Bank Street Brewhouse's winter hours and special beer days begin Tuesday, November 3.

As previously noted, we're mixing things up a bit at Bank Street Brewhouse beginning on Tuesday, November 3. Since opening in March, we've been amassing and collating information, and as with any business, there are certain trends that have come to stand out. The aim now is to deploy our brewing and culinary resources during those times when they're best calculated to succeed.

Those NABC beers considered part of the regular rotation are being brewed at Bank Street Brewhouse, and a full roster of seasonals and specialties are being crafted at Grant Line. Chef Josh Lehman and his kitchen crew have drawn rave reviews from the start. Now's the time to extend the perimeter and fulfill our mandate of pairing beer and food in a way that no brewpub near New Albany is even attempting -- hence, the revisions and points of emphasis outlined below. We'll be able to offer evening beer dinners and expanded pairing/educational opportunities, so look for forthcoming announcements on these.

See the program and schedule below, and as always, thanks for your support.

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BANK STREET BREWHOUSE WINTER HOURS & PROGRAM

Effective November 3, 2009

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday


BSB hours: 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

From 2:00 p.m., “Brotzeit” (cheese plate, charcuterie, snacks, frites, mussels, etc.) It’s a Bavarian term that denotes appetizers for the times when the kitchen isn’t preparing full meals.

Kitchen hours: 5:30 – 9:00 p.m., featuring some of Josh Lehman’s and Andrew Gunn’s traditional menu favorites as well as new “Chefs’ Choice” fixed price menus -- three courses for $16 (not including sales tax and service), only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

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Friday and Saturday


BSB hours: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

From 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., our customary lunch menu. Following lunch, afternoon “Brotzeit” beer snacks.

Kitchen hours: 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. for traditional menu favorites and nightly “Chefs’ Choice” specials.

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Sunday

12:00 Noon – 8:00 p.m.

Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar, 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m., featuring craft-distilled Hangar One Vodka and your choice of herbs, spices, garnishes and hot sauces in what amounts to a “brunch in a glass”.
Kitchen hours: Noon – 7:00 p.m., “Brotzeit” and “Chefs’ Choice” menu selections.

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Closed on Monday

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BEER SPECIAL DAYS

NABC Session Tuesday
Celebrating the joys of session-strength beers with 20-oz pints of Abzug, Community Dark and Tafel Bier for $3.00, all day.

NABC Garage Brewery Wednesday

At our original “garage brewery” at the Pizzeria & Public House on New Albany’s north side, Jared Williamson holds the brief for brewing specialties, seasonals and numerous creative experiments. When they’re finished and pouring at Bank Street, we will select one or two to offer at a reduced price each Wednesday, all day.

B & B Thursday

20 oz. pints of Beak’s Best (American Bitter) and Bob’s Old 15-B (Porter) are the emphasis, both standing alone at a special price all day, and as the subject of special pairings with Thursday’s fixed price menu.

Today, tomorrow and November at NABC's two locations.

Having just concluded the weekly staff meeting, I'm sitting at a table within the progressive confines of Bank Street Brewhouse's Taxpayer Memorial Patio. Seeing as I've become less of an owner than a full-time PR man, here's a brief update on NABC's activities and events as we approach November.

First, at NABC's Pizzeria & Public House today: A special wooden "Anstich" (gravity pour) keg of Schneider Wiesen Edel-Weisse is being tapped shortly. It is an unfiltered wheat ale from Kelheim, Germany's celebrated Schneider brewhouse, brewed formerly as a hybrid wheat-style Marzen (Oktoberfest) ale. Nowadays, the brewer includes some American Cascades hops as a bow toward the India Pale Ales he enjoyed when visiting craft breweries in America. Next Friday, November 6, we'll have another "Anstich" keg: Hochzeitsbier Märzen von 1810, from the Brauerei Hofstetten in Austria. It's a traditional Oktoberfest lager.

Tomorrow (Oct. 31) at the Public House, Rogue Dead Guy Halloween Party: The party will run from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the Prost special events wing, and features Rogue Dead Guy, a classic microbrew from our pals out at Rogue Ales in Oregon. To honor the spirit of the day, you're encouraged to come dressed as your favorite dead guy. There will be beer specials on Dead Guy and Double Dead Guy, giveaways of Rogue merchandise and a $50 NABC gift card. NABC's cellarman Mike Bauman also has lined up Schmaltz Freaktober Fest and a cask of Hambleton Nightmare Yorkshire Porter for the occasion.

Winter hours at Bank Street Brewhouse begin Nov. 3: On Tuesday, November 3, we'll be making a few adjustments to the schedule at Bank Street Brewhouse. Most noticeably, we'll be opening at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with new three-course fixed price meals available each of these evenings, along with an afternoon snack menu and daily beer specials. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays remain the same. I promise to have the complete new schedule finished and posted very soon. The idea here is very simple: Certain times of the week have worked well, and others not as much. Keeping lunch hours open on these days will enable us to offer group business lunch plans, and to concentrate efforts in the evenings for beer dinners and pairings. Weekends have worked well and won't change. In another six months, we'll take stock again and see what moves are merited then.

