February 5: Cumberland Brews tasting at Keg Liquors.

Straight from the owner's word processor.

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Join us for a very special event as our friends from Cumberland Brews join us for a sampling of their fantastic beers. Brewer Cameron Finnis will be on hand to pour and talk about all of their great beers.

Here is the lineup:

Pale Ale
Red Ale
Cream Ale
Nitro Porter
Kincardine
What You Saison?
Damn Breaker (Belgian Double)
Bunkass (ESB)

The event is being held from 5 - 8 PM on February 5th and is free to the public (21 and older).

Facebook event listing

NABC will be open at noon on Wednesday the 28th (Sportstime side).

Update:

Kate and Jesse are in the building (no power outage), and enough of the crew can be rounded up to open for business at noon, pizza side only. I'll provide updates later, but for now, there is food and beer on Plaza Drive from noon on.

UPDATE: Gravity Head 2009 "The Liver Olympics" contestants revisited.

As reported last week, the 11th edition of Gravity Head begins on February 27th, and I'm now well past the point of putting the prep work to bed. These updates are designed to give readers a brief glimpse of the "work in progress," which usually begins roughly a year ahead of time as seasonal kegs continue to be delivered, and are earmarked for duty the following year.

This year I have had the invaluable assistance of Mike Bauman, NABC's new Beer Manager, who has done all of the cellaring work that Jared Williamson did before Mike was handed his dossier. As you can see below, I've managed to reduce the sketchiness of the information about the kegs that are being lined up for duty, with most of the remaining uncertainty centering on whether any of the ales from Victory will be forthcoming. We're not yet sure about World Wide Stout, either, but even without these, the lineup's looking pretty solid.

I'll now be redesigning the Gravity Form, primarily because I'm bored to tears with doing the same layout for another year, and also because organizing the selections by style poses a few head-scratchers in terms of the program.

As always, the secret is to pretend that we kick off two weeks before the actual date, which is the only way for procrastinators like me to function. That gives me another couple of weeks to dock the ship.

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For the 11th edition of Gravity Head, we have inaugurated the practice of grouping the selections by style category, not national origin.

Vintage dates will be noted only if the beer is more than one year old by February 27, 2009.

* never before poured at the Public House

INS – in stock at the Public House
ATC – in stock at Cavalier (wholesaler)
OBU – ordered from B United importer (via Cavalier)
OCV – preordered from Cavalier (wholesaler)
ONV – preordered from North Vernon (wholesaler)
OWC – pre ordered from World Class Beverage (wholesaler)

BARLEY WINE (AND TWO WHEAT WINES)
OWC Avery Hog Heaven … 9.2%
??? Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale … 10.2%
INS *Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine … 15.04%
INS Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine … 10.2%
INS *Mad River JBC (John Barleycorn) … circa 9.5%
OWC New Holland Pilgrim’s Dole Wheat Wine … 10%
INS Rogue Old Crustacean Barley Wine (Batch 6530; Jan. 2003) … 11%
INS Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine 2008 … 9.6%
INS Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine 12-13-07 … 9.9%
INS Three Floyds Behemoth Blonde Barley Wine … 12.5%
INS Two Brothers Bare Tree 2007 … 11%
??? *Victory Old Horizontal Barley Wine … 10.5%

BARREL CONDITIONED
INS Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel Aged Tripel) … 11%
OWC *BBC Olde Ale (2008; Queen’s Knickers aged one year French oak red wine barrel) … circa 9%
INS *Bell's Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition/Double Cream Blend … circa 9%
ATC *Harviestoun Ola Dubh Highland Park 18-year (firkin) … Scotland … circa 11%
ATC *Harviestoun Ola Dubh Highland Park 40-year (firkin) … Scotland … circa 11%
INS JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (barrel-aged ) ( ) … United Kingdom …
OBU *L'Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien (aged in oak formerly used for red wine and grappa) … Switzerland … 15.5%
OCV *Left Hand Oak Aged Imperial Stout (Heaven Hill brandy) … 10.4%
INS New Holland Dragon’s Milk (120 days in bourbon barrels) … 9%
OBU Regenboog 't Smisje Calva Reserva (E. Dupont calvados barrel aged) … Belgium … 12%
OBU Regenboog 't Smisje Grand Reserva (whiskey-barrel) … Belgium … 12%

