Busy weekend in downtown New Albany? That's an understatement.

Tonight is the rain date for the New Albany Bicentennial Public Art Project kick-off walk, and the Glass Art Society Annual Conference in Louisville (June 10-12) will have portions spilling across the Ohio River into New Albany. Karen Gillenwater has compiled culture, music, shopping, food and drink updates at this "big damn guide" to downtown New Albany this weekend.

The NABC World Cup Series of small batch/USA match ales commences Saturday, June 12, with the debut of "USA vs England – Ordinary Bitter" at Bank Street Brewhouse, and our Haggis Laddie Celtic Red will be tapped for the "Celts on the River" concert on the same day. For a few more Celts on the River factoids, read these highlights from the organizers. There's also my Tribune column, called "Celts on the Ohio River, too," which surveys a long-ago pub session in Ireland.

July 4 is GROWLER INDEPENDENCE DAY in Indiana.

July 4 is GROWLER INDEPENDENCE DAY in Indiana. We urge you to come and celebrate at NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse.

Americans know that July 4 is Independence Day, a day to recognize and celebrate the founding principles of democracy with picnics, beer, music, beer, fireworks, beer … well, we all know the drill, and look forward to a day of summertime outdoor fun.

This year, July 4 is an even better day in Indiana. It will be the first Sunday ever for legal carry-out growler sales, i.e., 64-oz glass draft beer containers. We’re calling it Growler Independence Day, and NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse (415 Bank Street in downtown New Albany) is celebrating Growler Independence Day with a special Sunday plan of operations.

***We’ll be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, with Bank Street GM Stephen Powell and Roger “Potable Curmudgeon” Baylor manning the NABC taps. Come bring your empty growlers to be refilled, or buy the new growlers you need: For most of our beers, two growlers for $17.76, plus tax, either new or refilled. Be fully beer-ready for your July 4 afternoon and evening festivities. Normal Sunday hours (Noon – 8:00 p.m.) will resume on July 11.

***Bank Street’s renowned Bloody Mary Bar will run for the duration of these special Growler Independence Day hours on Sunday, July 4.

***There’ll be hourly giveaways of $17.76 Bank Street gift certificates. You must be present at some point during the day to register.

***Although Chef Josh’s kitchen will be closed, we’ll be grilling exciting new contemporary versions of NABC’s famous burnt weenie sandwiches. Just don’t ask us what this means, at least quite yet.

Have a snack, drink a beer or a designer Bloody Mary, fill your growlers, and enjoy Growler Independence Day on Sunday, July 4.

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Remember: Regular Sunday hours at Bank Street will resume on July 11, and Sunday NABC growler sales are a permanent feature of the downtown operation from that point on.

Note also that on the Indiana side of the Ohio, Bank Street Brewhouse will be the only establishment permitted to sell carry-out beer on Sunday, with the closest Indiana breweries being in Aurora (east), Columbus (north) and Evansville (west).

For future Sunday reference, also note that NABC’s friends at the River City Winery (321 Pearl Street) are legally allowed to sell carry-out bottles of their wine on Sunday, too. That’s a win-win for Sundays in downtown New Albany.

Finally: Beginning on July 1, and constituting the small price we've had to pay for independence, carry-out sales of alcoholic beverages in Indiana, including growlers at a brewery, must be accompanied by an driver's license showing proof of age. Whether you're 21 or 81, you must show ID to buy a growlers, or we cannot serve you. This isn't our rule. It's Indiana's. Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated.

NABC World Cup Series starts Saturday with the debut of "USA vs England – Ordinary Bitter."

A little history is in order. In Brazil in 1950, USA played football (soccer) powerhouse England in the World Cup, and the result was the Miracle on Grass, a 1-0 USA victory. Reading the score in the newspapers next day, many Englishmen assumed it was a misprint and that England had won 10-1. The victory remains a benchmark in US football history.

Sixty years later, South Africa is the scene, and kickoff for the renewal of the rivalry is at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, New Albany time. NABC's Bank Street Brewhouse will be the scene of a special tapping to commemorate the occasion, as the first of three small batches, designed to debut on the same day as USA's first three World Cup matches, goes on tap.

First up is "USA vs England – Ordinary Bitter," with a firkin tapped at 2:00 p.m. at Bank Street Brewhouse, and a keg of the CO2 version on at the Pizzeria & Public House at the same time.

NABC's Jared Williamson conceived the project, Jesse Williams collaborated on the recipes, and I've added style notes to the report below.

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USA vs England – Ordinary Bitter

Malts: Simpsons Golden Promise, Simpsons Medium Crystal

Malts note by Jesse: "Simpsons Golden Promise is early maturing barley primarily grown in Scotland. It produces sweet, clean wort that I have always preferred to the more famous Maris Otter, which can be a bit nuttier. Golden Promise in fermentation and beyond has a depth of flavor that is perfect for balancing any hop, be it our mostly fruity/citrusy US varieties or the traditional herbal/grassy English varieties. A small Crystal malt addition only adds to the depth of flavor and allows a little color into the malt palette."

Kettle hops: Columbus, Chinook, Simcoe, Amarillo
Dry hops: Columbus, Amarillo

Hops notes by Jared: "To bring out the American aspect of this ale, I used pungent and aromatic Pacific Northwest hops, but in keeping with the style, kept the IBUs low. I dry hopped both the cask and draft versions, resulting in a wonderful floral and citrus nose."

Yeast: House London Ale

ABV: 3.9%

IBU: 26

Color: 5.4 degree Lovibond SRM

Style notes by Roger: "Historically, the emergence of efficient kilning techniques during the malting process roughly 200 years ago led to paler malts and new types of well-hopped ale. Since then, 'Bitter' has been understood as a low-gravity, English pale ale (as opposed to 'brown' and 'black' ales), seen most often in cask-conditioned form in the UK. Ordinary generally describes the lowest strength of the Bitter range (including Best, Extra Special and Premium), at less than 4.1% abv."

The art of NABC's Haggis Laddie Celtic Red.

The name is a pun based on our friend Roz Tate's alter ego, Haggis Daddy, and the Dry Stout we used to brew by that name. Tony Beard did the art, and it is Jared Williamson's recipe, a spot-on nailing of the classic Irish Red, center of the target, and it's going to move quickly on Saturday if the temps reach the mid-90's as predicted.

NABC Haggis Laddie Celtic Red for the "Celts on the River" concert this Saturday (June 12).

Battle of the Schlafly IPAs begins this Thursday.

At the Public House, 3312 Plaza Drive in New Albany. There'll be 20-oz pints of each, or you can get a half-pint of each for the 20-oz price -- while it lasts.

As expected, a Louisville Slugger Field craft draft swap.

As reported previously, the stadium concessionaire Centerplate has removed Beak's Best and Kentucky Ale from the portable draft station on the main concourse at Louisville Slugger Field and replaced them with Cumberland Red and BBC Nut Brown. Browning's Helles and Shock Top remained on the other two taps as of Sunday night's game (thanks, Matt).

Tonight's game is the finale of an abbreviated homestand. The Bats return to Louisville on June 17. It's anyone's guess what will happen after these four-keg each shipments are exhausted. Centerplate representatives have not responded to my recent questions.

I persist in believing that (a) they're pursuing a rotating strategy, albeit without a clear plan; (b) it's great to have craft beer on tap at the park even if it is not NABC's; and (c) Centerplate and the management of the Louisville Bats both need to hear from consumers. Thank them, make comments and suggestions, and let them know that your spending reflects the availabilty of expanded choice.

NABC Haggis Laddie Celtic Red for the "Celts on the River" concert this Saturday (June 12).

Last year's inaugural "Celts on the River" concert was held at New Albany's riverfront amphitheater in mid-August. We'd just started brewing at Bank Street Brewhouse, and Jared Williamson somehow managed to squeeze a brand new formulation into the brewing schedule at NABC's original garage brewery at the Pizzeria & Public House.

