Beers, Cheers, Sneers, and Cupid – February 14

Upland will be breaking out some newly discovered cases of sour ales for sale at their Bloomington and Indianapolis tasting rooms on February 23rd. The bottles will be sold on a first come, first served basis. The Bloomington location (350 West 11th St) opens at 11am and will have 3 cases of Blackberry Lambic, 3 cases of Raspberry Lambic, and 2.5 cases of Gilgamesh available. The Indy location (4842 North College Ave) opens at noon and will have 4 cases of Raspberry Lambic, 2 cases of Blackberry Lambic, and 2 cases of Gilgamesh available. The cost is $20 for Lambic bottles and $25 for Gilgamesh with limits of one per style/two bottles total per person.

Congrats to Kevin Cox of Muncie for being named a finalist in Wynkoop Brewing’s Beerdrinker of the Year competition. Kevin is a passionate beer advocate and homebrewer who has tasted over 6000 different beers spanning over 400 breweries, 12 countries, and 4 continents. Winnings for the coveted title will include free beer for life at Wynkoop (conveniently located in Denver) and $250 at the winner’s local brewpub. J. Wilson took last year's title after claiming to fast on water and doppelbock for 46 days. Good luck Kevin!

If you were interested in checking out Gravity Head 2013 at New Albanian (and why wouldn’t you be?), the full program of strong beers has now been posted. The festivities kick off February 22nd with a tap takeover from Sun King. The remaining kegs will be rotated through the taps until all 60+ kegs are gone, which will likely produce a run of several weeks.

Sunday alcohol sales appear to be dead once again now that the House Public Policy Committee Chairman decided not to hold a committee vote on legislation and declared that the state has more pressing issues (which is great in theory…..if they actually spent productive time on those issues). I’ll stand by my comments from last week – it’s obviously a stupid law, but is generally much ado about very little other than retail power. And Committee Chairman Bill Davis reminds us that “It’s not like we can’t get it six days a week.” Thanks for clearing up the math for us there Bill.

Grand Canyon Brewing has invented the Flavor Bomb – a small plastic pod that can be stuffed with flavor additives and submerged in a beer bottle. The Flavor Bomb allows creative brewers to extend the beer’s contact with hops and other flavor additions right up until the moment the bottle is opened. Grand Canyon has already used the “bombs” for commercial offerings that loaded them with whole cone hops, coffee beans, and toasted oat sticks; but the possibilities here are endless. If you’d like to experiment with Flavor Bombs at home, they can purchased from Grand Canyon’s gift shop at 10 for $10.50, 20 for $20, or 50 for $48. Can’t wait to see what you homebrewers come up with to stuff in your pods!

We’ve reached another Valentine’s Day and the blogosphere is flush with suggestions of beers to share for this special occasion. These are typically rooted in traditional romantic ideals and focus on options like chocolate beers. But I think this excludes a significant portion of the audience who may not have the option or desire for a traditional VDay celebration. So here are some beer suggestions for those seeking a slightly more alternative option:

Wasatch Polygamy Porter – For the beer drinker who enjoys sharing with multiple people.

Buffalo Bill's Alimony Ale – For the beer drinker who does not have to share with anyone, but can only afford Buffalo Bill’s as a result.

Sleepy Dog Leg Humper – For the single guy whose best shot at Valentine love is rubbing up against someone in the club.

Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper – For the single guy whose best shot at Valentine love is rubbing up against someone in the bingo parlor.

Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin – For the ladies who need a little added warmth on this cold winter holiday.

Alesmith My Bloody Valentine – For your “quiet” neighbor who drives a white van with painted windows.

Flying Dog Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout – For the fun-loving couple who understand the best gifts don’t come from Kay or Jared.

Dogfish Head Golden Shower Imperial Pilsner – For the fun-loving couple who might be taking the last comment a bit too far.

Jailhouse Brewing Prison Camp Pils – For the homebrewer who entered an Old Ale last year under the name Works Better Than Candy. Seriously dude, I think you were looking for the homebrew competition sponsored by To Catch a Predator.

Cheers, Nathan

Beers, Cheers, and Sneers – February 7

RateBeer has released their latest set of “best” lists for 2013, which is better known as the Three Floyds Open in this state. The craft titans from Munster rank #2 (behind only Hill Farmstead Brewery in Vermont) on the list of Best Brewers In The World. Dreadnaught, Zombie Dust, and Dark Lord (Bourbon Vanilla Bean) claimed spots among the Top 25 on the list of Best Beers In The World. To take it one step further, a total of nine 3F offerings were included among the Best Beers By Style lists (they make a Schwarzbier?). 

The wealth is spread around a little more if you delve into the Top Retailers By Subregion for Indiana:

Best Brewpub	New Albanian Pizzeria and Public House (New Albany)
Best Restaurant	Shallos Antique Restaurant (Greenwood)
Best Brewer Taproom	Flat 12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis)
Best Bottle Shop	Crown Liquors #14 (downtown Indianapolis)
Best Bar	The Heorot (Muncie)

You should never take it literally if you hear us muttering that it seems like a new brewery opens every day. According to the Brewers Association, that would more accurately be stated as 1.06 breweries per day in 2012. The nationwide figures show an increase in active breweries from 1949 at the end of 2011 to the 2336 that closed out 2012. But wait – there’s more! The BA counts 1254 prospective breweries-in-planning that were in some phase of opening during 2012. Like I always say, a chicken in every pot and a brewery in every neighborhood – that’s how it goes right?

Bottleneck Management is set to open a new restaurant called Howells & Hood this March in the Tribune Tower. The setup includes three separate bars with a total of 360 beer taps, which they believe will be the most of any restaurant in the world. If you go there and ask your server to come up with a recommendation, you might be suffering from sadistic personality disorder. It’s not your fault.

Surly Brewing in Minnesota lived up to their moniker and had a little fun with authorities by submitting label artwork that features a pink unicorn, fairy, and accompanying rainbow. The label was predictably rejected for appealing to underage drinking. So Surly has learned that pink unicorns are bad, but occult imagery is no problem.

