Years Back - Geneva

A 4-day festival on the banks of Lake Geneva, organized by the Swiss beer drinkers organization for the 14th year. The ABO is a member organization of the European Beer Consumers Union with about 500 members - but many of them join just to serve at this fete, thereby getting free beer. There are local organizations that have occasional club-only tastings, dinners, or brewery visits.

This fete was free to enter, then you ordered beers from lists or a printed program and were poured an entire 33cl beer, usually from a bottle, at 4CHF to about 8CHF ($3 to $6). Days started at 3pm but the crowd was spotty until the band started at 8pm. Closing time was midnight on Thursday and Sunday, 2am on Friday and Saturday.

Stands under the tents included British, North American, Belgian, French, Swiss, German, and a Bierodrome which had a little of each so you could sample many styles without wearing out your feet. I poured at the North American stand of course where Anchor and Unibroue were the main offerings. There was some Sam Adams but I never saw anyone drink any. Anchor Liberty, Old Foghorn, Porter, and Stout. Unibroue's that we get in the states plus Bolduc, Eau Benite, Fringante, Irresistible, Raftman, and U2. Also MacAuslan Griffon Rousse, a dark abbey style, MacAuslan Blanche a l'Abricot, very sweet, were at our stand.

The North American staff.

All in all, more than 200 bieres differentes, 80 on tap. Most descriptions in the program, on the tables, and indeed, throughout the region at menus in brewpubs and bars, classify beer by the color. Blanche (white - usually wheat), Blonde, Ambree, Rousse, Noir. The program even called Old Foghorn a cream stout. Go figure.

Stuff I wish there was time to try:

• Britain: Cains Formidable Ale, Freeminer (3 varieties), Hopback Taiphoon, Young's Waggle Dance.
• Belgium: Caracole Troublette (on tap), Elezellolise Hercule, Haacht Charles Quint (on tap), l'Empereur, Lindemans Faro (on tap), Silly Scotch.
• France: Gwiniz Du (brune), Chouchen cider, Biere du Demon (12%).
• Germany: Andechs Dunkelweissbier, Andechser Bergbock, Berliner Kindl, Sion (kolsch).
• Switzerland: Brasserie Artisanale de Fribourg (4 names including Old Cat), Boxer Old, Egger Fleur d'abeille, Brasserie Saint Monon.

The bands: Huge Puppies (ska/punk), Botanical Roots Band (reggae), Grand Bastard Deluxe (punk rock), Galloway (Celtic rock), and Zen Zila (Oriental rock). We can't make this stuff up.

The Fete de la Biere is scheduled again for the first weekend in June.

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Geneva's Brewpubs

Les Brasseurs is directly across the street on the east side of the train station. What a location. Next time you take the train to the Geneva UN or Red Cross offices, be sure to stop in.

• Blonde
• Blanche - A wheat beer tending toward American style. Certainly not a German or a wit but still slightly tart and citric.
• Agave - Yellow heading toward green. Chartreuseish. Very light tequilla note but that crisps the attack. Way less agave than, say, Tequiza.
• Ambree - Bright copper, mild, creamy, no bitter to speak of. Still, a decent beer.
• Biere du Lion - Identical color to the Ambree. They say, "like a blonde but strong". Well described if strong means up to the strength of taste of a reasonably good beer. Not alcoholic strong at all. Some citric notes including lemon. Thirst quenching.

 

Lion, Ambree

Les Brasseurs des Grottes. 2 minutes form the train station. Swiss "modern" decor. Hip-hop music. Surly service. Metered dispense attached to the cash register. Even coffee was metered. Large place with rooms meandering all over evidently gives it the name. After being ignored by the tender after our taster (three 1decaliter beers), we left.

• Blonde - Yep, blonde lager, and a mediocre one.
• Planche - Darker, less CO₂. Decent American style weiss. Still fairly bland.
• Ambree - Dunkel Lager. Malty and full of aroma and taste. Would have liked to try a full one. 

