November 17, 2008

Beer Cellar Sale at J. Gumbo's - Mike DeWeese

Updated 11/18/08 to reflect comments

Looking for that special Christmas gift for the beer lover in your life? The following was forwarded on from our old friend and founder Chris Maples:

Guys,

I'm liquidating my beer cellar. Attached is the list, all prices are negotiable. Forward it on to your websites and let's help me share the love.

Mike DeWeese

Looking to buy? It might be in your best interest to drop Mike a line first and let him know when you plan on stopping in.

November 14, 2008

Random Beer Roundup | Chewbacca Defense Edition

It's a bit of a slow news day around here. In fact, things just aren't making sense. Nonetheless, we'll try to put things in some semblance of order for you with this week's edition of the HBG Random Beer Roundup.

We're Better Than You. From John at The Black Sparrow in Lafayette:

The Black Sparrow is participating in the "Most Arrogant Bar in America" contest from Stone Brewing. All this week, we will be tracking sales of Stone's Arrogant Bastard products. In order to promote the consumption of these fine beers, we've knocked down the price.

* Oaked Arrogant Bastard on draft: $4.50 for a pint.

* Pint glass deal: $6.50 you keep the glass (Arrogant Bastard commemorative pint glass, while supplies last), $4.00 refills for the pint glass deal.

* Double Bastard 22oz bottles: $7.75 (If you haven't had this yet, you need to. A HUGE rendition of an American Strong Ale).

In addition

* Founders Breakfast Stout on tap for a very limited time!

* Founders Harvest Ale (fresh-hop IPA) in bottles with Backwoods Bastard and Old Curmudgeon coming after that for our Founders rotating bottles.

As always, a great lineup of constantly rotating drafts with "no crap on tap."
Cheers!
Goose on the Loose. Our pals at Goose the Market update us on their offerings:
The Goose has stocked the following brews:

Brooklyn Winter Ale
Delirium Noel
Oaken Barrel Epiphany
Samuel Smith Winter Welcome
Clipper City Winter Storm
Clipper City Below Decks Barley Wine
Two Brothers Bohnfire Dunkel Weiss
Stone Double Bastard
Left Hand Snow Bound
Boulder Beer Co. Looking Glass Never Summer
Breckenridge Hibernation Ale
Founder's Old Curmudgeon
Founder's Backwoods Bastard
Three Floyd's BrooDoo
Browning's Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout
Bell's Third Coast Old Ale
Bell's Christmas Ale
Bell's Winter White
Bell's Expedition Stout

We will be picking up quite a few more winter seasonal beers throughout the coming months, so stay tuned. Thanks.
Little Plates & Big Beers. From John at ZING Restaurant:
Just a short note to keep you updated as we have added a few beers. We now have Three Floyds Alpha King on tap. In bottles, we have Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Three Floyds Gumballhead, and Victory Prima Pils.
Irvington's Hair-of-the-Dog Remedy. From our very own Kelly:
My favorite hangover-remedying breakfast joint, the Steer-In, just got their beer/wine license. And their selection is actually pretty good--Samuel Smith, Three Floyds, Barley Island, and some other microbrews.
Fuel for Yellow Snow. Great news from Indiana Beer:
The Brewers of Indiana Guild has completed a contract with the State Fair Commission for the first annual WinterFest. January 24th 2009. 3:00 – 7:00 pm. Champions Pavilion @ Indiana State Fairgrounds. $15 advance/ $20 day of event. Limited tickets available (not on sale yet). Receive 10 tokens, 4 oz glass, beers from Indiana breweries and select distributors, live music. Purchase additional 5 token lots for $5 at event. More details on the BIG site later.
Bob also notes--
And next year World Class Beverages will be bringing in limited, very limited, amounts of beer from breweries we don't usually see around here. They've made agreements with the Boulevard (Smokestack Series), Rubicon, 21st Amendment, Moylan's Oskar Blues, and Ska.
And finally--
Great Crescent Brewery in Aurora will open its doors to the public on November 15th. The first offerings from Dan Valas's 3bbl system will be a Blonde Ale, an English Mild, and a Stout. He will quickly add a Witbier and a Cherry Ale to the lineup. Packaging will be in mini-kegs, growlers, and 5-gallon kegs. A few limited releases, such as the Cherry Ale, will be distributed in 750ml bottles. The Aurora brewery doesn't have a proper tasting room yet but they will offer samples and sell beer on-site to the public. They will also self-distribute to southeast Indiana stores and pubs.
The Governor Called in with a Last Minute Reprieve, So You Ain't Gonna Fry. Goose Island's flagship location, originally slated to close, will now stay open. Huzzah!

