Random Beer Roundup - Early Edition

It's been a little crazy this week so I thought I'd put this together a day early...

Bars/Breweries/Brewpubs/Restaurants:

Andrew at the Brass Monkey Brewing Company in historic downtown Kokomo drops us a line:

Flagship beers we always try to have on:

White Flag Belgian Wit

See No Evil American IPA

Green Tea Pale Ale

Tenacious Apple Tripel

Silver Back Stout

Double Down Brown

Rotating High Gravity Beers (we always try to have at least one of these on):

Speak No Evil Belgian IPA (on now)

Hear No Evil Imperial IPA (on now)

Ill Intent Imperial Stout

Belligerent Barleywine (Coming late fall)

Upcoming seasonals:

October-Horseman's Reserve Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Nov&Dec-Congregation Holiday Ale

One & Done line (One beer, one batch, one chance)

Current-Double Hopped Double Down

Upcoming-Swampwater Dunkleweizen, Blue Lou Blueberry Ale, Conspirator Belgian Blonde, 9th Wonder Dry Hopped Porter

Since batch sizes are only 10 gallons the selection can vary greatly from day to day. In addition We also have 20 other craft beers on tap that are constantly rotating.

Mike at J. Gumbo's checks in:

Here's our latest:

Draft:

Leffe Blonde

Dogfish Head 60 Min. IPA is finally back

Bottles:

Stone Vertical Epic '08

Stone Russian Imperial Stout '08

Stone Double Bastard '07

Stone Old Guardian '04

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot '00 & '03

Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout '02 (this is the one that is 23.4% ABV)

Our crawfish boil this Sat. has been canceled due to the hurricane. We'll send out an announcement for the next one. It depends on the status of our farmer on the bayou.

Thanks, Mike

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Homebrew/Beer Travel/BJCP/Hammerdancing:

Uber-Beer Geek Ron Smith with a list of things to know:

There are still seats remaining for next week’s start of the Thursday night Beer MBA class series (Sept 11, 18 & 25, 6:30 - 9:30), but I need to hear from you very soon. Please let me know asap if you will be attending (see all details below).

Also, let me know if you are interested in any of the following:

--- INDY OKTOBERFEST – No need to let me know about this one, but just as a reminder, this weekend is the last weekend for the annual Indy Oktoberfest. It has been moved to the state fairgrounds this year and is bigger and better than ever. It is open from 4:00 – Midnight on both Friday and Saturday. There is a lot of great German food, music, dancing, and of course, Beer! There is also a full carnival with rides and traditional fair food, there is a rock and roll music tent, and more. I have a booth there, so stop by to say hello. More details are at www.IndyOktoberfest.com.

--- HOMEBREWING – If you brew or are interested in starting, let me know and consider joining the club I’ve been active in for almost 20 years, the Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI). Visit www.FoamBlowers.com for an application, links to our Yahoo Group site and more info about the club and our meetings. We just nailed down our calendar for the upcoming year (Sept to Aug) and our meetings are starting very soon.

--- BJCP STUDY GROUP (Beer Judge Certification Program) – This study group is much more intense, technical and serious than the Beer MBA classes and is designed for people wanting to become beer judges. This will mark the 4th year for this study group. The dates are not set, but it will probably start in late January 09 (and run through Feb, with the Exam in early March). I’m doing something a little different this year. Instead of 11 weeknight sessions, it will be conducted in 3 or 4 long Saturday sessions. This will give people from outside the Indianapolis area, as well as people that can’t meet on weeknights, a good opportunity to receive this education. If you are interested in this, I can send you an outline to start studying, plus you should strongly consider taking the Beer MBA classes as well. They would be a great way to get started.

--- BELGIUM BEER TRIP – I’m coordinating a trip next summer (09) to Belgium to visit many of the famous cities and breweries. This will also include a side trip to Germany to visit Cologne (Kolsch) and Dusseldorf (Altbier). The likely dates are in the range of July 16 – 29 or so. There will be a group of us from Indiana going. It will be a well coordinated beer-focused trip, but there will also be plenty of time to see the sights, and do your own thing. If you are interested, let me know.

That’s all for now. Please sign up for the Beer MBA classes today. They start next week and with all the people I spoke to at the Oktoberfest, they could fill up quickly.

Thanks,

Ron Smith
- National Ranked BJCP Beer Judge
- Certified Beer Server
- National Award Winning Homebrewer
- Beer and Brewing Educator
- RonSmith@MarketWiseSolutions.com
- Ph: 317-873-6976, ext 1

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Elsewhere in beer in Indianapolis and beyond:

Upland's Lambics are now available for reservation - I've heard nothing but good things about last year's run of lambic. This year they've added a bunch of new flavors - cherry, peach, and kiwi - which join a repeat of last year's varieties - strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry. $15 per bottle.

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Interested in having your events, taps, or new beer inventory listed on Hoosier Beer Geek? It won't cost you anything. Drop us a line at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com.