Good news/bad news for AB InBev’s annual splurge on Super Bowl “big game” commercials. The Budweiser spot reuniting horse and trainer took the top spot in USA Today’s Ad Meter Results, but commercials for their heavily hyped Black Crown and Beck’s Sapphire products took three of the bottom five spots. I guess a bunch of hipsters toasting a dude in an apron doesn’t make up for calling your amber lager “black”.

A collaboration between Spiegelau glassware, Sierra Nevada, and Dogfish Head produced a new glass specifically designed for drinking hoppy beers. The glass is designed to aerate the beer as you tip it so that a blast of aromatics are delivered to your nose as you sip the liquid. I don’t have a joke for this, I just want one.

More than a few homebrewers were caught off guard in 2012 when the National Homebrewers Conference sold out in a then unprecedented two days. Welcome again to the brave new world of American beer culture. Despite a nearly 90% increase in capacity, the 2013 conference sold out in 20 hours. Hope everyone who made it in has a great time this year. I won’t be joining you, but surely this photo spurred on the increased demand. If anyone from the American Homebrewers Association is reading this, please make the royalty check out to Poppi Rocketts. Thanks.

So you’ve probably heard that the push for Sunday alcohol sales has reared up again in the current legislative session. This is logically the time where I should climb on my soapbox and rant against another bass-ackwards law still on the books in Indiana. But I’m just having a hard time finding the motivation at this point. Not because I’m a big fan of blue laws or appreciate Indiana serving as a national punch line every time another state decides to join the 21st century of alcohol laws. It’s just hard to see why it really matters for our scene. If you’ve lived here for a while, how often are you really blindsided when Sunday rolls around and the fridge is empty? And with carryout sales now allowed from Indiana breweries, most people can support a local business and take home a fresh growler or six-pack for Sunday festivities. But of course, this was never about the best interests of consumers, it’s a retailer pissing match between liquor stores and grocery chains. And that’s not the type of thing that really gets my blood boiling one way or the other. So Sunday sales would be nice at a certain symbolic level, but I can also live with punch line status for a while longer. Other states can laugh it up, but we still have the Kokomantis.

Cheers, Nathan

Indiana Beer News – May 3

I’d like to start this week by introducing a brewery that I was admittedly unfamiliar with prior to Saturday’s TAP at TAF festival in Lafayette. The Big Dawg Brew Haus can be found in Richmond on the grounds of J&J Winery. They served up an Oatmeal Stout, Belgian Dubbel, Belgian Tripel, and California Common for the festival and it was a very impressive flight of beers. The Oatmeal Stout was one of the overall standouts from the event and is a scaled-up, unmodified version of a homebrew recipe the brewer had perfected over years. This is definitely a brewery to keep an eye on and worth checking out if you live around or pass through the area. You can find Big Dawg’s beers at the J&J Winery, Smiley's Pub, and Randolph Cafe.

Saturday is the Big Brew for National Homebrew Day! Details for registered event sites in Brazil, Columbus, Decatur, Evansville, and Seymour can be found on the AHA Event Page if you search Indiana. For the Indianapolis area, there are two great events planned (don’t forget the nationwide toast at 1pm):

Great Fermentations will host an event in their parking lot at 5127 E. 65th St. featuring community brewing and tasting, the Homebrew Garage Sale, and mobile comfort food from the ScratchTruck. The event runs from 10-4 with food available from 11-2.

Tuxedo Park Brewers will also host community brewing from 11-2 at their shop at 1139 Shelby St. in Fountain Square. They are offering discounts on Big Brew ingredients if you brew at the shop. RSVP on the linked Facebook event page if you plan to attend.

Have you ever wanted to enjoy an Indiana craft beer in the company of a Eurasian Barn Owl? I have (seriously), and now you will have the chance at Upland’s Benefit for WildCare Inc. on Sunday, May 20th, from 4-10pm. WildCare Inc. has provided professional care for over 12,000 sick, injured, and orphaned animals since 2001. The event will be held at Upland’s Banquet Space and offers the chance to meet and learn more about Valentino the Eurasian Barn Owl and Skylar the Arctic Fox between 4-6pm. All beer proceeds from the event go directly to WildCare Inc.

The brewery expansion to North Carolina craze isn’t finished yet, as Oskar Blues announces plans for a new restaurant and brewery in Brevard. Sure, the story has little impact on us, but if you click over to it you’ll be rewarded with a photo of the CHAKRA collaboration brewing with Dave Chichura of Oskar Blues and Dave and Clay from Sun King. Interesting to note that Dave Chichura’s professional brewing career started in Indianapolis.

Following the passing of the craft beer holiday known as Dark Lord Day comes the popular season of Dark Lord black market sales. If you choose to participate, just be aware that Three Floyds officially does not condone your little scheme. The Gods have spoken.

At the risk of beating this horse one too many times, it’s worth mentioning that the Connecticut bill legalizing Sunday alcohol sales easily passed the Senate and is on its way to be signed by Governor Dannel Malloy. The Governor’s signature will officially leave ONE state that still finds it necessary to have a statewide ban on Sunday sales. I’ll give you a hint – the state I’m referring to just might be in the title of this website.

If you’re looking for a little road trip to cap off American Craft Beer Week, the brand new 500,000 barrel brewing facility built by Bell’s will be open May 19th and 20th for public tours. Get there while you can……before Larry Bell decides to sell off the company.

What happens when homebrewing and engineers meet? If they have a little too much time on their hands, you end up with inventions like the KegDroid. From the inventor: “Drinking beer has gotten to be very boring for me.” That, sir, does not compute. 

Cheers, Nathan

Indiana Beer News – March 1

Flat 12 is sponsoring the Beta Cell Bash at Radio Radio in Indianapolis tomorrow night. The event will benefit the Indiana chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and features 10 bands including……Sweet FA? Is this the same Sweet FA that rocked the Hoosier state when I was in high school? Yep, just dated myself with that one.

If you need a good festival for this weekend, Cincinnati is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Bockfest. The festivities kick off Friday evening with a downtown parade, but the real fun kicks in Saturday night with the annual Sausage Queen crowning where finalists are asked to treat a link of sausages like a stripper pole. Don’t shoot the messenger.