Stellaweiser. Anheuser-Busch's shareholders have approved InBev's takeover bid:
In July, Anheuser-Busch attempted to block a hostile takeover by InBev, claiming "illegal" and "deceptive" conduct by the firm.

A takeover was agreed after InBev later raised its offer.

More than two-thirds of shareholders approved the new deal, including billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

The new company, to be named Anheuser-Busch InBev, will be not only the world's largest beer company but also one of the top five consumer goods groups in the world.
This Month in Cosmo: 101 Ways to Get Rid of Your Beer Gut. Women's Health Magazine has some suggestions for ladies who are attempting to maintain a girlish figure. Not much quality on that list.

Maybe You Shouldn't Bother, Goliath. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer pits the macros' new craft lines against those of the micros in a blind taste test. The result is predictable:
All of the tasters agreed they would welcome good craft-style beers from the large brewers. But after seeing the results of this blind tasting, no one was running out the door to buy any six-packs.
What Would Meredith Vieira drink? The Today Show offers this basic seasonal beer guide. Something tells me that Matt Lauer is a Blue Moon drinker.

November 11, 2008

Beer Diary #10 - Mike

16 October 08 - Location: Home
Rice with green curry pairing

First up, thanks to Worth Your Attention for the curry recipe. I've used it over and over again and it always leaves me happy and wanting more.


Alaskan Summer Ale (Kolsch Style) - Golden and lively/fizzy, with a light and sweet malty taste. The beer cuts but also compliments the salty spicyness of the green curry. The earthly flavors of the peas, beans, and mushrooms blend well with the malt. As I got to the bottom of the glass, banana elements started to appear. This is a real knockout of a beer, by the way, with flavors and a mouthfeel that keep delivering.

Odell Easy Street Wheat - Brewmaster's Table calls for a witbier to match mild curries, and this is the best I can do on short notice. A creamy mouthfeel and extremely light taste cut the spicyness of the curry. I should have sampled this beer before the Alaskan, as the flavors are definitely a bit more muted here. Gina noted an acidity up front and a full smooth mouthfeel on the back.

If you're going to try this pairing, I'd stick with a highly rated Kolsh-style beer.


20 October 08 - Location: Home
Ska Brewing (Durango, CO) Buster Nut Brown Ale - This is a beer I'd seen around back in the St. Louis area, and Ska was a brewery that I was hoping to check out while we were out in Colorado. But Durango is way out there, so instead of visiting the brewery I picked up a few samples while we were at LiquorMart in Boulder.

This beer pours a deep dark reddish brown with a head befitting the Guinness glass I just happened to pour the beer into. Big sweet malty notes from the nose lead to a creamy mouthfeel and sweet roasty malt flavors. The beer starts full flavored and finishes chewy, but it seems like the beer is more mouthfeel than flavor. Not a bad beer by any means, but it takes a little more flavor to set my heart aflutter.


31 October 08 - Location: Home
Deschutes Obsidian Stout
- Pours a deep dark black, with a lumpy white head. A grainy malt and slightly sweet nose leads to a creamy and extremely smooth beer. Well balanced, with chocolate and malt elements, finishing with the bitterness you might find in the darkest chocolates. There's also a hint of flowery sweetness to this beer. Very enjoyable, very drinkable. I should have bought more.

8 November 08 - Location: Brugge Brasserie
Pivo Defendu - A strong Belgian Pale. This beer has the magic dark fruit house Brugge nose, with a hint of alcohol. Dark fruit, smooth and agreeable, and a slightly bitter finish. What is it about Brugge? You can walk in, eat a meal, have one beer, and be ready to head home, call it a day... and the whole experience is completely positive. Am I alone on this? Brugge is like a magic mind numbing drug. And I'll have some more.

