ADI's Annual Spirits Conference and Vendor Expo returns to Kentuckiana.

Flashback to April, 2012 ...

Sticking a toe in the (distilled) water at the ADI annual conference.

Lew Bryson's in town for the American Distilling Institute's annual conference. The ADI gig runs through Wednesday at Huber's Orchard, Winery, Vineyards and Starlight Distillery, and ironically, after Lew returns home, NABC will be having much fun with Session Beer Day on Saturday, April 7.

My friend Jared Austin from The Big Easy came up to attend the conference, and as Lew explains in this posting at Seen Through A Glass, we three coincided at Bank Street Brewhouse on a beautiful Sunday afternoon: Run-up to ADI: Mecklenburg Gardens, and Louisville beers.

It's April again, and they're back.

2015 ANNUAL SPIRITS CONFERENCE & VENDOR EXPO

MARCH 30 – APRIL 2, 2015
KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER
LOUISVILLE, KY

I probably won't get a chance to go, but really need to try some of that Starlight Distillery Gin.

Two non-work days, Saturnaliacs.

It was the winter solstice on Friday, and another great time to remind all and sundry of the thoroughly pagan origins of the contemporary holiday season. In ancient Rome, this was Saturnalia time, and we recall the wise words of Catullus, who referred to Saturnalia as "the best of days."

I can deal with the egregiousness of the modern co-opted holidaze so long as we keep it naturalistic, and remember the Romans for their template. So, fine wishes, Saturnaliacs and more recent observers of Festivus, and to all a good pint, hopefully more.

For the record: Both NABC locations will be closed today and tomorrow, the 24th and 25th of December, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Both locations will reopen on Wednesday, December 26.

Fringe Fest 2012 overview, and what you should know about Open Door Youth Services.

Our fifth annual Fringe Fest opens on Thursday, October 11 at Bank Street Brewhouse. As in years past, we'll alter the normal working routine to harmonize with New Albany's civic celebration, Harvest Homecoming.

In practical terms, the recent conversion of BSB's parking lot into Lloyd's Landing means that previous legally mandated partitions and divisions no longer must be observed for the sake of a temporary permit. Rather, the food and drink and music can flow naturally from inside out and back, so long as beer in open containers stays inside the BSB perimeter and does not go out into the street.

Food
Music
Beer

I'm pleased to announce that from the proceeds of this year's Fringe Fest, a cash grant will be given to Open Door Youth Services: "Open Door Youth Services exists to respond to the needs and promote the healthy development of vulnerable children and youth."

Hope for good weather, and stop by while you're downtown during Harvest Homecoming.

Fringe Fest 2012: The beer list.

Weather permitting, much of Fringe Fest 2012 will take place in and around Bank Street Brewhouse's "new" areas: The WCTU Reading Room (former patio, now an indoor room with garage doors) and Lloyd's Landing (the outdoor beer garden, which until recently was the parking lot). For the occasion, we'll be emphasizing these selections:

Black & Blue Grass ... spiced Belgian
Get Off My Lawn ... session IPA
Gold ... session Blonde
Hoosier Daddy ... Crimson & Cream Ale
Strassen Bräu ... Märzen/Oktoberfest
Wet Knob ... American Pale Ale with local hops

Another half-dozen favorites will be available at the main dining room bar. Fringe Fest runs concurrently with "booth days" of Harvest Homecoming from Thursday, October 11 through Saturday, October 13. On Sunday, October 14, we resume the normal routine with Brunch and the build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar.

Fringe Fest musical lineup
Chef Matt Weirich's fest food menu
Facebook page: NABC's Fringe Fest

Fringe Fest 2012: The music.

There'll be another stellar musical lineup for your listening pleasure when the 5th edition of NABC's Fringe Fest convenes at Bank Street Brewhouse during that other festival's "booth days."

There's no cover, but we'll be checking IDs at the gate and issuing bracelets for those wishing to imbibe.

Thursday, October 11
6:00 p.m. Artificially Flavored
7:30 Ben Traughber
9:00 Broke Bandit
10:30 Squeezebot

Friday, October 12
7:30 p.m. Five Foot Fish
9:00 Jed and the Noisemakers (Acoustic)
10:30 Temple of the Golden Dawn

Saturday, October 13
6:00 p.m. Thunder Wrane
7:30 She Might Bite
9:00 Beeler Attic
10:30 Toledo Bend

Fringe Fest 2012: A sneak peek at Chef Matt's special food menu.