Drowning in One Ounce Pours of Ultra-rare Beer

It starts like this: a post on the RateBeer Calendar and Beer Advocate
forums:

Hello everyone! I thought I would go ahead and start a thread since I am leaving for my honeymoon and I just submitted this tasting for approval. Lots of great brews in the lineup already, BA Speedway, Black Albert, Cuvee De Castleton and much more. Cheers! Mike

Last night Gina, Chris, Claire and myself were lucky enough to join around 30+ other folks downtown for the latest Beer Advocate/Rate Beer tasting, hosted by Crown Liquors' Mike Sprinkle. This was the first BA/RB meeting for all of us, and to say the experience was a great one would be an understatement.


The beer lineup (50 Beers for those keeping count):

• Boulevard Smokestack Series Saison
  
• Lost Abbey Inferno
  
• Russian River Damnation
  
• Drie Fonteinen Doesjel
  
• Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. Cuvee De Castleton
  
• Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale
  
• New Belgium La Folie Wood Aged Beer^*
  
• Mikkeller It's Alive!
  
• Firestone Pale Ale
  
• Russian River Blind Pig
  
• Russian River Piny the Elder

• Marin Brewing Co White Knuckle Double IPA
  
• Boulevard Smokestack Series Double Wide IPA
  
• Ballast Point Dorado Double IPA
  
• Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree^*
  
• Alesmith Yulesmith Holiday Ale (Summer)
  
• Southern Tier Unearthly
  
• New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red^*
  
• Unibroue Quelque Chose
  
• Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence

• New Glarus Raspberry Tart^*
• Founders Blushing Monk
  
• Brother Adam's Bragget Honey Ale
  
• Boulevard Smokestack Series Long Strange Tripel
  
• Microbrasserie Charlevoix Lupulus Dominus Vobiscum (2007)
  
• Springfield Brewing Company Muller Barrel Reserved 10th Anniversary
  
• Boulevard Smokestack Series Sixth Glass
  
• George Gale & Company Gales Prize Old Ale (1999)
  
• George Gale $ Company Gales Prize Old Ale (1997)
  
• Dark Horse 3 Guys Off The Scale Barleywine (2005)^*
  
• Alesmith Wee Heavy
  
• Alesmith Barrel Aged Wee Heavy (2006)^*

• Lost Abbey Cuvee de Tomme
  
• Alesmith Old Numbskull
  
• Alesmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull (2006, #128 of 208)
  
• Alesmith Decadence English Old Ale (2005)
  
• Alesmith Barrel Aged Decadence English Old Ale (2005, #215 of 280)
  
• Brouwerij De Molen Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (#327)
  
• De Struise Black Albert Belgian Royal Stout (RIS)
  
• Three Floyds DarkLord (2007)
  
• Alesmith Speedway Stout
  
• Alesmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout (2006, #193 of 235)

• Southern Tier Creme Broulee Imperial Milk Stout
  
• Coast Brewing Co. Blackbeerd Imperial Stout
  
• Bare Tree Weiss Wine (2005)^*
  
• Weyerbacher Heresy
  
• St. Bernardus Prior 8
  
• Duck Rabbit Rabid Duck Russian Imperial Stout^*
  
• Bar Harbor Cadillac Mtn. Stout
  
• Eugene City Brewery 100 Meter Ale

At 30ish people and bomber-sized bottles (for the most part), that meant a roughly one ounce pour each. That worked out pretty well, I thought, though a crowd any larger would probably mean not enough beer to go around. I wouldn't be surprised if veterans of these events already thought the crowd was too large - I'd be interested to hear what those of you who attended and are reading thought. And while we're at it, what were your favorites? Any surprises? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Mike Sprinkle for doing a fantastic job of guiding us through, our event hosts, and everyone else who attended for their great company. What an event!



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*Beers marked with an asterisk stood out as my personal favorites

Random Beer Roundup - Beer in Indianapolis and Elsewhere Edition

When I google the words "Indianapolis" and "Beer" this site comes in 20th, right after "Jessica Simpson's New Gig: Selling Beer - Entertainment News Story ..."

I'd like to resolve that so look forward to the continued use of the words Indianapolis and Beer in these posts.

From Kirk at Mr. G's Liquors, Noblesville (Noblesville is not Indianapolis, but it does have beer):

New to our shelves:

Froach Heather Ale

Brugge Black

Brugge Triple de Ripple

Samuel Smith Organic Cider

Lakefront New Grist Gluten free

Seasonals:

Becks Oktoberfest

Spaten Oktoberfest

From John at Big Red Liquors (no Indianapolis locations, but a fine beer selection):

Note: Big Red Beerfest is Thursday and Friday October 16th and 17th 6-9pm at the Bloomington Convention Center.

