An unprecedented third "troika" weekend of Gravity Head begins on Friday, March 8.

Gravity Head 2013’s third weekend begins at 11:00 a.m. this Friday morning, March 8, and it’s going to be a troika of epic dimensions.

It’s “Cavalier Distributing & Founders Brewing Night,” but this alone inadequately describes the scene, because most and possibly all of the Gravity Head tap space will be allocated to three breweries. Representatives from each will be on hand. Follow the highlighted links for more detailed descriptions of their beers:

Flat12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis IN)
Founders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids MI)
New Albanian Brewing Company (New Albany IN)

Founders and NABC are distributed in Indiana by Cavalier, while Flat12 is available through World Class Beer.

Here’s the list of 19, which includes two previously unannounced NABC cellar * bonuses:

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Flat12 Pinko Russian Imperial Stout 10.3%

Founders Imperial Stout (2011) 10.5%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE

Flat12 Highway to Hops 10%

Flat12 Winter Cycle 9.3%

NABC/De Struise/LBS B’Urban Trotter (2011) 9.2%

19A. OLD ALE

Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale 9.8%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE

*NABC Jaxon (2010) 11%

21A. SPICE, HERB, OR VEGETABLE BEER

Founders Breakfast Stout (2011) 8.3%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER

Flat12 Bourbon Barrel Winter Cycle Double IPA (2012) 9.4%

Flat12 Pinko RIS KGBaylor (Pappy Van Winkle) 11%

Flat12 Pinko RIS Nitro (Pappy Van Winkle) 10.5%

Founders Backwoods Bastard (2012) 10.2%

Founders Bolt Cutter (15^th Anniversary) 15%

NABC IX — Ninth Anniversary Ale (2010) Circa 9%

NABC Bourbondaddy (2012) 9.5%

*NABC Quadrageddon (2011) Circa 9.2%

23. SPECIALTY BEER

NABC/O'Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010) 10.7%

NABC Stumble Bus (2012) 11.2%

NABC Turbo Hog (2012) 9.5%

The mystery Founders ale for Gravity Head is Bolt Cutter.

Reader Caleb reminded me that I forgot to reveal the identity of the Founders "mystery" ale for Gravity Head 2013, although everyone seemed to have guessed it, anyway.

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER

A harmonious blend of the base beer style with characteristics from aging in contact with wood (including any alcoholic products previously in contact with the wood). The best examples will be smooth, flavorful, well-balanced and well-aged.

Founders Bolt Cutter (15th Anniversary)

Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids MI

Base style: American Barleywine

Hops: A “mountain” of Cascades for dry-hopping

Bitterness: IBUs

Original Gravity:

Alcohol by volume: 15%

www.foundersbrewing.com

Gravity Head Twist: The Founders Backstage Series presents this 15^th anniversary Barleywine, with portions of it barrel aged (bourbon barrels and maple syrup-bourbon barrels), and blended with portions non-barrel aged. Named for the bolt cutter acquired by a Founders founder more than ten years ago when foreclosure seemed likely. But success was just around the corner.

Gravity Head 2013: Back to the Founders future with mystery on Friday, March 8.

01/31 Update: Gravity Head's 62 beers here

At roughly the same time that my projected mid-January Gravity Head update was about to come due, our Founders Brewing Company representative, John Host, messaged to say he had procurement matters in hand for what has become an annual Founders showcase on the third Friday of Gravity Head, which doubles as a Southern Indiana field trip for Cavalier Distributing’s team.

Just a couple of days later, further word came that John Host no longer was employed at Founders.

Understandably, this surprising turn of events caused some measure of confusion. I felt compelled to formulate a back-up plan, just in case one was needed. However, yesterday I spoke with Cavalier, where Aaron and Jen have been working the phones. Happily, we’re going to be able to keep the Founders third weekend Gravity Head focus alive, albeit with a touch of short-term mystery.

Alongside these kegs from Founders, there’ll be blocs of Flat12 and NABC beers, all slated for tapping on March 8.

