Alcohol in the news; Rogue Oregon Single Malt whiskey

From the Buzz

Rogue Oregon Single Malt Whiskey

An American whiskey with a fruity flavor

I need to start this week's column with a plug for Seven Saint's Whiskey Wednesday. Most of the whiskeys that I try are sampled there. For 50% off a select type (Micro-American/Canadian, Irish, bourbon, scotch) for the week, it's an unbeatable deal and a great way to try some new things without spending $8 on a drink you may not like. Plus, my waitress is a friend from high school, Mary, and we are able to talk casually about whiskey, which she and the other servers, know a lot about and are alway super helpful.

Seven Saints Whiskey Wednesday is an awesome deal.

This week (Micro-American/Canadian) Mary suggested I try the Rogue Oregon Single Malt whiskey, and I am glad that she did. This was the sweetest and most light whiskey I've tasted.

I had this on Wednesday as well, and it was about as smooth as anything I've ever sipped.

The beginning of the drink has a lot of lightness, an opening up of banana and honey flavors. The middle really shows off the toasted grain taste, and the end has a lot of real banana flavor. The first part of the drink is really organized, but the end loosens and lets the sweet, fruit flavors come through.

I wasn't really looking for the banana flavor, but I just couldn't get over how smooth this was. You've probably seen comedians joke about how "smooth" a beverage is, this one actually is. There isn't a hard edge to it. It just flows. If there's ever a whiskey that I could probably chug, it'd be this.

My friend Brad got to try it as well. We didn't get our glasses from the same bottle, and there was a distinct difference between the two. Mine was the top of the bottle, his was the bottom. Both were great, but I thought the top of the bottle was better.

Mary told me to expect banana, but I didn't really anticipate how distinct it would be. Overall, a surprising drink and a good introduction into American whiskey, which is interesting to see the ways micro-Americans define themselves against bourbon and Jack Daniel's which have controlled the American whiskey market for so long.

Mary is awesome. When looking for an American Micro whiskey, (or how to tell it's not bourbon) just look to see where it's made, and if it says bourbon. Additionally, don't look for a rye. If you aren't sure, then go to Seven Saints for Whiskey Wednesday, the lineup for March is:

March 2: Irish
March 9: Bourbon and Rye (my favorite night)
March 16: Scotch
March 23: Canadian and Micro American (like the Rogue)
March 30: Irish

Days of the Beer, Feb 28

The beer for today is Le Grimoire Patriote.

On February 28, 1838, Robert Nelson, the leader of the Patriotes, proclaimed the independence of Lower Canada (Quebec).

The Patriote movement existed (in part) because many members of Lower Canada (modern Quebec) were angry that the British had control of Lower Canada, in the area that previously was French. They were inspired by the American Revolution and liberalism.

They demanded democratic reforms, including an elected council (then council members were appointed for life by the British Crown), and control of the regional budget.

On February 28, 1838, Robert Nelson was camped at Alburg, Vermont. There he proclaimed the independence of Lower Canada, and distributed copies of a declaration of independence. Shortly after, they were arrested by the U.S. Army for violation of the law of neutrality of the US. He was acquitted.

Later, they attempted to overthrow the British colonial government of both Lower and Upper Canada, this didn't go well either.

As to the beer:

Le Grimoire Patriote is listed as a Scotch ale. The ABV is 8%.

Le Grimoire Microbrasseria is located in Granby, Quebec. Keeping with their hatred of the British, their website is only in French. This beer isn't listed on their webpage, but according to Beer Advocate and Ratebeer, it's a limited edition, however people have recently drank it.

For being a scotch ale, it doesn't have very high ratings.

The picture on the bottle, might very well be Robert Nelson declaring independence.

So, if you can get up to Quebec, see if you can find a Patriote by Grimoire. Then try to declare your independence from Canada.

Days of the Beer, February 27

The beer for today is Birreria San Gabriel, San Gabriel Bionda.

Today is the feast day for Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Saint Gabriel died February 27, 1862. He was born as Francesco Possenti on March 1, 1838. He died of tuberculosis. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

Gabe is the patron saint of Catholic youth, students and those studying for the priesthood.

Gabe started to show symptoms of tuberculosis around 1859. He was happy for this, since he prayed for a slow death, so he could prepare himself. Oh his deathbed, he ordered his spiritual writings be burth, for fear they would tempt him to pride. When he died, those around him claim that at the moment of death, he sat up in bed and his face became radiant as he reached out to an otherwise unseen figure that was entering the room. People claim that it was the virgin Mary.

His two miracles were someone got cured of tuberculosis, and someone was cured of an inoperable hernia.

As to the beer:

Birreria San Gabriel is located in Busco Di Ponte Di Piave, Italy. (their webpage is in italian)

The mansion is located in the San Gabriel Busco, town of Treviso, between the Piave and Livenza, a small village of Ponte di Piave, which links its history the abbey of Benedictine monks, was completely renovated in 1997, making San Gabriel one of the first breweries opened in the Veneto and in Italy.

Gabriel and Olympia, the founders and managers of local, wanted to make it warm and personal welcome to your taste and with the advice of friends in Europe, with a background that recalls the value of craftsmanship.

So the brewery has the fragrance of the wood of the Val Pusteria and the old counter, once used for the maintenance of the barrels has a piece of copper boiler.

San Gabriel Bionda is a Munich Helles Lager and is 5% ABV. I'm not sure if you can get it anywhere other than Italy.

So, for Francesco Possenti, who became Saint Gabriel, have a San Gabriel Bionda, and hope you too can die a slow death.

Days of the Beer, February 26

The beer for today is Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale.

On February 26, 1846, William Fredrick "Buffalo Bill" cody, was born. he was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman. He was famous for the shows he organized with cowboy themes.

He got the nickname of "Buffalo Bill" for killing 4,280 American bison in eight months. He did that to supply workers of the Kansas Pacific Railroad with buffalo meat. The name was also given to Bill Comstock (a footnote in history). Cody and Comstock competed in a shooting match over the exclusive right to the name, and Cody won.

As to the beer:

From Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale is one of the most sought after seasonal beers. It is believed that George Washington brewed beer using this bright orange squash. In modern times, Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale is a true original microbrew that uses baked and roasted pumpkins. Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are added to create what has been described as, "pumpkin pie in a bottle".

The beer is 5.2% ABV.

Perhaps no other brewery better personifies the maverick attitude of the microbrewing industry than Buffalo Bill's Brewery. As one of the first brewpubs in America, started in 1983, Buffalo Bill's helped launch what has been referred to as the microbrewery renaissance.

So, for Buffalo Bill Cody, have a Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin.

(I chose their pumpkin for no real reason, I had intended to do their most known beer the orange blossom cream, except I already used it for another day.)

CU Beer Weekend; Feb 25

Where in CU are you drinking this weekend/week?

Seven Saints

Original Sin
Dark Horse One Oatmeal Stout

Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Schmaltz Messiah Bold $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish

Radio Maria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18
Port High Tide
Affligem Noel
New Holland Dragons Milk
Two Brothers Domaine Du Paige
Founders Porter
Founders Breakfast Stout
Saison Foret
Southern Tier Cuvee 3
He'Brew Jewbelation 10
Southern Tier Gemini
Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre
Gouden Carolous Cuvee Van de Kaiser
Unibroue Ephemere
Blanche de Bruxelles
Morland's Old Speckled Hen
Left Hand Milk Stout
Liefmans Cuvee Brut
Avery Ellies Brown
Avery Mephistopheles
Ballast Point Sculpin
Southern Tier Chokolat
Lagunitas Pils
Samichlaus
Celis White
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, Hebrew JewBelation 10 and AVBC Brother David on special
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Blind Pig

Cask: Capital Blonde Doppelbock

Piraat; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Liefman’s Cuvee Brut; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6% abv
Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de Keizer Blauw; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 11% abv
Southern Tier Cuvee Series 3; Lakewood, New York, American Strong Ale, 11% abv
Founders Dirty Bastard; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 8.3% abv
Rogue John John Dead Guy; New Port, Oregon, Heller Bock, 6.5% abv
Founders Porter; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Porter, 6.5% abv
Kostritzer Schwarzbier; Germany, Schwarzbier, 4.8%
Fuller’s London Pride; England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon; Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
La Rulles Meilleurs Voeux; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 7.3% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Smutty Nose Barleywine; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Barleywine, 10%
Left Hand Fade to Black; Longmont, Colorado, Smoked, 7.8% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner; Longmont, Colorado, Pilsener, 5.5%
Bells Hopslam; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
Avery Out Of Bounds Stout; Boulder, Colorado, Dry Stout, 5.1% abv
Lindeman’s Pomme; Belgium, Lambic, 3.5% abv
North Coast Old Rasputin Nitro; Fort Bragg, California, Imperial Stout, 9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Imperial IPA
Blind Pig Winter Barley Wine
Blind Pig American Dark Ale
Blind Pig Der Cyser
Bell’s Lager of the Lakes; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Premium Lager, 4.5% abv
Celis White; Belgium, Belgian White, 5% abv
New Holland Dragons Milk; Holland Michigan, American Strong Ale,10% abv
Goose Island Dominique; Chicago, Illinois, Sour/Wild Ale, 8.5% abv
Capital Tettnang Doppelbock; Middleton, WI, Doppelbock, 7.8% abv
North Coast Brother Thelonious; Fort Bragg, CA, Blgn Strng Ale, 9% abv
Bahnhof Berliner Style Weisse; Germany, Berliner Weisse, 3% abv
Bell’s Amber Ale; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amber Ale, 6%
Left Hand 400lb Monkey; Longmont, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer

Crane Alley

North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout 9.0%
Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA 9.2%
Dogfish Head 60 Min IPA 6.0%
Lagunitas Czech Pils 5.3%
Lost Abbey Serpent Stout 11.0%
Haandbryggeriet Nissefar 7.0%
Avery Ellie's Brown Ale 5.5%
Two Brothers Cane & Ebel 7.0%
St Bernardus Witbier 5.5%
Southern Cuvee Series 3 11.0%
Ommegang Belgian Pale Ale 6.1%
Bell's Double Cream Stout 6.2%
Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale 6.5%
Mikkeller Ris A La Male 8.0%
Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter 5.7%
PBR 4.2%

Thursday: Gulden Draak Tower Release Party, 6pm

We will be installing a nearly 3 foot tall Gulden Draak Draft tower. It is carved out of decorative concrete, has red LED lights for eyes and the tap handle is its tail. Also the tower has 2 extra handles, with which we will be rotating different European beers. The other two beers featured on the tower are Silly Double Enghien Blonde and Piraat.

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Founders Double Trouble IPA
Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout
Summit Horizon Red Ale
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
St. Bernardus Prior 8
North Coast Old Rasputin
Southern Tier Imperial Oatmeal Stout

CU Beer Club

Tuesday: Happy Hour, Mike n' Molly's, 6pm

Alcohol in the news; Unofficial rules

The sky is falling, so here's a roundup of all the news stories on preparations for next weeks' unofficial. Where do you want to get your news from?

From WAND 17 NBC

Mayor Announces "Unofficial" Rules

CHAMPAIGN, IL- Champaign Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Gerald Schweighart announced Thursday the city's plans for dealing with the upcoming "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day" at the University of Illinois.

According to a press release sent Thursday, University, Urbana and Champaign Police will be out on campus to keep the peace, enforce state and local laws and respond to calls for service. The Champaign Fire Department will also be out, inspecting bars for overcrowding and monitoring balcony load limits at private residences.

Other regulations include: bars and liquor stores may not sell alcohol before 11 a.m. on March 4th; bars may not have any drink specials from 11 a.m. March 4th until 2:30 a.m. March 5th; bars may not serve pitchers of beer or shots and all drinks must be served in a paper or plastic cup; all campus bars must have a doorman present checking ID's and no one under 21 is allowed inside a campus bar.

Anyone looking to purchase a keg of beer, more than seven cases of beer or more than 24 liters of liquor on March 4th must fill out an Adult Responsibility Form prior to the sale.

From the News Gazette

Champaign mayor issues rules for 'Unofficial'

As liquor commissioner, Schweighart is afforded executive powers relating to liquor sales in city stores and bars. The following orders will be in effect:

– Bars and package liquor stores in the campus area may not serve or sell alcohol before 11 a.m. on March 4.

– Bars may not host any private functions that result in special drink pricing or other privileges from 11 a.m. on March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on March 5.

– Bars may not serve pitchers of alcohol or shots of undiluted alcohol, and all drinks must be served in paper or plastic cups on March 4.

– Patron entry age for all bars in the campus area will be 21 years or older between 11 a.m. on March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on March 5.

– All campus bars must have a doorman, aged 21 or older, present and checking IDs at all entrances during the hours of operation.

– The mayor's office will not be issuing any keg permits for parties, making it illegal to possess more than one keg per residence during this event.

– For establishments licensed to sell package liquor, an Adult Responsibility Form must be completed by the purchaser and kept on file prior to the sale of 168 or more 12 ounce containers of beer or malt beverage; 24 or more one-liter bottles of distilled spirits; or one keg.

From WICD 15 ABC

Emergency Preps in Place: Unofficial 2011

Champaign- The biggest drinking holiday, is back on the University of Illinois campus next week.
Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day, an event originally created to bring college students here to the area.. But in recent years, it's a day that's dreaded by law enforcement.

In the past, police issued hundreds of citations, others have been hospitalized, one person even died.
But Mayor Jerry Schweighart admits, he thought about loosening up restrictions that are only in place during Unofficial.

No Leniency for Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day

There's been little trouble in past years when it comes to the Unofficial Saint Patrick's day celebration here in Champaign. The Mayor even considered being more lenient on some of the rules for next Friday. But Mayor Jerry Schweighart says every year on the unofficial holiday there is some disruption, whether it be arrests or young people drinking too much and having to go to the hospital

Fox 55 carried the same story as WICD.

Rules from last year's Unofficial Saint Patrick's Day will stand

From the Daily Illini

Police department stresses safety during 'Unofficial' yearly event

Ask a group of students how much alcohol is in a classic can of Four Loko, and they’d probably guess wrongly on the first few tries.

And in a shot glass, or a mug of cool ale? Or even the cost of a Champaign drinking ticket?

Representatives from the University, Champaign, and Urbana police departments were answering questions like these for a safety seminar titled “Officially Be Safe for Unofficial.”

Students received free safety T-shirts, wristbands, and whistles along with their answers on the upcoming Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 4. University Police Department Patrol Division Commander Lt. Skip Frost stressed that students should “be aware of your surroundings” when out on the weekend.

Champaign Mayor issues Emergency Order, announces Unofficial plans

Champaign Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Gerald Schweighart has announced the city's preliminary Unofficial St. Patrick's Day plans for Friday, March 4. The UI will once again invoke it's "no tolerance" policy, and will work with Champaign, Urbana and University Police to "keep the peace," Schweighart said in a press release. The Champaign Fire Department will be inspecting liquor-licensed facilities for overcrowding, and Schweighart has issued - under an emergency order - these regulations for the sale of alcohol in licensed liquor establishments:

• Bars and package liquor stores in the campus area may not serve or sell alcohol prior to 11 a.m. on Friday, March 4.

• Bars may not host any private functions that result in special drink pricing or other privileges on premise from 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5.

• Bars may not serve pitchers of alcohol or shots of undiluted alcohol and all drinks must be served in paper or plastic cups on March 4.

• Patron entry age for all bars in the campus area will be 21 years or older between 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4 until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5.

• All campus bars must have a doorman, aged 21 or older, present and checking ID’s at all entrances during the hours of operation.

• The Mayor’s Office will not be issuing any keg permits for parties, making it illegal to possess more than 1 keg per residence during this event.

• For establishments licensed to sell package liquor, an Adult Responsibility Form must be completed by the purchaser and kept on file prior to the sale of the following quantities of alcohol: 168 or more 12 ounce containers of beer or malt beverage; 24 or more 1 liter of distilled spirits; and/or one keg.

Days of the Beer, February 25

The beer for today is Mikkeller Simcoe Single Hop IPA.

On February 25, 1752, John Graves Simcoe was born. He was the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791 to 1796. The area covered most of modern day southern Ontaria. He found York, which was renamed Toronto. He ended slavery in 1810 in Upper Canada, 24 years before it was abolished throughout the British Empire.

He maintained peace between the US and Britain during a brief war between Britain and France in 1793, since the US was sympathetic to France after it helped during the Revolutionary War.

As to the beer:

The first in a new series of single hop IPA's from Mikkeller. Brewed with Simcoe, known for many great US micro-brews. An extremely fresh-hopped IPA.

Ingredients :
Water, malts (pilsner, cara-crystal and munich), hops (simcoe) and yeast.

Simcoe is 6.9% ABV.

The hop itself is a dual purpose hop, used for both bittering and aroma.

Simcoe® is a bittering/Aroma type cultivar bred by Yakima Chief Ranches first released in 2000. Simcoe is a unique American hybrid. Although it is primarily a bittering hop, it’s clean, pine-like aroma and a taste with a slight hint of citrus. It is less astringent than other pine-like hops and has been highly sought after to make distinctive and unique Pale Ales and American Ales. Simcoe’s flavor is believed superior due to low cohumulone levels. Alpha acids range from 12 -14%.

The high alpha acids mean that it will impart huge (technical) bitterness to the beer. Usually, an IPA will have a strong malt backbone to hold up to the high IBU level, which will give balance to the beer.

So, for John Graves Simcoe, have a Simcoe IPA.

(I'm not sure if the hops are named after him, but I don't see why it wouldn't be)

Alcohol in the news; Seven Saints new weeknight special calls to all beer drinkers

From the buzz

Seven Saints new weeknight special calls to all beer drinkers

...Seven Saints is excited to bring it to the community via Brewsday Tuesdays. This weekly event features two beers available at affordable prices.

Andy Borbely, general manager of Seven Saints, started Brewsday Tuesdays as an opportunity to showcase a broad beer portfolio.

...

