30 March 2012

Beer and Cheese Club - March 2012




Brasserie Dupont is practically a household name, with their world-famous Saison Dupont.  Dupont is a relatively new brewery, being founded in 1950.  It was a bit surprising to hear that Dupont had a new beer that we were receiving in Indiana, since Belgian breweries rarely change up their lineups.  After a bit of research, it appears that Posca Rustica isn't actually a new beer, it's just known by a different name in Belgium - Cervesia.  Posca Rustica is full of spicy Belgian yeast flavors, not unlike Saison Dupont, but it remains a unique experience in itself.

This month's cheese is a goat cheese, topped with ash.  Bonne Bouche hails from Vermont and will certainly find favor with fans of the grocery store variety of soft goat cheese.  This cheese has been aged long enough to develop a bit of a rind, which separates it from your basic idea of a goat cheese.  It will continue to age and develop a stronger flavored rind in its packaging - just don't let it go more than a month or two!


If you're a member of the Beer and Cheese Club at Goose the Market, your March installment is ready for you to pick up right now. If you're not a member, the club is $99 for 4 months. This month's delivery includes Dupont Posca Rustica and a round of Bonne Bouche. Either of these items would be great experiences on their own, but we feel they are even better when consumed together.


I was quite excited to try Posca Rustica - every beer I've had from Brasserie Dupont, I've enjoyed.  This was no exception.  The quickest and easiest way to describe this beer would be to say that it's a German hefeweizen brewed with Belgian ale yeast.  The aroma is full of cloves and cardamom, coupled with that trademark Belgian yeast aroma and the bananas and oranges you're accustomed to in hefeweizen.  The flavor matches the aroma perfectly.  Plenty of banana, orange, pepper and cloves.  Very effervescent and refreshing, even with its 8% ABV.

The cheese was soft like goat cheese, but a touch more firm with a noticeable rind.  This was certainly not as tangy as standard goat cheese, but instead had a more robust milky flavor.  When Posca Rustica is consumed after the lighter flavored cheese, the spices in the beer come to the front and match the cheese nicely.  If the cheese is consumed before the beer, the effervescence helps cleanse the palate and the fruit comes forward in the beer.  Both the cheese and the beer are really very enjoyable and together they are quite agreeable.  This is a great spring pairing.


I've had a bottle of Posca Rustica beckoning me from the top of  the cabinet for some time now, so I was excited to learn that it was our selection this month.  It is a very lively pour, so be careful about that.  The nose is spicy and shoots straight up your nose, stinging it a bit.  It had a bit of funk, common to a Belgian style beer.  It is very refreshing and delicious.

The cheese offered a soft, creamy texture peppered with an ashy rind.  I'll admit that while I wasn't overly crazy about it by itself, I thought the pairing was spectacular.  I loved how the beer cut a bit of that ashy flavor out and the cheese enhanced the funkiness in the beer, bringing the best of both out into the forefront.  I loved the beer and loved the pairing.

Every time I attend a Beer and Cheese Club tasting, I hope that the selection is Velvetta and Busch Light. Imagine my disappointment when Goose the Market presented a bottle of Belgian ale and a round of goat’s milk cheese.

I found a soapy Belgian nose on the Posca Rustica. It has a fruity tartness with subtle herbal notes. It is bright and clean and crisp. In contrast, the Bonne Bouche is dirty. Poplar wood ash was sprinkled on the outside of the cheese. The result is a creamy, funky cheese that is surrounded by an ashy, dry mouthfeel and taste (not to be confused with smokey). In spite of the funk and ash, the cheese comes across with the freshness you would expect from goat’s milk.

Together, the beer and cheese play together. The fruit of the beer and the cream of the cheese… the ash of the poplar wood and the spices from the beer… It is an exercise in contrast and compliment.

So the question I have to ask: what would the Bonne Bouche be like in a grilled cheese sandwich?


To join the Beer and Cheese Club at Goose the Market (in conjunction with Hoosier Beer Geek), check out this PDF and then either call Goose the Market at 317-924-4944 or stop in the shop at 2503 N. Delaware St.

Random Beer Roundup - The Sunday Funday Edition



Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change


From the Brewers
From Darren at Bier Brewery in Indianapolis:
Here's what's on tap this week:

Cream
Wit
Redrum
Roggenschnizzle
Smoked Brown
Belgian Dubbel
PDG Pale
Rye Pale


DFGIPA release on Friday at 3pm
From Crown Brewing in Crown Point:
Illiana Mayfest is Coming!! (Enter for your chance to win tickets here!)


From Skip at Fountain Square Brewing in Fountain Square, Indianapolis:
On April 6th we will be tapping our Saison Du Vall at our Peep Show Party.  This Saison is light in color, crisp and made with peeps in the mash.

On tap now…..Pilsner, Pale, Amber and Porter along with seasonals Batch 13 IPA and Oatmeal Stout.
From Clay at Sun King Brewing in Indianapolis:
Timmie is currently on tap in the Tasting Room and Poff the Magic Dragon goes on tap in the Tasting Room this week. Poff is a 7.3% ABV - 86 IBU Red Rye I.P.A.  We've lined up some great events and have a bunch of new beers coming in store for you as well!