Bank Street Grand Opening Week begins November 17: As an extension of the preceding, we feel like after eight months in business, we're finally able to celebrate our grand opening. Beginning on Tuesday the 17th, look for a cigar promotion on the patio, food and beer specials, music, and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 18. We've saved a handful of kegs from the Elector batch that Mayor Doug England helped brew, and they'll be pouring on Wednesday the 18th.

As always, thanks for your support. I'll have updates and details coming during the next few days.

Louisville Beer Store grand opening is Friday, November 6.

The Louisville Beer Store sent this message to members of its Facebook page:

We are still putting some finishing touches on the Beer Store and will be postponing the opening until next Friday, November 6th during the First Friday Trolley Hop. We'll keep you posted on store hours and upcoming events. Thank you all for your patience. Can't wait to see you at the store!

The Louisville Beer Store is located at 746 East Market in downtown Louisville, this being the same block as Toast on Market and 732 Social (in the Green Building), and a block away from BBC's Main & Clay location.

I don't know a great deal about the plan, only that LBS will seek to be Louisville's specialty craft beer store, and that they'll be pouring growlers when all is said and done.

Here's to LBS, I'll try to make it over and provide a report when possible.

This week at the NABC Pizzeria & Public House: Pumpkin Carving, "Anstich" Schneider and Dead Guys.

The NBA is back, the World Series starts on Wednesday night, and Mike Bauman and the gang at NABC's Pizzeria & Public House (3312 Plaza Drive, off Grant Line Road) have a full slate of beer-related activities later this week.

I've pulled the following previews (mostly) verbatim from last week's newsletter, as written and collated by NABC's other vital MB, Michael Burp (web site administrator and newsletter editor).

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Thursday, October 29
Pumpkin Carving Contest
3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Prost special events wing

NABC Grant Line's Pumpkin Carving Contest returns for its second year in support of animal charities the Floyd County Animal Rescue League, Baghdad Pups and the Floyd County Animal Shelter.

Stop by on Thursday, October 29, to view the entries and vote for your favorites. Vote early and vote often, but each vote will cost you a $1.00 donation - a $5.00 donation will buy you ten votes, $10.00 twenty votes.

Feeling creative? Carve your own masterpiece and bring it in to compete. The entry fee is just $2.00 per pumpkin.

The winning pumpkin will be announced at 11:00 p.m. and its creator will receive a $50 NABC gift card. Another winner of a $50 gift card will be chosen by drawing from among all those who voted. Pet supplies will be accepted in lieu of cash for entry fees and votes.

Friday, October 30
Special wooden Anstich keg of Schneider Wiesen Edel-Weisse
Early afternoon tapping - until it runs out

Mike Bauman, our cellarman at NABC Grant Line, wil be tapping a cask of Schneider Wiesen Edel-Weisse, an unfiltered wheat ale from Germany's celebrated Schneider Brewery. Traditionally brewed for the Oktoberfest Celebration in Munich before Märzen style lagers became the standard, Edel-Weisse is described as full bodied, with unfermented sugar, and with more hops for balance, as having a more noticeable hop character than typically found in German Hefeweizens.

Next Friday, November 6, we'll have another Anstich (gravity) pour: Hochzeitsbier Märzen von 1810, from Brauerei Hofstetten in Austria.

Saturday, October 31
Rogue Dead Guy Halloween Party
6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the Prost special events wing

Celebrate All Hallows Eve this year with a special day in honor of Rogue Brewery's much loved Dead Guy, an ale in the style of a German Maibock and known for its deep honey hue, malty nose and rich flavor.

Come dressed as your favorite dead guy for the Costume Contest! There'll be specials on Dead Guy and Double Dead Guy as well as giveaways of Rogue merchandise and a $50 NABC gift card. Cellarman Mike Bauman has also lined up Schmaltz Freaktober Fest and a cask of Hambleton Nightmare Yorkshire Porter for the occasion.

Tasting fun on Saturday.

Saturday afternoon I presented a guided beer tasting for the "Big Chill" party. They get together at selected intervals and do something fun, and one of them purchased a certificate at a recent silent auction. The certificate redemption tasting was a blast, and I was included on the group photo. Cheers!

Photo credit: M.

This has nothing to do with beer. Indulge me.

Beer Event Watch: BBC (Shelbyville Road) Beer Tasting at Keg Liquors, October 29.

Submitted by Todd Antz, owner of Keg Liquors (Keeping Kentuckiana "Beer'd" Since 1976) at 617 E. Lewis & Clark Parkway in Clarksville. I'm holding out for Kiwi fruit in the Randall, but we'll have to wait and see.