If you’re in the South Bend area and interested in Michigan breweries that a few people seem to enjoy, check out the Michigan Brewery Tour leaving from Fiddler’s Hearth on Easter Saturday, April 7th. Destinations include Founders, Bell’s, Hopcat, Arcadia, and Dark Horse. Peeps are generally not recommended, but it’s your call===>

The annual UpCup Competition has been set for Saturday, May 19th. The event will also serve as an American Homebrewers Association rally with VIP tours and lots of great food and beer starting at 5pm. The UpCup winner brews his/her recipe at Upland and the brew is entered in competitions such as the Great American Beer Fest Pro-Am Competition and US Beer Tasting Championship. The 2009 winner, Sunday Morning in Bamberg Rauchbier brewed by Tom Wallbank, went on to become a USBTC National Grand Champion!

Speaking of the AHA, registration for the National Homebrew Competition was delayed until March 2nd. Don’t forget, if you would like to judge or steward in the Indianapolis regional competition round (April 13-15) click here.

The Thr3e Wise Men brewery in Broad Ripple is making a major investment in expanding their brewing capacity. New equipment additions will allow them to produce 6,200 barrels and distribute their beers to all Scotty’s restaurants in the state. Pizza and beer delivery will also kick off March 12th for customers who live within a standard delivery zone of the Broad Ripple location.

Connecticut is moving closer to becoming the 49th state to allow alcohol sales on Sunday. Care to guess who the final holdout would be?

In news that may excite and/or repulse you, Blue Moon Dark Chocolate Bacon Porter is one of three finalists for their new fall seasonal. This concoction will do battle with Caramel Apple Spiced Ale and Blackberry Tart Ale for the coveted lineup spot. Too bad Banana Bread Beer was already taken.

An Iowa homebrewer, beer judge, and beer blogger going by J. Wilson has been named Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 2012 Beerdrinker of the Year. All Wilson had to do to gain notoriety was fast on a strict diet of water and dopplebock for 46 days. The lucky winner receives $250 worth of beer at his local beer bar, which evidently goes by the name El Bait Shop (I can’t make this up). For his sacrifice, the least I can do is mention Mr. Wilson’s blog can be found at www.brewvana.net.

Cheers, Nathan

Misc News – Dec 8

This week’s doings:

• Wed: Tapping of Old Curmudgeon Imperial IPA at Rock Bottom, 86th St, Indy. 6pm
• Wed: Beer Diner. Club LaSalle, South Bend. 7pm. $60. details
• Wed: Guest Brewer Discussion. Barley Island Restaurant and Brewhouse, Broad Ripple. 6:30.
• Thurs: Tapping of Old Curmudgeon Imperial IPA at Rock Bottom, Downtown Indy. 6pm
• Sat: Dark & Fruity Beer Class. Towle Theater, Hammond. 4pm. $25
• Sat: Tickets go on sale for Winter Warmer (Feb 12). Lafayette Brewing. They sell out in a few hours.

Sunday Sales editorials:

• Post-Tribune – State should legalize Sunday alcohol sales
• Ft. Wayne News Sentinel - Let's take another look at Sunday alcohol sales ban – The benefits of lifting it outweigh all the potential problems.
• Indy Star – Heavyweights battle, public left out

John Holl’s travel guide to Indiana breweries isn’t printed yet but he’s already promoting it an Beer Sessions Radio in a 19-minute interview (scroll down a bit), listen to the music the first 5 minutes. Hits for FFF, NABC, New Boswell. Then absinthe talk (which isn’t a bad thing). Bonus segment with Schmaltz’s Jeremy Cowan at the same link.

From New Albany: “This Saturday (December 11), Chef Josh Lehman is soliciting your opinion with free samples of frites and sauces. From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Bank Street Brewhouse kitchen crew will offer guests free samples of frites in the form of an assortment: Different cuts of potatoes, different types of potatoes (russets, sweet, Yukon gold) and different sauces for accompaniment, including the seven sauces currently on the menu, along with ten new ones (green curry, rosemary aioli, blue cheese, dill lime aioli, horseradish, hot chili, mango ketchup, peanut sauce and more). Patrons are asked to vote for their favorite cuts, types and sauces. But there's even more. There will be frites fried in duck fat (which makes everything taste better), and also a special beer for the event.”

Colorado is trying to stop pubs from selling beer under 4% ABV. Why? because it’s already against the law. article 

Ol’Glory beer can’t put the pledge of allegiance on their bottles. article

The problem of beer":  That it is within a 'bottle', i.e. a boundaryless compact 2-manifold homeomorphic to the sphere.  Since beer bottles are not (usually) pathological or "wild" spheres, but smooth manifolds, they separate 3-space into two non-communicating regions: inside, containing beer, and outside, containing you.  This state must not remain. Get your Klein bottle opener here.

Best British headline of the day: JD Wetherspoon flushed with success at Loo Awards

Misc News – Aug 21

Big Woods Brewing American Wheat is now on tap at the Story Still Tavern at the Story Inn in Story Indiana. It's Big Woods' first off-site account and Story Inn's only draft beer.

Big Woods is also instituting a new Sunday Growler policy. The first 10 new growler customers every Sunday get the bottle for free.

Mini-editorial: Every brewpub we have talked to since July 4th has been very happy with Sunday Growler sales, reporting double-digit sales every week. Two have estimated 50 growlers filled every Sunday. This is the biggest success story yet for the Brewers of Indiana Guild's lobbying dollars. Over and above the extra income generated, the publicity for Indiana brewpubs during June and July was all-in-all positive and will give long-term benefits.

Hopefully the B.I.G.'s next effort will result in a change Indiana law that will see Indiana-only beer and wine booths at the Indiana State Fair. This could be accomplished for the 2011 Fair and it would introduce the members' products to the 800,000 attendees. There could be no better use of the Guild's time and money than to achieve this level of recognition to new potential customers.

Coming up – new and strange brews from breweries – and distilleries.

Rogue Chatoe Creek Ale – A Belgian Kriek hits the shelves in October. Hopefully here in Indiana as well as Oregon.

