CU Bars in the news; Citations issued for possession, purchase of alcohol by minors

From the News Gazette

Citations issued for possession, purchase of alcohol by minors

CHAMPAIGN — State police and Champaign police issued citations to 31 people for the possession and purchase of alcohol by a minor and one citation for resisting arrest at six bars in Champaign on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The citations were part of the Operation Campus Tap program, which focuses on underage drinking among college and high school young people.

The breakdown is:

Clybourne, 9
Station 211, 9
High Dive, 5
Kam's, 4
It's Brothers, 4
Bradley's, 1

Not sure which of the bars had the resisting arrest.

Beer Review; Mikkeller 1000 IBU

Saturday, before going to work at Radio Maria, I stopped at Crane Alley to have a beer and lunch.

I remembered that Aaron had mentioned they had bottles of Mikkeller 1000 IBU, so I figured, why not attempt to remove the taste buds from my mouth.

I drank it with a Reuben (I really enjoy the Crane Alley Reuben sammich), also, I figured, have a 1000 IBU beer, with a sammich with 1000 island dressing.

The beer comes in paper (like some Belgian lambics or some Belgian xmas beers). Also, it has a cork and cage. I don't think the cage is necessary, as there wasn't a whole lot of pressure behind this.

It poured opaque, had some real good head retention, and laced the glass well. It was a dark wood color, almost was the same color as the bar.

It smelled like hops. Not necessarily fruity or floral hops, it smelled like piney hops. It reminded me of (i think) a juniper bush. It was the smell of my childhood of climbing up evergreen trees and getting the sap on my clothes, and that smell wouldn't come out, neither would the sap.

It felt thick and coated the tongue.

It tasted, initially, (go figure) bitter. It had a sweetness in the middle. But then there was a strong bitter finish. It took a while to get there, but the finish of the initial sip almost made me gasp, it was so bitter. You can tell there's a lot of malt in this thing to balance out the hops, otherwise, it could easily be an undrinkable hop bomb. It was piney, yet sweet. Oddly, it seemed to sweeten my mouth. As the taste left my mouth, it felt like I had just eaten sugar.

The beer was so bitter, that it left a sweet-sugary taste in my mouth. I had earlier drank a mountain dew, and I thought that I possibly still may have had some of the sugars in my mouth, but then realized that there was no way anything could have survived the onslaught of hops that this thing provided. It was so bitter that after the taste went away, it made the air I was breathing taste sugary.

In the Skinny Puppy song, "Inquisition" off the album Last Rights, there's a line that says "desserts so sweet, leaves bitter taste in the mouth... forever". This beer was the opposite, it was so bitter, it left a sweet taste in the mouth (not necessarily forever).



At Crane Alley, the beer is $15. They will present it to you in a tulip. It comes in a 375 ml. Which is more than enough for a person. I recommend sharing it with someone; it's something you'll want to bounce flavors and the experience off of, just to see what you both get out of it.

Would I get this again, hell yes. It's not that high in alcohol at 9.6%, and it didn't hit me as being even that high. You could probably let this beer sit for 5 or 10 years and it'll still be a hop bomb. They say you can't detect bitter at above 100 IBU, so this thing will have quite a few years before it gets below that threshold. It is in a green bottle, so keep it in the paper, if you plan on letting it sit for some years. Remember, light struck hops will degrade normally into a skunky flavor. This one has a lot of hops to degrade. If kept in hot or well lit areas, it could quickly turn into the 1000 skunks beer.

Alcohol in the News; Drinking Alcohol could cost more in champaign

From WICD 15 ABC

Drinking Alcohol Could Cost More In Champaign

(no video)

Champaign-- Drinking alcohol in Champaign could cost more in the future.
That's if the Champaign City Council approves a liquor license increase.
The city council will talk about a proposed increase on Tuesday night.
It's all part of a five year plan to increase the city of Champaign's liquor license revenue by over 25 percent.
Last year, increased fees made the city nearly 40 thousand bucks.
They hope by 2014 to make over 100-thousand dollars more per year.
But some warn the increased costs to restaurants and bars could be passed on to customers.

CU Beer Weekend; May 7

Seven Saints

Rotating taps:

Southern Tier Hop Sun
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday, Scotch

Radio Maria

1. Capital MaiBock $4
2. Green Flash Le Freak $6
3. Ballast Point Sea Monster $6
4. Bells HopSlam IPA $5
5. Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA $5
6. Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale $4.5
7. Founders Imperial Stout $6
8. New Holland Golden Cap $4
9. Goose Island Pepe Nero $6
10.Port Midnight Sessions $5
11.Dogfish Head Aprihop $4.5
12.Port Shark Attack Red Ale $5
13.Delirium $6
14.Mikkeller Cascade Single Hop IPA $6
15.Southern Tier Hop*Sun $4
16.Moylan Dragoon's Dry Irish Stout $4.5
17.Southern Tier Choklat $6
18.Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour $6
19.Lost Abbey Serpent's Stout $5
20.Dark Horse Tres Blueberry $5
21.Blanche de Bruxelles $5
22.He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A $6
23.Boulevard Tank 7 $4
24.Victory Moonglow $4.5
25.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
26.Ayinger Brau Weisse $5.5
27.PBR $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30; Moylan Dragoon's Dry Irish Stout $3.50 a pint; DJ at 10pm
Saturday: $4 Jeremiah Weed drinks and $6 Jeremiah Weed John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Trivia Night 11pm with MC Juice
Thursday:$5 Mojitos & $6 Brazilian Cosmos

Blind Pig

CASK: Summit EPA
Great Divide Claymore Scotch; Denver, Colorado, Scotch Ale, 7.7% abv
Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat; Topsham, Maine, Fruit Beer, 4.6% abv
New Holland Envious; Holland, Michigan, Fruit Beer, 7.5% abv
Kostritzer; Germany, Schwarzbier, 4.8% abv
Founders Breakfast Stout; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
Unibroue Trois Pistoles; Canada, Belgian Strong Ale, 9% abv
Pangaea Lilijas Hop Nest Monster; Wisconsin Rapids, WI, India Pale Ale% abv
Original Sin Hard Cider; New York, New York, Cider, 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
North Coast Scrimshaw; Fort Bragg, California, Pilsener, 4.4% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Mogul Madness; Newport, Oregon, American Strong Ale, 6.25%
Bells Oberon; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6% abv
Monk’s Cafe; Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
New Holland El Mole Ocho; Holland, Michigan, Spice Ale, 8.8% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3% abv
New Holland Golden Cap Saison; Holland, Michigan, Saison, 7% abv
Lindemans Framboise; 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 Witbier
Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Blind Pig Hard Cider
Moylan’s Old Blarney; Novato, California, Barley Wine, 10% abv
Captial Supper Club; Middleton, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue Hazelnut Brown; Newport, Oregon, Brown Ale, 6.22% abv
New Holland Dragon’s Milk; Holland, Michigan, Stout, 10% abv
Weihenstephaner Hefe; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.4% abv
Lost Abbey Red Barn; San Marcos, California, Saison, 6.7% abv
Heilemans Old Style; Woodridge, Illinois, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA; San Diego, California, India Pale Ale, 6% abv
Castelain; France, Biere de Garde, 6.4% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: 7-9 Trivia, $1 Old Style, $2 Jameson Whiskey, $3 Guinness Draughts
Monday: $1 off all bottles

Crane Alley

Harp Irish Lager 4.3%
Chimay Cinq Cents Trappist Tripel 8.0%
Dogfish Head Old Midas Touch Golden Elixir 9.0%
Lost Abbey Judgement Day 10.5%
Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale 5.0%
Great Divide Titan IPA 6.8%
Bells Oberon 6.0%
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale 8.3%
Bells Expedition Stout 10.5%
Leipziger Gose 4.6%
Guinness 4.2%
Goose Island Pepe Nero 6.0%
Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter 5.9%
Pabst Blue Ribbon 4.7%
Bells Hopslam 10.0%
Original Sin Hard Cider 6.0%