By the way - Pivo Defendu? Jim did some research.
Pivo = czech word for "beer"
Defendu = french word for "forbidden," as in "le fruit defendu" (forbidden fruit)

9 November 08 - Location: Home
Founder's Backwoods Bastard - A body that resembles sweet tea with a thin head hosts a tempered bourbon nose - a bourbon presence that isn't overwhelming, but is definitely the defining characteristic. A strong but not boozy bourbon flavor on front, which grows more as the beer works its way around the palate. Silky mouthfeel - and as the beer warms its bourbon presence only grows. This beer is basically creamy smooth bourbon. Nice. Should age well.

November 8, 2008

Beer Diary #11 - Jim | The man with the metal face

Date: 30 October 2008, 8:00 p.m.
Location: Home (in gorgeous Meridian Park)


Settling in to watch my beloved Chicago Fire take on the New England Revolution in the first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs. This is Game 1, and I'm pretty psyched. I shouldn't be, however, because the Fire have a Revolution curse when it comes to the playoffs. They face the Revs in the playoffs every year, and they lose every time.

But this year, I'm confident that the Fire can advance because they have a new weapon up front: former U.S. international Brian McBride. This dude is literally a man of steel, and I'm not just talking about his stamina on the pitch (though he really can go at full speed for the full ninety minutes). I'm referring to the list of nasty playing injuries he has suffered in the past, which includes two broken cheekbones.

I figure I might as well drink a red beer (the Fire's team color), so I grab a Founders Rubaeus. Ah, Founders--one of the true giants of craft brewing, in my opinion. Never had a bad beer from them, and the Rubaeus is no exception. This raspberry wheat ale pours with a reddish-pink hue and smells like a carton of candied raspberries. The flavor of this beer is heavier than the typical fruit beer, probably because it clocks in at 7.0% ABV, which is higher than the typical ABV for a beer of this type. It's slightly tart, quite sweet, and has a pleasant alcohol bite. There's a bit of a lambic character to this beer.

In the end, the beer is better than the match. I have to settle for a boring 0-0 draw. Yes, soccer haters, I know you're going to say, "I told you so," but many 0-0 games are exciting. No really...I swear.

[Postscript - The Fire advanced to the MLS Eastern Conference Championship on November 6 after beating the Revs 3-0.]

Date: Saturday, October 25
Location: Shallos, Greenwood, Indiana


Hanging out on the south side with Mike and Gina. We're at Shallos after having dinner at the Fireside Brewhouse. As usual, Shallos' beer list is chaotic, confusing, and outdated. Therefore, our visit is sort of like going on a scavenger hunt as we ask the bartender to search various shelves, nooks, and crannies to help us find a good selection. I begin with a Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA, which is one of a plethora of "wet hopped" beers that come out around the hops harvest every year. This one's on tap, so I figure it ought to be pretty decent, and it is. This IPA pours with a coppery color and is predominately piney in the nose and flavor. I don't get a lot of malt sweetness out of this beer as you do out of other American IPA's. Indeed, to me, it's rather dry, à la Bell's Two Hearted Ale. A good wet hopped beer, but Gina had the Founders Harvest Ale; after having a sip of it, I thought it was head and shoulders above the Heavy Handed IPA.

After finishing the Heavy Handed IPA, I puzzle over what to have next. The bartender suggests a Belgian she has on tap: St. Bernardus Abt 12. She gives me a sample. Mmmm...much potential, so I order a full glass. This ale comes served in a sizable goblet, which spells trouble because the beer clocks in at 10.5% ABV. In fact, Gina and I decide on the politically incorrect nickname of "St. Retardus" (sorry--please don't hate us because we're sometimes vile people) because of the potential for this beer to wreak havoc on brain cells. But sipped slowly, this is a beer to savor. It pours with a dark brown color, and it has that classic, silky mouthfeel you get from a Belgian of this particular style. It also has that nice blend of sugar, chocolate, and dark fruit notes you get from this kind of beer. Almost as good as Trappistes Rochefort 10, but not quite.

November 7, 2008

Random Beer Roundup - We Miss You and We're Sorry Edition

Thursday, 11 AM - The reminder email has been sent, and we anxiously await the updated beer lists from our usual Random Beer Roundup contributors. But, alas, nothing has hit the Hoosier Beer Geek mailbox. Is it because everyone's too busy celebrating the Obama victory to bother working anymore? Is it because our contributors are McCain supporters who've decided it's not worth living anymore? Did you see South Park this week? It was pretty entertaining.

