STL Hops - A St. Louis Beer Blog

2008 Granite City Craft Beer Festival

Mike — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:32:24 +0000

I first mentioned this event way back in the early days of STL Hops. Well, this is the third year for the Granite City Craft Beer Festival and from what I’ve been told, it’s a hell of a good time. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, October 11th from 1PM to 6PM.

The event will be held at the Granite City Elks Pavilion which is located at 4801 Maryville Road, Granite City, Illinois (Map It). They’ll be offering over 70 selected craft beers from local, national and international breweries and also an entire tent devoted to homebrewed beer as well.

The cost is $10 per person in advance or $15 at the door, which allows you 10 samples. Additional samples can be purchased the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at the Elk Lodge, Corral Liquors or by calling Charlie Brinza at (877) 332-1894. All the proceeds go to Illinois Elks Crippled Children Corporatio n, so drink up for a good cause.

Boulevard Saison-Brett Now Available

Mike — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:15:41 +0000

Andy Snead from Whole Foods Galleria posted on the STL Hops Forums that the Boulevard Saison-Brett is now available at the Whole Foods Galleria. I had some more of this beer while at the Augusta Bottoms Festival and it was still fantastic. It provides just enough Brett flavor to really make the beer funky without having too much of it overpower the entire palate.

I think this is one of those perfect beers to get people into beers featuring brettanomyces yeast without it being a funk bomb. I really wish this had come out earlier in the summer as I think it’s a wonderfully refreshing beer. Make sure to pick up your numbered bottle as I don’t expect this one to last long. I’d be very curious to see what some age will do on this beer.

Update: Andy informs me that what he thought was Saison-Brett was actually just Saison. But Paul from Wine and Cheese Place seems to have gotten it in, so I expect Whole Foods to have it soon as well.

Granite City Brewery Taps Oktoberfest Oct. 8

Mike — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:20:31 +0000

Larry Chase of Granite City Food & Brewery emailed to let me know that one of their best-selling seasonals, their Oktoberfest, goes on tap as of October 8th. Here’s the breakdown of the beer from Larry:

Ingredients include:

Grain Cargill GC Special Blend, Munich, Vienna, Crystal
Hops Northern Brewer, Tettnang, Sterling
O.G. 1.055

Apparently this beer sells out within 2 weeks of it being tapped, so if you’re a fan of Oktoberfests make sure to get over to GCFB ASAP.

Contest: Two Tickets to Bigelo’s Bistro Beer Dinner

Mike — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:27:09 +0000

Mark from Bigelo’s Bistro was kind enough to provide two tickets to their sold out beer dinner celebrating Bigelo’s eighth anniversary. The dinner is on Sunday October 19th at 5 pm and Bigelo’s is located in Edwardsville, Illinois.

If you’re interested in winning tickets that include a five courses being paired with five different Schlafly beers (you will be required to pay the gratuity) email contest@stlhops.com with a subject of “Bigelo’s Beer Dinner” and tell me what your favorite beer is only available in Illinois. If you don’t think you’ll be able to attend, please don’t enter. I’d like to make sure that people available to attend have a chance to win. The winner will be drawn on Monday, October 13th at 9AM. The full menu is available after the break. Flat Bread Pizza with a walnut - cranberry pesto, smoked turkey and feta
Beer - No. 15

Bison and Black Bean Chili w/ avocado-red onion relish and cumin sour cream
Beer - Hop Harvest Ale

Beer Braised Bratwurst with caramelized onions on German potato salad
Beer - Oktoberfest

Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast on a butternut squash and red pepper puree
Beer - Saison

Schlafly’s own Sticky Toffee Pudding
Beer - Pumpkin Ale

Presidential Politics Schlafly Style

Mike — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:27:00 +0000

I don’t care what your personal politics are, but I thought these were pretty hilarious:

10/03/08 Friday STL Beer Round-Up

Mike — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:14:01 +0000

If you’re a beer fan in St. Louis (and if you’re here you obviously are) then this is the weekend for you. Not one, not two, but three beer events are taking place this weekend. Some people would call this insanity, I call it sclerosis of the liver. On to the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

Make Mine Potato does some drinking in St. Louis.
Anheuser Busch is still having a problem selling beer in Europe.
St. Louis Magazine’s new blog Feast reviews 100 Brews and BBQ.
The New York Times reports on new ads for Bud Light.

