Publicanista!

Sprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)

Browning's Brewery She-Devil India Pale Ale

ON TAP NOW: Rotating selections (limited engagement).

Alpha King

De Glazen Toren Jan de Lichte (Imperial White)

Geants Saison Voisin

Great Divide Fresh Hop (wet hop)

Gulden Draak

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire

Kasteel Blonde

Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Poperings Hommel

Rogue XS Imperial Stout

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale

Browning's Brewery Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

De Glazen Toren Saison d' Erpe Mere

Urthel Hop-It

In the bullpen (ready for duty when called upon to serve).

Bluegrass Brewing Company (Main & Clay) IPA (in transit)

Rogue "St. Rogue" Dr y Hopped Red

Two Brothers Hop Juice

VII. NEWS FROM THE BOTTLED BEER FRONT.

You've heard it before, now hear it again: I'm engaged in a great struggle to completely inventory and reset the bottle selection, and update the beer list. There's a high price to be paid to have all my favorites within ready access when the need arises to prove a point ... or to be lulled into numbness. Stay tuned.

VIII. 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.

----

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.

----

Monday, December 17

NABC, Rich O's and Sportstime will be closed to recover from the annual holiday party!

----

Thursday, December 27

Pants Down Potluck Port Circle

This year's gathering of the Pants Down Potluck Port Circle is Thursday, December 27.

----

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.

----

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.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Publicanista! November 22, 2007.

In this edition of Publicanista!:

I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: MOST ARROGANT BAR IN AMERICA CHALLENGE BEGINS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24.

II. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.

III: DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.

IV. CALENDAR OF EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.

----

I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: MOST ARROGANT BAR IN AMERICA CHALLENGE BEGINS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24.

To be honest, I resisted committing to this promotion, primarily because it’s been a very busy year without added arrogance, and also owing to what I perceive as the first signs of “event fatigue” among local beer aficionados … but what the hell. We're fairly arrogant already; might as well pile on.

The idea is that from November 24 through November 30, participating establishments will vie to sell the most Arrogant Bastard Ale, “Oaked” Arrogant Bastard Ale, and Double Bastard Ale, as calculated by the ounce. The winner will receive, “A Plaque proclaiming your supreme Arrogance, bragging rights to the rest of the nation, and a place in history amongst the other Most Arrogant Bars in America!”

I wouldn’t be a curmudgeon if I didn’t react to all this with, “real bars don’t count ounces,” but since it’s all in good fun … why not?

Sales will be calculated according to the honor system, and we’ll be at a competitive disadvantage because I’ve chosen to cellar our keg of Double Bastard for future Gravity Heads.

However, during the specified period, both Arrogant Bastard and Oaked Arrogant Bastard will be on tap and discounted a bit to further the cause. Wherever the oak chips fall ...

II. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG .

This year's gathering of the Pants Down Potluck Port Circle is Thursday, December 27.

A sip of revived ale and pleasant recollections in Indianapolis.

Connor's Place in Velocity.

Program for tonight's Merchant du Vin beer & cheese tasting.

Headline: "Most Arrogant Bar In America" Challenge.

Three things I learned during the past week.

III. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.

Our NABC beers.

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.

Malcolm's Old Setters Ale ... Old ale; 12% abv; big, malty, and challenging. Limited engagement sans pitchers or growlers.

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.

Arrogant Bastard

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

Guinness Stout

Lindemans Framboise

Pilsner Urquell

Sprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)

Barley Island Black Majic Java Stout

ON TAP NOW: Rotating selections (limited engagement).

Browning's Brewery She-Devil India Pale Ale

De Glazen Toren Jan de Lichte (Imperial White)

Geants Saison Voisin

Great Divide Fresh Hop (wet hop)

Gulden Draak

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire

Kasteel Blonde

Poperings Hommel

Rogue XS Imperial Stout

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale

Three Floyds Gumball Head American Wheat

Browning's Brewery Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

De Glazen Toren Saison d' Erpe Mere

Urthel Hop-It

In the bullpen (ready for duty when called upon to serve).

Bluegrass Brewing Company (Main & Clay) IPA (in transit)

Rogue "St. Rogue" Dr y Hopped Red

Two Brothers Hop Juice

IV. 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.

----

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.

