Stone coming to CU

Stone Week

There are four major kickoff events for Stone Brewing coming into CU. Here's the timeline and events.(Aaron Tyrell, the Stone Brewing Rep for Illinois will be at these events, along with the Texas rep; and Eric Puffer from Marketplace, the company distributing Stone downstate.)

The first event is at Seven Saints on Wednesday from 5 until 8.

Directly following, the fun switches to Crane Alley in Urbana from 8 until 11 for a 14 tap takeover.

Thursday kicks off at Radio Maria for Taps and Tapas, from 5 until 8. Taps and Tapas will feature 5 Stone beers paired with 5 tapas. The cost should be $20 for the pairing.

At 8 the fun moves across Walnut to the Blind Pig for their 24 tap takeover.

Seven Saints

still waiting on information on the Seven Saints event

Crane Alley

Stone Levitation
Stone Pale Ale
Stone Smoked Porter
Stone IPA
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA
Stone Ruination IPA
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
Highway 78 Scotch Ale (collaboration between Green Flash, Port, and Stone)
Stone Double Dry-Hopped Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
Stone Imperial Stout Ages in Bourbon Barrels
2011 Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine
2010 Double Bastard Ale

Radio Maria

Stone Pale Ale
Stone Smoked Porter
Stone IPA
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA
Stone Ruination IPA
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous
Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA

Blind Pig

Stone IPA
Stone Pale Ale
Stone Double Dry Hop Sublimely Self Righteous Ale
Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA
Stone Levitation Ale
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
Stone Double Dry Hop Ruination IPA
Stone Ruination IPA
Stone Smoked Porter
Stone Smoked Porter w/Chipolte
Stone Smoked Porter w/Vanilla Beans
2010 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale
2007 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale
2011 Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine Style Ale
* 2010 Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Highway 78 Collaboration
* Stone Smoked Porter Aged in Bourbon Barrels
* 2010 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA
* 2010 Double Bastard Ale
* 2010 Double Bastard Ale Aged w/Chipolte Peppers
* Arrogant Bastard aged in a Bourbon Barrels
Cask: Stone IPA

* not available until 8 pm, the rest will be available at 3 pm *

Stone beers will be available for purchase at Sun Singer, Friar Tucks, Corkscrew, and Piccadilly.

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.

Bars in the news; One-on-One with Sharon Owens, of Radio Maria

From the Buzz

One-on-One with Sharon Owens, Co-Owner of Radio Maria

It's a nice little piece on Radio.

Though Radio Maria has been a CU favorite for years with some of those classic dishes that keep us coming back for more, it also constantly presents changes in the menu, space and events that have its customers returning and growing in size. According to co-owner Sharon Owens, Radio Maria is all about fusing personal interests with the love of great dining: the restaurant features work (from the lights to the three-dimensional artwork on the wall to the tabletops) by Owens, co-owner David Spears and other Radio Maria employees past and present. Back in the kitchen, the creativity does not stop: Chefs are encouraged to explore their culinary interests as reflected in the evolving menu. buzz sat down with Owens to talk more about her restaurant.

CU Beer Weekend; October 22, homecoming

It's homecoming for the University of Illinois. Go get your beer on.

Seven Saints

Southern Tier Farmers Tan
Southern Tier Pumpking

Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Shipyard Pumpkin Ale, 12 oz, $2. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Scotch

Radio Maria

1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30
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; Softball 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: Left Hand Twin Sisters Imperial IPA

Goose Island Pere Jacques Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Goose Island Pepe Nero Chicago, Illinois, Saison, 6% abv
Goose Island Sofie Chicago, Illinois, Saison, 6.5% abv
Goose Island White City Chicago, Illinois, Belgian White, 7.5% abv
Goose Island Matilda Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Ale, 7% abv
Goose Island India Pale Ale Chicago, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 5.9% abv
Goose Island Minx Chicago, Illinois, Imperial IPA, 8% abv
Goose Island Frankenporter
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
Duchesse de Bourgogne Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Double Chocolate Stout Newport, Oregon, Stout, 8.7%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner Fort Bragg, California, Pilsener, 4.4% abv
Great Divide Hercules Denver, Colorado, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
Arcadia Whitsun Battle Creek, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6.2% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery

Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Plus 2 new Blind Pig beers available Friday, Oct. 22nd

Two Brother’s Dog Days Lager Warrenville, IL, Dortmunder, 4.9% abv
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Marshall, Michigan, Scotch Ale, 9.75% abv
Founder’s Harvest Grand Rapids, Michigan, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Southern Tier Harvest Lakewood, New York, Premium Bitter, 6.4% abv
Dark Horse Perkulator Marshall, Michigan, Doppelbock, 7.5% abv
Celis White Webberville, Michigan, Belgian White, 4.25% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
New Holland The Poet Holland, Michigan, Sweet Stout, 5.2%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

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

Crane Alley

Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Thornbridge Japuir IPA 5.9%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Creme Brulee 9.6%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat 4.7%
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 5.1%
De La Senne Zinnebir 5.5%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Red's Rye 6.6%
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter 7.5%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%
Avery Ellies Brown Ale 5.5%
St Bernardus Abt 12 10.0%
PBR 4.2%

Specials for the Weekend of October 22nd

Whitefish Escabeche - A savory mixture of white albacore, haddock,
yellowfin tuna, anchovies, herbs and serrano aoli served with garlic
toast, roasted red peppers and mixed greens tossed in sriracha
vinaigrette. $9.95

Andouille Frittata - Traditional "tortilla Espanola," with the very
non-traditional addition of andouille sausage. With red onion,
jalapeno, queso rico and red bliss potato over mixed greens and topped
with ancho creme fraiche. $9.95

Pasta Putanesca - Housemade putanesca sauce over linguine with
garlic toast, fresh herbs and asiago cheese. $13.95

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Cask: Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA

Schlafly Extra Special Bitter
Port Brewing Old Viscosity American Dark Strong Ale
Left Hand Twin Sisters Double IPA
Anderson Valley Brother David’s Double Abbey Style Ale
Dark Horse Scotty Karate Scottish Ale

CU Beer Weekend; October 8

It's a busy weekend for beer drinkers.

Seven Saints

Spaten Oktoberfest
Founders Breakfast Stout

Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Avery the Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest, 22oz $6. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish

Radio Maria

1) Pyramid Apricot
2) Southern Tier Pumking
3) Rogue Somer Orange Honey Wheat Ale
4) Bell’s HopSlam
5) Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA
6) New Holland El Mole Ocho
7) Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
8) Arcadia Jaw Jacker
9) Southern Tier Jahva Stout
10) Ommegang 3 Philosophers
11) Avery Anniversary Seventeen
12) Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin’
13) Delirium Dark Brown
14) Left Hand Fade To Black
15) Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles
16) North Coast Old No. 38 Stout
17) North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
18) Petrus Oak Aged Pale
19) Victory Storm King
20) Nogne Porter
21) Port Wipeout IPA
22) Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly IIPA
23) Krusovice Pils
24) Capital Imperial Weizen-Doppelbock
25) Southern Tier Mokah
26) Hofbrau Original Lager
27) PBR

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly, $5 tulip
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; Softball 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.

