Ever wonder if that beer you're drinking is good for your health? Here is an interesting story to help answer that question:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/31/earlyshow/health/main5200448.shtml
Two Spots in Fishers, Indiana
Today's tale is a happy story of choice and a sad story of having to make a choice. Yeah, I had to reread that sentence also. You see last night the Old Town Ale House with the local United Package Liquors had a "Beer School" from 6 to 8pm and just up the road the Ram's Fisher's location hosted the mug-club tapping of an Irish Stout at 6:30. Choices. Especially since 116th St traffic could make the 4 mile drive into a half hour of exhaust fumes.
I stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner (dunch? linner?) and had an amazing thing happen. The bartendress, Precia, showed me the draft menu, pointed out the 80 or so bottles listed on the blackboard, asked me what kind of beers I liked, and had 2 samples in front of me almost before I could stammer "hello". She's good.
So's the food. Had a grilled Tenderloin Club w/fries. The 2 big slices of caramelized bacon drove all thoughts of condiments out of my head. This is the direction BBQ should go. Caramelized Bacon. Yum.
The Irish Stout has plenty of roastiness and deserves time to warm to release it full and enticing bouquet of flavors. At 4% ABV this is a Session Stout that has a lightish body and will easily accompany a good steak or finish a meal.
The Barefoot Wit is very bold with a big citric coriander/cilantro aroma. A Grand Cru of Wits. Color of a well-tanned California girl. You might find the aroma lacking when first served – let it warm - it's that "We have the COLDEST beer in town!" thing.
John tells us they plan three batches of Barefoot Wit and it will be on tap all summer. The new team plans to keep the Kölsch as a regular offering on the chalkboard.
Misc News
New Albanian is now Brewing beer at the Bank Street Brewhouse.
Half Moon gets ink at the Worth Your Attention blog.
Upland's Schwarz Black Lager is coming to bottles in October. article (thanks Adam)
Rita covers the Relicale tasting in NUVO. Must have been very old beer.
Speaking of Nuvo, congratulation to winners of their Best of Indy 2009 poll:
| Best Brewpub | 1) Broad Ripple Brewpub 2) Brugge 3) Rock Bottom |
| Best Liquor Store | 1) Kahn's |
| Best Indiana Beer | 1) Upland 2) Three Floyd's 3) Oaken Barrel |
Monarch Beverage / World Class Beverage has completed the move to 9347 E. Pendleton Pike. 46236. Please change your address books.
Sam Adams newest beer in the Brewmaster's Collection is a Dunkelweizen.
Kilchoman Single Malt will be launched in September. Eh? Kilchoman? Japanese? Nope, Islay. That's right. A new distillery in Islay has been laying whisky in wood since 2005 and they figure it's time to serve. A Sherry cask finished version will be one of the first to hit the market but none will be officially imported to the U.S. immediately.
Recent Tastings and News
Recently had the Granite City Wags Wheat beer which had a malty, wheat, mildly hoppy and citrus aroma with a crisp, citrus, wheat, lightly spicy, malty and hoppy flavor. Clean on the palate and very drinkable. A nice refreshing beer on a warm Indiana summer day and definitely worth a try!
Mad Anthony has a new Altbier available which is malty, mildly hoppy and clean and easy on the palate. Another refreshing beer on a warm Indiana summer day and worthy of a try.
There is a new S & V bottle shop located at 9960 Illinois Road, Fort Wayne (260-432-2181). I met with Ryan Merrell, Manager, and this store has 14 shelves of craft beer and 29 cold cases of micro and macro beers which is the largest in Fort Wayne according to Ryan. A Grand Opening will take place at a later date. Today from 4p.m.-6p.m. at this store Five Star Distributing will be pouring free samples of Fat Tire, 1554, Skinny Dip, and Sunshine Wheat.
Mad Anthony has a new Altbier available which is malty, mildly hoppy and clean and easy on the palate. Another refreshing beer on a warm Indiana summer day and worthy of a try.
