Random Beer Roundup

Nothing Gets My Attention Faster Than.. - Stevenson, Washington's Walking Man Brewing has a few interestingly-named beers: Biped Red, Flip-Flop Pilsner (that might be a bicycle hub reference), Homo Erectus IPA, Somnambulator (a German Style Doppelbock), and their latest offering, a dark malt IPA that's been dubbed "Big Black Homo". A pun was just too hard to come up with.

Australian French for Beer - There are those of us (well, me) who though France's best beer just might be the horribly pedestrian Kronenbourg 1664 - but Madison Beer Review is here to set that straight. Here's a nice little article about breweries and beers along the route of the Tour De France (which is awesome. Bicycling reference #2, if you're counting).

If you're really feeling that French beer, Beer Advocate lists 120 breweries.

Wii'd be Happier If It Came With Actual Beer - Apparently Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal is, like, totally a downer. His complaint about the WiiWare game now titled Pong Toss just proves that he was probably a Ball State grad. Before you get offended, I don't even know what that's supposed to mean. I just know Jason went there. I think.

New in Indiana - Stone 12th Anniversary ale has recently arrived at Cavalier's warehouse and will soon appear in Indiana's better beer locations. Stone changes style for their anniversary beers - we recently reviewed the 9th, an American strong ale - and this year's offering is a Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout inspired by beers brewed by members of Team Stone.

The first was Jeremy Moyniers incredibly delicious Oatmeal Stout, and the second was Jake Ratzkes amazing homebrewed Imperial Stout that had authentic Oaxacan chocolate added to the boil. We loved both beers so much that we decided to combine the recipes to make this years Anniversary offering: Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout. This beer pours deep black with a rich brown head of foam. The aroma is dominated by roast malt and cocoa. Upon tasting, the cocoa (we used unsweetened, unprocessed cacao sourced through our friends at Chuao Chocolatier) really comes through with a deep chocolate flavor and a long lasting bitter finish. The roasted grains used add coffee and licorice accents. It is a thick beer, but not sweet, with the addition of oatmeal in the mash providing a rich, silky mouthfeel that adds to the creamy texture.

Sounds good to me.