II. 2006 GRAVITY HEAD STARTING LINEUP.
III. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
IV. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.
V. A NEW DAILY BEER LIST HAS BEEN PUBLISHED.
VI. IN MEMORIAM: SARA ZOZULA.
VII. BISTRO NEW ALBANY? NEVER HEARD OF IT. YOU?
VIII. EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.
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I. GRAVITY HEAD 2006 "REALITY ABV" BEGINS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24.
Gravity Head 2006 is our 8th annual celebration of the brewing world’s biggest and best. Beginning on Feb. 24, and lasting until all the kegs are gone, we’ll devote more than half of our 33 taps to showcasing these rare and sought-after beers.
Because not all listed Gravity Head beers can be served at the same time, see the blackboards for the daily selection.
The usual choices of NABC ales and guest drafts will continue to be available during the festival’s run.
The 2006 Gravity Head starting lineup will feature 17 kegs of high gravity beers (and also one firkin, followed by a second cask-conditioned ale on Sat., Feb. 25) selected to exhibit maximum diversity of flavors and stylistic inspiration.
At various times during the first two weeks of Gravity Head, there will be cask-conditioned gravity beers available from the hand-pull and/or the bar top.
As always, solid second and even third waves of microbrewed and imported beers will come on tap as the ranks deplete. It’s the deepest Gravity Head ever, with 54 gravity beers in all waiting to be tapped, of which 21 will be appearing for the first time ever at Rich O’s (a Gravity Head record).
Gravity Head began in 1999 as a one-off festival to inaugurate our then-new walk-in draft cooler, and has since become the Louisville metro area's most diverse yearly gathering of "extreme" draft beers.
For those readers who are contemplating Gravity Head attendance for the first time, please be aware that we’re very serious when we command you to plan your life, arrange transportation from the venue at the conclusion of your gravity session, and/or have a designated driver. Typically, a cab ride to Louisville costs $30, which isn’t very much when split two or three ways … and it’s far less than the cost of the consequences.
For us to continue the tradition of Gravity Head, it is absolutely imperative that everyone in attendance plays the game by the same rules, and foremost among these is your personal responsibility as an adult drinker to refrain from driving while intoxicated!
On Friday and Saturday nights of opening weekend, we have limited informal taxi service to local destinations in and near New Albany. Contact me for further details.
During Gravity Head 2006, updates and running commentary will be provided at the POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BLOG, while the PUBLICANISTA! NEWSLETTER will continue to be published here on Thursdays.
If you are a member of the FOSSILS or LAGERS homebrewing and beer appreciation clubs, be aware that we'll be arranging seating for you in Prost, our new banquet/meeting room, on opening night (Friday, February 24).
The room is reserved on Saturday night for our annual visitors from Dayton, Ohio.
Listed below are the 54 beers scheduled to appear between opening day and the conclusion of this eighth edition of the festival -- when the last keg is gone, probably in late March.
* indicates that the beer already is in stock at Rich O's.
# indicates a beer that will be appearing at Rich O's for the first time.
MICROBREWED GRAVITY.
Avery "The Beast", 14.9% abv ... ETA circa March 16
Avery "The Reverend", 10% abv ... ETA circa March 16
#*Bell’s Batch 7000, 12% abv
#Browning's Brewery Imperial Stout, circa 9% abv (firkin)
#*Clipper City (Heavy Seas) Below Decks, 11% abv
#Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA, 13.6% abv ... ETA March 16
#*Dark Horse Sapient Trip, 8.6% abv
*Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter, 9.5% abv
#*Flying Dog Horn Dog Barley Wine, 10.5% abv
#Founders Blushing Monk Belgian Razz, 9.5% abv ... ETA March 1
*Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA, (2004) 13% abv
*Founders Dirty Bastard, 8.3% abv
#*Great Divide Hibernation Ale, 8.1% abv
*Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, 9.1% abv
*Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout, 9.5% abv
*Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 9.5% abv
#*Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine, 10.2% abv
*NABC Stumble Bus, (2005) circa 10% abv
#*NABC Thunderfoot Imperial Stout, 10% abv
*New Holland Dragon’s Milk, 10.5% abv
#*North Coast PranQster, 7.6% abv
#*Ringneck Brewing Old 21 Imperial IPA, 8.5% abv
#*Ringneck Brewing Bourbon Aged "FOTB” Barley Wine, circa 11% abv
#Rocky River Neptune's Nemesis, 8% abv ETA circa March 11
#*Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Skull Splitter, 8.5% abv
*Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine, (2002) 11.5% abv
*Rogue XS Imperial Stout, 11% abv
*Rogue XS I2PA, 9.5% abv
*Stone Double Bastard Ale, 10% abv
*Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, (2005) 11.26% abv
*Two Brothers Bare Tree Weiss Wine, 10.2% abv
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IMPORTED GRAVITY.