Borbely chooses the weekly features based on several factors, primarily seasonality. However, he also makes selections based on what catches his eye. Most recently, Borbely found himself infatuated with Duchesse De Bourgogne, a Flemish sour ale.

“It is in no way seasonal but in every way awesome. More people need to know about this beer, so we need to do it,” Borbely said.

...

Cheap quality beer, low-key atmosphere and an attentive staff? I’m about to stop writing this article and head back.

buzz columnist and beer aficionado Ramine Nimrouzi joined me on a Tuesday eve to give me his educated opinion on the brews that held the spotlight.

Then there are reviews of Smuttynose Robust Porter, Great Divide Hibernation Ale, and Guinness Stout.

There is a beer for any kind of connoisseur on these wonderful Tuesdays. Take a trip out to Seven Saints — these deals won’t last, but the taste will surely linger on. Cheers.

Days of the Beer, February 24

The beer for today is Het Anker Cuvée van de Keizer Blauw (Cuvée of the Emperor Blue).

On February 24, 1500, Charles V (Charles Quint) was born. Charles was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 to 1556. He was known as Charles I while he was king of Spain from 1516 until 1556. His full title was...

Charles, by the grace of God, Holy Roman Emperor, forever August, King of Germany, King of Italy, King of all Spains, of Castile, Aragon, León, Navarra, Grenada, Toledo, Valencia, Galicia, Majorca, Sevilla, Cordova, Murcia, Jaén, Algarves, Algeciras, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, King of Two Sicilies, of Sardinia, Corsica, King of Jerusalem, King of the Western and Eastern Indies, Lord of the Islands and Main Ocean Sea, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Lorraine, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Limburg, Luxembourg, Gelderland, Neopatria, Württemberg, Landgrave of Alsace, Prince of Swabia, Asturia and Catalonia, Count of Flanders, Habsburg, Tyrol, Gorizia, Barcelona, Artois, Burgundy Palatine, Hainaut, Holland, Seeland, Ferrette, Kyburg, Namur, Roussillon, Cerdagne, Zutphen, Margrave of the Holy Roman Empire, Burgau, Oristano and Gociano, Lord of Frisia, the Wendish March, Pordenone, Biscay, Molin, Salins, Tripoli and Mechelen.

Charles spoke four languages: French, German, some Spanish (was required for him to be king of Spain), and some Italian. "I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men and German to my horse."

His empire covered nearly four million square kilometers across Europe, the Far East, and the Americas. It was the first described as "the empire on which the sun never sets" (later it was used by the British, and the United States; although it may have first been used to describe Xerxes I of Persia).

During his reign, there were several notable events, the protestant reformation started under Luther in Germany, Magellan circumnavigated the globe, and he fought against the approaching Ottomans led by Suleiman the Magnificent.

He had a big jaw.

As to the beer:

Every year on the 24th of February, we celebrate the birth of Charles Quint. Therefore we brew a special beer in limited edition called Cuvée of the Emperor. This exceptional beer is a special version of the Golden Carolus Classic, with an enriched taste pallet and mysterious aromas added. The caramelised malts and its 11% Alc. Vol. give the Cuvée of the Emperor the warm roundness of wine together with the refreshing taste of beer. It is imperially crowned with a special cork so it can be preserved for a long period of time with a constant cellar temperature of 12° C. An imperial beer to cherish and enjoy in moderation.

Het Anker brewery is in the town of Mechelen, Belgium. Charles V was born in Ghent, but was brought up in the town until age 17 (so he was king of Spain for a year or so, while living in Belgium). Het Anker is probably best known for their Gouden Carolus beers.

Cuvée of the Emperor is listed as a Dark Special Beer. It's 11% Alcohol.

(It's currently on tap at Radio Maria)

So, for Charles the Quint, have the beer named for him, that's brewed on his birthday. Het Anker will be brewing it today.


If you are in CU and want to know more about Charles V, talk to Anne D. Hedeman.

Alcohol in the news; Corkscrew 2.23

From WCIA 3, Illinoishomepage.net

Corkscrew 2.23

Nick Bland, of Corkscrew, in Urbana, is here for today's Whet Your Whistle.

You might not know, but Nick is moving up to Chicago. He will be missed.

Days of the Beer, February 23

The beer for today is Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale.

On February 23, 1886, Charles Martin Hall produced the first samples of man-made aluminum. His invention was a very inexpensive method for making aluminum, which became the first metal to attain widespread use since the prehistoric discovery of iron.

His process involved passing an electric current through a bath of alumina dissolved in cryolite, which resulted in a puddle of aluminum forming in the bottom. He filed for a patent on the process on July 9, 1886. He later moved to Pittsburgh and helped form the Reduction Company of Pittsburgh (which later became Alcoa).

He is considered to be the originator of the American spelling of aluminum, since he misspelled it on a graphic publicizing his refinement process. Ever since then, Americans have called it aluminum, while most of the rest of the world calls it aluminium. Al-oo-min-um compared to al-u-min-e-um.

As to the beer:

Oskar Blues is credited as being the first US craft brewer to brew and can its own beer. That's right, there beer is in cans.

The brewery began hand-canning its hoppy, assertive-but-elegant Dale’s Pale Ale on a table-top machine that sealed just one can at a time. The move made Oskar Blues the first US craft brewer to brew and can its own beer.

Why cans? “We thought the idea of our big, luscious pale ale in a can was hilarious,” recalls founder Dale Katechis. “And it made our beer immensely portable for outdoor enjoyment fun.” Katechis and his crew then discovered other bennies of aluminum cans. “Cans keep beer incredibly fresh by fully protecting it from light and oxygen.”

Additionally, modern aluminum cans are lined with a coating, so the beer never touches the metal.

America’s first hand-canned craft beer is a voluminously hopped mutha that delivers a hoppy nose, assertive-but-balanced flavors of pale malts and hops from start to finish. First canned in 2002, Dale’s Pale Ale is a hearty (6.5% and 65 IBUs), critically acclaimed trailblazer that has changed the way craft beer fiends perceive canned beer.

The beer comes in at 6.5% ABV. (You probably won't find their beer in Illinois, or most of Indiana, but it is right across the border in Wisconsin, and also in Fort Wayne, Indiana).

So, for Charles Martin Hall, who first discovered the modern process for making aluminum, have a Dale's Pale Ale, the first modern craft beer to be put into aluminum cans.

Alcohol in the news; extra on tap episode #25

From Extra 92.1

Extra on tap episode #25

Samuel Adams Noble Pils



They also talk about Founders Double Trouble. Additionally, they talk about O'Fallon Hemp Hop Rye.

Bars in the news; Student dragged into an alley, sexually assaulted

From WICD 15 ABC

Student dragged into an alley, sexually assaulted

Champaign-- Police want to talk to two witnesses who may not have even known a young woman was raped.
This attack happened last week, in the early morning hours of Sunday February 13th.
Police say an Illinois Wesleyan student, who was in Champaign visiting allegedly left the campus bar Kam's alone.
She was trying to walk to a friend's house when two men grabbed her and led her into an ally.
Police say one of the men sexually assaulted her.
This attack reportedly stopped when a couple approached the area and the attackers fled.
The witnesses then drove the victim to a safe location.
Police desperately want to interview the good Samaritans.
Meanwhile, back on campus student's say they are not surprised of the attack saying crime alerts have become routine.

Days of the Beer, February 22

The beer for today is Lake Placid Pub and Brewery Winter Lager.

On February 22, 1980, the United States hockey team defeated the Soviet Union 4-3, in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history, called the "Miracle on Ice".

The US team was made up of amateur and collegiate players and was led by coach Herb Brooks. They defeated the Soviet team, who were considered to be the best ice hockey team in the world at the time.

USA went on to win the gold medal by beating Finland in it's last match. The Soviet Union took silver by beating Sweden in its final game.

The Soviets went into the Olympics as heavy favorites, having won the gold medal every year since 1964. Since 1960, that team had gone 27-1-1, and outscored their opponents 175-44. The Soviets were classed as amateurs, but they had jobs that allowed them to pretty much solely play hockey and train in world class facilities. In exhibitions that year, the Soviet team went 5-3-1 against NHL teams. A year earlier the Soviet team routed the NHL All-Stars 6-0.

The game started with a goal by Vladimir Krutov, giving the Soviets a 1-0 lead. Buzz Schneider scored for the US to tie the game, then Sergei Makarov gave the Russians a 2-1 lead. Mark Johnson tied the game at 2 with one second left in the first.

The Soviet coach replaced goalie Vladislav Tretiak (considered to be the best goaltender in the world at the time) with a backup after the second goal. He put in Vladimir Myshkin who allowed no goals in the second period. The Russians dominated the second outshooting the Americans 12-2 but scoring only once on a power play goal by Aleksandr Maltsev. After two, the Soviets led 3-2.

The US had a rare power play in the third, and Mark Johnson tied the game as the power play ended. With exactly ten minutes left, Mark Pavelich passed the puck to captain Mike Eruzione, who fireed a shot past back up goaltender Myshkin, giving the US its first lead of the game at 4-3.

