CU4beer: CU Beer Weekend; December 31

CU4beer: CU Beer Weekend; December 31: "Happy Brew Year! Where are you drinking this weekend? Seven Saints Arcadia Cereal Killer Barleywine Two Brothers Heavier Handed New Year..."

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Kila Cava for New Year's Eve

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Kila Cava for New Year's Eve: "From WCIA 3 Illinoishomepage.net Kila Cava for New Year's Eve Brian Bowman from Sun Singer Wines shows off Kila Cava. The holidays are u..."

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Drinks with Andy: NYE

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Drinks with Andy: NYE: "From WCIA/WCFN Illinoishomepage.net Drinks with Andy: NYE Drinks with Andy: NYE 2011 is right around the corner. If it's your turn to hos..."

CU4beer: CU Beer Weekend; December 25

CU4beer: CU Beer Weekend; December 25: "Happy (whatever you celebrate) Seven Saints Arcadia Cereal Killer Barleywine Two Brothers Heavier Handed Saturday: Closed Tuesday: Tuesda..."

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Binge Drinking, Problem in Il...

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Binge Drinking, Problem in Il...: "From WICD 15 ABC Binge Drinking, Problem in Illinois The holidays are just around the corner. It's a time when you may be tempted to indul..."

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Christmas Beer and Violet Liq...

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Christmas Beer and Violet Liq...: "From Illinoishomepage.net Christmas Beer & Violet Liquer * Dominico and Nick Bland stops by from Buvons and Corkscrew to try some drin..."

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Extra on tap episode 20

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; Extra on tap episode 20: "From Extra 92.1 Extra on tap episode #20 They discuss Old Ruffian, from Great Divide. Sadly, AY claims this is an American style beer. ..."

CU4beer: CU Beer Weekend; December 17

CU4beer: CU Beer Weekend; December 17: "Where are you drinking this weekend? Seven Saints Bell's Batch 10,000 Arcadia Cereal Killer Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Rogue Santa's Priv..."

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; extra on tap episodes 16-19

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; extra on tap episodes 16-19: "Episode 16; IPA, what does it mean? AY answers a listeners questionn. What does IPA stand for? listen now for AY's answer. Episode ..."

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; The science behind "skunked" ...

CU4beer: Alcohol in the news; The science behind "skunked" ...: "From the buzz The science behind 'skunked' beer; How to prevent it from happening to yours Skunked beer is a problem that we all face at s..."

I'm rebranding

I've created a new blog.

CU4beer.blogspot.com

That will now be the main place where I post Alcohol/Beer/Bar information. You should follow that blog.

I wanted to have a name that I didn't really have to explain to people, when they asked me where my blog was. Yes, the name is somewhat stolen from Noah's twitter page (cu4abeer), but I didn't want to take his name... even though he's pretty much left CU.

This blog (vgrid101) will be the home of all my writings: from alcohol, to religion, to the end of the world stuff. I plan to have everything I write wind up here. But I will be keeping everything from here separate from the other places. So if you just want the local alcohol news, you can go to CU4Beer. If you want to know why I'm an idiot for quitting smoking, come here.

I've removed most of the non-alcohol stuff from CU4Beer. I did import everything from here into it. If you go through the archive there and see something that doesn't belong, let me know and i'll remove it.

This blog (vgrid101) will be my personality, hatred, love, vitriol, and other crap. The other will be solely alcohol and related info.

Good luck and good racing.

Crane Alley International Rare Beer Dinner

Last night was Crane Alley's first International Rare Beer Dinner (also called the Beer Snob Dinner).

From the look of the menu, you may not recognize many of the beers. I don't know many of them. I've had the Rosee D'Hibiscus from Dieu du Ciel in bottles before, but according to the distributor... more on that later.

The first course was the Ichtegems Grand Cru Flemish Red Ale with Mangalitsa Ham, biscuits and pear. As I was eating the pears, it seemed almost as though the beer and the pear were made for each other. The pinkish thing running down the middle is the piece of Mangalitsa Ham. Mangalitsa pigs are woolly and curly haired. Their meat is claimed to be buttery and has better fat. Apparently the fat from Mangalitsa pigs is better for you than normal pig fat. It's really tasty.

The biscuits served with the pear and pork were a little spicy, but that's from the jalapeno jelly. The pears were great. Every now and then when you match food with beer/wine/something else, you come up with what seems like a perfect pairing. These pears with the Flemish Red Ale were that.

The second course to come out was endive with candied walnuts, orange supreme, Roquefort, Mangalitsa crisp, and a frisse. This was served with De Glazen Toren Saison D'Erpe-Mere. The beer was very light, and didn't have the herbs and spices that I normally associate with a saison. It was a clean, refreshing, easy drinking beer. It went well with the frisse. The endives had the rest of the filling. My first bite into it made me exclaim "Oh My God, these walnuts are overpowering". Which made me fearful of the next bite. But then I said "Oh My God, the Roquefort", then there was another OMG moment when i got to the orange supreme. Each bite was a totally different experience. After I finally finished my stuffed endives, I set about eating the frisse, with the things that fell out of the endive. That was a delicious salad. I don't normally like salad with citrus in it (or walnuts) but this was pretty darn good.

The third course was duck confit ravioli, fig-prosciutto compote and Prairie Fruits Farm Chevre. Last Wednesday, Crane Alley held a Beer and Cheese tasting featuring cheeses from Prairie Fruits Farm. The Chevre was one of my favorite cheeses that day. Then, it was served with beers from Merchant du Vin, now, it was served with La Rulles Cuvee Meilleurs Voeux. The beer was described as a Belgian brown. It seemed like one of the best English style brown ale's that I've ever had. The ravioli had a strong pepper smell to it. It wasn't unpleasant. The duck confit was amazing. The ravioli when eaten by itself didn't seem to have much flavor, but when eaten with anything else on the plate, it was awesome.

The next course was the beef filet medallion, shrimp tortillita and pasilla rouille, served with Hitachino Red Rice Ale. The beer was amazing. The beer reminded me of smoked string cheese from Kugel's Cheese Mart in Lena, Wisconsin. (They ship). I always enjoy going up to a Packer game, and before (or after) heading the 20 or so minutes north of Green Bay to go to Kugel's Cheese Mart. Then I get a couple of pounds of cheese and beef sticks. The cheese and sticks have never made the 6 hour trip back from Green Bay, regardless of how much I purchase.

The beef medallion was outstanding. We weren't served steak knives, but they weren't needed as we could cut it with our butter knife. The tortillita with the shrimp inside was amazing. I wasn't a big fan of the pasilla rouille. I may just not know how to appreciate it, but it seemed at first a little to peppery to me, and later it seemed like it had a heavy dose of paprika to it. Brad (head chef) said neither was used, and that it was saffron. Which I guess makes sense.

Next were the two deserts. The first was poached pears, with dried cherries and Madeira zabaglione (as a drizzle sauce). This was served with Birrificio Grado Plato Chocarrubica. The beer was an oatmeal stout with cocoa beans and carrubs from Sicily. It was a pretty good beer. I really liked the pears and the cherries. The pears had a slight almond flavor to it, which might have come from the sauce. There also seemed to be a bit of cinnamon somewhere on the dish (I dislike cinnamon) but it wasn't overpowering or totally unpleasant. Kridz didn't like the pears as she's a texture person, and doesn't like soft/mushy foods.

The final thing we were served was Dieu du Ciel Rosee D'Hibiscus with lemon snow gateau, basil custard, and tuile cookie. Kridz said the beer looks and smells like a flower. The gateau was very lemon flavored. It was very lemon flavored. The cookie was good. The basil custard was interesting, and the gateau was lemony.

Throughout the evening, the courses had a few common themes. You probably noticed a lot of them had pears. Also, the Mangalitsa ham was used a lot. Brad had the ham for a while and was really looking for something to use it with. Each time it was used in a dish, it was great. The pears were also a nice touch on most of the dishes.

The beer was on tap, and should still be available at Crane Alley for the next few days. I would definitely recommend going to have some of the beers. I'm sure Brad will be incorporating the ham and pears into this weeks specials as well.

Back to the beer, I was sitting across from the distributor who carried all these beers for the evening. He said he's never seen any of these in kegs before. Most of them, neither of us had heard of before. I believe these beers are carried by B. United. I don't think they'll be at any other place in town, and when they are empty, they are gone. Some of them you can probably find in bottles at Friar Tucks or at Piccadilly (Rosee d'Hibiscus for sure) but others you'll probably have to look hard to get. The beers are available on the sampler.