Upcoming Events:
Roving Cinema at Sun King
Wednesday, April 11th at 7pm
Goonies presented by the Indianapolis International Film Festival
Food by Seoul Grill

Chatham Tap Takeover
Thursday, April 12th  ALL DAY
18 Sun King Beers on tap
Maibock release at 6:30 PM

Opening Day at Victory Field
Friday, April 13th 5pm
Bike to the Ball Park from Sun King
with INDYCOG & Mayor Ballard
Tapping of Indians Victory Lager at 6:30pm

Black Market Brewer's Brunch
Sunday, April 15th 10:30am & 1:30pm
4 Course Brunch paired with Sun King Beers
Call 317-822-6757 for Reservations

Derby Does Downtown
Friday, April 20th Doors at 5:30pm
@ Banker's Life Fieldhouse
Naptown Roller Girls vs. the Tampa Bay Tantrums
Featuring Fresh•Local•Beer

Indiana Landmarks Rescue Party
Saturday, April 28th at 6-11pm
at the Indiana Landmarks Center-1201 Central Ave.
Support Historic Preservation while you enjoy
food, music and Fresh•Local•Beer
featuring Sun King's Landmark Wit
www.indianalandmarks.org/tours/calendar/Pages/SearchResults.aspx?EventID=579
From Ryan at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis:
Thr3e Wise Men will be tapping its next seasonal beer, Two SistersCarolina Saison, next Tuesday April 3rd! We will tap the beer at 6pm! Come enjoy a pint for $3.50!
From David at Triton Brewery in Lawrence:
Join us at the Melody Inn for Triton Brewery Night on March 31, 2012 at 9:00pm
The event will be part of their weekly Punk Rock Night show - Triton will debut their full line of bottled beer and have specialty beers available as well and Magnificent Amber on tap. Cover is $8.00 which includes the amazing line up of bands for Punk Rock Night:

The Koffin Kats (nationally touring psychobilly band), Vice Tricks (Louisville rockabilly/punk rock), The Classless (Indy punks)

Triton Brewery Event starts at 9:00, Punk Rock Night music starts at 10:30. Come see how well craft beer and punk rock go together!
At Bars and Restaurants
From Eddie at Sahm's Place in Indianapolis:
We still have some great Three Floyds on tap with Brian Boru, Jinxproof, and Pride & Joy.

Tuesday April 4th Upland will be hosting trivia with some great beer, great people, and some swag for the masses. As always, pints will be $3.50 and we will feature up to 4 beers for the night.

This week we are starting our new "222" menu with sliders, tacos, and more for only $2.22 everyday! We will have a slider of the day, apertivo la dia, and craft beer specials every day of the week. Follow us on Twitter @sahmsplace to see what new stuff we have!

Up on tap this week:
Great Divide Nomad Pilsner
Triton Fieldhouse
Triton IPA
Founders Centennial IPA
Bells Oberon
Bells Two Hearted
Bier Brewery Seasonal
Flat12 Walkabout
Flat12 Seasonal
From Ryan at Scotty's Brewhouse in Various Locations:
All Scotty’s Brewhouse locations will be releasing new beer menus next Monday April 2nd. Come in and check out what is new and enjoy a pint of one of the many new options.

Scotty’s Brewhouse Muncie is now pouring Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye! Stop by on a Tuesday and get a 48oz Pitcher for only $5.00!

Scotty’s Burger Joint in Columbus is now pouring Sam Adams Tasman Red! Come by and enjoy a 24oz Mug of this tasty beer on Thursday for $4.00!
From Martin at Tavern on South in Indianapolis:
We are proud to announce we will be tapping Urban Chestnut Winged Nut next week. Sampled out some of their beers today, good stuff. 
Current Tap List
Triton Fieldhouse Wheat
Triton Pink Ribbon Saison
Triton Railsplitter IPA
SunKing Wee Mac
SunKing Cream Ale
SunKing Grapefruit Jungle
Flat 12 Half-Cycle IPA
Flat 12 Lactomatic Milk Stout
New Albanian Beaks Best
Fountain Square Working Man's Pilsner
Bloomington Brewing Ruby Bloom
Lexington Brewing Bourbon Barrel Ale


Just a reminder the deck is officially open.


From Adam at Trion Tavern in New Haven:
Latest beers on tap:
Bell's Oberon ($3.50 pints all day, everyday)
Dark Horse Fore Smoked Stout
Anchor Steam
Mad Anthony Auburn Lager

Delicious Dozen II Tapping:
Saturday, April 7 at 7pm (SMOKE FREE)

De Ranke XX BitterMikkeller Invasion IPANøgne-Ø PorterJolly Pumpkin iO
Spezial Rauchbier
De La Senne Zinnebir
Bocker Cuvée des Jacobins
Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru
Greenbush 1825
Greenbush Red Bud
Fuller's London Pride
He'Brew Jewbelation 15

+ 12 Three Floyds beers on tap
& LIVE music by the Randy Kimball Blues Trio

Use our Interactive Daily Tap List to check out the rest of the 58 beers we have on tap.
Package Store specials (available now): 
De Ranke Hop Harvest 2011 - 750ml bottles - $19.99 (price includes tax)
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere - 750ml bottles - $14.99 (price includes tax)
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire - 750ml bottles - $14.99 (price includes tax)
Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura - 750ml bottles - $16.99 (price includes tax)
3 Floyds Gumballhead - 6-packs - $9.99 (price includes tax)
From the Distributors
From Jen at Cavalier Distribution:
NEW TO THE CAVALIER WAREHOUSE
New Albanian Hoosier Daddy Crimson and Cream Ale - Red Ale brewed with lactose sugars; limited release; 22oz bottles and draft 
UPCOMING EVENTS
  
