I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: AYINGER OKTOBERFEST BEER DINNER AT BISTRO NEW ALBANY IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 1.
II. BOTTLE NEWS: NEW (OLD) BELGIANS ON THE WAY.
III. NABC BREWERY NEWS: NEW ALBANY'S HARVEST HOMECOMING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
IV. OKTOBERFEST DRAFT SURGE NOW.
V. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
VI: DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.
VII. CALENDAR OF EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.
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I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: AYINGER OKTOBERFEST BEER DINNER AT BISTRO NEW ALBANY IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 1.
My affection for Ayinger’s excellent line of Bavarian beers has prompted me to pair them with another stellar menu concocted by Chef Dave Clancy, owner of Bistro New Albany. There’ll be fewer beers than offered during previous beer dinners, but larger portions, as befits generally lower alcohol contents and the expansiveness of traditional German drinking and dining.
Here is the menu and the pairings. Chef Clancy has hinted at an additional “surprise” appetizer, and the price per person (excluding gratuity) will be $45.
-Opening toast: Here’s to us … Ayinger’s Oktober-Fest Marzen, a tawny golden/amber autumn seasonal lager, will be on tap throughout the evening, and we’ll begin the meal with an Oktoberfest toast in a complimentary Ayinger signature glass.
-Gurkensalat (cucumber salad) ... Brau-Weisse … traditional unfiltered golden wheat ale.
-Gulaschsuppe (goulash soup) ... Jahrhundert-Bier … golden “export” style lager.
-Sauerbraten with Kartoffelpuffer (brined and roasted beef with potato cakes) ... Altbairisch Dunkel … “Old Bavarian” dark lager.
-Schwarzwalderkirschtorte (black forest cake) ... Celebrator Doppelbock … rich, dark Double Bock.
Contact Bistro New Albany at 812-949-5227 for reservations and further details. For the full story, go here: Update: Ayinger Oktoberfest beer dinner at Bistro New Albany on Monday, October 1.
II. BOTTLE NEWS: NEW (OLD) BELGIANS ON THE WAY.
At the inception of the Public House 15 years ago, the classic Vanberg & DeWulf line of Belgian and French imports was freely available in Indiana. Included in V & D's stellar inventory are ales from Dupont (Saison Dupont, Moinette); Dubuisson (Scaldis/Bush); Frank Boon lambics; and Castelain Bieres de Garde (St. Amand).
These have not been available in Southern Indiana since the late 1990's, but now they're back, thanks to Cavalier Distributing.
Now that they're back, I must find a chilled storage place for them, and that's the hangup at present. Readers, please let me know if you have a normal fridge, or know of an upright unit that I could purchase (or barter) from you. I'll be looking at the usual sources in the meantime, and building inventory in expectation of working out the chilling issue.
Seems like a lot of work for an establishment that can be ranked sixth in the world in the RateBeer poll, but not make the final three in LEO's Readers' Choice Awards. As Jared Williamson put it, "Sixth in the world -- unranked at home."
Odder still is this pick of LEO's readership:
SPORTS BAR
1) Buffalo Wild Wings
2) Rich-O's
3) Tailgater’s
Seeing as we have no television sets in Rich O's, then our "sports talk" must actually be second to none. Maybe they meant Sportstime.
At any rate, we'll just continue muddling along with our acclaimed house brewed beer, 26 rotating guest taps, 250+ bottles sans mass-produced swill, the best Belgian list this side of Shelbyville, and hope for the best.
On a happier note, LEO's staff picks included NABC in a survey of "GOOD LOCAL BREW":
You’re really not a hipster unless you swear off mass-produced swill in favor of thick, dark, mind-blowing, liver-bloating, locally brewed beer. Let’s hear it for the fearsome foursome: Bluegrass Brewing Company (aka BBC, 3929 Shelbyville Road, 899-7070; 2 Theater Sq., 568-2224; 636 E. Main St., 584-2739); Browning’s Brewery: (401 E. Main St., 515-0174); Cumberland Brews: (1576 Bardstown Road, 458-8728); and New Albanian Brewing Company: (3312 Plaza Drive, 812-949-2804).
Obviously, it will be time soon for a new bottled list update, but until then, check the blackboard for temps and rotating selections. The current bottled beer can be viewed here.
Thanks for your help.
III. NABC BREWERY NEWS: NEW ALBANY'S HARVEST HOMECOMING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
New Albany’s 40th Harvest Homecoming Festival will be held in October of 2007, beginning with a parade on October 6, and traditional food and activity booths filling the city’s reviving downtown streets from the 11th through the 14th.
For the second year, the New Albanian Brewing Company is delighted to have its most popular beers within ready access of the thousands of visitors who’ll be visiting Harvest Homecoming.
NABC now has three downtown accounts: Bistro New Albany, Connor’s Place and the Speakeasy. Both the Bistro and Connor’s have beautiful patios at which to enjoy Elector, Community Dark, Croupier and other NABC favorites during crisp (we hope) autumnal weather. The Speakeasy is New Albany’s first jazz-themed restaurant and bar. All three establishments are housed in restored historic buildings.