Beer Review; Bell's Batch 10,000

Thursday, Seven Saints became the first bar in Champaign Urbana to tap Bell's Batch 10,000. There are other places that will be getting it (Crane Alley and probably the Blind Pig) but they weren't the first.

At Seven Saints the beer is $6 for a snifter. That's not a cheap beer. It presents as an opaque black beer with a slight light brown head. The problem with a beer being served in a snifter is that the snifter really isn't a good glass for presenting beer. Sure, the bar is giving you the right amount of liquid, however, the snifter isn't really good for sniffing. Aromas need a place to collect and build. A filled snifter doesn't provide that. To overcome this, I asked for a rocks glass with just a splash of the beer in it. This gave me a much easier way to smell the beer.

It smells almost minty. There was a definite malt aroma to it as well, but it wasn't a very specific malt. Why?

The last of a series, Batch 10,000 Ale looks back to our roots, symbolizing the end of the home-brewing season with a creative take on "cleaning out the brewing supplies closet". After combing through the catalogs of many malt and hop suppliers, our brewers used over 100 different malts, grains, and other fermentables, and followed them up with a blend of 60 different hop varietals between the kettle additions and dry-hopping. The resulting beer presents a deep, chocolate brown hue and offers roasted and caramel notes from the malts mixed with an assertive hop character. Sharply bitter, the beer possesses a full mouthfeel without being heavy and will withstand aging in your cellar, if you prefer.

They used 100 fermentables to make this beast. What is a fermentable? It's anything that can turn into alcohol. Normally in a beer, that comes from malt; and normally in a beer, there is pretty much only one malt used (He'brew Jewbelations use specific malts and a specific number of malts, like 8 malts in 8 up to 14 in 14). This beer had 100. But it probably isn't just 100 malt varieties. No, a fermentable is anything that provides sugar. That could be sugar itself, honey, fruits, candy. Heck, they could have thrown in a box of chocolate.

Ok, back to the smell, I did pick up a chocolate aroma. It almost had a brownie character to it. Later, as it warmed, there was some grape in the nose. It felt thick, but also effervescent. If you leave it sit on the tongue long enough it will totally dissolve.

It tasted of dark fruits; raisins, figs, plums, maybe even a sugary prune. It also tasted a bit of syrup, without being syrupy. As it continues to warm, the bitterness is present. It's not a horrible bitter, but it's there. That obviously comes from the use of 60 hops in the kettle and in dry hopping. That's a lot of hops. It does provide a bit of bitter. It's not a specific pine or citrus bitter, it's just bitter.

The beer comes in at 9.2% but the alcohol isn't that overpowering. Although the aromas aren't initially present in the snifter, it's the correct serving size. I didn't need much more than that. It was a great beer. Will I have it again. Heck yeah, I'm thinking about going back as soon as I finish typing this up to have another.

CU Beer Weekend; December 10

There's still plenty of good beers on tap throughout town.

Seven Saints

Bell's Batch 10,000
Arcadia Cereal Killer

Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout $2.50 (not normal Guinness, this is the good stuff)
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Bourbon & Rye

Radio Maria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18
Southern Tier Farmer's Tan
Rogue Somer
Founders Devil Dancer
Ballast Point Dorado
Arcadia Cereal City
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
He'Brew Jewbelation 8
He'Brew Jewbelation 9
He'Brew Jewbelation 10
He'Brew Jewbelation 11
He'Brew Jewbelation 12
He'Brew Jewbelation 13
He'Brew Jewbelation 14
He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical
Belhaven Scottish
Moylan's Dragoons Dry Irish Stout
Petrus Oak Aged Pale
Dogfish Head India Brown
Avery the Beast Grand Cru
Two Brothers Resistance
Ayinger Brau Weis
Victory Prima Pils
Founders Backwoods Bastard
Rogue Chateau Rogue Wet Hop IPA
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, special tbd (probably Rogue Somer, but it could be Southern Tier Farmer's Tan)
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Blind Pig

Founder’s Breakfast Stout; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Arcadia Cereal Killer; Battle Creek, Michigan, Barley Wine, 9% abv
Breckenridge Christmas; Denver, Colorado, American Strong Ale, 7.4% abv
Unibroue Trois Pistoles; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Mikkeller From Via To; Denmark, Denmark, Imperial Porter, 8% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days Lager; Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Arcadia Big Dick’s Old Ale; Battle Creek, Michigan, Old Ale, 8% abv
Ballast Point Fathom; San Diego, California, Imperial Pilsener
Fuller’s London Pride; England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Noël; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 10% abv
Blue Moon; Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5%
New Holland Cabin Fever; Holland, Michigan, Brown Ale, 6% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12°; Czech Republic, Bohemian Pilsener, 5%
Left Hand Twin Sisters; Longmont, Colorado, Imperial IPA, 9.6% abv
Moylan’s Chelsea Porter; Novato, California, Porter, 5% abv
Lindeman’s Pêche; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
North Coast Old Rasputin; Fort Bragg, California, Imperial Stout, 9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Rye Ale
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Blind Pig India Pale Ale
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Two Brothers’ Ebel’s Weiss; Warrenville, IL, German Hefeweizen, 4.9% abv
Flying Dog Double Dog; Frederick, MD, American Strong Ale, 11.5% abv
Scaldis Noël; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 12% abv
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout; Chicago, IL, Imperial Stout, 13% abv
Boulder Never Summer; Boulder, Colorado, Spice Ale, 6% abv
Southern Tier Oat; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 11% abv
Great Divide Hibernation; Denver, Colorado, Old Ale, 8.7%
Port Brewing High Tide; San Marcos, California, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Crane Alley

Moyland's E.S.B. 5.3%
Smuttynose Big A IPA 9.7%
Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Rogue Double Chocolate Stout 8.7%
Original Sin Hard Cider 6.0%
Ayinger Brau Weiss 5.1%
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale 7.2%
Smuttynose Old Dog Brown Ale 6.5%
Arcadia Nut Brown Ale 5.6%
Troubadour Magma 9.0%
Smuttynose Baltic Porter 9.0%
Smuttynose S'Muttaroni APA 6.0%
Smuttynose S'Muttonator Doppelbock 9.5%
Mikkeller Monks Elixir 10.0%
PBR 4.2%



Monday: International Rare Beer Dinner: 7:30pm,

First Course: De Glazen Toren Saison D'Erpe-Mere
Lamb Posole

Second Course: Ichtegem's Grand Cru
Frisee and endive salad with blackberry mangalitsa emulsion, tangerine supreme and candied pecans

Third Course: La Rulles Cuvee Meilleurs Voeux
Fried Duck Confit ravioli with fig jam

Fourth Course: Hitachino Red Rice Ale
Filet medallion with shrimp pancake and apricot rouille

Fifth Course: Dessert TBA
Birrificio Grado Plato Chocarrubica/Dieu du Ciel Rosee D'Hibiscus

Tickets are $60 per person, can be purchased at the bar or through your server and are very limited.

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Port Santa's Little Helper
Mikkeller Green Gold IPA
Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock
Wintercoat Vidmoseol
Capital Winter Skal
Moylan's Dragoons Dry Irish Stout
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
Porterhouse Nitro Oyster Stout (probably replaced Dragoons)

CU Beer Club

Wednesday: Anniversary or Holiday Beers, Crane Alley, 6:30

Bring 24-36 ounces of beer to share. December is the anniversary of the founding of the Champaign-Urbana Beer Club (15 December 2003). It is also the month of holidays: Christmas, Chanukah, Festivus (for the rest of us), and New Year’s Eve. Bring beer that has anniversary or holiday in the name.

Piccadilly

Today: Italian Wine Tasting Reminder/Big Holiday Cheese Shipment/Smuttynose, 4 - 7pm. Piccadilly on Neil.

Alcohol in the news; Homemade wine

from the buzz

Homemade wine

This article is both a plug for Alto Vineyards, and a recipe for making wine.

Alto Vineyards, a local vineyard in Illinois, has been producing wine since the late ‘80s. Jim Dubnicek, the general manager at the Champaign location, said that Alto grows French hybrid grapes that can “withstand the cold weather and are dormant in the winter.” During the winter, the majority of the pruning is done, Dubnicek added.

...

Here is an easy adapted recipe for making a dry red table wine. Many of the equipment pieces can be found at home brewing or home wine making stores, such as Friar Tuck.

...

Alcohol in the news; Boulevard Brewing Company's Sampler pack

From the buzz

Boulevard Brewing Company's sampler pack

Boulevard Brewing Company is based out of Kansas City, Missouri. ... The sampler pack has been the highlight of my week and I must say that the competition has been fierce, taking into consideration the fact that every beer in this relatively cheap twelve pack hold their own in the areas of taste, aroma and alcohol content.

I'm a fan of the pale if there's nothing else available (Hooters used to have it in bottles).

It's only two paragraphs. Two very long paragraphs.

Many adjectives in the second paragraph.

Alcohol in the news; Pefect wine and cheese pairings

From WCIA 3 morning show/ illinoishomepage.net

Perfect Wine and Cheese Pairings

Sam and Bryan pair the perfect cheeses with the perfect wines

Sam Samet from Piccadilly, and Brian McKay from Art Mart.

Le Lapin Paso Robles Clairveaux $7.99
Zinfandel
Chardonnay

Alcohol in the news; Grind Espresso Liqueur

From WCIA 3 Morning Show/ Illinoishomepage.net

Grind Espresso Liqueur

Master Mixologist Andy Borbely from Seven Saints in Champaign shows us a unique liqueur only found at Seven Saints!

Which isn't exactly true, since it's also at Radio Maria.

First they try it straight, then Andy makes a martini. Pinnacle whipped vodka, grind, Baileys, then he adds a dash of bourbon. He tops it off with chocolate infused 30 proof whipped cream.

Andy pimps out Whiskey Wednesday. Tonight is Irish whiskey. You can try the Grind from 7 to 9 tonight at Seven Saints.

CU Beer Weekend; December 3

This is a great week for beer. If you don't have plans make them now.

Sunday: Radio Maria, He'Brew Jewbelation vertical (minus #10)

Tuesday: CU Beer Club Happy Hour, Crane Alley; Smuttynose kickoff party, Crane Alley; Brewsday Tuesday, Seven Saints

Wednesday: Beer and Cheese tasting, Crane Alley

Thursday: 12 Beers of Christmas, Esquire $25. 12 samples of holiday beers



Seven Saints

Arcadia Cereal Killer Barley Wine
Flying Dog Raging Bitch

Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Crown Valley Big Bison Ale $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish

Radio Maria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18
Sierra Nevada Estate
Rogue Somer
Founders Devil Dancer
Ballast Point Dorado
Arcadia Cereal City
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
Southern Tier Pale
Southern Tier Oat
Scaldis Noel
Southern Tier Farmer's Tan
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
Port Older Viscosity
Blanche de Bruxelles
Belhaven Scottish
Lefthand Milk Stout
Petrus Oak Aged Pale
Dogfish Head India Brown
Avery the Beast Grand Cru
Two Brothers Resistance
Hofbrau Munchen
Victory Prima Pils
Founders Backwoods Bastard
Rogue Chateau Rogue Wet Hop IPA
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
PBR


Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, special tbd
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Sunday: Radio Maria is one of the 88 Chosen Bars to receive all 8 verticals of He'Brew Jewbelation. Tap 8 through 13 will feature the rebrews of their Chanukah beers, while tap 14 will have the newest release. Tap 15 will have the vertical Jewbelation, which is a barrel aged ale blend of all seven Jewbelations, aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. (note, Jewbelation 10 got lost in shipping and should be on tap for Tuesday).

Blind Pig

Founder’s Breakfast Stout; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Arcadia Cereal Killer; Battle Creek, Michigan, Barley Wine, 9% abv
Breckenridge Christmas; Denver, Colorado, American Strong Ale, 7.4% abv
Unibroue Trois Pistoles; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Mikkeller From Via To; Denmark, Denmark, Imperial Porter, 8% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days; Lager Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Arcadia Big Dick’s Old Ale; Battle Creek, Michigan, Old Ale, 8% abv
Ballast Point Fathom; San Diego, California, Imperial Pilsener
Fuller’s 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
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Juniper; Newport, Oregon, American Pale Ale, 5.2%
New Holland Cabin Fever; Holland, Michigan, Brown Ale, 6% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12°; Czech Republic, Bohemian Pilsener, 5%
Left Hand Twin Sisters; Longmont, Colorado, Imperial IPA, 9.6% abv
Moylan’s Chelsea Porter; Novato, California, Porter, 5% abv
Lindeman’s Pêche; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Old Speckled Hen; England, Premium Bitter, 5.2%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Birthday Saison
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout 7.4%
Blind Pig India Pale Ale 8.3%
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Two Brothers’ Ebel’s Weiss; Warrenville, IL, German Hefeweizen, 4.9% abv
Flying Dog Double Dog; Frederick, MD, American Strong Ale, 11.5% abv
Witkap Pater Dubbel; Belgium, Abbey Dubbel, 7% abv
Troubadour Obscura; Belgium, Stout, 8.5% abv
Southern Tier Old Man Winter; Lakewood, NY, Amer. Strng Ale, 7.2% abv
Southern Tier Oat; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 11% abv
Great Divide Hibernation; Denver, Colorado, Old Ale, 8.7%
Port Brewing High; Tide San Marcos, California, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer

Crane Alley

Moyland's E.S.B. 5.3%
Great Divide Hercules Imperial IPA 10.0%
Left Hand Warrior IPA 6.6%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Founders Breakfast Stout 2009 8.3%
Original Sin Hard Cider 6.0%
Ayinger Brau Weiss 5.1%
New Holland Black Mad Hatter IPA 7.1%
Tommyknocker Ornery Amber Ale
Arcadia Nut Brown Ale 5.6%
Troubadour Magma 9.0%
Fullers London Porter 5.0%
Founders Cerise 5.5%
Avery Old Jubilation 8.0%
Mikkeller Monks Elixir 10.0%
PBR 4.2%

Tuesday: Smuttynose Brewery Release Party: 7pm, 6 Smuttnose brews on tap, president of the brewery, Peter Egelston will be there. Free shirts and glassware giveaways

Wednesday: Beer and Cheese Tasting: Cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm paired with Merchant du Vin imports, 7pm

December 13: International Rare Beer Dinner: 7:30pm,

First Course: De Glazen Toren Saison D'Erpe-Mere
Lamb Posole

Second Course: Ichtegem's Grand Cru
Frisee and endive salad with blackberry mangalitsa emulsion, tangerine supreme and candied pecans

Third Course: La Rulles Cuvee Meilleurs Voeux
Fried Duck Confit ravioli with fig jam

Fourth Course: Hitachino Red Rice Ale
Filet medallion with shrimp pancake and apricot rouille

Fifth Course: Dessert TBA
Birrificio Grado Plato Chocarrubica/Dieu du Ciel Rosee D'Hibiscus

Tickets are $60 per person, can be purchased at the bar or through your server and are very limited.

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Founders Breakfast Stout 8.3% ABV
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA 10% ABV
Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock 7.5% ABV
Wintercoat Vildmoseol 5.8% ABV
Capital Winter Skål 5.5% ABV
Moylan’s Dragoons Dry Irish Stout, 8% ABV
Cask: JW Lees Harvest Ale (might be gone)

Two Brothers Heavier Handed IPA has replaced something in the above tap list

CU Beer Club

Tuesday; December Happy Hour, This will be held at Crane Alley, instead of at the normal Mike N' Molly's.

Bars in the news; One-on-One with Sharon Owens, of Radio Maria

From the Buzz

One-on-One with Sharon Owens, Co-Owner of Radio Maria

It's a nice little piece on Radio.

Though Radio Maria has been a CU favorite for years with some of those classic dishes that keep us coming back for more, it also constantly presents changes in the menu, space and events that have its customers returning and growing in size. According to co-owner Sharon Owens, Radio Maria is all about fusing personal interests with the love of great dining: the restaurant features work (from the lights to the three-dimensional artwork on the wall to the tabletops) by Owens, co-owner David Spears and other Radio Maria employees past and present. Back in the kitchen, the creativity does not stop: Chefs are encouraged to explore their culinary interests as reflected in the evolving menu. buzz sat down with Owens to talk more about her restaurant.

