We're open. Finally.

NABC's Pizzeria & Public House will be open tonight at 7:30 p.m., after an entire day lost to a power outage that occurred after lightning struck the neighborhood power grid early this morning. It reminds me that perhaps the sole worthwhile aspect of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged" -- a tome otherwise filled with pseudo-philosophical drivel -- is her skill at describing societal infrastructure in terminal decay.

The updated Gravity Head tap list is here.

Baylor on Beer: Bats, Baseball, Beers & Bucks, at LouisvilleBeer.com.

My second of two February columns has been posted at LouisvilleBeer.com

Bats, Baseball, Beers and Bucks

Posted by Roger Baylor in Baylor on Beer | 0 comments

Photo by Flickr User: Andrew Malone

Professional baseball’s spring training is underway, and it isn’t too early to begin considering the prospects for locally brewed craft beer at Louisville Slugger Field in 2012. The Louisville Bats begin play in April, and only then will we know if the fragile, halting forward progress of craft beer availability during the past three years will be repeated this season.

I shan’t be holding my breath, but as usual, I hope I’m mistaken.

Bonus unlisted Gravity Head visitors now include a Better Half. Will there be others?

Already there's been a cameo/bonus/unlisted Gravity Head keg, already come and gone:

Marsha Mallow’s Malted Milk Stout 8% abv ... New Holland Collaboration Brew with City Provisions (Chicago)

Today another unexpected keg was delivered: Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half 11.9% abv

It will join the Founders third weekend wave on Friday, March 9, along with all listed Founders ales and both of Flat12's (Winter Cycle and Vulgar Display of Hops). Other bonus appearances still are expected, but it's too early to predict when they'll go on tap:

Against the Grain Oak-Aged Dilator Doppelbock circa 8% abv
Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale 8.2% abv

Flat12 Bierwerks Vulgar Display of Hops 9.7% abv

Schlenkerla Eiche (gravity-dispense) 8% abv

Sun King Dominator Doppelbock 8.1% abv
Sun King Isis Imperial IPA circa 9% abv

Three Floyds Topless Witch 9% abv
Three Floyds Stygian Darkness 9% abv

"Welcome Back Sherman Minton Celebration" in downtown NA, this Saturday from 2 - 5 p.m.

LouisvilleBeer.com has the story on Saturday's Welcome Back Sherman Minton Celebration in downtown New Albany. At NABC, we're working on filling in our "blank" with something special, so stay tuned.

Todd Antz from The Keg Liquors, one of this area’s best craft beer stores has put together a cool event THIS SATURDAY from 2-5pm in New Albany to celebrate the re-opening of the I-64 Sherman Minton Bridge. All the local breweries will be there, along with wineries, music, discounted shopping and more going on all day in downtown New Albany.

Keg Liquors New Albany – 302 Pearl St – Cavalier Distributing, Cameron Hughes Wines and Feast BBQ

Dress & Dwell/Colokial Lobby 138 E. Spring St- Bluegrass Brewing Company Clay and Main

White House Lobby – 222 Pearl St – Against the Grain

Jimmy’s Music Center – 123 E. Market – BBC Shelbyville Road

Quills Coffee/Billow – 137 E. Market – Sun King Brewing

New Albanian Bank Street Brewhouse – 415 Bank St. – New Albanian Brewing Company

Schmitt Furniture – 101 E. Main St – St. James Winery

River City Winery – 321 Pearl St – River City Winery

Keg Liquors will also be giving every customer 10% off any purchase they make on Saturday (New Albany location only) Other retailers will be offering discounts as well, making this the perfect day to check out Downtown New Albany.

Gravity Head lineupdates beginning Monday, March 5.

