With RiverRoots drawing near, here's the NABC beer list for the fest.

It’s almost time for RiverRoots, the annual music and folk arts festival on the banks of the Ohio in historic Madison, Indiana.

It takes place on Friday and Saturday nights, May 17 and 18, and for the eighth year running (actually, since the fest’s inception), NABC will be on hand to share beer vending duties with craft-brewing Hoosier friends: NABC’s lineup at RiverRoots 2013.

It's not really our balloon. It just looks that way.

Next: The NABC dirigible?

Actually, this is what can happen each year when the Kentucky Derby Festival's Great Balloon Race is held. The balloon itself is owned by the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention & Tourism Bureau.

Many thanks to Amanda Arnold for the photo.

As band and beer, Houndmouth slays Iroquois.

This summer, Houndmouth the band will be playing all over America and the world. Meanwhile, we're aiming to keep Houndmouth the beer on tap at both NABC locations for the next few months, and give it a fair trial on home turf. There might be a bit left over for occasional outside sales; if you're with a bar or restaurant and are interested, let me know.

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Last night at Iroquois Amphitheater afforded my first opportunity to experience the band Houndmouth in person.

Hyperbole aside: Wow.

To my ears, numerous musical strands come together in Houndmouth's music. It's baseball, hot dogs and apple pie American -- folk, country, roots and rock -- and you can spin a playlist wheel to guess exactly which element most influences a particular song, because the weaving is seamless, but I believe it's way more than that, because the most impressive thing about Houndmouth to me is an intangible.

In our everyday working lives, we discover very early that placing otherwise disparate individuals into a team setting only rarely produces transcendence. Probably we most often strive for a modicum of professionalism that permits chores to be accomplished and paychecks issued, but two or four or fifteen persons simply don't become one in spite of our efforts to make it seem so. We muddle in the foothills, and only dream of ascending the peak.

Chemistry? Once you have found it, never let it go.

Accordingly, speaking as a lifelong music fan who knows far less about music than he pretends to, seeing Houndmouth perform was a joy precisely because four band members functioned as one on stage. They picked up (and later switched) instruments, locked into a groove, and stayed right there, communicating effortlessly between themselves and with the crowd, musically wise beyond their ridiculously youthful years, but with all the pure joy of something brand new. Each member sings beautifully, and the harmonies alone were worth the price of admission.

My hunch is that in future years, I'll grin when viewing the ticket stub with the bargain basement price of $12 printed on it.

Meanwhile, I'm frightened to look at the Friday sales number at NABC's two establishments, because everyone I know seemed to be at Iroquois for last night's show. In addition, permit me to apologize for running out of beer after blowing through four kegs of Houndmouth (the ale) a full 45 minutes before the band even took the stage. We sent eight kegs to Louisville, but only four turned up on site at Iroquois.

If I would have been allowed to drive to the wholesaler's warehouse and get more beer, I'd have done so. In Indiana we could have done it, though not in Kentucky. Luckily, Houndmouth's music was so good that the perennial iniquities and frustrations of the three-tier beer distribution system rendered me only slightly homicidal afterward -- and that's quite a feat of seduction.

Honor Mother Earth Festival, with environmental consciousness and craft beer.

The Honor Mother Earth Festival looks to be the first New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater event of the summer. It’s a family friendly event with activities for all ages, and perhaps a refreshing pause by the river before trundling off to complete the day, because NABC will be vending beer.

Honor Mother Earth on May 11.

Robinson: “I’m excited for the opportunity to help lead the growing movement that is craft beer in Indiana,”

Here's the official press release from last Saturday's annual BIG meeting.

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BREWERS OF INDIANA GUILD ELECT NEW BOARD AND APPOINT NEW PRESIDENT

Indianapolis, IN (April 22, 2013) - The Brewers of Indiana Guild (B.I.G.) held its annual meeting on Saturday, April 20th at Sun King Brewing Company in Indianapolis. Founded in 2000, B.I.G. is a unified voice for craft brewers in Indiana and represents all of its 63 breweries.