Join us on Thursday, October 29th from 5 - 8 PM as our friends from BBC Shelbyville Road stop in for the next in line of our "locals only" beer tastings. Jerry and Sam will be in with a great lineup of their beers, and an appearance by a Randall the Enamel Animal, that we will use as a surprise infuser of one of their beers. Will it be hops? Will it be coffee? Or maybe another surprise ingredient will be used.

Here is the lineup:

- Rye 75 - Rye 75 is a tribute to our friends along Interstate 75. The malty sweetness extracted from Canadian pale ale and French caramel malt is balanced by the spicy flavor of German rye malt which composes 30% of the grist bill. In addition to its big malt profile Rye 75 has an assertive dose of American Cascade and Columbus hops lending a citrusy and floral flavor and aroma. This beer has been dry hopped in the keg with more Cascade hops for even greater hop aroma.

- Professor Gesser's Mind Numbing Ale - dry hopped with Simcoe and Cascade, from the otherwise mild-mannered Kansan and self-described social experiment, Jerry Gnagy.

- Luna de Miel Raspberry Mead 0 Historically a meade was made to celebrate the union of a couple and given to them for celebration of their marriage. Truly defined as a braggot, BBC Luna De Miel is a fermented honey ale flavored with a blend of raspberries and blackberries. Luna De Miel is a refreshing change from standard BBC offerings. Luna De Miel is effervescent, fruity, and light, yet warming from its moderate strength.

- Heine Brothers Coffee Stout - This oatmeal stout is brewed with English roasted barley and caramunich malt which gives a roasty and slightly sweet malt flavor. The addition of flaked oats lends creaminess and body to this pitch black ale. The coffee will be added to the hot wort (unfermented beer) after boiling. This will extract good flavor without adding bitterness or burnt flavors. Freshly brewed coffee will also be added to the beer after fermentation is completed and the beer is ready to be served. This will give the freshest coffee flavor and aroma.

and a couple of surprise beers as well.

This is a free event and open to the public (21 and older!)

Hops and smoke and Randall and what's on tap at the Public House.

First, let's take a glance at the draft lineup at NABC's Public House & Pizzeria.

A final note pertaining to Sandkerwa NA, our celebration of Franconian beer and brewing: I regret to announce that our long-awaited keg of Spezial Rauchbier, which was to have (somewhat) closed this year's Sandkerwa, proved to be tragically off.

That happens from time to time, and considering the brilliant success of the Anstich (gravity pour) kegs, I probably can't complain. As compensation, at least from my personal point of view, Schlenkerla Marzen has briefly been supplanted by two kegs of Heller-Trum's richer and smokier Schlenkerla (unfiltered) Urbock, primarily because Franconia's localized Bock season is in full swing, and we need to celebrate it, too. As a final bonus, know that yet another Schlenkerla variant will be coming to us very soon. It is an oak-smoked (not beechwood-smoked) strong lager of about 8%. It could be the first of December, and I'm salivating already.

Back to hops: Today, the big news is Randall the Enamel Animal.

A sixth-barrel of NABC VII - Seventh Anniversary Ale will be "Randallized" with whole leaf Cascades, beginning later this afternoon. As soon as possible after the sixer is gone, we'll begin pouring VII for the remainder of its run. Randall will travel to the Bank Street Brewhouse tomorrow, and the process will be repeated there. Many thanks to Jared Williamson for making this happen.

Currently at the Public House, Lupulin Land continues with listed ales and a ringer selection: Three Floyds Broo Doo Harvest Ale (American IPA; 7% abv). As we begin the day, here are the Lupulin Land selections:

Boulder Flashback Anniversary (India Brown Ale, 6.8% abv)

Great Divide Belgica (Belgian-style IPA; 7.2% abv)

He’Brew Shmaltz Lenny’s RIPA (Rye Double IPA; 10% abv)

Rogue Charlie 1981 (American Strong Ale; 8.5% abv)

Shoreline Sum-Nug IPA (IPA; 7% abv)

Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA (Double IPA; 11% abv)

Stone 13th Anniversary Ale (Imperial Red; 9.5% abv)

Two Brothers Heavy Handed (India Pale Ale; 6.7% abv)

Mike Bauman keeps track of the taps here: NABC News Portal. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for current draft listings at both locations.

Selling beer.

It is axiomatic, isn't it? One must sell the product, or all the production in the world is meaningless. It strikes me that I haven't introduced Josh Hill, who is NABC's junior outside sales representative on the Indiana side of the Ohio River. Josh is concentrating primarily on making friends and finding draft lines on Floyd and Clark counties, although we'll be broadening that to include a bit of territory to the east and west. John Campbell's still working the Louisville side (via River City Distributing).

The idea remains to self-distribute in Floyd and Clark counties, while Cavalier Distributing service the remainder of the state. Our first keg shipment went to Cavalier earlier this week, so if you're pub owner or beer fan outside of our limited southern self-distribution area, know that Beak's Best, Bob's 15-B and Elector are available. If you like our beers, the best way to help is ask your local to check out Cavalier's line of NABC drafts.

