Wednesday, March 31, 2010

"N.A.B.Cieged Part II: Sieged Harder" is this weekend at the Louisville Beer Store.

The Louisville Beer Store and NABC have a three-part, beer-themed Easter weekend planned for LBS's store on East Market in Louisville. There will be special beers, and special food. I'll turn it over to Lori Beck to give the preview ... and I hope to see some of you on Saturday and Sunday, when I'll be hanging around LBS.

--

N.A.B.Cieged Part II: Sieged Harder

This weekend, Friday, April 2nd thru Sunday, April 4th, New Albanian Brewing Company is taking over the beer store. Eight delicious NABC brews will be on tap over the 3 day event. For more info on NABC, please visit: www.newalbanian.com

Day 1: NABC Cask Party
Friday, April 2nd (6pm - close)
For the First Friday Trolley Hop, LBS and NABC'ers will be partying down! Stop by to try one of the following brews:

Elector
Hoptimus
Oaktimus (oak-aged hoptimus)
15B
Community Dark
Beak's Best
Malcolm Old Setter
Bonfire of the Valkyries
Cask: Mt. Lee (dry-hopped w/ Nugget)

Day 2: NABC Tasting w/ Roger Baylor
Saturday, April 2nd at 3pm
$5/16oz flight
Roger Baylor, NABC co-founder, will make an in-store appearance to host New Albanian Brewing Co's first tasting at LBS. I can say from experience that it is an absolute delight to listen to Roger talk about beer - he will infect you with knowledge, passion, and love of all things beer.

Day 3: NABC Food & Beer pairing
w/ chef Joshua Lehman
Sunday, April 2nd (3 to 6pm)
$20/16oz flight & 4 course pairing
RSVP recommended

Chef Josh, from NABC Bank Street Brewhouse, has prepared an amazing spring/easter inspired four course pairing menu. You don't want to miss this gastrorgasmic event! Call 502.569.BEER or email: info@louisvillebeerstore.com to RSVP. Please provide the number of guests and preferred time.

MENU:


Belgian Dubbel
rabbit & accompaniments

Hoosier Daddy
shrimp & grapefruit ceviche

Thunderfoot
celery root soup, duck confit salad & blood orange

Smoked Abzug
Kentucky spoonfish caviar & eggs with crepes

**menu subject to change

Passing of the sales baton at NABC.

Examples of inspiration in transition include Season Four of M*A*S*H, AC-DC's Back in Black, and Rick Sutcliffe's 16-1 record down the stretch for the Cubs in 1984.

The 4077th welcomed both a new doctor and camp commander, and the series lasted three times longer than the real-life war. The rock group honored Bon Scott's passing with a classic album, and had a hit album just last year.

And, Chicago made the playoffs, even though they lost to San Diego. It is my intention to leave goat-laden curses out of this one.

Our new NABC sales rep for Louisville and Southern Indiana is Josh Hill, who has worked with us for several years, and recently has been selling NABC beers to accounts on the Indiana side of the Ohio.

We wish the best to John Campbell as he departs on a new course. John's loyalty and hard work have been instrumental in bringing us to this place. I'd make an analogy with Che leaving for Bolivia, except that he failed, and I know John won't. But if it feels like just such a chapter closing, I know that when our paths cross in the future, there'll be beers and cigars all around.

I'm confident that Josh will pick up where John left off. Overall, we at NABC are blessed to have passionate beer loving people to fight against the scourge of swill. Parting may be sweet sorrow, but partying isn't ... and the battle rages on.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Gravity Head lineupdate: A Final Five waiting as the ranks thin.

Gravity Head 2010 is ending strong, and the supremacy of the cosmic laws governing gravity have been proven indubitable, as expected.

At NABC's Pizzeria & Pub, 11 listed selections are on tap, 44 have fallen, and the final five patiently await their turns. Pretty good for 26 business days. By the first full week of April, we'll be down to just a handful remaining ... although there'll be a designated "gravity" tap pouring a beer of mass and substance the whole year round.

To see what's next in line to replace the current lineup, please go to the NABC web site. This new link takes you directly to the draft list.

And: You may download the 2010 Gravity Form if you haven't already. All the printed copies have been distributed.

ON TAP NOW (11):

AMERICAN AMBER / RED LAGER
Coney Island Human Blockhead … 10% abv

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Avery Hog Heaven Barley Wine ... 9.2%
Left Hand Oaked Aged Widdershins ... 8.8%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA ... 18%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
BFM Jurassian Imperial Stout (Cuvée Alex Le Rouge) ... 10.28% (firkin)

BALTIC PORTER
BBC (St. Matthews) Kick in the Baltic Porter ... 8.9%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Van Steenberge Klokke Roeland ... 11%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (CO2 version)

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale 2008 ... 11.5%

FOREIGN / EXPORT STOUT
t’Smisje Catherine the Great ... 10%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Imperial Stout 2008 ... 10.5%

---

RANKS OF THE FALLEN (44):

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine … 10%
Dogfish Head Olde School Barley Wine … 15.04%
Rogue Old Crustacean 2004 … 11.5%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 2004 … 9.6%
Stone Old Guardian 2009 ... 11.3%

AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Bell’s HopSlam … 10%
Boulder Mojo Risin ... 10.5%
Brugge Brasserie Artemis 2IPA ... 9.5%
Founders Double Trouble … 9.4%
Founders Hand of Doom … 10.4%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Breakfast Stout 2008 ... 8.3%
Founders Canadian Breakfast … 9.4%

AMERICAN PORTER
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
NABC V – 5th Anniversary Ale 2007 … 10%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb … 10.2%

BALTIC PORTER
Rogue Imperial Porter 2008 … 8.2%

BELGIAN IPA
NABC Oaked Le Douche Mentale ... 8.5%
t’Smisje + (Plus) … 10%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
BFM La Mandragore ... 8%
Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale … 8.6%
Unibroue La Terrible … 10.5%

BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE
Baladin Elixir (Al-Iksir) … 10%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2007 … 11%
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2008 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Ettaler Curator Doppelbock (enhanced export version) ... 11%
Samichlaus Bier Helles … 14%

DUBBEL
t’Smisje Dubbel … 9%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (Anstich version)

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) 2008 … 11.5%

OLD ALE
BBC Brandy Barrel Queens Knickers ... 12%
Founders Curmudgeon ... 9.3%
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 Reserve 2008 … 8% (Firkin)
NABC Malcolm's Old Setters. Ale 2007 ... 12%

QUADRUPEL
Avery "The Reverend" ... 10%
Schlafly Quadrupel ... 12%

RAUCHBIER
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche ... 8%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout ... 9.5%
NABC ThunderFoot … 11%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008 … 10.5%

SCOTCH ALE / WEE HEAVY
Founders Backwoods Bastard … 10.2%

TRIPEL
Maredsous 10 - Tripel … 10%

WITBIER
Dogfish Head Red & White … 10%

If you knew the late Don Parsons, read this.

The entire NABC family was saddened over the weekend to learn of the passing of Don "Dart Don" Parsons

R.I.P., Don Parsons.

On Saturday, we ensured that some of Don's beer bottles will be used in the construction of Leticia Bajuyo's sculpture for the Bicentennial Art Project. His memory will remain alive through public art dedicated to beer and brewing, and that's as fitting a eulogy as I can muster.

More importantly, I've recived a message from Don's cousin asking if I could encourage anyone/everyone who knew him to write a few words at the C-J's obituary site. There will be shown to Don's father and family.

Here's the link: Don Parsons Guest Book.

Now, go there and write!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Hiking to the nearest brewery.

Scott can spot them even from faraway Abu Dhabi. Here's a link that reminds me full-bore of beercycling in Europe. Why shouldn't all such exercise end (and begin) at a brewery?

Novelty hike ends at East End brewery, by Dan Gigler (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).

Packing for a hike? You'll obviously have a list of necessities for the day.

Boots, check. A backpack, check. Some water, check. Proper clothing, check. A trail guide, check.

Beer, wine, cheeses and fine chocolates? Check.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

R.I.P., Don Parsons.

It was only a week ago that I learned of Don Parsons' impending death. He had battled cancer to standstill the first time around, but regrettably, as so often is the case, it roared back at Don with a vengeance, and nothing could be done. Now it has claimed him. He was 56, and even a month ago, he looked at least ten years younger than that.

Don frequented the Public House on Saturday afternoons, especially when the weather was good and he could ride his motorcycle. We talked beer numerous times, and as a homebrewer, Don truly "got it." He was a regular at BBC in St. Matthews, and was referred to there as Dart Don.

Last week, aware that the end was near, he donated his beer bottle collection for use in Leticia Bajuyo's New Albany Bicentennial Public Art project sculpture, which will appear outside the Bank Street Brewhouse in late April.

By virtue of the collection's many shapes and sizes, not all of them can be used. However, my promise to Don is this: A part of you will be present, and as many of your bottles as possible will be in the Bicentennial sculpture, if I have to scrub the damn things myself.

Don was a friend, and a friend to beer. I'll miss him very much, and he'll not be forgotten as long as there's a New Albanian Brewing Company.

I hope he thought to pack some Weyerbacher ...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Jared's C2 brew day report.

They were hard at work when I popped my head into the Grant Line brewhouse on Monday afternoon. Here is Jared's report.

---

SCHLAFLY ... NEW ALBANIAN ... O’FALLON

C2: Smoked Belgian Dark Strong Ale (to be aged in “to be announced” Indiana and Missouri wine barrels infused with smoked figs)

Yep.

The C-series resumed this past Monday at The New Albanian Brewing Company with the brewing of C2, and a monster of a Belgian beer was made for the little gnome yeast to devour.

Brewed in two batches over 15 hours, with a lunch break at La Rosita’s Grant Line location between shifts, of course, we had a fairly smooth and enjoyable brew day considering we brewed about as big as you can on this system.

Joined by Brennan Greene from the Schlafly Taproom, Dave Johnson from O’Fallon Brewing company, and my intern Kyle Tavares (who helped out for the first batch and brought $10 worth of doughnuts!), we were mashed in by 7:00 a.m. and the brewery was filled with wonderful aromas of the two distinct smoked malts, Biscuit and Special B malts, and two types of mash hops.

A great celebration of a brew day, we did the C-series proud with our collaborative effort. We continued our use of smoke malt from C1, but introduced the Bamberg malt into the mix as well. The smoke and hops will mellow and fade behind the malts, yeast, and alcohol notes. We will look to continue a thread throughout the project and draw on previous beers to inspire and transition the series.

C2 will be a very malt-forward bomb of a beer, with the batch split into various aging vessels. Most will be aged in a mix of Indiana and Missouri wine barrels, which will be announced once they are racked. A few casks will be filled and may pop up at a select event or two later this summer/fall. The barrels will age six months, and C2 should be released around December/January or thereabouts. There are only 8 bbl of C2, so it will be an extremely limited release.

Malts: Castle Pale, Weyermann Rauch, Castle Biscuit, Briess Smoke, Castle Aromatic, Castle Special B

Adjuncts: Belgian dark candi sugar, Brewer’s Crystal, Molasses

Mash Hops: Mt Hood, Crystal

Kettle Hops: Magnum, Slovenian Celeia

O.G. 1097

IBU: currently calculated at 44, will degrade and be around 20 once it’s released

Cheers

Jared Williamson, Brewer
New Albanian Brewing Company

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

C2 brew day photos.