Sunday, main dining room is rented for a wedding reception, tapas and bar will be open.
Wednesday, the entire restaurant is rented until 9 pm for a private party. It will open after for late night tapas and drinks

Blind Pig

Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Two Brothers’ Cane & Ebel Warrenville, IL, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Two Brothers’ Heavy Handed Tettnang Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Unibroue La Terrible Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Capital Oktoberfest Middleton, Wisconsin, Märzen, 5.5% abv
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen Germany, Märzen, 5.8% abv
Samuel Adams Octoberfest Boston, Massachusetts, Märzen, 5.3% abv
Berghoff Oktoberfest Monroe, Wisconsin, Märzen, 5.2% abv
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
Duchesse de Bourgogne Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue John John Hazelnut Newport, Oregon, Brown Ale, 5.6%
Rogue Chatoe Creek Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Two Brother’s Bitter End Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers

October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Blind Pig Hefeweizen
Schlafly Pilsner Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Founder’s Breakfast Stout Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Southern Tier Pumking Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Victory Storm King Downington, Pennsylvania, Imperial Stout, 9.1% abv
Breckenridge Agave Wheat Denver, Colorado, Wheat Ale, 4.2% abv
Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre Milton, Delaware, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Avery The Kaiser Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

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

Crane Alley

Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Victory Prima Pils 5.3%
Southern Tier Chokolat 11.o%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Franziskaner Hefe Weizen 5.0%
Warsteiner Oktoberfest 5.9%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Left Hand Sawtooth 5.3%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Southern Tier Pumking 9.0%
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%%
Avery Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest 9.7%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
PBR 4.2%

Specials

Ground Lamb Kebabs – Seasoned lamb with roasted peppers and onions served with spiced pita and mint pesto. $17.95

Beef Ragout - Slow cooked beef and vegetables over linguine with garlic toast. $12.95

Grilled Chicken - Grilled boneless chicken breast with asparagus au gratin, herb smashed potatoes and herb compound butter. $14.95


Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner
Avery White Rascal, Schlafly Hefeweizen
Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18

Check your calendars

Saturday: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off; $5 in advance (get them today) tickets are at Canopy Club, Exile on Main Street, Crane Alley, Blind Pig, Family Pride Convenience Store.

Saturday: Cuervo Games. Registration is from 2:30 to 4 (if you didn't signup on line). Go downtown Champaign, you can't miss it.

After the games, lots of bars will be having Cuervo specials, just wander around and see what's good.

Saturday: CU Bags Tourney. Also downtown Champaign, it's the place that looks like a lot of people playing bags.

Bars in the news; Attacks spread to downtown Champaign

From WICD 15 ABC

Attacks spread to downtown Champaign

Champaign- Police say a crime pattern is forming in Champaign, and right now, they can't find a motive.
The department says, groups of young black men are singling out white men who are walking alone then attacking them.

They're similar, but police say, not connected.
But this is what we do know.
The suspects are targeting white men, usually around college age, then punch and kick them without provocation.
But city officials say there is a way to prevent this from happening to you.

The crimes are alike, and they target people who walk alone.
The latest one happened right here at the 300 block of Walnut Street.
The victim said he walked out of a downtown bar late Sunday night, then was attacked by four black men.

...

"I'm not scared, it concerns me a lot, but i mean, I'm pretty concerned about my own personal safety," said Paul Dudley, a Radio Maria employee.

Paul Dudley works late hours at a downtown hot spot, and knows too well about the rash of assaults happening all over the city.
Dudely is constantly on edge walking home at night after last call.

"As far as walking by myself, I just try to keep my ears open and walk as quickly as I can," said Dudley.

City officials do advise people to stick to the buddy system after a night on the town, and if you happen to become a victim, your best bet is to report it right away.

...

There's been nearly two dozen reports of similar attacks happening not just downtown, but also on the U of I campus and near Centennial High School.
Police arrested people for some of the attacks, and Mayor Schweighart says more arrests are coming.

Footage from inside Radio Maria, and an interview with Paul.

Same story also available on Fox (without the Paul interview)

CU Beer Weekend; October 1

Tonight in Monticello, from 5:30 to 8:30, in downtown Monticello is Beer-apalooza. Not sure if there will be any great beers, but there's "free beer" with purchase of a souvenir stein. (Free beer in Illinois is a total of 6 ounces)

Seven Saints

Rogue John John Hazelnut
Founders Breakfast Stout

Tuesday: Brewsday Tuesday, Two Brothers Atom Smasher, 22oz $6. Fat Tire pint $2
Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Micro

Radio Maria

Draft Beers as of 09/20/10

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Southern Tier Pumking $6
3. Rogue Somer Honey Wheat $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Great Divide Expresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout $5
8. Arcadia Jaw Jacker $4
9. Southern Tier Javaa Stout $6
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Warrior IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Oak Aged Domain Dupage $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Nogne Porter $6
21.Port Wipeout IPA $4.5
22.Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly $6
23.Victory Prima Pils $4.5
24.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
25.Founders Nemesis 2010 $6
26.Weihenstephaner Weissbier $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Victory Storm King, $4 pint
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; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Sunday: German Wine Dinner, 6pm, $75

First Course:
Roasted Marrow, Toasted Brioche, Caramelized Shallots, Capers, Himalayan
Sea Salt
Raumland Sparkling Cassis NV

Second Course:
Grilled Sablefish, Fried Garlic, Pine nuts, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis,
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2006 Furst Muller Thurgau

Third Course:
Duck Breast, Duck Fried Frites, Popcorn Shoots, Black Truffle, Wildflower
and Balsamic Reduction
2007 JJ Prum Graacher-Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett
1998 Bert Simon Serriger Wurtzberg Riesling Spatlese

Fourth Course:
Beef Short Rib, Green Peppercorns, Cherry, Cauliflower Mousse, Charred
Rosemary
2005 Heger Estate Pinot Noir
2008 Meyer-Nakel Pinot Noir

Fifth Course:
Profiteroles, Honey Creme Chantilly, Poached Pluots, Blueberries
2003 Fritz Haag Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese GoldKap

Blind Pig

Cask: Two Brothers' Cane & Ebel

Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis; Canada, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Two Brothers’ Cane & Ebel; Warrenville, IL, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel; Germany, Dunkelweizen, 5.3% abv
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed Cascade; Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Great Divide Hoss; Denver, Colorado, Märzen, 6.2% abv
Rogue Maierfest; Newport, Oregon, Märzen, 4.2% abv
Samuel Adams Octoberfest; Boston, Massachusetts, Märzen, 5.3 % abv
Erdinger Oktoberfest; Weizen Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.7% abv
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
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5%
Rogue Chatoe Creek; Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils; Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Two Brother’s Bitter End; Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin; Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers

October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Sprecher Black Bavarian; Glendale, Wisconsin, Schwarzbier, 5.86% abv
Southern Tier Pumking; Lakewood, New York, Spice Ale, 9% abv
Schlenkerla Rauchbier; German, Smoked, 5.1% abv
Victory Storm King; Downington, Pennsylvania, Imperial Stout, 9.1% abv
Hofbräu Original; Germany, Dortmunder, 5.1% abv
Goose Island Matilda; Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Ale, 7% abv
Avery The Kaiser; Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Dogfish Head 90 Minute; Milton, Delaware, Imperial IPA, 9% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

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

Crane Alley

Morland's Old Speckled Hen 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Bells Octoberfest 5.8%
Great Divide Oak Aged Espresso Yeti 9.5%
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine 12.0%
Erdinger Oktoberfest Weissbier 5.7%
Spaten Optimator Doppelbock 7.2%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Rogue Maierfest 5.2%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Ale 6.0
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%%
Avery Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest 9.7%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
PBR 4.2%

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Erdinger Oktoberfest
Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA
Dogfishead 90 Minute IPA
Petrus Aged Pale
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18


Beer Club

Tuesday: Happy Hour at Mike n' Molly's, 6:30

Mark your calendars

October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off; $5 in advance, tickets are at Canopy Club, Exile on Main Street, Crane Alley, Blind Pig, Family Pride Convenience Store.

