What to have in this Decatur blizzard?

Barrel Aged Yeti from Great Divide Brewing...why not? From the label:

This unique version of our monstrous Yeti Imperial Stout is aged for nine months in Stranahans Colorado Whiskey barrels and then bottle conditioned. The spirited aging process produces a hugely complex but mellowed Yeti, with its signature roasted flavors, hints of vanilla and oak, and a whiskeyed finish. Who says you can't tame a beast?

Soothing aroma of subtle sweet vanilla with a spicy whiskey vapor. Wonderfully carbonated with a lively espresso brown frothy head, that slowly dissolves into the blackness. Rich stouty flavor with all of the essentials- bitter dark chocolate, espresso & tobacco notes. This whiskey is certainly different from the other bourbon barrel aged stouts that I have had. Woody, spicy, herbal, tangy and moonshine hot! Somehow, this all plays together nicely in this beast of a glass.

Thanks to my good buddy JJ Fad for securing me two bottles of the 1104 produced. JJ enjoys Golden Tee, hiking around Denver and the occasional balloon ride.

Happy Belated Birthday LEONs!

Tuesday was LEONs 1st birthday so I wanted to share some pictures from 2008 soon after The Boys bought the building. Photos taken by Josh Vick @ Home Tour America...enjoy!

Firkin Madness/Orval Ambassador/Bruery Dinner

It's back-to-back-to-back Cask Ale tappage going on at the Brick Store Pub. These will be tapped concurrently, in no particular order:

Jurassain Imperial Stout (Cuvee Alex Le Rouge) 10%
RCH- Old Slug porter- 4.5%
Gwatkin- Norman Cider - cider- 7.5%
RCH- Santa Fe- Strong Ale- 7.3%
WinterCoat- Double Hop- Dbl IPA- 8.2%
Gwatkins- Golden Valley blend- cider - 6.0%

$5 for a 16oz pour (Alex Le Rouge will be $6)



BSP is now one of only 4 US pubs to be awarded the Orval Ambassador label! This award is based on presence, service & creativity. For more on this distinguished award, check this out:

http://www.orval.be/an/products/brewery/brewery6.ambassador.html



Lastly, mark your calendar The Bruery beer dinner, featuring owner/brewer Patrick Rue! The Bruery is based out of Orange County, CA and has quite the following amongst the beer geeks. There beers are truly all over the map, not limited to any particular style. Last year, The Bruery brewed a 20% Imperial Stout called Black Tuesday, which is one of the best IS I have ever had. The 20% was hidden so well that I had to limit myself to 4 ounces. I doubt that any BT will make it to the dinner on February 22, but you never know. 5 courses w 5 beers- $60

Correction- Larry Bell @ BSP Today 4pm

Not Tuesday as previously posted. Keg of HopSlam, Cask of Expedition Stout and a super rare keg of the Bell's & De Proef collaboration brew- Van Twee. This is the latest brew in the series of American brewers working with this tiny Belgian brewery. Lost Abbey's Tomme Arthur was the first, making an excellent Belgian-style Pale Ale called Signature Ale.
From what I have read about Van Twee, it is a Belgian-style porter with Michigan cherry juice. See you at 4pm today!

Welcome Founders Brewing!

A big welcome to Founders Brewing from Grand Rapids, Michigan! Founders follows Jolly Pumpkin & Bell's Brewing as the third brewery from this great brewing state. According to an email from Green's, 8 varieties are on the shelves including their super tasty Centennial IPA made with 100% Centennial hops. Cletus brought me back a stash of their Imperial Stout from Bruisin' Ales last month, and it is one of my go-to Imperial Stouts. This one is bitter and hoppy and ages extremely well. Be sure to throw a 4-pack or 3 in your closet and forget about them for a year or 5.

Breakfast Stout is a huge hit among the beer geeks and is A rated on BeerAdvocate with over 1300 reviews. Description from the site-
Brewed with flaked oats, bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. 60 IBU. Starting in 2006, Breakfast Stout will be released yearly on the first Saturday following Thanksgiving.

A forgotten style among most craft breweries is the Porter and Founders makes one of the better styles. I reviewed this last year and gave it a solid A-

Lastly, be on the lookout for their #1 most sought after beer- Kentucky Breakfast Stout. A different beer from their Breakfast Stout, KBS aged in bourbon barrels for 1 year. I was not a fan at first, but now have developed a love for this huge flavored complex imperial stout. KBS, rated #7 on BeerAdvocate's Top 100, is released annually in February so get it while you can.