----

Monday, December 17

NABC, Rich O's and Sportstime will be closed to recover from the annual holiday party!

----

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.

----

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Publicanista! November 15, 2007.

In this edition of Publicanista!:

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.

----

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.

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.

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)

Brooklyn Brewmaster's Reserve Abbey Singel

ON TAP NOW: Rotating selections (limited engagement).

Brooklyn Brown

Browning's Oktoberfest

Coniston Bluebird Bitter

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

Founders Reds Rye

Geants Saison Voisin

Gouden Carolus Ambrio

Houblon Chouffe

Poperings Hommel

Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale (wet hop)

Three Floyds Gumball Head American Wheat

Urthel Hop-It

Wintercoat Double Hop

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)

Gulden Draak

De Glazen Toren Jan de Lichte (Imperial White)

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire

Kasteel Blonde

Rogue XS Imperial Stout

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.

----

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.

----

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.

----

Monday, December 17

NABC, Rich O's and Sportstime will be closed to recover from the annual holiday party!

----

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.

----

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Publicanista! Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming and New Albanian Art Show edition.

In this edition of Publicanista!:

I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: LUPULIN LAND HARVEST HOPCOMING IS UNDERWAY.

II. RAISING ART FROM THE DEAD: IT'S NEW ALBANIAN ART SHOW WEEKEND, TOO!

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. CALENDAR OF EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.

----

I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: LUPULIN LAND HARVEST HOPCOMING IS UNDERWAY.

Harvest Homecoming is over ... now it's time for Harvest Hopcoming.

We’ll again be exceeding OSHA’s legal limits on IBU’s per square foot of floor space when Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming 2007 begins on Friday, October 19. It is our sixth harvest hop celebration, and a good occasion for Kentuckiana’s hopheads to unite over a pint or two of America’s most bitter beer and to banish thoughts of abominations like Milwaukee’s Blech to the nether regions formerly reserved for silver-bulleted sinners, Miller Lite miscreants, and Auggie Busch’s backyard brunch chardonnay sippers.

Hops act as the spice of beer. Hops balance the inherent, malty sweetness. Hops provide the seasoning. Hops cleanse the palate and leave you begging for more. Hops make it interesting, and perhaps healthy as well: According to researchers for Japan’s Kirin Brewery, isohumulones, agents of bittering in hops, may help curb the development of fat in the human body.

Misconceptions about hops are annoying, persistent and entirely understandable. If one is to judge by the non-flavor profile of America’s best-selling mainstream lagers, it is certain that the majority of beer drinkers in our purportedly great nation are suffering from severe lupulin deprivation. It’s way past time to reverse that trend … just as bitterness, aroma and flavor.

Meanwhile, in all my years at NABC/Rich O's/Sportstime, I can't recall a time when it was so hard just to keep up, and so it's taken plenty of effort to put this year's Lupulin Land hop fete together ... but here it is.

Note that after three computer crashes in a month's time, I've not had the opportunity to restore contact with the web site, and so the official program is not available on-line (yet). I hope to have this issue resolved by Monday.

The lineup ...

Everyday Hop Accents
Alpha King
Arrogant Bastard
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
NABC Hoptimus
Pilsner Urquell
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Louisville area (and Schlafly) cask-conditioned ale schedule:
Cumberland Brews Matt’s Red opens on Oct. 19, and when it is depleted, will be followed by Bluegrass Brewing Company (St. Matthews) Daisycutter Organic IPA. Depending on how long it takes to deplete Matt’s Red, Daisycutter may wait until after Schlafly Dry-Hopped APA, which absolutely will be pouring on Wednesday, Oct. 24 with Scott, our Schlafly rep, in attendance. He’ll probably be bringing bottles of Schlafly’s excellent IPA for sampling, so plan on coming out. Browning's Brewery She-Devil India Pale Ale follows, and we know that Bluegrass Brewing Company (Main & Clay) IPA will be delayed; look for a special tapping promotion in early November.

