tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67609587853367966112024-02-19T10:03:46.667-05:00Beer in BaltimoreVarious musings on good beer and beer events in and around Baltimore, Md. and anywhere else I should see fitAlexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.comBlogger1512125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-8880036343648305852012-12-21T12:07:00.001-05:002012-12-21T12:07:10.577-05:00Full Tilt to Debut Baltimore Pale Ale on Dec. 29th in CantonAgain, the press release pretty much tells it all:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Full Tilt Brewing, Baltimore’s newest craft beer producer, is excited to announce their initial release of their flagship beer, “Baltimore Pale Ale”. Their introduction to the ever growing craft beer market will take place on Saturday, December 29th at The Americana in Canton, 900 S. Kenwood Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224. The first pint of “Baltimore Pale Ale” will be poured at 8:00 pm sharp. Baltimore Pale Ale pints will be sold for $2 all night.<br />
Full Tilt Brewing, (FTB) is also launching their Community Support program the night of the release, whereby their portion of the $5 cover charge and subsequent raffle tickets, will go directly to The American Legion’s – “Heroes to Hometowns” non-profit organization. While this is only one event supporting those who have given the most for our country, Full Tilt Brewing will focus on continuing to support local veteran causes in the future. This is the least we all can do for these brave and selfless individuals. <br />
Included in the cover charge each patron will receive a wristband for entry and their first raffle ticket along with a separate ticket for (1) pint of BPA redeemable any time after 8:00 pm. Each additional raffle ticket can be purchased for $5 for the chance to win a FULL TILT BREWING prize package including a BPA tap-handle. The winner will be chosen via drawing at 10:00 pm. Winner must be present to win.</blockquote>
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<br />Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-25170895621726760162012-12-13T12:30:00.004-05:002012-12-13T12:30:57.055-05:00Gunpowder Falls Brewing: Well, Technically They're Not IN Baltimore, But.....This blogger has been too busy with other (paid) work to follow up on what he discovered a couple weeks ago in The Wine Source, and it was a gray area, anyway, requiring an out-of-state trip to visit--and as far as <i>Mid-Atlantic Brewing News</i> goes, technically it's the Central Pennsylvania columnist's territory, not ours...<br />
<br />
But with a name like <a href="http://www.gunpowderfallsbrewing.com/">Gunpowder Falls Brewing</a>, you just <i>know</i> they're going to market to Marylanders. In addition, founder Martin Virga, from Phoenix, Md., is a familiar name to the region's craft beer scene, as a former co-founder of both Capitol City Brewing and then Ellicott Mills Brewing in Ellicott City.<br />
<br />
And <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/news/ph-nc-new-brewery-1220-20121213,0,6006143.story"><i>The Baltimore Sun</i> has the story of the new lager-brewing brewery</a>, located along Interstate 83 just two miles over the Mason-Dixon Line in New Freedom (closer to Shrewsbury, in reality).Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-79687017643572977302012-12-12T11:16:00.001-05:002012-12-12T18:05:22.806-05:00"Twelve!! Twelve!! Twelve!!"Can't help myself.....<br />
<br />
Guy's walking alongside a wooden fence and hears a crowd of men on the other side chanting "TWELVE! TWELVE! TWELVE!" over and over. He sees a knothole in the fence and peers inside to see what the hubbub is about.<br />
Suddenly his eye is stabbed by a finger poking through the hole, and as he staggers away in excruciating pain, the crowd starts chanting "THIRTEEN! THIRTEEN! THIRTEEN!"<br />
<br />
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<br />
Today is the twelfth day of the twelfth month of 2012, or 12/12/12. Normally, to beer geeks this date would reflect the release of <a href="http://blog.stonebrew.com/index.php/121212verticalepicale/">the latest (and last)</a> of <a href="http://www.stonebrewing.com/verticalepic/">Stone Brewing's vaunted Vertical Epic series</a> of "extreme" beers, released in the past on 01/01/01, 02/02/02, etc.<br />
<br />
To the hard-core beer geek crowd, however, this noted occasion has been completely overshadowed by what is threatened to be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity: the chance to buy bottles of <a href="http://www.sintsixtus.be/eng/home.htm">Westvleteren beer from the St. Sixtus Abbey</a>, producers of the world's rarest and most desired commercial beers. And, of course, the beer in question is <b><a href="http://www.westvleteren12.com/">Westvleteren 12.</a></b><br />
<br />
"Westy 12," as the beer is nicknamed among aficionados, has been one of those "holy grail" missions for many, as a combination of reputation, notoriety, and scarcity elevated the beer to lofty levels of iconography and idolatry--whether or not it's been sampled by the worshipper. The beer is <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12/4934/">quite</a> <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/313/1545">frequently</a> regarded as the "number one" or "best" beer in the world, a subjective and quantitative measure to be sure, and the hype is no doubt heightened by the beer's extreme scarcity: only 160,000 cases are produced a year of the 12, along with similar quantities of the lighter 6 and 8. It has been, until now, sold only at the door of the abbey, where its 21 monks brew the beer, and actually purchasing it apparently resembles buying soup from the "Soup Nazi" of the <i>Seinfeld</i> TV show fame (<a href="http://www.sintsixtus.be/eng/brouwerij.htm">see for yourself the obstacles to be overcome</a>), for the equivalent of $50 a case of 24 bottles plus about $15 deposit on the bottles and wooden carrier. The monastery insists that "Westvleteren Trappist is <u> sold only to individual customers</u>.
Every customer agrees <b>not to re-sell the beer to any third
party</b>." (This condition is, of course, completely unenforceable, as a moment's thought will discern.) Thus, there is no reliable or commercial distribution network like there is for the other Trappist beers, or basically any commercial brewery. Bottles, or small lots of bottles, have routinely sold (illegally) on eBay and through back-channel secondhand sales for prices in excess of $25 and even as high as $50+ a 330-ml bottle, and almost no beer bar in the United States would ever admit to stocking the beer, at least officially--places like DC's Brickskeller or Baltimore's Max's Taphouse, if they had any, would only discretely share bottles on special occasions. (The only bar at the moment publicly listing the presence of Westy 12 on the menu, <a href="http://www.beermenus.com/places/414-downtown-bar-and-grill">the Downtown Bar & Grill in Brooklyn</a>, is asking $50 a bottle.)<br />
<br />
So imagine the reaction when it was announced that Westvleteren 12 was going to be offered at retail in the United States--one time only (so far as anyone is admitting), starting on 12/12/12, for suggested retail of $84.99 for a gift pack of six bottles and two goblets. The beer was imported by Shelton Brothers of Connecticut, one of the noted specialty craft-beer importers, and a great deal of the supply--90,000 330-ml bottles and 30,000 goblets--was snapped up by Total Wine, the Delaware-based chain that now operates 85 stores in 14 states. <a href="http://121212xii.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/hello-world/">A total of 144 retail outlets</a>, largely dominated by Total Wine outlets and affiliates, were offering the beer nationwide.<br />
<br />
Why did the brewery finally cave and "sell out"? As National Public Radio's <i>Morning Edition</i> <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/12/12/166987378/a-sign-from-above-needing-new-roof-monks-sell-rare-beer-in-u-s?sc=tw">reports, they simply need the money</a>.<br />
<br />
To the utter amazement of many, no outlets in Virginia or the District of Columbia were allocated any, and Pennsylvania, being its own bureaucratic nightmare thanks to their "case law" and the Pa. Liquor Control Board, also lost out. But Maryland and Delaware each got a supply at two outlets, all Total Wine retail places.<br />
<br />
Corridor Liquors in Laurel reported last night that the hype had been building. "Every other phone call for the past two weeks has been about that beer," said one manager last night. "Today we started getting calls like, 'Is anyone camping out in line?' 'Are you taking reservations or handing out tickets?' Nope and nope. First come, first serve, we open at 8:00 AM, and we got fifty-four cases of four packs each. We've been getting calls from D.C. and Virginia, because they didn't get <i>any</i>." They later reported one person attempting to "camp out" at 8:00 PM last night; his name was taken and he was told to go home and wait.<br />
<br />
Neither Beltway Liquors in Towson nor the fanatics that went there this morning knew what to expect this morning. Two intrepid customers, one from Columbia, Md. who works in nearby Timonium and another from Lancaster, Pa. were in line at 6:15 this morning, slowly joined by others.<br />
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<br />
At 7:15, the manager came out, and handed out numbered tickets while taking names. "We'll hang on to them until noon or so," he said. Most of the line dispersed for warmer locations to wait, but the first two and this reporter stuck it out.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
At 7:45 the manager decided to open early for the 25 or so people now in line. "It's 33 degrees out there!" he was heard remarking to a fellow employee). Approximately fifty of the gift-packs, out of the 192 (48 cases) they had been allocated, had sold in the first thirty minutes, as many of the shoppers continued to browse the beer aisles for additional new beers or holiday presents. "We think we'll sell at least half today, and the rest by the end of the weekend," said the manager. They tried to call the Laurel location for an update from them, but no one was answering--not a good sign. <br />