The Board, which is made up of brewery owners and brewers from across Indiana, elected Clayton Robinson from Sun King Brewery as President, Ted Miller from Brugge Brasserie as Vice President, Chris Stanek of Crown Brewing as Treasurer, and as Jeff Eaton from Barley Island Brewing as Secretary.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to help lead the growing movement that is craft beer in Indiana,” said Clay Robinson. “We have seen tremendous growth in the number of breweries in Indiana and we need to continue to educate consumers and share the great things about craft beer from its depth and range of flavors to the way our brewers, who are all independent business people, give back to their local communities.”

New members include Jerry Connor (BIER Brewery), DJ McCallister (Black Swan Brewpub), Justin Miller (Black Acre Brewing), Nick Davidson (Tin Man Brewing), John Lang (Triton Brewing) and Bill Webster (Fountain Square Brewery). They join the existing ten-member board. Together they will work to promote awareness and appreciation for the quality and variety of beer produced in Indiana.

To learn more about craft beer and breweries in Indiana, visit the Brewers of Indiana Guild website at www.brewersofindianaguild.com

Teaching craft beer advocates how to relate to people?

If you're interested in craft beer reaching that next ten percentile, listen to Professor Alda. Thanks to MC for the link.

Professor Alan Alda teaches scientists how to speak (at CBS Sunday Morning)

At 77, Alan Alda the actor has become Alan Alda the real-life professor, teaching scientists how to relate to people in ways they can actually understand.

"You don't think of knowledge as a curse, but it's a curse if I think you know everything I know and I talk to you in ways [where] you can't understand me," Alda said. "So that's not only the public, that's policy makers like Congress, who have told me over and over again they cannot understand scientists who come in to talk to them."

"So a scientist comes in, testifies on Capitol Hill, Congress doesn't know what he or she's talking about?" said Smith.

"Why would you give money to somebody whose work you don't understand?" Alda asked.

He's not a Mad Anthony sales rep, he's ...

... Clay Robinson of Sun King, who was elected President of the Brewers of Indiana Guild at the organization's annual meeting last Saturday.

Indianapolis Indians, Victory Field and a merciful end to "don't ask, don't tell" in local craft beer access.

Yesterday, the Louisville Bats drove north on I-65 to play a couple of games against the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field, which opened in 1996, just before Slugger Field was built. Both are prototypes of the simultaneously newfangled and old-fashioned approach to entertaining baseball fans. I pondered: Are there craft beer options at Indianapolis's home park, and if so, how do they compare with the perennially disappointing macro-mania fixation in Louisville?

My verdict after light Internetz research: Thumbs up.

First, the standard disclaimer, to be considered any time one cannot actually be there to see things up close and personal. It pertains to the bastardization of the "craft" concept by multinational, industrial brewers. Absent qualification, it remains likely that "craft" in many PR-speak contexts probably includes beers that are "crafty" (i.e., mockrobrews like Shock Top and zombie crafts such as Goose Island), and not locally-brewed craft beer.

That said, the scene at Victory Field looks good, and I'm probably going to get a few supplemental comments about choices I'm omitting by concentrating on Sun King. In the past, Upland beers have been available, too, and maybe others.

If for no other reason, consider the screenshot.

It reveals the Indianapolis Indians social media department committing an act of enthusiasm almost unknown in Louisville: Touting a local business, and a local brewing business at that ... as though (shudder) localism actually meant something.

Wow.

It reads like something approximating actual pride involved, not merely money, which is a refreshing change of pace from the dry, bloodless countenance of the Louisville Bats approach, which if entirely honest would feature a besuited, actuarial Buddy Bot as mascot.

Make no mistake: I understand that Sun King's marketing position at Victory Field is the result of a pay-to-play proposition. To what extent, I've no idea. And yet, think of the traditional handshake methodology of the Bats, wherein generous multinational brewing monolith tithing not only translates into guaranteed access for swill, but effectively blocks localism in beer, as well.

Victory's approach appears to be dedicated to the proposition that mega and micro are not mutually exclusive, surely because Indians management concedes the existence of demand for craft beer among the customer base -- a statistical certainty that neither the Bats beancounters nor others in Louisville own craft brewing community seem willing to do.

Entertaining all the fans who come to a game by offering choice? Incredible, but Indianapolis appears to be getting it.

