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.

Bacchus reconsidered, and just in time.

See, it's what I've always told you: Art and alcohol go together -- and what better time than Saturnalia!

Juiced in time: BacchusGod of ritual madness, abandon and ecstasy, Bacchus is the true deity of the season, inspiring artists from Titian to Twombly, by Jonathan Jones (Guardian)

Been drinking at Christmas? Planning a drink for the new year? Then let's celebrate the true god of this season: Bacchus.

Saturnalia meets Hanukkah: The eight recipes of Vertical Jewbelation begin pouring at the Public House.

With today's tapping of Jewbelation 8 for the arrival of Hanukkah, the Shmaltz He’Brew Jewbelation Series has started pouring at the Public House. We're the only pub in either Indiana or Kentucky to sign on for the whole series.

Jewbelation is Shmaltz He’Brew’s annual anniversary ale, brewed for release during Hanukkah. It began with 8 in 2004. The 2010 release is 14, and as usual, the anniversary year corresponds with the number of malts and hops used to brew it, and the alcohol content by volume.

But this year, there’s even more to it, because Shmaltz has recreated all six previous versions of Jewbelation: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Not only that, but all seven versions (including 14) have been blended together to create an eighth, Vertical Jewbelation, surely the pinnacle of tasty shtick.

So, 8 is pouring, and as taps open, we’ll start pouring consecutive Jewbelations in ascending order -- probably no more than two at a time. When one blows, the next in line will take its place.

New Black Friday starting time for Saturnalia MMX at the Pizzeria & Public House.

This year, for Saturnalia MMX, we're trying something new at the NABC Pizzeria & Public House (3312 Plaza Drive on New Albany's scenic North Side).

Beers listed for Saturnalia will begin pouring on Black Friday, November 26. The exact starting lineup will be posted on Friday morning. There'll be fewer total pouring at any given time than in the past, because we have fewer taps to play with now that 12-15 NABC house beers are on tap all the time. But there are plenty of goodies to last through December.

Both the Pizzeria and the Public House open at 11:00 a.m. on the 26th. Note also that Bank Street Brewhouse is CLOSED on Friday, to reopen Saturday at 11 a.m.

Also, in the interest of saving a few bucks, I'll not be printing the programs as in the past. However, I wrote it just like before, and you can download the .pdf and print it at home or work here: http://www.newalbanian.com/download-file-25.html

For those just tuning in, we've been doing this for a while. Here's the idea:

In pre-Christian Rome, Saturnalia was the annual winter solstice celebration coinciding with the feast days for Saturn (god of sowing and the harvest), Consus (god of the storage bin) and Opa (goddess of plenty).

Many of our contemporary winter holiday traditions derive from Saturnalia’s pagan roots, including the hanging of wreaths and garlands, donations to the needy, prayers for peace, time off work to be enjoyed with family, and of course eating, drinking and merriment.

NABC pays tribute to these ancient pagan origins with Saturnalia, our holiday draft celebration. Dozens of special kegs from the USA and around the world – some rare, some seasonal and others just plain festive – will be pouring at our Pizzeria & Public House at 3312 Plaza Drive.

When the doors open at 11:00 a.m. on our new Saturnalia kick-off day, Black Friday (November 26), the first wave of sacrificial MMX Saturnalia selections will be tapped in the traditional, ritualistic manner, and the hedonistic pleasures will begin. The remaining kegs will be deployed as the days pass, and the revelry is expected to continue throughout the month of December.

Pricing and portion sizes vary according to alcohol content and style. During the festival’s run, information and updates will appear on our web site: www.newalbanian.com

NABC schedule for Thanksgiving, and a glimpse of the Saturnalia draft list.

As an advance note, both NABC locations will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 25). Both will re-open the following day ("Black Friday") and observe customary hours.

This year, the first wave of Saturnalia beers will be tapped at the Pizzeria & Public House on Black Friday, November 26. Following is a list of in-stock and pre-ordered kegs. The list, admittedly incomplete, is the same as Ben, Eric and I are working from as we prepare the usual fest regalia.

IN-STOCK SATURNALIA 2010
Birrificio Del Ducato Verdi Imperial Stout 8.2%
Clipper City Siren Noire 8%
De Glazen Toren Canaster 8.7%
De Ranke Pere Noel 2009 7%
Dogfish Head Midas Touch 9%
Founders Curmudgeon 9.8%
Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout 7.5%
Stone Vertical Epic 09.09.09 8.7%

To be added to the Saturnalia in-stock list since the last update:

Boulder Never Summer
Brooklyn Black Chocolate
Great Divide Hibernation
Great Divide Smoked Baltic Porter
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Charlie, Fred And Ken's Bock
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Fritz And Ken's Ale
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Jack And Ken's Ale
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

*Have we heard back from Melissa about the Shmaltz/Jewbelation promotion?

*Do we have pre-orders from World Class, i.e., Anchor Christmas, etc?

Cavalier pre-order sheet, intended for Saturnalia 2010:
Affligem Noel
Clipper City Winter Storm
Haandbryggeriet Nissefar Christmas Ale
Kulmbacher Monchshof Schwarzbier
Left Hand Fade to Black
Mahrs Christmas Bock
Mikkeller Red/White Christmas Ale
Mikkeller Ris a la Male
Nogne O Winter Ale
Schlenkerla Eiche (Oak Smoked)
Struise Tsjeeses
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA

Saturnalia MMIX, Day 2: Surveying the weekend's scene.

