If you've ever talked to Andy Borbely (manager of Seven Saints) about the main four countries for brewing, he'd have told you that there are four major brewing countries, and that they bring four different things to the table, I do agree with most of his points, but I take them in a different way.
1. Germany. To Andy, it's the area that brings us "seasonal drinking" and rigid standardization. The most prominent example, is Oktoberfest beers around the harvest time. Another example is Dopplebocks for the Lenten season. To me, Germany brings us lagers. Most every German beer style (short of Hefeweizens) are lagers.
2. England. Andy says they are important because of discovery and development of beer styles. To me, England brings us ales. Almost every (traditional) English style of beer is an ale. They go from stouts, to pales, to bitters, to milds.
3. Belgium. Andy and me both agree that Belgium brings us beer that has a strong yeast profile (think Trappists). Additionally, they give us styles of beer that are tart, spicy, and aged for a real long time.
4. USA (USA USA USA) Andy says we in America take from all those other countries and make it BIGGER and BETTER (although better is a relative philosophy; but it's kind of true), and that we aren't bound to tradition. I agree, and share his reason for throwing USA on the list. We didn't invent IPA's, but we make them really really good (get some from Russian River). We didn't invent Imperial Stouts, but try Three Floyds Dark Lord compared to a UK made Imperial Stout, and see which you like better.
There are other countries with up and coming brewing influences (and they had beer all along) but they are either importing their beer preferences (like Mexico's German Influence) or Brewdog (Scotland) taking the American route and making the BIGGEST.
There are good beers all over the world, and they all got there for specific reasons. What those reasons are, isn't because those countries started out to have those reasons. They got there for bizarre reasons.
Yeast is one of the most important components in beer. If you don't have yeast, you can't make any alcohol. The yeast is what separates the ales, lagers, and wild yeast beers. The yeast imparts flavors. Yeast is (or was) magical. Yeast availability helped in the process of defining what beers come from an area, but (in my opinion) yeast wasn't the major component of that definition.
To me, the thing that really drove the (traditional) beers that were drank in an area are the (traditional) foods.
If you ever read a book on pairing food with beer, (like the Brewmaster's Table: Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer with Real Food) you'll see him talking about trips to various countries, and how well the beer goes with the food. If you clicked on the link to the book on Amazon, you can click on the "click to look inside" go to the first pages, and start reading. He talks about traditional beers, with traditional foods.
Did those traditional beer and food pairings come about by accident? Hell no. Certain countries make certain beers, to go with certain foods. It can't be that much of an accident. The food in a country has to drive the beer in the country.
Go to a traditional German restaurant. Order a plate of food, it doesn't really matter what. Eat it with a bock. Try some sausages with an Oktoberfest. Eat a piece of German chocolate cake with a schwarzbier (or a berlinerweis). Get some schnitzel with a maibock. It's hard to make a mistake if you match a traditional German meal, with any traditional German beers (unless you have a desert beer with your meal, but even then it won't be too bad). If you are willing to waste your money, try it again with a Miller Lite. See which works better.
Go to a traditional English restaurant. I'm not going to say... ok I will say it... but the brits aren't really known for the tastiness of their foods. If you think of the English, you probably think: Doctor Who, Monty Python, the Queen, bad teeth, and bland food.
If you read the book excerpt, you saw Garrett Oliver discover flavor in beer while in England. That's easy to do, if you compare it to the mass produced American beer. But, honestly, traditional British beer is kind of ... meh. Go to a local better beer beverage shop. Get some traditional British beer, don't get anything from them that says "Imperial". Don't get the major beers that you are accustomed to, (Sam Smith, Newcastle, Guinness (it's Irish))... heck, get them. Drink them. Think about beers that are made by American breweries that are the same style. Which beer is more flavorful? Which beer seems to be bland? Is it ... meh? Which came first? meh food, or meh beer?
Ok, so you say the British invented IPA's. When did this happen? Doesn't matter what IPA story you believe, the IPA didn't come about until AFTER there was an established trade route between India and Britain. What came back to the UK from India? cotton, silk, dye, tea, opium... and spices. Does any bland beer go with spicy food (forget what you've been taught that a light beer goes with spicy food, it's wrong)? No, but a really hoppy beer will cut through spicy flavors. To me, the IPA is a perfect example of a beer that was developed specifically to go with a style of food (Anglicized Indian food).
When you think of Belgian food, what do you conjure up? Other than Belgian waffles. Do you think cheese, frites (fries), mussels, chocolates? Or did you just stop at Belgian waffles? Do you know what style of beer is recommended for mussels? Belgian gueuze. Why would you pair an extremely tart beer with mussels? Who had this idea? Have you ever tried it? It's outstanding! Which came first, people eating shellfish, or drinking beer? What other areas are known for eating shellfish? Coastal Europe (France, Italy, Spain), a traditional beer from that area is Saison, which also goes well with shellfish.
So now we get to America. Good ol' US of A. Here, we make some really crappy, mass produced swill. It's the stuff most Americans drink. Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors, Budweiser, these are some of the best selling beers in the US. You can get it at almost every gas station here. But what's right down the street, on every block? McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut. We have crappy mass produced food, and crappy mass produced beer. All those places are wonders of efficiency and the process. They are perfect for each other. You wouldn't want to waste a good beer on a Big Mac, also you shouldn't want to drink a Bud Light with a good piece of meat. Oscar Meyer weiners go fine with budweiser. Don't waste your butchers time by getting good sausage and having crappy beer, get a good bock for that sausage.
So, we here have some really bad food, and really bad beer; but we also have really good food, and really good beer. A bad restaurant will have a bad beer selection. A good restaurant should have a good beer and wine selection. There's a reason that the Olive Garden doesn't have an extensive beer list.
Even in Champaign Urbana, think of the restaurants with the best beer selections: Crane Alley, Radio Maria, Seven Saints, even Jupiters at the Crossing (I'm leaving out the wine places); what do they have in common? Those are places where you can get some really good food. (Some people may disagree with the food lists, but it's debatable). Their food is creative and not your everyday restaurant fare. Even the pizza at Jupiters is more creative than what you'll find at Pizza Hut.
Chain food, gets chain beer. Creative food, gets creative beer. Yes, you can find some crappy beer at creative restaurants, but why would you ruin the dining experience. If you don't know better than to get Budweiser, you probably won't like the dining options at those places.
The one glaring with Virgil's theory of beer and food, is Mexico. There is an excuse behind this. Mexico is probably best known for it's lagers (Corona). They are decent thirst quenchers, and if drank in enough volume can put out some of the fire that comes with some Mexican dishes. Except, that the style of beer was brought over by German settlers. Mexico didn't really have a strong brewing tradition before the Germans. BUT (and this is a big but), go get a bottle of Dogfish Head Theobroma. It's based on an old Aztec recipe. Theobroma is made with cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, honey chilies, and annatto. Try that with some authentic Mexican cuisine, (not tex mex from chili's). Fire-y Mexican food has recently (past 100 years) found it's match in West Coast IPAs. The beer goes so well with Mexican. Just like (I believe) IPAs were originally made to combat the new found flavor in spices brought back from India, the West Coast Pales seemed to be developed to go with the food of the region.
Good beer can stand on it's own. Good food can stand on it's own. Match the two together based on the areas they come from, and you'll have a great dining experience.
Just as good beer goes with good food, bad beer goes with the bad, and meh goes with the meh.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
CU Beer Weekend; October 29, Halloween
It's Halloween, um... horray.
Seven Saints
New Belgium Ranger IPA
Southern Tier Oat
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Boulder Mojo for $2.00. Fat Tire Drafts $2.00
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Micro
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30
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
Dieu du Ciel! Aphrodite Canada, Stout, 6.5% abv
Hoegaarden Belgium, Belgian White, 5% abv
Southern Tier Un*Earthly Lakewood, New York, Imperial IPA, 9.8% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Rogue XS Hop Scotch Newport, Oregon, Scotch Ale, 7% abv
Boulevard Tank 7 Kansas City, Missouri, Saison, 8.5% abv
Avery The Beast Boulder, CO, Belgian Strong Ale, 16.31% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% 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
Bear Republic Big Bear Stout Healdsburg, CA, Imperial Stout, 8.1%
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% abv
Two Brothers’ Resistance IPA Warrenville, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 6.9% abv
Arcadia Whitsun Battle Creek, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6.2% 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 Helles Bier ABV 5.6%
Two Brother’s Dog Days Lager Warrenville, IL, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
Rogue Chipotle Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Dark Horse Perkulator Marshall, Michigan, Doppelbock, 7.5% abv
Capital Island Wheat Middleton, Wisconsin, Wheat Ale
Petrus Aged Pale Belgium, Sour Ale, 7.3% abv
New Holland The Poet Holland, Michigan, Sweet Stout, 5.2%
Rogue I²PA Newport, Oregon, Imperial IPA, 9.5% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Thornbridge Japuir IPA 5.9%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Creme Brulee 9.6%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 5.1%
De La Senne Zinnebir 5.5%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Red's Rye 6.6%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
Dark Horse Raspberry Ale 5.5%
Avery Ellies Brown Ale 5.5%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
Cask: Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
Rogue Dead Guy
Port Brewing Old Viscosity
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
Dark Horse Scotty Karate
Left Hand Milk Stout
CU Beer Club
Tuesday: Happy Hour, 6pm Mike n' Molly's
Seven Saints
New Belgium Ranger IPA
Southern Tier Oat
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Boulder Mojo for $2.00. Fat Tire Drafts $2.00
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Micro
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30
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
Dieu du Ciel! Aphrodite Canada, Stout, 6.5% abv
Hoegaarden Belgium, Belgian White, 5% abv
Southern Tier Un*Earthly Lakewood, New York, Imperial IPA, 9.8% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Rogue XS Hop Scotch Newport, Oregon, Scotch Ale, 7% abv
Boulevard Tank 7 Kansas City, Missouri, Saison, 8.5% abv
Avery The Beast Boulder, CO, Belgian Strong Ale, 16.31% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% 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
Bear Republic Big Bear Stout Healdsburg, CA, Imperial Stout, 8.1%
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% abv
Two Brothers’ Resistance IPA Warrenville, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 6.9% abv
Arcadia Whitsun Battle Creek, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6.2% 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 Helles Bier ABV 5.6%
Two Brother’s Dog Days Lager Warrenville, IL, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
Rogue Chipotle Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Dark Horse Perkulator Marshall, Michigan, Doppelbock, 7.5% abv
Capital Island Wheat Middleton, Wisconsin, Wheat Ale
Petrus Aged Pale Belgium, Sour Ale, 7.3% abv
New Holland The Poet Holland, Michigan, Sweet Stout, 5.2%
Rogue I²PA Newport, Oregon, Imperial IPA, 9.5% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Thornbridge Japuir IPA 5.9%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Creme Brulee 9.6%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 5.1%
De La Senne Zinnebir 5.5%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Red's Rye 6.6%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
Dark Horse Raspberry Ale 5.5%
Avery Ellies Brown Ale 5.5%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
Cask: Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
Rogue Dead Guy
Port Brewing Old Viscosity
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
Dark Horse Scotty Karate
Left Hand Milk Stout
CU Beer Club
Tuesday: Happy Hour, 6pm Mike n' Molly's
alcohol in the news; extra on tap episodes 14 and 15
From Extra 92.1
Extra on tap Episode 14
Interested in Pumpkin Beers? In this episode AY delves into the scary world of Pumpkin Beers.
