22 July 2011

Random Beer Roundup - The Thankful Edition



Another Indiana Beer Week has come and gone.  Thanks to those that participated by volunteering, attending, or providing beer for the events that went on during the week. 

Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change


From the Brewers
From Erin at Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield:
In case you haven't heard, Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield has officially tapped its first few beers. Brewed by Co-owner and Head Brewer DJ McCallister, Black Swan's house beer list includes: 90 Schilling Scottish Ale, Double-Hopped Pale Ale, Robust Porter (tapping this week) and Hefeweizen (tapping this week), with an ESB in the queue.

Every Friday will be "Grill & Fill Friday." For $12 customers can get their growlers filled with Black Swan beer and a cheeseburger. Grill & Fill only includes the "fill." For those who don't have a growler, it is $4 to purchase the glass.

From Bob at Flat12 in Indianapolis:
Upcoming events on the Flat12 calendar include:
Friday - Flateau du Dorman Blackberry Porter,
Saturday - Twelve Cycle (aka Bi**h Please),
Sunday - Carrot Top Ginger Wit
Saturday, 23rd Flat12 Night at Victory Field (Indians)
Monday, 25th Maggiano's Beer Dinner
Tuesday, 26th Sahm's Place TNT (Trivia Night)

From John at Half Moon Brewery in Kokomo:
Releasing the ReplicAle this Thursday.  Some of you got to try it at the Microbrewer's festival on Saturday.

Indiana ReplicAle: This summer, about 19 breweries from around Indiana have each brewed a Single Hop Pale Ale using the same recipe and same ingredients (other than hops)  to demonstrate some of the differences between varieties of hops. Every participating brewery has used a different hop variety. Half Moon chose to use Falconer's Flight hops described as having "superior aromatic qualities, imparting distinct tropical, citrus, floral, lemon and grapefruit tones."  It turned out to be one heck of a beer!   If American Pale Ales are your kind of beer, this one is worth making the trip to Kokomo for.  Liz Laughlin, brewer from Rock Bottom Brewery - College Park, supplied this year's recipe below:

SINGLE HOP PALE ALE
 Briess Standard 2-row malt     85.0%
 Briess Caramel 40 malt          7.5%
 Briess Carapils malt            7.5%
 IBU 40
 OG 1.050
 FG 1.009
 ABV 5.4%
 Dry hopping rate = 1/3 lb. per barrel

From Andrew at the Ram Restaurant and Brewery in Indianapolis/Fishers:

Our Brewers of Indiana Guild ReplicAle is now on tap at both RAM locations! Nick-named “Single (hopped) and Loving It,” this American Pale used one hop variety exclusively throughout. The brew’s pleasurable flavor profile showcases all of the great characteristics of the American hop called Chinook, highlighted by the over-the-top citrusy grapefruit presence. Enjoy! Now on TapBill’s Bettor – Nutty malt with a light body and dry finishBarefoot Wit – tart and refreshing with additions of Orange Peel, Coriander, and ChamomileBatch 1000 Easy Rye-der – big and balanced flavor of pilsner malt, noble hops, and ryeSingle (hopped) and Loving It – American Pale with Chinook hops
At the Bars and Restaurants
From Nick at Milano Inn in Indianapolis:
At Milano Inn this week, we have:
Sun King Wee-Mac
Sun King Cream Ale
Sun King Norwegian Blue
All Sun King Beers are on Special Every Saturday
Peroni- on special Friday
Bells Oberon
Flat 12 Half Cycle IPA
From Lauren at Scotty's Brewhouse various locations:

Visit any Scotty's Brewhouse or Scotty's Lakehouse and enjoy the featured Thr3e Wise Men beer on the rotating tap!

Scottys Brewhouse Northside Indianapolis now has Woodchuck Summer on tap!
From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks in Zionsville:
Just confirmed our deliery of Stone Ruination, so it will go on soon, currently there is Dreadnaught, Sun King a few hops more, BBC Java Porter, Bell's Oberon, and Founder's Double Trouble....