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Other Biere Stuff
Beers tasted:

• Schneider Weisse - "Original". The dunkel. Dark with a red tint. In an "Australian" restaurant with kangourou brochettes, zucchini, and fries. Yum. Terry had a plate of prawns and rice with a fried egg on top. Go figure.
• Cardinal - On tap at a small restaurant in Switzerland. Gassy pilsner served on a red cloth that gave it a copper color instead of pale yellow.
• Hoegaarden - Bought in a can at a Casino supermarket. Fully carbonated and more filling than I remember. Still a very good, even at cool room temperature straight off the shelf.
• Lefe Dark - Black with a red tint. In a "British" pub where Stella Artois and McEwans Scotch were the only other "Brit" beers but they were out of McEwans. Creamy abbey brune. Excellent condition.
   
• La Becasse Kriek - From Interbrew in Brussels. Dark red with slightly pink head. Not much cherry aroma, more sweet malt. At near-room temperature was thick, sweet, and unpleasantly tart all at the same time while some nondescript cherry taste comes through. Not a memorable beer.
• La Becasse Geuze - Perfectly brown. Lacks almost all of the sour geuze character associated with the style. It's not sweet by any means but this is to geuze as mashed potatoes are to German hot potato salad.

Homebrewing is almost unknown in the areas we've visited and any homebrewing supplies must be mail-ordered.

Years Back–Southern France

My wife Terry and I took a year off in 2005 to tour Europe. Here’s a look at the beers of Southern France.

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Mare Nostrum - Castillon

The southernmost brewery in France is in a small hilltop artist colony town of Castillon, just north of Monaco. Mare Nostrum Brasserie Artisanale Du Sud has been in operation for 4 years under the ownership of Georges Bensoussan. The only hint from the road is a sign reading "Fabrique de Bieres". While they think of themselves as a microbrewery, with 200 accounts from Marseille to Menton along the Cote d'Azur coast, They also have a restaurant and a Visite et Degustation (tasting room) on premises.

All production right now goes into bottles (from 33cl to Magnums) although they have some European version of coke kegs to try out in bars.

• Blanche De Castillon - "Prestige" Very effervescent. 5% ABV. Golden. East European lager aroma in a bottle conditioned beer (the sell by date on my sample was Sept 2006). Very neutral and balanced. There's a touch of Cascade hops in every batch.

• L'Abbe Des Anges - A nice thick Belgian Braun. Not bottle conditioned but a small amount of yeast added as a preservative. Nice balance and great body. Attacks stronger than expected and finishes delicately with a little raisin.

In addition to beer they also make citrus pops, lemonade, citrus aperitifs, jams, and even a distilled version of Blanche De Castillon called Elixir De Biere. At 40% this is what we would consider beer schnapps and is quite similar to that home-brewed-distilled by certain Hoosiers.

Georges' brother-in-law, Goget Christian, is the brewer producing 500,000 bottles last year. He says distribution is holding them back since the wholesalers don't want to deal with such a small volume. So palette loads are put into what looks like an impossibly small van and driven down the twisty roads to the coast for delivery. They also have one client store in Paris.

• The brewery is Canadian, built in place by two guys in 2 weeks.

• Mare Nostrum is the Latin name for the Mediterranean Sea.

• Biere Passion magazine calls Prestige "C'est une tres grande biere".

The brewery complex occupies both sides of the main village street at a switchback.
Lower level: bottling.
Second level: brewery and tasting room.
Third level: restaurant.
Across the street: storage and distribution

 

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Mandrin - Grenoble

Grenoble may be known most for the Winter Olympics of a few decades back. Shame it isn't known for Mandrin beer produced by Brassee a Grenoble near the University area.

Owner Vincent Gachet was mashing his third batch of a 3.3% wheat beer on a hot May day and took some time off to talk to us. Thank you. He and brewer Tim Collins have been producing for 3 years. They make 1 or 2 brews per week and also report distributor resistance.