Saturnalia MMIX got under way yesterday at the Pizzeria & Public House, and I tried to take a nip of most contestants before enjoying a massively fat stogie.

Mike had cellared a keg each of 2008 releases of Three Floyds Alpha Klaus and Delirium Noel, and they are absolutely prime. With both, it seems that a slight oxidization has brought out complex malt flavors reminiscent of brown (or perhaps candi) sugar. Enjoy them before the arc shifts downward. Another favorite Saturnalia tipple of mine is the lone French cider currently on tap: Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut, with an ideal balance of sweetness and dryness.

All opening selections are in good condition, with the starting lineup being one for the lovers of malt among you.

Hopheads note: Sierra Celebration is as good as always, and more Saturnalia-listed hops are on the way in the days to come. Note also that WinterCoat Oatmeal Stout is a regular keg, not a firkin, meaning that there's room for a handpull. We'll check into our stock on Monday and see what's there.

Good news: The latest allotment of Franconian "Anstich" kegs is in Indianapolis, and you'll begin seeing them next Thursday, December 10. As before, we'll probably tap one on Thursday, two on Friday, and one on Saturday.

Bad news: As many as six of the pre-ordered Saturnalia from Shelton Brothers did not arrive, and probably will not. When I receive confirmation from the company, I'll let you know. Numerous other imported Saturnalia beers are scheduled to arrive from B. United International, and as soon as I receive word, it will passed along.

Here are the starters for Saturnalia MMIX, with many more to come.

Mike and I have selected the starters for Saturnalia MMIX, which kicks off on Friday, December 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pizzeria & Public House.

Download the complete program

Dozens of beers are yet to come, and they'll appear as the first wave recedes. Roughly two-thirds of the imports are in transit, and we'll just have to wait and see. Higher gravity latecomers might be shifted to Gravity Head duty. All in all, Saturnalia beers will be occupying guest tap space until January, so you have plenty of time to peruse and enjoy them.

American Saturnalia
Alpha Klaus 2008
Atwater Voodoo Vator Bock
Clipper City Yule Tide
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
NABC Solidarity
Pyramid Snow Cap
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale

European Saturnalia
Delirium Noel 08
Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux
Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut
WinterCoat Oatmeal (firkin)

Saturnalia MMIX update, and an Anstich surprise.

The provisional Saturnalia list has been updated, so go here and scroll down.

There's more, because earlier today I was delighted to have the opportunity to order another batch of Anstich (gravity pour) kegs from Franconia. It looks like one each (2o liter) of a half-dozen or so, and I'm pumped. When there's time, I'll assemble a list.

Saturnalia starts on Friday, December 4. I'm not going to add the Anstich kegs to the official listings, but assuming deliveries are made on schedule, they'll be pouring throughout.

The official Saturnalia MMIX logo.

Tony's done it again, and now the burden is on me to firm up the listings. Kickoff is December 4, and the basic information is here: Saturnalia approaches, and here's an advance look.

Saturnalia approaches, and here's an advance look.

(Updated on November 19)

It’s almost time for Saturnalia, my favorite annual draft beer festival of the year at the NABC Pizzeria & Public House (formerly Sportstime & Rich O’s). Saturnalia will kick off earlier this year: Friday, December 4.

The reason why I prefer Saturnalia has less to do with the most wonderful time of the year than the freedom afforded by the concept to assemble a special draft list unbound to a specific stylistic type, i.e., hoppy as with Lupulin Land and alcoholic like Gravity Head.

For Saturnalia, we try to find representative samples of winter and seasonal styles (themselves pleasingly varied stylistically) and augment them with others that strike us as somehow festive in purely subjective ways.

Not only is it fun, but it’s also educational, providing me with frequent polemical opportunities to pontificate about unleashing our inner pagans. Here is my yearly stump speech:

In pre-Christian Rome, Saturnalia was the annual winter solstice celebration that originally coincided with the feast days for Saturn (god of sowing and the harvest), Consus (god of the storage bin) and Opa (goddess of plenty).

Many of our contemporary winter holiday traditions derive from Saturnalia’s pagan roots, including the hanging of wreaths and garlands, donations to the needy, prayers for peace, time off work to be enjoyed with family, and of course eating, drinking and merriment.

NABC pays tribute to these ancient pagan origins with Saturnalia, our holiday draft celebration. We’ve gathered dozens of special kegs of beer – some rare, some seasonal and others just festive – from the USA and around the world. Some of these beers will be appearing in draft form at Rich O’s and Sportstime Pizza for the first time in metropolitan Louisville.

When the doors open at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, the first wave of sacrificial MMIX Saturnalia selections will be revealed, tapped in the traditional, ritualistic manner … and the hedonistic pleasures will begin. The remaining kegs will be tapped as the days pass and the first wave is depleted, and the revelry is expected to continue well into January, 2010.

Here are the kegs currently in house or pre-ordered. There’ll be a few others by the time it’s done, and I’ll use this page until around Thanksgiving to update the listings, and then print the program. I’ll also provide more detailed information about a few of the selections as the research process continues, so stay tuned.

