April 1, 2017 is the date for the annual release of War Hammer and the celebration to honor the hop! Lupulin Carnival is a beer festival thrown by 4 Hands Brewing Co. in which we gather a handful of our favorite breweries in one spot.
It is also the time of the year when we ask, “what the heck is a Lupulin?” It’s a question many St. Louis beer fans began asking in 2012 at the first annual 4 Hands Brewing Company’s Lupulin Carnival.
Some exhaustive research we dug up this gem: From the 1909 – United States Committee of Reference in Pharmacy Report on Lupulin:
“Presumably this drug will be omitted, as it is practically never used.”
It appears that Lupulin, as a drug, wasn’t cutting it so the experts decided it had no use. But it may have influenced American lexicon. Legend is that doctors from the early part of the 20th Century used Lupulin, which is the yellow, pollen like material found in Hop plant cones, as a sedative. Patients who were given Lupulin were described as “loopy.”
A century later, much has changed. Now we celebrate the “loopy” Lupulin in St. Louis with an annual party.
The Main Event
Their calling it the Greatest Beer Show on Earth! A truly unique beer festival experience celebrating the hop and release of 4 Hands’ War Hammer, an Imperial IPA. At 9 % APV | 83 IBUs Warhammer is a local favorite that pours a deep golden color with nice fruitiness. But if you really want to know what it tastes like, just look at the label artwork. A pile of fresh hops exploding. This year, 4 Hands will host a variety of their favorite breweries from across the states and share a taste of their offerings.
The Venue
The Lupulin Carnival is moving to Union Station, allowing the carnival to be held both indoors and outdoors in the Midway of Union Station and outdoors on the west side of the building. They will be blocking off a portion of 20th street for even more room to party!
The Entertainment
Lupulin Carnival features a variety of performances from acrobatics to sword swallowing. Throughout the event entertainers will be wandering about to keep you in awe as you sample all the beers. There will be scheduled performances on the Main Stage located in the center of the breweries, so you will be sure not to miss!
The Music
Local radio favorite KDHX has created quite the funky line-up for this year’s event, featuring live tunes from Miss Jubilee, The Grooveliner, Hazard to ya Booty & the Funky Butt Brass Band, all on the KDHX stage outside. Doug Morgan from the Record Sto’ & Rawthentic’s DJ Needles will be spinning records to take care of our tunes inside throughout the event.
The Beer
Ah and of course the beer. At the current count, you will be able to sample beers from 65 local and national breweries. Here is the guest list.
