Passover is Almost Over!

The last two days of Passover may be the hardest, but we’re in the home stretch. Thankfully, we have it easier than most, largely because at Casa Del Fussy we don’t go through the ritual purification of our kitchen, cookware, and serving utensils. But we also allow for kitniyot, which means our family can enjoy things like beans, rice, and corn while only staying clear of the five chametz grains. For those who haven’t been paying close attention this past week, those are wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt.

Growing up, my family’s tradition was to avoid kitniyot, with the exception of peanut butter. Peanut butter somehow got a pass. I know how hard Passover can be, and am thankful we don’t give up more foodstuffs during the week. Still, it’s not easy. This year, more than anything else, I miss my granola, I miss pasta, and I’ve been missing beer.

After sunset on Saturday, we’re done. I’ll celebrate with some oat soda when I get home at the end of the night, because there’s a lot happening that evening. My son has a birthday party to attend. So after dropping him off to hang with his buds, I’m going to take Little Miss Fussy and one of her friends to the Albany All Stars Roller Derby at the Albany Capital Center! I’m so psyched. I’ve seen this team roll at the Albany Armory, but I have not seen them play in their new digs. And Saturday’s bout is the season opener!

Sunday is when all the fun returns in my life, and it comes just in the nick of time.

The first day after Passover is going to be all about noodles and bread. My hope is to make it to Karam in Schenectady and get at least one piece of their incredible naan. I’ve got some kind of spicy ramen challenge awaiting me later that afternoon in Troy. And then for dinner I’m already planning on a big plate of spaghetti with one of our favorite meatballs from Venda Ravioli.

Unfortunately I won’t be able to take the CH Evans bus out to TAP NY on Sunday, because that looks like a ton of fun. Having given up beer for this past week, a beer festival is sounding fantastic right about now.

But as it so happens, Monday is the return of Albany Craft Beer Week! This year, unfortunately, there is no corresponding festival per se. But there are a tremendous number of events scattered all over Albany in the week to come, including a few just across the city line and encroaching into Guilderland. Which, by the way, is in Albany County. So it is all good.

There was a rumor that Delaware Supply was going to host something fun on Tuesday night, but I’m not seeing anything from them on the official calendar. Although on Friday, this little beer cafe in the DelSo is hosting a Hudson Valley Brewery Night, which looks rad, except for the fact it’s on Friday.

The problem with all of these things are all the amazing events that I won’t be able to attend. I’ve been spending a lot of time at Excelsior Pub lately, and on Wednesday they have a Rochester Garbage Plate Night planned with Rohrbach Brewing. Then on Friday my favorite pinball spot in town is throwing something called Mill House Brewing Pinball Madness.

On Thursday I’ve already put the Ommegang beer and cheese tasting with Jasper Hills Creamery on my calendar. That’s going to be at the Westmere Beverage Center at 4pm. For those who can’t make that, this pairing will appear on Friday at Oliver’s Beverage Center from 4-6pm. But on Friday I’m hoping to make my second trip out to Westmere that week for their CH Evans 19th Century Albany Amber Ale sampling with Sam and Craig!

Sam and Craig are beer giants. Well, Craig is less of a giant, but he has a giant hat. Last year, I got to pop in on the duo at Albany Pump Station when they were brewing their historical recreation of Albany Ale. While I don’t know how this batch is different from last year’s, I’m looking forward to learning more about it.

Friday is going to be the Sam and Craig road show as they tour Albany’s beer haunts with their brew: Olivers, Westmere, Nine Pin, Lost & Found, Lionheart, Albany Ale & Oyster, and closing out the night at Allen Street Pub. That’s a marathon of a day.

Saturday, I have another event I need to attend, so I won’t be able to make the benefit festival for Common Roots at SingleCut North. However, that looks like a ton of fun. My hope is that I can at least pop into Albany Ale & Oyster for the New England Brewing Company tap takeover. Perhaps I can even get a growler fill of something special to bring over to my afternoon event.

Anyway, sorry for all this beer talk. It’s true what they say about absence and the human heart. The full list of Albany Craft Beer Week events can be found here. Maybe I’ll see you at one of them. Cheers!