It was called Haggis Laddie Celtic Red, and intended as our annual seasonal in honor of the Celtic festival and concert, for which NABC is the exclusive beer vendor. The show was moved to June 12 for this (and I believe) successive years, as previewed in my LEO column last week: "Mug Shots" today in LEO: "Celts invade New Albany."

Haggis Laddie Celtic Red has been brewed a second time, this year under slightly less stressful conditions. Here's the recipe:

Haggis Laddie Celtic Red
Malts: Two row, 80L Crystal, Cara-Pils, Wheat Malt, Black Patent

Hops: Northern Brewer

Yeast: House London Ale

ABV: 5%
IBU: 17

The first keg of this year's Haggis Laddie Celtic Red will be tapped Friday, June 11, at Covered Bridge golf course's bar for the Charity Golf Scramble, a prelude to the concert on Saturday. NABC also is sponsoring a hole, and will have samples available there during the scramble itself.

Haggis Laddie then will go on tap at both NABC locations on Saturday, June 12, and of course will be featured at the amphitheater for the show from 2:00 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Check back for updates throughout the coming days as we prepare for a big weekend in New Albany.

NABC and Schlafly take over Louisville Beer Store for First Friday Trolley Hop.

Tonight is the First Friday Trolley Hop in Louisville:

It's an art show. It's a tourist attraction. It's a street party. It's a celebration of downtown Louisville that is bringing new visitors and new life to the Main and Market corridor.

Frequent co-conspirators NABC and Schlafly are joining forces at the Louisville Beer Store for tonight's June 4 edition of the First Friday Trolley Hop. Each brewery will have four beers on tap, and there'll be two cask-conditioned firkins: Tasty American IPA from Schlafly, and a special Belgian-style IPA from NABC.

Approximate hours for LBS's NABC/Schlafly showcase are 4:00 p.m. to close. NABC's Jared Williamson and Brennan Greene from Schlafly will be on hand to answer questions and join in the merriment. Stay tuned for more information about next week's special Battle of the Schlafly IPAs draft promotion at NABC's original Pizzeria & Public House in New Albany.

As soon as I'm sure that the AIPA has arrived, we're a go ...

Hoosier Beer Geek on NABC Beak's Best: "Tastes like a good brewery smells."

From the Hoosier Beer Geek blog comes praise, both for the evolving Fountain Square craft beer habitat in Indianapolis, and for NABC Beak's Best. I may be biased, but I strongly believe that Beak's has itself evolved into a wonderful conceptual hybrid of an ale, a bit beyond session alcoholic strength, and yet not so strong at 5.3% abv that it precludes a jar or three.

Thanks to Cavalier Distributing for sliding Beak's Best into the Indy tap mix, and to HBG for the kind words.

KOTBR #105 - The Zoo That Is Fountain Square

The White Rabbit has four taps pouring three craft beers and PBR (at damn fine prices, I might add; the bottle list is great too). Sticking with Indiana beers (and continuing the zoo theme), we opted for a New Albanian Beak's Best (you know, beak... bird... bird's have beaks...okay, I'm reaching. So what?). This American take of the English Bitter beer has become one of my favorite go-to beers. It has a clean nose, a sweet first taste, and a hop punch that follows. Much like Sun King's Wee Mac, it is a highly sessionable beer. Especially if you drink like an elephant.

"Mug Shots" today in LEO: "Celts invade New Albany."

It's only a week and a half away.

Mug Shots: Celts invade New Albany

I’m here to tout a festive forthcoming weekend in my own town, New Albany. Before doing so, there is a wee bit of back story to cover, so find a chair, pour a jar and smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em.

St. Paul's Art on the Parish Green (with NABC beer), this weekend, June 5 & 6.

Did you know that St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located just around the corner from the Publican's household, is the oldest Episcopalian congregation in Indiana? It dates back 175 years.

The coming weekend will be St. Paul's 4th annual Art on the Parish Green. The church's historic grounds are given over to a multitude of arts and crafts, with live music, food and beer from the New Albanian Brewing Company (tentative choices: Abzug, Community Dark and Elector). Don't forget the Sunday hours, enabling you to make Fest of Ale and Art on the Parish Green in one entertaining weekend. For complete information, hit the Internet:

Art on the Parish Green web site

Art on the Parish Green Facebook site

Here's the report on the latest craft beer news at Louisville Slugger Field.

Beak's Best (and Alltech's Kentucky Ale) remained on tap at Louisville Slugger Field on Sunday evening, but a source indicates that Centerplate, the stadium concessionaire, has ordered Cumberland Red and BBC Nut Brown Ale for the next homestand local craft beer go-around. I'm told that Browning's will remain, along with Shock Top, which is not a craft beer no matter how many times Anheuser-Busch repeats the blatant lie aloud.

Although I can't predict whether NABC will continue as a progressive beer option as the baseball season proceeds at Louisville Slugger Field, it is somewhat heartening that there appears to be a commitment to local choice at the portable concession stand behind Section 115. That's a start, even if the price for purely euphemistic 14-oz pours (a 12-oz actual measure) increased from $5 to $5.50 at some point when we weren't looking. I try to see it this way: Craft always is better than Bud, even at twice the price.

My only regret (and no small measure of frustration) in this experience is that there seems to be so little communication between concessionaire and wholesaler/brewer.

The reality is that Centerplate and Craft Beer Nation operate on business models so profoundly different that they might as well be on separate planets, and I'm not sure if this implies that we should learn to speak their language, or they learn ours. The truth would lie somewhere in between if the playing field were level, and it is not. The prevailing system of ballpark vending discourages most of the marketing techniques that Craft Beer Nation successfully deploys -- primarily, education.

Consumer education is job one in our craft beer world. Consequently, if NABC is on tap at the ballpark on a dependable basis, and we know that we're not to be treated as Charlie Brown, with the ball yanked away at the last moment, then we can aggressively help sell the product, educate the consumers, and create a vibe. We make the same wholesale money in such a situation. Centerplate makes an increased amount of money from its higher craft beer retail sales. It should be a no-brainer, yet it is not. Maybe some day, it will become axiomatic.

Imagine the excitement that might be generated from making the concession stand at 115 into a genuine locally-themed craft beer destination, with signage and artwork to match. Unfortunately, when I asked about hanging banners, I was told that a table tent would be an acceptable idea. At best, that's 8.5 x 11. Budweiser's colossal right field billboard apparently overshadows not only a mere wee table tent, but also the very possibility that ballpark customers with no intention of drinking Budweiser might find refuge somewhere inside the belly of the corporate beast.

And that's the part that slays me.

On Sunday, the crowd in attendance at Louisville Slugger Field was reminded twice to pay homage to Memorial Day and the gallant fighting men who fought and died for freedom. I have no argument with that, although surely there were more folks in attendance than just me who grasped the damning irony of "freedom" in the context of monopolistic, non-free capitalist product placement. What does a "free market" mean in such a place? Is it really the sort of economic system that people should die to perpetuate?

Apologies, but some times serenity is elusive. As local craft brewers, we can't be satisfied with the status quo, where public tax money is used to create venues where corporate monopolies are exuberantly enforced, and free choice is exceedingly difficult, if not outright impossible. This should not be taken as criticism of Centerplate, which operates within rules of the game that were in effect when their contract was signed. I genuinely appreciate that they're doing what they're doing now.

Rather, it is to stress that there is much work to be done. The battle against the A-B's of the world cannot be abandoned.

As for the illustration above, it was with palpable optimism that NABC's artist in residence, Tony Beard, produced this baseball-themed homage to Beak's Best and its namesake, Dr. Donald Barry. We hope to be able to post it at the ballpark some sweet day in the future.

Don is returning to New Albany later this week for his annual visit prior to decamping for Europe. Back here in Louisville, there's a four-game weekend homestand coming for the Bats, beginning Friday, June 4th, and ending on Monday. The team then departs for a long road trip, returning on June 17. If you attend this weekend, let us know what's available and how it's being served, i.e., which kegs are on ice and being served via the cold plate; it's easy to glance around the back of the serving area and see what's on ice.