<br />
*******<br />
<br />
This blog has deliberately avoided raising the issue of this vaunted beer's availability until now--there is no need to hype on top of hype, and it's utterly no use extolling the virtues of a fantastic beer that's not available except by preposterous effort.<br />
<br />
But it's there. It awaits you for $92.64 in (or arguably close to) Towson or Laurel, or $84.99 if you drive to Delaware.<br />
<br />
Is it worth it? That's up to you. There has been perpetual discussion in beer-geekery circles claiming that Westy 12 is simply a hyped version of the far more easily available and highly rated <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/st-bernardus-abt-12/2530/">St. Bernardus Abt 12</a>, which supposedly uses the same recipe and almost the same yeast only miles apart (<a href="http://bonbeer.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/westvleteren-12-vs-st-bernardus-abt-12/">see here</a> and <a href="http://www.its-pub-night.com/2011/10/westvleteren-vs-st-bernardus.html">here</a> and <a href="http://boakandbailey.com/2007/12/st-bernardus-abt-12-v-westvleteren-12/">here</a> and most of all <a href="http://belgianbeerspecialist.blogspot.com/2010/09/westvleteren-and-st-bernardus-real.html">here.</a>) Certainly, some of this is simply hype, and folks clustering around the latest "must-try-but-can't-get-here" beer (remember when that was <i>New Belgium Fat Tire</i>? <i>FAT TIRE?!?!?!?</i>)<br />
<br />
But this beer is certainly on any serious beer expert's short list of "beers to try before you die." And, at least for the moment, it doesn't appear that you have to push aside little old ladies or burly beer geeks, or snipe on an online auction or frustratingly try to grab a "Black Friday/Cyber Monday" deal, to grab a supply. You know where to find them (and if not, Google/Bing/Yahoo/etc. and online maps are your friends).<br />
<br />
UPDATE: <a href="http://www.beerscribe.com/2012/12/12/not-to-buy-westvleteren-xii/">This blogger suggests you save your money.</a> And <a href="http://beerpulse.com/2012/12/westvleteren-xii-slips-out-early-at-total-wine-more-in-atlanta/">reports indicate </a>some Georgia outlets not even on the Shelton Brothers' official sales outlet list sold some packs as much as eleven days early. <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/12/12/167084488/from-belgium-to-piggly-wiggly-u-s-beer-fans-snatch-up-elusive-ale">More from NPR News.</a>Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-63164398351089352882012-12-10T10:49:00.000-05:002012-12-10T10:54:33.360-05:00Another Benefit, TONIGHT at Pratt Street Ale House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/531914_10151137534425069_987822616_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/531914_10151137534425069_987822616_n.png" width="409" /></a></div>
Rather than retype, I'm just going to re-post their poster.<br />
<br />
In other PSAH news, brewer Stephen Jones says,
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
". . . <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">get
that ugly Christmas sweater on (or "jumper" as we lovable Brits call
it) and get along to the Pratt Street Ale House for we have just tapped
our only cask of "Merry Ole Ale" ... hey, if I see you at the bar and
that sweater is truly ugly (I'm talking Rudolf, Santa's little elves
etc.) I'll buy you a pint! "Merry Ole Ale" is also available on draft
but you know, cask is the way the Sweet Baby Jesus intended it! Come get
some!</span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-32734134601662804622012-12-05T11:13:00.002-05:002012-12-05T11:14:10.466-05:00A Gentle Reminder Re: "Repeal Day"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4qsH2i8CNVSOfedFaC6TC6PoHcvJmgcUFhwKpXS5vyJOWu1F2W7t5aaGS7ejWjmQu0YkSK02mUagfCpVmaVHZW0JHIvnrGSWQFDuYiJywLg7oBNdPvRzOqn3E4eb1QN2WwmFcAr8unpH/s320/FDRdrinking1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4qsH2i8CNVSOfedFaC6TC6PoHcvJmgcUFhwKpXS5vyJOWu1F2W7t5aaGS7ejWjmQu0YkSK02mUagfCpVmaVHZW0JHIvnrGSWQFDuYiJywLg7oBNdPvRzOqn3E4eb1QN2WwmFcAr8unpH/s320/FDRdrinking1.jpg" /></a>It seems more people (prompted in part by Facebook posts) are jumping on the beer wagon and using this anniversary of the ratification of the repeal of Prohibition as an excuse to "celebrate" (i.e. sell beer).
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://beerinbaltimore.blogspot.com/2011/12/lost-in-anniversary-of-repeal-of.html">Here's last year's post on the topic.</a><br />
<br />
"Those who do not study the past........" Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-40572079420264491632012-12-04T12:50:00.002-05:002012-12-05T11:09:47.647-05:00DuClaw Re-releases Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter, Announces Holiday EventsOnce again, the press release pretty much sums it up. Regulars may recognize the "Sweet Baby Jesus" as last year's "H.E.R.O." beer.<br />
The brewery has also announced that it's sending a firkin of "a special Gingerbread EuForia" to <a href="http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/15787/mid-atlantic-holiday-beer-festival">the Brewers Art/Pratt Street Ale House Holiday Beer Tasting</a> this upcoming Saturday.<br />
We're not too keen on the proposed Christmas Eve opening, but, hey, there have to be enough fans and employees that don't give a figgy pudding about the 25th, right? <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Gotham-Book;">DuClaw Brewing Company Sweet Baby Jesus release<br /><br /> Date: Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 & December 13th, 2012<br /><br /> Time: 6:00pm at Arundel Mills & Bowie locations, 7:00pm at Bel Air location<br /><br /> First brewed in 2011, Sweet Baby Jesus Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter is a complex, robust porter. It is jet black in color with a tan, rocky head, full body and creamy, luxurious mouthfeel. Its lightly sweet, malty flavor is accented by strong notes of chocolate, coffee and peanut butter, and balanced by a subtle hop character and moderate 6.5% abv. Sweet Baby Jesus finishes smooth, dry and roasty with notes of chocolate, espresso and peanut butter so tasty, you’ll no choice but to exclaim the name!<br /><br /> DuClaw Brewing Company Oak Aged Serum release<br /><br /> Date: Monday, December 24th, 2012<br /><br /> Time: 11:00am – 11:00pm<br /><br /> Beginning 11am on Christmas Eve, DuClaw Brewing Company has an early gift for you, regardless of your current naughty or nice status...<br /><br /> Serum, our medium-bodied, super hoppy, amber XXIPA, aged in charred Kentucky white oak bourbon barrels to create a smoky XXIPA infused with notes of charred oak, vanilla and caramelized sugar to create a truly unique treat for hop heads and bourbon aged beer fans alike!<br /><br /> Supplies of this Bourbon barrel-aged XXIPA are EXTREMELY LIMITED, so get to your nearest DuClaw Brewing Company and have a pint today!<br /><br /> DuClaw Brewing Company Black Jack Stout 2011 on tap<br /><br /> Date: Monday, December 31st, 2012<br /><br /> Time: 11:00am – 11:00pm<br /><br /> Beginning 11am on New Year’s Eve, 2011 Black Jack Stout returns to DuClaw Brewing Company taps! Black Jack pours jet black with a small tan head and full body. This classic, 2011 vintage Russian Imperial Stout boasts a complex swirl of dark chocolate, coffee, smoky malt, and fruit flavors refined by a year of aging and sophisticated enough to conceal a lingering, warming alcohol presence (8% abv). You can’t lose when every glass is a winner, so ring in the New Year at your favorite DuClaw Brewing Company, and score with a sure thing!</span></blockquote>
Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-61288087093513938242012-11-29T15:28:00.005-05:002012-11-29T15:28:47.140-05:00Flying Dog "Brewhouse Rarities" for 2013The press release pretty much says it all:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
On the heels of releasing 40 different beers in 2012, today Flying Dog Brewery announced its 2013 Brewhouse Rarities – a series of innovative, small-batch beers available in the mid-Atlantic only. <br />“The only criteria that apply to our Brewhouse Rarities is that they are interesting and unusual,” Brewmaster Matt Brophy said. “It has to be something that we are intrigued by and dying to try.”<br />To determine the twelve releases each year, teams of Flying Dog employees develop recipes and pitch their styles to their fellow peers. <br />“All areas of the brewery – from our brewhouse to packaging and sales to accounting – are involved in these Brewhouse Rarities pitches,” Brophy said. “It’s important for us to look to everyone at Flying Dog for inspiration on styles that will continue to push not only Flying Dog, but also the craft beer industry as a whole.”<br /><br />The 2013 Brewhouse Rarities include: <br />
<ul>
<li> Chipotle Dark Ale: January</li>
<li> Green Tea Imperial Stout: February</li>
<li> Pumpernickel IPA: March</li>
<li> Big Black Wit: April </li>
<li> Easy IPA: May</li>
<li> Pineapple Saison: June</li>
<li> Belgian Devil: July</li>
<li> Roggen: August</li>
<li> Vineyard Blonde (brewed with local Vidal Blanc grapes): September</li>
<li> Orchard Ale (brewed with local apples): October</li>
<li> Cinnamon Porter: December</li>
</ul>
Since both the Vineyard Blonde and Orchard Ale are agriculturally dependent, the November release was intentionally left open. <br />All of the releases will be in draft only, with the exception of the Green Tea Imperial Stout, Belgian Devil, and Cinnamon Porter. Those will be packaged in both draft and 750 ml bottles. </blockquote>
Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-70227723211900406842012-11-27T12:28:00.003-05:002012-11-27T12:28:56.129-05:00Columbia Ale House To Open Dec. 10th<a href="http://columbia.patch.com/articles/ale-house-columbia-to-officially-open-in-december">So says Justin Dvorkin of the Pratt Street Ale House in the Columbia Patch:</a> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
"We're looking to open on Dec. 10," said co-owner Justin Dvorkin.
