The last week or so in beer hunting...

When I thought about my beer budget for the month of February, I factored in the release of Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half, Founders All Day IPA, 3 Floyds Zombie Dust, and maybe a few other things. So far, that's pretty much gone out the window...

The first surprise was from Bell's. They quietly released their much anticipated Black Note Stout (Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels), of which they hand bottled less than 1,100. No announcements on facebook, twitter or their website, they stealthily filled their beer cooler in the general store, then leaked the word. Much to everyone's surprise, this went about 24 hours with just word of mouth without being outed on BeerAdvocate.com. Had this been announced prior to release day, it would have likely sold out in a few hours, with extremely terrible lines. When I bought my bottles (2 bottle limit, $23/ea for 750ml), I was the only person in the store, and one of my bottles was hand-numbered just shy of 200. It will be really great to try this acclaimed beer for the first time, and store the second for a special occasion.

Next up was a beer I have been anticipating for a while, but gave up on hunting since it had been released in Chicago quite a while ago... that was until last week when a facebook update from City-wide Liquors saying it had arrived - Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout (Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Intelligentsia Coffee). From what I understand, the South Bend area only received 2 cases (24 bottles), all of which was either pre-sold, or sold out within a couple of hours.

Last big surprise was something I knew was coming, but I was lucky enough to get an early call saying it was ready for me to pick up. Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half (Old Ale aged in Maple Bourbon Barrels) is the 3rd in the Backstage Series (After Blushing Monk and CBS) from one of my favorite breweries. The official release date is tomorrow, which I believe is the earliest date stores are permitted to sell this beer, but fortunately for me, this particular store wasn't in the mood to follow the rules. CBH will be another very difficult to find beer, with most places either not getting it, or pre-sold out. Your best bet, if you aren't on a list somewhere, is to make the trek up to Grand Rapids tomorrow morning and wait in line to purchase a max of two bottles. 

So like that, my February budget is blown, less than halfway in, but I was fortunate enough to score some really great and rare beer. Looking forward to fighting the urge to hoard these, and instead cracking them open with friends. Can't wait to blow my March budget on Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout!

I'm starting to think that these extra special releases are becoming a vicious cycle...

Massive Labels Update

As is wont to happen, there was quite a dry spell for new, local, and interesting labels and then suddenly - BOOM! - there have been loads recently. Lots of stuff to look forward to. Sit tight for this massive update.

All labels are for 12oz bottles unless otherwise noted.

Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half - 11.9% Old Ale brewed with molasses and aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. 750ml bottle. You may already know the deal with this one, but it's rumored to be what was previously known as "Kaiser Curmudgeon" and is likely the next release in the Backstage Series expected to arrive after the first of the year.

Half Acre Big Hugs - 9.5% Imperial Stout. 22oz bottle. A once a year limited release. May be a very small amount end up on Chicagoland shelves, but if you happen to live, or be in, Chicago on December 18th, you might want to stop by their brewery and snag some.

Founders All Day - 4.7% India Pale Ale. Keg collar. Mainly had to post this for Andy because of all the great things he's told me about it, specifically that it's a sessionable, incredibly flavorful IPA. Founders has said this might begin to be bottled sometime in 2012.

Sun King Wee Muckle - 9% Scotch Ale. 16oz can. Winning gold at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival in the Scotch Ale category, Sun King has decided to package this brew into their trademark tallboy cans.

Short's Pontius Road Pilsner - 4.7% Czech Pilsner. Previously only available at the Short's pub in Bellaire, MI, Pontius Road is now making its way to bottles.

Bell's Harvest Ale - 750ml bottle. Seems to be a fresh hop/wet hop/harvest style IPA of unknown ABV, at least to this blogger. Probably, and unfortunately, will be a Kalamazoo release only, but as you can tell from the previous sentence, I couldn't find much about it. Sure would like to get my hands on a bottle though.

Brewery Vivant Kludde - 9.5% Belgian Style Dark Ale. 16oz can. From the makers of what is likely America's first canned Belgian IPA, Triomphe, comes Kludde, a canned Belgian Style Dark Ale.

Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale - 4.4% Wheat. 12oz can. It's 312... IN A CAN! (You may now return to your regular hating of GI, AB/InBev, United, etc.)

New Albanian Bonfire of the Valkyries - 6% Smoked Black Lager. 22oz bottle. I'll confess to not knowing much about New Albanian or ever having any of their beers, but damn, they do have some really kick-ass labels. This is an update to an existing brand.

New Albanian Solidarity - 8.5% Baltic Porter. 22oz bottle. Again, update to an existing New Albanian brand.