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT

Founders Imperial Stout (2011)
Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids MI

Malts: Ten varieties

Bitterness: 90 IBUs

Alcohol by volume: 10.5%

www.foundersbrewing.com

Gravity Head Twist: The Publican endorses the use of terms like “jet black” and “motor oil” to describe this straight, unadorned, perennially honest Imperial Stout.

19A. OLD ALE

Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids MI

Malts: “Insane malt bill” and

molasses as an adjunct

Bitterness: 50 IBUs

Alcohol by volume: 9.8%

www.foundersbrewing.com

Gravity Head Twist: Founders suggests we think about “classic sea faring ports, local pubs, and weathered old fisherman,” but shouldn’t the imagery be about the Great Lakes? The Publican prefers thinking about his own nickname, prefixed with Potable, and also appropriately weathered.

21A. SPICE, HERB, OR VEGETABLE BEER

Founders Breakfast Stout (2011)

Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids MI

Malts: Indeterminate, but includes flaked oats, bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, and Sumatra and Kona coffees.

Hops: Why do you ask?

Bitterness: 25 IBUs

Alcohol by volume: 8.3%

www.foundersbrewing.com

Gravity Head Twist: Has any single beer been used as the base for more fascinating experiments than this one? From beerhaikudaily.com, come words for living:

bacon, eggs, and beer
everyday should start with
breakfast stout at 10!

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER

Founders Backwoods Bastard (2012)

Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids MI

Base style: Strong Scotch Ale

Malts: “Ten varieties of mported malt”

Bitterness: 50 IBUs

Alcohol by volume: 10.2%

www.foundersbrewing.com

Gravity Head Twist: Founders makes a Scotch/Wee Heavy called Dirty Bastard, and bourbon barrels come from the backwoods of Kentucky. Put the two together, and you have a familiar stereotype, complete with bearded hillbilly on the label. But where’s the hootch, the shine, the mountain dew? Coal smoke instead of peat?  

Founders Bolt Cutter

(15^th Anniversary)

Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids MI

Base style: American Barleywine

Hops: A “mountain” of Cascades for dry-hopping

Bitterness: IBUs

Original Gravity:

Alcohol by volume: 15%

www.foundersbrewing.com

Gravity Head Twist: The Founders Backstage Series presents this 15^th anniversary Barleywine, with portions barrel aged (bourbon barrels and maple syrup-bourbon barrels), and blended with portions non-barrel aged. Named for the bolt cutter acquired by a Founders founder more than ten years ago when foreclosure seemed likely.

*Founders “Mystery Ale” ? 10%-20% ?*

I’ll step out on a limb and suggest that once I’m able to reveal the identity of the mystery ale (announced on January 31), the timing of which is entirely up to Founders, you’ll understand why its very presence bolsters the Michigan brewery’s Gravity Head lineup in an otherwise leaner year. Note that Bob Kaiser of Founders will be on hand March 8, along with the Cavalier crew. I’ll know what Flat12 is sending soon.

NABC’s March 8 lineup is here.

Thanks to everyone for making this happen, and to John: Hope to see you soon for a civilized pint somewhere.

Whoa, that was fast.

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout ... gone at 3:00 p.m. Pictured are the last two half-pints. Here's the current lineup, but it won't be current for long.

Founders invades Gravity Head on Friday, March 9 ... and a look at the Gravity Head schedule in 2013.

(March 8 update: To a non-Gravity Head keg of Founders Centennial IPA added yesterday to Friday's tap list, Eric has sourced a Gravity Head special cameo keg of Founders Backwoods Bastard, bringing the number of Founders ales to be poured Friday to 11. You're welcome.)


Gravity Head 2012 rolls forward, albeit with ranks thinning more rapidly than ever before. At 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning (March 9), Gravity Head’s third weekend will open at NABC’s Pizzeria and Public House with this powerful wave of ales from Founders (Grand Rapids, Michigan):

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Imperial Stout (2010) 10.5%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Founders Double Trouble 9.4%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
Founders Blushing Monk Founders Brewing Company 9.2%

19A. OLD ALE
Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale 9.8%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Founders Nemesis (2010) 12%

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

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Founders CBS Imperial Stout (Canadian Breakfast) 10.6%
Founders KBS Kentucky Breakfast Stout (2011) 11.2%

