Random Beer Roundup - The Triumphant Return Edition

Congratulations to you, dear reader. You survived. No more office parties. No more family gatherings. No more holiday shopping. And no more Christmas songs played over and over and over again.

Yes, dear reader, you survived the holidays. And what better way to celebrate than with beer!

To help you celebrate, it is the triumphant return of the Random Beer Roundup, the Hoosier Beer Geek weekly report about all things beer in Indiana. So let us get to it, people!

Winterfest:

The Brewers of Indiana Guild is having their first Winterfest on Saturday, January 24th from 3-7pm.

This indoor tasting at the Indiana State Fairgrounds will have beer from all 27 Indiana breweries as well as from many out of state. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 at the door.

Highlights include the Cask Conditioned Firkin table which will serve 16 rotating beers served by gravity instead of CO2. Six breweries will bring their ReplicAle - a Scottish Ale that has been aged in Jack Daniels barrels.

This Winterfest will use a token system. Your entry includes 10 tokens for 4oz pours. Extras will be available ($5 for 5 tokens). Designated Driver entry is $5.

See http://www.brewersofindianaguild.com/festival.html for more information and to buy online tickets.

Economic conditions keeping you away? Here's an opportunity to get in for free! We at Hoosier Beer Geek are attempting to help out with the organization of volunteers to work at the festival. We need people who are willing to work a 3 to 4 hour shift sometime between noon and 8pm. The work includes: checking in brewers, checking ID's, selling and collecting tickets, manning doors, crowd control, keeping the brewers stocked with ice, working a merchandise table, etc. No moving and setting up tables. No trash duty. In return for your help, you'll a free ticket in, free tasting glass, free parking, and access to some additional free stuff. If you are interested, email us at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com and let us know. We have a limited number of volunteer spots, so email early and often!

Other Beer Events:

From Elizabeth at Old Town Ale House in Fishers:

January 19th: Beer Tasting..."Porters & Stouts" @ 7 p.m., Come sample beer!
$10 per person includes, appetizers & featured brew will be available for order at special prices. Call for reservations.

From Mike at Crown Liquors (various locations):

Just thought I would let you know that we are doing a Upland tasting starting at 5 this Friday at store #19 in Carmel. Popping their seasonals, regular lineup and some Lambics to see how they are coming along.

Now on tap:

John at The Black Sparrow in Lafayette:

On Tap:
Rogue Double Dead Guy
Founders Red's Rye
Delirium Tremens
Okocim OK Lager
Left Hand Snowbound
Stone Ruination IPA
Brugge Triple De Ripple
Kostritzer Black Lager

Coming Soon On Tap:
Left
Hand Sawtooth
Founders Dry Hopped Pale Ale

Founders Rotating Bottle:
Old Curmudgeon

From JeffreyT at the Good Beer Show:

De Struisse Black Albert just went on tap at the Heorot in Muncie for $10.50 a pint.
Fickle Peach should follow soon.

From John at Half Moon Brewery in Kokomo:

Honey-Rye on tap (Going Fast!)
Winter Warmer on tap
Amber Wheat in the works

From Jerry at Rock Bottom in Downtown Indianapolis:

It's that time of year again here at the Indy Rock Bottom to start some TROUBLE!

Trouble Ale that is, this year's version is a Strong Golden Belgian Ale with a wonderful spice and fruit flavor and aroma. Don't let the light color, fruit and spice fool you.

This beer is called Trouble for a reason! Weighing in
around 9% ABV, we are going to need to pace ourselves!

OG: 20.0 degrees
Plato
ABV: 8.7%
IBU: 23
Malt: Canadian 2 Row Pale, Winter Wheat,
German Munich Malt
Hops: UK hops

From the Ram Brewery newsletter:

All Ram award winning ales and lagers are available To-Go in our 64oz refillable jug for half price. If you do not already own a refillable jug, a purchase of one is required to receive this offer. Ask your server or bartender for details!

