ll be on the move this weekend).
Monday, Oct. 24
Rahr & Sons Keg Tapping, Meet the Brewer & Cheese Pairing
5–9pm • Draught House Pub & Brewery, 4112 Medical Pkwy. • Free
Draught House is tapping a limited edition keg of Rahr & Sons Angry Goat Weizen Doppelbock. Buy the beer, keep the pint glass. Free Antonelli’s cheese to pair with the beer.
Book Signing: “The Homesick Texan Cookbook” by Lisa Fain
7–10pm • BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. • Free
Free St. Arnold’s beer and Texas food.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Pearl-Snaps and Free Rum
11am–7pm • Frock On Vintage, 3016 Guadalupe St., Ste. A101 • Free
Free Pecan Street Rum and buy-one-get-one pearl-snap shirts.
In-Store Tasting: Real Ale Oktoberfest & Coffee Porter
3–5pm • Whole Foods Market (Gateway), 9607 Research Blvd. • Free
Whole Foods is serving free samples of Real Ale classics Oktoberfest and Coffee Porter.
Deer Tick at Waterloo Records
5–6pm • Waterloo Records, 6th and Lamar • Free
Free in-store performance. Check out the website for other upcoming store events.
Austin Chronicle Presents Paper Cuts: Mike and the Moonpies
7-9pm • The Palm Door, 401-A Sabine Street • Free; RSVP requested
The Chronicle’s monthly free music series features complimentary Sapporo Beer, food from Curra’s Grill, and 42 Below Vodka. You need to RSVP to guarantee admission, but additional guests will be allowed in starting at 7:30 if the party isn’t at capacity.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
The Onion Society for Beer Enjoyment
6–8pm • Patsy’s Café, 5001 E. Ben White Blvd. • Free; RSVP Required
Free Austin Amber Ale for those who RSVP. Music by Sugar Creek.
Uncle Billy’s Barton Springs Brewery Tour + Tasting
6:30pm • Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que, 1530 Barton Springs Rd. • Free
Brewer Amos Lowe leads a tour that features samples of Uncle Billy’s hand-crafted brew.
Tapping: Saint Arnold Santo Kick-off
8pm-Close • Skinny’s Ballroom • Free
Get a free pint glass with the purchase of Saint Arnold Brewing’s newest beer, Santo. Music by The Soapbox Spellbinders.
Rooftop on 6th 1-Year Anniversary Party
9pm–2am • Rooftop on 6th • Free
Complimentary drinks (Deep Eddy Vodka and Corona), appetizers, and prizes until 11:30. Live music by Curtis Grimes and DJ Kid Slyce.
Thursday, Oct. 27
In-Store Tasting: Real Ale Lost Gold IPA, Oktoberfest, Coffee Porter
3–5pm • Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd. • Free
Swing by Central Market for free samples of Real Ale favorites Lost Gold IPA, Oktoberfest and Coffee Porter.
Thirsty Planet Open House
4–7pm • Thirsty Planet Brewing Co., 11160 Circle Drive • Free
Thirsty Planet will have nine beers on tap and provide three free samples. Or, buy a pint glass for $7 and fill up three times — and keep the glass.
Do512 and Deep Eddy Vodka Present: “Shuck Fest” at Abel’s on the Lake
6–9pm • 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Ste 201 • Free; RSVP Required
RSVP for complimentary oysters on the half-shell and Deep Eddy Vodka Hurricanes (and other cocktails) while they last. Featuring live New Orleans Funk by Jimmie Dreams.
The Rogue Raffler Team Presents: The Halloween Hunt
6:30–9:30pm • Rogue Running, 500 San Marcos St. • Free
Halloween-themed scavenger hunt through downtown, followed by a block party with free beer courtesy of Hops and Grain at 8:30. Teams should have 3-4 people and bring smart phones and/or cameras.
Black Star Co-op Brews & Local Cheeses
7–8pm • Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery, North Lamar @ St. Johns Ave. • Free for member-owners, $7 for the public
Sample a flight of four Black Star beers paired with local cheeses with tasting notes from brewer Jeff Young and Kitchen Team gastronomists.
“Drinking Out of Cups” Party at Chupacabra
8–11pm • Chubacabra • (Cover?)
Free Boulevard IPA for everyone who wears a costume referencing the YouTube video “Drinking out of Cups.” Best Costume wins tickets to Norm MacDonald at Cap City Comedy.
Yelp’s Open Party 2011: The Thriller Throwdown
8:30–11pm • Elysium, 705 Red River • Free; RSVP Required
Free Lone Star, vodka, food, photo booth, door prizes, and other goodness. Click the link for RSVP instructions.