And: When you see Centerplate and Louisville Bats personnel, please thank them for having a true craft beer option.

Reminder: The remarkably local Fest of Ale is this Saturday, June 5.

It's a truly local beer festival, conceived and staged right here, growing slowly and steadily over the years, and with no apparent need for outside intervention. For the whole story, hit the Fest of Ale page at Facebook.

Celts on the River concert in New Albany is Saturday, June 12.

NABC is the official beer sponsor, and will be on hand for all the music in addition to hosting the after-party at Bank Street Brewhouse. Look for the second annual release of Haggis Laddie Celtic Red, timed to coincide with the golf scramble at Covered Bridge on Friday, June 11th, and on tap for the weekend at both NABC locations as well as the Riverfront Amphitheater.

My LEO column on June 2, as well as my Tribune column on June 10, will be devoted to the Celtic celebration. Until then, there are further details at the Kentuckiana Celtic Fest's web site.

A few articles and links of possible interest.

Partying at home? My fellow Food & Dining columnist Tim Laird has the complete plan, illustrated with photos by the inimitable Dan Dry, in this book: That's Entertainment!

But perhaps you're craving a change of scenery? The Curmudgeon always does, but isn't sure that an establishment accessible only by boat is the answer: Britain's most remote pub.

Also in the UK, mid-sized brewer Adnams seeks an end to small brewery tax break even though the company itself ranks the importance of its beer making operation behind both wine and kitchenware (?) in importance. Wankers.

For those planning to attend the Brewers of Indiana Guild's Indiana Microbrewers Festival in Broad Ripple on July 17, here is the story behind the next Indiana ReplicAle. Note that there will be no Friday evening brewers dinner function this year, but that the festival will expand in territorial terms on Saturday; more space, more beer.

Pizzaria owners are advised to short the public when it comes to draft beer pours, and I don't doubt the chicanery. At the same time, anyone taking advice about beer from Pizza Marketing Quarterly isn't the sharpest knife in the kitchen. Ask the Curmudgeon, people.

In Kentucky, a bourbon tasting bill is caught in a legislative fight, and the part that catches my attention is Rep. Clark noting that he doesn't want to see bourbon tastings in "every corner liquor store," although making exceptions for the Equestrian Games makes sense. Isn't the principle the same, either way?

NABC's World Cup Series: Three new beers for the global game.

Bank Street Brewhouse will be open and serving for USA's opening matches, as detailed in Tony Beard's artwork (above). Of course, numerous establishments in metro Louisville will be airing the matches, but how many of them created and brewed three new beers as specific accompaniment?

Never seen Budweiser do that for NASCAR, have you?

Nope.

Ordinary Bitter, Keller Pils and Biere de Garde are the result of NABC's World Cup-status brew team's artistic collaboration, as brewed by Jared Williamson at the original garage brewhouse at the Public House & Pizzeria.

Stay tuned for the Publican's 50th Anniversary beer, to be called Ancient Rage, and coming to NABC's two locations in early August.

NABC at Southern Indiana Uncorked in Corydon, Saturday, May 29.

It's a bit of a last minute thing, seeing as we were overwhelmed for the past couple of weeks, but we're returning for Southern Indiana Uncorked. The fest takes place at the Harrison County Fairgrounds this coming Saturday, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Finale of Office Hours before summer break: Abbey/Trappist Overview.

Tonight's "Office Hours with the Publican" will be the final installment for the spring term. I'll pick it up after summer break, perhaps early September. I appreciate the participation, and it has been quite enjoyable to assemble a group of "regulars" from week to week.

On the agenda for this evening is a quick overview of Abbey and Trappist ales from (and perhap inspired by) Belgium. Recall that certified Trappists must adhere to a three step program: Brewed in the monastery (although fermentation can occur elsewhere); monks actively involved at some stage of the process; and a percentage of the proceeds going toward charity.

Abbey ales rather generically describe all those styles similar to Trappist, but not officially certified. There may be a real abbey licensing its name to a brewer, or a contract brewer making beer for a real abbey, or a brewer in Guam making ale to style definition, or the ruins of an abbey down the road somewhere. Some are as good (sometimes even better) than registered Trappists. Others, not.

Price is the same: $5, and the tasting starts at 6:30 p.m., perhaps in Prost this week, or if not, just outside.

True Brew, Rita Kohn's book about craft beer in Indiana, is coming very soon.

The proud author poses with an advance copy of her book, "True Brew: A Guide to Craft Beer in Indiana," as photographed by me a couple weeks back during a meeting at the Broad Ripple Brewing Company.

Rita's book inspires me to try my hand at an extended volume, perhaps collected essays. How's this for a title: "Everything You Know About Beer Is Wrong." Or, "Lite Never makes Right."

Your question about Top of the Hops.

I've received a question, and will answer it.

Beer festival slated for Kentucky International Convention Center - Business First of Louisville

Top of the Hops is a for-profit fest being staged by an out-of-state entity. I've no reason to believe that it will not be a first-rate show. But no, I'm not personally involved with any of it, although I steered the organizers to local contacts in the beer business. I hope that helps. Thanks for your concern.

"Mug Shots" today in LEO: "Beer fests abound."

I can't recall a weekend with so much going on, all at the same time.

Mug Shots: Beer fests abound

It reminds me of my infuriated basketball coach from yesteryear who said, “No pain, no gain,” even as I plotted an escape from practice to sacred refuge with friends and a cooler of long, cool ones.

Time again for Madison's Ohio River Valley Folk Festival, with beer from NABC and Upland.

The fifth annual Ohio River Valley Folk Festival returns to the riverfront in historic Madison, Indiana, on Friday, May 21. The fest runs through Saturday, concluding on Sunday afternoon, the 23rd.

This year's musical lineup includes the Asylum Street Spankers on Friday night, and both Loudon Wainwright III and the Subdudes on Saturday.

The festival's elastic concept of qualifying "folk" music makes for diversity in performance, and the truly unique aspect has been a commitment to avoid "corporatizing" the event in favor of slower, more organic growth. There were a few rough spots last year, when mass-market swill joined the beer mix, previously craft only, but overall the beer, wine and food remains linked to local and artisanal musical concepts.

Accordingly, and as each year before this one, it'll be NABC and our friends from Upland Brewing Company selling beer all three days. For the complete story, visit the ORVFF web site.

It's American Craft Beer Week. Need an excuse to have a beer?

The Brewers Association is our official trade group, and its nationwide American Craft Beer Week promotion starts tomorrow and runs during the coming week (May 17-23).

In addition, Indiana Beer Week runs the week preceding the annual guild festival in Broad Ripple on July 17, and there'll be a Louisville Craft Beer Week from September 24 through October 2. That's three craft beer weeks. Why not make every week a craft beer week, and name each one after yourself, your home, house pets, children ... whatever?

But seriously: There can't be too many. Breweries across the country have scheduled tastings, fests, dinners, brew-ins and numerous other individualistic local happenings to recognize American Craft Beer Week. To see what's up, check individual local brewery websites and go here.

Office Hours for Monday, May 17: Craft Cans.

My friend Todd just returned from California with a major haul of canned craft beer. Some of them are being reserved for use as photo material to accompany my column for the next issue of Food & Dining.

I'll have the remainder on hand this Monday in Prost for tasting during Office Hours.

Ogle Center Bier Prost 2010 at Horseshoe on Friday, May 21.

NABC and World Class Beverages donates microbrews, handcrafted and imported beers, and they're paired with international foods prepared by Horseshoe's caterers. More info here.

Louisville Loves Mountains Festival 2010 is Friday, May 21. NABC and BBC will be there.

May 21 is shaping up to be a very busy day in the region. NABC's event list includes the IUS Ogle Center's Bier Prost at Horseshoe Casino, day one of the Ohio River Valley Folk Festival in Madison, Indiana, the Bicentennial Art Project kickoff walk in downtown New Albany, and Louisville Loves Mountains Festival 2010.