There is a new S & V bottle shop located at 9960 Illinois Road, Fort Wayne (260-432-2181). I met with Ryan Merrell, Manager, and this store has 14 shelves of craft beer and 29 cold cases of micro and macro beers which is the largest in Fort Wayne according to Ryan. A Grand Opening will take place at a later date. Today from 4p.m.-6p.m. at this store Five Star Distributing will be pouring free samples of Fat Tire, 1554, Skinny Dip, and Sunshine Wheat.
Misc News
Kahn's Joe Quinn writes "Were going to change things up a bit. Were going to change the Monday night thing a bit. Instead of doing a free tasting every Monday night were going to have paid events once a month that will be a lot cooler than just the once a week thing."
Jim Schembre reports the Hopapalooza tent at the Microbrewers Festival poured 5016 samples in the fours hours of the fest.
IU is 14th on the new list of party schools from the Princeton Review. DePauw is 15th.
We finally have had some of Shoreline's Bourbon Barrel offerings. These 8 different beers have been sitting in bourbon barrels for a year and it is noticeable. Really noticeable. The Sum Nug IPA, for instance has a big bourbon start and a long bourbon finish. In between is more bourbon, vanilla, caramel, and some hops but not a lot of persuasion that this was once an IPA.
Breckenridge Avalanche gets canned.
BrewDog is following Paradox with "Britain's Strongest Beer". 18.2%. "lambasted by the health lobby." article
Misc News
Microbrewery planned for Valparaiso. Tom Uban plans to open Figure Eight Brewing in October with a 7-bbl system.
Tues, July 28. 11am-noon. The Indiana State Library says "Historical significance can be found in unusual places. Learn how the names of some of Indiana’s microbrews and breweries are tied to Indiana’s past. Presented by Brent Abercrombie, Manuscripts & Rare Books Librarian."
After all the talk of an Indiana excise tax raise it's Illinois that ratchets up beer taxes 25%. But booze and wine taxes are going up 90%. article.
So what IS the difference between porter and stout?
Sierra Nevada's Estate Ale (out soon) is made with only barley and hops grown on the brewery grounds in Chico.
Sam Smith's barrel-aged vintage-dated bottle-conditioned Yorkshire Stingo Strong Ale is coming.
Gordon Brown Scotch. Sean Connery's blend. Whyte & Mackay creates celeb whisky blends. Please tell us you are joking about the Gordon Ramsay blend. What does ego taste like?
He'Brew's 13th Jewbelation has 13 malts, 13 hops, and 13% ABV.
Indiana Replicale
my eyes are
up here.
The gathering at Spencer's for the Replicale was a busy night for the staff and the patrons both.
The recipe was augmented by several brewers to include more dark malt. Here's some random thoughts about the beers. Please add your impressions in the comments.
- Alcatraz – One of the darker ones. Good back bite.
- Barley Island – Cloudy/hazy. Darker. Medium bite.
- Broad Ripple Brewpub – Unfiltered for sure.
- Half Moon – Sharpish edge leading to nice bitter finish.
- Ram – Darker hue. Finish has nice clean hops. No sharpness in turnover from malt to hops.
- Rock Bottom Downtown – One of the darker ones. Richest, maltiest, and nicest bitter finish.
- Rock Bottom 86th St – Lighter color. Lighter body. Average bitterness. Darn Drinkable.
- Sun King – Lightest color. Creamiest. Lacks hop finish. Most carbonated.
For the most part, people were saying John's from Half Moon and Jerry's from Rock Bottom Downtown were the favorites.
One more time, Thanks to Dave, Clay, White Labs and the Brewers Supply Group for making the Replicale possible.
Misc News
Winetree and Jack Frey get ink in the Evansvile Courier & Press.