But there’s even more, because we happened upon yet another Founders specialty, and will sacrifice it on Friday, too:

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER 

Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half 11.9% (unlisted cameo)

If you’re keeping track, this makes a total of nine Founders on Friday (that’s catchy: “Gravity Head 2012: Founders on Fried Day”), but we’ll also extend the merriment of F’s to include our pals at Flat12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis), and two of their ales also will be tapped at 11:00 a.m. on the 9^th:

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Flat12 Vulgar Display of Hops 9.7% (unlisted cameo)

Flat12 Winter Cycle 9.3%

Naturally, there’ll be other listed Gravity Head selections pouring, as well as plenty of other beers on tap from NABC, America and the planet. For frequent lineupdates, go here, and follow @nabcnews on Twitter.

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Lastly, the coming third weekend of Gravity Head has become synonymous in recent years with the arrival of John Host, genial Founders sales impresario, in the company of a visiting delegation of revelers from Cavalier Distributing, the official Indiana wholesaler for Founders. They’ll be on hand in the early evening, and for those still wondering, this is why we’ve started reserving Founders ales for their third weekend starring slot.

As advance notice, the schedule will work the same way in 2013, barring the unexpected (like the end of the world as we know it, or other interruptions in routine).

Friday, February 22, 2013

Gravity Head 2013 will open at 7:00 a.m. for tailgate breakfast, with an opening weekend tap takeover by featured guests from Sun King Brewing Company in Indianapolis.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

You may see an expansion of breakfast hours to Saturday morning, although this hasn’t yet been conclusively approved.

For the first full week of Gravity Head 2013 and its second weekend, we will keep dates open and free of special promotions, having learned by costly experience that it’s the most likely time for the business to suffer closures owing to impromptu, unannounced ritual screwings by public utility monopolies, like Indiana American Water (2010) and Duke Energy (2012). The gas company presumably is next in line, although I hope they’re not reading anything except meters.

Friday, March 8, 2013

The unleashing of accumulated Founders kegs, as before, along with the usual delegation’s visit.

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.

Great Taste Roadtrip 2011: Tuesday, August 16.

On Tuesday, we took another short drive to Grand Rapids and visited Founders Brewing Company. Chief sales mastermind Michael Bell conducted a short tour and charted the company's expansion; the blank room pictured above is about to be the site of a new brewhouse, and the fermenters are spreading in all directions. Founders has a full block in which to grow, and the area around the brewery, once gone to seed, is gentrifying very quickly.

Every craft brewer has a different plan, and it's always interesting for me to compare notes. There is not a single, solitary "right" way to run your business, to grow it, and to look into the future. Little bits from all of them are useful, and you must be able to see which ones apply to what you're doing.

New Glarus sells a lot of Spotted Cow, which is easy to drink at 5% abv, while Founders counts the 8% Dirty Bastard among its flagships. New Glarus constructed a new building with the exterior aesthetic of the town in mind, and Founders continues to add contemporary industrial space to an older portal. New Holland has added distilling. Capital has an atmospheric seasonal beer garden in the German tradition. What do they all have in common? Excellent beer, and that's what matters most.

Founders and Cavalier Distributing Day at Gravity Head: Friday, March 11.

Tonight we welcome a visiting delegation of revelers from Cavalier Distributing, the official Indiana wholesaler for Founders Brewing Company. The genial John Host from Founders is coming along for the ride. The group's coming down to Bank Street Brewhouse first, and then will ride to the Pizzeria & Public House, hopefully by 7:00 p.m.

Accordingly, Eric and Ben have filled the taps with six Founders ales originally listed for Gravity Head, and four others -- just because they're there.

Remember: It's Black Friday at the Pizzeria & Public House. wear your 2011 "Gravity's Rainbow" t-shirt and receive a free NABC sticker as well as a chance to win a $20 gift card.

Here's the tap scene as of the start of business on Friday, March 11, and an overall view of how Gravity Head's gone so far. "Gone" is a good way of describing it, because only a handful of beers remain to go on line.