3/29 - Dixie Tasting at J. Gumbo's; Corydon; 4:30pm-7pm
3/31 - Sixpoint and Finch's Tasting at Mr. G's; Noblesville
4/3 - Birdy's Monthly Tasting; 6-8pm; $10
4/9 - Beer 101 featuring Lexington Brewing at ; Corydon; 7pm-9pm
4/11 - Founders Tapping Party at The Sinking Ship; 7pm
5/26 - Illiana Mayfest; Lake County Fairgrounds, Crown Point; 2pm-6pm; $30 general and $45 VIP (entrance at 1pm)
10/13 - Porter Beerfest 12pm-4pm
Upcoming Events
From Mike at Brew Bracket:
Here’s the 101 on our event:Brew Bracket is the only one of its kind, a true tasting tournament. 16 brewers bring a similar style of beer (Wheat for our spring event) and are seeded randomly into a bracket. 400 participants taste beer (blindly, 2 glasses at a time) and vote for their favorites. Over the course of the day winning beers move through the tournament until we crown a champion at the end of the event. 
Here’s why this year is exceptionally awesome:Our 16 brewers are very close to Indianapolis, and we have nearly every new brewer to the scene involved in the event. This includes 5+ breweries that have just started within the last year. It’s an awesome opportunity for beer fans to find out about new breweries and learn more about what they like within the style through the blind tasting. And we’re partnering with local charity, the SCI Hope Fund, to give back to the community as part of the event.


Basic details: Saturday, April 14th from 12:30PM – 5PM
Tickets are $35 each, only 400 available
More information and ticket purchases through http://www.brewbracket.com/upcomingevents/ 


From Katherine at IU:


From Sam at Against the Grain Brewery in Louisville, KY:
Wondering what to do for Thunder Over Louisville 2012?! Not willing to chance the rain or cold?! Look no further!! We are excited to announce our AtG Thunder Package 2012! We will be closing our doors on Saturday, April 21, 2012 for a private and relaxing experience to all who purchase the AtG Thunder Package 2012!. The package includes:
A ticket into Louisville Slugger Field seating area section 101-106 (Facing the 2nd St. Bridge...perfect view of the show!) for both the baseball game & a perfect seat to watch the largest fireworks display in the country!
Access to the concert down on the Field (Journey UnAuthorized)
Exclusive all day access to 1 seat in Against The Grain (including access to the clean, neat, & maintained restrooms, large televisions showing the Air Show, and full-fun-friendly service!)
Vouchers for your choice of, both, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, as well as, 5 (well liquor or house made beer) drinks!
These tickets will include return access to and from your seat in the ball field & Against The Grain all day! 
This package is available for the $200 (*plus tax) per adult & $175 (*plus tax) per child (children tickets will not include alcoholic drinks, duh). We encourage all interested to act promptly, as we have limited  seating and will not extend sales beyond our indoor seating capacity. TICKETS ON SALE.

29 March 2012

From the Pages of the Indianapolis Star: Beer Label Art

The following is the unedited version of an article ran in the Indianapolis Star on March 15th.

With names like Hoptimus, Moloko, and Osiris, craft beers from New Albanian, Three Floyds, and Sun King leave a memorable impression on the minds of drinkers. But along with their names might come another impression, that of their container art.

Prior to labeling, breweries relied on glassware with embossed lettering to advertise their wares. The process of placing a paper label on the bottle became common practice in the mid-19th century, with Guinness adopting the process as early as the 1840s.

“The first aspect (of a beer label) is to establish some kind of identity,” said leading British beer writer Jeff Evans. “A brewery needs to put its thumbprint on a bottle so that customers can easily see where the beer comes from and can quickly identify beers from breweries they like.” Label art allows a brewery to establish an identity to customers, in addition to suggesting if the bottle’s contents are traditional or adventurous. “The concept of quality is tied in closely with the image,” said Evans. “How much more appealing does a beer with a classy label look than one with a cheap cartoon?”

At New Albanian Brewing Company, those labels are created by graphic designer Anthony Beard, 31, who began his career with the brewery behind the kitchen doors. "I was working here a year before anyone knew I could draw," said Beard. Although Beard has a background in creative arts - he earned a film production degree from Webster University - he never expected to draw for a living. "I just drew as a hobby," he said.

With a constant stream of new projects coming from the brewhouse, Beard finds plenty of work to keep himself busy. "We do a lot of different beer with a lot of different influences," he said. "There's also a lot of festivals, tap handles, promo items, and that kind of stuff." Among his favorite work was the label for the recently released Bonfire of the Valkyries Smoked Black Lager, “because i like Norse mythology and (the art) played into my interests.”

Beard is given complete control over his design choices, and said that although his employers might not always get the idea behind his work at first glance, they've never vetoed his ideas. "The brewery was started by people that are passionate about what they do, and they understand art on that level," he said.

Jim Zimmer, 36, has worked as a graphic designer with Munster's Three Floyds Brewing Company for four years, finding the position through a friendship with the brewery's sales manager. Zimmer's background in studio arts came from Depauw University, and in addition to his work for Floyds, he works full time at a Chicago ad agency. "I don't get to do super creative stuff," he said. "Being an artist by trade, I like to get out there and do some wild stuff whenever I can."

Three Floyds provides that opportunity. In addition to work on bottle art, Zimmer is largely responsible for all promotional materials from the brewery - everything from playing cards, hockey jerseys, and the highly sought “golden tickets” for the company's annual Dark Lord Day beer release.