Top Ten Signs that you're the Wife of a Beer Geek. It could be worse for women. Say for instance in Malaysia where a woman was fined $1,400 and six cane strokes for drinking beer. Oh, her boyfriend and the waitress also got six lashes. article.
Inc Magazine has a long article: The Way I Work: Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione.
Do you have your 58-page Brewers Association Draft Beer Quality Manual?
12 people have been arrested in England for their part in scrapping £9million worth of steel kegs. article
Japan's giant, Kirin, has started talks to take over Suntory. Kirin also owns about half of Lion Nathan in Australia and San Miguel in the Philippines as well as being the Pepsi bottler in Japan.
Tonight's Replicale Tasting
Here's hoping the Web 2.0 works fast. Tonight's comparative tasting of the Indiana Replicales is a big go. Details:
Spencer's Stadium Tavern 802 S. West St. Indy. West and McCarty. 6pm onwards. Thurs, July 23.
Alcatraz
Barley Island
Broad Ripple
Half Moon (Kokomo)
Ram
Rock Bottom Downtown Indy
Rock Bottom 86th St. Indy
Sun King (Indy's newest brewery)
Dustin is taking all the other taps off line (even the sacrosanct Old Style tap). Eight, count them, eight Indiana Replicales on tap at once. A new world record.
A flight of Eight 4oz samplers will be $5. (That's two pints for the price of one.) Sharing is expected. Half pints of your favorite will be $3 (to ensure there is samplers for all).
We'll see you there tonight. Please add your comments about each beer to the Replicale Wall.
Special thanks to Dave, Clay, and Dustin. If that friendship had not blossomed, this evening would not have happened.
Each year the brewers in Indiana make a special ale for the Microbrewers Festival. This year it is a German Alt.
The smoothness of an ale but less fruity. As bitter as a British Ale with a crisp tang from Noble hops. The Indiana Replicale has Kölsch, Vienna, Munich Dark, and Carafa I malts with Perle hops.
Alt means Old in German. Only the area around Düsseldorf and Cologne continued to use top-fermenting yeast when lagers became the rage in Germnay in the late 1800s.
These breweries had their Replicale at the Brewers of Indiana Guild Microbrewers Festival last weekend, have it in their brewpubs now, and are offering it for your tasting tonight.
Fort Wayne Beer Tastings
The following Brooklyn beers will be available for free sampling at Belmont Beverage (Lima Rd.) on Thursday, July 23rd and at Belmont Beverage (North Anthony Blvd.) on Friday, July 24th from 4p.m.-7p.m. (both locations):Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brown, Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, Brooklyn Local 1 and Local 2, and Pennant Ale.
On Thursday, July 23rd, Dicky's Wild Hare (Maplecrest Rd.) will be having Bell's Oberon Night from
8p.m.-11p.m. A free Oberon pint glass (while supply lasts) will be given to those who purchase Oberon.
On Thursday, July 23rd, Dicky's Wild Hare (Maplecrest Rd.) will be having Bell's Oberon Night from
8p.m.-11p.m. A free Oberon pint glass (while supply lasts) will be given to those who purchase Oberon.
Misc News
Barley Island gets ink in the Indianapolis Star - Barley Island Brewing Co. taps into new markets. With a bonus picture gallery.
Now the headlines have switched from Sunday Sales to Hoosiers seek cold beer in more stores. (a UPI article already picked up by the Louisville Courier Journal - Hoosier group pushes to expand cold beer sales.)
Italy doesn't really have a drinking age so it's controversial that Milan should impose a minimum age. Of course it is (drumroll) 16.
I am a Home Brewer. RDWHAB from HomeBrewTalk.com
Brewers of Indiana Guild Microbrewers Festival Wrap-up
There were 4200 attendees this year. A sell-out before the gates opened. Busy bustling crowded field. 56 pouring stations in 6 tents. Only 8 from bottles. Never more than 10 steps to a cask-conditioned firkin.
