Beer in the news; Brew your own beer

From the Buzz

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

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)

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

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

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.
Police arrested people for some of the attacks, and Mayor Schweighart says more arrests are coming.

Footage from inside Radio Maria, and an interview with Paul.

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

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.

WTF Champaign Urbana?

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.

Alcohol in the news; Great Wines and Cheeses

From the WCIA 3 CBS Morning Show/Illinoishomepage.net

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

Bars in the news; Tires Slashed at Champaign Restaurant

From WCIA 3 CBS/ Illinoishomepage.net

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

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.

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.