Me in the news; The Champaign-Urbana Beer Club

From the Buzz

The Champaign-Urbana Beer club

Ok, well, it's not really me only, but my picture (from the about me, facebook, twitter...) is the one linked with the story.

Brady (who works with me at Radio Maria) went to the last beer club meeting in November, and wrote about it.

It's a good article, there are a couple of slight errors, but it's still good.

Several claim that within a block radius in Southeast Urbana—where many members reside—they have collectively amassed the best beers that exist in the world today.

I think it's a mile radius, but Brady said that the block makes it sound cooler.

Virgil, the weekly organizer of these events, was happy to break down this technical process in real terms, “The yeast eats the sugar, burps carbon dioxide and pisses alcohol. In a good beer like this one, the yeast keeps on pissing.”

I'm not really the organizer, I'm just the guy who runs the facebook page, and puts out the even invite. And yes, that's actually mostly a quote from Andy Borbely of Seven Saints, the "yeast keeps on pissing", that's all me.

Again, it's a good informative article, made especially pretty with the picture of me.

CU Beer Weekend; November 19

Seven Saints


Southern Tier Old Man Winter
Bell's Hell Hath No Fury

Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Bell's Best Brown $2 a bottle. Fat Tire Drafts $2.00
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Scotch

Radio Maria

Pyramid Apricot
Sierra Nevada Estate
Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
Avery Maharaja
Two Brothers Hop Juice
Arcadia Cereal City
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
Anchor Liberty
Southern Tier Creme Brulee
Scaldis Noel
Southern Tier Farmer's Tan
Left Hand Chainsaw
Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca
Port Older Viscosity
Brasserie Blance de Bruxelles
Dark Horse Plead the 5th Imperial Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout
Petrus Oak Aged Pale
Mikkeller Jackie Brown
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
Victory Hopdevil
Hofbrau Weiss
Victory Prima Pils
Kulmbacher Eisbock
Rogue Chataeu Rogue Wet Hop IPA
Ballast Point Fathom India Pale Lager
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, special tbd
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Blind Pig

Founders Backwoods Bastard; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 10.2% abv
Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam; Dexter, Michigan, Hefeweizen, 4.5% abv
Moylan’s Spiced Winter Lager; Novato, California, Spice Ale, 6% abv
Unibroue Maudite; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Mikkeller Single Hop Simcoe; Denmark, India Pale Ale, 6.9% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days Lager; Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux; Belgium, Saison, 9.5% abv
Ballast Point Even Keel; San Diego, California, American Pale Ale, 3.5% abv
Fuller’s 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
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Mogul Madness; Newport, Oregon, Black IPA, 6.25%
Capital Winter Skal; Middleton, Wisconsin, Vienna, 5.4% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12°; Czech Republic, Bohemian Pilsener, 5%
Rogue Yellow Snow; Newport, Oregon, India Pale Ale, 6.2% abv
Breckenridge Autumn; Denver, Colorado, Old Ale, 6.7% abv
Lindeman’s Pêche; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Old Speckled Hen; England, Premium Bitter, 5.2%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Saison
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout 7.4%
Blind Pig Vienna Lager 4.9%
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Witkap Pater Dubbel; Belgium, Abbey Dubbel, 7% abv
Troubadour Magma; Belgium, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Southern Tier Old Man Winter; Lakewood, NY, Amer. Strng Ale, 7.2% abv
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel; Germany, Dunkelweizen, 5.3% abv
Flying Dog Gonzo Porter; Frederick, Maryland, Imperial Porter, 9.2%
Port Brewing High Tide; San Marcos, California, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer

Crane Alley

Moyland's Dragoons Irish Stout
Great Divide Hercules Imperial IPA 10.0%
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin Ipa 7.0%
Konig Pilsener 4.9%
Nogne O Imperial Stout 9.0%
Arcadia Big Dick's Old Ale 8.0%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
New Holland Black Mad Hatter IPA 7.1%
Coniston Bluebird Bitter
Rogue McRogue Scotch Ale 7.0%
Great Divide Belgica IPA 7.5%
Fullers London Porter 5.0%
Dark Horse Raspberry Ale 5.5%
Avery Brown Ale 5.5%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%

Also on tap, but I don't know what it replaced:
Mikkeller Czech Pils
Troubador Magma
Dark Horse Scotty Karate
Port Brewing High Tide IPA
Founders Breakfast Stout 2009

December 7: Smuttynose Brewery Release Party: 7pm, 6 Smuttnose brews on tap, president of the brewery, Peter Egelston will be there. Free shirts and glassware giveaways
December 8: Beer and Cheese Tasting: Cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm paired with Merchant du Vin imports, 7pm

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

(old list)
Schlafly Irish Extra Stout
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA
Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock
Anderson Valley Boont Imperial Amber Ale
Ballast Point Even Keel Session Ale
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Sinebrychoff Porter

Mike n' Molly's

(Nov 13 list)
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
Great Divide Hades
Mikkeller Chinook IPA
Port 4th Anniversary Double IPA
Lefthand Warrior IPA
New Holland Hopivore

Friar Tucks

Saturday: Whiskey and Whiskey/oak-aged beer tasting, 1-5 pm.

Beer in the news; best of the worst

From the Buzz

Best of the worst: If you're going cheap, get the best cheap there is

The Buzz beer person, Ramine Nimrou, talks about PBR and Busch.

There really is nothing too informative in the article. He/she picked PBR as the best cheap beer between the two.

Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages Q&A from the FDA

Questions and Answers: Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages

What action is FDA taking?

FDA is issuing Warning Letters to four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages. All of these products are alcoholic malt beverages to which caffeine has been directly added as an ingredient. The manufacturers and their products are:

• Charge Beverages Corporation, which makes “Core High Gravity HG Green,” “Core High Gravity HG Orange,” and “Lemon Lime Core Spiked;”
• New Century Brewing Company, LLC, which makes “Moonshot;”
• Phusion Projects, LLC (doing business as Drink Four Brewing Company), which makes “Four Loko;” and
• United Brands, which makes “Joose” and “Max.”

FDA is issuing the Warning Letters because the Agency’s position is that the products named in the Warning Letters are being marketed in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FFDCA).

The agency has not approved the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages at any level, and based on the information FDA has reviewed, the agency does not consider the use of caffeine in the beverages listed above to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The Warning Letters should not be interpreted to mean that FDA considers other alcoholic beverages to which caffeine has been directly added to be in compliance with the law.

Did you see the movie Beer Wars? One of the main characters from the movie was Rhonda Kallman (formerly of Boston Beer Company). She is the founder and CEO of New Century Brewing Company. her beer, "Moonshot" was part of the focus of the movie. Now, I anticipate she's going to be out of business.

Will FDA take action against other products containing added caffeine?

At this time, the FDA is sending Warning Letters to four manufacturers of alcoholic malt beverages to which caffeine has been directly added as an ingredient. Other alcoholic beverages containing added caffeine may be subject to agency action in the future if the available scientific data and information indicate that the use of caffeine in those products is not GRAS. A manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its products, including the ingredients of its products, are safe for their intended use and are otherwise in compliance with the law.

So, this doesn't affect coffee stouts. It doesn't affect any other beers where the caffeine is added by the use of ingredients that have caffeine (coffee, chocolate, tea). So, Terrapin Wake and Bake is fine.

This came about really fast. This is a knee-jerk reaction to a couple of people who aren't responsible anyway. If you know someone who died from taking these products, did it really surprise you?

Alcohol in the news; wines for turkey day

From WCIA 3 CBS/ Illinoishomepage.net

Wines for Turkey Day

Brian Bowman from Sun Singer shows us a pair of wines that work well with any Turkey Day Dinner

(Geez, it's a 17 minute segment, ok, not intentional and the wine segment ends around 7:15. )

The first wine is a white from Slovenia, it's a Pinot Gris, from Edi Simcic. Normally, this wine sells for $41.99.

The second wine is a Moulin a Vent.

The main reason Brian is on the show is to pimp the Beaujolais Nouveau Release, which is tomorrow at noon.



Sun Singer Wines & Spirits

Four Loko news; Four Loko to remove caffeine amid reports of a ban

From the Chicago Tribune

Four Loko to remove caffeine amid reports of a ban

WASHINGTON (AP) —

The Chicago-based manufacturer of popular caffeinated alcohol drink Four Loko said Tuesday it will remove the caffeine from its products, pulling the blend off the market just as the Food and Drug Administration is poised to ban it.

again, this saddens me.