AUSTRIA
*Samichlaus Bier (2001) 14% abv
BELGIUM
#Chouffe La Gnomette, 9% abv ... ETA March 1
*De Ranke Guldenberg, 8.5% abv
Gouden Carolus Classic, 8.5% abv ETA March 2
Gouden Carolus Tripel, 9% abv ETA March 2
#*La Rulles Cuvee “Best Wishes”, 7.3% abv (moved from Saturnalia MMV)
*N'Ice Chouffe, (2004) 10% abv ... ETA March 1
#*'t Smisje Dubbel, 9% abv
#*'t Smisje Kerst, 11% abv
#*Urthel Hop-It Belgian IPA, 9.5% abv
*Urthel Samaranth Quadrium, 11.5% abv
CANADA
#*Unibroue Maudite, 8% abv
*EKU 28, 11% abv
*Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock, 9.2% abv
*Weihenstephaner Korbinian Doppelbock, 7.4% abv
NETHERLANDS
#*Christoffel Winter Bock, 7.2% abv
UNITED KINGDOM
*Gale’s Christmas Ale, (2005) (cask-conditioned firkin)
*Gale’s Prize Old Ale (2004), 9% abv
JW Lees Moonraker, 7.5% abv ... ETA March 1
*JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale, (Willoughbys crusted port barrel aged; 2004; firkin), 11.5% abv
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale, (Lagavulin Scotch barrel aged; 2005; pin), 11.5% abv ... ETA March 1
*Old Engine Oil Special Reserve, (Invergordon Scotch barrel aged; 2005), 8.5% abv (firkin)
Note: For various reasons, these beers were scratched: Arcadia Hopmouth Imperial IPA, De Dolle Dulle Teve (Mad Bitch), and JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (non-wood aged).
February 10 updates and current listings for "Gravity Head 2006: Reality ABV."
Gravity Head preparations: Fast and furious.II. 2006 GRAVITY HEAD STARTING LINEUP.
Here are the first 16 of 17 Gravity Head starters for 2006, not including cask-conditioned selections, which are treated (and scheduled) separately.
Bell’s Batch 7000
Dark Horse Sapient Trip
EKU 28 (Germany)
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
Founders Dirty Bastard
Great Divide Hibernation Ale
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
NABC Stumble Bus 2005
NABC Thunderfoot Imperial Stout
Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Skull Splitter
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine 2002
Samichlaus Bier 2001 (Austria)
Stone Double Bastard Ale
't Smisje Kerst (Belgium)
Unibroue Maudite (Canada)
Urthel Hop-It Belgian IPA (Belgium)
This year's 17th starter is a “fan selection” chosen by you in voting earlier this week:
New Holland Dragon's Milk - read about the voting here.
Here is the order of appearance for cask-conditioned gravity ales:
Feb. 24 on the hand pull:
Old Engine Oil Special Reserve (Scotch aged 2005)
In the days to follow after the OEO is gone:
Browning's Brewery Imperial Stout, then Gale’s Christmas Ale 2005
Feb. 25 on top of the counter (gravity ale by gravity feed:
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Port aged 2004)
March 3 on top of the counter:
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale (Scotch aged 2005)
For more information on cask-conditioned ale:
Horse Brass Pub (where our friend Biscuit works)
Warm, Flat and Boring -- the Truth About Cask Ale, from Rate Beer.
III. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
Here are recently posted articles:
From Jamaica Plain to Germantown.
Gravity Head 2006 t-shirt design.
Dreaming about Northern French ales? I am.
Indiana House bills restricting consumer choice await Senate action as wholesaler lobby sharpens knives.
IV. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.
Our NABC beers.Brewed in New Albany by NABC’s Jesse Williams, with assistance from Jared Williamson.
Bob's Old 15-B ... We're calling it a robust, brown Porter precisely because style definitions were meant to be bent.
Croupier IPA ... Jesse's homage to our casino employee clientele is modeled on the English interpretation, with a few American flourishes.
Community Dark ... Based on English Mild, and our light-bodied dark quaffer. 5% abv.
Elector ... Making Democracy pointless since 2002; English malt, American hops. 7.2% abv. Double Red?
Hoptimus ... Double IPA as a regular daily offering? Ya gotta believe.
Guests from near and far.
Market pricing.
Staples: These pour all the time and will be available throughout Gravity Head 2006.
Alpha King (wholesaler outage as of 2/21; will be temporarily replaced by Sierra Nevada IPA until Three Floyds supplies resume).
Sprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)
Rotating, seasonal, Publican's whim - these will be depleting through Thursday (Feb 23) and will be supplanted entirely by Gravity Head listings on Friday the 24th. Some will return in March:
De Dolle Oerbier (different batch -- new/old yeast)
Rogue Mogul Ale (John's Locker Stock series; third keg)
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine
Sierra Nevada Summerfest (wholesaler close-out; reduced price)
Upland Winter Warmer (Saturnalia MMV refugee)
Wostyntje Mustard Ale (BE; Regenboog)
V. A NEW DAILY BEER LIST HAS BEEN PUBLISHED.
Remember to check the chalkboard in the front room at Rich O’s for bottled specials and seasonals. These are the bottled beers not carried on the everyday bottled list, and represent a wide variety of flavors and textures for your tasting enjoyment.
