Random Beer Roundup - The Christmas Creep Edition

Good Day!

I cannot wait for this weekend to get started. Mike and I are headed over to the St. Louis area for the weekend to help my parents get moved in to their new house. While that's fun and all, Schlafly is pretty close and I hear they put something good on tap recently. Hopefully we'll get to check out a couple other places that we've been meaning to, but we'll see. What will you be drinking?

If you'll be spending your time in Indy this weekend, you can cheer on Knight Jess as she runs her first half marathon! GO JESS! Good Luck and have fun!

If there is something coming up that is not listed, we would love to hear about it. News, reviews, info, etc., to share for our next Random Beer Roundup can be submitted to hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com.)

Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change

Friday, November 6th from 4:30-6:30 at Crown Liquors in Carmel: beer tasting (more info below)

Saturday, November 7th at Ron Smith's home: Teach a friend to Homebrew day.

Tuesday, November 10th at Rock Bottom Downtown Indy: Fall Harvest Brewer's Dinner (featuring HBG's very own Rod/Jess' beer (Harvest Mild) as brewed by Jerry and Rodney) - Tickets are $35 per person. Call For reservations as space is limited - (317) 681-8180 (menu below)

Tuesday, November 10th at Big Woods Brewery in Nashville: official opening

Thursday, November 12th at Rock Bottom Downtown Indy: Blitzen Ale Winter-White Tapping - 6 pm to 6:30 pm

Thursday, November 12th at Chef JJ's Backyard: Sun King Harvest Brewer's Dinner - 6:30 pm (more below)

Tuesday, November 17th - Sunday, November 22nd at New Albanian's Bank Street Brewhouse: Official Grand Opening celebration

Thursday, November 19th at Casler's Kitchen in Fishers: Sun King Brewers Dinner (more below)

Saturday, November 21st at Lafayette Brewing Co. in Lafayette: Alpha Acid Test (more below)

Saturday, November 21st: Hoosier Beer Geek's Tailgate for Nothing, a publicly advertised yet still somehow secret no freeloaders BYO everything craft beer tailgate for any old folks who consider themselves a fan of sharing great beer and good food. There's only one way to get more details - Send an email to knights@hoosierbeergeek.com.

What's Brewing

From Clayton at Sun King Brewing:

Thursday, November 12th - 6:30 p.m. @ Chef JJ's Back Yard - Harvest Brewer's Dinner: 6 courses of harvest inspired, locally grown deliciousness, each paired with a different Sun King Beer. $35 per person, reservations required. www.chefjjs.com

Thursday, November 19th - 7:00 p.m. @ Casler's Kitchen - Brewer's Dinner: 4 Courses prepared by Casler's Chef, Craig Baker, prepared with and paired with Sun King Beer. Contact Casler's Kitchen for details

We have a lot of great beers for the transition to fall! Home Grown Harvest Ale is a rich, smooth amber ale that was brewed with barley, wheat, oats and rye. It was hopped with several pounds of locally grown Noble hops from an urban farmer at Basic Roots Community Foods on the East side of Indy.

We also have El Gallo Negro, which is our Black I.P.A. available in the tasting room and at MacNiven's, Deano's and Binkley's. It is a big, roasty, hoppy, delicious beer.

Java Mac is making a return to our taps after a few weeks of absence. We have once again infused Kauai coffee from local roaster B-Java into our Wee Mac Scottish Ale to create a roasty, smooth, nutty, delicious coffee brown ale. Java Mac will be available in our Tasting Room and on draft at The Aristocrat Pub at 52nd and College.

Tulip Wit has just been released, which is an unfiltered Belgian Wit produced with a syrup made by Hickory Works in Brown County from our state tree. It has a great floral aroma and was fermented with a special Belgian yeast strain that lend an array of fruity characteristics to the beer.

This week we brewed a Chocolate Stout that will hopefully be ready around Thanksgiving. It is our first stout and we will keep you updated as to it's progress, but it is sure to be a rich, full bodied, delicious beer that is just right for a cold winter night. We plan to barrel age 50 gallons of Chocolate Stout in a Buffalo Trace barrel with tart cherries for release sometime next year...

From Greg at Lafayette Brewing Co in Lafayette:

alpha acid test
Saturday, November 21
2 pm to 5 pm, Tickets $20

Can you pass the Alpha Acid Test? We brewed a 60 IBU ale with one hop addition at 60 minutes in the kettle. After fermentation and maturation, we're going to rack this beer into 10 kegs and firkins and dry hop each individual vessel with a different hop variety (technically, 1 control beer and 9 different hop varieties). In an open tasting format, we'll sample the resulting brews to discern the subtlties of each individual hop variety. Sort of an IPA Extravaganza utilizing some familiar and some not-so-familiar hop varieties. Also included in the price of admission: commemorative tasting glass, raffles of LBC merchandise and munchies from our pizza kitchen. Don't miss this unique tasting experience! A limited number of tickets are on sale now.

