I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: YES, THERE'S BEEN SOME SLACKING GOING ON.
II. BEER (MERCHANT DU VIN) AND CHEESE (LOCAL) TASTING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT 6:30 P.M. AT PROST.
III. POSSIBLE TOUR DATES FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BEER TOUR IN MAY, 2008.
IV. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
V: DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.
VI. CALENDAR OF EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.
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I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: YES, THERE'S BEEN SOME SLACKING GOING ON.
No excuses; I got bored, then busy, and finally burned out, and for a few weeks there, the weekly newsletter got short shrift.
Sorry about that. It is my aim that by December, this ad-hoc vestige of an antiquated system of communications will greet the scrap heap, to be replaced by something easier/better/functional and just plain different.
Until then ... well, here's the update.
The culinary costume beer dinner was groovy. Lupulin Land is winding down, but many IBUs are left on the board. Saturnalia assaults the taste buds in less than a month. Some big breweries have merged, but few of us give a damn. Smaller breweries are feeling the pinch from hop shortages and skyrocketing prices for ingredients, and we're doing what we can.
From the brewhouse: My fave ConeSmoker is back on tap. Bonfire of the Valkyries and Naughty Claus have been brewed, and the first three kegs of Fifth Anniversary Ale have come and gone, but will return here and there as we age it. Malcolm's Old Setters Ale made a cask-conditioned appearance at the creative costume beer dinner, and is close to being ready after some months of rest.
And, work continues on the projected NABC brewery expansion into downtown New Albany. There'll be more information, so stay tuned.
II. BEER (MERCHANT DU VIN) AND CHEESE (LOCAL) TASTING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT 6:30 P.M. AT PROST.From Tisha Dean of World Class Beverages and the Publican:
Beer and Cheese Tasting, Monday Nov. 19th at 6:30 p.m.
We're working on the final details of the local crafted cheeses from IN and KY to be paired with the impressive imported beers from Merchant Du Vin, but I'd like to invite you to come to the Rich O's/New Albanian Prost room on Monday night, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. to learn about some fine imported beers with some local cheese flavor!
We're only asking for a $10 donation to help offset the cost of the cheeses, besides how often do you get to try a Chocolate Burbon Torte Soft Goat Cheese with a Black Currant Belgian Lambic?! You'll also walk away with an bit of beer knowledge, what some of the world of cheese is all about and a pub glass to drink your brews at home!
Please RSVP and tell all your friends in the area to come too! It's a great way to kick off the Thanksgiving week of festivities.
Here's a peek at the beer line up and the Publican's comments:
Ayinger Braü Weisse
A classic Bavarian-style wheat ale with the typical balance between fruity
esters and clove.
Green’s Quest Tripel Ale
Gluten-free, vegan ale; contract brewed in Belgium by DeProef, and never before tasted by the Publican.
Lindemans Cassis
The least sweet of the Lindemans fruit lambic range retains a hint of funk and a powerful black currant punch.
Orval Trappist Ale
This quirky standard bearer from Belgium’s prettiest Trappist monastery has English antecedents and is dry-hopped, with the suggestion of a sliver of wild yeast adding to the fun.
Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale
Tadcaster’s brownish-amber seasonal ritual is a silky and rich ale for cooler weather.
Traquair House Ale
Strong ale along the lines of barley wine, brewed in an old Scottish place and hinting at peat.
Zatec Bright Lager
Textbook hop-accented Czech lager, known everywhere except the Czech Republic as a “pilsner” style.
Come join us for a "Cheers!"
III. POSSIBLE TOUR DATES FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BEER TOUR IN MAY, 2008.
Several of those with whom I’ve spoken personally about next May’s tour know that we must work within a window of time so as to accommodate my wife’s schedule of graduate school classes.
This window is Sunday, April 27 through May 16 (Friday).
Kentucky Derby Day is Saturday, May 3, and while my original intent was to fly out from Louisville on May 4, it recently dawned on me that getting a group of 20-25 out of Louisville the day after Derby might be challenging. Our travel agent, Mary Pat Bliss, confirms this. She thinks that Tuesday, May 6 would be the first good day to debark from Louisville after the Derby scrum is finished.
This would put us on the following schedule, assuming many things (like the motorcoach company’s approval, but we must start somewhere):
Depart Louisville May 6, fly to Portland
May 6, 7 and 8, in and around Portland
May 9 and 10 in Seattle (Mariners play at home those nights)
My 11 in Astoria , Oregon
May 12 and 13 in Newport (Rogue brewery town)
May 14 drive back to Portland for the flight home.
I really wanted to incorporate two whole weekends to lessen the work days required to take off, but I’m not sure it will fit. Even if we all decided to leave before Derby , the Mariners dates might not match.
So … given what there is to work with, this is the initial proposal for the tour dates. Our probable operator is being included on this mailing, and of course we have many details yet to pin down. Please stay tuned, and tell me what you think.
For more details, go here: Real planning is now underway for the PacNW beer and brewery tour, May 2008.
If you're interested and haven't gotten on the list, please do so by contacting the Publican.
IV. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.
There's a backlog, so go directly to the web site to catch up. Following are a handful of important postings:
What was hot and what was not for the Curmudgeon in 2007.
We now live in a Third World country …
Derby City Espresso adds good beer to the caffeinated mix.
Complete (well, sort of) Saturnalia MMXII draft pre-orders.
V. 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.
ConeSmoker ... Elegant Franconian smoked malt, an above average “noble” German hops presence and warm fermentation -- new twists on an old style.
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?
Hoptimus ... Massive and assertive. Stern. Double IPA. Silver medal winner at the 2007 St. Louis Microfest.
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.
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.
Sprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)
ON TAP NOW: Rotating selections (limited engagement).
Brooklyn Brewmaster's Reserve Abbey Singel
Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale (wet hop)
Three Floyds Gumball Head American Wheat
In the bullpen (ready for duty when called upon to serve).Aecht Schlenkerla Weizen
Bluegrass Brewing Company (Main & Clay) IPA (in transit)
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
Chimay Triple
Glazen Toren Saison d' Erpe Mere
Great Divide Fresh Hop (in house) (wet hop)
De Glazen Toren Jan de Lichte (Imperial White)
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale (in transit)
VI. 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, November 19
Beer and Cheese Tasting, Monday Nov. 19th at 6:30 p.m.
Merchant du Vin beers and local crafted cheeses from Indiana and Kentucky. In the Prost room, Monday night, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m.; $10 cover.
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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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Monday, December 17
NABC, Rich O's and Sportstime will be closed to recover from the annual holiday party!
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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:
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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