Our sales effort is evolving, so for further information, contacts and a sales pitch, write me or Josh.

All the fresh hop talk fit to print.

Thanks to Nora for pointing me to this fine exposition of the fresh hop/wet hop movement in American craft brewing.

A Hop and a Sip to Fresh Ales, by Lucy Burningham (New York Times).

The debris, flecked with a resinous, yellow powder called lupulin, stuck in workers’ hair and eyelashes. Even more persistent was the aroma: a lemony, leafy, earthy scent that is precisely what brewers try to harness when brewing fresh-hop beers in autumn.

Randall the Enamel Animal's weekend whereabouts in the company of NABC VII.

NABC’s Jared Williamson, keeper of Randall the Enamel Animal, has performed required minor surgery on our fresh-hopping contraption, and he's ready to take it out for a spin. Consequently, Randall will be adding fresh hop aromas to NABC VII -7th Anniversary Ale (CO2 version) during the coming weekend.

Public House: Friday, October 23.
Bank Street Brewhouse: Saturday, October 24.

We’ll "Randallize" a 1/6 bbl at each location using whole leaf Cascades from the BSB stock, after which VII (a dark IPA) will begin pouring normally until depleted, and Randall will return to the Public House & Pizzeria for additional Lupulin Land duties beginning on Friday, October 30.

For more on the Randall phenomenon, peek at this old blog article.

"Hops & Shops" in Jeffersonville on Friday evening, October 23.

This is a great idea, with participating breweries to include Upland Brewing Co., Bluegrass Brewing Co., Cumberland Brewing Co. and my own New Albanian Brewing Co. Follow the link to read the whole article.

‘Hop’ to it Friday; Spring Street shops to host beer tasting event, by David A. Mann (News and Tribune).

Jeffersonville’s Main Street Inc. is betting that sips of suds will bring shoppers to Spring Street.

The organization’s inaugural “Hops & Shops” — a beer-tasting event — is scheduled between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday. Several regional brewers will set up tasting areas inside Spring Street shops. A few area wineries also are participating.

Residents pay $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event to register, get a wristband that identifies them as being more than 21 years old and can visit each shop for a sample. The cost covers all drinks and appetizers that will be served. Live music will be played at several spots along the street.

The Matheser and me -- and others, too.

One of the most rewarding aspects of blogging is feedback. I published the article linked below in 2007, and so far in 2009, I've received two wonderful, lengthy comments from readers detailing their own experiences at the Matheser. Take a few minutes to go back, reread my words, and absorb the testimony of two other visitors. It's a combined testament that spans a quarter-century, made possible by the Internet. Thanks for writing, guys.

Mathaser, Munich and the summer of '87 with the lads.

My liver's suing for separate maintenance -- again.

Once again, the weekend is packed with events and items of note, most of them taking place in and around New Albany.

I'm told that the new Dueling Grounds Cafe is open for patronage in advance of tomorrow's bigger event, the 5th Anniversary of Destinations Booksellers on Sunday, October 18. For some of you, there'll be time for Bloody Marys on the Bank Street patio before the book 'n' coffee fete, but the Curmudgeons will pass on tomato juice in favor of goat cheese: Capriole Farm's Fall Open House in Greenville. Both surface temps and foliage should be grand, and there'll be wine from Oliver Winery in Bloomington.

In other weekend event news, Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming is under way at NABC's Public House & Pizzeria, and the BBC Taproom (Main & Clay in downtown Louisville) is staging its Volksfest today. For the latter, Clay Street is shut down, and there is a roster of draft Oktoberfests as well as appearances by Louisville metro breweries (NABC will have Hoptimus on hand).

As a final note, the NABC staff made a lunchtime sales call to the new Wick's on State yesterday (Friday), and when we left at 12:25 p.m., I counted 95 customers dining in or carrying out. That's very impressive, especially since we'll have Elector on tap there at some point early in the coming week.

Harp does, actually.

On Facebook, I wrote:

Roger A. Baylor defines progress as Elector coming to Wick's on State as soon as Harp blows.

Within about a minute, the Beervangelist from Holland, MI responded:

Fred Bueltmann Harp blows already.

I now am certain that Harp blows. What I don't know is whether a keg of it is depleted, making room for Elector.

Cask-conditioned VII Anniversary is mighty fine.

Lupulin Land is underway, with a new twist: Firkins of NABC's VII - 7th Anniversary Ale on the hand pull at the Pub & Pizzeria (along with the remainder of the Lupulin Land starters) and Bank Street Brewhouse.

I took the bicycle out for a cool and wet ride earlier this afternoon, and after 25km, I stopped into Bank Street for a pint of VII. It certainly felt like a day in England (or Seattle), and just as brewer Jared Williamson described it, VII pours dark for an IPA and seemed to mirror the outdoors in a purely intentional way. I've seen and tasted a few "dark" hoppy craft brews, and our version strikes me as representative and tasty. Carbonation is moderate in the cask version. My overall impression is favorable.