Food specials for the weekend of May 7

PORK LOIN - Grilled pork loin with sweet potato hash, bacon, onions, and maple-whiskey demi glace

CHICKEN FETTUCCINI - Fettuccini noodles with chicken, mushrooms, broccoli, and tomatoes tossed in an arugula pesto and sprinkled with asiago cheese

GRILLED SWORDFISH - Grilled swordfish on a bed of quinoa with sauteed aspargus and hearts of palm and finished with a mango puree

May 20: Founders/BrewDog Night

July 5: Founders Beer Dinner, 7:30 pm, price and menu tbd

Mike n' Molly's

Guinness
Harp
Strongbow
Miller High Life
Port Midnight Sessions
Lost Abbey Carnevale
Jenlain St. Druon
Bruge Zot
Bear Republick Rebellion IPA
Blanche de Brussels

Friday: DJ Mertz
Saturday: You & Yourn
Monday: Abe Froman Project, 9-10pm, free/ Rockstar Karaoke, 10-2, free; $1 PBR
Tuesday: $1.25 High Life; $.50 off all taps
Wednesday: Bingo, 9:30-midnight, free; $2 Mickey's Big Mouth; $2.50 rails
Thursday: $2.50 Stella Artois bottles

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Cask: Two Brothers Bitter End Pale Ale
Ommegang Three Philosophers Quad
Oscar's Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
New Holland Mole Ocho
Boulevard Tank 7 Saison
Capital Maibock
Wexford Irish Style Cream Ale

Cowboy Monkey

Friday: Cycling for Cancer, $5, 10pm
Saturday: Hip Rock Vs. Indie Hop, $5, 10pm
Sunday: Big Dave's Trivia, free, 7pm
Tuesday: Open Mic Night, free, 10pm
Wednesday: Salsa & Tango, free, 10pm
Thursday: Miles Nielsen, $5, 10pm

Canopy Club

Friday: Eclipse: Tribute to Pink Floyd, $10 in advance, 10pm
Saturday: Laughing Prairie Dog Festival Vol. 2, $10 in advance, 8pm
Sunday Pizza, Pitcher & a Movie, Disney Favorites Beauty and the Beast 6pm; Aladdin 8pm; Toy Story 10pm
Monday: One Dollar Wild Mondays with Jobu, $1 beer and well
Tuesday: Trivia Diner: Live Game Show/The Piano Man
Wednesday:Rave to the Grave
Thursday: Justin Moore, $17 in advance, 7pm

May 19: Mastodon, $23 in advance, 6pm

Other Events

Wednesday: My birthday, buy me a beer.

CU Bars in the news; One-on-One with Mike Murphy, owner of Mike 'n Molly's

From the Buzz.

One-on-One with Mike Murphy, owner of Mike 'N Molly's

Mike ‘N Molly’s beer garden is a downtown Champaign staple. The bar has a reputable whiskey and beer selection and the beer garden features bands all summer long. While these are the well-known things about Mike ‘N Molly’s, buzz sat down with owner Mike Murphy to find out a little more.

Mike 'N Molly's is located at 105 North Market Street, in Champaign (it's not an alley).

They have one of the biggest beer gardens in town, and the location does block a lot of the long evening sun rays, with buildings to the west.

buzz What’s something the CU area might not know about Mike ‘N Molly’s?

MM: People can bring in their own food! We’re not affiliated with anyone, so bring whatever you want. If people want to have dinner in our beer garden, just bring it over. We don’t bite. We’re happy to have anyone come in.

They have a good beer selection, and some of the best Guinness in town. They offer live music many nights a week, and have some decent drink specials.

Alcohol in the News; Three Wine Company

From WCIA 3 CBS Morning Show; Illinois Homepage.net

Three Wine Company

Sam Samet from Piccadilly at the Crossing stops in to discuss wines from Three Wine Company. Piccadilly at the Crossing is located at 2508 Village Green Place.

Three Wine Company is from Clarksburg California.

Apparently the blender from Three Wine Company will be coming to town sometime soon.

