Welcome to December! Is it Spring yet?
I am super excited to be brewing my very first homebrew batch this weekend with my friend Amy. We are going to brew a coffee stout (huh, imagine that!) on Sunday. Any homebrewers out there have any general tips, suggestions, or hints for making a first brew successful? Amy has brewed before but I know just enough to be dangerous, so it should be a rockin' good time!
I am super excited to be brewing my very first homebrew batch this weekend with my friend Amy. We are going to brew a coffee stout (huh, imagine that!) on Sunday. Any homebrewers out there have any general tips, suggestions, or hints for making a first brew successful? Amy has brewed before but I know just enough to be dangerous, so it should be a rockin' good time!
If there is something coming up that is not listed, we would love to hear about it. News, reviews, info, etc., to share for our next Random Beer Roundup can be submitted to hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com. Don't see your favorite craft beer establishment? Let them know you'd like to see them here! Work for an establishment that serves craft beer? We want to hear from you too!
Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change
What's Brewing
From Skip at Alcatraz Brewing Co. in Indianapolis:
I'll be having my first tapping at The Alcatraz on December 16th at 6:30pm. My "Penitentiary Pilsner" is a Czech Pilsner with just the right balance of Ida Pils and Carapils malts along with Saaz hops. Stop by to try this easy drinking golden pilsner.
That night there will be a beer trivia contest for a chance to win a T-shirt or appetizer. One lucky winner will receive a dinner for 2 at The Alcatraz.
From Sara at Bloomington Brewing Co. in Bloomington:
Bloomington Brewing Company's 1000th Batch will be released on Wednesday, December 15.
Ole Floyd's Belgian Dark Strong Ale will be an ale for the ages--yet only our IPA's compete with the speed at which our Belgians have historically dried their serving vessels!
1000 Batch Bash (Ole Floyd's Belgian demands something grander than "release party"!) will kick off at Lennie's at 5 p.m. Award-winning Chef Fred Manion will work with our brewers to create special dishes, assuring us that our palates will be pleased in oh-so-many ways!
From Dan at Great Crescent Brewing in Aurora:
From Greg at Lafayette Brewing Co. in Lafayette:
We have a new beer that is going on-draft today at Bourbon's in Lawrenceburg, IN. They requested a beer made just for them and we came through with "Bourbon's Barrel Stout". This is a slightly amped-up recipe of our regular stout that is conditioned in oak Maker's Mark barrels and has 65 IBU's and 7.2% ABV. "Bourbon's Barrel Stout" will also be available at the brewery in growlers. We are keeping a 1/6 barrel at the brewery that we can pour at Winterfest in January.
From Greg at Lafayette Brewing Co. in Lafayette:
From Mad Anthony in Ft. Wayne:On tap at Lafayette Brewing Co. this weekend: Star City Lager; Prophet's Rock Pale Ale; Tippecanoe Common Ale; Eighty-Five American Ale; Alpha 60 and our latest seasonal release is set for Saturday with our 2010 Christmas Beer: Vanilla Porter. We brewed a classic English style porter and infused 1/2 lb. of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans into the brew. Roasty with chocolate and vanilla overtones. ABV 5.0 % IBUs 28
We've also got our full line-up of bottled products in stock: Tippecanoe Common Ale and Black Angus Oatmeal Stout are available in 12 oz. longnecks; while Star City Lager and Eighty-Five American Ale are both available in our new 22 oz. bombers. Stop by on Sunday for carry-out if you're in town for the Christmas Parade or the PMO Christmas shows.
Beer and Cheese Dinner - Sunday December 5th 5:00 PM $45.00/person.
Tickets can be purchased in person or over the phone (MC, Visa, Discover, Cash accepted).
For more details, please call 574.268.2537
From Andrew at the Ram Brewery in Indianapolis/Fishers:
On Sale Now! Both the Fishers and Downtown locations are currently selling Limited Edition 1 Gallon Growlers to celebrate the RAM’s upcoming 40th anniversary. These unique collectable jugs are going fast, so stop in very soon.
On Tap Now – Downtown and Fishers
Aries American Wheat – Light and citrusy
S’no Angel Weizenbock – Rich, bready malt with hints of clove and dark fruit
Blue Pride Pilsner – Traditional German Lager
As always, thanks and see you soon.
From Charles at Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington:
Thanks and congratulations to everyone who reserved bottles of sour ale earlier this week! 81 bottles were reserved in the first minute, over a thousand within the first half hour, and we were entirely sold out within 19 hours!
We look forward to seeing everyone who reserved bottles here in the Bloomington Tap Room between December 8th and 22nd.
At the Bar
New beers at Beer Sellar this week are:At Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield:
Drafts:
Bell's- Christmas Ale is a sessionable holiday beer, using locally grown malt, that stands apart from spiced winter warmers.
Barley Island: Dirty Helen Brown Ale moderate hop bitterness that has a unique slightly nutty flavor in the finish.
