In this edition of Publicanista!:
I. BOTTLED BEER NEWS: LA CHOULETTE, THIRIEZ, LINDEMANS POMME, STONE VERTICAL EPIC 06/06/06 AND ROGUE CHIPOTLE.
II. NABC BREWERY NEWS: FEST SEASON ROLLS ON AS NABC PREPARES FOR THE ANNUAL TREK TO WISCONSIN.
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. EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.
I. BOTTLED BEER NEWS: LA CHOULETTE, THIRIEZ, LINDEMANS POMME, STONE VERTICAL EPIC 06/06/06 AND ROGUE CHIPOTLE.
Don't forget 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.
Bottled beers sales have been brisk this summer, so I’ve added five new rotating selections.
La Choulette Ambree and Thiriez Amber
Two amber French bieres de garde that were not depleted at the recent Tour de Garde dinner at Bistro New Albany. Both are wonderful matches with pizza, and are being offered (while they last) at a special price of $10.00 per bottle, on premise.
Lindemans Pomme
Jolly Rancher (not Jolly Pumpkin!) meets Brettomyces, with results that some will love, others may wish to reserve for candied apples.
Stone Vertical Epic Ale 06/06/06
Latest in the much anticipated series, and there’s only a dozen bottles for vending to the public, as I’m guessing that many of you have already purchased your bottles for setting aside.
Rogue Chipotle Ale
A keg of Chipotle Ale is about to go on tap, and I bought a case of bombers to precede it. The peppers are smoked, mild chipotles, and the beer is Rogue’s Oregon Golden. While visiting Rogue Public Ale, I matched a pint of Chipotle with an oyster shooter. Too bad we don’t have ‘em at Rich O’s.
***From the last update …
Obolon Porter (Ukraine), Svyturys Baltijos (Lithuania) and Utenos Porter (Lithuania)
These have gone over so well that I purchased second cases of each. Obolon tastes like a milder version of imperial-leaning Okocim Porter or Baltika 6 (itself current out of stock), while Utenos makes subtle swipes in the direction of Doppelbock. Svyturys is best compared to a Marzen or Oktoberfest style. All are excellent value.
***Microbrews
Bluegrass Brewing Company
BBC Professor Gesser's Mind Numbing Ale (750 ml; 7.1% abv)
BBC Homewrecker Double IPA (750 ml; circa 10% abv, and formerly sold as Ultra)
I know these bottlings are from the pub on Shelbyville Road, and the recipes are pub brewer Jerry Gnagy’s. Beyond that, I’m not sure about the genus of the program, although I’m guessing that BBC Shelbyville Road is free to sell bottled beers that aren’t the same as the line offered by the production brewery downtown. I’ve sampled the Homewrecker, and it is spritzy, lethal, and veering toward a barley wine.
Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale (12 oz; 9.3% abv)
It’s named for the Publican – and comes from a brewery that seemingly can do no wrong.
Stone Imperial Stout (22 oz)
Stone’s is one of my favorite versions of one of my favorite styles; black liquid sipping delight irrespective of the weather. Two cases (24 bottles) remain, and then it’s gone until next year.
***Imports
De Glazen Toren Jan de Lichte (750 ml; 7.5% abv)
Listed as “Imperial Wit,” or to me, another way of saying “Grand Cru” in the Belgian sense of the usage. A higher gravity spiced White.
De Glazen Toren Ondineke (750 ml; 8.5% abv)
Tripel from Aalst. No spices are used.
Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel (Belgium; 750 ml)
Chouffe suspended its seasonal specialty program a few years back, but has returned in a big way with this much-anticipated hybrid. What is it like? Just remember that the magic hop cone is rendered “houblon” in French, and it all makes sense. This selection will be added to the regular daily bottled beer menu when it is next revised in a couple of weeks.
Le Baladin Wayan (Italy; 750 ml; 5.8%)
Nothing has been as surprising, and gratifying, than the recent arrivals of high-quality Italian microbrews. From the maker of Super Baladin and Nora comes another: Wayan, a clean, crisp Saison true to the Belgian style.