World Class's Hopapalooza tent had 26 IPAs at the start and 21 at the end despite the longest lines. Stantions?!? Call by number, an alphabetical physical organization, and busy busy pourers kept the line moving very fast.
First time breweries included Bee Creek, Crown Brewing, Half Moon, and Sun King.
No arrests. EMTs completely bored. Plenty of cabs at the exit. The Louisville bus finally did get parked (after trying to turn around on 66th St.). One golf cart got parked (by me) for the duration with a bent tie rod.
50% more port-a-potties but they were very busy for during the middle hour (cooler weather means less sweat, more pee). No drunks at the end begging for beer (although one woman did flash the pourers in the attempt).
Thanks all for coming, working, etc.
    |   |
Favorites mentioned at BeerAdvocate's discussions so far include
Brugge Diamond Kings of Heaven 09
Lafayette Big Boris Barleywine vintage 1998
Barrel aged Reds Rye
Broad Ripple Brewpub Relegator India black ale on Firkin
Firestone Walker Double Barrel Pale Ale
Boulevard Double Wide IPA
Upland's Pappy Van Winkle aged Chocolate stout
Many of the brews I tried from Sun King
Shoreline Rillo Rye
'07 Guardian
NABC Beaks Best
Hoppin Frog Silk Porter through coffee beans
Bee Creek Honey Wheat
Tri-Cerahops
Ninkasi Tricerahops
Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Boulevard Tank 7
Shoreline Beltaine Scottish
Three Floyds Gorch Fock Helles
Upland Bourbon Barrel Chocolate Stout
Barley Island Beastie Barrel Porter
Three Floyds Dark Lord
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Brugge Bruno
Upland Rad Red firkin
Lafayette Double Dry Hopped Tippecanoe Common firkin
Sun King Osiris Pale Ale
More pics:
Brewers of Indiana Guild VIP Night Wrap-up
About 80 people enjoyed food from FARM-Bloomington, R Bistro, Goose the Market, Greg Hardesty, and Rene's Bakery. All the chefs and brewers talked about the offerings. Music from the Big Band vocal catalog. Darkness and the finishing of 1.5 barrels of beer ended the night about 10pm.
Above: Hoosier escabeche of catfish. Charcuterie of smoked venison and more.
Above right: The Brochette of beef came in a very rich mushroom sauce that didn't overpower the tender beef at all.
Addenda: The Hoosier Beer Geeks have more pictures. Nuvo's Jim Poyser chimes in and liked it.
Indiana Microbrewers Festival – Notes for today's event
OK gang, here's the situation. We have There might be about 250 tickets available today at the gate. All the others have been pre-sold. The first ones who get to them get them.
Good luck,
Bob.
Here's the web page for more info: Indiana Microbrewers Festival
PS. The VIP dinner tonight had about 80 people and 20 volunteers. Some press, some legislators, Good beers. NABC's Anniversary Ale was stupendous and the 5-layer chocolate cake . . . Great food. Did run through a barrel and a half of beer and ran low at the end. More later with pictures.
ADDENDA:
From the rate of phone calls this morning I DO NOT suggest coming to Opti-park hoping to score a ticket.
Sun King Unveiling at Spencers
A second keg of Osiris Pale Ale was on tap Friday so we at least got to taste one of the five (the others will be at the Festival Saturday of course).
Osiris Pale Ale – Pleasingly bold. Both malt and hops are distinct throughout. Nugget and Cascade blend old-world and floral hops characters. Fresh but not green. An ESB in every sense of the word. It's hard to believe this was brewed just two weeks ago; but then Dave and Clay are magicians.
Here's some pictures from a community camera at the dinner. Thanks, Dustin for letting us use these.
Misc News
Just in time, Gina gives us 11 Things A New Beer Festival Visitor Should Know.