"I love doing the stuff for Dark Lord Day because it's a big event," he said. The ticket for the 2011 event featured the the prominent use of skulls and the sort of kill-markings familiar to military aircraft. "I got a text from (brewery president) Nick Floyd that said 'We want the theme to be space marines'," said Zimmer.

It was Zimmer’s first label for Three Floyds - a brightly colored piece combining imagery from the film “A Clockwork Orange” with elements of the brewery's logo - that he might be most proud of. "I always show the Moloko label when i show my portfolio," he said.

If there’s a brewery whose packaging echos the techniques used on the glassware of the 1800s, perhaps it’s the embossed cans at Indianapolis’ Sun King Brewery. Can designs are provided by Indianapolis based-artist Shane Brown, 33, who got his start painting murals while attending Muncie Central High School, eventually studying at Columbus College of Art and Design. After leaving college he found work as a traveling artist for a nationally-distributed brewery, painting murals in bars throughout the country.

When burnout set in, Brown returned to Indiana, working as a server and chalk artist for the now-defunct Alcatraz Brewing Company. There he often crossed paths with Rock Bottom brewer Clay Robinson, who eventually went on to help found Sun King Brewery. When Robinson needed art for his startup brewery, he turned to Brown.

“We had a few beers and came up with the concept for the Sun King logo,” said Brown. “I started searching on the internet for ideas based on Aztec features, with hard angles, sharp type - things that we set in stone. Clay had these ideas based on the Mayan calendar, with the four seasons.” In finding a natural correlation between the four seasons and the four ingredients in beer - water, malt, hops, and yeast - a brewery logo was born.

Riding the crest of what has become a nationwide canned beer revolution has provided Brown’s work a larger audience than he’d ever imagined. Features such as Men’s Health’s list of best canned beers brought Brown’s imagery to magazine pages across the country. “I thought ‘Ok, this is big time’,” said Brown. “I had never worked in can art, and I was told that I couldn't do a lot of things to start with,” he said, “but now that we're established I've got more free reign. With the technology now I can go a lot further with it.”

28 March 2012

Ticket Giveaway - Illiana Mayfest

The contest is now closed!

If you didn't win this time, don't fret! We'll have another chance for tickets in a few weeks! Stay tuned!


Crown Brewing Co. is hosting their 3rd annual Illiana Mayfest on May 26th up in Crown Point, Indiana and we want you to join in the fun!  We have a few pairs of tickets for the event, courtesy of the good folks up at Crown Brewing, and we are giving one pair of General Admission tickets away now!  To register, leave a comment in this post, include your name and some way to get a hold of you. You have until 5pm EST on Thursday, April 5th to register. We will then randomly select a winner and contact you to get a mailing address.

If you don't win, don't worry; tickets are on sale now at www.IllianaMayfest.com. General Admission tickets are $30 and designated drivers are $5 (VIP tickets are sold out). Illiana Mayfest occurs during American Craft Beer Week and will feature breweries from Indiana and Illinois.

Hoosier Beer Geek in Indianapolis Monthly


Back in February, four the the Knights of the Beer Roundtable met with the folks at Indianapolis Monthly to run through our choices as some of Indy's better representatives of beers in seven styles. The results of that tasting can be found in the April "Local Beer" edition of the magazine, on store shelves now.

We'd like to thank the folks at Indianapolis Monthly for the attention, and for a fun afternoon of drinking great Indiana beer.

27 March 2012

Seat available for HBG/B&B cocktALEs event


This Sunday at 1 p.m., we will be staging a brand new craft beer event: cocktALEs. cocktALEs will feature a flight of five beer cocktails, hand crafted by Zach Wilks of the Ball & Biscuit. As of this evening 3/28 at 10:20am, we have had two seats one seat open up for the event.

Interested in claiming this seat? Here are the details for the event:

When and where: Sunday, April 1, 2012, 1 p.m., at The Ball & Biscuit, 331 Mass Ave., 317.636.0593.

The food menu: A buffet-style spread including cheeses, dips, and other finger foods prepared by Brad Gates Catering.

The cocktALE menu:  A beer cocktail flight that will proceed in the following order--

1. French 75 à la Bière

2. Cider Sangria

3. Hoosier Michelada

4. Hop Manhattan

5. Cherry Bourbon Milk Stout Dessert Cocktail

The price: $30 per person plus tax and tip, to be paid on the day of the event.

If you want to reserve, please email us at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com. In your email to us, please include your name, your phone number, and your email address. We will accept reservations on a first come, first served basis.

We hope to see you on Sunday, April 1!

KOTBR #140 | Back to the Basics


We decided to dedicate this roundtable to the classic American craft beers. As part of my mourning process, I have decided to dedicate my review to the classic Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

Anchor Steam is cool shit. It is an easy drinking beer that burps with a mild hop flavor, which really should be a characteristic that all beers are reviewed upon. When it comes to classics, Anchor Steam is the king kong of classics. It literally is in a category of its own. It is the Peyton Manning of beers... redefining the category, elevating its games, a beacon for others to strive towards. Peyton's Colts locker and Anchor Steam bottles...It is sad when they are empty.