"And we're shooting for that Friday [Dec. 14] to have a kick-off
celebration."<br />
<br />The restaurant, which is located in Dobbin Center just off of Rouse
Parkway, has already hired more than 100 staff members, but are still
hiring hostesses and servers. Jaun Valdez, the former executive chef of
the <a href="http://districtchophouse.com/">District ChopHouse</a>, has been placed in charge of the food.<br />
<br />The restaurant has three total bars, all of which will include 30
taps for the beers they have on draft, according to Dvorkin. He said
their most popular beer at their sister location in Baltimore (<a href="http://www.prattstreetalehouse.com/">Pratt Street Ale House</a>) is their own <a href="http://www.prattstreetalehouse.com/oliver-breweries/">Oliver Breweries</a>
beer, which they brew in Baltimore. As a result, the main bar in Ale
House Columbia has extra taps (50) so bartenders don't stack up pouring
one popular draft beer.<br />
In addition, they'll have three cask conditioned beer taps.</blockquote>
Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-68438743235998343452012-11-23T12:16:00.000-05:002012-11-26T15:00:26.199-05:00Coming Events UPDATED<ul>
<li>Stillwater Artisanal Ales is debuting their newest beer, "The Perfect Crime," at Of Love & Regret in Brewers Hill at 6 PM on Monday the 26th.</li>
<li><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Simultaneously at Max's: </span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
MONDAY NOV 26, 2012 AT 6PM</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BRASSERIE BFM</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
We
will have BFM owner/brewer Jerome Rebetez from BFM here with a whole bunch
of his great beers. Jerome is coming all the way from Switzerland, so
this is something you do not want to miss.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
So here is the line up:</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>ON DRAFT:</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Douze</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM XIV La Quatorze</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>IN BOTTLES-big bottles will be served by the glass.</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM/Terrapin Spike & Jerome Cuvee Delirante</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Cuvee Du 8Eme 2007</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM La Meule</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Procrastinator Ice Bock</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM La Dragonne(Served Warm)</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien 2004</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien 2005</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien 2011</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien Grand Cru Vin Blanc</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien Grand Cru RHum Barrels</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien Grand Cru Trousseau</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien Grand Cru Vin Jaune</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien Grand Cru Merlot Piana</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien Grand Cru Spirit Barrel</div>
</blockquote>
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> </span></span></li>
<li> Max's on the<b> </b>Tuesday Beer Social the 27th will be serving very special beers from Dominion: <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>ON CASK</i><b>: </b>Dominion Scotch Ale dry Hopped w/ Chinook; <i>ON DRAFT:</i><b> </b>Morning Glory, Baltic Porter, and "a very special Sour Keg". </div>
</li>
<li> DuClaw Tap Takeover at Frosco Tap House in Columbia Wednesday the 28th, 6 PM:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>On Tap:</b><br /> Bare Ass Blonde<br /> Misfit Red<br /> Bad Moon Porter<br /> EuForia Toffee Nut Brown Ale<br /> Mysterium Belgian Spiced Ale<br /> Venom Pale Ale<br /> Black Lightning American Black Ale<br /> Hellrazer IPA<br /> X-4 Macchiato Milk Stout<br /> X-5 Sorachi Ace Imperial IPA<br /> H.E.R.O. 2012 Chocolate Chipotle Stout<br /> Serum XXIPA<br /> Devils Milk Barleywine<br /> Retribution Single Barrel Bourbon Aged Imperial Stout<br /> Repent Belgian Pent<br /> and TWO surprises that are both simply DIVINE <br /><b>On Cask:</b><br /> Bad Moon Porter (dry hopped with Mittlefruh Hallertau)<br /> HellRazer IPA (dry hopped with Citra, Chinook, Columbus, Cascade, Simcoe and Amarillo).</blockquote>
</li>
<li>Peabody Heights Brewery will offer its first brewery tours and debut its
Tasting Room on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 10 AM, with tours lasting until 4
PM.<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> This
is an introductory tour; they will not have beer tastings as they are just
beginning to brew and the beers will need a few weeks to be ready. However, all
tour attendees will receive a complimentary glass. Tasting tours will
commence mid-to-late December.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Save the date: Max's own Holiday Beer Social will be Tuesday the 4th, a pay-as-you-go event. </span></span></li>
<li>The annual Mid-Atlantic Holiday Ale Festival formerly held at The Brewers Art has been moved once again down to the Pratt Street Ale House, from noon to 4 PM on Dec. 8th; tickets are $40 <a href="http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/15787/mid-atlantic-holiday-beer-festival">and are available here. </a></li>
<li>The Columbia Ale House isn't even officially open yet, and they've announced their own holiday ale tasting on Dec. 21st, with details to follow....</li>
<li>Several places have planned events centered around the supposed Mayan calendar prediction of the "end of the world" (otherwise known as "we ran out of room on the slab") on Dec. 21, 2012, with offerings that day or the day before of Unibroue's <i>La Fin du Monde</i>, or "End of the World." Flying Dog, meanwhile, will hold an "end of the world" tap takeover at Max's Taphouse with a supposedly record-setting 56 taps to be FD products, on the 21st.</li>
</ul>
<br />Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-18650154234458961772012-11-08T09:33:00.002-05:002012-11-08T09:33:29.548-05:00Fiery Foods & Firkins at Heavy Seas Brewery this Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hsbeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/chilifest-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.hsbeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/chilifest-logo.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
Today before midnight is your last chance to grab tickets for <a href="http://www.hsbeer.com/events/fiery-food-fest/">this Saturday's Fiery Foods and Firkins Fest</a> at the Heavy Seas Brewery in Halethorpe, from 12 to 4 PM. $49 all-inclusive, $39 designated driver, with eight customized firkins:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><strong><strong>Winter Storm</strong> – </strong>ESB with Ghost Pepper, chocolate nibs, vanilla beans, molasses plus local Cascade hops<strong></strong></span><br /><span><strong><strong>Below Decks</strong> – </strong>Barleywine bourbon barrel aged for 2 years<strong></strong></span><br /><span><strong><strong>Loose Cannon</strong> – </strong>with tangerine, cayenne pepper, Red & White oak, Birch wood, wet Simcoe hops<strong></strong></span><br /><span><strong><strong>Loose Cannon</strong> -</strong> IPA with fresh ginger, peaches, lemon peel plus wet Simcoe hops<strong></strong></span><br /><span><strong>Heavy Seas Pale Ale</strong> – with hand toasted Red & White oaks, Birch woods, fresh Chinook hops</span><br /><span><strong>Heavy Seas Marzen</strong> – with toasted Red Oak & locally grown Cascade hops</span><br /><span><strong>Peg Leg</strong> - Imperial stout pouring from a European White Oak barrel with Fuggle & Simcoe hops</span><br /><span><span><strong>Plank II</strong> – Dopplebock with added Eucalyptus & Poplar woods plus Liberty hops</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span>In addition, Heavy Seas will, as is typical of their food fests, present vendors offering more<span style="font-size: small;"> ways to <span style="font-size: small;">offer "hot foods" than you thought possible, with free <span style="font-size: small;">portions as part of the price</span> (hint: pack antacids and maybe some milk)<span style="font-size: small;">, plus</span></span></span> m<span style="font-size: small;">usical entertainment from <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/soulislandrebels">Soul Island Rebels</a>.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>
Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-15155466919397686412012-11-08T09:20:00.002-05:002012-11-08T10:09:36.421-05:00Fundraisers with Beer in Baltimore in NovemberA couple fundraising events are coming up in Baltimore over the next few days.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow at No Idea Tavern in Federal Hill:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span itemprop="description"><span class="fsl">Friday, November 9th from 4-9pm!<br />
It's everybody's favorite celebration of manliness and raising
awareness for men's health issues - Movember. Come to No Idea tavern and
enjoy fantastic drink specials, fun giveaways and other frivolity,
proceeds benefiting the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG
Campaign. Yay Movember!<br /> From 4-9pm, enjoy $10 all you can drink Yuengling, rail, and wine plus some special Moustache Ride themed drinks!<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/418758124845711/?fref=ts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>events/418758124845711/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>?fref=ts</a></span></span> </blockquote>
On Saturday, <a href="https://www.santebaltimore.com/">Sante returns for the third time to the B&O Railroad Museum</a> to raise funds on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland. Approximately 600 guests are expected to gather for what is being planned as the area’s premier food and beverage pairing event. With WJZ-TV Anchor Don Scott as emcee, this business/casual fête will feature Maryland’s best cuisine, prepared by some of its most acclaimed chefs, complimented by American and European craft beer; wine and spirits:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Food Market: Cream of crab soup <br />
The Verandah: Vegan lentil soup and Vegetarian Papdi Chaat and Chicken salad <br />
B&O American Brasserie: Bacon and eggs dish (parsnip flan, smoked trout caviar, whipped chive and bacon crème fraiche, bliss maple syrup) <br />
House of Audré: Beef & vegetable samosas with chili sauce <br />
RA Sushi: Tutsi Maki roll and seared tuna tapas dish <br />
Talara: Asian tartare tuna <br />
Brio Tuscan Grille: Campanelle Carbonara, Chicken & Sweet Potato risotto <br />
P.F. Chang's: Chicken lettuce wraps and Chang's spicy chicken <br />
Richardson Farms: Fall spiced crispy pork belly, with butternut squash soup <br />
Maggie's Farm: Duck Liver Toast with Fig Jam, Mortadella Terrine with house mustard, Chai Ronnie (House-made Chai Bourbon, Limoncello, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup) <br />
Banksy's Café: Will's famous Mac and Cheese <br />
Barrett's Grill: Tuna sashimi wanton (sesame crusted) with wasabi cream sauce and soy glaze <br />
Cabot Creamery Cooperative: Assortment of naturally aged Cabot Cheddar cheeses <br />