Extra on tap Episode 15
What does it mean to "taste" beer as aposed to appreciate it. AY gives his definition of respecting beer and how to understand the intricate flavors and textures of the vast beers available.
Extra on tap Episode 14
Interested in Pumpkin Beers? In this episode AY delves into the scary world of Pumpkin Beers.
Extra on tap Episode 15
What does it mean to "taste" beer as aposed to appreciate it. AY gives his definition of respecting beer and how to understand the intricate flavors and textures of the vast beers available.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
I'm a moron, day 2 (quitting smoking, part 4)
It's day 2. Twelve hours into day 2. As of right now, everything seems to be going well. This morning after breakfast with Scott and Brad, I really felt as though I was going to go outside and smoke, and then I realized, I don't do that... so I didn't.
After yesterday, many of the triggers/routines have been broken, so it's getting easier.
I'm still having difficulty concentrating. I find it easier to just stare off into space than to try to focus on anything.
I'm not angry (yet). I don't think I'm irritable, however nothings really pissed me off, yet.
Right now, this seems almost easy. But, if the past is any indication, the worst will be tonight around 7 pm.
I'm not too hungry. I'm not extra thirsty. I don't feel much different other than I have a cold (but I had that before).
I don't understand people who need medication to quit smoking. It's just three days of this.
Stay tuned for the freak out tonight.
After yesterday, many of the triggers/routines have been broken, so it's getting easier.
I'm still having difficulty concentrating. I find it easier to just stare off into space than to try to focus on anything.
I'm not angry (yet). I don't think I'm irritable, however nothings really pissed me off, yet.
Right now, this seems almost easy. But, if the past is any indication, the worst will be tonight around 7 pm.
I'm not too hungry. I'm not extra thirsty. I don't feel much different other than I have a cold (but I had that before).
I don't understand people who need medication to quit smoking. It's just three days of this.
Stay tuned for the freak out tonight.
Alcohol in the news; Wine forces public to pick a party
From WCIA 3 CBS/ Illinoishomepage.net
Wine forces public to pick a party
soft news.
Wine forces public to pick a party
A Central Illinois winery is serving up a drink that both Democrats and Republicans can cheers to. The Walnut Street Winery in Rochester has created political wine.
Winery owner, Loren Shanle, says the red and blue sealed bottles have the same blush wine inside, but the labels make all the difference. One is sold as GOP wine with a cartoon elephant on front. The other, features a donkey. It's, of course, for the Dems."We've had people come in and say 'I like that wine'. I'll say 'Which bottle would you prefer?' I've had people say 'I'd rather not say.' One person last year said they were an Independent and the ladies poured out both," says Shanle.
If the wine sales are a reflection of next week's election results, the winery says Republicans have the upper hand.
Last year the Walnut Street Winery created "Barackoberry" wine. It never hit the shelves, however, because the federal government wasn't crazy on the idea of the President and alcohol being linked so closely.
soft news.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Alcohol in the news; Halloween Beers from the Corkscrew
From WCIA 3 CBS/ Illinoishomepage.net
Halloween Beers from the Corkscrew
Nick Bland from the Corkscrew brought a beer and a wine to the show.
The beer is Southern Tier Pumpking. The beer is available throughout town in retail and at the bars. It's on tap in quite a few bars.
The wine is Werewolf from Romania.
Halloween Beers from the Corkscrew
Nick Bland from the Corkscrew brought a beer and a wine to the show.
The beer is Southern Tier Pumpking. The beer is available throughout town in retail and at the bars. It's on tap in quite a few bars.
The wine is Werewolf from Romania.
Alcohol in the news; Popular drink being called a "blackout in a can"
From WCIA 3/ Illinois homepage.net
Popular drink being called a "blackout in a can"
No, I haven't had it.
Oh look, it's in Time.
"Blackout in a can"; Alcoholic energy drinks keep wreaking havoc
It's definitely a tool of satan. There is no way anyone could drink this and consider themselves to be a responsible consumer of alcohol. At least, that's what I understand from reading this story.
Popular drink being called a "blackout in a can"
Look for articles on this everywhere. This beverage will be compared to satan and hitler before long.
Caffeine is a stimulant, alcohol is a depressant. Not a great combination,” said U of I alcohol counselor Mary Russell.
The drink is sold in the Champaign Urbana area.
It’s called Four Loko, but others call it “blackout in a can.”
The U of I and others are trying to stop students from drinking it.
The alcoholic energy drinks have three times more alcohol than a beer, plus it tastes good. Russell says just one can could cause a 120 pound woman to have a blood alcohol content of twice the legal limit. She says it can counteract your own body’s self defense mechanism.
“So you keep drinking when you should stop so it raises the blood alcohol content higher than it might than if the student had the natural body mechanism in place to go ahead and stop,” said Russell. Downing one can of Four Loko is like having between five six beers. The alcohol counselor I talked to admits that may sound appealing to some college students. She’s urging people to be careful with the alcoholic energy drink because it’s gotten a lot of people in trouble.
It’s been revealed that nine college students were sent to the hospital after drinking Four Loko at a party near Central Washington University. The University’s President is planning to ban all alcoholic energy drinks. Ramapo College in New Jersey banned Four Loko earlier this month. There are twenty-five places to buy Four Loko in the Champaign-Urbana area.
No, I haven't had it.
Oh look, it's in Time.
"Blackout in a can"; Alcoholic energy drinks keep wreaking havoc
It's definitely a tool of satan. There is no way anyone could drink this and consider themselves to be a responsible consumer of alcohol. At least, that's what I understand from reading this story.
alcohol in the news; After delays, brewpub ready to begin work in Champaign
From the News Gazette
After delays, brewpub ready to begin work in Champaign
After delays, brewpub ready to begin work in Champaign
Finally...CHAMPAIGN – Construction is expected to begin soon on the long-awaited brewery and restaurant planned for downtown Champaign.
Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works recently filed a building permit application with the city of Champaign for just over $1 million of work in the M2 building at Neil and Church streets.
Potts is Matt Potts, the owner.The space will be "somewhat similar" to the Normal restaurant, "with some exciting, new changes," he said.
"It will be a little more contemporary than the space here (in Normal) which already has a metro industrial look. We'll take that even farther in Champaign."
The Champaign space will be about 1,000 square feet larger and will have a larger bar area. It will also have room for the brewery with its fermenting tanks, barrels for aging beer and other equipment. The beer will be brewed on-site and within view of diners.
In Normal, the brewery produces about 45 to 50 different beers, and Potts expects to do the same or more in Champaign. Throughout the year, the restaurant and bar serves about 16 to 17 beers at any given time. They tend to always feature about five beers, and the remaining are rotated throughout the year. They'll do some barrel-aging of beer on-site as well.
Construction on the restaurant is expected to last about four months, with a projected opening date in early spring 2011.I believe that's the third year in a row that they've planned on opening in the spring.
Where I'm at right now and what you can expect (quitting smoking, part 3)
My last cigarette was at 11:15pm yesterday. I'm currently 11 hours into this fun ride of withdrawal and triggers. I really want a cigarette right now.
No, I REALLY want one right now. My body almost just got up and walked out the door to go have one. Even though I know I need to make it through the 72 hours, right now, I want to smoke.
I can feel my heart racing. Well, it feels like it is, although I just checked my pulse and it's relatively normal. It just feels like my heart is throbbing. I'm having a bit of trouble focusing my attention. My brain just wants nicotine. (It's probably not helping matters that I'm sitting here typing about nicotine... ah nicotine... how I love you...).
I'm kind of jittery.
This is the fun stuff.
Honestly, If I can try to control my urge to actually stand up and walk outside and smoke, this is kind of fun. I don't think too many other people would consider this fun... but right now, this feeling, it reminds me of that first cigarette. (I've had that first cigarette a couple times, this is my third time at the stopping).
The first cigarette, it makes you light headed. It makes you jittery. It makes you cough.
I don't have a headache (but then I don't get headaches). I'm not physically sore from withdrawal (yet) I'm kind of stiff from softball last night, but that's not nicotine related.
So, what can I do when this feeling hits. The biggest thing is to avoid nicotine. This feeling will pass. Eventually. I may have some strong desires right now to smoke, but those will be gone in about 62 hours. Also, this is only 11 hours, this is nothing. The real good stuff is yet to come.
If I had a cigarette right now, I'd be at this exact same point tonight at midnight. I'm not willing to do that.
To make this time pass, the easiest way to calm down is to focus on my breathing and take deep breaths. If that doesn't calm me down, I can go for a walk. Triggers kick in the symptoms. Taking a walk will remove me from the trigger, then it's broken.
It's almost the half day point. I've gone longer than this without smoking when I've been asleep. This is just a craving brought on by a trigger. Calm down...
Today will be a day of trigger breaking, tonight should be fun. For me, historically, the second day, around 6 pm, hour 42 has always been the point where I freak out.
I probably won't write about what I'm going through again today, so follow me on twitter (link in the top left) for live updates throughout the evening. It should be a fun day.
No, I REALLY want one right now. My body almost just got up and walked out the door to go have one. Even though I know I need to make it through the 72 hours, right now, I want to smoke.