BELGIAN-SYLE DIVERSE STRONG ALE
OBU *Baladin Al-Iksir Demi Sec … Italy … 10%
ATC *Strubbe Keyte Dobbelen Tripel … Belgium … 9.2%
INS *Het Anker Cuvee Van de Keizer… Belgium … 11%
OBU De Dolle Dulle Teve … Belgium … 10%

IMPERIAL IPA/DOUBLE IPA
OWC *Avery Ale to the Chief … 8.75%
INS Bell’s HopSlam (three kegs) … 10%
OCV Boulder Mojo Risin’ Double IPA … 10.5%
INS *Founders Double Trouble IPA … 9.4%
INS Stone Double Bastard 10-19-2006 … 10%

IMPERIAL PORTER/BALTIC PORTER
ATC *Left Hand Smoke Jumper Smoked Imperial Porter … 9.2%
INS *Rogue XS Imperial Porter (May 2008) … 8.2%
OBU *Thisted Brewery Limfjords Porter … Denmark … 7.9%
??? *Victory Baltic Thunder … 8.5%
INS NABC Solidarity … 10%
OCV *Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

IMPERIAL RED
ONV Upland Ard-Ri … circa 9%

IMPERIAL STOUT
INS Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout … Belgium … 10.5%
INS Avery The Czar … 10.77%
INS Bell's Expedition Stout 10-23-06 … 10.5%
??? Dogfish Head World Wide Stout … 18+%
OBU *Ducato Verdi Imperial Stout … Italy … 8.2%
INS Founders Breakfast Stout 10-01-07 … 8.3%
INS Left Hand Imperial Stout … 10.4%
INS NABC Thunderfoot (2008) … circa 11%
INS Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2/6/08 … 10.8%
INS *Stone Twelfth Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout 9.2%
ATC *Struise Black Albert Belgian Royal Stout … Belgium … 13%
OBU Thornbridge St. Petersburg Imperial Stout (firkin) … United Kingdom … 7.7%

OLD ALE
OBU Burton Bridge Thomas Sykes Old Ale (firkin) … United Kingdom … 10%
OBU JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale … United Kingdom … 11.5%
INS NABC Malcolm’s Old Setter’s Ale 2008 … circa 12%

SCOTCH/WEE HEAVY
OWC *Moylan Double Kilt Lifter … 11%
INS *Founders Backwoods Bastard … 9.2%

STRONG LAGER
OBU *Hofstetten Granit Bock (stone lager) … Austria … 7.3%
INS Samichlaus Bier … Austria … 14%
INS *Samichlaus Bier Helles … Austria … 14%
INS *Sierra Nevada Double Debockel (double bock) 9.4%

QUADRUPEL
INS *Browning’s Quadrupel …
ATC Koningshoeven Quadrupel … Netherlands … 10%
ATC Regenboog ‘t Smisje BBBourgondier … Belgium … 12%
??? *Victory V-Twelve … 12%

UNCLASSIFIABLE
OWC Avery The Beast Grand Cru … 14.9%
INS Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA … 20%
INS Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%
ATC Stone Eleventh Anniversary Ale … 8.7%

WINTER SEASONAL
OBU *Borgo 25 Dodici … Italy … 9.5%
OBU *Ducato Krampus … Italy … 8%
OBU De Dolle Stille Nacht … Belgium … 12%

Snow day for NABC today (Tuesday the 27th).

Because we're a destination of sorts, I feel compelled to let you know that we decided to take a snow day today and close NABC, Rich O's and Sportstime.

We have a couple of key employees who are snowbond in the Knobs, and as far as we're concerned, safety first.

Perhaps we'll do a snow day makeup some sunny Sunday in June ...

Playing odds & ends catch-up.

It’s an odds and ends sort of day. Cognizant of my recent shortcomings of timeliness, I might try to back-post a few things if there’s time tomorrow.

I hated to miss the first Winterfest, which took place on Saturday night in Indianapolis. It was a wintertime beer festival staged by the Brewers of Indiana Guild (BIG), and from all accounts a tremendous success. Some day there’ll be time for involvement with the guild.

Some day. Really.

On Friday, a detachment of the NABC Bank Street Brewhouse project development crew enjoyed a drive to Madison, Indiana on a balmy January day. John, Jared, Gregg and I dropped in on the inimitable Steve Thomas at my favorite Indiana winery to score a keg of delish Scrumpy, and then after a few Gale’s Hard Ciders and cheese appetizers, we adjourned to Shipley’s for cheeseburgers and refreshments.