Lupulin Land imports on tap now:
Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse
Coniston Bluebird Bitter
Gaspar
Geants Saison Voisin
Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted
Houblon Chouffe
Poperings Hommel
Urthel Hop-It
Wintercoat Double Hop

Lupulin Land microbrews on tap now:
Boulder Cold Hop
Clipper City Loose Cannon Hop 3
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
NABC Oaktimus
Rogue JLS Glen 2007
Stone 10th Anniversary Ale
Two Brothers Heavy Handed India Pale Ale (wet hop)

Lupulin Land microbrews yet to come:
Founders Reds Rye
Founders Centennial IPA
Great Divide Fresh Hop
Mad Anthony IPA
NABC Elsa von Horizon Imperial Pilsner (poured on the Randall dry-hopping machine)
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale
Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale (wet hop)
Stone Ruination IPA
Two Brothers Cane & Ebel
Two Brothers Hop Juice (two different batches)
Upland Dragonfly IPA (special dry-hopped version)

II. RAISING ART FROM THE DEAD: IT'S NEW ALBANIAN ART SHOW WEEKEND, TOO.

The Publican says: Come out and take a look, and buy something!

Another edition of the art show also is underway in Prost, the special events and banquet area of the Public House. As noted previously, these shows are entirely generated by NABC employees, their friends and families, and you need to see it to believe it. As further incentive, NABC house beers are being offered at $3 a pint all weekend (sorry, Hoptimus, Oaktimus and Elsa excepted). Consider taking some of the money you've saved and purchase something from the artists.

Here's the description, courtesy of chief organizer Kevin Dennis.

So it goes!

October 18,19, and 20: Raising art from the dead@The New Albanian Brewing Company

The show will be just two weeks before Halloween, so come dressed to impress! Zombies encouraged ... mmmm Brains... Art of all forms by all ages and from multiple places around the country; mostly local, though ... New Albany REPRESENT! Fire performances by The Phoenix Collective ... Kinetic Sculpture -The Contraption, an interactive sculpture worthy of writing home to mom about. Glass blowing by Daniel Holland and possibly a few guest appearances; Yoga performances ...

The tentative music and performance schedule:

Thursday 18th
7:30-8:30 Jared Williamson
8:30-9:30 Pokey LaFarge
9:30-10:30 Amos
10:30-Close Stephen Powell

Friday 19th
6:00-7:00 Poetry Session Ian, Sean Corb,etc..
7:00-7:30 Glen Brown and his wife Yoga
7:30-8:30 Jared Williamson
8:30-9:30 Tommy Potts
9:30-10:00 Phoenix Fire Collective
10:00-11:00 Ben Traughber
11:00-Close Daniel Brown

Saturday 20th
7:30-8:30 Simon
8:30-9:30 Ben Traughber
9:30-10:00 Phoenix Fire Collective
10:00-11:00 Daniel Brown
11:00- Close Amos

III. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG .

There's a backlog; go to the web site to catch up, and don't forget that real planning is now underway for the PacNW beer and brewery tour, May 2008.

IV. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.

Our NABC beers.

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.

Flat Tyre ... Lovibond got you down? That's okay -- just improvise. It was intended to be brown, and now it's amber.

Hoptimus and Oaktimus ... Massive and assertive. Stern. Double IPA. Silver medal winner at the 2007 St. Louis Microfest. When aged with oak chips, another shade emerges.

Phoenix Kentucky Komon ... Retro style indigenous to Louisville; dark, smooth with a touch or roast, and sour.

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

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

Sprecher Root Beer (non-alcoholic)

ON TAP NOW: Rotating selections (limited engagement).

Lupulin Land beers ... see above.

In the bullpen (ready for duty when called upon to serve).

Glazen Toren Saison d' Erpe Mere

Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming begins Friday, October 19.

----

V. CALENDAR OF EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.

Friday, October 19

Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming fest begins

Love and hoppiness, in all their myriad forms, as dispensed from all available taps.

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.

Culinary Costume of American Artisan Ales: A Beer & Food Pairing.

----

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.

----

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.

----

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.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Publicanista! ... September 27, 2007.

In this edition of Publicanista!:

I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: OKTOBER STANDS TO BE VERY BUSY.

II. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG.

III: DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.

IV. CALENDAR OF EVENTS, HOURS AND RELATED FACTS.

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I. PUBLICAN'S CHOICE: OKTOBER STANDS TO BE VERY BUSY.

Silly me. I keep thinking that there’ll be a “quiet” time this year, but the calendar just keeps filling up. There are more than a few beer events, beer and food pairings and all-purpose merriment planned for coming weeks, and here’s the schedule as it appears now.

