C-J previews Bastille Day dinner at the Bank Street Brewhouse (Tuesday, July 14).

In each Saturday's Courier-Journal, Steve Coomes gathers local food and restaurant news, including a brief preview of Bastille Day at the Bank Street Brewhouse this coming Tuesday, July 14:

Brewhouse serving Bastille Day menu

Bank Street Brewhouse (415 Bank St, New Albany, Ind.) is serving up a special Bastille Day menu paired with several French beers Tuesday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The pub will offer a five-course menu centered on simple French classics prepared by chef Josh Lehman.

The meal begins with gougeres (cheese-filled pastry), followed by a choice of poached egg salad, vichyssoise or country-style pâte. Entrees include a choice of cassoulet, bouillabaisse or quiche Lorraine, followed by an assortment of cheeses. For dessert, guests can choose chocolate mousse or crème brûlée.

Each guest will receive a 750-milliliter bottle of a French-style beer, and co-owner Roger Baylor hopes guests will share tastes with each other.

"I hope people will do their own flights. It'll make it more communal than having me speaking during the meal like I do at beer dinners."

Price is $55 in advance, $60 at the door (one 750 ml beer and service both included).

Call (812) 725-9585 or e-mail.

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION:

Bastille Day menu and matching Bieres de Garde at the Bank Street Brewhouse on Tuesday, July 14.

Vegetarian options will be available on Bastille Day at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

Is Velocity next? We can only hope.

It looks as though the handwriting may be on the wall for Velocity, which only a couple years back was the Courier-Journal's big ticket attempt to kneecap the Louisville Eccentric Observer.

Velocity's congenital avoidance of meaningful content isn't necessarily an excuse for it to die an agonizing and painful death, even if it's my best reason for the same. After all, these are the people who did light beer reviews for the clueless. I've never forgiven them for pandering like that, even if a couple of writers were eventually found who showed an understanding of craft beer.

The point to me is that embarrassing meaninglessness is so readily available these days, and from so many different electronic and computerized medias, that there's no reason for the target demographic to actually grab a hard copy of the rag -- and that's where the crucial advertisements are located.

But we'll see. Perhaps Velocity will survive the latest Gannett cuts to yawn, pander and be gratuitous another day.

Hard Hits at Gannett in Cincy, by Rick Redding (The 'Ville Voice blog).

While we’re waiting for word about layoffs at the Courier-Journal, Gannett’s operation in Cincinnati is being hit hard. The 10-person staff at CiN Weekly, the weekly entertainment paper (Velocity equivalent) was let go, as was the Enquirer’s editorial page editor.

The weekly is apparently being re-branded as MetroMix, a move already made in other Gannett markets, including Indianapolis and Nashville. Officially, Gannett is calling the new Cincy rag “the premier printed snapshot of all things entertainment that younger adults need to plan their free time.”

In other words, “the best we can do without any staff members to, you know, actually write stuff.”

This cheerful sentence is from CityBeat, a Cincy website following the layoffs:

“Gannett already has made that change in the Indianapolis and Nashville markets, replacing local publications with one standard weekly that uses copy produced from various corporate sites nationwide.”

The story notes that staff members have been placing MetroMix stickers on CiN Weekly distribution boxes. In all, 100 jobs are expected to be lost in Cincinnati.

Fondly remembering barbecue and beer on July 4.

Belated thanks to Ronnie and Katie for their stellar Fourth of July barbecue and beer get together in New Albany.

Paired with multiple helpings of ribs, pulled pork and delectable smoked beef were diverse beers, ranging from the "new" Schlitz in cans to Clipper City's Loose Cannon Hop3 in bottles. I enjoyed Brian's delectable "imperial oatmeal milk stout" from Browning's, as brought in growlers, and finished the night with Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron.

Looking forward to next year!

Latest on Sergio's: No scheduled opening (yet) for the Louisville location.

Okay, either I misread the previous posting at the website of Sergio's World Beers, or it was unclear, or both, so here's the latest on the wind-down of the original location in Shelbyville and the wind-up of the new one on Story Ave. in Louisville. The following is copied verbatim.

Louisville Location Details and FAQs

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 21:48
This article should answer some of your questions about the Louisville Location LL.