American Craft

Atwater Voodoo Vator Bock
Bell’s Christmas
Bell’s Java Stout
Bell’s Rye Stout
Boulder Looking Glass Never Summer
Breckenridge 471 Mighty Brown
Breckenridge Christmas Ale
Clipper City Winter Storm
Dogfish Head Punkin
Founders Breakfast Stout 08
Great Divide Hibernation Ale
Left Hand Fade to Black (rotating style; Export Stout in 09)
Left Hand St. Vrain Tripel
NABC Naughty Claus
NABC Bonfire of the Valkyries
NABC Solidarity
New Belgium 2° Below
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
Pyramid Snow Cap
Rogue Yellow Snow
Schlafly Christmas Ale
Shmaltz He’Brew Origin Pomegranate
Shmaltz He’Brew Rejewvenator
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas
Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Porter
Two Brothers Heavier Handed

Imports

1809 Berliner Weisse
Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM) Biere Ambree au Tarry Suchong (firkin)
Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM) La Mandragore
Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM) La Meule (firkin)
Birra del Borgo My Antonia
De Dolle Stille Nacht
Delirium Noel 08
Delirium Noel 09
Dubuisson Scaldis Noel
Dupont Avec Les Bon Voeux
Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut
Kasteel Rouge
N’Ice Chouffe
Nogne O Winter Ale
Pietra Corsican Chestnut Ale
Ridgeway Pickled Santa
Ridgeway Reindeer Droppings
Schlenkerla Oak Smoke
Slaapmutske Kermutske
Weihenstephaner Korbinian
Weissenohe Monk's Christmas

Take note: NABC Old Lightning Rod to be tapped at the pub and pizzeria, not downtown.

The good news: NABC's annual batch of Old Lightning Rod, a Colonial-style dark ale made with molasses, will be tapped as always on Benjamin Franklin's birthday this Saturday, January 17.

The bad news: The tapping WILL NOT take place at the Bank Street Brewhouse as originally planned. That's actually good news, because it means that the many recent revisions in the plan are being incorporated, and the build-out is proceeding as it should. The taproom will be open in some way, shape or form in February, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, no bash on the 17th, but Old Lightning Rod on tap at the pub and pizzeria. Got it?

Also, here's the final update for Saturnalia, including information on missing pieces, some of which will be moved to the emerging Gravity Head list.

Saturnalia receding, Gravity Head approaching on February 27.

While I’m not quite ready to close the book on Saturnalia, there are still a few beers left to be put on line, and so we’ll hold off for a bit longer before announcing finis. The updates remain here: Current Saturnalia draft lineup.

Yes, work has now started on planning Gravity Head, and from New Zealand (where's he's currently residing), Tony Beard sends this first glimpse of the logo:

Mike's "Beer Cellar Christmas Shoppe" open again Friday and Saturday (December 19th & 20th).

The second weekend of Saturnalia MMVIII will be underway tomorrow.

Current Saturnalia draft lineup (subject to updating).

Tomorrow's firkin will be Harvey’s Christmas Ale.

As was the case last weekend, NABC’s new Beer Manager, Mike Bauman, has sifted through the vintage beer cellar as well as uncovering some bottled overstocks, glassware, and other items. He’s set up a Beer Cellar Christmas Shoppe in the rear of Prost (entrance from Rich O’s) and will be offering the merchandise at these times:

Friday, December 19 from 3 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 20 from 3 to 8 p.m.

Note: All the Alaskan Smoked Porter up for grabs this time is gone, Dave.

Current Saturnalia draft lineup (subject to updating).

(Final update, Monday, January 12)

Here's the final Saturnalia lineup. The end is near, and Gravity Head 2009 (The Liver Olympics) is coming soon. Four listed Saturnalia selections that have been delayed for various reasons will be moved to Gravity Head duty.

The * indicates a beer never before poured at the pub.

ON TAP NOW

BELGIUM
Gouden Carolus Noël
La Rulles Cuvée Meilleurs Voeux

GERMANY
Mahr’s Der Weisse Bock

ITALY
*Malthus Birolla (Birrificio di Como)
*Shangrila (Birrificio Troll)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Bluegrass Brewing Company Hell for Certain
Breckenridge Christmas Ale
*Brooklyn Brewery Brewmasters Reserve Grand Cru
Clipper City “Heavy Seas” Winter Storm
Great Divide Hibernation Ale
NABC Bonfire of the Valkyries
NABC Naughty Claus
*Redstone Black Raspberry Nectar Mead
*Shmaltz He’Brew Jewbelation Twelve
*Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale

STILL TO BE TAPPED

BELGIUM
*Duvel Green

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Avery Old Jubilation
horsebrewery.com/our_brews.asp">Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout

MOVED TO GRAVITY HEAD 2009
De Dolle Stille Nacht
*Krampus (Birrificio del Ducato)
*Verdi Imperial Stout (Birrificio del Ducato)
*Victory Baltic Thunder

VERIFIED AWOL
*Chiostro (Piccolo Birrificio - Italy ... simply disappeared somewhere)
Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve (wasn't a JLS offering after all ... thanks for telling me ... we tapped a keg of Yellow Snow instead, and it is gone)

LINEUP NOTE:
We received Atwater Winter Bock instead of the scheduled Vanilla Java Porter.

