Your Beery Weekend: January 27-29

It’s the weekend between the playoffs and the Super Bowl, so there’s no football to watch on TV (no, the Pro Bowl doesn’t count). So, get off the couch this weekend and enjoy a few beer events. We’re perfecting our beer cocktail recipe for tomorrow’s Beer Cocktail Brunch-Off at Jimmy’s, and we’re polishing our drinking shoes for the rest of the weekend. Get ready for the weekend in beer after the jump… here we go!

FRIDAY

• Breukelen Bier Merchants (182 Grand St., at Driggs Ave., Williamsburg) hosts their “Barleywine Extravaganza” tonight from 6-11pm. Enjoy some delicious imported barleywines like JW Lees Moonraker Zymatore, Nils Oscar Barley Wine, and Nøgne Ø Sunturn, plus a few surprises. Flights of four five-ounce barleywine pours are just $20.
• Whole Foods Bowery Beer Room (95 E. Houston St., at Chrystie St., Lower East Side) hosts a tasting of Empire tonight from 5-8pm, pouring free samples of their IPA, Scotch Ale, Wheat Wine, and more!
• Celebrate Sixpoint’s Spontaneous Construction Ale at The Fifth Estate (506 5th Ave., at 12th St., Park Slope) tonight at 9pm. The beer was made by combining ingredients blinding chosen by four brewers, inspired by a group of musicians who’ll perform on stage tonight!

SATURDAY

• We’ve mentioned that we’re involved in an event ourselves on Saturday: the Beer Cocktail Brunch-Off at Jimmy’s No. 43 (43 E. 7th St., at 2nd Ave., East Village) from 1-4pm. $35 gets you unlimited samples of Jimmy’s delicious brunch food, plus beer-based cocktails from nine different participants. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets.
• If brunch isn’t your game, perhaps chili is? South 4th Bar (90 S. 4th St., at Berry St., Williamsburg) holds their Chili Cookoff on Saturday afternoon. Bring your best chili for the judges by 2pm (judging takes place at 3:30), and take advantage of $4 Blue Point Toasted Lager and $5 Hoptical Illusion pints. The winner gets a $125 gift certificate to Blue Smoke, a $40 South 4th bar tab, their name on the bar’s winners’ plaque, and the choice to defend your title or judge in 2013.
• Empire heads to GRAB Specialty Foods (438 7th Ave., at 15th St., Park Slope) on Saturday from 4-7pm. They’ll be pouring free samples of their Amber Ale, IPA, and more. Plus, growler fills of their beers are 10% off!

SUNDAY

• Like meatballs? Uncle Barry’s (58 5th Ave., at Bergen St., Park Slope) hosts their first annual Super Ball meatball cookoff on Sunday at 5pm. $10 gets you samples of eight meatball cookoff entrants, from amateur chefs and chefs from places like The Vanderbilt and Luscious Foods, plus a pint of Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale. Meatballs and beer! How can you go wrong with that?
• If it’s chili you’re in the mood for (again), NYChilifest 2012 takes place Sunday at 7pm at Chelsea Market (75 9th Ave., at 15th St., Chelsea). 4 beers from Samuel Adams will be paired with dozens of chilis served by the city’s top restaurants and chefs. $55 gets you unlimited chili and beer, and tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets.