You may say I'm a dreamer

I've been dreaming a lot recently. I'm not exactly sure why, I do know that I dream more when I'm hot, and I have a tendency to sweat a lot when I sleep, so I am hot. (You can have hallucinations when you have a fever, and dreams are pretty much hallucinations).

Recently, my dreams have been pretty much two things.

1, I can fly.

Well, it's not really flying, it's more like hovering, I just don't put my feet down. I'll be walking and then just sort of stop walking and not come down. I recently dreamed that I won a gold medal in the olympics in the long jump due to my hovering ability. Is that cheating? In my dream I pondered the ethics of my flying/hovering/floating ability and participating in an athletic endeavor like the long jump. Is hovering cheating?

2. I've opened/am opening/ am running a brewery.

This is actually something I'd love to do. (OK, I'd love to fly too) This is actually kind of possible too. OK, so I have no experience running a business; and I have no experience being a brewer for a real live actual brewery. But it's still something I want to do.

Last night, I dreamed that I opened a brewery in my home town of Chenoa, Illinois, population 1,800; 25 miles north of Bloomington on I-55, we used to have a Dairy Queen. I graduated from highschool with 35 of my closest friends (that's my spiel when people ask where I'm from).

I was in town for the birthday of Kim Spoolstra, (she's on facebook, and Kridz and I ran into her at the House of Blues for the Revolting Cocks show recently). The birthday party thing (cookout kinda) seemed to be held at the church over by the funeral home (the road that the Ciulla's and Hetman's lived on, I think). Although it might have been on the back side (toward the park) of the first baptist church; the old two story building, not the new prefab one. I was sitting there, and my old buddy Fernando Carranza comes up and sits by me. We start talking, and I look over and notice he's wearing a necklace made out of a hops bine; and it has fresh hops on it, and they are huge flowers too. I pluck one off to suck on it as there was no beer at the party. And wind up eating it. Apparently, they were growing in town, and being used at a brewery, in town. But the brewery was going under because the brewmaster left; and they needed someone to take it over.

How did I not know there was a brewery in town?

Well, the brewery was located in uptown, in the building that used to be the pizza place (when Sam Ryan worked there) currently behind the gazebo. It took up the entirety of the building. There were more windows put in, and the old cooking area was where the brewhouse was. The fermentation and bright tanks were on the second floor... kinda, they were actually positioned above the bar, but not quite on the second floor, or they were on a glass floor. There were several (a dozen maybe) positioned around the outside edge of the bar. It was a clean setup, more like Wedge Brewing Company, than any other.

So, who wants to open a brewery in Chenoa with me?

Some things about this dream...

1. Fernando's brother Javier (Harvey) (and another brother) own the Brown Jug, a bar in town.

2. The nearest brewery is 25 miles away in Bloomington.

3. Chenoa Fourth of July would make an excellent beer release day. Additionally, there are some other significant days in the town, all the street dances, as well as some other things.

4. I had also thought that the train station might make a good place for a brewery, however, it's in horrible condition (probably not even salvageable); and next to the water treatment plant, and that area stinks... real bad (it used to be on my paper route; I'd go from smelling the tar of Union Roofing to the processed water for the town; and it was a stinky morning).

5. I also thought it'd be nice to have a good restaurant behind the brewery/pub (not necessarily part of it)... if only I knew a chef in Chenoa...



Yeah, that'd be cool to fix up, but I want to start a brewery, not completely renovate the town. Also, it's not that convenient for the town to get to. Everyone is in main uptown for events, and the train station is a whole 2 block walk away. Now if a groomed walkway could be made from uptown to it, that'd be ok.

In other dream news. I recently spoke with Evan about a dream where we were going to be moving in together. We were going to be renting a farmhouse from an old lady (or something) and the place we were renting just so happened to have all the brewing equipment that we would need.

Evan called me last night to inform me that he was offered a farmhouse with a huge machine-shed barn, that he thought would be good for converting into a brewery. It's located in/near Mahomet, off a creek of the Sangamon (I believe). It would be on well water, which to me, is a great selling point. Most breweries now are in towns and use tap water. Old breweries were located at a place where they could get water; modern breweries aren't limited by that, but they have huge water bills. Reducing or even removing the cost for the water would lower the overall costs for a brewery. Granted treating the water and ensuring it's safe for consumption might be more expensive than just being connected to the towns tap. Anyway... the place is on 75 acres, and Evan said he'd open a bakery, and I'd open the brewery.