From Charles at Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington:

Upcoming beers: November 9th: Teddy Bear Kisses - A Russian Imperial Stout available only at the Upland Tap Room.

From Jerry at Rock Bottom Downtown:

Fall Harvest Brewer's Dinner
Tuesday, November 10, from 6:30 pm to 9 pm

Come join us for our Fall Harvest Brewer's Dinner. Jerry and Victor have once again put their artistic minds together and have created a delectable feast celebrating the autumn season. We will be offering four courses each paired with an accommodating beer.

The Menu Includes:

Sweet Potato Amaretto Crepes, Fall Harvest Soup, Stuffed Lamb Chops, and a Maple Pumpkin Cannoli.

Tickets are $35 per person. Call For reservations as space is limited - (317) 681-8180

Carry Out

From Kirk at Mr. G's Liquor in Noblesville:

JK Scrumpy Solstice Cider 22 oz $7.19
Founders Backwoods Bastard 4pk $12.99
Clipper City Winter Storm 6pk $10.99
Hebrew Bar Mitzvah 22oz $5.99
Great Divide Hibernation Ale 6pk $11.99
Mendocino Winter Ale Imperial IPA 6pk $8.99

From Todd at Keg Liquors in Clarksville:

- Breckenridge Lucky U IPA
- Founders Backwoods Bastard
- Great Divide Hibernation Ale
- Mendocino Winter Imperial IPA
- Corsendonk Christmas
- Affligem Noel
- Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire
- Christmas in Belgium Gift set
- Stegmaier Holiday Warmer
- Mahr's Christmas Bock
- Tripel Karmeliet Gift Set (4 bottles and a glass)
- Brunehaut St. Martin Cuvee de Noel
- Samuel Smith Winter Warmer
- Lindemans Gift Set (Framboise, Pomme and a glass)
- Bell's Christmas Ale

Event:
5th Annual Holiday Insanity Beer Tasting at Keg Liquors

December 3rd from 5 – 8 PM

Another of our great traditions, we conclude the year’s beer tasting schedule with a bang. Featuring Holiday and Seasonal beers from around the world. Last year's tasting included over 21 different beers to sample. More details will be forthcoming as this one shapes up.

From Matt at Vine and Table in Carmel:

This Friday (11/6), I will be putting out our November beer specials, which will include Breckenridge Autumn Ale, Goose Island Harvest Ale, Abita Fallfest, and Saranac Pumpkin Ale. Also we just got in some new products that are exciting, including: He'Brew Jewbelation (13th Anniv. Bar Mitzvah) and He'Brew Rejewvenator (Year of the Date).

From Patrick at Crown Liquors in Carmel:

Definitely a beer tasting worth attending.
Crown liquors in Carmel is offering a beer tasting Friday, November 6th, from 4:30-6:30 including some great beers and some surprises.

These include:

Stone Imperial Russian Stout Vintage release
Founders Breakfast Stout
Great Divide Hibernation Breakenridge Lucky U ipa
Hebrew Jewbelation
Two brothers Heavy handed ipa
Avec Le Bon Voeux
Scaldis Noel Premium

Also, there will be beers from Sprinkle and Pierces private beer stash available for tasting...Come and enjoy these featured beverages and check our new beers and hear about others on the way in weeks to come!

On Tap

From Dustin at Spencer's Stadium Tavern:

On Tap:
Old Style Rogue Dead Guy Harpoon IPA Dirty Helen
Sun King Java Mac, Pale Ale, Harvest Ale New Albany 15-b Porter

From John at The Legend in Irvington:

Just put on tap:
Sun King Home Grown Harvest Ale

From Sam at BW3's (Downtown Indianapolis):

Gone is Three Floyds Broodoo. In its place we have 1/6 bbl of Three Floyds Dreadnaught that was kegged on October 19. Pretty fresh stuff.

Bells Expedition Stout is nearing the end of the keg and is to be replaced by Double Cream Stout.

Stone Arrogant Bastard

Founders Reds Rye

Bells Two Hearted

Three Floyds Robert the Bruce and Gumballhead

Upland's Bad Elmer's Porter

Dogfish Head 90 Minute and Punkin Ale

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale (to be replaced by Celebration)

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA

Barley Island Dirty Helen

Distribution News

From Krystal at World Class Beverages:

Brewers FX Matt, Ommegang, and Dogfish Head receive prominent mention in INSIGHTS Express article, “Beer Advocates” ; Chain Retailers Showcasing Craft¹, in their frequent use of samplings, cross-merchandising displays, and specials to showcase and promote the craft market.

