Random Beer Roundup - The Weather Looks Great Edition

Congratulations to Knights Rod and Jess on their Gold medal win from last weekends Brewers Cup. Congratulations to the rest of the homebrewers and professionals who took home medals for their beer also.

Welcome to the weekend, we hope to see you at the Microbrewer's Festival. If you go, be sure to stop by the Firkin tent near the band. At least one of us should be there at any given time. Stop by, try one of the great beers, and be sure to say hello. If you haven't had a chance to check the weather forecast for Saturday, it looks like it is going to be pretty nice. Hopefully it stays that way, but who knows?

If you have news for the next edition of the Roundup, submit it to hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com.

So, grab your Microbrewer's Festival tickets, this is the Random Beer Roundup.

Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change

Friday, July 17th at Optimist Park in Indianapolis:
Brewers of Indiana Guild VIP Dinner

Friday, July 17th at Chumley's in Broad Ripple starting at 7pm:
Indy Microbrewers Fest Kick Off (details below)

Saturday, July 18th at Optimist Park in Indianapolis:
14th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival. You can purchase tickets online here.

Tuesday, July 21st at Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks in Zionsville at 6:30 pm:
Summer Beer Buffet - Six course beer dinner (details below)

Thursday, July 23rd at Deano's Vino in Fountain Square:
Beer Dinner with Upland - $30 for a four course meal with Upland beer pairings - RSVP by July 20

Various Dates and Locations in August - Scotty's Brewhouse Beer Dinners (Details below)

Saturday, August 22nd:
The Hoosier Beer Geek 3rd Anniversary Party, Sun King Brewing Co. Tickets are limited and can be purchased from Brown Paper Tickets.

Saturday, August 22nd at Crown Brewing in Crown Point:
Crown Challenge - PRO AM Brewing Competition (Details below)

Saturday, September 12th, from 7-10pm at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend:
Zoo Brew, beer tasting event, tickets on sale August 1, $30 in advance; more info here.

Saturday, September 26th at Crown Brewing Co. in Crown Point - 2nd Annual Oktoberfest - Outdoor event, Live Music, Food, etc

What's Brewing

From our Good Friend, Ted, at Brugge in Broad Ripple/Terre Haute:

transferring Bruno today Voyageur tomorrow

*What I think Ted meant is that there is beer at Brugge and you should come and drink it.

From Matthew at Rock Bottom Brewery Downtown

On Tuesday, July 28th, we will be holding our BrewMasters Charity Golf Tournament as a fundraising event specifically for the Miracle on Washington Street. First of all, we’re looking for golfers to participate in the event! If you or anyone you know is interested in joining us for one of the best golf outings in Indianapolis, we’d love to have you! You can go to our Web site at www.rockbottom.com for more information, or download the event registration brochure at http://www.rockbottomrestaurantsinc.com/RBFoundation/1062golfbrochure.pdf.

A little about the Miracle on Washington...each year on Christmas Day, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in Downtown Indianapolis holds the Miracle on Washington Street, an event designed to offer more than 500 homeless and displaced guests from Indianapolis-area shelters and non-profit organizations an extraordinary dining and holiday experience. Our honored guests are provided complimentary transportation, are seated at tables dressed in white linen tablecloths and napkins, silverware and china, and enjoy a traditional holiday meal complete with all of the trimmings. We offer gifts of warm adult and children’s clothing, children's books and toys. Professional photographers are on-hand to provide family portraits and pictures with Santa, cell phones to call loved ones, and more than 100 volunteers to make sure each guest’s needs are provided for. Our event is designed to fulfill our belief that everyone deserves a Christmas to remember.

From Greg at Lafayette Brewing Co. in Lafayette:

On tap: Ouiatenon Wit; Prophet's Rock Pale Ale; East Side Bitter; Pipers' Pride Scottish Ale; Tippecanoe Common Ale; Eighty-Five; Weeping Hog IPA and Black Angus Oatmeal Stout. We also have Weeping Hog IPA available on cask.

LBC is proud to announce that our Tippecanoe Common Ale has received a medal for the third consecutive year in the Indiana State Fair Brewers Cup competition. The TCA took home the bronze medal in the amber hybrid category this year after receiving 2 consecutive golds in '07 & '08. We're quite pleased with the high level of consistency we've achieved with our best-selling beer!

Hope to see a great turn-out for the Indiana Microbrewers Festival this weekend. Look for some 10-year-old Big Boris Barleywine to make an appearance along with our Tippecanoe Common Ale; Black Angus Oatmeal Stout; Eighty-Five and a firkin of Double Dry Hopped Tippecanoe Common Ale.

From Adam at Crown Brewing in Crown Point:

ATTENTION ALL HOMEBREWERS!!!

Crown Brewing is pleased to announce that it will be having its first ever "Crown Challenge" PRO-AM .

EVENT DATE = August 22nd
BEER SUBMISSION DATE = August 19th
REGISTRATION FEE = $5.00

The competition is open to homebrews only.
No entries brewed with professional assistance, on professional equipment, or at a commercial brewery are eligible.

For all rules, regulation and to download a registration form, please visit, CrownBrewing.com

At the Bar

From Dustin at Spencers Stadium Tavern:

This year the brewers of Indiana decided to brew an Alt Beer. Come down to the Tavern and sample the beers side by side. Thursday July 23rd @ 7 PM. We are hoping to have between 6 and 8 beers to taste.

We are the FIRST place to have SUN KING Beer on Draft. We are currently featuring Sun King American Pale Ale. A nice session pale ale.

We also will be selling Sun King beer To Go in 1/2 Gallon Growlers.

New Growler $12

Refill $8

From Lauren at Scottys Brewhouse:

Scotty’s Brewhouse Beer Dinners ($25 Tickets in Advance)
• Tuesday, August 4: Downtown Indianapolis, 6 – 8pm - Sam Adams Brewing Company.
• Thursday, August 6: West Lafayette, 6 – 8pm – Bell’s Brewing Company.
• Tuesday, August 11: Muncie, 6 – 8pm – Magic Hat Brewing Company.
• Thursday, August 13: North Side Indianapolis, 6 – 8pm – Sun King Brewing Company.
• Monday, August 17: Bloomington, 6 – 8pm – New Belgium Brewing Company.
Each beer dinner includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, and of course brew! Log on to www.scottysbrewhouse.com for more information!

From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen in Zionsville:

SUMMER BEER BUFFET TUESDAY, JULY 21 - 6:30 PM

Boom Boom Shrimp - Fried shrimp coated in a spicy sauce
-Victory Hop Devil-Menacingly delicious, with the powerful aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts.

Beer Brats - Grilled and served with onions and peppers
-Spaten Dunkel-Easily drinkable with a pronounced malt palate.

Portly Pork Loin - Sliced pork loin in a luscious port/gorgonzola sauce
-Brooklyn Brown Ale-Complex malt flavor, fruity, smooth, and rich, with a caramel, chocolate, and coffee background.

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms - Charbroiled and served with red wine sauce
-Belhaven Scottish Ale-Its sweet ruby mix of malt and hops pampers and primes the palate, preparing you for a smooth creamy finish.

Chicken Orzo Salad - Herb-roasted chicken breast with orzo pasta, in a light olive oil-lemon dressing.
-WITTEKERKE BELGIAN WHITE ALE-Light, crisp, and refreshing, and although the hoppy bitterness is an underlying taste, it is never dominant.

BETH'S Red Velvet Cake - Rich red devil's food cake with snowy buttercream frosting.
-westmall dubble trappist ale-Deeply malty, with a subtle and dry finish that hints at tropical fruit.

From Matt & Elizabeth at Old Town Ale House in Fishers:

We've got Beer School #2 just around the corner: Thursday , July 30th at 7 p.m. This month's topic is "IPA's" $10 includes beer & appetizers. Call 841-0800 to reserve your spot.