I guess I'm looking for business partners to start a brewery. If it's in Champaign/Urbana, then the demand is there. Blind Pig Brewery runs out of beer in 2 days. I'm not sure their capacity, but just on that alone, you can tell there's a demand. *ninja* (I also didn't think their first batches of beer were that great, and it still sold out). /*ninja*

I would need to research more on Illinois brewing laws, and probably need to get ahold of a business lawyer; and I should probably read Brewing up a Business by Sam. But I think this is something I want to do. Heck, I've had more dreams about opening a brewery, than pretty much any other thing in my life.

So, lets get this thing rolling.

V

CU Beer Weekend Nov 20

It's the week of Thanksgiving. I hope you have your beer planned for Thursday. Garrett Oliver, of Brooklyn Brewery, and the author of The Brewmaster's Table, recommends a Biere de Garde for turkeyday. Two Brothers Domaine DuPage, is probably the localest version of a Biere de Garde that you'll find (it's also quite good).

7 Saints

Wednesday: Whiskey Wedensday, this week, Scotch
Thanksgiving: closed

Radio Maria

Online beer list hasn't been updated in a week; waiting on the email.

Friday: Happy Hour 4:30-5:30
Thanksgiving: closed

Blind Pig

Tap List:
Rogue XS Old Crustacean 10 Year Vintage Newport, OR, Barley Wine, 11.5% abv
Rogue XS Imperial I²PA Newport, OR, Imperial IPA, 9.5% abv
Rouge XS Imperial Porter Newport, OR, Imperial Porter, 8.2% abv
Rogue Chocolate Stout Newport, OR, Sweet Stout 6.3% abv
Rogue Brutal Bitter Newport, OR, Premium Bitter, 6.2% abv
Rogue Dead Guy Ale Newport, OR, Heller Bock, 6.6%
Southern Tier IPA Lakewood, New York, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Bells Amber Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amber Ale, 6% abv
Fullers London Pride England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12° Bohemian Pilsener, Czech Republic, 5% abv
Stella Artois Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon San Antonio, Texas, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier Marshall, Michigan, Porter, 7.5%
Atwater Teufel Bock Detroit, Michigan, Weizen Bock, 10.9% abv
Founders Dirty Bastard Grand Rapids, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 8.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Duchesse De Bourgogne Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3% abv
Lindemans Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Monk’s Café Sour Ale Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5% abv
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout England, Stout, 5.2%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

December 3: 7 p.m. Left Hand Fade to Black Kickoff Party

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig English Bitter
Blind Pig Hefeweizen
Blind Pig Weizen Bock
Schlafly Dry Hopped APA Maplewood, Missouri, American Pale Ale, 5.9% abv
Veltins Pilsener Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8% abv
Arcadia Roggen Berry Battle Creek, Michigan, Fruit Beer% abv
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA San Marcos, California, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Two Brothers Cane & Ebel Warrenville, Illinois, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
Heileman's Old Style Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Gulden Draak Belgium, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
König Ludwig Weiss Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.5% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Coming soon: Blind Pig Belgian Pale Ale, Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout

I've heard good things about the Weizen Bock.

Sunday: Trivia from 7-9 pm

Crane Alley

Veltins Pilsener 4.9%
Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale 5.3%
Arcadia Nut Brown Ale 5.6%
Lost Abbey Red Barn Saison 6.7%
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale 7.2%
Lindemans Pomme 4.0%
Southern Tier Imperial Oatmeal Stout 11.0%
Hoegaarden Belgian Wit 5.4%
Guinness 4.2%
Rogue Cap'n Sig's India Red Ale 6.2%
Piraat Belgian Pale Ale 10.5%
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter 9.2%
Pabst Blue Ribbon 4.7%
Troubadour Obscura Stout 8.5%
Lagunitas IPA 5.7%
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA 7.0%

Thanksgiving: Closed

Dec 7, 7:30: Chimay Beer Dinner. Tickets available at Crane Alley or contact aaron@crane-alley.com

Cowboy Monkey

Friday: DJ Stifler, 10 pm, free
Saturday: The Sugar Prophets, 10pm, $5
Sunday: Dirt Daubers, 9:30, $5
Thanksgiving: closed

Highdive

Friday: DJ Delayney, 10pm, $5
Saturday: DJ, 10pm, $5
Monday: 80's Night, 10pm, free
Wednesday: DJ A-Ron, 10pm, free before midnight, $5 after
Thanksgiving: Closed

Canopy Club

Friday: Achtung Baby, U2 Tribute Band, $7
Saturday: Monte Montgomery, $12 in Advance
Sunday: Pizza, Pitcher & Movie, 6pm Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; 8pm The Jerk; 10pm Watchmen
Monday: Jobu, no cover, $1 beers and well
Tuesday: Trivia Diner: Live Game Show/The Piano Man
Wednesday: Physical Challenge: A Dance Party Getdown

Jupiters at the Crossing

Thanksgiving: open in the evening

Other places that might be open on Thanksgiving are Guidos and Jupiters (downtown) (according to Cowboy Monkey website).

A beer to your health; even more for better health!

Some of the best news you'll ever read.

Drinking alcohol every day cuts the risk of heart disease in men by more than a third, a major study suggests.

The Spanish research involving more than 15,500 men and 26,000 women found large quantities of alcohol could be even more beneficial for men.

I think I probably fit into the large quantities of alcohol group.

For those drinking little - less than a shot of vodka a day for instance - the risk was reduced by 35%. And for those who drank anything from three shots to more than 11 shots each day, the risk worked out an average of 50% less.

I'm confused does that mean my risk is 50% less, or does that mean it's 17.5% less?

Either way, drinking lowers the risk of heart disease; according to that study.

Thanks to smart@ss for sending me the link.

Blind Pig Brewery

Well, yesterday was the Blind Pig Brewery (Piglet) beer release.

They currently have three house beers and a cider on tap. Their samplers were 3 for $4, and are decent sized. They are also served on a neat carrier.

The bar is dark, so getting a good picture on the cellphone isn't the easiest thing. Each of the beers are in vats behind the bar, and have their Original Gravity, Final Gravity, and Alcohol By Volume on them. Additionally the IBU's are listed (not on the cider).

I had the Hefe, Kolsch, and IPA.

The Hefeweizen was a pale yellow, it was cloudy with a light thin head. There was a little bit of a malt presence and no hops in the nose, unless there was a bit of a floral smell, but I couldn't tell if that was leftover soap on my hands. When I first smelled the three beers to figure out which was which, the Hefe had an obvious banana note. Later that went away. It had a decent mouthfeel and was a little bit fizzy. It didn't have any noticeable banana. There was some sweetness and a bit of florally hops in it. I thought it to be a decent sessionable beer.

The next beer was the Kolsch. (Kolsch beer can only be brewed in Cologne, Germany, so this one is a Kolsch style). This was light and somewhat clear, almost a bit greenish; there was some haze. Apparently it's a Wieß Kölsch, which is an unfiltered version that is cloudy (So they don't have filtering capabilities, I get it). It had a slight hoppy smell. It had a rather thick mouthfeel. The taste was predominately a bit bitter, with a little bit of malt. I didn't really like it. Gene (from the beer club) thought this to be his favorite beer there.

My final sample was the IPA. This was to be a traditional IPA. It was 6.5% ABV, and had 55 IBU. It wasn't that bitter. It had a lot of malt. It was a darker brown than I would have expected. It looked to be unfiltered, as all their beers seemed to be unfiltered. It smelled bitter, but that's from the East Kent Goldings hops. They didn't really smell piney, or floral, it just smelled... bitter. It did have a bit of sweetness in the smell initially. As it warmed up, it started to smell quite caramelly. It felt rather thick. Definitely more thick than the others on the menu. It's final gravity was 1.012, and it seemed really heavy for that. It also was quite drying. It initially tasted sweet (Gene thought there was an unpleasant initial taste that he couldn't quite figure out; he thought the beer was off or wrong) it eventually turned into a lingering bitter, that came with the drying. It was decent. As it warmed up, the caramel smell became a caramel taste, mixed with a little bitterness.

I didn't have a full sample of the Cider, which was made with Curtis Orchard (also local) sweet cider. I did have a taste, and it seemed like it was granny smith apples, because there was the tart flavor that is common with those apples. It seemed very sparkly, like a champagne, was quite effervescent. It was more like Original Sin cider, than the regular woodchuck's or strongbow. It was close to the Granny Smith Woodchuck.

All in all, it was... ok. The beers were... just ok. They weren't great, they weren't horrible. They were just... beer. The hefe was my favorite of them, but that's not saying that much. The Blind Pig Brewery has Konig Ludwig on tap, I would drink that before I had this one again. They've got Port Wipeout IPA on tap, I'd have that before the house IPA. They don't have another Kolsch on, so if I were in the mood for a Kolsch, I'd go to the Blind Pig Brewery. They are the only place in town that has Kolsch on tap, so if I wanted a Kolsch, I'd go there. I'm not sure I've ever said "You know, I really want a Kolsch".

Destihl is set to open in about 6 months. Blind Pig beat them to market, but still has some work to do. At the Urbana Beer and Chili Cookoff, Destihl showed off some of their beers, their line was the longest of the day, and their beers were some of the best ones there. If Blind Pig doesn't get better quick, they are going to be put out of business. Destihl isn't the greatest brewpub in Illinois (I'd pick Flossmoor) but their's are better than the ones I had yesterday. I will go back to the Piglet for their other beers, but unless their beers get better, it won't be my first choice in town.

The Prisoner, Night 2

Episodes 3 and 4

Last night's episodes were "Anvil" and "Darling".

"Anvil" is about 6 becoming an undercover spy for 2. In it we learn some things about the village.

In "Anvil" 6 asks the question we've all been waiting for: "Who is number one?" Apparently, there is no #1.

"There is no number 1, there never has been, and there never will be. The concept of the number 2 is an act of humility. The title reminds us all that we are all public servants."

Ok, so that makes the place sort of communist/socialist. Everyone has their role, and everyone should be treated the same. This is not the case.

It's evident in that there are groups of similar houses, but there are different groups, from #2's palace, to the A frames in 6's neighborhood, 147's family neighborhood, to 909's trailerpark; each area has their role and a stereotype.

"Darling" is about 6 falling in love, or at least thinking he's falling in love. In this episode we find out that the village has been messing with 6 while he's sleeping. Pretty much every night. This time, they are manipulating him to fall in love, and be with the girl that he was with in New York before his abduction. There's also holes in the ground, what the hell they are about, we don't know.

We also get to find out more about what 6 did at his former job, but not very much.

Some things I noticed.

1. Everyone in the village seems to have blue eyes. The only person that I really noticed that didn't have blue eyes, was Lucy (415). Oddly, the brown eyed girl is also blind (or acting that way). Did 6 have brown eyes in New York? Looking at the pictures from the show, it seems everyone doesn't have blue eyes. It sure seemed like everyone did last night.

2. "Anvil" almost had a classic opening sequence. It did show him resigning, which he did on the first night. So that was kind of cool.

3. All the vehicles have the steering wheels on the right, except for the golf cart. Why, dunno. Do all golf carts come with the steering wheel on the left?

4. The teaser commercials are really pissing me off. "What's with the holes, we'll tell you in 30 seconds" after this subaru commercial... and then ... the teaser is crap. It doesn't tell you anything.

5. 11-12 has a relationship with 909.

6. Rover can light up and vaporize people.


Night two was a lot better than night one. We know that the outside world is real. Is this all a dream?

Tonight is the conclusion. Does he escape? Does he take anyone with him?

If this is just a dream, I will be very disappointed.

The Prisoner

(It says "other thinking" so this is more of that)

Last night I watched the first two episodes of The Prisoner, on AMC. It was OK. That's about it. The episodes last night were "Arrival" and "Harmony". "Arrival" was close to the original. "Living in Harmony" was one of the original episodes that took place in the old west. This one didn't have anything to do with that. It seemed closer to being "the Schizoid Man", than an old west episode.

I did have some thoughts on the show...

1. They could have actual alcohol? In the original alcohol was not allowed in the village. Several of the episodes referenced that it was a dry community, including a part where 6 was drinking with 2. In the new re-imagining, alcohol is available.

2. They did throw a couple of bones to the old style, in that in 93's apartment, there were lava lamps, that brought a smile to my face.

3. It kind of started the same as the first, in that when 6 first arrives in the village, he gets in a cab and asks to pretty much leave, but the cabbie says he's local only. In the new village, the residents don't seem to know they aren't in the rest of society, whereas in the original, they all seemed to know they weren't from there. Why would the cabbie say he was local only, when there is nowhere else?

4. The new map scene was funny.

5. The don't do the salute with "be seeing you". That really saddened me.

6. Why are they giving 6 a love interest? Especially one who seems as tied to the village as she is. Is he going to make her escape?

7. I am saddened that the beginning doesn't have the familiar "we want information..."

8. There hasn't been a reference to a number 1 yet. Number 2 seems more godlike than number 2 did in the "Chimes of Big Ben" when everyone made the art in honor of #2.

Those are just a few of my thoughts. If you would like to watch the original it's available on AMC's website, here. Granted the original show wasn't perfect, and had some serious plot and consistency issues, but it seemed a bit better than the new imagining. There's 2 more days of it, and I'll watch. The original seemed like a David Lynch film. The new, seems like they want it to be, but just can't pull their inner Lynch.

There will be more... oh yes.

Seven Saints Whiskey Wednesdays

For all you whiskey lovers, Seven Saints has published their schedule for Whiskey Wednesday.

Whiskey Wednesday is half off the selected whiskey type.

Nov. 18; Bourbon + Rye
Nov. 25; Scotch
Dec. 2; Canadian + Micro
Dec. 9; Irish
Dec. 16; Bourbon + Rye
Dec. 23; Scotch
Dec. 30; Canadian + Micro

Now, I'm not a whiskey guy, but I do know that 7S has one of the best back bars south of Chicago (in Illinois). It's one of the most impressive that I've seen in my travels. The liquor menu is huge.
(They have whiskeys that go up to $250 if not higher; so you can get that at half price.)

So, if you like whiskey's, 7 Saints is probably where you want to go on Wednesday nights. If I was a whiskey guy, I'd be there.

*edit* Wow, when did they get a website.

Here's the whiskey list.

Bourbon:

Basil Hayden’s
Baker’s
Black Maple Hills
Blanton’s
Booker’s
Buffalo Trace
Eagle Rare
Eagle Rare 17yr
Elijah Craig 18yr
Elmer T. Lee
George T. Stagg
Jefferson’s Reserve
Jim Beam
Knob Creek
Maker’s Mark
Noah’s Mill
Pappy Van Winkle 15yr
Pappy Van Winkle 20yr
Pappy Van Winkle 23yr
Pogue Master’s Select
Rip Van Winkle
Rock Hill Farms
Van Winkle 12yr
Vintage Bourbon 17yr
Wild Turkey
William Larue Weller
Woodford Reserve

Rye:

Black Maple Hills Rye
Michter’s Reserve 10yr
Sazerac Rye
Sazerac 18yr Rye
Templeton Rye
Thomas Handy
VW Family Reserve

Scotch:
Ardbeg Uigedial
Arran Single Cask
Auchentoshan Select
Auchentoshan 3Wood
Balvenie 15 yr
Benraich 1994 Unchill
Benromach Marsala
Bladnoch Unchillfiltered
Bruidladdich 1989
Bunnahabhain 1978
Caol Ila
Chivas Regal
Clynelish 9yr 1996
Cragganmore 12yr
Dalwhinnie 15yr
Edradour Grand Arome
Glenkitchie Distiller’s Edition
Glenlivet 12yr
Glenmorangie
HIghland Park 12yr
Highland Park 25yr
Johnnie Walker Black
Johnnie Walker Blue
Johnnie Walker Gold
Johnnie Walker Green
Johnnie Walker Red
Jura 1989
Lagavulin
Laphroaig
Laphroaig Cask Str.
Ledaig 1994
Macallan 12yr
Macallan 18yr
Macallan 25yr
Mortlach 1994
Oban 14yr
Rosebank 1994
Rosebank Cask Str.
Springbank
Talisker

Canadian:

Wiser’s 18yr
Pendleton
Forty Creek
Seagram’s 7
Seagram’s VO
Canadian Club
Crown Royal
Crown Royal Cask 16
Crown Royal XR

Irish:

Bushmills Black Bush
Bushmills 10yr
Bushmills 16yr
Bushmills 21yr
Bushmills 1608
Connemara
Cooley (Murray McDavid)
Greenore
Jameson
Jameson 12yr
Jameson 18yr
Jameson Gold
Midleton Very Rare
Red Breast 12yr
Tyrconnell

CU Beer Weekend Nov 13

This is going to be a busy week for beer in Champaign Urbana; so get your schedules planned now.

7 Saints

Rotating taps at Saints are still:

Bells Rye Stout
Southern Tier Back Burner Barleywine

Sunday: NORTH SHORE COCKTAIL EVENT 6-8 pm.
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Half off Whiskey Category, this Wed, Bourbon + Rye.

Not exactly sure how open to the public this is, but if you read it here, call the bar and ask for Andy. I'm sure he'll let you in. 217-351-7775

Radio Maria

Radio has a new dinner menu. They also have a new bottle menu, it's been trimmed down to get rid of some of the less sellers, and to make room for some other beers. Highlights include Goose Island Matilda; Rodenbach Grand Cru; Allagash Curieux; Orval; Westmalle. There's also several Mikkeller's that are now on the menu, so that's nice.

Tap list (as of Nov 13):

1. Ename Belgian Trippel $6
2. Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
3. Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter $5
4. Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA $4
5. Three Floyd's Robert the Bruce $4
6. Ballast Pointe Sculpin IPA $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Victory Prima Pils $5
9. Scaldis Bush Ambree $5
10.Kulmbacher Eisbock $5
11.Pizza Port Hop 15 IPA $5.5
12.Green Flash Hop Head Red $5
13.Unibroue La Terrible $6.5
14.DogfishHead 90 Min IPA $4
15.Three Floyd's Pride N' Joy $4
16.Guinness $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $5.5
18.Southern Tier Hop*Sun $3.5
19.Old Bruin Brown $6.5
20.Lagunitas A Little Sumpin Extra $5
21.Capital Autumnal Fire $4
22.Capital Wild Rice $3
23.Arcadia Jaw Jacker $4
24.Dark Horse Perkulator Dopplebock $5.5
25.Coney Island Albino Python $6
26.Kapuziner Weissbier $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour 4:30-5:30. Southern Tier Hop*Sun $3. DJ's at 10, with $10 Smirnoff drinks
Saturday: Salsa Night 10 p.m. $3 Bacardi Drinks, $6 Bacardi Mojitos
Sunday: $2 wells, $1 PBR

This weekend will also be Prime Rib specials.

Jan 17, North Coast Brewing Company beer dinner.

Blind Pig

Tap List:
Bells Amber Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amber Ale, 6% abv
Arcadia Jaw-Jacker Pumpkin Battle Creek, Michigan, Spice Ale, 6% abv
Southern Tier Pumpking Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Southern Tier Oat Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 11% abv
Celis Grand Cru Webberville, Michigan, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Unibroue Maudite Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 8%
Arcadia Hop Rocket Battle Creek, Michigan, Imperial IPA, 9%% abv
Rogue Chocolate Stout Newport, Oregon, Sweet Stout, 6.3% abv
Fullers London Pride England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
North Coast Scrimshaw Fort Bragg, California, Pilsener, 4.4% abv
Stella Artois Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon San Antonio, Texas, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Arcadia Nut Brown Battle Creek, Michigan, Brown Ale, 5.6%
Atwater Teufel Bock Detroit, Michigan, Weizen Bock, 10.9% abv
Founders Dirty Bastard Grand Rapids, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 8.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Duchesse De Bourgogne Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3% abv
Lindemans Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Monk’s Café Sour Ale Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5% abv
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout England, Stout, 5.2%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Tuesday, Nov 19: Blind Pig 5th Anniversary Party. From 7-9 p.m. Rogue giveaways & meet Rogue Brewery rep Dennis Zulanas. Chocolate Stout, Dead Guy Ale, Brutal Bitter, Vintage Aged Imperial Porter, Vintage Aged Imperial IPA, 10 Year Old Crustacean Barleywine, and Dry-Hopped Mogul Madness on CASK!

The Brewery (the Piglet)

Southern Tier Harvest Lakewood, New York, Premium Bitter, 5.7% abv
Veltins Pilsener Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8% abv
Arcadia Roggen Berry Battle Creek, Michigan, Fruit Beer% abv
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA San Marcos, California, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Two Brothers Cane & Ebel Warrenville, Illinois, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
Heileman's Old Style Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Gulden Draak Belgium, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
König Ludwig Weiss Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.5% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia 7-9. $2 well liquor; $3 Guinness.

Tuesday, Nov. 17: 3 p.m. Beer Release Party! The starting lineup will be a Kölsch, Hefe Weizen, IPA and a Hard Cider made with Curtis Orchard apples.

Crane Alley

Tap list:
Veltins Pilsener 4.9%
Victory Moonglow Weizenbock 8.7%
Arcadia Nut Brown Ale 5.6%
Lost Abbey Red Barn Saison 6.7%
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale 7.2%
Lindemans Pomme 4.0%
Founders Breakfast Stout 8.3%
Hoegaarden Belgian Wit 5.4%
Guinness 4.2%
Rogue Xs Imperial Ipa 9.5%
Unibroue La Terrible 10.5%
Original Sin Hard Cider 6.0%
Pabst Blue Ribbon 4.7%
Troubadour Obscura Stout 8.5%
Two Brothers Heavy Handed Ipa 5.6%
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop Ipa 6.5%

Coming soon:

Schneider Weiss 5.4%
Piraat 10.5%
Founders Porter 6.5%
Belhaven Wee Heavy 6.5%
Old Speckled Hen
Erdinger Octoberfest Weizen 5.6%
Gulden Draak 10.5%
Avery Dugan A Imperial Ipa 8.5%
Great Divide Hibernation
Southern Tier Oatmeal Stout 11.0%
Two Brothers Red Eye Coffee Porter 8.2%
Three Floyds Robert The Bruce 7.0%
Lagunitas Ipa 5.6%
Hebrew Origin Pomegranate Ale 8.0%

Food specials for the weekend of November 13:

BRIE AND PEAR QUESADILLAS - Flour tortillas with pear, red onion, bell peppers, and brie cheese served with lime sour cream

PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE - Pineapple, bell peppers, and green onion tossed in fried rice with a sweet chili sauce

3 PEPPER RIBEYE - Chipotle dusted ribeye with guajillo mashed potatoes, sauteed vegetables, and ancho chili cream suace

Cowboy Monkey

Friday: Heyokas $5 opening act at 9:45, Heyokas at 11:45
Saturday: Heavy Trash $12, Whiskey Daredevils at 10

Highdive

Friday: DJ Delayney $5 10pm
Saturday: DJ World $5 10pm
Monday: 80's night 10pm Free
Wednesday: Stephen Kellogg and the SK6ERS 8pm $15 in Advance.

Canopy Club

Friday: Family Groove Company $7
Saturday: Urbanite Fall '09 "MJ Forever" $10
Sunday: Pizza + Pitcher and Movie, 6 pm Trading Places; 8 pm National Lampoon's Vacation; 10 pm Burn After Reading
Monday: Jobu, no cover, $1 beers and well
Tuesday: Trivia Diner: Live Game Show/The Piano Man
Wednesday: Physical Challenge: A Dance Party Getdown
Thursday: Cross Canadian Ragweed, $15

Other events:

Champaign Urbana Beer Club
November Meeting.
Wednesday 6:30 Crane Alley
There is no cover, no fees, no dues. Just show up with a beer that goes with the theme.

The November theme is 10%+ ABV. So you may want to have a cab on standby or a designated driver handy. Also, you might want to think about taking Thursday off.

Here's how my schedule is currently shaping up.

Friday: Radio Maria happy hour around 5. Probably go get something to eat somewhere after
Saturday: Seems to be free right now
Sunday: Hooters for football, The Prisoner remake on AMC on Sunday night.
Monday: Currently open
Tuesday: 3 p.m. Blind Pig Brewery beer release party. I'm probably going to the Illini vs Northern Ill game with Phil (from highschool)
Wednesday: CU Beer Club November meeting, Crane Alley 6:30 theme is 10%+ ABV
Thursday: Blind Pig 5th Anniversary Party, with Rogue Brewery Rep from 7-9. Beer Class at 7 Saints at 9:30, hopefully we'll get to do IPA's.

Beer Review, Bud Select 55

On Saturday, I had a beer I haven't had before. Bud Select 55. Well, I'm not sure you can actually call it a beer.

I didn't really sit down to review it, I didn't write anything down, but I did remember a lot about it.

The beer is light yellow. It seemed somewhat flat. There wasn't much head. (Look at the picture, it looks flat in the bottle). It had absolutely no smell. Nothing, I couldn't pick up a hint of anything in it. At one point I thought I smelled something, but I still had some soap on my hands from when I returned from the bathroom. A hint of soap on my hands had more smell than this.

It tasted like it smelled... in other words, it had no taste. There was no evident malt, there was no evident hops, there was no evidence of yeast. Anheuser-Busch has managed to make a product that has less flavor than water. It really didn't have much of a mouthfeel either. There may have been some slight bubbles giving it an acidic feel, but that's about it.