Wednesday morning, March 28 update

I've decided to keep using this posting's URL to update Gravity Head lineup changes through the third weekend of the festival. The best way to keep track of lineup changes as they happen is at Twitter: @nabcnews

(8) ON TAP NOW, AS OF 11:00 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY, 3/28/12

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Upland Teddy Bear Kisses Russian Imperial Stout 10.2%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Flat12 Winter Cycle 9.3%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine (2009) 9.6%
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine (2010) 12%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Great Crescent Bourbon’s Barrel Stout 8%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
NABC/O'Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010)(CO2 pour) 10.7%
Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine 12%
Upland Ard Ri Imperial Red 9.3%

(1) GRAVITY HEAD BONUS UNLISTED KEGS NOW ON TAP

Sun King Dominator Doppelbock 8.1%

(1) GRAVITY HEAD BONUS UNLISTED KEGS IN THE BULLPEN

Against the Grain Oak-Aged Dilator Doppelbock circa 8% abv

(1) YET TO BE TAPPED

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine 10.2%

---

(44) THEY GAVE THEIR ALL … GOODBYE

00. NEW HOLLAND – STYLE UNTO ITSELF
New Holland Barrel Aged Charkoota Rye 8.4%
New Holland Blue Sunday “Gravity Head Sour Blend” 8.7%
New Holland Charkoota Rye 8%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk 10%
New Holland Envious Circa 8%
New Holland Golden Mean 8.1%
New Holland Imperial Hatter 9.4%
New Holland Silent Night 11%

5E. EISBOCK
Kulmbacher Eisbock “Bayerisch G’frorns” (2010) 9.2%

13F. RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout (cask; 2009) 10.5%
Bell's Expedition Stout 10.5%
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (2010) 10%
De Molen Cease and Desist (a.k.a. Rasputin, Disputin) 10.7%
Founders Imperial Stout (2010) 10.5%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2010) 10.8%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Bell’s Hopslam 10% (three 15.5 gallon kegs in all)
Founders Double Trouble 9.4%
Mikkeller I Beat yoU 9.75%
NABC/De Struise/LBS B’Urban Trotter 9.2%

15C. WEIZENBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock 12%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
De Proef Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird) 9%
Founders Blushing Monk Founders Brewing Company 9.2%

18C. BELGIAN TRIPEL
NABC Le Diable Blonde (2010) 10.7%

19A. OLD ALE
Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale 9.8%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Hair of the Dog Fred 10%
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 15.04%
Founders Nemesis (2010) 12%
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine (2009) Circa 11%
Three Floyds Behemoth Blonde Barley Wine 12.5%

21A. SPICE, HERB, OR VEGETABLE BEER
Founders Breakfast Stout (2010) 8.3%

21B. CHRISTMAS/WINTER SPECIALTY SPICED BEER
Haandbryggeriet Bestefar 10%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
BBC (Main and Clay) Bearded Pat’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Barley Wine (2009) 11%
Founders CBS Imperial Stout (Canadian Breakfast) 10.6%
Founders KBS Kentucky Breakfast Stout (2011) 11.2%
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Old Engine Oil Special Reserve (Conditioned in Highland Park 18-Year-Old Scotch Barrels) Circa 11%
Left Hand Wake Up Dead (barrel-aged; nitro) 10.20%
NABC IX — Ninth Anniversary Ale (2010) 9%
NABC Oaktimus 10.7%
North Coast Grand Cru 12.9%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 12%
Hair of the Dog Adam 10%
Shmaltz He’Brew Jewbelation Fifteen – 15th Anniversary Ale 15%
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life and Limb (Version 2, 2011) 10.2%
Two Brothers Bare Tree (2010) 10%

(9) BONUS UNLISTED KEGS BLOWN

Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale 8.2%
Flat12 Vulgar Display of Hops 9.7%
Founders Backwoods Bastard 10.2%
Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half 11.9%
New Holland Marsha Mallow’s Malted Milk Stout 8%
Schlenkerla Eiche (Anstich) 8%
Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA 9.5%
Three Floyds Stygian Darkness 9%
Three Floyds Topless Wytch  9%

Hasty Gravity Head lineupdate for Saturday, February 25.

After tonight, I'll divide the list into "on tap/coming soon/departed," but for now, here's the lineup as it looks at opening at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday the 25th of February.