Here's what's on draft at the Ale House this week:

Founder’s Pale Ale ……….……………. 4
Sea Dog Blueberry Ale ………………... 4
Berghoff Blond …..…………….….…….… 4
Fat Tire.............................................4
Bell’s Two Hearted ………………….……... 5
Bell’s Oberon …………………….………... 5
Three Floyds Robert The Bruce ……..….. 5
Victory Prima Pils …………....…………… 5
Two Brothers Domaine Dupage .........….. 5
Original Sin ……………...………...………. 5
Stone Smoked Porter …….……….......…. 5
Three Floyds Pride & Joy ....................... 5
Goose Island Fleur …………………….…. 5
Stone Levitation ……………….……….…. 6
Hebrew RIPA …….………………….…...... 6
Hebrew Rejewvenator ……………………. 6
Great Divide Saison …..……..….………... 6
Boulder Flashback Anniversary Ale ........ 6
Dreadnaught IPA ..……..………….…..….. 9*
Stone IRS .……………………..….……... 10*
*excluded from Tuesday & Wed. pint night special

Carry Out

From Gabe at Goose the Market in Indianapolis:

Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA (singles)
Founders Old Curmudgeon (singles avail.)
Founders Double Trouble (singles avail.)
Great Divide 15th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA
Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Clipper City Heavy Seas The Big DIPA
Brasserie Dupont Moinette Blonde
Hitachino Nest Weizen
Stone 13th Anniversary
Stone Cali-Belgie
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Stone Old Guardian Barleywine
Scaldis Refermentee

From Todd at Keg Liquors:

Great Divide Oak Aged Chocolate Yeti
Great Divide 15th Anniversary - Barrel aged Double IPA
Great Divide Double Wit
Shipyard Pugsley’s Signature Series XXXX IPA

From Kirk at Mr G's in Noblesville:

Great Divide 15th Anniversary 22 oz $8.99
Great Divide Chocolate Yeti 22 oz $10.99
Clipper City Big DIPA 22 oz $5.99

News, Reviews, and Gossip

From Mat at Cavalier Distribution:

Chumley’s 838 Broadripple Avenue - Indy Microbrewers Fest Kick Off, Friday, July 17

Last reminder about the 2nd annual night before the Micro brew fest at Chumley's Friday night 5 amazing kegs tapped each hour from 7 to 11! Many of the brewery reps for these kegs should be there as well!

7:00 Two Brothers Hop Juice
8:00 Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale
9:00 Hebrew Barrel aged RIPA
10:00 Founders Maple Mt. Brown
11:00 Left Hand Oak aged Imperial Stout

looking forward to warming everyone up for Saturday

Micro brew fest special keg tapping schedule

tapping at
3:00 *** He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA Barrel Aged 5gal keg
3:30 Great Divide 15 Ann. wood aged Dbl IPA 5 gal keg
5:30 Clipper City Big DIPA 5.2 Gal Keg ***** 5 lbs of hops per Brl - the hoppiest beer in the fest ...

3:00 *** Founders Old Curmudgeon 5 gal keg
4:00 Founders Devil Dancer 5 Gal. keg
5:00 Founders Barrel Aged Red's Rye PA5 keg
6:00 Founders KBS 5 gal keg

4:30 Two Brothers Brewing Company Oh Brother Triple 5 Keg
5:30 Two Brothers Brewing Company Cane and Eble 5 Keg

4:30 Left Hand Sawtooth Firkin *** Special tapping

*** Tapped and ready to go when gates open when they are gone they are gone


Brewery reps at the fest

Melissa Komadina, Hebrew
Dave Egbers, Founders
Mike Walters, Lefthand with the Moo Mobile
Aaron Tyrell, Stone Brewing

Be sure to stop by their tables and say hello to them.

Two Hoppiest beers at the fest

As best as I can tell the Clipper City Big DIPA (to be tapped at 5:30) at 5 pounds of hops per brl and Stone 13th Anniv Ale (on tap from the start until it is gone) at 4.5 pounds of hops per brl will be the two hoppiest beers the fest. Make sure to get a taste of both.

New in this week

A truck from Left Hand (thanks to shipping guru Eric Carter) arrived at the Cavalier warehouse today with the Sawtooth firkin for the fest as well as some goodies from Longmont, CO. New to Indiana is 6 packs of Jackmans Pale Ale and Nitro Milk Stout kegs!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at Chumley's and the Fest.

Bob O. at Indianabeer has full information for World Class Beverages' Hopapalooza line-up for the festival next weekend. The list of beers is below.

Brewery	Beer
21st Amendment	Brew Free or Die IPA
Abita Brewing	Jockamo IPA
Atwater Brewery	Salvation IPA
Avery Brewery	Hog Heaven
Avery Brewery	Maharaja
Avery Brewery	IPA
Bell's Brewery	IPA
Boulevard Brewery	Double Wide IPA
Dark Horse Brewing	Double Crooked Tree IPA
Dogfish Head Brewery	120 Minute IPA
Firestone Walker	Double Barrel Pale Ale
Firestone Walker	Union Jack
Flying Dog Brewery	Double Dog Double Pale Ale
Harpoon Brewery	IPA
Harpoon Brewery	Leviathan IPA
Hoppin' Frog Brewery	Mean Manalishi
Lagunitas Brewing	Hop Stoopid
Lost Coast Brewery	Indica IPA
Ninkasi Brewing	Total Domination IPA
Ninkasi Brewing	Believer Double Red
North Coast	Red Seal IPA
Port Brewing	Wipe Out IPA
Port Brewing	Hop 15
Rogue Brewing	Double Dead Guy
Schlafly Brewing	Export IPA
Victory Brewery	Hop Wallop

Knight Chris found talks of a new Bells DIPA - The Oracle.

11 Things A New Beer Festival Visitor Should Know

Summer weekends are usually jam-packed with beer festivals across the country. This is a great way to introduce new beers and beer styles to both seasoned veterans and new craft beer drinkers. While the seasoned veterans may already know how it works, the new craft beer festival attendee may find it simply overwhelming. With experience on both sides of the tap handles, we've hopefully come up with a helpful guide for a beginner.

At these festivals it's usually really hot and you find yourself in long lines, sometimes not even being really sure what the line is for. You get up to the table and all of a sudden you need to make a decision. You've heard of the brewery, but you are not sure about the beers they offer. What beer should you pick? The simple answer is that if you are not sure, just ask.

If this is your (or your friends) first time to a beer festival, dress comfortable and arrive early. The lines to get in are usually quite long.

Here are 10 more tips that may make your first-time experience more enjoyable.

1. Do not say "Give me the lightest thing you have". This phrase is too vague to be helpful in any kind of way. Do you mean lightest in color or lightest in alcohol? If you are not clear, you may end up with a Tripel (upwards of 10% alcohol) when you really wanted a Pilsner (usually around 4-5% alcohol). If you are not sure what to get, let the server know that you are new to craft beer and are not familiar with all the styles.

2. Do not go up to a merchandise booth and ask what beers they have. Be aware of your surroundings and of where you are. If you are oblivious to the fact that there are no taps, bottles, or coolers on the table, you may want to rethink getting another beer at all.

3. If there is a long line behind you, do not stand around after your beer is poured and offer your thoughts. Get you beer and move out of the tent. Enjoy the beer with your friends out of the way of others.

4. Do not be mean to people pouring your beer. Better yet, do not be mean to anyone. There are lots of people moving around trying to get somewhere. Sometimes your server is a volunteer, sometimes it's the brewer. Some of these people work in beer for a living - try and imagine what it would be like for you to go to work and all of your co-workers were drunk.

5. Either know a little bit about beer, or be open-minded. We've heard stories or actually have seen people throwing their beer at the server because it had sediment in it. Please do not do this under any circumstance.

6. It is not a race to see how much beer you can drink. You will not be able to try everything, so take time to enjoy what you do get. Take advantage of the food offerings and drink some water once in a while. You may think that a couple hours is not enough time, but it really is.