Avery will have Ellie's Brown, White Rascal and IPA out in cans in September. article

Springbank has 5 new Scotch whiskies out. Hazelburn – 8yo unpeated and aged in both bourbon and sherry barrels. Springbank 10yo. Springbank 15yo - finished in sherry wood. Longrow CV – a blend of single malt ages with smoky notes. Longrow 10yo – finished in sherry wood. article

Misc News – July 9

Liz Laughlin and Jerry Sutherlin both served up there new American Cream Dream at the Rock Bottoms in Indy last night. We made it to the 86th St. store where Liz has three new winners:

• American Cream Dream IPA – With Centennial, Nugget, and a bit of Cascade hops for that fresh, floral feel. At 7.6% this bee can only be described as "soft". Soft on the nose, soft on the tongue. Beautiful stuff.
• Oatmeal Stout – Also freshly on tap. It starts full and creamy and finishes medium bitter with a light body and quick finish. 6.4%. It gives the best of a full-bodied stout and leaves you feeling like you just had a sip of Vienna Amber. Dan's calling it the best beer Liz has ever made and he might be right.
• Simcoe IPA – This one comes in at 7.1% and the local hopheads are loving it.
• The current Wheat is a hoppy American-style.
• A Cask Conditioned Dry Hopped Pale Ale is on the handpull. It's mildly hopped with Centennial and Cascade. Still, it comes across earthy as a British Pale.
• The Happy Pils coming out on August 11th will be all Sterling hops.

The Northside Rock Bottom advertised July 4th growlers in-store heavily with reservations for commemorative swing-top growlers and sold 82 of them at $25. Also 75 other new growlers and 96 refills. Good start to a new era.

The initial Indiana Breweries beer list for the Indiana Microbrewers Festival is available for your inspection.

Sun King's Johan the Barleywine goes on tap at MacNiven's on Monday.

Sun King have also picked their third canned beer. Wee Mac Scottish Ale has label approval and should be out in October in 16oz cans. Great choice.

Bob Mack wonders if the Down Economy Helping Craft Beer?

If you're not going to the Indiana Microbrewers Festival at least stop in at the beer festival at Windsor Castle that weekend. They'll have Old Windsor Dark Ale among the 40 cask-conditioned beers. article

Big Woods T-shirts aren't waterproof proof (hint, it's a girl in a wet Big Woods T-shirt – now you'll click that link won't you?)

Misc News – June 28

The grocery and convenience store lobby will try again. Now it's the"Alliance of Responsible Alcohol Retailers". They're actually going to claim the Sunday growler sales at 24 breweries should be used as an example to sell at the 13,000 retailers who are getting short shrift. We're going to have to hear about this for the next 9 months. first salvo

Scott Bort's Northwest Update

A Big Woods growler makes like a red balloon in Paris. slideshow

The Evansville Courier and Press agrees the card-everyone bs is bs.

Abita's new Save Our Shores Charitable Pilsner will raise money for the oil spill cleanup. But it's 7% ABV so it can't be sold in Mississippi and in 22oz bottles so it can't be sold in Alabama. $5/bottle. 75¢ goes to Abita's charity choice.

How not to drink beer in 23 easy lessons

Consumers Reports says "Bargain beer from Costco" Kirland house brand at $19/24 is "Great price, decent beer. "On average, our untrained panelists liked the Cosco beers about as much as the same-style name brand beers). . . . Our consultants said that although the brand-name beers were more flavorful, clean-tasting, and complex, the Costco beers were quite quaffable and, to use the consultants' technical term, 'party worthy'."

Kirkland Amber vs Sam Adams Boston Ale
Kirkland German Lager vs Sam Adams Boston Lager
Kirkland Hefeweizen vs Paulaner Hefe-Weizen
Kirlklnad Pale Ale vs Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

You gotta love the aluminum foil wrapping to "ensure that beer tasters won't know what brand they're sipping". Please don't tell us your panelists drank from the bottle.

Sunday Sales, the last word

Fri. Mar 12: Mitch buys the pitch and fixes our itch with a twitch of his pen.

Effective July 4th.

Misc News – Mar 1 – SB 75 Supplement

Headline: Senate sends booze reform to Daniels. Stay classy, Indianapolis Star. Here's the complete skinny from the man. Here's the final bill.

One good thing: Sunday growler sales. Up to nine growlers. Or two cases of bottles. Up to 576 ounces. Hey, that is 4.5 gallons. So much for 6th bbls and corney kegs. Sigh.

Must be at the brewery only (by the address of the permit – hope the restaurant part of your brewpub is at the same address). This seems to leave out the tap houses owned by Mishawaka, Mad Anthony, Barley Island, Turoni's, and Upland. And may complicate things at New Albanian – can beer made at the Public House be sold for Sunday carryout at Bank St.?

One good thing: Open on voting days.
One so-so thing: Open until 3am on Sunday nights.
One bad thing: Everyone must be carded for take-out. Even the clerk's mother.

Don't completely drink in the "unless they look over 50" talk. That's true, but you can still get cited and will have to prove your side. "In a criminal or administrative proceeding, it is a defense to a charge under this section that the individual to whom the permittee or employee or agent of the permittee sold, bartered, exchanged, provided, or furnished alcoholic beverages for consumption off the licensed premises was or reasonably appeared to be more than fifty (50) years of age." You conceivably could have to produce the customer or a picture of the customer at the hearing.

Oh, and that server training thing. Mandatory server training for all permit holders and re-training with each license renewal has been put off until May 1, 2011.

Anticipating the normal state-police run courses won't be able to handle the volume, those benevolent and omnipotent folks in downtown Indy have already allowed people to set up private server training schools. There are 67 already. Mainly because this silliness was supposed to go into effect 2 months ago. I wonder how many will be around when the madness starts next year. Or maybe our fearless leaders will just cancel the whole concept.

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HBG reviews the new Scotty's Lakehouse out on Geist Resevoir.
Cincinnati is the home to the world's oldest Bock Festival. And it's this coming weekend. Parades, Tours, Parties, Sausage Queen, Lots of bocks at lots of bars. Even burning snowmen.

