Today in word play: "The Norwegian Blue" beer, parrot and requiem.

No, it isn't a remembrance of the slowest-selling Sun King keg we ever poured at the Public House, which may explain the brewery never repeating it.

Personally, I liked Sun King Norwegian Blue, an eau de Pine Sol variety of Pale Ale. Seriously. I actually did.

Rather, this is the tale of an Indianapolis beer blog and Monty Python's famous parrot sketch, so first, something you may not have known about the departed Norwegian Blue bird in the British comedy troupe's greatest hits repertoire.

Norwegian Blue parrot really DID exist - but now they are all 'stiff, bereft of life and ex-parrots', by Andrew Levy (Daily Mail)

... Adding to the absurdity was the fact that parrots - being tropical birds - don't come from Scandinavia.

Or do they? For now, in a development putting the sketch in a completely different light, it turns out that the Norwegian Blue did exist.

Dr David Waterhouse, a fossil expert and Python fan, has found that parrots not only lived in Scandinavia 55million years ago, but probably evolved there before spreading into the southern hemisphere.

No, the central point of this digression is Hoosier Beer Geek's self-obituary earlier this week.

The Norwegian Blue at Hoosier Beer Geek

 ... We sought to improve the craft beer community. You can argue what impact we had, but the community is better now than when we started in 2006. But it outgrew Hoosier Beer Geek by leaps and bounds. There are numerous other voices and organizations that are better able to connect with the mainstream audience. Hoosier Beer Geek has become stubborn in its old age, unwilling to compromise its integrity. And we no longer have the endurance to remain dependable and enthusiastic in the community.

I'm starting to think that 2015 will be remembered as a "changing of the guard" sort of year. Has my buyout check arrived yet?

Straight up: HBG was richly entertaining and did a lot of good for beer in and around Indianapolis. When working as event coordinators for the Brewers of Indiana Guild, HBG did a lot of good for the rest of us, too.

"Craft" beer has exploded to such a degree that no individual entity, professional or amateur, can claim comprehensive authority. Though not with hostility, better beer has become somewhat Balkanized, and my guess is that it will take as many years to understand this process of profusion as it did to arrive at it.

Meanwhile, farewell HBG.

You mattered, and not everyone can say that.

At HBG: "Flat12 / New Albanian Collaboration - Black Berliner Weiss."

Gina has a comprehensive report at Hoosier Beer Geek. The collaboration in question, called Die Saur Von Satan, will be in Indianapolis for a couple of select appearances prior to the annual guild fest. Stay tuned.

Flat12 / New Albanian Collaboration - Black Berliner Weiss

Invitations to tag along for brew days don't come our way too often, so when we got an email asking if we wanted to join Flat 12 and New Albanian for a collaboration brew, we excitedly agreed.  I wasn't the only one in the group who wanted to attend, but scheduling foiled many yet again, so I went solo.  

When temperatures are hot, brew days start early.  When you live two hours from the brewery, your day starts even earlier.  I left the house at six in the morning and made a quick stop for coffee and doughnuts, cause people like it when you bring them doughnuts, and headed south to New Albanian Brewery's Grant Line location ...

Jared "Collaboration" Williamson is interviewed at Hoosier Beer Geek.

Over at the Hoosier Beer Geek blog, there's a fine recap of our recent collaboration brews in the form of an interview with Jared Williamson, NABC brewmaster.

Struise In Indiana

Two Indiana breweries were recently visited by De Struise Brouwers' Urbain Coutteau. HBG readers may know of Mr. Coutteau from our January 2008 interview, or perhaps by his reputation as part of the brewery that was named RateBeer.com's 2008 best brewery in the world.

Urbain's visit wasn't just a vacation (though he did attend the Kentucky Derby) - his brewery visits lead to collaboration. Both Three Floyds and New Albanian played host, and it's safe to assume that we can expect fantastic beers as a result.

We contacted New Albanian's Jared Williamson to get more details about the New Albanian/Struise efforts.

Knights of the Beer Roundtable: Top Three finish for Beak's

There's nothing wrong with 3rd place with competition this fierce. Follow the link and read the comments for all the beers considered in 2010 ... the lineup's impressive, indeed.

The 2010 Knights of the Beer Roundtable Beer of the Year - Brugge Brasserie's Spider

Brugge Brasserie Spider 16.0 pts.
People's Hopkilla 9.5
NABC Beak's Best 7.5

HBG, Mybar, Office Hours and some satire.