First up on Monday, October 1, is the Ayinger Oktober-Fest Beer Dinner at Bistro New Albany. Chef Clancy and the Publican will be combining Bavarian cuisine with some of the finest exported examples of Bavarian beer.

After that appropriate autumn kick-off, New Albany’s annual Harvest Homecoming festival will be dominating downtown from the October 6 parade day through October 13.

If you're on speaking (or, at the very least, drinking) terms with the Publican, be aware of the annual parade day party at the homestead on the 6th.

NABC beers will be available downtown at our three primary accounts during booth days (October 11, 12 and 13), and we’re planning on releasing a few bits of NABC’s reserve stock for special promotions at Bistro New Albany, Connor’s Place and Speakeasy Jazz during these three days. Stay tuned for information on what, when and where.

During the same weekend, several Louisville area brewers and brewery owners will be in Denver, Colorado, for the Great American Beer Festival. Bring back some medals, guys.

Lupulin Land Harvest Hopcoming and the next New Albanian Art Show converge on Friday, October 19 (the art show begins a day earlier), and on the 20th, there’s a possibility that I may be working with Tommie Mudd at Caffe Classico on a “stouts of fall” appetizer and ale pairing. That same day, Mike Stephens at Youngstown Cigar Shop & Island Café (Jeffersonville) is holding a “Stogies and Stouts” party from noon to 5:00 p.m. Mike's shop is located behind Mai's Thai in the Youngstown Shopping Center on 10th Street.Tired yet?

Finally, to close the month with a jolt before Halloween, there’ll be our first ever beer dinner at Prost, NABC’s banquet and special events wing: Culinary Costume of American Artisan Ales, to be held on Monday, October 29. It’s a cooperative venture between NABC and two aspiring young culinary artists, Andy and Josh, although it should be noted that they’re doing most of the heavy lifting. Pricing and details have yet to be determined.

Write ‘em down. My liver’s on full alert.

II. RECENT NEWS AND ARTICLES AT THE POTABLE CURMUDGEON’S BEER BLOG .

Keg Liquors "Fall Festival Beer Tasting" is tonight: Thursday, September 27.

Calendar check: Culinary Costume of American Artisan Ales at NABC on Monday, October 29.

Lupulin Land 2007 preview: We're less than a month away.

Real planning now underway for PacNW beer and brewery tour, 2008.

III. DRAFT BEERS: OUR LIQUID, DAILY BREAD, ON TAP AT RICH O’S AND SPORTSTIME.

Our NABC beers.

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?

Flat Tyre ... Lovibond got you down? That's okay -- just improvise.

Happy Helmut ... Homage to eclectic Franconian brewing traditions, light bodied and quaffable, with a hint of smoke and rye.

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

Bell's Oktoberfest

Glazen Toren Saison d' Erpe Mere

Gouden Carolus Ambrio

Hitachino Nest White Ale

Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere

Poperings Hommel Bier

Rogue Dead Guy

Rogue "John's Locker Stock" Anniversary Ale - Brewer 2007 (redux)

Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine

Spaten Oktoberfest

Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale

Calendar check: Culinary Costume of American Artisan Ales at NABC on Monday, October 29.

In the bullpen (ready for duty when called upon to serve).

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (cask-conditioned firkin; Friday, Sept. 28)

Birrificio Cassissona

Brooklyn Brown

Paulaner Hefe-Weizen

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.

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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.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Publicanista! ... September 20, 2007.

In this edition of Publicanista!:

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."

"The hop world is upside down. In the future we see the possibility of brewers shutting down for lack of hops."

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.

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.

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)

Barley Island Black Majic Java Stout

ON TAP NOW: Rotating selections (limited engagement).

Aecht Schlenkerla Urbock (two more 30-L kegs!)

Dogfish Head Festina Peche

Hitachino Nest White Ale

Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere

Kasteel Bier Bruin/Brune/Donker

Ommegang Hennepin

Paulaner Oktoberfest

Poperings Hommel Bier

Rogue "John's Locker Stock" Anniversary Ale - Brewer 2007 (redux)

Schlafly Oktoberfest

Spaten Oktoberfest

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)

Birrificio Cassissona

Gouden Carolus Ambrio