Braxton Brewing's Dark Charge Winter Block Party

Plan your Braxton Brewing Dark Charge Weekend in Northern Kentucky

People lined up in a tent labelled Braxton Brewing at a bar waiting for Dark Charge beerBraxton Brewing's Dark Charge 

Braxton Brewing Co. in Covington, Ky. has hosted a winter block party the first Saturday of December for the past eight years  to celebrate the release of their Dark Charge beers. Dark Charge is an imperial stout — which means a very rich, intensely flavorful stout with a high alcohol content — aged in bourbon barrels. As a finishing touch, each capped bottle of Dark Charge is dipped in wax, in a nod to Maker’s Mark bourbon. The release of these tasty winter stouts was initially celebrated on Dark Charge Day, the first Saturday of December. Dark Charge Day grew into a Dark Charge Winter Block Party Weekend in 2022 and is a signature regional craft beer event drawing fans from all over. If you've never been you owe to yourself to visit NKY this Dec. 1-2 to join the celebration. 

Dark Charge Weekend Details — Dec. 1-2, 2023

A cream background with the words Covington Kentucky STAVE A Night in the Dark Braxton Brewing Dark Charge

Friday, December 1 — Stave: A Night in the Dark

For 2023, Braxton is introducing a new Dark Charge tasting adventure called Stave: A Night in the Dark. Stave is a limited ticket event featuring a seven-course dinner paired with various Dark Charge pours and exclusive New Riff cocktails. Since Dark Charge is aged in bourbon barrels, this year Braxton is partnering with New Riff Distilling and our local bourbon tour, The B-Line®. The food at Stave will be provided by these B-Line restaurants: Bouquet, Coppin’s at Hotel Covington, Lisse, Pompilio’s, Rich’s Proper, and Smoke Justis. There will also be live music and "a feature discussion of the intersection of beer and bourbon from Braxton Brewing Company Co-Founder Evan Rouse and New Riff Distillery Co-Founder Jay Erisman." Find out all the Stave: A Night in the Dark details and get your tickets here. 

A crowd sitting and standing inside Braxton Brewing in Covington for the Dark Charge Winter Block Party

Saturday, December 2 — Dark Charge Winter Block Party

Saturday is the day to hang out with friends new and old at Braxton's Covington location, sipping tastes of all the Dark Charge variants on tap, enjoying live entertainment, and eating a variety of delicious food prepared by favorite local restaurants. Spend time indoors in Braxton's spacious brewery, or outside under the heated tent. This is also when you can pick up the bottles of Dark Charge you pre-ordered. As of this writing, the Dark Charge variants will begin to be announced the next two weeks with the first one available for online purchase Thursday, November 16 at noon EST. 

Keep checking the Dark Charge website for more details and updates. 

Looking down on an illuminated patio with brick walls and the turrets of Mother of God church in the background

Where to stay for Braxton's Dark Charge Weekend

Scroll down on the Dark Charge website to see a special offer with discount to stay at Hotel Covington, voted Best Hotel in Kentucky by US News and World Report, and only a half-block away from Braxton Brewing. 

If you'd like to see other options — many within walking distance of the brewery — take a look at our NKY Hotels page

Spend a weekend in Northern Kentucky while here for Braxton Brewing Company's Dark Charge Winter Block Party 

We've got the local lowdown on great restaurants, things to do, unique shops, and memorable attractions in Covington and the surrounding NKY and Cincy Region. Here's some itinerary inspiration for even more fun you can have when you've finished the festivities at Braxton. 

Two tall shelves holding dozens of bottles of vintage bourbon at Revival Vintage Spirits

More Bourbon fun

If you like the taste of bourbon barrel aged beer like Dark Charge, we've got even more bourbon-centric things for you. We've got a one-of-a-kind vintage spirits shop specializing in bourbon, only a few blocks from Braxton: Revival Vintage Spirits. There's also our local self-guided bourbon trail, The B-Line®. Plus, great bourbon bars around every corner. Learn more on our Bourbon in NKY page

A line of people walking across the suspended Shark Bridge over the shark tank at the Newport AquariumFun Northern Kentucky Attractions

A mile and half away from Braxton is one of the Top 10 Aquariums in the U.S., according to USA Today - the Newport Aquarium. The Aquarium is located at Newport on the Levee, filled with unique shops and dining options, a cool bowling alley, an e-sports and arcade gaming spot, and more. Take a look at our page of Attractions in NKY for more ideas for fun things to do. 

A poster that reads Hierophany and Hedge, reagents, wands, bespoke arcana, hanging on a dark wallpapered wall

Unique Shopping in NKY

Looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for the holidays? It will be easy to find in Northern Kentucky! We've got Hierophany and Hedge, a magic shop that sells handmade, custom wands from around the world. Or stop in Grainwell for personalized custom woodwork gifts. Find unique clothing options at Handzy; a shop filled with a variety of art all made by local artists at Purple Paisley, skulls and LPs (yes, you read that correctly) at Hail Records and Oddities, or limited edition art toys at Earth to Kentucky. 

This is only a handful of the cool local goods available. Check out our NKY Shopping Page for more. 

 

Some Local Favorite Restaurants

Braxton Brewing Co. always brings in some of the best food in NKY for their events, but after you enjoy the offerings at Dark Charge Winter Block Party, here are some other great restaurants to enjoy in the Covington, Ky region. 

pork waffle at yuca by cedar in bellevue

great places to eat in NKY

 You can chomp down on the Big Bad Wolf, a shredded pork infused waffle at Yuca in Bellevue, Ky. (pictured above), dine at a restaurant Esquire magazine named one of the 100 restaurants the U.S. cannot afford to lose at Bouquet, taste the fried chicken Southern Living called the best in Kentucky at The Purple Poulet, get amazing Asian American fare at a spot that's won multiple Best of Cincinnati awards at Kung Food AmerAsia, and get one of the best burgers of your life at Bard's Burgers, featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

These are just a handful of the restaurants in Northern Kentucky that have won awards. Be sure to explore our restaurants page for even more delicious ideas. 

Hope we've rounded out your weekend plans in the Northern Kentucky and Cincy region! Speaking of Cincy, don't forget Cincinnati is just a bridge-walk away across the Ohio river and brimming over with great places to eat, performing arts, museums and more. Explore Cincy ideas here. 

Welcome and have a wonderful stay!