I can feel my heart racing. Well, it feels like it is, although I just checked my pulse and it's relatively normal. It just feels like my heart is throbbing. I'm having a bit of trouble focusing my attention. My brain just wants nicotine. (It's probably not helping matters that I'm sitting here typing about nicotine... ah nicotine... how I love you...).
I'm kind of jittery.
This is the fun stuff.
Honestly, If I can try to control my urge to actually stand up and walk outside and smoke, this is kind of fun. I don't think too many other people would consider this fun... but right now, this feeling, it reminds me of that first cigarette. (I've had that first cigarette a couple times, this is my third time at the stopping).
The first cigarette, it makes you light headed. It makes you jittery. It makes you cough.
I don't have a headache (but then I don't get headaches). I'm not physically sore from withdrawal (yet) I'm kind of stiff from softball last night, but that's not nicotine related.
So, what can I do when this feeling hits. The biggest thing is to avoid nicotine. This feeling will pass. Eventually. I may have some strong desires right now to smoke, but those will be gone in about 62 hours. Also, this is only 11 hours, this is nothing. The real good stuff is yet to come.
If I had a cigarette right now, I'd be at this exact same point tonight at midnight. I'm not willing to do that.
To make this time pass, the easiest way to calm down is to focus on my breathing and take deep breaths. If that doesn't calm me down, I can go for a walk. Triggers kick in the symptoms. Taking a walk will remove me from the trigger, then it's broken.
It's almost the half day point. I've gone longer than this without smoking when I've been asleep. This is just a craving brought on by a trigger. Calm down...
Today will be a day of trigger breaking, tonight should be fun. For me, historically, the second day, around 6 pm, hour 42 has always been the point where I freak out.
I probably won't write about what I'm going through again today, so follow me on twitter (link in the top left) for live updates throughout the evening. It should be a fun day.
phases of the quit (quitting smoking, part 2)
So, you decided to quit smoking. Here's what you have to look forward to.
Seventy two hour of nicotine withdrawal. That's three whole days of withdrawal. Whoo hooo.
Here are the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal (from Google health):
Remember, nicotine withdrawal lasts for 72 hours. That's three days. That's just for the physical part of withdrawal.
There's only one way to quit nicotine, and that's cold turkey. Anything else, is not really quitting, now is it? Cutting back isn't quitting. The patch isn't quitting. Gum isn't quitting. Switching to lights isn't quitting. There's only one way, and that's to just stop. (If you smoke more that 3 packs a day, you should cut back for a while, and then quit once you get down to a pack or less a day, nicotine withdrawal can be fatal, as can Delirium Tremens for people who consume large amounts of alcohol).
Once you've decided to start your three days of nicotine withdrawal, what kind of cool stuff can you expect? From my experience, (and remember, I've done this a couple of times) the fun stuff starts about 11 hours in. This leads to the second part of your withdrawal. The first is the nicotine withdrawal itself. The second part is triggers.
Triggers are the things that make you want to smoke. They are the things where normally, you just reach for a cigarette without even thinking. If you smoke a pack a day, you probably have several triggers that you know about, and probably some that you don't realize that you have. Most peoples first trigger is waking up. Cigarettes are part of your "morning routine". For me, I got up, urinated, then went out and smoked. Within 5 minutes of waking up I have my first trigger. The next one happens after getting dressed and ready to leave. If I'm driving myself, I'd get in the car and light up. If I was getting dropped off, I'd get ready quicker and then have one before getting in the car. Then I get dropped off and light up while walking in. That's my smoking routine.
Other triggers of mine include various portions of the road. If I'm going to a certain place, I know where to light up so that I'm flicking it out as I pull in. From my house to Hooters, if I light up on Windsor at the Lincoln Ave stop light, I finish the smoke right when I pull in to Hooters. So, when I get to that light, it's a trigger. You probably have some mile markers and roadside attractions that you light up at. When I was driving from Danvers to Champaign, I'd have three cigarettes on the drive. One after filling up with gas, one at LeRoy, and one just after Mahomet.
During the day, in addition to specific times that you smoke, you probably have various other triggers. If I'd get done working on a problem, I'd smoke. If I spent some time talking on the phone, I'd smoke. If I got done writing a blog post, I'd smoke. Have a meeting? Smoke one before, smoke one after. The meeting only lasted 15 minutes, doesn't matter, have one after.
You'll start to notice triggers, as you come across them. Don't give in. The cool thing about triggers is that once you break it, it's broken. If you are like me (which you might be) a trigger is "I ALWAYS have a cigarette when..." Break a trigger, and you can remove that line. Because you didn't do it once, the trigger is broken. I drove past that stop light, so therefore I don't always have a cigarette when...
The problem with triggers is that they can kick start a physical withdrawal symptom. You can be doing fine, avoiding all your triggers, but then... a bad phone call, and all of a sudden you REALLY want a smoke. Don't do it. If you are serious about quitting, then don't do it. If you want to have that same feeling 10 (or so) hours later... don't do it.
So, to quit:
Step one, don't smoke for 72 hours. Don't have any nicotine during that time. You don't need the patch, you don't need gum, you don't need to cut back, you need to avoid nicotine. Withdrawal starts from the minute you stop having nicotine. It lasts for 72 hours. Any nicotine just adds 72 hours from the end of that.
Step two, break your triggers. Don't always have one when you... Just don't do it.
*man, do I want a cigarette right now*
Seventy two hour of nicotine withdrawal. That's three whole days of withdrawal. Whoo hooo.
Here are the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal (from Google health):
- Craving for nicotine
- tension
- irritability
- headaches
- difficulty concentrating
- drowsiness and trouble sleeping
- increased appetite and weight gain
Remember, nicotine withdrawal lasts for 72 hours. That's three days. That's just for the physical part of withdrawal.
There's only one way to quit nicotine, and that's cold turkey. Anything else, is not really quitting, now is it? Cutting back isn't quitting. The patch isn't quitting. Gum isn't quitting. Switching to lights isn't quitting. There's only one way, and that's to just stop. (If you smoke more that 3 packs a day, you should cut back for a while, and then quit once you get down to a pack or less a day, nicotine withdrawal can be fatal, as can Delirium Tremens for people who consume large amounts of alcohol).
Once you've decided to start your three days of nicotine withdrawal, what kind of cool stuff can you expect? From my experience, (and remember, I've done this a couple of times) the fun stuff starts about 11 hours in. This leads to the second part of your withdrawal. The first is the nicotine withdrawal itself. The second part is triggers.
Triggers are the things that make you want to smoke. They are the things where normally, you just reach for a cigarette without even thinking. If you smoke a pack a day, you probably have several triggers that you know about, and probably some that you don't realize that you have. Most peoples first trigger is waking up. Cigarettes are part of your "morning routine". For me, I got up, urinated, then went out and smoked. Within 5 minutes of waking up I have my first trigger. The next one happens after getting dressed and ready to leave. If I'm driving myself, I'd get in the car and light up. If I was getting dropped off, I'd get ready quicker and then have one before getting in the car. Then I get dropped off and light up while walking in. That's my smoking routine.
Other triggers of mine include various portions of the road. If I'm going to a certain place, I know where to light up so that I'm flicking it out as I pull in. From my house to Hooters, if I light up on Windsor at the Lincoln Ave stop light, I finish the smoke right when I pull in to Hooters. So, when I get to that light, it's a trigger. You probably have some mile markers and roadside attractions that you light up at. When I was driving from Danvers to Champaign, I'd have three cigarettes on the drive. One after filling up with gas, one at LeRoy, and one just after Mahomet.
During the day, in addition to specific times that you smoke, you probably have various other triggers. If I'd get done working on a problem, I'd smoke. If I spent some time talking on the phone, I'd smoke. If I got done writing a blog post, I'd smoke. Have a meeting? Smoke one before, smoke one after. The meeting only lasted 15 minutes, doesn't matter, have one after.
You'll start to notice triggers, as you come across them. Don't give in. The cool thing about triggers is that once you break it, it's broken. If you are like me (which you might be) a trigger is "I ALWAYS have a cigarette when..." Break a trigger, and you can remove that line. Because you didn't do it once, the trigger is broken. I drove past that stop light, so therefore I don't always have a cigarette when...
The problem with triggers is that they can kick start a physical withdrawal symptom. You can be doing fine, avoiding all your triggers, but then... a bad phone call, and all of a sudden you REALLY want a smoke. Don't do it. If you are serious about quitting, then don't do it. If you want to have that same feeling 10 (or so) hours later... don't do it.
So, to quit:
Step one, don't smoke for 72 hours. Don't have any nicotine during that time. You don't need the patch, you don't need gum, you don't need to cut back, you need to avoid nicotine. Withdrawal starts from the minute you stop having nicotine. It lasts for 72 hours. Any nicotine just adds 72 hours from the end of that.
Step two, break your triggers. Don't always have one when you... Just don't do it.
*man, do I want a cigarette right now*
I'm no quitter... except when I am (quitting smoking, part 1)
Well, softball season is now over, so that means... it's time for me to stop smoking.
Last night around 11 pm I had my last cigarette until next softball season. That will be in April sometime. So, I'll have stopped for about 6 months. Many people wonder why I quit and then start up again. Currently, the only reason I stop is because Kridz doesn't like smoking.
So, why quit? (why quit anything)
To me, there is only one reason to stop smoking. (There is only one reason to stop anything). That reason is... you hate what you see in the mirror. That is the only reason why you will ever make a change that you will stick with. Unless you truly can't stand what you are, you will never be able to make a change in yourself that will last.
To make a change that will truly impact you, you have to hate yourself. If you don't truly despise yourself (and can attribute it to the one thing), you will not be able to hold that change. Without the hatred, you will be able to justify going back to that thing.
For example, what are some of the reasons people stop smoking? It's expensive, it makes food taste bad, it stinks, (insert person here) doesn't like it, bad breath, medical issues, you are the only one in your friends who smokes, just to see if you can... the list goes on and on.
For every one of those reasons, you can come up with an excuse to go back. If one of those reasons is why you stopped, if that reason is removed (or justified) you can go back.
Unless you can pinpoint that you hate yourself for a reason, and that reason is smoking, you can go back.
Atheists (like me) have some favorite bible verses. One that most of them use is Luke 14:26. Often times, that verse is taken out of context. In fact, I think I'm one of the few people who actually understands that verse. It's about quitting.
