Attention Guinness beer lovers: we understand you never need a real reason to indulge in a frothy pint (other than, it's Wednesday!), but try this one on for size: it's free. Well, tomorrow it is.

To celebrate 250 glorious years of the creamy Irish stout, Garden Wine and Spirits, 1010 W. Layton Ave., hosts a beer tasting on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. The mighty Guinness, including the limited edition anniversary bottle, is the guest of honor, but don't leave without also sampling its partner in black and tan crime, Harp.

Garden Wine and Spirits is a new South Side liquor store owned by Varinder and Tracey Bhatia. Varinder says he named his store for the district it calls home -- district 13, which the Common Council designated as "Milwaukee's Garden District" in early 2008, thanks to the efforts of the Garden District Neighborhood Association and Ald. Terry Witkowski who sought to improve the "gateway to Milwaukee from the airport," as it is the first neighborhood travelers see.

Varinder, who also co-owns Fine Vineyard (formerly Martha's Vineyard), 601 S. 1st St., opened this new 3,000-square foot shop with the hopes of connecting with his clientele through twice-monthly tastings that focus primarily on selections from his nearly 500 varieties. It's his way of saying "hello" to his new neighborhood.

"Wine is the specialty here, he says of Garden, the selection of which is modeled after Fine Vineyard's impressive collection. The prices are fair -- you'll find most bottles ranging from $6.99 to $25 -- and the organization by grape, rather than by region, makes purchasing easy for even the wine novice.

The Bhatias have dedicated a section to Wisconsin-made wines, where you'll find varieties from Wollersheim Winery, Door Peninsula Winery and Cedar Creek Winery.

Over in the beer section, big breweries occupy much of the cooler space, but that doesn't mean they've neglected Wisconsin's finest exports in craft brewing all together. Quite the opposite, actually.

Lakefront, Furthermore, New Glarus, Central Waters and Horny Goat are all there alongside offerings from microbreweries across the country: Stone Brewing Co., Southampton Publick House and Founders Brewing Co., to name a few.

And in what we like to call "fun size" bottles, the 22-oz.-ers, Garden's got the goods: Lakefront's Bridge Burner, Fat Tire's New Belgium, Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale and Sierra Nevada's Harvest Fresh Hop Ale. Perfect for fall.

In the future, Tracey says she'd like to get locally pastries and confections, cheeses and breads to add to the current grocery section -- which comprises the usual grab-and-go savory party snacks, jerky, juices and mixers.

Garden Wine and Spirits is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.