Bars in the news; Salsa

From the Buzz

Salsa

Salsa, both the music and the dance, is hot and classy. And it only makes sense that the music, with all its fervor and jazz and whirling spark, draws all kinds of people together like moths to a flame. It is magical in that way. And what is wonderful about it is that CU is always hosting it somewhere.

...

Salsa plays at Radio Maria on Saturday nights, Cowboy Monkey on Wednesday nights and V. Picasso on Fridays. Even those who can’t dance can always learn or just sit back and soak in the atmosphere — the splashes of bright yellow walls and the spinning bits of spotlight on hardwood floor and the red curtains and the web of arms and stomping feet — or simply the music. If anything, go for the music.

There's also a short history of Salsa in the rest of the article.

Not a horrible article by the Buzz.

CU Beer Weekend; September 24

Seven Saints

Rogue John John Hazelnut
Founders Breakfast Stout

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Scotch
Thursday: Beer Class, 9:30pm, $10

Radio Maria

Draft Beers as of 09/20/10

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Southern Tier Pumking $6
3. Rogue Somer Honey Wheat $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Great Divide Expresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout $5
8. Arcadia Jaw Jacker $4
9. Southern Tier Javaa Stout $6
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Boulder Beer Company Oak Aged Mojo Risin $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Warrior IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Oak Aged Domain Dupage $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Nogne Porter $6
21.Port Wipeout IPA $4.5
22.Southern Tier Oak Aged Un*Earthly $6
23.Victory Prima Pils $4.5
24.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
25.Founders Nemesis 2010 $6
26.Weihenstephaner Weissbier $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; beer special tba
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; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm, $75

Blind Pig

Cask: Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed Willamette; Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed Tettnang; Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed Centennial; Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed Cascade; Warrenville, IL, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Great Divide Hoss; Denver, Colorado, Märzen, 6.2% abv
Rogue Maierfest; Newport, Oregon, Märzen, 4.2% abv
Avery The Kaiser; Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03% abv
Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier; Germany, Märzen, 6.3% abv
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
Kostritzer; Germany, Schwarzbier, 4.8% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5%
Rogue Chatoe Creek; Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Bitburger Premium Pils; Germany, Classic German Pilsener, 4.8%
Two Brother’s Bitter End; Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin; Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers

October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig IPA
Blind Pig Belgian Peach Wheat
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Sierra Nevada Tumbler; Chico, California, Brown Ale, 5.5% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin; Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Founder’s Breakfast Stout; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Victory Storm King; Downington, Pennsylvania, Imperial Stout, 9.1% abv
Bell’s Oberon; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6% abv
Avery Karma; Boulder, Colorado, Belgian Ale, 5.2% abv
Avery The Kaiser; Boulder, Colorado, Märzen, 10.03%
Two Brother’s Resistance IPA; Warrenville, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 6.9% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

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

Crane Alley

Young's Double Chocolate Stout 5.2%
Petrus Oak Aged Pale Ale 7.3%
Avery IPA 6.0%
Bells Octoberfest 5.8%
Great Divide Oak Aged Espresso Yeti 9.5%
Mikkeller Frelser Triple Bock 11.0%
Erdinger Oktoberfest Weissbier 5.7%
Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier 6.6%
Jenlain Ambree 7.0%
Rogue Maierfest 5.2%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Ale 6.0
North Coast Red Seal Ale 5.8%%
Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam 4.5%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
PBR 4.2%

Specials for the weekend of September 24th

Pork Schnitzel- Hand breaded pork tenderloin with herb smashed potatoes, brown gravy and sauteed veggies. $13.95

Shrimp Pasta-Jumbo tiger shrimp in a sweet onion cream sauce with red peppers, carrot, zucchinni, red onion and squash over linguine. With garlic toast. $15.95

Linzer Torte - Raspberries ina sweet pecan crust with apricot glaze. $5.95

Flourless Chocolate Cake - Franjelico glazed with strawberries. $5.95


Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

New Holland mole Ocho
Schlafly Hefeweizen
New Holland Dragon's Milk
Dark Horse Boffo Brown
Great Divide Belgica IPA
Left Hand Milk Stout
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18

Mark your calendars

October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off

CU Beer Weekend; September 17

Oktoberfest officially starts tomorrow. So go get yourself some Märzen. Also, look for any Oktoberfest themed specials going on around town. This year it runs until October 4.

Seven Saints

Rogue John John Hazelnut
Founders Breakfast Stout

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Bourbon
Thursday: Beer Class, 9:30pm, $10

Radio Maria

Draft Beers as of 09/10/10

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca $8
3. Rogue Somer Honey Wheat $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Arcadia Jaw Jacker $4
9. Southern Tier Javaa Stout $6
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Founders Old Curmudgeon $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Warrior IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Oak Aged Domain Dupage $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Brewdog Bashah $6
21.Victory Hop Devil $4
22.Great Divide Hercules IIPA $6
23.Victory Prima Pils $4.5
24.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
25.Founders Nemesis 2010 $6
26.Kapuziner Weissbeir $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; beer special tba
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; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm, $75

Blind Pig

Cask: Two Brother's the Bitter End
Two Brother’s Bitter End; Warrenville, Illinois, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Port Brewing Old Viscosity; San Marcos, California, American Strong Ale, 10% abv
Capital Autumnal Fire; Middleton, Wisconsin, Dopplebock, 8.5% abv
Hirter Morchl; Austria, Dunkel, 5% abv
Lost Abbey Serpent’s Stout; San Marcos, California, Imperial Stout, 11% abv
Unibroue La Terrible; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Victory HopDevil; Dowington, Pennsylvania, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
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
Kostritzer; Germany, Schwarzbier, 4.8% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5%
Rogue Somer Orange Honey Ale; Newport, Oregon, Fruit Beer, 5% 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%
Gulden Draak; Belgium, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Schlafly Pumpkin; Maplewood, Missouri, Spice Ale, 8% abv
Lindeman’s Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers

Thursday: Two Brother's Heavy Handed IPA Night, four versions of Two Brother's Heavy Handed IPA.