Have you attended games in Indianapolis? Let me know how it works there as we continue to build a case for proper, genuine, locally-brewed craft beer at Louisville Slugger Field.

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Sun King Indians Victory Lager named official craft beer of Indianapolis Indians (Beer Pulse)

Starting with opening day of the 2012 season, Sun King Brewing Co. is the Official Craft Beer of the Indianapolis Indians. Brewer/owner Dave Colt crafted a specialty beer in honor of this new partnership, Indians Victory Lager

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CAPTAIN MORGAN COVE

The Captain Morgan Cove offers a full bar, including wine, spirits, Indiana craft beers on tap and a selection of specialty drinks. Wait service is available to the seated guests.

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Previously: 

Toledo's Fifth Third Field

Columbus Clippers: Locally brewed craft beer is a positive enticement. Imagine that.

Cavalier Distributing to assume NABC distribution in Floyd and Clark Counties in Indiana.

Effective on April 22, 2013, we’re shifting our local Indiana distribution to Cavalier Distributing. The patience of our customers is greatly appreciated as we transition local orders and deliveries to Cavalier, which already handles NABC throughout the remainder of Indiana. Read the rest here:

Cavalier Distributing to assume NABC distribution in Floyd and Clark Counties in Indiana

At LouisvilleBeer.com: "The Sahara of Slugger Field."

In the days since I filed this column, Against the Grain's Sam Cruz was asked by Eater Louisville to elaborate on the tweets I mention herein. Here's the link. Sam's also been discussing the same topic at the Louisville Restaurants Forum. Nothing has been heard from the team or concessionaire; no surprise there.

Coincidentally, Against the Grain's also about to garner some great publicity in Europe: Against the Grain road trip: "The Euro market is no stranger to Against the Grain beers."

Back to baseball: I've also recently taken a cursory look at the scene in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio cities where Triple-A ballparks seem to have a tighter grip on the modern world. As time permits, I'll continue to review choices in other places when the Bats travel elsewhere.

The Sahara of Slugger Field by Roger Baylor

It's not even the best of AB-InBev

The Triple-A Louisville Bats began play earlier this month amid the usual hot stove and cold fridge speculation as to whether Louisville Slugger Field finally would join the craft (beer) (food) (bourbon) (dining) (localism) (choose one) revolution currently underway in Louisville, as well as in most other baseball outposts scattered through the remainder of the United States.

If you’ve lived in these parts for any amount of time and possess the patience to read this far, you’ve already guessed the answer.

Against the Grain road trip: "The Euro market is no stranger to Against the Grain beers."

(Press Release) 

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Against The Grain Brewery will be one of only 30 of the greatest brewers on the planet to bring beers to The Copenhagen Beer Celebration in Denmark on May 3-4. The CBC, as it’s commonly known, was established in 2012,”to gather the absolute best brewers around the world, with the intent to celebrate them and their fantastic beer.” We are honored to have been selected to showcase our brewery and beers for this event. It is one of the worlds most respected artisan beer festivals on the globe. We are proud to show that Kentucky can send not only good bourbon out into the world but beer as well! The CBC will take place on May 3 & 4 in Copenhagen, DK. We will showcase around 12 different beers during the fest, some of which have been available in local markets before and others served for the first time.

For more information on the CBC check out the link … http://copenhagenbeercelebration.com/blog/

In conjunction with traveling to Europe for the CBC, Against the Grain will also take the opportunity to do some collaborative beer projects with three of the worlds most revered brewers.

In late April, we will travel to Oostvleteren, Belgium to produce a beer with iconic brewer Urbain Coutteau of De Struise Brouwers. The yet to be named beer will wrap up over a year of planning and discussion for the brewers to produce a unique marriage of styles and specialty techniques. For more info on De Struise, follow the link … http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/de-struise-brouwers/9244/

On the second leg of the AtG Euro-trip, we will stop in Bodegraven, Holland to brew the Euro incarnation of our own cultish beer, Bo & Luke (a barrel aged imperial smoked stout), with Menno Oliver of Brouwerij De Molen. Lending to an already established history of collaborative brewing, we will take the Bo & Luke concept to De Molen and create a different version of this already amazing beer! For more info on De Molen or Bo & Luke follow the links … http://www.brouwerijdemolen.nl/ http://www.atgbrewery.com/Menu/Beer/2/Dark/3/Bo-Luke/246