Not to worry, though. I've got a backup plan..

LINK-A-DINK-A-DO!

From the LA Times (of Anaheim?) comes this story of two young and attractive people who loved each other so much they couldn't keep their hands off each other and there was a lot of sex (with pictures!). Actually, none of that's true. But here's a story about Southern California's "Craft Beer Revolution". The craft beer Boston Hop Party (where beer drinkers dressed as Indians poured hops into Boston Harbor) is partially responsible for our current hop shortage.

Straight outta Pittsburgh (via Canada): Did you know that beers can be seasonal? For example, you might not want to drink an Imperial Stout while cutting your grass in August. You might not want to drink a Miller Light ever. Here's The Canadian Press (all of them?) with this story about the increasing market for seasonal brews.

No thanks, I'll stick with my rotten shark's meat fermented in urine:
Mikkeller is a pretty fantastic brewing operation. From the folks at Beernews.org comes word that another Mikkeller brew, Beer Geek Brunch, is about to make its way to America liquor stores. What's this on the label?

"This Imperial Oatmeal Stout is brewed with one of the world's most expensive coffees, made from the droppings of weasel-like civet cats."
That should make for an interesting KOTBR.

All my notes say is "Woah Dude I'm Drunk": The folks that judge beer at The Great American Beer Festival have to be a little clearer in their beer judgment than we do. Flossmoor Station is sharing some of that feedback with the notes they received from their GABF reviews.

I know a gal in Chicago named Abbey but she doesn't read this blog: Other Abbeys in Chicago - Lost Abbey. Well soon enough. Chicago is close to Indiana. And that's why this is relevant news. Other places close to Indiana? My heart. Awwww.

At Hoosier Beer Geek, we'd never make a top five list of anything. It's a cheap ploy to draw in readers. Oh wait: Here's Epicurious' list of Top Five Holiday Beers, complete with food pairings.

If it comes down to a financial decision, you can always drop your kids off in Nebraska: A post from the Clipper City blog about the choices we make regarding craft beer in the current economy.

This can only be good news: Oskar Blues has added former Coors Brewer Jeff Nickel, 5 New Tanks, and hopes to increase production 75% in the next year. Let's get some of that beer in Indiana.

Wait! What's this! Real news about beer in Indiana?

Thanks to our dear Chris:
I don't know if you guys get Ram emails, but they're doing an open tapping party next week. That's pretty unusual. Their tappings are usually just for Mug Club members which (unlike Rock Bottom) you have to pay for. They must have made an exception because they're proud of their gold medal beer. Who knows what this will be like, but I'm guessing the beer isn't free like at Rock Bottom tappings.

Subject: GABF Medal Winning Tapping Party

Christopher,
It's time to tap our Great American Beer Festival GOLD Medal winning Imperial Stout featuring Jack Daniels. Join us on Thursday, November 13th at 6:30pm to 9pm. Jack Daniel's will be on hand featuring the "Whiskey Professor" John Barrett. We will also feature recipes from Chef Mark Williams from Jack Daniels.

We will be giving away great door prizes including a Jack Daniels electronic dart board and Jack Daniels poker chips set and more. Please RSVP at 317-955-9900.
John at Big Red Liquors (Bloomington) checks in:
New at Big Red Liquors Today:

Check Out the Big Belgian Beer Sale and see these new items

Flying Dog Kerberos
3 Floyds Broodoo
Moinette Blonde
Moinette Bruin
Kasteel Brown
Kasteel Triple
Kasteel Rouge 750
Maredsous Dubbel ( bruin)
Affligem Noel
Affligem Triple
Gouden Carolus Ambrio
Gouden Carolus Noel
Gouden Carolus Easter
Victory Festbier
Victory Hop Wallup
Victory Fest Bier
Winter's Bourbon Cask
Bells Brown Ale ( seasonal)
Flying Dg Kerberos Triple
O Hanlon's Royal Oak Pale Ale
Isle of Skye Wee beast
Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner
Sam Adams Chocolate Bock ( Made every other year, rotates with Utopias )
Schlenkerla Helles
Mishawaka Founders Stout
Mikkeller it's Alive ( Belgian wild ale)
Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast (oatmeal Stout brewed with Coffee)
Sierra Nevada celebration Ale( First time in 12pks)
Blue Moon Full Moon ( Winter Seasonal)
St Amand French Country Ale
Stone Double Bastard is Back ( In both 3 L and 22oz bottles)

And Last but not least,

World Class beverage has a new Midwest Taster 12pk out and they have crammed it full of some great beers.