As the game wound down, the Soviets began to attack furiously. All of these were turned away. With a minute left, the Soviets didn't pull the goalie for an extra defender, which caused disbelief in the Americans. The Russians never practiced 6 on 5. As the clock wound down, the crowd of 8,500 began counting down the seconds. Al Michaels, who called the game for ABC, picked up on the countdown.

"Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds, the countdown goin on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you Believe in miracles?... YES!"

As to the beer:

Lake Placid Pub and Brewery is located in Lake Placid New York. It's been around since 1996. They purchased a pub and renovated the upstairs and installed a seven barrel brewery. The operations were expanded several times, up to more than 5000 barrels per year. Most of their distributed beer is done at Matt Brewing Company in Utica NY (Saranac).

A medium-bodied bock beer, this brew uses biscuit and crystal malts as well as noble European hops. The resulting deep amber beer is dry and flavorful, perfect for a cold Lake Placid winter.

The beer comes in at 6.5% ABV.

It was recently reviewed on Beer Advocate, so you might be able to find some bottles of it floating around New York state.

So, for the Miracle on Ice, in the 1980 winter Olympics in Lake Placid New York, have a Lake Placid Winter Lager.

Alcohol in the news; Leinenkugel

From the Buzz

Leinenkugel: A good price for these good beers

Leinenkugel is a phenomenal brewing company that I have thus far neglected due to its commercial availability; however, I was feeling like a spring time beer in this cold, cold, icy weather. So I turned to their spring sampler pack which is twelve beers for about thirteen bucks. Good deal, I say!

...

The 1888 Bock is their seasonal spring beer and was by far my favorite of the pack. Maybe it was the single digit temperature or the “slick as rick” ice covering the streets of our sweet city but this beer warmed me up but just enough to endure the frigid winds. The 1888 Bock is a bold beer with drinkable qualities, a good aroma and a smooth finish; there is no doubt that this beer rings in the spring with its strong foot forward. This one’s only being made until March so get ‘em while they’re hot! Though not really, no one likes warm beer. Speaking of which, it is suggested to be drank at a solid 48 degrees on the F scale. Not too sure how many people put thermometers in their beer but if you are the type to look for perfection, well, go out and get one!

I've put a thermometer in a beer.

1888 Bock is ok, but it's leaving town. If you want to get one on draft, you'll have to hurry. It's currently being replaced throughout CU by Summer Shandy. I'm sure bottles of it are still available at most beer stores.

Days of the Beer, February 21

The beer for today is War Horse Brewing Company Riesling Ale.

On February 21, 1554, Hieronymus Bock died (he was born sometime in 1498). Bock was a German botanist, physician, and Lutheran minister. He began the transition from medieval botany to the modern scientific worldview by arranging plants by their relation or resemblance.

He wrote the book Kruetterbuch (plant book) in 1539. His objective was to describe German plants, including their names, characteristics, and medical uses. He developed his own system to classify 700 plants. He traveled widely through the German region observing the plants for himself.

The book was illustrated in 1546. Bock is noted for being the first person to document the use of the word Riesling in 1552.

As to the beer:

The first beer of it's kind! We actually blended pure NY riesling juice with an American wheat beer and came up with something truly unique. The nose starts out a bit grapey and spicy, while the flavor is a subtle blend of white wine and malt. We kept the color and body light; really light and ramped up the carbonation level to bring out the fruity aromas. This is the perfect beer for those hot, Western NY summer days we all know and adore. Brewed with Pale, Wheat, and CaraPils Malts. Hopped withCentennial and Mt. Hood. Alc. 4.5% by volume.

The beer is 4.5% ABV.

War Horse Brewing Company is located in Seneca Lake New York. It is a subsidiary company to Three Brothers Wineries and Estates.

Days of the Beer, February 20

The beer for today is Great Lakes Brewing Company Nosferatu.

On February 20, 1936, Max Schreck died. Friedrich Gustav Max Schreck was born September 6, 1879 and was a German actor. He is most known for the lead role in the 1922 film, Nosferatu.

In 1921, Schreck was hired by Prana film for their first and only production, Nosferatu. The company declared itself bankrupt after the film was released to avoid paying copyright infringement costs to Florence Stoker, Dracula author Bram Stoker's widow. Schreck played Count Orlok, who is really Count Dracula.

Nosferatu may or may not mean "vampire" in Romanian. One theory behind the etymology of the word is that it comes from the Greek "nosophoros" meaning disease-bearing. Which makes sense as the movie Nosferatu emphasized the theme of disease.

On February 19, 1936, Schreck had just played the Grand Inquisitor in the play Don Carlos. That evening he felt unwell and the doctor sent him to the hospital where he died early the next morning of a heart attack.

As to the beer:

Name Origin: Like vampires (most especially, the notorious German vampire from
the 1920s film era), this beer has a bit of a reputation as “the Beer with the Bite.”

Style Origin: American red ale has its origin in the earliest days of the American craft beer revolution. Faced with a dearth of traditional English ingredients, brewers had to use American ingredients. Imperial or double red ales grew out of this medium-bodied style and emerged with intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma.

Flavor: Highly hopped and rich with flavor, yet remarkably balanced.

The beer is 8% alcohol and has 70 IBUs; so it's slightly bitter.

So, for the guy who played the undead Nosferatu, have a beer to celebrate his life on the 75th anniversary of his death.

Days of the Beer, February 19

The beer for today is Left Hand Brewing Company Fade to Black Volume 2 (Smoked Baltic Porter).

On February 19, 1948, Francis Anthony Melby "Tony" Iommi was born in Aston, Birmingham, England.

In 1969, along with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, Iommi founded Black Sabbath. Sabbath is considered one of the first and most influential heavy metal bands of all time.

Prior to being a full time musician, at age 17, Iommi lost the tips of his middle and ring finger on his right hand. He was working in a sheet metal factory at the time. This forced him to play guitar left handed. Because of the incident, he detuned his guitar from E to C# to ease tension on his fingers. This helped create the darker, lower sound familiar with heavy metal. Odd, how a metal accident helped create the metal sound.

As to the beer:

Fade to Black, that time of year when the light seems to fade away.

We drift further into the darkness with each passing day. Volume 2- Smoked Baltic Porter is inspired by our collaboration with Nørrebro in Denmark. This mischievous cousin to Smoke Jumper has a penchant for pillaging and burning everywhere he goes. Smoked malts redolent of the burned thatched roofs in villages and towns all over Northern Europe impart flavors to warm the spirit of invading hordes far from home. You finally have something in your hand darker than the winter night sky.

The beer is 7.8% alcohol and has 35 IBUs.

So, for the left hand guitar playing co-founder of Black Sabbath, have a Left Hand Fade to Black.

CU Beer Weekend: Feb 18

Where are you drinking this weekend?

Seven Saints

Left Hand 400 pound monkey
Original Sin

Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Smuttynose IPA $2.00
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Micro-American and Canadian

Radio Maria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18
Two Brothers Hop Juice
Scaldis Noel
St. Bernardus Abt 12
Two Brothers Domaine Du Paige
Founders Porter
Founders Breakfast Stout
Saison Foret
He'Brew Jewbelation 9
He'Brew Jewbelation 10
Southern Tier Gemini
Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre
Gouden Carolous Cuvee Van de Kaiser
Unibroue Ephemere
Blanche de Bruxelles
Morland's Old Speckled Hen
Left Hand Milk Stout
Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Bells Hopslam
Southern Tier Creme Brulee
Lagunitas Pils
Samichlaus
Celis White
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, Hebrew JewBelations on special
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Blind Pig

Flying Dog Doggie Style; Fredrick, Maryland, American Pale Ale, 5.5% abv
Two Brothers Cane & Ebel; Warrenville, Illinois, American Strong Ale, 6.5% abv
Left Hand Imperial Stout; Longmont, Colorado, Imperial Stout, 10.4% abv
Southern Tier Cuvee Series 3; Lakewood, New York, American Strong Ale, 11% abv
Avery Mephistopheles; Boulder, Colorado, Imperial Stout, 16.83% abv
Tripel Karmeliet; Belgium, Abbey Tripel, 8% abv
Founders Porter; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Porter, 6.5% abv
Hoegaarden; Belgium, Belgian White, 5%
Fuller’s London Pride; England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon; Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
La Rulles Meilleurs Voeux; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 7.3% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Smutty Nose Barleywine; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Barleywine, 10%
Left Hand Fade to Black; Longmont, Colorado, Smoked, 7.8% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Victory Prima Pils; Downington, Pennsylvania, Pilsener, 5.3%
Bells Hopslam; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
Avery Out Of Bounds Stout; Boulder, Colorado, Dry Stout, 5.1% abv
Lindeman’s Pomme; Belgium, Lambic, 3.5% abv
North Coast Old Rasputin; Nitro Fort Bragg, California, Imperial Stout, 9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Imperial IPA
Blind Pig Winter Barley Wine
Blind Pig American Dark Ale
Blind Pig Ordinary Bitter
Bell’s Lager of the Lakes; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Premium Lager, 4.5% abv
Ommegang Witte; Cooperstown, New York, Belgian White, 5.1% abv
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout; Marshall, Michigan, Sweet Stout, 8% abv
Sam Adams Revolutionary Rye; Boston, MA, Specialty Grain, 5.5% abv
Capital Tettnang Doppelbock; Middleton, WI, Doppelbock, 7.8% abv
North Coast Brother Thelonious; Fort Bragg, CA, Blgn Strng Ale, 9% abv
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout; Chicago, IL, Imperial Stout, 13% abv
Bell’s Amber Ale; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amber Ale, 6%
Left Hand 400lb Monkey; Longmont, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Crane Alley

Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Founders Double Trouble IPA 9.4%
Dogfish Head 60 Min IPA 6.0%
Lagunitas Czech Pils 5.3%
Lost Abbey Serpent Stout 11.0%
Haandbryggeriet Nissefar 7.0%
Avery Ellie's Brown Ale 5.5%
Victory Yakima Glory 8.7%
Ayinger Brau Weiss 5.4%
Southern Tier Krampus 9.0%
Bell's Pale Ale 5.0%
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout 8.0%
Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale 6.5%
Mikkeller Ris A La Male 8.0%
Moylans Chelsea Porter 5.0%
PBR 4.2%

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Smuttynose Big A IPA
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
St. Bernardus Wit
Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter
Left Hand Stranger Pale
North Coast Old Rasputin
Left Hand Fade to Black Vol. 2

Alcohol in the news; Armageddon comes early this year

From WICD 15 ABC

Unofficial St. Patrick's Day Prep

CHAMPAIGN - Each year, hundreds of students travel to the U of I to take part in Unofficial St. Patricks Day. But this year, the social network, Facebook has people making travel arrangements early. So far, twenty-two thousand people have confirmed they will be attending. Police hope those numbers are off.

Champaign's Mayor says every year, new bar restrictions are put in place. This year, he has a new approach. The focus will turn from the bars to the house parties.

Reported by: Brittney Sager

We're all gonna die!!!

Alcohol in the news; Sunsinger 2.16

From WCIA 3 Illinoishomepage.net

Sunsinger 2.16

Brian Bowman of Sunsinger Wine & Spirits is here for today's Whet Your Whistle.

Predicador 2007 and Amon-Ra are the wines they sample.

Days of the Beer, February 16

The beer for today is Taedonggang.

On February 16, 1941, Kim Jong-il was born. Dear Leader is the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and he's very lonely.

To help him get over his loneliness, he did what all good beer commercials tell you to do: Drink beer to become more popular with the chicks. Even though he's got his own cult of personality surrounding him, and he's adored by the bagillions of North Korean's... he's so lonely.

So, around the year 2000, he sent a group of people over to the English town of Trowbridge in Wiltshire, to purchase the brewing equipment that previously belonged to Ushers (apparently, there were concerns that the brewery could be used to create chemical weapons).

After 18 months, the North Koreans had the brewery operational and producing a beverage with a refreshing taste... even though only the wealthy could afford it. A bottle cost about a third of the average worker's daily pay.





sure looks tasty...

As to the beer:

Taedonggang Beer is affectionately known as Kim Jong Ale (it's a lager). It's 5% ABV. So it's not too heavy, just like Kim.

About the only place you'll be able to get this beer is at the duty free shop in the DMZ. Unless you manage to go across the border.

So, for Kim Jung il's birthday, have a Taedonggang.

Alcohol in the news: Whipped Lightning

From WICD15

Whipped Lightning

Since Four Loko is banned, the next great satan is whipped cream with alcohol.

We're all gonna die!

Days of the Beer, February 15

The beer for today is Schlafly Biere de Garde.

On February 15, 1764, the city of St. Louis, Missouri was founded. It is located just south of where the Missouri and Mississippi rivers meet, by French traders Pierre Laclede and Rene Auguste Chouteau. It was named after King Louis IX (the only French king to be sainted).

Oddly, it was founded on the birthday of the then current French King Louis XV, 10 years before he died.

After the Seven Years' War, the city and Missouri belonged to the Spanish Empire. In 1800 the land was snet back to France, and then in 1803 Napoleon Bonaparte sold it to the United States.

In 1904, the city held both the World's Fair and Olympic Games. The US dominated those games, winning 78 Gold, 82 Silver and 79 Bronze medals. Other nations won a total of 41 medals to the US's 239. Most countries didn't even send teams, as they thought that St. Louis was in the west of the new nation, and not in the center, only 12 nations competed.

The city is home to some of the country's larges corporations, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Scottrade, Edward Jones, Energizer, Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, Purina, Monsanto, Wells Fargo, and Mastercard.

As to the beer:

Our Bière de Garde is a traditional French farmhouse ale, with burnt orange coloring.

The beer is 7.5% ABV.

Schlafly (Saint Louis Brewery) opened in 1991.

When we opened twenty years ago, we had no business plan beyond making great beer and food in a fun atmosphere.

Twenty years on, our business plan is still as simple as our original vision: To make a wide variety of great beers and throw some really fun parties.

According to Beer Advocate, most of their beers range from A+ to C+. With an overall rating of A- (excellent).

So, for the French founding St. Louis, have a French Farmhouse Ale from the Saint Louis Brewery (Schlafly).

Alcohol in the news; the Reverand

From the Buzz

The Reverand; A questionable beer

It wasn't me, they misspelled the name of the beer in the headline.

Avery Brewing Company is a brewery based out of Boulder, Colorado. Colorado just seems to have a ton of wonderful breweries to accompany their wonderful atmosphere. Thus far I have only sampled one of their signature beers but I do intend on often frequenting their beers. The one I sampled is called The Reverend and it surely blessed my night if I do say so… which I do. Anyway, it was very flavorful with a mix of sweet malty thickness that most stout-like beers contain and bitterly smooth finish of ales. The style of beer is known as Belgian style quadruple ale. It stands above most hyper-flavored beers at 10% ABV. For $5.99 this single (22oz) beer made me feel like I was eating a meal that got me drunk, so in other words, it was worth the price. Certainly this beer can be paired with a number of foods but stick to the foods with robust and powerful flavors to not be drowned out by the beer.

In comparison to the previous article on Knob Creek, this one is... well... bad.

Wonderful was used twice in the same sentence.

This beer won the 2003 gold medal in the U.S. Beer Tasting Championship in the category of Belgian/Abbey strong ale. Not as many awards as some other beers I have sampled in the past, and to be perfectly honest this beer doesn’t deserve many awards. This might have to be one of the first negative reviews of a beer I have written but speaking from the heart, this holy beer doesn’t stand next to a majority of the beers I have drank before. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for such a robust beer but this certainly tackled my taste buds and held them down for a while. Regardless, when the bottle was empty I certainly felt the equivalent of drinking a little more than four Keystone Lights (do the math) and it surely started out my night just right. In any case, good or bad beer is great so grab a brew and knock back a few. Cheers!

There is an image with the story. The beer was drank in a shaker pint glass.

After reading the article, it's hard to determine exactly why the writer didn't like the beer. They seemed to extol the virtues of it, "The Reverend and it surely blessed my night if I do say so… which I do " but then disliked it, " this holy beer doesn’t stand next to a majority of the beers I have drank before".

Perhaps they don't like the style, perhaps the mood wasn't right... who knows. Get it, try it for yourself.

Alcohol in the news; Take a trip down Knob Creek

From the Buzz

Take a trip down Knob Creek

Knob Creek is a bourbon produced at the same distillery as Jim Beam .While I will never write a review of Jim Beam, I think it does good work for what it is, and the distillery puts out a lot of good whiskey. They also make a few other small-batch high end bourbons: Booker's, Baker's, and Basil Hayden's. Knob Creek being my favorite out of them all.

...

The bourbon is a medium amber color in the glass, and the nose gives off some spice as well as some maple. The drink starts with a little bit of bite from the charred oak, and the finish is long, with a lot of caramel flavor. The end of the drink develops a roundness which makes Knob Creek a great sipping bourbon and a really enjoyable experience.

Once again, Jeanine Russell creates a great article on a review of a whiskey.

Days of the Beer, February 14

The beer for today is Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.

Today is Valentine's Day. It is named for two Roman Catholic Saints named Valentine (one of Terni, the other of Rome) . Today is traditionally their feast day, established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I.

The story of both Valentine's became mixed and lost. According to legend, Valentine was persecuted as a Christian by Roman Emperor Claudius II. Claudius tried to get him to convert to Roman paganism, but Valentine refused, so he was to be executed. While in prison, he supposedly cured the blind daughter of the jailer.

The myth about Valentine (either or neither) was that he was jailed because Claudius outlawed marriages because married men didn't make good soldiers; and Valentine performed secret marriages. The other myth was that he was romantically involved with the previous blind girl, and wrote her a note before he was to be executed that said "From your Valentine".

The date became first linked with romantic love because Chaucer wrote a poem.

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

["For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."]

Historically, people exchange notes, candies, and flowers.

Antivalentinism is very critical of the Hallmark Holiday. There's two main factions. Anticonsumerists, and people who object to the forced observation of romantic love.