The Corner Bakery: Catering trays - fruit and cheese tray and bakery bites tray <br />
Eggspectation: Butternut squash soup, toasted berry salad, maple glaze rib eye <br />
Bistro Rx: Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes <br />
Clementine: Rumbleway Farm chicken liver and coriander pâté with Balsamic fig caramel <br />
Indigma: Chenna Masala <br />
Don't Know Tavern: Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese on Tortilla with Fresh Jalapeno Salsa <br />
Vegetarian Caterer: Kale Salad and homemade tortilla chips <br />
Chiapparelli's: Chiapparelli's Salad <br />
Cooking with Catherine: White chocolate bark <br />
Natasha's Just Brittle: Various brittles and chocolate with brittle bits <br />
Zia's Café: Pumpkin cheesecake push pops (gluten free, raw and vegan) <br />
Tark's Grill: Pear and custard napoleon <br />
Silk's Restaurant at Bulle Rock: Seafood Chili </blockquote>
<blockquote>
WINES<br />
Constantine Wines Inc. (Cali): 2009 Worthy "Five Clones" Sauvignon Blanc; 2006 Truth "Lindsey's Cuvee" Red; 2007 Worthy "Sophia's Cuvee" Cabernet Sauvignon <br />
Epicurean Wines (Aussie): 2010 Winner's Tank Shiraz; 2010 Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon; NV Chook Sparkling Shiraz <br />
Ole Imports LLC (Spanish): Columna Albarino, A Portela Mencia, Barco de Piedra, Cal Blanca <br />
Peninsula Wines: Totus Tuus Cava, Rogo Godello, Pinyolet Seleccion, Phincas 2009 <br />
Susan Fields Wines (Cali): Susan Fields Rudbeckia White Blend, Santa Barbara 2011; Susan Fields Chardonnay, Santa Barbara 2011; Susan Fields Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara 2010; Susan Fields Sumptuous Red Blend, Paso Robles 2007; Susan Fields Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2009; Susan Fields Unearthly Rhone Blend, Santa Barbara 2007; Ravens Run Red, Paso Robles 2006 <br />
<br />
BEER<br />
<br />
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon, Märzen, Gold Ale <br />
Breckenridge Brewery: Avalanche Amber, Vanilla Porter, Lucky U IPA, Oatmeal Stout<br />
The Raven Special Lager <br />
Crispin Hard Apple Cider Original Cider <br />
Fox Barrel Pear Cider <br />
Lagunitas Brewing Co. Pilsner <br />
Oskar Blues Brewery Dales Pale Ale <br />
Union Craft Brewing Duckpin Pale Ale, Balt Altbier, Rowhouse Red Ale <br />
DuClaw Brewing Company EuForia and HellRazer <br />
<br />
Spirit offerings will include Lucid Absinthe Superieure, Ron Abuelo Rum, Sambuca Molinari, TAP 357 Whiskey and Van Gogh Vodka. On the non-alcoholic side, Starbucks Coffee Company will conduct a coffee tasting and David's Natural Market will provide a variety of organic sodas. </blockquote>
<i>UPDATE: As I typed this, it appears they have SOLD OUT.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Then, down at No Idea Tavern in Federal Hill next Thursday:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span itemprop="description"><span class="fsl">HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF FUNDRAISER <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/416076928448130/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>events/416076928448130/</a><br /> <br /> Join the Baltimore Pain Relief Center and No Idea Tavern to help family's affected by Sandy!<br /> <br />
Pay $12 for All-You-Can-Drink at No Idea Tavern Tuesday November 13th from 6-9pm!
All Proceeds and donations will be matched by the Baltimore Pain Relief
Center!<br /> <br /> We will also be collecting the following items, I know you stocked up for the storm, since you don’t need it DONATE IT PLEASE!<br /> ...<br /> Water<br /> Batteries<br /> Canned Goods<br /> Dog Food<br /> Diapers<br /> <br />
Baltimore Pain Relief Center will also be collecting donations and
goods Saturday, November17th from 8-11am @ 5430 Campbell Blvd, Suite
106, White Marsh, MD 21162.<br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baltimorepainrelief.com%2F&h=NAQHAEeek&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>www.baltimorepainrelief.com<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>/</a></span></span></blockquote>
In addition, No Idea is holding a "Winterfest" with winter beers on the 12th and an "end of season Pumpkinfest" on the 28th--not fundraisers, just good beers.<br />
<br />
If the winter beers don't appeal to you, there's also a fundraiser at the nearby Baltimore Museum of Industry on Key Highway (near Little Havana--you know, where those cranes are) on Thursday the 15th at 6:30 PM, with beers from Heavy Seas (and Hugh Sisson in attendance) and paired foods from Mick the Pirate/Whiskey Island. $25 BMI members, $35 non-members. Reservations at www.thebmi.org or 410-727-4808 extension 129.Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-67953724527235516692012-11-01T12:32:00.001-04:002012-11-01T12:32:34.510-04:00Brewers Art St. Festivus Debuts Tonight at The Brewers Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/46479_10151314611147631_48979810_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/46479_10151314611147631_48979810_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It "sneak-previewed" a week or so ago, but now it's officially out. Taps at 4 PM today at 1106 N. Charles Street. This T-shirt is available there. The management asks, "<span class="userContent"> Please do not mix alcohol with the airing of grievances."</span>Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-39292075706301097972012-10-31T00:39:00.003-04:002012-10-31T00:49:53.761-04:00Hurricane Sandy Report for Beer In Baltimore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQTWoCs5_6uQ_zCWqHEmJoM9HWL_efL6dA8Cq7Ni5eDUGiiPj-unvDRveyfvTxrKor1sq1d_mFh6UJAZKluJ_g-tapTfvo0Mz18-NMD2j5EU4p6-Q9nUYnrKpFbvwhhiCLPHWTRbYmVQQ/s1600/DSC_9020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQTWoCs5_6uQ_zCWqHEmJoM9HWL_efL6dA8Cq7Ni5eDUGiiPj-unvDRveyfvTxrKor1sq1d_mFh6UJAZKluJ_g-tapTfvo0Mz18-NMD2j5EU4p6-Q9nUYnrKpFbvwhhiCLPHWTRbYmVQQ/s400/DSC_9020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
All right. Go ahead.<br />
<br />
Get it all out of your system. Come on, blow it all out.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, this blog's author will point out, probably in vain, that the official list of names for hurricanes for 2012 alternates between male and female names for storms, and "Sandy" is between Rafael and Tony, so is officially a "she." <a href="http://www.xkcd.com/1126/">More on the subject of hurricane names here.</a><br />
<br />
Back to our regularly scheduled news roundup: Thankfully, the mural above, a half-block north of (and uphill from) Of Love & Regret Pub in Brewers Hill proved not to be a premonition. As far as can be determined, none of the craft breweries or brewpubs in this area sustained any damage or power outages, although several bars wisely closed up early on Monday as the wind and rain intensified. The biggest worry turned out not to be power outages or falling walls, but driving bans imposed by government during the height of the storm (although a former distillery warehouse, long disused, along York Road in Cockeysville <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4826427657738&set=pcb.4826427897744&type=1&theater">had a partial collapse and will be demolished</a>).<br />
<br />
Rain put a serious damper on the grand opening of Gordon Biersch's new Harbor East location, which opened at 11 a.m. on Monday and closed six hours later. Tuesday would be their first full day open.<br />
<br />
Many people fretted about Union Craft Brewing, which sits inconveniently close to the Jones Falls and in the same neighborhood as a low-lying bridge prominently featured on TV newscasts because of the spectacle of churning water rising underneath it (because it's a <i>low-lying</i> bridge connecting two parking lots--duh!). But there was nothing to report. The owners were in on Tuesday, brewing as usual. "We have to--the weekend parties drank all our beer!" joked Kevin Blodger. (That wasn't far from the truth--the Friday bicyclists' visitation brought an estimated 1300 riders to the brewery's parking lot party, along with several food trucks.)<br />
<br />
Max's Taphouse, which suffered a flooded cellar in Isabel several years ago, was prepared for the worst--which didn't happen. <br />
<br />
Heavy Seas shut down production for Tuesday. Flying Dog cancelled evening shifts for Monday but resumed production Tuesday. Even Dogfish Head, much closer to the "action" in Rehoboth Beach and Milton, came through unscathed after boarding up early and closing on Sunday, according to their representatives.<br />
<br />
Closer to the action yet, "nanobrewery" Cape May Brewing in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, lost little more than a sign and some power, and even opened up their tap room for service as the storm was approaching. Slightly to the north, Tuckahoe Brewing in Dennisville has not been heard from yet.<br />
<br />
As much as folks may be tempted to just sit back and crack open another beer, it bears repeating that many, many others didn't fare as well. Thousands, if not millions, are still without power or transportation, and many folks have lost everything--not just a vacation home or rental investment. Keep your fellow Americans in your thoughts, prayers, and donation allocations.<br />
<br />Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-9712477770298984922012-10-30T23:48:00.000-04:002012-10-30T23:48:38.675-04:001,500 Posts About Beer On the Wall, 1,500 Posts About Beer........The software that runs this blog has indicated to yours truly that the most recent blogpost is number 1,500 to be posted on this blog since its inception in February 2008. The actual number is slightly higher, as a scant few blogposts, perhaps a dozen or two, have been consolidated or deleted completely over the years.<br />
<br />
The question is, will the number of blogposts ever catch up with the number of beers consumed?<br />
<br />
Probably not.Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-2229780708834389572012-10-30T23:36:00.002-04:002012-10-31T16:46:53.102-04:00Changes Coming to Heavy Seas "Flotilla"In the midst of the chaos of the past two days, we somehow--<i>somehow</i>--received a missive from the public relations department at Heavy Seas describing upcoming changes to their product lines, including an overhaul of the <i>Mutiny Fleet</i> line of beers, preliminary plans
for canned beers, expanded cask ale offerings, changes to select
year-round products, and a new seasonal beer. They seem to do as good a job as I can so I'll just excerpt their notes (emphasis added by yours truly):<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The biggest change Heavy Seas has in
store for 2013 is the repositioning of our line of higher gravity
beers <i><b>(the Mutiny Fleet). This line will now be known as the
Uncharted Waters</b></i> line and <b>all of the beers under that category will
be influenced by wood in one way or another</b>. Siren Noire Imperial
Chocolate Stout aged in bourbon barrels will come out in January
2013. In March, we will release Oak Aged Big DIPA (double IPA). Holy
Sheet <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Ü</span>ber Abbey Ale aged
in brandy barrels will be released in May. Great'ER Pumpkin (our
imperial pumpkin ale aged in bourbon barrels) will be released in
September. Yule Tide, our November release, will take the place of
our ongoing Plank project—aging beers <i>on </i><span style="font-style: normal;">wood.