ON TAP NOW

Note: In addition to the Founders listed below, another unlisted Gravity Head qualifier is on tap:

Founders Imperial Stout (13F Russian Imperial Stout; 10.5%)

Also, three more Founders ales are pouring, just for the hell of it:

Founders Centennial IPA (14B American IPA; 7.2%)
Founders Newaygo County Cherry (22C Wood-Aged Beer; 7%)
Founders Red's Rye (23 Specialty; 6.6%)

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Breakfast Stout (2009) 8.3%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA 12%
Founders Double Trouble IPA 9.4%

19C AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
NABC Jaxon 11%
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine (2009) Circa 11%

21B. CHRISTMAS/WINTER SPECIALTY SPICED BEER
Barley Island Humbugger Christmas Ale 9.3%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Barley Island Barrel Aged Muscles From Brussels 10.3%
BBC (Shelbyville Road) Bourbon Barrel Wee Heavy 9.8%
Founders Backwoods Bastard 9.2%
Founders Black Biscuit 10.5%
Founders KBS Kentucky Breakfast Stout 2010 11.2%

23 SPECIALTY BEER
Shmaltz He’Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13) 13%
Stone Double Bastard Ale (2009) 10%

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WHAT'S LEFT TO RE-TAP?

These were removed to make room for the Founders Day wave, but there's still beer in them, and they will be tapped again when space permits:

13F Rogue XS Imperial Stout 11%
19C BBC (Main & Clay) Bearded Pat’s Barley Wine (2009) 11%
22C Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout 9.5%
22C Left Hand Oak-Aged Widdershins (2009) 8.8%
22C Sun King Russian Timmie Oak-Aged Imperial Stout 10%

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WHAT'S LEFT TO TAP?

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

23 SPECIALTY BEER
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary “Our Brewers Reserve” 9.2%

On St. Patrick’s Day, on Thursday, March 17:
23 BBC (Shelbyville Road) Sam’s 'n' Adam's Bustin’ Lager 8.2%
13F Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2009) 10.8%
23 Upland Ard Ri Imperial Red 9.3%

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RANKS OF THE DEPARTED ... LISTED SELECTIONS

00. THREE FLOYDS - STYLE UNTO ITSELF
Three Floyds Barrel Aged Moloko 2009 (Bourbon Barrel Baltic Milk Stout) 9.5%
Three Floyds Behemoth 2010 (American Barleywine) 10.5%
Three Floyds Owd Engwish Bawley Whine (English Barleywine) 10.5%
Three Floyds Dreadnaught (Imperial IPA) 9.5%
Three Floyds Mikkeller Ruggoop (Rye Wine) 9.5%
Three Floyds Moloko (Baltic Milk Stout) 8%
Three Floyds The Creeper (Doppelbock) 9%

5C. DOPPELBOCK
Sun King Dominator Doppelbock 8.1%

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 18%
Left Hand Imperial Stout 10.4%
NABC Thunderfoot (2010) 10%
Upland Teddy Bear Kisses 10.2%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Bell’s HopSlam 10%
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA 18%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
Brugge Brasserie Quadripple 12%
Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale 9.5%

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

18E. BELGIAN DARK STRONG ALE
Brooklyn Cuvee Noire 8.7%

19B ENGLISH BARLEYWINE
Boulder Killer Penguin Barleywine 10%
Brooklyn Monster Ale 10.3%

19C AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine (2001) 9.6%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Dogfish Head Burton Baton 10+%
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout 9.5%

23 SPECIALTY BEER
BBC (Shelbyville Road) Chocolate Wheatwine 10.6%
Bell’s Batch 9000 12.5%
Clipper City Heavy Seas Prosit 9%
NABC/O'Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale 10.7%
Two Brothers Bare Tree (2009) 10%

DEPARTED BONUS UNLISTED SELECTIONS
14C Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 10.4%
22C Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout 9.4%
22C. NABC Willett Bourbon Barrel Chocolate Stout 8%+
22C Upland Bourbon Barrel Winter Warmer 9%+

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SCRATCHES -- WE TRY, BUT EVERY YEAR ...
13F Great Crescent Diabolicale/ReplicAle 8%
14C Ram “In Hops We Trust” 8.5%
18D Barley Island Damien Strong Belgian Golden 8.9%
23 Wilbur Brewhause Country Mellow 8%