For centuries wordsmiths have put ink to paper with the aid of liquid inspiration, and as evidenced by alt-weekly writers everywhere (well, at Riverfront Times, anyhow), this tradition is alive and well. So it's only natural that the St. Louis Poetry Center's Observable Readings series makes its home at the Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood; 314-241-2337), pairing local poetry read aloud with small-batch St. Louis brews. The intimate, closed-off Crown Room makes a lovely backdrop for the meticulously curated series, which displays the full breadth of the local poetry scene, including self-proclaimed slapstick, free-form storytelling and, you know, poetry. The events are as casual, approachable, unpretentious and enjoyable as a cold draft beer — so why not have both?