That style will be determined closer to November of 2013.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>We have preliminary plans to release
three products in cans in 2013</b></i>. While we haven't determined
availability at this juncture, we will be offering Loose CANnon,
Davey Jones' Lager, and an Oktoberfest style in cans this year.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Year-round, we will continue to offer
Loose Cannon, Small Craft Warning, and Peg Leg. In order to better
reflect our brand personality, <b><i>we have renamed our Clipper Fleet
beers</i></b>: Heavy Seas M<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ä</span>rzen
will now be <i>Cutlass Amber</i>; Heavy Seas Pale Ale will now be <i>Powder
Monkey</i>; Heavy Seas Gold Ale will now be <i>Gold</i>. <b>Heavy Seas Classic
Lager will be discontinued</b>. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As the largest producers of cask ale in
the country, Heavy Seas is focused on expanding the number of
offerings for retailers. We will continue to offer dry-hopped firkins
of Loose Cannon and Powder Monkey (pale ale) year-round. We will also
incorporate preset quantities of all seasonal beers and Uncharted
Waters beers. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Seasonally, we will offer Black Cannon
in January through March. We wanted to add a new style to our
seasonal catalog, therefore <b><i>Dubbel Cannon will be replaced by Riptide
White IPA</i></b>, which is currently in formulation; Riptide will be offered
April through June. Red Sky at Night, our saison, will be offered
July through September. Winter Storm Imperial ESB will be offered
October through December. Additionally, the new seasonal lineup will
include 12 oz. bottles of Great Pumpkin, offered in Sunken Sampler
packs exclusively in August and September.</div>
</blockquote>
Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-55776975512084291882012-10-25T14:20:00.001-04:002012-10-25T21:51:48.152-04:00The Last Two Days of Baltimore Beer Week: PreviewsOf course, now everybody is watching the weather after several days of glorious fall weather for the rest of Baltimore Beer Week. It remains to be seen whether Tropical Storm Sandy (no relation) will impact the weekend's weather; we shall operate under the assumption that it won't, at least severely enough to require the battening down of hatches, emergency runs for milk/bread/eggs/toilet paper/batteries, etc. (besides, doesn't everybody still have a generator left over from the Y2K panic?).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT27"><b>SATURDAY THE 27TH</b>: 40 events</a>. The "big one" for this week, serving as sort of the same symbolic "bookend" to the week as formerly served by the Real Ale Fest and/or the Brewers Assn. Oktoberfest, is the <a href="http://www.theannapoliscraftbeerandmusicfestival.com/The_Annapolis_Craft_Beer_and_Music_Festival_2012/Welcome.html">Annapolis Craft Beer & Music Festival</a> at Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Meanwhile, back in town, Mark Supik & Co. will reprise their highly successful Tap Handle and Homebrew demonstration at their Highlandtown wood-turning plant, with door prizes donated by Raven Beer. The day starts with several beer brunches (a couple reportedly sold out already; call first before committing); Max's Taphouse will offer a non-beer (and gluten-free) alternative with an evening mead tasting event with terrific meads from B. Nektar, and Wine Market Bistro in south Baltimore will have a beer-pairing dinner with beers from several breweries. Hudson Street Stackhouse goes all-Belgian all weekend, while Mahaffey's nearby offers Belgian waffles to go with the Belgian beers they offer that evening. Alewife offers its only beer dinner of the week, featuring Sierra Nevada and three local chefs. Flying Dog sponsors a music event at the Maryland Science Center. Though not a beer event, Liam Flynn's will be hosting a weekend of Irish music concerts and dancing, featuring former Chieftains flute player Michael Turbridy--free on Saturday, small charge Sunday for the <i>ceili </i>(Irish dancing party). (The Halloween Party at Union Craft Brewing has been canceled.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT28"><b>SUNDAY THE 28th: </b> 24 events.</a> The big events this day are the almost-sold-out Historical Pub Crawl of Brewers Hill taking in the National Brewery and Of Love & Regret (and more) in "north Canton" in the afternoon, and <a href="http://beerinbaltimore.blogspot.com/2012/10/tour-wiessneramerican-brewery-on-sunday.html">the midday free tours of the Wiessner/American Brewery on Gay Street</a>. Several places, including Mahaffey's, The Point, An Poitin Stil, and (oddly enough, Heavy Seas Brewery at the brewery!) will be offering brunch events, while others, such as Greene Turtle, Kloby's, Alonso's and others, will bow to the Grand Poo-Bah of the NFL. Metropolitan will close out with a Beer Can Derby (build race cars out of cans and race them on a gravity track), and Phillips Inner Harbor will host a crab feast with Evolution Craft Brewing. <br />
<br />
Then we all recover for another year. Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-18774503878724359352012-10-24T00:53:00.001-04:002012-10-24T00:53:14.047-04:00Gordon Biersch-Harbor East To Open Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Yqc1Ju58NGYCn82bKloLRSLe0un15GBD-VJWeChxAwL1Z-gQcy82-2bKunsWaDMd29qxAyZ7m0LydGiLte3C4BNf4mbRT6u7oPpeubZicBzo48QPY2RQpXVk9UCbHY50pSdusNiQl0n/s1600/DSC_7648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Yqc1Ju58NGYCn82bKloLRSLe0un15GBD-VJWeChxAwL1Z-gQcy82-2bKunsWaDMd29qxAyZ7m0LydGiLte3C4BNf4mbRT6u7oPpeubZicBzo48QPY2RQpXVk9UCbHY50pSdusNiQl0n/s400/DSC_7648.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The Gordon Biersch-Harbor East location, at 1000 Lancaster Street, will have its Grand Opening to the public on Monday, October 29th.<br />
<br />
<i>Just</i> missing Baltimore Beer Week. (There will be invite-only "test" dinners over this upcoming weekend; it may look open, but don't try stopping in.)<br />
<br />
Justin Shunkwiller, assistant general manager, chalked up the unfortunate timing to construction delays. Meanwhile, brewer Chris Cashell says "I've been working here nonstop for five straight weeks now...."<br />
<br />
<br />Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-24046007770092638102012-10-24T00:38:00.000-04:002012-10-26T11:15:02.341-04:00Thursday and Friday Baltimore Beer Week Previews and Picks Clicking on the dates below will take you to the Baltimore Beer Week schedule at their website.<br />
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<a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT25">Thursday the 25th: 49 events.</a> Thursday presents a second night of the Sour Beef Dinners at Zion Lutheran Church's Adlersaal Beer Hall (4:30-9:30, last meal seated at 8:00). The Women of Beer event at Heavy Seas Brewery has been sold out! Heavy Seas Ale House is serving chocolate with the brewery's Siren Noire; Kloby's Smokehouse brings together five Eastern Shore breweries and crabs with their BBQ; and Victoria Gastro Pub features high-alcohol beers. Burley Oak will be at Racers Cafe in Parkville; The Brewers Art will have a<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Beer and Charcuterie Pairing with Twelve Percent Imports; and Max's Taphouse will be competing nine different <span style="font-size: small;">firkin</span>s from Maryland breweries<span style="font-size: small;">, each finished with jalapeno peppers, for a public vote on which one will be an addition to their <span style="font-size: small;">menu for three months. If you don't feel like going to a bar, the Enoch Pratt Free Library's downtown Central Library will be featuring <span style="font-size: small;">author Rob Kasper and his <span style="font-size: small;">book <i>Baltimore Beer</i> with a program from the author in the evening, along with a display of breweriana from noted Maryland breweriana collector "Turkey Joe" Trabert<span style="font-size: small;">. Finally, The Americana in Canton will be offering a "sneak preview" of a new brewing project in Baltimore, Full Tilt Brewing, with a <span style="font-size: small;">"meet and greet" with the future brewers. And, as usual, aside from the above there are many happy hou<span style="font-size: small;">r <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">specials</span>, "pint glass nights," week-long f<span style="font-size: small;">ood-and-drink specials, and tastings and tap takeovers scattered throughout the region.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT26">Friday the 26th: 43 events.</a> Friday nights are always problematic for "beer weeks" as the normal Friday night crowds of "amateurs" tend to come out and flood bars anyway, pretty much shoving aside the "beer aficionado" crowd. Nevertheless, most of the "usual suspects" of Baltimore Beer Week are still hosting tastings, brewery representatives, and special beers. Among the more interesting: Metropolitan is holding a "King of the Pins" competition, in which several five-gallon "pins" of cask ale will compete for the honor of being the first to be emptied; Evolution Craft Brewing is once again holding a collaboration beer dinner with and at Pratt Street Alehouse; and Elliott's Pour House will be holding an 80's Costume Contest. The homebrewers attempt to distract folks from commercial brews once again, however, with the sixth Charitably Charming Chilibrew informal, semiannual charity homebrew competition and chili cookoff, this time around benefiting the Baltimore Rock Opera Society, the Indypendent Reader,
and Whitelock Community Farm with the $15-and-up suggested donation. Previous installments have each drawn
around thirty or more entries each in both beer and chili and 200+ enthusiastic judges, and this time the event returns to the 2640 Space, a converted church at that number on St. Paul Street south of Waverly. Furthermore, another homebrew competition is being held at Brewers Cask in Federal Hill. The planned Saturday party at Union Craft Brewing has been canceled; instead, folks are being asked to swing by for Friday night's visit of 500+ bicyclists. And not an official part of Baltimore Beer Week, but Joe Squared is one of two hosting venues for the Baltimore Folk Fest, with Liam Flynn's Ale House in between the two.Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-17313206736732312442012-10-21T22:28:00.000-04:002012-10-21T22:30:52.612-04:00Tour The Wiessner/American Brewery on Sunday, Oct. 28th!Yes, this is going up a bit late. Short notice/approval combined with busy people.<br />
<br />
Humanim, the owners of the former Wiessner/ American
Brewery at 1700 North Gay Street, will offer tours of the historic
building for Baltimore Beer Week on <b>Sunday, October 28th from 11 a.m..to 1 p.m.</b> Actual tours will be given every half-hour; last admission will be at 12:30 p.m.<br />
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<br />
The Wiessner Brewery, or American Brewery as it was later known as, is
perhaps one of the most iconic jewels of Baltimore's brewing and
architectural history and landscape, so much so that its image was
heavily used by Baltimore Beer Week to promote last year's "theme" of
the history of Baltimore's beer scene.<br />
<br />
The building remains not only a monument to the development
of brewing, one of Baltimore's major industries in years past, but also to the Germans who worked
and lived in the area. John Frederick Wiessner, a German immigrant, leased the
land upon which the current complex sits in 1863 in order to erect a brewery. Although there were already twenty-one breweries
in Baltimore City and Baltimore County at the time, Wiessner's brewery rapidly expanded, employing
many Germans that had been brewers prior to their emigration to America. In 1887,
Wiessner constructed the present building to enlarge and modernize his brewery.<br />
<br />
The height of the building and the internal organization of space were
determined
by the requirements of brewing, but its spectacular exterior reflects
the tastes
and decorative detail popular during the Victorian age in which it was
built. Later renamed the American Brewery, it was one of the largest and
finest breweries in the state.