There was general amazement upon looking at the beer menu at this prototypical Indiana tavern and finding Little Kings Cream Ale on tap … but of course, it was a typo, and only bottles were available. I had two, anyway, resisting the impulse the entire time to throw them at road signs while seated indoors – such was the power of youthful instinct in the body of an older man.

The burgers are fine, indeed, and prepared the old-fashioned way right in front of you on the griddle behind the bar.

After lunch, we investigated the 605 Grill on Main Street, site of the late McQuiston’s, where a new owners are trying to make a go of a short bistro-style food menu and six good draft beers on weekend nights, with hopes to expand operations at some point in future. We’ll be placing an occasional keg of NABC beer there and hoping for the best in their efforts.

Saturday was highlighted by my buddy Jerry’s providential decision to score two fresh, genuine Havana cigars for a two-hour session at the Public House bar. We puffed and sipped on a gently aged (well, several months) bottle of Schlafly Biere de Garde, followed by a dessert beer of Struise Tsjeesus.

On Sunday, I met with Rita Kohn from Indy’s NUVO alternative newspaper, and she recorded me for an oral history project. It’s the second such taping I’ve done in a year, which leads me to conclude (a) I’ve become old, and (b) it’s time to write that damned book locked inside me.

Gravity Head 2009 "The Liver Olympics" contestants lining up.

The 11th edition of Gravity Head begins on February 27th, and amid all the other demands of unleashing the Bank Street Brewhouse on an unsuspecting city, it's time for my nose to be placed to the grindstone and held there until the GH prep work is done.

Mike Bauman, NABC Beer Manager, is doing much of this work, but it's still left to the Publican to organize and quantify. I thought it might be interesting for readers to glimpse the Gravity Head "work in progress." It's sketchy and incomplete, although better than yesterday.

By no means is the information below to be considered other than a snapshot of the way our big beer fest is looking today. I still need to ask around the local breweries for selections (Dave, have any of the single barrel BB Stout? If not, Queen's Knickers will do nicely). The secret is to pretend that we kick off two weeks before the actual date, which is the only way for procrastinators like me to function.

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For the 11th edition of Gravity Head, we have inaugurated the practice of grouping the selections by style category, not national origin.

Vintage dates will be noted only if the kegs are more than one year old by February 27, 2009.

* never before poured at the Public House

INS – in stock at the Public House
ATC – in stock at Cavalier (wholesaler)
OBU – ordered from B United importer (via Cavalier)
OCV – preordered from Cavalier
OWC – pre ordered from World Class Beverage (wholesaler)

WINTER SEASONAL
OBU Borgo 25 Dodici
OBU Ducato Krampus 8%
OBU De Dolle Stille Nacht

BARLEY WINE
??? Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale
INS Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 15.04% abv
INS Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine
INS Mad River JBC (John Barleycorn)
INS Rogue Old Crustacean Barley Wine 6530, 7704
INS Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine 2008
INS Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine 12-13-07
INS Three Floyds Behemoth Barley Wine
INS Two Brothers Bare Tree 2007
??? Victory Old Horizontal Barley Wine

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA
INS Bell’s HopSlam 10%
OCV Boulder Mojo Risin’ Double IPA 10.5%
INS Founders Double Trouble IPA 9.4%
INS Stone Double Bastard 10-19-2006

SCOTCH/WEE HEAVY
OWC Moylan Double Kilt Lifter 11%
INS Founders Backwoods Bastard 9.2%

IMPERIAL STOUT
INS Alvinne Podge Imperial Stout
INS Avery The Czar
INS Bell's Expedition Stout 10-23-06
??? Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
OBU *Ducato Verdi Imperial Stout 8.2%
INS Founders Breakfast Stout 10-01-07
INS Left Hand Imperial Stout
OCV Left Hand Oaked Aged Imperial Stout
OBU St. Petersburg Imperial Stout (firkin)
INS Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2/6/08
INS *Stone Twelfth Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout 9.2%
ATC *Struise Black Albert Belgian Royal Stout

OLD ALE
OBU Burton Bridge Thomas Sykes Old Ale (firkin)
OBU JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale 2008

