Dribs, Drams, and a Tour

On Saturday I was invited to navigate on a classic muscle-car cruise put on for charity put on by Indy Carmada. It started at 9am in Indy and was scheduled to stop at Lil' Charlie's in Batesville for lunch, Great Crescent in Aurora for a brewery tour, New Albanian's Public House for dinner and a stop at the Power House / Columbus Bar on the way back north.

Thirty cars started and landed in Lil' Charlie's ready to eat. While Lil' Charlie's is revamping their fermentation system into a full brewery they are getting their beer made by New Boswell of Richmond and owner Rodwick Landess came over to Batesville tell the assemblage about the beers. Since it was still morning and a lot of mile to travel, he was no doubt a little disappointed to end up serving as a bartender.

Oh, by the way, New Boswell will soon be moving a few doors down to if not more spacious at least stronger-floored quarters and they will be going into an agreement with the Ghyslain chocolateers and high-end restaurant.

A short drive to  Great Crescent earned the group samples and a factory tour of the brewery by Dan Valas.

Great Crescent now has a third-Saturday of the month "Rhythm, Bites, and Blues" that includes dinner, some drink tickets, etc. for $35. They've been full up since starting this monthly party. Next month (May) will feature two different dry-hopped American IPAs.

Oh, Great Crescent's beers are on draft now at the Rising Sun Casino.

The car folks got some T-shirts, growlers, cozies, and other stuff. Then we moved on to drive some of the winding back (paved) roads in Swiss County.

The "new" 1933 bar back from Westwood, Ohio at Great Crescent

In Madison, I spotted on Main St. "Just Brew It' and a sign saying "homebrew". Couldn't get my driver to stop though so had to look this one up in the Madison Courier. - article

Getting to New Albanian two hours behind schedule, we flustered the waitress staff even though there were only ten people left of the tour by that time. The seven who did stay mostly had the NABC Tafelbier and pizza. Left there a bit after 10pm. The stop in Columbus was cancelled and a full day ended back home just 'round midnight.

The Guest Tap list at New Albanian's Public House

New Albanian also is selling Bob Capshew's Vinegars. No, not beers or ciders that went bad, purposeful and purpose-brewed vinegars. Classics: Apple Cider, Pear, White Wine, Red Wine, Malt. Flavor infused: Black Cherry, Blueberry, Cranberry, Elderberry, Fig, Lemon, Red Currant, Sloe, Tomato. Spice infused: Garlic, Ginger, Pepper. All at $6 per 12oz bottle. Enjoy.