It won't last long on the hand pull. Regular CO2 kegs go on tap at both locations next Friday, October 23.

No reason to believe that absolute power doesn't continue to corrupt Big Red Liquors absolutely.

I noticed somewhere that today marks the beginning of a Big Red Liquors (Bloomington monopoly package store chain) hagiographical/masturbatory fest of one stripe or another.

It's been more than six years since NABC's famous brush with Big Red, a story I've published several times. It's here:

Now more than ever, absolute power corrupts Big Red Liquors absolutely.

The Publican seldom holds grudges. This is one of them. Read my piece ... and then go pay tribute to the monopolist Philistines. But have an Elector first, because as long as I'm alive, you won't see one being sold by Big Red.

Lupulin Land starting lineup for Friday, October 16.

Here’s the starting draft list for the eighth Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming, which kicks off on Friday, October 16.

We're dubbing it the All-American Lupulin Land, because only American craft brews will be tapped in 2009. As always, we'll tap as many as possible, and replace the fallen with fresh kegs as long as possible. When they're gone, they're gone.

Notes of importance: Several of the opening night kegs are 1/6 barrela, meaning that there may be rapid turnover from Friday to Saturday. Also, on Friday the 16th, NABC's VII will be available at both our locations via cask-conditioned firkin. The regular CO2 release is slated for October 23. Also, for those in search of the annual appearance of Randall the Enamel Animal, note that Randall suffered an injury and is being rehabilitated as I wrote. We'll see him, but we don't know when. Stay tuned.

Boulder Flashback Anniversary (India Brown Ale, 6.8% abv)

Great Divide Belgica (Belgian-style IPA; 7.2% abv)

NABC VII - Seventh Anniversary Ale (Firkin; Imperial Dark IPA; 7.7% abv)

Shoreline Sum-Nug IPA (IPA; 7% abv)

Sierra Nevada Chico Estate Harvest Ale (IPA; 6.7% abv)

Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA (Double IPA; 11% abv)

Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow (Double IPA with lactose; 10% abv)

Two Brothers Heavy Handed (India Pale Ale; 6.7% abv)

Two Brothers Hop Juice (Double IPA; 9.9% abv)

COMING ON LINE AS THE PRECEDING DEPLETE

Boulder Looking Glass Cold Hop (“British-style Ale” 6.5% abv)

Clipper City Big DIPA (Double IPA; Mutiny Fleet Series; 10.6% abv)

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA (unclassifiable gravity craziness; 20% abv)

He’Brew Shmaltz Lenny’s RIPA (Rye Double IPA; 10% abv)

Left Hand 400 lb Monkey IPA (IPA; circa 7% abv)

Rogue Charlie 1981 (American Strong Ale; 8.5% abv

Stone 13th Anniversary Ale (Imperial Red; 9.5% abv)

Stone Cali-Belgique IPA (Belgian-style IPA; 6.9% abv)

Stone Double Bastard 07/08 (American Strong; 10.5% abv)

Three Floyds Dreadnaught (Double IPA; 9.5% abv)

A Philly beer dinner has me thinking.

I don't usually tout beer dinners in far-off (for the Curmudgeon) Philadelphia, but the press release below pushes more than one button -- and makes me salivate, as well.

First, it's Victory Brewing Company, and that's quality, period.

And: It's "Latin-Asian" food, and both of these generalized world cuisines are grievously under-served (and under-estimated) when it comes to matching with worthy beer styles. In turn, this neglect is due in part to such beer styles seldom being available at the sort of places that specialize in Latin and Asian cuisines.

For the Louisville-centric reader, two establishments spring to mind: Red Pepper and Seviche. Some sweet day, whether with NABC alone or selections from all Louisville area breweries, we'll make something happen at one or both, and it will be very, very good.

CHIFA TO HOST VICTORY BEER DINNER

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On November 5 at 7 pm, superstar Chef Jose Garces and local brewing powerhouse Victory Brewing Company will partner for a one-night-only Beer Dinner at Chifa (707 Chestnut Street, 215-925-5555), Chef Garces’ Latin-Asian restaurant. The event will feature five courses of Chifa’s inspired cuisine paired with Victory beers, and will be the premiere food event featuring its newest offering, Yakima Twilight, a double IPA. The cost will be $55 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Space is limited and reservations are required.

“The distinctive, often unusual flavor pairings in our dishes at Chifa are an ideal mate for artisanal beers,” says Chef Garces. “Victory’s beers are flavorful and diverse, much like our cuisine, so they complement each other perfectly.”

