“I did a pilot batch earlier this year in the spring, and people said they loved it,” Elkins said. “It takes longer than I’d like to get a new beer out, unfortunately.”

New brew

Christmas arrived early for Elk Valley Brewing Co. owner John Elkins when he released a new IPA into the world Dec. 6.

“I did a pilot batch earlier this year in the spring, and people said they loved it,” Elkins said. “It takes longer than I’d like to get a new beer out, unfortunately.”

After months of waiting, including getting labels approved for the new beer and securing the right hops, Elkins took to Facebook to announce he was canning the beer and customers could come by the brewery, 520 N. Meridian Ave., to buy it.

“It’s super juicy and not too bitter,” he said.

Elkins called the beer “truly crushable,” which means the 6.2 percent alcohol by volume beer is easy to drink.

Despite customers who are crazy for hops-heavy beers, Elkins said he stays away from using many hops year-round. The price of Australian-grown Galaxy hops, used in Elk Valley’s pale ale, are harder and more expensive to come by, requiring a change in formula.

Visit facebook.com/elkvalleybrewingco.

Miraculous rebirth

It seemed like a small miracle when New York City pop-up bar Miracle opened a Bricktown location Nov. 25, but a “hiccup in licensing” with the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission (ABLE) caused it to close Dec. 1, said Rockford Cocktail Den co-owner Anna Mains.

Miracle made a comeback, though. The bar reopened Dec. 2 inside its new location at Rockford, 317 NW 23rd St., and was scheduled to reopen the Bricktown location by Wednesday at Capt. Norm’s Dockside Bar, 103 E. California Ave., Mains said.

“ABLE didn’t like doing a special event for a month, so I’m changing licensing,” she said.

Both Miracles are open through Christmas Eve and feature holiday cocktails designed by New York Miracle bartender Nico de Soto.

Visit facebook.com/miracleatrockford.

Potluck party

Community education collective SixTwelve is putting a bow on 2016 with a free holiday potluck 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday at SixTwelve, 612 NW 29th St.

Founder and executive director Amy Young said the party celebrates the community and the organization’s achievements over the last year, which include early childhood education events, local art shows, erecting a hoop house for year-round vegetable production and kombucha brewing classes.

“People are just bringing what they want to bring to share,” Young said. “We will provide plates, silverware, cups and napkins that can all be washed, recycled or composted.”

There’s no official sign-up, but plenty of people are communicating what they’ll bring, Young said. Food and drinks are welcome, and SixTwelve will accept any unwanted leftovers for use in the facility’s compost bin.

In addition to food, the event features jazz combo The Savoy Trio, ornament-making for kids and adults and sales of Katie Pennington’s sweet potato pies to raise funds for SixTwelve’s community kitchen.

Visit facebook.com/612okc.

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