Bell's Amber is a less hop/more malt beer. It is a sweet, creamy, tasty beer that makes your tastebuds ring like the bells of St. John's Church after one of Peyton Manning's victories during the 2006 Super Bowl winning season and post-season when the Indianapolis Colts were undefeated at home.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager is a smooth and tasty lager with a hop profile that will please most craft beer drinkers. I enjoy finishing off one of these Boston favorites in Indianapolis just like I enjoyed watching Peyton Manning finishing off Boston's favorite football team in the AFC Championship in Indianapolis. I still keep my ticket stub from that game in my wallet.

For me, Goose Island Honker's Ale is a middle of the road beer. It is not bad, there is nothing that is off-putting, but there is nothing that is over the top exciting about it. It is still a winner though. It makes me think of Peyton's performance in Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. Not bad, nothing off-putting, nothing over the top. But still a winner.


Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a clean, crisp beer with just enough malt to support the respectable hop profile. While Sierra Nevada is the name given to a geographic area of California and Nevada, it is Spanish for "snow covered mountain range..." Which can be found around the Mile High city of Denver where Peyton will now call home. It's a bit of a stretch making that connection, but we didn't review Oskar Blues. And I'm certainly not toasting Peyton's memory with a fuckin' Coors Light or Blue Moon. But I will toast my QB with a Sierra Nevada.

Peyton Manning: 5.0 mugs.

As you may have noted - and perhaps only if you read the site through traditional internet browsers - last month we attempted a craft beer classics theme. Now as we approach the end of another month, we're finally following up with a roundtable in that vein.

Maybe you've had Anchor Steam. Maybe you've even had Steam and forgotten how good it is. I'd say it's the very definition of bready. It's a light and chewy beer, an easy drinker, with a sweet hint reminiscent of Hawaiian sweet rolls. If I'm out on a bender (it happens quite a bit), and I've found my palate destroyed by bigger beers, I can always count on Anchor Steam to reset everything. Light enough to keep things mellow, tasty enough to compete with much bigger beers. Steam is my go-to everyday drinker. That's my definition of perfect. 5.0 mugs.



I was recently asked by a friend what better beers I might recommend for an upcoming wedding. In a situation where you'd like a little something for everyone, Bell's Amber would be a fine selection. Sweetness was the first thing I noticed, but this beer has a little bit of everything for everyone. Sweetness up front, a slight soapiness in the middle, and a little hoppy finish. 3.0 mugs.


Sam Adams Boston Lager is an easy beer for craft beer drinkers to pick on. It's available everywhere, it's not particularly distinctive, and it's sort of beer that serves as a gateway for folks looking to make that first step into better tasting beer. But it's also a brand that many folks never move away from. There's something weird about a brand-dedicated better beer drinker; it's like having the just enough of the cataracts removed from your eyes to see the next car, instead of the whole road in front of you. I think it's important to remember that most of us have happily drunk Sam Adams before, even if we've moved on. Revisiting the beer, the first thing I picked up was what I thought was a hint of raspberry. Digging deeper, I don't think it was that distinct. But there is a lively fruit flavor there, like an ale yeast sort of thing, hoppy, lively, and the beer reminds me of Anchor Steam - against each other, Sam is fruity, Anchor is bready, but body and finish seem close. But if anything, Sam Adams might have too much of that fruity flavor. If you're wondering how that makes a 1.5 mug difference, shut up. 3.5 mugs.



Next up was Goose Island Honkers Ale, a beer with that sort of (what I'd call) dirty or earthy hoppy flavor, followed up with a sweet and lightly fruity finish. This beer has the least character of the lineup so far, but maybe it's sort of "what's your character of choice?" Because I have no history with this beer, I don't have any reason to consider it much further. Not my thing. 2.9 mugs.


Last up, we revisited Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The beer features a flowery hop flavor, with a slight hint of soap and a (not overpoweringly so) sweetness. Balance is key here, as the beer has a strong enough hop presence for hop-heads, but doesn't overpower. The Oxford Companion to Beer notes "an early devotee was Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, whose fans in turn started to enjoy the brew". Damn you, hippies! 4.0 mugs.


Anchor Steam is the wise man of craft beer. It is over 100 years old and yet it doesn't throw a fit every time someone says that the first American craft breweries opened in the 70s. In fact, it seems that everyone forgets how much this beer is a part of American brewing history. Anchor Steam is a beer that I never fully appreciated when I was first getting in to craft beer. Perhaps I wrote it off as a light beer, unworthy of my adventure for more hops and alcohol. Maybe I just never really ordered it for lack of knowing what it was. Whatever the case may be, I can certifiably say that today I very much enjoy this beer. It rides an enjoyable line between wheat and pilsner, combining the yeasty aroma of a wheat with the delicate yet perceivable crisp, hop bite of a pilsner. A bit of lemon peel keeps the wheat flavor in the picture. Not only is this a great summer beer, it's also a great year-round beer. Very refreshing. 3.5 mugs.



On the day I turned 21, a visit to Chumley's in Lafayette landed me at my first craft beer. Bell's Amber stuck out as something that would be a good middle-ground upon which to launch my craft beer future. In that first Bell's Amber, I was not disappointed. Both hops and malt were present and I knew that I had set foot in a glorious new world of craft beer. Unfortunately, the Bell's Amber I tried in this round did not taste like the same beer. Or maybe it was the same beer but my memory captured a much different flavor experience. Instead of being greeted with a delightful balance of bitter hops and sweet malt, the beer I took a drink of could be better described as Bell's Not-Quite-Best Brown. Maybe the crane of the old packaging took the hops with him, I don't know. It really has been a number of years since I've tried this beer. The new Bell's Brown has a sweet aroma that is backed up by the flavor of brown sugar, toasted bread, walnuts and almonds. Kind of like a Newcastle but better. I feel I ruined a childhood memory. 3.0 mugs.