Louisville Loves Mountains is a street party with a message: "Celebrate the unique natural beauty and ecological importance of Kentucky’s Appalachian mountains.” The event's sponsor and beneficiary is Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, "a community of people taking action for justice." Mountaintop removal is only one of many important issues brought to the light of day by KFTC, although it's the theme of Louisville Loves Mountains. Visit the web site and learn more about KFTC.

Louisville Loves Mountains takes place on Longest Avenue, which joins Bardstown Road where Heine Brothers, Carmichael’s Bookstore and Ramsi's Cafe on the World do business. There’ll be art, music and poetry; children-friendly games and food from Ramsi’s and BoomBozz; and craft beer from BBC and NABC.

Bank Street Brewhouse in today's LEO: "'Cuisine a la bière' defines Chef Josh Lehman’s bill of fare."

I'm pleased and humbled. I appreciate Robin's review, but even more so, I thank him for consistently giving New Albany's emerging downtown restaurant scene a fair shake in his writings. We must not forget that before us came the Bistro New Albany, when Louisvillians first began taking note of what we're capable of achieving here.

Most important are big kudos to the entire BSB staff: You guys indeed rock.

Lots to like about Bank Street Brewhouse, by Robin Garr.

I’ve held off reviewing since Kevin Gibson’s first-rate preview (LEO Weekly, March 25, 2009). Now that brewing is in full operation and Lehman’s evening menu is well established, it’s time to turn my own two thumbs up and say, “Kevin was right.” Bank Street Brewery hits a culinary home run for food and beer and other good things.

Beer event update, May 1 through May 16.

Consider this a liver warning: The NABC calendar is advancing toward full immersion in summertime beer fests. Two already have taken place, and more are coming.

On May 1, NABC sent a delegation to the 15th Annual St. Louis Microfest. Jared Williamson points the way to this favorable review.

Saturday, May 8, was the second annual Lexington Craft Beer Festival, held at the Red Mile harness racetrack. Josh Hill, NABC's new sales rep, attended the fest. We await a report.

The calendar doesn't show anything on May 15, so NABC's next road date is Sunday, May 16, for the second installment of the Great Flanagan's Beer Festival in Louisville. While the crew works at Flanagan's, the Curmudgeons will be toting NABC beer to Spring Open House 2010 at the Capriole goat cheese farm, including growlers of Hoptimus for washing their Mount St. Francis cheese. Yummers.

The following weekend, May 21 - 23, is packed with events. I'll save these for another post.

Blue River Cafe in Milltown destroyed by fire.

It was a bastion of good beer in a part of the state not noted for choices, a wonderful place to eat, and a cool old building, too. When there's more to report, I will. Beware the WHAS-11 website's proclivity for annoying pop-up ads.

Blue River Cafe in Milltown destroyed by fire

There were no reports of any injuries to firefighters and no one was believed to be inside the business when the fire started.

May 10 Office Hours: "Wheat Ale Cross Section."

You are invited to attend Office Hours with the Publican, a weekly Monday evening beer sampling at the Public House. There are only three sessions remaining until the Publican’s summer break – May 10, 17 & 24. We've been averaging ten attendees per meeting, and the "regulars" have evolved into a fine tasting panel.

The regulars know that I never think very far ahead, but here’s what I can tell you about tomorrow night’s agenda (May 10).

It will be a Wheat Ale Cross Section, nothing off the wall, just meat and potatoes wheat ale. The time is 6:30 p.m., and this week we’ll meet just outside the Prost room at reserved tables in the regular seating area. Monday also is graduation night for Indiana University Southeast, and customarily a very busy shift at the Public House. I’ll start promptly at 6:30 and stop after one hour, so be there on time, please.

Following are sampling possibilities, as currently represented on the beer list. The new format below is one I'm using to help organize a future list, and the numerical categories are from the Beer Judge Certification Program. Note that I may stop by Keg Liquors to buy a few bottles of different types and fill a slot or two; even so, the focus will remain on the three primary wheat styles: American, Belgian and German.

6D. American Wheat or Rye Beer
Three Floyds Gumball Head (coming soon)

15. GERMAN WHEAT AND RYE BEER
15A. Weizen/Weissbier
Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier 16.9 oz 5.50
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier 16.9 oz 5.75

15B. Dunkelweizen
Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel 16.9 oz 5.50
Schneider Weisse 16.9 oz 6.25

15C. Weizenbock
Aventinus Eisbock 7.25
Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock 16.9 oz 7.75

15D. Roggenbier (German Rye Beer)
None available

16. BELGIAN AND FRENCH ALE
16A. Witbier
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca 25.4 oz 16.00
Upland Wheat Ale 3.50
Wittekerke Wit 4.50

Historic evening: Thursday the 6th of May.

Photo credit: Richard Rush.

Louisville Slugger Field craft beer update: So far, so good (we think).

Here is what I know (so far) about the great crusade to have locally brewed craft beer in the ballpark.

I'm trying to be honest about this: So far, so good, but we're in the beginning stages of a business relationship with multiple entities, and I'm not going to mislead you into thinking that it always will be smooth. With a bit more time, I believe season-long craft availability can be assured. Right now, choices are expanded. Kepp your fingers crossed.

By game time on Thursday, although not without a misadventure or two, Beak's Best was pouring at the portable "hot roasted peanut" concession stand at Section 115, on the main concourse behind home plate. I wasn't able to make it over last night to check on matters, and tonight is off, too. Sunday night's a maybe for me. I mention this only because as this local craft experiment continues, it will be important to have our people on the ground at each game to help sell the product. In turn, that's because we must never ignore our mandate to educate beer drinkers.

We already know that craft beer is all about the beer in your glass. But it's also all about reliable information and teaching. With reliable information, we teach. It requires no information whatsoever to sell dollar Budweisers, as was being done at "happy hour" before Thursday's game. Unsurprisingly, a gigantic crowd of youthful humanity was standing in the sun, waiting in line, and waiting to two tiny plastic cups of liquid nastiness, for no other reason than Anheuser-Busch's relentless expenditures on advertising. Dollar beer time is a no brainer, in more ways than one.

For craft brewers, information disseminated one drinker at a time takes the place of megabuck saturation advertising, which few of us can afford. Obviously, a ballpark concessionaire is not going to be the agent for this sort of information, and we mustn't expect them to be. It's something that we'll want to do ourselves, and to effectively do it, we need to have a presence. If the beer can stay predictably on tap, we can organize to support it. We can educate the consumer as well as the concessionaire. We all can win.

A final thought about dollar Budweisers: Why the degradation, when Browning’s Brewery right outside the gates matches the cup size and price, pre-game, during such "happy hour" events? I did not know that. Now, I do.

So, according to the information I've received to date, which may vary from homestand to homestand and even from game to game, Centerplate's plan is to have NABC Beak's Best and Kentucky Ale on tap by means of a cold plate/jockey box, alongside Browning's Guillotine ESB and A-B's Shock Top, the latter two served via a two-faucet draft tower. The keg box is big enough for four kegs, and as I've been told by a Centerplate employee, it soon will be adapted to pour four by adding a second tower.

Pour size is 14-oz as announced by the concessionaire, but in reality, 12-oz as measured by me and other in our kitchens, and the price is $5.50. This is higher than last season, and so permit me to be blunt.

For craft beer to be sold in the ballpark under the beer distribution system as currently constituted, with a brewer, wholesaler and concessionaire involved, the only way that the dictates of sustainability can be met is for the price point to be slightly higher. I don't make those rules, but I must play by them. As a brewery, we cannot give the beer away and survive. We cannot operate according to Anheuser-Busch's marketplace expectations. A wholesaler must make money, and so must the ballpark concessionaire. Perhaps eventually we can have a craft beer happy hour to compensate.

