In this edition of Publicanista!:I. NARRATIVE, i.e., THE BEER WEEK THAT WAS, AND THE ONE COMING UP: bNA OPENS; CONESMOKER TO RETURN; OEO ON THE HAND PULL -- AND MORE.
II. REMEMBER: THE FIFTH ANNUAL FOSSILS BREWERIANA SALE IS SATURDAY, MAY 13.
III. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.
IV. EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.
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I. NARRATIVE, i.e., THE BEER WEEK THAT WAS, AND THE ONE COMING UP: bNA OPENS; CONESMOKER TO RETURN; OEO ON THE HAND PULL -- AND MORE.
I’m going to simplify matters this week owing to the inescapable fact that not much has changed since my last report.
The biggest piece of news pertains to the long delayed opening of the Bistro New Albany. After an ownership change – Dave Himmel and original chef Dave Clancy now are the dynamic duo – bNA is up and running at 148 E. Market St. in downtown New Albany.
Four NABC drafts join two BBC ales and four rotating guest taps. Food is casual bistro fare with numerous fine-dining touches generally absent from the local dining scene. The courtyard ambience is suburb, and reviews overwhelmingly positive at the outset.
Hours will be limited in the short run. Lunch is from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. At 5:00 p.m. each day, bNA will reopen for early evening hours until 8:00 p.m., with a modified bar menu for food and the same beers and wine. bNA is closed on Sunday, although that may change during warmer weather as demand for courtyard seating on the part of thirsty bicycle riders increases ...
For more information, follow these links:
Bistro New Albany to open Monday for lunch, by Eric Scott Campbell (New Albany Tribune).
An Evening at Bistro New Albany -- and, we hope, many more to follow.
A bNA lunchtime reservation followed by an evening's chat about historical preservation.
Bistro New Albany seems about to commence operations.
In addition to bNA, the New Albanian Brewing Company will be supplying Bob’s Old 15-B Porter to another new local restaurant about to debut: Stratto’s, which will occupy the former Sunset Grill property on Lewis & Clark Parkway in Clarksville.
Stratto’s food is being described by one observer as “aggressive (with) a good deal of regional Italian influence (and) upscale.” It is owned by a group of investors that includes Sam Anderson (of Sam's Food & Spirits), who will be providing the hands-on management. My understanding is that Stratto’s will be open next week.
A final item of interest to drinking and dining New Albanians is final approval of the city’s Riverfront Development Project Area, which in practical terms indicates compliance with state redevelopment statutes that permit restaurants in designated areas to obtain three-way alcohol licenses apart from the state’s usual quota system. What this means is that it is now far easier than before for restaurateurs to get their bars up and running, preferably in historic buildings downtown.
See NA's riverfront development district passes first hurdle for further information.
Within the realm of Rich O’s/Sportstime and NABC, the past week saw much work to modernize the ancient heating and air system at Sportstime, the annoying expense of which may or may not preclude commencement of our annually delayed outdoor seating project. A decision is forthcoming.
NABC's brew crew of Jesse and Jared is preparing to roll out the latest batch of ConeSmoker, which follows the formula previously billed as NobleSmoker:
Malts: 85% Weyermann beechwood-smoked malt
Hops: All German noble hops
Yeast: London
ABV: 7.5%
In short, elegant Franconian smoked malt, an above average “noble” German hops presence but warm fermentation -- new twists on an old style. If not this week, expect ConeSmoker to be pouring by next Tuesday.
Finally, here are links to recent articles at the Potable Curmudgeon's Beer Blog:
Recap: Fest of Ale at Keg Liquors on April 29.
Election day is dry, but not Elector Night.
A Passage to Rogue (Part 3): Floating up, in, over and out to Newport.
One good smoke deserves a bowl of curry and a dessert beer or three.
II. REMEMBER: THE FIFTH ANNUAL FOSSILS BREWERIANA SALE IS SATURDAY, MAY 13.
Previously, we tried to stage this event on Sunday, with mixed results, but with the advent of the Prost special events room, it's now possible to run the breweriana sale on a normal business day, with more space for vendors.
On Saturday, May 13, the sale will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Prost. As in the past, items will include pre-prohibition to contemporary breweriana from local breweries and international -- such as antique bottles, signs, mirrors, glassware, trays, clocks, lamps, books, and much more. Dealer space costs $15.00; contact Kira Tash for information.
Because this year's breweriana sale is on Saturday during regular business hours, I'm free to conduct my (generally) annual garage sale and inventory reduction sales event, featuring a crazy quilt of bottled beer choices -- old, new, borrowed, blue, etc. -- and it's all perfectly legal.
And don't forget the FOSSILS meeting, which starts after the sale ends.
III. 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.
Hoosier Daddy Crimson & Cream Ale ... A mysterious red beer for a mysterious red state - full-bodied, sweet and dry in the finish.
Guests from near and far.
Market pricing.
Staples:
Arrogant BastardSprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)
Rotating (limited engagement):
BBC Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Love & Hoppiness
Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Mogul Ale (fourth keg)
Rogue (John's Locker Stock) Skull Splitter (Gravity-listed; second keg)
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine (young 'un for the fun of it)
Bullpen:
Avery "The Reverend" (belated Gravity Head 2006 arrival)
De Dolle Special Extra Export Stout
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter (Gravity Head dessert selection)
Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine
IV. 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.
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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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Saturday, May 27
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.
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June 2
All systems should be go. By mid-May, there'll be a beer list.
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, who also writes The Potable Curmudgeon and NA Confidential blogs.
THE END.