SACRIFICED TO THE GODS OF SATURNALIA
Anchor Christmas Ale (“Merry Christmas & Happy New Year”)
*Atwater Winter Bock
*Barley Island Beastie Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Stout
*Bell’s Christmas Ale
Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury
*Birra di Natale (Birrificio BEBA)
Boulder Never Summer Ale
Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout
Clipper City “Heavy Seas” Peg Leg Imperial Stout (firkin)
*horsebrewery.com/our_brews.asp">Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Doppelbock
Delirium Noël
Dupont Les Bons Voeux
*Harvey’s Christmas Ale (firkin)
Kasteel Rouge
Left Hand Snowbound Winter Ale
N’Ice Chouffe
*Nora (Birreria Baladin)
Oaken Barrel Epiphany
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
Rogue Chocolate Stout
Rogue HazelNut Brown Nectar
Samuel Adams Winter Lager
Scaldis Noël
Schlafly Christmas Ale
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard
Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Xmas Porter
*Two Brothers Oh Brother Tripel
Upland Winter Warmer
Weihenstephaner Korbinian

----

Complete descriptions of American beers for Saturnalia

Complete descriptions of Belgian, German, Italian and British beers for Saturnalia

Saturnalia is out of the gate, with a Beer Cellar Christmas Shoppe today and tomorrow.

Saturnalia MMVIII is under way.

The Saturnalia MMVIII starting lineup is revealed.

Also of note, NABC’s new Beer Manager, Mike Bauman, has sifted through the vintage beer cellar as well as uncovering some bottled overstocks, glassware, and other items. He’s set up a Beer Cellar Christmas Shoppe in the rear of Prost (entrance from Rich O’s) and will be offering the merchandise at these times:

Friday, December 12 from 3 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 13 from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Shoppe hours on the weekend of Dec. 19 & 20 will be announced next week after we see what's left to sell.

The Saturnalia MMVIII starting lineup is revealed.

(Updated at 4:00 p.m. after learning that Rogue HazelNut Brown Nectar is not available for delivery this week. It has been replaced by Two Brothers Oh Brother Tripel)

Here's the Saturnalia starting lineup for Friday, December 12, as determined by Mike and the Curmudgeon yesterday afternoon. Actually, there may be an error, since I forgot the paper and put these down from memory. If so, I'll correct later this morning. The * indicates a beer never before poured at the pub.

BELGIUM

Delirium Noël
Noël, from the venerable, family-run Huyghe brewery near Ghent, blends the cleanness of Delirium Tremens (golden) and Delirium Nocturnum (dark) into a unique third way, albeit a shade stronger, prompting the brewery to remind us that it “requires a responsible consumption.” 10% abv.

Dupont Les Bons Voeux
Tawny blond, dry-hopped Saison for the holiday; brewed every year since 1970. The name means, “With the best wishes of the brewery” – Dupont, that is. 9.5% abv.

N’Ice Chouffe
Thyme, vanilla, orange peel and candi sugar are among the spices used to accent a dark and brawny winter seasonal, brewed in the hills of the Ardennes. 10% abv.

GERMANY

Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
One of the Publican’s all-time Desert Island beers is Schlenkerla Marzen, now on tap all year round, except when Urbock, Marzen’s bigger brother, breezes into town for the holidaze. Taste what happens when beechwood is used in the correct way (as flavor, not bedding in the Clydesdale’s stalls). 6.6% abv.

ITALY

*Birra di Natale (Birrificio BEBA)
The next frontier for creative craft brewing is in Italy, so you’d best get used to the idea. We begin with BEBA’s winter lager, which should serve as a tasty calibration beer. Natale is brewed with pilsner, munich and caramel malts, and hopped with Hallertauer Magnum. 8.5% abv.

*Nora (Birreria Baladin)
Throwback Egyptian recipes always are an excellent change of pace. Unmalted kamut (an ancient form of wheat) is used, and only the bare minimum of hops, which were not used in beer until later, are added solely for their preservative qualities. Ginger and orange peel are employed for balance, and myrrh for bittering. 6.8% abv.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

*Barley Island Beastie Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Stout
The Noblesville brewery’s Brass Knuckles Oatmeal Stout (5% abv in customary form) is aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey barrels, bolstering strength. Barley Island’s owners and brew crew will be on site at Rich O’s on Saturday, December 13, to help us drink some Beastie.

Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury
This Belgian Strong Ale first appeared in 2004. According to the brewery, it’s “A brew that gives you either sympathy for the devil or the courage to face him … Goes especially well with your favorite lost my girl/truck/dog/trailer song.” Of course. 7.7% abv.

Boulder Never Summer Ale
American seasonal ale brewed with 2-row barley and British dark caramel malt; Nugget, Willamette and Cascade hops; and a “top secret brewmaster’s spice,” all on behalf of “the drinking town with a skiing problem.” 5.94% abv.

Clipper City “Heavy Seas” Peg Leg Imperial Stout (firkin)
Cross your fingers, cask-conditioned ale lovers. We’ve been sitting on this firkin for about five months, letting a bit of age reshape the thick, evolving black loveliness within. 8% abv.

*horsebrewery.com/our_brews.asp">Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Doppelbock
Does anyone ever brew a coffee beer that isn’t a porter or a stout? Affirmative. Dark Horse’s –ator tag is priceless. Guesstimating 7.5% abv.