Speaking personally, it would be easy for me to pick nits with various aspects of this embryonic experience, but I shan't. This is unexplored territory for all of us. Centerplate has been receptive to the idea of an expanded selection of craft beer in the ballpark, and River City Distributing has done a fine job of negotiating the terms of engagement. As the season progresses, I hope there is the opportunity for NABC (and the other brewers) to help sell the product through signage, our social medias and the all-important physical presence at game time.

If you're there tonight, please provide a report. More later.

Is tonight the night for NABC at Louisville Slugger Field?

We think so ...


... and to make sure, I'll be attending this evening's opening game of an 8-day, 8-game homestand.

Portable section 115 concessions placement information comes to me from Centerplate itself, via River City Distributing, which puts the location in the same spot as the Browning's tap this year and last. See the Centerplate pricing .pdf for further details.

I don't know what this implies for Browning's. I do know that Centerplate ordered four kegs of Beak's Best, and also expressed interest in purchasing, or already has, kegs from Kentucky Ale. Speaking for myself alone, it still strikes me as best to have more than one craft brew in a stand. In any event, I'm happy not to travel all the way to the berm for a craft draft, as we used to do for Redhook whilst grimacing all the way and back ... and not at the price.

Honestly, I don't know what to expect in all this. The struggle for better beer in the ballpark has lasted for 15 years or longer -- long before NABC had beer of its own to vend -- with periodic (usually short-lived) victories, and plenty of disappointments along the way. Make that: A whole slew of disappointments, and a host of very lean years. Getting better beer into the ballpark has been a professional crusade for so long, I'm not sure what winning the fight would feel like. Is this truly a new era?

I'll abandon my customary jaudiced expression and be there tonight. I might be first in line.

Concert poster: Black Keys at Iroquois ... and amazingly cool NABC logo!

One thing's for sure: Before this is over, I'll learn how to spell Iroquois without a crib sheet.

NABC at the Black Keys concert, Iroquois Amphitheater, on Wednesday, August 11.

More good beer (and music) news arrived yesterday afternoon, courtesy of River City Distributing, NABC's Louisville wholesaler.

The Black Keys will be playing Iroquois Amphitheater on Wednesday, August 11, and NABC draft will be available for the show. In fact (again, thanking River City), we'll be the "official" local craft beer sponsor for the event.

This is exciting.

The Black Keys, a duo comprising guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, have a new album, Brothers (released May 18). They'll be gigging throughout the summer, including shows with Kings of Leon in the fall. Their music is heavily influenced by the blues, but it's still rock 'n' roll to me, and displays numerous influences ... much like NABC beer.

It's too early to say what will be on tap for the Black Keys. I'm just happy we'll be there, and the show will be the perfect send-off for NABC's annual journey to Madison, Wisconsin, for the Great Taste of the Midwest (August 14). Details to come ...

"Mug Shots" today in LEO: "The beer bucket list."

I'll credit GQ with providing the impetus for a discussion, which began at the Louisville Restaurants Forum, and I carried forward into my column for LEO today.

Mug Shots: The beer bucket list

To be worth its hops, this list must address wishes that extend somewhat beyond the mundane and everyday: not just great beers purchased at a package store, but ways and places to drink them — settings, countries, meals, breweries, festivals and modes of thinking outside the Bud.

Louisville Slugger Field update: Does the Nose know?

The Louisville Bats begin an eight-game homestand on Thursday, May 6. There'll be baseball at Louisville Slugger Field every night (or day) until the 13th.

I'm a lifelong baseball fan, and try to attend Triple-A games as often as possible, but the reason why these dates rank higher in my consciousness than under normal circumstances is that earlier today it was revealed that Centerplate, the ballpark concessionaire, has ordered kegs of NABC Beak's Best -- presumably, for tapping during this homestand.

Experience hath shown that anything can happen, and usually does. Details are non-existent at this writing. I'll tell you more when the information comes in. Until then, I'm just a bit stunned.

Office Hours tonight: Impromptu beer and cheese pairing.

Last week, those in attendance decided to stage a potluck cheese and beer tasting for tonight's Office Hours with the Publican.

The price of admission this evening is cheese. Bring enough so that a dozen persons can sample at least a sliver. If you bring cheese, then beers to match are on the Publican and there'll be no charge for participation. We'll select the beers on the spot and look for the best pairings.

Sounds fair to me. See you there, 6:30 p.m., Prost room at the NABC Pizzeria & Public House.

Let the hangovers begin, and the folk remedies, too.

Note that it's the Post-Derby Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar experience at Bank Street Brewhouse, beginning at 12 Noon today (until 3:00 p.m.)

Just because I'm not a Derby fan doesn't mean I'm unwilling to profit from the hoopla. Gotta turn a buck somehow, you know.

There may also be remnants of the Thunderfoot keg that went on tap Friday, as well as Chef Josh's stellar Sunday menu renderings. I might be down a bit later in the afternoon, but first, there's a bit of preventive dentistry to achieve, followed (I hope) by a stopover at AJ's Gyros in Georgetown.

Radfest at Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington on Saturday, June 5.

Here's the Radfest press release from Upland ... NABC will be there, although it is doubtful that I'll dress like a zombie.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Bre Clark

Upland Brewing Co.
350 W. 11th St., Bloomington, IN
(812) 336-2337 ext. 200

RadFest - Craft Beer and Music Festival
Featuring Kiss Army
Saturday, June 5th 5-11pm
350 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN

RadFest is an annual craft beer and music festival hosted by Upland Brewing Co. Breweries from across Indiana, as well as out -of-state guests, will be pouring their raddest brews to mind-blowing music, including Kiss Army.

Admission includes a RadFest tasting glass, samples of beer from twelve craft breweries, live music from six bands, and complimentary snacks. Additional food will be available for purchase.

We're giving free meal tickets to anyone who dresses RAD. Robots, zombies with chainsaws - RAD is whatever you make of it. Grab a six-pack of Rad Red Amber Ale if you need inspiration. The person with the raddest outfit will win a $200 gift card to Upland's Bloomington Tap Room, not to mention wicked bragging rights.

The Bleeding Heartland Roller Girls are teaming up with us for RadFest, and all proceeds will be donated to their primary charity, Middle Way House.

RadFest features these breweries:

Bee Creek Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Bluegrass Brewing Co.
Brugge Brasserie
Figure Eight Brewing
Half Moon Brewery
Lafayette Brewing Co.
New Albanian Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co.
Rock Bottom, College Park
Shoreline Brewing Co.
Upland Brewing Co.

Enjoy your rad brews to the awesome sounds of...

Webcam Teenz
Deadmen
Coffinworm
Humans
Bible of the Devil
Kiss Army

Tickets are $30 day of or $25 in advance. Available at Upland's Bloomington Tap Room, Indy Tasting Room, Buskirk Chumley Theatre, and online at buskirkchumley.org.

Vist the RadFest event page for more information and updates.

Under-age drinking isn't rad. Radfest is a 21+ event!

A memorable Wednesday of education, music, food and beer.

Freely conceding my bias, permit me to say that Wednesday evening at Bank Street Brewhouse was the sort of festive and happy time that vindicates all the stress and hard work.

The last session of my IUS non-credit beer class met at BSB on Wednesday night, and it was an informative ending for another fine group of 17. The February class was more experienced in beer, and knew more of what to expect. Many participants in the April section had less knowledge of beer’s stylistic diversity, and occasionally some of them ducked the high, hard ones … but in the end, I think they progressed wonderfully.

On Wednesday night, artist Leticia Bajuyo and her assistant completed work on the Bicentennial Art Project installation. When night falls, sensors trip the lights inside the walls of the trapezoid, illuminating the beer bottles. We’re looking at redirecting one of the security lights on the side of the Taxpayer Memorial Patio so as to enhance the sculpture’s lighting.

