SPBW 15th Anniversary Events

The 15th anniversary of the Chesapeake Bay Branch of the Society for Preservation of Beers from the Wood is fast approaching, and here's a preview of upcoming events for those who might not have joined of late, from Branch president Rick Bloemke:

This Thursday February 9th we will convene upstairs at Metropolitan in Federal Hill for a very special cask of J.W. Lee’s Vintage Harvest Ale. Brewed only once a year for release on December 1 of each year, Harvest Ale is brewed to celebrate the first brew from each years first harvest of barley and hops. An English barley wine at around 11.5% ABV, Harvest Ale has both fruit and malt characteristics with a smooth, dry, hoppy finish. We will convene at 7:00 p.m. but I encourage you to come early to taste the cask and get a seat at the bar. Note, please bring your $10.00 dues for 2012 to the meeting! Metropolitan Coffeehouse & Wine Bar, 902 N. Charles St, Baltimore MD 21230


Saturday February 25th marks the 15th Anniversary of the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the SPBW, and we would like to invite all past and present members to join our host Jen Oliver at The Wharf Rat, 801 S. Ann in Fells Point at “high noon” as we give a tip of the cap and tip a pint to the organization and all its members over the years.

Thursday, March 8th we get back to our regularly scheduled events calendar with the monthly beer social to be held at Frisco Taphouse & Brewery at 6695 Dobbin Rd.in Columbia, MD.

Hold St. Patrick’s Day open as we are plotting an alternative to the usual Canton/Federal Hill drunk-fests with “Stout Day”; on Saturday, March 17th at Pratt Street Ale House featuring cask, pin and draught stouts from around Baltimore and the world.

Tentative date for the 2012 Spring Ale Festival is Saturday, April 21st. We are checking for conflicting events in the larger beer community-if you know of events that conflict with those dates please let us know.

Quick News Update

As the Beer In Baltimore World HQs enters Day Seven of it Collossal-Verizon-[Bleep]-Up-Of-Asinine-Magnitude-imposed Internet and Phone Blackout, supplemented by the Great Dell AC Laptop Adapter Burn-Out, we have a few quick updates, as long as the computers at the Pikesville Library co-operates (and I have to go out of Baltimore City to find a library computer with an up-to-date-enough browser to handle the blog!):

*Max's Taphouse tonight: Tuesday Beer Social featuring new beers from Oliver Brewing/Pratt Street Ale House.
*The latest Mid-Atlantic Brewing News is out.
*Hellas in Millersville/Anne Arundel is holding a New Belgian Beer Dinner tomorrow night, the 8th:

Reception Course: Pita Crisps with Tzatziki Dip paired with "Prickly Passion Saison".

Second Course: Chesapeake Peel-n-Eat Shrimp paired with "Fat Tire Amber Ale".
Third Course: Crab Cake Benedict paired with "Trippel Belgian Style Ale".
Fourth Course: Delmonico Steak with Sherry Cream paired with "Ranger IPA".
Dessert Course: Chocolate Coconut Bread Pudding paired with "1554 Enlightened Black Ale".
Reception Course begins at 5pm. The cost of the dinner is $45 (includes tax and gratuity), reservations MUST be made ahead of time. You can either contact Mike Stavlas by phone or email at 410.733.1009 or mstavlas@verizon.net. 

*Did y'all catch the recent articles in the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun on legislation to allow greater growler sales?
*Could this be the last year for SAVOR, the high-price craft-beer Bacchanal, in Washington D.C. (June 8-9 this year)?
*According to a rogue Facebook post, a certain new beer venue somewhere between Inner Harbor and Fells Point has sneaked open in a "soft" opening, a week prior to their official opening........

Max's 8th Belgian Beer Fest, Feb. 17-19th: 200 drafts, 275 bottles promised

Yeah, we all know the drill by now.  Cash in your sick days, book a room or crash space nearby, download tasting notes from the websites in advance, come in on Friday with a multi-page checklist.....