Learn about the history of the Hoosier Beer Geeks and view a number of excellent photos from HBG's bus trip to NABC two weeks ago: KOTBR #100: Many Thanks.

Tonight for St. Patrick's Day at MYbar (a block down Plaza Drive from NABC Pizzeria & Pub) there'll be $3 NABC drafts (three on tap). If you bring a dinner receipt from the Pizzeria & Public House or Bank Street Brewhouse, there's no cover.

Jolly Pumpkin is everywhere in Michigan, and next Monday night, there'll be a tasting of these wonderful ales during Office Hours with the Publican at the NABC Public House.

From The Onion's business page, this bit of mirth: Budweiser American Lager Purchased at Tavern.

A busload of Gravity Head.

The Hoosier Beer Geeks are chartering a bus and coming to visit both NABC locations on March 6. I looked at the calendar this morning and realized that with 18 days to go until Gravity Head begins, it's time to get my lazy butt in gear and begin generating information -- but, as Augustine said, not just yet. Mike and I will work on the starting lineup this week, and I'll commence the compilation of the programs. This morning, there are other pressing matters awaiting my acumen, such as tonight's Office Hours.

One question was asked: Would there be flights of smaller pours when the HBG bus is parked outside? Customarily, no, but let me see what I can do. Perhaps a buffet of sorts ...

What Gravity Head Is, and Why You'd Want to Take a Bus There

We at Hoosier Beer Geek may be guilty of assuming too much from time to time, and it recently occurred to me that perhaps a deeper explanation of what this whole Gravity Head Bus Trip is all about.

A collaboration report.

Hoosier Beer Geek tastes it before me ... so it goes. I'll get my chance -- just wait and see.

Scenes from a Sneak Preview: Schlafly/O'Fallon/New Albanian Collaboration

Wednesday's Hoptimus tapping at Barley Island's new Broad Ripple taproom.

As many of you already know, John Campbell, Josh Hill and the Publican ventured to Indianapolis for an NABC sales day on Wednesday, December 9, leading up to the unveiling of Hoptimus at Barley Island Broad Ripple at 6:00 p.m.

A long day spent with Mat Gerdenich and the Cavalier crew had me losing my voice (and much of my liver) even before the headline event began, but that's show biz.

After a caffeine-fueled morning tour of the Cavalier warehouse, culminating in Mark Kocher and I transcribing a shipment of Anstich kegs, John and Josh departed with Cavalier's Greg Blackman. Mat and I started our day at Spencer's Stadium Tavern, where we were shown an incredible collection of antique cans, many unopened, in the cellar.

We then lunched at Dick's Bodacious BBQ downtown, and I confirmed that 15-B Porter and pulled pork work very well together.

Next, there was a stop at the new Sun King brewery and taproom (also downtown) to chat with Indy brewing stalwarts Dave Colt and (briefly) Clay Robinson. Look for Sun King to randomly pour at the Public House early in 2010, and for their Imperial Cream Ale to appear at Gravity Head.


After a pause for breath, a drive to Zionsville followed, and I enjoyed a fun conversation with Patrick of Patrick's Kitchen & Drinks, where Elector is on tap. I've not met Patrick, but we go way back, because during a stint as general manager at the Bloomington Brewing Company, he observed the villainy of NABC's ouster by the monopolistic fascists at the Big Red Liquors festival on April 10, 2003.

After that, Mat navigated the icy squalls to Broad Ripple, and we embarked upon a visit to the Corner Wine Bar/Wellington's (Beak's Best soon will be on tap in the cozy confines of the latter), and rejoined the joint sales team at Chumley's Beer House, where many excellent beers currently are on tap, displacing the golden lagers that once were the norm.

Finally, it was a short stumble to Barley Island Broad Ripple, and a shiny Hoptimus pressed into my hand before I had the chance to shed my jacket.

That's efficient service in my book, and you'd forget your hop additions, too, if you'd been through my various opening acts (and pints) that I did.

We appreciate Jeff Eaton and the BIBR team's efforts, and it was wonderful to see Tom, Veronica, Joe, Rita, the Involuntary's, and the entire Indianapolis craft beer community, from which so many braved the elements to absorb hops intravenously.

Straight from the Hoosier Beer Geek crew, who were out in force, photos of the evening can be viewed here.

Indiana "State of the Six Pack" at Hoosier Beer Geek.

Great coverage of the Indiana beer scene can be found at the Hoosier Beer Geek blog. A recent highlight has been the 2008 retrospective, linked below.