Four Loko news; Can it avoid an FDA ban?

From the Christian Science Monitor (neither christian nor scientific)

Four Loko: Can it avoid an FDA ban?

The manufacturer of popular caffeinated alcohol drink Four Loko said Tuesday it will remove the caffeine from its products, pulling the blend off the market just as the Food and Drug Administration is poised to ban it.

Holy shit.

Phusion Projects said in a statement posted on its website that the company will remove caffeine and two other ingredients from its products going forward.

So, it's just going to be Loko? Since there will be no more Four.

The FDA ruling "should be the nail in the coffin of these dangerous and toxic drinks," Sen. Chuck Schumer, who has pushed the Obama administration to ban the beverages, said Tuesday.

Technically, alcohol is poison, so yes, it's a toxic drink.

It's a sad day for liquor.

Four Loko news; under fie in 3 more states

Chalk paranoia up in at least three more states, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

From Chicago Breaking Business; Mass., conn. Move to restrict Phusion's Four Loko

Massachusetts liquor regulators are moving to restrict sales of potent stimulant-packed alcoholic drinks, including Four Loko that has been banned in four states. Connecticut wholesalers wholesalers have agreed to voluntarily suspend their shipment and deliveries.

From the New York Times, Maker Halts Distributino of Alcholic energy drink

It will not be on the shelves much longer. On Sunday, state officials announced that Phusion Projects, the Chicago company that makes Four Loko, had voluntarily agreed to halt shipments to New York State by Friday.

CU Beer Weekend; November 12

Seven Saints

Southern Tier Old Man Winter
Bell's Hell Hath No Fury

Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Dogfish Head Palo Santo $3.50 a bottle. Fat Tire Drafts $2.00
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Bourbon

Radio Maria

Pyramid Apricot
Dogfish Head Midas Touch
Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
Avery Maharaja
Two Brothers Hop Juice
Arcadia Cereal City
Great Divide Espresso Yeti
Anchor Liberty
Southern Tier Creme Brulee
Saint Bernardus Abt 12
Southern Tier Farmer's Tan
Left Hand Chainsaw
Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca
Port Older Viscosity
Brasserie Blance de Bruxelles
North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout
Petrus Oak Aged Pale
Mikkeller Jackie Brown
Nogne Porter
Virctory Hopdevil
Hofbrau Weiss
Victory Prima Pils
Kulmbacher Eisbock
Rogue Chataeu Rogue Wet Hop IPA
Ballast Point Fathom India Pale Lager
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, special tbd
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Blind Pig

Green Flash Hop Head Red; Vista, California, Amber Ale, 6.4% abv
North Coast PranQster; Fort Bragg, California, Belgian Strong Ale, 7.6% abv
Anderson Valley Boont Amber; Boonville, California, Amber Ale, 5.8% abv
Unibroue Maudite; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Port Brewing Older Viscosity; San Marcos, CA, American Strong Ale, 12% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days Lager; Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Cuvée des Trolls; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 12% abv
Ballast Point Even Keel; San Diego, California, American Pale Ale, 3.5% abv
Fuller’s 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
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Tommyknocker Oake Butt Head Bock; Idaho, Springs, CO, Doppelbock, 8.1%
Bell’s Winter White; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Belgian White, 5% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12°; Czech Republic, Bohemian Pilsener, 5%
Left Hand Warrior IPA; Longmont, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 6.8% abv
Breckenridge Autumn; Denver, Colorado, Old Ale, 6.7% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Old Speckled Hen; England, Premium Bitter, 5.2%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig American Pale Ale ABV 5%
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout 7.4%
Blind Pig Honey Pumpkin Ale 7.1%
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel; Germany, Dunkelweizen, 5.6% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Lost Abbey 10 Commandments; San Marcos, CA, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Troubadour Obscura; Belgium, Stout, 8.5% abv
Capital Island Wheat; Middleton, Wisconsin, Wheat Ale
Petrus Aged Pale; Belgium, Sour Ale, 7.3% abv
Capital Autumnal Fire; Middleton, Wisconsin, Doppelbock, 8.5%
Dark Horse Crooked Tree; Marshall, Michigan, India Pale Ale, 6% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Thursday: Blind Pig Beer's 1st Birthday Party

Crane Alley

Moyland's Dragoons Irish Stout
Great Divide Hercules Imperial IPA 10.0%
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin Ipa 7.0%
Konig Pilsener 4.9%
Nogne O Imperial Stout 9.0%
Bells Hell Hath No Fury 7.7%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
New Holland Black Mad Hatter IPA 7.1%
Coniston Bluebird Bitter
Rogue Dead Guy Ale 6.6%
Founders Red's Rye 6.6%
Fullers London Porter 5.0%
Dark Horse Raspberry Ale 5.5%
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale 8.0%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%

Specials for the Weekend of November 12th

Inferno Burger 1/2lb burger patty seasoned with chili de arbol, chorizo, serrano, jalapeno, habanero, and, for good measure, red pepper flakes.Topped with roasted poblano strips and chipotle aioli. Served with fries.$14.95

Fried Portabella Appetizer Buttermilk batterd and ancho dusted portabella mushroom caps served with petit salad and ancho buttermilk ranch. $8.95

ChiliMac Housemade mac'ncheese topped with Crane Alley's chili and dusted with asiago cheese. $9.95

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Schlafly Irish Extra Stout
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA
Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock
Anderson Valley Boont Imperial Amber Ale
Ballast Point Even Keel Session Ale
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Sinebrychoff Porter

Mike n' Molly's

Schneider Hopfen Weiss
Great Divide Titan IPA
Mikkeller Chinook
Port 4th Anniversary Double IPA
Founders Harvest Ale
Southern Tier Mokah

Buzz Best of CU 2010 edition

The Buzz has put out their best of 2010 edition.

Here's the important parts of their list:

Best Liquor Store: Friar Tuck

From an extensive wine selection to beers you have never heard of, the selection at Friar Tuck is nothing short of astounding. Vodka to gin, IPA to lager, pinot noir to merlot — if this libation power house doesn’t have it, then you aren’t likely to find it within an hour radius of CU.

Best On-Campus Bar: Murphy's Pub

With its friendly staff and laid-back atmosphere, Murphy’s Pub is the ultimate spot where tradition and authenticity are in no short supply.

Best Wine Selection: Corkscrew Wine Emporium

With wines from over 20 countries and exceptional services, the winner of this year’s Best Wine Selection is Corkscrew Wine Emporium, located in Urbana.

Best Gay-Friendly Nightlife: Chester Street Bar

Best Barbecue: Black Dog Smoke & Ale House

Best Beer Selection: Blind Pig

If the dim-lit old-English pub ambiance is not enough to get you to enjoy Blind Pig off of Walnut Street in downtown Champaign, then the beer selection certainly should.

In fact, according to bartender Jason Ewing, Blind Pig has 26 beers on draft and one hand-pulled beer to fill out their impressive list of options. If you prefer to hold a bottle, the Blind Pig offers 100 different choices from domestic beer like Budweiser to a variety of international beer. Fortunately, should you have trouble deciding, you can sample any five of the bar’s draft beers for $8.

Best Place to Bust a Move: Joe's Brewery

Best Place to Find a One-Night Stand: Kam's

Best Date Spot: Radio Maria

It is not a surprise who received this award. With a reputation of being the best place to go on a date, Radio Maria has the chops to give you a guaranteed good time on your date. Known for their exquisite and unique dishes, Radio Maria’s cuisine is inspired by a combination of many different cultures.

“Our cuisine is varied. We use a lot of local, fresh ingredients,” said co-owner Sharon Owens. “We have influences from Spain, Latin America, Asia and some American as well.

Best Off-Campus Bar: The Blind Pig Co.

The Blind Pig Co., located on Walnut Street in downtown Champaign, has been a staple for older crowds to congregate since 2004. However, in the past three years, bartender Jason Ewing has seen a change in the crowd.

“We have anything from beer-heads to grad students,” said Ewing. “Lately, younger crowds come here from campustown, people who haven’t had a chance to have good beer.”

