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The Perfect Christmas Date

The Perfect Christmas Date

Come to Enjoy!

Free Admission

Free Tickets Here

Join us for the most enchanting event of the season, The Perfect Christmas Date, on December 23rd from 1:00 PM- 6:00 PM. Get into the holiday spirit with a range of heartwarming activities designed to create cherished memories with your special someone.

Wear your coziest scarves, hold hands, and let the magic of the holidays create timeless memories. Whether you’re a new couple savoring the magic of your first Christmas together or seasoned partners rekindling the flame, The Perfect Christmas Date promises an evening filled with love, laughter, and the spirit of the season.

***Shipgarten opens at 11 AM and the festival runs from 1 PM until 6 PM. The restaurant closes at 2 AM***

Event Schedule:

♫ Tom Star (12:30-3:30pm)

♫ Summer and Eric Duo (4-7:30pm)

❄️ 1:00-6:00 PM – Couples’ Handmade Gift Station – Christmas Love Letters & Make a Relationship Stocking

❄️ 2:00 PM – 3-Legged Race

❄️ 3:00 PM – Name That Holiday Scent

❄️ 4:00 PM – Jingle Bell Toss (Water Pong Competition)

❄️ 5:00 PM – Candy Cane Claw Machine

♫ Live DJ (8:00 PM-2:00 AM)

PLUS Free Sports Watch Parties:

  • 2:00 Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin Boxing Match
  • 3:30 JMU vs. Air Force Bowl Game

WINTER WONDERLAND:

❄️ 40+ beer & and cider samples from local breweries to choose from

❄️ Photo Booth with Accessories

❄️ Great food

❄️ Dog Friendly (Check out our Dog menu, play in the dog park, or just bring your pup along)

❄️ Bratwursts, Pretzels, Wings, & Special of the Day!

❄️ Outdoor Games & Activities

❄️ Giveaways, Competitions & Prizes

❄️ Kids Corner with Face Painting, Moon Bounce, Crafts and more!

CLICK HERE FOR FESTIVAL MENU

BEER

Aslin Esperante

Lager – Mexican / 4.5% ABV / 135 CAL / Alexandria, VA / 000

Here to improve the transition into your weekend is Esperante Mexican-style Lager. Slightly sweet, with notes of graham cracker, refreshing lemon-lime, & floral hints. A supreme pair with a slice of lime, & a meal straight off the grill.

Aslin VelociRabbit

IPA – American / 5.5% ABV / 165 CAL / Alexandria, VA / O

The ancient ancestor of the modern-day Kangaroo, a VelociRabbit was notorious for herding large amounts of Beach Chickens to their demise. This lower ABV IPA is the little brother of Laser Raptors. Using the same amounts of Mosaic, Simcoe and Chinook as Laser Raptors, this beer has a powerful berry aroma and nice pine note. The oats and wheat maintain the creamy mouthfeel that Laser Raptors is known for lending the lower ABV the ability to make a crispy break just as the hops surprise your palate.

Caboose Hobo Imperial Stout w/Vanilla Bean

Stout – Imperial / 8% ABV / 24 IBU / 240 CAL / Vienna, VA /

One of the first beers ever brewed at Caboose. Made with a blend of roasted, chocolate, black, and Munich malts, then aged on real Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans. Toffee and caramel notes give way to the smooth, yet rich flavors of coffee and vanilla. Where did the name come from? The name is a nod to the hobos who used to freight hop from town to town.

Crooked Run Fermentation Scorpion

IPA- American / 7% ABV / 60IBU / 210 CAL / Sterling, VA /

West Coast Style IPA with Centennial, Colombus, & Amarillo Hops. Dank and piney hop character with a sharp clean finish.

Delirium – Hughe Deliria

Belgian Strong Golden Ale / 8.5% ABV / 32 IBU / 255 CAL / Melle, Vlaanderen / O

Colour and appearance: a pale blonde colour and fine creamy-white head which clings to the glass. Flavour: A pleasant sparkling carbonate content produces a soft, full taste perception. The aroma is very balanced with a fruity, flowery background and an initial Chardonnay impression which evolves into a spicy, mild aroma of hops.

Taste:

Full-bodied and balanced with fruity tones of apple and Chardonnay grapes. Deliria has a fine, mild bitterness in its aftertaste and a splendid, round feel in the mouth which evolves well.

