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.

Clip and save NABC's holiday opening/closing schedule for 2011.

When we'll be here, and when we won't.

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Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 24
Both NABC locations will be closed

Plaid Friday

Friday, November 25
Usual hours at both locations, with Saturnalia 2011 kicking off at the Pizzeria & Public House


Sunday, December 18

Bank Street Brewhouse will close at 5:00 p.m. (kitchen closes at 4:00 p.m.) so staff can attend the NABC company Christmas gathering.

Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24
Pizzeria & Public House will be open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pizzeria side only)
Bank Street Brewhouse will be closed

Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25
Both NABC locations will be closed

Boxing Day
Monday, December 26
Pizzeria & Public House will be open for normal hours (both sides)
Bank Street Brewhouse will be closed (as always on Monday)

Pants Down Potluck Port Drinkers Circle

Tuesday, December 27

In the Prost room ... tentative date

New Year’s Eve
Saturday, December 31
Pizzeria & Public House will be open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pizzeria side only)
Bank Street Brewhouse will be closed

New Year’s Day
Sunday, January 1 (2012)
Both NABC locations will be closed

Monday, January 2
Pizzeria & Public House will be open or normal hours (both sides)
Bank Street Brewhouse will be closed (as always on Monday)

In LEO: "Cheers for seasonal beers."

Here's a brief overview of seasonal specialties being released by Louisville-area craft breweries. It appeared as my Mug Shots article this week in LEO. If you're a local reader, be sure to sample some of the bounty.

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Cheers for seasonal beers

In the continental brewing tradition that informs our beery American ethos, the arrival of cold weather heralds the release of strong ales and lagers. In a touch that predates the use of hops, some are spiced, placing them firmly within the parameters of Christmas food and drink.

Louisville Metro’s five craft breweries offer creative annual festive motifs for the winter season. The most venerable is Ebenezer’s Spiced Ale, brewed since 1993 at Bluegrass Brewing Co.’s original St. Matthews location, and spiced with ginger, sweet orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and honey.

BBC’s Jerry Gnagy has another holiday trick up his apron with Wormwood Tripel, a Belgian abbey style set to tap on Dec. 27. Wormwood (that’s right, the stuff of absinthe) is used as a bittering herb.

Hell for Certain does not describe the BBC brewery at Main and Clay. Rather, it’s a spiced Wallonian style with coriander, sweet orange peel and a “secret spice” known only to Ardennes gnomes, from whom original BBC brewmaster David Pierce once took lessons.

Cumberland Brews is in jolly humor with its Kristmas Keester. Owner Mark Allgeier describes the ale, which adds juniper berries to the mix, as “designed to isolate you from other happy-go-lucky Christmas/cheery holiday-goers.”

A Scottish ale called Kincardin is the current Cumberland winter seasonal, and there may be some roasted pumpkin ale (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and brown sugar) still pouring as a Thanksgiving leftover.

My New Albanian Brewing Co. will unveil Naughty Claus at its Saturnalia Winter Solstice fest on Dec. 12. This year’s version is a British “winter warmer,” with cocoa and mint. Louisville’s only keg of Naughty Claus will be tapped at Flanagan’s Ale House on Dec. 13.

Finally, a shout-out to Browning’s Brewery. The pub and restaurant may be closed, but brewer Brian Reymiller is still making his She-Devil and ESB for local distribution. Look for them, and help keep the dream alive this holiday season.

Hallelujah! FOSSILS annual holiday bash scheduled for Saturday, December 13.

Wanna join me in feeling old?

This year's FOSSILS holiday party on December 13 will be the homebrewing and beer appreciation club's 19th such celebration. The first was in 1990, just months after the club was founded. Scant memories of it include the Hallelujah Chorus and a bottle of Armenian brandy that somehow made it loose from the cabinet.

Here's the lowdown on the 2008 edition. Obviously, the party's intended for members, but I hope I'm not speaking out of place in suggesting that the gathering is the natural opportunity to gift you and yours with a membership that qualifies the good times to start rolling. Note also that with Saturnalia beginning the day before, there'll be plenty of festive holiday beers on tap at the Publc House.

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FOSSILS Holiday Party

Date: Saturday, December 13
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Location: Prost! Room, Rich O's Public House

Again this year, the Christmas party will be catered by Rich O's. Everything is covered, including appetizers, dinner and dessert!

Festivities:

*Bring items for the raffle - gift wrapped if you wish - this is one of the best raffles of the year!
*Dress festively if you are in the mood to do so!

Event cost:

$15 per person, payable by check or cash at the door, includes appetizers, dinner, homebrew and dessert. Please bring your homebrew! If there is anything you wish to bring (desserts, raffle items, reindeer, homebrew), please do so and share the holiday spirit!

