In a sort of reprise of last year's recap of our one-year anniversary party, here's what we learned at Thursday evening's proceedings at Brugge, commemorating our two years of beer blogging:
- Actually, I'll start with that something we already knew--Ted Miller and Charlie Midgley are consummate gentlemen and true assets to the Indiana brewing and beer-consuming community. We couldn't have asked for better hosts than Ted, Charlie, and the Brugge staff, who kept our glasses full all night. Thank you a million times over!
- Once again, beer and tomato juice make a . . . well, a weird, exotic combination. But the party wouldn't have been the same had we not started the night with Chelada de Brugge.
- Chris of the Indianapolis Beer Meetup Group and the few Meetup Group folks I was able to chat with definitely share, and perhaps even surpass, our love for craft beer. If you like to drink high quality stuff with people possessing keen beer instincts, then the Meetup Group seems like the great group to be with. Sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you guys and gals. That will have to change the next time we get together to throw down some pints.
- When Charlie says he wants to pour you a half-glass, he always means a full glass.
- Diamond Kings of Heaven '08 was indeed heavenly. Ted, Charlie said you think this is one of your best efforts. I'd have to agree (and I think a few of my fellow Knights would agree).
- I still am not sold on bacon beer. My apologies to the Smoke Beer Riff-Raff.
- According to my taste buds, Schlafly's Grand Cru is perhaps the best beer they've ever produced. Thanks to our friends at the St. Louis's top brewery for providing us with a several growlers fresh from their tap room.
- Craft beer appreciation is no longer largely the province of dudes. Every time we meet new good beer freaks, we see more and more ladies. I, for one, am thankful for that.
- Gina made a great choice in not eating that post-party La Bamba burrito, right Gina?
Thanks once again to everyone who came out to celebrate two years of going crazy for beer with us. We enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones. And if you couldn't come this time, well, there's always next year. Or better yet, there's always the next public roundtable or BART tasting. Stay tuned to Hoosier Beer Geek for more details.
Showing posts with label KOTBR Two Year Anniversary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KOTBR Two Year Anniversary. Show all posts
09 August 2008
KOTBR #52 - The Hoosier Beer Geek Second Anniversary Recap
In the literally hundreds of emails exchanged in the weeks leading up to our second anniversary roundtable, it quickly became apparent that the folks at Brugge were committing their usual first class treatment to our event. Ted and Charlie were open to any and all suggestions, but when it came down to it, they had better ideas than any of us did - and by letting them handle it we were able to eliminate the debate about what to drink.
Ted Miller's Best Effort Yet? Brugge Cheleda
There was a 100+ email chain about beer selection - a strong lobby by Mike for Founders Rubaeus, a near coup by our new knights for smoked beer, and then, finally, Ted told us what he had acquired on his own.
Trapist Ale winner
We went with that: Brugge's White, Black, Tripel De Ripple, Fleur de Cinq, and "a thimbleful of Diamond Kings '08", New Albanian's Mt. Lee steam beer, Two Brothers' Domaine DuPage French Country Ale, and a batch of New Holland's Barrel Aged Dragon's Milk that Ted's own mother made a trip to New Holland to acquire.
Brugge White winner
And there was more - a special Brugge Fleur de Cinq Cheleda - a tribute to an ongoing joke about the beers we select to review. Ted's version - take some Fleur de Cinq (a beer which I believe started as a pilsner for the Wabash line of beers), add tomato, pepper, and god knows what else... and suddenly you've got a peppery tomato sour beer. For the new Knights, it served as a nice initiation beer. For the rest of us, it served as a warning of the evil that Ted is truly capable of.
Brugge Black winner
Not everyone liked it. I kinda did.
Then we started giving things away. The Knights had put together a little stash of things for our guests: a trappist Rochefort 8, a bottle of Pannepot (our second highest rated beer), a bottle of Terrapin Hop Shortage Ale, and one of our last bottles of Three Floyd's Dark Lord 08*.
Another White winner
Charlie and Ted rolled out the rarest of the rare for a giveway - six packs of Brugge bottled White, Black, and Tripel De Ripple. We split the first six pack up in order to award more prizes, and then gave away a whole six pack to one lucky guest.