Photos by Jared Williamson. Starting at the top, Dave and Brennan mash in ... malt sources ... Kyle contemplates doughnuts ... Dave adds a dose of hops. For a brew day report, go here.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

C2 collaboration to be brewed Monday, and celebrated with a firkin of C1 at the Public House.

It's a big day on Monday at NABC's traditional garage brewhouse at the Pizzeria & Public House. A rare C1 firkin is being tapped, and C2 is being brewed.

To refresh sodden memories, the "C" series is an ongoing collaboration between Schlafly, O'Fallon's and New Albanian. C1, a Dry-hopped Smoked Rye Pale Ale, was the first such joint effort, and has been spotted at both NABC locations, and at selected locations throughout metro Louisville, since being released to near universal acclaim earlier in 2010.

Scenes from a Sneak Preview: Schlafly/O'Fallon/New Albanian Collaboration

Precious little C1 remains, but among the reserves is a cask-conditioned firkin, dry-hopped with Cascade and Ahtanum hops, and racked before the oak aging that tastily modified the kegged version. We can expect the firkin to taste the same, yet different. We also can expect it to deplete quickly.

Brennan (from Schlafly's) and Dave (of O'Fallon's) will be joining Jared for Monday's C2 brew day. As yet, the recipe is being kept close to their vests, but I’ve heard snippets of the following: Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale, smoked, aging, Norton (official state grape of Missouri) barrels, and figs. Put it all together in a final configuration, and the release still will not come until late autumn at the very earliest.

C2 will be double batched, with two brew days for the price of one: 6 a.m. – 2 p.m., and then 4 p.m. - Midnight. The C1 firkin will be tapped near the end of the first session, evidently to provide sustenance for the second.

The collaborative brewing troika has set a May brew date window for C3, which will be brewed at O’Fallon’s in Missouri, and released in summertime, prior to C2.

Finally, remember that I’ll be pouring Jolly Pumpkin ales during Monday night’s Office Hours with the Publican, which will take place in Prost at 6:30 p.m., although we might duck into the brewery to meet the brewers, watch their work, and convey samples.

Yesterday's WHAS-11 news segment on Bicentennial Art at Bank Street Brewhouse.



Here's the link to the WHAS-11 story.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

NA Bicentennial Art: Bunches of bottles against the wall.

Leticia Bajuyo visited Bank Street Brewhouse today to provide a preview of her sculpture for the Bicentennial Art Project, and plenty of empty 12-ounce beer bottles were donated by our customers. Very shortly, the bottles will become the sculpture, and Leticia explained how and why in the context of her work to date.

Matt and Jim Patus topped the bottle donation chart, followed by Don Parsons. A number of others joined the fun and brought bottles. The gorgeous spring day contributed to the festive ambience as art, not sewers, was (for once) the topic of the moment in New Albany.

Permit me to thank Leticia, Julie Schweitzer, Karen Gillenwater, my workers Aleen and Shelly, and all the other people in attendance on a day that provided a measure of restorative cultural encouragement.


Posted by Picasa

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Gravity Head lineupdate for Thursday, March 18, and that basketball thingy.

I'm told there's a basketball tournament of some sort being played just about now.

Meanwhile, at NABC's Pizzeria & Pub, Gravity Head continues with 13 listed selections on tap, 36 fallen, and another 11 patiently awaiting their turns. By next week, we'll be tapering down, with the goal now and in the future of Gravity Head largely ending by the first week of April -- although there'll be a designated "gravity" tap pouring a beer of substance year round.

To see what's next in line to replace the current lineup, go to the NABC web site. This new link takes you directly to the draft list.

And: You may download the 2010 Gravity Form if you haven't already. All the printed copies have been distributed, so as Gravity Head winds down, there'll begin disappearing form the tables.

ON TAP NOW (13):

AMERICAN AMBER / RED LAGER
Coney Island Human Blockhead … 10% abv

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Rogue Old Crustacean 2004 … 11.5%
Stone Old Guardian 2009 ... 11.3%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Brugge Brasserie Artemis 2IPA ... 9.5%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Breakfast Stout 2008 ... 8.3%

BALTIC PORTER
BBC (St. Matthews) Kick in the Baltic Porter ... 8.9%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
BFM La Mandragore ... 8%
Van Steenberge Klokke Roeland ... 11%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2007 … 11%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (CO2 version)

FOREIGN / EXPORT STOUT
t’Smisje Catherine the Great ... 10%

OLD ALE
Founders Curmudgeon ... 9.3%

QUADRUPEL
Avery "The Reverend" ... 10%

---

RANKS OF THE FALLEN (31):

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine … 10%
Dogfish Head Olde School Barley Wine … 15.04%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 2004 … 9.6%

AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Bell’s HopSlam … 10%
Boulder Mojo Risin ... 10.5%
Founders Double Trouble … 9.4%
Founders Hand of Doom … 10.4%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Canadian Breakfast … 9.4%

AMERICAN PORTER
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
NABC V – 5th Anniversary Ale 2007 … 10%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb … 10.2%

BALTIC PORTER
Rogue Imperial Porter 2008 … 8.2%

BELGIAN IPA
NABC Oaked Le Douche Mentale ... 8.5%
t’Smisje + (Plus) … 10%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale … 8.6%
Unibroue La Terrible … 10.5%

BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE
Baladin Elixir (Al-Iksir) … 10%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2008 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Ettaler Curator Doppelbock (enhanced export version) ... 11%
Samichlaus Bier Helles … 14%

DUBBEL
t’Smisje Dubbel … 9%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (Anstich version)

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) 2008 … 11.5%

OLD ALE
BBC Brandy Barrel Queens Knickers ... 12%
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 Reserve 2008 … 8% (Firkin)
NABC Malcolm's Old Setters. Ale 2007 ... 12%

QUADRUPEL
Schlafly Quadrupel ... 12%

RAUCHBIER
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche ... 8%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout ... 9.5%
NABC ThunderFoot … 11%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008 … 10.5%

SCOTCH ALE / WEE HEAVY
Founders Backwoods Bastard … 10.2%

TRIPEL
Maredsous 10 - Tripel … 10%

WITBIER
Dogfish Head Red & White … 10%

I hadn't heard of the Red Ear Brewing Company, either.