7. Be prepared for long lines for the restrooms. The whole festival is about beverage intake, after all. Just get a beer, get in line and wait your turn. Don't cut in line, don't shout at people, and for the love of god - DO NOT TIP THE PORT-A-POTTY OVER. If you are germ-weary, bring hand sanitizer. Sometimes the paper towels/water runs out. Often the restrooms are beyond disgusting.

8. If you smoke, please do not do it inside the tents. For some people, smoke = gross = no beer enjoyment. Smoke outside, then place your butt in a proper receptacle (proper receptacle does not equal the ground).

9. Do not ask for more beer after the festival has ended. And as the old bar adage goes...You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

10. Get a designated driver, go somewhere else and sober up, or rent a hotel. Sometimes a hotel is not an option. Anticipate for this and make necessary arrangements.

We want everyone has a safe, enjoyable experience and we would like to see you again at the next event.

KOTBR #79 - Apocalypse Cow

It's not all that often that you hear about a Double IPA brewed with lactose. Clearly when we heard about this and its tapping at the Downtown Indianapolis Buffalo Wild Wings, we knew what our next roundtable would be. We made a few calls, got the band back together, and headed out for a night on the town. One problem remained: we had no idea what kind of wacky gimmick we should employ to keep this fresh and entertaining for our readers. Unfortunately, as you're about to see, we didn't have any good ideas. I now present to you the COWS OF THE APOCALYPSE.



Greetings from California! I've had this beer when I visited a little pub in Carlsbad. Now, I know that a cow in a brewpub may not be common, but we cows enjoy a libation from now and again, just like you bipeds. Besides, the farmer lets us. He tells us that it will help relax our muscles, make them more tender or something. Now if that isn't the nicest thing, no wonder we're so happy. Anyway, I chose this beer because it had an old college girlfriend of mine on the label. Ol' "One-Eyed Bessie" we called her. She wasn't a looker, but she was a nice gal. All she talked about was going into the military, and something about a red button. I don't know whatever happened to her, but drinking this beer brought back all kinds of memories of our time in college. When we went to school in Indiana, we drank loads of Gumballhead. This beer reminds me of that, but much creamier and with more alcohol. There are grapefruit and piney flavors and the mouthfeel is thick and just a touch resin-like. I hope to get back to that place soon; they have the best cheeseburger pizza! I wish I knew what was in those meatballs. They were wonderful.

Well, I have to go. The farmer is telling me I'm going to a place called processing! I wonder where that is?

Hello, I'm Vienna Schwarzencow, the bovine BGH muscle machine from Austria. I love all those BGH horomones and pumped up steroids we get to increase our milk and cheese production for the masses. Since I am extreme, I need for my beer to be extreme and out of the ordinary. I reach for FFF's, you know, since they are not normal, just like a cow that types a message onto a beer blog or a cow that can pump out 40% more milk than nature intended. I came out for the keg tapping of this DIPA that has had lactose added, and knew that I needed to try something that my udders had a part in. One of my favorite beers from FFF's is fresh Dreadnaught and this has the same flavor profile with ripe mangos, passion fruit, pine, and plenty of citrus notes. The mouthfeel is thick and full and I can really tell what that lactose has done for this beer, and there is a malty sweetness that balances out those hops. This was a real treat and udderly delicious.



Straight from the mouth of Chicago's most famous cow--

I was blamed for one of the most destructive fires in history. But history has vindicated me. Similarly, when Nick Floyd started up his Chicagoland brewery in 1996, people weren't quite sure what to expect. I'm sure many doubted that he would succeed. But history, too, has vindicated Mr. Floyd with his highly-regarded beers, so I feel that I'm a kindred spirit with him. And wouldn't you know it--he even brewed a beer with a cow on the label!

Mr. Floyd's Apocalypse Cow provides the drinker with a conflagration of flavor. An incendiary combination of caramel-like malt, citrusy hops, and lactose produce a peachy DIPA with a wonderfully creamy finish. Yes, it's a bonfire of grapefruit and sugary goodness. Mr. Floyd has lit the fuse with this beer. Mooooove over, Hopslam. You have company.



It's my fault that you're now reading reviews written by famous cows - it was my dumb idea. As it turns out, there really aren't all that many famous cows, and even if you find one, pretending to be a cow writing a beer review isn't nearly as entertaining as it might seem. So instead of that, here are some cow facts from my favorite website (Facts About Cows) that you may not know - and I'll try to tie them back to the beer.

1) Cows are referred to as the foster mothers of the human race because they produce most of the milk that people drink.

In my house, Three Floyds beers are often referred to as the Cindy Crawford's mole of the refrigerator because they're always lurking there on the bottom shelf and turning me on in a weird way that I shouldn't share with strangers on the internet.

2) Before milking machines were invented in 1894, farmers could only milk about six cows per hour. Today, farmers use machines to milk more than 100 cows per hour.

Before selling off their old filler, Three Floyds could fill just two bottles of beer per hour. Although many people think the beer's popularity contributes to the all-to-common sight of no Gumballhead on store shelves, the truth is that the old filler was the culprit. Luckily, with new machines, they are now able to fill not only their own bottles, but also the bottles of babies, milkmen, and perfumists. Stay tuned for Chanel's new Alpha Coco.

3) A cow chews her cud (regurgitated, partially digested food) for up to eight hours each day.

Some people say that Nick Floyd does the same thing with the souls of lesser brewers.

Anyway... the beer of review: Apocolypse Cow has a head like tapioca, with a nose that's like an orange-flavored Gumballhead. The first thing I noticed was the creamy texture, followed by grassy fruit and a sweet finish. The beer is bitter and slightly funky, like close to expiration date milk. There's also a bitterness there that lives right in the middle of the palate. "F*cking weird" is the last thing I wrote.

Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow
[MattR 4.55] [Mike 3.49] [Jim 4.75] [Gina 4.05] [Jess 3.2] [Chris 4.2] [Rod 3.5]
KOTBR Score - 3.96 Mugs




Chris' table before they realized we stuck them with the tab.

KOTBR #78: Lafayette, we are here!

On the way up to Purdue country, I confessed my desire to ask every bartender we met about their favorite combination for a boilermaker. I mean, Purdue is home to the Boilermakers. Certainly, even the craft beer joints have been asked to make a boilermaker for some annoyingly drunk alum at some point.

What craft beer and what whiskey would go great together, I pondered. I was hoping for some wild suggestions. But of the two joints we hit, neither had been asked to make a boilermaker before. The Lafayette Brewing Company doesn't even serve whiskey at its main bar (they do on the second floor, which is set up for events, concerts, etc.).

A bit disappointing? Yes. Did it stop us from marching on? Not at all. Our first stop: Lafayette Brewing Company (622 Main Street, Lafayette, IN, http://www.lafayettebrewingco.com/), where Greg and company have been producing craft beer since 1993. This is my third trip to LBC; this is the first for Mike and Gina.

Gina commented, "I love Lafayette Brewing Company's cozy atmosphere." When we visited, the restaurant and bar were full of warm colors and wood finishes. The long bar faces an antique back bar complete with mirrors, perfect for people watching. While sitting at the bar, to your left you can watch the brewmasters perform their trade through a set of windows.

You would certainly call this a pub. It has all the feel of an English establishment, but on a larger scale. Families are served from the dining room side of LBC and the entire venue is non-smoking.

Before we talk about the beers (which is the reason we are here to begin with), I want to talk about the people. As we all know, a good bar or brewpub is more than a physical space and a collection of alcoholic beverages. It is also about people.

People behind the bar, like Kelly, who was very friendly and knowledgeable. And people at the bar, like James.


James is a well-known regular. He's Irish ex-pat who is a professor at Purdue. Mention the professor to bar staff or regulars, and they will know who you are talking about immediately. James likes his beers. And his engineering background leads him to do some things many of us don't do.


For example, he carries with him a flexible thermometer. This particular thermometer is designed to wrap around glasses and give the temperature of the contents within. It is normally used by those who enjoy wine. But he likes to use it on his pints of beer.