The 2nd batch of the wheat (which we tried) was quite like an American wheat with good effervescence. All their beers are bottle conditioned. In winter they make a spruce beer that registers 8%.

Their regulars include a blonde made with French hops and Brewers Gold and Noix (amber) that's dark copper and made with walnuts in the mash. A nutty character develops very late in the taste. Nice.

Since a tram line is being built to within a couple of blocks, maybe people will make them have weekend parking-lot parties and spread the word about Mandrin. They hope to be better known in Scotland and Italy where export deals are in the works.

At right some British customers are picking up 3 kegs and an electric jockey box (a European thing). The box regulates CO₂ from a separate tank and has a 230volt refrigeration unit. Makes sense since we've only found ice in Europe on Mediterranean beach towns.

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Chardon - Belladonne

Up the road in Belladonne Denis Dumand went from homebrewing to a full-time brewery last autumn with a English 7-barrel system sheathed in wood. He also has a building in an industrial park where he brews once a week, bottles once a week with his wife, Claudie, and cleans, delivers, and markets the other 6 days per week.

All Chardon beer is best found in small shops in Grenoble. It's all bottle conditioned and organic even though the availability of organic malt and hops is spotty in France.
2-person rotary bottling system (Mandrin has an identical one).
A labeling system attaches but is not pictured.

Chardon's range is

• Grande Chantourne - An amber made with spelt malt. Malty with a little spiciness.

• Cheneviere Blonde Au Chavure - Made with hemp seed. Clean, mild, bright yellow. Nice base beer. German hops.

• Tete Rouse - "Red Head" - A tinge of red on a brown beer. Mild to weak. An introductory drink.

• Barbulle - Blonde with more carbonation than an English blonde.

• Roche Noire - "Black Rock" - A creamy porter that is our favorite even though it's their lowest seller. Much like any excellent porter found anywhere.

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Tartentaise - Aigue-Blanche

Hidden away in a ski resort in the French Alps is Brasserie Tarentaise owned and operated by not-quite-ex-pat Brit Dean Jarmon. He loved the area and moved here in 2003 to brew English beers for the ski crowd. Business is great in the winter but the summers it's doldrum city. Dean is looking into moving the operation to the larger town of Chambry on the main highway and possibly making it a brewpub with food and all.

Even in the summer he still brews and had a couple on hand that weren't quite ready for bottling. A Summer Wheat had a touch of citric from Cascade hops. The Best Bitter is based on Youngs #3 Mild. He also makes a blonde and 720 Strong Abbey Lager at 7.2%. (No that label isn’t printed sideways.)

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Ninkasi - Lyon

If southern French breweries aren't well know, Ninkasi is the exception. Everyone we talked to about beer asked us if we'd been to Ninkasi. Open since 1997, with a big brewpub in southern Lyon and three tied houses, a busy music scene, big food portions, all-day opening that goes into the night, and the same type of beer normally found at American brewpubs, it's easy to see why.

Concerts 3 or 4 nights a week with jazz, reggae, funk, vocal, etc. Patio seating is in a loading dock setting (somewhat like Portland).

Almost everyone we saw at Ninkasi had the medium sized plate of Frites Maison (not up to the best fries at home but not greasy - maybe cooked too cool as the inside isn't properly mealy). Oh, the salads are served in what at first glance could be mistaken for a big flower pot. Big. Also ham, chicken sandwiches, flammekuches, and burgers.

Is it a coincidence our hotel is 100yds away. No. Did we stop in every night we were in Lyon. Yes.

The beers:

• Blanche - Bavarian wiezen with banana, clove, and some subtle aromas as extras.

• Blonde
  Fruitee - Myrtle beer. We'll have to try this one tomorrow. Maybe.

• Ambree - A genuine British pale ale. Nicely hoppy with maybe a touch of northwest American Cascades along with the predominant Fuggles. Served at the proper temperature and with little carbonation.