This is the latest dispatch of a draft list from Max's cellar-maniac Casey Hard, with what spelling errors I can catch for now corrected:

BELGIAN BEERS ON DRAFT 90% DONE:

Abbey Des Rocs Grand Cru

Achilles Serafijn Grand Cru

Achouffee Chouffe Biere Du Soleil

Achouffe La Chouffe

Achouffe Mc Chouffe

Alvinne Gaspar

Alvinne Kerasus

Alvinne Morpheus Wild Undressed

Alvinne Morpheus Wild Undressed Monbazillac

Alvinne Morpheus Wild Undressed w/ Blue Boskoop Grapes aged in Bourgogne wine barrels

Bavik Petrus Winter

Bavik Wittekerke Winter

Blaugies Darbyste

Blaugies La Moneuse Saison

Blaugies La Moneuse Special Winter

Blaugies Saison De Epeature

Bosteels Pauwel Kawk

Brugse Zot Blonde

Brugse Zot Dubbel Bruin

Cazeau Saison

Cazeau Tournay Black

Chimay Cinq Cents

De Dochter Van De Korenaar Belle Fluer

De Dochter Van De Korenaar Peat Oak Aged Embrasse

De Dolle Boskuen

De Dolle Dulle Teve

De Glazen Toren Canaster

De Glazen Toren Jan De Lichte

De Glazen Toren Ondinke

De Glazen Toren Saison De Epre Mere

De Glazen Toren Cuvee Angelquie Aged in Whiskey/Pinot Noir barrels

De La Senne Taras Boulba

De La Senne Zinnebier

De Landtsheer Malheur 10

De Landtsheer Malheur 12

De Landtsheer Malheur 12 aged in Bourbon barrels

De Proef Draeckenier

De Proef Flemish Primtive

De Proef KO

De Ranke Pere Noel

De Ranke Saison De Dottignies

Deca Westoek X

Dubussion Scladis Cuvee Des Trolls

Dubussion Scaldis Triple Blonde

Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux

Dupont Foret Blanche

Dupont La Biere De Beloeil

Dupont Moinette Blonde

Dupont Monks Stout

Dupont Posca Rustica

Dupont Redor Pils

Dupont Saison

Duvel Single

Ellezelloise Hercule Stout

Ellezelloise Quintine Blonde

Geants Gouyasse

Geants Noel De Geants

Hof Ten Dormaal Blonde

Hof Ten Dormaal White Gold

Hofbrouwerijke Hofblues

Huyghe Delirium Tremens

Huyghe Delirium Nocturnem

Huyghe Delirium Noel

Jandrian Jandrenouille IV Saison

Jandrian Jandrenouille V Cense

Jandrian Jandrenouille VI Wheat

Kerkom Bink Bloesom

Kerkom Bink Blonde

Kerkom Bink Triple

La Rulles Grand 10

La Rulles Triple

La Rulles Cuvee

Lefebvre Hopus

Leroy Christmas

Liefmans Oud Bruin

Musketeers Troubadour Magma Special Cascade Edition

Musketeers Trounadour Special

Noel De Silenrieux

Palm Ale

Rodenbach Grand Cru

Roman Ename Cuvee

Saint Helene La Grognarde

Saint Helene Mistinguett

Scheldebrouwerij De Zeezupier

Scheldebrouwerij Lamme Goedzak

Scheldebrouwerij Oesterstout

Scheldebrouwerij Hop Ruiter

Silly Enghien Noel

Sint Canarus Triple

Slaapmutske Dry Hop Lager

Slaapmutske Hop Collection East Kent

Slaapmutske Triple Night cap

St Bernardus Christmas

St Feuillien Speciale

St Feuillen Blonde

Stillwater/Struise Outblack

Stillwater Jaded

Stillwater of Love & Regret

Stillwater Rule of Thirds

Strubbe Ichtegems Grand Cru

Strubbe Keyte Dubbel Triple

Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva

Struise Pannepot Reserva

Struise Svea IPA

Struise Tsjeeses

Struise Tsjeeses Reserva

T' Gaverhopke Extra

T' Gaverhopke Koerseklakske

T' Gaverhopke Singing Blonde

Tilquin Gueuze

Van Steenberge Boucanier Christmas

Van Steenberge De Garre Triple

Van Steenberge Ertvelds Wit

Van Steenberge Gulden Draak 9000 Quad

Van Steenberge Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour

 

Plus a bunch more.....................................................................................