Do you know what I've never heard of? A man who does "straight" porn, who found Jesus and left the industry. Women find Jesus and leave, men who do gay porn find Jesus and leave, but guys who have sex with girls in movies never find Jesus, why? Those guys don't hate themselves. They may get AIDS, leave the industry, then find Jesus; but they just don't leave.
It's OK though, Jesus doesn't want them. Why? Because those guys love what they do too much to be able to make the change. They will go back to whatever (whoever) it was they were doing before. (if you would like me to continue on with the hatred of yourself/christianity, let me know).
So, why are you quitting?
I'm quitting for the wrong reason. That's why I'll start again. It'll be sometime in April
Last night around 11 pm I had my last cigarette until next softball season. That will be in April sometime. So, I'll have stopped for about 6 months. Many people wonder why I quit and then start up again. Currently, the only reason I stop is because Kridz doesn't like smoking.
So, why quit? (why quit anything)
To me, there is only one reason to stop smoking. (There is only one reason to stop anything). That reason is... you hate what you see in the mirror. That is the only reason why you will ever make a change that you will stick with. Unless you truly can't stand what you are, you will never be able to make a change in yourself that will last.
To make a change that will truly impact you, you have to hate yourself. If you don't truly despise yourself (and can attribute it to the one thing), you will not be able to hold that change. Without the hatred, you will be able to justify going back to that thing.
For example, what are some of the reasons people stop smoking? It's expensive, it makes food taste bad, it stinks, (insert person here) doesn't like it, bad breath, medical issues, you are the only one in your friends who smokes, just to see if you can... the list goes on and on.
For every one of those reasons, you can come up with an excuse to go back. If one of those reasons is why you stopped, if that reason is removed (or justified) you can go back.
Unless you can pinpoint that you hate yourself for a reason, and that reason is smoking, you can go back.
Atheists (like me) have some favorite bible verses. One that most of them use is Luke 14:26. Often times, that verse is taken out of context. In fact, I think I'm one of the few people who actually understands that verse. It's about quitting.
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.Most of the time, when that verse is used, people say that to be Jesus disciple you have to hate your family. That's not what it's about. Jesus (who's existence I deny), here was saying that in order to make the change that is required to be his disciple, you have to hate what you are so much, that when you make the change, you'll stick with it.
Do you know what I've never heard of? A man who does "straight" porn, who found Jesus and left the industry. Women find Jesus and leave, men who do gay porn find Jesus and leave, but guys who have sex with girls in movies never find Jesus, why? Those guys don't hate themselves. They may get AIDS, leave the industry, then find Jesus; but they just don't leave.
It's OK though, Jesus doesn't want them. Why? Because those guys love what they do too much to be able to make the change. They will go back to whatever (whoever) it was they were doing before. (if you would like me to continue on with the hatred of yourself/christianity, let me know).
So, why are you quitting?
I'm quitting for the wrong reason. That's why I'll start again. It'll be sometime in April
Friday, October 22, 2010
CU Beer Weekend; October 22, homecoming
It's homecoming for the University of Illinois. Go get your beer on.
Seven Saints
Southern Tier Farmers Tan
Southern Tier Pumpking
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Shipyard Pumpkin Ale, 12 oz, $2. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Scotch
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30
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
Cask: Left Hand Twin Sisters Imperial IPA
Goose Island Pere Jacques Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Goose Island Pepe Nero Chicago, Illinois, Saison, 6% abv
Goose Island Sofie Chicago, Illinois, Saison, 6.5% abv
Goose Island White City Chicago, Illinois, Belgian White, 7.5% abv
Goose Island Matilda Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Ale, 7% abv
Goose Island India Pale Ale Chicago, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 5.9% abv
Goose Island Minx Chicago, Illinois, Imperial IPA, 8% abv
Goose Island Frankenporter
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 Double Chocolate Stout Newport, Oregon, Stout, 8.7%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner Fort Bragg, California, Pilsener, 4.4% abv
Great Divide Hercules Denver, Colorado, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
Arcadia Whitsun Battle Creek, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6.2% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Blind Pig Brewery
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Plus 2 new Blind Pig beers available Friday, Oct. 22nd
Two Brother’s Dog Days Lager Warrenville, IL, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
Founder’s Harvest Grand Rapids, Michigan, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Southern Tier Harvest Lakewood, New York, Premium Bitter, 6.4% abv
Dark Horse Perkulator Marshall, Michigan, Doppelbock, 7.5% abv
Celis White Webberville, Michigan, Belgian White, 4.25% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
New Holland The Poet Holland, Michigan, Sweet Stout, 5.2%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Thornbridge Japuir IPA 5.9%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Creme Brulee 9.6%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 5.1%
De La Senne Zinnebir 5.5%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Red's Rye 6.6%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%
Avery Ellies Brown Ale 5.5%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%
Specials for the Weekend of October 22nd
Cask: Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Schlafly Extra Special Bitter
Port Brewing Old Viscosity American Dark Strong Ale
Left Hand Twin Sisters Double IPA
Anderson Valley Brother David’s Double Abbey Style Ale
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Scottish Ale
Seven Saints
Southern Tier Farmers Tan
Southern Tier Pumpking
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Shipyard Pumpkin Ale, 12 oz, $2. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Scotch
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30
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
Cask: Left Hand Twin Sisters Imperial IPA
Goose Island Pere Jacques Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Goose Island Pepe Nero Chicago, Illinois, Saison, 6% abv
Goose Island Sofie Chicago, Illinois, Saison, 6.5% abv
Goose Island White City Chicago, Illinois, Belgian White, 7.5% abv
Goose Island Matilda Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Ale, 7% abv
Goose Island India Pale Ale Chicago, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 5.9% abv
Goose Island Minx Chicago, Illinois, Imperial IPA, 8% abv
Goose Island Frankenporter
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 Double Chocolate Stout Newport, Oregon, Stout, 8.7%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner Fort Bragg, California, Pilsener, 4.4% abv
Great Divide Hercules Denver, Colorado, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
Arcadia Whitsun Battle Creek, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6.2% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Blind Pig Brewery
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Plus 2 new Blind Pig beers available Friday, Oct. 22nd
Two Brother’s Dog Days Lager Warrenville, IL, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
Founder’s Harvest Grand Rapids, Michigan, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Southern Tier Harvest Lakewood, New York, Premium Bitter, 6.4% abv
Dark Horse Perkulator Marshall, Michigan, Doppelbock, 7.5% abv
Celis White Webberville, Michigan, Belgian White, 4.25% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
New Holland The Poet Holland, Michigan, Sweet Stout, 5.2%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Thornbridge Japuir IPA 5.9%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Creme Brulee 9.6%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 5.1%
De La Senne Zinnebir 5.5%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Red's Rye 6.6%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%
Avery Ellies Brown Ale 5.5%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%
Specials for the Weekend of October 22nd
Whitefish Escabeche - A savory mixture of white albacore, haddock,Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
yellowfin tuna, anchovies, herbs and serrano aoli served with garlic
toast, roasted red peppers and mixed greens tossed in sriracha
vinaigrette. $9.95
Andouille Frittata - Traditional "tortilla Espanola," with the very
non-traditional addition of andouille sausage. With red onion,
jalapeno, queso rico and red bliss potato over mixed greens and topped
with ancho creme fraiche. $9.95
Pasta Putanesca - Housemade putanesca sauce over linguine with
garlic toast, fresh herbs and asiago cheese. $13.95
Cask: Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Schlafly Extra Special Bitter
Port Brewing Old Viscosity American Dark Strong Ale
Left Hand Twin Sisters Double IPA
Anderson Valley Brother David’s Double Abbey Style Ale
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Scottish Ale
Alcohol in the news; extra on tap episode 13
From Extra 92.1
Extra on tap episode 13
Extra on tap episode 13
AY gives an overview of Flying Dog Brewery. Their slogan is "Good People Drink Good Beer." You'll also learn about all the new beers available at JT Walkers. Listen now!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Alcohol in the news; Sun singer Wine Tasting 10-20
From WCIA 3 morning show/Illinois homepage.net
Sunsinger Wine Tasting 10-20
Sunsinger Wine Tasting 10-20
Brian Bowman talks bubbly in advance of the 7th Annual Wine Tasting EventHe brings in Laurent-Perrier Brut L-P, and talks about the event tonight.
Sun Singer Wine and Spirits 7th Annual Gala Wine Tasting
Sun Singer Wine & Spirits 7th Annual Gala Wine Tasting
October 20, 5-8:30 pm
iHotel & Conference Center
Proceeds benefit the Orpheum Children's Science Museum
You can use the event to stock your wine cellar too, as there are discounts from 10% to 20% on wine ordered that night.
October 20, 5-8:30 pm
iHotel & Conference Center
Proceeds benefit the Orpheum Children's Science Museum
If you like wine, this looks like a good place to go try some. There doesn't appear to be too much beer there, but there's some good Goose Island stuff, Left Hand, Avery, and Erdinger beers that will be there.
Sun Singer Wine Bar Cafe celebrates their 7th Anniversary with a Gala Wine and Spirits Tasting Wednesday evening, October 20th from 5 to 8:30pm. The venue for this year's Gala will be the I Hotel & Conference Center, 1900 South First Street, Champaign, just south of the Assembly Hall.
Sun Singer invites you to spend an enchanted evening at the I Hotel & Conference Center as you socialize and sample over 200 wines, spirits and beers from around the globe. Generous discounts will be available on wine ordered at the event.
The Gala will feature a silent auction of wine and wine accessories. You will also enjoy bidding on additional hand selected auction items that come from local businesses. Many unique and original items will be available for auction only at the gala. Items include rare & large format bottles of wine, museum packages including an event rental in the Orpheum Theatre and a Night at the Museum birthday package.
iHotel & Conference Center
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Price: $20/person
Purchase your tickets, in advance at the Orpheum Museum, or at the door. As part of the $20 entry fee benefiting The Orpheum Children's Science Museum all attendees will receive a souvenir crystal wine glass.
You can use the event to stock your wine cellar too, as there are discounts from 10% to 20% on wine ordered that night.
Alcohol in the news; Sun Singer hosts Wine Gala to support Orpheum Children's Museum
From the Buzz
Sun singer hosts Wine Gala to support Orpheum Children's Museum
Sun singer hosts Wine Gala to support Orpheum Children's Museum
The seventh annual Sun Singer Gala Wine Tasting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 20th, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the iHotel and Conference Center in Champaign. The gala is a wonderful opportunity for wine, beer and spirit connoisseurs to sample over 200 selections of wines, beers and spirits from all over the world. It is also an opportunity to witness an important part of any organization — giving back to the community.