I heard it was Jared at WCB that picked these out, at $17.99 this is a heck of a deal.

Delirium Tremens
Sam Smith Nut Brown
Harpoon Oktoberfest
Xingu (Brazil, Schwartz Bier)
Duvel
Affligem Blonde
Spaten Optimator
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
Unibroue Maudite
Dark Horse Sapient
Bell's Expedition Stout
North Coast Pranqster
Those sampler packs make nice Christmas gifts, folks, and in this case you're not getting a bunch of beer no one's ever heard of before.

What's up at J. Gumbo's? - Today (11/7/08) they're donating $1 from every plate of each order of seafood jambalaya sold to Fish for Fishburn, a fundraiser for IMPD Officer Jason Fishburn, who was shot while pursuing a homicide suspect. Saturday (11/8/08) from 5:30PM - 10:00PM they're having a crawfish boil, $15 single serving, $20 all you can eat, and the price includes a flight of Abita beer.

* * * * *

If you're wondering if I say things like link-a-dink-a-do in real life, the answer is no. At least not on purpose. I do say "rad" a lot.

November 3, 2008

KOTBR #59 - A likely story



This KOTBR took place on the night of Rock Bottom's Pumpkin Ale tapping. We had decided to organize on this night and review a few more beers at the downtown Rock Bottom location. This decision was made after realizing that even though we're all fans of their beers, the only beer we had reviewed to date was the Pumpkin Ale and we all know how most of these jerks feel about pumpkin beers. That's when all of the excuses started pouring in. Jason's son was sick. Jim's cat died. Chris was sick. Mike and Gina were in Denver. Matt R had to work. Matt and Kelly mysteriously disappeared. YEAH RIGHT GUYS.

Actually Chris came out despite his sickness and Claire's previous work shift of like 30 hours in the OR. We had a few pumpkin beers and observed what was probably the largest tapping crowd we had ever seen. The basement was literally filled. Luckily we got there early and were seated at the bar. After enjoying our pumpkin beers (that's right, enjoying) we decided we would review the Brickway Brown and their Seasonal IPA. Jerry brought us a pitcher of the IPA from upstairs since it wasn't on tap in the basement. Thanks Jerry!

Brickway Brown

Nose - roasted malt nose with a baked bread smell
Color - nice head with a bit of lacing from the foam, dark brown color but can still see light through it
Taste - roasty, coffee, tastes like chocolate covered coffee beans, bitter with a coffee aftertaste.
4.0 mugs

Rod
Body - dark opaque brown, reddish hue, light brown head
Nose - cocoa, milk, chicory, toasted coconut, caramel, warm sugar
Taste - creamy mouthfeel, coffee porter, bitter coffee notes, milk chocolate, hazelnuts, roasted malts, plum-like sugar?
awesome porter and very drinkable, this is one of my go-to session beers
4.0 mugs

Did I actually drink this? Apparently. Did I taste it? No (see Foggy, flu). Did I take notes? My wife says yes. Did I save them? Apparently not. Trying to taste something through a flu-haze doesn't really do a beer justice anyway. Luckily, I've had this beer many times and I always enjoy it. A nice roasted malt smell and a very creamy mouthfeel are the characteristics that stick out to me. Add some nice chocolate and subtle coffee notes in the flavor and you've got yourself a very nice porter.
3.9 Mugs

Final score for Rock Bottom's Brickway Brown: 3.96 Mugs


Seasonal IPA

Jess
Nose - pine needles, spice, very hoppy, very deliciously grapefruit
Appearance - Darker golden color, pours nice foamy head, almost pillowy
Taste - big hops bite with a bit of grapefruit, juicy fruit sweetness
4.2 mugs

Rod
Body - reddish-orange, semi-transparent, creamy off-white head
Nose - grapefruit and pine hops, oregano, mint, caramel malt
Taste - pink grapefruit, balanced bitterness, lemon zest, caramel sugar, apricot
I'm not huge on IPAs, but this is one I could drink quite a bit of. Very well balanced.
3.8 mugs

Chris
Even tasting with the flu, this was one damn fine IPA. I could smell the strong citrusy/piney hops aroma on this beer through a stuffy nose and the strong citrus carried over to the flavor where it met up with just a touch of sweetness. Reminded me a bit of Clipper City's Loose Cannon. I love IPAs and, again, this was a damn fine example.
4.1 Mugs

Final score for Rock Bottom's Seasonal IPA: 4.03 Mugs.