The criticism of forced observation is based on the idea that if a person is forced by culture to profess or observe their love to another (especially on a universally agreed-upon day), or else suffer within the relationship as a consequence of not doing so, then there is no free will in the expression, and thus, it is not love.

Chocolate is considered to be an aphrodisiac (named for Aphrodite, the greek goddess of sexuality and love). In other places, rhino horn, bananas, deer penis, oysters, artichokes, asparagus and even lettuce are considered aphrodisiacs.

As to the beer:

We use three mashes to brew each batch of this beer, achieving a luscious deep dark chocolate flavor through a blend of specially roasted malts. We brew it every year for the winter season. It is delicious when newly bottled, but also ages beautifully for years.

The beer is an imperial stout and is 10% ABV. ( I believe), There is no chocolate used in the making of the beer, only "chocolate malt" which is a way of roasting grains to achieve a chocolate flavor.

So for Valentine's Day, or for your antivalentine sentiments, have a Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. If you are celebrating the day, enjoy the chocolate flavors of the beer. If you are against it, sit back and laugh as there's no chocolate in it.

Days of the Beer, February 13

The beer for today is Dragonmead Inquisition Pale Ale.

On February 13, 1633, Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome to stand trial on suspicion of heresy.

With the loss of many of his defenders in Rome because of Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Galileo was ordered to stand trial on suspicion of heresy in 1633, "for holding as true the false doctrine taught by some that the sun is the center of the world", against the 1616 condemnation, since "it was decided at the Holy Congregation [...] on 25 Feb 1616 that [...] the Holy Office would give you an injunction to abandon this doctrine, not to teach it to others, not to defend it, and not to treat of it; and that if you did not acquiesce in this injunction, you should be imprisoned".

Galileo was found guilty, and had a three part sentence.

1. He was required to "abjure, curse, and detest" the idea that the sun was stationary and that the earth went around it.

2. He was sentenced to imprisonment, the next day it was changed to house arrest.

3. His Dialogue was banned.

According to popular legend, after his abjuration Galileo allegedly muttered the rebellious phrase "And yet it moves", but there is no evidence that he actually said this or anything similar. The first account of the legend dates to a century after his death.

As to the beer:

If you are a fan of traditional English IPAs get ready for this malty, hop-filled treat. English Pale, Crystal, and Munich malts are used along with Challenger, East Kent Goldings and Styrian Goldings hops to create a brew that is fit for the English Troops in India.

I'm a fan of Dragonmead. They are from Warren Michigan. I've had several of their beers at Great Taste of the Midwest.

So, if you can find Inquisition Pale Ale from Dragonmead, enjoy one in your house for Galileo arriving in Rome. His last trip anywhere.

Days of the Beer, February 12

The Beer for today is Fort Street Brewery Lincoln Lager.

On February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born. Lincoln was the 16th President of the US. He was in office from March 4, 1861, until he was assassinated April 14, 1865.

There's a little soft history connecting Lincoln with beer.

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts... and beer."

— Abraham Lincoln

No one is really sure if he actually said the "and beer" part, but Lincoln was known for his humor, so he might have said it.

As to the beer:

Fort Street Brewery is located in Lincoln Park, Michigan (near Detroit).

An American-style lager. Clean, crisp, and easy drinkin'.

It's 4.25% ABV and has 9 IBUs. So it's definitely a sessionable beer.

I'm not sure if you can get this beer anywhere other than the brewery, but if you can get there, go have a Lincoln Lager.

CU Beer Weekend: Feb 11 (Valentine's day)

Where are you drinking this weekend?

Do you have reservations for Monday yet?

Seven Saints

Southern Tier Pale Ale
Victory Storm King

Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Bell's 25th Anniversary $2.50
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Scotch

Radio Maria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18
Two Brothers Hop Juice
Scaldis Noel
St. Bernardus Abt 12
St. Bernardus Prior 8
Founders Porter
Founders Breakfast Stout
Saison Foret
He'Brew Jewbelation 9
He'Brew Jewbelation 10
He'Brew Jewbelation 11
Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre
Gouden Carolous Cuvee Van de Kaiser
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
Blanche de Bruxelles
Erdinger Dunkel
Left Hand Milk Stout
Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Bells Hopslam
Southern Tier Creme Brulee
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner
Samichlaus
Celis White
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, Hebrew JewBelations on special
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Call 398-7729 for reservations

Blind Pig

New Holland Black Tulip Holland, Michigan, Abbey Tripel, 9% abv
Avery New World Porter Boulder, Colorado, Porter, 6.7% abv
Atwater Cherry Stout Detroit, Michigan, Stout, 6.5% abv
Southern Tier Cuvee Series 3 Lakewood, New York, American Strong Ale, 11% abv
Avery Mephistopheles Boulder, Colorado, Imperial Stout, 16.83% abv
Tripel Karmeliet Belgium, Abbey Tripel, 8% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
New Holland Golden Cap Holland, Michigan, Saison, 7%
Fuller’s London Pride England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
Southern Tier Gemini Lakewood, New York, Imperial IPA, 10.5% abv
Stella Artois Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Chatoe Dirtoir Newport, Oregon, Schwarzbier, 5%
Smutty Nose Gravitation Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Quadrupel, 10% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Victory Prima Pils Downington, Pennsylvania, Pilsener, 5.3%
Flying Dog Snake Dog Frederick, Maryland, India Pale Ale, 7.1% abv
Bell’s Java Stout Kalamazoo, Michigan, Stout, 7.5% abv
Lindeman’s Pomme Belgium, Lambic, 3.5% abv
North Coast Old Rasputin Nitro Fort Bragg, California, Imperial Stout, 9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Thursday: St. Practice Day: Southern Wine and Spirits host a Jameson Irish Whiskey sampler event, from 9pm to midnight

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Imperial IPA
Blind Pig Spooky Coincidence Abbey Dubbel
Blind Pig American Dark Ale
Blind Pig Ordinary Bitter
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Ommegang Witte Cooperstown, New York, Belgian White, 5.1% abv
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout Marshall, Michigan, Sweet Stout, 8% abv
Sam Adams Revolutionary Rye Boston, MA, Specialty Grain, 5.5% abv
Smutty Nose Maibock Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Heller Bock, 7.7% abv
Two Brothers’ Bare Tree Warrenville, IL, Wheat Wine, 11% abv
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Chicago, IL, Imperial Stout, 13% abv
Bell’s Two Hearted Kalamazoo, Michigan, India Pale Ale, 7%
Sierra Nevada Estate Chico, California, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer

Feb 22: Berliner Weisse Night

The Blind Pig Brewery will tap it's first keg of Berliner Weisse style beer brewed by Bayerischer Bahnhof in Leipzig, Germany.

Berliner Weisse is a German wheat beer dating back to 16th century Berlin. It is brewed using lactobacillus to deliberately create a refreshingly tart and sour flavor. Often served in Berlin "mit Schuss: Himbeere" or "mit Schuss: Waldmeister" meaning with a shot of raspberry or woodruff syrup, to make the sourness more palatable. We will have both traditional syrups available.

Crane Alley

Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Founders Double Trouble IPA 9.4%
Dogfish Head 60 Min IPA 6.0%
Lagunitas Czech Pils 5.3%
Lost Abbey Serpent Stout 11.0%
Struise 'Tsjeeses Pale Ale 10.0%
Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager 5.5%
Victory Yakima Glory 8.7%
Ayinger Brau Weiss 5.4%
Southern Tier Krampus 9.0%
Bell's Pale Ale 5.0%
Dark Horse Too Cream Stout 8.0%
Rogue Chatoe Creek 6.0%
St Bernardus Prior 8 8.0%
Moylans Chelsea Porter 5.0%
PBR 4.2%

Specials for the weekend of February 11th

Fig and Bleu Cheese Crostini - 3 pieces of garlic toast with a spread of organic fig jam, topped with crumbled gorgonzola cheese and served on a bed of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette. $7.95

Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta – 6 jumbo black tiger shrimp with a lemon basil sauce, sautéed vegetables and fresh basil chiffonade over linguine. Served with garlic toast. $15.95

Mexican Lasagna - Corn, peppers, black beans, chorizo sausage and a queso rico cream sauce layered between crispy fried flour tortillas, topped with fresh salsa and served over a jalapeno-black bean puree. $15.95

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Dark Horse Crooked Tree
Great Divide Yeti
Chimay Blanche Tripel
Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter
Schlafly Hefeweizen
Northcoast Old Rasputin
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence

If you're interested in having dinner at Black Dog on Valentine's Day, best get in touch quickly to reserve a table. Smoked Oysters, Smoked Leg of Lamb or Prime Rib, Smoked Lobster Tail served w/choice of 2 sides & Pot de Creme and wine from Corkscrew Urbana. Seatings at 6pm & 8pm, call 344-9334 or speak with your server.

CU Beer Club

Wednesday: February Gathering, Crane Alley, theme is Beer and Chocolate. Either bring some beer with chocolate, or a beer with some chocolate, or a beer that goes good with chocolate, or beer that is good.