Friendliest Wait Staff: Legends

Editor's Picks

four loko news; Carle expert discusses dangerous drink Four Loko

From WICD 15 ABC

Carle expert discusses dangerous drink Four Loko

Jeff Evans of the Carle Addiction Recovery Center visits Sunrise This Morning to discuss the dangerous effects the drink Four Loko poses to consumers.

four loko news; Popular drink to be banned?

From WAND 17 NBC

Popular drink to be banned?

Beer in the news; Beer Lubricated the Rise of Civilization, study suggests

From Live Science

Beer Lubricated the Rise of Civilization, Study Suggests

May beer have helped lead to the rise of civilization? It's a possibility, some archaeologists say.

Their argument is that Stone Age farmers were domesticating cereals not so much to fill their stomachs but to lighten their heads, by turning the grains into beer. That has been their take for more than 50 years, and now one archaeologist says the evidence is getting stronger.

Signs that people went to great lengths to obtain grains despite the hard work needed to make them edible, plus the knowledge that feasts were important community-building gatherings, support the idea that cereal grains were being turned into beer, said archaeologist Brian Hayden at Simon Fraser University in Canada.

When Kridz and I went on our Easterly Trip a couple years ago, while at the Victory Brewing Company, the tour guide asked something like "how long have people been brewing?" My response was "since the dawn of civilization".

This story isn't really new NEWS to beer-ophyles, but it might be for people who don't spend much of their day thinking about beer (and not just thinking about what to have as their next beer).

Four Loko news, Washington State: the next to ban four loko

From ABC News

Washington State: The next to ban four loko



Unwanted sex?

"Just one can of four loko has the same amount of alcohol as six cans of light beer".

Four Loko, where is it banned?

Here's the list as of Nov. 16:

Washington (starts Nov 17)

Michigan

Oklahoma (starts in December 3)

Pennsylvania (voluntary by retailers)

New York (have until Dec 10 to clear inventory)

Massachusetts (starts Nov 22)

Connecticut

Utah




* Oklahoma panel bans deliveries of Four Loko after Dec. 3
+Four Loko Ban Hits State of Washington

Alcohol in the news; Got beerdom? a different type of beer for a different type of experience

from the buzz

Got beerdom? A different type of beer for a different type of experience

This is apparently the first beer style review by the buzz's new beer person. This one is about, IPA's.

India Pale Ales are a unique class of beers known for their high alcohol content and bitter, hoppy illustriousness. The name is interesting because the beer actually originated in England in the late 1700s, however, to make the long journey to India by way of the East India Company, it was beneficial to ship a beer that had a high hop content. The extra hoppy-ness acts as a natural preservative to endure the long journey. Another trick the brewers used was to reduce the soluble sugars in the yeast to prevent a variety of micro-organisms from attacking the greatness that is beer. This, in turn, produced a beer that is lighter in color, higher in alcohol, and very bitter compared to the darker porters of their day.

Mostly... myth.

To gain a grasp on IPAs that are relatively easy to find on the market or at one’s local market, I went ahead and created my own six-pack consisting of Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA, New Belgium’s Ranger IPA, and Goose Island’s IPA.

If you read the article, you'll notice he talks about abv, and bitterness, along with some talk of sweetness. No mention of what style of bitter (pine, citrus, floral). Just that this was more bitter, less bitter, more sweet, less sweet.

The Torpedo was by far my more favorite of the three; the smell is subtle and a tad sweeter than the other two, and the taste had a lasting effect that didn’t bite at your taste buds too badly. It is also worth noting that the Torpedo has the highest alcohol content at 7.2% so if you’re looking for a good time with a classy beer, look no further.

Classy

The Goose Island IPA was definitely my second favorite. It certainly kept intact the idea that I was drinking an IPA with a good bite, but nothing too strong that a seasoned beer connoisseur couldn’t handle.

The term "bite" is used quite often.

And that is the truth about IPAs, most people at first glance claim the beer to be too bitter and hoppy for their taste but the fact of the matter is that most people don’t like beer in general at first taste; most things in life that are truly worth having are worth striving for and in this case the acquired taste of IPAs are certainly worth the training your taste buds will need to endure.

Alright Ramine, I invite you to go drink some tarts with me, my treat.

Alcohol in the news; 2 more Four Loko articles

Both are in the Daily Illini

Officials concerned about alcoholic energy drinks on campuses

Officials locally and nationally are taking a closer look at the Four Loko drink.

Four Lokos are flavored, highly caffeinated drinks sold in 23.5 ounce cans that contain between 6 and 12 percent alcohol by volume. Sgt. Scott Friedlein of the Champaign Police Department has noticed an increasing prevalence of the Phusion Projects product in the Champaign area. He said that as the drink became more popular, he noticed more unruly behavior.

...

“People would typically drink this as they would a regular can of beer,” Friedlein said. “The problem is it contains similar to five shots of alcohol, some people say a six-pack of beer, and then four cups of coffee on top of that. Where our concern is, that quick accelerated consumption of that much alcohol is going to really cause problems for people who aren’t used to consuming alcohol in the first place.”

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking into Four Loko (among other caffeinated alcoholic products) for safety concerns. Phusion Projects said on its website that it is cooperating with the federal government.

more of the sky falling

Four Loko's allure stays strong despite health warnings

From first glance, Four Loko appears to look like a can of AriZona Ice Tea — something fruity to quench your thirst on a sunny day. Flavors range from orange to blue raspberry, grape to watermelon. But upon closer inspection, one can of Four Loko seems to reveal a far more sinister and less than sweet purpose.

With an alcohol content of 12% and as much caffeine as two cups of coffee, it is an indisputable fact that Four Loko is in no way beneficial to one’s health — yet for many students, this fact does not deter one from drinking it.

...

Trey Ward, a senior in the College of Engineering, said “Drinking Four Loko with your friends is an extremely entertaining experience.”

Undeterred from the harmful effects Four Loko has on the body, Ward said that Four Loko provides countless humorous anecdotes that are too good to pass up. He also mentioned that each time he and a few friends tried it, the result has always left them with an interesting story to tell, and it is for this reason that Ward believes students continue to buy packs of Four Loko.

One unforgettable story concerning a wild barn-dance has Ward admitting that in spite of reports of alcohol poisoning he is still likely to purchase the beverage.

“It’s just interesting to see what’s going to happen,” Ward said. “In a lot of ways drinking it turns into a contest,” he said.

This article is going to make people want to try it more.

Adan Miranda, senior in LAS, said that Four Loko may not be as dangerous as health officials are reporting — if drank in moderation.

“If you drink one can to pregame, you’re going to get buzzed, not ridiculous,” he said.

Unfortunately, Miranda notes that because students “try to drink it like regular beer” it is fairly easy to be rendered out of control by the night’s end.

“I’ve seen people, especially girls, who have gotten sick and throw up because they think they can drink two cans consecutively,” he said.

...

If this isn’t reason enough to consider ending consumption of such a harmful beverage, Ward provides one last reason: humiliation.

“Four Loko made my friend look like a fool at that barn-dance,” he said, laughing.

We're all going to die.

Alcohol in the news; Whiskey selections at 7 Saints

from WCIA 3CBS/ Illinois Homepage.net

Whiskey Selections at 7 Saints

Andy brings in some of the whiskey's from Seven Saints. The first whisky is Death's Door White Whisky. Next is from Koval Lion's Pride from Chicago, the final is from Balcones in Texas.

Alcohol in the news; Ban of 'blackout in a can' essential for safety, health

also from the daily illini

ban of 'blackout in a can' essential for safety, health

If you’ve never heard of Four Loko, you are either someone who refrains from social media, or you live in Urbana. Either way, give yourself a pat on the back.

This piece was written by Tim Knudsen. I know he was just trying to be funny... but fuck you tim knudsen.

Four Loko is often bluntly referred to as a “blackout in a can” and has lived up to this expectation. One can of the drink, which is 23.5 ounces, includes the alcohol content of six cans of light beer and the caffeine of two cups of coffee, according to Washington Liquor Control Board spokesman Brian Smith. Even consumed separately, this is a lot of either substance. But combined, this is as dangerous as Springfield Avenue in the dark.