As a footnote, the next Rock Bottom brewer's dinner will be November 11. These are an excellent intro into the world of beer and food pairings and are a great deal at $35/person for 4 courses and 4 beers. Jess and I have been going to these for a couple years now, maybe we'll see you there?

October 31, 2008

Random Beer Roundup - Creepy Halloween + Slayer Edition

I know what you're thinking - you're thinking we've been awfully quiet this week. That's because Rodney and Chris are too busy pinching each others' butts to finish anything. And because no one seems to know how to hold on to their notes. Next week will be content-tastic. Probably.

It's Halloween, a time of the year when thoughts turn to closing your eyes, looking deep in your soul, stepping outside of yourself, and letting your mind go. I've heard that they also say it's also the time of year when frozen eyes stare deep in your mind as you die. Jeepers.

Elizadeath and Matt (a werewolf) at the Old Town Ale House (8657 E. 116th Street, Fishers, IN 46038, (317) 841-0800) with a scream from the grave:

Hi there...this week's current draft lineup...

Founder's Pale
Upland Wheat
Oaken Barrel Razz Wheat
Warbird T-6 Red Ale
Oaken Barrel Apple Buzz
Bell's Lager
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Breckenridge Vanilla Porter
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
Wyder Pear Cider
Two Brother's French Country Ale
BBC Jefferson Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout
Stone Smoked Porter
Brugge Tripel de "Ripple
3 Floyd's Robert the Bruce
Stone Ruination IPA
Goose Island Matilda
She Devil Pale Ale

Norrebro Skaarsgaard Porter and Chimay Grand Reserve have joined the bottle list.

Happy Halloween...we're tapping a keg of Founder's Breakfast Stout on Friday!

Thanks,
Matt & Elizabeth
Minion of Satan Andrew at Brass Monkey Brewing Co. (115 East Sycamore Street, Kokomo, IN, (765) 457-4659) is cooking up something in his cauldron:
We just tapped our next beer in our One & Done line. 9th Wonder is a hoppy American porter made with columbus and centennial hops. It's coming in at 6.1%

Thanks,
Andrew
Todd of the dead at Keg Liquors (617 East Lewis and Clark Parkway, Clarksville, IN) gives us a heads up (and chops heads off) with this update from Indiana's southern edge:
Several new things down in the Southern part of the state. Keg Liquors moved into their new building at the beginning of October. We went from a 2700 square foot building to a brand new 5000 square foot building. We now have a 28 door cooler for beer and wine, including 10 doors just for craft and good imports.

New beers this week include: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Founder's Backwoods Bastard, Boulder Killer Penguin, 2008 vintage, Great Divide Hades, Great Divide Fresh Hop Ale, Breckenridge Christmas, and what seems for the first time, and almost unlimited amount of Founders Breakfast Stout. No allocation on it for the first time.

Thanks,
Todd
Mike Sprinkle Holy Water at Crown Liquors has an update (and a crucifix and wooden stake):
Founders Breakfast Stout is re-supplied, case stacks in our 6 main beer stores by the end of the week! Also by the end of the week Dogfish Head Theobroma, brewed with Aztec Cocoa powder and nibs w/ honey, chiles and a few other choice ingredients. Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock, more Founders Harvest. Great Divide has a couple new ones that are coming today, but forget the names. Broodoo hopefully next week. Keep your eyes peeled for my next RateBeer/Beeradvocate tasting coming in the next couple weeks.