The Wiessners were forced to sell during Prohibition; it reopened in the
1930s under the American Brewery name, and the Allegheny Beverage
Company was the last company to occupy the brewery. In the mid-1930s, a
modern
brewery was created behind the old facade. "American Beer" was produced
here until 1973, the same year the building was listed on the National
Register of Historic Sites. The building was deeded to the City of
Baltimore in 1977.<br />
<br />
The building, which became part of a large city-owned conglomerate of
properties in the neighborhood, sat vacant for three decades--aside from
occasional covert use by the Baltimore City Police Department as an
observation post for drug investigations--until November 2007, when
Humanim, a Columbia-based nonprofit that provides work force development
for the disabled, purchased the property for $2,500 from
the city. The owners of the American Brewery complex in East Baltimore
then secured $22.5 million in grants and financing to renovate and
develop the Brewery building, totaling 30,000 square feet, in what was
then one of the city’s most blighted neighborhoods. Streuver Bros.,
Eccles, & Rouse were the developers chosen to make the combined
renovation-and-preservation project a reality.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2009-05/47057427.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2009-05/47057427.jpg" width="320" /></a>Renovation
of the building was completed in May 2009, and Humanim's offices opened
shortly thereafter. In spite of beer having nothing to do with the
non-profit's mission, Humanim and the site's developers have been
especially sensitive to the building's heritage. Two display cases in
the main lobby hold artifacts from the brewery's history; several
significant details, including a grain elevator, have not only been
preserved, but showcased in a sensitive manner; and even a brewing
kettle has been "carved" into a conference table nook. Added
value: potential spectacular views of the city from one of its highest
accessible points! Bring your camera!<br />
<br />
Visitors will be welcomed at the building beginning at 11:00 a.m., and
are asked to park on the building site and/or at overflow lot at the
corner of N. Gay Street and Patterson Park Avenue (see the blue parking
area on the map; click on the map for an enlargement). A television in
the reception area will show a slide show depicting the extensive
renovation process undertaken in 2008-2009. Tours of the building, lasting a half-hour each, will
commence at 11 a.m., 11:30, noon, and 12:30. No additional visitors will be permitted
after 12:30 p.m.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsnkNAZ4tEgAygiUewUMnaYfTB8wm6I75PnvAv0XmHkTWOSgGzU5VBYpFvNm_ma_CRgwn-6kyo4c40maJV62r5GruMqWt_3_3KR3Oiw2izAKE2XmW7yNYOB97YHTYJxG_Js6Z6Ado7R46/s1600/Parking+_+3Lots.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsnkNAZ4tEgAygiUewUMnaYfTB8wm6I75PnvAv0XmHkTWOSgGzU5VBYpFvNm_ma_CRgwn-6kyo4c40maJV62r5GruMqWt_3_3KR3Oiw2izAKE2XmW7yNYOB97YHTYJxG_Js6Z6Ado7R46/s400/Parking+_+3Lots.jpg" width="400" /></a>Also
scheduled for that day are the Walking Tour of Brewer's Hill (limited to 50 participants), which
will allow you to visit two former breweries in the same day. Also that day is the Union Craft Brewing party at their brewery in the historic Clipper Mill/Woodberry neighborhood.<br />
<br />
Humanim's <a href="http://www.humanim.com/content/index.cfm/ContentID/2607/SectionID/62">own web page about the building, with links to far more information, is here</a>. More on the brewery's history <a href="http://www.kilduffs.com/American_Brewery_Baltimore.html">here</a> and<a href="http://www.baltimorebottleclub.org/articles/wiessner.pdf"> here.</a><br />
<br />
The Baltimore Beer Week Committee is grateful to Humanim, Inc, for
graciously permitting this tour opportunity as part of Baltimore Beer Week. See you
there!
<br />
<br />Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-82479797046198034692012-10-21T22:06:00.000-04:002012-10-21T23:08:40.418-04:00Baltimore Beer Week Updates and PreviewsIt has come to this blog's attention that a few erroneous listings have crept into the official printed Baltimore Beer Week guides about town. In addition, a couple of the previously planned events, such as the Brewer's Art beer dinner for Monday night, have been cancelled or changed (the Brewer's Art dinner is now a pay-as-you-go event), and some late events have been added to the schedule, pushing the total from 393 to 412 events. (Granted, many "events" are day-to-day listings of all-week specials.)<br />
<br />
Therefore, if you are making major plans for specific events, you might consider confirming with the venue in advance before expending major effort to attend.<br />
<br />
With that in mind: More event suggestions/recommendations:<br />
<br />
<b>TUESDAY the 23rd:</b> 47 events. The Americana is holding several beer-related games, including a challenge to beer geeks: Name the beers served with no names or tap handles, get them for free. Not too far away, Hudson Street Stackhouse will be serving Italian beers and pizzas; while Joe Squared offers a free small pizza with two craft canned beers. The Wine Market Bistro near Locust Point/Federal Hill offers a prix fixe Boulevard Beer Pairing Dinner for $30; meet brewers at Leinenkugel's Beer Garden (Henry Weinhard's), Max's Taphouse (Evil Twin), and Grand Cru (Starr Hill); Mahaffey's has a costume contest; and Heavy Seas is hosting a Skee Ball tournament at Johnny Rad's. Hop Heads and the Wharf Rat are both doing Beer Trivia with prizes, as are James Joyce and Midtown BBQ and Brew.<br />
<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY the 24th: </b> 56 events. New for 2012 is the addition of Zion Lutheran Church's famous <a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/show/sour_beef_an_almost_100_year_old_tradition_continues">Sauerbraten dinners in its Adlersaal Beer Hall</a>, both Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30, with the last dinner served at 8:00. Bar manager Casey Hard and Yards Brewing owner Tom Kehoe will reprise last year's "boxing" match at Max's, this time WWE-wrestling style. The Brewer's Art will have a sneak preview of their popular <i>St. Festivus</i> holiday beer. DineDowntownBaltimore.com will be offering free samples of Maryland beers and oysters in downtown's Center Plaza; DuClaw will be releasing its 2012 H.E.R.O. charity beer release, a chocolate chipotle stout, at its restaurant locations; and Heavy Seas will have its cask beer dinner at its namesake Ale House in Harbor East. Not to be missed: <a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/show/3rd_annual_homebrew_extravaganza">the Homebrew Extravaganza</a>, for the third year in a row at Little Havana, raising funds for the BARCS animal shelter. For more charity, James Joyce and Flying Dog will have a beer dinner in Harbor East. Raven Beer is teaming up with Center Stage to present a play on Edgar Allan Poe, with Raven beers on draft. Pickle's Pub is serving an Irish Breakfast for dinner, and DuClaw will have the second of its three DuClaw Beer Dinners at its Arundel Mills location.<br />
<br />
<br />Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-69279777604837348092012-10-18T14:51:00.000-04:002012-10-18T14:57:51.547-04:00Baltimore Beer Week: Sneak Previews and Picks<b><a href="http://www.bbweek.com/">ARE YOU READY FOR BALTIMORE BEER WEEK</a>?!?!?!?!</b><br />
<br />
Too bad, because here it comes, ready or not.<br />
<br />
As
with past years, this blog will go over the schedule of nearly 400
events and highlight events worthy of extra consideration, effort, or
admission charge. Be aware that selections are simply a sampling and
personal selection of the events out there, with emphasis on the "new,"
the "different," and the "exotic" or "unique"--a beer dinner at a
restaurant or museum that doesn't normally do beer or dinners, for
example, will get attention over a brewery tap takeover at one of the
"standard" craft beer venues like Max's, Mahaffey's, Metropolitan, the
brewpubs, etc. Also, we're looking for geographic diversity--a beer
event in Ellicott City may appeal more to someone in Columbia than
several beer "tappenings" in Fells Point, as an example.<br />
<br />
Beer
experience can also be a deciding factor. If you are in your early 20s
and new to craft beer, for example, a visit to a "mainstream" beer
festival like those at the Zoo or Victoria Gastro Pub may serve one
better than the Chesapeake Real Ale Festival. Consider cost as well--a
couple inexpensive (or even free) beers may be better for the "starving
artist" or college student, whereas those with good incomes need not
think twice about a $75 beer dinner.<br />
<br />
Finally, be aware that some events, such as the Real Ale Festival and beer dinners, are limited-admission and will sell out.<br />
<br />
The hyperlinks on the dates below will take you to the official list of events for the day:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Baltimore%20Beer%20Week:%20%20Sneak%20Previews%20and%20Picks"><b>FRIDAY the 19th</b>:</a> 36 events. Obviously, the <a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/show/2012_baltimore_beer_week_opening_tap_celebration">Opening Tap Ceremony</a>
and party at the Power Plant Live will start off much of the first
weekend's fun for most people; the ceremonial tapping of the “First
Firkin” from Heavy Seas Beer by Baltimore’s Best BEERtender (selected by
a poll at the BBW website) will get the party started at 6pm, with an
after-party at the adjacent Leinenkugel's Beer Garden after 9 PM. For
those for whom a trip deep downtown doesn't appeal,. there are a
plethora of "happy hour," "tap takeover," and Friday night beer tastings
spread throughout the area. Who officially starts off Baltimore Beer
Week? It all depends who opens their doors first; several venues
normally open at 11 AM on Fridays, including the Wharf Rat, Alexander's
Tavern, and Max's Taphouse in Fells Point, and An Poitin Stil in
Cockeysville (with a Natty Boh Bratwurst Lunch special). Next in the
queue is Mahaffey's in Canton opening at noon, and Big Jim's Deli in the
Cross Street Market offering a "Power Lunch" with Flying Dog Ales.
