In writing this regular weekly feature, I try to start it with something different, so that the feature is fresh and hopefully get you to read it every week. But sometimes, I sit in front of the computer for hours trying to figure out what the hell I'm going to talk about. I thought about calling this edition the "No Taxation without Inebriation edition", but we covered tax issues twice this week. I figured that enough of that (though if you want more, check out Tom Schlafly's April 2009 Top Fermintation column on beer taxes).I thought about rehashing our April Fool's Day exploits. You know about the Bud American Ale and Dark Lord mixing that Mike did not do. We also sent out an email to the Hoosier craft beer industry peeps, informing them that Budweiser is now our title sponsor for Random Beer Roundup. I can tell you, I got a couple of people with that! But to paraphrase Mark McGwire, that's the past. Let's talk about the future.
I also considered some sort of baseball and beer, since opening day is on Sunday. But I covered baseball at the start of spring training. Plus Mike would most likely just post harassing comments about the Cubs (seriously man, why can't you just be happy with your World Series championships and leave us lovable losers alone!).
Instead, I opted to tell you about all the things I opted to not tell you about.
You're welcome.
Here is your weekly Random Beer Roundup. Remember, if you have beer news that you want to share or names you want to drop, drop us a line at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com.
Beer Events:
Dates and lineups subject to change
Saturday, April 4, 4-6pm at Mr. G's in Noblesville:
Beer tasting with Ryan Pierce from Cavalier Distributing, free.
Monday, April 6, 5-7 p.m., at Kahn’s in Indianapolis:
Avery Breweing tasting at the Tasting Bar
Tuesday, April 7, 7pm at United Package Liquors County Line store in Indianapolis:
Cavalier Distributing tasting featuring Southern Star Pine Belt Pale and Founder's Double Trouble.
Wednesday, April 8, 6-8 p.m., at Kahn’s in Indianapolis:
Meet Greg Hall, Head Brewmaster from Goose Island, $10 in advance, $15 day of. Taste all of the Goose Island beers, including the Reserve lines and some special brews, paired gourmet cheeses, and receive some Goose Island swag. For tickets: email Cari Crowe at beerqueen@kahnsfinewines.com, call the store at (317) 251-9463, or come by the store.
Thursday, April 9, 6-8pm, at Big Red Liquors in Bloomington:
FREE beer tasting every Thursday 6-8pm at the "Big Store" at 418 North College in Bloomington.
Tuesday, April 9, 6-8pm at United Package Liquors County Line store in Indianapolis:
Magic Hat sampling
Saturday, April 11, 2pm at Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington:
Tapping Helios Pale Ale in honor of Upland's new solar initatives (see news below), plus educational tours and presentations on solar energy.
Monday, April 13, 5-7 p.m., at Kahn’s in Indianapolis:
British beers tasting at the Tasting Bar
Thursday, April 16 at Rock Bottom - Downtown in Indianapolis:
Tapping of Cezanne
Thursday, April 16 at various movie theaters across the US:
Beer Wars the Movie
Tuesday, April 21, 6:30pm, at Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks:
Spring Festival Beer and Wine Tasting: Five course buffet menu paired with five wines and five beers. $35 per person in advance, includes tax and tip, $45 at the door. Call 733-8755 for reservations and information.
Saturday, April 25 at Three Floyd’s Brewery in Munster:
Dark Lord Day
Sunday, April 26, 12:00pm at Great Fermentations in Indianapolis:
Spring All-Grain Class, $25 per person or bring a friend and pay only $20 each. Details and registration on website.
Sunday, April 26th, 6 p.m. at Zing! in Indianapolis:
Beer Tasting Dinner, $30 per person, Reservations required at (317)636-7775
Wednesday, April 29, 6-7:30pm at Great Fermentations in Indianapolis:
Beginning Brewing Class, $15 per person or bring a friend and pay only $10 each. Details and registration on website.
Saturday, May 2nd: National Homebrew Day
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at Rock Bottom - Downtown in Indianapolis:
Brewer's Dinner
Friday, May 8th at Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington:
Entries for the UpCup Competition are due.
Saturday, May 9th, 4pm, at Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown Indianapolis:
High Gravity Summer Kickoff, a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (see details below)
Saturday, May 16th at Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington:
UpCup judging and ceremony.
Monday, June 22nd at Beer Sellar in Indianapolis:
Big Bell's Brewing tapping, a record breaking 30 different Bell's beers on tap at once.
News and Rumors:
From Sam, bar manager at the downtown Indianapolis Buffalo Wild Wings Bar and Grill:
HIGH GRAVITY SUMMER KICKOFFA write up about drinking at a neighborhood bar. It's not a craft beer bar, but rather, one of those old bars that have been there forever that you always say "I should go in there" but you never do.
Buffalo Wild Wings and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation have teamed up for an event like no other! The High Gravity Summer Kickoff will be held on May 9, 2009 starting at 4:00 pm. Events include the tapping of between twelve and fourteen beers above 9% alcohol by volume, free giveaways, photo opportunities, press, wings, sports, and a special kick off to summer 2009!