Friday, Oct. 28
Brewery Tour: Real Ale Brewing
2–5pm • Real Ale Brewing Co., 231 San Saba Ct., Blanco • Free
Join the crew from Real Ale out at the brewery in Blanco for a special day of tours and tastings.
Phantasmagorical Fascinator Friday
6–9pm • Studio Downtown, 608 East 3rd Street • $5 suggested donation
Free Cinco Vodka Bloody Marys + food from A Salubrious Sauces & Catering Co. and The Pie Society — the menu will include “witch finger” bread sticks, “mummy thumb” sausage bites, roasted red pepper sauce and pesto for dipping, & and roasted orange pepper hummus. Plus: a costume contest and live jazz music by the Judith Miller Band. Benefits Swan Songs.
The Monster Bash Halloween Party
7–10pm • Austin City Living, 1145 W. 5th Street • $15 donation
Open bar (Deep Eddy, Patron, Corona), free food, live music from Rattletree Marimba. The cover is a bit higher than we usually post here, but there’s tons of good free stuff, and donations benefit Citizen Generation and Austin Disaster Relief (Bastrop fire victims).
The Pons Album Release Party
10pm • The Highball • Free
Free show featuring The Pons, Stereo is a Lie, The Sour Notes, and DJ Czech One.
Saturday, Oct. 29
Live Oak Brewing Co. Tour & Tasting
Noon–2pm • Live Oak Brewing Co., 3301 E 5th St. • Free
Get an in-depth tour of the brewery, followed by a tasting led by one of the Live Oak’s brewers. All current beers — and possibly some surprises — will be poured.
Circle Brewing’s Haunted Open House
Noon–3pm • Circle Brewing Co., 2340 W Braker Lane • Free event (beer and food for sale)
Circle Brewing Co. will debut its new seasonal. Food for sale from Peached Tortilla, Chi’Lantro BBQ, Be More Pacific, The Evil Wiener and The Jalopy. Costumes strongly encouraged.
Uncle Billy’s Lake Travis Brewery Tour + Tasting
4–5pm • Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que, 6550 Comanche Trail • Free
Brewer Brian Peters leads a tour that features samples of Uncle Billy’s hand-crafted brew.
East Austin Zombie Pub Crawl
8pm–2am • Meet at Yellow Jacket Social Club, 1704 E 5th St. • Free
Lurch through eastside bars with your fellow zombies and have some cheap drinks along the way. Schedule: Yellow Jacket Social Club (8pm); The Eastern (9pm); Volstead (10pm); Brixton (11pm); Cheer Up Charlie’s (midnight); Zombie Prom @ Beauty Bar (1am). Drink specials TBA.
Sunday, Oct. 30
Sugar Mama’s Sweet & Scary Third Birthday Bash **Event of the Week**
10am–1pm • Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, 1905 S. 1st St. • Free; RSVP Requested
Free cupcakes, mimosas, cakewalk, and other delicious stuff — plus a raffle with prizes from Toy Joy, Vulcan Video, and other cool places — AND, a costume contest to win a year’s worth of cupcakes. Benefits Bat Conservation.
The Onion Presents: Zombie Lurch and Halloween Party
5–11:30pm • Begins at Woolridge Park, 900 Guadalupe; ends at Club De Ville, 900 Red River St. • Free; RSVP Requested
Free beer From Live Oak Brewing Company. Live music by Oak is Keeping and Edgar Allen Slow. People who RSVP and participate in the Zombie Lurch get free admission to The Onion’s Halloween Party at Club De Ville — otherwise, there is a $5 cover.
CSS Afterparty at Beauty Bar
10pm–2am • Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th Street • $3 if in costume or w/ show wristband; $5 if not
Costume/dance party with music by DJ Konsept.
Monday, Oct. 31
Flamingo’s 20th Birthday Reggae Bash: Night of the Living Dread
9pm–2am • Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. 6th Street • $5
Mau Mau Chaplains and Don Chani help the Flamingo ring in its 20th birthday.
Wabi Sabi Presents: Wabi Zombi
9pm–2am • Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th Street • Free
Free party with cheap beer, “live art,” and music by Calypso Band, Pirate Band, and Wabi Sabi DJs.
TheGlitoris Presents: The Second-Annual Swalloween
10pm–2am • Barbarella • No costume: $3; Costume: free before midnight, $3 after
DJ sets by theGlitoris and uLOVEi; photo booth; horror film projections; debauchery
For more Halloween stuff, check out Do512’s special list. Also, visit our free-stuff senseis: Amber & Jeremiah.