Dogfish Head / Three Floyds- Poppa Skull- a deep, golden ale spiced with cardamom and fermented using a robust Belgian yeast strain. One third of the volume was then aged for 6 months in oak brandy barrels. Spice, esters, and sweet brandy dominate the aroma. A robust 10% abv is rounded by caramel and vanilla notes from the wood with a slight spiciness coming from the yeast.
Sierra Nevada- Celebration Ale- Wonderfully robust and rich, Celebration® Ale is dry-hopped for a lively, intense aroma. Brewed especially for the holidays.
Bottles:
New Belgium- Abbey- Abbey is a Belgian dubbel brewed with six different malts and an authentic Belgian yeast strain.
This weekend marks the Grand Opening celebration of Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield. They will tap Three Floyds Alpha Klaus at noon and PoppaSkull at 5pm.At Tomlinson Tap Room in the City Market, Indianapolis:
Ram - S’no angel Weizenbock, IndianapolisCarry Out
New Albanian - Thunderfoot, New Albany
People’s Brewing - Hopkilla, West Lafayette
Lafayette Brewing - Tippecanoe Common, Lafayette
Big Woods Brewing - Busted Knuckle, Nashville
Sun King - Cream Ale, Indianapolis
Brugge - Triple, Indianapolis
Upland - Komodo Dragonfly Black IPA, Bloomington
Oaken Barrel - Indiana Amber, Greenwood
Barley Island - Dirty Helen Brown Ale, Noblesville
Broad Ripple Brew Pub - ESB, Broad Ripple
Barley Island - Count Hopula, Noblesville
Crown Brewing - Crown Brown, Crown Point
Rock Bottom North - Blitzen Ale Black IPA, Indianapolis
Power House - Diesel Oil Stout, Columbus
People’s - Pilsner, West Lafayette
From Jeremy at Big Red Liquors (E. 3rd St.) in Bloomington:
New in this week:From Bill at Crown Liquors (Downtown) in Indianapolis:
*Stone Double Bastard Ale
*Stone Lukcy Basartd Ale
50/50 Blend of Arrogant Bastard Ale & Double Bastard Oaked & double dry-hopped
**Limited Quantities Available**
Need Holiday Gift Ideas?
*Stella Artois Holiday 750ml
*Samuel Smith Selection Gift Set
*All beer glassware Buy 1 Get 1 1/2 off
Recently arrived at Crown Wine and Spirits- Ohio and Delaware - Downtown IndyFrom Todd at Keg Liquors in Clarksville:
He'Brew RIPA on Rye
Two Brothers Heavier Handed 2010 3L
Bells Batch 10,000 (limited)
New Belgium Frambozen
Stone Double Bastard 2010 and Lucky Bastard
Three Floyds Alpha Klaus
Dogfish Head/Three Floyds Poppaskull (limited)
Rogue Santa's Private Reserve
Friday's tasting (3pm-7pm) will feature the Frambozen, Sam Smith Winter Warmer, Duvel, and Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Grand Cru. Hope to see you then!
Also, Winterfest tickets have arrived Downtown and will reach other Crown locations any day now!
Here is the latest from Keg Liquors in Clarksville:From the Distributors / Reps:
Dogfish Head - Pangaea (Delaware)>
Two Brothers - Heavier Handed IPA 3 Liter bottle! (Illinois)
Berghoff - Winter Ale (Wisconsin)
Crispin - The Jacket (Minnesota)
Oaken Barrel - Epiphany (Indiana)
Bells - Batch 10000 (Michigan)
Stevens Point - St. Benedicts Ale (Wisconsin)
From Greg at Cavalier Distribution:
New Arrivals:From Mike at Goose Island:
Clipper City Below Decks Barley Wine is now available for a limited time.
People's Brewing Mr. Brown is being released for the first time outside of Lafayette starting this week in draft!
He'Brew RIPA on Rye's newest batch was released in extremely limited quantities this week. IF you can find it, grab it.
Two Brothers Northwinds Imperial Stout 2010 is now available for a limited time in 6pks and limited draft.
Two Brothers Heavier Handed Imperial Wet-Hopped IPA will be available in draft only this year in select locations that support Two Brothers regularly.
Cavalier Events:
12/3 Hebrew Tasting @ Pat's Liquors, Porter, 3:30 - 5:30
12/4 Holiday Tasting @ Godfather's Lq, Valpo, 3-5
12/4 In store Tasting @ S&V Liquors Illinois St., Fort Wayne, 5 - 8.
12/7 Winter Beer Tasting @ Birdy's in Broad Ripple, 6 - 8 pm.
12/21 Pikk's Tavern Tasting, Valpo, 5-6
Bourbon County Rare will be released to Indiana and hitting liquor stores next week. As always allocations will be limited...
the first rule of homebrewing...RDWHAGB
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, that is first on the list.
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