Christmas beers are starting to roll in… here are a few that are expected to be out in stores mid-end November:

Anchor Christmas, Atwater Winter, Bell’s Winter White, Boulevard Nutcracker, Brooklyn Winter Ale, Rogue Santa’s Reserve, Matt’s Brewing 12 Beers of Winter, and Three Floyd’s Alpha Klaus. Look for these seasonals in stores near you. If you’re not sure what retailer might carry these near you, find out for yourself on our website’s (www.worldclassbeverages.com) Beer Spy and find your nearest retailer. CHEERS!

(Insight, B. M.: Vol 11, No 104(2009, November 3). Insight Express. Retrieved November 4, 2009, from http://www.beerinsights.com).

From Greg at Cavalier Distribution:

2009 Founders Backwoods Bastard is on the loose!! "Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrles, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit or earthy spice and a scintilla of dark cherries. It's a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate." Usually we only get a few cases for the state, and although it is still very limited this year, we were able to spread the Founders love much more than in previous years. Make a point to grab some to drink now and some to cellar for awhile. Get is soon, because it'll be gone before you know it.

He'Brew 13th Jewbilation...the Bar Mitzvah, is officially released. Yes, He'Brew has officially come of age with this beer. Brewed with 13 hops, 13 malts and weighing in at 13% abv, this monster is the ideal warmer as the days get shorter and colder. This year's Jewbilation is a masterpiece of balance although it's big & bold. As always, this beer is very limited.

From Lion Brewing Company comes two brand new beer lines to Indiana. Lions Head & Stegmaier beers from Pennsylvania have both made names for themselves as very solid beers for affordable prices. Several styles of both Stegmaier & Lions Head Beers are hitting the Indiana market now, so look out for these new beers and give them a try.

We have a ton of incredible Winter/Holiday Seasonal Beers & Special Releases in stock that should be out in your favorite craft beer locations soon. There's a bunch, so here's the list:

• The Bruery 2 Turtle Doves--Brand new this year and limited!!
• Clipper City Winter Storm
• Founders Breakfast Stout
• Great Divide Hibernation
• Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza
• Stegmaier Holiday Warmer--Brand new this year!!
• Mendocino Winter Imperial IPA
• HeBrew 13th Jewbilation--13 Hops, 13 Malts, 13% ABV...Bar Mitzvah!!
• Shipyard Prelude Ale
• Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Xmas
• Affligem Noel
• Blaugies La Moneuse Winter--Very Limited
• De Rank Pere Noel--Very Limited
• Scaldis Noel--Very Limited
• Scaldis Noel Premium--Very Limited
• Scaldis Prestige de Nuits--EXTREMELY Limited--Prestige aged in Burgundy casks!!
• Dupont Les Bons Voeux--Extremely Limited
• Serafijn Xmas Angel--Limited
• Slaapmutske Xmas Nightcap--Limited
• Struise Tsjeese--Limited
• Mikkeller To/From--Very Limited
• Mikkeller From/To--Very Limited
• Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper '08--Extremely Limited
• Olfabrikken Jule Ale--Limited
• Olfabrikken Jule Kloster Ale--Limited
• Mahr's Xmas Bock--Limited

We also have some incredible Gift Packs in stock as well:

• Corsendonk Gift Packs
• Tripel Karmeliet Gift Packs
• Kwak Gift Packs
• Christoffel Gift Packs
• Xmas in Belgium Gift Pack
• Schnieder Gift Packs
• Weihenstephaner Gift Packs

Congratulations to Jeff Eaton and the entire Barley Island family on their new place in Broad Ripple. In addition to featuring several wonderful Barley Island brews, the pub is also pouring Left Hand Milk Stout, Mad River John Barleycorn Barley Wine (GABF Gold Medal Winning Vintage), New Albanian Brew Co. Elector Imperial Red Ale & Two Brothers Cane & Ebel Hopped-up Red Rye Ale.

Other News

Indiana Public Radio’s 3^rd annual All Beers Considered beer & cheese tasting

Here are the basics:
November 22^nd, 2-5pm
Cornerstone Center for the Arts, (Downtown Muncie)
Admission is $17, $15 for IPR members
Reservations are due by Wednesday Nov 18

To rsvp, email iprmembers@bsu.edu or call 800.646.1812
All proceeds benefit Indiana Public Radio