STRONG LAGER
??? Avery “The Kaiser” Imperial Oktoberfest
OBU *Hofstetten Granit Bock (stone lager)
INS Samichlaus Bier
INS *Samichlaus Bier Helles
INS *Sierra Nevada Double Debockel (double bock) 9.4 %

BARREL AGED
INS Allagash Curieux
OWC Bell's Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition/Double Cream Blend
ATC Harviestoun Ola Dubh Highland Park 18-year (firkin)
ATC Harviestoun Ola Dubh Highland Park 40-year (firkin)
INS JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale ( ) ( )
OBU *L'Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 15.5%
INS New Holland Dragon’s Milk
OBU Regenboog 't Smisje Calva Reserva (calvados-barrel)
OBU Regenboog 't Smisje Grand Reserva (whiskey-barrel)

BELGIAN-SYLE DIVERSE STRONG ALE
OBU *Baladin Al-Iksir 10% DEMI SEC
ATC *Strubbe Keyte Dobbelen Tripel 9.2%
INS *Het Anker Cuvee Van de Keizer 11%
OBU De Dolle Dulle Teve

IMPERIAL/BALTIC PORTER
ATC Left Hand Smoke Jumper Smoked Imperial Porter 9.2%
INS Rogue JLS Imperial Porter
OBU *Thisted Brewery Limfjords Porter 7.9%
??? *Victory Baltic Thunder 8.5%
INS NABC Solidarity Porter

UNCLASSIFIABLE
??? Avery The Beast Grand Cru 14.9%
INS Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
??? Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 12%
??? Dogfish Head Theobroma 9%
ATC Stone Eleventh Anniversary Ale 8.7%

QUADRUPEL
INS Browning’s Quadrupel
ATC Koningshoeven Quadrupel
ATC Regenboog ‘t Smisje BBBourgondier 12%
??? *Victory V-Twelve 12%

Bank Street update: System checks today.

I’ll try to post regular updates on our progress with the NABC Bank Street Brewhouse, beginning with this one, and continuing whenever there’s time and energy.

Today we had a lengthy conference call with the good people at DME, fabricator of the brewing system that will be officially on order just as soon as the bank package closes, which we hope will be in the next ten or so days.

The system specs were reviewed line by line. Architectural plans will be sent to DME and another check made to ensure that everything will fit as it should. When the build-out is completed in front and the taproom can open for business with beer supplied from Grant Line, our owner/contractor can begin roughing in the brewery floor plan and ready the building for shipping the system, which DME reckons can be delivered by May 1. It will take three to four weeks to install, and then brewing can begin at Bank Street.

Of course, we still have federal and state regulatory paperwork to complete as pertains to brewing. The Indiana three-way retail hearing is February 3, and then we should be clear to vend.

With the providential intervention of the marvelous Louisville-based architect Mose Putney, the interior and exterior designs for the building have undergone a complete transformation. The feel will be modern and contemporary, and it’s going to be a blast in warm weather with the garage doors up and the outdoor patio open.

Chef Josh Lehman, late of Le Relais, is supervising the kitchen completion and acquiring the equipment he will need to prepare the modified Belgian-style café menu that we’ll be offering.

In addition to ongoing duties at the original brewery location, which will remain operational as the source of seasonal and specialty beers, brewers Jesse Williams and Jared Williamson are heavily involved with the Bank Street planning phase. We’ll be hiring another brewer to join Jesse downtown come summer, while Jared will run the Grant Line facility.

Kelsey Donovan, a veteran of Schlafly’s brewpubs in St. Louis, will be the bar manager downtown. John Campbell, formerly of Schlafly and Bluegrass Brewing Company, is the marketing director and brand manager, charged with outside sales in Louisville metro and Indiana once production begins in earnest.

Gregg Rochman of the Rocklee Company is the project manager, numbers cruncher and professional prodder, and I’m drinking beer, signing checks and writing promos like this one. My official title is carnival barker, and Gregg’s my interpreter. We couldn’t have gotten this far without him, and now the heaviest lifting will start.

Barring the unforeseen, the soft opening will commence circa the middle of February. Opening times, kitchen hours and the like will be variable for a while as we get a feel for what will fly.

We’re excited about the prospects when we join the existing downtown dining and drinking establishments, as well as the forthcoming Toast on Market and the River City Winery, in creating critical mass in the historic business district.

Just a bit longer …

Happy birthday, Ben: Firkin of Oaked Old Lightning Rod today at the Public House.