FAQ #1: Sorry, but we do not have a scheduled "opening" yet for the LL. Stay tuned for more details regarding the grand opening, open house and other events.

FAQ #2: There is no phone number for the LL. Shelbyville Location currently has no phone service either.

FAQ #3: We (the team) mainly works during the morning and afternoon hours at the LL with the migration and preparing everything.

FAQ #4: The address of the LL is 1605 Story Avenue – Louisville, KY 40206-1739.

UPDATES: Please subscribe to the VIP Email Club for the latest updates and check back to our website often. Follow us on Twitter @SergiosBeers.

Also, please allow us a few days to catch up on all the emails. Sorry for the delay!

You can read other articles about the move:

Updates to Business Hours - 7-8-2009
Everything is Leaving - 7-8-2009 pictures included
Update - 7-8-2009
Louisville Location - 6-30-2009

Unwrapping party this Friday at Bank Street Brewhouse.

You'll notice that Bank Street Brewhouse's brewing equipment has remained "wrapped" during the weeks since delivery. Now that brewing is slated to begin perhaps as early as the 15th of July, the pieces must be unwrapped, polished and prepared for duty.

This Friday (July 10) at 12:00 Noon, we'll be doing exactly that, and readers are invited to come lend a hand in exchange for a Progressive Pint or two. I've never done it before, and I don't know how long it will take -- but it sounds like fun.

It sounds like even more fun to commence brewing ... and we're almost there.

In other news, numerous final preparations are underway. The driveway is blocked so that concrete can be poured to finish the sidewalk reconstruction. North (smoking) patio furniture is being built and procured, and soon it will be formally opened.

Streetside/sidewalk furniture is being sourced. The grain room, brewhouse electricity and rear fencing should be wrapped this week. Grain and supplies have been ordered, and the walk-in is chilled and housing kegs of NABC beer brewed at Grant Line.

We're coming to the end of a long process, and the beginning of another one, and it feels fine.

Mug Shots returns to LEO today.

I'm back in LEO today: Mug Shots: Seek and ye shall find, a review of beer events in July, both local and international. Sort of.

Wine Walk & Shop in downtown Jeffersonville this Friday -- and drink NABC beer, too.

We're not sure how we did, but NABC somehow found a loophole and will be participating in the Wine Walk & Shop 2009 in Jeffersonville. It's this Friday, July 10, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The event, which is being sponsored by Jeffersonville Main Street Inc., is set up to scatter wine sampling stations among downtown Jeffersonville businesses. Visitors hopefully will walk, sample and shop.

NABC is the only grain vendor amid the grapes, and we'll be at Perkfections, our friends at 359 Spring Street. There's no telling what John might decide to bring.

For all the facts, go here.

Vegetarian options will be available on Bastille Day at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

I was supposed to get back to you with this, and I'm a bit tardy.

I've conferred with Chef Josh, and he will have vegetarian options available on next Tuesday's special Bastille Day menu at Bank Street Brewhouse. Note this is "vegetarian," not vegan and/or lactose intolerant. The example he used during our chat is vegetarian Quiche Lorraine.

Bastille Day menu and matching Bieres de Garde at the Bank Street Brewhouse on Tuesday, July 14.

The Tour de France is underway.

NABC Bank Street Brewhouse’s opening hours aren’t synchronized with the annual race times, allowing for European time, but I’ve informed the bar staff of the schedule for afternoon replays and highlights, and we’ll show what we can, when we can.

Versus television schedule

Versus Tour de France home page

Official Tour de France site

I’ve seen snippets of Le Tour in person on two occasions, in 2001 and 2004, and it’s a thrill to be in proximity to the festive atmosphere.

I still feel about the race much as like I do about baseball: The participants may be dopers, and yet the essence of the game itself is what matters the most, as in the poster on the wall at the Public House that shows Tour de France riders in the twenties seated on the steps of a bar, admiring children clustered behind them, drinking beers on break.

The ideal is bicycling in Europe. Beer and wine should be the drugs of choice, and will remain so on my personal bicycle tours.

Kentuckiana Celtic Fest (and NABC beer) coming to New Albany on August 22.