Plus:

Great Divide Fresh Hop 22oz (1st time to Indy, very limited)
Great Divide Hades (Belgian Golden Ale) new everyday sku
Great Divide Hibernation
Boulder Killer Penguin
De Dolle Oerbier Reserva '07
Triple K '03 Mags
Chouffe Mags
N'Ice Chouffe
Beer Geek Breakfast
Norrebro North Bridge Extreme
Norrebro Little Korkny Barley Wine (only case in the state!)
40th Anniversary Thomas Hardy's
Scaldis Noel nippers and 750ml Premium
Dupont Avec le Bon Voeux

Cheers and thanks!
Mike
John at the Black Sparrow Pub (223 Main St.
Lafayette, IN. 47901, and a name spooky enough to not need embellishment) with an update:
The Black Sparrow Pub will be having a Halloween Party this Friday. Beer special will be 22oz Rogue Dead Guy bottles for $5.75 (can't beat that price!). We will also have a rep from World Class Beverages (Rogue's distributor in our area) giving away Rogue gear all night. Costumes are mandatory.

No cover.

Also, new fall/winter beer bottle list was rolled out last week. (Click here to download that list.)

Thanks!

Draft selections right now:
Delirium Nocturnum
Founders Dry-Hopped Pale Ale
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard
Victory Prima Pilsner
Left Hand Octoberfest
Oaken Barrel Superfly IPA
2 Brothers Oh Brother! Triple
Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout
Coming Soon (this weekend or next week, whenever lines free up):
Left Hand Sawtooth
Ommegang Hennepin
Founders Red's Rye
Thirsty Dog Leg Humper Porter
Founders Breakfast Stout
A bunch of other really exciting drafts that we have allocated coming throughout the fall/winter.

John Olakowski
The Black Sparrow
Hey it's another John! This one from Big Red Liquours in Bloomington! They're attacking! Shoot!
Big Red liquors has a number of New items this week:

Boulder Single Track
Breckenridge Christmas
Great Divide Hibernation
Boulder Never Summer
Ridgeway Santa's Butt
Breckenridge Agave Wheat
Kinmount Willie
Old Jock
Black Douglas
Merlins Ale
Hebrew Jewbelation
Thomas Hardy Ale
Boulder Obovoid Empirical Stout 9 (1 cs only) Allocated item
Great Divide Fresh Hop (1 cs only) Allocated item
Boulder Killer Penguin ( 1cs only) Allocated item
Great Divide Hades Belgian style. ( 1 cs only) Allocated item
Meantime Porter
Koningshoeven Quadrupel
Boulder Never Summer

Expect to see Next week:

Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence
Founder's Backwoods Bastard
Founders Breakfast Stout (round two)

Also starting next week:

The Big Belgian Beer Sale is Back!!!
All Belgian beers are on sale.
Buy 6 and get 10% off.
All multi pack items count as one unit of the 6. (4pk, 6pk, 12pk are at a discounted price compared to the singles)
Stock up for the holidays or refill your cellar.
This just in from Killer Kirk at Mr. G's Liqours (Noblesville):
New this week:

Mad Anthony Auburn Lager
Mad Anthony Gabby Blonde
Mad Anthony IPA
Mad Anthony Ol Woody Pale Ale
Mad Anthony Old Fort Porter
Warbird Mustang Gold
Warbird Thunderbolt Wheat
Warbird Irish Shanty
Warbird Warhawk Pale
Warbird T-6 Red Ale
Founders Backwoods Bastard
Great Divide Hades
Great Divide Hibernation
Boulder Never Summer Ale
Achouffe N'ice Chouffe
Dubission Scaldis Noel
Dupont Les Bons Voeux
Saison Dupont Farmhouse Ale

And just got another shipment of Founders Breakfast Stout!

Kirk
Mr G's
Gabriel (like the angel, except EVIL!) from The Goose (Indy) has some words of beercouragement:
The Cellar at Goose the Market has picked up the following brews:

Founder's Backwoods Bastard
Barley Island Beastie Barrel Stout
Bell's Special Double Cream Stout
Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre
Rogue Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale
St. Peter's IPA
Victory Hop Wallop
Three Floyds Broodoo Harvest Ale
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil
Broughton Black Douglas
Boulder Beer Looking Glass Never Summer
Great Divide Hibernation Ale
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti
We were also able to get a bit more Founder's Breakfast Stout!
This press release came to our email box from someone WE DON'T EVEN KNOW. Spooky:
Morton’s The Steakhouse Hosts Chimay Beer Tasting on November 11

Portion of Proceeds to Benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation®