New Next week:

Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere fresh hop

Samuel Smith organic Cider

Three Floyds Gorch Fock Helles

Returning Seasonals:

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale

Ayinger Oktoberfest

Coming very soon (These items are being added to our system in the next week or so):

Mikkeller All Others Pale

Mikkeller Big Worse Barly Wine

Mikkeller Black Stout

Mikkeller Draft Beer

Mikkeller Jackie Brown

Mikkeller Stateside IPA

Rogue Chipotle

Brooklyner Schneider Hopfen Weisse 2008

Brugge Black

Brugge White

Brugge Tripel de Ripple

Hebrew Coney Albino Python

Hebrew Coney Sword Swallower

Left Hand Rye Bock

Czech Rebel

Sea Dog Motley Crew Sampler

Budweiser American Ale

Michelob Dunkel Weiss

Michelob Pale Ale

Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Atwater Vanilla Java Porter

Rogue Double dead guy

From Mike at Crown Liquors comes the following info (See their amazing beer selection! In Indianapolis!):

Hi Michael, Got a few things "new this month at Crown". Also, I am the local host for Ratebeers monthly tasting. Our next one will be Aug 30th at J. Gumbo's downtown and there will be some VERY special beers at this tasting, most you will not find anywhere in the states. To name a few Alesmith Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout, Black Albert and Cuvee De Castleton, lots more will be showing up because everyone brings a beer or two. It starts at 6:30.

New at Crown:

Mikkeller Its Alive

Mikkeller Monk's Brew

't Hofbrouwerkjke Bosprotter

't Hofbrouwerkjke Hofblues

HaandBryggeriet Dark Force

HaandBryggeriet Norwegian Wood

HaandBryggeriet Norse Porter

Norrebro Bryghus Skargaards Porter

Norrebro Odense Ale

Nogne O Imp. Stout

Nogne Saison

Stone Vertical Epic 080808

De Molen Rasputin (524 bottles made in the world, I got all 36 that came into the state)

Rogue Dbl. Dead Guy

If you're in the Kokomo area or thinking of taking a trip (the beer - although not brewed in Indianapolis - is well worth the visit) have a few things to look forward to from Half Moon Brewery. According to head brewer John Templet:

Here are the beers I have on tap always:

Pre-Prohibition Pilsner – A light golden lager made with the finest pilsen
malt. This American Style Pilsner is crisp, clean and refreshing. This
is a great introduction to hand crafted beer. ABV=4.1% O.G.=1036 IBU=13

Wildcat Wheat – An unfiltered Light American Wheat beer. It has a light,
sweet taste with a hint of fruitiness. Another good intro beer! ABV=4.5%
O.G.=1040 IBU=13

Stoplight City Red – An Irish-Style Red Ale with a medium body and a dry
finish. This beer is reddish in color and has a candy-like caramel
sweetness. A deliciously easy beer to drink! ABV=5.7% O.G.=1054
IBU=25

Old Ben Brown – This American-Style Brown Ale has a deep reddish-brown
color and roasted malt and caramel-like flavors with a well balanced hop
finish. Another easy beer to drink that’s a little bit more bold.
ABV=6.3% O.G.=1060 IBU=30

Elwood’s IPA – For the hopheads! This is an amber colored India Pale Ale.
It starts with a citrus-like aroma from generous helpings of fresh hops.
A very dry but fruity and flavorful beer that will leave you wanting
another! ABV=6.7% O.G.=1062 IBU=60

Cole Porter – A pleasantly roasty and smooth beer that is black in color.
If you’re into bold flavors, you’ll love it’s velvety goodness! A secret
ingredient gives this beer it’s special edge. ABV=7.0% O.G.=1066
IBU=30

These are my seasonals right now:

Cannon Shot Cream Ale- This all malt Cream Ale with low hop levels is the
perfect golden beer. It has an incredibly smooth and creamy mouth feel
that finishes crisp, clean and refreshing. For all of you "regular beer
flavor" fans, this is the ultimate brew! ABV=5.4% O.G.=1048 IBU=16

Thursday, Aug. 28th Realease Date: Hazelnut Brown Ale- Sure to be your new favorite, this brown ale has a distinct, luscious hazelnut flavor that you will definitely want to savor. Think of it as a hug in a mug. ABV = 5.7% OG = 1056 IBU = 25

Other Brews in the works:

Scottish Ale - Mid to early Sept. release

Octoberfest - Late Sept. release

Other Stuff:

Our own Matt R asks "When is Founder's Breakfast Stout (which is a beer) coming to Indianapolis?"

The answer, from Cavalier Distributing's Mat Gerdenich: "The oficial release is Sept 1. we should have ours later this week and start moving it next week. We are getting 140 cases to start with. More cases and kegs to follow."

Hopefully one of those kegs will magically appear in my garage.

Because I know all of Indianapolis (and elsewhere) is dying to know about Budweiser's new beer - Here's a link to a YouTube video highlighting the differences in Budweiser Lager and Budweiser American Ale. I'm sure we'll be weighing in shortly.

Beer for kids? FINALLY!¹ Can we get that in Indianapolis? - "..in April he introduced a brew from another Belgian tradition: bières de table.

'When I lived there in the late ’70s and early ’80s,' he said of his time in Belgium, 'everybody drank it for lunch, from grandmothers to kids.'"

That from The New York Times and a nice article about session beers - craft beer on the lighter side of the alcohol scale.

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Interested in having your events, taps, or new beer inventory listed on Hoosier Beer Geek? It won't cost you anything. Drop us a line at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com.

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¹ sarcasm