Certain aspects of the Kentuckiana Celtic Fest have yet to be determined, but it looks like the event itself is a go for Saturday, August 22, at the recently reconstructed riverfront Amphitheater in New Albany.

Permits willing, NABC will have the exclusive beer concession for this event. City hall and the organizers both have advocated for local beer, and we thank them all.

Yesterday Jared brewed an Irish-style Red at the Grant Line garage brewhouse. There may be time to squeeze in a batch of Stout, but if not, Old 15-B should do the trick. Kaiser (pre-Prohibition Pilsner) also will be served, probably with Tunnel Vision.

It is my understanding that the organizers are asking area Irish pubs to purvey food for the day.

Here's the official press release:

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The Kentuckiana Celtic Fest’s inaugural event is a free concert to be held at the newly renovated New Albany Amphitheater on August 22nd from 3 to 11pm.

The “Celts on the River Concert” will feature five local and regional Celtic bands plus headliner Brendan Loughery from Donegal, Ireland.

“Bold and passionate, Brendan is currently based out of Chicago and is a truly professional entertainer who appeals to every crowd young and old alike. He has played at major festivals throughout the country and has opened for many celebrities including Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Lorrie Morgan and more. Brendan has released 5 more CD's including "No Irish Need Apply" and "Last Set Of The Night" voted No.13 and No.12 Albums of the Year 2006 & 2007 respectively by Paddy Rock Radio listeners”.

The Kentuckiana Celtic Fest is a new organization founded to celebrate ‘All things Celtic’. The free concert is a way to introduce ourselves to public,” says President Peggy Baas. “What could be more Celtic than a concert on the banks of the Ohio?” she said.

The group plans to hold a festival every year and celebrate them on both sides of the river, alternating year-by-year between Indiana and Kentucky. Along with the music, Celtic food and libations will be on-hand as well as Celtic informational booths. There will also be the chance to do a “wee bit” of shopping.

The Kentuckiana Celtic Fest is also partnering this year to collect backpacks for the nonprofit “Blessings in a Backpack”. This is a relationship the KCF board is very pleased to have secured. Check out their website at http://www.blessingsinabackpack.com/

So put on your dancing shoes, round up the family, pack up the blankets and folding chairs, and join the Kentuckiana Celtic Fest for a day of food, fun, and wonderful music. We hope to see you on August 22nd!

Quality control never goes out of style.

At the NABC garage brewhouse (Grant Line) today, sampling a wee bit of the latest Elsa von Horizon (Imperial Pilsner) batch. It's been lagering for a month, and there's more time to go ... although I bet some gets pulled for the Great Taste of the Midwest on August 8 in Madison, WI.

Louisville metro beer events for July.

It’s becoming very difficult to keep track of beer events in the Louisville metro area, and this is a good thing for the overall cause of beer enthusiasm, even if the toll on one’s own liver becomes worthy of reconsideration.

Not that I worry about minor details like that.

Here are a few more events, all in July, which include a handful of repeat announcements from a previous posting: NABC update: Beer events for July and August at the Public House & Pizzeria.

Let me know what I've missed.

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Tuesday, July 7
Schlafly Beer and Cheese Pairing at Whole Foods July 7, 2009

Permit me to begin by offering apologies to the ever dutiful Scott Shreffler, regional Schlafly representative, for dismally failing to publicize (or attend) his cask APA promotion at Kentucky BBQ Company last Friday. Today, courtesy of the Consuming Louisville blog, I noticed that there’ll be a Schlafly and cheese pairing at the Whole Foods on Shelbyville Road next Tuesday evening. I’ve been looking to do one of these with the “cheesemonger” (inside joke, folks) at Lotsa Pasta, so keep reading; maybe it can be squeezed into the tight summer schedule.

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Circa Tuesday, July 7 and through early July
English “real” cider at the Public House

In July, roughly by the 6th, we’ll be pouring three rare English “real” ciders on the hand-pull at the Grant Line Public House: Yarlington Mill, Scrumpy and Norman (single varietal), all from Gwatkin. They’ll follow one after another until depleted, and once we decide on a serving order, I’ll let you know. Rather, Mike will let me know, and I'll let you know.