A happy Brugge Black winner
If you were lucky enough to receive a bottle of Brugge's stuff, take note - those bottles are NOT the same bottle that will someday be available to the public. So what you're holding is extremely rare. And when Brugge Beer takes off (someday) nationally, you might just have something worth quite a bit to beer collectors.
A Brugge Tripel winner
In addition to those goodies, Mike DeWeese contributed gift certificates for J. Gumbo's, Mike Sprinkle from Crown Liquors contributed some sort beer certificate (Sorry, Mike, I sort of missed that in the chaos)..
Brugge Variety Pack winner. Lucky Bastard.
As for our crowd - it's always hard to say who we were able to draw out. We had contacted the folks at the Indianapolis Beer Meetup group, and a posse followed. Knight Mike has spent the week harrassing the folks on the Beer Advocate messageboards. And we sent out 240 MySpace invites (which is a giant pain in the ass).
J Gumbo's Gift Certificate Winner
In the end, we ended up with +/- 75 people, I'd guess. We just want to say thanks to everyone that showed up. It's fun to see the sort of educated and beer loving crowd we've helped create.
Pannepot Winner
As the night progressed, there was more beer! Free beer! The folks at Schlafly made a special effort to deliver two growlers of their India Brown Ale and their latest soon-to-be-bottled Grand Cru (thanks guys!), a growler by Omar at Alcatraz made an appearance. We had a selection of homebrew from our newest Knights - featuring the state fair award winning Jess's Chili Beer and Chris' DIG-B Tripel.
Three Floyd's Dark Lord Winner
We had a bottle of smoked beer if you were in the mood for bacon. And Bob from World Class brought along a few bottles that we forgot about until the end of the night. They are now in our possesion for a future Roundtable review.
A shot of one of the Schlafly (PRONOUNCED SHLAF-LEE) Growlers we poured FREE BEER from. Thanks, Schlafly Folks.
If you're like me, you're wondering which beer we actually chose to review... well, we sort of forgot to review a beer. I think Jason or Jim brought it up at some point, but taking notes is a hassle when you're having a good time...
A hearty and happy crowd spilled out onto the deck.
So we'll just give a five mug rating to the whole experience. Thanks to everyone who came out, contributed, commented, complimented or complained, served and suffered. You've made us very happy.
Jason, Jim, Kelly, Mike, Matt, Gina, Rodney, Jess, Chris, and Matt
The Hoosier Beer Geek Knights of the Beer Roundtable
* * * * *
*Mike says he was quite drunk by the time we gave away the Dark Lord, so he hopes he didn't come across as too belligerent about the rareness of that beer.
Ted Miller's Best Effort Yet? Brugge Cheleda
There was a 100+ email chain about beer selection - a strong lobby by Mike for Founders Rubaeus, a near coup by our new knights for smoked beer, and then, finally, Ted told us what he had acquired on his own.
Trapist Ale winner
We went with that: Brugge's White, Black, Tripel De Ripple, Fleur de Cinq, and "a thimbleful of Diamond Kings '08", New Albanian's Mt. Lee steam beer, Two Brothers' Domaine DuPage French Country Ale, and a batch of New Holland's Barrel Aged Dragon's Milk that Ted's own mother made a trip to New Holland to acquire.
Brugge White winner
And there was more - a special Brugge Fleur de Cinq Cheleda - a tribute to an ongoing joke about the beers we select to review. Ted's version - take some Fleur de Cinq (a beer which I believe started as a pilsner for the Wabash line of beers), add tomato, pepper, and god knows what else... and suddenly you've got a peppery tomato sour beer. For the new Knights, it served as a nice initiation beer. For the rest of us, it served as a warning of the evil that Ted is truly capable of.
Brugge Black winner
Not everyone liked it. I kinda did.
Then we started giving things away. The Knights had put together a little stash of things for our guests: a trappist Rochefort 8, a bottle of Pannepot (our second highest rated beer), a bottle of Terrapin Hop Shortage Ale, and one of our last bottles of Three Floyd's Dark Lord 08*.
Another White winner
Charlie and Ted rolled out the rarest of the rare for a giveway - six packs of Brugge bottled White, Black, and Tripel De Ripple. We split the first six pack up in order to award more prizes, and then gave away a whole six pack to one lucky guest.