Fringe Fest 2012: A sneak peek at Chef Matt's special food menu.

Fringe Fest Volume Five planning proceeds, and in the coming days, I’ll be revealing as much as we know about this year’s program of beer, food and music.

As before, Fringe Fest takes place at Bank Street Brewhouse and runs concurrently with that other downtown celebration, from October 11 (Thursday) through the 13th (Saturday).

Normal kitchen service is suspended during Fringe Fest each year. On Sunday, October 14, there’ll be a return to the usual schedule, with Sunday Brunch and the do-it-yourself Bloody Mary Bar. During Fringe Fest’s 2012 run, a special menu will be served by Chef Matt Weirich, Sous Chef Bernie Collier and their stellar crew.

Here’s a sneak preview of the Fringe Fest menu, courtesy of Chef Matt:

Duck Fat Frites

Chili (made with beef, chorizo and pork)

Hummus w/Pita 

Pork BBQ

Chicken or Veggie Kebab (with rosemary marinade)

3D Valley Farms Angus Burgers

Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Sticks

Now you know: Good Hoosier beer is being brewed locally in places you might not expect.

The words I heard most often on Saturday that meant the most to me went something like this:

“I’ve never heard of any of these breweries.”

Yes, and that was the whole point.

Now you know that good beer is being brewed locally in Needmore (Salt Creek), Aurora (Great Crescent), Columbus (Power House) and Nashville (Big Woods), and also that good local beer is being brewed in Bloomington at an establishment (Cutters) differing from our longtime friends at Upland and Bloomington Brewing Company.

And cider and mead from New Day, and still more cider courtesy of Starlight.

In fact, to me the whole exercise on Saturday was about making friends and providing information, and as such, the Southern Indiana Craft Beer Showcase was a huge success. We also sold quite a lot of 10-oz portions, and so by a financial point of view, it panned out for NABC, too.

It wasn’t until the cold plates were pouring and the line of beer enthusiasts was beginning to form that it occurred to me: We had no hop bombs.

Granted, Hoptimus and Elector were available at the Bank Street Brewhouse dining room bar as always, but outside in the Reading Room for the craft showcase we’d managed ten different beers (5 house, 5 guests) composed of ten different styles (from Wit to Bourbon Barrel Stout) with nary an IPA among them.

And only a handful of visitors commented. Most were perfectly eager to try something new, and they came back for multiple portions. Depletions seemed to be about equal among the kegs, so there were no clear “winners,” and it wouldn’t matter if there were.

Thanks again to those who ventured out. It was a festive day, and times like that renew my confidence in what the craft beer movement’s all about.

In 2012, thanks again to LEO Readers' Choice voters for thinking of NABC.

I don't personally encourage anyone to vote in various reader polls, and NABC refrains from asking its customers and fans to cast dozens of ballots for the sake of the cause. Some times we are mentioned, some times not … and some times, as an underdog from underrated New Albany, it just feels fine to be vindicated as a business by readers of a Louisville-oriented publication.

That’s why again this year I’m thanking the academy and happily contradicting my usual shtick by posting the following results in the LEO annual Readers’ Choice poll. Allow me to offer kudos to all of our employees, and also to the many folks who took the time to pick NABC. Thank you.

Best Restaurant (Southern Indiana)
1) New Albanian Bank Street Brewhouse
2) Sam's Food and Spirits
3) Buckhead Mountain Grill
Second year running, and we're very appreciative.

Best Beer List
1) Sergio’s World of Beers
2) Tony BoomBozz
3) New Albanian Brewing Company (Pizzeria & Public House)

Best Bloody Mary
1) Outlook Inn
2) New Albanian Bank Street Brewhouse
3) Against the Grain
Listed under the Nightlife heading, although the Bloody Mary bar runs only on Sunday morning. I suppose it's always nighttime somewhere.

Best Local Beer (replacing last year's "Best Local Brewery")
1) Bluegrass Brewing Co.
2) Cumberland Brews
3) New Albanian Brewing Co.

A few GTMW 2012 summaries to close the books on another great trip.