Beer Releases and News

Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some beers he has in his stock:
- Ayinger Oktoberfest
- Erdinger Dunkelweisse
- Schneider Hopfen Weisse
- Three Floyds Robert the Bruce
Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
- Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale Wet Hop
- Baladin Nora Sour Edition 2005
- Bell’s Best Brown
- Hook Norton Double Stout
- Cropton Monkman’s Slaughter Extra Special Bitter
- Budweiser American Ale
- Bink Blond Hoppy Golden Ale
- Hitachino Kiuchi No Shizuku Distilled with Hops, Orange Peal and Coriander
- Samuel Smiths Organic Cider
Scott from Corral Liqours informs me to some beers he has in his stock:
- Moylans Tipperary Pale Ale
- Rogue Double Dead Guy
- Rouge Dead Guy Growler
- Unibroue Terrible
- Unibroue Chose
- NC Old Stock Ale 08′
- Schneider Weisse Hopfen Weisse
Charmaine at Randall’s Wine & Spirits alerts me to some new beers she has in stock at the St. Louis Randall’s:
- Rogue Dead Guy Ale (glow in the dark)
- Ommegang Ommegeddon
- Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury Ale
- Bell’s Best Brown
- Budweiser American Ale
Robin at Provisions Gourmet Market has some new beers as well:
- Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale Wet Hop
- Budweiser American Ale
- Bell’s Best Brown
Mike at The Wine and Cheese Place in Rock Hill alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
- Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop
- Cantillon Vigneronne Lambic Aged in Oak
- Cantillon Iris Vintage 2005
- Cantillon Kriek
- Cantillon St. Lamnivus
- Budweiser American Ale
- Bell’s Best Brown
Ryan at Whole Foods in Town and Country has added these beers:
- Gouden Carolus Classic
- Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue
- Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Rood/Red
- Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor
- Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue 1.5
- Lefthand Blackjack Porter
- Arcadia Big Dicks Old Ale
- Bells Best Brown Ale
- AB American Ale
- Buffalo Bills Pumpkin Ale
Kevin at The Wine and Cheese Place in West County has expanded his selection and has added these beers:
- Bell’s Best Brown
- Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale Wet Hop
- Budweiser American Ale

Local Restaurant Beer List Updates

Jerad Gardner, of the Rotten Apple lets me know about his most current draught selection. If you haven’t been to the Rotten Apple, take the time to visit:
- O’Fallon Brewing - Pumpkin ale
- Founder’s Brewing - Dry Hopped Pale Ale
- Lagunitas Brewing - Gnarly Wine
- Avery Brewing - Maharaja Imperial IPA
- Lagunitas Brewing - IPA
- Jever Brewing - Pilsener
- Three Floyds - Alpha King
- Founders Brewing - Breakfast Stout
- Avery Brewing - Ale to the Chief
- Lagunitas Brewing - Censored Copper Ale
- Dogfish Head Brewing - India Brown Ale
- Stag
Jerad also let me know about the draught list at The Stable:
- North Coast - Brother Theolonious
- Bell’s Brewing - Two Hearted
- Charleville Brewing - Half Wit Wheat
- Hoegaarden
- Michelob
- Reissdorf Kolsch
- Sierra Nevada Brewing - Anniversary Ale
- Lefthand Brewing - Milk Stout
- North Coast - Old Rasputin
- Sleeman Cream Ale
- Odell’s Brewing - 5 Barrel Pale Ale
- Charleville Brewing - Hoptimistic
- Houblon Chouffe
- Kasteel Rouge
- Schlafly Brewing - Schwartzbier
- North Coast - Scrimshaw Pils
- Rogue Brewing - Imperial Pils
- Bear Republic Brewing - Racer 5
- Pilsner Urquell
- Rogue Brewing - Double Dead Guy
- Arcadia Brewing - Hopmouth
- Spaten Brewing - Oktoberfest
- O’Fallon Brewing - 5 Day IPA
Ben Dressel of Dressel’s Pub dropped me a line to let me know about their current draught highlights:
- New Belgium - Le Fleur Masseur
- Tripel Karmeliet

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

Weekend of 10/03/08 Retail Beer Tastings

Mike — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:42:40 +0000

A few quick beer tastings to tell you about.

The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton has moved their weekend tastings to Friday which is a great way to start your weekends. Today, from 4PM to 6:30PM will be having a tasting featuring Bell’s Best Brown, Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury (for tasting only, there is none left for sale), Drie Fonteinen Doesjel Old Lambic, Budweiser American Ale, Sierra Nevada ~~Chico~~ Wet Hop Harvest, and Olde Suffolk English Oak Aged. More information can be found at their blog.