"Zink Empire" expanding to Canton with Canton Beer Exchange

Posting from laptop at library because Verizon screwed up my phone and internet, and had to go to SIX libraries to find one open, and I have a funeral to attend in a half-hour, so I'm just gonna copy/paste from Midnight Sun's Erik Maza:

Canton's getting another beer bar and restaurant this fall. Called Canton Beer Exchange, it will feature a novel concept where draft beer prices change according to consumption.

Consulting for the bar, which takes over at 2522 Fait Ave. from Lager's Pub, is a familiar face: Jason Zink. 

Until now, Zink had mostly worked out of Federal Hill. He owns No Idea Tavern and until June, Don't Know Tavern, which he sold to pay off legal bills stemming from a labor lawsuit brought on by former employees.

The bar is planning on installing between 24 and 40 draftlines, with a focus on Mid-Atlantic beers, especially Maryland beers. Zink promises there will be Stillwater Ales and Oliver Breweries in addition to the more well-known Flying Dog and Heavy Seas. The bar will also carry cask-conditioned ales.
The Exchange, which Zink has already dubbed a hashtagable 'CBX,' will also have a dinner menu that he describes as "family-friendly."

All of that is still a long way off. Though the new bar got its liquor license last week, it will need a full face-lift and construction is still two months off.

More at the link.

Winter Restaurant Week in Baltimore & Howard

We're halfway through Baltimore (Winter) Restaurant Week.  Also Howard County Restaurant Week.

Craft-beer-friendly Baltimore venues participating in the discounted-meals menu plan include The Brewer's Art, Bluegrass Tavern, The Owl Bar, B&O American Brasserie, and others.  In Howard County, check out The Ram's Head Tavern in Savage or Victoria Gastro Pub, among others.  (There's certainly bound to be a place that has quietly upgraded their beer selection without our notice.)

Robert Burns Night

Featured tonight at Liam Flynn's Ale House in salute to the birthday and works of the legendary Scottish bard, Robert Burn's born on this date in 1754. The evening will begin at 7 PM with a piping performance and the customary reading of "Address to a Haggis." Following will be a traditional Celtic music session and open-mike poetry. There will be a variety of Scottish Whiskies, Ales and Ciders, and for real ale aficionados, the first firkin of this year's batch of Oliver's Scottish (-style) Ale, and a firkin of Flying Dog's Road Dog Porter aged with Scottish whisky oak.  And haggis, both real and vegan, as well as tatties & neeps (mashed potatoes/turnips), and more.

If your allegiances run to stronger stuff, there's always the oft-overlooked whisky standby, Birds of a Feather on Aliceanna Street and their extensive whisky selection.

If you don't feel like making the trek to North Avenue or Baltimore, I would normally refer you to The Royal Mile in Wheaton, Md., but there are reports about that the place has been closed since 8th January, is under renovation, and/or possibly closed for good; the website for the pub shows a cryptic, enigmatic "Software upgrade in progress".  If indeed closed, sad.  There are also a few good Scottish ales to be had at other places, including at Max's tomorrow when Heather Ale's Bruce Williams returns for yet another hoisted pint or twa.

More on the traditions of the day. 

No.  Not this guy.  No.  No.


NO.

Your Tax Dollars At Work

Our federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a newly-released report, says "binge drinking" (defined as "men drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a short period of time or women drinking 4 or more drinks within a short period of time"; said period of time is not defined) is a greater problem in the United States than previously thought.  The proposed approaches to the problem, of course, largely involve empowering government further or allocating more government resources (i.e. spending money on government).