Our last stop before the CBC takes us to a brewery located in Kastrup, Denmark to produce the final of our collaBeerations. We will work with brewmasters at Amager Bryghus to produce a beer to go into bottles and a portion exported from Denmark to the USA for sale. The beer, to remain a mystery, will be a part of Against the Grain’s first entry into foreign markets in bottle format. We are very excited at the opportunity to work with the guys at Amager, as we share many similarities, most notably the desire to rage in a brewhouse and make some kick ass beers! For more info on Amager Bryghus, follow the link… http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/amager-bryghus/8189/

While we are excited to visit Europe and work with such amazing members of the global brewing community, the Euro market is no stranger to Against the Grain beers. Since our inception, it has been our goal to produce world class beer. The only way to truly take a measure of our products claim to being world class, is to send them to the most critical markets on the globe for scrutiny. We are proud to say that, much like our local markets, global markets also receive Against the Grain beers with the enthusiasm that keeps us innovating, experimenting, and brewing cutting edge beers without compromise.

At the Carnival Barker’s Blog: "Thunder, craft beer, river ... "

If you're a fan of craft beer AND Thunder Over Louisville, check into the craft beer extravaganza at Buckhead Mountain Grill in Jeffersonville. It's this Saturday, April 20, and I cover the basics here:

Carnival Barker’s Blog: Thunder, craft beer, river

The final Gravity Head 2013 update and tally.

Something like 45 days and several thousand Gravity pours later ... here's the final update.

Gravity Head 2013 lineupdate page ... what's tapped?

Dubois County Bombers baseball club has new management; summer craft plans unknown.

I was wondering why we hadn't heard from the Dubois County Bombers after two years of vending craft beer at League Stadium, but this article helps to explain why: Our contact no longer is with the team.

But personnel changes are part of the game, and in my estimation, this new angle of primarily local ownership is the best possible course for the team. I might have caught the story sooner, though, seeing as the changes began last December.

As yet, it is unclear whether the new management team wishes to stay on the craft beer path, or even if it does, whether the chosen brand will be NABC. Either way, it's okay. We had much fun the past two summers at games in Huntingburg, and I'm sure we'll make it down for a game or three in 2013.

Dubois County Bombers under new ownership, new coach and new general manager

A group of local business-owners and residents has purchased the Dubois County Bombers and announced big changes for the local wooden bat baseball team.

Preparation for the Dubois County Bombers 2013 season is in full swing, both on and off the field. As players are being recruited, the team is also implementing major changes beyond the dugout. These changes include new ownership, new league membership, and a new coach and general manager.

Columbus Clippers: Locally brewed craft beer is a positive enticement. Imagine that.

The Louisville Bats are in Columbus for games against the Clippers at Huntington Park, which opened in 2009, just shy of a decade after the inception of Louisville Slugger Field.

I was wondering: Are there craft beer options at Columbus's home park, and if so, how do they compare with the perennially disappointing macro-mania situation in Louisville?

My verdict after light Internetz research: Thumbs mostly up.

There's a disclaimer to be considered any time one cannot actually be there to see things up close and personal, and it pertains to the bastardization of the "craft" concept by multinational, industrial brewers. Absent qualification, it remains likely that "craft" in these and most other PR-speak contexts probably includes beers that are "crafty" (i.e., mockrobrews like Shock Top and zombie crafts such as Goose Island) and not locally-brewed craft beer.

However, Columbus Brewing Company has at least two beers inside the yard, and not only that, the ball club seems to have refrained from burying these choices behind bags of hot roasted nuts. Amazingly, Columbus seems to regard locally brewed beer an an enticement.

After all, Ohio is a blue state.

Here are a few links that tell the story. Excerpts are from the articles, and are not mine.

Have you attended games in Columbus?

Let me know how it works there as we continue to build a case for proper, genuine craft beer at Louisville Slugger Field.

At Stadium Journey, the presence of Beer Ahoy and two locally brewed Columbus Brewing Company beers is duly noted.