Special beer brewed once a year to mark International Women’s Day.

Delirium – Hughe Delirium Nocturnum

Belgian Strong Dark Ale / 8.5% ABV / 24 IBU / 255 CAL / Melle, Vlaanderen / O

Color and Sight: Dark Chocolate Brown with a compact foam, white-yellow, stable and creamy. Odor Touches of caramel, mocca and chocolate.

Spices such as licorice and coriander are also present. Taste: Initially a very pleasant sensation in the mouth of alcohol and softness. It is followed by a growing bitterness, which comes partly from hops, but also from roasted malt and chocolate malt. Towards the end, pleasant balance between bitter, sour and sweet notes.

Mustang Sally Phreak Peach Tangerine

MS Sour -Fruited / 6.2% ABV / 186 CAL / Chantilly, VA /

Sour ale with peach & tangerine. A Phreak series sour.

Old Ox Black Ox

BLACK | Porter – Other / 6% ABV / 20 IBU / 180 CAL / Ashburn, VA / 1

A robust rye porter with hints of coffee and chocolate nicely balanced with a subtle hop influence. A substantial, malty ale, complex and flavorful with a medium body and a slightly roasty finish. The rich dark color is deceptively refreshing. The spice in the rye clears the palate. A sip will explain why we say this is a delightful combination of sweet and spicy!

Right Proper Häxan

Porter – Other / 7% ABV / 210 CAL / Washington, DC / (

Named after the silent era Scandinavian documentary on witchcraft, Haxan is brewed with an assortment of roasted malts and oats. Full bodied with round notes of coffee and dark chocolate.

Right Proper Lil Wit

Wheat Beer – Witbier / 5% ABV / 150 CAL / Washington, DC /

Lil Wit is a refreshing Belgian-style White Ale brewed with an abundance of red wheat, white wheat, torrifed wheat, and oats. The beer was gently hopped with Tettnang and Perle then finished with juniper and the classic spices coriander and orange peel.

Right Proper Senate Beer

Lager – American / 4.7% ABV / 141 CAL / Washington, DC /

Senate Beer is a recreation of the Christian Heurich Brewing Company’s flagship lager of the same name. The recipe was developed by Oregon State’s Department of Fermentation Sciences, based on a 26-page laboratory report from 1948. The first batch was produced at Right Proper Brewing in Shaw. The 4.7% post-Prohibition lager is brewed with flaked corn and hopped with Oregon varietals available in the 1940s.

Silver Branch Cloud Nine

Wheat Beer – Hefeweizen / 5% ABV / 150 CAL / Silver Spring, MD /

traditional German Weizen yeast gives our Hefeweizen complex flavors of banana and clove, while finishing crisp and satisfying. Pour one today to help you reach your own personal Cloud Nine.

Silver Branch Dr. Juicy

IPA – New England / 6.9% ABV / 207 CAL / Silver Spring, MD /

After earning his M.D. and Ph. D, Juicy turned to his life’s true work: having fun in the sun and spreading good vibes! Like a beer-loving Midas, he can’t help but transform everything he touches, leaving Gemütlichkeit and chill goodwill in his wake. Treat yourself to a tropical breeze of citrus aromas and notes of sweet, tangy fruit.

Silver Branch Glass Castle

Pilsner – Czech / 5% ABV / 150 CAL / Silver Spring, MD / O

A delicate balance of spicy Czech hops and golden malt make Glass Castle flavorful, yet eminently drinkable. We use soft water, imported floor-malted barley, Saaz hops and traditional brewing techniques to give you a classic Bohemian Pilsener that is smooth yet flavorful.

Silver Branch Gnome For the Holidays

Farmhouse Ale – Saison / 7.6% ABV / 228 CAL / Silver Spring, MD /

The Gnomes LOVE the holidays and have long been frustrated that elves are seen as the official holiday “diminutive being”, but they don’t let it get them down! Instead, they celebrate with this strong holiday Saison, brewed with Belgian candi sugar for a bit of caramel complexity alongside the classic Saison pepper and spice yeast character.

Three Notch’d History In the Making

IPA – New England / 7% ABV / 20 IBU / 210 CAL / Charlottesville, VA / (

Brewed in collaboration with Sam Adams and their Head Brewer, Megan Parisi, this is their “true New England-style” take on our Minute Man IPA. Like us, they are not only inspired by history, but passionate about making it. Join the celebration of our 10th anniversary and raise a can (or glass).