This particular beer (I believe it to be the "Eighty Five") comes up between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. That's about 60 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit to you and me. Does that tell us a whole lot? Not necessarily. It's just interesting (and James likes his beer cooler than what you stereotypically expect from an Irishman).

Along with the fascinating quirks, he also was a great resource for identifying beers to try (he recommends blending the Eighty-Five and the Prophet's Rock Pale Ale...unfortunately, the latter was not on tap during our visit) and places to visit (along with Lafayette's Black Sparrow, Knickerbocker, Chumley's, and West Lafayette's Scotty's Brewhouse, he suggested we check out Preston's, which reportedly always has Bell's Two Hearted on tap...unfortunately, we did not hit all of them; a list for a future visit!).

So if you are at LBC, and you see the good professor (and you like to talk to people, like I do), be sure to strike up a conversation with James.

Okay, on to the beers...


Between the regular, seasonal, speciality, and cask conditioned beers, there were around a dozen originals to choose from. We sampled all, but elected to fully explore and review a few. Among them, LBC's most popular beer:

Tippecanoe Common Ale.

So popular, in fact, that they didn't have any on tap. But LBC is bottling two of their beers for carry out consumption. One is Black Angus Oatmeal Stout. The other, thankfully, is Tippecanoe Common Ale. There is a reason why it is so popular: it is delicious. This is one of those beers that are well balanced between hops and malts. But it isn't lacking in Amarillo hops, even in the bottle. I've had the Ale on tap before. There is an ever so slight loss in hops when bottled, but not so much that you really notice unless you are really focused. When the bottled variety eventually makes it way across the state, you will see it in frequent rotation in my beer fridge. 4.0 Mugs

Gina: Poured from the bottle, this easy drinking and exceptionally tasty beer had a nice full-bodied mouthfeel. I am glad we picked some up for home enjoyment. 3.8 Mugs

Mike: The Tippecanoe Common Ale is LBC's best selling beer, and it's easy to see why. Hints of grapefruit-like hops are nicely balanced with a tasty caramel back, giving you a hoppy yet complex and extremely sessionable red ale. We all liked this one, and luckily it's bottled, so we were able to bring some home. 4.2 Mugs


Eighty-Five

Gina: We had this both on draft and from a firkin. The draft version was a nice balance of a footy hop aroma and tasted quite malty. The firkin was a less footy version with a full body and citrusy aroma and flavor. I enjoyed both but the firkin pour was spectacular. 3.25 Mugs - draft, 3.85 Mugs - firkin

Mike: Eighty-Five is LBC's "American Ale", but I'd say it easily works as an IPA. The beer is heavily hopped with both Centennial and Cascade hops, giving it a big bitter bite and an almost syrupy hop flavor. I like a bit more malt in my beer, but this one was still enjoyable and worth revisiting. 3.3 Mugs - draft, 3.58 Mugs - firkin

Jason: After having publicly proclaimed that I did not like hoppy beers on a popular craft beer podcast almost three years ago, I've done a complete one-eighty. Or perhaps a one-eighty-five? All puns aside, I'm big on hops. And Eighty-Five doesn't disappoint. I liked this so much, I considered buying the LBC '85' hockey jersey. Anyway, the Cascade hops standout in the draft version. The grapefruit/citrus aroma stands out. We were lucky enough to be there when they brought out a firkin of Eighty-Five. It looked of orange juice, with a more concentrated citrus aroma to boot. There were more bitters, but there were also more sour flavors, which I'm not a big fan of (in three years, I suspect I'll be the biggest sour beer fan in the world). 4.15 Mugs - draft; 3.85 Mugs - firkin.


As I mentioned before, we sampled other LBC beers, but did not rate them at this time. A sinister excuse to come back up for another roundtable. But here are our notes for your consideration...

Mike:
Piper's Pride - The Piper's Pride Scottish Ale poured a woody amber color and had roasty malt elements that brought to mind smoke and oreo cookies. While that might not sound like an appetizing combination, the thinner mouthfeel meant that this was an extremely easy to drink and tasty brew.

Jason:
Piper's Pride - This beer made me think of smoke (like hickory, not cigarettes) and gingerbread cookies. The bitterness in this beer jumps up as it warms. This would be a great winter beer.

Weeping Hog IPA - On draft, this seems like a light version of an IPA. The Eighty-Five is definitely hoppier. But the cask version is very tasty. Like most places, if there is a cask conditioned version available, get it!

Dog Days - LBC's version of a summer lager, it was named for the public art display in Lafayette and West Lafayette. This has a fuller flavor and mouthfeel than you would expect from a lager. This is better than most that I have had and serves well, even at room temperature.

Gina:
Ouiatenon Wit Bier - A very nice and wheaty beer that could stand up to the hottest of summer days. We had a discussion about the name of this beer, and I asked if it had anything to do with yes and no, but wikipedia says no...the name "Ouiatenon" is a French rendering of the name in the Wea language, waayaahtanonki, meaning "place of the whirlpool".

Black Angus Oatmeal Stout - A smoky English-style stout beer with plenty of oatmeal and chocolate hints.

Weeping Hog IPA - This reminded me of a peach soaked in vodka in the best possible way. Really nice! We also tried this on cask and I believe Greg said the IPA's were made with different malts.


After LBC, we moved down the street to the Black Sparrow Pub (223 Main Street, Lafayette, IN, http://www.blacksparrowpub.com/). Bar manager John has been regularly submitting tap updates to our Random Beer Roundup, and we've been nothing but impressed. The Black Sparrow opened in 2007 and has become a favorite of beer geeks, foodies, and fans of classic cocktails. John and his bartender Brad (don't call them "mixologists"...they're bartenders) will shake up a number of quality classic cocktails. When I say classic, I mean they searched out recipes from before Prohibition. Drinks like the Aviation, the Bourbon Flip, the New York Sour, the Sparrow Sidecar, and the Tequila Swizzle. Even if you aren't ordering up one of these drinks, sit at the bar and watch them work. It is an art in itself.


The tap menu is constantly changing, as the chalkboard shows. And there is a large selection of bottled beers as well. There is some overlap between the clientele between LBC and the Black Sparrow (in fact, we bumped into John earlier at the LBC bar), but as the night goes on, the crowd changes a bit from the downtown worker and dweller crowd (like Diane, Esq.) to a younger, hipper cocktail crowd. The bar also allows smoking after 10pm.

From the eight excellent taps, we opted to review two beers. First up...


Three Floyds Munsterfest
Mike: How glad I was to see this on tap. The only problem I have with Three Floyds beers is that taking a chance on a $10+ bomber of them can be risky. Even if I'm paying $7 for a pint (and I have no idea what we paid for this one, but I'm guessing it wasn't cheap), that seems much more reasonable.