Alonso's in Roland Park features a Union Craft takeover with a firkin
they assisted in brewing; and Max's reaches out to the "sick of beer"
and gluten-free crowd with a cider tasting at the same time as the
Opening Tap, Hellas in Millersville, Anne Arundel County will offer dueling Heavy Seas and Oskar Blues firkins, and the Heavy Seas Alehouse will have their own event after
the Opening Tap. But don't stay out too late, because you'll need your
rest for.....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT20"><b>SATURDAY the 20th</b></a>: The busiest, most hustling day of the "week," with 48 events. How many festivals do you want? There's <a href="http://of%20the%20%e2%80%9cfirst%20firkin%e2%80%9d%20from%20heavy%20seas%20beer/">the 9th Annual Chesapeake Real Ale Festival</a> at the Pratt Street Ale House downtown, the <a href="http://www.marylandzoo.org/2012/08/oktobearfest/">"OktoBEARfest" fundraiser benefit at the Maryland Zoo</a> in Baltimore's Druid Hill Park, the 11th annual (but "all new") <a href="http://www.pigtownfestival.com/">Pigtown Festival</a> on Washington Avenue west of the stadiums with BBQ and Heavy Seas Beer, and the <a href="http://victoriagastropub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/MBF-2012.pdf">Second Annual Maryland Beer Festival at Victoria Gastro Pub</a>
in Columbia. Out in Abingdon, Friendship Wine & Liquors is
hosting a small beer "fest" for the second year in a row, and in Fells
Point Kooper's Tavern is holding a "Maryland Beer Fest" with a tap
takeover by Maryland breweries. Brewery tours will be held at Heavy
Seas in Halethorpe (advance reservations required), Union Craft Brewing
in Woodberry, and Monocacy Brewing in Frederick. Hop Heads on Pulaski
Highway near Middle River will be having a Hop Fest of hoppy beers all
day and night, and at the opposite end of the spectrum Liam Flynn's Ale
House on North Avenue will be holding its <a href="http://pintsizepub.com/?page_id=1950">No Hops Gruit Ale Competition that evening</a>, with entries from both commercial brewers and homebrewers, with guest "celebrity" judge Bruce Williams of <i>Fraoch Heather Ale</i> fame. The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House will host a homebrew competition as well with cash prizes, and for something different, an <a href="http://www.baltimoreclayworks.org/event/autumn_blaze_fire_festival.html">"Autumn Blaze Fire Festival"</a>
at Baltimore Clayworks in the Mt. Washington Village neighborhood.
Burley Oak's brewers will be "meeting and greeting" at Duda's Tavern in
Fells Point that night. Finally, Of Love & Regret and Brian
Strumke will be <a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/show/the_roast_of_casey_hard">hosting a "celebrity roast"</a> of Max's cellar master Casey Hard (don't fret; he's not going anywhere).<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT21">SUNDAY the 21st</a></b>:: 27 events. The "special" event of the day for the hardcore "geeks" is Stillwater Day at Max's Taphouse with a special release available for purchase only to the first 100-ish folks who line up early, with 20-plus Stillwater and Stillwater-collaboration beers on draft and bottle. Hudson Street Stackhouse will be doing its "Tri-StateTap Takeover" with beers from Heavy Seas, Dogfish Head, and Troeg's; T-Bonz in Ellicott City will be hosting Flying Dog's Freak Show Fest; Kloby's in North Laurel will have a "firkin battle" between Flying Dog and Heavy Seas, while Heavy Seas Ale House will have a "very Berry Special firkin" of some undisclosed sort for the football action. Maryland Homebrew in Columbia will host a women's-only homebrew competition (which all can judge); Alonso's will have a charity fundraiser featuring six New Belgium beers; and Union Craft Brewing will get behind the pins with a Duckpin Day at Stoneleigh Lanes on York Road near the city line, with the namesake Duckpin Pale Ale. In the evening, Key Highway's Little Havana will have a bonfire, Red Brick Station in White Marsh a Chili Smackdown competition, and Blue Grass Tavern in Federal Hill a Beer-versus-Wine Dinner, and Heavy Seas will be a feature of the Haunted Pub Crawl in Fells Point.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT22">MONDAY the 22nd</a>:</b> 39 events. In past years, the Columbus Day holiday allowed many an extra day of sampling or punishment, but not this year. The vast majority of the events this day are tied in to either traditional afternoon "happy hour" (4-7, 5-8, etc. depending on venue) or Monday Night Football. Two notable (and "big-ticket") exceptions: Fleet Street Kitchen in Harbor East will be hosting a Stillwater Beer Dinner, and The Brewer's Art a beer dinner paired with wood-aged beers from New Belgium and the brewery's wooded-beer specialist. If those $90-a-plate dinners are too expensive, The Americana in Canton will offer a $12.50 gourmet grilled cheese sandwich paired with one of 24 drafts. Elliott's Pour House in Highlandtown and Brewer's Cask in Federal Hill will be hosting Beer Trivia Night; JD's Smokehouse will pit East vs. West Coast beers, and Mahaffey's will pit two different staff-brewed firkins against one another. Flying Dog will host a Historic Pub Crawl in Ellicott City with a firkin at Judge's Bench; Dawson's Liquors in White Marsh will be pouring samples from those big "barrel-series" Sam Adams bottles you may have been seeing on the shelves; Hudson Street Stackhouse will feature Evil Twin beers; and Max's will debut Ballast Point beers to Maryland that night.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.baltimorebeerweek.com/events/OCT23">TUESDAY the 23rd</a>: 46 events. (Stay tuned for updates.)<br />
<br />Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-26782998097021564132012-10-18T09:49:00.000-04:002012-10-18T09:49:05.521-04:00Scotland Reclaims Strong Beer Crown, But Not BrewDogThe dubious honor of a record-setting strong beer (using freeze-distillation, as have all other recent contenders to the "crown") swings back to Scotland and <a href="http://www.brewmeister.co.uk/">Brewmeister</a> in Banchory, along the River Dee west of Aberdeen, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2218289/Armageddon-Whats-like-knock-worlds-strongest-beer.html">with a 65% alcohol-by-volume beer, Armageddon. </a> £40.00 ($65) a 330ml bottle, two week waiting period for order fulfillment. The name is an obvious play on BrewDog's <i>The End of History</i> (55%) and Dutch brewery <span class="st">'t Koelschip's "response" </span>from 2010 called <i>Start the Future</i> at 60%.<br />
<br />
The Deeside brewery also make a <i>Deeside Pale Ale</i>, a <i>Lochnagar Spray</i>, and a <i>Blonde</i>. All 4%.Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-64080501591524196582012-10-17T23:37:00.001-04:002012-10-17T23:37:32.177-04:00"b"/Baltimore Sun Selects "Maryland's 20 Best Beers"If you're out getting the usual free weekly papers, you'll notice that the <i>City Paper</i> has the usual center insert pull-out with an almost-complete Baltimore Beer week schedule.<br />
<br />
Not to be outdone, the Baltimore Sun's "b" weekly freebie features a cover story listing its editors' picks of the 20 "best Maryland beers"; <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bthesite/bs-b-marylands-best-beers-pg,0,5170941.photogallery">it's also available as an online "slide show" here.</a><br />
<br />
Disclaimer: I was asked, late in their selection process, to review their preliminary list, and found a great many beers they had missed or had forgotten about. We also had a discussion regarding their restricting the list only to beers that were bottled. Ultimately, it's their list and their methodology ("we kept this list to beers you can find in stores"), so find all the fault you want with them. They honored <i>Oliver Ales/Pratt Street Ale House</i> with a mention with regards to the lack of draft-only beers, but it still seems an afterthought.<br />
<br />
On the one hand, they were smart enough to summarily rescind <i>National Bohemian</i> to "Honorable Mention" status because it's no longer brewed in Maryland. However, they included the recently-revived <i>National Premium</i> (#14), which is brewed at Fordham Brewing in Dover, Delaware.......<br />
<br />
The print edition also includes a "Pumpkin Pick," <i>Heavy Seas Great Pumpkin</i>, which edged out its only real competition, <i>Evolution Jacques au Lantern</i> and Heavy Seas' <i>Greater Pumpkin</i> (the bourbon-barrel-aged version of the Great).<br /><br />Ultimately, any such list, be it by a college newspaper or the Great American Beer Festival, is subjective, and there's enough there to please just about anyone and turn off someone or another. Beer geeks and aficionados may have rated "fancier" or hoppier beers higher and other beers lower, but all in all it's not too bad. I would have subbed <i>Raven Lager</i> for <i>National Premium</i> just on the technicality of the brewing location, but......Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-42960674092040818362012-10-16T19:06:00.001-04:002012-10-16T19:06:06.671-04:00Mark Supik & Co. Profiled in Balto. Sun<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bs-fo-tap-handle-20121016,0,5715582,full.story">I suddenly predict that the Oct. 27th tour of his tap-handle-making shop will be vastly more crowded than the past couple years.</a>Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-91335705812575931322012-10-16T18:52:00.000-04:002012-10-16T18:53:48.790-04:00Transit/Travel Tips for Baltimore Beer Week, 2012 EditionFirst of all, the Baltimore Beer Week Committee encourages you to travel