Morton’s The Steakhouse in Indianapolis is offering a divinely delicious Chimay beer tasting event on Tuesday, November 11 at 6:00p.m. Chimay is the world-renowned Belgian ale created and brewed by Cistercian Trappist monks for more than a century at the Abbey of Scourmont in Chimay, a small town in southern Belgium. Morton’s guests will sample three different authentic Chimay ales accompanied by Morton’s Petite Filet Mignon sandwiches, Tuna Tartare Canapés, Sliced Smoked Salmon and Morton’s Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake. The ticket price of $45 per person includes tax and gratuity and Morton’s will donate $5 from every ticket to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. Guests will also receive a special gift – a Chimay glass goblet – as they quench their thirst for a great cause. Morton’s will offer expert tips on savoring the legendary ales, which are brewed in the monastic tradition at the Abbey and made with all-natural ingredients and water from the Abbey springs.

Please call 317-229-4700 for tickets or information. Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 41 E. Washington in downtown Indianapolis. Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

The Chimay selections at Morton’s tasting event will include:

* Chimay Première – First introduced and brewed by the Trappist monks at Chimay in 1862, this original-recipe ale has a warm dark red color and a soft fruity taste with a slightly bitter touch.
* Chimay Grand Réserve – This dark brown ale has relatively dry taste with a caramel touch and a complex aroma.
* Chimay Cinq Cents –This golden blonde ale offers a subtle balance between softness and fresh bitterness, with a fruity aroma.

The monks of the Abbey of Scourmont at Chimay have been brewing their legendary ale since 1862. Chimay is always brewed on site at the Abbey, which guarantees its authenticity and quality. The production and distribution of Chimay Trappist beers is performed by S.A. Bières de Chimay. Chimay is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its introduction to the United States.

Morton’s is donating a portion of the event proceeds as part of its national “30 Wishes for 30 Years” campaign to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The first Morton’s steakhouse opened in Chicago in 1978 and Morton’s is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a fine dining leader. Through a series of special events, Morton’s has raised more than $150,000 so far to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation and its mission of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Here's the latest from Ron Smith. He owns a black cat:
1) Last Call for November Beer MBA Classes (November 8th, 15, 22nd). They will run from 3:30 - 6:30 pm. If you are interested, please let me know ASAP and/or go to the website and sign up (www.BeerMBA.com). So far, we have created some happy and very satisfied alumni. As people are saying, “If you like beer, even a little, then definitely make time for this course – You won’t regret it!”. I’m getting some great testimonials from attendees on these classes, and I hope to get some posted to the website soon, but overall everyone is finding them to be a lot of fun, very educational and a great value. A lot of people have been waiting for a Saturday series, so sign up ASAP before it sells out. See more info on the classes below or visit www.BeerMBA.com.

2) This Saturday, Nov 1st is National Teach-A-Friend-to-Brew Day, so to celebrate, that’s exactly what I’m going to do! Starting at 9:00 am, at my home near 116th and Michigan Rd. on Indy’s NW corner, I will start from scratch and brew a 10 gallon batch of beer. Also, there are now 3 others signed up to brew, so there will be a variety of systems being used and styles being brewed. If you have any interest in brewing, or brew already, but want to learn more, etc., this will be a great opportunity for you. There is no cost to attend, but consider bringing some beer and snacks to share. I will supply some beer to sample as well. Brew days are long, so we probably won’t finish up until around 4:00 or so. Plan to stay for the whole day if you can (and if you really want to see the whole process), or just stop in when you can. Either way, let me know if you are interested. Also, if you plan to attend, please remember to drink responsibly and/or arrange for a designated driver. This will be a fun day. Let me know.

3) Several people have asked about Gift Certificates for the Beer MBA classes. These are available and are a great idea! Consider purchasing them for the November series and giving them as an early Christmas gift. I don’t know exactly when the next series of classes will be, but they will be after the first of the year (probably Jan or Feb), so if you prefer that perfect gift for Christmas Day, this is it. I will supply you with an attractive Gift Certificate “Scroll” placed inside a capped empty beer bottle that must be opened with a bottle opener to get to (you just pay the shipping or pick it up at no additional charge from my NW Indy office). For an added effect, use this bottle to replace one of the bottles in a 6-pack of great beer and give the whole package. That way, the recipient gets something right then, as well as later (I can even help with recommendations on the beer if you wish). Let me know about this as soon as you can, since I probably won’t sell more certificates than what would fill one class.


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Bonus reading: Here's a NY Times article about Six Points Brewery in Brooklyn.