Part 2: A few random Saturnalia notes and observations, and the Scratch Report.

Wednesday was devoted to tidying up the loose Saturnalia ends, and although the results are sad, at least now we know the status of the listed selections.

First, good news: As reported yesterday, our annual keg of Stone’s Oaked Arrogant Bastard unexpectedly arrived, and it will be pouring this weekend (by Friday, December 29).

Also, Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout and Oaken Barrel Epiphany are still expected to come, although their ETA’s are unknown.

Brooklyn Brewery’s entry is somewhere in the Midwest on a truck. Oaken Barrel’s was not shipped to World Class Beverages when expected, but there’s still a good chance that a keg will make its way a few miles north from Greenwood to WCB, then all the way south to us. Had I known it would be a problem, I’d have stopped and loaded the keg into the car when visiting Indianapolis two weeks ago – except, for you ATC-based readers, I know it’s illegal and would never dream of trying.

Time for the bad news.

The much anticipated Jenlain Biere de Noel was not to be found aboard the pre-Christmas Shelton Brothers shipment to Cavalier Distributing, Inc., but a keg of St. Druon de Sebourg, a blonde abbey-style ale also brewed by Duyck, actually did make the trip and will be the designated substitute for Jenlain in the Saturnalia rotation.

Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser is still considered a possibility for later in January. For now, we’re setting the contingency aside and will be happy if it comes to fruition.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale occupies a curious sub-category. It has been so easy to procure in the past that I saw no problem with making it part of the annual Thanksgiving week Saturnalia preview, and yet when I ordered another keg for the main event, it was gone. So, we had it – and we didn’t.

There was a wholesaler inventory listing for Gouden Carolus Noel, and it was not listed on the invoice as depleted when ordered, but it was not on the delivery truck, and has not since been found. Apparently all were sold before I placed my order. This one’s good enough that I’ll try to make a special order and re-list it for Gravity Head in March.

Straight up: Petrus Winter Ale and Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout are not coming. Scratch ‘em. Cavalier’s next shipment isn’t until January 10, and in addition to some of the encore kegs (see below), there’ll be a handful of specialties – not replacements, exactly, but a couple of fun items, including Mahr’s Ungespundet Lager, De Ranke XX Bitter and Achouffe La Gnomette.

The remaining Saturnalia selections are in stock at NABC, and waiting patiently to be connected and consumed:

De Dolle Stille Nacht (only 20 liters of the nectar)
Kiuchi Hitachino Nest New Year Celebration Ale 2006
Regenboog Wostyntje Mustard Ale
Ridgeway Santa’s Butt (first of two)
*Schlafly Christmas Ale (previewed earlier)
St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel (first of two)
Young's Winter Warmer

These have blown, but more will be arriving for encores over the next few weeks:

Ridgeway Seriously Bad Elf (another 6-gal. keg coming)
Rogue Chocolate Stout (third of three kegs coming)
Rogue HazelNut Brown Nectar (second of two kegs coming)
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (third keg gone; more coming)
Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Xmas Porter (second of two coming)

Bona Saturnalia!