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Wednesday, July 8
Sergio’s World Beers reopens for business – in Louisville!

I'm told thatSergio closed his original Shelbyville location yesterday (June 30) and will reopen at 1605 Story Avenue in Louisville on Wednesday, July 8.

For the uninitiated, Sergio’s currently boasts a beer stock of 800 brands, and it’s going to be great fun having him so much closer to the mainstream in Louisville, especially as my customary bicycle route runs close by. For a dated account of the inimitable Sergio’s experience, check the PC archives: Sergio's World Beers an unlikely Shelbyville mecca ... but it is.

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Tuesday, July 14
Bastille Day menu and matching Bieres de Garde at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

I'm overjoyed that we're able to revive this concept.

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Saturday, July 18
14th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival

This event at Opti Park in Broad Ripple (Indianapolis) gets crazier every year, and includes a Friday evening shindig which may turn out to be more interesting than the main event: VIP Brewmaster's Dinner on Friday, July 17th (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., also at Opti Park).

Tickets for Friday's five-course meal with ample, copious and continuous beer supplies can be purchased only at Broad Ripple Brewing Company and Brugge Brasserie, but know that it's a blast to eat and drink alongside brewers and brewery owners letting their hair down prior to Saturday's showpiece.

As for the main Saturday event, remember that Jeff and Rick Tours is taking a bus for this one. The cost is $85 per person, and the price includes motor coach transportation (with restrooms), ticket to the festival, BBQ tailgate lunch and refreshments (i.e., craft beer up and back). Call Jeff at 807-7531 or e-mail profgesser@insightbb.com for reservations. Why drive?

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Tuesday, July 21
Brooklyn Cuvee de Cardoz & Brooklyn Brewery Tasting (Public House)

We'll kick off at 7:00 p.m. at the Public House. The excuse for this event is the tapping of a keg of Brooklyn Brewery Cuvee de Cardoz, the latest release from the Brewmaster Reserve series. There’ll be other Brooklyn Brewery offerings for sampling, too.

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Monday, July 27 (tentative)
Beer/Wine/Farmers Market dinner at the Windsor Restaurant and Garden

I’m including this because Chef Justin McMillen posted the date at the Louisville Restaurants Forum, and he mentioned the idea the last time we spoke. More details will be coming as they are revealed to me. Should be tomato time by then!

In the meantime, check out the Windsor’s snazzy new website.

Bastille Day menu and matching Bieres de Garde at the Bank Street Brewhouse on Tuesday, July 14.

On Tuesday, July 14, NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse (415 Bank Street in downtown New Albany) will honor the French national holiday of Bastille Day with an exclusive, 5-course, fixed-price French menu prepared by Chef Joshua Lehman and his “magnifique” kitchen staff.

A 750ml bottle of Biere de Garde from a list (see below) chosen by NABC owner Roger A. Baylor is included in the price of each meal, which will be served between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Mussels and frites also will be available on the 14th for those seeking a lighter bill of fare.

Price and Reservations

While not required, advance reservations for the Bastille Day meal are recommended, and can be made by calling 812-725-9585 or e-mailing gregg@newalbanian.com.

The price is $60, service compris (including service), but if you reserve and pre-pay for this meal at the Bank Street Brewhouse prior to Bastille Day, you’ll receive a special advance price of $55, also including service.

The Beers.

A selection of Bieres de Garde from the Castelain, Jenlain and La Choulette breweries in Northern France, alongside Schlafly’s craft-brewed American version of this traditional, malty style, will be offered.

Castelain Blond
Jenlain Ambree
Jenlain Blonde
La Choulette Ambree
La Choulette Blonde
Schlafly Biere de Garde

Bieres de Garde pair superbly with food, and Bastille Day diners may select one of the preceding to accompany the meal -- and to share samples with friends. Additional bottles will be available for purchase at market prices. Naturally, NABC's lineup of house beers will also be on tap like always.