Alright, so how much alcohol is in a can of light beer? Bud light is 4.2% ABV per 12 ounce serving. Thats... .504 ounces of ethyl alcohol in each can of bud light. If you drank a six pack, you'd be consuming 3.024 ounces of straight ethyl alcohol (the equivalent of three shots of everclear). Unless my math is wrong (it's been wrong before), (23.5 / 3.024= abv) the ABV of four loko is 7.77%. Which really isn't that high. The fact that it's a 23.5 ounce can, is the issue. The fact that it tastes like koolade, is the issue.

When caffeine brings your body up, and alcohol brings your body down, the two don’t cancel each other’s effects out — they exacerbate them. The caffeine will hide the depressant effects of alcohol and make you feel more stimulated. This will prohibit your body from putting itself to sleep when it wants to protect you from drinking more. With this, danger has arrived. The drunk (yet awake) version of you isn’t going to tell you to stop drinking, and this how so many college-aged kids recently have been hospitalized.

How much did these people ingest in a short period of time? It wouldn't matter what they are drinking.The same results would happen if someone took 6 cherry bombs in a short period of time. And I don't see this author calling for a ban of cherry vodka and red bull.

It’s easy to explain the risks of Four Loko, so what could possibly be its benefits?

It’s cheap. Four Loko is only $2.69 a can at Hometown Pantry on Green Street. In the college binge-drinking culture, many students drink just to get drunk. Considering what it contains, Four Loko is definitely one of the most economical ways to get drunk. In these hard economic times, buying a Four Loko as opposed to buying a six-pack is the only sensible thing to do — smart college students recognize this.

Buying this is "the only sensible thing to do". Actually, buying a fifth of everclear and a package of koolade (the generic kind) is the only sensible thing to do, if all you want is to get drunk. Or you can drink aqua velva.

Four Loko is 23.5 ounces of college student in a can, plain and simple. Its “benefits” would make our parents raise an eyebrow.

The drink is trendy, and will most likely sink into oblivion with the likes of Ed Hardy and upside-down visors. If not, its risks will ultimately lead to its rightful demise.

Talk of banning a drink, only makes people want it more.

Oh, and Ed Hardy has his own beer line. Apparently, the author is unaware.

Alcohol in the news; Risky Alcoholic drink shouldn't be banned

From the Daily Illini

Risky Alcoholic drink shouldn't be banned

It comes in a brightly colored can. It’s 23.5 ounces, it looks like an energy drink and it tastes like an energy drink. It’s a Four Loko, and it’s bad news.

We're all gonna die!!!

A Four Loko is advertised as a caffeinated alcoholic beverage, and it’s all the rage among college students lately. The cans cost less than $3, they are easy to get a hold of and they can get people drunk very quickly.

They are/were available at most gas stations. Last time I was at Friar Tucks, they were sold out.

Last week, the state of Michigan outlawed Four Lokos. We think that is a step too far; the alcoholic energy drink should not be banned. However, some of us have consumed this drink before and have been unpleasantly surprised at the experience. The drink is dangerous and can lead to bad situations for people who are not aware of its strength and consequences.

"The drink is dangerous and can lead to bad situations". But they don't think it should be banned.

This sounds like something I want to experiment with.

Miller/Coors and Budweiser have stopped making their alcoholic, caffeinated beverages. Because of that, we do not understand why other companies can still do so. We wish these laws were consistent, but in the end, it is our responsibility — and not the government’s — to make these choices.

Miller/Coors and Budweiser chose to stop making it, they were not forced to. There was no law that made them stop making it.

These types of drinks are known to be a problem, and more should be done so that people, specifically college students, are made aware of how dangerous Four Loko — and drinks like it — can be.

Ban jagerbombs! Ban cherrybombs! Ban (any)bombs!

In a campus with an already potent drinking culture, beverages like this are dangerous. However, we are all adults, and if you want to try a Four Loko, try it and have fun. But be careful and be cautious. More than one can be very bad, no matter how high your tolerance is. And mixing it with other drinks is a recipe for disaster.

Oddly, this article says not to pan the drink. Even though it REALLY seems like its for the ban.

Alcohol in the news; Studens Question Police Priorities

From WCIA3 CBS/ Illinoishomepage.net

Students Question Police Priorities

Students are accusing the police of not protecting the U of I campus.

There have been two violent attacks on campus in just a day and a half. A woman was sexually assaulted this morning while showering in her dorm. She lives in Forbes Hall. Early Sunday morning a man was jumped and beaten up on 6th Street.

These crimes have students demanding more patrols on campus.

...

This weekend 25 people were arrested near campus for underage alcohol violations. Yet another beating happened an hour later on the same block police were patrolling.

Read that again. Read it again.

“The fact that someone gets beaten up on a corner while officers are working the bars, I mean we’re at other calls and at other places anyway. That’s going to happen, there’s going to be crime on campus,” said Champaign Police Chief RT Finney.



Chief Finney says stopping underage drinking doesn’t take away from trying to stop crime.

“In fact it puts more officers down in the area,” said Chief Finney.

So?

To serve and protect, and to generate revenue for the city.

smoking in the news; Report urges state spend more on smoking cessation

from the News-Gazette

Report urges state spend more on smoking cessation

CHAMPAIGN – State employees in Illinois have comprehensive insurance coverage for smoking cessation, but the state is spending just a fraction of what federal health authorities recommend on a quit-smoking resource available to everyone.

An American Lung Association report released Tuesday morning commended Illinois for being one of five states leading the way in providing comprehensive coverage for smoking cessation for state employees and their dependents.

But the organization also found Illinois and 14 other states invested less than $1 per smoker in the 2010 fiscal year on their tobacco quitlines that offer callers help trying to quit smoking.

A whole 32 cents per smoker (supposedly) was spent in Illinois to help people quit.

The CDC's recommended funding level is what it would take for each state quitline to be available to all smokers who want phone counseling, reach 8 percent of tobacco users in the state each year, deliver services to 6 percent of tobacco users in the state every year and offer two weeks of nicotine replacement therapy to all tobacco users and four weeks worth to callers who are uninsured or under-insured.

...

Surveys show more than 70 percent of tobacco users want to quit.

Nah, or they'd quit.

Not all treatments work for everyone, so a range of treatments – seven different medications and three types of counseling (phone, group and individual) must be available to smokers under a comprehensive smoking cessation program, according to the report.

Actually, one size does fit all. If you want to stop, just don't do it anymore.

Medications and counseling are for people who think they want to quit, but really don't.

The good news, according to the lung association, is there are proven treatments available to help smokers quit and there are many ways to get these treatments to smokers.

"The bad news," the report states, "is that these treatments just are not getting to enough smokers."

If you want to quit, figure out why you want to quit. If you want to smoke, than there is no reason that will be out there to make you quit. If the state really wants to do away with smoking, they can make it illegal. It's easy, just do it. Otherwise, it's just bullshit.

Alcohol in the news; 19-year-old ticketed for DUI after weekend crash in Urbana

from the News-Gazette

19-year-old ticketed for DUI after weekend crash in Urbana

URBANA – A 19-year-old Urbana man was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol after his vehicle flipped over and crashed in Urbana early Saturday morning.

According to an Urbana police report, Adrian D. Foster, 19, who listed an address in the 800 block of Scovill Street, Urbana, was driving a 2001 Chrysler near the intersection with Combes Street when the vehicle hit a curb, flipped over and crashed.

...

According to the police report, Foster admitted to his fiancee to drinking eight shots of vodka 30 minutes before driving.

wait, what?

8 shots of vodka in a half hour?

According to the police report, Foster had a blood-alcohol level of 0.183. In Illinois, a motorist is presumed to be intoxicated with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or above.

yowza

Alcohol in the news; the first installment of a new beer column

from the buzz

the first installment of a new beer column

All beers are different; some are dark, some light, some red and some that, basically put, taste and even look like water. Trying to differentiate type is task enough, let alone trying to distinguish quality. The better beers, most people would suggest, are the craft beers that come from small breweries or even places called “brewpubs.”

As one might guess a brewpub is a pub that also brews beers. In this day and age most people don’t see these seemingly ancient establishments; most brewpubs expand into their own separate-from-pub breweries. Though in the olden days this is where beer was made. Pubs would put up a hop-pole or ale-wand to show the locals that the beer was ready for a-drinking. Of course, like most things, this all started in Europe somewhere around the 1300s and somehow we only caught on in the U.S. during the 1900s.