From the Distributors/Reps:
From Greg at Cavalier Distributing:
-8/05: Seasonal Craft Beer Tasting @ Parti Pak Lq; 4 - 6 pm

-8/05: Vintage Spirits Customer Appreciation Tasting; 1 - 4 pm.

-8/06: Vineyard Lq Tasting on Brookville Rd.; 4 - 7 pm

Upcoming Events:
Brew Haven Craft Brew Festival
Saturday, August 6   2pm-6pm   New Haven, Indiana

Samples of over 100 different beers from more than 30 breweries will be poured at the First Annual “Brew Haven” Craft Beer Festival. Many of the brews will be rare or seasonal including (but not limited to) special offerings from Upland, Flat12, Sun King, Mad Anthony, Sam Adams and New
Belgium.

Five Star Distributing, World Class Beverages, Cavalier Distributing and Aalco Distributing are lending their support and will also be present at the festival. Brewers Art Supply will be on hand to help explain the hobby of homebrewing. Old Crown Coffee Roasters will be pouring their own kind
of brew. And finally, the members of M.A.S.H. (Fort Wayne Homebrew Club) will be pouring 50 of their own handcrafted beers including some that recently won awards at the Indiana State Fair Brewers’ Cup, one of the nation’s largest homebrew competitions.

Tickets can be purchased at Trion Tavern or through www.triontavern.com. Advance tickets cost $25 and include: unlimited samples, a souvenir tasting glass, a meal and water. A limited number of tickets will be sold the day of the event for $30. Designated driver tickets will also be available for $5. A portion of the proceeds will go to the New Haven Downtown Improvement District. This will be a smoke-free event both under the tent and inside the bar.

For the full lineup and more information…
Visit us at: www.triontavern.com
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/brewhavenfestival
Follow us on Twitter: @BrewHaven
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We are holding an Oktoberfest on Sept. 24th at our park (1900 block of Alabama). It is $5 for advanced tickets and $10 at the door- all proceeds will go towards an endowment to maintain the HMP Park (event location). So far we will be serving Upland Beer, Fountain Square Brewing samples, and Schlalfy Beer samples as well as featuring live music from Hero Jr. Food vendors include Ivey Spice and Sweet Cakes by Ronda. You can get additional information from the following: 

oktoberfesthmpf.com@oktoberfestHMPFFacebook Event: Herron-Morton Oktoberfest
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20 July 2011

Beer and Cheese Club - July Edition


This month's edition of the Beer and Cheese Club keeps things regional with cheese from Coopersville, Michigan and beer from New Albany, Indiana. The beer, New Albanian's Hoptimus, is certainly no stranger to most fans of local beer. Oddly enough, we've never reviewed Hoptimus at Hoosier Beer Geek - though you can be sure we've drunk our fair share of it. Hoptimus is a bold and balanced Imperial IPA that stands up to any, featuring the use of Special Pale malts, Nugget and Cascade hops, and New Albanian's house English yeast. It weighs in right at 100 IBU.

Our cheese is Polkton Corners by Grassfield Farm, a family-made original recipe cheese where the cheese is not pressed, but rather shaped into squares. The cheese is made using cows' certified organic fresh (raw) milk, which is free of hormones, steroids, and antibiotics. Grassfield Farm practices rotational grazing and was the first Michigan farm to be licensed to make and sell raw milk cheese. The milk the farm doesn't use in making cheese is sold by Horizon.

Hoptimus is a really meaty beer - you almost feel like you can sink your teeth into it. Chewy, rich, and of course hoppy - but also balanced and lingering in a good way. This isn't a hit-you-over-the-head Imperial IPA - it's entirely too drinkable. I'm glad we shared the bottle between the three of us because I could have easily polished it off by myself.

Polkton Corners is an extremely creamy cheese that coats the mouth, also in a good way. It's a highly agreeable cheese - no funkiness here, just smooth buttery flavors. Of all the cheeses we've sampled in the Beer and Cheese club, it's the first one I can recall polishing off in one sitting. Together the beer and cheese (somehow) reminded me of a family fish fry - a batter-like sort of flavor that I enjoyed very much. Eating the rind lent a peanut-shell sort of flavor, one that I also appreciated.