Sam Adams Boston Lager is a beer that I am constantly surprised by. My apologies for Jim Koch for always thinking his beer is going to be sub-par. It's not that I don't drink much Sam Adams, it's that whenever I drink it I tend to be in a bar that offers around 4 varieties of beer; Budweiser, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Sam Adams. Clearly being placed in that cast of characters would decrease one's desirability. Naturally I always order the Sam Adams, and am pleasantly surprised by the friendly burst of German hops and balancing malt sweetness. It's as if each time I seem to forget that this really is a good beer. Grapefruit and honey in the nose immediately reminds me that I'm about to be greeted by a strong presence of hops and malt. Ruby red grapefruit, toasted malt and caramel round out the flavors and I'm left satisfied with my beer choice. Cheers to your undeniable place in craft beer history, Jim. 3.75 mugs.



Honkers Ale, much like Bell's Amber, is another beer that I remember being hoppier. I blame everyone who makes a 100+ IBU beer for ruining my perception of hoppy. Everyone is to blame but myself. Nonetheless, Honkers Ale does still have a noticeable hop presence. One of my favorite things about Goose Island as a company is that they chose the ESB style for their flagship beer. If you've engaged me in deep beer discussion, you likely know that ESB is my favorite style. The delicate balance of hops and malt with a body that is friendly to the palate is something that is difficult to master. Honkers Ale has a sweet aroma, reminiscent of oranges and honey, but the flavor doesn't quite match the Blue Moon label that the aroma describes. An orange-like sweetness is paired with lemon bitters, toffee and caramel. This is a well-balance ESB that would make a fine gateway beer for anyone newly introduced to craft beer. 4.0 mugs.


Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is practically unfair in this review. Since the dawn of craft beer time, Ken Grossman has been throwing hops in our faces like it has always been 2009. This is the beer that defined American Pale Ale. The beer that made us all realize that in America, we do everything bigger and better. Fuck yeah. This beer drew a line in the sand and told everyone that if you're going to brew a Pale Ale in America, you have to bring the hop thunder. First brewed in 1980, this beer changed craft beer forever, and it continues to be the benchmark for American Pale Ales. The grapefruit and lemon zest aroma is huge, matched only by the grapefruit and orange bitter flavors. Toasted grain and caramel balance out what would otherwise be a hop smack to the face. This isn't the big IPA and DIPA monster that today's craft beer drinkers are used to, but it should be compared to the English Pale Ales that previously defined the style. From this point forward, America made the craft beer rules. Fuck yeah. 4.0 mugs.



Do you like classic rock?  Sure you do -- who doesn't start belting out "CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON!" whenever it comes on the radio?  That's the same way I feel about the craft beer classics.  There's a hearty comfort in these beers that I've had a hundred times and something about them makes me want to do manual labor.  They never seem to get old.


If you're like me, however, listening to classic rock radio for two or three days has you asking yourself more and more often, "Didn't I just hear that?" and you need go throw on some Mars Volta to mix it up.  The craft beer classics are like that in a way.  If all you drank was Honker's Ale for 3 days straight, you'd get pretty goddamn bored with it.  You need to throw a nice Hopslam or Bourbon County Stout in there to keep your palate interested.  The classics will always be the bedrock you return to, but you need to venture out and discover new things all the time.

You want more beer notes?  Of course not, but fuck it, here are 10 words or less about each:

Anchor Steam: Why don't I buy this more? 3.3 mugs.
Bell's Amber: Never pick it first but always like it. 3.6 mugs.
Boston Lager: Can't go wrong and it's available EVERYWHERE.  3.1 mugs.
Goose Island Honkers Ale: A classic of the midwest. 3.5 mugs.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: The get-it-everywhere choice for your hops fix. 4.2 mugs.



Anchor Steam Jason: 3.75 Mugs | Chris: 3.3 Mugs | Rodney: 3.5 Mugs | Mike: 5.0 Mugs | Gina: 4.00 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.91 Mugs

Bell's Amber
Jason: 3.33 Mugs | Chris: 3.6 Mugs | Rodney: 3.0 Mugs | Mike: 3.0 Mugs | Gina: 3.3 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.24 Mugs

Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Jason: 3.85 Mugs | Chris: 3.1 Mugs | Rodney: 3.75 Mugs | Mike: 3.5 Mugs | Gina: 3.6 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.56 Mugs

Goose Island Honkers Ale
Jason: 2.8 Mugs | Chris: 3.5 Mugs | Rodney: 4.0 Mugs | Mike: 2.9 Mugs | Gina: 2.95 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.23 Mugs

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Jason: 4.0 Mugs | Chris: 4.2 Mugs | Rodney: 4.0 Mugs | Mike: 4.0 Mugs | Gina: 4.00 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 4.04 Mugs

23 March 2012

Random Beer Roundup - The Hoosier Pride Edition



Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change


From the Brewers
From Darren at Bier Brewery in Indianapolis:
Here's what we got for this week:

Cream
Persephone
Scottish 70
Belgian Blonde
Belgian Pale
Smoked Brown
Java Nota
Cascadian Light Ale
Chinookalicious IPA 
From Sarah at Bloomington Brewing Co. in Bloomington:
On March 28th, join the Bloomington Brewing Company as we team with One World Catering & Events for our Spring Beer Dinner, six courses paired with fine ales from our brewery. Dinner will be served in the brewery at our new production facility and kitchen, at Industrial Park Drive in Bloomington.