Arcadia Ales Sky High Rye - 6% Rye Pale Ale. 12oz can. Sky High Rye is the second canned brew from the Battle Creek, MI brewery after Whitsun debuted earlier this year.

Three Floyds Live A Rich Life - 8.7% Belgian Style Double India Pale Ale. 22oz bottle. Similar to the Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half name change, it appears this is actually Shark Pants - which I might interject probably has the coolest label that I don't think actually appeared on a bottle - re-branded. The rumor mill was grinding out theories that FFF might have had to change the label due to issues with the original's artist.

Avery Trogdor the Burninator - 7.6% Smoked Doppelbock. Keg collar. Why would I put a simple keg collar from a brewery in Boulder, CO that we'll probably not see around these parts? First, Avery puts out some quality products and you can usually find some in Michigan. (They pulled out of Indiana earlier this year.) Second, because they named this beer after one of the Internet's earlier and greater cartoons/memes. Apparently they brewed this as a one-off in the past and are now bringing it back for a second round. Never heard of Trogdor? Do yourself a favor and waste the rest of your day watching Strong Bad.

Goose Island - Update On King Henry, Bourbon County Brand Stout Spotted

An update on a previous post - It has become evident that Michiana, and in fact the entire state of Indiana, will not be receiving bottles of Goose Island's King Henry barleywine.

With many speculating and others citing sources on the BeerAdvocate forum, I've had a couple bottle shops in town confirm to me the same: Indiana has been deemed on-premise only for King Henry by request of the brewery. More of the same, Josh over at Portage Liquor Mart also posted this to their Facebook page today.

This means no bottles on shelves, but doesn't necessarily mean we won't see any. "On-premise" simply means no carry out sales. Bars, pubs, and restaurants may purchase The King (likely in kegs) and serve to their patrons for consumption on site. If we hear of any tappings, we'll be sure to pass those along.

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In news of Goose Island bottles that you can (maybe) get in South Bend, 2011 Bourbon County Brand Stout hit the area this week.

Brewed in honor of the 1000th batch at our original Clybourn brewpub. A liquid as dark and dense as a black hole with thick foam the color of a bourbon barrel. The nose is an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke. One sip has more flavor than your average case of beer. 

I say "maybe" because although it just got here Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the store, there isn't much and will be gone fast. I can tell you there is a tiny bit left though. Check Portage Liquor Mart, the City-Wide locations, and Belmont on South Bend Ave. Good luck!

Goose Island Bids Demolition Farewell, Welcomes King Henry This Winter

Sometimes, you take the good with the bad.

In a press release last week, Goose Island announced the demolition of, well... Demolition.

According to Goose Island VP Sales, Robert Kenney, the brewery is removing a beer from its portfolio.

I regret to inform you that Goose Island Beer Company has halted future production of Demolition, which was available in 22 oz bottles (4IE22’s). While we are still very proud of the beer and stand behind the product in the market, effective immediately, we will no longer make it available to our distributor network.

The 7.2% Belgian Style Golden Ale hasn't been terribly difficult to find on most bottle shop shelves. I know you can currently score some at most, if not all, of the City Wide and Belmont locations in the South Bend area. However, you may not want to delay in picking some up before their supplies are exhausted and it's gone for good!


In other Goose Island news, King Henry, previously only available on draft, is finally slated for release this December in 22oz bombers.

Brewer's Notes: Aged in bourbon barrels, King Henry is a burgundy hued English-style barleywine with aromas of vanilla, oak, and dark fruit. Caramel and toffee flavors blend together with bold notes of bourbon delivered in a smooth body followed by a malty finish. No matter the occasion, King Henry promises a regal drinking experience.

Rumor has it that Goose Island was concocting the King as far back as 2008, but it never saw the light of day for most. Other brands rising to popularity, problems with the recipe, or simply a brewer's decision is just some speculation I found as to why.

Still too early to know if we'll see much here in town. If availability of the other members in Goose Island's "Extreme Ale" series (Night Stalker, Big John, and the various Bourbon County Stouts) is any indication, it will be scare, if at all.

Speaking of Bourbon County Stout, a fun fact: King Henry, a 13.4% or 11.5% barleywine - depending on if you believe the Goose Island website, or the approved King Henry label - is evidently aged in barrels previously used for Bourbon County Stout.

Goose Island Brewmaster Brett Porter has some additional information in this video introducing King Henry on their YouTube channel:

The Week (Or So) In Labels

Several new labels in this update - A couple from old favorites and a handful from local newcomers...

Bell's Quinannan Falls - 6.4% pale lager - The former draft-only release was being sold at the Bell's General Store in 750ml bottles, but with this label approval it appears it will also be available... somewhere... in 12oz bottles as well.