(and drink) responsibly while partaking of Baltimore Beer Week. Do not drink and
drive. Take a designated driver (many events have discounts and/or special deals for
designated drivers), pool together to take a taxi or van, or ride public
transit. If in doubt, call a cab or have one called for you--even a
long taxi ride is cheaper than a car accident or arrest. Heck, hire a
limo or van if you must--several limos showed up at Baltimore Beer Week
events in 2009 and 2010!<br />
<br />
<b>First things first: BUS and </b><b>RAIL transit (MTA Metro and Light Rail) use for downtown events</b>, especially at the Pratt Street Ale House, <b>is strongly encouraged</b>
whenever possible. <br />
<br />
<b>Downtown Baltimore has a FREE "circulator" shuttle bus service, the </b><a href="http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/"><b>Charm City Circulator</b></a>. Four routes are currently in service: the north-south Purple Route
which operates from Amtrak/MARC's Penn Station south to Federal Hill; the east-west Orange Route, which operates from Hollins Market/the
B&O Museum east to Harbor East; the Green Route
connecting City Hall/Fallsway motels, Harbor East, Fells Point, and
Johns Hopkins Hospital Campus; and the Banner Route, connecting Inner Harbor with Fort McHenry via Fort Avenue. With the Circulator, it's easy--and
free--to ride from Penn Station or downtown hotels to Federal Hill, or
to go from Federal Hill to Mount Vernon or Fells Point. The southeasternmost stop of
the Orange Route (#225 on the maps) is seven blocks from the heart of
Fells Point, approximately a (relatively safe) ten-to-twelve-minute walk; you can also change from the Orange Route to the Green Route in Harbor East. Buses are scheduled to operate every ten minutes during operating hours.<br />
<b>Circulato<b>r</b></b><b> Hours:</b><br />
<b>Monday-Thursday: 6:30am-9:00pm<br />
Friday: 6:30am-midnight<br />
Saturday: 9:00am-midnight<br />
Sunday: 9:00am-9:00pm</b><br />
<br />
<b>The Water Taxi: </b>Baltimore's Inner Harbor is served by <a href="http://www.thewatertaxi.com/">a flotilla of passenger boats called the Water Taxi</a>.
These boats do not just stop when flagged as the name implies, but
operate over designated routes between designated stops like a bus
(weather permitting--strong winds or thunderstorms will suspend
service). Passengers pay <b> </b>a flat $10 day pass (children $5).
Throughout Baltimore Beer Week, Water Taxi service starts at 10 A.M.
every day, and ends at 8 P.M. every day except Friday and Saturday when
service continues to 11 P.M. The Water Taxi can be an ideal way to
travel from downtown locations or Federal Hill to Fells Point or Canton,
especially for the Chesapeake Real Ale Festival!<br />
<br />
<b>Baltimore MTA</b> in general: <a href="http://www.mtamaryland.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mtamaryland.com </a><br />
<b>MTA's Transit Trip Planner</b> (how to get from one address to another via transit)<b>:</b> <a href="http://www.mtamaryland.com/transit/">http://www.mtamaryland.com/transit/ </a><br />
<b>Google Maps</b> <a href="http://maps.google.com/" target="_new">http://maps.google.com</a><br />
<b>MTA City Buses</b>: <a href="http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/bus/">http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/bus/</a> <b> <br />
</b> <b>MTA Light Rail</b> (BWI Airport/Glen Burnie-Downtown-Timonium/Hunt Valley): <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1252505742889">http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/lightrail/</a><b> </b><br />
<b>MTA Metro Subway </b>(Owings Mills-Downtown-Johns Hopkins Hospital)<b>:</b> <a href="http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/subway/">http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/subway/</a><br />
<b>MARC Commuter Rail </b>(weekday only, Perryville-Baltimore-D.C.)<b>:</b> <a href="http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/">http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/ </a> <br />
<b>Baltimore Super Shuttle </b>(airport van): <a href="http://www.supershuttle.com/bal.htm" target="_blank">http://www.supershuttle.com/bal.htm</a><br />
<b>BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport</b>: <a href="http://www.bwiairport.com/" target="_blank">http://www.bwiairport.com</a><br />
<b>DC Airports</b>: <a href="http://metwashairports.com/" target="blank">http://www.metwashairports.com</a><br />
<b>Amtrak </b>(Penn Station, north of Mt. Vernon): <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/" target="_blank">http://www.amtrak.com</a><br />
<b>Greyhound</b> (Terminal between M&T Stadium and I-95): <a href="http://www.greyhound.com/" target="_blank">http://www.greyhound.com</a><br />
<br />
<b>BoltBus</b> (stops next to Penn Station) <a href="http://www.boltbus.com/" target="_new">http://www.boltbus.com</a><br />
<b>Megabus:</b> <a href="http://us.megabus.com/">http://us.megabus.com </a>(NOTE:
Megabus uses White Marsh, Md., northeast of the city proper, as its
stop for the city. Riders can ride downtown on the MTA #35 bus, or they
can just proceed directly to Red Brick Station, the brewpub on The
Avenue at White Marsh.....)<br />
<br />
More Transportation: <a href="http://www.baltconvstr.com/pages/transportation.htm" target="_blank">http://www.baltconvstr.com/pages/transportation.htm</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="black-bold-11">
<b>Baltimore City Taxi Cabs</b><br />
<span class="black-11"> Yellow Cab (410) 685-1212</span><br />
<span class="black-11">Baltimore Taxi Company (410) 327-7777</span><br />
<span class="black-11">Royal Cab (410) 327-0330</span></div>
<div class="black-bold-11">
<b>Anne Arundel County Taxi Cabs</b><br />
<span class="black-11">Cab Connection (410) 766-1000</span></div>
<div class="black-bold-11">
<b>Baltimore County Taxi Cabs</b><br />
<span class="black-11">County Cab (410) 339-0000<br />
Jimmy’s Cab (410) 296-7200</span></div>
<div class="black-bold-11">
<b>Howard County Taxi Cabs</b><br />
<span class="black-11">Columbia Taxi Service (240) 210-6688</span></div>
<div class="black-bold-11">
<b>Downtown Hotels:</b> <a href="http://www.bccenter.org/about/map.html" target="_blank">http://baltimore.org/hotels-and-accommodations/</a></div>
<br />
General hints: An MTA Day Pass, good for all modes, is $3.50--cheaper
if you're a senior. It's only thirty cents more than the cost of two
bus trips, or
any round trip on the subway or Light Rail, so it's best to get said
pass if
you anticipate any use other than a simple round trip. Baltimore has
also instituted a "smart card" electronic card reader program called the
<i>Charm Card</i>, similar to Washington DC's SmartCard; in fact, they
are interchangeable, and DC's SmartCards will work on Baltimore's MTA
and even carry over cash balances between systems.<br />
<br />
Routes: If you're trying to get to Fells Point from downtown or vice versa, you
should seek out the #10 bus line, which drops you off at the Broadway
Market at Broadway and Eastern, three short blocks from Max's and less
than that for Alexander's, etc. The #11 route also stops in Fells
Point at Broadway and Aliceanna. Bus routes 7, 11, and 13 will get you
to various points around Canton, with varying success depending on
your origin and exact destination. Routes 1 and 64 will get you to
Federal Hill, with the former also getting you to Locust Point.
Several routes will get you between downtown and Mount Vernon/Station
North/Penn Station, including the 3, 11, and 64; simply remember that
Charles Street is one-way northbound and the streets to either side east
and west (St. Paul and Maryland/Cathedral/Light) are one-way
southbound. <b> Light
Rail can get you from the north and south to Pratt Street Ale House for the Real Ale Fest
on the 20th, and can also be useful for Alewife, The Brewer's Art, and other downtown locations. </b> <br />
<br />
Try the MTA Trip Planner at: <a href="http://www.mtamaryland.com/transit/">http://www.mtamaryland.com/transit/ </a>
Enter a start and destination address and time you plan to start, and
the website calculates the best (or several optional) ways to get
between the two points by MTA, even including walking between connecting
routes if need be.Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.com1