And if that is enough to get you moving, we are also previewing our NEW ARTISANAL PRETZEL STICKS. They are handmade, each day, at all of our stores and baked fresh.  They will be offered on most salads and as a pretzel stick appetizer. These babies will be on our new menu rolling out this September, but today only you get a sneak preview of these utterly delicious, scrumptious, addictive little sticks.

All the details are here. Hope to see you at the stores, cause this is a deal you will not want to miss!

Cheers,

Dave

Ok, now down to business.  The final three firkins will be:

4) Double Spiced 31 (yep, 2x the cinnamon and nutmeg)

5) Dark Cherry & Vanilla Infused Black Jack Stout

6) Diablo Noir (an extremely devilish blend of Devils Milk (2009) and Black Jack (2008))

As a little bit of insight, in the firkins where we are adding either more spice or some type of fruit (which is 5 out of 6) we will not be able to taste them until the day of the fest. But, the Diablo Noir blend I have been able to taste.  It was good.  So good, you might be seeing more of these blends from us.

I hope to see you there. And if you need tickets you can get them here.

Cheers,

Dave

1) Double Dry Hopped 2010 Serum

2) Peppermint & Chocolate Infused Bad Moon Porter

3) Chocolate Raspberry Imperial Rye Porter (X-1 with a kick of raspberry!)

I will be announcing the next three Wednesday of next week, so stay tuned.  If you haven’t got your tickets yet, here is the link. If you live near our Bowie or Arundel Mills store, have no fear. We have a bus running from the stores to the fest (you can find details at the site).  The food has been a hit the last two years, and I promise we have outdone ourselves this year.  This is an event you will not want to miss, so gather your friends and get firk’ed up!!

Oh, and one more thing. Here is a hint to our fourth cask ale – The Devil wears Black.

And speaking of the Springfest, we have one hell of a lineup of vintage beers.  We are bringing 16 beers in all.  Here is the list:

1) 2009 Mayhem

2) 2008 13 Degrees

3) 2007 31

4) 2005 Repent

5) 2007 Sawtooth

6) 2006 Devil’s Milk

7) 2008 Naked Fish

8) 2008 Blackout

9) 2006 Blackjack Stout

10) 2009 Pax Nemesis

11) 2008 Twisted Kilt

12) 2007 Mad Bishop

13) 2010 Serum Double IPA

14) 2004 Misery Wheat Wine

15) eXile #1 Imperial Chocolate Rye Porter

16) eXile #2 Imperial Wit

One other thing.  We have still not officially committed to a style for our 3rd eXile series.  Post your comments for what you like to see.

Hope you had a good weekend!

Cheers,

Dave

Well gotta go, as my boy just took a good spill and the tears are rolling!

Cheers,

Dave

Now, my opinions.  I have never tasted a beer that is so drinkable with an alcohol content 8% or higher.  The malt flavor is mellow, not sweet or overpowering, with a slight caramel hint.  The hop presence is there, but just enough and certainly not overly pronounced.  It has a clean, slightly crisp overall flavor with subtle ale esters.  And all in all, you will be hard pressed to find that 11% alcohol. All this provides and amazing balance to this high alcohol beer (hence the reference to the goddess).  This is why we chose to use the Altbier as a base to make an imperial.  We were attempting, and I think succeeded, to make a sublimely drinkable imperial ale.  So, even though Nemesis is 11%, don’t expect it to be massive and in your face.  But be careful, because even though this is easy to enjoy, karma will catch up (most likely the next day around 8am).

The email touting the release is not scheduled to go out until mid next week, so you blog readers have the jump.  Not sure how quick it will get from the distributor to the retailers, so you might want to call them to see if they have it, or better yet tell them to get it.

Pax Nemesis Info Sheet
Black Jack Stout Info Sheet

At first we were glad that the strenuous act of making a decision was over.  But, as Jim was leaving work around 1pm , after a hard day of watching Bo brew, Bo reminded us that we only have one keg…..and we have three stores.  It was at this point we realized that we have even a tougher decision to make.  It also became quite clear to Jim that he was not going to make it home in enough time for his 1:30 nap.  But, we had to decide what restaurant would get our only keg of Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Jack Stout. After an intense debate, a few more beers and a grueling match or rock, paper, sissors; Jim, Bo an I came to a conclusion.  And that is…..we are too scared to make any real tough decisions.

So, we are leaving it up to YOU to decide where it will be tapped.  There is a poll posted on the right hand side of the home page of my blog. Go there to cast your vote for which store is to receive our only keg.  Do it quick, as the polls close on  April 30th at noon.  Make your voice heard!

Cheers,
Dave

And even though I am biased (shocker, I know) IT WAS AWESOME! A nice presence of bourbon, but by no means overwhelming. And judging by the comments from the attendees, it seems they loved it too. Now, we have less than ten kegs of this, so the only place you are going to see this is at festivals. But, I will make sure that we send an email when we are attending a festival that has the Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Jack Stout. Come to think of it, it would be a good idea to send an email about every festival and what beer we will be bringing. Well, looks like I made some more work for our marketing people. But, if you get a chance, don’t miss the Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Jack, it will not disappoint.

Cheers,
Dave