I picked up a combination of green apple and milk in the nose of this beer, elements that were echoed when taking a drink. A creamy mouthfeel, with sweet and syrupy apple cider elements... this is probably a beer better suited for cold weather. This is also pretty mild for a Floyds beer - but I'm not complaining. 3.10 Mugs

Jason: I get a sweet combination of apple flavors and aromas, making this, for me, an apple cider-flavored beer. Which is great. This is a fall or harvest season beer. It was also lacking that big, huge punch of alcohol and hops that you usually expect from Three Floyds. 3.45 Mugs

Gina: Those cocktails look like fun. I want to review a cocktail. What? We're reviewing beers? You're no fun. 3.0 Mugs


Great Divide Belgica:
Mike: Great Divide Belgica is classified as a Belgian-style IPA, and lives up to that description. The beer has a saison-like peppery start, with the trademark Belgian complexity and flowery elements. But the beer finishes not too bitter, reminding you of its IPA roots. My notes say "a tongue twister". 3.70 Mugs

Jason: This is by far an interesting hybrid beer. It is appropriately listed as Belgian first and IPA second. It was enjoyable, with tons of Belgian beer flavor and nose, but I was disappointed by a lacking in the IPA department. If they didn't call it an IPA, would I have rated it higher? Maybe. But it is worth trying anyway. 3.4 mugs

Gina: You guys suck. I want a cocktail. 3.15 mugs

LBC Tippecanoe Common Ale (bottle)
Jason 4.0 Mugs Gina 3.8 Mugs Mike 4.2 Mugs
KOTBR Score - 4.00 Mugs

LBC Eighty-Five (draft)
Jason 4.15 Mugs Gina 3.25 Mugs Mike 3.3 Mugs
KOTBR Score - 3.57 Mugs

LBC Eighty-Five (firkin)
Jason 3.85 Mugs Gina 3.85 Mugs Mike 3.58 Mugs
KOTBR Score - 3.76 Mugs

Three Floyd's Munsterfest (draft)
Jason 3.45 Mugs Gina 3.0 Mugs Mike 3.1 Mugs
KOTBR Score - 3.18 Mugs

Great Divide Belgica (draft)
Jason 3.4 Mugs Gina 3.15 Mugs Mike 3.7 Mugs
KOTBR Score - 3.42 Mugs

The Hoosier Beer Geek 6 Pack: Mikkel Bjergsø of Mikkeller

The Hoosier Beer Geek 6 Pack is a feature where we run six questions by the folks behind the scenes at breweries to get a little more insight into what they do and like and how they got their start.

If you've been reading HBG for a while, then the following brewer needs no introduction. From our 2008 Beer of the Year, to our Craft Beer Breakfast and our Mikkeller Marathon roundtable review, we've never hidden the fact that we're huge fans of the work of Mikkel Bjergsø. It's with great pleasure we present this 6 pack interview.

1) The first thing we normally ask in these interviews is your name, age, location, and the name of the brewery you work for.

Mikkel Bjergsø, 33, Copenhagen - Denmark, Mikkeller

2) Your story is interesting in that you and your friend Kristian Klarup Keller started as bottling homebrewers, gained a reputation for doing great beer, and then the distributors started calling. Was it that simple? And how did you convince a professional brewery to let them let you use their equipment?

Yep, it's actually that simple. Having homebrewed for three years we started selling small batches of beer from my brother's shop in Copenhagen, Denmark. Suddenly these beers showed up in different parts of the world and got some great reviews on beer sites like Ratebeer and BeerAdvocate. Our small batches started selling out in a matter of hours and we thought it would be fun to get a wider distribution. Instead of following the trend in Denmark and opening our own brewery we contacted a few breweries in Denmark asking them for the possibility of renting their equipment and brewing our beer. We wanted to keep our jobs and did not want to take huge loans, as it often affects the quality of the beer you produce. If you have a 2 million dollar debt it's hard not to compromise to sell more beer. The breweries we contacted thought we were crazy, but we convinced some of them to let us use their equipment.

3) You went from homebrewer to Danish Brewery of the Year pretty much instantly, and were ranked as the 6th best brewery in the world by Ratebeer.com in the course of a year. Where does that come from? To read that--and I'm not looking to embarrass or flatter you--but you'd have to think, "Well this guy must be some sort of genius." At what point did you realize, "Maybe I really have a gift for this?"

To me it's not that hard! I started brewing beer at home as I thought something was missing in Denmark. Ten years ago we started getting a lot of new breweries here, but due to the mentioned big loans, they pretty much all brewed the same boring pale ale, pilsner, weissbier, etc., in order to sell a lot of beer. The Danish public weren't ready for out-of-this-world beer styles. I looked over to the U.S. and found breweries like Three Floyds, Stone, Alesmith, Dogfish Head, Founders, etc., and thought - beers like this are what I want to drink, and if you can't buy it, brew it yourself. I don't think I'm a genius or have a special gift for brewing--maybe I just have good taste in beer :-)


4) Did you start with the the complete joy of homebrewing like everyone else does? What's your brewing background? And when you're coming up with something now, do you still start the recipes as a homebrew?

When I stared homebrewing, I had a couple homebrew books, but I didn't use them for too long. I quickly got more interested in doing things my own way. I am a chemistry teacher at a school in Copenhagen (I still am half-time, since I love teaching and cannot let go if it) so that might have helped with the theoretical part a bit. Besides this I have no background. For the first year or so with Mikkeller, I did homebrew batches to test new recipes, but since I am getting more and more busy, I don't have time for that anymore. When creating new recipes I think about beers within a style that I like and try to take the best part from different beers. I sample a lot of different beers from all over the world to get inspired. I think this is a very important thing if you want to brew good beer. You have to know the best that is out there and try to make it even better :-)

5) In the United States, craft breweries often like to make an "us versus them" argument when talking about large breweries (like Anheuser-Busch and Miller/Coors) and themselves, basically saying that the large breweries are making bad beer, and that the smaller breweries are the "little guy" fighting a major battle. Do you see your brewery in the same sort of position? Are you fighting a "battle for better beer" against the likes of Carlsberg in Denmark?

Not fighting Carlsberg, fighting boring and uninteresting beer. Carslberg is and will always be the number one choice for 95+% people of the Danish population. I think it is sad that so many people don't know what possibilities beer has. I want to show them what hops, malts, and yeast taste like. Not to take customers away form Carlsberg, but to enlighten people in the wonderful work of craft brewing. If people enjoy one IPA for every 100 Carlsbergs, I am happy.

6) A life of traveling the world and brewing beer with the world's greatest brewers seems like a romantic dream for many of us. Is it all good times, or are there headaches (not just from the beer) that come along with that sort of lifestyle?

Traveling and meeting great people and brewers is what makes it all fun. I am in a very fortunate position that I am able to do this. Meeting my brewing idols all over the world, sharing thoughts and ideas with them, is really great. But it is also great being back home teaching and having colleagues and students that you know well and share your everyday life with. Traveling can be very lonely even though you meet a lot of people. I just got a wonderful little daughter which of course has changed things, but I will always be traveling and hopefully brew with the best brewers in the world.

Random Beer Roundup - Love to the Homebrewer Edition

We had a great time last weekend in Cincinnati. Although it rained at the ballpark and the Cardinals lost, we still managed to have a good time and find good beer (Great Lakes and Flying Dog among others). We also spent some time eating, drinking, and listening to a great polka band at the Hofbrauhaus before (and after) catching the fireworks show on the Ohio River. We tried to hit up the Beer Sellar, but they had a cover charge and we thought that was dumb. We made up for it though, by picking up a couple gems at Jungle Jim's and the Party Source. I'm sure you'll be hearing about some of them later. How was your holiday weekend?

We want to wish good luck to all of the homebrewers who entered beer into this year's Brewers Cup. We are hoping for a repeat gold from Knights Rod and Jess, who won with their chili beer last year. Good luck as well to those judging the competition -- may your palates be ripe for tasting. Judging and awards for the event will happen this weekend at the State Fairgrounds. We wish everyone the very best.

So as the great Charlie Papazian would say “Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew.” This is the Random Beer Roundup.

Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change

Wednesday, July 15th at Spencer's Stadium Tavern in Indianapolis at 6pm:
Brewer's Dinner - For tickets go to Chef JJ. (details below)

Friday, July 17th at Optimist Park in Indianapolis:
Brewers of Indiana Guild VIP Dinner

Friday, July 17th at Chumley's in Broad Ripple starting at 7pm:
Indy Microbrewers Fest Kick Off (details below)

Saturday, July 18th at Optimist Park in Indianapolis:
14th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival. You can purchase tickets online here.

Tuesday, July 21st at Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks in Zionsville at 6:30 pm:
Summer Beer Buffet - Six course beer dinner (details below)

Saturday, August 22nd:
The Hoosier Beer Geek 3rd Anniversary Party, Sun King Brewing Co. Tickets are limited and can be purchased from Brown Paper Tickets.

