25 August 2007

Random summary of beer

I recognize that I'm not so good about posting much anymore. When work and school doesn't have my attention, it goes to my family. And rightfully so. But I still love beer, and bringing you news about good beer. I have to apologize to my fellow Knights for not being so prompt on stuff these days.

So this is my summary of what should be several different posts.

1. Muncie rocked. We had a great time hanging out with our friends on the Good Beer Show. We're show #128, which I'm guessing will go up sometime this week. We drank a lot of high ABV beers, none of which I thought were bad. Mike told you what they are in his post. The Fickle Peach and the Heorot are both cool, and you have to check em out. Thanks Jeffrey T., Traci and the Gang! And thanks Mike for driving home!

2. I'm not too sad that I didn't get to participate in the Retro Beer Challenge Round 1. Although, Rolling Rock was the very first beer that I liked enough to finish. 11 years ago - how's that for retro? How sad is that? Dos Equis was the 2nd. Thanks Old Latrobe, PA!

3. BadaBoomz has almost free valet parking now. It's free if your bill is $30 or more. Otherwise, it's only $2. Thanks Mike!

4. Deano's is hosting Brat-toberfest on Saturday, September 15th. Music, beer, brats. What more could you ask for? Oh, yeah, we'll be there, too. On a side note, I've now hung out a Deano's the last two Friday nights, and I've just come to re-appreciate what good shits they are there. Thanks Deano, Jody, Nick, Laura, and Michelle!!

5. The Hop Shop has Bell's Batch 8000 in six packs for $13.49, Two Brothers Heliocentric Bragot in a 22oz. for $6.49, and Upland Lambics in 750 mLs for $14.99. If you don't know, The Hop Shop also has free beer tastings every Saturday until 8pm. Thanks Courtney!

6. When Jason and I were in Chicago on Monday for a Cubs vs. Cardinals, White Sox vs. Royals double header, we first stopped at this fantastic beer store in Wrigleyville. It was awesome! My favorite purchase was something I can't get in Indiana, but is one my new top three favorite beers in the whole world - Racer 5 IPA by Bear Republic in Healdsburg, CA. I bought a lot of beer. So did Jason. We now have a lot of beer. Thanks Binny's and Bear Republic!

7. My very favorite beer of all-time is the Optimator. Thanks Spaten!

I think that's all for now.

5 comments:

  1. Ohhh, the Racer 5 is amazing! My wife and I went on our honeymoon to Sonoma in May and made a return trip to Bear Republic. We also grabbed a 6-pack to have some for the rest of the trip. We were hoping they'd have the Racer X, but apparently "it's quite popular" and wasn't on tap while we were there.

    Valet parking at Badaboomz? They seem to be going a little TOO far to the upscale side of things. I even dislike that you have to be "escorted" to the bar if you just want to grab a quick beer.

    But valet for only $2? I'll probably take them up on that, especially since it's practically impossible for two people to NOT have a $30 tab there. Where do they take the cars? Just to the lot next door?

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  2. I don't think the idea at Badaboomz is to be upscale - I think the idea is to make it more accessible. Mike at Badaboomz explained to Gina and I that he's hoping to make it a real "local's" sort of place, and having to park over at the mall doesn't really help that - dealing with parking makes Badaboomz a slightly more painful experience. He's hoping that by sorting out the parking situation that folks can get in and out as painlessly as possible. I'd say it's a pretty good idea.

    I don't know anything about this "escort" - can you explain a little more?

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  3. And to answer your question, I think the cars do just go to the lot next door.

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  4. I agree, parking can be a little bit of a hassle at Badaboomz. Unless there's a Conseco event and someone is monitoring the lot next door, I usually just park there. I've never had a problem, even the couple times one of the Hampton Inn valets have talked to me.

    I guess my problem with Badaboomz is that I liked the atmosphere much better when it was bw3s. The new menu is definitely an upgrade, but the new atmosphere is cold and sterile with just a touch of haughty. I don't like my beer haughty -- save that for wine. It ultimately doesn't matter because the beer selection is so good they could litter the floor with pig shit and I'd probably still go there!

    Now, regarding the "escorting". I've probably been to Badaboomz 6 or 7 times since the change and have always gone to the bar side. Even when I tell the people at the entrance that I'd just like to sit at the bar, they say something like "ok, let's go see if we can find you a seat." I don't need that, I can find the bar myself.

    And just one more point: service has gone down the shitter since the change. Even when the place is practically empty, they are SO SLOW to get you a beer. The first time I went in there, it was a Sunday and I chalked it up to the Sunday "B-team" crew. But it's been like that every time. One Friday I timed it and it took almost 20 minutes to get our first round.

    I want the old waitresses back that knew our crew and were lickety-split with everything.

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  5. Not sure if anybody is reading this far down the blog at this point -- you guys sure have picked up the posting rate! -- but I thought I'd just throw out that Alabama Liquor also has Bell's Batch 8000 in stock. I picked up 2 in a mixed 6-pack with 2 each of Dogfish Head's Aprihop and 90 Minute IPA. I always used to get full 6-packs there, but I've recently started taking them up on the mixed pack concept. Makes tasting a bunch of beers very easy!

    Anyway, the next couple nights are gonna be fun!

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