Misc News – Feb 13

Senate Bill 75 has has been merged with two others as it goes to the House. One will end the silly prohibition while polls are open. The other will extend Sunday sales from 1:30am (Monday morning) to 3am – but will also require an ID check for everyone when buying alcohol for carry-out. These three new provisions were all sort of approved by the 2-year study group and the combined bill is headed for Trent Van Haaften's Public Policy Committee.

My take: If more stuff doesn't get amended to it, Van Haaften may even OK this since it's balanced – there's something for both sides. Taverns get an extra hour and a half to be open at a time when there's no business anyway. Booze Nazi's get to ensure everyone is carded – even regular customers and retired folks who are certainly over 50 years old*. And they can placate the pesky brewers. Let's stay optimistic.

Jason's take: on Hoosier Beer Geek.

* The law will provide that it's a defense to not have carded a person who obviously looks 50 years old. This only applies, of course, after a citation has been issued for not having carded the customer in the first place. And that defense may require a photograph or video of the transaction. Remember those ID cameras that took a picture of your drivers license and your face at the same time? They might come back.

Coming up from Upland:

• March – Dantalion Dark Wild Ale. Brett. Aged in an oak red wine barrel. 8.5%. Limited release in 750ml bottles. 11.5%
• March – Bourbon Barrel Aged Teddy Bear Kisses with some Cherry added for, well why not.
• March – Infinite Wisdom Tripel. 9%
• March – the Lambics – Raspberry, Persimmon, and Kiwi
• April – Bourbon Barrel aged Winter Warmer Barleywine. 8.5%
• April – Maibock
• May – Nut Hugger Brown
• May – Baddest Elmers Bourbon Barrel aged Baltic Porter.
• June – Valley Weizen
• June – UpCup Winner
• August – More lambics – Peach, Cherry, Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry

More local beer news at Gina's regular Friday Random Beer Roundup.

<=== House & Garden magazine. 1961, says Sociological Images.

Here's a headline you don't see every day. Lap dancing crackdown sets 'worrying precedent' especially when juxtaposed with Councils hail new lap dancing curbs.

I am a Homebrewer – Polish version. Na zdrowie.

Misc News – Jan 23

Senator Sipes from New Albany added his name as a sponsor of the Sunday Growler Bill just before it passed the Senate 41 – 9. Now to the House.

The Anderson Herald Bulletin gets behind Sunday growler sales. article

In South Bend, they say ""It gives kids another day on the weekend, another chance to buy alcohol instead of going to Michigan or wherever it is that they are obtaining alcohol," says Sergeant Regis Thimons of the Saint Joseph County Police Department." article

"Upland Brewing Co. recently received Gold Medal ratings [at the World Beer Championships] for its Badder Elmer's Baltic Porter (92 points) and Teddy Bear Kisses Imperial Stout (90 points). Both are currently on draught in our Bloomington Tap Room and Indy Tasting Room, and later this year, you'll be able to find Teddy Bear Kisses in 22 oz bombers."

If the Colts win the Super Bowl, the day after Bowl will be a day off for Monarch employees. article.

The BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse chain donated $521,000 to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. press release

For Indy folks, Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2009 is again from Unibroue. Read about it at Thank Heaven for Beer.  Cloves "Overall, This is a good beer for the money.  I might still pay the $7.99 or $8.99 that is more typical of Unibroue offerings.  I’d still drink Trois Pistoles, La Fin Da Monde, Maudite, Terrible, Seigneriale, and Chambly Noir over this one any day of the week.  However, it’s good for the price."

Avery to start canning in April.

There are over 3,400 beers entered in the World Beer Cup – They have 183 judges lined up. article

Legalities and other Misc News – Jan 15

Senate Bill 75 (Sunday growler sales) got out of committee with a 9 to 2 vote.

AP: "Even if the bill clears the Senate, its chances of passing the House aren't good.

Some lawmakers worry the bill could be amended to include Sunday carryout sales from other venues or to expand takeout cold beer sales to places other than liquor stores and certain bars. Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, has filed a bill that would allow those changes.

Alting said he will not give Boots' bill a hearing, and he vowed to kill the microbrewery bill if it is amended with such changes.

But Democratic Rep. Trent Van Haaften, chairman of the House Public Policy Committee, has still expressed concerns that Alting's bill could become a catalyst for more sweeping changes in alcohol sales. Alting's bill likely would be assigned to Van Haaften's committee if it passed the Senate."

Meanwhile in a House committee for consideration: Drop dry election days. Extend bar closing on Monday mornings to 3am.

The IABR (liquor stores) are trying to stop or stall a bunch of beer permits the ATC is ready to issue. 97 for Walgreens stores, for instance. article

Resurrecting Sunday Sales Aim Of New ID Push says Channel 6.

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Hopcast interviews Three Floyds Brewing. Lincoln Anderson says they hope to grow 25%. Moving into Kentucky. Gumballhead is tied with Alpha King for sales leader. 16 minute video.

Bob Mack tells us about World Class Beverages' New Beer Releases in Indiana.

Hoosier Beer Geek: Bacon!

John Hickenlooper is running for Governor of Colorado. He's the mayor of Denver and founder of the Wynkoop Brewery.

Sunday Sales Slips Into the Senate

HORRAY. It's in. Introduced Version, Senate Bill 0120. Put into play by Sens. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette and Vi Simpson of Bloomington. Thanks Ron. It'll go to the Committee on Commerce and Public Policy & Interstate Cooperation instead of the Trent Van Haaften's Public Policy committee (he's against the bill).

Synopsis: Sunday sales for microbreweries. Allows a microbrewery to sell the brewery's beer for carryout on Sunday. It adds the bold text below:

(7) The holder of a brewer's permit or an out-of-state brewer holding either a primary source of supply permit or an out-of-state brewer's permit may do the following:

(5) If the brewer's brewery manufactures not more than twenty thousand (20,000) barrels of beer in a calendar year, do the following:

(I) Sell the brewery's beer as authorized by this section for carryout on Sunday in a quantity at any one (1) time of not more than one-quarter (1/4) barrel, but the beer may be contained in bottles or other permissible containers.