 ... If you would like to grab a beer, then "Beer Ahoy" is a good place to stop. Here you can find one of the local Columbus Brewing Company Beers, including the pale ale and a very good I.P.A. ($6.25 or $8.50).

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wordpress.com/2012/04/05/columbus-clippers-and-huntington-park/">COLUMBUS CLIPPERS AND HUNTINGTON PARK, by John Schumacher

... I find myself back in Columbus and still can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day than at Huntington Park, watching a Clippers game with a cold Columbus Brewing Company India Pale Ale in hand.

Previously: Toledo's Fifth Third Field

West Sixth IPA wins Beeracket vote.

It's great ale, and it's in cans. Now it's a winner, too. The bracket was sponsored by Liquor Barn and LouisvilleBeer.com

I really need to get over to Lexington soon.

Congratulations to West Sixth IPA by John Wurth

A HUGE congratulations goes out to Lexington's West Sixth IPA for winning the 1st Annual Beeracket (brought to you by our friends at Liquor Barn). They have been voted by our visitors to be the Best Beer in Kentucky. I knew this beer would go far in the bracket, and I'm happy to see them take it all the way. If you haven't visited Lexington, be sure and make the trip and discover their burgeoning beer scene. The IPA isn't the only good beer they produce. Trust me!

Toledo Mud Hens view locally brewed craft beer as positive enticement. Imagine that.

As of Thursday evening, the Louisville Bats are in downtown Toledo for games against the Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field, which was built in 2002, just after Louisville Slugger Field opened.

I was wondering: Are there craft beer options at Toledo’s home park, and if so, how do they compare with the perennially dismal situation in Louisville?

My verdict after light research: Thumbs mostly up.

There's a disclaimer to be considered any time one cannot actually be there to see things up close and personal, and it pertains to the bastardization of the "craft" concept by multinational, industrial brewers. Absent qualification, it remains likely that "craft" in these and most other PR-speak contexts probably includes beers that are "crafty" (i.e., mockrobrews like Shock Top and zombie crafts such as Goose Island) and not locally-brewed craft beer.

However, Toledo's Maumee Bay Brewing Company has at least two beers inside the yard and brews one "just for the Hens." Not only that, but the ball club seems to have refrained from hiding these choices, and miracle of miracles, actually promotes them as a positive reason for buying tickets.

Ohio must be a blue state.

At Fifth Third Field, four "craft" beer tastings are on tap for the season, as held on the field side of the turnstiles, not somewhere outside.

Finally, the stadium authority has embraced progressive aspects of New Urbanism to retrofit concessions areas, and such renovations are sorely needed in Louisville.

Here are a few links that tell the story. Excerpts are from the articles, and are not mine.

Have you attended games in Toledo? Let me know how it works there as we continue to build a case for proper, genuine craft beer at Louisville Slugger Field.

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Try a Broken Bat beer; brewed just for the Hens!

Try a Broken Bat beer next time you're at Fifth Third Field! Broken Bat is brewed by Maumee Bay Brewing Company exclusively for the Mud Hens! Wet your whistle with Broken Bat or Buckeye Beer, available at the Hen & Hound casual dining station on the main concourse, or upstairs in the club level.

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Maumee Bay Brewing

For the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field, they are brewing Broken Bat Kolsch Ale. Both Broken Bat and Buckeye Beer are available on draft at the games.

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May 17- - Pub 315 plays host to the first Beer Tasting Event of the season. 

Tickets to the beer tasting events will include an all you can eat buffet, beer samples from several craft beer vendors, and a souvenir giveaway. The other beer tasting dates are: June 6, July 5, and August 1

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Mud Hens debut new foods, concourse face-lift

Fans entering the concourse at Fifth Third Field this season will notice some major changes as all eight concessions venues have new names, new signs and renovated facades.

The goal of the face-lift was to evoke the feel of a downtown streetscape, said Craig Nelson, president of A Cut Above Catering, the official catering group of Fifth Third Field.

“The whole concept originated with asking how can we upgrade all our dining stations and make it feel like you’re walking down this downtown street, trying to choose where to have dinner or where to get dessert,” Nelson said.

BBC & NABC Tap Annihilation at The Tap in Bloomington.

