Bank Street Brewhouse officially opens patio season with the Gumbo Family Quartet on Wednesday, April 28.

Bank Street Brewhouse "officially" kicks off patio season on Wednesday, April 28, with an event showcasing two of our Grant Line brewer Jared Williamson's most crowd pleasing and artistic talents: As a brewer, with a special cask-conditioned firkin of his single-hop Amarillo APA pouring, and as musician, with his new/old band, The Gumbo Family Quartet, playing.

GFQ jokingly refers to this as its "debut performance - if you don't count the last 13 years." For those who are unaware, previously the band was known as Sativa Gumbo, and enjoyed many years of local renown.

Now, some of Jared's ex-bandmates are together again, allowing their musical collaboration to expand and grow on a more informal basis. On Wednesday, we get to hear the early returns, and also to help Jared and Tommy Potts celebrate their birthdays.

Consider, then, the cask of Amarillo to be hop icing on the birthday cake. In Jared's most recent experimental single hop APA pairing, Amarillo apparently won out over Centennial by depleting first. I've probably consumed equal quantities of both, but happily accede to the will of the drinking public. To me, the Amarillo had a tad more bitterness, and if voting, it would be my choice.

I'll be on hand with those students comprising my April edition of the IUS non-credit beer course. It's our final class session, and in all respects, should be a good night for a celebration. Bank Street Brewhouse is open from 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, with the music slated to begin around 7.