Left Hand Snowbound Winter Ale
Presented as an “antidote to cabin fever,” and brewed with two-row, Munich, crystal and chocolate malts, Magnum and Saaz hops, and a spice array of crushed cinnamon, cloves, orange zest, honey, chopped ginger and cardamom. The website lists it as 7.6% abv.

NABC Bonfire of the Valkyries
An unprecedented Schwarzbier/Rauchbier hybrid (smoked black lager), back for its third seasonal batch. Not excessively smoky; just right. All in all, magic fire mood music for Saturnalia. Circa 6.5% abv.

NABC Naughty Claus
Jesse’s and Jared’s holiday spiced winter warmer features four malts, molasses, dark brown sugar, orange peel, cinnamon sticks and a few Saaz hops out of habit, if nothing else. This year’s version is evolving as I write. 7.5% abv.

Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
Last year’s portion went quickly as the sweet tooth brigade gathered for the kill. It’s stout infused with Belgian dark chocolate, and clocks in at circa 7% abv.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
It is indeed difficult to imagine another seasonal ale that symbolizes the holidays better than Celebration Ale. Desert island beer for many, recurring seasonal favorite, with generous doses of Chinook (for bittering), Cascades and Centennial hops, dry-hopped with all three, but not neglecting a delicious malt underpinning. 6.8% abv.

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard
The process is simple. Arrogant Bastard is aged on oak chips, with lend toasty vanilla flavors that are the perfect complement to the ale’s big background malt wallop. We appreciate aggressive hopping, too. Circa 6.8% abv.

*Two Brothers Oh Brother Tripel
An unpreviewed seasonal release from Chicagoland’s Two Brothers, made from pilsner malt, candi sugar, and “non-traditional” hops. 8.5% abv.

Saturnalia MMVIII program available on-line for downloading.

Saturnalia starts at NABC on Friday, December 12, and here’s the link to the .zip file with the .pdf of the official program. I spotted a couple of typos after putting it on-line, but that’s okay.

Download the program

All of it was previewed here in November, but the .pdf can be printed out, and you won't have to wait until opening day to have a glance at it.

55 guest kegs are expected, with roughly 16 of them (including a firkin) pouring on opening night and the remainder appearing afterward, probably well into January. About half are already in stock, with another dozen coming next week. The rest will be trickling in throughout December.

Te starting lineup will be determined early this week, as Mike and I tend to the pricing.

Speaking of Mike, the beer manager will have a ballast-lightening Vintage Shop running during the opening weekend of Saturnalia, December 12 & 13. The shop will be located to the rear of Prost, and will have beers for carry-out purchase as drawn from the beer cellar and overstocks. Vintage beers available for purchase include various Stones, Bigfoots, Thomas Hardy's, Bell's, JW Lee's and a few Alaskan Smoked Porters. There are others; with luck, we'll have a cheat sheet out later this week.

There'll also be glassware and selected other goodies.

Dogfish Head Hootenanny recap, and a few reflections.

My friend John Freyer, the Chicagoland-based regional representative of the innovative Dogfish Head craft brewery, was in town last night for a hootenanny, which is a fun way of describing a vertical Dogfish Head ale tasting jazzed up with a chilled buffet of Thanksgiving-style “leftovers” and accompanied by a bit of education and an evening’s conviviality.

Not only is John a craft beer business veteran and someone who’s been through all the madness that we’ll be experiencing when NABC’s downtown production brewery opens (bankers, if you’re reading and have cash to lend, call me immediately), but he’s also a diehard baseball fan who has co-authored books on our favorite game. After the hootenanny, we chewed the fat at the bar and vowed to collaborate someday on a baseball & beer companion. It was a blast, and it reminded me of how very much I love what I do. I'm the carnival barker, and I get to drink beer while I work.

I’m fortunate to make a living from my lifelong hobby of drinking beer, preferably in my natural habitat, the pub. Yes, it’s a business, and we need to make a profit to survive. But, at the end of the day, intangibles matter more to me. Being in a position to bring people like John to New Albany, and to have people come from miles around to sample beers and share knowledge, is what keeps me coming back for more, and helps me to tolerate the throbbing in my knees this a.m.

Of course, there’s a valid point to be made with respect to my attention to detail when it comes to money, in the sense that if I ran a tighter ship both personally and professionally, there’d be more lucre left over for the Curmudgeons. But my wife gets it, and truthfully, it simply doesn’t bother me, because I’d rather be good at what I do, and what I do is teaching and memory creation. Legacies don’t have to be built on wealth, even when they’re accruing from a for-profit business.

None of us will be taking any of it with us. C'est la vie.

Meaningful legacies in my line of work are about doing what you can, while you can, as best you can, and creating memories that are impervious to calculations of interest and percentages. If twenty years from now, someone smiles because they recall good times at the pub, then that’s the best return of all on our investment. In all honesty, I can’t say that I give a damn about the money beyond what it takes to survive. You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes … well, you know the rest of the Jagger/Richards axiom, don’t you?

---

NABC’s annual celebration of winter seasonal and holiday draft from America and the world begins on December 12. It’s my favorite festival of all the ones we stage and attend every year, primarily because so many people I haven’t seen in a while come back for the holidays, and these beers provide the festive accompaniment to the joys of reconnecting with old pals, sharing the war stories, and remembering the ones who no longer are with us. It was a bad year in the sense of losses, and I’m carrying a grudge against the Grim Reaper, but tomorrow’s another day, and the forthcoming year another year. You do your best, and keep fighting.