Piccadilly

Weekend tastings: Friday 4-7pm, Saturday 1-4pm (either $3 or $5 probably)

Days of the Beer, February 11

The beer for today is Shorts Pineapple Pilsner.

On February 11, 1934, Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno was born. He was the military dictator of Panama from 1983, to 1989.

After the US invasion of Panama, he was tried in the US on 8 counts of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering. His US sentence ended in September 2007. In April 2010, he was extradited to France, to face money laundering charges. He received a seven year sentence.

His nickname was Cara de Piña, which means Pineapple Face.

The US invasion of Panama was the basis for the song Pineapple Face by Lard.



As to the beer:

There isn't much out there about it. It's currently (as of 2/11/11) on tap at the brewery and some places in Michigan.

In April of 2004 we opened the doors to Short’s Brewing Company in the quaint Village of Bellaire. Beer was the mission, and liberation was the movement. With a lot of elbow grease, blind ambition and a little luck, the quest to create a community pub in Northwest Lower Michigan began to take shape. The philosophy was to bring an appreciation of craft beer to the north with product education and creativity. The process of appreciation through education we call beer liberation.

Today Short’s Brewing Company continues the effort to educate and liberate consumers. We take pride in our hands on, mom and pop approach and the energy we put into the quality of our beer, food, staff, customers and facilities. We believe in the power of the smallness. We intend on remaining a smaller, state wide beer distributor and focusing our energies close to home (the SBC Michigan stimulus package). Our goal is to get to a comfortable production volume, enjoy what we do and love life in Northern Michigan.

So, for Pineapple Face's birthday, have a Pineapple Pilsner from Shorts.

Bars in the news; Places to wine and dine this Valentine's Day

From the Buzz

Places to wine and dine this Valentine's Day

And the CU area is a good place to start if you’re looking to celebrate. Everywhere from the bars (Seven Saints) to cupcake shops (Cakes on Walnut) to restaurants (Radio Maria and Jim Gould) is delving into the holiday and offering a little something for everyone to enjoy.

...

Radio Maria offers a romantic setting, with a twist in cuisine by presenting a special tasting menu on the Friday and Saturday preceding Feb. 14, in addition to the actual holiday. Radio Maria’s holiday menu will feature a mix of ethnicities for your palette.

The menu is priced per person ranging in price from $55 to $90 per person — with or without regular or premier wine pairings. Corn chowder “ravioli,” Angus New York strip, lobster shumai and flour-less Gianduja chocolate cake are just some of the featured dishes. With a menu that features a myriad of flavors and handcrafted décor, Radio Maria is the place for a romantic and creative Valentine’s date.

...

Another alternative to the typical Valentine’s experience is that at Seven Saints. Sticking to their roots — cocktails and whiskey — the bar is taking a more relaxed approach to celebrating where, general manager Andy Borbely said, “the décor is very nice and the offerings and the selections is very nice but, you know, people can come in on a date and dress up or you can just come in in a T-shirt and jeans.”

The bar and restaurant will feature its regular menu but also some “date-friendly” cocktails and beers which are tailored to match some of the restaurants regular desserts, like the Southern Tier crème brûlée, (“a huge lady-friendly dark beer,” Borbely said) and the crème brûlée cheesecake or the raspberry chocolate martinis and chocolate cake.

Days of the Beer, February 10

The beer for today is Three Floyds Dreadnaught.

On February 10, 1906, the HMS Dreadnought was launched.

The Dreadnought was a battleship with the British Royal Navy that revolutionised naval power. It was armed solely with 12-inch guns and had a speed of 21 knots (24mph). The Dreadnought was the first battleship to have all guns of the same size, instead of having a few large guns and several smaller guns. Powered by steam turbines, it was the fastest battleship in the world when it was launched. When it was launched, it sparked a naval arms race as navies around the world tried to match it.

The reason behind the uniform guns was to assist the gunners in ranging their targets. With various sized guns, the gunners had to watch to see where the rounds splashed to re-aim their guns. With multiple guns on board, it was difficult to determine which splash was caused by which gun. Having uniform gun sizes helped gunners become more accurate.

The Dreadnought was so revolutionary that an entire generation of British battleships became known as "dreadnoughts".

As to the beer:

A hophead’s dream beer. This Imperial India Pale Ale has an opening salvo of mango, peach and citrus hop aromas that sit atop a pronounced caramel malt backbone. Although Dreadnaught is a strong and intensely hoppy ale, its complex flavor is both smooth and memorable.

Dreadnaught is 9.5% ABV and is 99 IBUs.

Dreadnaught sells out really quick if it ever gets down to CU, which is appropriate since it was the fastest battleship at it's time.

Alcohol in the news; Valentine's Day Bubbly

From Illinoishomepage.net/WCIA 3

Valentine's Day Bubbly

Time for Whet Your Whistle with master mixologist Andy Borbely from Seven Saints to pop the cork on some Valentine's Day bubbly.

Except Andy is pushing whiskey...

They start off with Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. Next is two whiskys from Caol Ila (kahleelah) one before and one after the malt has been peated. The final is from Murray McDavid, (a Laphroaig).

Tonight is Whiskey Wednesday at Seven Saints. Tonight's special is Bourbon and Rye, and the whisky's mentioned on the show.

Days of the Beer, February 9

The beer for today is Upland Brewing Company, Nut Hugger Brown Ale.

On February 9, 1961, John Martin Kruk was born in Charleston, West Virginia.

Kruk is most famously a baseball player. He began his pro career with the San Diego Padres in 1986. His breakout year was 1987, when he hit .313 with 20 home runs, 91 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. On April 13, 1987, Marvell Wynne, Tony Gwynn, and Kruk became the first players in major league baseball to open a game with three consecutive solo home runs. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies during the 89 season.

With Philly, he was selected as an all star in 91, 92, and 93.

He finished his career with the Chicago White Sox in 1995. His career batting average was .300; he had 100 home runs, and 592 RBI.

He is currently a Baseball Tonight analyst on ESPN.

During Spring training in 1994, an errant pickoff throw from Mitch Williams hit Kruk in the groin and broke his protective cup. He later complained of pain in his groin. Doctors then diagnosed that he had testicular cancer and he had one of them removed.

As to the beer:

Sometimes, it’s good to be a bit nutty. Take, for instance, our Nut Hugger Brown Ale, a unique twist on a traditional recipe. The familiar, pleasant bitterness you would expect from a brown ale is present, tempered by a full, chewy caramel malt. However, things get interesting once you taste the hints of roasted biscuit and the chocolaty aroma, and to top it off, a touch of sweetness in the finish. Orignially, brown ale hails from England, where it first emerged in the 1600’s. The inclusion of American hops, however, lends Nut Hugger Brown Ale a satisfying bite.

Upland Brewing Co. Nut Hugger Brown Ale is 6.2% ABV. It has 41.4 IBU. The beer is seasonal will be available again in May.

So, for John Kruk's broken Nut Hugger, and his remaining nut, have an Upland Nut Hugger Brown Ale.

Alcohol in the news; Beer Goggles

From the buzz

Beer goggles

Beer goggles can be the folly of any man, woman or beast. These false-reality creating goggles have caused a number of problems around the world and even on this very campus. A simple goggle search these days can get you a number of different varieties, but I for one like to stick to the old-school Natural-Ice goggles (and maybe a shot or two of tequila to get the ball rolling, Naw-mean?).

I think the author was drunk when they wrote this.

This leads me to give you the actual answer as to why both men and women get all kinds of freaky when they are intoxicated: their lack of higher thinking and their better judgment compromised. Basically they put on beer goggles and let their primitive part of the brain take hold of their reality leading to ignorant fights and long, long nights (ow!ow!). So drink up and get down C-U!

Um... huh.

Alcohol in the news; Maker's Mark Bourbon

From the Buzz

Maker's Mark bourbon

Maker's Mark is easily distinguished for its red, wax seal on every bottle. Each and every bottle is hand dipped in this wax, and it gives Maker's Mark a distinct identity in the whisky aisle. And yes, the makers of Maker's Mark use the Scottish spelling "whisky" instead of the American "whiskey" as a callback to their Scottish heritage.

This is a good article on Maker's Mark.

Whenever I am introducing a friend to bourbon, I always go with Maker's Mark because it's so smooth and even-flavored, but it is still delicious. It isn't overpowering, but it gives a good introduction to what bourbons are like without being intimidating.

...

The nose of Maker's Mark is sweet, with notes of caramel. The first smell of the bourbon gives a good indication of the drink: nothing too sharp. The drink starts with a lot of vanilla and as it progresses gets some oak flavor towards the end. It has no bitterness and almost no spiciness to speak of. The drink may even be described as short in that there is not a lot of flavor progression, but I mean that in a good way. It shouldn't seem like the drink is underdeveloped. Instead, done well in its simplicity.

Nice writeup of a whisky. The author provides nose, taste, feel (not in the above graph), and overall. The only thing that's missing is appearance.

Alcohol in the news; Busy Bars for Super Bowl Sunday

From WICD 15, ABC

Busy Bars for Super Bowl Sunday

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA--Many bar employees spent the first part of their Super Bowl Sunday getting ready for one of their busiest nights for business.