Each course will be paired with ales from the brewery, including a special surprise or two. The event begins at 6pm. Guests are welcome to arrive early to share a beer with our staff and tour the facility.

Menu
Starters -
Grilled Shrimp and Chorizo skewers, Roasted Pear Danish Bleu walnut tartlet, Radicchio Manchego Quesadilla -- Quarrymen Pale Ale

Curry Carrot Soup - Organic carrots, Jamaican Curry -- BigStone Stout

Roasted Brussels Sprout Salad - Capriole Goat cheese, Loesch Bacon, Beet Confit -- Blaze Belgian Brown

Cream Ale Granita - Lemon Saffron Crème Fraiche -- Rt. 37 Cream Ale

Fischer Farms Pork Tenderloin - Spice Crusted and Grilled, with Yucca and Sweet Potato Hash, Broccolini, Ruby Brown Butter Sauce -- Ruby Bloom Amber Ale

Caramel Napoleon - Blood Orange Reduction, Rosemary Cream -- Rooftop IPA

Dinner begins at 6 and concludes by 8:30. Doors open at 5pm. Come early to share a beer with staff and tour our facility. Tickets are $50 (including tax and tip).
Reservations can be made by calling 812-323-2112, or stop in at the Brewpub at Lennie’s.

From Crown Brewing in Crown Point:
Illiana Mayfest is Coming!!  (VIP Tix are almost gone)


From Bob at Flat12 Bierwerks in Indianapolis:
3/28 F12 Night at Tom Tap

From Roger at New Albanian Brewing Co. in New Albany:
Hoosier Daddy bombers will be on the street just in time for the game Friday night. 

Other bits from the Potable Curmudgeon

From Ryan at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis:
Don’t forget to take your growler with you in the morning so you can stop by Thr3e Wise Men on your way home from work on Tuesdays and get it filled with any of our beers for $8.00! Also put our next seasonal tapping party on your calendar. It will be Tuesday April 3rd and we will be tapping our Two Sisters Carolina Saison. The tapping party starts at 6pm with a sampling provided by Omar.


From David at Triton Brewery in Lawrence:
Join us at the Melody Inn for Triton Brewery Night on March 31, 2012 at 9:00pm
The event will be part of their weekly Punk Rock Night show - Triton will debut their full line of bottled beer and have specialty beers available as well and Magnificent Amber on tap. Cover is $8.00 which includes the amazing line up of bands for Punk Rock Night:

The Koffin Kats (nationally touring psychobilly band), Vice Tricks (Louisville rockabilly/punk rock), The Classless (Indy punks)

Triton Brewery Event starts at 9:00, Punk Rock Night music starts at 10:30. Come see how well craft beer and punk rock go together!

New in town
From Megan at Indy Brew Bus:
I wanted to let you know of a fun, new way to experience Indianapolis breweries- it's called Indy Brew Bus, a 14-passengar bus that tours various Indianapolis craft breweries. My husband and I have been enjoying all of the breweries that have popped up in the past year or two, but realized there was no easy way, besides renting a private tour bus, to visit them. So, we thought we'd create one ourselves! Each of our tours will visit at least three local breweries and will spend approximately 45 minutes at each location.  We encourage our patrons to buy growlers from the locations and we even have coolers on board to keep them cold while you drink them! Tickets are $30 a person and can be bought on www.indybrewbus.com  Below is a list of the tour times that we will offer. 

Tours:
Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.
Fridays at 6 p.m.
Saturdays at 12 and 4 p.m.
Sundays at 1 p.m.


At Bars and Restaurants
From Eddie at Sahm's Place in Indianapolis:
The new cooler & taps will be in by the end of next week! We will have 8 more beers available with a couple of rotating selections from our friends at Bier Brewery.

This upcoming Tuesday at 8:30pm we will be hosting 3 Floyds Brewery. Brian Boru, Pride & Joy, Dreadnaught, and JinxProof will all be available! We will have it all on special, so if you haven't had a chance to sample one of these great beers, now is the time.

Stocked Beer this week:
Great Divide Nomad Pilsner
Founders Centennial
Flat12 Blonde
Barley Island Dirty Helen Brown
Bells Lager
Bells Two Hearted
Bells Brown
Bier Brewery PDG
People's Mr. Brown
Brugge Pooka
New Albanian Beak's Best
From Ryan at Scotty's Brewhouse in Various Locations:
It’s Bell’s Oberon time!! Who doesn’t love this time of year when one of the best Summer beers gets released. All of our locations will be tapping this very amazing Seasonal beer this coming Monday March 26th! Stop by and enjoy a pint for $4.50.

Scotty’s Brewhouse West Lafayette is now pouring Finch’s Golden Wing Blonde! A very great refreshing beer for this warm start to our Spring. You can get this every Thursday for $3.50 a pint.