Here are the links to Saturnalia information posted here previously. Note that since the descriptions were written, I've updated the one for NABC Naughty Claus to reflect Jesse's submission of this year's formulation.

American micro draft lineup, descriptions, links for Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMVIII (begins December 12).

Imported draft lineup, descriptions, links for Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMVIII (begins December 12).

Saturnalia explained: Festive draft beers for the winter solstice, coming December 12.

Roger's believe-it-or-not: Saturnalia's planned and ready, a full month ahead of opening night.

American micro draft lineup, descriptions, links for Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMVIII (begins December 12).

Here are the American microbrewed selections that have been listed for the fifth edition of Saturnalia, which kicks off at the Public House on December 12.

Pricing and portion sizes vary according to alcohol content and style. Selections marked with an asterisk * are appearing on draft for the first time at Rich O’s Public House and Sportstime Pizza.

The three previous table setters for today's concluding half of the Saturnalia listings are these:

Imported draft lineup, descriptions, links for Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMVIII (begins December 12).

Saturnalia explained: Festive draft beers for the winter solstice, coming December 12.

Roger's believe-it-or-not: Saturnalia's planned and ready, a full month ahead of opening night.

John Campbell is working on the official poster, and when it's ready, it will be previewed here.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Anchor Christmas Ale (“Merry Christmas & Happy New Year”)
The holiday ale’s recipe has differed each year since its inception in 1975, but the conceptual links with trees (on the bottle label) and the winter solstice have endured. 5.5% abv.

*Atwater Vanilla Java Porter
Starbucks need not apply to serve this dessert drink, chilled, with chocolate malt, vanilla flavoring, coffee beans, and even American-grown Golding hops just for the fun of it 6% abv.

Avery Old Jubilation
Mahogany-colored, nutty and toffeeish English-style strong ale, brewed from five malts (two-row, special roast, black, chocolate and victory) and Bullion hops. 8% abv.

*Barley Island Beastie Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Stout
The Noblesville brewery’s Brass Knuckles Oatmeal Stout (5% abv in customary form) is aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey barrels, bolstering strength. Barley Island’s owners and brew crew will be on site at Rich O’s on Saturday, December 13, to help us drink some Beastie.

*Bell’s Christmas Ale
And now something completely different, as Bell’s delves into holiday ales with is being described as a Scots 80 Shilling (Wee Heavy) formulation brewed with Michigan barley and a blend of Pacific Northwest hops and a few cones of Michigan-grown hops. Guesstimating 7%+ abv.

Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury
This Belgian Strong Ale first appeared in 2004. According to the brewery, it’s “A brew that gives you either sympathy for the devil or the courage to face him … Goes especially well with your favorite lost my girl/truck/dog/trailer song.” Of course. 7.7% abv.

Bluegrass Brewing Company Hell for Certain
Original BBC brewmaster David Pierce’s classic seasonal Belgian style, taking at least some measure of inspiration from Wallonian gnomes, and the remainder from a strange Kentucky hamlet that may not have voted to re-elect Mitch McConnell. Circa 7.5% abv.

Boulder Never Summer Ale
American seasonal ale brewed with 2-row barley and British dark caramel malt; Nugget, Willamette and Cascade hops; and a “top secret brewmaster’s spice,” all on behalf of “the drinking town with a skiing problem.” 5.94% abv.

Breckenridge Christmas Ale
Dark mahogany in color (two row, caramel, chocolate, black malts) with Chinook and Mt. Hood for balance. Very Colorado. 7.4% abv.

Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout
Chocolate’s the selling point, but there is none; rather, intensely roasted malts and brewing skullduggery are the culprits. Should be saved for Gravity Head, but the Publican loves his Imperials. 10.1% abv.

*Brooklyn Brewery Brewmasters Reserve Grand Cru
As befitting the man who wrote the book on food and beer pairings, Garrett Oliver offers this special Belgian ale, brewed with Canadian barley and winter wheat, two different types of orange peel, lemon peel, chamomile, coriander and wildflower honey. 8.4% abv.

Clipper City “Heavy Seas” Peg Leg Imperial Stout (firkin)
Cross your fingers, cask-conditioned ale lovers. We’ve been sitting on this firkin for about five months, letting a bit of age reshape the thick, evolving black loveliness within. 8% abv.

Clipper City “Heavy Seas” Winter Storm
There is a presumption of “Imperial ESB” in this ale, with four malts and five hops (Magnum, Fuggles, Cascade, Centennial and Chinook). Dry hopped. 7.5% abv.

*horsebrewery.com/our_brews.asp">Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Doppelbock
Does anyone ever brew a coffee beer that isn’t a porter or a stout? Affirmative. Dark Horse’s –ator tag is priceless. Guesstimating 7.5% abv.

horsebrewery.com/our_brews.asp">Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout
This fruit-laced Stout comes from one of many innovative Michigan breweries and has arrived late every time we’ve ordered it, but is much loved when finally here. Keep watching the blackboards. 4.5% abv.

Great Divide Hibernation Ale
It’s a winter ale, but one that is lagered for three months prior to release. Perhaps overshadowed by some of today’s extreme microbrews, but enduring, unique and worthy in its own right - deep, nutty and smooth. 8.1% abv.

