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Black Friday returns to breweries, bars in Milwaukee

Kathy Flanigan
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Harley-Davidson's Black Friday Beerfest has become a tradition.

For some, getting to Lakefront Brewery before the sun rises is a 5-year-old Black Friday tradition.

Whether this is your first or fifth time, here's what you can expect. Doors open at 8 a.m. There will be hot food and beverages in a tent outside near the RiverWalk starting at 6 a.m., including fresh-made doughnuts, pulled ham sandwiches, breakfast burritos, hot apple cider, hot cocoa and Stone Creek coffee.

Up for grabs once again is the Black Friday Imperial Stout. The beer was brewed in February then aged in bourbon barrels for 10 months.

This year, purchases of the 22-ounce bottle of Black Friday Imperial Stout are limited to three bottles per person, although individuals are allowed to go to the back of the line to get more. Each bottle costs $15.

Those who buy three bottles of Black Friday get a free Black Friday pint glass.

Bourbon County Stout started the Black Friday beer movement in 2010 after Adam Vavrick, then beverage manager at a retail store across the street from Goose Island in Chicago, took advantage of a slow day for liquor stores with a Black Friday Bourbon County Stout sale.

The BCS rush has been on ever since.

RELATED:Stouts and more beer flow post-holiday

Milwaukee will receive allotments of original Bourbon County Stout, the coffee stout variant and barleywine variant. Goose Island, which makes Bourbon County Stout, is not releasing a rye version this year.

Here's where you can find special deals on BCS and other rare or hard-to-find beers:

9 a.m.: Discount Liquor , 5031 W. Oklahoma Ave., and 919 N. Barstow Ave., Waukesha, will open at 9 a.m. for a two-day "white whale" weekend sale. Top of the menu is Goose Island Bourbon County Stout and variants, which will be split between the two locations over the two days.

Discount Liquor will also have supplies of vintage Bourbon County Stout and limited-release beers from 3 Floyds Brewing, Central Waters Brewing, Stone Brewing and New Holland Brewing. And because they know you'll be in line, Discount employees will serve coffee. Stores are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. The Milwaukee store will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and the Waukesha store opens at 9 a.m. Saturday.

10 a.m.: Stubby's Gastrogrub & Beer Bar, 2060 N. Humboldt Ave., opens with Black Friday Brunch and Bourbon County Stout. Bartenders will tap Goose Island Bourbon County Stout and variants at 11 a.m. On the menu so far are Bourbon County Stout, Bourbon County Barley Wine and Bourbon County Stout Coffee. See the event Facebook page.

11 a.m.:Water Street Brewery releases Heavy Buffalo Cask Ale, two different brown ales blended together in a Buffalo Trace Whiskey barrel. It's big. The ABV (alcohol by volume) hits 10%. One hundred 16-ounce bottles (with refillable swing top) are available for purchase at $10 a bottle. There are no growlers and the limit is one four-pack per person.

Heavy Buffalo Cask Ale will be available only at the 1101 N. Water St. location in Milwaukee. A limited amount of will be available on tap.

Noon: Third Space Brewing, 1505 W. St. Paul Ave., opens two hours earlier than usual for its first Black Friday Beer Release party. It will release Liquid Layers, a spiced barleywine. Growlers of Liquid Layers and the Happy Happy Double IPA will be available.

Noon:Raised Grain Brewing, 2244 W. Blue Mound Road, Brookfield, opens at noon for the release of the 2016 Santa's Sack Christmas Ale. It will debut with a special tapping at noon.

4  to 7 p.m.: The Garage at the Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 W. Canal St., hosts the fifth annual Black Friday Beer Festival. More than 30 craft breweries and cider makers will be represented from nearby Lakefront Brewery to California-based Stone Brewing. Tickets are $45 for general admission (includes a food voucher). VIP tickets are $60 entry one hour earlier, a ticket to the museum, a bottle opener and a food voucher.

The beer bonanza continues on Saturday.

Ray's Wine and Spirits, 8930 W. North Ave., brings out the BCS and specialty beers for what it's calling Super Saturday. Doors open downstairs at the store at 8 a.m. The first 130 in line will get a chance to purchase two bottles of Bourbon County Stout or a variant. Upstairs, the Growler Gallery will hold timed tappings of rare and limited-release beers starting at 8 a.m.