Next month, look for new Avery's from Boulder such as:

• White Rascal - 5.5% Belgian white. Mild for the style.
• Redpoint Ale - 5.1% Amber ale. Caramelly with crystal malt. Fairly nondescript but the bottle I tried may have been treated badly.
• Ellies Brown Ale - 5.5& Cordovan with a tan head. A thin American brown with some hops and nuttiness. Newcastle for NW hops fans.
• 14er ESB - 5.0% Deep gold, lightish and not overly hoppy. A bit sweet. but hops are there.
• IPA - 6.0% American hoppiness aplenty. Competes well in category.
• Out of Bounds Stout - 5.1% Black with a gray head. A sweet stout that's balanced and has rich toasty notes. A+
• Old Jubilation Ale - 8.0% Mahogany with a tan head. Malty strong ale. Not an Old Ale despite the name and the brewery's suggestion that it can be layed down for two years. A+

And Bavik has a couple of new bottle-conditioned entries that will be boxed as a unit. Both are labeled as Tripels but are completely different. Worth an experiment if the price is right.

• Pilaarbijter is golden straw at 7.5%. I couldn't get it to my nose for the skunk but the taste was mild on the tongue.
• Pilaarbijter Bruin is also labeled as a tripel (maybe an error at the factory but you'll be able to tell the difference). It's a Belgian Brown at 6.5%. Deep red with a huge yeasty head. Well balanced with a bitter back bite. A+

The Rock Bottom Mug Club last night had the first tappings of Sub-Ø, an IPA with 5 different hops including Cluster and a dry hopping of Centennial. It's orangey red and tangy. A bit different from last year's crop and it'll gro on you very quickly.

Fire Chief Red has been moved back to April since that's when the Fire Chief convention is. The extra lagering time is actually welcomed by brewer Tim Marshall.

In June, Tim plans a "Malt Lika" with malt, corn, and a high gravity.

The cask conditioned ales right now are the Brown dry hoped with Hallertauer and Hazelnut Sweet Stout.

In 2002, Pyramid brewed 113,000 bbls and is listed on NASDAQ as PMID.. Portland brewed 57,100. 2003 numbers aren't available. article

Bloomington Brewing has their normal lineup right now. In May, a Hefeweizen will appear with 50% wheat and Weihenstephan yeast.

Floyd is also sitting on a Bourbon Stout (and I'd like a picture of that). It's in a Jim Beam hogshead where the Belgian strong ale yeast is fighting for supremacy with the charred oak. Don't look for it to be tapped before next winter.

• Red Hook Winter Winterhook. (seasonal). Hop attack on nose. Then it was oxidized wet cardboard. This was the first pull of the day at Bloomington Scotty's and was immediately and cheerfully replaced. 2nd attempt had same hop attack with a malty drying finish and some phenols. Not a favorite 
• Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Nitro tap. Black with heavy nitro ivory head. Not very chocolaty (for that, go for an Upland). More of an oatmeal with very subdued cocoa.

Taps at Bloomington beer bars:

• Jungle Room: 40. 4 Upland. 4 Bloomington Brewing. 1 Bluegrass. 7 Bells. Yep. 7 Bells.
• Scotty's: 30. 2 Upland. 2 Bloomington Brewing. 1 Oaken Barrel. 2 Bells
• Yogi's: 40. 3 Upland. 3 Bloomington Brewing. 1 Back Road. 1 Three Floyds. 3 Bells. 1 Two Brothers.

Upland has their new Chocolate Stout on in both CO₂ and nitrogen dispense at the tap room. See which you like best.

Right now they are brewing a Maibock for this spring.

Meanwhile, the rumors say another brewery may arise in Ft. Wayne. This one not a brewpub but selling its products on draft and in cans.

IOHO canning make sense since there are many places where bottles aren't appropriate. Pools, golf courses, festivals, concerts, etc.

Speaking of rumors, still no word on what TedM is working on.

• Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, England is installing a new 4.5 tonne hopback and a 3 tonne mash tun. to nearly double capacity. Hopefully this means we'll see their beers again.
• Truffle production has been down for several years but 2004 looks to have a tremendous truffle shortage in the making. Europe's 2003 drought is probably the cause but Provence hazel tree woods that have yielded 9 lbs of truffles per week are only giving up 1 lb this year (and 9 lbs is a significant amount of truffles). Look for prices to top last year's $1000 a pound.

• Bells 2-Hearted will now be brewed year-round.
• This years SN Bigfoot will be out in a week or so.
• This years Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine should be out about the 9th of February.
• It looks like San Miguel, bottled HofBrau, and Hacker Pschoor won't be obtainable in the US any more.
• Mike Sprinkle, Cavalier Distributing sales guy,  is moving to Colorado.
• Three Floyds have raised prices. Alpha King will retail at about $10 a 6-pack.
• Anderson Valley has also raised prices, even more.
• Chalkies has moved their cider tasting back to near the end of February.
• Sprecher's Razz Wheat is finally on tap at the Rathskeller. It's made exclusively for them.
• Grace Gerdenich was born on the 12th and IndyBeer gets to be the first reference when people Google her.

Sam Adams' Chocolate Bock has hit the shelves. At $20 a 22oz bottle it better be rare - and good. Early comments at RateBeer.com range from "What in the holy hell is this abomination?" to "Quality stuff but way overpriced".

SA says: "Finally, the beer is slowly aged on a bed of rich chocolate that is especially blended by the master chocolatiers at Scharffen Berger Chocolate."

Nice metal label though.

It was first sold in Richmond, VA where 2,000 cans were test-marketed. Today, these cans sell for over $400 to collectors.

New Albanian Brewing's Bourbondaddy Stout got a nice write-up in the Louisville Courier Journal. It's on tap and will be served until gone. Another batch may be made for Derby time in April.

At Super Bowl time Tunnel Vision will be back along with the pre-prohibition pilsner they now call Kaiser Reising after the Paul Reising Brewery late of New Albany a hundred years ago. For you detail-crazies, this pilsner uses 6-row barley which was popular at the time and it's been lagered for 6 weeks.

Roger has 41 beers lined up for Gravity Head starting March 12th.

This weekend at RichO's, it's cask-conditioned Bell's Two Hearted 

Upland's 2004 Winter Warmer should be released about Jan 31. About 9% ABV. This year it will be available in more bars and even some bottles will get to retailers.

They report a 40% growth in total sales in 2003.

Please do not check out Matt Hill's picture at Upland Brew Crew page.

Stupid you say? Nay. Much of the pre-mix used in bars use lots and lots of sugar - some have over 300 calories per drink (not including the alcohol). If these new mixes taste good they have a winner.

Rock Bottom's Chai Porter  is still available - lots of spices. Sub-Ø IPA will be out next week. Schwartz Hacker Black Lager is lagering in cold storage for over a month and should be tapped about February 18th. Fire Chief Red Ale will be back for March.

The Original Hoosier Ma Stout is back and being served on nitrogen.

The next three items are courtesy of Great Lakes Brewing News.

Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout is available only at the brewery during tours until near the end of March when some 22oz bottles will hit the streets.

Back Road Brewery will release Pecker Head Red in February. “It's a red ale with plenty of caramel malts that finishes with a bold hop flavor and 8.5% alcohol by volume”. Sold only in draft so try it at a friendly bar such as the

Aviator Doppelbock will be bottled. and should be available at the Lafayette Brewing Company strong ale tasting on Feb 7th.

Speaking of the Legends of Notre Dame, 13 of us dropped in last Friday. Got out with a $60 bar tab and everyone was full on only $110 in food. Very reasonable. Very good service. The Lost Coast Winterbraun was excellent as well as the many Hoosier draft beers we (almost) all had.

