A photo a day while I was away: Schlenkerla's next generation gets an early start.

Young Julius donned the apron and manned the Spülboy for a round of glass-cleaning ... of course, under the watchful supervision of his papa, Matthias Trum. Julius's sister Felicia was born just before we arrived in Europe. We toasted the Trums, Schlenkerla, Rauchbier, Bamberg and anything else that came to mind while cherishing Matthias's valuable time, and the chance to meet the next generation up close.

The beer was fabulous. But you already knew that.

If this archival film clip of Schlenkerla doesn't make you thirsty, you may be dead.

Tim "Starlight Distribution" Eads mailed this link, as posted at Schlenkerla's Facebook site some time back. I'm sorry I missed it. 

The black and white film clip was shot in 1963, and is entirely in German, but this doesn't matter at all. It's entirely comprehensible. More recent visitors to Bamberg can attest to how little has changed in the physical sense of the historic pub's interiors and conventional tourist views in a finely preserved old town, and yet, 50 years is a very long time. How many of Bamberg's breweries shown in montage have survived? 

In 1963, it was less than 20 years since war's end, and Matthias, today's standard bearer for the Trum family, hadn't been born.

Elegiac times two. I want to go back. When?

Hops and smoke and Randall and what's on tap at the Public House.

First, let's take a glance at the draft lineup at NABC's Public House & Pizzeria.

A final note pertaining to Sandkerwa NA, our celebration of Franconian beer and brewing: I regret to announce that our long-awaited keg of Spezial Rauchbier, which was to have (somewhat) closed this year's Sandkerwa, proved to be tragically off.

That happens from time to time, and considering the brilliant success of the Anstich (gravity pour) kegs, I probably can't complain. As compensation, at least from my personal point of view, Schlenkerla Marzen has briefly been supplanted by two kegs of Heller-Trum's richer and smokier Schlenkerla (unfiltered) Urbock, primarily because Franconia's localized Bock season is in full swing, and we need to celebrate it, too. As a final bonus, know that yet another Schlenkerla variant will be coming to us very soon. It is an oak-smoked (not beechwood-smoked) strong lager of about 8%. It could be the first of December, and I'm salivating already.

Back to hops: Today, the big news is Randall the Enamel Animal.

A sixth-barrel of NABC VII - Seventh Anniversary Ale will be "Randallized" with whole leaf Cascades, beginning later this afternoon. As soon as possible after the sixer is gone, we'll begin pouring VII for the remainder of its run. Randall will travel to the Bank Street Brewhouse tomorrow, and the process will be repeated there. Many thanks to Jared Williamson for making this happen.

Currently at the Public House, Lupulin Land continues with listed ales and a ringer selection: Three Floyds Broo Doo Harvest Ale (American IPA; 7% abv). As we begin the day, here are the Lupulin Land selections:

Boulder Flashback Anniversary (India Brown Ale, 6.8% abv)

Great Divide Belgica (Belgian-style IPA; 7.2% abv)

He’Brew Shmaltz Lenny’s RIPA (Rye Double IPA; 10% abv)

Rogue Charlie 1981 (American Strong Ale; 8.5% abv)

Shoreline Sum-Nug IPA (IPA; 7% abv)

Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA (Double IPA; 11% abv)

Stone 13th Anniversary Ale (Imperial Red; 9.5% abv)

Two Brothers Heavy Handed (India Pale Ale; 6.7% abv)

Mike Bauman keeps track of the taps here: NABC News Portal. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for current draft listings at both locations.

One of those tough decisions in life.

On Saturday afternoon at roughly 2:30 p.m., I was thrust into the unenviable position off making a sad, sad call.

Pull the plug, or not?

I pulled the plug.

Our second of two kegs of Schlenkerla Urbock, one of my favorite beers in all the world, was off. Sour. Perhaps drinkable for some, but not for me. The first one was delicious, but something had gone tragically wrong with the second, and there was only one way to make it right.

It was taken off tap and will be returned to the wholesaler.

I cried ... although I know there'll be another time.