Yesterday, John Campbell forwarded me a copy of a rules change being considered by Kentucky’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulatory arm.

"This administrative regulation amendment establishes the requirements for a licensed microbrewery to participate in private parties and charitable fundraisers. The amendment mirrors the regulation that allows producers of liquor and wine to participate."

In turn, I’m forwarding it to an attorney friend, and also inquiring of the management at River City Distributing, NABC’s Louisville wholesaler, because I understand very little of the proposed change and how it pertains to charitable donations.

But I made a game effort at reading it, and down around page 12, there’s a list of licensed microbreweries in Kentucky.

Okay … familiar stuff ... two Cumberlands (pub and production), two BBCs (St. Matthews and Main & Clay) and Browning’s (all in Louisville), Alltech in Lexington, and Newport’s Hofbrauhaus … but wait:

8. Midway Café
1017 S. Ft. Thomas Ave
Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075
Located in Campbell County

9. Vito’s CafĂ©
654 Highland Ave. #29
Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075
Located in Campbell County

The Midway CafĂ© link is of no help whatsoever, but the Vito’s site makes reference to the Red Ear Brewing Company as a new component of the cafĂ©, otherwise famous for singing Italian waiters. Searching a bit further, there’s information on Red Ear at the Thrive: Northern Kentucky website.


The microbrewery will be run by Matt Wehmeyer, son of Vito's owners Mary and Vito Ciepiel. Wehmeyer's new business venture is named Red Ear Brewing Company after a familiar fish he used to catch called the "Red Ear Sunfish."

"I remember seeing a hundred different beers on the shelf and not knowing anything about them," says Wehmeyer. A recent trip to Asheville, NC is what really sparked him to move forward with starting his own brewing company.

"I took a trip to Asheville where they have like seven microbreweries, and I thought to myself that we needed more microbrews here in Cincinnati," says Wehmeyer. Red Ear is one of the first microbreweries in Northern Kentucky and one of the few in the Cincinnati region.

As Johnny Carson once confessed, “I did not know that.”

Readers: Did you?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"Mug Shots" today in LEO: "Free at last, free at last."

Sara was thrilled when I finished a piece early for once. I think this is one of my better recent efforts.

Mug Shots: Free at last, free at last

In Indiana, amid the usual crazed politicking of the general assembly, something unexpected has happened. I half expect to awaken from a dream and find my fridge stocked with cheap American beer, because narrow rays of liberal sense and intelligibility have somehow evaded the scrutiny of society’s persistent naysayers — the Prohibitionists, the health fascists and the do-gooders forever banding together to pick at the carrion of over-regulated adult pleasures — and Senate Bill 75 has landed on the desk of Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is expected to sign it into law.

HBG, Mybar, Office Hours and some satire.

Learn about the history of the Hoosier Beer Geeks and view a number of excellent photos from HBG's bus trip to NABC two weeks ago: KOTBR #100: Many Thanks.

Tonight for St. Patrick's Day at MYbar (a block down Plaza Drive from NABC Pizzeria & Pub) there'll be $3 NABC drafts (three on tap). If you bring a dinner receipt from the Pizzeria & Public House or Bank Street Brewhouse, there's no cover.

Jolly Pumpkin is everywhere in Michigan, and next Monday night, there'll be a tasting of these wonderful ales during Office Hours with the Publican at the NABC Public House.

From The Onion's business page, this bit of mirth: Budweiser American Lager Purchased at Tavern.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Gravity Flight Night III at Office Hours tonight, and a Gravity Head lineupdate.

For tonight's Office Hours with the Publican, there'll be a third (and final) Gravity Flight Night.

Monday, March 15 will be the 15th business day for Gravity Head 2010. There are 15 listed selections on tap, 33 have fallen (couldn't keep that 15 string alive forever), and another 12 patiently await their turns. The Three Floyds Mystery Beer will be Behemoth Blonde Barley Wine, and should be in stock tomorrow. The Schlafly Reserve has switched styles from oak-aged Imperial Stout to oak-aged Barley Wine, and is ready for action along with the rest of the untapped choices.

To see what's next in line to replace the current lineup, go to the NABC web site. This new link takes you directly to the draft list.

And: You may download the 2010 Gravity Form if you haven't already. All the printed copies have been distributed, so as Gravity Head winds down, there'll begin disappearing form the tables.

ON TAP NOW (15):

AMERICAN AMBER / RED LAGER
Coney Island Human Blockhead … 10% abv

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Rogue Old Crustacean 2004 … 11.5%
Stone Old Guardian 2009 ... 11.3%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Brugge Brasserie Artemis 2IPA ... 9.5%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Breakfast Stout 2008 ... 8.3%

BELGIAN IPA
NABC Oaked Le Douche Mentale ... 8.5%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
BFM La Mandragore ... 8%
Van Steenberge Klokke Roeland ... 11%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2007 … 11%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (CO2 version)

FOREIGN / EXPORT STOUT
t’Smisje Catherine the Great ... 10%

OLD ALE
BBC Brandy Barrel Queens Knickers ... 12%
Founders Curmudgeon ... 9.3%
NABC Malcolm's Old Setters' Ale 2007 ... 12%

QUADRUPEL
Avery "The Reverend" ... 10%

---

RANKS OF THE FALLEN (33):

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine … 10%
Dogfish Head Olde School Barley Wine … 15.04%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 2004 … 9.6%

AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Bell’s HopSlam … 10%
Boulder Mojo Risin ... 10.5%
Founders Double Trouble … 9.4%
Founders Hand of Doom … 10.4%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Canadian Breakfast … 9.4%

AMERICAN PORTER
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
NABC V – 5th Anniversary Ale 2007 … 10%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb … 10.2%

BALTIC PORTER
Rogue Imperial Porter 2008 … 8.2%

BELGIAN IPA
t’Smisje + (Plus) … 10%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale … 8.6%
Unibroue La Terrible … 10.5%

BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE
Baladin Elixir (Al-Iksir) … 10%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2008 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Ettaler Curator Doppelbock (enhanced export version) ... 11%
Samichlaus Bier Helles … 14%

DUBBEL
t’Smisje Dubbel … 9%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (Anstich version)

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) 2008 … 11.5%

OLD ALE
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 Reserve 2008 … 8% (Firkin)

QUADRUPEL
Schlafly Quadrupel ... 12%

RAUCHBIER
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche ... 8%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout ... 9.5%
NABC ThunderFoot … 11%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008 … 10.5%

SCOTCH ALE / WEE HEAVY
Founders Backwoods Bastard … 10.2%

TRIPEL
Maredsous 10 - Tripel … 10%

WITBIER
Dogfish Head Red & White … 10%

Saturday, March 13, 2010

4:30 p.m. opening for Bank Street Brewhouse today as we make afternoon room for the Dubois County Suds Club.

NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse will be opening at 4:30 p.m. today (Saturday, March 13) so that we may host another visiting bus load of beer lovers, this time from the Dubois County Suds Club.

The club’s founder claims that I once dispensed useful advice to him, and although my memory can no longer be trusted and it sounds highly sketchy, we'll relive these memories I've forgotten and have a few beers, too. I'll be conveying growler-borne samples of Gravity Head to them at BSB.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Enough changes to merit another lineupdate for Gravity Saturday.

Pending my morning inspection tour of the taps at NABC's Pizzeria & Pub, following is the Gravity Head setting for today. 15 listed selections are on tap, 31 have fallen, and another 14 patiently await their turns.

To see what's in line to replace the current lineup, go to the NABC web site and scroll down. And: Download the 2010 Gravity Form if you haven't already.

ON TAP NOW (15):

AMERICAN AMBER / RED LAGER
Coney Island Human Blockhead … 10% abv

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Stone Old Guardian 2009 ... 11.3%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Brugge Brasserie Artemis 2IPA ... 9.5%

BELGIAN IPA
NABC Oaked Le Douche Mentale ... 8.5%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
BFM La Mandragore ... 8%
Van Steenberge Klokke Roeland ... 11%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2007 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Ettaler Curator Doppelbock (enhanced export version) ... 11%

DUBBEL
t’Smisje Dubbel … 9%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (CO2 version)

FOREIGN / EXPORT STOUT
t’Smisje Catherine the Great ... 10%

OLD ALE
BBC Brandy Barrel Queens Knickers ... 12%
Founders Curmudgeon ... 9.3%
NABC Malcolm's Old Setters. Ale 2007 ... 12%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout ... 9.5%

---

RANKS OF THE FALLEN (31):

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine … 10%
Dogfish Head Olde School Barley Wine … 15.04%
Rogue Old Crustacean 2004 … 11.5%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 2004 … 9.6%

AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Bell’s HopSlam … 10%
Boulder Mojo Risin ... 10.5%
Founders Double Trouble … 9.4%
Founders Hand of Doom … 10.4%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Canadian Breakfast … 9.4%

AMERICAN PORTER
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
NABC V – 5th Anniversary Ale 2007 … 10%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb … 10.2%

BALTIC PORTER
Rogue Imperial Porter 2008 … 8.2%

BELGIAN IPA
t’Smisje + (Plus) … 10%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale … 8.6%
Unibroue La Terrible … 10.5%

BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE
Baladin Elixir (Al-Iksir) … 10%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2008 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Samichlaus Bier Helles … 14%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (Anstich version)

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) 2008 … 11.5%

OLD ALE
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 Reserve 2008 … 8% (Firkin)

QUADRUPEL
Schlafly Quadrupel ... 12%

RAUCHBIER
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche ... 8%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
NABC ThunderFoot … 11%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008 … 10.5%

SCOTCH ALE / WEE HEAVY
Founders Backwoods Bastard … 10.2%

TRIPEL
Maredsous 10 - Tripel … 10%

WITBIER
Dogfish Head Red & White … 10%

Friday lineupdate for Gravity Head: Artemis 2IPA, 2nite.

By the numbers: We're heading into the third weekend of Gravity Head, with Friday being the 13th business day since we started the 12th celebration of all beers strong and wonderful. 15 listed selections are on tap, 28 have fallen, and another 17 patiently await their turns.

Among them is the Three Floyds mystery keg, which for a few hours was thought to be Dreadnaught, but fell through. Now I'm told it will be Behemoth Blonde Barley Wine. Not exactly a letdown, is it? We'll know when the truck arrives on the 16th.

Ted and Shannon Miller, owners of Brugge Brasserie, are conveying a keg of their Artemis 2IPA (an American, not Belgian recipe with an addition of Tarragon) to the Pizzeria & Public House as I wrote, and we hope that it will be tapped to replace something below by early evening. Mike says that the likeliest candidate for imminent cashing is a very light Rogue Old Crusty.

To see what's in line to replace the current lineup, go to the NABC web site and scroll down. And: Download the 2010 Gravity Form if you haven't already.