A happy Brugge Black winner
If you were lucky enough to receive a bottle of Brugge's stuff, take note - those bottles are NOT the same bottle that will someday be available to the public. So what you're holding is extremely rare. And when Brugge Beer takes off (someday) nationally, you might just have something worth quite a bit to beer collectors.
A Brugge Tripel winner
In addition to those goodies, Mike DeWeese contributed gift certificates for J. Gumbo's, Mike Sprinkle from Crown Liquors contributed some sort beer certificate (Sorry, Mike, I sort of missed that in the chaos)..
Brugge Variety Pack winner. Lucky Bastard.
As for our crowd - it's always hard to say who we were able to draw out. We had contacted the folks at the Indianapolis Beer Meetup group, and a posse followed. Knight Mike has spent the week harrassing the folks on the Beer Advocate messageboards. And we sent out 240 MySpace invites (which is a giant pain in the ass).
J Gumbo's Gift Certificate Winner
In the end, we ended up with +/- 75 people, I'd guess. We just want to say thanks to everyone that showed up. It's fun to see the sort of educated and beer loving crowd we've helped create.
Pannepot Winner
As the night progressed, there was more beer! Free beer! The folks at Schlafly made a special effort to deliver two growlers of their India Brown Ale and their latest soon-to-be-bottled Grand Cru (thanks guys!), a growler by Omar at Alcatraz made an appearance. We had a selection of homebrew from our newest Knights - featuring the state fair award winning Jess's Chili Beer and Chris' DIG-B Tripel.
Three Floyd's Dark Lord Winner
We had a bottle of smoked beer if you were in the mood for bacon. And Bob from World Class brought along a few bottles that we forgot about until the end of the night. They are now in our possesion for a future Roundtable review.
A shot of one of the Schlafly (PRONOUNCED SHLAF-LEE) Growlers we poured FREE BEER from. Thanks, Schlafly Folks.
If you're like me, you're wondering which beer we actually chose to review... well, we sort of forgot to review a beer. I think Jason or Jim brought it up at some point, but taking notes is a hassle when you're having a good time...
A hearty and happy crowd spilled out onto the deck.
So we'll just give a five mug rating to the whole experience. Thanks to everyone who came out, contributed, commented, complimented or complained, served and suffered. You've made us very happy.
Jason, Jim, Kelly, Mike, Matt, Gina, Rodney, Jess, Chris, and Matt
The Hoosier Beer Geek Knights of the Beer Roundtable
* * * * *
*Mike says he was quite drunk by the time we gave away the Dark Lord, so he hopes he didn't come across as too belligerent about the rareness of that beer.
06 August 2008
Couple of quickies about the Anniversary Party
If you are coming to Brugge to hang with us on Thursday, a couple of things to note...
7 ounce specials: There are a bunch of microbrewers' festival glasses left, so Brugge is going to do reduced price 7 oz. pours so that everybody can get some of everything and not end up like Maples at the end of the night. Plus you get to keep the glass, so you can have your own mini-beer festival at home. You can still get the regular sized beers at regular price as well.
Food: if you want food (outside of the L'Enorme frites...good for sharing!) while hanging with us, we are suggesting that you either arrive early, call ahead, or put yourself on the list for a table in the dining room. We've got eight beers or more that the wait staff will have to carry around, serve, and track on tabs. It will make things easier on them, which makes the folks at Brugge happy, and we like to keep them happy. Because they keep us happy.
History in the making: we've got stuff to give away, including something that will be history making...
What is it? You'll have to come to Brugge at 8pm on Thursday to find out!
7 ounce specials: There are a bunch of microbrewers' festival glasses left, so Brugge is going to do reduced price 7 oz. pours so that everybody can get some of everything and not end up like Maples at the end of the night. Plus you get to keep the glass, so you can have your own mini-beer festival at home. You can still get the regular sized beers at regular price as well.
Food: if you want food (outside of the L'Enorme frites...good for sharing!) while hanging with us, we are suggesting that you either arrive early, call ahead, or put yourself on the list for a table in the dining room. We've got eight beers or more that the wait staff will have to carry around, serve, and track on tabs. It will make things easier on them, which makes the folks at Brugge happy, and we like to keep them happy. Because they keep us happy.
History in the making: we've got stuff to give away, including something that will be history making...