October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig IPA
Blind Pig Oatmeal Stout
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Sierra Nevada Tumbler; Chico, California, Brown Ale, 5.5% abv
Shipyard Pumpkinhead; Portland, Maine, Spice Ale, 4.5% abv
Left Hand Milk Stout; Longmont, Colorado, Sweet Stout, 5.3% abv
Arcadia Cereal City; Battle Creek, Michigan, Bitter, 4.2% abv
Bell’s Oberon; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6% abv
Avery Karma; Boulder, Colorado, Belgian Ale, 5.2% abv
Southern Tier Harvest; Lakewood, New York, Premium Bitter, 6.4%
Two Brother’s Resistance IPA; Warrenville, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 6.9% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

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

Crane Alley

PBR 4.7%
Young's Double Chocolate Stout 5.2%
Founders Nemesis Black Barleywine 12.0%
Two Brothers Resistance IPA 6.9%
Schneider Weisse 5.3%
Great Divide Oak Aged Espresso Yeti 9.5%
Mikkeller Frelser Triple Bock 11.0%
Konig Pilsner 4.9%
Great Divide St Bridgets Porter 5.9%
Jenlain Bier de Printempts 5.4%
Anderson Valley Cerveza Crema 5.8%
Founders Dry-Hopped Pale Ale 5.4%
Unibroue Ephemere Apple 5.5%
Summitt India Rye Ale 5.9%
Left Hand Oktoberfest 6.6%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%

Sunday: noon, Oktoberfest. Outdoor beer truck featuring Spaten Oktoberfest, Spaten Optimator Doppelbock, Franziskaner Hefe Weizen, and Bells Octoberfest. Authentic German food such as Schnitzel, braised cabbage, bratwurst, sauerkraut and more. We will be giving away glassware, t-shirts and more. Starts at Noon and ends around 8pm.

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18
Darkhorse Boffo Brown
Schlafly Oktoberfest
Mikkeller East Kent Golding Single Hop IPA
Summit Horizon Red Ale
New Holland Rye Mad Hatter
Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout

Mark your calendars

October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off

CU Beer Weekend; September 10

Ramadan is over, go have a beer.

Seven Saints

Two Brother's Hop Juice
Founders Breakfast Stout

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish
Thursday: Beer Class, 9:30 pm, $10

Radio Maria

Draft Beers as of 09/03/10

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca $8
3. Anchor Liberty $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen $4.5
9. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout $8
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Founders Old Curmudgeon $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Centennial IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Oak Aged Domain Dupage $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Brewdog Bashar $6
21.Victory Hop Devil $4
22.Great Divide Hercules IIPA $6
23.North Coast Scrimshaw Pils $4
24.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
25.Founders Nemesis 2010 $6
26.Kapuziner Weissbeir $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Founders Cerise, $3 pint; Brazilian Independence Day Party 10pm, $7
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; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

September 20: Goose Island Beer Dinner, 6pm, $50, 4 courses 5 beers including a vertical of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (possibly canceled)

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm

Blind Pig

Cask: Two Brother's Cane & Ebel
Boulder Cold Hop; Boulder, Colorado, English Strong Ale, 6.5% abv
Port Brewing Old Viscosity; San Marcos, California, American Strong Ale, 10% abv
Tommyknocker Hop Strike; Idaho, Springs, Colorado, Black IPA, 7% abv
Dark Horse Sapient Trip; Marshall, Michigan, Abbey Tripel, 8.5% abv
Southern Tier Crème Brulee; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 9.2% abv
Unibroue Blanche de Chambly; Canada, Belgian White, 5% abv
Bell’s Two Hearted; Kalamazoo, Michigan, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
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
Kostritzer; Germany, Schwarzbier, 4.8% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Dead Guy; Newport, Oregon, Heller Bock, 6.6%
Celis White; Belgium, Belgian White, 5% 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%
Affligem Tripel; Belgium, Abbey Tripel, 8.5% abv
Original Sin Hard Cider; New York, New York, Cider, 6% abv
Kasteel Rouge; Belgium, Fruit Beer, 8% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers

Sept. 23: Two Brother's Heavy Handed IPA Night, four versions of Two Brother's Heavy Handed IPA.

October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews
Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Porter
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Capital Wisconsin Amber; Middleton, Wisconsin, Vienna, 5.1% abv
Pyramid Apricot; Seattle, Washington, Fruit Beer, 5.1% abv
Left Hand Milk Stout; Longmont, Colorado, Sweet Stout, 5.3% abv
Arcadia Cereal City; Battle Creek, Michigan, Bitter, 4.2% abv
Capital Island Wheat; Middleton, Wisconsin, Wheat Ale% abv
Petrus Aged Pale; Belgium, Sour Ale, 7.3% abv
Port Brewing Shark Attack; San Marcos, California, Imperial Red, 9.5%
Sierra Nevada Harvest; Chico, California, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards

Crane Alley

PBR 4.7%
Young's Double Chocolate Stout 5.2%
Port Brewing 4th Anniversary IPA 10.0%
Two Brothers Resistance IPA 6.9%
Schneider Weisse 5.3%
Great Divide Oak Aged Chocolate Yeti 9.5%
Mikkeller Frelser Triple Bock 11.0%
Konig Pilsner 4.9%
Great Divide St Bridgets Porter 5.9%
He'Brew Rejewvenator 8.2%
Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Ale 5.5%
Founders Dry-Hopped Pale Ale 5.4%
Unibroue Ephemere Apple 5.5%
Southern Tier Harvest Ale 6.4%
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza 8.0%
Dark Horse Sapient Trip 8.5%
Anderson Valley Cerveza Crema

(some may have changed)

September 19, noon: Oktoberfest. Outdoor beer truck featuring Spaten Oktoberfest, Spaten Optimator Doppelbock, Franziskaner Hefe Weizen, and Bells Octoberfest. Authentic German food such as Schnitzel, braised cabbage, bratwurst, sauerkraut and more. We will be giving away glassware, t-shirts and more. Starts at Noon and ends around 8pm.

Black Dog smoke and Ale House

Cask: Dark Horse harvest Ale
Tommyknocker Hope Strike
Celis White
Port Hop 15
New Holland imperial hatter
Summit India Rye Ale
Left Hand Milk Stout


Mark your calendars

October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off

CU Beer Weekend; September 3 (labor day)

Have a happy and safe Labor Day.

Seven Saints

Bells Poolside
Two Brother's Hop Juice

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday Canadian and US Micro
Thursday: Beer Class, 9:30pm, $10

Radio Maria

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca $8
3. Anchor Liberty $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen $4.5
9. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout $8
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Founders Old Curmudgeon $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Centennial IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Oak Aged Domain Dupage $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Brewdog Bashar $6
21.Victory Hop Devil $4
22.Great Divide Hercules IIPA $6
23.North Coast Scrimshaw Pils $4
24.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
25.Founders Nemesis 2010 $6
26.Kapuziner Weissbeir $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; beer special, tbd; DJ at 10pm
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

September 20: Goose Island Beer Dinner, 6pm, $50, 4 courses 5 beers including a vertical of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm

Blind Pig

Port Brewing Summer Pale Ale; San Marcos, California, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Anderson Valley Anniversary Imp. IPA; Boonville, CA, Imperial IPA, 8.7% abv
Tommyknocker Hop Strike; Idaho, Springs, Colorado, Black IPA, 7% abv
Founder’s Reds Rye; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Specialty Grain, 6.6% abv
Southern Tier Crème Brulee; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 9.2% abv
Unibroue Blanche de Chambly; Canada, Belgian White, 5% abv
Flying Dog Snake Dog; Frederick, Maryland, India Pale Ale, 7.1% abv
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
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
Kostritzer; Germany, Schwarzbier, 4.8% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Dead Guy; Newport, Oregon, Heller Bock, 6.6%
Celis White; Belgium, Belgian White, 5% 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%
Affligem Tripel; Belgium, Abbey Tripel, 8.5% abv
Original Sin Hard Cider; New York, New York, Cider, 6% abv
Kasteel Rouge; Belgium, Fruit Beer, 8% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sept 17-October 3: Oktoberfest, four rotating taps of Oktoberfest style (Märzen) beers

Sept. 23: Two Brother's Heavy Handed IPA Night, four versions of Two Brother's Heavy Handed IPA.