Beer reviewing is normally a five step process. You'll notice that my reviews tend to follow that five step process. I don't know an acronym for that process, or even if there is one. I just know there are five steps and I follow them.

1. Appearance. How does the beer look? This was covered above.
2. Aroma/smell. How does the beer smell? This was covered above.
3. Mouthfeel. How does it feel (bubbly/thick/thin/coaty... that kind of thing)? This was covered above.
4. Taste. We finally get to taste it, how is it? This was covered above.
5. Overall impression. Did you like it? Did this beer get it done for you? This hasn't been covered yet.

This beer, sucked. It wound up giving me an upset stomach, and the next day gave me the shits.

Now that that's out of the way. I'm very impressed by this beverage. I am (surprisingly) impressed by AB. How they can produce the same beer all across the country in their 12 breweries is an extremely impressive fact. You can go anywhere in the U.S. and have a Bud, it was produced relatively locally, and it will taste the exact same.

Pepsi can't even do that. Go for a 300 mile road trip, and get a Mountain Dew and a Bud every 100 miles. When you get there, have a tasting of those 4 (get one before you leave) see how much of a difference in flavor you get in the soda. See how much difference there is in the beer.

If you go from Illinois to Atlanta, Georgia, you can pass through 3 Bud brewing areas. Illinois is in the St. Louis region, go east to 75 in Ohio, and you'll be in the Columbus region. Go south to Georgia, and you'll be in the Cartersville, Georgia region. Beers from those 3 areas will taste the same.

The Mountain Dew in Tennessee has a flavor that Kridz and I refer to as "skittledew". Skittledew tastes like Skittles. You can taste the rainbow in the dew. Some other places have dew that tastes like starburst candy. The bud doesn't have that change. That's really impressive.

At Seven Saints beer class (Thursday nights at 9:30, $10) Andy often mentions brewing heritage. He says that there are 4 countries that are the main brewing places. I agree with him and have a few changes to his theory. The four countries are Germany, England, Belgium, and the U.S.

Andy says Germany brought us seasonal drinking. I say Germany brought us Lagers.

England brings us stylistic changes. I say England brought us Ales.

Belgium brought adjuncts. I agree. They are also more of a yeast flavor driven beer (if that makes sense).

Andy says that what we Americans bring to the beer table is... we do everything BIGGER. England makes an IPA, we'll make an IMPERIAL IPA. You make a Russian Imperial Stout, We'll make it have twice the malt, twice the alcohol; your original (Brittish) RIS's will be more like our porters (look at Gonzo, or Founders Porter). Making things bigger is an art-form in America.

Equally as impressive, we make everything smaller too. Bud Select 55 is a prime example of that. Most American Light Lagers are good examples of that.

MGD 64 has 64 calories. Miller Lite had 96, Bud Select 55 has 55, Coors Light has 102, Bud Select has 99.

That's amazing. No other country produces that kind of product. (No one really wants to, but that's different.) We've got people drinking this stuff, thinking it's awesome. They are watching their calories and carbohydrates, and thinking they are having a beer.

How do they make it? Do they just take a beer that's already light and add more water... kinda. It's either watered down at the boil, or it's watered down after the fermentation. I'd have to assume it would be watered down directly after the boil. Additions of water after fermentation are more noticeable.

That they can consistently make this product is really impressive.

It's a shitty beer that gave me the shits, but it's a feat of American ingenuity!

I will never drink it again.

Now where can I get a Bud Light Golden Wheat? So I can try that and then complain about the beer, while praising AB some more?

A brewery in CU, whaaaat???

Blind Pig Brewery is open, it has been for a while, it's not their beer on tap. That is about to change.

The beer release party is November 17 at 3 p.m.

The first beers they will be having are a Kölsch, Hefe Weizen, IPA and a Hard Cider made with Curtis Orchard apples. Future beers are an English Bitter, Weizen Bock, and an Oatmeal Stout. They may be brewing Belgian styles and winter seasonals soon.

The brewery is located at 120 N. Neil St. in Champaign.

Champaign/Urbana doesn't have a rich history of breweries, I can only find a reference to one.

In 1996 (roughly) Joe's Brewery quit brewing. Prior to that it was known as Chief's Brewing Company. 88 and Broadway claimed to have Joe's beer on tap, although I'm not sure where that came from.

Legends also claims to have "Legends Special Ale" on tap, although I'm not sure where that comes from either.

Destihl is now planning on opening the Champaign version in spring of 2010.