00. NEW HOLLAND – STYLE UNTO ITSELF
New Holland Barrel Aged Charkoota Rye 8.4%
New Holland Charkoota Rye 8%
New Holland Envious Circa 8%
New Holland Silent Night 11%

5E. EISBOCK
Kulmbacher Eisbock “Bayerisch G’frorns” (2010) 9.2%

13F. RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout (cask; 2009) 10.5%
De Molen Cease and Desist (a.k.a. Rasputin, Disputin) 10.7%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Bell’s Hopslam 10%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
De Proef Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird) 9% (Fan Vote Winner)

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 15.04%
Hair of the Dog Fred 10%
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine (2009) Circa 11%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Left Hand Wake Up Dead (barrel-aged; nitro) 10.20%
NABC IX — Ninth Anniversary Ale (2010) 9%
NABC Oaktimus 10.7%
North Coast Grand Cru 12.9%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 12%
Hair of the Dog Adam 10%
NABC/O'Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010)(keg) 10.7%
Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine 12%

New Holland's bonus keg: Marsha Mallow’s Malted Milk Stout, on tap now at Gravity Head.

I quickly copied the following from New Holland's web site. We received the keg along with the rest of the shipment, and I wasn't sure if there'd be room for it, but Eric found a way. He also just went home, after being up all night getting the Gravity Head drafts in order.

So far, I've sampled wee bits of Marsha Mallow's, Blue Sunday, and Charkoota (original and rum barrel aged). All are excellent. I recommend doing the two Charkoota brews back to back; you can taste the rum in the barrel-aged version, without the burn, and with the smoke and rye blending seamlessly in the background.

New Holland Collaboration Brew
Marsha Mallow’s Malted Milk Stout 8% abv
Brewed  with City Provisions (Chicago)

Brewed at New Holland Brewing Co. Restaurant and Pub with Chef Cleetus Friedman of City Provisions Delicatessen. Named after the infamous Marsha Mallow, of the NHB staff holiday party, 2012.

Gravity Head 2012: I kinda had this feeling ...

We much appreciate the human tsunami that greeted us this morning at 7:00 a.m., and requisite apologies to everyone for running out of food so quickly. I'm trying to mobilize some kitchen staff to come in and get the regular menu rolling earlier than usual.

The photo above shows the choices, but does not depict the NABC listed drafts, including IX, C2 and Oaktimus.

Happy Gravity Head, folks.

The Gravity Head fan vote winner for 2012 is ... sour!

We have a runaway winner (by a 3-1 margin) in the Gravity Head 2012 vote for the 19th tap:

De Proef Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird)
De Proefbrouwerij
Lochristi-Hijfte BELGIUM
Bitterness: 45 IBUs
Alcohol by volume: 9%


www.sheltonbrothers.com


Gravity Head Twist: It’s called Flemish Primitive for two reasons: Wild yeast, and a school of Flemish painters. Multiple strains of Brettanomyces yeast are used here, and uncharacteristically generous late hop additions.

There was a four-way tie for second place, and 12 beers in all received votes. For the complete list of starters, go here ... and get ready.

The return of Elsa Von Horizon.

Elsa's going into the bottles, and will be on the streets soon.

Gravity Head bonuses from Three Floyds and Flat12.

Previously, I had a few good words to say about the process of Gravity Head foraging.

In recent years, after establishing exactly what we had on hand during Gravity Head and making comprehensive lists and programs, we’ve still welcomed various kegs as “bonus” unlisted surprises -- cameos, as it were.

Here are three more kegs, transiting this way, and unlisted. From our friends on the Hoosier side of Chicagoland ...

Three Floyds Topless Witch (12C Baltic Porter 9%)
Three Floyds Stygian Darkness (18E Belgian Dark Strong Ale 9%)

Eric's working on placing these into the rotation, and they're still a week or two out. Meanwhile, also from Indiana:

Flat12 Bierwerks Vulgar Display of Hops (14C Imperial IPA 9.7%)

We’ll work it into the rotation on March 9, alongside the Founders wave and the other Flat12 selection, Winter Cycle.

All about Gravity Head 2012, at NABC's Pizzeria & Public House.

Follow the links below to get the straight dope about Gravity Head's 14th edition, which kicks off at the Public House on Friday, February 24.

Gravity Head 2012: The starting lineup

Official program: The Daily Gravity Form, in .pdf format

18 Gravity Head starters named -- vote now for the 19th and final opening day selection

The Publican’s Gravity Head Diary: Thoughts on New Holland, Sun King and Founders

Gravity Head bonuses from Three Floyds and Flat12

R.E.M. - "It's the End of the World (As We Know It)"

The New Holland delegation for Gravity Head 2012

18 Gravity Head starters named -- vote now for the 19th and final opening day selection.

Once again, as we prepare for the 14th edition of Gravity Head ("It's the end of the world as we know it") we’re allowing you to vote on the beer that will occupy the 19th tap.

