Random Beer Roundup - Holy Crap, it is so cold that I have been dreaming of starting Turks and Caicos Islands Beer Geek edition

I hate the cold. It drives me nuts. I've lived in Indiana all my life and I am still not use to winter.

Every winter I ask myself, "Why am I still here? I can move south to warmer climates." Apparently, I'm too stupid to do anything about it. Or I'm a glutton for punishment. The only good thing that I have found with the cold is that you don't need to buy ice for your beer cooler at tailgate sessions.

Okay, that's enough belly aching. It is time for the weekly Random Beer Roundup. Remember, if you have any beer news you want to share, drop us a line at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com. On with the show...

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.

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 Big Red Liquors in Bloomington:

Now every Thursday at the 418 North College Store in Bloomington there will be free beer tastings from 6-8pm!

From Cari at Kahn's in Indianapolis:

Monday, January 19 from 5-7 p.m., we will have a tasting of Mad Anthony Beers from Ft. Wayne, hosted by Ryan Pierce from Cavalier distributing.

Now on tap:
From Elizabeth at Old Town Ale House in Fishers:

Current draft line-up is on our website.
Dreadnaught is on tap right now...come get it before it's gone!
Look for Bell's Hopslam...coming soon!

Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks in Zionsville:

ON DRAFT
Carlow O'hara's Irish Stout
Great Divide Hibernation Ale (A Winter Warmer 6oz. pour)
Bell's HopSlam----------Back for a limited time only!!
Bell's Two-Hearted IPA
Gaffel Kolsch

BOTTLES
Tilburg Dutch Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Brown Ale
Avery 14?er ESB Ale
Clipper City Winter Storm Imperial ESB
Boon Framboise Lambic
Bass Pale Ale
Victory Brewing Hop Devil
Clipper City Loose Cannon Hop 3
Looking Glass Cold Hop British Style Ale
Two Bros. Heavy Handed IPA (fresh hops)
Breckenridge 471 IPA (Small Batch)
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Mad River Steelhead Double IPA
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Style Ale
Left Hand Milk Stout
Breckenridge Vanilla Porter
Dixie Brewery Blackened Voodoo Lager
Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale
Duvel Belgian Golden Ale
Bosteel Tripel Karmeleit
Stella Artois

DINNER BOTTLES
Boulder Obovoid Empirical Stout (Oak Aged)
Brother Thelonious Belgian Style
Avery Salvation Belgian Style Golden Ale
Stone Brewing Arrogant Bastard Ale
Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
Stone Brewing Smoked Porter
LaChouffe Belgian Blonde
McChouffe Belgian Artisanal Brown Ale
Ommegang Hennepin Saison Farmhouse Ale

WHEAT BEERS
Three Floyds Gumball Head Wheat
Celis Belgian White Ale
Blue Moon Belgian Style
Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen
Shock top White Ale

Now on the shelf:
Gabe at Goose the Market in Indianapolis:

Here are some of the nectars available at the Goose:
Left Hand Imperial Stout
Mad River Extra Stout
Founders Imperial Stout
Founders Porter
Sterkens White
Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine
Three Floyds/Mikkeller OatGoop
The following are available in singles and packs (quantities are limited)
Victory Old Horizontal Barleywine
Brooklyn Monster Barleywine
Bells Expedition Stout
Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout
Dark Horse Special Reserve Black Bier
Founders Old Curmudgeon
Founders Backwoods Bastard

From Mat at Cavalier Distributing in Indianapolis:

The long awaited Founders Porter snuck into Indiana a few days before Christmas and is making its way out into the Indiana beer world!

A special keg of Stone 11th Anniversary (brewed in 2007) will be on tap at the Winterfest.

Since the 2007 release of Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper was the Hoosier Beer Geek beer of 2008 I feel that I should let you know that we still have a few cases of the 2008 (just Released) Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper in the warehouse.

Founders Double Trouble, an Imperial IPA at 9.4% and 86 IBUs, just hit our warehouse and we will be able to get it out on the trucks for Indy north side deliveries on Friday 16th. It will make its way out into the rest of Indiana market starting next week. Be sure to look at the label upside down.

From Todd at Keg Liquors in Clarksville:

Here is a product update for Keg Liquors in Clarksville:
- Bell's Hopslam (arriving on Thursday)
- 3 Floyds Black Sun Stout (Arriving on Thursday)
- Founder's Backwoods Bastard. One lonely case came in from the distributor. Last chance til next year on this one
- Founder's Imperial Stout. Back after a 2 year break. And in very limited supply. 4- 4 packs left in stock as I type this.
- Founder's Porter - A new offering from Founders.
- Mendocino Eye of the Hawk - American Strong Ale
- Mendocino Red Tail Ale - Amber Ale
- Shipyard Prelude Ale - Winter Warmer and do we need this for the cold weather we have this week!
- Shipyard IPA - 100% Fuggle hops.
- Shipyard Pugsley's Barleywine - English Style Barleywine, first time available in our market
- Shipyard Pugsley's Imperial Porter - English Porter, first time available in our market.
- St. Sebastiaans Dark - Belgian dark ale.
- Einbecker Urbock-Dunkel - German Dark Bock

From Cari at Kahn's in Indianapolis:

New out this week:
Hopslam! Hopslam! Hopslam!
Founder's Double Trouble
Magic Hat #8

On special:
Whitbread English Pale Ale 6 packs: $6.99
(get it while we still have it, it has been discontinued)
Anchor Christmas 6 packs: $5.99
Paulaner Hefe Weiss, Munich Original, and Premium Pils 6 packs $8.49
Schlafly All Varieties 6 packs $8.49

From Big Red Liquors in Bloomington

New Items at Big Red Liquors This Week:
Victory Old Horizontal Barleywine
Founder's Imperial Stout
Founder's Porter
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine
Leinenkugel 1888 Bock
Goose Island Mild Winter
3 Floyd's Black Sun Stout
Left Hand Smoke Jumper Porter
Brooklyn Monster Barleywine
Bells Hopslam
Unibroue 17th Anniversary Ale
Victory Baltic Thunder Porter
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout
3 Floyd's Oat Goop
Brooklyn Black Ops
Van Steen Bruge Variety 6pks (Bruegel, Bornem Dubbel & Tripel, Piraat, Augustijn, & Gulden Draak)
Gulden Draak Vintage

Also, look for our new Big Red Sampler that includes 2 glasses 2 each of Bells Winter White, Barley Island Brass Knuckles Oatmeal Stout, Anchor Steam Porter, Brooklyn EIPA, and Dinkel Acker Pilsner.

An email update from Flying Dog:

Introducing the Canis Major Mixed 8-pack of 7-ounce bottles. High-gravity beers pack quite a punch, and you might not want to drink an entire 11.5% ABV beer in one shot. These little puppies might be small, but they deliver all the awesomeness that our Canis Major series of beers has to offer. Plus, with two of each Canis Major style, these beers are perfect for sharing with friends. The Canis Major Mixed 8-pack is now available; bug your favorite retailer about availability.

Homebrewing:
From Anita at Great Fermentations in Indianapolis:
1. Upcoming beginning brewing classes:
Sunday, January 18th at 1 PM
Wednesday, February 4th at 6 PM
Sunday, February 15th at 1 PM
Wednesday, February 25th at 6 PM

2. Winemaking with kits Wednesday, February 11th at 6 PM

3. Serving our Belgian Blond at Winterfest

News:
$5.2 million expansion moves ahead at Bell's Brewery

Old Style Beer going old school

Coming soon to L'Explorator in Indianapolis: The 2009 Indiana Craft Beer and Food Symposium. Stay tuned for details.