In this edition of Publicanista!:
I. SPRING BREAK ON THE HORIZON: PUBLICANISTA! PUBLISHING SCHEDULE FOR APRIL, 2006.
II. (!) IN WHICH PROFESSOR GESSER DELIVERS THE SPRING & SUMMER SCHEDULE OF SPORTS 'N' BEER BUS TRIPS.
III. THE STORK ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, AND SETH LEWISON MAKES HIS SCHEDULED APPEARANCE.
IV. GRAVITY HEAD 2006 FINAL UPDATE, AS WE WIND DOWN THE 8TH CELEBRATION OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST IN BEER.
V. FROM THE HAND PULL: WYE VALLEY VICTORY ALE, AND SPECIAL NABC CASK CONDITIONED ALES TO FOLLOW.
VI. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
VII. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.
VIII. BOTTLE LIST NEWS: NEW GRIST & FOUNDERS IMPERIAL STOUT.
IX. EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.
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I. SPRING BREAK ON THE HORIZON: PUBLICANISTA! PUBLISHING SCHEDULE FOR APRIL, 2006.
The Curmudgeon's spring break is coming, and current plans are for remote blogging from the road. This will be explained in greater detail in next Wednesday's (April 5) early edition of Publicanista!, which then will go on hiatus until April 27.
II. (!) IN WHICH PROFESSOR GESSER DELIVERS THE SPRING & SUMMER SCHEDULE OF SPORTS 'N' BEER BUS TRIPS.
Take it from those who've gone along for past ride -- these are great fun. Follow the link for the spring and early summer schedule, which includes Chicago Cubs games for the first time ever.
Spring/Summer 2006 sports ‘n’ beer events from Rick and Jeff tours: Horses, golf and the Cubbies.
III. THE STORK ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, AND SETH LEWISON MAKES HIS SCHEDULED APPEARANCE.
From Amy:
Seth Aaron Lewison burst onto the scene Thursday morning, March 23rd, weighing in at 7 pounds and measuring almost as big as a 21" pizza. He's healthy and fabulous. Kate is doing great, but Jeff is ready for a beer. Two year old brother Ryan has this to say about his new brother: "funny."
Lift a pint to my newest nephew!
Always,
Ryan and Seth's Aunt Amy
May all the blessing touch your life today
May little angels protect you on your way
Such a wee little Seth, sent from above
Someone so precious to cherish and love
May sunshine and moonbeams dance over you head
As you quietly slumber in your bed
May good luck be with you wherever you go
And your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow
Only a few years until they can start to work, right?
IV. GRAVITY HEAD 2006 FINAL UPDATE, AS WE WIND DOWN THE 8TH CELEBRATION OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST IN BEER.
Gravity Head 2006 kicked off on February 24th, and in the 29 business days since, we've depleted all but a handful of the listed selections. A few of them remain, along with a second keg of Rogue JLS Skull Splitter that will be tapped soon.
Each year, an issue arises with certain listed choices, which don't appear at all or are tapped very late. In 2006, only the two Avery ales remain in transit. If the Beast and Reverend kegs don't arrive by April 1, they'll be cellared for next year's ninth edition of Gravity Head, joining a small stockpile already developing.
Of the 54 beers scheduled to appear between opening day and the conclusion of this eighth edition of the festival:
8 currently are on tap
44 have departed (including 1 scratch and 1 accident victim)
2 remain in transit
***CURRENT GRAVITY HEAD DRAFT LINEUP (8)
Clipper City (Heavy Seas) Below Decks, 11% abv
Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA, 13.6% abv
Gale’s Prize Old Ale (2004), 9% abv
Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine, 10.2% abv
La Rulles Cuvee “Best Wishes”, 7.3% abv (moved from Saturnalia MMV)
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, (2005) 11.26% abv
't Smisje Dubbel, 9% abv
Two Brothers Bare Tree Weiss Wine, 10.2% abv
***IN TRANSIT, WITH ETA (2)
Avery "The Beast", 14.9% abv ... ETA circa ???