That's right: 19th tap. Eric managed to squeeze in a few more beers than usual.

The starting lineup is here: Gravity Head 2012: The starting lineup.

When making your choice, please remember that the beers listed below are the only ones eligible for selection. The list here has been edited to remove the beers already selected to start, ones already designated to appear on specific dates, and those that remain in transit. For the complete Gravity Form program, go here.

Vote just once, and for just one beer, and submit to your choice to me at this e-mail address: istanbul85(at)yahoo(dot)com. Noon on Thursday, February 23, 2012 is the deadline for voting. I personally comprise the voting commission, and my decisions are final.

Fan Vote Eligibility List for Gravity Head 2011

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Bell's Expedition Stout 10.5%
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (2010) 10%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2010) 10.8%
Upland Teddy Bear Kisses Russian Imperial Stout 10.2%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Bell’s Hopslam 10%
Mikkeller I Beat yoU 9.75%
NABC/De Struise/LBS B’Urban Trotter 9.2%

15C. WEIZENBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock 12%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
De Proef Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird) 9%

18C. BELGIAN TRIPEL
NABC Le Diable Blonde (2010) 10.7%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine 10.2%
Hair of the Dog Fred 10%
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine (2009) Circa 11%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine (2009) 9.6%
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine (2010) 12%
Three Floyds Behemoth Blonde Barley Wine 12.5%

21B. CHRISTMAS/WINTER SPECIALTY SPICED BEER
Haandbryggeriet Bestefar 10%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
BBC (Main & Clay) Bearded Pat’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Barley Wine (2009) 11%
Great Crescent Bourbon’s Barrel Stout 8%
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Old Engine Oil Special Reserve Conditioned in Highland Park 18-Year-Old Scotch Barrels Circa 11%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
Hair of the Dog Adam 10%
Shmaltz He’Brew Jewbelation Fifteen – 15th Anniversary Ale 15%
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb (Version 2, 2011) 10.2%
Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine 12%
Two Brothers Bare Tree (2010) 10%

The Publican’s Gravity Head Diary: Thoughts on New Holland, Sun King and Founders.

Following last year’s Great Taste of the Midwest, the Curmudgeons exited Wisconsin via Milwaukee, loading the Crown Vic onto the Lake (Michigan) Express to Muskegon, and then enjoying a short drive to Holland for a few days of rest and relaxation at the wonderful City Flats Hotel.

New Holland Brewing Company is situated a block away from the hotel, and one afternoon over beers with Fred Bueltmann, it occurred to me to ask whether New Holland would like to “open” Gravity Head 2012 in the same fashion as Three Floyds “headlined” the 2011 edition, with a mini-tap takeover at the beginning. Fred was amenable, and that’s why the New Holland contingent will be on tap all at once when this year’s Gravity Head begins next week.

In the past, we didn’t do things like this, but in my view, it’s vital to follow a pathway of constant reinvention. Wholesale changes seldom are necessary; rather, little changes have a way of keeping ideas fresh.

Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Brewers of Indiana guild, and Clay Robinson of Sun King asked me if Gravity Head 2012 might still be able to use a few additional kegs. Well, of course it would. In recent years, after establishing exactly what we had on hand during Gravity Head and making comprehensive lists and programs, we’ve still welcomed various kegs as “bonus” unlisted surprises -- cameos, as it were.

In this spontaneous fashion, and although they’ll not be listed on the 2012 Gravity Form, expect to see kegs of Sun King’s Dominator Doppelbock and Isis Imperial IPA during Gravity’s Head’s run.

Also, we’re expecting a selection or two from Three Floyds; Oak-Aged Doppelbock from Louisville’s Against the Grain; a keg of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale from Alltech in Lexington, Kentucky; and gravity-dispensed Schlenkerla Eiche. There may yet be others. In the past, we didn’t run Gravity Head in this exact fashion, but nowadays, it sounds like fun, and so we do it. Do you see a pattern emerging?