Recommended for classy sandwich-type meals - they have comparably fewer entree selections than most upscale places. Plus, you'll love the wine and beer menu: 2 pages of wines and 4 of beers.

Look for Two Brothers Bare Tree Weiss Barley Wine to show up soon. Yep, a 57% wheat barley wine aged in oak for a year.

Also Uerige Duesseldorfer Altbier. 6% with caramel and roasted malt. 65 IBU. It's brewed twice each year and sold in 11.2oz flip top bottles. It'll hit the shelves around the end of March.

Mat and Cici Gerdenich of Cavalier Distributors have a third daughter now. Don't know her name though, just born on Monday.

Chalkies has Sprecher Bavarian Black Lager on tap. A thick, tan, stout head. Strong, black, porterish, roasty, balanced with edges. Grows on you.

Also St. Bernardus ABT Abbey Ale has joined the Belgian lineup. Deep cordovan. Malty sweet, properly thick and rich. A real sipping beer with lots of fruits that warms nicely. 10% ABV.

Marv is keeping two IPAs on tap at all times. Right now it's Bells 2-Hearted and Stones IPA (which flies out the door).

The 7 Belgians on tap are St. Bernardus, Piraat, Guldon Draak, Triple Karmeliet, Bavik Pilsner, Wittekerke Belgian Wheat, and Lindeman's Frambroise. In a week there will also be 75 Belgians in bottles - which should climb to 100 soon! That should make the Tuesday Belgian dinners even more interesting.

Kevin Matalucci at the Broad Ripple Brewpub tapped his second batch of Proud Papa’s Ankle Biter barley wine on his daughter’s second birthday yesterday.

Side by side with the 2003 Ankle Biter, this years is very similar but of course the older is more married and plumy. John Hill says "they're both good".

Spotted at Target. $13.99. The Mr. Beer 60 12-oz beer kit.

"Contains 100% malted two-row barley" ("three super-concentrated cans of beer mix).

Also has a Booster "consisting of all-natural maltodextrins used in one form or another by most commercial breweries, enhances the flavor and adds body to your beer. Booster can also give your beer and alcohol 'boost' without the dry, cidery, alcoholic taste associated with an excessive use of sugar." Which they also call "Brewers high grade maltose corn syrup solids".

Coming soon to the state:

• More Melbourn Bros from Lincolnshire - An Apricot and Strawberry. In the warehouse.
• Grimbergen Double and Blonde. In the warehouse.
• Avery (Boulder's) Hog Heaven barleywine, The Riverend Belgian quad, and Salvation Belgian golden ale. Mid Feb.

We don't usually publish reader comments but Beth Dufour's review is sure fun to read:

I tried the Upland Wheat beer at the Main Menu in New Albany, IN recently. I thought I was going to cry it was so good.

Mishawaka Brewing's brewpub operation is making a change for 2004. They're staying open until 2am, 3am weekends, bringing in some commercial BudMillerCoors to bring the offerings up to 8 taps, and have added more games. Now there's 5 pool tables, foosball, Golden Tee golf, and pinball.

February's offerings will include a Cream Stout and Seven Mules Strong Ale. Dominator Dopplebock will come out mid-March. Resolution Ale is gone already (see 1/6) The Kölsch and Raspberry Wheat will be sold in 12 0z bottles. Thanks Jim

Yards Brewing in Philadelphia has General Washington Tavern Porter and Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale - beers based on recipes from the 1700s. Here's Washington's recipe (provenance is sketchy).

"Take a large siffer full of bran hops to your taste-boil these 3 hours. Then strain our 30 gall[o]n into a cooler put in 3 gall[o]n molasses while the beer is scalding hot or rather draw the molasses into the cooler. Strain the beer on it while boiling hot, let this stand till it is little more than blood warm. Then put in a quart of ye[a]st if the weather is very cold cover it over with a blank[et] let it work in the cask-Leave the bung open till it is almost done working-Bottle it that day week it was brewed."