Avery "The Reverend", 10% abv ... ETA circa ???
***IN MEMORIAM (FLOATED) (44)
Bell’s Batch 7000, 12% abv
Bluegrass Brewing Company Professor Gesser's Mind Numbing Ale, circa 9%
Browning's Brewery Imperial Stout, circa 9% abv (firkin - blown bung accident victim)
Chouffe La Gnomette, 9% abv
Christoffel Werelds Winterbier (Winter Bock), 7.2% abv
Dark Horse Sapient Trip, 8.6% abv
De Ranke Guldenberg, 8.5% abv
EKU 28, 11% 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
Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA, (2004) 13% abv
Founders Dirty Bastard, 8.3% abv
Gale’s Christmas Ale, (2005) (cask-conditioned firkin; hand pulled)
Gouden Carolus Classic, 8.5% abv
Gouden Carolus Tripel, 9% abv
Great Divide Hibernation Ale, 8.1% abv
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, 9.1% abv
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 9.5% abv
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout, 9.5% abv
JW Lees Moonraker, 7.5% abv
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale, (Sherry barrel aged; 2005; pin), 11.5% abv.
JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale, (Willoughbys crusted port barrel aged; 2004; pin), 11.5% abv
Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock, 9.2% abv
N'Ice Chouffe, (2004) 10% 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
Old Engine Oil Special Reserve, (Invergordon Scotch barrel aged; 2005), 8.5%
Ringneck Brewing Bourbon Aged "FOTB” Barley Wine, circa 11% abv
Ringneck Brewing Old 21 Imperial IPA, 8.5% abv
Rocky River Neptune's Nemesis, 8% abv (will not be coming, after all)
Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Skull Splitter, 8.5% abv
Rogue XS I2PA, 9.5% abv
Rogue XS Imperial Stout, 11% abv
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine, (2002) 11.5% abv abv (firkin)
Samichlaus Bier (2001) 14% abv
Stone Double Bastard Ale, 10% abv
't Smisje Kerst, 11% abv
Unibroue Maudite, 8% abv
Urthel Hop-It Belgian IPA, 9.5% abv
Urthel Samaranth Quadrium, 11.5% abv
Weihenstephaner Korbinian Doppelbock, 7.4% abv
Because not all listed Gravity Head beers can be served at the same time, see the blackboards for the daily selection.
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!
V. FROM THE HAND PULL: WYE VALLEY VICTORY ALE, AND SPECIAL NABC CASK CONDITIONED ALES TO FOLLOW.
On tap now: Wye Valley Victory Ale.
When the Wye Valley has passed, we'll be ready for a variety of NABC cask-conditioned ales to appear, among them Elector, Bob's Old 15-B, two others of an experimental nature (think: cute little wooden pins where the JW Lees came from) and a purpose-brewed, cask-only batch of English-style "strong" bitter that will be known as St. Radegund in honor of the pub in Cambridge where several us have consumed pints drawn by the genial proprietor, Terry.
For more information on cask-conditioned ale:
Horse Brass Pub (where our friend Biscuit works)
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)
Warm, Flat and Boring -- the Truth About Cask Ale, from Rate Beer.
VI. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
Here are recently posted articles:
Coffee – the other beverage of choice for the Curmudgeon.
NABC brewery news: St. Radegund & Hoptimus.
I’m guessing she’s not a beer enthusiast.
Third and final chapter (for now) of Ted Fulmore's "The Rise and Fall of Market Street Brewery."
Spring 2006 sports ‘n’ beer events from Rick and Jeff tours: Horses, golf and the Cubbies.
VII. 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.
Arrogant BastardSprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)
Rotating (limited engagement):
Barley Island Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Stout
BBC Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel (okay, it's a favor to a salesperson)
Bullpen:
Breckinridge 471 Small Batch Double Hopped IPA
Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Mogul Ale (fourth keg)
Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Skull Splitter (Gravity-listed; second keg)
‘t Smisje BBBourgondier
Spezial Rauchbier
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine
VIII. BOTTLE LIST NEWS: NEW GRIST & FOUNDERS IMPERIAL STOUT.
With Bard's Tale still absent from the shelves, Indiana's Cavalier Distributing has located another gluten-free product: New Grist Beer -- more sorghum-based hope for Celiac beer lovers.
