Mahon's Mash

So lets get started....I stopped in at the Broad Ripple Brew Pub again a week or so ago, after visiting my favorite homebrew store, Great Fermentations. I stopped in to have a pint of their '04 Wee Alec before it was gone. I also sampled a pint of Poor Richards that was on hand pull. Both are extremely good.

I visited MacNivens and Troy passed on that they would be getting one of the last casks of Gales Prize Old Ale soon. So keep an eye out for it. I know I am.

I recently made another trip down to Bloomington. On my last trip I visited Upland, but didn't make it to Bloominton Brewing. So this time I made it a point of stopping in. On tap they had the following...IPA, Blonde, Ruby, Pale (which was also on nitro and handpull)Java Porter (also on nitro and handpull). I stopped in at Upland also. They had on tap...Wit, Chocolate Stout, Pale, Porter, IPA, Castle Rock Red.
Coming March 13th they have an Irish Ale called Ard Ri. I was lucky enough to get a early sample, that they had bottled. Mighty tasty! They also have a Saison, and a Maibock along with their Chocolate Stout that they casked. Can't wait for that.

Last thing I have for this edition, is the tasting that I went to last week up in Nobelville at Barley Island. Mike Sprinkle hosted another Ratebeer/BA tasting. Here is the beer that we sampled.

Southampton IPA Three Floyds Dark Lord (2004 bottle)

Jindaiji (4.5%) Solera Lager

McNeill's Dead Horse IPA Alesmith Speedway Stout

Founders Breakfast Stout New Glarus Road Slush Stout

Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura Dark Dawn Stout Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock

Alesmith Grand Cru Grand Lake Super Chicken Barley Wine

Allagash Tenth Annivarsary Middle Ages Wailing Wench

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Reserve Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga, The Firefly Reserve

Southampton Cuvee Des Fleurs DFH Pangaea

New Glarus Yokel Brasserie Caracole Saxo

Joseph Spelt Ale Weyerbacher Heresy Imperial Stout

Wye Valley Butty Bach Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek

St Feuillien Brune Great Lakes Blackout Stout

Smisje Wostyntje Super du Baladin

Of course we also drank our share of the Barley Island beer. Java Stout! Made with Black Magic coffee...and of course their Bourbon Barrel series of beers. I had a chance to really sit and talk to Jon Lange head brewer of Barley Island. What did we talk about you ask.....? Gardening of course! If you are a fan of their bourbon barrel beers, you had better start buying them up. Jon informs me that he is taking a break from them so when what's out there is gone...it's gone!

Well that is all I have for now. Until next time..Enjoy and support the three basic food groups...Bottles...Cans...Kegs...

mark@indianabeer.com