ON TAP NOW (15):

AMERICAN AMBER / RED LAGER
Coney Island Human Blockhead … 10% abv

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Rogue Old Crustacean 2004 … 11.5%
Stone Old Guardian 2009 ... 11.3%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Boulder Mojo Risin ... 10.5%

BELGIAN IPA
NABC Oaked Le Douche Mentale ... 8.5%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
BFM La Mandragore ... 8%
Van Steenberge Klokke Roeland ... 11%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2007 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Ettaler Curator Doppelbock (enhanced export version) ... 11%

DUBBEL
t’Smisje Dubbel … 9%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (CO2 version)

OLD ALE
BBC Brandy Barrel Queen.s Knickers ... 12%
Founders Curmudgeon ... 9.3%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout ... 9.5%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008 … 10.5%

---

RANKS OF THE FALLEN (28):

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine … 10%
Dogfish Head Olde School Barley Wine … 15.04%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 2004 … 9.6%

AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Bell’s HopSlam … 10%
Founders Double Trouble … 9.4%
Founders Hand of Doom … 10.4%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Canadian Breakfast … 9.4%

AMERICAN PORTER
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
NABC V – 5th Anniversary Ale 2007 … 10%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb … 10.2%

BALTIC PORTER
Rogue Imperial Porter 2008 … 8.2%

BELGIAN IPA
t’Smisje + (Plus) … 10%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale … 8.6%
Unibroue La Terrible … 10.5%

BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE
Baladin Elixir (Al-Iksir) … 10%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2008 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Samichlaus Bier Helles … 14%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12% (Anstich version)

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) 2008 … 11.5%

OLD ALE
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 Reserve 2008 … 8% (Firkin)

QUADRUPEL
Schlafly Quadrupel ... 12%

RAUCHBIER
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche ... 8%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
NABC ThunderFoot … 11%

SCOTCH ALE / WEE HEAVY
Founders Backwoods Bastard … 10.2%

TRIPEL
Maredsous 10 - Tripel … 10%

WITBIER
Dogfish Head Red & White … 10%

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

No St. Patrick's Day Parade for NABC this year.

Too much has been made of this already, but in the interest of keeping the rumor mill somewhat subdued as the news media continues to contact me, permit me to echo and clarify what was written earlier at Facebook:

NABC, which has been instrumental in helping to organize the forthcoming Celtic Fest on New Albany’s riverfront (Saturday, June 12, 2010), and which participated in the past two St. Patrick’s Day parades in Louisville without incident, completely accepts that the Ancient Order of Hibernians and its President, Mark Wakefield, can run its annual parade as it sees fit.

Accordingly, we learned on Tuesday morning that we cannot participate this year. Ostensibly, this is because BBC (Main & Clay) is the sole beer sponsor of the parade – even though BBC approved of our presence!

Truthfully, this is a “Que sera, sera” sort of development. To paraphrase former Beatle and the late George Harrison, “We’ll play what they want, or we won't play at all.”

We are serene about it, and the very last thing I want to see happen is some ridiculous inference about BBC this, Hibernians that, or whatever makes the rounds. NABC’s last-minute exclusion from this year’s parade obviously owes to internal Hibernian matters that we, as Hoosier outsiders, are in no position to fathom, and so be it.

Surely at times our Southern Indiana politics are indecipherably Byzantine to Louisvillians, as is the case at each bimonthly New Albany city council meeting.

Forget St. Paddy’s, and remember to put June 12 on your calendars. The second annual Celtic Fest promises to be a great musical party day in NA, and we promise that members of the Hibernians are welcome to come drink, eat and play in our sandbox! Our big tent will be open for business.

Bank Street Brewhouse closed tonight, to resume normal hours on Wednesday.

Sometimes you just can't buy a break. You just have to laugh it off.

We can't open NABC Bank Street Brewhouse tonight (Tuesday) because the toilets are malfunctioning. Plumbers are on the way, but it looks to be a longer fix than a merely temporary closure. We'll be back tomorrow morning and try again.

Verily, this s**t is getting old (pun fully intended).

Good news: Indiana American Water is investigating last Friday's water outage calamity at the Pizzeria & Public House. So is our attorney.

Glorious Gravity attrition lineupdate.

Standing (really?) at dawn on Tuesday, March 9, the 10th day of Gravity Head 2010, we see that 24 kegs have fallen and 16 remain on tap. All but two of the 60 kegs slated for duty when we began are accounted for, with the exception of these:

Schlafly Reserve (Barrel Aged) Imperial Stout ... will not be coming. Instead, the brewery offered a keg of Reserve (Barrel Aged) Barley Wine, and we accepted the substitution.

Three Floyds mystery keg ... who knows? I'm on it.

To see what's in line to replace the current lineup, go to the NABC web site and scroll down. And: Download the 2010 Gravity Form if you haven't already.

ON TAP NOW (16):

AMERICAN AMBER / RED LAGER
Coney Island Human Blockhead … 10% abv

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Rogue Old Crustacean 2004 … 11.5%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 2004 … 9.6%
Stone Old Guardian 2009 ... 11.3%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Boulder Mojo Risin ... 10.5%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale … 8.6%
Van Steenberge Klokke Roeland ... 11%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2007 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Ettaler Curator Doppelbock (enhanced export version) ... 11%

DUBBEL
t’Smisje Dubbel … 9%

OLD ALE
BBC Brandy Barrel Queen.s Knickers ... 12%
Founders Curmudgeon ... 9.3%
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 Reserve 2008 … 8% (Firkin)

QUADRUPEL
Schlafly Quadrupel ... 12%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout ... 9.5%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008 … 10.5%

---

RANKS OF THE FALLEN (24):

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine … 10%
Dogfish Head Olde School Barley Wine … 15.04%

AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Bell’s HopSlam … 10%
Founders Double Trouble … 9.4%
Founders Hand of Doom … 10.4%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Canadian Breakfast … 9.4%

AMERICAN PORTER
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
NABC V – 5th Anniversary Ale 2007 … 10%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb … 10.2%

BALTIC PORTER
Rogue Imperial Porter 2008 … 8.2%

BELGIAN IPA
t’Smisje + (Plus) … 10%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Unibroue La Terrible … 10.5%

BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE
Baladin Elixir (Al-Iksir) … 10%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2008 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Samichlaus Bier Helles … 14%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12%

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) 2008 … 11.5%

RAUCHBIER
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche ... 8%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
NABC ThunderFoot … 11%

SCOTCH ALE / WEE HEAVY
Founders Backwoods Bastard … 10.2%

TRIPEL
Maredsous 10 - Tripel … 10%

WITBIER
Dogfish Head Red & White … 10%

Monday, March 08, 2010

"Here's to Beer" class profiled in the IUS Horizon.