The General Manager of Bunny's Tavern in downtown Urbana says the bar is busier when the Bears are in the Super Bowl, but he still expects his bar to be packed Sunday night.

An employee at Pia's Sports Bar and Grill in Champaign says they expect at least 100 people to fill their bar for the big game.

Days of the Beer, February 8

The beer for today is Avery the Beast Grand Cru.

On February 8, 1961, Vincent Neil Wharton was born. In 1981, Vincent joined his high school friend Tommy Lee, along with Nikki Sixx and Bob "Mick Mars" Deal to be in Mötley Crüe. Later that year, the band released their first album, Too Fast for Love. In 1983, they released Shout at the Devil.

He was released in 1992, and released some solo albums. He got back together with the band to release Generation Swine in 1997.

Vince is no stranger to alcohol, he owns (owned) Vince Vineyards; in 2007 he launched his own brand of tequila called Tres Rios. He's had a DUI (or two) and has been charged with vehicular manslaughter for killing Hanoi Rocks drummer Nicholas Dingley in a drunken car crash.

As to the beer:

The Beast is a seducer - accomodating, complicated, powerful, dark and created to last the ages. With a deep burgundy color and aromas of honey, nutmeg, mandarin orange and pineapple, this massive and challenging brew has flavors akin to a beautiful Carribean rum. Dates, plums, raisins and molasses are dominant in a rich vinous texture. Cellarable for 10+ years.

It is 14.9% ABV and has 68 IBUs. It's brewed Ausust 1st of each year and is available in 12 ounce bottles. It's in the Belgian Grand Cru style.

On Motley Crue's second album, Shout at the Devil, the 5th track is a minute and 33 seconds long and is entitled "God Bless the Children of the Beast".



So play that song over and over while you are sipping on Avery the Beast Grand Cru for Vince Neil's birthday.

CU Beer Weekend; Feb 4

Seven Saints

Avery DuganA
Victory Storm King

This weekend: two absinthe specials (not exactly sure what they are)
Tuesday: Tuesday Brewsday, Boulder Never Summer $2 bottles, Guinness imperial pints, $2.50
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday: Bourbon and Rye

If it snows this week, look for a whiskey special, Snow Phoenix (Glenmorangie) to be $2 off.

Radio Maria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18
Two Brothers Hop Juice
Scaldis Noel
St. Bernardus Abt 12
St. Bernardus Prior 8
Founders Porter
Founders Breakfast Stout
He'Brew Jewbelation 8
He'Brew Jewbelation 9
He'Brew Jewbelation 10
He'Brew Jewbelation 11
He'Brew Jewbelation 12
Gouden Carolous Cuvee Van de Kaiser
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
Blanche de Bruxelles
Belhaven Scottish
Left Hand Milk Stout
Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Bells Hopslam
Southern Tier Creme Brulee
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner
Samichlaus
Green Flash Hop Head Red
Anderson Valley Brother David's Double
PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30, Hebrew JewBelations on special
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR; Bloody Mary Bar
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Random Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Blind Pig

New Holland Black Tulip; Holland, Michigan, Abbey Tripel, 9% abv
Avery New World Porter; Boulder, Colorado, Porter, 6.7% abv
Atwater Cherry Stout; Detroit, Michigan, Stout, 6.5% abv
Southern Tier Cuvee Series 3; Lakewood, New York, American Strong Ale, 11% abv
Avery Mephistopheles; Boulder, Colorado, Imperial Stout, 16.83% abv
St. Bernardus Abt 12; Belgium, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Schneider Aventinus; Germany, Weizen Bock, 8.2% abv
New Holland Golden Cap; Holland, Michigan, Saison, 7%
Fuller’s London Pride; England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon; Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
Southern Tier Gemini Lakewood, New York, Imperial IPA, 10.5% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Chatoe Dirtoir; Newport, Oregon, Schwarzbier, 5%
Smutty Nose Gravitation; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Quadrupel, 10% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Krusovice Imperial 12°;; Czech Republic, Bohemian Pilsener, 5%
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA San Diego, California, India Pale Ale, 6% abv
Bell’s Java Stout; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Stout, 7.5% abv
Lindeman’s Pomme; Belgium, Lambic, 3.5% abv
North Coast Old Rasputin Nitro; Fort Bragg, California, Imperial Stout, 9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Feb. 17: St. Practice Day: Southern Wine and Spirits host a Jameson Irish Whiskey sampler event, from 9pm to midnight

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig Imperial IPA
Blind Pig Spooky Coincidence Abbey Dubbel
Blind Pig American Dark Ale
Blind Pig Ordinary Bitter
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Hofbräu Hefeweizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.4% abv
Bell’s Hopslam; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
Lagunitas Brown Shugga; Petaluma, California, Barley Wine, 9.84% abv
Smutty Nose Maibock; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Heller Bock, 7.7% abv
Two Brothers’ Bare Tree; Warrenville, IL, Wheat Wine, 11% abv
Arcadia Imperial Stout; Battle Creek, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.4% abv
Atwater Vanilla Java Porter; Detroit, Michigan, Porter, 6%
Moylan’s Hopsickle; Novato, California, Imperial IPA, 9.2% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards
Tuesday and Wednesday: Mug Night, buy a mug and get $2 off draught beer

Crane Alley

Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro 5.4%%
Founders Double Trouble IPA 9.4%
Great Divide Titan IPA 7.1%
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner 4.4%
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 13.0%
Gouden Carolus Noel 10.0%
Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager 5.5%
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre 8.0%
Hofbrau Munchen Hefe Weizen 5.4%
Southern Tier Old Man Winter 7.2%
Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale
Kulmbacher Eisbock 9.2%
Rogue Chatoe Creek 6.0%
St Bernardus Prior 8 8.0%
Moylans Chelsea Porter 5.0%
PBR 4.2%

Specials for the weekend of February 4th

Andouille Corn Fritters - Sweet and salty pan fried corn fritters served with salsa and sour cream. $7.95

Pineapple Rice and Grilled Shrimp - 6 chimichurri marinated black tiger shrimp, grilled, served over pineapple rice with bell pepper, blood orange supreme and sweet onion pickle. $15.95

Spice Rubbed Hanger Steak - Grilled hanger steak served over chipotle mashed potatoes, guajillo cream sauce and spicy corn sauté. $16.95


Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Southern Tier Gemini
Schlafly Hefeweizen
Lost Abbey 10 Commandments
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale
Arcadia Big Dick's Olde ale
Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout

Cask: Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout

Piccadilly

(haven't received word yet on their Friday/Saturday tasting)

Friday 4-7pm, Saturday 1-4pm (either $3 or $5 probably)

Options for warming up after shoveling

So, you just got done shoveling, you are a little cold and want to warm up. Here are some drinks that'll get your blood flowing again.

• A Hot Toddy is a pretty good drink for warming up.

A traditional Hot Toddy recipe calls for a shot of scotch, with sugar or honey, a slice of lemon, some clove, maybe a cinnamon stick, and topped off with boiling (or just really hot) water.

An English version uses black tea instead of plain hot water.

• Mulled wine is popular in Europe.

Basically take some red wine and heat it up (don't boil it). Putting it over a double boiler works really well. As you are heating it you can add some spices including cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, honey or sugar. For an added kick, you can "irish it up a bit" and add a shot of whatever you like. Rum will sweeten it up nicely.

• Mulled mead is really good.

Mead, the delicious drink made from fermented honey, lends itself really well to heating up. Again, don't boil it. You can flavor mead with almost anything, from spices to fruits.

Chaucer's Mead actually comes with a spice bag for adding to the Mead if you choose to serve it heated and spiced.

• Warm up your beer.

You can even heat up your beer to temperatures that you'd normally drink tea at. Unibroue Brewery in Canada makes a beer called Quelque Chose, which is designed to be drank either cold, warm, or hot. I've had it both cold and hot and both were equally good. Drinking beer hot is a unique experience, and can seem odd. Certain beers will lend themselves to being drank hot, others will probably be really disgusting.

Some suggestions for mulled beer are Belgian Abbey ales, most likely a tripel. Tart/sour beers and some fruit beers. Lindemans Framboise will probably lend itself nicely to being heated.

• Hot Chocolate with a shot of ____

Back in my youthful indiscretion days, one of my favorite drinks was Dairy Queen hot chocolate with a dash of Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps. We used to call it a Peppermint Paddy. You could use any peppermint schnapps, however Rumple Minze is 100 proof and has more alcohol than most other schnapps.

Hot chocolate lends itself well to most any flavored shot, as you've probably had a chocolate covered "whatever flavored schnapps you can find in your house" on valentines day before.

Watermelon may be pushing it though.

• Coffee and___

Jameson, Jack, Jim... any whiskey. It doesn't have to be the finest whiskey and it doesn't have to be the best coffee. Coffee also holds schnapps pretty good.

So, when you come in from the cold, don't be afraid to warm yourself up with some libations. Don't be afraid to heat it up. Don't be afraid to add a shot to it.

Heck, it's a pretty cold walk from the parking lot to the front door, so you deserve to heat yourself up with something good.