There was a cask-conditioned firkin of single-hop Amarillo APA that didn’t last long, and of course the music of Gumbo Family Quartet, Jared’s and Tommy’s new/old aggregation of musicians. I enjoyed what I heard. The garage doors were up, and Chef Josh’s culinary choices were impeccable, as always. People were moving in and out and around, soccer was on the screen above the bar, and outside, it was still humble New Albany, but enhanced by the experience.

Like I said, I’m biased. And vindicated.

Falls City Beer? It's in today's LEO.

A month ago I ran into David Easterling at River City Distributing annual beer expo, and he gave me the lowdown on his "new" Fall City, which I turned into a formal interview and wrote as one of my Mug Shots columns for LEO. In turn, my editor Sara Havens informed me that Kevin Gibson had already written a Falls City piece for the newspaper's pre-Derby Bar Guide, released today.

Much to my delight, we didn't approach the return of Falls City from the same angle (with one fatherly exception), and so both of us are published back to back in today's issue.

The return of Falls City beer - my interview and a bit of the brand's history.

New Falls City Catching on with local beer drinkers - Kevin visited two Louisville taverns for feedback from the drinking public.

No more election day blue law tomfoolery in Indiana.

For as long as I've been blogging, it has been necessary to remind readers prior to an Indiana primary or general election that because of the state's commitment to archaic blue laws, no beer could be served until the polls closed at 6:00 p.m.

No more. The law finally has been scrapped, and next Tuesday (May 4), both NABC locations will observe regular business hours sans beer tapping restrictions.

Rescinding the election day ban on alcohol sales is one part of legislation (the bill is called SB 75 and was described in detail here earlier in the year) that went into effect immediately upon signing. Another is the rationalization of Sunday serving hours (now the same each day of the week). Sunday growler sales for microbreweries and brewpubs start on Sunday, July 4.

More on that later. For now, know that next week, there'll be no waiting for Elector.

Get your Stone on at Keg Liquors this Thursday.

From Todd Antz at Keg Liquors. At the Keg Liquor Facebook page, there is a link to the article Todd wrote for Clark County Focus about spring beers.

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Stone Brewing Company Beer Tasting

Join us on Thursday, April 29th from 5 - 8 PM as we welcome Stone Brewing in for a special tasting. Here is what we will be tasting:

* Stone - Arrogant Bastard
* Stone - India Pale Ale
* Stone - Levitation Ale
* Stone - Old Guardian
* Stone - Ruination IPA
* Stone - Smoked Porter
* Stone - Sublimely Self Righteous Ale

This event is free and open to the public (21 and older)

Heads up, homebrewers: The 4th Annual Kentucky Ale Brew-Off is Saturday, May 22.

(26 April '10) Office Hours with the Publican: Help me inventory our French Bieres de Garde by tasting a few of them.

Longtime observers will note that I've spent eighteen years at the Public House touting French Bieres de Garde, a personal favorite. The reaction has tended to be underwhelming, for reasons that I've never really understood, but that's okay.
We're coming upon an ordering cycle from Shelton Brothers, which imports all the French beers described below. In turn, the list below is reprinted from the Pizzeria & Public House's everyday beer list. In essence, both in the sense of the beer list and the approach of Bastille Day (my annual French beer showcase, this year as last slated for Bank Street Brewhouse on July 14), it's inventory time. It's time to see what we have in stock, how it tastes, and what needs to be ordered for Bastille Day.

What better time that Office Hours to achieve this? The only drawback is the absence of food, with which Bieres de Garde pair so well, so maybe we'll throw a large pizza into the mix tomorrow night (my treat). For $5, we'll deal you in. Some or all of the following will be included, depending on what's there.

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France’s famed Bieres de Garde originally were produced by farmhouse breweries located in the north of France, near the Belgian border. Climactically and historically, it is a transitional zone, where wine-making meets brewing, and Bieres de Garde came about as the thoughtful solution to the problem posed by summertime heat, which rendered brewing almost impossible in the age before temperature-controlled fermentation.

The farmers brewed ale during cooler weather, bottled it in used wine and champagne bottles, and cellared the bottles for drinking during summer until the heat subsided and brewing could resume. Bieres de Garde had to be sufficiently ample and alcoholic for cellaring, but not too heavy in body for warm-weather drinking.

Also, they were intended to accompany food (it’s France, after all!), hence the deep and complex maltiness of the style’s better, more enduring examples. There are hoppy types, too. Either way, you needn’t wait until warm weather, because Bieres de Garde pair superbly with pizza any time of year. Average alcohol content of the bottles listed below is 7.5% abv.

FRANCE (NORTHERN) - BIERES DE GARDE

Duyck Jenlain Ambree 25.4 oz 12.00
Since 1922, a classic malty, amber example.

La Bavaisienne 25.4 oz 17.50
Brown, malty and sweetish, but with a finishing hop balance.

La Choulette Ambree 24.4 oz 15.25
First brewed in 1885, later revived. Try with Greek lasagna.

La Choulette Sans Culottes 25.4 oz 15.25
“Without trousers.” Tawny golden, elegant with food.

Page 24 (Brasserie St. Germaine)
Reserve Hildegarde Ambree 25.4 oz 12.50
Hoppier than most, with Brewer’s Gold and Strissel Spalt hops.

St. Druon de Sebourg Abbey 25.4 oz 14.50
Golden, and brewed with Alsatian malt, hops and special yeast.

Thiriez Blonde 25.4 oz 17.25
From the village of Esquelbecq, leaning toward a spicy Saison.

Thirex Xxtra 25.4 oz 17.25
Hop laden: The eccentric Bramling Cross hop from Kent.

1117 Neighborhood Association dedicates Jouett Meekin Memorial Keg Box.

The 1117 East Spring Street Neighborhood Association (New Albany, IN) will celebrate National Preservation Month by renaming its garage keg box in honor of local sporting legend Jouett Meekin.

“Our Jouett Meekin Memorial Keg Box perfectly reflects the ideals of historic preservation,” says Roger A. Baylor, coordinator of the 1117 Coalition to Reduce Sobriety. “Not only are we adaptively reusing an otherwise abandoned beer holder, but we’re using it to educate abut the city’s history even as it pours delicious Progressive Pints of NABC Soldarity, which I'll now be conveying in a -- yes -- reusable growler to my living room seat for the Lakers-Thunder playoff game tonight.”

Meekin (1867-1944), a New Albany native, was a successful big league pitcher from 1891 to 1900, peaking dramatically as a professional in 1894 when he won 33 games for the New York Giants. After leaving baseball, Meekin returned to New Albany and joined the fire department. During leisure hours, Meekin was known to enjoy an occasional adult libation. His home still stands on the southwest corner of 13th and East Market, just two blocks from the keg box that now bears his name.

Interestingly, the 1117 Minister of Culture is Nero Baylor, one of the association’s four resident felines, recently celebrated his 21st birthday. Nero points out that in cat’s years, he is old enough to have known Meekin personally.

After Solidarity, either Beak's Best or Elector will occupy a slot in the Jouett Meekin Memorial Keg Box.

Bank Street Brewhouse officially opens patio season with the Gumbo Family Quartet on Wednesday, April 28.

Bank Street Brewhouse "officially" kicks off patio season on Wednesday, April 28, with an event showcasing two of our Grant Line brewer Jared Williamson's most crowd pleasing and artistic talents: As a brewer, with a special cask-conditioned firkin of his single-hop Amarillo APA pouring, and as musician, with his new/old band, The Gumbo Family Quartet, playing.

GFQ jokingly refers to this as its "debut performance - if you don't count the last 13 years." For those who are unaware, previously the band was known as Sativa Gumbo, and enjoyed many years of local renown.

Now, some of Jared's ex-bandmates are together again, allowing their musical collaboration to expand and grow on a more informal basis. On Wednesday, we get to hear the early returns, and also to help Jared and Tommy Potts celebrate their birthdays.

Consider, then, the cask of Amarillo to be hop icing on the birthday cake. In Jared's most recent experimental single hop APA pairing, Amarillo apparently won out over Centennial by depleting first. I've probably consumed equal quantities of both, but happily accede to the will of the drinking public. To me, the Amarillo had a tad more bitterness, and if voting, it would be my choice.

