Beer Blotter

The Surly Goat in Cali. Pic courtesy of www.surlygoat.com.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Bruery/Dogfish Head Collab Party: West Hollywood, California

6:00PM-2:00AM @ The Surly Goat

And I am in shock….

Join us as we celebrate the future realization of these two fine brewery’s love child with special guests from both camps.

Featuring Such Bitchin Keg as…

Dogfish Head:

90 minitue IPA on Coffee Bean Randel (!!!)

Arpihop

Burton Baton

Festina Peche

Hellhound On My Ale – Imperial IPA

Midas Touch

Red and White – Imperial White

The Bruery:

Bierbauch

Cuir (3rd Anniversary Ale) 14.5% Get a cab!

Humulus Lager

Iniquitous Belgian-style Golden Ale

Salt of the Earth – Gose

Seven Grain Saison

The Wanderer – Sour Ale/Wild Ale (super limited / brewed for SF’s City Beer Store Anniversary)

Wednesday, June 17, 2011

Firestone Walker Night with Parabola 2010 and 2011: San Diego, California

5:00PM-11:00PM @ Urge Gastropub

This is your chance to taste two years of Firestone Walker’s Imperial stout Parabola side by side. I have a bottle of the 2011 aging in the cellar as I type.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Brewers Night with Emerald City: Bellingham, Washington

6:00PM-8:00PM @ Green Frog Cafe

The Green Frog welcomes Seattle’s Emerald City Brewing to Tha ‘Ham for a Brewers Night. Expect a fine selection of tasty quaffs and the chance to go home with some free stuff.

Friday, June 17, 2011- HAPPY BIRTHDAY DSR!!!!!

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival: National Harbor, Maryland

6:00PM-10:00PM @ Waterfront

The three B’s: Beer, Bourbon and BBQ. I know a handful of people that would die to go to this event. So if you live in the area- GO!

Join us at the festival for a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbeque eatin’. Your admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARE -TO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon. Some of the best barbeque vendors are on-site if you get hungry all while enjoying seminars in the tasting theater and LIVE music all day.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Founders Fest 2011: Grand Rapids, Michigan

3:00PM-11:00PM @ Founders Brewing Company

Of course, you know how much bb.com loves Founders Brewing Co. This event is jam packed with beer, music and food.

Our street party: The 4th Annual Founders Fest is set to take place on Saturday, June 18th, 2011 from 3pm-11pm. This outdoor event is our biggest party of the year and features multiple local, regional and national live bands and entertainers, local food vendors, local arts and crafts, and plenty of Founders beer. Ages 21+.

A variety of local, regional entertainment will rock this year’s Founders Fest, with nationally-recognized GALACTIC of New Orleans as the event’s headliner. Other performers include former Jerry Garcia Band Organist MELVIN SEALS performing with TERRAPIN FLYER Chicago’s own Grateful Dead tribute, Michigan’s favorite global groovers THE RAGBIRDS, Boston’s own RUBBLEBUCKET, Lansing, MI based Americana group STEPPIN’ IN IT, and Grand Rapids’ own AB & COCONUT BROWN. Local DJ SPYDRE MURPHY, and a super-group of Founders Employees return as the FBC ALL-STARS round out the entertainment line-up.

Discounted advance ticket sales will again be available starting April 14th at Founders Tap Room, as well as online, via www.foundersbrewing.com through our friends at www.brownpapertickets.com. The event is limited to ages 21 and older.

Sunday, June 19, 2011**

** This event is also on Friday, June 17 and Sat, June 18

Washington Brewers Festival: Kenmore, Washington

Saint Edwards State Park

This is my favorite Washington beer festival. Its outside, has great food vendors and the line up of Washington beers is always impressive. Last year, the highlight of my day was Twangzister by Snipes Mountain Brewing Co. This year, I will be spending sometime in the Rootbeer garden, but I wouldn’t miss this for the world.

Washington Brewers Festival is the biggest and one of the longest running of the six beer tasting events presented by the Washington Beer Commission.

More than 60 breweries (50+ from Washington state!) will be on hand to pour more than 200 craft brews in this annual pilgrimage of 15,000 to Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore, June 17-19.

Washington Beer is recognized everywhere as being high in quality and taste thanks to the energy and creativity of the craft brewers and abundance of fresh ingredients available right here in the evergreen state.

Established in July 2007 the Washington Beer Commission represents all 145 craft breweries in the state with a mission is to ensure that more beer enjoyed in Washington is made by its own craft brewers.

Support your local breweries and Drink Washington Beer!

Check out the event website for more details!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Pig Roast with Captain Lawrence: Stamford, Connecticut

7:00PM-10:00PM @ Coalhouse Pizza

On June 20th, join us at Coalhouse Pizza as we team up with Scott Vacarro of Captain Lawrence for a night to remember – an outdoor pig roast with live music!