• IPA - Same formula as the bitter but a bit hoppier. Not overblown but sharp. Authentic to the classic British IPA. About 40 IBU.

• Noire - A black stout with a big tan head that dissipated quickly. A big, dry stout. A+.

Redemption Alewerks

I feel like I am slacking when it comes to trying new breweries. I have been trying to get better and get out there but really there are so many beers and so little time. (Please, dear reader, work on a time machine so we can all drink lots of great beer)

To Redemption Alewerks --

Thanks to one of those awesome deal makers, ie: Groupon,  we grabbed an awesome deal - 4 flights of 6 - 5oz beers, 2 starters and 4 entrees. Perfect amount of food and beer and a great way to spend a Sunday early evening.

Located up on 96th St, where the only Blue Grille use to bed, It is a mixture of modern art and comfortable home decor. I love that they have different game nights, trivia and live music. They have relaxing areas, and typical dining room area. The fermenter area isn’t producing just yet but there is a small selection of house beers mixed in with local and national favorites.

As I said earlier, a flight at Redemption is 6 - 5oz pours, so be careful! I chose a mix of beers I haven’t had - some of them local, some not and one house beer.  Below was my order:

• Dark Horse Raspberry Ale
• Outliers Blau Machen Pils
• Redemption Salvation Wheat
• Shipyard Melonhead
• Vander Mill Ginger Peach
• Brugge Madeline La Framboise

Starting from top to bottom, I wasn’t pleased with the Dark Horse Raspberry Ale. Not nearly enough fruit to call it a raspberry ale in my opinion. Then again, I’m a huge fan of Founder’s Rubeaus and THAT is a raspberry ale.  The Outliers Brewing Co., pils (Which btw is  an Indianapolis local, if you didn’t know ) was actually really solid. I like it’s clarity, I like the crispiness and I was surprised because previously I haven’t liked a single thing produced but Outliers which is kind of funny since I love Brugge ( I guess close by no cigar  - different brewers and all)

In the middle - the house beer. There were a few others to choose from that day I just wasn’t up to a pale ale or an IPA.  This wheat was enhanced with orange blossoms which I got in the nose, and very very lightly tasted it on my tongue. It was nice and light for a late spring day, but I think it needs to app up the citrus just a tad.

Moving on  - I am hit or miss on watermelon wheats. I had a great on last summer, I’ve tried Black Acre’s before and it tasted like a Jolly Rancher, this one from Shipyard was a sickly sweet watermelon flavor. I was not enjoying it at all.

Down to the last two - I have looked up Vander Mill before since I have some friends up in Michigan.  I’m not even a peach fan, but this was  a nice dry blend with that zingy ginger up front followed by a mellow peach flavor. I highly recommend it.

Lastly, the Brugge beer was nice. I, of course, am a bit bias when it comes to Brugge because I rarely dislike anything they make, food or drink wise and my favorite beer is their Harvey.  This one was a kind of rich and thicker that most of the other beers I drank on Sunday but it was a nice cap to the flight.

These were just 6 of at least 20 different beers that Redemption Alewerks had on tap. They seem to do a good job rotating them out. I love their electronic tap wall, with what they have just tapped, descriptions, abv rating, what is on board for their next beer, tweets and untapped messages also pop up there.

I’m also a fan of the beer cap flowers decor.  

My recommendation? Give Redemption Alewerks a shot. Their house beers are coming along, they offer plenty other beers and the food is really good too.

Cheers!

Kathleen

Dribs and Drams

Rita says MashCraft Brewing is one year old and unveiling their first bottled beers. Has an interview with Andrew Castner.

She interviews Caleb Staton about SAVOR.