It's in stock now, both for on-premise consumption and carry-out. Note that Keg Liquors in Clarksville also has New Grist in stock. Here's the New Grist Beer website (Lakefront Brewing Company).
Also available in limited quantities is Founders Imperial Stout, a 12-ounce, 12% abv diet killer that I'll be unable to cellar because it's too good to wait that long. But those with the discipline to do so -- we admire you.
Remember that later this spring and summer, I'm going to be doing bottle-only theme tastings with French Bieres de Garde and Belgian Lambics. These are piling up in the storeroom as I write.
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.
IX. 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: 
Weekly on Wednesday evening @ 7:00 p.m.
Drinking Liberally (New Albany & Southern Indiana) meets in the Red Room each Wednesday. Contact organizer Rich Morris for details.
Saturday, April 22
Misha Feigin.
Musician, writer and storyteller Misha Feigin returns to Rich O's for good singing and good playing, starting at 9:00 p.m.
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, we have dubbed Fest of Ale 2006. Falling on the Saturday between Thunder and the Derby, we will have brewers and importers from all around the world on site for a huge event. So far we have Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN) Bluegrass Brewing Company (Louisville, KY), Kalamazoo Brewing (brewers of Bell's Beers), Barley Island Brewing (Noblesville, IN), Thirsty Dog Brewing, New Albanian Brewing (New Albany, IN), Browning's Brewing (Louisville, KY), Wetten Importers (Delirium, Gouden), and Eurobrew Importers (Xingu, St. Peters). Our three craft beer distributors (World Class Beverages, Cavalier Distributing, and North Vernon Beverage) will also be there to fill in the gaps of beers not available from our brewers. 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. Tickets are available for advance purchase from our website at http://www.kegliquors.com/festofale.htm."
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Saturday, May 13
NEW DAY: Fifth Annual FOSSILS Breweriana Sale
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Prost special events room at Rich O's.
Featuring: Pre-prohibition to Contemporary Breweriana ... Local breweries to International ... Antique Bottles, Signs, Mirrors, Glassware, Trays, Clocks, Lamps, Books, and much more.
Dealer space is only $15.00, and clubs are welcome! For information contact Kira Tash.
Rich O's will be open for business as usual, and Roger is also staging his bottled beer inventory reduction sale at the same time as the breweriana sale - there will be some closeouts, some overstocks, and some surprises from the cellar.
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Tuesday, May 16
In Prost (banquet room): Progressive Pizza and Preservation: Paint Your Historic House Beautiful.
Learn the basic guidelines for selecting the appropriate colors for historic buildings. Bonus tips from the presenter on interior and exterior finishes and techniques to give you professional results. Free and open to residents of New Albany and surrounding communities.
Sponsor: Porter Paints.
6:15 PM – 8:30 PM.
Participants purchase own beverages. Limited to 30 participants. Reservations required by calling Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana – 284 4534.
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Friday & Saturday, May 19 & 20
Ohio River Valley Folk Festival in Madison, Indiana
NABC will be vending beer at this inaugural fest in Madison. Here's a description, from The Madison Courier newspaper:
The Ohio River Valley Folk Festival will bring echoes to Madisonians living in the 21st century — echoes of how their ancestors worked, wrote and sang music, fashioned distinctive crafts and prepared foods unique to the people of a river town.
The new festival ... is scheduled for May 19-20 along Vaughn Drive from West Street to Poplar Street.
The festival will feature folk music, old-time storytellers, a special tent for children, juried folk arts, and refreshment stands that will strive to offer food and drink like Madisonians of the 19th century might have consumed.
Our friend Steve Thomas is in charge of the libations, so it can’t be anything but good.
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June 2
Publican announces DaveFest 2006.
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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.
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