The Gala is hosted by the Sun Singer Wine & Spirit, located on 1115 W. Windsor Rd. in Champaign, and is benefiting the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, located on 346 N. Neil St. in Champaign. It is the second year that Sun Singer and the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum have collaborated. The Orpheum Children’s Science Museum is a small not-for-profit and an exceptionally wonderful place for children, or sometimes even adults who are still young at heart, to be inspired and educated by engaging with science and the arts....
In addition to the food, a silent auction will also be featured in the Gala. Items include rare bottles of wine, wine accessories, unique items from local businesses and museum packages, such as an event rental in the Orpheum Theatre (a beautiful theatre built in 1914) and a Night at the Museum birthday package.
The tickets are $20, and all of the proceeds of the tickets will go toward benefiting the Museum. The tickets are available for purchase at the Museum, at the Sun Singer, on the Museum’s website and at the door of the iHotel and Conference Center.
Alcohol in the news; Normal decision has no effect on Champaign project
From the News Gazette
Normal decision has no effect on Champaign project
...
Why do we care?
Normal decision has no effect on Champaign project
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign developer Cody Sokolski said Normal's termination of a redevelopment agreement with his company has "no bearing whatsoever" on the M2 on Neil project in downtown Champaign.
...
Why do we care?
BankChampaign has already moved into space on the first floor, but the long-touted Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works, which would occupy the anchor space at Church and Neil streets, has yet to open.
"Destihl has already started construction," said Sokolski, the chief executive officer of One Main Development. "They wanted to get it done in three to four months."
Three to four months... puts it around January-February. Last year showed promise for Destihl opening, since they had a booth (possibly the most popular one) at the Urbana Beer and Chili thing. however, they were absent from this year.
Friday, October 15, 2010
CU Beer Weekend; October 15
Interesting beer week, if you can't find something to do, you don't love beer.
Seven Saints
Southern Tier Farmers Tan
Southern Tier Pumpking
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Bell's Oktoberfest, 12oz bottle, $2. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Bourbon
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Avery Seventeen 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
Cask: Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18 year Scotland, Old Ale, 8% abv
Mikkeller Nelson Denmark, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Hirter Morchl Austria, Dunkel, 5% abv
Founder’s Nemesis Grand Rapids, Michigan, Barley Wine, 12% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days Lager Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout Denver, Colorado, Stout, 4.95% 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 John John Hazelnut Newport, Oregon, Brown Ale, 5.6%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Left Hand 400lb. Monkey Longmont, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Battle Creek, Michigan, Spice Ale, 6% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Thursday: Goose Island Invasion. India Pale Ale, Pere Jacques, Minx, Pepe Nero, White City, Sofie, Matilda, and a tba.
Blind Pig Brewery
Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Blind Pig Hefeweizen
Schlafly Pilsner Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Founder’s Breakfast Stout Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Southern Tier Pumking Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Arcadia Cereal City Battle Creek, Michigan, Bitter, 4.2% abv
Breckenridge Agave Wheat Denver, Colorado, Wheat Ale, 4.2% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Avery The Kaiser Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Chokolat 11.o%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Weihenstephaner Dunkel Weiss 5.4%
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 5.1%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%
Avery "The Beast" Grand Cru 16.03%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
Left Hand Warrior IPA
Avery Whitsun
Left Hand Milk Stout
Summit Horizon Red Ale
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Scrimshaw Pilsner
CU Beer Club
Wednesday: Beer Club Meeting, Scary Beers. 6:30pm at Crane Alley. FREE, bring 22+ ounces of beer. Something with a scary label or name.
Seven Saints
Southern Tier Farmers Tan
Southern Tier Pumpking
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Bell's Oktoberfest, 12oz bottle, $2. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Bourbon
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Avery Seventeen 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
Cask: Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18 year Scotland, Old Ale, 8% abv
Mikkeller Nelson Denmark, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Hirter Morchl Austria, Dunkel, 5% abv
Founder’s Nemesis Grand Rapids, Michigan, Barley Wine, 12% abv
Two Brothers’ Dog Days Lager Warrenville, Illinois, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout Denver, Colorado, Stout, 4.95% 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 John John Hazelnut Newport, Oregon, Brown Ale, 5.6%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Left Hand 400lb. Monkey Longmont, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Battle Creek, Michigan, Spice Ale, 6% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Thursday: Goose Island Invasion. India Pale Ale, Pere Jacques, Minx, Pepe Nero, White City, Sofie, Matilda, and a tba.
Blind Pig Brewery
Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Blind Pig Hefeweizen
Schlafly Pilsner Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Founder’s Breakfast Stout Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Southern Tier Pumking Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Arcadia Cereal City Battle Creek, Michigan, Bitter, 4.2% abv
Breckenridge Agave Wheat Denver, Colorado, Wheat Ale, 4.2% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Avery The Kaiser Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Chokolat 11.o%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Weihenstephaner Dunkel Weiss 5.4%
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 5.1%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%
Avery "The Beast" Grand Cru 16.03%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
Left Hand Warrior IPA
Avery Whitsun
Left Hand Milk Stout
Summit Horizon Red Ale
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Scrimshaw Pilsner
CU Beer Club
Wednesday: Beer Club Meeting, Scary Beers. 6:30pm at Crane Alley. FREE, bring 22+ ounces of beer. Something with a scary label or name.
Alcohol in the news: Extra on Tap Episode 12
A closer look at Bells Brewery, thier history, featured beers, and much more! Listen now!Aaron Young talks about Bell's Brewery. Remember, if you are going to the Illinois game at Michigan State, Bell's Brewery is kind of on the way.
They sip on Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock. (This was the episode Kridz and I heard last week)
Bars in the news; Illinois Lineman Sentenced
From WCIA 3 CBS/ Illinoishomepage.net
Illinois Lineman Sentenced
Illinois Lineman Sentenced
A judge sentenced Illinois lineman Hugh Thornton to 100 hours of community service for battery and criminal damage to property. He'll also pay more than $1000 back to Joe's Brewery.Oddly, he wasn't suspended from the team. I thought Zook got rid of people who had issues?
Thornton was arrested last month at the brewery for being involved in a fight. The U of I sophomore admitted to a judge earlier this week he used an ID card belonging to someone else that night.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Beer in the news; buzz food & drink writers sample different fall beers
From the Buzz
Buzz food & drink writers sample different fall beers
They sample: Blue Moon Harvest Moon, Arcadia Ales Jaw Jacker, Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, Southern Tier Harvest Ale, Shipyard Pumpkin Head Ale, Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest, Sam Adam's Oktoberfest, Woodchuck Pumpkin, and Hornsby's Hard Cider Crisp Apple.
This was done by the food and drink writers... so it's good?
Here's what Southern Tier has to say about harvest.
Harvest Ale is our celebration of the changing weather and the sowing of hops and barley that will be used in our upcoming brews. We usher in the fall with a classic English style Extra Special Bitter of the highest order. Deep ruby in color with an even deeper hop flavor… in fact, we throw fresh English hops into every brewing vessel, then dry hop after fermentation to impart a zesty kick. This beer has real hop character that mingles with fresh malted barley for an experience that will make you wish it were fall year ‘round.
If you were looking for something not bitter... you chose poorly.
This article is horrible. Remember that when you read any other article about beer in the buzz.
Buzz food & drink writers sample different fall beers
They sample: Blue Moon Harvest Moon, Arcadia Ales Jaw Jacker, Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, Southern Tier Harvest Ale, Shipyard Pumpkin Head Ale, Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest, Sam Adam's Oktoberfest, Woodchuck Pumpkin, and Hornsby's Hard Cider Crisp Apple.
This was done by the food and drink writers... so it's good?
Ok, there's your baseline. "Blue Moon is so exceptional". I assume they actually meant that as a compliment.Blue Moon’s Harvest Moon:
We had high hopes for this beer since Blue Moon is so exceptional but were a little disappointed that there wasn’t much of that “fall” flavor to be found.
Paddy likes BB's Orange Blossom. This beer was apparently their favorite.Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale:
Beth and Jeanine were especially excited about this one because of Buffalo Bill’s Orange Blossom, which is an exceptionally good summer beer.
This is what happens when you have no idea what beer styles are. Harvest ales (for the most part) are celebrating the HOPS harvest, not the harvest of corn, soybeans, pumpkins. They didn't like the bitterness? They shouldn't have gotten a beer that has a predominate characteristic of bitter.Southern Tier Harvest Ale:
This ale was crisp tasting, although very bitter. It remained light, though, and reminded Barb of Rogue Dead Guy. It did not have much of a fall or harvest flavor until the end, and it was drowned out by the bitterness.
Here's what Southern Tier has to say about harvest.
Harvest Ale is our celebration of the changing weather and the sowing of hops and barley that will be used in our upcoming brews. We usher in the fall with a classic English style Extra Special Bitter of the highest order. Deep ruby in color with an even deeper hop flavor… in fact, we throw fresh English hops into every brewing vessel, then dry hop after fermentation to impart a zesty kick. This beer has real hop character that mingles with fresh malted barley for an experience that will make you wish it were fall year ‘round.
If you were looking for something not bitter... you chose poorly.
What? People might actually use this article as an authoritative look at beer, the writers are apparently the food and drink staff. They wanted pumpkin and spice in an OKTOBERFEST? Seriously?Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest:
- Boring!Just an amber beer without much pumpkin or spice. There wasn’t much to say about this pretty boring beer.
Again, what? Sam Adams Oktoberfest is a malty beer. It's not very bitter. It's not unremarkable. It's pretty much the definitive version of an American Oktoberfest. They have a bias against Sam Adams? What? Why? They claim Blue Moon is exceptional, and they are biased against Sam Adams? Seriously?Sam Adam’s Octoberfest:
- Least favorite!We were curious to try this one because it is everywhere. We were used to seeing it and wanted to try it and were very disappointed. It was very bitter and unremarkable. We realize this might be a bias towards Sam Adams beers overall, but we definitely weren’t impressed by it.
This article is horrible. Remember that when you read any other article about beer in the buzz.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Alcohol in the news; Oktoberfest brew plus Andy's Special Drinks
From WCIA 3 CBS Morning Show/ Illinoishomepage.net
Oktoberfest Brew plus Andy's Special Drinks
Andy Borbely from Seven Saints stops by to talk about Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers. The first beer is Avery the Kaiser. The second beer is Shipyard Pumpkinhead. He also has Southern Tier Pumking. Later he does some fall mixing drinks.
