Drinking over shopping

Instead of fighting someone at Wal-Mart on Black Friday, you and the world would probably be happier relaxing with some beer instead. On Friday,

November 25, New Helvetia Brewing Co. (1730 Broadway) will throw a block party starting at noon both in defiance of shoppers and in celebration of its fourth year in business. There will be live music, food trucks, ping-pong, skee ball and, most importantly, new beer releases. That includes the latest in the Mystery Airship series, which is a collaboration with Temple Coffee Roasters. If dark, malty brews aren’t your jam, Auburn’s Moonraker Brewing Co.—the local bastion of the juicy Northeast IPA style—will preview its upcoming first anniversary brew, Mosaic Crush, on the same day at Old Town Pizza (120 Church Street in Roseville), starting at 5 p.m. The beer is a hazy, single-hop pale ale, though Moonraker’s other, juicier stuff will also be on tap.