What is it? You'll have to come to Brugge at 8pm on Thursday to find out!
31 July 2008
The Beer List (so far)
Have we mentioned that we are having a second anniversary party in one week?
Along with the wonderful Brugge standards of White, Black, and Triple, there will be New Albanian's Mt. Lee, New Holland's Barrel Aged Dragon's Milk, Two Brothers' Domaine DuPage French Country Ale, and "a thimbleful of Diamond Kings '08".
Have we mentioned that Ted Miller rocks? Yes? Okay.
How about his mom? No? Okay.
Ted Miller's mom rocks.
More updates as they come along...
Along with the wonderful Brugge standards of White, Black, and Triple, there will be New Albanian's Mt. Lee, New Holland's Barrel Aged Dragon's Milk, Two Brothers' Domaine DuPage French Country Ale, and "a thimbleful of Diamond Kings '08".
Have we mentioned that Ted Miller rocks? Yes? Okay.
How about his mom? No? Okay.
Ted Miller's mom rocks.
More updates as they come along...
29 July 2008
Hey RSS and Regular Ol' Internet Readers!
If you got the email invite earlier today, sorry for the double. But feel free to answer the attendance poll in the far right column on the site.
Earlier today we sent out email invites for our second anniversary roundtable to a list of email subscribers, media hot shots, political leaders, oil barons, professional athletes, and movers and shakers. We're hoping the email subscribers show up.
If you haven't visited the actual site lately, not only are you missing Elmo - but you may have missed out on twelve event posters advertising the event. Including this one:
We don't want our RSS or internet readers to feel left out - we definitely want to see you too.
The beer: Ted has brought in New Albanian's Mt. Lee. Ted's got a tiny bit of Diamond Kings of Heaven 2008, but we can't make any promises there. You'll find the regular selection of Brugge beer. We've got a few taps to work with. To be honest, we're still working on the highly debated beer list, so expect some other treats as well.
The attitude (or lack thereof): As you probably know, our roundtables are not formal at all. We show up, we drink, and we talk about beer. And football. And that other football (soccer). And John Hughes' movies. And jazz great Grover Washington, Jr. But usually, you can bet on us talking about beer. This roundtable will be even less formal, as we have invited everybody and their grandmother to this shindig.
Other stuff: In addition to drinking great beer, socializing, and doing drawings for prizes (like a bottle of Dark Lord 2008, and some Pannepot), we'll be introducing the newest four Knights of the Beer Round Table: New Chris, the Other Matt, Rod, and Jess. So come out and meet the latest and greatest in our growing beer geek kingdom.
Brugge Brasserie is located at 1011a East Westfield Blvd in Indianapolis. Admission is free (food/drink are not included.. sorry, but we're poor geeks). Action at 8pm.
We hope to see you there!
Jason, Jim, Kelly, Mike, Gina, Matt, New Chris, Other Matt, Rod, and Jess
The Hoosier Beer Geek Knights of the Beer Roundtable
Earlier today we sent out email invites for our second anniversary roundtable to a list of email subscribers, media hot shots, political leaders, oil barons, professional athletes, and movers and shakers. We're hoping the email subscribers show up.
If you haven't visited the actual site lately, not only are you missing Elmo - but you may have missed out on twelve event posters advertising the event. Including this one:
We don't want our RSS or internet readers to feel left out - we definitely want to see you too.
The beer: Ted has brought in New Albanian's Mt. Lee. Ted's got a tiny bit of Diamond Kings of Heaven 2008, but we can't make any promises there. You'll find the regular selection of Brugge beer. We've got a few taps to work with. To be honest, we're still working on the highly debated beer list, so expect some other treats as well.
The attitude (or lack thereof): As you probably know, our roundtables are not formal at all. We show up, we drink, and we talk about beer. And football. And that other football (soccer). And John Hughes' movies. And jazz great Grover Washington, Jr. But usually, you can bet on us talking about beer. This roundtable will be even less formal, as we have invited everybody and their grandmother to this shindig.
Other stuff: In addition to drinking great beer, socializing, and doing drawings for prizes (like a bottle of Dark Lord 2008, and some Pannepot), we'll be introducing the newest four Knights of the Beer Round Table: New Chris, the Other Matt, Rod, and Jess. So come out and meet the latest and greatest in our growing beer geek kingdom.