Oktoberfest Brew plus Andy's Special Drinks
Andy Borbely from Seven Saints stops by to talk about Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers. The first beer is Avery the Kaiser. The second beer is Shipyard Pumpkinhead. He also has Southern Tier Pumking. Later he does some fall mixing drinks.
Big Ten Road Trips, part 6, Michigan State
So, you are taking the trip from Illinois to Michigan State University, in East Lansing. From Champaign to Spartan Stadium, it's about a five and a half hour drive. (Since the University of Michigan is closer to Detroit, Detroit will be featured in the next segment).
On your way up, you'll pass a couple of breweries that were featured in the Northwestern trip, Flossmoor Station, and Brick Stone. Once you turn east onto interstate 80, you get the opportunity to go to some really great breweries.
The first that you'll come across is in Munster, Indiana. It's Three Floyds Brewing Company. Three Floyds is awesome. Go there. If you've been before, go again. If you haven't gone, it's well worth the trip. They make awesome beer. They make Dark Lord. Their current tap list is amazing. From their usual suspects that are great (Alpha King, Gumball Head, Dreadnaught) to the things that are rarer (Admiral Lord Nelson, Ruggoop, Moloko, Munsterfest) to the things I've never heard of from them before (Sodom, Ice Grill, Owd Engwish Barley Whine) you're sure to find something you like.
A little further down I-80 is BrickWorks Brewing Company in Hobart. If you took the turn off of 80 and went up 94 along the coast, you are close to Shoreline Brewery and Restaurant in Michigan City, Indiana. (I went to Shoreline in March of 2008, shortly before starting this blog). Shoreline is really on the shore. This weekend may not be the greatest time to go there, but if you want to go to the beach and have a beer, this place would make a great day trip.
As you continue up 94, you'll pass Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery, in Baroda, Michigan. A little further up 94 is the Livery, in Benton Harbor. I've tried some of their beers at the Great Taste of the Midwest, and was impressed. Next is Old Hat Brewery and Grill, in Lawton.
Keep driving, and you get to Kalamazoo. Home of Bell's Brewery, and the Eccentric Cafe. They have a live updating tap list. It's not easy to read. Hell Hath No fury is on tap, as is Expedition. Those are worth stopping in for.
From Kalamazoo, there are two ways to get to East Lansing, stay on 94 and go to 69, or... go up 131 to Grand Rapids. Neither are bad options.
On the I-69 route, you go to Marshall, Michigan. In Marshall is Dark Horse Brewing Company. Some of my favorite beers from Dark Horse are Double Crooked Tree, Three Guy Off the Scale Barley Wine, and Plead the 5th Imperial Stout.
If you went up to Grand Rapids, you can go to Founders. As of today, they have Breakfast Stout, Nemesis, Looking Glass, and some other good beers on tap. When Kridz and I went there in 2008, they had just moved locations and their deli wasn't up and running. If you are going up Saturday, October 16 for the football game, it's their 7th Annual Harvest Party, for their release of Harvest Ale. It costs $8 for admission, for that you get a pint of Harvest Ale, and can keep the glass (while supplies last).
Once you get to East Lansing, it seems the only place that brews their own is Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub. They appear to have 6 original beers on tap.
If you are looking to take a different route back, than the one that got you there, there aren't too many other options (other than the ones listed).
If you are looking to hit the best breweries and not get off the path too much, here's the route I recommend.
Take 57 to 80 to 94 to 69 up to Lansing. You'll be able to hit Three Floyds, Shoreline, the Livery, and Bells. On the way back, take 96 to 196 to 94 to 80 to 57. You'll be able to hit Founders, and in Holland, Michigan, New Holland Brewing (along with going past Shoreline, and Three Floyds, Flossmoor and BrickStone).
If planned correctly, with enough time budgeted, you can get some great beers, from some great breweries. It's a good 5+ hour drive each way, so if you leave Saturday morning, (they are an hour ahead) you'll have to leave by 5am. But, most of these breweries are also bars, so they are open late. It's a good drive, and worth it. If you want to pick up extra beer, you can ask at the brewery where they recommend purchasing their beer at (if it's not sold there, Three Floyds and Founders do sell on site).
On your way up, you'll pass a couple of breweries that were featured in the Northwestern trip, Flossmoor Station, and Brick Stone. Once you turn east onto interstate 80, you get the opportunity to go to some really great breweries.
The first that you'll come across is in Munster, Indiana. It's Three Floyds Brewing Company. Three Floyds is awesome. Go there. If you've been before, go again. If you haven't gone, it's well worth the trip. They make awesome beer. They make Dark Lord. Their current tap list is amazing. From their usual suspects that are great (Alpha King, Gumball Head, Dreadnaught) to the things that are rarer (Admiral Lord Nelson, Ruggoop, Moloko, Munsterfest) to the things I've never heard of from them before (Sodom, Ice Grill, Owd Engwish Barley Whine) you're sure to find something you like.
A little further down I-80 is BrickWorks Brewing Company in Hobart. If you took the turn off of 80 and went up 94 along the coast, you are close to Shoreline Brewery and Restaurant in Michigan City, Indiana. (I went to Shoreline in March of 2008, shortly before starting this blog). Shoreline is really on the shore. This weekend may not be the greatest time to go there, but if you want to go to the beach and have a beer, this place would make a great day trip.
As you continue up 94, you'll pass Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery, in Baroda, Michigan. A little further up 94 is the Livery, in Benton Harbor. I've tried some of their beers at the Great Taste of the Midwest, and was impressed. Next is Old Hat Brewery and Grill, in Lawton.
Keep driving, and you get to Kalamazoo. Home of Bell's Brewery, and the Eccentric Cafe. They have a live updating tap list. It's not easy to read. Hell Hath No fury is on tap, as is Expedition. Those are worth stopping in for.
From Kalamazoo, there are two ways to get to East Lansing, stay on 94 and go to 69, or... go up 131 to Grand Rapids. Neither are bad options.
On the I-69 route, you go to Marshall, Michigan. In Marshall is Dark Horse Brewing Company. Some of my favorite beers from Dark Horse are Double Crooked Tree, Three Guy Off the Scale Barley Wine, and Plead the 5th Imperial Stout.
If you went up to Grand Rapids, you can go to Founders. As of today, they have Breakfast Stout, Nemesis, Looking Glass, and some other good beers on tap. When Kridz and I went there in 2008, they had just moved locations and their deli wasn't up and running. If you are going up Saturday, October 16 for the football game, it's their 7th Annual Harvest Party, for their release of Harvest Ale. It costs $8 for admission, for that you get a pint of Harvest Ale, and can keep the glass (while supplies last).
Once you get to East Lansing, it seems the only place that brews their own is Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub. They appear to have 6 original beers on tap.
If you are looking to take a different route back, than the one that got you there, there aren't too many other options (other than the ones listed).
If you are looking to hit the best breweries and not get off the path too much, here's the route I recommend.
Take 57 to 80 to 94 to 69 up to Lansing. You'll be able to hit Three Floyds, Shoreline, the Livery, and Bells. On the way back, take 96 to 196 to 94 to 80 to 57. You'll be able to hit Founders, and in Holland, Michigan, New Holland Brewing (along with going past Shoreline, and Three Floyds, Flossmoor and BrickStone).
If planned correctly, with enough time budgeted, you can get some great beers, from some great breweries. It's a good 5+ hour drive each way, so if you leave Saturday morning, (they are an hour ahead) you'll have to leave by 5am. But, most of these breweries are also bars, so they are open late. It's a good drive, and worth it. If you want to pick up extra beer, you can ask at the brewery where they recommend purchasing their beer at (if it's not sold there, Three Floyds and Founders do sell on site).
Alcohol in the news: Best World Wineries
From WCIA 3, Illinois Homepage.net
Best World Wineries
Lisa Hettinger, L& L Travel
Wineries/ wine areas mentioned are:
Niagra on the Lake
Maipo Velly, Chile
Burgundy, France
Norfolk, New York
Champagne, France
Best World Wineries
Lisa Hettinger, L& L Travel
Wineries/ wine areas mentioned are:
Niagra on the Lake
Maipo Velly, Chile
Burgundy, France
Norfolk, New York
Champagne, France
Monday, October 11, 2010
Alcohol in the news: Urbana Beer and Chili cook off
From Wand 17
Beer tasting and chili cook-off in Urbana
Not a great story.
Thousands... "GET THIS MORE THAN 150 Types of beer"
Seriously, more than 150 types is newsworthy?
From WICD 15 ABC
Beer and Chili fire it up
Beer tasting and chili cook-off in Urbana
Not a great story.
Thousands... "GET THIS MORE THAN 150 Types of beer"
Seriously, more than 150 types is newsworthy?
From WICD 15 ABC
Beer and Chili fire it up
URBANA - What's better than a beautiful fall day? A beautiful fall day along with some cold beer and hot chili. At least, that's what more than two-thousand people think.
Urbana's ninth annual international beer-tasting and chili cook-off attracted about 2500 people to the downtown area today.
Participants can sample up to 150 different types of beer from all over the world. In addition, nine different chili teams competed in the chili cook-off which represented roughly twelve different types of chili.Saturday, October 9 2010, 05:29 PM CDT
Friday, October 8, 2010
CU Beer Weekend; October 8
It's a busy weekend for beer drinkers.
Seven Saints
Spaten Oktoberfest
Founders Breakfast Stout
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Avery the Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest, 22oz $6. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly, $5 tulip
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.
Sunday, main dining room is rented for a wedding reception, tapas and bar will be open.