The menu, featuring Chef Garces’ signature small plates style, will include: Hiramasa with aji Amarillo leche de tigre, passion fruit and roasted corn paired with Prima Pils; Octopus Ceviche with purple olive and avocado paired with WildDevil; Grilled Thai Sausage with tamarind chile sauce and jasmine rice paired with Golden Monkey; Smoked Rib Eye with revuelto de chorizo and huacatay chimichiri paired with Yakima Twilight; and for dessert, Coconut Tapioca with semisweet chocolate cremeux and quinoa chicaronnes paired with Baltic Thunder. Victory Brewmaster and Owner Bill Covaleski will be on hand to discuss the beers and offer helpful hints for those who are new to pairing beer and food.

Chifa opened in early 2009 to critical acclaim; The New York Times praised the restaurant’s unusual ability to “kill two cravings [Asian and Latin] with one dish,” while Philadelphia magazine called Chef Garces’ innovative interpretations of Peruvian cuisine “a cross-cultural thrill ride…A meal at Chifa is a night out, a form of entertainment, an infusion of world culture, a culinary education, something to brag about the following day.”

Chifa is open for dinner seven days a week beginning at 5 p.m.; dinner is served until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday. Chifa is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, or to make a reservation, please visit www.chifarestaurant.com, or call (215) 925-5555.

NABC's swill-free Fringe Fest at the Bank Street Brewhouse concludes with a casual Sunday in the bar and on the patio.

It took two days to achieve critical mass, but when it came, it was suitably intense. For this, I am thankful. Kudos to customers, employees and all those who made the past days possible.

The memorable part for me was yesterday afternoon at about three, standing within the friendly confines of the non-taxpayer-supported Bank Street patio with Larry Schad of Capriole Farms, goat cheese in one hand and craft beer in the other, with the lingering scent of duck fat (it makes life better) tempting the olfactories from the right and cigars doing the same from the left, and Splitbow contributing Irish folk music from the stage beneath the Fringe Fest tent.

Nothing special is planned for NABC today, and yet Fringe Fest really isn't over until Harvest Homecoming booth days conclude this afternoon. It's chilly, but the sun's out. We're going casual at Bank Street Brewhouse, with the create-your-own Bloody Mary bar from 12:00 Noon until 3:00 p.m., and a final day of $4 pints.

Music? Food? Football games? Bison wraps and rolled oysters?

Who knows?

NABC's swill-free Fringe Fest at the Bank Street Brewhouse: Saturday.

The goal of NABC's Fringe Fest is create a cultural counterpoint to Harvest Homecoming and provide unique music, interesting exhibits, captivating films, and – most importantly – good beer. Fringe Fest embraces everything creative and original, and welcomes anything outside of the social ‘norm’.

All events will take place at the NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse, 415 Bank Street in downtown New Albany. For the complete overview, go here.

Saturday, October 10:

Chef Joshua Lehman's and Sous Chef Andrew Gunn's Fringe Fest food menu commences at lunchtime and will continue into the evening. We'll not be serving the usual Bank Street Brewhouse menu. Instead:

Pommes Frites deep-fried in duck fat, choice of aoeli or curry sauces

Confit Leg of Duck with Flageolet Beans

Green Chili using fresh pumpkin from the Farmers' Market

2:00 p.m. - Capriole Farmstead/NABC goat cheese and craft beer tasting (indoor dining area) with Sam & Larry Schad, Chef Josh & whichever NABC brew team members attend, and the Publican. This is a free, informal pairing.

MUSIC

12 Noon - Gates open ... afternoon musical acts TBA

2:00 p.m. - Splitbow! (Irish band)

5:00 p.m. - Kime Sisters

6:00 p.m. - Blind Shade

7:00 p.m. - The Outfit

8:00 p.m. - NABC’s own Jared Williamson

9:00 p.m. - J. Glenn

10:00 p.m. - Lotus Blake

Please note that while the NABC Fringe Fest is running concurrently with New Albany’s annual Harvest Homecoming event, our festival is neither a “sponsored” nor a “hosted” Harvest Homecoming function, which are detailed at the Harvest Homecoming web site.

NABC's swill-free Fringe Fest at the Bank Street Brewhouse: Friday.

The goal of NABC's Fringe Fest is create a cultural counterpoint to Harvest Homecoming and provide unique music, interesting exhibits, captivating films, and – most importantly – good beer. Fringe Fest embraces everything creative and original, and welcomes anything outside of the social ‘norm’.

All events will take place at the NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse, 415 Bank Street in downtown New Albany. For the complete overview, go here.

Friday, October 9:

Chef Joshua Lehman's and Sous Chef Andrew Gunn's Fringe Fest food menu commences at lunchtime and will continue into the evening. We'll not be serving the usual Bank Street Brewhouse menu. Instead:

Pommes Frites deep-fried in duck fat, choice of aoeli or curry sauces

Confit Leg of Duck with Flageolet Beans

Green Chili using fresh Pumpkin from the Farmers' Market

MUSIC

3:00 p.m. - Clint Ackerman

6:00 p.m. - Avalanche

7:00 p.m. - Midnite Sons

8:00 p.m. - National Hotel

9:00 p.m. - Involuntary’s (from Indianapolis ... voted Indy's best new punk band by NUVO readers)

10:00 p.m. - Blood Turns Brown

and... DJs Adam Higdon and Caleb Wilson spinning intelligent, house music throughout the night.