If it passes - on Sundays, growlers and (for all practical purposes) 1/6th bbl kegs will be able to be sold at brewpubs and production brewery tasting rooms (Sun King, Back Road, Crown, Great Crescent, Figure 8, Peoples). Also at satellite pubs owned by the brewery (Mishawaka, Mad Anthony, Ram, Upland, Barley Island, Turoni's).

The out-of-state clause allows BJ's and Granite City in on the action.

The Fiscal Impact Statement prepared for this bill says "To the extent that this bill increases alcoholic beverage sales, collections of alcoholic beverage excise taxes could increase. Any impact on Sales Tax revenue is expected to be minimal since any additional purchases of alcohol would likely reduce consumer spending on other sales taxable items."

Contact your Congresscritter.

Article in the Bloomington HeraldTimes. Article in Indy.com.

Misc News – Nov 30

The Indianapolis Star says Indiana microbrewers want to sell beer on Sundays. Lafayette's Ron Alting "said he would introduce a bill for the microbreweries in the upcoming legislative session and plans to hear it in the Senate Commerce and Public Policy Committee he chairs. He said he'd ask fellow lawmakers and lobbyists not to amend it to apply to any other issue -- especially Sunday sales at grocery and convenience stores."

New Albanian, Schlafly, and Ofallon are collaborating this week in St. Louis on an Oak Aged Dry Hopped Smoked Rye Pale Ale named C-1.

A Good Head, Rita T. Kohn, Book - Barnes & Noble. Need we say more except that it's actually named True Brew. Preorder of course. Publication date is said to be February 16th but don't bet the farm on that. IU Press's release date is actually July 1, 2010.

Chicago's Downtown Marriott has bee hives on the roof. On purpose. 200,000 bees. They have gathered 200 pounds of honey and Half Acre Brewery has turned it into Rooftop Honey Wheat.

Kid Rock American Badass Beer. "Crisp, refreshing and smooth as a traditional lager can be. Delivers a nice hit of carbonation at first and finishes with a slight citrus note. This is a highly approachable beer that delivers a bright lager flavor without even a hint of aftertaste. Cascade hops light up the aroma while balancing the brew. Brewed for maximum appeal and slamability. Midwestern malted barley and hard, red winter wheat from Michigan, transform water from the Saginaw Aquifer into a beer that's a true American lager and truly Badass." Slamability?

Save the earth. It's the only planet with beer.

Misc News – Oct 20

Indiana legislative committee rejects Sunday alcohol sales and cold beer at groceries.

It's over, at least as far as the big two-year committee. An apparent win for liquor stores. They did propose some changes though: Election Day sales, photo id necessity on all purchases regardless of buyer's apparent age.

Direct wine shipments, wine sampling in wine shops, multi-warehouse distributors, and a limit for carryout sales were also discussed to day but not commented on. The committee report has not been formally released and there is more work to do.

We'd, of course, like to see Sunday growler carryouts at breweries and brewpubs. Write your congresscritter.

Randall (right) will be at the New Albanian Public House Friday and Bank Street Brewhouse on Saturday. It'll be Cascading up 5 gallons of VII Anniversary Ale – a dark IPA. more

The Hoosier Beer Geeks visit Dark Horse Brewing. "A stop in to their brewpub was all the insight we needed to figure out their marketing philosophy."

Nate tells us How to make Belgian Candy Sugar.

Brew Dog in Aberdeen has been sending some spectacular big beers to the US. Look for more now that the investors behind Skyy Vodka have bought in (and so can you). article

Frosted Frog Christmas Ale. 8.6%. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg. Early November launch.

Sunday Sales update

The minutes of the Interim Study on Alcoholic Beverage Issues' September 15th public meeting are up. and there were some interesting points made.

1. The Excise Police pointed out current problems with election day prohibition.
2. Sen. Phil Boots said he will introduce the legislation next year and supported Sunday sales and Cold grocery/drug store sales. (He owns convenience stores "that do not sell alcoholic beverages").
3. The committee discussed stores using alcohol as loss leaders and the possible need for minimum price controls.
4. The committee wondered if liquor stores should be allowed to sell "more non-alcoholic beverage products". (Maybe cold sodas and mixers).
   
   Then the Pros testified
   
5. David Hanson, Prof. Em. Sociology, SUNY said Sunday sales won't increase DUI accidents.
6. Matt Norris of Hoosiers for Beverage Choices said the "Indiana Petroleum Council, Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, and the Indiana Retail Council financially support the coalition." They've achieved 65,000 signatures on their petition.
7. John Elliott of Krogers said it isn't fair that liquors stores have a monopoly on cold beer sales and made other good points. He did say, though, "Allowing Sunday sales would not put all package stores out of business, but most would not be able to compete." He doesn't like the idea of separate 21+ liquor sections in grocery stores partly because it would prevent parents with kids from entering the area.
8. Douglas Pendleton of Grapevine Cottage gourmet food and wine store said Sunday is the 2nd busiest and he'd like Sunday carryout.
9. Grant Monahan of the Indiana Retail Council said $9 million in sales and excise tax is lost to the Sunday ban because of cross-state shopping. The IRC also "oppose price controls because retailers know best how to price items, and consumers want the best price."
   
   And then the Antis were scheduled.
   
