Luxalune

BEER COLLEGE... Think wine tasting -- some sniffing and swirling -- but no spitting of precious artisan beer. Classy, yes/no? Luxalune Gastropub is offering Beer College, a free course on specialty beer appreciation, on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Brewmaster Aleksandar Egi will be circling the room on a hands-free microphone, educating the happy gang. Egi is the malting and brewing specialist for the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre.

"He's right here in Winnipeg and he's a consultant to brewmasters around the world," says Chris Warwaruk, 39, who co-owns the 734 Osborne St. suds palace with his brother Lawrence, 41. "If people learn how different beers are made and how they taste, they will really appreciate their experience here, where we now have 150 types of beer." Students can buy "flights" (sample trays) of six four-ounce beers for $8.

Psst! The Warwaruk brothers are getting into the beer-making game themselves with their own The Farmery estate brewery, 15 kilometres from Neepawa. "We're shooting for the summer to have the actual brewery built."

OPEN MIC

PHONE-IN LINEUP... Luxalune is also offering an innovative service on the music end. Their new Sunday night open mike events offer phone-in or email signups to avoid long waits to get on stage. Soul and bluegrass duo Kim Slezak and Carla Madden, who co-host the evenings, open the doors at 6 p.m. and start the show at 8 p.m. To register hours or even days in advance, musicians can email manager@luxalune.com or call 453-0222.