Please note that while the NABC Fringe Fest is running concurrently with New Albany’s annual Harvest Homecoming event, our festival is neither a “sponsored” nor a “hosted” Harvest Homecoming function, which are detailed at the Harvest Homecoming web site.

Fringe Fest: The show must go on, and it is going on.

Harvest Homecoming has shut down the booths, but Fringe Fest is under way. We'll be here until around 11:00 p.m., joining downtown's other bricks-and-mortar food and drink businesses in keeping the lamp lit until the bad weather moves out.

NABC's swill-free Fringe Fest at the Bank Street Brewhouse: Thursday.

The goal of NABC's Fringe Fest is create a cultural counterpoint to Harvest Homecoming and provide unique music, interesting exhibits, captivating films, and – most importantly – good beer. Fringe Fest embraces everything creative and original, and welcomes anything outside of the social ‘norm’.

All events will take place at the NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse, 415 Bank Street in downtown New Albany. For the complete overview, go here.

Thursday October 8:

Chef Joshua Lehman's and Sous Chef Andrew Gunn's Fringe Fest food menu commences at lunchtime and will continue into the evening. We'll not be serving the usual Bank Street Brewhouse menu. Instead:

Pommes Frites deep-fried in duck fat, choice of aoeli or curry sauces

Confit Leg of Duck with Flageolet Beans

Green Chili using fresh Pumpkin from the Farmers' Market

Straw Bale Sculpture on the Carnegie Center lawn across the street from Bank Street Brewhouse begins at 1:00 p.m., with workshops at takes place across Bank Street on the lawn of the Carnegie Center. You can stop by any time on Thursday to watch (and help) artist Brad McCombs build the sculpture, and his workshops on the process begin at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This p(art) of Fringe Fest is hosted by the Carnegie Center.

Music TBA in early afternoon.

7:00 p.m. - "Mystery band" (friends of Old Man)

Circa 7:30 p.m. - Old Man

8:30 p.m. - Fire Show with The Phoenix Collective: Fire Spinners, Fire Breathers, and all-around Pyro-Enthusiasts. They stole the show at last year's Fringe Fest.

After dark, circa 9:00 p.m. - The Louisville Film Society presents a potpourri of shorts and snippets on the silver (white?) screen

Please note that while the NABC Fringe Fest is running concurrently with New Albany’s annual Harvest Homecoming event, our festival is neither a “sponsored” nor a “hosted” Harvest Homecoming function, which are detailed at the Harvest Homecoming web site.

The last of the Anstich kegs are pouring this weekend ... and two firkins are being readied for Lupulin Land next week.

Right now it’s about Fringe Fest at the Bank Street Brewhouse, but two Public House & Pizzeria updates are very relevant.

"Final Four" Franconian Anstich kegs for Sandkerwa NA 3.

The last remaining Anstich (gravity pour) kegs will be tapped (probably by 1:00 p.m.) during the next three days.

One to be tapped on Thursday, October 8:
Fischer Lager ... Brauerei Fischer, Greuth

Two to be tapped on Friday, October 9:
Weissenohe Altfränkisches Klosterbier ... Klosterbrauerei Weissenohe, Weissenohe
AND
Rossdorfer Urbrau (unfiltered lager) ... Brauerei Sauer, Roßdorf

One to be tapped on Saturday, October 10:
Zehendner Mönchsambacher Unfiltered Lager ... Brauerei Zehendner, Mönchsambach

Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming, beginning on Friday, October 16.

The previously announced lineup preview remains in effect, with a slight temptation added yesterday in the form of two firkins of NABC's VII Anniversary Ale, one each at NABC's two locations, both pouring by hand pull on Friday, October 16.

Capriole Farms and NABC cheese/beer tasting this Saturday at Bank Street Brewhouse.

There's confirmation that our Capriole Farm/NABC goat cheese & craft beer tasting is a go for Saturday, October 10 at 2:00 p.m. We'll set up inside the Bank Street Brewhouse (415 Bank Street in downtown New Albany).

Both Larry and Sam Schad from the Capriole family will be on hand to guide the cheese side of the sampling, and I'll handle the NABC end along with other members of the brew and kitchen teams who are free to take part. The occasion is resolutely informal, and there's no charge.

Note that during our Fringe Fest (Thursday through Saturday this week), we're not offering the normal menu at Bank Street Brewhouse. Rather, Chef Joshua Lehman and Sous Chef Andrew Gunn will be serving a special Fringe Fest menu beginning lunchtime on the 8th, 9th and 10th:

• Pommes Frites deep-fried in duck fat, choice of aoeli or curry sauces
• Confit Leg of Duck with Flageolet Beans
• Green Chili using fresh Pumpkin from the Farmers' Market

Klezmerfest tonight on the Bank Street Brewhouse patio.