We're getting together on Friday with our friends from Bloomington Brewing to feature beers at The Tap, then hitting the 3rd Annual Bloomington Craft Beer Festival on Saturday. For the scoop and links: Bloomington Brewing Company & New Albanian Tap Annihilation at The Tap in Bloomington.

About that Harvest pork and beer dinner with NABC ...

"A cat will look down to a man. A dog will look up to a man. But a pig will look you straight in the eye and see his equal."
-- Winston Churchill

Tuesday night, Harvest Restaurant hosted a 4-course NABC beer dinner, with the  delectable theme being Chef Coby Ming's “snout-to-tail” pork dishes, sourced from Red Wattle hogs raised at Barr Farms.

See Colette Henderson's review at Louisville.com

I'll remember this farm-to-table-with-beer dinner because of its sheer excellence, both in concept and execution. There is something elemental about meat and beer, and in the current age, it is useful to recall the bulk of human history, wherein there was no squeamishness in the notion of eating the entirety of an animal and appreciating what it means to be carnivorous without the attendant hypocrisy.

Coby's beer pairings were spot on, too. When pork roast met Bonfire, palates in Munich undoubtedly started quivering.

Unfortunately for Harvest, there was an epidemic of last-minute cancelled reservations, the bane of restaurants on normal evenings and even worse when so much effort goes into a special event.

Ostensibly, these fair-weather cancellations arose from the imperative of viewing the U of L women play in the final game of the NCAA basketball tournament, although it is more likely the no-shows were suffering from the previous evening's celebrations after the men's team won its tournament, and probably didn't even know the women even had a team until it was mentioned on the men's telecast.

Either way, they missed it, didn't they? It's why we have words like "wanker."

They missed hog jowl scones, pretzel crostini, smoked rib jam, and an open-faced pastrami tongue & cheek Reuben as appetizers.

They missed posole, beer-brined head, trotters and hocks, hominy, toasted garlic-coriander broth, cabbage and grilled rapini, porchetta, baby salad greens, Blue Dog Bread crostini, pickled ramp relish and crispy ears.

They missed pork roast, boulangerie potato cake, crispy pork rillons, carbonnade jus, crispy sweet potatoes and a dessert of Old 15-B chocolate ganache truffle, torched malted marshmallow, sugar-spiced pork rinds and coffee gastrique.

The author shrugs. It only meant there was more for me. Harvest is a treasure, and you need to eat there.

VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR US in this exciting new NABC Beer Racket Bracket contest!!!

Now that college basketball is over, it's the perfect time for NABC to get into the bracket game. After all, we're leaders -- not followers!!!

Through a rigged blind draw, we've selected the 16 NABC beers most likely to be purchased by ratings-conscious beer aficionados!!!

All we're asking is that amid our frequent social media exhortations to vote, that you actually vote early and often for your favorites as they progress through the bracket!!!

Vote for them, continue voting, and then vote some more, and eventually -- unless we need more votes -- one of them will be declared the winner!!!

The real fun begins when a winner has been selected, because once the local Louisville metro market has chosen its absolute bar-none favorite NABC beer, we herewith vow to ship virtually all of it to some other American city!!!

Because that's how those vital on-line rating dudes are gonna love on us some more!!!

(Er, well, uh, does this mean I have to provide ballots? Oops, I mean, !!!) 

NABC is seeking a full-time brewery representative.

Just the other day, I broke the news that Richard Atnip is moving from one New Prefixed Brewery to another: Richard’s going to work for New Holland, and NABC wishes him the best.

Obviously, we need to recruit a replacement, and so I have posted a job description and information about how to apply.

Readers, if you or any of your friends might be interested in the position, please examine the description and share. Thanks. It is here: NABC is seeking a full-time brewery representative.

The Louisville Bats really must hate craft beer to marginalize it this way.

April 17 update: Why Isn't Against the Grain's Beer Available at Louisville Slugger Field's Concession Stands?, at Eater Louisville.

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Courtesy of the Louisville Bats club and its conniving henchmen at Centerplate, there's the "Best of Belgium" at Slugger Field, now with Bud Light, too, which is about as Belgian as Ronald Reagan.

And what of American-made craft beer, the world leader in innovation, as so richly represented in the territories comprising the Bats' fan base?