10. John Livengood of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers (the liquor store lobby) played a video and pointed out competition between liquor stores and grocery stores is healthy to have. You can buy cold beer to go at many taverns. The few states that have "wide-open" Sunday sales don't have a strong package store industry.
11. Warren Scheidt, also from the IABR, said "Kentucky and Indiana, in that order, have the most conservative alcohol policies, and the lowest number of traffic fatalities. Michigan and Wisconsin have the most liberal alcohol policies and the highest number of alcohol related traffic fatalities."
12. Randy Zion who owns the Indianapolis Liquor Barns said "He is not interested in changing the law to expand the non-alcoholic beverage products sold in package stores, because this is contrary to why package stores were created, and package stores cannot compete with grocery and big box stores on these products."
13. John Sinder who owns Crown Liquors said "big box retailing has caused a lot of Indiana businesses to die."
14. Ronald Culp, owner of Elmwood Liquors in Lafayette, said it will cost $20,000 in labor alone to open on Sunday at his one store. He also made the point that Indiana residents own the liquor stores and if grocery, etc, stores have control over alcohol then that control will effectively be transferred out of Indiana.
15. Jerry Corliss, owner of the Chalet Party Shoppes in Elkhart Co. said "Allowing Sunday carryout sales would reduce the value of package store permits. His package store permits cost $300,000 each. Last year the state auctioned off licenses in Westfield and Fishers for $450,000 each." He also predicted "Allowing grocery and drug stores to sell cold beer would put 4 of his 6 stores out of business."
16. Pamela Erickson of Public Action Management out of Arizona spoke. PAM supports "alcohol moderation and methods to "push back" on toxic cultural messages that encourage kids to drink." Basically, PAM seems to be a small, 2-person, newsletter that will travel and testify.
17. Chris Ward of Lawrence, a private citizen, said "he just wants to be able to drink responsibly on Sunday.
18. Rev. Amy Mildenburg from Boone County "spoke to the correlation between repealing blue laws and reduced church attendance and increase in alcohol and drug use by formerly religious people."
19. Jeff Harlow of Crossroads Community Church in Kokomo said, among other things, "Deregulating alcohol or making it more accessible, will be making a statement to misdirect children."
20. Clarke Kahlo of the Greater Broad Ripple Community Coalition presented the Drug Free Marion County position statement.
21. Michael Lockard of the Westside Improvement Association in Evansville refuted David Hanson(point 5 above) and claimed a New Mexico study Hanson denigrated was really a valid study. He also said "Non-liquor stores should use colored bags for carryout liquor so police would have probable cause to question customers about their purchases." He added "Underage drinking in Indiana costs $450 million in medical costs and loss of work costs."

The day ran out of time before people from various neo-prohibitionists and other clubs could testify. These included the Advisory Council on Underage and Binge Drinking, Drug Free Marion County, Drug Free Tippecanoe County, Indiana Collegiate Action Network, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation lackey Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking (ICRUD).

Written-only testimony included Karen Michler's of Drug Free Tippecanoe County. "Ms. Michler submitted her testimony in writing to the Committee concerning the compliance checks she coordinates, in which a minor accompanied by a plain clothes police officer attempts to purchase carryout alcohol (Exhibit 14). She said of the 121 checks done in Tippecanoe County since January 1, 2009, 5 stores were non-compliant, consisting of convenience stores, a grocery store, and a 'big box store'."

---

The Interim Study on Alcoholic Beverage Issues' next meeting is Oct 20th, 1pm. Two hours are allocated for public testimony on the topics to be discussed:

• Expanding cold beer sales by vendors other than liquor stores.
• Establishing procedures for allowing direct wine shipments to consumers from Indiana wine sellers and establishing procedures for allowing out of state wine sellers to ship wine, pre-purchased by an Indiana consumer, to an Indiana vendor for delivery to the Indiana consumer.
• Allowing gourmet wine shops to provide wine sampling.
• Additional permits for additional warehouses of beer wholesalers.
• Limitations on the amount of alcoholic beverages that may be purchased at the point of sale for carryout or delivery.

Weekend events, Editorial, Etc.

Lots of things going on this weekend.

Thursday:

• Sandwerka starts at RichO's, New Albany. Celebration of all beers Bamburg. Here's the menu. I'll be there Thurs and Fri for the Mahr's Brau Farmers Lager and Fischer Rauchbier from gravity kegs.
• Beer Tasting. Big Red Liquors, Bloomington. 6-8pm
• Beer Tasting. Belmont Beverage Lima Rd. Ft. Wayne. 4-7pm. Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers.
• Indy Whisky & Fine Spirits Expo. hundreds of Scotch, bourbon, and other whiskies. For Pink Ribbon. Vine & Table. At Montage. 6:30pm-9pm. $50/$75VIP. Reservation needed.

Friday:

• Beer Tasting. Liquor Locker, Evansville. 4-7pm
• Beer Tasting. Parti Pak, Greenwood. 5-7pm
• Beer Tasting. Crown Liquors, Carmel. 5-7pm.
• Beer Sampling. Norma's Fine Wines. Indy. 6-8pm

Saturday:

• Cystic Fibrosis 10th Annual Festiv-Ale 3-7pm. Opti-Park, 820 E 66th St. $40/$50
• Crown Challenge homebrew competition. Crown Brewing, Crown Point. Plus Octoberfest with bands, beer, brats, etc.
• Between Heaven and Earth Dinner w/Mad Anthony paired beer. North Manchester. $75.
• Ales for Tails. Bridge Liquors, New Albany. 4-7pm. $5
• Hop & Harvest Festival. Bluegrass Brewing (Brewpub), Louisville. Admission: 3 canned goods.
• Beer Tasting. Kahn's, Indy. Dark Horse, Taj, Dogfish Head

Sunday:

• We're not supposed to drink beer on a sacred day – which leads us to this Editorial:

Sunday Sales Watch: It's dead. Rep. Trent Van Haaften, the head of the committee and the guy who will make the decision, said “I do not see a compelling argument made to change the law.” article  More alarmingly, Sen. Robert Deig, vice chairman of the study group says "“I don’t see it going into effect this year. When you open up Sunday sales, you have more teen deaths and accidents. I think Sundays are a sacred day. Sundays are a day where people go to church and are there with their families. Most people take a break from alcohol and get back to the family atmosphere.” DID YOU READ THAT? One of the top guys on the Interim Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverages Issues thinks Blue Laws are a good and natural thing. That people consciously choose to not have a beer while watching the game. That ticks me off more than the Indiana Retail Council calling itself a grassroots effort. It's just that Deig is so pre-JFK on this point. The early 1960s Blue Laws in South Bend where I grew up allowed restaurants, drug stores, and gas stations to be open but nothing else. When the first shopping mall was built in adjoining Mishawaka that all changed. The Town & Country Mall was instantly swamped with shoppers and became the "in" place for the high-school set (that's why I remember). The two SB department stores, Robertson's (Catholic) and Wyman's (Jewish) now had to be open on Sunday. Lesson – In a rational society Blue Laws disappear when they are interfere with profits. Yes, Deig comes from Posey County where the folks are more holy but Deig isn't anti-alcohol, just pro-Sunday. Even the Rappite Harmony Colony in his district had a brewery and 2 distilleries. "F. Rapp will always have on hand and for sale the first quality of STRONG BEER by the barrel, at Harmonie, Indiana." – Ad in the Western Sun Vincennes newspaper, April 30, 1819.   Even though the 2 top guys in the committee are against Sunday Sales, the Brewpubs may still get parity with wineries to sell bottles (and growlers) of beer to go at the brewery or brewpub. If so, Mark Webb will have faced down an uphill battle and succeeded. Best of luck to him.