RSVP:

We need to deliver a headcount for catering, so please try to RSVP me with the number attending in your party by Friday, December 8. Guests (21 and over) are welcome to attend - please remember to include them in your RSVP.

Holiday Beer Tasting at Keg Liquors on Thursday, November 29.

Who the hell does Todd think he is -- me? Pretty soon he'll add DiGiorno pizza by the slice ... and then what?

But seriously, here's the lineup for this year's Keg Liquors Holiday Beer Tasting, which will be held on Thursday, November 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Keg Liquors is located at 617 E. Lewis & Clark Parkway in sunny Clarksville, Indiana.

I'll note that many of the beers Todd has assembled (marked *) will be featured at NABC's forthcoming Saturnalia draft festival, which kicks off on Friday, December 7, and runs pretty much the whole month of December.

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Our second year of this event, this will also be our final tasting of the year. Featuring many holiday and winter beers to get your holiday shopping started early, representatives from two of our craft beer distributors will be on hand, as well as a guest appearance from Schlafly Brewing.

More beers should be added to the list, while we are waiting for a final list of our special orders of holiday beers, but here is the partial list of what we know we will be tasting based on our existing inventory:

*Delirium Noel (2007 and 2005 Vintages)
Corsendonk Christmas Ale (2006 Vintage)
*Gouden Carolus Noel (2006 Vintage)
Affligem Noel (2006 Vintage)
Avery Old Jubilation
*Harpoon Winter Warmer
*Pyramid Snow Cap
*Anchor 2007 Merry Christmas, Happy New Year Special Ale (2005 Vintage as well)
*Rogue Santa's Private Reserve
*Three Floyds Alpha Klaus
*N'ice Chouffe (2005 Vintage)
*Great Divide Hibernation Ale
*Boulder Never Summer Ale
*Breckenridge Christmas Ale
Left Hand Snow Bound
Harvey's Christmas Ale (2001 Vintage)
Gales Christmas Ale (2002 Vintage)
St. Feullien Noel (2006 Vintage)

As an added bonus, Scott from Schlafly Brewing will be on hand to sample several of their latest brews. Here is their lineup:

Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - Around the time of the Louisiana purchase, beer was shipped in barrels. if one had been lucky enough to receive a used Bourbon barrel of Imperial Stout, this is what his/her happy taste buds would have encountered: roasty, rich, malty imperial stout with a strong dose of caramel, oak, and Bourbon character.

Schlafly Barleywine - A heavy, sweet, very strong ale with a deep, copper color and lots of hops to balance the very large amount of malt. This very large beer has also been known to bite back.

*Schlafly Christmas Ale - A full-bodied amber ale to spice up the holidays. 'Tis the season to enjoy this rich and flavorful ale made with orange peel, cloves and spicy hops.

This is a free tasting and open to the public (21 and older of course). All beers in the tasting will be $1 off the day of the tasting.

This year's gathering of the Pants Down Potluck Port Drinkers Circle will be Thursday, December 27.

Thursday, December 27 is the date for the annual gathering of the Pants Down Potluck Port Drinkers Circle of New Albany, Southern Indiana, Oz and points afar.

As before, we'll be imbibing in the Prost banquet and special events wing of Rich O's Public House/NABC. Coverage from stellar events the last two years can be viewed here:

2006: Pants Down Port Drinkers on December 28: A recap.

2005: Port wine is a holiday tradition.

This year's tasting is open to all comers, with no cover or minimum, with the only firm requirement being that participants bring a bottle of Port and a snack (cheese, salami, olives or other munchables) to the gathering.

It is possible that a fine cigar for the hosting Publican might buy your way inside.

Traditional co-conspirator Tim Eads and I would like an informal and non-binding RSVP by December 20, including a description of the Port you'll be bringing, if in fact you know and aren't a last-minute shopper like me. I'll post a list of the Ports on or around the 20th.

Briefly googling in preparation, we find:

Into Wine: Enjoying Port

The Vintage Port Site (operated by the Symington Family Port Companies)

Prior to my only visit to Portugal in 2000, the Danish gonzo journalist Kim Wiesener, a longtime friend, recommended Richard Mayson's "Port and the Douro" as the finest overview of all things Port. Indeed, it is excellent, and if you're interested in Port, it's a must-have.

There's a new edition available, and I'm sure that Randy Smith at Destinations Booksellers would be able to track it down for those interested.

Here's a capsule description:

Mayson recounts the history of this great fortified wine up to the present day, including an assessment of major vintages back to 1896. He examines the physical condition of the region, grape varieties and vineyards with an appraisal of each of the main quintas, providing a directory of individual producers and shippers.