Clay and I briefly discussed another beer-related item yesterday, and so I am highly pleased to announce that Sun King will take over the taps at the beginning of Gravity Head 2013, which will be the 15th such celebration. Might there be time for a Gravity Head collaboration brew between Sun King and NABC? Maybe, maybe not. You’ll just have to keep reading.

Meanwhile, there have been a handful of questions and comments since the Gravity Head starting lineup was released, and most of them have been about our decision to place all of the Founders beers in a phalanx, and execute a second bold tap takeover two weeks into the revelry.

In explaining this, it is helpful to remember that no matter what we do, all Gravity Head beers cannot be poured at once, for the simple reason that it isn’t the way we choose to operate the fete. Gravity Head is a state of mind that lasts for weeks, and from the start, the guiding principle has been to accommodate our regular customers throughout the Greater Louisville area by providing successive, undulating waves of higher-gravity goodness.

The Founders “second wave” tradition has evolved over the past three or four years. Founders wares are distributed in Indiana by Cavalier, and it has been convenient for Mat to bring the whole crew down from Indianapolis to visit on an early March date, after Gravity Head has already begun. It also is convenient for John Host of Founders to be here during the same time.

In logistical terms, after the zany hysteria of opening weekend, our collective livers begin to flag as the Gravity Daze inexorably accumulate. By grouping all the Founders beers into a bloc, we can create the effect of relaunching Gravity Head, serving as the second half kickoff. We get to spend some time with John and Cavalier, and there is much happiness in the land.

One thing’s for sure: There will continue to be tinkering with the Gravity Head concept. Gravity Head may have started as my idea, but in the years since inception, thoughts and ideas from numerous other employees, guests, brewers and passers-by have gone toward making it into what you see now. Even I can’t say for sure what it will look like in five years. Comments or suggestions? Let me know, and thanks for your patronage.

Gravity Head 2012: The starting lineup.

(Updated at Noon on February 23; final lineup below)

All of the starters will be tapped and ready at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, February 24, when the Public House opens for Gravity Head tailgate breakfast. A final selection will be determined by the vote of fans (see below). For the .pdf of this year's official Gravity Form, go here.

00. NEW HOLLAND – STYLE UNTO ITSELF
New Holland Barrel Aged Charkoota Rye 8.4%
New Holland Blue Sunday “Gravity Head Sour Blend” 8.7%
New Holland Charkoota Rye 8%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk 10%
New Holland Envious Circa 8%
New Holland Golden Mean 8.1%
New Holland Imperial Hatter 9.4%
New Holland Silent Night 11%

5E. EISBOCK
Kulmbacher Eisbock “Bayerisch G’frorns” (2010) 9.2%

13F. RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout (cask; 2009) 10.5%
De Molen Cease and Desist (a.k.a. Rasputin, Disputin) 10.7%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE (Fan Vote Winner)
De Proef Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird) 9%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 15.04%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Left Hand Wake Up Dead (barrel-aged; nitro) 10.20%
NABC IX — Ninth Anniversary Ale (2010) 9%
NABC Oaktimus 10.7%
North Coast Grand Cru 12.9%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 12%
NABC/O'Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010)(keg) 10.7%

The cask-conditioned, gravity-pour pin of NABC/O'Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010) will be tapped on Friday, March 2.

All of the beers from Founders will constitute the now-traditional third weekend wave, starting on Friday, March 9. The Flat12 Winter Cycle will be tapped that day, too.

The list of beers eligible for the Gravity Head Fan Vote will be released next Monday, February 20, and the voting will commence from that time until Thursday (23rd) at Noon.

"From Cassel to New Albany," at LouisvilleBeer.com

My latest column is up at LouisvilleBeer.com ... remember that these appear twice monthly, and thanks for reading.

From Cassel to New Albany

Three of us were struggling up a fairly steep incline, our creaking rental bicycles squeaking and straining over ascending cobblestones. As a proponent of the manly cycling virtues, I found it impossible to admit that I lacked both gears and legs, and kept churning forward, but at some point I glanced backward and saw that my pal Tim Eads had given up the ghost...

Menu for the Louis Le Français beer dinner on Thursday, March 1.

The Gravity Head 2012 starting lineup ... will be appearing soon.

Until then, a number.