Eric Strader tells a bit about Wedgewood Brewing coming to Middlebury. article

My Old Kentucky Homebrew supply and BOP has closed. article

JDub’s Brewing of Florida comes to Indiana. article

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Here’s a list of Online Beer Making & Craft Brewing Courses

The UK gives a free tax ride to small cider makers. These tiny farmhouses make under 33 pints per day – less than $15,000 USD per year. Total. The EU wants to have them taxed like any other cider maker. That could cost them $4,300 (translated from GBP) per year and make their business no longer viable. Sigh. article

12 beers at $100+ per six-pack. article with pictures

And one more: 140-Year-Old Bottle of Beer From Arctic Expedition Sold for $5,000 I do not want.

Carrot beer? Gotta be Aussies and their rabbits.

The key to reaching 100? Drink a lot of booze, says this centenarian

Monitor Township firefighters remove 303 kegs of beer after a semi rollover in Bay County MI. Eh, it’s Bud.

Daredevil Opens Speedway Brewery June 17, Sun King 6th Anniversary June 27

Daredevil Brewery opens their Speedway facility along with taproom and patio on Wednesday, June 17, with an official ceremony at 11, and special tappings at 4:00. As one of the fast growing craft breweries in Indiana the new facility gives them opportunity for continuous expansion and a new facility in Marion County for the public to appreciate their beers. One of the owners, Shane Pearson, told us, "Our goal was to create Indy's #1 destination brewery. The new location is much easier to access for our wholesale distribution business and we have worked very hard to create a welcoming taproom and patio experience which is only a few minutes from downtown while being easily reachable from anywhere in the metro area by car, public transit and a future trail and bike path that will be adjacent to our property." Shane adds, "For craft beer fans the results are that we can increase the availability of our flagship Lift Off IPA on draft and in cans as well as provide additional beers in our lineup in cans starting later this year." We are assured this will bring increased availability of Daredevil Muse, a Belgian style beer, which will be available in cans. The 4:00 special line up includes bourbon-barrel aged Muse as well as bourbon barrel aged JWP stout. We have had both a year ago and are delighted to see them back!

Daredevil Lift-Off is their flagship IPA while Vacation Kolsch is a summer seasonal. Both will be on tap from the opening. On Wednesday brewery tours will be offered, along with live music from 4-6 PM with food trucks on premises. As a brewery this is a 21+ venue. Daredevil is treating this as a "soft opening" and has announced a 4th of July celebration on... well, you know. They also have a Grand Opening Extravaganza planned for July 17, one month later. Of course, Daredevil beers can be found on tap throughout much of Indiana. After June 17 normal hours will be:
Wednesday to Saturday: 3 to 8 pm
Sunday to Tuesday: Closed

Sun King, the second largest brewery in Indiana, celebrates its 6th anniversary with a spectacular party at their College Avenue and Market Street Location in Indianapolis featuring live entertainment, the annual release of Grapefruit Jungle citrus IPA and a line-up or limited release beers on tap as well as food trucks. Three bands play: Jamestown Revival (Austin, TX), Little Hurricane (San Diego, CA), + Brandon Whyde and the Devil's Keep (Beech Grove, IN), along with a DJ on location to keep music flowing. Tix are $15 now, $20 the day of the party. Party is 4-10PM. "GFJ was designed as a tribute to the birth of rock and roll and features three distinct hops to mirror the three notes necessary to make a chord, which also happens to create an intense depth of flavor." says Sun King Brewer/Owner Dave Colt who also told us, "Since we opened Sun King I've not worked a day in my life." We've been hanging around with Dave and Clay Robinson who also started Sun King and both of these guys certainly have proved they know how to brew as well as how to throw a great party!

Ride free to AND from the Sun King VI Party with Uber! Download the app and use code SUNKINGVI for two free first rides up to $15 each. • Sign up to win rad audio stuff from Klipsch.

Sun King has experienced phenomenal growth throughout central Indiana and has expanded to distribute to other parts of Indiana. Until the recent change in Indiana law allowing production for sales above 30,000 bbls, Sun King was concerned about being able to continue to serve an expanding customer base. With the new law, Sun King plans to open a Fishers Taproom about July 1 and eventually will build a larger production facility north of Indianapolis. Sun King has brewed well over 150 different beers in the six years since they opened with Sunlight Cream Ale, Wee Mac Scotch Ale, and Osiris Pale being their flagship beers.