Tickets on sale now – 203-977-7700. Food, beer, entertainment all included. The fun starts at 7pm.

On the menu … Crisp Crudite with Roasted Tomatillo Chile Salsa, Spanish Green Gazpacho, Fresh Seasonal Summer Salad, Mexican Corn on the Cob, Slow Roasted Pork with Smoked Baked Beans, Espresso Stout & Buck’s Vanilla Ice Cream Beer Float.

This will be the first of four big outdoor events this summer and each are going to be great fun!

If you go to an event, want us to post about an event or just have something to say, leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com.

Cheers!

Pix courtesy of bloatedbelly.typepad.com. Thats one Happy Gnome!

Tuesday, May 9, 2011

Throwback Party: Seattle, Washington

3:00PM-12:00AM @ Elysian Brewing Company

Time to dust off the flannel and cardigans! We will be hosting a THROWBACK PARTY on our actual birthday MAY 10, 2011 @ ELYSIAN CAPITOL HILL. We are heading back to the 90′s with our clothes, music, and some original food menu items — not to mention our Retro Happy Hour with 1996 Pint Prices from 3-5pm that day. Look for special treats from the Cellar!

Wednesday, May 10, 2011

Girl Scout Cookie Beer Pairing: Rochester, New York

7:00PM-1:00AM @ The Double Windsor

Ok, not to be a cliche pregnant woman, but this sounds awesome. Speakeasy beers (for you non-pregnant folk) and girl scout cookies, I mean, yes!

Below are the pairings:

* Payback Porter and Thin Mints
* White Lightning and Samoas
* Double Daddy Imperial IPA and Tagalongs
* Prohibition Ale and Do-si-dos

Thursday, May 11, 2011

Smuttynose Meet the Rep Night: Jersey City, New Jersey

7:00PM-9:00PM @ Iron Monkey

Smuttynose on the rooftop of Iron Monkey.

Big A IPA
IPA
Old Brown Dog
Short Batch
Star Island Single
Summer Weizen

$12 Flights
$5 Pints

Friday, May 12, 2011

Goose Island Ales from the Darkside: St. Paul, Minnesota

5:00PM-7:00PM @ The Happy Gnome

Bourbon County Stout brewed by Chicago gem, Goose Island Brewing stands as Timperial Stout’s favorite beer….tonight, three very special kegs will be tapped and should not be missed!
2010 Bourbon County Stout

Bourbon County Stout Vanilla

Old Max – Brett-Aged Danish Stout

Bourbon County Stout Fruit – Cherry Bark (the only keg in existence)

Big John

Saturday, May 13, 2011

Dogfish Head Total Tap Takeover: Sarasota, Florida

3:00PM-11:00PM@  Mr. Beery’s

So many Dogfish head beers:

Tap List:

60 Minute IPA
90 Minute IPA
Rasison D’ Etre
Midas Touch
Namaste
Red & White
Black & Blue
Theobroma
Olde School
Burton Baton
World Wide Stout
Aprihop
Hellhound
Bitches Brew
Fort
Immort Ale
Indian Brown
Palo Santo Marron
My Antonia
Pangea

90 Minute IPA thru the Hopinator 1000 with Fresh Whole Leaf Cascade Hop
Palo Santo Marron thru the Infusinator 2000 with Caramel Chips and Vanilla Beans

Squall IPA bottles
Vintage 120 Minute IPA bottles…

Sunday, May 14, 2011

Founders’ Flights and Bites: Chicago, Illinois

7:00PM-9:00PM @ Bad Apple

$30 will get you 5 bites and 5 beers by mid-west favorite Founders:

Cherry & Cheese / Curmudgeon

Pulled Pork Corn Arepa / All day IPA & shot of MBR smoked corn
moonshine

Citrus Scallop & Asparagus / Double Trouble

Oxtail Slider / Imperial Stout

Coffee Cupcake / Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Monday, May 15, 2011

Beer U: Inside the Craft Beer Industry: Escondido, California

7:00PM-9:00PM @ Stone Brewing Co.

You’re already well acquainted with the business end of the bottle, now you can get acquainted with the business! Join Stone’s craft beer evangelist and Head Blabbermouth Ken Wright for a truly enlightening evening. In between samples of craft brews, you’ll be treated to an insider’s view of the craft beer industry. Business talk has never been so tasty!

If you go to an event, want to comment about an event or want us to post an event email me at jess@ beerblotter.com or leave a comment!