Saturday, September 12th, from 7-10pm at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend:
Zoo Brew, beer tasting event, tickets on sale August 1, $30 in advance; more info here.

Saturday, September 26th at Crown Brewing Co. in Crown Point - 2nd Annual Oktoberfest - Outdoor event, Live Music, Food, etc

What's Brewing

From Charlie at Brugge in Broad Ripple/Terre Haute:

Lots of things are happening at Brugge Brasserie and with Brugge Beer. Some are a bit inconvenient and some are exciting.

First, our main boiler at the brewery in Terre Haute decided to stop boiling. Replacing it requires some underground construction work for an upgraded gas line and meter.
This means we won't have any production until the work is finished. And I wish I could give you a completion date right now, but I can't.

We still have a limited supply of Tripel de Rippel and Rubicon Red for you to enjoy at the Brasserie.
And we'll be as desperate as you for more Brugge Black, White, and Tripel, so we promise to keep you up to speed on our progress.

In the meantime, Ted is hard at work crafting a couple of summer beers in our brewery at the Brasserie.
One is called Bruno ( not to be confused with some obscure Sacha Baron Cohen film ) . It is a summer "brun" ( French Belgian for Brown ) baby Dubbel. It should be ready within 5 to 7 days.
The second is a Belgian Blonde called Voyageur (not to be confused with, oh, never mind) hopped to American standards. It sounds like the perfect "Upper Deck" session beer and will be ready to enjoy within 2 weeks.

Also, we will be taking this opportunity to feature some sensational guest beers while we await the return of your Brugge favorites. This list will change frequently, so stay tuned.
Currently, we have the following outstanding selection upstairs:

Bitburger Premium
Franziskaner Hefe Weizen
O'Hara's Celtic Stout
Three Floyds Alpha King
Cane and Ebel Red Rye

In other news, while the brewery is under repair The Vigo Brewing Group, parent of Brugge Beer, will be investigating a potential new product line, including some very robust and aggressive American beers.

I'll keep you up to date on everything as we move forward.
Thanks again for all you support and loyalty to the Brugge brand.

From Scott at Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington:

We have finally tapped the long-awaited Double Dragonfly Imperial IPA at our tap room. Dragonfly’s bigger brother comes in around 10% ABV and is a hop head’s dream. We only made one batch so it’s only available until it lasts!

From Greg at Lafayette Brewing Co. in Lafayette:

After a short closure over the holiday weekend, LBC popped the doors back open this past Wednesday with a new menu and some stylish new bench seating in the dining room. Tasty new dishes include: Our Signature Steak; Winner Winner Chicken Dinner; True Bleu Burger; Caribbean Pork Tenderloin; Nachos Papas and much, much more! LBC will also be hosting the Caleb Klauder Country Band on Friday night. Local favorites The Woodstove Flapjacks will open the evening of old-time country and string music. On Saturday, the street in front of LBC will be closed to vehicular traffic as the season's 3rd Mosey Down Main Street takes place. Live music, street performers, crafts, belly dancers, local food vendors and more take over Main St. from 6 pm to midnight. A great place to take LBC's new 1-liter growlers for a stroll! Admission is FREE!

On tap at LBC this weekend: Ouiatenon Wit; Prophet's Rock Pale Ale; East Side Bitter; Pipers' Pride Scottish Ale; Tippecanoe Common Ale; Black Angus Oatmeal Stout; Eighty-Five; Weeping Hog IPA (draft and cask versions) and the last bit of our Dog Days Summer Lager.

From Adam at Crown Brewing in Crown Point:

7 Beers Now on Tap + a Root Beer

1) JailHouse Bock
2) Celtic Pride Irish Stout
3) Special Force Ale (IPA)
4) Wiezenheimmer
5) Wit
6) BlueBerry
7) Crown Light

August 22nd - the Crown Challenge Pro-Am - Check out the site for more info
September 25th - Crown Brewing will be featured at the Pumpkin Bash (Lake County Fairgrounds 5 - 11pm)
September 26th - 2nd Annual Oktoberfest - Outdoor event, Live Music, Food, etc (211 S East St ~ Crown Point)

At the Bar

From Dustin at Spencers Stadium Tavern:

If you haven't heard we are having another Brewer's Dinner. On July 15th @ 6 P.M. for $39 you get the chance to taste the first batches from Sun King Brewery. We will be closing the Tavern and going NON-SMOKING for the night. Only a few seats remain. For tickets go to Chef JJ.

From Amber at Scottys Brewhouse:

Scotty’s Liquor Mixer Thirst Quencher is coming Thursday, July 23rd from 6 – 9pm! This is a VIP Only event – you sign up to be a VIP for only $10 and get in FREE! Samplings of Scotty’s Cocktails, Wines and High Gravity Beers from Bell’s Brewing Company.

From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen in Zionsville:

Please know that we just tapped Hop Wallop, Brooklyn Brewing Brown Ale, and have a keg of Coney Island Lenny's Rye IPA waiting in the wings.

In addition, our new bottles include Moylan's Double IPA (Moylander), Three Floyd's Apocalypse Cow, and we're all enjoying them very much.

Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks invites you to our Summer Beer Buffet, Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 PM. This six course dinner will feature six beers specially paired to complement the food. Jo Vickery from World Class Beverage will be on hand to tell us all about the beers.
Tickets are $35 in advance, this includes the tax and tip. $45 at the door. Call 317-733-8755 for information and reservations, or email us at patrick@patrickskitchen.com

Carry Out

From Mike at Crown Liquors with various locations:

Crown will be receiving today, Founders Devil Dancer(allocated), Great Divide 15th BA IPA, Chocolate Yeti and Dbl. Witte as well as Heavy Seas Big DIPA. Giradin Geuze will be in next week and we still have some Stone 13th lingering.

From Todd at Keg Liquors:

Founder’s Devil Dancer - Founders most complex, most innovative, most feared and yet most revered ale produced. Massive in complexity the huge malt character balances the insane amount of alpha’s used to create this monster. More IBU’s than any brewery has documented, more than you would believe and dry-hopped for twenty-six days straight with a combination of 10 hop varieties. Dangerously drinkable and deliciously evil. We dare you to dance with the Devil. 200+ IBUs

Clipper City Heavy Seas The Big DIPA - Hopped 3 times in the brewing process, Big DIPA has an earthy hop aroma. In keeping with the Heavy Seas philosophy we’ve made a big beer with a surprising balance. The best part is that you’ll hardly notice it’s 10.6% ABV (est). The label artwork was created by Kurt Krol, one of our brewers who also helped to develop the recipe.

Southampton IPA - PAs are more highly hopped and a bit stronger than traditional pale ales. There are two distinct styles - English and American. English IPAs tend to be more subtle and a bit maltier while American IPAs have a bolder hop character. Southampton brewmaster Phil Markowski has combined the best of both styles in his IPA. He’s crafted an ale with the bold citrusy hop character of an American IPA and the maltier, more refined flavor of an English IPA. Although the defining characteristic of Southampton IPA is balance, its incredible blend of three American and two British hop varieties is sure to please any hophead! 40 IBUs.

Christian Moerlein Discovery Pack - Recently resurrected, this Cincinnati brewery was a local treasure until changing business climates forced them out of business. Now they are back. Their first available package in Indiana is a mixed 12 pack with the following: Barbarossa, a double dark lager, Over the Rhine Ale, Helles, and the Friend of an Irishman Stout. Pretty cool stuff here.

Oud Beersel Framboise - Framboise is a classic among the Belgian beers created by adding whole fresh raspberries (250 g/l)to a blend of young and old lambic. Framboise Oud Beersel is the missing link between beer and wine and is served chilled in flute glasses.

Oud Beersel Kriek - is a classic among Belgian beers. Created by adding whole fresh cherries to young lambic, which provides both seasoning and sparks another fermentation resulting in a product of great complexity. It has the acidity of champagne, the bouquet and delicate flavor of cherries, and balance of almondy dryness.