I am ecstatic that the beer for this month is Indiana’s New Albanian Hoptimus. We’ve been lucky to feature great beers in our club, but it is really something special when we are able to highlight one from our own state. The beer alone has a chewy mouthfeel and has a prominent malt finish. The Cascade hops are notably showcased as well. This is a big beer at 10.7%, but it never feels that way throughout the glass.

The cheese, from Michigan, is an organic cow milk cheese. It is sublimely creamy with a bit of funk, which I presume comes from the grass the cows are fed. The more I ate, the more salty it seemed to get, which turned out to be quite pleasant when paired with the Hoptimus. Not only did the saltiness of the cheese go well with the sweet malt, the pairing really made the hops pop. The creaminess of the cheese seemed to make the hops stick to the top of my tongue while also presenting a peppery flavor on the sides.

I would also mention that the three of us nearly consumed the entire (and rather large) chunk of cheese post haste. I am pretty sure it is safe to say that we were really big fans of this one.


My notes have asterisked terms "CITRUS" and "salty barnyard". Sounds like an odd pairing, right? Not a bit -- these two gems left our table happier than pigs in shit. We're talking happy pigs, just the way The Goose likes it.

Polkton Corners is a just-barely-spreadable cheese with a rich, buttery texture. It's got a subtle bit of funkiness that's actually quite pleasant. Many of our readers are no doubt familiar with Hoptimus, but it's a wonderful Cascade blast of grapefruit citrus with just enough malt to balance it out. With the two paired, I found that the beer produced a brief, huge hops blast that gave way to the malt, showcasing the sweetness behind all the bitterness that's not as apparent when drinking the beer by itself. I've always loved Hoptimus, and experiencing this pairing has added layers to that love.

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.
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15 July 2011

Random Beer Roundup - The Pushing Cardano's Law Edition


We are only one day away from the 16th annual Microbrewer's Festival.  We are excited for everything except the weather, but there is plenty of shade to be found and we won't be lacking in good beer to drink.  If you are coming, pack the sunscreen and some water and enjoy your day!  Say hi if you see me!


Some other events tonight:


Friday, July 15 - Make it Local dinner at Chef JJ's featuring Six IN Breweries and Chefs (Sold Out)
Chumley's Special Beer Tappings (all night)
IN Beer Tasting at Kahn's, 4-6 pm
Beer Tasting at Crown Liquors (Downtown), 4-7 pm

Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change


From the Brewers
From Erin at Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield:
In case you haven't heard, Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield has officially tapped its first few beers. Brewed by Co-owner and Head Brewer DJ McCallister, Black Swan's house beer list includes: 90 Schilling Scottish Ale, Double-Hopped Pale Ale, Robust Porter (tapping this week) and Hefeweizen (tapping this week), with an ESB in the queue.

Every Friday will be "Grill & Fill Friday." For $12 customers can get their growlers filled with Black Swan beer and a cheeseburger. Grill & Fill only includes the "fill." For those who don't have a growler, it is $4 to purchase the glass.

From Andrew at the Ram Restaurant and Brewery in Indianapolis/Fishers:
Happy Indiana Craft Beer Week to everyone. Be sure to stop by the RAM booth at the Indiana Microbrewer’s Festival! In addition to Big Red IPA, Buttface Amber, Indy Blonde, and Barefoot Wit, we will also have special tappings of Anaheim IPA, an IPA brewed with Anaheim Chile Peppers at 4 p.m., and Porky’s Revenge, our Total Disorder Porter infused with bacon at 5:30 p.m. See everyone at the Fest!

Carry Out
From Patrick at Crown Liquors in Downtown Indianapolis:
Tickets for the INDIANA MICROBREWERS FESTIVAL are now available at some CROWN LIQUORS locations! The festival is on Saturday, July 16th from 3-7PM. We are carrying the GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS, they are $40 and allow unlimited sampling for four hours!
(NOTE: We are NOT selling the VIP or DESIGNATED DRIVER tickets, Sorry! VIP is sold out, but DD tix can be purchased here.)
From Joe at Crown Liquors (US 31 S.) in Indianapolis:
In celebration of Indiana Craft Beer Week, this Friday, July 15th, from 5-8PM we will be sampling brews from every Indiana Brewery we have in stock!!!