Tonight is the long-awaited KLEZMERFEST, which I hope will become a permanent feature of Fringe Fest in the years to come. The musicians will be playing on the north patio, and the big tent goes up tomorrow. If you're not familiar with this music, it's vastly entertaining and goes well with beer (what doesn't?) Our old friend Misha Feigin opens at six, followed by Klezmer at eight.
6:00 p.m. - Misha Feigin

8:00 p.m. - Louisville Klezmer Orchestra

Here's an interesting and related link: Oktoberfest in Palestine (thanks J).

It's also First Tuesday, Develop New Albany's monthly mixer, which is being held this afternoon at Rodefer Moss & Co. at 301 East Elm. There'll be appetizers (from Sam's, I think?), beer from NABC and River City Winery vino, and it runs from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Day Two of Fringe Fest, Sunday at Bank Street Brewhouse.

Ben Traughber playing at the front patio; the magician; and Tonya tending bar. Photos by John Campbell.

Metro event watch: Volksfest at the BBC Brewery & Taproom on Saturday, October 17.

The second Volksfest will take place at BBC Brewery & Taproom (corner of Main & Clay in downtown Louisville) on Saturday, October 17 from 2:00 p.m. to Midnight. Clay Street will be shut down, with the party taking place out in the street like last's year's inaugural edition.

Here's the event link on Facebook.

There's also a thread at the Louisville Restaurants Forum with lineup information: Bluegrass Brewing Co. 2nd annual Volksfest.

NABC plans on attending with Hoptimus in tow. It should serve as a nice counterpoint to the many Oktoberfest styles sure to be tapped.

Harvest Homecoming Parade, the annual parade party, and Day One of Fringe Fest.

Thanks to Ted for the video. I took the photos. From the top down:

Front porch politburo (1117 E. Spring Street Neighborhood Association); atop NABC's fire truck on a gorgeous parade day; Bank Street Brewhouse patrons watch the parade pass by as the cash register numbers spin (thanks to Bob Caesar for that one); new Tony Beard placard artwork on the north patio of the brewhouse; The Outfit jazzing it up into the evening.

Want to ride on our NABC parade float on Saturday?

From John Campbell.

---

Show your support for the New Albanian Brewing Company by joining us in this year's Harvest Homecoming Parade. We have space for up to thirty on our Fire Engine, the "Pool Party Express", and need volunteers to walk along the float handing out fliers and NABC stickers.

RSVP to John Campbell at 502-939-0294.

Our parade # is 56 and we will be loading on Vincennes St. between Locust St. and Charlestown Rd. from 10:30 to noon.

Parade starts promptly at noon.

Bring Friends

Bring Happiness

We'll Bring Beer

Another edition of "Fringe Fest Update" is here.

More listings were added overnight, so check out the revised Fringe Fest schedule. We're still working on next Wednesday night, but most of the other blanks have been filled.

NABC's Fringe Fest set for Oct. 3rd, 4th, and the 6th through the 10th -- all at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

Don't forget this afternoon at the Public House, two more delicious Franconian "Anstich" kegs will be tapped -- and they're top-shelf, marquee names for those in the know:

Löwenbräu (Buttenheim) Ungespundetes Lagerbier (Kellerbier) ... Löwenbräu Buttenheim, Buttenheim
AND
Spezial Rauchbier ... Brauerei Spezial, Bamberg

I'm off now to sweep the garage for the Publican's annual Harvest Homecoming parade party. There'll be a special appearance by a keg of Victory Hop Wallop ... so we're hoping to see many of you tomorrow!

Listen up: Today's Kraus Pils ("Anstich" keg) now tapped ... and a Fringe Fest events update.

Mike says today's Kraus Pils (gravity-pour Sandkerwa selection) is tapped and ready at the Public House, and I'm headed that way to do the requisite quality control.

Next two weekend "Anstich" lineups for Sandkerwa are finalized.

Also, I've posted an update on Fringe Fest. Here's the first weekend's schedule, followed by the link to the remainder. Don't forget that the Publican's annual Harvest Homecoming parade party starts the day on Saturday, then shifts downtown to Bank Street Brewhouse for jazz and adult refreshments.

Saturday, October 3:

Fringe Fest kicks off with "Jazz on the Patio" immediately following the Harvest Homecoming parade, with The Outfit and friends.

Sunday, October 4:

All day long - $3.00 NABC pours (except Hoptimus and Elsa)

12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. - Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar

4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - Metro Louisville Restaurant Employee/Owner Appreciation Night, with music by Ben Traughber, Rebecca Williams. The public is welcome!

NABC's Fringe Fest set for Oct. 3rd, 4th, and the 6th through the 10th -- all at the Bank Street Brewhouse.