I'm sure your better Decatur pubs will have some Founders on tap and will update you later. UPDATE- Brick Store tapped Backwoods Bastard yesterday, A- with 480 reviews. This 10% Wee Heavy is perfect for these frigid temps!

January Hoppenings

Raging Burrito- Sierra Bigfoot 2008, recently tapped, $2.75 for a 10oz pour! Also on the Sierra front is the Belgian Trippel and the new Glissade Bock will be on tap Tuesday. On a recent visit, I spotted New Belgium 2 Below, Bell's Two Hearted, Highland Cold Mountain & Sweetwater Festive/Happy Ending/IPA and the others.

The Grange- Lots going on!
Jan 12- Sierra Nevada/Dogfish collaboration Life & Limb tapping! I am really surprised that there is a keg left of this highly acclaimed beer!

Also there will be an Ommegang beer dinner on Jan 20. 4 beers/4 courses $33

Jan 30- The Pub has been asked by "long-standing agricultural advocacy organization" to change it's name. Over the last few months, suggestions have been sublitted and the winnner will be named on the 30th. From The Grange facebook page- New pub name to be unveiled and winners to share their $500 in Renamed Grange cash. First pub in the City to have Magner’s (aka Bulmer’s for those who have visited Ireland) available for you Irish Cider over ice fans. Portion of proceeds from the night to benefit the Oakhurst Community Garden Project and Georgia Flooded Farms Relief Fund.

Twains has 5 tasty brews for the January cold: Hannibal Red, Stubborn River ESB, Hell for Society Stout, Mad Happy Pale Ale, and Gingerbread Brown Ale.

Brick Store Pub has 2 world-class events this month:
First, Larry Bell, the Bell in Bell's Brewery, will make an appearance bringing some HOPSLAM for the ride on Tuesday 01.19! HopSlam is released each year in January and is snapped up on the shelves by the beer geek. She is a 10% Double IPA with a nasty amount of hops topped off by a kiss of honey. As good as it gets. The Pub will have some tasty snacks in honor of Mr. Bell

On 01.21, meet the brewer of B.F.M. and I'll allow Dave to explain:
Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes, also known by the abbreviation BFM is a small artisanal brewery in Jura, Switzerland whose products, including barrel-aged beers, have drawn international acclaim.Founded in 1997 by Jerome Rebetez, who had formerly been trained as an oenologist, this tiny brewery has rapdibly become known for making beers that stretch traditional beer style guidelines and use unorthodox ingredients. Come on down to the pub and meet owner Jerome Rebetez and taste the rare cask offering He is bringing along! Food pairings as well as some vintage B.F.M. stuff will be available!

Lastly, a new Irish pub opened in the former Saba place on The Square named Mac McGee's. Here some banter from Decatur Metro
The food should be better than average, as Ryan Stewart will be manning the kitchen. Ryan was the former chef at The Glenwood & Eno. I look forward to checking this place out soon.

Touchdown! Two Hearted Ale

It has hit, finally. This true hophead has a love for Bell's Two Hearted Ale that is hard to top. I have been bootlegging this IPA for years from friends visiting Michigan and recently from SC & NC. Even though Bell's has been in Atlanta most of the year, the demand nationwide for Two Hearted exceeds their supply. Crisp, citric hoppy and super easy to drink. So easy that I have a barrel in my kegerator, named Sheila of course. BSP has this bad boy on tap, as does The Grange Public House, Thinking Man Tavern & Steinbeck's in Oakhurst. Here are some of the recent tappings from our local independent pubs:

Raging Burrito- New Belgium 2 Below, Sierra Nevada Belgian Trippel & Celebration, Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale & Sweetwater Festive

Brick Store Pub- Duck Rabbit Schwarzbier, Oak Aged Yeti, Schmaltz Jewbelation 11-13, Smuttynose Big A IPA. And coming on Monday is a special tapping of the Dogfish Head & Sierra Nevada compilation- Life & Limb. I don't know much about this one, other than the fact that the Pub got 2 six barrels and will be served in 6oz glasses. Tapping is scheduled for 5pm


Thinking Man- Smuttynose Robust Porter, Lagunitas Brown Sugga, Sierra Nevada Celebration

Steinbeck's- Smuttynose Old Brown Dog, Allagash Curieux, Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner, & Sierra Nevada Celebration. Also, Steinbeck's is hosting a Chili Cook-off and Homebrew Competition on Saturday. For more info, go here

Leon's-Oskar Blues Gordon, McAuslan St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout (best stout EVAH according to Mr. Blanchard) Lastly, the latest year-round offering from Terrapin is on tap here called Hopsecutioner.

Support your local independent better beer joint!