There's a letter in today's Indy Star from Grant M. Monahan, President of the Indiana Retail Council. He says 35,000 people signed their petition. Back in July 2 they say they had 25,000 signatures (reference). On Aug 17 it was 30,000. Not big numbers but consistent.

HBGs Ron and Jess go on a road trip heading for GABF. First Stop, Boulevard Brewing. Second repot, Avery. "Present upon each table was a list of 30-40 aged, barrel-aged, or otherwise super-rare beers that they will be tapping throughout the week."

Hoppin' Frog will have their fresh-hop "Imperial Pale Ale" in bombers in October. 7.5%. 45IBU of Centennial hops.

Ten Tips for Cooking with Beer.
How to Pair Food and Beer.
Best selling beers around the world.

Ethanol producers are running into problems with bacteria during the production. Using antibiotics leaves residue in cattle feed. What do do? Hops to the rescue. article

Misc News – Sept 21

• Crown Brewing American Red – I had the second glass and the absolute freshness is evident. Dark ruby. To BCJP's American Amber style but is much hoppier.
• Crown Town Brown – Maris Otter and Fuggles make it a Southern Brown. The 4% ABV makes it a session ale. Don't worry, there's plenty of bitter balance.
• Three Floyds Barrel-aged Behemoth Blonde with cherries. It's Behemoth, it's barrel aged, it certainly has lots of dark cherries. It shows in the cordovan color. It shows in the overpowering tart cherries. It's 10.5%. It has 80 IBUs.  It's not normal. There must be a way to get this much cherry in a beer and wouldn't you know they'd find it.
• Three Floyds B-aBBw/C & Drunk Monk Hefe – Still strong cherry with much less funk in the aroma. All hefe in the mouth.
• Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf IPA – Nope, IIPA. "Will leave your palate it's hapless victim. Scorched earth is our brewery policy. 100 IBU, 9% ABV". I actually covered my mouth in astonishment after the first plunge. The orange/grapefruit bitterness entering my nose should have warned me. Caramel malt is present but basically just sits on the side watching the show.
• Pizza Port Chocolate Stout – Oh Yike. This has nothing to do with beer. It's a chocolate cordial in liquid form. The Lewis Black of chocolate beers. Unsweet bakers chocolate with alcohol and bitter citric finish. Forced rather than balanced.
• Brigand Belgian Ale – Strong Belgian from Van Honsebrouck. Hazy copper orange. Yeast taste that cuts through the 9% alcohol content sets it apart.

Crown's Oktoberfest will be unveiled at their Oktoberfest party this Saturday. Their replicales (both Indiana's Alt and Chicago's Wit) are on their last cask. They might be around Saturday if you arrive early.

The Three Floyds brewpub on a normal Saturday night has become an "in" stop for the beautiful people. OK, maybe not celebrity types but waiting 30 minutes or more at the door doesn't bother anyone. Not something the non-Chicago crowd at the Heorot or RichO's would tolerate. 
The Indy Star says Put Sunday liquor issue on ice. "As with the celebrated Beer Baron battles of two decades ago, this alcohol-induced brawl involves high stakes for special interests and little value for the consumer-taxpayer each side claims to have at heart." . . . "Here is an instance in which it will do no harm to do nothing."
Sam Adams, not satisfied by the Imperial series, is planning a Barrel Room Collection in 750s starting with an "American Kriek". article
Bells Oarsman Ale will be going into bottles this time around. As opposed to the Oarsman lager, it's a sour mashed wheat at 4% ABV.

Misc News – Sept 14

Things to do Tuesday:

• The Sunday sales committee is holding a public hearing at the Statehouse at 1pm in room 404. article
  
• Steve Berthel (brewmaster at The Livery) and Jared Williamson (brewer of record at NABC) are doing a Belgian IPA in New Albany on Tuesday. article  They will also be tapping Wet Knob Hop Harvest Ale at New Albanian.

Great Crescent Brewery's beers are available in Clarksville's Keg Liquors. Todd writes

"We are proud to announce that Great Crescent Brewery is now available for sale at Keg Liquors. Based in Aurora, Indiana, the Great Crescent Brewery uses all malt and fresh hops in all of the beers they create. Every beer is hand-crafted in small batches using traditional brewing methods.

Owner and brewer Dan Valas stopped in on Friday with a deliver of four of the freshly brewed offerings in growlers. The growlers are counter-pressure filled, so you are guaranteed the same freshness in the growler as you would from a bottle."

Three words. Old Rasputin Float. recipe 

A 2.8% ABV Guinness "Mid-Strength" has been tested in Ireland and "consumers responded positively". Now they are trying it out in Scotland where consumers may respond a bit differently. We'll know in 3 months. article 

"Beer Institute released figures yesterday indicating that imported beer shipments were down another 8.1% in July, bringing year-to-date import shipments down 9.3%, or a loss of about 160,000 case equivs a day." And Lew Bryson thinks he knows why – to make room for American craft beer.

Bud Light Golden Wheat will launch on October 5th. "Bud Light Golden Wheat is a premium light, unfiltered wheat beer brewed with wheat malt, coriander and citrus peels. A medium-bodied brew, Bud Light Golden Wheat is slightly sweet on first sip giving way to a refreshingly tart, citrus finish. Bud Light Golden Wheat has all the personality of Bud Light and appeals to light beer drinkers who seek a little more flavor from their beer." It will come in 12oz and 22oz bottles and probably say Bud Light Golden Wheat on the label. There, that may satisfy the Bud Light Golden Wheat mentions for a while.