Väsen Immolator

Bock-Doppelbock / 7.8% ABV / 234 CAL / Richmond, VA /

This smoked doppelbock will transport you to a firepit in the woods. Toffee and smoked beechwood come through on the nose. The smell comes through in the taste with a very smooth malty lager finish.

Väsen Okolnir

IPA- New England / 6.5% ABV / 26 IBU / 195 CAL / Richmond, VA /

Grab a pour of this juicy, tropical IPA and imagine yourself in Okolnir, a place of everlasting warmth where the souls of Norse warriors enjoy beers with the primeval giant Ymir. Motueka, Citra, and Azacca hops contribute aromas of ripe mango, pineapple and grapefruit, while Norwegian farmhouse kveik yeast add flavors of peach and tangerine.

Väsen Solza

IPA – Farmhouse / 7.4% ABV / 26 IBU / 222 CAL / Richmond, VA / C

This hazy IPA packs a punch with an impressive bite while still tropical. Passionfruit and orange have come to party!

Väsen The Mango Tango Otter

Sour – Fruited Gose / 5.5% ABV / 7 IBU / 165 CAL / Richmond, VA /

We’ve brewed a lively, effervescent gose to brighten up your winter with tropical flavor. Citra hops, a combination 1 of European and Indian coriander, and hundreds of pounds of mango and tangerine conribute well-rounded and surprisingly complex fruity flavors to this extremely smooth sour ale.

CIDER

Buskey Cider Dry Cider

Cider – Dry / 6.9% ABV / 207 CAL / Richmond, VA /

Completely dry. Crafted from 100% Virginia apples. Refreshing, tart, and awesome.

Downest Cider House Maple Waffle

DOWNEASTI Cider – Sweet / 5% ABV / 150 CAL / Boston, MA / •

Our newest taproom exclusive is Maple Waffle. Inspired by the only two elements of a boozy brunch, it’s maple flavored and waffle flavored, which is how we landed on the name.

Downeast Cider House Winter Blend

Cider – Herbed / 6.5% ABV / 195 CAL / Boston, MA /

Aged on toasted oak chips with cinnamon & nutmeg

Äbro Rekorderlig Mango-Raspberry

Cider – Other Fruit / 4.5% ABV / 135 CAL / Vimmerby, Kalmar län / (

Rekorderlig Mango-Raspberry Cider is sweet and tropical with the intense aroma and flavour of ripe mango and a hint of wild raspberries, made with pure Swedish spring water.

Abro Rekorderlig Passionfruit (Passionsfrukt)

Cider – Other Fruit / 4.5% ABV / 135 CAL / Vimmerby, Kalmar län /

Made from the purest Swedish spring water, Rekorderlig Passionfruit Hard Cider is best served over ice with a wedge of lime for a crisp, cool and refreshing experience.

Abro Rekorderlig Pear (Päron)

Cider – Perry / 4.5% ABV / 135 CAL / Vimmerby, Kalmar län /

Rekorderlig Pear is a Swedish style contemporary cider with the aromatics of ripe pears and a crisp, refreshing fruit flavor. It is best served cold over ice with a squeeze of lemon.

Äbro Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime (Jordubb-Lime)

Cider – Other Fruit / 4.5% ABV / 135 CAL / Vimmerby, Kalmar län / 1

Available in both 4.0% and 4.5% AB. Made from the purest Swedish spring water, Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Hard Cider is best served over ice with a squeeze of lime and a sprig of fresh mint for a crisp, cool and refreshing experience.

Abro Rekorderlig Wild Berries (Skogsbär)

Cider – Other Fruit / 4.5% ABV / 135 CAL / Vimmerby, Kalmar län / C

Available in both 4.0% and 4.5% ABV. Made from the purest Swedish spring water, Rekorderlig Premium Wild Berries Cider is best served over ice for a crisp, cool and refreshing experience.

WINE

The Original Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc

Dark Horse ‘Brut Bubbles’

La Marca Prosecco Rose

La Marca Prosecco

Risata Moscato d’Asti DOCG

Cavit Pinot Grigio Valdadige

Cavit Merlot Trentino

Cavit Bottega Vinai Pinot Noir Trentino

when?

December 23, 2023 @ 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Summer Rennaissance Fair

Come to Enjoy!

Where?

Shipgarten

Free Parking

How is shipgarten?

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