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.