It's just as sad a situation as during the last couple of years, with craft beer restricted to the virtual ghetto of the roasted peanut stand on the main concourse near section 115, with signage limited to table tents so as not to offend the behemoths who grease the wheels.

As craft beer and baseball fan JZ reports at the Slugger Craft-Beer Facebook page ...

Opening day choices: BBC APA, Kentucky Ale, Magic Hat No. 9, and Leinenkugel Summer Shandy.

Of course, the latter two are crafty, not craft, but there's even more from our friend DH:

Inside the park I opted for a Bats Brew, which was described to me as "an Amber out of Tennessee". Sort of a poor man's Fat Tire.

In 2012, a fan encountering Bats Brew was told that it was ABInBev's Amber Bock in crafty disguise. Rather like putting the Louisville Slugger name on a piece of wood lathed in China, although the Bats never would be able to grasp the analogy.

As baseball clubs at all levels begin to see that the very best reason to vend locally-brewed craft beer is market-based -- because fans want locally brewed craft beer -- our Bats and their Centerplate hatcheteers continue to succumb to the simple avarice of pay-to-play dealings with multinationals.

At least we're not the only fan base with this difficulty. Here is what the New York Yankees believe is craft.

The Yankees’ “craft beer” stand is anything but

Craig Calcaterra

Apr 4, 2013, 9:45 AM EDT

75 Comments

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Amanda Rykoff went to the Yankees home opener and discovered that they have a stand called “Craft Beer Destination.”  And what sorts of good craft beer do they sell there? Maybe Six Point? Maybe Brooklyn? Maybe something from Ommegang upstate? There is a lot of good beer in New York! What is it?

These so-called “Craft Beers” — (from left to right) Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Crispin Cider, and Batch 19 lager — are all products of MillerCoors. Miller and Coors aren’t exactly niche products.

Richard’s going to work for New Holland, and NABC wishes him the best.

We're sending another up-and-comer out into the world: Richard Atnip, NABC's brewery rep, is headed to Chicago to work for New Holland Brewing Company in a similar capacity.

Read all about it here: Richard’s going to work for New Holland, and NABC wishes him the best.

From Gravity to Session this weekend.

Gravity Head is winding down, and Session Head is here. In a nutshell, the weekend NABC schedule looks like this.

Gravity Head Fan Appreciation Night
Friday, April 5 at the Pizzeria & Public House
The handful of remaining Gravity Head listed selections will continue to be tapped and poured, but we're on the downward arc. On Friday, April 5, all Gravity Head listed selections currently on tap will be priced as specials, all day long.

Session Head 2013
Starts Saturday, April 6 at the Pizzeria & Public House
Officially, Session Beer Day is on Sunday, but NABC is starting early on Saturday with Session Head. Consider it the polar opposite of Gravity Head; instead of small pours of big beers, it's full pours of small beers. The list is here, along with the session beer philosophy. Read, absorb, and act. Hoops junkies already know that the University of Louisville's game begins around 6:00 p.m. If the Cardinals advance to the final game on Monday, and even it they don't, it will be shown at the Pizzeria & Public House (Bank Street Brewhouse is closed on Mondays).

Session Beer Day 2013
Sunday, April 7 at Bank Street Brewhouse
We'll observe Session Beer Day at Bank Street Brewhouse, with our weekly Sunday brunch (prime rib and the omelette station on the first Sunday of the month) and NABC session series pints on special throughout the day.

Links
More on Session Beer Day at Lew Bryson's Session Beer Project site
NABC's session observance preview at Session Beer Project
wordpress.com/2013/04/03/session-beer-day-2013/">Session Beer Day 2013 at the Beermebartender blog
For a contrarian viewpoint, there's always Joe Sixpack (Don Russell) in Philly

Harvest hosting 4-course NABC beer dinner April 9.

Details here: Harvest hosting 4-course NABC beer dinner April 9

Harvest and the New Albanian Beer Co. will present a night of great food and local craft beer backed by The 23 String Band's all-original music. According to a news release, the menu will center on “snout-to-tail” pork offerings made from Red Wattle hogs raised at Barr Farms.

Ripped from the pages of LEO Weekly.

Just funnin' ... Ben Minton's design, with a bit of Tony Beard touch-up.