The Coolest Brother Outlaw Evah!

Well I only have one, but that doesn't matter. Just got a box in the mail from my favorite brother in-law, Darren. Two North Coast Old Rasputin XI and a Twentieth Anniversary Ale, which I haven't even heard of yet. While Old Rasputin is easily available in Decatur, the special edition XI is aged in "12 year-old oak bourbon barrels for nine months. Released only at the brewery's retail store in Fort Bragg." Cannot wait to try this one!

The label on 20 says, "67% Ale Aged in Oak Barrels, 33% Ale Brewed with Agave Nectar." I know that the XI was only available at the brewery in Ft. Bragg, Ca and can only imagine that the 20th was the same deal. While I was in the Bay Area for SF Beer Week this past February, I gave serious thought to making the 360 mile round trip to Ft. Bragg to grab some of the Old Raspy 11. The farthest north I have been in California is Boonville, home to Anderson Valley Brewing Company. But Ft. Bragg is 50 miles north of Boonville, on pretty windy 2-lane roads, from what I have heard.

Anyway, thanks for the ultra rare beers Darren and just remember...payback is a bitch! Cheers Brother

Hopslam Monday!

I've never seen more anticipation for a cask tapping at the Brick Store. The bar was packed, all eyes glued on that little silver can. Pictures snapping, smiles gleaming. Bell's Brewing has landed in Decatur, and the energy in the pub was very festive.

Oberon and Special Double Cream Stout were on tap, but the real star was the rare cask of Hopslam. The bottled version is one of my most loved double IPAs, and I was very curious to taste the cask version.

The firkin was tapped at 4 on the dot and kicked around 6:30. I found the cask version of Hopslam just delightful. Of course it didn't have the carbonation bite, but the flavor was packed full of pine and grapefruit hop flavor rounded out with chewy bitterness. As the glass warmed, the honey flavor poked her head out unlike the bottled version where the honey flavor was on the front end. Cannot wait for a keg of FRESH Hopslam to come out next January/February.

Look for Bell's this week at The Grange Public House, Thinking Man Tavern, and of course the ole BSP.

Twain's Springfest & The Return of XL DIPA

From Twain's facebook page:

Springfest- A Benefit for the Atlanta Community Food Bank
Saturday May 16th- 1pm-11pm
All proceeds from this show will be donated to the Atlanta Food Bank. There will be 2 stages, 1 indoor and one outdoor, so there will always be a band playing. There will be food and drink specials and the event is taking place at a brew pub with Pool tables, shuffleboard tables, and darts.Tickets are $10 and all proceeds got to The Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Our line-up of awesome music goes like this:
outside:
1:30pm-2:15pm: The Trailer Park Swingers
2:45 pm – 3:30pm: Rocksploitation
4:00 pm- 4:45 pm: The Brain Box
5:15pm- 6:00pm : The Mystery Men
6:30pm-7:15pm : Balloonaut
7:45 pm- 8:30pm: Tag Team
9:00 pm-9:45 pm: Grinder Nova

inside:
2:15-2:45pm: Dave Ellington
3:30-4:15pm: Spanky and The Love Handles
4:45-5:15pm: Kevin McFoy Dunn
6:00-6:30 pm: Old Custer
7:15-7:45 pm: Abby Wren
8:30-9:00pm: Swingset
10:00-?: Getaway Car


And while you are there, grab a glass or 7 of XL Double IPA! Jordan whipped up another batch this year that is chock full of Simcoe & Amarillo hops.

For Whom the Bell's Toll

Bell's Brewery comes a ringin' to Decatur next week! Brick Store Pub will be tapping a super limited cask of HopSlam and a keg of Special Double Cream Stout on Monday May 18 around 5pm.

HopSlam, which is released yearly in January/February, gets an A score on BeerAdvocate with over 1200 reviews. I am really looking forward to the cask version of this bad boy.

At this time, Brick Store Dave ain't too sure what they will carry full time from Bell's, but I'll keep you posted.

St. Patrick's Days in Decatur

Tuesday March 17 is this year's St. Patrick's Day, but the party will be starting on Saturday the 14th @ The Grange and Brick Store Pub. And Twain's has a nice little dirty surprise in store for us on Tuesday!

Get your Grange on...celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with the Irish – TWICE!

Saturday, March 14th & Tuesday, March 17th Start the day(s) off right at 10am with a full Irish breakfast (served until 2pm), then the entertainment begins at 2:30pm. Outside on our spacious patio & into the lawn, you’ll find pipes & drums, traditional music & dance, contemporary live acts & plenty of Guinness! NO COVER CHARGE.

SATURDAY MARCH 14 LINE UP
2:30pm - John Mohr MacKintosh Pipes & Drums http://www.jmmpd.com/
3pm - Buddy O’Reilly Band (traditional Irish) http://www.buddyoreilly.com/
5pm - The Killarney Boys of Pleasure (traditional Irish)
7pm - Sean Moran Family Affair Band (Contemporary)
8:15pm - Pipes & Drums (Special Guest)
8.45pm - DJ Danny Gresham

TUESDAY MARCH 17 LINE UP
3pm - Traditional music with local Decatur musicians
6pm - Sean Moran Family Affair Band (Contemporary)
8pm - Traditional Irish Dance Group
8.30pm - The Guinness Girls with Guinness Giveaways
8.30 till late - DJ Danny Gresham

The Grange also has a VERY impressive draft list including Aventinus, Smuttynose IPA, Terrapin India Brown Ale, Sweetwater 420 and more!





The Brick Store Pub will also be having some shenegians. Popped in yesterday for a burger and saw many cases of Jameson & lots of silver cans of Guinness. BSP Mike sent these deets out yesterday:

Special Menu Items: Lamb Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Shephards' Pie. Live Traditional Irish Music from some of Atlanta's best players all Day and Night both days beginning at 1pm.








Last but not least, Twain's will be popping a firkin of cream stout on Tuesday called Blarney. Brewmaster Jordan added Jameson soaked oak chips to the stout, which sounds very, very naughty. Tappage shall be @ 5pm Tuesday.

Beware The Ides of March!

It's a blizzard out today in Decatur! Well, by OUR standards anyway. Cheers!

Goodbye Azul, Hello Raging Taco!

Here's a sneak peak of the new Raging Taco, the adjoining room of the Raging Burrito. Formerly called Azul, this uniquely shaped room got a tremendous face lift with custom- made tables & chairs along with a huge 52" HDTV on the wall. I spoke with owner Scott Herman recently who said that a few new tacos will be added to the menu very soon. So far, RT is open on the weekends as extra seating for Raging Burrito and like Azul, is a great space for private parties, meeting, and fundraisers.

During the Holiday Season, there are some great drink specials going on. $2.95 Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster, Sierra Celebration Ale & Pale Ale. Also, $2.95 1800 silver tequila shots and $4 Jagers.

Raging Burrito/Raging Taco 141 Sycamore Street (on the Square) www.ragingburrito.com