Alcatraz now has 9 beers on tap including 2 kegs of Ginseng Pale which Omar dry-hopped with NW hops and ginseng. The two kegs are quite individual - one has quite a bit more hops in the front end than the other. Both have a great, long-lasting small white head replenished with streamer bubbles. The one with less hops has a long bitter aftertaste. Which is being poured now? You'll need to guess for yourself.

The other new, and temporary, beer is an unfiltered ESB being served from keg until a serving tank comes open. It's at the dark end of the style. Balanced with malt that comes through. Chinook and US Goldings hops. About 6% ABV.

The Broad Ripple Brewpub put last year's Anklebiter on tap yesterday. Massive malt nose. Thick to the edge of syrupy. The last couple of kegs of Divine Madness and this year's Anklebiter will be on soon.

Diving Duck Brown is a nice edgy malty balanced American Brown.

The Iron Clad Hotel in Marble Bar, Australia has closed after an 111-year run. The 300-person town in the hot, hot outback is now without a proper pub within 120 miles. The temporary manager of the hotel quit when the mercury hit 113°F last week.

Anheuser Busch sold 102,600,000 barrels of beer in 2003. Up from 101,800,000 in 2002. "This record achievement, led by the success of the new Michelob ULTRA low carbohydrate brand and increased Bud Light sales volume, reflects the hard work and dedication by all of our employees and wholesaler partners across the country."  - August A Busch IV.

He then went on to personally thank Chet Atkins for inventing low-carb country music.

BW3 downtown has Sprecher Doppel Bock on tap. It's hoppy and strong with some Belgiany sour notes and a nice malty belch.

And Singletrack Ale from Rockies/Walnut in Boulder. It came out dull brown that looked thin with no head except for some small mold-like patches. It then cleared to look like a nice Newkie brown. The first taste was soapy and stale but it warmed to be a passable ale.

Left Hand Milk Stout is an opaque brown/black with sweet malt and subdued roasty notes.

Also on tap (still): Samichlaus 2001, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Old Rasputin. On the handpull, Three Floyds Dreadnaught and J.W. Lees Harvest ale from an oak keg.

• Stone's Old Guardian Barley Wine 2004 will be out in February
• Shallos has Spanish Peaks Honey Raspberry on tap.
• Mat Gerdenich of Cavalier Brewing (and his wife) are expecting their third child any day now.

Bluegrass Brewing current lineup includes APA, Oatmeal Stout, Altbier, Schwartzbier, Luna de Miel Raspberry Meade, Kolsch, Hell For Certain, "Becca's" Bohemien style pilsner, Nut Brown Ale, Black Silk Smoked Porter.

Coming in January: Bearded Pat's Barleywine and Black Silk Smoked Porter. Coming in February: Olde St. Matthews.

The Oyster Bar's seasonal is Excavator Doppelbock - "our farewell offering from Brewmaster Matt".

Mishawaka Brewing's web site says: "New Beers: Budweiser, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra. $2.50 or $10 bucket." Shudder.

Also "Bring this ad with you and receive a 5 bottle bucket of beer for $8 or a sixty (60) ounce pitcher of MBC beer for $4.25. Offer good thru January 31, 2004."

Current seasonal: "Resolution Ale 9.5% Brewed every autumn to be tapped shortly before New Year's to make sure everyone breaks their New Year's resolutions early in January. Resolution Ale is a brewed as a strong ale with many similarities to a barleywine."

Next seasonal: "Grumpy's Oatmeal Stout 5.9-6.1% Brewed using six malts and 20% flaked oats to give Grumpy's a very smooth flavor profile and mouthfeel. Brewed each year to celebrate the owner's birthday. A definite favorite or the Brew Pub's regulars."

There are 3 bottles of Oban at Vineyard Liquors, Kentucky Ave and High School Rd. $48 each. There were 5. Oban, like Lagavulin has disappeared from most stores over the last 2 months and may not be back for a while.