Preview of the Festival – Indy Star: Belly on up to the beer buffet
Brugge Brasserie has a new beer from the backroom brewery. Brun is, you guessed it, a Belgian Oud Brown Ale. Completely opaque and distinctly brown with a small white big-bubble head. Aroma of dark malts. The malt attacks your mouth with some acidity and balancing rich dark sweetness. A slight touch of Anise, green vegetable, and maybe star fruit. Finish is funky, tart, sweet, lingering, and strong. Once warmed to room temperature the finish takes a 90° turn to almost sour. Hope this becomes a regular.Do you need a Brewer's Cup mug? Magnet? Phil Hunter has them on Zazzle.
This review of the Bastille Day dinner New Albanian's Bank Street Brewhouse praises the food.
Headline in the New York Times: Beer Advanced in Price. The "growler" trade will have to pay 10 cents a pint. This is a raise from 8¢ and is needed since kegs cost $2. Also, "no spirituous or malt liquors would be sold to children under sixteen years of age". Party like it's 1889.
Fort Wayne Beer Tasting
CapnCork (http://www.canpncork.com/) (Covington Plaza) is having a beer tasting Friday, July 17th (tomorrow) from 5p.m.-7p.m. Beers will be poured by representatives from World Class Beverages, Five Star Distributing and Aalco. There will be Indiana beers to be sampled along with beers from New Belgium, Dark Horse, Victory, Goose Island to name a few.
Misc News
The Liquor Locker in Evansville got some good ink in the Indiana Beverage Journal. Can't link to the article but Jeff Steckler says they now have over 400 imports and micros. They also focus on homebrewers - "by being a home brewer friendly store, we have become very popular with the local OVHBA (Ohio Valley Home Brewers Association)". The web site now has an email newsletter with new beers, and request pages for kegs and bottled beers. Their weekly tastings (Fridays, 4-6pm) are a big hit in a nice atmosphere. They also allow splitting of all 6-packs.
Warbird gets good ink in the San Antonio Express-News.
Hoosier Beer Geeks look at Apocalypse Cow.
Schlafly brags that their Kolsch Takes the Cake at Indiana Brewer's Cup.
Misc News
Crom and Set have arrived at Three Floyds. "Story to follow".
Kennywood Brewing Supply will be moving this fall to beautiful downtown Crown Point.
The Hoosier Beer Geeks interview Mikkel Bjergsø of Mikkeller and visit Lafayette Brewing and the Black Sparrow Pub.
Stawski Distributing will be bringing in Sherwood Forest beers from Massachusetts to northern Indiana. This includes Archers Pale Ale, Sheriff's IPA, Maiden's Blueberry Ale, and Friar's Belgian Wit.
Thank Heaven for Beer looks at Oaken Barrel Epiphany Abbey Style Triple.
Coming in July: Great Divide Chocolate Yeti, 15th Anniversary IPA and Double Witt.
Indiana State Fair Brewers' Cup
Complete results for 2009 are freshly up at http://www.brewerscup.org/results.
| Kneeling | Professional Best of Show: Oaken Barrel of Greenwood – Pumpkin Ale |
| Champion Brewery: Oaken Barrel (also in 2005 and 2006) 3 Gold Medals, 2 Silver Medals, 3 Bronze Medals | |
| Homebrewer of the Year: Bill Ballinger of Shelbyville 4 Blue Ribbons, 1 Red Ribbon | |
| Homebrew Best of Show: Larry Barnhart of Kokomo – Susie's Sweet Stout | |
| Standing | Homebrew Club of the Year: MECA |
The attendance at the dinner celebration was bigger than ever.
Anita Johnson and John Blichmann handed out door prizes from Blichmann Engineering.
720 entries. 90 judges. 3 judging sessions.
Jack Frey of Turoni's Main Street in Evansville entered three beers and won a Gold and 2 Silvers.
Four Rock Bottoms (Downtown Indy, 86th St. Indy, Lombard IL, and Orland Park IL) shared 23 medals including sweeps of the Light Lager, Scottish, and Barrel-aged categories.
Here's some pictures of the Judging tables.
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