II. NABC BREWERY NEWS: FEST SEASON ROLLS ON AS NABC PREPARES FOR THE ANNUAL TREK TO WISCONSIN.
Remember to visit the events section below for updates on summer fests and coming attractions. Next up is the Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, Wisconsin, which is the signature beer event in the region ... perhaps in the country.
Last weekend was the Indiana Microbrewer's Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana's big annual beer event. NABC's Jesse Williams gives his overview in a podcast linked here: Indiana Microbrewer's Festival recap and interview with Jesse Williams.
Back home, the third of NABC's summertime "gruit" ale series, Strathpeffer heather & honey ale, is now on tap at NABC.
See Tony's artwork for NABC Artemsia, Jenever, the previous "gruit" series releases.
For a listing of where our beers can be found, see NABC outside accounts in Southern Indiana. We're adding a second tap -- probably Elector -- at Stratto's in Clarksville.
III. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
Here are recently posted articles:
Orlando: One hell of a package store, Jason.
I'm sprung ... come back later for details.
Soulessness (and stadium pricing) at a JW Marriott somewhere in Florida.
How we operate: Beercycling in Central Europe, 2006.
Rich O's medals in Rate Beer's "Best Beer Bars in the United States."
Rich O's Public House cracks the Top 20 in Beer Advocate rankings.
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.
Artemsia Ale ... Brown ale brewed with 80% Simpson's Golden Promise two-row and molasses, and flavored with mugwort (the "dream herb," related to sagebrush and a cousin of wormwood), sweet orange peel and chamomile. 4.5% abv.
Bob's Old 15-B ... We're calling it a robust, brown Porter precisely because style definitions were meant to be bent.
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?
Jenever Rye ... 80% Simpson's Golden Promise two-row and rye, with crushed juniper berries in the mash and the hopback. Golden orange. Circa 7% abv.
Strathpeffer Heather ... 90% Simpson's Golden Promise two-row and heather flower honey, with heather (i.e., a shrubbery) added throughout the brewing and maturation processes. Gold in color. Named for the town in Scotland where a Pictish eagle is famously carved into a large stone. Circa 8% abv.
Guests from near and far.
Market pricing.
Staples:
Sprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)
Rotating (limited engagement)
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine
Weihenstephaner Weissbier Dunkel
Bullpen:
V. 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.
2006/2007 events: 
Weekly on Wednesday evening @ 7:00 p.m.
Drinking Liberally (New Albany & Southern Indiana) meets in the Red Room each Wednesday. Contact organizer Lacy Davis for details.
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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.
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Saturday, August 19
SWIRCA Craft Brewer's Festival in Evansville, Indiana
The event is at the Casino Aztar, and NABC's participation is tentative owing to the already busy August festival.
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Saturday, August 26
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Friday, October 13
Lupulin Land Harvest Hop Festival
We’ll be exceeding OSHA’s legal limits on IBU’s per square foot of floor space when Lupulin Land 2006 begins on Friday, October 13. It is our fifth harvest hop celebration, and a good occasion for Kentuckiana’s hopheads to unite over a pint or two of America’s most bitter beer.
UPDATED: Previews: Lupulin Land & Saturnalia (2006) and Gravity Head (2007).
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Friday, December 15
Saturnalia MMVI
NABC, Rich O’s Public House and Sportstime Pizza pay tribute to the ancient pagan origins of Christmas with Saturnalia, a draft beer festival showcasing seasonal specialties and festive ales.
UPDATED: Previews: Lupulin Land & Saturnalia (2006) and Gravity Head (2007).
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Friday, March 9, 2007
Gravity Head 2007
The ninth edition of our annual festival celebrating the brewing world’s biggest and best will kick off from its customary March starting time.
UPDATED: Previews: Lupulin Land & Saturnalia (2006) and Gravity Head (2007).
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, who also writes The Potable Curmudgeon and NA Confidential blogs.
THE END.
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