Events
Cask AleFest
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 | Events | No Comments
I completely forgot to mention in my last post details on an exciting new event coming to Dayton. Chappy’s will be hosting the first annual Dayton CaskAle Fest on November 1, from 1-5PM. Tickets are $40/person and there are only 175 available.
This event will feature only cask-conditioned ales (or “real beers”). Not sure how they will set this up, since these are traditionally served from the cellar, but it should be an exciting event.
For more information on the differences between cask-conditioned ales and normal kegs, here’s a great starting reference. Cask-conditioned ales are not normally found in the United States, so this will be a great and unique opportunity to sample a variety of beers made in this fashion…
http://www.cask-ale.co.uk/us/realale.html
As usual, be sure and check out our calendar for all the latest beer tasting events.
Chuck
Beertasting Events
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 | Events, What's in Stores | No Comments
Went to DLM Springboro Friday for their Friday afternoon beertasting. Southern Tier Hoppe was OK as an Imperial IPA and Barrel House Octoberfest was somewhat flat and disappointing.
But the third beer they had was a refreshing reminder of why I enjoy going to these type of events. Giri, the beer manager, just got some Liefmans Goudenband that came in and he was anxious to try it as a bonus beer for the week. Imported from Belgium, it is described on the bottle as a Flemish Brown Ale and is $5.99 for a bottle that’s just a little larger than 12 ounces.
The beer was somewhat sweet and sour, similar to a sour ale, but much more smooth and drinkable. It had delicious raisins and grapes flavors to it, and it reminded me more of a complex port wine — would make a great dessert beer or nightcap and I got two bottles of it.
Speaking of beertasting events, the following events are on the horizon.
This Thursday, Oct 16, 5:30-8:30PM there is a seasonal beer tasting at DLM in Oakwood. Not sure what they plan on tasting, but the prices are normally very reasonable.
More interestingly, the same night is Zoo Brew at the Cincinnati Zoo. It takes place inside the zoo at the Safari Camp from 6:00-8:30PM. I talked with Valerie at the zoo and she emphasized that the zoo would not be open outside of this event and the event is adults only (I was kind of hoping to combine a beer tasting with a family night at the zoo, but it sounds like that won’t happen). It does say that there will be brew masters on site to discuss the science of beer and the event will feature a variety of beers by Samuel Adams as well as a variety of appetizers. Tickets are $30 for the event pre-sale, $40 on the day of the event. I’m thinking about attending this so let me know if you are interested.
Jungle Jim’s will be having a Bell’s tasting on Friday, Nov 7 from 7-9 PM. Cost is $25, and they say to watch for a “Special Guest”. Hmmm, I wonder if they can get Larry Bell himself ?
Finally, DLM in Springboro has a very special holiday wine and beer tasting coming up on Nov 6. This is mostly a wine event, but I’ve heard they will have at least 20 beers for sale. They will also have chef’s from some of the finest restaurants (including Chef Anne from Rue Dumaine). Tickets are $70 / person (all you can eat/drink in two hours) and I hear they are pretty much sold out (although I may be able to get you two tickets).
GABF / Falling Rock Tap House Special Events
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 | Events | No Comments
from westword.com
Tuesday October 6
5 p.m. Falling Rock hosts a GABF Kickoff Tapping Party by tapping ten to twelve unusual or special kegs that it’s been saving.
Wednesday, October 8
4 p.m. Oskar Blues unleashes some of its beers aged in Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey barrels.
9 p.m. Boulder’s Avery Brewing stops by with some of its “unusual experiments,” including:
Hog Heaven (dry hopped in the keg),
Bad Sally #2 (aged in an oak barrel),
Reverend Rare (aged in an Eagle Rare Barrel) and
Deviation (fermented with Belgian yeast).
Thursday, October 9
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Falling Rock will offer some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s best beers.
10 p.m. Importer Dan Shelton offers samples of unusual fare, such as Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus & Iris on draught.
11 p.m. Legendary California brewer Stone Brewing Company offers some of its vaunted beers, including:
2007 Russian Imperial Stout,
Alesmith/Mikkeler/Stone Collaboration,
Stone’s 10th Anniversary Ale and
Vertical Epic 08.08.08.
Friday, October 10
12 p.m. Kill a keg of Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale in under fifteen minutes and 42 seconds (last year’s time).
12:15 p.m. Sierra Nevada will offer its Chico Estate Harvest Ale (the hops for this beer were harvested at Sierra Nevada’s own California hop farm on the brewery grounds).
10 p.m. Delaware’s Dogfish Head brewery will present “Around the World in 6 Beers,” a $10 tasting of “flavors collected from all over the planet,” as represented by some of Dogfish Head’s special beers.
11 p.m. Sample Alaskan Brewing’s 2006 Barleywine and this year’s Alaskan Smoked Porter.
Saturday, October 11
5 p.m. Russian River Brewing’s Consecration, made with currants and aged for nine months in wooden Cabernet barrels.
10 p.m. There will be a pouring of Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing Company’s Love Fest, as well as other beers.
Ultimate Beer Tasting Road Trip
Monday, September 22nd, 2008 | Events, Trip Reports | No Comments
From Outside Magazine, the Pacific Brewry Binge.
http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200807/weekend-road-trip-oregon-california.html
More than 20 breweries along the 800+ mile trip from San Fran to Portland.
