Black & Blue Grass at Iroquois for Counting Crows, June 25.

NABC Black & Blue Grass will be available on draft when Counting Crows headline The Outlaw Roadshow at Iroquois Amphitheater on Monday, June 25. Thanks to River City Distributing for the placement.

Guerrilla tactics & small victories for taste and decency.

While Dave and Jesse load the truck, the propaganda section sneaks to the rear.

Last Week in Review

By John Campbell

OK, OK. I get it. I am a lousy, inconsistent blogger and a poor substitute for the man himself. Please stop the harassing e-mails and personal messages to my social networking accounts (although I did like this one: "You were steady for a while last week, but nothing since Monday. What the fuck?"). Well, today turned out to be a "work" day, so I might as well keep up the momentum.

Here's what's been happening in Roger's absence:

In preparation for our impending beer distribution to corners far and wide, Gregg Rochman and I took a trip to meet New Albanian's potential Indiana distributor, World Class Beverage. Sitting down with Jim Schembre (the man behind the WCB mission) is always an educational experience and this session was not a disappointment. WCB seems to be a better choice than Indiana's other highly-reputed distributor, Cavalier, but it's only the second inning. Meanwhile, we've already selected River City (shown below) as our Louisville distributors.

River City's Ryan Burke and John Harris living large at last year's BBC/New Albanian Volksfest

Since we're on the subject of distribution and snotty messages to my personal accounts...No. I have not done away with Roger in order to take over the Potable Curmudgeon. I do not enjoy writing anymore (ok, I kinda do, but still, no).

I don't know how he maintains this blog in addition to his regular columns for the Tribune, LEO, and Food & Dining, and has time for the little things like, you know, building a brewery.

So, yes, he is enjoying a much needed vacation, but it doesn't mean he stops working. I have proof that he is alive, still writing, and working diligently for the cause. Here's the message I received from the Commandante this morning:

Greetings

Yesterday I was introduced to Mikkel, i.e., the fellow behind Mikkeller
beers. He runs an off premise specialty beer shop with his brother in
downtown Copenhagen, has an importing company so that he can bring in the beers he wants, and also brews his own at various sites. You can look them
up on Rate Beer or Beer Advocate.

We sampled the Oatgoop he brewed at Three Floyds, and it was excellent.
While Kim and I were shopping the unbelievable selection, he took my
business card and googled NABC, emerging to ask when he could begin
selling Thunderfoot in Denmark.

I said as soon as we get it in giant cans, which thrilled him. So, we have
an account here as soon as we can supply it.

See, I told you they're 'working' trips.

NABC, soon to come to Louisvile, Indiana and Copenhagen.

R
And there you have it.

Also in last week's news, Destinations Booksellers, located just a block from the Bank Street Brewhouse, hosted a public poetry slam last Wednesday night with the wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Reservoir Dogwoods.


Everything else is plugging along nicely. David and Jesse have the giant, drive-in keg cooler fully assembled, brewery construction continues, Jared is brewing strong at the Plaza Drive location and just released Jenever, our light-bodied, summer rye. We blew through two kegs in the first two days. It is now on tap at both New Albanian locations and at The Windsor on Market and Bank in Downtown New Albany.

Bob Ostrander, founder of Indanabeer.com, (below) showed his fuzzy face at the Bank Street Brewhouse on Friday afternoon for a pint of Pheonix and some mussels before heading to the north side compound formerly known as Rich O's for the real throw down.


Saturday, I took the day off. I did, however, spend some time rummaging through photos of the Bank Street project. Here's one from this time last year:


Today, I spent the afternoon at the Capriole Farm pouring healthy samples of Community Dark and Elector during their annual open house. Capriole is the second most serene place in which I've been fortunate enough to spend an afternoon. Last year Roger, Diana, and I attended the event and dined on fine cheeses and salad greens picked that very morning. I was a bit sad to be going on my own this year, but an afternoon at Capriole isn't complete without a New Albanian Ale.

To my surprise, nearly the entire Bank Street Brewhouse staff showed up with brewer Jared (below) and Chef Josh. A great way to end another week as a New Albanian.


Be warned, Denmark. we're coming your way.

One perhaps down, a second hopefully to come.

The 'Ville Voice bills itself as a “critical take on Louisville news,” and the blog is a worthy if quirky compendium of all things Louisville. I don’t know the bloggers, although to date, their views on beer largely have been restricted to upholding the sanctity of dollar beer night at Louisville Slugger Field, home of the AAA Bats, and a notorious haven for anti-craft beer stuffed shirts.

But I digress.

This item appeared last week, following an earlier report that Anheuser-Busch advertising signage at the home of the University of Louisville’s football Cardinals had been vandalized, evidently by the management.

No Bud Buy-In: We told you that the Budweiser signage at Papa John’s had been covered up (in a tacky, vinyl way) and today learned from U of L that the brewer, an original “cornerstone” sponsor, chose not to renew its deal with U of L after 10 years. May have to do with A-B’s new ownership, or the school’s steep pricing.

I’m not sure how covering up a Budweiser logo could ever be tacky, although other words spring to mind, including celebratory, laudatory and amusing as hell.

Live by the checkbook, die by the checkbook – tears here are crocodilian and sparse. I seldom root for SAB Miller and Molson Coors, but as A-B sorts through the terms of its impending absorption by InBev, and InBev plans marketing strategy for world domination, I’m guessing that there’ll be the chance for River City to grab a few promo and placement slots from the distracted monolith.

I’ve no interest in Papa John’s, either its pizza or its stadium, but wither Louisville Slugger Field? After all, River City has a burgeoning craft beer portfolio, and the savvy to recognize niche opportunities. Will fresh cash sway the baseball Philistines? Stay tuned.

And, as an unrelated afterthought, how do alcohol sales figure into college football, anyway? Here's a link from U of L's student newspaper that charts the situation.