That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane -
Lenny Bruce is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn -
world serves its own needs, regardless of your own needs. Feed it up a knock,
speed, grunt no, strength no. Ladder structure clatter with fear of height,
down height. Wire in a fire, represent the seven games in a government for
hire and a combat site. Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry with the furies
breathing down your neck. Team by team reporters baffled, trump, tethered
crop. Look at that low plane! Fine then. Uh oh, overflow, population,
common group, but it'll do. Save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its
own needs, listen to your heart bleed. Tell me with the rapture and the
reverent in the right - right. You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright
light, feeling pretty psyched.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Six o'clock - TV hour. Don't get caught in foreign tower. Slash and burn,
return, listen to yourself churn. Lock him in uniform and book burning,
blood letting. Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate. Light a candle,
light a motive. Step down, step down. Watch a heel crush, crush. Uh oh,
this means no fear - cavalier. Renegade and steer clear! A tournament,
a tournament, a tournament of lies. Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives
and I decline.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

The other night I tripped a nice continental drift divide. Mount St. Edelite.
Leonard Bernstein. Leonid Breshnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs.
Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom! You symbiotic, patriotic,
slam, but neck, right? Right.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine...fine...

(It's time I had some time alone)

Menu for the Louis Le Français beer dinner on Thursday, March 1.

A smidgen of background information was provided here: Beer dinner and Alsatian choucroute garnie at the Frenchman's.

Now the menu can be announced, and it looks very good. The Frenchman would like for you to know that this will be a leisurely, continental evening. The meal and beers speak for themselves, so all I have to add is my sincere hope that you can join us for this event. Call Louis Le Français for reservations.

---

Louis Le Français

Special Event: Beer Dinner

Presented by Louis Le Français, Starlight Distribution and New Albanian Brewing Company


Thursday, March 1st, 2012


Door opens at 5:00 p.m.


Dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Menu

QUICHE LORRAINE -- onion and ham


Paired with Brasserie de Bretagne Saint Erwann Blonde (Abbey; 7% abv)


---


CATCH OF THE DAY ALSATIAN STYLE -- mixed seafood stew, beer sauce


Prepared and paired with NABC Tafel Bier (Belgian Pale Ale; 4% abv)


---


ALSATIAN SAUERKRAUT -- braised sauerkraut, bacon, pork shank, ham, sausage


Paired with Page-24 Biere de Printemps (Biere de Garde; 6% abv) and NABC Runkel Dunkel (Dark Lager; 6% abv)


---


MIXED GREENS SALAD, CROUTONS


Paired with Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca (Witbier; 4.8% abv)


---




GLAZED APPLE TART -- sautéed apples, custard, pastry crust




Paired with L’Hermitiere Cidre Brut (Sparkling Cider; 5% abv)


---


PARTING GLASS


Trois Dames Le Semeuse Espresso Stout (7.5% abv)


$55 per person, tax and gratuity not included.


Your patronage is greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting Downtown New Albany.


Louis Le Français, 133 East Market Street, New Albany, Indiana 47150
812-944-1222

Coomes: "Beer is booming in the Bluegrass."

And it's another fine essay on locally brewed craft beer by Steve Coomes. Speaking for myself, it isn't just that I have too little time to write about beer the way I once did. It's also that others are writing about beer, and quite well. I can barely keep track of regional developments, and that's a very good thing, indeed.

It doesn’t rival bourbon, but beer is booming in the Bluegrass, by Steve Coomes (Insider Louisville)

 ... Jason Schuster, specialty beer brands manager for River City Distributing, and one of two certified Cicerones (beer experts) in the state, attributed part of the beer boom to the area’s long-established restaurant scene.

“When you have a great restaurant selection like we do, and you have open-minded chefs who try lots of different things, you attract diners who like that kind of food,” he said. “It’s only natural that people who love that kind of food would be open to trying different kinds of beer … and our sales increases prove that people want much more than standard lagers.”

A brief glance at the specs for NABC's La Diable Tripel, coming in May.

We've feminized our Tripel, which will be available in 22oz bomber bottles in May, with limited draft concurrently.

---

La Diable Tripel

Patience is the key and virtue is the lesson from this malt bomb devil of a Belgian-style Tripel.