Current tap list at Bloomington Brewing: Canadian, Blonde (with German hops), Ruby, Java Porter, Pale, IPA, and State Fair gold medalist Big Stone Stout.

It's going to be a busy couple of weeks at the Broad Ripple Brewpub taps. Later this week Kevin wants to put on a bit last year's Anklebiter barley wine and the last of Scott Whitaker's State Fair-winning Divine Madness old ale. Both have been aging since 2002. Sorry, but we don't have a specific day for these events - you'll just have to camp out at the bar. The 13th will see this year's Proud Papa's Anklebiter.

In late January: Wobbly Bob APA. In March: Fineen's Auld Sod Irish stout and a Bock.

Rumors have been whispered for weeks but it's now official. Matt Hill of the Oyster Bar is moving to Upland as brewer and cellerman. So now every brewer who has won a medal at the GABF in the last 3 years is at Upland.

The Oyster Bar is currently looking for a replacement brewer.

Upland's 2004 Winter Warmer barley wine will be tapped around the end of January and they plan a Maibock near early April.

Short sips from the Brewing News papers:

• Coors is in hot water for having product placement in Scary Movie 3. Even though the first two were R rated, the 3rd is PG-13.
• When Royal Oak comes back, brewed by O'Hanlon's for Phoenix Imports, it will be bottle conditioned.
• Tröeg's in Harrisburg, PA spent 3 months instead of the usual 2 weeks to get ATF label approval for their Mad Elf Holiday Ale. Seems they had to submit detailed formulation to convince the feds the alcohol came from grain rather than the small amount of fruit used in the mash. That's one - one of probably many that we predicted months ago.
• "The Rock Bottom Brewery at the King of Prussia Mall is selling gift certificates for Christmas, with a portion of each sale going to a local charity to fight hunger and homelessness. On first read, I thought the table tent said, 'Fight hunger and homeliness.' My wife pointed out that was the beer's job."
• Mill Creek Brewpub in Walla Walla, WA is for sale.
• For Rogue's 15th anniversary, they are releasing a special beer each month throughout 2004. Unfortunately for us you need to go to one of their west coast bars (including, now, San Francisco) to get any. Whoops, correction; you can get Brewer on tap on Jan 15th at The Edgewater in Chicago.
• Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs has an ongoing line of sour beers. These are conditioned in old Lambic kegs and timed so one comes out each month. So far: Oud Bruin, Flanders Red, Aged Pale Ale, and Sour Wheat to be released Jan 20th.
• The Hofbrauhaus is building a 2nd US brewpub (the first is in Newport, KY). The new one will be across the street from the Hard Rock Cafe in, wait for it, Las Vegas. Whoops, it won't be a brewpub but the 180,000 sq ft building will be a "modeled after" the Munich restaurant.

Spotted at the Parti-Pak: 

• Jasne Rycerskie 7%
• Jasne N Full 6.2%
• Jasne Zamkowe 5.5% - all from Namyslew, Poland
• Jopen Adriaan - Dutch gruit witbier.
• Adnams Broadside & ESB.
• King & Barnes Broadwood Ale.

At the Oaken Barrel, Ken and Jerry have made second batches of the Winter White and IPA and the Tripel just went on line. It uses Belgian pilsner malt and candy sugar with Westmalle yeast. Nice and thick and quite drinkable, belying its 9.4%.

The first batches of the Winter White (Belgian wit) and IPA went in less than 3 weeks and the response is so good for the wit that it may become a regular. They even have commemorative glasses you can take home with a $4.50 pint.

The IPA has lots of Cascade with Amarillo hops.

A Shiner isn't distributed this far north. I even found a map that says the closest place is Tennessee. Unless some Bud from Houston or Miller from Ft. Worth has snuck in, there isn't any Texas beer available in Indiana at all. You can find Lone Star at a few places but it's a Miller product from Wisconsin. Celis is now made in Michigan and not exported south yet.