IndianaBeer Founder Bob Ostrander has a new book about to be released. More info here CLICK FOR INFO

Abashed advertisement

There’s a backstory to this but we’ll cover that in a minute. This robopost is to tell you that Bob Ostrander’s latest book is now available. 122 pages. Plenty of pictures, many from the Derrick Morris collection – the same great source as showcased in Hoosier Beer. Thanks Derrick.

Indiana Prohibition looks at not just the 15 years that Indiana was dry; it also details the 200 years of the Indiana and county legislators controlling our tongues. For instance, in 1790, Northwest Territory rules didn’t allow alcohol to be furnished to Indians or soldiers. In 2015 the state was more congenial and allowed brewpubs and self-distributors to make up to 90,000 bbls of beer annually.

Heck, the first year that we were a state the powers-that-be got substantial income from tavern licensing. No sales on Sunday, counties could and did fix the price of beer, and sales to minors was forbidden – minors being under 16 years old.

So Bob’s new 122 page book looks at all this and lots more. Did you know women couldn’t bartend until 1967? Did you know the Prohibition Party held its national convention at an Indianapolis airport motel in 2008? They got 643 votes nationwide.

All this and lots more is available now on Amazon ($9.95) and Kindle ($2.99). Thanks for considering a purchase.

Here’s the Table of Contents to wet your whistle:

Acknowledgments Introduction Ancient Producers (that are still in business) Early Laws and People Indiana's Frontier Days Jean Jacques Dufour America's first successful winery John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) The Territory's first real estate developer Statehood Harmonie / New Harmony Ezra Boswell Indiana's First Prohibition: 1855 Indiana's Second Constitution Post Civil War Alcohol Scene The Baxter, Nicholson and other Options Laws Frank Hanly Terre Haute The Temperance Movement Prohibition Party Womans Christian Temperance Union The Anti-Saloon League Other Temperance campaigns The Influence of World War I Billy Sunday Indiana's Prohibition started 1918 National Prohibition Prohibition Laws and Consequences Wright Bone Dry Law Businesses Root Glass Co. Uhl Pottery Effects on Distillers Hammond Distillery Hammond - Made mob spirits Indiana Distilling, Majestic Distilling Terre Haute Indianapolis Brewery Indianapolis Krogman's Distillery Tell City Tried to steal back his liquor Merchants McGregor Distillery Terre Haute Squibb, Seagrams Lawrenceburg Made mob spirits George Remus

Effects on Brewers Berghoff Products Mfg. Co. Fort Wayne Made soft drinks Bohrer Products Co. (until 1928) Lafayette Made soft drinks Centlivre Ice and Cold Storage Co. Fort Wayne Made soft drinks Citizens Brewing Co. Indianapolis Mothballed Columbia Brewing Co. Logansport Mothballed F. W. Cook Evansville Made soft drinks Eagle Brewery (until 1930) Vincennes Made near beer Evansville Brewing Association Evansville Made near beer J.B. Garnier Brewery Lawrenceburg Closed (eventually) Hoham/Klinghammer/Weckerly Plymouth Became a speakeasy Home Brewing Co. (until 1920) Indianapolis Made near beer Huntington Brewing Co. Huntington Made Malt Tonic Indiana Brewing Assoc., Kiley Marion Mothballed Indianapolis Brewing Co. Indianapolis Made near beer Kamm & Schellinger / Arrow Bvg Mishawaka Made soft drinks Madison Brewing Co. Madison Closed Minck Richmond Closed Muessel (until 1922) South Bend Sold to the mob Muncie Brewing Co. Muncie Closed T. M. Norton Anderson Made mob beer People’s Brewing. (until 1920) Terre Haute Made cereal beverages Walter-Raupfer Columbia City Made ice, then closed Paul Reising Brewing Co. New Albany Made high-strength beer South Bend Brewing Association South Bend Made soda and near beer State Street New Albany Closed Tell City Brewing Tell City Closed Terre Haute Brewing Co. Terre Haute Made root and near beers Thieme & Wagner / Natl Fruit Juice Lafayette Made cider P. H. Zorn Michigan City Made soft drinks Effects on Wineries Effects on Pubs Slippery Noodle Inn Indianapolis Prohibition's Repeal Governor Paul McNutt Opinions Recovery William J. Wittekindt Brewing Co. Inc. Continuing Anti-Alcohol Restrictions Wineries “Imported” beer Political favoritism of distributorships The Indiana State Fair goes dry Women's Issues DUI Other Rules Appendices Timeline Pre-Prohibition Beer Recipe Epilogue Bibliography Index Notes