Feel free to invite your staff, friends, and family and come enjoy the new beers we will be tapping, which include:
Dogfish Head Red & White 10% ABV
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 12% ABV
Dogfish Head 90 Minute 9% ABV
Piraat Ale 10.5% ABV
Gulden Draak 10.5% ABV
Three Floyds Rabbid Rabbit 9% ABV
Three Floyds Behemoth Blonde 12.5% ABV
Bell's Hopslam 10% ABV
Goose Island Night Stalker 11.5% ABV
Founders Imperial Stout 10.5% ABV
2008 Stone Imperial Russian Stout 10.5% ABV
The final few beers are to be determined. I appreciate everybody’s help in putting this event together.
We will be taking donations at the door. With your support we plan to raise $2,500 for the local chapter of CF. Please feel free to contact Sam Hookway if you have any questions about the event. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there.
Beer News highlights some of the April's Fools pranks pulled by breweries.
Six months later... A map of the US illustrating the best beer states based on GABF medals. Thanks to readers Doug and Aaron.
I'm a Washington Nationals fans, just based on the beer lineup along. From DC Sports Bog, the beer list at DC's MLB ballpark:
Bottles: Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bell's Oberon American Wheat Ale, Harpoon Summer Ale.120 craft beers, 35+ tasty appetizers: SAVOR: an American Craft Beer & Food Event May 30, 2009 in Washington, DC.
Draft: Peroni, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, Southampton Triple Abby Style Ale, Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen, Williamsburg Tavern Brown Ale, Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager.
Now on tap:
Price and availability are subject to change
From Sam at Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown Indianapolis:
Now on tap is Arrogant Bastard, Founders Double Trouble, Dogfish Head 90, Three Floyds Alpha King and Gumballhead, Bells Oberon and Two Hearted, Victory Prima Pils, Spaten Dunkel, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Upland Porter, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, and Abita Turbodog.
Now on the shelf:
Price and availability are subject to change
From Cari at Kahn's in Indianapolis:
New in stock:From Big Red Liquors in Bloomington:
Brooklyn Brewing Summer Ale
Barley Island Beastie Barrel Porter
Flying Dog Tire Bitter Kolsch-style Ale
Gulden Draak Vintage
Hoppin' Frog BORIS
Three Floyds Rabid Rabbit Saison
Buffalo Bill's Orange Cream
Founder's Cerise (bottles AND a keg)
Lakefront Cherry Lager
Norrebro Northbridge Extreme Imperial IPA
Birrificio Toccodibo Barley Wine
Urthel Samaranth Quad
On Sale this week:
Bell's Oberon $8.99/pk $31.49/cs
- That's $7.90 a pack when you buy the case!
Brooklyn Lager $5.99/pk $23.99/cs
Guinness & Smithwicks 12 packs $15.99
Harp 12 packs $12.99
Shiner 100 -a German "stark" ale commemorating 100 years in the beer business for the Spoetzl Brewery.From Greg at Cavalier Distributing in Indianapolis:
Old Style Cubs packages -24pk bottles and 16oz cans showing off the ivy from Wrigley Field.
Atwater Salvation IPA 6pk bottles
Genesee Cream Ale 6pk 16oz cans
Buffalo Bill Orange Blossom Cream Ale 6pk bottles
There are a couple very special new beers hitting shelves and bars in the next week that are essential drinking for any beer geek out there.
Founders Cerise is hitting store shelves and bar topstoday and will be available soon at all of your normal craft beer retail locations along with any bar that supports Founders. Cerise is a wonderful Cherry fermented Ale that is the perfect summer quencher. It pours ruby red and is wonderfully fruity, tart, and refreshing. Founders Cerise is made with 100% Michigan Cherries and is a unique summer quencher perfect for the season. It will be available in both 4pks and on draft at the right places.
Monday, April 6th is the official release date for the 2009 Stone Imperial Russian Stout. Celebrate tax season in style with some IRS! Don't wait for the 15th of April though, go get yours asap and grab some for now and some for the cellar. As always, the Stone IRS is a gorgeous beer worthy of its incredibly high acclaim. It's big, bold, complex and absolutely incredible. Bottles will be hitting the market starting the 6th and there will be a few choice locations with some draft as well. Keep your eyes out for it and get it quick, because there is only a finite amount in the state and when it's gone, its gone. Enjoy!!
Impressive tap list at the Buffalo Wild Wings downtown. Definitely need to keep that in mind if I am ever in the area.
ReplyDeleteSeeing that makes me wonder why the first BW3 changed a few years back? I had heard it was due to the chain going to a standard beer list and the owner just dropped the franchise to create Badaboomz... Anyone know the deal on that?
Way back when, Mike DeWeese told us he was making the switch because he didn't agree with the limited menu - though you won't see that information in our reviews.
ReplyDelete