Why are Mexican beers the way they are?

Have you ever wondered why Mexico has the brewing tradition they do? Why does it seem that all the beers that come out of Mexico are lagers?

Think of the Mexican beers that you are familiar with, Corona, Dos Equis, Pacifico, Modelo... what do those beers all have in common?

The answer: they are all lagers.

Have you ever gone into a Mexican restaurant and listened to the music? Doesn't it remind you of the same music you hear in a fine German restaurant?

So, why does a place that speaks predominately Spanish, have beers (and music) that pretty much have an origin in Germany?

The reason is simple, in the later half of the 19th century, there was a large amount of German immigrants into Mexico. These people are known as German Mexicans (Deutsch-Mexikaner). There was also a large amount of German immigrants during the first and second world wars.

From 1864 to 1867, Maximilian I was the emperor of Mexico. He was born Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph of Austria. He brought a lot of German colonization into Mexico during the Second Mexican Empire.

What did those people bring with them? Mostly, a Bavarian influence. This can be seen in some houses, in music, in cheese, and in BEER.

An expected style to come from a warmer area like Mexico would be an ale style of beer. In order to create a lager, beer requires cooler temperatures. This would form a need for refrigeration, since a cool, natural LAGERING facility wouldn't be available.

Most of the more common beers coming from Mexico are pale lagers. There's even a beer called Bohemia, which is a pilsner. The most common Dos Equis beer is amber, which is a Vienna style lager. Negra Modelo is now classified as a Munich Dunkel (I think of it almost as a schwarzbier). Modelo Especial is a pilsner style. All of these beers have their roots in Germanic styles (oddly there are no popular hefeweizens).

In my beer drinking years, and time spent looking at beers produced in various areas along with food styles from those areas, I've drawn some conclusions. Mexico doesn't follow any of the rules. It seems places that have historically more interesting foods, have beers that go well with those foods. Food seems to drive beer styles.

Belgian monasteries produce fine cheeses that go well with their fine beers. When spices from India started to make their way back to England, that led to a rise in IPA's and those cut the spices well.

German food (while good) seems to be rather non-spectacular in the use of spices. A schnitzel is still basically a pork chop. A sausage (regardless of how delicious) is still a sausage. These foods go well with a Vienna amber, or some other dark lager. They are hearty foods, and are served with a hearty beer. The beer isn't the most robust, it doesn't have the most hops, it doesn't have the most malts, but it goes great with the food. Good food, paired with good beer is one of life's pleasures.

Even in America, we have two styles of restaurants that go with two styles of beers. You can have a bud light with McDonalds (fast food beer with fast food grub); or you can have a North Coast Old Rasputin with a creme brulee (craft food with craft beer). Bland with bland; or great with great (and everything in between).

When I think of Mexican food, I'm not thinking about Taco Bell or any other "tex-mex" style chain. It's more of the "mom and pop" (madre y padre) operation that is authentic Mexican food. These foods use their spices, peppers, and hand made tortillas perfectly. They aren't mild dishes by any stretch of the imagination. Why are these foods commonly paired up with a beer style that seems to go best with hot dogs? It's odd that the creativity in the food didn't lead to more creativity in the beer styles.

So, to sum up; the reason that your Dos Equis Ambar tastes like it came from Vienna is because the style originally came from Vienna. The reason that style wound up in a Spanish speaking nation is because German settlers brought what they did best, make German beers.

The next time you go to a Mexican restaurant, skip the Corona. Try something on the menu that you haven't had. Try one of the beers that you haven't had. See if a Negra Modelo goes better with your food. See if the Dos Equis Amber goes better.

Then when you want to have something that's a great pairing with the food, have a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

*addition*

I totally forgot tomorrow was Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexicans won an unlikely battle, but ultimately, the French later took over Mexico City. After they did, they placed Maximilian I (from above) on the throne.

So, tomorrow, on Cinco de Mayo, as you are downing your cases and cases of German influenced Mexican beer, remember that you are celebrating a victory over the French; that then led to the Germanic styles that you are enjoying.