October 21: Goose Island Invasion, five special release Goose Island brews

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Porter
Blind Pig Replicale Pale Ale
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Capital Wisconsin Amber; Middleton, Wisconsin, Vienna, 5.1% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Founder's Porter; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Porter, 6.5% abv
Arcadia Cereal City; Battle Creek, Michigan, Bitter, 4.2% abv
Capital Island Wheat; Middleton, Wisconsin, Wheat Ale% abv
Petrus Aged Pale; Belgium, Sour Ale, 7.3% abv
Port Brewing Shark Attack; San Marcos, California, Imperial Red, 9.5%
New Belgium Ranger IPA; Fort Collins, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards

Crane Alley

Great Divide St Bridgets Porter
Mikkeller Frelser Triple Bock
Jolly Pumpkin Oro De Calabaza
Unibroue Ephemere Apple
Konig Pils
Great Divide Oak Aged Chocolate Yeti
Erdinger Hefe Weizen
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Flying Dog Old Scratch
Port Brewing 4th Anniversary IPA
Boulder Mojo IPA
Southern Tier Pale Ale

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Nothing on cask

Tommyknocker Hop Strike! (Colorado) $4.00 16oz pint / $5.00 imperial 7% ABV
Celis White (Michigan) $4.00 16oz pint / $5.00 imperial 3.8% ABV
Port Brewing Hop 15 (California) $4.00 12oz glass / $5.00 16oz pint / $6.00 imperial 9.7% ABV
New Holland Imperial Hatter (Michigan) $4.40 12oz glass / $6.00 16oz pint / $7.50 20oz imperial 9.4% ABV
Summit India Rye Ale (Minnesota) $4.00 12oz glass / $5.00 16oz pint / $6.00 imperial 6.3 ABV
Left Hand Milk Stout (Colorado)$4.00 16oz pint / $5.00 20oz imperial 5.20% ABV

Mike N' Molly's

Founders Breakfast Stout
Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
Port Brewing Summer Pale Ale
Rogue John's Locker Stock Glen Ale
Blanche de Bruxelles

Champaign Urbana Beer Club

Tuesday: Happy hour at Mike n' Molly's, 6pm (or sooner)


Mark your calendars

October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off

Beer Review; Founders Nemesis 2010

Wednesday evening, Jacob from Radio Maria, sent out a Facebook message stating that Founders Nemesis 2010 would be on tap starting Thursday at 4:05. After I sobered up, and spent most of the day at work, I coerced a colleague into taking me downtown to Radio to have one.

This year's Nemesis is a black barleywine. Black is the new black. Everyone is making a black something these days. There's plentiful black IPA's. It's the new IT beer. That's not a problem. Some of them are really good.

Inside the bar, this one came out looking black, and opaque. It had a nice caramel head. There was some good tight bubbles, and good lacing as it was drank. I later took it outside to the patio, and it did have some see-through-ness to it. It was like a really dark tea, or thin coffee.

It smelled hoppy and malty, with maybe a bit of chocolate. It had a lot of effervescence. It felt sort of thin. Eventually, any beer that went over the edges on the pour wound up being very sticky and syrupy. It could easily be confused with a stout based on the appearance, and the thinness of the mouthfeel will remind you that it is a barleywine.

With the color, the flavor expectations are chocolate, roast, coffee. Those are there, but predominately it tastes like a barleywine. It's got a peppery flavor in it, that I associate with barleywines. Additionally, there was a slight metallic ting to it. It wasn't unpleasant, but kind of made my teeth feel weird. An alcohol flavor was also present.

Overall, I really enjoyed this beer. Some people liked it better than last year's wheatwine, but I think I liked that one better. It did remind me of that beer. Initially, the thinness of the beer made it seem like it would be a quick drink, but that's not the case. At Radio Maria, this beer is served in a snifter, it took me about 45 minutes to drink it. It seems like it'd be fast, but this beer is to be sipped and savored.


Some other comments I heard while drinking it were:

Eric (distributor): said it seems less like a barleywine and more like a black IPA. (I agree)

Matt (colleague who took me to Radio): I like this, this stuff's good. I would have to say after tasting this year's and last, I would say that last year's blew me away. And while this year's is delicious, it was a little underwhelming.

In Champaign Urbana, the beer is currently available on draft at Radio Maria. It will eventually be available at Blind Pig and Crane Alley. Bottles of this beer are available at Crane Alley, Seven Saints, and Farren's. If you want some to take home and enjoy (or age), bottles are available at Friar Tucks, Piccadilly, Corkscrew, and Sunsinger. According to Eric, there weren't many cases that made it into town, so if you want some, you should go shopping soon. Also, you may want to call around to those locations to make sure they still have it available.

CU Beer Weekend; Aug 27, sweetcorn festival

Tonight starts the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival. It'll go from 5 to 11 pm tonight. Tomorrow is runs from11am to 11 pm. Headliner tonight is the Feudin' Hillbillies tomorrow night is Soul Asylum (the Runaway Train people).

Seven Saints

Bells Poolside
Two Brother's Hop Juice

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday Scotch

Beer class again returns Sept. 9 at 10pm, $10

Radio Maria

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca $8
3. Anchor Liberty $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen $4.5
9. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout $8
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Founders Old Curmudgeon $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Centennial IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Hoppy Public Domaine $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Brewdog Bashah $6
21.Victory Hop Devil $4
22.Great Divide Hercules IIPA $6
23.North Coast Scrimshaw Pils $4
24.Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock $5
25.New Holland Night Tripper $6
26.Kapuziner Weissbeir $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; beer special, tbd; DJ at 10pm
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

September 20: Goose Island Beer Dinner, 6pm, $50, 4 courses 5 beers including a vertical of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm

Blind Pig

Port Brewing Summer Pale Ale; San Marcos, California, American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv
Anderson Valley Anniversary Imp. IPA; Boonville, CA, Imperial IPA, 8.7% abv
North Coast Old Rasputin; Fort Bragg, California, Imperial Stout, 9% abv
Founder’s Reds Rye; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Specialty Grain, 6.6% abv
Southern Tier Crème Brulee; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 9.2% abv
Unibroue Blanche de Chambly; Canada, Belgian White, 5% abv
Two Brother’s Resistance IPA; Warrenville, Illinois, India Pale Ale, 6.9% abv
Duchesse de Bourgogne; Belgium, Sour Ale, 6.2% abv
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
Kostritzer; Germany, Schwarzbier, 4.8% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Dead Guy; Newport, Oregon, Heller Bock, 6.6%
Celis White; Belgium, Belgian White, 5% abv
Bells Oberon; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner; Longmont, Colorado, Pilsener, 5.5%
Affligem Tripel; Belgium, Abbey Tripel, 8.5% abv
Original Sin Hard Cider; New York, New York, Cider, 6% abv
St. Louis Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 4.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Porter
Blind Pig Belgian Tripel
Blind Pig Belgian Pale Ale
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Dark Horse Amber; Marshall, Michigan, Amber Ale, 5.5% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Founder's Porter; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Porter, 6.5% abv
Arcadia Cereal City; Battle Creek, Michigan, Bitter, 4.2% abv
Two Brother’s Ebel’s Weiss; Warrenville, IL, German Hefeweizen, 4.9% abv
Petrus Aged Pale; Belgium, Sour Ale, 7.3% abv
Green Flash Hop Head Red; Vista, California, Amber Ale, 6.4%
New Belgium Ranger IPA; Fort Collins, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards

Crane Alley

PBR 4.7%
Guinness 4.2%
Port Brewing Hop-15 9.7%
Boulder Mojo IPA 6.8%
Erdinger Hefe Weizen 5.3%
Great Divide Oak Aged Chocolate Yeti 9.5%
Founders Old Curmudgeon 9.8%
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner 4.4%
Great Divide St Bridgets Porter 5.9%
Bells Poolside Cherry Wheat 5.1%
Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Ale 5.5%
Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale 6.7%
Unibroue Ephemere Apple 5.5%
Southern Tier Pale Ale 6.0%
Jolly Pumpkin Lucienarga 6.5%
Victory Golden Monkey 9.5%

Weekend Specials for August 27th


Ossetra Caviar - Black River Caviar’s “Wild Raised” Ossetra Sturgeon roe, crème fraiche, chive and new potato. $18.95

Hanger Steak - Grilled hanger steak, thin sliced and served on toasted Mirabelle batard with gorgonzola cheese, carmelized onions and oven roasted portabella mushrooms. Served with fries
or your choice of side. $9.95

Vegetable Lasagna - Roasted squash, zucchini, red onions and portabella mushrooms layered in pasta with melted mozzarella cheese and hearty marinara. With romano, fresh herbs and garlic
toast. $12.95

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Tommyknocker Hop Strike
Scrimshaw Pilsner
Port Brewing Hop 15
New Holland imperial Hatter
Summit India Rye Ale
Left Hand Milk Stout

Mike N' Molly's

Founders Breakfast Stout
Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
Port Brewing Summer Pale Ale
Rogue John's Locker Stock Glen Ale
Blanche de Bruxelles

Mark your calendars

Friday, Saturday: Bruegala, Interstate Center, Bloomington

Friday, Saturday: Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, did I mention Soul Asylum?

October 9: Urbana International beer tasting and chili cook-off

Beer Review; Mikkeller Centennial Single Hop IPA

Mikkeller Centennial Single Hop IPA is now on tap in town at both Crane Alley and at Radio Maria. Last night, I sat down with a glass of it.

Beer Advocate has a hops guide, here's what it says about Centennial:

Centennial is an aroma-type cultivar, bred in 1974 and released in 1990. The genetic composition is 3/4 Brewers Gold, 3/32 Fuggle, 1/16 East Kent Golding, 1/32 Bavarian and 1/16 unknown.

A relatively new hop on the market, this hop used to be called CFJ90. Described by some as a "Super Cascade" and we tend to agree, but it's not nearly as "citrusy". Some even use it for aroma as well as bittering. Bitterness is quite clean and can have floral notes depending on the boil time. (alpha acid: 9.5-11.5% / beta acid: 4.0-5.0%)

At Radio it's served in a chalice for $6. It's a dark brown, with a quickly dissipating head. However the remaining foam clings well to the glass (both a function of the beer and of a clean glass). It's opaque. It also appears to have some things in it that add to the opacity, it doesn't look like yeast, or anything that would be wrong, it just looks like it's unfiltered.

It smells woody and sweet. I didn't get a citrus or pine aroma. I got wood. It wasn't completely an industrial arts class in highschool smell, but there was wood.

It felt thick, almost a wee bit syrupy. Additionally, it seemed too cold. (A function of the cooler). I allowed the beer to warm up a bit, and that produced even more of a woody smell.

It tasted oaky, sweet, and then bitter. It wasn't piney or citrusy. The hops provided... bitter. If you were going to make a homebrew and wanted something to provide bitterness, this would be a good one for it. As you see from the hops guide, it does have a large amount of alpha acids, that contribute to the bitterness.

It was a damn fine beer. It was both mouth watering from the initial sweetness, then drying from the bitterness.

The woody-ness of it reminded me of New Holland's Oaked Mad Hatter (without the sweet tarts).

I'm going to need to try it again (probably at Crane Alley) to see if it's always this woody. I expected more pine, although citrus should be more evident (after reading more about the hops).

CU Beer Weekend; Aug 20

Seven Saints

Bell's Poolside (cherry wheat)
Rogue OREgasmic (almost gone)

Two Brother's Hop Juice (will go on after the Rogue is gone)

Radio Maria

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Jolly Pumpkin Calablaza Blanca $8
3. Anchor Liberty $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen $4.5
9. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout $8
10.Ommegang 3 Philosophers $6
11.Avery Seventeen Anniversary $5
12.Founders Old Curmudgeon $5
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Centennial IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.North Coast Old Rasputin $6
18.Two Brothers Hoppy Public Domaine $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Brewdog Bashah $6
21.Victory Hop Devil $4
22.Great Divide Hercules IIPA $6
23.North Coast Scrimshaw Pils $4
24.Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock $5
25.New Holland Night Tripper $6
26.Kapuziner Weissbeir $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; beer special, tbd; DJ at 10pm
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

Saturday: Radio Maria Art Fair, 10am, showcasing local artists, running the same as the Downtown Festival of the Arts.

September 20: Goose Island Beer Dinner, 6pm, $50, 4 courses 5 beers including a vertical of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm

Blind Pig

Cask: Summit Oatmeal Stout

Moylan’s Hopgarten Pilsner; Novato, California, Pilsener, 4.5% abv
Anderson Valley Brother David’s Double; Boonville, CA, Abbey Dubbel, 9% abv
Monk’s Cafe; Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5% abv
Avery Anniversary 17; Boulder, Colorado, Schwarzbier, 8.69% abv
Southern Tier Mokah; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 10.9% abv
Unibroue Maudite; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Victory HopDevil; Downington, Pennsylvania, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Tommyknocker Hop Strike Black IPA; Idaho Springs, CO, Black IPA, 7% abv
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
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’; Petaluma, CA, India Pale Ale, 7.3% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar; Newport, Oregon, Brown Ale, 6.22%
Celis White; Belgium, Belgian White, 5% abv
Bells Oberon; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Breckenridge Regal Pilsner; Denver, Colorado, Pilsener, 7.7%
Affligem Tripel; Belgium, Abbey Tripel, 8.5% abv
Original Sin Hard Cider; New York, New York, Cider, 6% abv
St. Louis Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 4.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Belgian Tripel
Blind Pig Belgian Pale Ale
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Bell’s Amber; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amber Ale, 6% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Founder's Porter; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Porter, 6.5% abv
Arcadia Cereal City; Battle Creek, Michigan, Bitter, 4.2% abv
Two Brother’s Ebel’s Weiss; Warrenville, IL, German Hefeweizen, 4.9% abv
St. Bernardus Abt. 12; Belgium, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Moylan’s Hopsickle; Novato, California, Imperial IPA, 9.2%
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale; Chico, California, American Pale Ale, 5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards

Crane Alley

PBR 4.7%
Guinness 4.2%
Two Brothers Hop Juice IPA 9.9%
Mikkeller Centennial Single Hop IPA 6.9%
Erdinger Hefe Weizen 5.3%
Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast Stout 7.5%
Founders Old Curmudgeon 9.8%
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner 4.4%
Nogne O Porter 7.0%
Bells Poolside Cherry Wheat 5.1%
Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Ale 5.5%
Green Flash IPA 7.3%
Westons Stowfford Press Cider 4.5%
Green Flash 30th St Pale Ale 6.0%
Affligem Abbey Blonde 6.8%
Victory Golden Monkey 9.5%

Weekend Specials for August 20th

Tonight’s Specials

Shrimp Romesco Crostini - Two pieces of garlic toast served
with jumbo tiger shrimp, housemade sauce Romesco and mesculin
mixed field greens $8.95

Chicken Satay - Marinated strips of boneless chicken breasts
grilled and served with spicy peanut sauce, jasmine rice and a
curried cucumber salad. $8.95

Peach Cream Pork Chop - 10oz marinated porkchop, pan seared
and served with sweet potato puree, sautéed yellow squash and
fresh mint with a peach and honey cream sauce. $20.95

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Founders Centennial IPA
Two Brother's Cane & Ebel
Summit India Rye
St Bernardus Abt 12
Darkhorse Special Reserve Black Ale
Lefthand Milk Stout

Mark your calendars

August 27,28: Bruegala, Interstate Center, Bloomington

August 27,28: Urbana Sweetcorn Festival , downtown Urbana (go to Crane or Black Dog and get a plastic cup for your good beer) Headliner on Saturday is Soul Asylum (the guys who did Runaway Train)

CU Beer Weekend; Aug 13

Seven Saints

Bell's Oberon
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Irish

Radio Maria

Draft Beers as of 08/06/10

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Southern Tier Heavy Weizen $6
3. Anchor Liberty $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen $4.5
9. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout $8
10.Jolly Pumpkin, Lusianarga, the Firefly $8
11.Two Brothers Dog Days Lager $4.5
12.Left Hand Chainsaw $4
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Centennial IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.Left Hand Milk Stout $4
18.Two Brothers Hoppy Public Domaine $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Brewdog Bashah $6
21.Victory Hop Devil
22.Southern Tier Gemini $6
23.Victory Prima Pils $4.5
24.Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock $5
25.New Holland Night Tripper $6
26.Weihenstephaner Weissbeir $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; beer special, tbd; DJ at 10pm
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

August 21: Radio Maria Art Fair, 10am, showcasing local artists, running the same as the Downtown Festival of the Arts.

September 20: Goose Island Beer Dinner, 6pm, $50, 4 courses 5 beers including a vertical of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm

Blind Pig

Moylan’s Hopgarten Pilsner; Novato, California, Pilsener, 4.5% abv
Anderson Valley Brother David’s Double; Boonville, CA, Abbey Dubbel, 9% abv
Monk’s Cafe; Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5% abv
Avery Anniversary 17; Boulder, Colorado, Schwarzbier, 8.69% abv
Southern Tier Mokah; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 10.9% abv
Unibroue Maudite; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Victory HopDevil; Downington, Pennsylvania, India Pale Ale, 6.7% abv
Port Brewing 4th Anniversary; San Marcos, California, Imperial IPA, 10% abv
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
Two Brother’s Cane & Ebel; Warrenville, Illinois, American Strong Ale, 7% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Kell’s Irish Lager; Newport, Oregon, Premium Lager, 5.2%
Boulder Kinda Blue; Boulder, Colorado, Fruit Beer, 5.5% abv
Bells Oberon; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Breckenridge Regal Pilsner; Denver, Colorado, Pilsener, 7.7%
Affligem Tripel; Belgium, Abbey Tripel, 8.5% abv
Original Sin Hard Cider; New York, New York, Cider, 6% abv
Lindeman’s Peche; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Belgian Tripel
Blind Pig Belgian Pale Ale
Blind Pig Extra Pale Ale
Schlafly Pilsner; Maplewood, Missouri, Pilsener, 4.9% abv
Bell’s Amber; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amber Ale, 6% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Fuller’s London Porter; England, Porter, 5.4% abv
Sea Dog Blueberry; Topsham, Maine, Fruit Beer, 4.6% abv
Two Brother’s Ebel’s Weiss; Warrenville, IL, German Hefeweizen, 4.9% abv
St. Bernardus Abt. 12; Belgium, Quadrupel, 10.5% abv
Moylan’s Hopsickle; Novato, California, Imperial IPA, 9.2%
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale; Chico, California, American Pale Ale, 5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards

Crane Alley

PBR 4.7%
Guinness 4.2%
Avery Maharaja 10.3%
Mikkeller Warrior Single Hop IPA 6.9%
Erdinger Hefe Weizen 5.3%
Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast Stout 7.5%
Two Brothers Oak Aged Domaine Dupage 5.9%
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner 4.4%
Founders Porter 6.5%
Bells Poolside Cherry Wheat 5.1%
Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Ale 5.5%
Green Flash IPA 7.3%
Westons Stowfford Press Cider 4.5%
Port Brewing S.P.A. 5.4%
Affligem Abbey Blonde 6.8%
Victory Golden Monkey 9.5%

Weekend Specials for August 13:

Champagne Salad - Warmed brie served over a salad of
mesculin mixed field greens with roasted cherries and filberts
tossed in Dijon-champagne vinaigrette and sprinkled with
fresh chives. $8.95

Brie and Pear Quesadillas - with red onion and cilantro,
served with lime sour cream. $9.95

Ahi Tuna - 6oz pan seared sashimi grade Ahi Tuna cooked
your way and served with jasmine rice, oyster-shiitake
mushroom sauce and a ginger carrot salad. $16.95

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Arcadia Cereal City
Southern Tier Pale Ale
Cathedral Square Iglesia Agave Ale
Lost Abbey Serpent's Stout
Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest

Mark your calendars

Saturday: Great Taste of the Midwest, if you want to go (if you are reading this, then you want to go), I recommend going to Radio Maria Happy Hour tonight,and look for members of the Champaign Urbana Beer Club, as they may have information on tickets. If anybody from the beer club is still in town

Wednesday: CU Beer Club, Crane Alley, theme is Midwest Brews

August 27, 28: Bruegala, Interstate Center, Bloomington

September 25: Urbana Beer and Chili thingy

CU Beer Weekend; Aug 6

Seven Saints

Bell's Oberon
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Micro

Radio Maria

Draft Beers as of 08/06/10

1. Founders Cerise $4
2. Southern Tier Heavy Weizen $6
3. Anchor Liberty $4
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Arcadia HopMouth $5
6. New Holland Mole Ocho $6
7. Founders Breakfast Stout $5
8. Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen $4.5
9. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout $8
10.Jolly Pumpkin, Lusianarga, the Firefly $8
11.Two Brothers Dog Days Lager $4.5
12.Left Hand Chainsaw $4
13.Delirium Dark Brown $6
14.Mikkeller Centennial IPA $6
15.Brasserie Blanche de Bruxelles $5
16.North Coast Old No. 38 $4
17.Left Hand Milk Stout $4
18.Two Brothers Hoppy Public Domaine $4.5
19.Victory Storm King $5
20.Brewdog Bashah $6
21.Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale $4
22.Southern Tier Gemini $6
23.Victory Prima Pils $4.5
24.Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock $5
25.New Holland Night Tripper $6
26.Weihenstephaner Weissbeir $5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; beer special, tbd; DJ at 10pm
Saturday: $6 John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday; Softball Beer Specials
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Frankly Wednesdays: All Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack every Wednesday late night
Thursday:$5 Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Brazilian Cosmos; Open Decks: local dj's perform.

