Random Beer Roundup - The Do Not Open Until Xmas Edition

Not only is this the last roundup before Hanukkah and Christmas, but also of 2008. With the holidays in full effect, the next Random Beer Roundup will be on January 9th. So if it is too much to wait that long for the next RBR, you may not want to open this one until Christmas. For those, stop reading now and we'll see you later.

For those brave enough to read on, Santa has delivered plenty of random beer goodies for your pleasure. Throw a log on the fire, put Bing on the old hi-fi, grab a mug of wassail, gather your family, and enjoy Hoosier Beer Geek Random Beer Roundup Christmas Special.

On the last day of Christmas, J. Gumbo's gave to me...
On behalf of Hoosier Beer Geek, I propose a toast to Mike DeWeese and wish him a happy new year. We hope that 2009 and beyond finds you well and wish to see you along the craft beer trail again soon. He emailed us some reminders and news:

Our last day is December 28th
$5 Bowls and $2.50 pints until the end
Blow out party on December 27th

We're putting Bell's Consecrator on
for the last 13 days. We're also bringing in a keg of Ommegang Rare Vos.

And a Black Sparrow in a Pear Tree.
John at the Black Sparrow in Lafayette emailed us their latest beer selections:

On Tap:
Bell's Christmas Ale
Founders Red's Rye
Stone Arrogant Bastard
Okocim OK Lager
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
North Coast Pranqster
Great Divide Hibernation Ale
Founders Breakfast Stout

Coming Soon:
3Floyd's BrooDoo Harvest Ale (Fresh Hop IPA)
Left Hand Snowbound
Kostritzer Black Lager
Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper Porter
Delerium Nocturnum
Brugge Triple

Founders Rotating Bottle:
Backwoods Bastard

The beer geeks were nestled all snug in their beds, with Winter Warmer Ales dancing in their heads.
Mat at Cavalier Distributing updated us on where Santa is hiding your Christmas gifts:

Check out a new beer friendly Gourmet Store:

Pairings Gourmet Wine & Grocery
4040 E. 82nd. St.
Indianapolis, IN 46250
317-841-9463

Below is Pairings' Winter beer line up.

Breckenridge Christmas Ale 4/6/12
Founders Breakfast Stout 6/4/12
Ridgeway Bad Elf 12/16.9
Ridgeway Santa's Butt 12/16.9
Two Brothers Hop Juice 12/22
Berghoff Winter 4/6/12
Belgian Gift Pack 5/5/11.2
Dubission Scaldis Noel Premium 8 x 25.4

The lengthly list of winter and esotaric beer below has been delivered to the Party Pack. Now they have even more rare and hard to find unique beer!

Two Brothers Hop Juice 12/22
Breckenridge Christmas Ale 4/6/12
Breckenridge Christmas Ale 6/1L
Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza 12/750
Mikkeller To/From 6/750
Mikkeller From / To 6/750
De Ranke Pere Noel 6/750
Hop Back Pickled Santa 12/16.9
Mahr's Christmas Bock 10/16.9
Ridgeway Santa's Butt 12/16.9
Ridgeway Lump of Coal 12/16.9
Ridgeway Brewing Warm Welcome 12/16.9
Belgian Gift Pack 5/5/11.2
KerkomBink Winter King 24/11.10
Almond 22 Torbata (peat smoked) 6/750
Alvinne Extra (IPA) 24/11.2
Alvinne Melchior 24/11.2
Le Baladin's Xyauyu 6 16.9oz
Birrifico Barley BB 10 12/12.7
Birrifico Barley BB 10 6/750
Birrificio Barley Friska 12/12.7
Birrificio Barley Sella del Diavolo 12/12.7
Birra del Borgo Ganziana 12/375
Birra del Borgo Te 12/375
BEBA Malto Malto (Double Bock) 12/16.9
BEBA Talco (rye) 12.16.9
BEBA Toro 12/16.9
Left Hand Smokejumper (Smoked Imperial Porter)12/22
Ridgeway Bad Elf 12/16.9
Ridgeway Very Bad Elf 12/16.9
BFM Abbaye De St. Bon-Chien 2007 6/750
Boegedal Dark Ale 6/750
Dansk Mjod Viking Blod 6/750
Birrifico di Como Malthus Birolla 12/16.9
Ducato Nuova Mattina 6/750
Ducato Via Emilia 16/11.2
Einbecker Pils 2/5 ltr
Grado Plato Chocarrubicais 12/16.9
Grado Plato Strada San Felice 12/16.9
JW Lees Harvest Ale 1999 12/9.3
JW Lees Harvest Ale 2006 12/9.3
JW Lees Harvest Ale 2007 12/9.3
JW Lees Harvest Ale Calvados 2006 12/9.3
JW Lees Harvest Ale Lagavulin 2005 12/9.3
JW Lees Harvest Ale Lagavulin 2006 12/9.3
Montegioco Draco 6/750
Regenboog t'smisje Fiori 24/11.2
St. Michaelsberg Kellerbier 20/16.9
Schneider Aventinus 2003 20/16.9
Troll Fume 6/750
Vapeur En Folie 12/750
Wye Valley Dorothy's Goodbody Stout 12/16.9