Wednesday, the entire restaurant is rented until 9 pm for a private party. It will open after for late night tapas and drinks
Blind Pig
Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Two Brothers’ Cane & Ebel Warrenville, IL, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Two Brothers’ Heavy Handed Tettnang Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Capital Oktoberfest Middleton, Wisconsin, Märzen, 5.5% abv
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen Germany, Märzen, 5.8% abv
Samuel Adams Octoberfest Boston, Massachusetts, Märzen, 5.3% abv
Berghoff Oktoberfest Monroe, Wisconsin, Märzen, 5.2% 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 John John Hazelnut Newport, Oregon, Brown Ale, 5.6%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Two Brother’s Bitter End Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers
October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews
Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)
Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Blind Pig Hefeweizen
Schlafly Pilsner Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Founder’s Breakfast Stout Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Southern Tier Pumking Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Victory Storm King Downington, Pennsylvania, Imperial Stout, 9.1% abv
Breckenridge Agave Wheat Denver, Colorado, Wheat Ale, 4.2% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Avery The Kaiser Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Chokolat 11.o%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Franziskaner Hefe Weizen 5.0%
Warsteiner Oktoberfest 5.9%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Southern Tier Pumking 9.0%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%%
Avery Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest 9.7%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
PBR 4.2%
Specials
Ground Lamb Kebabs – Seasoned lamb with roasted peppers and onions served with spiced pita and mint pesto. $17.95
Beef Ragout - Slow cooked beef and vegetables over linguine with garlic toast. $12.95
Grilled Chicken - Grilled boneless chicken breast with asparagus au gratin, herb smashed potatoes and herb compound butter. $14.95
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner
Avery White Rascal, Schlafly Hefeweizen
Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18
Check your calendars
Saturday: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off; $5 in advance (get them today) tickets are at Canopy Club, Exile on Main Street, Crane Alley, Blind Pig, Family Pride Convenience Store.
Saturday: Cuervo Games. Registration is from 2:30 to 4 (if you didn't signup on line). Go downtown Champaign, you can't miss it.
After the games, lots of bars will be having Cuervo specials, just wander around and see what's good.
Saturday: CU Bags Tourney. Also downtown Champaign, it's the place that looks like a lot of people playing bags.
Seven Saints
Spaten Oktoberfest
Founders Breakfast Stout
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Avery the Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest, 22oz $6. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish
Radio Maria
1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly, $5 tulip
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.
Sunday, main dining room is rented for a wedding reception, tapas and bar will be open.
Wednesday, the entire restaurant is rented until 9 pm for a private party. It will open after for late night tapas and drinks
Blind Pig
Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Two Brothers’ Cane & Ebel Warrenville, IL, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Two Brothers’ Heavy Handed Tettnang Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Capital Oktoberfest Middleton, Wisconsin, Märzen, 5.5% abv
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen Germany, Märzen, 5.8% abv
Samuel Adams Octoberfest Boston, Massachusetts, Märzen, 5.3% abv
Berghoff Oktoberfest Monroe, Wisconsin, Märzen, 5.2% 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 John John Hazelnut Newport, Oregon, Brown Ale, 5.6%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Two Brother’s Bitter End Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers
October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews
Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)
Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Blind Pig Hefeweizen
Schlafly Pilsner Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Founder’s Breakfast Stout Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Southern Tier Pumking Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Victory Storm King Downington, Pennsylvania, Imperial Stout, 9.1% abv
Breckenridge Agave Wheat Denver, Colorado, Wheat Ale, 4.2% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Avery The Kaiser Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Chokolat 11.o%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Franziskaner Hefe Weizen 5.0%
Warsteiner Oktoberfest 5.9%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Southern Tier Pumking 9.0%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%%
Avery Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest 9.7%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
PBR 4.2%
Specials
Ground Lamb Kebabs – Seasoned lamb with roasted peppers and onions served with spiced pita and mint pesto. $17.95
Beef Ragout - Slow cooked beef and vegetables over linguine with garlic toast. $12.95
Grilled Chicken - Grilled boneless chicken breast with asparagus au gratin, herb smashed potatoes and herb compound butter. $14.95
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner
Avery White Rascal, Schlafly Hefeweizen
Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18
Check your calendars
Saturday: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off; $5 in advance (get them today) tickets are at Canopy Club, Exile on Main Street, Crane Alley, Blind Pig, Family Pride Convenience Store.
Saturday: Cuervo Games. Registration is from 2:30 to 4 (if you didn't signup on line). Go downtown Champaign, you can't miss it.
After the games, lots of bars will be having Cuervo specials, just wander around and see what's good.
Saturday: CU Bags Tourney. Also downtown Champaign, it's the place that looks like a lot of people playing bags.
Beer in the news; Brew your own beer
From the Buzz
Brew your own beer
It's supposed to be an informative article.
...
There's listed Equipment, ingredients and steps.
Or you can just get a kit.
Brew your own beer
It's supposed to be an informative article.
“[Brewing beer] used to be what a lot of people did at home, but nowadays almost nobody knows how to,” said Blind Pig Brewery’s brewmaster, Bill Morgan....
There are two main categories of beers — pale lagers and ales. Ales can be further split into pale ales, stouts and brown ale. There are, of course, other varieties that won’t be mentioned here. The strength of beer can range anywhere from 1% to 20% alcohol by volume. The alcohol content of beer is determined by the amount of fermentable sugars and the variety of yeast the brewer uses....
Most of the equipment and ingredients that you need to start your very first home brew can be easily found at your local beer-making supply shop, such as Friar Tuck or some hardware stores.
...
There's listed Equipment, ingredients and steps.
Or you can just get a kit.
Alcohol in the news: Downtown Champaign streets closed Friday-Saturday for 2 events
From the News-Gazette
Downtown Champaign streets closed Friday-Saturday for 2 events
Downtown Champaign streets closed Friday-Saturday for 2 events
The intersection of Neil, Church and Main streets in downtown Champaign is closed to traffic through 3 a.m. Sunday to accommodate a bags tournament and the CuervoGames this weekend, Champaign police Sgt. Scott Friedlein said.The C-U Bags Tournament is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Friedlein said. The tournament is sponsored by the Champaign West Rotary Club to benefit the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, he said.
The CuervoGames are scheduled to run from noon to midnight Saturday, Friedlein said. Champaign is one of 19 sites across the nation chosen for the games, which feature competitions similar to those seen on the ABC-TV show "Wipeout," he said.
If you want to sign up for the Cuervo Games, go to their facebook page.
It looks awesome.
The Champaign Urbana Bags Tournament is Saturday, from 11am to 9 pm. Click here to register.
Alcohol in the news: Extra on Tap Episode 11
So, last night as we were driving out to Kridz, for some reason, we had the radio on. We were listening to eXtra 92.1. It turns out, at that exact moment, they were talking about beer.
So, I did some research, and it seems every Thursday around 5:15ish, 92.1 has a program about beer; entitled "Extra on Tap". The DJ during that segment is "Just Plain Tim". The beer expert is Aaron Young, who is a bartender at JT Walker's Restaurant & Sports Bar in Mahomet.
Here's yesterday's episode. (that may not be the Oct 7 episode)
So, I did some research, and it seems every Thursday around 5:15ish, 92.1 has a program about beer; entitled "Extra on Tap". The DJ during that segment is "Just Plain Tim". The beer expert is Aaron Young, who is a bartender at JT Walker's Restaurant & Sports Bar in Mahomet.
Here's yesterday's episode. (that may not be the Oct 7 episode)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Beer in the news; international Beer Tasting and chili cook-off offers something for everyone
From the Buzz
International Beer Tasting and chili cook-off offers something for everyone
It's no, Great Taste of the Midwest, but it's an ok beer event.
International Beer Tasting and chili cook-off offers something for everyone
Urbana’s International Beer Tasting and Chili Cook-Off is an event that features beers from around the world and some of the best tasting chili that the community has to offer. In its ninth year, the annual festival, which features a chili competition, food from local vendors and beer samples, will culminate all that is great about the fall season this Saturday, Oct. 9....
... over 150 beers will be featured from around the world. Each 4 ounce sample will run you 75 cents, essentially costing you only $3 for each pint of specialty beer. Representatives from featured breweries will be on hand to answer questions during the samplings....
The event is held rain or shine, gates open at 3 p.m. and the first 500 people get a free sampling glass. It will take place at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway Avenue. Tickets are $5 before-hand and can be purchased at Canopy Club, Exile on Main Street, Family Pride Convenience Store, Crane Alley, The Blind Pig Brewery and http://jaytv.com/. Tickets will also be available at the festival for $7.
It's no, Great Taste of the Midwest, but it's an ok beer event.
Bars in the news; Attacks spread to downtown Champaign
From WICD 15 ABC
Attacks spread to downtown Champaign
Same story also available on Fox (without the Paul interview)
Attacks spread to downtown Champaign
...
Champaign- Police say a crime pattern is forming in Champaign, and right now, they can't find a motive.
The department says, groups of young black men are singling out white men who are walking alone then attacking them.
They're similar, but police say, not connected.
But this is what we do know.
The suspects are targeting white men, usually around college age, then punch and kick them without provocation.
But city officials say there is a way to prevent this from happening to you.
The crimes are alike, and they target people who walk alone.
The latest one happened right here at the 300 block of Walnut Street.
The victim said he walked out of a downtown bar late Sunday night, then was attacked by four black men.
"I'm not scared, it concerns me a lot, but i mean, I'm pretty concerned about my own personal safety," said Paul Dudley, a Radio Maria employee....
Paul Dudley works late hours at a downtown hot spot, and knows too well about the rash of assaults happening all over the city.
Dudely is constantly on edge walking home at night after last call.
"As far as walking by myself, I just try to keep my ears open and walk as quickly as I can," said Dudley.
City officials do advise people to stick to the buddy system after a night on the town, and if you happen to become a victim, your best bet is to report it right away.
There's been nearly two dozen reports of similar attacks happening not just downtown, but also on the U of I campus and near Centennial High School.Footage from inside Radio Maria, and an interview with Paul.
Police arrested people for some of the attacks, and Mayor Schweighart says more arrests are coming.
Same story also available on Fox (without the Paul interview)
Bars in the news; Champaign couple claim beating was hate crime
From the News-Gazette
Champaign couple claim beating was hate crime
A few bad apples are ruining this whole area. We've got people attempting to beat each other up for sport, and now people beating up a gay couple.
Thanks to the "polar bear hunting", no white people are walking down the street without being suspicious of any black people behind them. Now, there's going to be a backlash fro mthe gay community from this alleged hate crime.
Stupid people.
Champaign couple claim beating was hate crime
WTF Champaign Urbana?CHAMPAIGN – Two women from Champaign say they were beaten up by three women in a campus bar early Sunday because they're gay.
Ana Hamersma, 19, and her girlfriend, Ashley Pelz, 23, both University of Illinois students majoring in psychology, told The News-Gazette they were inside The Clybourne, 706 S. Sixth St., C, about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when a man on the dance floor asked Hamersma, in street lingo, if she wanted to commit a lewd sex act.