EVENTS!!!!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Smuttynose Beer Dinner: Milton, Massachusetts

6:30PM-9:00PM @ Abby Park

Smuttynose is one of my favorite breweries- their IPA, Wheat Wine and Barleywine are all amazing and hopefully on the menu tonight! Enjoy a 5 course specialty dinner paired with 5 Smuttynose beers for $55.00. Call 617-696-8700 or email Aja (aja@abbypark.com) for reservations.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Grand Teton Thursday Beer Tasting: Greenville, South Carolina

5:00PM-7:00PM @ The Greenville Beer Exchange

Grand Teton Brewing Company hails from Victor, Idaho and brews some extremely delicious beers! This week we will be tasting their Bitch Creek ESB, Sweetgrass American Pale Ale, Pesephone Pils, and Black Cauldron Imperial Stout. Drop in anytime between 5pm and 7pm this Thursday to experience four Idahoan beers (and how many of those can you say you’ve had?) completely FREE!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Stone Brewing Co. Tasting: Boston, Massachusetts

5:30PM-7:30PM @ Wine Emporium

Stop by tonight to sample Stone Brewing Co. beers all the way from Escondido, California (sounds warm and sunny): Featured beers will include:

Stone IPA
Stone Smoked Porter
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
Ruination IPA
2010 Old Guardian
2011 Old Guardian

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Dogfish Fest: Dallas, Texas

11:00AM-5:00PM @ The Common Table

The Common Table is tapping 12 Dogfish Head beers all on one day, Saturday March 26th- starts @ 11AM.

Here’s the lineup: HOT DAMN!

Bitches Brew
Burton Baton
90 Minute
Indian Brown
60 Minute
Raison d’Etre
Palo Santo Morrin
Chateau Jiahu
Red & White
Aprihop
90 Minute dry-hopped through a Randall
Midas Touch
Namaste (yet to be confirmed but likely will be available)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Meet the Brewer, Cantillon: Escondido, California

3:00PM-5:00PM @ Stone Brewing Co.

Spend two hours in the presence of beer holiness- Jean Van Roy, the head brewer of one of Belgium’s finest, Cantillon. Cantillon is known for brewing traditional lambics for over 100 years. We have been there, its amazing as are the beers.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Brown Bag Night “Stouts”: Los Angeles, California

6:00PM-9:00PM @ Blue Palms BrewHouse

The idea is that this is a way to strip away any pretensions and preconceptions about specific beers you are drinking, and to challenge and educate your palate about the flavors and aromas you experience.Price of admission? Just a bottle or two of beers that you bring in for the occasion. If you’re bringing a 22 oz. or 750 mL bottle, one should be enough. If it’s a 12-ounce bottle or can, please bring two (if possible– if you only have one, just bring the one).

If you want us to post about an event, go to an event or want to just drink good beer- email me at jess@beerblotter.com or leave a comment!

Stone World Bistro a.k.a. Stone Brewing Co. is pretty epic. Go there. Pic courtesy of beeranswers.com.

Your week in beer:

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Founders Tasting: Gahanna, Ohio

7:00PM-9:00PM @ Lounge 62

Not sure what the tap list is here, but its Founders, so its sure to impress! Check it out and report back!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

25 Beers for 25 Years: Ann Arbor, Michigan

11:30AM-12:15AM @ Ashley’s Restaurant & Pub

This is amazing- 25 years is epic and so is this tap list:

Celebrating Bell’s Brewery with twenty-two beers on draft all day and three special releases beginning at 9 PM.

9PM Hopslam Firkin release
9:45 PM Batch 10,000 release
10:15 PM Black Note release

Special guest Larry Bell, owner and founder of Bell’s will arrive around 8:30 PM.

Complete Bell’s Draft Line-Up:
Winter White
Two-Hearted Ale
Amber Ale
Sparkling Ale
Lager of the Lakes
Quinnanan Falls Special Lager
Hopslam
Oarsman
Cherry Stout
Expedition Stout
Milk Stout
Third Coast Beer
Third Coast Old Ale
Porter
Kalamazoo Stout
Best Brown Ale
Pale Ale
Batch 9,000
Smoked Stout
Raspberry Ale
Hell Hath No Fury
Double Cream Stout

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Mardi Gras Mambo with Oskar Blues: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

3:00PM-3:00AM @ The Sidecar Bar & Grille

I left a piece of me when I moved from New Orleans, so to honor the city- here is a Mardi Gras event….not in New Orleans…

You know us, then you know how we do, especially with the NOLA vibe – we’ll have the Oskar Blues premiere line on the taps, Chefs Brian Lofink & Kevin McCue with be throwning DOWN with the New Orleans fare and we’ll be spinning the best in New Orleans music – now and then~

Taps for the night will be updated soon!

Friday, February 25, 2011

9th Annual Barleywine Bacchanal: Seattle, Washington

2:00PM-2:00AM @ Beveridge Place Pub

Twenty-four (24!) dedicated taps for the biggest, boldest brews born between Bellingham and Boulder (and elsewhere, too)! Over fifty barleywines in all! This event will boast new beers through March 5.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Washington Beer Open House: Seattle and outside of Seattle, Washington

12:00PM-4:00PM @ various locations

Today, breweries in and around Seattle open their doors for beer lovers to sample and experience their beers. Admission is free but beer prices at the various locations will apply. Check out the Washington Beer Commission’s website for details of where to go and what to do!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunday Funday: Escondido, California

11:00AM-9:00PM @ Stone Brewing Co.