Scotty’s Burger Joint in Columbus has just tapped Sam Adams Tasman Red! Come by and get and get a 48oz Pitcher for only $5 on Tuesday!
From Adam at Trion Tavern in New Haven:
Latest beers on tap:
3 Floyds Ham on Rye
3 Floyds Jinx Proof
3 Floyds Brian Boru
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
Gulden Draak
Sixpoint Diesel
Southern Tier gemini
Southern Tier 2X Stout
Duchesse de Bourgogne
Aventinus
Abita Purple Haze


On Deck (Delicious Dozen II Tapping coming soon):
Bell's Oberon Release Party - March 26 at 4pm, $3.50 pints
Jolly Pumpkin Io
Dark Horse Fore Smoked Stout
Bocker Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge
De Ranke XX Bitter
Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru Belgian Special Brown
Mikkeller/Against The Grain Invasion IPA
Spezial Rauchbier
De La Senne Zinnebir
Nøgne-Ø Porter
Southern Tier 2X Stout
Anchor Steam


Use our Interactive Daily Tap List to check out the rest of the 58 beers we have on tap. Package Store specials (available now):
De Ranke Hop Harvest 2011 - 750ml bottles - $19.99 (price includes tax)
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere - 750ml bottles - $14.99 (price includes tax)
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire - 750ml bottles - $14.99 (price includes tax)
Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura - 750ml bottles - $16.99 (price includes tax)
3 Floyds Gumballhead - 6-packs - $9.99 (price includes tax) 
From the Distributors
From Jen at Cavalier Distribution:
NEW TO THE CAVALIER WAREHOUSE

Two Brothers Monarch Wit - Belgian White; limited seasonal release; 6 packs and draft

Stevens Point Whole Hog Raspberry Saison - Farmhouse Ale; limited seasonal release; 4 packs only

Sixpoint Spice of Life Nugget - American IPA brewed with only Nugget hops; limited release; draft only

Thirsty Dog Irish Setter - Irish Red Ale; limited seasonal release; 6 packs only

Founders KBS - Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrles; very limited seasonal release; 4 packs and draft

Heavy Seas Siren Noire - Chocolate Stout; limited seasonal release; 22oz bottles only

Hinterland Amber - American Amber Ale; NEW everyday offering; 4 pack 16oz bottles

Hinterland Luna Stout - Coffee Stout; NEW everyday offering; 4 pack 16oz bottles

Hinterland Pale Ale - American Pale Ale; NEW everyday offering; 4 pack 16oz bottles

Hinterland IPA - American IPA; NEW everyday offering; 4 pack 16oz bottles

Olivsholt Brugghus Lava - Smoked Imperial Stout; NEW everyday offering; 16.9oz bottles only

Dupont Foret Blanche - Belgian White; NEW everyday offering; 750ml bottles only

Dupont Posca Rustica - Ancient Herbed Ale; NEW everyday offering; 750ml bottles only

Dupont La Biere de Beloeil - Belgian Strong Pale Ale; NEW everyday offering; 750ml bottles only

Slaghmuylder Witkap Pater Stimulo - Belgian Pale Ale; NEW everyday offering; 750ml bottles only

UPCOMING EVENTS

3/23 - Craft Tasting at Cap N Cork on Lima Rd; Ft. Wayne

3/31 - Sixpoint and Finch's Tasting at Mr. G's; Noblesville

4/3 - Birdy's Monthly Tasting; 6-8pm; $10

4/11 - Founders Tapping Party at The Sinking Ship; 7pm

5/26 - Illiana Mayfest; Lake County Fairgrounds, Crown Point; 2pm-6pm; $30 general and $45 VIP (entrance at 1pm)

10/13 - Porter Beerfest 12pm-4pm
Upcoming Events
From Mike at Brew Bracket:
Here’s the 101 on our event:Brew Bracket is the only one of its kind, a true tasting tournament. 16 brewers bring a similar style of beer (Wheat for our spring event) and are seeded randomly into a bracket. 400 participants taste beer (blindly, 2 glasses at a time) and vote for their favorites. Over the course of the day winning beers move through the tournament until we crown a champion at the end of the event. 
Here’s why this year is exceptionally awesome:Our 16 brewers are very close to Indianapolis, and we have nearly every new brewer to the scene involved in the event. This includes 5+ breweries that have just started within the last year. It’s an awesome opportunity for beer fans to find out about new breweries and learn more about what they like within the style through the blind tasting. And we’re partnering with local charity, the SCI Hope Fund, to give back to the community as part of the event.


Basic details:Saturday, April 14th from 12:30PM – 5PM
Tickets are $35 each, only 400 available
More information and ticket purchases through http://www.brewbracket.com/upcomingevents/ 


From Katherine at IU:


From Sam at Against the Grain Brewery in Louisville, KY:
Wondering what to do for Thunder Over Louisville 2012?! Not willing to chance the rain or cold?! Look no further!! We are excited to announce our AtG Thunder Package 2012! We will be closing our doors on Saturday, April 21, 2012 for a private and relaxing experience to all who purchase the AtG Thunder Package 2012!. The package includes:
A ticket into Louisville Slugger Field seating area section 101-106 (Facing the 2nd St. Bridge...perfect view of the show!) for both the baseball game & a perfect seat to watch the largest fireworks display in the country!
Access to the concert down on the Field (Journey UnAuthorized)
Exclusive all day access to 1 seat in Against The Grain (including access to the clean, neat, & maintained restrooms, large televisions showing the Air Show, and full-fun-friendly service!)
Vouchers for your choice of, both, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, as well as, 5 (well liquor or house made beer) drinks!
These tickets will include return access to and from your seat in the ball field & Against The Grain all day! 
This package is available for the $200 (*plus tax) per adult & $175 (*plus tax) per child (children tickets will not include alcoholic drinks, duh). We encourage all interested to act promptly, as we have limited  seating and will not extend sales beyond our indoor seating capacity. TICKETS ON SALE.