The backstory? The History Press called to ask if I’d write this book they have a series going that includes Dallas, Minneapolis, Napa, New Jersey, Sacramento and Washington DC. Having knowledge of the subject and many sources to use I said “sure”. Wrote the book. They wanted pictures that were 600 dots per inch and 6 inches wide. And public domain. Suggested I get them all from the Library of Congress.

That size is just plain too big. And the LoC has two, count them two, pictures that are pertinent. Pictures that I took of the Derrick Morris collection were usually too big. Imagine a picture of a malt beverage bottle at 6” wide. That’s maybe 18” tall. The book was to be 6”x9”. All the pictures would be centered on a page. The book would be have over 300 pages and cost over $25.

We parted ways. Amicably. So I formatted it for Amazon’s “CreateSpace” and Kindle services and, voila, it’s now available. Sadly though, traditional bookstores don’t really like Amazon – justifiably as it doesn’t fit their business model. So only a few places will have it on their shelves. Maybe the Kindle will appear in libraries. Meanwhile, the $9.99/$2.99 price seems pretty reasonable to me.

Thanks for considering it.

Bob.

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A second note:

My current project is Indiana Bicentennial. A look at the history of the state. It’s a four-volume set. The first two cover the first and second century and are ready for proofing. The job doesn’t pay anything except credit, free books, and the undying thanks of Hoosiers for years to come. Please let me know if you are interested.

The third volume will showcase talented Hoosiers in arts, writing, sculptors, fashion designers, architects, actors, circuses, dancers, musicians, baseball, basketball, football, auto racers, Olympic sports, golf, horse racing, soccer, amusement parks, state parks, and gambling.

The third volume will be tables and appendices including interesting patents; medal of honor winners; Indiana themed movies, TV and songs; an atlas of counties and towns and museums; and the bibliography for all four volumes.

The complete set should hit the virtual shelves for Christmas sales.

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Now back to your usual programming.

Dribs and Drams

Rita’s Beer Buzz has an extensive review of Indy’s Sanctuary Brewing. Another article.

Rita also has news of new beers from Bloomington Brewing, Fountain Square, Half Moon, Mad Anthony, Sun King, Thr3e Wise Men, Triton and Quaff ON!.

It’s time to register for the Indiana State Fair Brewers’s Cup.’go here

Warren Scheidt  of Cork Liquors in Columbus has been elected as president of the American Beverage Licensees trade association and Ray Cox of Elite Beverages in Fortville (and six other stores but only one with a pink elephant) is the new treasurer. Congrats.

Chicago’s Revolution Brewing is over the 30,000 bbl Illinois limit. The state is raising the limit to 120,000 bbls. article 

Why do states (including Indiana) have limits that they raise every time a brewery gets too big? Do they just need to get lobbyist money or get lobbyist’s money? Why not just do away with these artificial limits?