Reason.com's response:  "First, as noted, the length of an "occasion" is left to the respondent's interpretation; it could be "a few hours," but it might be five or six, or an entire Saturday. Second, the number Parker-Pope cites is actually the average for "the largest number of drinks [respondents] had on any occasion in the preceding 30 days" (emphasis added). In other words, it is atypical, by definition, for any given individual. Furthermore, because it is an average across all respondents, including very heavy drinkers, it does not necessarily mean most of them consume that much even on one occasion per month."

Or, as they cynically titled the essay:  "CDC: If You Drink Enough to Enjoy It, You've Had Too Much."

DuClaw Anti-Venom Debut at JD's Smokehouse Sunday, and H.E.R.O. Homebrew Contest

Personally, I'm not sure it's worth shoving through a raucous bunch of football fans to sample a new beer at its debut, but more than likely some beer fans will be making a trek to a pub anyway, so......

Sunday, January 22nd, cheer the Ravens on to victory against the Patriots at JD’s Smokehouse [3000 E. O'Donnell St., Canton] and sample the world debut of the first iteration of ANTI-VENOM on cask.

ANTI-VENOM is our new series of single hopped Venom Pale Ale variants, and we’re launching it with a bang. Hopped solely with New Zealand Green Bullet hops, the first ANTI-VENOM variant boasts a refreshing tropical flavor and aroma, and crisp, bitter, lingering finish.

In addition, DuClaw is doing a second H.E.R.O. Homebrew contest.  Deadline for entries is April 18th (the day after taxes are due), and details and rules are here.

An Interesting Alternate Use for Taster Racks

Spotted at Kloby's Smokehouse along Rt. 29 in "north Laurel"....  Bread Pudding Samplers.

More on the concept at HowChow.

(Bread Pudding Beer.....  hmmm.....)

The problem with Beer Advocate and RateBeer

There are folks that question the attitude of others (and, by my mentioning them, this writer) that some of the beer-rating websites, specifically BeerAdvocate.com, have been getting, shall we say, some negative attention of late.

Here's my spin on things, short, sweet, and to the point.

In any aggregation of like-minded folks, there are always a few folks that are going to carry on in exaggerated fashion, garner an undue amount of attention (typically negative in nature), and by extension cast the rest of the group or community in an undeservedly negative fashion.

At a sports stadium, it may be the guy with the "JOHN 3:16" sign, or the pack that painted their bodies in the team colors spelling out the team name and taking their shirts off in 20-degree weather to show the world and TV cameras, or the thugs that riot with supporters of the "wrong" team.

At a science fiction convention, it may be the chorus that insists on singing multiple songs in Klingon or Sindarin, or the heavyset, bearded, bespectacled guy that dresses as Sailor Moon (warning: the image at the link is not for the faint of heart).

With Christians, it's the Westboro Baptist "Church" and folks willing to shoot abortion doctors.  With Muslims, it's al-Qaeda and the Taliban.  With politics, the extremes of the Occupy Wall Street arnachists and the idiots still insisting Obama isn't an American citizen.

And among the real-ale and beer geek community, it's the Real Ale Tw*ts.

Unfortunately for the Beer Advocate and RateBeer communities, the "discussion" at said sites is becoming increasingly dominated by a certain category of beer geek/snob, around which fewer seem interested in hanging about.  It's as if a friendly beer bar with a fine selection of craft beers ended up being dominated, night after night, by a crowd of d*ucheb*gs.  The beer and food may be terrific, but the atmosphere isn't conducive to the craft or its enjoyment.  And, sadly, some misguided folks are guaranteed to walk into the "wrong" beer bar, see this audacious display, and go somewhere else to slurp Red Bulls and vodkas or Natty Boh or tequila shots instead.  And if someone goes to the manager and says "You know, those guys are a little too boisterous/physical/drunk", what should the manager's reaction be?

There's a reason I--and many others--have pretty well avoided going to BeerAdvocate and RateBeer (and even my old sentimental favorite from over a decade ago, Pubcrawler.com) except on a "need-to-know" basis.