Now on the shelf:

Mike at Crown Liquors (various locations):

Brooklyn Black Ops (VERY LIMITED)
Brooklyn Monster
Moylan's Dbl IPA
Moylan's IPA
Dogfish Head Raison D'etre, Fort, WWS, Theobroma (Back in stock)
Founder's Imperial Stout (VERY LIMITED)
Founder's Porter
Upland Lambics, Blueberry, Strawberry, and Raspberry (Back in stock)
Dark Horse Perkulator

Todd at Keg Liquors in Clarksville:

- Three Floyds/Mikkeller Oatgoop
- Victory Storm King
- Victory Old Horizontal
- Left Hand Smoke Jumper Smoked Porter
- Flying Dog Canis Major Mix Pack (8 beers of their high gravity series)
- Jenlain Ambree
- Biere de garde
- Avery the Kaiser (back in stock!)
- Buffalo Bills Blueberry Stout
- Dogfish Head Raison' d'Extra, word from the brewery is that this is the last batch of this to be brewed. Get it while it lasts.

Cari the Beer Queen at Kahn's in Indianapolis:

Special Blowout deals, these are good ageable beers:
- Anchor Christmas
$5.99 a 6-pack, was originally $11.99
- Oaken Barrel Epiphany $4.99 a
6-pack, was originally $10.99

Some goodies that were in short supply,
now back in:
- Mishawaka Hop Head Pale Ale
- Mishawaka Four Horsemen
- Mishawaka Lake Effect
- Mishawaka Founder's Stout
- Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
- Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre
- Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

New Seasonal Releases:
- Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine-Style
- Brooklyn Monster Barleywine-Style
- Victory Old Horizontal Barleywine-Style
- Victory Baltic Thunder

Very Very
Limited Releases:
I was lucky to get a case each of Three Floyds and Mikkeller collaboration Oatgoop, an Oatwine, and Brooklyn Black Ops, a Russian Imperial Stout that was aged in bourbon barrels for four months and refermented with Champagne yeast. Like I said, very little available, so it will be first come first served but allocated to one bottle per person.

News:

From Crazy Kegs (Ted) at Brugge Brasserie in Indianapolis:

News - Beergeeks lob cheap shots at Ted via cowardly third person email - He fires back!

Updates - Jason is still drawing pretend buildings for a living

New Beers - Wait til you guys get a load of the next one - think Justin Wilson meets Ted

Specials - Try the veal - actually there is a very nice Thai beef crepe on at the moment - you should have one

Washington Post bit on Rauchbeer

Buying booze, no membership required

Release Calendars:

Left Hand 2009 release schedule:

Oak-Aged Imperial Stout - March
St. Vrain Tripel - Late May
Oktoberfest Marzen Lager - Late July / Early August
Snow Bound Spiced Strong Ale - October
Warrior Fresh Hopped IPA - October
Oak-Aged Widdershins Barleywine - Late November

Dogfish Head 2009 release schedule:

Seasonal Beers:
Spring: Aprihop (available in March & April)
Summer: Festina Peche (available in June & July)
Autumn: Punkin' Ale (available in September & October)
Winter: Chicory Stout (available in December)

Occasional Rarities (limited quantites, while supplies last):
120 Minute IPA (available in January, May & September)
Burton Baton (available in March, July & November)
Red & White (available in January & February)
Black & Blue (available in March & April)
BRAND X (will be available in April & May, but we're not ready yet to tell you what it'll be!)
Immort Ale (available in April & May)
Chateau Jiahu (available in June & July)
Theobroma (available in July & August)
Pangaea (available in September & October)
Olde School Barleywine (available in October & November)
World Wide Stout (available in November & December)
Fort (available in November & December)

Ommegang release schedule:

Inauguration Ale (a.k.a. Obamagang): January - February
Ommegang Biere de
Mars: January - March
Ommegang Rouge Flemish Red Ale: April - June
Ommegeddon Funkhouse Ale: June - August
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence:
September - November
Ommegang Christmas/Noel/Winter Beer: November -
December