Mike at the Wine and Cheese Place in Rock Hill will also be holding a tasting today from 4PM to 6:30. He’ll be sampling these beers: Bell’s Best Brown, Budweiser American Ale, Goose Island Harvest Ale, and Sierra Nevada ~~Chico~~ Wet Hop Harvest. Once again, more information can be found at their blog.

Tasting is a great way to try before you buy.

Growlers Pub 2008 Winter Menu

Mike — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:37:21 +0000

Way back in June I told everyone about some of the beers I had tasted at Growlers Pub twice yearly tasting event. How did Growler’s do? Let’s find out:

Draught

Spanish Peaks Crystal Weiss
Breckenridge Avalanche
Breckenridge 471 IPA
Boulevard Bully Porter
Leinenkugel Creamy Dark
Kona Fire Rock

Bottle:

Lemp Lager
Anchor Porter
Arcadia Coco Loco
Bridgeport ESB
Ommegang Rare Vos
Bridgeport IPA
O’Dells 5 Barrel
Left Hand Haystack Wheat
Left Hand Polster
Left Hand Jackman
Left Hand Sawtooth
Left Hand Milk Stout
Rogue Hazelnut Brown
O’Fallon Gold
Spanish Peaks Black Dog
Avery Ellie’s Brow
Avery IPA
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout
Samuel Smith Organic Lager
Samuel Smith India Pale
Old Peculiar
Ayinger Celebrator
Ayinger Dunkel
Bitburger
Gouden Carlous Ambrio
Pilsner Urquell
Beamish
Peroni

I don’t know about you but, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Just as a refresher here are a few beers from the tasting back in June:

Avery Hog Heaven
Arcadia Coco Loco
Het Anker Gouden Carolus Carolus D’Or - Cuvée Van De Keizer
Great Divide Yeti
De Proefbrouwerij - Reinaert Flemish Wild Ale
O’Fallon Smoke
Great Divide Hercules
Left Hand Milk Stout
Arcadia Hopmouth

So basically of the beers I tried, two made the cut. How sad is it that I walk into a restaurant with over 130 beers and I usually order the same two beers? I think that’s why I like places like The Stable so much, while it’s awesome they have one of my favorite beers on draught, I find that I only have one glass of it before wanting to try another beer. Growlers has 32 draught beers and changed out 6? Weak.

It looks like their continuing price gouging on Ommegang beers continues, Rare Vos is still $11.25. We also have five Left Hand choices? Seems a bit excessive to me. Nothing against Left Hand, but we get 5 Left Hand beers and no Bear Republic or Great Divide? This list is making me pretty angry and I think it’s just a continuing example that Growlers knows very little about beer and doesn’t have any interest in learning.

Few New Beers Coming to Buffalo

Mike — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:42:16 +0000

Dave Johnson emailed me late last week and filled me in on a few new beers we’ll be seeing at Buffalo Brewing Company in the next couple of months. The first new ones we should be seeing are Oktoberfest Lager and a Belgian Pale Ale which Dave describes as “very tasty.”

Also in the mix is a DunkelRye. Dave was planning on brewing a Dunkel and there was a suggestion made of adding some Rye. Dave thought that was an awesome idea and the DunkelRye was born. That was brewed just this past Sunday, so it’ll be a little while until we see it. But that sounds pretty exciting.

If you have any idea for beer styles that you would like to see at Buffalo, feel free to leave them in the comments. One of the things Dave loves so much about Buffalo is that it affords him the chance to really have fun and brew different things that can break up the monotony of brewing the same thing day in and day out.

STL Hops September Meet-Up Photos

Mike — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:45:46 +0000

Well, you dirty bastards. Where were you? “Oh, we’ll show up!” Yeah… Well, you know what? Those of us that did show had an awesome time. The photos below are proof of that it’s not about quantity, it’s all about quality.

But seriously was it a bad date? Bad time? People were interested in doing these monthly meet-ups, but only about 10 people showed. My concern is that if we tell some of these venues that we’re attending and no one shows, it looks bad on us all as a whole.

Anyway, we had a great time, you should have attended. Thanks to everyone at The Stable for allowing us to invade your space for a while last night and to all of the readers who attended.

Edit: Please don’t take that first paragraph seriously.

[Show as slideshow]