I'll be on hand with those students comprising my April edition of the IUS non-credit beer course. It's our final class session, and in all respects, should be a good night for a celebration. Bank Street Brewhouse is open from 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, with the music slated to begin around 7.

April showers notwithstanding, the Bicentennial Art Project installation at Bank Street Brewhouse is almost finished.

Leticia Bajoyo and her hard working volunteers are battling the elements as they near the finish line for completion of her Bicentennial Art Project installation at Bank Street Brewhouse.

The bottles in front compose the "lightbright" effect, while those on the sides stand upright and document the history of brewing in New Albany.

Upright bottles have been affixed with "retro" labels bearing the names and photos of past breweries.

We think the installation will be complete on Saturday night, although incoming storms add an element of the elements. More later.

Save these dates: Celtic Bash and golf scramble, and Celts on the River concert: June 11 and 12, 2010.

NABC beer will be poured during the concert on Saturday, and I'm inquiring about prospects for NABC at the golf scramble the day before. Stay tuned for further information.

New Day meads form Indiana this weekend at the Pizzeria & Public House.

Mike Bauman has put together a New Day Meadery Weekend at NABC's Pizzeria & Public House off Grant Line Road. It will run Thursday through Saturday, April 22nd through the 24th, and is designed to show off artisanal meads from New Day, Indiana’s only Meadery.

The following will be available by the glass or bottle at special introductory prices:

Dry Mead, Dry Peach Honey Wine, Dry Blueberry Honey Wine, Dry Red Raspberry Honey Wine, Dry Hard Cider, Semi-Dry Mead, Semi-Sweet Black Raspberry Honey Wine and Semi-Sweet Plum Honey Wine

If this goes over well, we'll consider adding some to the permanent mead list, and also (perhaps) introducing some New Day meads at Bank Street Brewhouse.

"Mug Shots" today in LEO: "The cycle of life."

It's a very "Short History of Restorative Beers." I've also contributed an interview with the man who's bringing Falls City back from the grave, which I'm told will be used in the annual bar issue.

Mug Shots: The cycle of life

In the small town of Frasnes-lez-Buissenal, within the gently hilly area of Belgium known as the Pays du Collines, there is a municipal health and fitness center not unlike the YMCA, save for one crucial difference.

HBG Springtime Tournament: That little known third category.

It required instant replay, appeals to the Supreme Court and a last-minute visit to Photoshop, but here it is:

Hoosier Beer Geek's Springtime Tournament of Beer Champions: Final Results

Office Hours tonight: Beers that the Publican hasn't had from the bottle.

Mike's been buying, I've been busy, and it's time to sit down with a few beers that have escaped my attention. A common theme is bottled as opposed to draft (maybe something canned thrown in there, too).

I'm fairly sure some of the choices will be from Tyranena Brewing Company, and there'll be examples of Breckenridge Brewery Small Batch Beers. After that, I'll see what's in stock, look for the ones I haven't had, and see you at 6:30 p.m. in Prost.

Leticia Bajuyo's installation of her Bicentennial Art project piece at Bank Street Brewhouse starts today.

The past two days have not been the best time to try accomplishing anything, and so this slipped through the cracks, and now I'm scrambling. If anyone locates a peaceful moment, I'm in the market for one.

In short: Leticia Bajuyo's installation of her Bicentennial Art project piece at Bank Street Brewhouse gets under way today. Julie Schweitzer offers this revised installation schedule. Note that Leticia actively seeks volunteers to help her with this project.

I just heard from Leticia and below is her revised installation schedule. She is looking for volunteers to help with the project.

Sunday afternoon (18th) ... bring concrete form, set, and mix. Work till done with pouring pad.

Monday (19th) 2 p.m. - dark ... bring steel, plexi, and glass bottle cutter. Goal is to bolt steel frame together. If there are volunteers, they can peel paper off plexi and learn to cut bottles.

Wednesday (21st) 10 a.m - dark ... bring shelves and shelf backing. Goals include attach steel frame to concrete pad. If there are volunteers, they can poly shelves, finish bottle cutting, and place shelves.

Friday (23rd) 10 a.m. - dark ... bring front panels and labels. Goals include inserting front panels. If there are volunteers, they can label bottles and fill shelves.

Saturday (24th) ALL DAY ... bring roof and lights. Goal: Finish, of course. Specifically, put bottles in the front panels, add roof, install lights.

Previously, all this was explained:

The New Albany Bicentennial Public Art Project: Outdoor sculpture interpreting the city's history and heritage.

More on the New Albany Bicentennial Public Art Project.

Bunches of bottles against the wall.

Yesterday's WHAS-11 news segment on the NA Bicentennial Art preview at Bank Street Brewhouse.

Bank Street Brewhouse today: Open for beers at 11 a.m., no food until 5:30 p.m.

I just received word from Chef Josh that the small walk-in at Bank Street Brewhouse shut down overnight, with all contents lost. We'll be replacing the foodstuffs stored therein, and repairing the malfunction, and so although we'll be open at 11:00 a.m. to serve beer, there will be no meals at BSB today until 5:30 p.m. dinner service. Hopefully we'll be unaffected after that.

As during other unexpected outage occurrences previously, it's a great opportunity to explore the other restaurants in downtown New Albany. Good tidings for the future: I spoke with Israel Landin last night, and it appears that the Rosita's move to Pearl Street is back on track. More later.

Jesse Williams stars in new NABC ad.

Here's the recent ad that Tony designed for the Louisville Restaurants Forum, including the best photo of NABC's brewer, Jesse Williams, ever viewed hereabouts.

NABC's throwback Hop-O now on tap at Bank Street Brewhouse.

I previously previewed Jared Williamson's latest creation in this post: What’s up at NABC’s Grant Line brewing facility?

Last night, I had the chance to drink two pints of Hop-O. Make no mistake: At 3.5% abv, and with flavor and aroma hops all over the place, it's a wonderful session beer for the warm but not uncomfortable weather we're having.

I know I'm biased, but it you enjoy hops, consider getting some while it's young and exuberant.

BSB and Chef Josh Lehman's five-course, fixed price menu for Oaks and Derby.

“One of the grand appeals of the Kentucky Derby is the tradition it carries with it. We pretty much repeat the recipes each year for the sake of carrying on a tradition.”
-- Caroline Harmon

At NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse, 2010 marks the start of our Derby tradition, and speaking personally, I hope Chef Josh Lehman does not repeat the recipes each year from here out, because that would be boring.

We’ll see. This year, Chef Josh is offering a five-course, fixed-price menu for the Oaks (Friday, April 30) and the Kentucky Derby (Saturday, May 1). Each course will be paired with an NABC beer.

Here are the rules:

The five-course fixed price menu will be available by reservation only on both nights. Reserve in person at BSB, or call 812-725-9585.

The Bank Street Brewhouse will observe normal dining and drinking hours, and we will accommodate walk-ins as space permits, but the special five-course menu will be available from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. only.

The price for this feast is $60 per person, service not included. Naturally, you must be 21 years of age to drink beer. The state frowns on exceptions.

Don’t forget BSB’s acclaimed Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar from Noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 2.

Kentucky Bibb Salad
Maytag Blue Cheese, Toasted Pistachios, Granny Smith Apples, Champagne Vinaigrette (Tafel Bier)

Diver Scallops
Carrot Mousse, Spring Peas, Chantrell Mushrooms, Lemon Brown Butter (Abzug)

Lamb Loin
Ratatouille, Saffron Risotto, Mint Pesto (Dubbel OR Elector, whichever is available)

Filet of Beef
Crispy Potato, Asparagus, Bourbon Cream Sauce (Bob's Old 15-B Porter)

Bourbon Chocolate Mousse
Mint, Candied Walnuts (Thunderfoot)

It's come to this: Dreadnaught vs. Hoptimus.

Cast your ballots, people.