Girardin Geuze - is a lambic of exceptional excellence, the epitome of traditional gueuze, bombarding the palate with slightly lemon-grapefruit tang. Considered by many to be the finest lambic of all.

From Big Red Liquors in Bloomington:

New at Big Red Liquors:

Stone 13th Anniversary -Imperial Red Ale
Stone Cali-Belgie -IPA
New Holland Imperial Hatter IPA
New Holland Golden Cap Saison
New Holland Full Circle Kolsch
Founder's Devil Dancer -Triple IPA

As always don't forget about our FREE beer tasting every Thursday from 6-8pm at the downtown Bloomington store.

News, Reviews, and Gossip

From Mat at Cavalier Distribution:

Chumley’s 838 Broadripple Avenue - Indy Microbrewers Fest Kick Off, Friday, July 17

Starting at 7:00pm, every hour we will tap one of five kegs that have either never been seen in Indiana or might as well have never been seen in Indiana.

7:00- Two Brothers Brewing Co. Hop Juice Double IPA
8:00- Stone Brewing Co. Sublimely-Self Righteous Ale
9:00- Founder’s Brewing Co. Maple Mt. Brown Ale
10:00- Schmaltz Brewing Co. He’Brew Oak Aged Bitter Sweet Lenny’s RIPA
11:00- Left Hand Brewing Co. Oak Aged Imperial Stout

To be able to get into any of these kegs is a real treat…to be able to tap all five of them in one night in one place is certainly a rare and special opportunity if you are any kind of beer geek at all.

Also from Mat is a huge listing of the beer they will be bringing to the BIG festival next weekend with the special tappings highlighted:

Atlantic Brewing Co. Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale 4/6/12
Berghoff Blond (Artisan series) 4/6/12
Bison Brewing Organic IPA 4/6/12
Boulder Flashback Anniv. Ale 15.5 keg
Breckenridge 471 IPA 12/22
Breckenridge 471 ESB 5 gal keg
Cave Creek Chili Beer 4/6/12
Clipper City Big DIPA 5.2 Gal Keg ***** 5 lbs of hops per Brl - the hoppest beer in the fest ...
Clipper City Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale 4/6/12
Dixie Blackened Voodoo 4/6/12
Founders Centennial IPA 15.5 Keg
Founders Cerise 15.5 gal keg
Founders Devil Dancer 5 Gal. keg *** Special tapping
Founders Double Trouble 6/4/12
Founders KBS 5 gal keg *** Special tapping
Founders Old Curmudgeon 5 gal keg *** Special tapping
Founders Red's Rye 15.5 keg
Founders Barrel Aged Red's Rye PA5 keg *** Special tapping
Great Divide 15 Ann. wood aged Dbl IPA 5 gal keg *** Special tapping
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout 15.5 gal. Keg
He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA 12/22
He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA Barrel Aged gal keg (special order) *** *** Special tapping w...
He'brew Origin Pomegranate Ale 12/22
He'brew Rejewvenator 12/22
Horse Piss Beer 6/4/12
J.K's Scrumpy Hard Cider (organic) 12/22
Lakefront Dark 4/6/12
Left Hand Haystack Wheat 15.5 gal. keg
Left Hand Imperial Stout 12/22
Left Hand JuJu Ginger Ale 15.5 keg
Left Hand Milk Stout 15.5 Keg
Left Hand Sawtooth 15.5 gal. keg
Left Hand Sawtooth Firkin *** Secial tapping
Looking Glass Mojo Risen 15.5 gal keg
Mad Anthony 'Ol Woody Pale 15.5 keg
Mad River Brewing Company Steelhead Extra Stout 4/6/12
MAD RIVER JOHN BARLEYCORN 13.2 KEG
Mendocino Blue Heron Pale 4/6/12
Michigan Brewing Celis Grand Cru 15.5 Keg
Michigan Brewing Co. Pale Ale 4/6/12
Original Sin Apple Cider 4/6/12
Pizza Beer Co. Mamma Mia Pizza Beer 24/16
Sea Dog Blue Paw Wheat Ale 4/6/12
Sergeants American Ale 4/6/12
Shipyard Pugsley's Barley Wine 12/22
Shmaltz Coney Island Albino Python 12/22
Shmaltz Coney Island Lager 12/22
Shmaltz Coney Island Sword Swallower 12/22
Southern Star Pine Belt Pale Ale 6/4/16 Cans
Sprecher Hefeweizen 6/4/16
Stone Anniversary 15.5 keg *** 13th ANNIV. ***** 4.5 lbs of hops per Brl - 2nd hoppest beer in ...
Stone Brewing Old Guardian 2007 15.5 keg **** 2007 Vintage ***
Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper 15.5 gal keg
Two Brothers Brewing Company Ebelweiss 15.5 Keg
Two Brothers Brewing Company Domaine Du Page 15.5 Keg
Two Brothers Brewing Company Oh Brother Triple 5 Keg *** Special tapping
Two Brothers Brewing Company Cane and Eble 5 Keg *** Special tapping
Warbird Brewing Gold
Warbird Brewing Red
Warbird Brewing Pale
Warbird Brewing Wheat
Warbird Brewing Irish Shantey

From Greg at Cavalier Distribution:

There is a lot of absolutely incredible beer hitting the Indiana market this week, but it's all very, very limited. If you can find some you will want to grab some asap, as these won't hang around for long:

Clipper City Big DIPA (Double IPA)
The CC Heavy Seas Big DIPA Double IPA is the first in the Heavy Seas Special Edition Series. Hopped 3 times in the brewing process, Big DIPA has an earthy hop aroma. In keeping with the Heavy Seas philosophy, Clipper City has created a big beer with surprising balance. The best part, is that you'll hardly notice it's 10.6% abv and 75+ IBU's. There is a finite amount that just landed in Indiana last weekend, so get it now while it's still available. You should start seeing it in your favorite craft/micro retailers now or very soon.

Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA
Devil Dancer is Founder's Triple IPA, which is released once a year to kick down the doors of your pallet. At 13% abv and IBU's off the scale, Devil Dancer is a beast of a beer, humbling even the biggest of hop heads. This year the Devil Dancer is as rare and hard to find as ever, even more so than this year's KBS. There is not much at all in the state, so you will need to search for it at only the very best Founders retailers. Get it now while you can, because it is guaranteed to be gone soon.

Great Divide 15th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA
Based on their most award-winning beer, Denver Pale Ale, this copper-hued treat is a celebration of everything Great Divide does best. Plenty of malty sweetness provides a backdrop for earthy, floral English and American hops, while French and American oak round off the edges and provide a touch of vanilla. Thanks to everyone who's supported Great Divide for the last 15 years - here’s to 15 more! 10.0% ABV.

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Welcome to the newest incarnation of Great Divide's revered imperial stout. The fellas at GD toned down the hops a bit to allow cocoa nibs to contribute some pleasing bitterness, while vanilla notes from the oak combine with the cocoa to create an aroma and flavor akin to a gourmet chocolate bar. A dash of cayenne keeps things lively, adding just a bit of heat to the finish. A Yeti for summer? Hell yes.

Great Divide Double Wit
Double Wit is Great Divide's more muscular take on the beloved white ales of Belgium. Unmalted wheat and Belgian malted barley give the beer a light body and straw hue, while coriander and curaçao provide the traditional notes of spice and light acidity. This cloudy, deceptively drinkable creation should be enjoyed without the addition of fruit. 8.1% ABV.

**There is a very, very limited amount of all 3 of these new wonderful Great Divide beers to hit Indiana. You will only be able to find these at craft/micro brew focused locations that have supported Great Divide for awhile. Get these while you can, because there is very little to be had and when they're gone, they're gone for the year.

Fullers London Pride Pale Ale & London Porter CANS!!
Fullers has released their incredible London Pride Pale Ale & Porter in 4pk 16oz CANS! Yes, you can finally enjoy this wonderful English Ale at the track, on the beach or on the boat as well this summer! It is the same phenomenal liquid that has made Fullers famous as one of the premier English Breweries, but in a can package. This will be a new everyday item, so grab a can of Fullers and enjoy!