It's Benjamin Franklin's 303rd birthday today, and in the absence of the larger celebration we'd originally planned on staging downtown (construction not far enough along), we'll begin the fourth annual release of hand-pulled NABC Old Lightning Rod today at the Public House with a firkin of Oaked OLR.

Take note: NABC Old Lightning Rod to be tapped at the pub and pizzeria, not downtown.

See last year's post for details about the ale: NABC's third annual batch of Old Lightning Rod is on tap now.

NABC to sponsor disc golf's Charlie Vettiner Open in September.

I don't claim to know very much about disc golf. If you don't, either, then learn more at Disc Golf Basics. Our brewery is staffed by avid disc golfers, and John Campbell (outside sales guru) has also caught the bug.

What I do know is that NABC will be sponsoring the Charlie Vettiner Open in September. There's more at the LouisvilleDiscGolf.com discussion board.
We're committed to throwing a great shindig for the participants, and it's going to be fun.

There'll be more details later.

Another Bank Street Brewhouse status report: Bank deal is in place.

I want to post every day, and I intend to post every day. It has been difficult to do lately.

The brief Bank Street Brewhouse update: The cash from our minority/silent investor is in hand, and we've signed a “commitment letter” with the bank. There was a time when the pen would have scalded my skin at the touch. Those days are gone, and it's almost looking like this might have to pass for a career. It's strange the way that works.

Seriously, folks, when it comes to financing your dream, it’s a long, long while from May to December, but the days grow short when you reach September … and then you play the waiting game even longer, until January, so that at long last, you know the final outcome.

Anyway, the commitment letter outlines the terms of the loan from the bank, which are now locked down awaiting the final closing on a deal that comes in three parts: Existing Grant Line building refinance, institutional conduit for a Small Business Administration 504 loan for the brewing equipment, and a handy line of credit.

Yes, finally I feel like breathing again.

Of course, the closing depends on an appraisal and formal SBA approval, neither of which we expect to be problematic.

The team is in place: John, Jesse, Jared, Kelsey (Jared's significant other and our bar/house front manager), Chef Josh, Gregg and the Publican. It’s tantalizingly close to fruition, with the bar and cafe scheduled for a February ? opening, but as superannuated relics like me can tell you, sometimes promises aren’t kept, so it’s best to remain cynical until the bitter end.

But, really, I suppose I’m now as optimistic as I’ll ever be, at least until the doors actually open for business. The brewing system will arrive a few months from now, and distribution can then begin in earnest. Until then, you're going to be amazed at what you eat, drink and see. When there's time, I'll tell you more.

Take note: NABC Old Lightning Rod to be tapped at the pub and pizzeria, not downtown.

The good news: NABC's annual batch of Old Lightning Rod, a Colonial-style dark ale made with molasses, will be tapped as always on Benjamin Franklin's birthday this Saturday, January 17.

The bad news: The tapping WILL NOT take place at the Bank Street Brewhouse as originally planned. That's actually good news, because it means that the many recent revisions in the plan are being incorporated, and the build-out is proceeding as it should. The taproom will be open in some way, shape or form in February, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, no bash on the 17th, but Old Lightning Rod on tap at the pub and pizzeria. Got it?

Also, here's the final update for Saturnalia, including information on missing pieces, some of which will be moved to the emerging Gravity Head list.

Indiana "State of the Six Pack" at Hoosier Beer Geek.

Great coverage of the Indiana beer scene can be found at the Hoosier Beer Geek blog. A recent highlight has been the 2008 retrospective, linked below.

Hoosier Beer Geek sent a Six Pack of questions to everyone we knew in the Indiana craft beer industry. Breweries, bars, restaurants, distributors, and stores across the state were included in this Six Pack. We packaged their comments, along with our thoughts, into the first annual State of the Six Pack address.

2009 State of the Six Pack - Part 1

2009 State of the Six Pack - Part 2

2009 State of the Six Pack - Part 3

Recent scenes from the Bank Street planning process.

Saturnalia receding, Gravity Head approaching on February 27.

While I’m not quite ready to close the book on Saturnalia, there are still a few beers left to be put on line, and so we’ll hold off for a bit longer before announcing finis. The updates remain here: Current Saturnalia draft lineup.

