Indiana Beer News - August 29

Oaken Barrel's new seasonal is called Wamm Bamm Blonde Ale.

Barley Island has brought out Bittersweet Belgian-style IPA. 7.3%, 60 IBU.

The Louisville Brew at the Zoo in a 3-minute movie. Turn off the sound. link

North Dakota's barley crop "is projected to produce 24.8 million bushels of the crop, down sharply from 43.5 million bushels a year ago." article

Last month CAMRA reported "A drought in southern England and northern Europe and this could reduce the 2011 crop from between 20 to 50 percent. There won’t be enough Maris Otter for home consumption and any exports will have skyrocketing prices." Order plenty now.

Which reminds us: Great Fermentations annual grain sale runs from Aug 29 to Sept 17. Then it's CIDER TIME again. Cider specially blended for making hard cider. An early blend will be available starting Sept 24th and a late blend on Oct 29th. GF will have cider making seminars at 9am on both of those Saturdays.

Drought? Not in New Hampshire's back yard. Alchemist Pub & Brewery in Waterbury Vermont is flooded. Get it? Waterbury? article

“Disaster strikes Waterbury. The Alchemist Pub and Brewery was ruined in a once in a generation flood on Sunday night August 28, 2011. While the cannery is fine and on target to open this coming Friday, the Pub will be closed for the foreseeable future. With our endless thanks and gratitude to our loyal and returning friends, customers and fans, we will be back. Stay tuned…”

The quite large Long Trail and the Flat Street Brewpub in Vermont have also been flooded.

 
Long Trail Brewery (from BA)

Slate takes on the Alcoholic Beverage Institute's attack of mandatory ignition interlocks for everyone in a press release. Slate's article - (thanks Fred)

Sam Adams new variety 12-pack includes Bonfire Rauchbier. Want to try this one. The other 5 are Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Octoberfest, Irish Red, Black Lager and (yawn) Boston Lager.

In other SA news: "Help from The Boston Beer Company’s new microloan program for craft brewers, Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, made MateVeza Morpho Herbal Ale possible. The organic ale was brewed with yerba mate, hibiscus flowers and bay leaves. A collaboration with Mill Valley Beerworks, MateVeza’s newest limited release is an ode to the Morpho butterfly of South America.

Morpho Herbal Ale is modeled after gruits, unhopped beers from the middle ages. Gruits rely on a mixture of herbs to provide the bitterness resulting in zero hop bitterness. Morpho Herbal Ale’s bitterness is provided entirely by the yerba mate and bay leaves, providing a completely new and refreshing take on the style. “In a craft beer climate dominated by ales that push the limits of hop bitterness, Morpho Herbal Ale is a rare creature,” said Jim Woods, MateVeza founder and president."