Left Hand Snowbound Winter Ale
Presented as an “antidote to cabin fever,” and brewed with two-row, Munich, crystal and chocolate malts, Magnum and Saaz hops, and a spice array of crushed cinnamon, cloves, orange zest, honey, chopped ginger and cardamom. The website lists it as 7.6% abv.

NABC Bonfire of the Valkyries
An unprecedented Schwarzbier/Rauchbier hybrid (smoked black lager), back for its third seasonal batch. Not excessively smoky; just right. All in all, magic fire mood music for Saturnalia. Circa 6.5% abv.

NABC Naughty Claus
Jesse’s and Jared’s holiday spiced winter warmer undergoes yearly modification. For 2008, the recipe calls for 2-row, chocolate, and aromatic malts, Dutch dark cocoa and fresh mint. That’s right: No hops at all. Circa 7% abv.

Oaken Barrel Epiphany
Westmalle Trappist yeast is used to fashion this tasty Tripel, which nudges toward the sweet side of the range without sacrificing a velvety sipability. Take that, Bud Light. Circa 9% abv.

Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
Last year’s portion went quickly as the sweet tooth brigade gathered for the kill. It’s stout infused with Belgian dark chocolate, and clocks in at circa 7% abv.

*Redstone Black Raspberry Nectar Mead
It’s another first for us, although mead arguably is the oldest fermented beverage known to man. Redstone’s nectar is classified as Melomel. Five parts Clover honey and one part Wildflower honey yield mead of medium sweetness, with black raspberries added. 8% abv.

Rogue Chocolate Stout
Brewed with a staggering 10 ingredients, including chocolate malt, chocolate flavoring and rolled oats. It is rich in every conceivable respect. Circa 6% abv.

Rogue HazelNut Brown Nectar
First concocted in honor of a creative, homebrewing friend of Rogue’s head brewer, HazelNut Brown Nectar is brewed with hazelnut extract, at least a half-dozen malts, Perle and Saaz hops, and Rogue’s trademark yeast strain. 6.2% abv.

Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve
Santa’s Private Reserve is back on draft as part of Rogue’s “John’s Locker Stock” series. Imagine a slightly bigger St. Rogue Red with double the hops. Circa 6.5% abv.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager
Bottom fermented wheat bock with Goldings and German Noble hops and a “touch” of spice (cinnamon, ginger and orange peel). 5.8% abv

Schlafly Christmas Ale
Schlafly is the “new religion in Mecca,” and its St. Louis megabrewing neighbor brews nothing as big as this big amber ale flavored with orange peel and cloves. 10% abv.

*Shmaltz He’Brew Jewbelation Twelve
Shmaltz’s 12th anniversary ale uses 12 different malts and 12 distinct hop varieties in 12 separate additions. At 12% abv, the motto undoubtedly rings true through the shtick: “This anniversary, candles won’t be the only thing getting lit.”

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
It is indeed difficult to imagine another seasonal ale that symbolizes the holidays better than Celebration Ale. Desert island beer for many, recurring seasonal favorite, with generous doses of Chinook (for bittering), Cascades and Centennial hops, dry-hopped with all three, but not neglecting a delicious malt underpinning. 6.8% abv.

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard
The process is simple. Arrogant Bastard is aged on oak chips, with lend toasty vanilla flavors that are the perfect complement to the ale’s big background malt wallop. We appreciate aggressive hopping, too. Circa 6.8% abv.

*Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale
Straight outta Akron, dog. Spiced with honey, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and “Santa's secret recipe.” 7.8% abv.

Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Xmas Porter
Who else but Three Floyds Brewing Company would devise a robust porter with English chocolate and Mexican sugar (or vice versa, depending on the source) that reeks of piney hop essence and is built on a malty foundation? No one, that’s who. 7.5% abv.

*Two Brothers Oh Brother Tripel
An unpreviewed seasonal release from Chicagoland’s Two Brothers, made from pilsner malt, candi sugar, and “non-traditional” hops. 8.5% abv.

Upland Winter Warmer
Upland’s annual winter specialty warmer is perhaps best described as a cross between an Old Ale and an English-style Barley Wine, falling a tad shy of the strong American microbrewed interpretations of both styles. 9% abv.

*Victory Baltic Thunder
Probably should have held onto this one for Gravity Head. Let’s just say that the Publican is eager to sample this variation on the Baltic Porter theme, courtesy for one of the most proficient breweries going. 8.5% abv.

Imported draft lineup, descriptions, links for Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMVIII (begins December 12).

Here are the imported selections that have been listed for the fifth edition of Saturnalia, which kicks off at the Public House on December 12.

Pricing and portion sizes vary according to alcohol content and style. Selections marked with an asterisk * are appearing on draft for the first time at Rich O’s Public House and Sportstime Pizza.

The two previous table setters for today's half of the Saturnalia listings are these:

Saturnalia explained: Festive draft beers for the winter solstice, coming December 12.

Roger's believe-it-or-not: Saturnalia's planned and ready, a full month ahead of opening night.

The American micro contingent will be previewed on Wednesday.

BELGIUM

De Dolle Stille Nacht
“Silent Night’s” ingredients include pale malt, white candi sugar and Nugget hops, but these don’t suffice to explain the seductive attraction of this Belgian classic. 27% degrees Plato, and 12% abv.