Hoosier Beer Geek sent a Six Pack of questions to everyone we knew in the Indiana craft beer industry. Breweries, bars, restaurants, distributors, and stores across the state were included in this Six Pack. We packaged their comments, along with our thoughts, into the first annual State of the Six Pack address.

2009 State of the Six Pack - Part 1

2009 State of the Six Pack - Part 2

2009 State of the Six Pack - Part 3

NABC's beers (and artwork) were big hits at the Indiana Microbrewers Festival last weekend.

I’m still clearing my head after Saturday’s power-packed Indiana Microbrewers Festival, so heartfelt thanks to the Indiana Beer website for linking to the entertaining reviews offered at the Hoosier Beer Geek blog, which I’ve (embarrassingly and belatedly) added to the list of links here at Potable Curmudgeon.

But first, from the thread about the event at Beer Advocate:

Indiana Microbrew Festival and rick flair and awards

Most excellent use of a bourbon barrel goes to Larry bell and his jolly gang ...

Another one that you pray for brewery only bottles was the barrel aged cherry stout from bells... that too gets a rick flair woooo...the double cream/expedition blend was awesome

just behind the bells ba cherry was the thunderfoot, not to be forgotten or diminished... that was a standup beer by a sit down brewery...

----

Shifting back to Hoosier Beer Geek, which boasts a team of five beer lovers, here are the NABC name checks, with other useful information about the festival also included.

Kelly selected the three best places for great brewery swag at the Festival.

3) Bell's Brewery - free stickers and buttons!
2) Yesterbeer - awesome t-shirt designs from brewers of yore.
1) New Albanian - the New Albanian designs were OUTSTANDING... worth a road trip alone.

----

Along with many others, Jason loved the Bell's Bourbon Barrel Double Cream Stout/Expedition Stout Blend, and went on to say:

There were many other new-to-me beers that I enjoyed as well, including New Albaniam's Hoptimus, Schmaltz He'Brew's Lennys RIPA, Founders Space Mountain Brown Ale, and Three Floyd's Dark Lord Russian Stout.

----

Chris picked three favorite beers:

3. "Angry Mellon" from Brugge - I think Jim gives you the real name, but it was tough enough for me to remember the top secret code name.

2. "Hoptimus" by New Albanian - I rated this #1 at Brew-Ha-Ha, and if not for Nick Floyds 4pm tapping special, it would have been #1 again. This is just a damn fine beer. I was even going to buy a t-shirt (but for some reason unbeknownst to me, breweries don't make t-shirts that accommodate beer bellies!).

1. "Dark Lord" from Three Floyds - First, thanks to part-owner Mike DeWeese for your part in our ability to quickly sample Dark Lord. Very appropriate to try this dastardly offering on the day of that the last stand of the dark Lord Voldemort hits bookshelves. If this is what evil tastes like, screw The Force - sign me up Lord Vader!

----

Jim’s “best of” list was a bit more expansive:

We saw a few football-beer drinkers in need of some beer education (said one woman after tasting Three Floyds' Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout: "Ew! That's gross!"). We picked up some very cool stuff (for me, a New Albanian t-shirt). We hung out with the crazy folks from the Good Beer Show. And, we tasted lots and lots of beer.

5. Diamond Kings of Heaven - Brugge Brasserie.

4. Thunderfoot Cherry Imperial Stout - New Albanian Brewing Company. One of several excellent imperial stouts that we sampled on the day. Dark brown, small tan head, rich coffee-cherry flavor. I'm not a fan of fruity beers, but this beer had just a tiny hint of cherry, which made for pleasant drinking. New Albanian is quickly becoming one of my favorite Indiana breweries. Their Hoptimus could easily have ended up in my top 5, but I decided to leave it out since I made it my top choice for the Brew-Ha-Ha.

3. He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. - Shmaltz Brewing Company.

2. Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout - Three Floyds Brewing Company.

1. Bourbon Barrel Double Cream/Expedition Stout Blend - Bell's Brewery.

A quick note to Indianapolis area readers: NABC actually brought a shade more beer to each of the past two festivals (Brew-Ha-Ha and the Indiana Microbrewers Festival) than in 2006, when supplies were sufficient, but in both cases this year, increased attendance and word-of-mouth popularity caused us to deplete far too early. Apologies; we're among the smaller breweries at these events, and we always try to bring as much as we can spare, but sometimes it isn't enough. We're trying to adjust and pack enough to go around in 2008. As always, thanks for the wonderful reception ... and see you all next year.