Nowadays big breweries will open up their doors for guided or unguided tours of their factory, and they will have bars at the end where one can buy discounted straight from the barrel beer, which is always a ton more tasty. But think about it, how many bars down here in the CU show signs of at least once being a brewpub? There are several, so do keep a look out when you’re getting sloshy.

Brewpubs are a fading facet of the beer drinking world. Think about the care that came from the brewmaster and that was put into the beer that would have to turn around and produce a sustainable living. Like most on path alcoholics I thoroughly enjoy a microbrewed beer far over Keystone or Budweiser but I choose the latter two more often due to budget, however, the higher price adds to the treat and the occasion. So if you ever stumble upon a small town brewpub, do not pass it up. I repeat do not! The atmosphere alone will get you hooked and loving every drop of the carefully made beer sliding down your throat and into your gullet. So cheers to good health, good beer, and good times or anyone of the three.

It's an article...

Alcohol in the news; DUI officer

From Illinois homepage.net/wcia 3 cbs

DUI Officer

An off duty Decatur police officer was caught drunk driving. 25 year old Bradley Hall was arrested around four this morning. A state police trooper spotted him at the intersection of Martin Luther King and Wood Street. Officers say the light was green but Hall didn't start driving.
A Macon County sheriff's deputy was called in and arrested Hall for failing a sobriety test.
Hall got a ticket and was released. He's due back in court next month.

Why didn't the state police trooper pull him over?

From WAND 17 NBC

Decatur police officer arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol

CU Beer Weekend; November 5

Seven Saints

Duchesse de Bourgogne
Bell's Hell Hath No Fury

Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Unibroue Maudite $3 bottle. Fat Tire Drafts $2.00
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish


Radio Maria

Pyramid Apricot
Dogfish Head Midas Touch
Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
Avery Maharaja
Two Brothers Hop Juice
Arcadia Cereal City
Great Divide Espresso Yeti
Anchor Liberty
Southern Tier Creme Brulee
Saint Bernardus Abt 12
Southern Tier Farmer's Tan
Left Hand Chainsaw
Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca
Port Older Viscosity
Brasserie Blance de Bruxelles
North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout
Petrus Oak Aged Pale
Mikkeller Jackie Brown
Nogne Porter
Virctory Hopdevil
Hofbrau Weiss
Victory Prima Pils
Kulmbacher Eisbock
Rogue Chataeu Rogue Wet Hop IPA
Ballast Point Fathom India Pale Lager
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, Nogne Porter on special
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Blind Pig

Flying Dog Doggie Style Frederick, Maryland, American Pale Ale, 5.5% abv
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18 Year Scotland, Old Ale, 8% abv
Anderson Valley Boont Amber Boonville, California, Amber Ale, 5.8% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Port Brewing Older Viscosity San Marcos, CA, American Strong Ale, 12% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days Lager Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Cuvée des Trolls Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 12% abv
Ballast Point Even Keel San Diego, California, American Pale Ale, 3.5% abv
Fuller’s 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
Duchesse de Bourgogne Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Left Hand Milk Stout Longmont, Colorado, Sweet Stout, 5.3%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip Marshall, Michigan, Abbey Tripel, 8.5% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12° Czech Republic, Bohemian Pilsener, 5%
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA Boonville, California, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Breckenridge Autumn Denver, Colorado, Old Ale, 6.7% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Old Speckled Hen England, Premium Bitter, 5.2%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig American Pale Ale ABV 5%
Blind Pig Weizenbock ABV 7.4%
Blind Pig Honey Pumpkin Ale 7.1%

Two Brother’s Dog Days Lager Warrenville, IL, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel Germany, Dunkelweizen, 5.6% abv
Rogue Chipotle Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Lost Abbey 10 Commandments San Marcos, CA, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Troubadour Obscura Belgium, Stout, 8.5% abv
Capital Island Wheat Middleton, Wisconsin, Wheat Ale
Petrus Aged Pale Belgium, Sour Ale, 7.3% abv
Capital Autumnal Fire Middleton, Wisconsin, Doppelbock, 8.5%
Rogue I²PA Newport, Oregon, Imperial IPA, 9.5% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer

Crane Alley

Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Dogfish Head 90 Min IPA 9.0%
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin Ipa 7.0%
Konig Pilsener 4.9%
Nogne O Imperial Stout 9.0%
Bells Hell Hath No Fury 7.7%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
New Holland Black Mad Hatter IPA 7.1%
De La Senne Zinnebir 5.5%
Rogue Dead Guy Ale 6.6%
Founders Red's Rye 6.6%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
Dark Horse Raspberry Ale 5.5%
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale 8.0%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%

FOOD SPECIALS THIS WEEKEND ~

Pork Tacos ~ Dry rubbed braised pork shoulder in corn tortillas with chipotle aioli and fresh cilantro. With rice & chips and salsa.

Madras Egg Curry ~ South-Indian spiced curry with dal (lentil) curry leaves and boiled eggs, with rice and Papadum crackers.

Liguine Bolognese ~ A slow simmered Bolognese sauce made with bacon, beef, vegetable ragout, white wine and light cream.

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Summit Hefeweizen
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double Abbey Style Ale
McRogue Scotch Ale
Left Hand Milk Stout
Sinebrychoff Porter

Mike n' Molly's

Schneider Hopfen Weiss
Great Divide Titan IPA
Mikkeller Chinook
Port 4th Anniversary Double IPA
Founders Harvest Ale
Southern Tier Mokah

Big Ten Road Trips, part 7, Michigan

This weekend, the U of I football team travels to Michigan to take on Rich Rodriguez' Wolverines. Meh. Ann Arbor is Closer to Detroit, so breweries and brewpubs in Detroit will also be featured in this edition, as opposed to part 6, Michigan State. The drive there is about 6 hours and 344 miles.

On the drive, it's pretty much the same as going to Michigan State, except you keep going on I 94 instead of turning north on I 69 around Marshall.

This week, you continue on 94 and head to Ann Arbor (the whore). The first place you'll come to is the town of Dexter. That is the home of Jolly Pumpkin (well one of the 3 homes). Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales makes some really interesting beers. Their beer is available in CU at various locations in bottles and on draft. Many of their beers are barrel aged, and most have a slight tart flavor to them. They also have a location in Ann Arbor.

Also in Ann Arbor is Grizzly Peak Brewing Company. They seem to have at least 6 house beers. They also have a 9 beer sampler for $10, so maybe they have more than 6 beers. Some of the food menu items look good and are decently priced. Beer Advocate gives them a B+.

Arbor Brewing Company, is also in Ann Arbor. Beer Advocate gives them an A-. They claim to have between 8 and 12 house brews on tap at any time, with half being seasonal and half year round. Growlers are only $4, and can be filled for $8-12. Which isn't a bad price.

Another Ann Arbor brewery is the Blue Tractor BBQ and Brewery. They seem to have 3 year round beers, a pilsner, IPA, and a bock; in addition to some seasonals. Beer Advocate gives them a C.

That seems to be it for Ann Arbor, but some of those places look pretty good. If you continue heading on down 94 towards Detroit (rock city), you'll come across the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. Corner is a part of Arbor Brewing, so if you went there, you don't need to go here, unless you really want to.

When you get to Detroit, there are a couple of places you might want to go to. Atwater Block Brewery, is probably the most familiar brewery in Detroit. Voodoo Vator is probably their most familiar beer.

The Detroit Beer Company is also in Detroit. They have 7 yearly beers and several seasonals. Motor City Brewing Works, shows 11 beers on their website. Traffic Jam & Snug claims to be Michigan's first brewpub.

Since you are pretty close to it, if you are in Detroit, head up 94 towards Warren. Go to Dragonmead Microbrewery. If you went to the game, it's only about an hour away (if you didn't go to Detroit). They make a lot of different beer. A few years ago, at the Great Taste of the Midwest, I tried their Ring of Fire, which is an ale with hot peppers. That beer tasted like I was drinking pepper jack cheese. Which sounds bad, but it was great. These guys are very creative and make some damn fine brews.

Another brewery you might want to check out is Kuhnhenn Brewery and Winery. That's also in Warren. If I'm not mistaken, that is where the Blind Pig Brewery guy worked after he left Champaign.

That's about it for breweries/brewpubs that you'll want to hit if going up to Ann Arbor. Of course, you still get to go past Kalamazoo, and Munster, so if nothing else, pick up some Bells or Three Floyds.