To promote our three downtown partners, NABC personnel will be on hand for special tappings throughout Harvest Homecoming. Look for details in the coming weeks.
IV. OKTOBERFEST DRAFT SURGE NOW.
Oktoberfests from Paulaner, Spaten and Schlafly are currently on draft, with Upland's and Left Hand's queuing in the rear. Read the Publican's take on Oktoberfest, as published in the Louisville Eccentric Observer:
Germany’s Oktoberfest — once bitten, twice shy
V. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
Hoosier beer tasting tonight at Charlestown Pizza Company.
"US barley acreage has declined to record low levels."
Calendar check: Ayinger Oktoberfest beer dinner at Bistro New Albany will be Monday, October 1.
Upcoming NABC events: Harvest Homecoming and Lupulin Land.
It's time for planning the next three draft festivals.
Real planning now underway for PacNW beer and brewery tour, 2008.
VI. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.
Our NABC beers.
NABC began brewing in 2002, and we’re proud to be New Albany’s first active brewery since 1935. From very deep within the confines of NABC’s garage brewery, Jesse Williams and Jared Williamson conjure 8-barrel batches of regulars, old favorites and new formulations.
Always check the blackboards to see what’s on tap. For more information about NABC beers, go here.
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.
Croupier ... IPA dedicated to the workers at the Caesars Indiana riverboat casino in nearby Harrison County.
Elector ... Making Democracy pointless since 2002; English malt, American hops. 7.2% abv. Double Red?
Happy Helmut ... Homage to eclectic Franconian brewing traditions, light bodied and quaffable, with a hint of smoke and rye.
Mt. Lee ... California Common ("Steam"), named for the Hollywood mountainside with the famous sign. First brewed in 2006. It has been lightened in gravity and a.b.v. by roughly 10% for the current first summer of 2007 batch.
St. Radegund ... English-style ESB, brewed as Beak's Best in its original incarnation in 2002, then reformulated as St. Radegund in 2005.
Guests from near and far (market pricing).
ON TAP NOW: Everyday staples. Note that Alpha King will now often be rotating with Bell’s Two Hearted Ale . Why? Go here.
Alpha King (multiple kegs; Bell’s Two Hearted Ale may return the week of Sept. 17, or as soon as an available tap can be found)
Sprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)
ON TAP NOW: Rotating selections (limited engagement).
Aecht Schlenkerla Urbock (two more 30-L kegs!)
Barley Island Black Majic Java Stout
Kasteel Bier Bruin/Brune/Donker
Rogue "John's Locker Stock" Anniversary Ale - Brewer 2007 (redux)
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine
Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale
In the bullpen (ready for duty when called upon to serve).
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (cask-conditioned firkin)
VII. CALENDAR OF 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.
Smoking.
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.
Wi-Fi.
Both dining areas are hotspots. Please observe proper etiquette when using our Wi-Fi service, and do not disturb or offend others with the Anheuser-Busch web site or other examples of web-borne smut.
2007 events: 
Weekly on Thursday evening @ 7:00 p.m.
Drinking Liberally (New Albany & Southern Indiana) meets in the Red Room each Thursday. Contact organizer Lacy Davis for details.
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Monday, October 1
Ayinger Oktoberfes Beer Dinner at Bistro New Albany
My affection for Ayinger’s excellent line of Bavarian beers has prompted me to pair them with another stellar menu concocted by Chef Dave Clancy, owner of Bistro New Albany.
For the full story, go here: Update: Ayinger Oktoberfest beer dinner at Bistro New Albany on Monday, October 1.
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Thursday, October 11 through Sunday, October 14
Harvest Homecoming
New Albany's annual celebration, now featuring three downtown restaurants/pubs serving NABC beer.
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Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 18, 19 & 20
Art Show in Prost
We'll know more when Kevin returns from the desert, so until then, visit New Albanian Art.
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Friday, October 19
Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming fest begins
Love and hoppiness, in all their myriad forms, as dispensed from all available taps.
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Monday, October 29
Culinary Costume of American Artisanal Ales - a beer dinner at Prost
Aspiring young renegade chefs Andy and Josh are conspiring with the Publican to create a special pre-Halloween culinary treat, to be held in NABC's Prost banquet room.
They're constructing a menu, and have made outstanding pairing recommendations using beers from NABC, Ommegang, Allagash, Jolly Pumpkin, Dogfish Head and more.
Stay tuned for details.
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Friday, December 7
Saturnalia MMVII begins
Our fourth celebration of the winter solstice, with seasonal and holiday drafts. Note the date change; it has been moved forward one week.
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Friday, February 29, 2008
Leap Year Gravity Head Number Ten
'Nuff said for now. The tenth anniversary of Gravity Head is slated to begin on the 29th of February, so make designated driver and bunking arrangements now.
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Credits:
Thanks to Jim Bell for his photographic prowess, which we share with you from time to time, and which features prominently at the NABC web site.
Readers who aren’t as familiar with our business should go to http://www.newalbanian.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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