Mix and mingle in a-beer geekin' beat...
Ted at Brugge knows how to tell a lengthy tale:

THUNDER MONKEY ROCKS!!!!

What can I say, he has a way with words.

God bless the master of this store. Likewise the mistress too!
Cari at Kahn's invites us in for some wassail:

New This Week:
- Goose Island Mile Winter
- Upland Winter Warmer
- Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza
- BFM Bon Chien 2007 Aged in Bourbon Barrels, 1.5 L
- BFM Bon Chien 2007 Aged in Pinot Noir Cask, 1.5 L
- Red Hook Double Black Sout 22 oz.
- Hansens Mead the Gueuze
- Hevelius Polish Strong Lager

Also, on special this week, Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale 22 oz. $4.99 each.

Monday, December 22 from 5-7 p.m., we will have Veronica from Bell's will join us for our weekly tasting to talk about some of their beers. We'll be taking the week off on December 29.

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!
HotShotz emailed us not about beer but about their Christmas Day feast:

With family and friends in town over the next week, we know you'll be looking for good meals that won't keep YOU in the kitchen all day! Because of that, we will be OPEN Christmas Day!

That's right, we'll be open 12-7 Christmas Day and boy do we have a deal for you... during your visit we'll be serving our fantastic brunch for ONLY $14.95, In addition, kids 8 and under eat FREE! (One per paying adult)

We'll be offering:

18 Stations
Complimentary Champagne
4-Seafood Selections
Build Your Own Omelet
Eggs Made to Order
Several Pasta Options
Carving Stations
Decedent Desserts
and much, much more!

We will also have a limited menu available all day!

The wearing of lampshades are optional.
Amber at Scotty's Brewhouse mentioned to us that the West Lafayette and 96th Street locations will be having New Year's Eve parties:

Open 11am to 2am. $7 Import/Micro Pitchers. Champagne toast at midnight and free party favors. Plus, we're open at 11am on New Year's Day for watching the bowl games.

And don't forget the New Year's Eve party at Deano's Vino. The Knights from Hoosier Beer Geek will be there doing table dancing. Bring plenty of singles.

Christmas Goodies from around the beergeekernet...
Lots of goodies to check out at IndianaBeer.com including a link to an article about Three Floyd's in Washington, D.C. and info on where to find Ram Beer at Lucas Oil Stadium (spoiler alert: Sections 108 and 135). Plus, a brilliant person wrote a brilliant letter about the often misquoted Benjamin Franklin.

And the latest tap list from Rich O's Saturnalia can be found at the Potable Curmudgeon. Plus info on the Beer Cellar Christmas Shoppe.

Our holiday gift to you deer readers as we finish the last RBR of 2008 is this excerpt from "A Visit from King Gambrinus":

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Craft Beers for all, and for all a good-night!"