The Menu:

First Course:
Gougeres

Second Course (choose 1):
Poached Egg Salad
Vichyssoise
Country-style pâté

Third Course (choose 1):
Cassoulet
Bouillabaisse
Quiche Lorraine

Fourth Course:
Fromages (assorted)

Fifth Course (choose 1):
Chocolate Mousse
Creme Brulee

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As a personal note, two previous Bastille Day dinners in conjunction with the late, lamented Bistro New Albany were among my favorite beer dinners ever, any place, any time. I'm proud to revive the tradition in downtown New Albany.

Exterior photos at Bank Street Brewhouse.

Following are three views of the exterior progress made during the past two weeks at the Bank Street Brewhouse. The streetside cutouts along the new sidewalk are for plants and trees. Note the patio roof of translucent smoked panels.

The fourth photo shows Jesse and Dave as Duke Energy performs the long awaited electricity upgrade.

Reclaiming the horse racing biz with cheap, bad beer from multinational swill merchants.

Rick at The 'Ville Voice blog pointed to this story:

Cheap Beer — Is it enough to get you back to the track for night racing? [Churchill Downs]

The horse racing business in Kentucky is struggling, and the demographic for racing at places like Churchill Downs is shrinking. The most recent Kentucky General Assembly has spent time considering these issues in the context of competition from Indiana casinos and other vestiges of entertainment in surrounding states.

The track recently unveiled its first-ever night racing, and opening night was far busier than expected. The track apologized and vowed to do a better job by including "cheap beer" and shorter lines, and last night, the big promotional item was dollar Budweiser Selects.

So, to prove the importance of Churchill Downs to the local/state economy, the track's concessionaire features cheap beer from a multi-national brewing company headquartered in Belgium.

That makes sense, doesn't it?

Bank Street Brewhouse update: Sidewalk and patio work, and progress on the brewery.

Here's a slight tweaking of the newsletter text that was sent on Thursday.

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As Ohio Valley temperatures rise and we creep steadily closer to the commencement of brewing at the Bank Street Brewhouse, there is a palpable sense of anticipation. For me, it’s bordering on hysteria.

That’s because “Phase One” (don’t ask about “Phase Two”) of the Bank Street Brewhouse is roughly 90% complete, and the final 10% is rather sadistically proving the wisdom of the old adage that the devil’s in the details.

Here’s a status report, with gritted teeth.

Work began last Friday on the sidewalk outside the garage doors, facing Bank Street. The remaining concrete was poured today. When finished, the sidewalk will have been extended into the area formerly taken by three curbside parking spaces, yielding enough square footage for us to put streetside tables, chairs and sunbrellas. There's also space for planting grass and trees. As long as it stays sticky, it’s likely to be irrelevant, anyway.

Build-out of the north patio area is ongoing. The roof was finished today, and during the brief thunderstorm, we sat beneath it and counted the leaks. There are a few, but it should be a quick fix. We're assembling the needed furniture and ceiling fans.

To repeat: In some ways completion is moot, considering the current intensity of the weather, but at least there’ll be a place for smokers to sit and enjoy their pints during the smog alerts. We’re energetically planning a weekly cigar night for the north patio, as well as varied evening entertainment in summertime.

Most important of all is the state of the new brewhouse. Infrastructure work is proceeding. The grain room awaits perhaps two more days of finishing work, there are pipes to insulate, and the electricity will be finalized next Monday, June 29. According to David “Director of brewing Operations” Pierce, the schedule will go as follows:

Order malt, hops and yeast NLT 3 July

Walk-in operational NLT 3 July; turn Chef Josh's walk-in back to a kitchen unit with our thanks and blessings.

Brewing to commence 18 - 23 July, starting with a yeast feeder/dumper batch to make sure everything works

Before brewing can start we have days of internal cleaning and external unwrapping. I would like to have some sort of ceremony prior to the first batch with John performing a blessing with to ward of the ghosts of Rainbow Bakery yeast.

Initial Brew Schedule:

Beak's Best 15 bbl.
Elector 15 bbl.
15 B 15 bbl.
Hoptimus 30 bbl.

The first three will be available 14 days +- after brewing, Hoptimus 21+-.