As a graduate of Indiana University Southeast, it pleases me to no end that I'm able to teach the non-credit "Here's to Beer" courses. Recently staffer Leah tate of the IUS student newspaper dropped by Bank Street Brewhouse and set in on the final class session for my February group: wordpress.com/2010/03/07/non-credit-course-educates-students-on-history-of-beer/" rel="bookmark">Non-credit course educates students on history of beer.

Yes, you must be 21 ...

Next up: April, with class dates on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, all Wednesdays, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and at our original location, the NABC Pizzeria & Public House, 3312 Plaza Drive (just off Grant Line Road) in New Albany. Get on board by going to the Indiana University Southeast web site.

Finally, for those who've taken the class previously or can prove to me that you're worthy, there'll be an advanced level Here's to Beer coming this fall, probably in September.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

What’s up at NABC’s Grant Line brewing facility?

I've compiled and culled from Jared's dispatches at the front line.

---

At the Bank Street Brewhouse in downtown New Albany, NABC’s David Pierce and Jesse Williams are busily brewing brands for distribution, leaving Jared Williamson to man the kit at the original Pizzeria & Public House and create seasonals and specialties for on-premise consumption.

He's done some wonderful things, and continues to think far outside the Bud.

Recently Jared formulated the fourth in NABC’s rotating seasonal series of historical Revive-Ales: Hop-O. The others are Old Lightning Rod (Colonial Ale with molasses), Kaiser 2nd Reising (pre-Prohibition Pilsner) and Phoenix Kentucky Komon (Louisville-style, sour mash Common).

Hop-O was a cereal beverage of less than 1% abv produced by the Southern Indiana Brewing Company during the early years of Prohibition, except that the brewery subsequently was raided, shut down and the owner arrested in 1921 after federal agents determined the alcohol content to be well above 3%.

Deploying NABC’s lager yeast, Jared is brewing Hop-O to be top-heavy in adjuncts (oats, wheat, rye, corn syrup or maize, and a splash of honey malt) and will use whole leaf hops for moderate bitterness and ample aromatics.

Jared’s Hop-O will be ready for serving in mid-April. Also pouring in April will be single-hop Centennial and
Amarillo American Pale Ales, and a new round of Hoosier Daddy.

---

The next NABC/Schlafly/O'Fallon collaboration, C2, is to be brewed at NABC’s founding brewhouse during the week of March 22nd. The recipe is under discussion, and reputedly will have a Belgian orientation. Stay tuned for more details as the date draws near. Meanwhile, the brewing date for C3 has been set for some time in May at O’Fallon’, and a summertime release.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Normal hours at the Pizzeria & Public House today, and HBG at Bank Street until 4:30 p.m.

NABC's Pizzeria & Public House is open from 11:00 a.m. today (Saturday, March 6) for business as usual.

NABC Bank Street Street Brewhouse is hosting a private party for the visiting busload of Hoosier Beer Geeks (Indianapolis) during lunchtime today, and will be open for business at 4:30 p.m.

If you are an employee of Indiana American Water, you'll be charged an additional 300% at both our locations to help begin recouping the money lost owing to your company's incompetence yesterday. Thanks for understanding.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Consider downtown New Albany tonight.

If you are reading on Friday afternoon, and were planning on coming out to the Pizzeria & Public House tonight, you cannot, because we're closed for Friday owing to a water problem in the neighborhood.

No State Police poaching at the Pizzeria & Public House tonight, because IN-AWC learned "routine" in Pyongyang.

I'd like to suggest that instead of abandoning the drive to New Albany, consider coming downtown and exploring the eateries and watering holes that have come into existence the last few years.

I say this less because our Bank Street Brewhouse is downtown, although it is, and more because perhaps not all readers have yet experienced what downtown New Albany has to offer. I'm thinking River City Winery, and Steinert's, and Wick's, and Connor's Place, and Windsor, and Studio's (all with adult beverages, and still others without for dining).

If our usual Friday night crowd at the Pizzeria & Public House came downtown and dispersed among the establishments there, not only would our regulars have a good time. They'd get a chance to see what we've all tried to achieve in the historic core of the city.

Think about it. Thanks.

No State Police poaching at the Pizzeria & Public House tonight, because IN-AWC learned "routine" in Pyongyang.

The NABC Pizzeria & Public House will not reopen on this, customarily our busiest day of the week, during this, usually one of the biggest weekends of the year.

Bank Street Brewhouse operates normally, in spite of troglodyte indifference to Progressive Pints.

Hats off to Indiana American Water for making something called "scheduled maintenance" from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (which we were not once told was even happening) into a neighborhood catastrophe lasting all day on Friday. If they were in a mood to return phone calls, I'd give you their side of it.

The Pizzeria & Public House will work normal hours on Saturday.

I think. Ask IN-AWC. Wait. There are no humans there with whom to speak.

Water's off, so the NABC Pizzeria & Pub closed until around 5:30 p.m.

2:15 p.m. update: Semi-official word is, no water service at the Pizzeria & Public House until somewhere around 5:30 p.m. Suggestion is they were routinely checking hydrants, found a leak, and are fixing it. There goes the after work crowd. We think we'll be good by 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. with no ill effects after that. I will be back to update you.