De Troch Pineapple Lambic
Have you ever had a Pineapple Lambic? If not, now is the time. De Troch's Pineapple Lambic is a wonderful nectar perfect for the summer. It is full of fruit with a wonderful balance between sweet and tart. It is fantastic and unique, a must try!

Bob O. at Indianabeer has World Class Beverages' Hopapalooza line-up for the festival next weekend.
* But if you can't seem to follow a link...here is the list :)

Brewery	Beer
21st Amendment	Brew Free or Die IPA
Abita Brewing	Jockamo IPA
Atwater Brewery	Salvation IPA
Avery Brewery	Hog Heaven
Avery Brewery	Maharaja
Avery Brewery	IPA
Bell's Brewery	IPA
Boulevard Brewery	Double Wide IPA
Dark Horse Brewing	Double Crooked Tree IPA
Dogfish Head Brewery	120 Minute IPA
Firestone Walker	Double Barrel Pale Ale
Firestone Walker	Union Jack
Flying Dog Brewery	Double Dog Double Pale Ale
Harpoon Brewery	IPA
Harpoon Brewery	Leviathan IPA
Hoppin' Frog Brewery	Mean Manalishi
Lagunitas Brewing	Hop Stoopid
Lost Coast Brewery	Indica IPA
Ninkasi Brewing	Total Domination IPA
Ninkasi Brewing	Believer Double Red
North Coast	Red Seal IPA
Port Brewing	Wipe Out IPA
Port Brewing	Hop 15
Rogue Brewing	Double Dead Guy
Schlafly Brewing	Export IPA
Victory Brewery	Hop Wallop

Hoosier Beer Geek Classics: KOTBR Review #5: Brugge's The Black

Our third anniversary roundtable is in the works, and we're all very excited about the event. As we prepare, we're also taking a look back to our humble beginnings. The article below was written by two of our original Knights of the Beer Roundtable, Chris M and Kelly, along with the help of longstanding Knight Jim, and originally ran on October 19, 2006.

Jim, Kelly, and I met up at Brugge Brasserie, located in Broad Ripple, for the most recent beer review. That night, we decided to try The Black. Below you will find our reviews:

Jim: This week’s meeting of the Knights of the Beer Roundtable took place at Brugge Brasserie, the Broad Ripple brewery and gastro-pub with a Belgian twist. The pub, which opened in April 2005, is owned by brewmaster Ted Miller and actor Abraham Benrubi of “ER” fame (the two were Broad Ripple High School classmates). Brugge offers handcrafted Belgian beers and Belgian style food, including crepes, steamed mussels, and Belgian sub sandwiches called mitraillettes. And then there are the fries, or “frites” as they are properly known in Belgium. Oh, the frites! The Belgians invented French fries, and the frites offered at Brugge are of the highest caliber. They are served in a paper cone along with your choice of sauces, which range from the traditional European side, mayonnaise, to roasted garlic aioli to homemade ketchup.

While the food at Brugge is excellent, we were at the pub for the beer, of course. I arrived first and had a seat in the bar. Normally, Brugge has football of the round variety (i.e., soccer) on the bar television. But on this Thursday evening, pointyball was the type of football in demand, specifically college football. So while I waited for Chris and Kelly to arrive, I went ahead and ordered my warm-up beer and settled in to watch a little of the game. I chose Brugge’s Abbey Ale on the suggestion of the bartender. The Abbey, which I have never seen on Brugge’s beer menu before, was a pleasant amber ale that was on the malty and dry side. It was an appropriately mellow prelude to the feature beer, which was pretty powerful stuff as I’ll explain here shortly.

I had drained almost half of my Abbey Ale when Chris arrived. Not much later, Kelly joined us and we got a round of the feature beer, the ominously named “The Black.” The Black is dark brown in color and has a nose with primarily chocolate, coffee, and nutty notes. The head is light brown and dense. At first sip, The Black nicely grabs a hold of your tongue with an almost perfect balance of hops and malt. There is a good hoppy bite to the ale, but it’s not overwhelming. As might be expected of a dark ale, The Black follows its coffee-like nose with a slightly coffeeish taste. It also has a bit of a sweet taste, too. The Black doesn’t approach barley wine sweetness, but it’s not too far off from what one might expect from a barley wine style ale such as Young’s Old Nick.

Brugge’s beer menu doesn’t disclose The Black’s ABV percentage, but it must be at least seven percent if not more because the ale will sneak up on you if you’re not careful. I had a fairly intense buzz going after finishing off three quarters of the glass. So if you order it, drink with care!

So to the rating – This is a four mug beer for me. I can’t give it a five mug rating because I’ve had only one perfect beer in my life (North Coast Brewery’s Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Millenium Release) that nothing else has ever been able to measure up to. But The Black is a high quality, very drinkable ale that most beer geeks will enjoy.

Kelly: Fall is by far my favorite time of year for many reasons—not the least of which is that I typically start preferring darker, more substantial beers. (it's just hard for me to really enjoy a double black stout in the middle of a heat wave, or to relax on a balmy summer evening with a dunkelweisen!) So it's appropriate that my second meeting of the Knights of the Beer Roundtable took place on one of the first windswept, blustery, leaves-starting-to-change days of fall.

I met up with Jim and Christopher at Brugge Brasserie, a Broad Ripple stalwart that I had never visited before (okay, not true—I had frequented the place quite a bit when the bottom floor was Net Heads, but I refuse to acknowledge that geek that dwells deep within.) The décor is pretty eclectic—I was expecting it to be more upscale, but they've got big, rustic wooden tables, interesting wall art, and plenty of TVs turned to the sports of the moment (apparently, this is THE place to be if you're a soccer fan!) There was a table of extremely, uh, vibrant imbibers across the room, and ever so often, they'd break into a rousing rendition of "Ein Prosit" which made us wonder if they knew the difference between Belgium and… well… Germany.

I started off the evening with an American Wit, which was a little lighter and fruitier than I was expecting, but it was excellent—much reminiscent of a Blue Moon. The beer up for review, however, was The Black – Jim's favorite. And I can see why! At first taste, the earthy chocolate taste was a little bitter, but I took Jim's advice and let the beer sit to just colder than room temperature. What a difference! The malt and hops had a good balance, and it was actually very light on the palate (deceptively so, even.) The ABV percentage wasn't listed on the chalkboard, but I'd venture to guess this one is pretty high, as it knocked me for quite the loop. Good thing I was walking over to the Rouge for a show afterward. All in all, The Black gets the maximum amount of mugs from me, plus one extra for the fun fact below:

According to Brugge's website, The Black is brewed with a bit of poplar syrup, one of my dad's favorite fall treats. See? Even my beer gets into the fall spirit!

Chris: From the instant The Black touched my lips, I knew I had found my next 5 Mug beer. This is absolutely a perfect beer (if you like dark beers). The Black is approriately named, fore it is truly black. Completely opaque in color.

I kept getting a hickory and chocolate nose off this beer. I think I may be totally off on the hickory, but I swear I smelled it, and it smelled good.

The beer is thick, not quite chunky, but it is very full-bodied and hardy. I found it crisp to the tastebuds, particularly those in the middle of the tongue. That may be from the good carbonation in the beer.

I kept comparing this in my mind with Spaten's Optimator (see KOTBR #2). It's a very similar beer. Obviously from my review of Optimator, and now of The Black, I love dark and brooding beers. As Jim & Kelly both mentioned, the ABV wasn't listed, but I promise you it is high. I'm a beer drinker. And I'm a drinker of beers with high ABVs. And I had a pretty damn good buzz started by the time I finished my beer. This is, similar to the Optimator, one of those beers that gets better the warmer it gets. I'm guessing it isn't meant to be consumed while chilly.

Again, another perfect beer. Pure and simple - 5 mugs!