August 21: Radio Maria Art Fair, 10am, showcasing local artists, running the same as the Downtown Festival of the Arts.

September 20: Goose Island Beer Dinner, 6pm, $50, 4 courses 5 beers including a vertical of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

October 3: German Wine Dinner, 6pm

Blind Pig

Moylan’s Hopgarten Pilsner; Novato, California, Pilsener, 4.5% abv
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza; Dexter, Michigan, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Monk’s Cafe; Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5% abv
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga (The Firefly); Dexter, MI, Belgian Ale, 6.5% abv
Southern Tier Mokah; Lakewood, New York, Imperial Stout, 10.9% abv
Unibroue La Terrible; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 10.5% abv
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA; Boonville, California, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Anderson Valley Summer Solstice; Booneville, California, Cream Ale, 5.6% abv
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
Goose Island Matilda; Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Ale, 7% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Kell’s Irish Lager; Newport, Oregon, Premium Lager, 5.2%
Dark Horse Pam’s Kitchen; Marshall, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6.5% abv
Goose Island Pere Jacques; Chicago, Illinois, Belgian Strong Ale, 8%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Victory Prima Pils; Downington, Pennsylvania, Pilsener, 5.3%
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3% abv
Two Brothers Long Haul; Warrenville, Illinois, Mild Ale, 4.2% abv
Lindeman’s Peche; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Old Speckled Hen; England, Premium Bitter, 5.2%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig Hard Cider
Blind Pig Peach Wheat
Blind Pig Belgian Pale Ale
Blind Pig Barley Wine
Schlafly Kölsch; Maplewood, Missouri, Kölsch, 4.8% abv
Founder’s Cerise; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Fruit Beer, 6.5% abv
Rogue Chipotle; Newport, Oregon, Spice Ale, 5.5% abv
Fuller’s London Porter; England, Porter, 5.4% abv
Sea Dog Blueberry; Topsham, Maine, Fruit Beer, 4.6% abv
Ommegang Witte; Cooperstown, New York, Belgian White, 5.1% abv
Goose Island White City; Chicago, Illinois, Belgian White, 7.5% abv
Moylan’s Hopsickle; Novato, California, Imperial IPA, 9.2%
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale; Chico, California, American Pale Ale, 5% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: Trivia Night; 7-9pm, win gift cards

Crane Alley

PBR 4.7%
Guinness 4.2%
Avery Maharaja 10.3%
Mikkeller Warrior Single Hop IPA 6.9%
Van Diest Fruli Strawberry Bier 4.1$
Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast Stout 7.5%
Two Brothers Oak Aged Domaine Dupage 5.9%
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner 5.0%
Founders Porter 6.5%
Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale 5.3%
Dark Horse Amber Ale 5.5%
Green Flash IPA 7.3%
Westons Stowfford Press Cider 4.5%
Port Brewing S.P.A. 5.4%
Cuvee Des Trolls 7.0%
Victory Golden Monkey 9.5%

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Arcadia Cereal City Beer
Southern Tier Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest
Cathedral Square Iglesia Agave Ale
Avery Maharaja Imperial IPA
North Coast Old #38 Stout

Mark your calendars

August 14: Great Taste of the Midwest, if you want to go (if you are reading this, then you want to go), I recommend going to Radio Maria Happy Hour tonight, or next Friday, and look for members of the Champaign Urbana Beer Club, as they may have information on tickets.

August 18: CU Beer Club, Crane Alley, theme is Midwest Brews

August 27, 28: Bruegala, Interstate Center, Bloomington

September 25: Urbana Beer and Chili thingy

Alcohol in the news: Champaign Liquor License Fees Could Go Up

From WCIA 3, Illinoishomepage.net

Champaign Liquor License Fees Could Go Up

CHAMPAIGN- On Tuesday Chamapign City Council memebers will vote on whether to increase liquor license fees for a second year.

Raising the fee could generate $158,000 for the the city.

If this is passed it would go into effect November 1st.

If prices were to go up restaurants and bars could increase prices, but its completely up to the owners.

In the WCIA clip, you can see Blind Pig, Esquire Lounge, and Radio Maria.

Apparently the rate can go up from $3500 to $4000 a year.

From WICD 15 ABC.

City Council Discusses Liquor Fee Increase. (no direct link to video)

Tonight, the Champaign City Council will tackle whether or not to continue increasing the city's liquor license fee. .Mayor Jerry Schweighart says it's been a while since the city raised its fees, which he says are lower than other local towns. Over the five years, the increases are estimated to generate $158,000 of new revenue for the city.

In the WICD clip, you see inside Jupiters (I can't tell if it's at the Crossing, or downtown)

Beer Review; Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen

Now on tap at Radio Maria is Dark Horse Pam's Kitchen, it's #8 out of the 27.

Jacob described it as a summer wheat beer with spices. He said the spices were thyme and basil. There's no information on their website about it, so we'll have to trust Jacob.

*edit, the spices are cilantro and lime; not thyme and basil*

You can see, it's a cloudy amber color. There was a little bit of head. There were also some larger bubbles in the head, but I think that's more a function of the draft system, than the beer.

It smells like a wheat beer. There is a little bit of hot dog in the nose, and there's no alcohol noticeable. The spice (again, supposed to be thyme and basil) didn't seem present, although that could be the hot dog smell.

It felt a little bit thin. However, it was very coating. There was some slight effervescence. It also had a bit of tart sourness in the finish.

It tasted like a wheat beer. There was also some fruit (was it peach?). I really didn't pick up anything from the spice-rack in the taste. Later, it seemed to have a little bit of black pepper. There was a touch of hops bitterness, but it was definitely not overpowering.

It was a pretty decent beer. I think it would be/will be a nice alternative to the fruited wheats (like O'fallon Weach; Seadog Blueberry, Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat...). It doesn't have the massive fruit flavor that's in those beers. I was trying to figure out a good time for this beer. It's definitely not a lawnmower beer. It was way to thick for that. It didn't seem ... um... thirst-quenchingly refreshing. It was refreshing, but not something like a Leinenkugel Summer Shandy. It seems like it'd be a really good fit for having a cookout. It'd be really good to have on a hot day when you are standing around, relaxing, chatting with your friends; but you probably wouldn't want to have one of these after any type of yard work, or after softball or volleyball.

It's apparently 6.5% ABV, so you aren't going to want to pound several of these to rehydrate yourself anyway.

The beer is relatively new, there's nothing on it on Beer Advocate, and only 1 review on Ratebeer.