If you follow them on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve seen a lot of news come out of Hardywood this week. I’m going to do my best to summarize it all.

First off, Thursday March 29th from 4 – 8pm, Hardywood will launch their Pilot Series.  The Hardywood Pilot Series  will initially feature Strawberry Basil Witbier, Cedar IPA, Grand Cru, Bourbon Mocha Belgique, Bourbon Singel, and Bourbon Imperial Milk Stout. This exercise in creativity for the brewers will give them the opportunity to gather feedback on potential future commercial-scale releases.  So head up to the tasting room and weigh in on which beer Hardywood will send up to the big leagues.  I really want to taste the Strawberry Basil Witbier so I hope there is some Friday or Saturday when I’m able to make it by.

That’s not all Thursday has to offer from Hardywood.  Whole Foods Short Pump will be having a local cheese and beer tasting with Hardywood’s Patrick Murtaugh as a special guest.  The tasting goes from 5 – 7pm.

Probably, the biggest news of the week is the next entry in Hardywood’s Reserve Series, Hoplar.  Hoplar is an imperial India Pale Ale (IPA) conditioned on Virginia Tulip Poplar wood.  In keeping with their local and environmental focus, Hardywood is using Tulip Poplar recycled from trees that fell during Hurricane Isabel on Bell Creek Rd in Mechanicsville.  Richmond-based CitiWood Urban Forest Products helped transform the fallen Poplar into custom designed infusion sticks to enhance both flavor and aroma. You’re first chance to get this beer will be Saturday, March 31st from 2 – 8pm.

Remember how awhile back I was very excited over Hardywood going to SAVOR? Well, the time is coming up fast on when you will be able to buy tickets if you plan on joining them in Washington, DC.  Here are the details on how to get tickets from the Brewers Association:

Tickets On Sale April 5

Tickets to the 2012 edition of SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience go on sale to the public Thursday, April 5 at 10:00 am MDT.

SAVOR takes place June 8-9, 2012 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. All tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster. Each individual may purchase a total of four (4) tickets to any combination of the Friday and Saturday night sessions. Ticket buyers may only purchase a Salon ticket(s) for the night that corresponds to their general admission ticket(s).

Membership Status for Presale

Members of the Brewers Association (BA) and the American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) are eligible to purchase tickets during the members presale, April 3 at 10:00 am MDT. You must join or renew (AHA; BA) before March 30 to be eligible for the pre-sale. Tickets will likely sell out the day of the general public sale.