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.

This week at NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse.

• Patio conversion is under way
• Gumbo trial tonight
• “Soft” 11 am – 5 pm hours on Christmas Eve
• Solidarity Baltic Porter is being bottled today
• Holiday hours for both NABC locations

Our friends at Resch Construction have started on Bank Street Brewhouse's long-anticipated patio build-out, and to say that we’re both excited and grateful is a profound understatement. Thanks again, Steve.

Bank Street Brewhouse will remain open throughout the process of converting our current patio area into an all-weather facility with garage doors opening into what will become a beer garden in time. Much of the work will be completed within a couple of weeks, but the new roof will have to wait for installation during warmer weather.

The wall stones were being stacked on pallets yesterday, to be put into storage and returned when the future beer garden is landscaped next spring/summer. Since the outdoor area isn’t being used very much during cold weather, this patio work will have the minor effect of causing a bit of a mess, but it will not stand in the way of doing business in the customary way.

http://potablecurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2011/12/picture-this-bank-street-brewhouses.html

Tonight (Tuesday the 20th) will be the first sighting of gumbo on the BSB menu. We’re thinking about making this a regular Tuesday food special, along with the reduced price session ales. Wednesday remains growler discount day. Remember that Bank Street Brewhouse now opens for lunch at 11:00 a.m. from Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday Brunch begins at 10:00 a.m., but because of this year’s dates for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the next brunch date is January 8.

We're bottling Solidarity today, and it will be heading to the wholesalers tomorrow.

Following are the holiday hours of operation for Bank Street Brewhouse and the Pizzeria & Public House. Note that both locations will be open (reduced schedule) on Christmas and New Year's Eves.

Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24
Pizzeria & Public House will be open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pizzeria side only; normal menu)
Bank Street Brewhouse will be open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., with Progressive Pints, growlers and light snacks (not the everyday menu)

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 ... contact Roger immediately if you’re interested in joining the annual Port tasting

New Year’s Eve
Saturday, December 31
Pizzeria & Public House will be open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pizzeria side only; normal menu)
Bank Street Brewhouse will be open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., with Progressive Pints, growlers and light snacks (not the everyday menu)

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)

Here’s what NABC is doing this week.

Nutzoid holiday weeks begin now.

Naughty Claus, version 2011, is back on tap at both NABC locations, because Santa needs daze off, too. Naughty Claus is NABC's rich, full-bodied holiday spiced seasonal that changes wardrobe a bit each year as we experiment with festive additives.

Get some tonight, because on Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving Day), both Bank Street Brewhouse and the Pizzeria & Public House will be closed. Both of our locations will-reopen at 11:00 a.m. on Plaid Friday, November 25.

On Saturday, November 26, NABC’s Josh Hill will be pouring samples at Kaiser Tobacco Store on Pearl Street from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. as part of downtown New Albany’s annual Jingle Walk and Holiday Fest. Later that same evening, we’ll be manning the concessions at the Art Store for Deck the Walls (circa 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.)

Also, please note these new, expanded opening hours for Bank Street Brewhouse. Operating hours at the Pizzeria & Public House remain as before.

Bank Street Brewhouse Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Friday and Saturday
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Sunday
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Brunch (see below): 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The other big BSB news is the advent of brunch on Sundays, beginning this Sunday morning, November 27.

Bank Street Brewhouse Sunday Brunch …

• New Brunch Menu (10 am - 2 pm)
• Handcrafted NABC beer
• Takeaway growlers of handcrafted NABC beer
• Takeaway 22 oz. Bomber bottles of handcrafted NABC beer
• Famous and celebrated “Build Your Own” Bloody Mary Bar
• Mimosas, regional bourbons, wines and & spirits
• 10:00 a.m. first call for drinks (3 hours before Louisville)
• Just a few minutes across the Kennedy or Clark Memorial bridges

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)

Labor Day weekend schedule at NABC.

We're giving the crew two days off during Labor Day weekend, and the lesson here is this: Get your growlers on Saturday, at the latest.

Sunday, September 4
Monday, September 5
Both the Bank Street Brewhouse and the Pizzeria & Public House will will be closed.

Regular hours at both locations resume on Tuesday the 6th.

4:30 p.m. opening for Bank Street Brewhouse today as we make afternoon room for the Dubois County Suds Club.

NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse will be opening at 4:30 p.m. today (Saturday, March 13) so that we may host another visiting bus load of beer lovers, this time from the Dubois County Suds Club.

The club’s founder claims that I once dispensed useful advice to him, and although my memory can no longer be trusted and it sounds highly sketchy, we'll relive these memories I've forgotten and have a few beers, too. I'll be conveying growler-borne samples of Gravity Head to them at BSB.

Public House second shift only Monday and Tuesday.

Kate found staff for the Public House, so although Office Hours is postponed until next Monday, the Pub is open on Monday night. On Tuesday, the Public House will not open until 5 p.m., although the Pizzeria will operate from 11:00 a.m. Got it?

Monday NABC scheduling: Pizzeria open, Office Hours postponed.

NABC's Pizzeria & Public House will run today via our "half open" weather schedule, i..e, seating at the Pizzeria and reduced staffing.

The Office Hours with the Publican session scheduled for tonight will be postponed until next week, with the IPA topic remaining the same.

Bank Street Brewhouse is closed always closed on Monday. We'll be back at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Unofficially Thanksgiving at the Public House.

Neither NABC location is OFFICIALLY open on Thanksgiving, but at the Public House (formerly Rich O's), our beer manager Mike will be UNOFFICIALLY open at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

The pizza oven WILL BE OFF, so no food as usual, but Mike (assisted by Joy) is making a batch of Bison & Elk Chili, and he encourages you to bring leftovers and have a pint or two. The Curmudgeons might even drop by after we've finished our usual Vietnam Kitchen feast and a movie.

On Friday, the Pizzeria & Public House begins operations at 11:00 a.m., and Bank Street Brewhouse will be open at 2:00 p.m.

Lunch hours at the Public House, beginning now.

Beginning this week, opening hours at NABC’s Public House (Rich O’s) are being expanded backwards to include lunchtime.

I say "backwards" because we opened the Public House at 11:00 a.m. until 1999, when it was concluded that one dining room was enough for lunch. The variable that has changed since then, and the one now being recognized, is smoking vs. non-smoking. In practical terms, this change has the effect of opening the non-smoking area at the Public House to lunchtime business.

Feedback is kindly requested. Among other things, Gravity Head now becomes more interesting, earlier.

From now on, both the Public House and Pizzeria (Sportstime) will be open at 11:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Closing hours remain 12 a.m. (midnight) at both. NABC’s original Public House and Pizzeria are closed on Sunday. NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse downtown is open on Sunday, but closed on Monday.

Got it?

Both NABC locations open for business.

Rain be damned: As of 12:30 p.m., we're up and running. All the employees were not able to make it to Grant Line, but Kate reports that things are okay. There was a bit of water leakage (an ongoing issue) at Bank Street, but nothing major.