Brugge Brasserie is located at 1011a East Westfield Blvd in Indianapolis. Admission is free (food/drink are not included.. sorry, but we're poor geeks). Action at 8pm.
We hope to see you there!
Jason, Jim, Kelly, Mike, Gina, Matt, New Chris, Other Matt, Rod, and Jess
The Hoosier Beer Geek Knights of the Beer Roundtable
25 July 2008
Going for the gold
Haven't you heard? Hoosier Beer Geek is turning two! And to celebrate, there will be a two week international sporting event called the Olympics preceding our 2nd anniversary party at Brugge Brasserie on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 8pm. It is free to attend and everyone is welcome.
In case you don't know, Brugge Brasserie is located in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Broad Ripple at 1011a East Westfield Blvd. Their phone number is 317-255-0978. We'll have Brugge's selection of fine, hand crafted Belgians on tap along with a guest beer or two. More details to come.
During the middle of the international sporting event, we will also have our next B+ART at BIG CAR Gallery. B+ART is short to Beer and Art, and is an event meant to highlight creative crafts and bring together art people (to introduce them to craft beer) and beer people (to introduce them to art). It is surprising the number of parallels that there are between the audiences.
Be sure to stop by on Friday, August 15th at 8pm for a free tasting of an international selection of beers (we'll hopefully have a line up for you soon), a viewing of a John Cage film ("Variations VII"), and viewing of art by Judith G. Levy (the show is called "How We Remember: Images Found and Made"). BIG CAR is located in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Fountain Square at the Murphy Art Center, 1043 Virginia Avenue, Suite 215.
In case you don't know, Brugge Brasserie is located in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Broad Ripple at 1011a East Westfield Blvd. Their phone number is 317-255-0978. We'll have Brugge's selection of fine, hand crafted Belgians on tap along with a guest beer or two. More details to come.
During the middle of the international sporting event, we will also have our next B+ART at BIG CAR Gallery. B+ART is short to Beer and Art, and is an event meant to highlight creative crafts and bring together art people (to introduce them to craft beer) and beer people (to introduce them to art). It is surprising the number of parallels that there are between the audiences.
Be sure to stop by on Friday, August 15th at 8pm for a free tasting of an international selection of beers (we'll hopefully have a line up for you soon), a viewing of a John Cage film ("Variations VII"), and viewing of art by Judith G. Levy (the show is called "How We Remember: Images Found and Made"). BIG CAR is located in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Fountain Square at the Murphy Art Center, 1043 Virginia Avenue, Suite 215.
09 June 2008
For clarification...
By "Hoosier Beer Geek's Second Anniversary Roundtable", we mean "PARTY OVER HERE!"
Yes, it is a party.
Yes, there will be beer.
Yes, there will be prizes.
Yes, you are all invited.
Yes, we can have 500 posters.
No, we won't help you find your car afterwords.. Chris.
06 June 2008
Announcing Hoosier Beer Geek's Second Anniversary Roundtable
The Hoosier Beer Geeks'
Second Anniversary Roundtable
29 April 2008
The Hoosier Beer Geek KOTBR Second Anniversary Party is only Four Months Away!
The first Hoosier Beer Geek Knights of the Beer Roundtable Anniversary Party (back in August of 2007) was an overwhelming success. So despite having a few irons in the fire, we're already thinking about how and where to throw our second anniversary party. After viewing our survey data, it appears that a change of location might be a good way to mix things up.
We want your input. In the far right column* you'll see a poll containing of some of our potential - potential meaning we have no idea if they'll all have us - options. If you don't see your favorite spot, leave a comment here. We'll consider almost anywhere - and maybe we're missing somewhere. So click away, drop us a line, or leave a comment. Your help is greatly appreciated.
* * * * *
*For those of you reading via email, you'll have to visit the site.
We want your input. In the far right column* you'll see a poll containing of some of our potential - potential meaning we have no idea if they'll all have us - options. If you don't see your favorite spot, leave a comment here. We'll consider almost anywhere - and maybe we're missing somewhere. So click away, drop us a line, or leave a comment. Your help is greatly appreciated.
* * * * *
*For those of you reading via email, you'll have to visit the site.
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