Hoosier Beer Geek's Springtime Tournament of Beer Champions, Final Round: Dreadnaught VS Hoptimus

Lost Abbey, lost Sunday.

It all began when I ran into Todd at the Public House on Friday, and he said there were beers purchased during his recent road trip that needed tasting.

Fast forward to Sunday, and a gorgeous spring afternoon on the patio at Bank Street Brewhouse. Todd pulled up and began off-loading samples, and those fortunate enough to be seated at the picnic table became part of the group, which became bigger and smaller through the course of the selection pictured above, including at least seven Lost Abbey ales and cans from Oskar Blues.

Hours passed, there was beer, food and conversation, and the afternoon melted away. There were enough people that no one had too much. A couple of us were on bicycles. There's much magic in times like these, and they're something to be cherished. You can plan and manage as much as you desire, but when serendipity takes over ... listen to your inner Sidney Freedman (psychiatrist on television's M*A*S*H): "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice. Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice."

(Photo credit: Ted)

College football and craft beer coming in September from Rick and Jeff Tours.

I'm not a college football fan, but this trip from Rick and Jeff Tours has so many craft beer hunting possibilities that it deserves scrutiny. R & J has been doing sports and beer themed trips for a while now, and if you're ever been on one, you know that they're a blast. Note that Newport is the home of Rogue Ales. Need I say more? E-mail Prof. Gesser for further details, and read this overview:

We finally have details worked out for the upcoming football game, Louisville vs. Oregon State, Sept. 16 - 19th, 2010.

We fly in to Portland,Oregon midday on Thursday, Sept. 16th. After arrival, we will do a day trip to the Columbia Gorge and the Dalles area, with lunch provided. Afterwards, we will we will drive to Newport Beach, Oregon for a welcome party and check-in at our beachside hotel the 4-star Agate Inn right on the beach.

Friday we will provide day trips up/down the Oregon coast or you can stay in the historic and charming Newport Beach area. Saturday is game day and the time of game has yet to be announced. Corvaliss is 45 minutes away. We will provide an upscale tailgate party and game tickets. After the game, we will depart and stay in Portland on Saturday night. We fly out of Portand on Sunday.

This trip is going to be absolutely AWESOME!!!!! We are flying Southwest. Cost is $1175 pp and $1095 for four to a room. We also are offering land only packages for $660, and will also try to accomodate any other special circumstance or scenario. We are asking for refundable $400 deposits by June 3rd and final payments by Aug. 1st. Please help us spread the word and we hope you can join us on what will be an unforgettable trip.

NABC in the Final Four at Hoosier Beer Geek.

No Butler/Duke analogies here ... just happy to be in the Big Dance.

Hoosier Beer Geek's Springtime Tournament of Beer Champions: Round 5, Final Four Edition

Go and vote, damn it!

"Mug Shots" today in LEO: "Local baseball, local beer" -- and a shout-out to Studio's.

The AAA Louisville Bats open at home next week, and the eternal question revisits us: Will there be real beer at the ballpark this summer? It's possible, and that's all there is to say just now. Is there a way for all the players to make money? That's the current consideration. What will happen? I don't know.

While I can't say what Sun King had to do to achieve it, the Indy brewery's canned beer will be available during Indianapolis Indians games this summer, and that's wonderful.

Mug Shots: Local baseball, local beer

From Pete Browning’s slugging in the 1880s, to the craftsmanship of Brian Reymiller at Browning’s today, baseball and beer in Louisville should be inseparable in locality and spirit. It cannot be unassisted, but it is the perfect double play: beer brewed here, and baseball played here. Let’s hope for the best at the ballpark this summer.

Also in today's LEO, Kevin Gibson endorses the stuffed cheeseburger at Studio's Grill and Pub, which is located on Main Street in New Albany. For me, post-council wings and Sierra Nevada remain the Studio's tradition of choice. I've spoken with the proprietor about draft NABC, and we're jointly scouting a small keg box for the purpose.

Studio’s Grill and Pub stuffs it right

It’s almost an obsession now. This stuffed cheeseburger is the stuff of cravings. It’s a one-third pound patty of lean ground beef infused with onions, hunks of bacon (yes, bacon) and seasonings, grilled to your specifications, topped with cheddar or blue cheese crumbles, and served with homemade chips and a pickle spear for a princely $7.75.

The Great Randalltini on stage with Pausa Tosta this Friday as we close Gravity Head 2010.

The poster was made for in-house placement. Just know that we're calling an official "end" to Gravity Head 2010 this Friday, although a few of the beers will remain on tap next week, and we'll be keeping a year-round, dedicated "gravity" faucet to pour big beers all of the time (not that we haven't in the past, anyway).

Office Hours cancelled tonight, but I'll make up for it next Monday (April 12).

The Publican will be off tonight to enjoy the pettifogging buffoonery that we New Albanians quaintly insist on calling a "city council meeting," so there'll be no Office Hours on the 5th.

However, next Monday (April 12) should be a real treat. We'll be tasting Six Belgian Stouts:

Alvinne Podge Imperial Stout Bourgogne Barrel Oak Aged
De Dolle Special Extra Export Stout
Ellezelloise Hercule Stout
Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura
Troubadour Obscura Mild Stout
Van den Bossche Buffalo Belgian Stout

All except Jolly Pumpkin (Michigan) are brewed in Belgium, and because of the added expense, I must ask $7.50 for the tasting this time around. I'll begin at 6:30 p.m. on Monday the 12th, in Prost.

Bank Street Brewhouse closed today for Easter, but we'll be at Louisville Beer Store for Chef Josh's food and beer pairings.

Bank Street Brewhouse is taking today off for Easter.

We'll reopen on Tuesday, April 6 at 2:00 p.m.

My recommendation today is the Louisville Beer Store and Day Three of NABCieged Harder (II). NABC has taken control of LBS's draft lines for the weekend, and the first two days were suitably revolutionary.

Chef Josh will be at LBS today for The Pairing, with a special 4-course food and matched beer flight beginning at 3:00 p.m. Here's the menu:

Belgian Dubbel
rabbit & accompaniments

Hoosier Daddy
shrimp & grapefruit ceviche

Thunderfoot
celery root soup, duck confit salad & blood orange

Smoked Abzug
Kentucky spoonfish caviar & eggs with crepes

For more information, visit the Louisville Beer Store web site.

And don't forget: PA Project headlines Bank Street patio kickoff party this Wednesday, April 7.

PA Project headlines Bank Street patio kickoff party this Wednesday, April 7.

PA Project is our Bank Street Brewhouse bartender Nathan "Nasty" Little's band, and this Wednesday (April 7) is the official patio season kickoff with PA Project, Chef Josh Lehman's "cuisine a la biere", and Garage Wednesday beer specials from Jared Williamson's stash at Grant Line.

Starting time is 7:30 p.m. The first session of my April "Here's to Beer" non-credit IUS course begins the same night, and I'll be on the patio as soon as I can make it back over from the Pizzeria & Public House.

British "malt manifesto" in an American context?

There's plenty to think about in this piece. Not all of the points therein are applicable to America or to our craft beer culture, but some points are well taken, and when there is time, I hope to return to them.

I have a manifesto of my own in the works, although it remains sketchy.

The malt manifesto, by Tony Naylor (Guardian Word of Mouth blog)

Current efforts to portray traditional beers as modern unisex drinks seem to be missing the point. It's not bitter on Twitter or the 'ale' in 'female' that counts if you want to turn young, funky types on to cask ales

Today's Tribune column: "Light beer? It’s from right here."

It figures that this would be the place to foist light beer on the planet. Poor planet ...

BAYLOR: Light beer? It’s from right here

In 1910, the German-language Louisville Anzeiger newspaper praised Augustus Tusch of neighboring New Albany.

“Herr Tusch is a lager brewer of great repute whose cleanliness and quality is of the highest order, with barrels filled and delivered fresh within the astounding radius of ten blocks from his business address.”