As of 12:30 p.m., water service has been cut off at the Pizzeria & Public House in what Indiana American Water's far-off customer service representative describes to me as scheduled maintenance. For three hours.

That's right. For three hours. On a Friday. With no warning whatsoever.

I'll be back to let you know when the coast's clear. I hope we're open again by 4 p.m., but we're at the mercy of the water company, and I'm waiting for a call back from some poor unfortunate whose ass may well get ripped.

Bank Street Brewhouse is open.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Schlafly's plan.

Thanks to Nick for this link. It's an uncommonly clear snapshot of Schlafly at this point in time, reaching solutions to meet greater demand while not sacrificing core principles and maintaining steady, planned growth.

Schlafly Brewery: Suds Up, from The Pitch (Kansas City Food Blog).

As St. Louis Brewery Inc. nears its 20th anniversary, the Schlafly beer brewer is finalizing agreements to start contract brewing at facilities in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

"We are committed long-term to making our beer in St. Louis, but for now we have to anticipate that we may not be able to build fast enough to meet demand," says co-founder Dan Kopman ...

... Schlafly will continue to expand in a gradual fashion. And in effort to keep customers informed about where the beer is brewed, all out-of-state bottles will be labeled as such.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Hump day Gravity update.

Standing at hump day (5th day of Gravity Head 2010), we've killed 14 kegs and have 16 others on tap. With 60 kegs altogether, that mean's we're halfway through ... although one predicts with extreme peril during this time of year. A handful remain in transit, and as soon as I know, so will you.

To see what's in line to replace the current lineup, go to the NABC web site and scroll down. And: Download the 2010 Gravity Form if you haven't already.

ON TAP NOW (16):

AMERICAN AMBER / RED LAGER
Coney Island Human Blockhead … 10% abv

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Dogfish Head Olde School Barley Wine … 15.04%
Rogue Old Crustacean 2004 … 11.5%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 2004 … 9.6%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Founders Double Trouble … 9.4%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
NABC V – 5th Anniversary Ale 2007 … 10%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk

BALTIC PORTER
Rogue Imperial Porter 2008 … 8.2%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale … 8.6%

BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE
Baladin Elixir (Al-Iksir) … 10%

BIERE DE GARDE
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien 2008 … 11%

DOPPELBOCK
Samichlaus Bier Helles … 14%

DUBBEL
t’Smisje Dubbel … 9%

OLD ALE
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 Reserve 2008 … 8%
Firkin

RAUCHBIER
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche ... 8%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008 … 10.5%

TRIPEL
Maredsous 10 - Tripel … 10%

---

RANKS OF THE FALLEN (14):

AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine … 10%

AMERICAN BROWN ALE
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron … 12%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL IPA
Bell’s HopSlam … 10%
Founders Hand of Doom … 10.4%

AMERICAN DOUBLE / IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Canadian Breakfast … 9.4%

AMERICAN PORTER
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter … 9.2%

AMERICAN STRONG ALE
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb … 10.2%

BELGIAN IPA
t’Smisje + (Plus) … 10%

BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE
Unibroue La Terrible … 10.5%

EISBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock … 12%

ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) 2008 … 11.5%

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
NABC ThunderFoot … 11%

SCOTCH ALE / WEE HEAVY
Founders Backwoods Bastard … 10.2%

WITBIER
Dogfish Head Red & White … 10%

"Mug Shots" today in LEO: "Cold-weather beers."

If you think about Gravity Head beers, well, that's purely intentional.

Mug Shots: Cold-weather beers

My ancestry is as clear as mud — specifically, the flat and indefensible terrain formerly occupied by land-owning Junkers in eastern Germany and the western half of what is now sovereign Poland. Rest assured, my people were the German workers hoeing endless rows, not the Bismarckian aristocrats in the manor house. My guess is that we were located closer to Berlin than Bialystock, because I’ve never had much of a taste for distilled spirits, of which vodka is most notorious in that part of the world.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Brief Gravity Head update.

Palo Santo gone, Human Blockhead on.

Baladin's Elixir on, and very good. Belgian style something. Smisje's stellar + (Plus) made room for Baladin.

And: Dogfish's Olde School has been tapped. The fruity punch of those dates and figs is utterly unique, and the alcohol blast isn't bad, either.

Events: Charlestown Pizza Company's 3 Year Anniversary and C1 Release Party.

From John Campbell.

---

Charlestown Pizza Company's 3 Year Anniversary and C1 Release Party
Tuesday, March 16, 6:00-11:00 p.m.
850 Main Street, Charlestown, IN 47111

Yes, Charlestown Pizza Co. is 3 years old!

And they've decided to celebrate with beer, but not just any beer - the last keg of C1, the Collaboration Ale from New Albanian, O' Fallon, & Schafly. They tucked away a small keg (1/6 bbl., 5.5 gallons) for the occasion and just when we thought we'd seen the last of it... voila!

Here are their plans so far:

3 beers from the New Albanian Brewing Co. on tap (all specialty beers, continuing the theme of No Repeats on Draft from the New Albanians) and bottles of Schlafly beer.

Desserts galore....expect cakes, cupcakes, cream cheese pies, brownies, rice krispie treats...all made in Charlestown Pizza Co.'s own decadent fashion.

Pizza pairings to celebrate the last keg of C1 and their connection to the New Albanian Brewing Co.

Give-aways all night...shirts, beers, and other fun stuff. Scott Shreffler from Schlafly and the Gang from New Albanian Brewing Co. will be there to shake hands and kiss babies.

Shawn and Tajana might even may dip into the cellar and pull out a few rare beers to help celebrate.


They welcome any and all pizza and beer pairing suggestions on their Facebook page.

Help us help them have a fantastic Birthday Party!