Alefest 2008
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 | Events, Tasting Reviews | No Comments
Hanging out with the Pub girls
I have to say that the end of Summer is my favorite time of the year. It’s the beginning of the end of the hot & humid dog days of Summer and the weather starts to become a little more cooler and tolerable. It marks the beginning of football season and lots of anxious anticipation as to how my Steelers and Nittany Lions will fair in the upcoming months. For some, it marks the beginning of a new school year and all the excitement that brings. But for me, it signifies another Dayton Alefest — one of my favorite events of the year.
I have to say that this was one of the best AleFest ever’s, and I have to say that I overdid it a bit this year. Although I had plenty of tickets left over, due to the high alcohol percentage of most of the beers I tried, I was feeling a little too happy long before the event was over. I am very thankful and appreciative that my wife was able to accompany me as my designated driver.
The biggest reason I enjoyed this year’s festival even more than in years past is likely due to this year was the first year I actually arrived early. I was happy to see that they were letting people into the festival area in advance of the actual start time. That allowed people to scope out the tables and plan a strategy for getting the most of the festival.
And plan a strategy I did. I decided that I was going to skip or pass on anything that was normally available and concentrate on those beers that were exclusive to this year’s event. I’m sure there’s a lot I didn’t taste, but with that in mind, here are the top 8 beers I tasted at this year’s AleFest…
- Dogfish Head Festina Peche run through Randall the Enamel Animal filled with Blackberry’s — A little sweet, light & very fruity – the perfect summer beer!
- Great Lakes Barleywine — Aged since January, I was told they only have made this one time. I also got a chance to talk to the Great Lakes Rep, who noticed my Ohio Brew Week shirt. She had a lot to do with co-ordinating this event and she asked me what I thought. When I told her that the folks in Athens seemed a bit disorganized she laughed and said this was by far the most organized they’ve ever been
- Stone 10th Anniversary aged in Oak barrel
- Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA run through Randall filled with fresh hops
- Something from Hopping Frog (perhaps the Silk Porter, but I don’t remember). I do remember the table had one of the longest lines at the festival. I’d love to sample more beers from this Ohio brewery
- Dogfish Head Fort — Strong Ale brewed with fresh Raspberrie
- Goose Island Bourbon Stout (2006 Vintage) — This really aged well. Very drinkable despite the heavy bourbon flavors
- Dogfish Head Raison D’extra — Not sure if they make this any more, but at 20% alcohol, this tasted more like a brandy or cognac.
MVP Points Totals
I’m giving 2 points to anyone who came out this event (4 points for volunteering). And 2 additional points, if like me, you brought a designated driver. Let me know if you attended and I didn’t catch you….
Prev Total August Score New Total
- Todd 85 2 87
- Steve B 85 0 85
- Mike 48 2 50
- Steve V. 48 0 48
- Joe 46 0 46
- Andrew S. 45 0 45
- Chuck 41 4 45
- Andrew W 38 4 42
- Luke 34 2 36
- Jay 33 0 33
- Zombie 32 4 36
- Dave S 31 3 34
- Pete 21 0 21
- Dave H 3 0 3
Beer Tasting Thursday
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 | Announcements, Events | No Comments
March Madness is this month's theme
Beer tasting at Dave’s house this Thursday. Theme is NCAA basketball, so bring any beers from a brewery in the vicinity of one of the 65 NCAA teams. I will be bring New Holland Red Tulip Ale from Holland, Michigan (which is somewhat in the vicinity of Michigan State, give or take a few hundred miles).
Some news items, I hear Chappy’s is having an Oberon Release Party Wednesday, March 26 to celebrate the 2008 Oberon. There are only a few select bar’s that have this honor, and Chappy’s was chosen for the Dayton area.
Feel free to post your beer selection for Thursday here….
February Tasting: Preview
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 | Events, Funny | No Comments
New beer cups for next tasting
Per Todd,
“The new cups for beer tasting have been identified. Thanks to Dave Sferrella for finding the cups (Dave is in front, the green outfit talking to the Rastafarian). “
February tasting is at Andrew Smith’s house. The theme is in honor of it being February in a leap year, you can either bring a beer with an extra ingredient (Todd’s idea), or a beer that has no extra ingredients and conforms to the German purity laws (Chuck’s idea).
Here’s who I have coming and beers planned…
Steve B. “I’m bringing Great Lakes Blackout (Imperial) Stout named after the infamous “Blackout of 2003″ that left the northeastern United States in complete darkness.” (#76 in top 100 list)
Joe B. “I will be bringing Shock Top Belgian White.”
Mike M. “I’m bringing the Sam Adams Longshot pack.”
Zombie “I have Goose Island Kilgubbin Red Ale. Beer selection at Culinary Co in Cross Point is still very impressive.”
Chuck will be late due to daughters school play, but plans to bring Bell’s Hopslam (#30 on Top 100 list)
Other indicating they are attendending… Dave S., Jay and Luke
December Tasting
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 | Events, Tasting Reviews | 1 Comment
Church Brew Works, Pittsburgh, PA
December tasting is at Chuck’s house, Wednesday night starting around 7:30PM. Theme is Christmas beers, but any holiday and/or seasonal beers will be acceptable. I’m opening the tasting up to any friends and family, so feel to bring a friend, spouse or whoever. We may even have a guest bartendar to help serve us holiday cheer.
Foods planned to be served are guiness cupcakes and likely some chips and salsa, as well as a few other selections. However, keep in mind that due to recent dietary restrictions the menu may be a little different than in year’s past. › Continue reading