Every Sunday Stone offers something from “the cellar.” Today its 2005 Russian Imperial Stout. This stout is top notch, my personal favorite of all the Stone brews. Check out what the 2005 has to offer!

To add to the excitement, we’ve raided our cellars for some awesome rare and vintage brews. Every Sunday, we’ll have these special beers available either to purchase in bottles or to fill up your growlers.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Randall, Meet Bacon. Bacon, Meet Randall: Providence, Rhode Island

6:00PM-8:00PM @ Graduate Center Bar (GCB)

The first time that Randall visited the GCB he went nuts with peanuts and dried cranberries in Dogfish head’s Raison D’Etre… now he’s coming back and bringing the bacon…and roasted peppers. Keith will be with Randall and infusing Palo Santo Marron with thick cut bacon and roasted hot peppers. Come check it out!

If you want us to post about an event or if you went to an event and want to tell us about it, leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com! Cheers!

***This Notes of a Beer Nerd was originally published on December 30, 2009. As I am preparing for my trip to The Bruery’s tasting room in Placentia, CA next weekend, I thought it was a great time to do some research on one of the brewery’s finest. That – and this write up is sexy.***

Enjoyed on: 12/13/2009

Brewery: The Bruery

Location: Placentia, CA

Beer: Rugbrod

Web: http://www.thebruery.com/

Presentation: 750 ML – Brown Glass Bottle

Vintage: 2009

Style: Julebryg / Dark Rye Ale

Barrel: N/A

ABV: 8%

IBU: 30

Hops: N/A

Malt: 3 types of Rye

Vessel: Tulip

Recommended Serving Temp: 50 degrees

Notes from the bottle: A deep auburn colored robust Danish-style ale with spicy rye, and caramelly, bready malts.  Rugbrod Rye Ale is suitable for aging up to 2 years when cellared properly, around 55 F (13 C) in a dark place.  Best served at 50 F (10 C).  Pour carefully, leaving the yeast sediment behind in the bottle.  Best served in a tulip or wine glass.  For proper pronunciation, chef recommended food pairings and recipes, please visit our website.

Food Pairings: Pork, lamb

Cheese Pairings: Monterey, Pepper Jack

Beer Advocate: B+

Rate Beer: 89 (3.58)

Timperialstout’s Notes:

What the hell is Rugbrod?  Good question, I didn’t know either.  As is turns out, Rugbrod means “rye bread” in Danish.  What the hell is a Julebryg?  Good question, I didn’t know either.  As it turns out, Julebryg is a Scandinavian term for a winter warmer.  Tis’ the season.  Now that we have crossed the language barrier, let’s see what this unique brew offers.

This one is unfiltered and bottle conditioned.  A subtle, inquisitive pour brings a glass full of head.  It takes several minutes and a lot of patience to get a tulip full of beer.  A dark  auburn fluid eventually settles out from the luscious tan head.  The scent is so warm and cozy I wish I was enjoying this by a fire in a remote European village.  Understandably Danish, it’s Belgium that comes to mind when i put my nose to it.  So bready!  Croissants and ryes and pumpernickel.  A faint fruitiness lends the Belgium thoughts.

Despite the big head there is not a lot of carbonation feel to the liquid.  The mouthfeel is pleasantly smooth and some alcohol comes through as it warms.

The flavors are more of yeast with mild fruitcake notes.  A drying aftertaste is present, like I just swallowed a mouthful of absorbent, porous bread.  Bread, bread, bread… so much bread here.  Rye beers are not extremely common, yes, but I have no doubt had my share, and none have tasted quite so much like the bread.

I’ve always had a great appreciation for bread, in its many forms.  Some subtle, even bland, other deep and flavorful.  It seems like such a simple food, something that has always fed man.  Sustenance for the most poor, a simple pleasure for the most rich.  The process of baking bread and its ingredients make it a similar product to beer in many ways, and it is surely a great accompaniment as well.  Throw some cheese in the mix and I think I’d have all I ever need for a happy life.

Some chocolaty, caramelly flavors come through well after the swallow reminiscent of Werther’s Original Caramels.  The Bruery really made something special here.  Unique, intriguing, historic, delicious.  My hat’s off to the Family Rue.

If you like Rugbrod, good luck finding something similar.  If you like rye you should try, or buy:

Bear Republic Brewery’s  Hop Rod Rye; Two Brothers Brewing’s Cane & Ebel; Left Hand Brewing Co.’s  Terra-Rye’ZD

Disclaimer: This beer was purchased on my own with my own hard earned money at a local bottle shop .