My own account is here: Where is Winona, anyway?

From Madison's local media:

The best of the best from the 2012 Great Taste of the Midwest beer festival, by Robin Shepard (Isthmus/Daily Page)

... The festival continues to grow and bring in new participating breweries. Among those this year was 3 Sheeps Brewing of Sheboygan. Co-owner James Owen brought three beers to the festival: Rebel Kent the First amber ale, Really Cool Waterslides IPA, and BAAAD Boy black wheat. "This is unbelievable; this is the biggest festival we've been to so far, and we feel a little unprepared," Owen said as he looked at the crowd streaming in from the entry gate. The 3 Sheeps Brewery opened only a few months ago in Sheboygan, and its beers have only been available on a very limited basis, something that he hopes to soon change.

And, from a visiting New Englander:

wordpress.com/2012/08/16/bostonbeergoesmidwest/">A Boston Beer Drinker Goes (Mid)West, by Lee (beermebartender blog)

... When he informed me that there was a festival in Madison so popular that tickets could only be acquired in-person at some podunk liquor stores in WI or through an old-school mail-in lottery, I wrote my check immediately (but didn’t mail it until the specified date since all entries must be postmarked on the date indicated by the festival organizers. The devil’s in the details!). I won the lottery, and then 8 weeks later when Great Taste rolled around, I won the lottery again.

At LouisvilleBeer.com: A Great Taste wrap with a brewpub focus.

This year at the Great Taste of the Midwest, I patronized the less well publicized. The epiphanies continue.

Where is Winona, anyway?

Posted by Roger Baylor in Baylor on Beer | 0 comments

Over a quarter-century of the Great Taste of the Midwest’s evolution, during which I’ve had the sheer pleasure of attending six, this legendary beer festival in Madison, Wisconsin, has evolved into one of those signature “tale of the tape” events.

Give or take five hours, a couple dozen portable johns, 140 breweries, 500 sticks of bacon, 1,000 kegs, 6,000 attendees, and you begin to get a vague impression of the scrum that awaits. Furthermore, what you’ve always heard is true: Participating brewers plunder their top-most cellar shelves, bringing rare, innovative, barrel-aged, secret-ingredient-infused beers to suit the eager completist’s zeal.

Given civilization’s steady technological advancement, it’s only a matter of time until willing beer enthusiasts can implant a microchip into their noggins, enabling an optical scanner linking directly to RateBeer’s database, permitting the collector to make the absolute best use of limited time at the Great Taste, and drink only the most highly rated, elusive, badge-of-honor styles.

I believe this would be a mistake, and here is why.

NABC on the road: Beer & food at the Artisan Market in New Albany on August 16.

This should be called "NABC down the street," seeing as the Artisan Market is perhaps a twenty minute walk from Bank Street Brewhouse. If the catering application is approved, I'll be offering samples and also full pours in a "cash beer bar" setting from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, the 16th. 

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Hello Artisan Fans!

Our next Tasting Thursday will be on August 16th from 5 - 8pm. This is the second in our series of four after work mixers each month from July through October.

Our August event will feature the New Albanian with craft beer tasting and Patti Cakes Catering with some special treats. And don't forget, we will have 4 new featured store Artisans on hand to display their high quality hand craft.

Please join our casual, after work mixer and bring your friends. Last month was a great time and we're looking forward to our August tasting.

Attached is our flyer for this month that can serve as a reminder for you and your friends.

Looking forward to seeing you on the 16th.


Artisan Market
318 Vincennes Street

Find Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/myArtisanMarket

NABC on the road: Brew at the (Louisville) Zoo.

It's that time again. What does it make, the eighth Brew at the Zoo? I'll be in Lafayette for Beers Across the Wabash, but it is my understanding that Josh "Brewery Badass" Hill and Tony Beard will be on hand at the Zoo on the 25th.
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Louisville Zoo - Brew at the Zoo - August 25, 2012


Held at the Louisville Zoo Oasis band shell, tent and field.


Come enjoy unique brews from dozens of local & regional breweries, as well as a selection of locally produced wines, while enjoying delicious specialties from local restaurants. Bring your lawn chairs and lounge on the lawn while listening to the '70s and '80s inspired tunes of 100% Poly. A selection of non-alcoholic products and water will also be provided.