Delirium Noël
Noël, from the venerable, family-run Huyghe brewery near Ghent, blends the cleanness of Delirium Tremens (golden) and Delirium Nocturnum (dark) into a unique third way, albeit a shade stronger, prompting the brewery to remind us that it “requires a responsible consumption.” 10% abv.

Dupont Les Bons Voeux
Tawny blond, dry-hopped Saison for the holiday; brewed every year since 1970. The name means, “With the best wishes of the brewery” – Dupont, that is. 9.5% abv.

*Duvel Green
You read it right. Duvel, the Belgian ale that’s never, ever been on draft. Actually, the bottled Duvel formula we know best still isn’t. At 6.8% abv, export-only Duvel Green is entirely different animal from the famous non-draft version. ETA not known - keep your eyes open.

Gouden Carolus Noël
A secret recipe of six herbs and spices, along with Belgian hops, in an old house recipe that hadn’t been brewed for almost four decades until revived in 2002. 10.5% abv.

Kasteel Rouge
The Van Honsebrouck brewery uses the same cherry alcohol from Mon Cheri designer chocolates, dilutes it, then blends with the brewery’s Kasteel Bruin, yielding flavors of cherry, chocolate and toffee. 8% abv.

La Rulles Cuvée Meilleurs Voeux
Eclectic Wallonian holiday brew with pilsner, pale, Munich, caramel and roasted malts; dark candi sugar; American hops (Warrior, Amarillo and Cascade); and fermented using Orval’s distinctive Trappist yeast. 7.3% abv.

N’Ice Chouffe
Thyme, vanilla, orange peel and candi sugar are among the spices used to accent a dark and brawny winter seasonal, brewed in the hills of the Ardennes. 10% abv.

Scaldis Noël
When your flagship ale is the 12% abv blockbuster Scaldis (known as Bush in Belgium), what do you do for an encore come Christmas? Somehow Dubuisson’s holiday ale dials up the seductive elegance. It’s been a decade since we had Scaldis Noël on draft. 12% abv.

GERMANY

Mahr’s Der Weisse Bock
From the Publican’s favorite Bamberg family brewery that doesn’t produce smoked lager comes this compatriot of the better known Aventinus. If we could only reproduce the ambience of the venerable Mahr’s brewery taproom. 7.2% abv

Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
One of the Publican’s all-time Desert Island beers is Schlenkerla Marzen, now on tap all year round, except when Urbock, Marzen’s bigger brother, breezes into town for the holidaze. Taste what happens when beechwood is used in the correct way (as flavor, not bedding in the Clydesdale’s stalls). 6.6% abv.

Weihenstephaner Korbinian
Before there were wheat (Mahr’s) and coffee (Dark Horse) Doppelbocks, there was Doppelbock straight up - malty, dark, strong and always German. 7.4% abv.

ITALY

*Birra di Natale (Birrificio BEBA)
The next frontier for creative craft brewing is in Italy, so you’d best get used to the idea. We begin with BEBA’s winter lager, which should serve as a tasty calibration beer. Natale is brewed with pilsner, munich and caramel malts, and hopped with Hallertauer Magnum. 8.5% abv.

*Chiostro (Piccolo Birrificio)
The malt bill includes pilsner, wheat and rye malts, and Hallertauer is a familiar German hop variety, but then things get interesting. The yeast is Trappist, and the spice of choice is leaves of Wormwood/Absinthe (Arthemisia absinthium), which go straight into the kettle. Paging Mr. Van Gogh? 5% abv.

*Krampus (Birrificio del Ducato)
The beer itself (8% abv) is spiced with star anise, and the origin of the name is well worth noting (as related on importer B. United’s web site):

The word Krampus originates from the Old High German word for claw (Krampen). In the Alpine region the Krampus is represented by an incubus in company of St Nicholas. Traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December and particularly in the evening of December 5 and roam the streets frightening children (and adults) with rusty chains and bells. In some rural areas also slight birching especially of young females by the Krampus is part of tradition.

*Malthus Birolla (Birrificio di Como)
Brewed somewhat near George Clooney’s estate in Northern Italy, Malthus Birolla’s twist is the addition of roasted chestnuts and local honey to the wort. Later, the more of same honey goes into the maturation tanks. 6.5% abv.

*Nora (Birreria Baladin)
Throwback Egyptian recipes always are an excellent change of pace. Unmalted kamut (an ancient form of wheat) is used, and only the bare minimum of hops, which were not used in beer until later, are added solely for their preservative qualities. Ginger and orange peel are employed for balance, and myrrh for bittering. 6.8% abv.

*Shangrila (Birrificio Troll)
Shangrila is the Publican’s most anticipated Saturnalia MMVIII ale. To a standard recipe of malt and English hops, a tandori blend of Himalayan spices ups the ante: Coriander, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, ginger, cardamom, saffron, curry, pepper, and anise. 8.5% abv.

*Verdi Imperial Stout (Birrificio del Ducato)
Discerning readers may be aware that one current trend in fine chocolate making is the use of hot chili peppers, which add spice and dryness to rich, dark creations. Will the same philosophy hold with Imperial Stout? 7.5% abv.

UNITED KINGDOM

*Harvey’s Christmas Ale (firkin)No gimmicks here. Maris Otter and crystal malts, pinhead oats, Fuggle and Golding hops from within cycling distance of the brewery, traditional open primary fermentation and house yeast. 8.1% abv.