Random Beer Roundup - Every Friday Edition

Liquor/Better Beer Stores:

The cellar at Goose the Market is featuring the following new arrivals and seasonal beers:

Brugge Black, White and Tripel de Ripple have arrived in the sexy new 750 mL bottles.
A few bombers of the following are available, but going fast:
Stone Vertical Epic 08.08.08
Stone XII Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
Three Floyds XI Anniversary Fantabulous Resplendence
Two Brothers Oh Brother! Tripel
Shmaltz Brewing Coney Island Albino Python White Lager and He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA.
Saison DuPont Belgian Farmhouse Ale in 375 mL singles and 4 packs of 330 mL bottles.
Founder's Rubaeus Ale in 4 packs.
These are all available for a limited time in addition to our regularly rotating craft beer selection.

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Bars/Breweries/Brewpubs/Restaurants:

Mike DeWeese of J. Gumbo's let us know that they are currently featuring a "live crawfish boil every Saturday night. It starts at 8pm until the crawfish are gone. Reservations aren't required but recommended. They are $17 for a single portion with all the fixins and $25 to pig out (all you care to eat). There is a 3 five ounce beer flight of Abita drafts included."

Also, "current freaky beers we have on tap other than the usual awesome selection are:"

Two Brothers Domaine Dupage
Brugge Tripel
Victory Hopdevil
Magic Hat No. 9
Founders Red's Rye

Chris notes that Shallos Antique Restaurant has Stone 12th Anniversary on tap. Matt R. also saw St. Bernardus 12 on tap there.

Matt R. took down the beer list at Chumley's in Broad Ripple:

Two Brothers Oh Brother! Tripel---while supplies last
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Magic Hat #9
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale
Founders Reds Rye
Bell's Consecrator Dopplebock, Two Hearted, Oberon
Three Floyds Alpha King
Upland Preservation Pilsner & Wheat
Goose Island Matilda
Stone Arrogant Bastard
Victory Prima Pils

The following beers are coming soon to Chumley's:

Ommengang Rare Vos
Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA
Sierra Nevada Double DeBOCKel Beer
Left Hand Oktoberfest
Victory Hop Wallop
Brugge Tripel de Ripple
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

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Random Beer News/Events:

Founders will be hosting their 2008 Breakfast Stout Breakfast on Saturday, Semptember 20th from 10am to 1pm. Tickets are $25 and go on sale August 27th at 11am. Only 200 tickets will be sold. For more information see Founders website.

There's a new brewery in town. Well, actually in The Region. Let's give a hearty welcome to Crown Brewing! Manager Mike Goodfellow and Brewer Jim Cibak have several years of experience working at Three Floyds Brewery in Munster and decided to branch out on their own. Their initial beer lineup includes Special Force Ale, Weizenheimer and Bodacious Brown Ale.

Hoosier Beer Geek and Big Car Gallery will be teaming up for the next B+ART on Friday, September 19th. As always, festivities will kick off at 8pm at Big Car in Fountain Square and the theme for next month will be Oktoberfest Beers.

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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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Beer Diary - Mike

Gina and I have a problem. It's not that we're alcoholics; In fact we don't drink all that often. The problem is that we can't stop buying beer.

In the fridge:

1 - Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
1 - Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence
3 - (Unibroue) Trader Joe's 2007 Vintage Ale
1 - Barley Island Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Stout
1 - Sierra Nevada 2008 Bigfoot Barleywine
1 - Shipyard Brewing Co. Pumpkin Ale
1 - Iron City Beer Premium Lager
1 - Kasteel Rouge
1 - Barley Island Sinister Minister Belgian Style Black Ale 2007
1 - Aventinus Weizen Eisbock
1 - Bells Hopslam
1 - HeBrew Jewbelation Eleven
1 - Kreik Cherry Lambic
1 - Rogue Morimoto Soba Ale
2 - cans of Schlitz (leftover from the Retro Beer Challenge)
2 - cans Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
1 - Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter
1 - Goose Island Oatmeal Stout
1 - Sierra Nevada Porter
1 - Sinebrychoff Porter (2000 vintage, straight of the shelf of PartyPak)
1 - Dogfish Golden Era Imperial Pilsner
1 - Great Divide Saint Bridget' Robust Porter
1 - Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale
1/2 Growler - Schlafly Coffee Stout
1 - Lakefront Cherry Lager
1 - Unlabeled Avery
1 - Brooklyn Lager
1 - Sapporo Beer
1 - Warsteiner Premium Verun (whatever that means)

And on the shelf:

1 - Schlafly Reserve Barleywine Style Ale (2006)
1 - Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper (2007)
1 - Real Ale Brewing Company Brewhouse Brown Ale
1 - Real Ale Brewing Company Full Moon Pale Rye Ale
3 - Founders Breakfast Stout
1 - Baltika 9 Extra Lager
2 - Kasteel Rouge

My current physical situation (no gym membership, no bike rides, 10 extra pounds) means that none of this is getting drank right now, either. The problem is that there's a whole shelf (and both crisper drawers) of my fridge filled with beer.

This weekend, while reading The Brewmaster's Table, it occurred to me that in order to do proper pairings, it would be best to have on hand at least one beer representing each BJCP style. Since the fridge is so full already, we'll see how that goes.

16 February 08 Location: My Mom's House, Trenton IL

Rogue Santa's Private Reserve - Trips back to Illinois means visits to Illinois liquor stores. Usually by the time I've bought a six of something to drink over the weekend my mom will remind me that I've got four left over from the last time I was home. The Santa's Private Reserve was left from Christmas.

Tea colored with no head, yeasty bready elements in the nose mix with scents of pine and orange peel. The beer had a flat front, and worked the sides of the mouth. Earthy flavors ring out, with no reflection of the nose - the primary taste I get is fresh cut green beans. An interesting and drinkable beer, with a tiny hop bite on the back end - not offensive, not very good either.

18 February 08 Location: Home

Founders Breakfast Stout - This is a beer I picked up back in Illinois. I was busy writing up the latest Beer School entry and suggested that our readers pour themselves a beer and settle in - then I realized I was really talking to myself.

Deep black opaque body supports a thin ghostly head that doesn't go away through the whole pint. Nose of chocolate, malt, and coffee the leads to a straight-up coffee shot taste. Cold or warm, the flavors remain - a top of mouth coffee bite. It would be interesting to compare this against Schlafly's Coffee Stout - I suspect they're very similar beasts. At $15 for a four pack, is the Founders worth it? I'm not so sure.