Malt: Rahr 2-row

Sugar: Sucrose

Hops: (German) Perle and Tettnanger, (Czech) Saaz

Yeast: House Belgian Ale

ABV: 8.5%

OG: 18 Plato

IBU: 33

Color: 5.7 SRM

A brief glance at the specs for NABC's Black & Bluegrass Saison, coming in April.

Black & Bluegrass Saison will be available in 22oz bomber bottles in April, with limited draft concurrently.

---


NABC Black & Bluegrass Saison

You can’t drink Black & Bluegrass in striped pants, but you can enjoy it alongside the many great meals prepared by creative kitchen minds at eateries throughout the Louisville metro area. It is Wallonian-style farmhouse ale, brewed with lemongrass and black pepper.

Malt: Rahr Pale and white wheat, Castle Aromatic

Sugar: Blue Agave Nectar

Hops: German Hallertauer Magnum

Spice: Toasted black pepper and lemongrass

Yeast: House Belgian Ale

ABV: 6%

OG: 15 Plato

IBU: 18

Color: 6.2 SRM

Preview: Valentine's Day at Bank Street Brewhouse.

NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse is now taking reservations for Valentine's Day (Tuesday, February 14).

We will have a special Valentine's Day menu created by Chef Matt Weirich, our usual fine craft beer selections, new selections on the wine list, and additions to our bourbon and spirits program.

Also, there'll be classical guitar music performed by Alexander Edwards. Alexander holds a Bachelor of Music degree in guitar performance from Stetson University, where he studied with Dr. Stephen Robinson. He is currently completing a Masters at the University of Louisville as a student of Dr. Stephen Mattingly.

Call us today at (812) 725-9585. Here's a look at the menu.

Valentine's Day at Bank Street Brewhouse

February 14, 2012

Starters

French Onion Soup w/ Gruyere Cheese 5

Grateful Greens Paradai Lettuce with Roasted Beets, Capriole Farms Goat Cheese, Toasted Pistachios, and a Crème Fraichè Vinaigrette 8

Spinach Salad with Candied Walnuts, Granny Smith Apple, Bacon Lardon, Moody Blue Bleu Cheese and a Bacon Vinaigrette 7

Brie en Croute – Brie wrapped in pastry and baked, Served with Apple, Honey and Crostini 9

Entrees

Brown Butter Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables and Parmesan Reggiano 14

8oz Filet of Beef with Pommes Pavè, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Domestic Mushrooms and Veal Stock Reduction 26

Cocoa Rubbed Diver Scallops with Fingerling Potatoes, Haricot Vert, and a Vanilla Beurre Blanc 28

Roasted Pork Chop with Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Apple Chutney, Broccoli Florets, and a Roasted Demi-Glace 22

Dessert

Beignet
Community Dark Ice Cream
15-B Chocolate Mousse

Dumbass AP reporter misses super point about Sunday sales in Indiana.

Indiana's small breweries and wineries can sell their own beer and wine for carry-out on Sundays, Jim Suhr.

Indiana liquor law could crimp Super Bowl parties

INDIANAPOLIS — Rich Pontolillo might merit a toast for his Super Bowl party preparations. He has beer and liquor stocked up ahead of the first Super Bowl ever held in his home state.

In Indiana, he didn’t have much choice about planning ahead: The state is among a handful that ban carryout liquor sales on Sundays, even with the NFL’s most-celebrated spectacle on the schedule

Advanced sampling with “Even More to Beer,” an IUS non-credit course, is coming again in March.

Join me for advanced sampling with “Even More to Beer.”

It’s the next step beyond my popular “Here’s to Beer” introductory course, but still accessible to craft beer newcomers. In theory, students will have completed the introductory section, but if your credentials are in order, exceptions may occur.

"Even More to Beer" is still open, so register soon.

Dates and times: Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.; 4 sessions starting March 7, 2012, and ending on April 4, 2012 (we'll take a night off for IUS spring break on March 28, 2012.

Tuition: $79.00

Location: NABC Pizzeria & Public House, 3312 Plaza Drive.

Class Description: We’ll be in the Brewhouse with David Pierce, NABC Director of Brewing Operations … taste how the New World’s craft revolution changed the Old … immerse our palates in eclectic Belgians … and explore Cellar Door Selections, a tasting of rarities from the Public House lock box.

To register: Call IUS at 812-941-2206 and/or go here.