After 11 hoppin’ years, HopCat, Louisville’s hub for craft beer, is throwing a fry-filled anniversary party Saturday, Jan. 19. The restaurant is celebrating with a lineup of rare beers on tap, free fries from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and their annual fries eating contest at 3 p.m. The first-place winner of the contest will receive a prize package valued at $500, plus a chance to compete for HopCat’s grand prize of $2,000 and bragging rights at the Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Saturday, July 27. Second place receives a package valued at $100 and third place will get a prize valued at $25. A $5 donation will be collected from each contestant before the competition, and HopCat will match the donations to support the Kentucky Humane Society. Potential contestants can sign up in advance by emailing Mike Kerbel at mkerbel@hopcat.com. All contestants must be age 21 or older to participate. For more information on the event, visit www.facebook.com/events/867618010248557/ or call (502) 890-8676.
The anniversary party’s featured brews include:
• Avery - Uncle Jacob’s Stout - Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout - 15.9% ABV
• Prairie Artisan Ales - Birthday Bomb-Imperial Stout 13.0% ABV
• Gueuzerie Tilquin - Gueuze Tilquin - Belgian - 4.8% ABV
• Dogfish Head – Oak-Aged Vanilla World Wide Stout - 17% ABV
• Sun King Brewery - Sympathy for the Devil - Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Dark Strong Ale - 10% ABV