Indiana On Tap blog:

Tickets on sale now for the 2nd Annual Indianapolis Tour de Biere

3 Floyds And Cigar City Bet Involves Collaboration Regardless Of Outcome

A Beer Guy Goes To A Wine Fest... And Learns To Like It... Mostly

Wildrose Brewing Company Hitting Its Stride In Griffith

Anderson Brewfest Highlights Local Businesses Alongside Excellent Beers – Review of last Saturday’s festival.

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Snoop Dogg wants 10% of Colt 45’s fruity Blast income now that Pabst has been sold. strange article

People are railing about powdered beer. Brookston has found (part of) a 1917 patent for “dry extracts of beer”. Click to biggify but it doesn’t show much.

Headlines:

No Babies On Beer Bottles In New Hampshire After Governor Vetoes Labeling Bill – Go to the article if want to see a kid eating cereal. (Note we don’t show children or animals on this blog)

Senate Passes Resolution on Craft Beer as Patriot Act Expires – “the Small BREW Act, which would reduce the federal excise tax for small craft brewers.”

You’re Drinking Beer Wrong: 7 Reasons Basic Pint Glasses Suck

Beer company's top exec fired for drunk driving – The head of A-B InBev in Germany has been replaced.

Older headline:

Texas floods: Budweiser brewery to can water instead of beer to help flood victims

Fun and games:

How 15 Scotch Whiskies Got Their Names The Names of 11 Huge Wine Bottles Robot Tongue Identifies The Correct Beer Every Time The Naturist Foundation is holding a Jazz and Real Ale Festival near St Mary Cray - June 25-28. Get your airline tickets to England now.

A bit pricey at $50,888.

If You Build a Brewery.. You Must Be Able to Bottle or Can..

In the past almost 5 years that I have been partaking in craft beer it still amazes me how much things continue to change and grow. Which is good, you can't be a stagnant in this industry - there will always been another brewer on your tail if you are.

Back to my thoughts.. I've been trying as much as possible to follow all the new opening breweries.  They are popping up like weeds. I thought at one time the craft beer bubble would burst with all these breweries but demand is high so the supply keeps coming. I'm excited, don't get me wrong, but wow.

And an even bigger wow - I can go into Kahn's or Crown Liquors or many other little liquors stores throughout Indianapolis and I try so many new breweries without even visiting them, because they have bottles or cans available right there.

It is almost as if the start a brewery isn't enough you have to start a production brewery and distribute as fast as possible.  I wonder two things though when I look at these bottles and cans on the shelf from a newbie brewery. I wonder first off what makes them think that there beer is so good in huge batches that they can automatically mass produce.  For example, and not to pick on them, but Books and Brews up in Castleton has at least 10 bomber beers available at most of the liquor stores that I go into. I've got to the brewery a few times and they have been decent. Not my favorite, not one I will regular visit, but how in the world are they already out in bombers to sell?  If they aren't that awesome at the actual site it makes me weary to try a bomber. Secondly - the choice of bottle vs. can is why I wonder some people start out with bottling. I know that it is cheaper to produce, but this day and age it seems like cans are the big thing and the way that many big breweries are going to so why not just up the investment and go straight to cans? You know you will soon eventually.

I guess I should also say I'm slightly curious if this has helped sale in breweries or decreased sales in some that only offer growler sales and aren't out in liquor stores?  I have seen a liquor store in southern Indiana that actually offered sealed growlers from a local brewery. It was from Great Crescent Brewery.  Would that be a new trend for Indianapolis?

I miss the days where you went to a brewery, had some samples, and fell in love enough to buy that growler or bullet and then you went back occasionally to fill up.  But I am sentimental.

I'm not a frequent purchaser of bottles or cans of local beer at the liquor store.  I usually go for out of state items if I'm buying cans or bottles and save local beer for growlers / bullets or when I go out for a pint. Much rather have it fresh of the tap.

What do you all think? Do you think besides the burgeoning development of breweries that there is also an increase in the bottle/can phase?

Either way,
Good luck to all the breweries. May the best bottle win.

- Kathleen