Yes, work has now started on planning Gravity Head, and from New Zealand (where's he's currently residing), Tony Beard sends this first glimpse of the logo:

Good news and guarded optimism.

On Saturday, we hosted a gathering at the Curmudgeon's house, ostensibly to bid farewell to my cousin prior to his annual post-holiday return to home and work in Tallahassee, but also to cautiously celebrate some good news.

While I’m still not ready to issue an official press release, it does appear that barring the unexpected, NABC has its financing partner in the form of a local bank, and the Bank Street Brewhouse will be a reality. The paperwork should be underway after tending to a few relatively minor preliminaries.

At 2:00 a.m., I was seated at the counter with Don, drinking a bottle of beer I could barely taste (the preview sixtel of Old Lightning Rod having floated long before) and joining him in singing along with selected highlights from the canon of Irish folk music. Even the cats fled to the far corner of the house, but to me, it was a profound relief to glimpse a bit of light at tunnel's end, and a chance to let scraggly hair down.

Now, the hard part begins.

Some time this week, the remainder of the build-out for the taproom should be underway, with the goal of quasi-readiness by the 17th of January, and our projected Old Lightning Rod rollout party at the new location on that date. We’ll be working that one on a temporary one-day permit, and the ATC hearing for our Riverfront Development three-way is scheduled for February 3.

Assuming the completion of several hundred other details great and small in the time between now and then, we should be on course for a prolonged “soft” opening shortly after the ATC hearing. There’ll be NABC beer on tap and limited food service, probably lunch at the start. The brewing system should arrive circa March or early April at the latest. Until then, the brew crew will be working the existing 4-barrel brewhouse fairly hard.

Conceding that my postings here have been more sporadic than usual, regularity (in writing) is going to be tough for a while. Bear with me. I'll try to keep you posted on the rate of progress.

BIG's Winterfest in Indy, January 24.

Following is a press release from the Brewers of Indiana Guild that details BIG's upcoming Winterfest. NABC will be in attendance.

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The Brewers of Indiana Guild is having its first Winterfest on Saturday, January 24th from 3-7 pm. This indoor tasting at the Indiana State Fairgrounds will have beer from all 27 Indiana breweries as well as from many out of state. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 at the door.

Highlights include the Cask Conditioned Firkin table which will serve 16 rotating beers served by gravity instead of CO2. Six breweries will bring their ReplicAle - a Scottish Ale that has been aged in Jack Daniels barrels.

This Winterfest will use a token system. Your entry includes 10 tokens for 4 oz pours. Extras will be available ($5 for 5 tokens). Designated Driver entry is $5.

See http://www.brewersofindianaguild.com/festival.html for more information and to buy online tickets.

Cumberland Brews at Keg Liquors, January 29.

There'll be a "Cumberland Brews Beer Tasting" on Thursday, January 29 at the gleaming new building housing Keg Liquors in Clarksville. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. and lasts until 8:00 p.m.

Store owner Todd Antz says: "Save yourself the trip to Bardstown Road," and that sounds enticing, indeed, except that there isn't an Ear-x-stacy in Clarksville, although there's now an Indian restaurant down the street.

Hmm ...

Rootsy, beery soup for a chilly day.

With the passing years, I become less beholden to the official recipe when cooking, and more improvisational. It hasn't been easy. I was taught to cook by my mother, a home economics teacher, and she was (and is) a "by the book" kind of cook.

Also, nowadays, I use beer in cooking at every opportunity. Never again will I follow instructions to use water. It will be beer, or beer and stock. Water is for wussies ... and Miller Lite drinkers.

Today's creation, mentioned here previously a few years back, will be consumed on Saturday night after a couple of days in the fridge. It's sauerkraut soup, derived from Polish and Hungarian influences, with navy beans and mushrooms. Use a big enough soup pot, and potatoes can be added, too, although I believe this time I'll be preparing a potato casserole as a side dish.

The secret ingredients are equal parts Schlenkerla Marzen and Weihenstephaner Korbinian Doppelbock. The finished product should be accompanied by bread for sopping and either of the beers, or something similar in terms of style. Emphatically, this isn't the time for weak-kneed golden beers ... and as much as I like wine, it's tough imagining a match.

While I'm thinking about it, here's a link to a piece I previously wrote about winter beer styles. The opening paragraphs provide context for Saturday's soup.

Three prime winter beer styles: Imperial Stout, Barley Wine, Doppelbock.