Don’t forget that the Bank Street Brewhouse will be closed on Saturday, July 4. New Albany’s annual holiday music and fireworks show takes place at the refurbished amphitheater on Friday, July 3, and we’ll keep the bar open later for your convenience. Sunday hours on the 5th are as usual. Looking ahead, there’ll be a special cooperative beer dinner with the Glassworks on July 13 (Monday – details forthcoming) and a Bastille Day Celebration the following day (Tuesday, July 14), the latter featuring a fixed price French dinner menu and imported French Bieres de Garde.

NABC update: Beer events for July and August at the Public House & Pizzeria.

From today's e-newsletter:

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At the original Grant Line (Rich O’s and Sportstime) location, business continues as always. Special recognition goes to brewer Jared Williamson, who is working the Grant Line brewing system daily to make enough beer for both locations.

Apologies for not being able to precisely fix dates on a number of forthcoming beer events, but I’ll give you what I have and hope that they fall into place as expected.

In July, roughly by the 6th, we’ll be doing three English “real” ciders on the hand-pull at Grant Line: Yarlington Mill, Scrumpy and Norman (single varietal), all from Gwatkin. They’ll follow one after another until depleted, and once we decide on a serving order, I’ll let you know.

Also in July, Mike Bauman is organizing Brooklyn Brewery and Magic Hat promotional events. These probably will fall on Monday or Tuesday.

For the resumption of Lambic by the Glass, I’m going to say that some time around August 1 – 5 is the window. Again this year, I’ve had trouble sourcing enough product to pour the typical 4-oz samples. However, Shelton Brothers is shipping a few Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen selections, including Cantillon draft. When I’m able to be exact, I will.

Similarly, Sandkerwa is on for late August, circa Friday the 28th. I’m working with Shelton Brothers of a shipment of Franconian craft drafts that could be mind-blowing if it comes together, and these will be featured alongside the usual Schlenkerla smoked lagers.

Stay tuned. As a final calendar notification, don’t forget the Brewers of Indiana Guild festival in Indianapolis on Saturday, July 18. Tickets are on sale at the Public House.

Both NABC locations will be closed on Saturday, July 4.

Tale of two meals.

The first two photos are of bouillabaisse and pork shank, just prior to being rather joyously consumed last Friday evening at the Bank Street Brewhouse. I planned on having only one beer with the meal, and waited for the pork to order a Hoptimus. A delightful pairing, indeed, as the pork is fully capable of battling the hop to a standstill.

This last photo was taken on Sunday night at the house. The missus made a low-calorie pasta somewhat along the lines of puttanesca, and we opened a bottle of Aglianico from the Carousel Winery in Bedford, Indiana. In retrospect, a milder red might have been a better pairing even though I enjoyed the richness and alcoholic heft (16% abv) of the wine. Afterward, the remainder of the bottle was apt accompaniment to a good cigar out on the porch.

Bats, Centerplate as oblivious as ever, but Browning's ale is on tap inside Louisville Slugger Field.

Yes, there is Browning's beer inside Louisville Slugger Field. Last night, ESB was on the main concourse by the sports card shop.


It's identified as "import"beer, which is highly suspect grammar, and costs $4.75. When I observed to the worker that it isn't an import, she responded that she isn't supposed to know were it comes from. When I asked her if she knew it was made less than one hundred yards away, she expressed cluelessness.

The other worker acknowledged that yes, it's a "microbrew," but could not explain why it's identified as an "import" beer.

It is served in a white Budweiser/Bud Light cup. It tasted damned good in the heat, but I was afraid to be seen drinking it from such a receptacle.

Does the Louisville Bats management mandate persistent shoddiness like this from Centerplate, the supposedly "professional" caterer it provides a monopoly on subpar food and drink offerings? And while I'm at it, why should there be such a monopoly in a publicly-owned facility? All of you slamming your long-necks of vapid swill on the counter might want to think about that as you expedite your money to corporate headquarters in foreign countries.

Judging from the "Rally" mascot that performed profoundly unfunny routines throughout the evening, to the bored sighs of even the children present, I'm thinking the answer is "yes." Years pass, and the Bats just plain don't get it, do they?

More Bank Street construction.

Monday would have been better, but it's not our dime, so sidewalk reconstruction began today at Bank Street Brewhouse. To get to the entry door, walk through the far end of the north patio area to the right of the building (also under construction). We're here, and we're open.