Pelz heard the comment.
"I told him, 'She's with me. Can you leave us alone?' He waved his hand, and three girls came over, and not a second later, they just started hitting us. They did not say anything," Pelz said, adding that neither she nor Hamersma had said anything besides the "leave us alone" comment.
"They were like his minions. They came running to him. I don't know what he said to them, but it took only two seconds before they were punching my girlfriend and I," Hamersma said.
A few bad apples are ruining this whole area. We've got people attempting to beat each other up for sport, and now people beating up a gay couple.
Thanks to the "polar bear hunting", no white people are walking down the street without being suspicious of any black people behind them. Now, there's going to be a backlash fro mthe gay community from this alleged hate crime.
Stupid people.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Alcohol in the news; Great Wines and Cheeses
From the WCIA 3 CBS Morning Show/Illinoishomepage.net
Great Wines and Cheeses
Sam Samet, from Piccadilly and Brian McKay, from the Art Mart match some wine and cheese. The wines are from Little Stone Winery.
Sorry if I got Brian's name wrong
Great Wines and Cheeses
Sam and Brian show us great wine and cheese pairings.
Sam Samet, from Piccadilly and Brian McKay, from the Art Mart match some wine and cheese. The wines are from Little Stone Winery.
Sorry if I got Brian's name wrong
Monday, October 4, 2010
Bars in the news; Tires Slashed at Champaign Restaurant
From WCIA 3 CBS/ Illinoishomepage.net
Tires Slashed at Champaign Restaurant
Tires Slashed at Champaign Restaurant
Someone slashed the tires of several vehicles in Champaign Friday night.
It happened in the parking lot of Buttitta’s Famiglia Ristorante on S. Neil around 7:00 p.m.
Ten tires were damaged. There’s no information yet on who did it.
Bars in the news; Former Station 211 reopens as Red Lion
From the News-Gazette
Former Station 211 reopens as Red Lion
Former Station 211 reopens as Red Lion
CHAMPAIGN – The Red Lion has roared again.
On Friday evening, the Campustown bar formerly known as Station 211 reopened with a new look and a name that evokes the building's past as a live music hub for Champaign-Urbana.
The bar, at 211 E. Green St., opened its doors after several months of renovation. Its name, Red Lion, recalls the Red Lion Inn bar that stood on the same corner and was a popular spot for local bands from roughly 1968 to 1980. Dan Fogelberg and REO Speedwagon, among others, played there.
...
"I was going for something a little more upscale, more of a nice, clean environment," he said of the new Red Lion. Bar patrons, he said, tend to take care of places when the interior looks nicer. The bar closed in mid-July and has been undergoing the renovation since then.
Inside, the table tops are designed to look like shields. Artwork, including tapestries, depict medieval scenes. The new maple and oak bar has lion heads on its corners. Wood salvaged from a house and barn also brings a rustic look to the interior.
"We wanted to give it a different look," he said. "And we're trying to be very diverse."
...
Several televisions in the bar will show football games and other sports events, and the bar will open early on game days.
A private room called "the dragon room" in the rear of the bar can hold up to 100 people.
The bar just serves drinks; however, private parties can have food catered in.
Friday, October 1, 2010
CU Beer Weekend; October 1
Tonight in Monticello, from 5:30 to 8:30, in downtown Monticello is Beer-apalooza. Not sure if there will be any great beers, but there's "free beer" with purchase of a souvenir stein. (Free beer in Illinois is a total of 6 ounces)
Seven Saints
Rogue John John Hazelnut
Founders Breakfast Stout
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Two Brothers Atom Smasher, 22oz $6. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Micro
Radio Maria
Draft Beers as of 09/20/10
1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Southern Tier Pumking $6
3. Rogue Somer Honey Wheat $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Great Divide Expresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout $5
8. Arcadia Jaw Jacker $4
9. Southern Tier Javaa Stout $6
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Warrior IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Oak Aged Domain Dupage $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Nogne Porter $6
21.Port Wipeout IPA $4.5
22.Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly $6
23.Victory Prima Pils $4.5
24.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
25.Founders Nemesis 2010 $6
26.Weihenstephaner Weissbier $5
27.PBR $2.25
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Victory Storm King, $4 pint
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; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.
Sunday: German Wine Dinner, 6pm, $75
First Course:
Roasted Marrow, Toasted Brioche, Caramelized Shallots, Capers, Himalayan
Sea Salt
Raumland Sparkling Cassis NV
Second Course:
Grilled Sablefish, Fried Garlic, Pine nuts, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis,
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2006 Furst Muller Thurgau
Third Course:
Duck Breast, Duck Fried Frites, Popcorn Shoots, Black Truffle, Wildflower
and Balsamic Reduction
2007 JJ Prum Graacher-Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett
1998 Bert Simon Serriger Wurtzberg Riesling Spatlese
Fourth Course:
Beef Short Rib, Green Peppercorns, Cherry, Cauliflower Mousse, Charred
Rosemary
2005 Heger Estate Pinot Noir
2008 Meyer-Nakel Pinot Noir
Fifth Course:
Profiteroles, Honey Creme Chantilly, Poached Pluots, Blueberries
2003 Fritz Haag Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese GoldKap
Blind Pig
Cask: Two Brothers' Cane & Ebel
Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis; Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Two Brothers’ Cane & Ebel; Warrenville, IL, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel; Germany, Dunkelweizen, 5.3% abv
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed Cascade; Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Great Divide Hoss; Denver, Colorado, Märzen, 6.2% abv
Rogue Maierfest; Newport, Oregon, Märzen, 4.2% abv
Samuel Adams Octoberfest; Boston, Massachusetts, Märzen, 5.3 % abv
Erdinger Oktoberfest; Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.7% 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 Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5%
Rogue Chatoe Creek; Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils; Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Two Brother’s Bitter End; Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin; Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers
October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews
Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)
Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Sprecher Black Bavarian; Glendale, Wisconsin, Schwarzbier, 5.86% abv
Southern Tier Pumking; Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier; German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Victory Storm King; Downington, Pennsylvania, Imperial Stout, 9.1% abv
Hofbräu Original; Germany, Dortmunder, 5.1% abv
Goose Island Matilda; Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Ale, 7% abv
Avery The Kaiser; Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute; Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Bells Octoberfest 5.8%
Great Divide Oak Aged Espresso Yeti 9.5%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Erdinger Oktoberfest Weissbier 5.7%
Spaten Optimator Doppelbock 7.2%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Rogue Maierfest 5.2%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Ale 6.0
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%%
Avery Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest 9.7%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
PBR 4.2%
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
Erdinger Oktoberfest
Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Dogfishead 90 Minute IPA
Petrus Aged Pale
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18
Beer Club
Tuesday: Happy Hour at Mike n' Molly's, 6:30
Mark your calendars
October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off; $5 in advance, tickets are at Canopy Club, Exile on Main Street, Crane Alley, Blind Pig, Family Pride Convenience Store.
Seven Saints
Rogue John John Hazelnut
Founders Breakfast Stout
Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Two Brothers Atom Smasher, 22oz $6. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Micro
Radio Maria
Draft Beers as of 09/20/10
1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Southern Tier Pumking $6
3. Rogue Somer Honey Wheat $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Great Divide Expresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout $5
8. Arcadia Jaw Jacker $4
9. Southern Tier Javaa Stout $6
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Warrior IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Oak Aged Domain Dupage $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Nogne Porter $6
21.Port Wipeout IPA $4.5
22.Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly $6
23.Victory Prima Pils $4.5
24.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
25.Founders Nemesis 2010 $6
26.Weihenstephaner Weissbier $5
27.PBR $2.25
Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Victory Storm King, $4 pint
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; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.
Sunday: German Wine Dinner, 6pm, $75
First Course:
Roasted Marrow, Toasted Brioche, Caramelized Shallots, Capers, Himalayan
Sea Salt
Raumland Sparkling Cassis NV
Second Course:
Grilled Sablefish, Fried Garlic, Pine nuts, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis,
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2006 Furst Muller Thurgau
Third Course:
Duck Breast, Duck Fried Frites, Popcorn Shoots, Black Truffle, Wildflower
and Balsamic Reduction
2007 JJ Prum Graacher-Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett
1998 Bert Simon Serriger Wurtzberg Riesling Spatlese
Fourth Course:
Beef Short Rib, Green Peppercorns, Cherry, Cauliflower Mousse, Charred
Rosemary
2005 Heger Estate Pinot Noir
2008 Meyer-Nakel Pinot Noir
Fifth Course:
Profiteroles, Honey Creme Chantilly, Poached Pluots, Blueberries
2003 Fritz Haag Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese GoldKap
Blind Pig
Cask: Two Brothers' Cane & Ebel
Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis; Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Two Brothers’ Cane & Ebel; Warrenville, IL, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel; Germany, Dunkelweizen, 5.3% abv
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed Cascade; Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Great Divide Hoss; Denver, Colorado, Märzen, 6.2% abv
Rogue Maierfest; Newport, Oregon, Märzen, 4.2% abv
Samuel Adams Octoberfest; Boston, Massachusetts, Märzen, 5.3 % abv
Erdinger Oktoberfest; Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.7% 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 Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5%
Rogue Chatoe Creek; Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils; Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Two Brother’s Bitter End; Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin; Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers
October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews
Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)
Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Sprecher Black Bavarian; Glendale, Wisconsin, Schwarzbier, 5.86% abv
Southern Tier Pumking; Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier; German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Victory Storm King; Downington, Pennsylvania, Imperial Stout, 9.1% abv
Hofbräu Original; Germany, Dortmunder, 5.1% abv
Goose Island Matilda; Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Ale, 7% abv
Avery The Kaiser; Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute; Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv
Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer
Crane Alley
Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Bells Octoberfest 5.8%
Great Divide Oak Aged Espresso Yeti 9.5%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Erdinger Oktoberfest Weissbier 5.7%
Spaten Optimator Doppelbock 7.2%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Rogue Maierfest 5.2%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Ale 6.0
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%%
Avery Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest 9.7%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
PBR 4.2%
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House
Erdinger Oktoberfest
Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Dogfishead 90 Minute IPA
Petrus Aged Pale
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18
Beer Club
Tuesday: Happy Hour at Mike n' Molly's, 6:30
Mark your calendars
October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off; $5 in advance, tickets are at Canopy Club, Exile on Main Street, Crane Alley, Blind Pig, Family Pride Convenience Store.
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