** ALL GUESTS must be 21 or older and must bring a valid id to the event. No exceptions made for any reason. Please drink responsibly.

NABC on the road: Eikosi Wine & Beer Festival (Salem IN; 09/01/12).

The Eikosi Wine & Beer Festival is is a brand new event in Salem, Indiana on Saturday, September 1 (Labor Day weekend).

Details are as yet being determined, but what I can tell readers is that NABC will be on hand, probably selling beers by the glass. Other Indiana craft brewers might also attend. I'll have more when the time comes.

Official Eikosi web site

NABC on the road: Dig-IN, A Taste of Indiana (Indianapolis IN; 08/26/12).

NABC was there last year, too. Here's the report, with photos:

Dig-In Indiana in Indianapolis.

I'm told the format will be a bit different this year, but the end result should be much the same: Good eats, good drinks, and a fine setting in downtown Indianapolis.

Official web site

NABC on the road: Beers Across the Wabash (Lafayette IN; 08/25/12).

I'll freely admit to having spent little time in the Lafayette area, and consequently, I'm really looking forward to working this event. If memory serves, NABC will have Black & Blue Grass and Naughty Girl on hand.

Welcome! Beers Across the Wabash is a craft beer tasting experience featuring beers and representatives from small breweries throughout Indiana. This will be the Lafayette-area's premiere craft beer tasting experience and is being held in a most unique location- the John T. Meyers Pedestrian Bridge over the Wabash River.

Official fest site

Josh Hill at the Indiana Microbrewers Festival.

Two appreciative fans succumb to the considerable charms of the Brewery Badass at last Saturday's Indiana Microbrewers Festival in Indianapolis.

A reminder: NABC's lineup at the Indiana Microbrewers Festival this Saturday.

As a reminder, here is what NABC will be pouring on Saturday at the 17th annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival. We have a double-wide pouring area, and our machines kill fascists.

Beak's Best
Black & Blue Grass
Haggis Laddie
Hoptimus
Knobentinus
Naughty Girl (2012; cask-conditioned)
Oaktimus
Yakima Rye IPA (Willett Rye barrel-aged)

Also: 2012 ReplicAle (Mild Ale)

NABC's lineup for the 17th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival on July 14.

The 17th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival almost is here. The straight dope can be found here, and for the sake of proper planning, here's the list of NABC beers making the trip up I-65 on July 14.

Beak's Best
Black & Blue Grass
Haggis Laddie
Hoptimus
Knobentinus
Naughty Girl (2012; cask-conditioned)
Oaktimus
Yakima Rye IPA (Willett Rye barrel-aged)

And: 2012 ReplicAle

"LIBA kicks off 'Independents Week' a little early with the Louisville Brewfest," coming June 22.

LIBA listened, and this year's Louisville Brewfest moves to a roomier Slugger Field. This has been a stellar event in the past, and you couldn't ask for better symbolism than Louisville's independent business alliance combining with the metro area's independent breweries to offer a uniquely tasteful evening. For the complete rundown, click here.

This Louisville celebration of local, independent brewers, independent businesses, and independent thinkers will shelve uniformity and celebrate our uniqueness. The Louisville Independent Business Alliance kicks off “Independents Week” a little early with the Louisville Brewfest!

NABC at the Buy Local 1st Fair at the Water Tower on Sunday, May 20.

Completing NABC's trifecta of events on the third weekend in May, 2012, is the fourth edition of the Buy Local First Fair, a celebration of local artisans and businesses, on Sunday, May 20.

Kentuckiana craft brewers will be on hand, although at this precise moment, I'm unsure which ones will be pouring apart from NABC. Here's the lowdown.

Buy Local First Fair

Sponsors: Louisville Independent Business Alliance, Grasshoppers Distributing and the Louisville Visual Art Association

When: Sunday, May 20, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Water Tower, 3005 River Road in Louisville KY

More information: rebecca(at)keeplouisvilleweird(dot)com

Description: The Buy Local First Fair, a celebration of locally owned/operated boutiques/shops, galleries, restaurants, breweries and much more. There will be farmers market booths, local art, handmade treasures, a variety of delicious food, live music, "Top Chef" competition, a kids area, craft beer and raffle. Please note: Pets are not allowed at the event.