Monday, October 06, 2008

The October calendar groans with NABC beer events.

My vacation ended on October 2, and following the requisite period of mourning, I began calculating the extent of the work to come this month. Here’s an update.

First, one that already has passed. The annual Curmudgeon household party on the occasion of New Albany’s Harvest Homecoming parade (October 4) was a success, albeit scaled down from previous years. There’ll be more grandiosity next year, although it can never be a bad thing when your guests consume 30 liters of Monk’s CafĂ© Sour Flemish Red Ale and barely touch the accompanying draft choices, Pilsner Urquell and Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Harvest Ale. Thanks to Kevin for the White Castle breakfast buffet, Buddy for the fried chicken and fixings, Lloyd for the scrumptious deviled eggs and everyone else who came, contributed and drank good beer on a gorgeous Indian Summer’s day.

On Tuesday, October 7, our neighbor (Ricke & Associates) adjacent to the future Bank Street Brewhouse site is hosting Develop New Albany’s monthly First Tuesday meet ‘n’ greet networking event, and since we’re already erecting a tent and facilities for the Fringe Fest (below), I offered Larry their use for the occasion. For the uninitiated, Develop New Albany is our non-profit Main Street organization dedicated to projects assisting downtown revitalization.

NABC’s first ever Fringe Fest begins on Thursday, October 9. For a variety of reasons, chief among them the finalizing of financing details in an uncertain economic period, progress on the Bank Street Brewhouse has slowed somewhat, but we’re pressing forward, and in the interim we have the use of the parking lot for staging what we hope is a viable popular complement to the traditional Harvest Homecoming proceedings that draw several hundred thousand people to downtown New Albany’s autumn festival. A complete overview is to be found here: Here's the updated scoop on NABC's Fringe Fest ... beer, music, film, art and “Harvest Culture on the Skids.”

Finally, to complete the first half of October, the seventh edition of Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming rolls out on Friday, October 17. Lupulin Land is our annual paean to the magic cone, and a local holiday of sorts for hop lovers. The international contingent is down this year, but the American craft beer side of the ledger looks strong. There’ll be kegs, firkins, an appearance by Randall the Enamel Animal, and enough IBUs to last a couple of weeks. Check out the evolving lineup here: Updated Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming beer list.

There are many more beery events coming later this fall:

October 25 (Friday):
NABC beer bash at the Monkey Wrench in Louisville

October 29 (Tuesday):
Chimay 25th Anniversary (since importing to America began) tasting at the Public House

November 4 (Tuesday):
Election/Elector Day NABC logo glass giveaway after the polls close

November 14 (Friday):
Dogfish Head Hootenany at the Public House

December 12 (Friday):
Saturnalia Winter Solstice draft festival begins at the Public House

Stay tuned for details, and cue the paper hanger jokes. I'm tired already, and my liver is currently unavailable for comment.

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