Two new rotating selections:
Slaapmutske Triple Nightcap – 750 ml – A "slaapmutske" is a night cap, i.e., noggin warming apparel, in the Flemish dialect. 8.1% abv; only six bottles in stock. Read about the brewery’s history here: Slaapmutske site.
Fantome Hiver – 750 ml – Funky Ardennes “winter saison” from Fantome, at 8% abv, and with a recipe that varies from year to year. Twelve bottles in stock.
The following have been added to the newly updated "everyday" bottle list:
Dogfish Head Pangaea, Dogfish Head Raison D’Extra, Fantome Saison, Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza, Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, Panil Barriquee, Stone 05/05/05 Vertical Epic, Stone 9th Anniversary Ale
Previous guests/seasonal/rotating, and still available in limited quantities:
The bottles listed below are depleted to six bottles or less remaining in stock. When they're gone, it may be a while before they reappear.
Arcadia Hopmouth Double IPA - 22 oz - Big Maris Otter malt backdrop, nicely balanced fresh hop character with sufficient bitterness.
BBC Hell for Certain - 12 oz - Belgian-style seasonal.
Bink Winterkoningske (Winter King) - 11.2 oz - Dark, malty, and spiced Belgian with juniper berries and lavender (8.3%).
De Dolle Special Extra Export Stout - 11.2 oz - Belgian-style Export Stout.
Dogfish Head Fort … 750 ml … Raspberry ale, but clocking in at 18% abv.
Ecaussinnes Ultra - 11.2 oz - Fruity Belgian amber ale of 7% abv.
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga "The Fire Fly" - 750 ml - Oak-barrel aged, bottle-conditioned "pale ale" spiced with coriander and Grains of Paradise.
Jopen Koyt - 750 ml - Dutch "gruit" (spiced) ale from Haarlem.
VI. IN MEMORIAM: SARA ZOZULA.
Sara died in a single car accident last Thursday morning. She was only 26, but it seemed like we had known her forever. Sara had many friends, no enemies, and she'll be missed.
See this appreciation: "With sorrow," we note a friend's passing.
And, for the record: Courier-Journal notice, guest book and arrangements.
VII. BISTRO NEW ALBANY? NEVER HEARD OF IT. YOU?
The downtown New Albany project that I hyped so relentlessly has disappeared without a trace. See "In which the blogger departs the sunken vessel for rosier climes" for more information, such as there is.
VIII. EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.
General business hours:
Sportstime Pizza opens at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Rich O’s opens at 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and at 1:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. We are not open on Sunday except during special events. The same food and beer is available at all times in both rooms, so you may have lunch and a beer in the Sportstime Pizza dining area during those hours when Rich O’s isn’t open. The brewery is available for a look-see if one of us is around and we’re not busy.
Rich O's: The front dining rooms at Rich O's are designated as non-smoking areas. The bar area and Red Room are open for smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes). We strongly discourage clove cigarettes, which are divisive even among smokers.
Sportstime: Smoking is permitted in the entirety of Sportstime Pizza.
2006 events:
Saturday, April 29
Alefest 2006 at Keg Liquors in Clarksville (2 pm to 6 pm)
From the irrepressible owner, Todd Antz, comes this explanation:
"Please join us for our first ever beer festival, which we have dubbed Alefest 2006. Falling on the Saturday between Thunder and the Derby, we will have brewers and importers from around the world on site for a huge event. So far we have New Albanian Brewing Company, Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN), Bluegrass Brewing Company (Louisville, KY), Kalamazoo Brewing (brewers of Bell's Beers), Barley Island Brewing (Noblesville, IN), Wetten Importers (Delirium, Gouden), and Eurobrew Importers (Xingu, St. Peters). There will be food, music, and plenty of great beer. We even have a silent auction planned with all proceeds going to Bridgepointe Goodwill Services. Tickets for this event will be $25 in advance, and $30 the day of the event."
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May (TBA)
Publican announces DaveFest 2006 for May (dates TBA).
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Saturday, May 13 (tentative)
Fifth Annual FOSSILS Breweriana Sale
There’ll be a new look to this growing event, with dealers vending beer collectibles of every sort imaginable all day on Saturday instead of Sunday, and doing so in the new Prost special events room (entrance through Rich O’s Public House).
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Friday & Saturday, May 19 & 20
Ohio River Valley Folk Festival in Madison, Indiana
No solid information yet, but when out friend Steve Thomas is in charge of the libations, it can’t be anything but good.
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Saturday, August 12
Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, Wisconsin.
It’s one the top three beer fests in the nation, a perennial box-office sell-out, and certainly the big event with the most relevance to NABC. Web site information is dated, but will be revised later in 2006.
Credits:
Thanks to Jim Bell for his photographic prowess, which we share with you from time to time.
Readers who aren’t as familiar with our business should go to http://www.newalbanian.com/ and http://www.richos.com/ for more information.
NABC is a member of the Brewers Association and Brewers of Indiana Guild.
Questions or comments about editorial content should be directed to Roger A. Baylor: potable@richos.com.
THE END.