Including:

BEE CREEK
BARLEY ISLAND
LAFAYETTE BREWING
MAD ANTHONY
NEW ALBANIAN
OAKEN BARREL
THREE FLOYDS
SUN KING
UPLAND

...And perhaps even some special surprises!

New beers will arrive tomorrow as well!

Also, our Downtown store (Delaware and Ohio) will be doing an UPLAND tasting Friday, from 4-7PM featuring their everyday beers and the special release Lambics.

Don't forget to buy your tickets to the Indiana Microbrewers Festival, this Saturday, July 16th, from 3-7PM. We still have tickets here at US 31 (and some other Crowns), get them before it's too late!
At the Bars and Restaurants
From Lauren at Scotty's Brewhouse various locations:
Indiana Beer Week at Scotty's
Go to any Scotty's Brewhouse or Scotty's Lakehouse locations and try the following Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. beers on their designated day for $4.50 a pint!

Fri – Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. Centennial Martyr Double IPA
Sat – Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. Hubbard and Craven's Coffee Porter
Sun – Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. Two Lucy's Blackberry Wheat
From Dan at Fat Dan's Deli in Broad Ripple:
Delirium Tremens, Old Style, Upland Wheat and Dragonfly, and SunKing Cream Ale on tap now at Fat Dan's....stop by after the Micro brewer's festival in Broad Ripple this Saturday!

From the Distributors/Reps:
From Greg at Cavalier Distributing:
NEW IN STOCK FROM CAVALIER

Berghoff Backyard Ale: 4pk / 16 oz CANS; American Wheat Ale; Limited seasonal release

UPCOMING CAVALIER EVENTS

-7/15: Craft Beer Tasting at Kahns on Keystone Featuring: Mad Anthony, NABC, Tyranena & Upland; 4 - 6 pm.

-7/15: Special Tapping Night at Chumley's Broad Ripple Featuring: Boulder, Founders, Great Divide, KY Bourbon Ale, & Stone Brewing.

-7/16: Indiana Microbrewer's Fest; 3 - 7 pm.

-8/05: Seasonal Craft Beer Tasting @ Parti Pak Lq; 4 - 6 pm

-8/05: Vintage Spirits Customer Appreciation Tasting; 1 - 4 pm.

-8/06: Vineyard Lq Tasting on Brookville Rd.; 4 - 7 pm

Upcoming Events:
Craft beer festival coming to New Haven this summer

June 1, 2011 – New Haven, Indiana – The Trion Tavern is proud to announce its 1st
Annual “Brew Haven” Summer Craft Beer Festival. On Saturday, August 6, 2011, northeast
Indiana’s newest craft beer festival will be held in downtown New Haven, Indiana. From
2pm to 6pm, attendees will have the opportunity to taste dozens of different beers. The
festival tent will be located on Main Street just east of Broadway along the north side of
Trion Tavern.

Numerous craft breweries will be on hand to pour samples of their beers. The growing list
of participants already includes: Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, Indiana), Goose
Island Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois) and New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colorado)
and Five Star Distributing.

Advance tickets cost $25 and include: unlimited samples, a souvenir tasting glass, food
and water. Tickets can be purchased at Trion Tavern or through www.triontavern.com. A
limited number of tickets will be sold the day of the event for $30. Designated driver tickets
will also be available for $5. A portion of the proceeds will go to the New Haven Downtown
Improvement District. This will be a smoke-free event both under the tent and inside the
bar.

Trion Tavern is located at 503 Broadway in downtown New Haven, Indiana. “The Trion”
features the greatest selection of distinctive craft beers in the area with 58 different taps
and dozens of bottled beers. Many of the brews are regional, some of them rare, and all
are carefully chosen for their distinctiveness in order to provide the widest possible range
of styles for any palette. Owner and operator Greg Jacquay proudly provides a friendly,
authentic atmosphere with a unique, handcrafted bar as its centerpiece. Trion Tavern has a
full menu and a separate family room.
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