Goose Island Bramble Rye Bourbon County Stout - 13% bourbon stout. As reported here earlier, Bramble Rye is coming and here's the 22oz label.

Greenbush Momento Mori - 6.1% Oktoberfest. The Sawyer, MI brewery is back again just in time for the fall season with this 12oz packaged ale.

Four Horsemen Brewing Company - This batch of labels are for FHBC's first 12oz bottled releases. If you've visited their tasting room, they may look familiar. (My apologies on the size and quality. Just working with what's available.) 4.8% Pale Ale, 5.2% Irish Lager, 4.2% Irish Red Ale, 4.2% Blonde Ale, and lastly Evil Genius', for whom FHBC is contract brewing, Good 'n Evil Golden Ale (4.5%).

The Week In Labels

I can't decide what labels struck the biggest chord with me the last week or so. Greenbush Brewing Company's, posted here earlier in the week, certainly deserve a nod. Great artwork there from an exciting up and coming brewery. (Update: I was just informed that the Greenbush label artwork was done by Ken at Manifesto 1 in Wakarusa, IN. Thanks to Greenbush themselves for the info.) Earlier today, this also appeared:

Greenbush Anger - 7.6% Black IPA. I haven't seen an official approval for this label yet, but Greenbush's Facebook page is reporting it as such. More fantastic artwork.

And then there's...

Bell's This one goes to 11 Ale - Exact details unknown, but it appears this 12oz bottle is the successor to Bell's Batch 10,000. From the label itself: "When you get to batch 10,000, where can you go? You go one louder. The deep amber color of this Imperial Red Ale is complimented with a robust, sweet, toasted malt character that finds balance with a bolder, pronounced hop flavor. In other words, it pushes over the cliff to 11."

At first I thought it looked kitschy, but upon further review I kinda like it.

Goose Island Bramble Rye Bourbon County Stout - Details again unknown, but this keg label does tell us that it's stout aged in rye whiskey barrels with raspberries and blackberries. I think we can all breath easy when it comes to the Bourbon County brand as one that Goose is not going to let AB touch.

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Porter - Lots of info on the back of this 750ml label, but no ABV? The maple/bacon thing has been done to varying degrees of success, but Rogue's, based in Newport, OR, has several things going for it: Bacon + maple + giant guy on the label who looks like he just snatched a pig and is going to drop it in his beer mug = Sold.

Goose Island Big John

Many thanks to the guys at Belmont for supplying me with a very hard to get bottle of Big John from Goose Island. Big John is an imperial stout, brewed with cocoa nibs and roasted malt, with an abv of 11.5%. If you want a bottle, try the Belmont on South Bend Ave in South Bend. Supplies are VERY limited, but they also have plenty of other really good beer in case you miss out!

Goose Is Cooked

It's official, Goose Island Brewing Company of Chicago, IL has been purchased by the macro-brewing mega-corporation Anheuser-Busch for 38.8m.

Although G.I. is not my favorite brewery, or even in my top 10, I would consider it a good brewery with a few solid beers such as Night Stalker and the Bourbon County series. It seems beer connoisseurs have mixed emotions over this change, ranging from the blase to the uber-angry, most of which makes some interesting arguments.    

To get the facts straight, it should be mentioned that AB already owned a little less than 20% of Goose to begin with, so taking complete ownership of the brewery is not all that unexpected. One popular argument I'm seeing is that this is a good business decision for them; letting the brewery expand beyond what they are capable of themselves. Strictly from a dollars and cents perspective, that's probably accurate, however I believe they will lose a great deal of followers inside the craft beer community. I live in a state that was recently dumped by Dogfish Head brewery, along with 3 other states, and their rationale was that they were growing too quickly; they wanted to consolidate their products to fewer areas. This would have been a great opportunity for DH to sell-out and cash in, but they didn't. The beer, the brand and the craft beer community was too important to dilute and despite my inability to purchase their beer locally, they did the right thing.

Does this mean that Goose Island will suddenly start making terrible beer? Probably not. What I firmly believe however is that time will slowly erode the brand. Little "inefficiencies" will be "fixed" as years pass, ingredients might be swapped for cheaper alternatives and eventually we'll see such gems as India Pale Ale with Lime! In all seriousness, maybe this is good for craft beer in general, a stepping stool from the swill Anheuser-Busch pushes on the masses, to the sweet nectar of Founders, 3 Floyds, Russian River and Bell's. I guess only time will tell.

Beer Tasting Event at Citywide Liquors

I spoke with one of the guys that works at the Citywide Liquors downtown South Bend and was informed that there would be a beer tasting coming up, featuring Goose Island and some others.  Although the date is not set in stone, tentatively this is scheduled for 3/24. 

Look for more information to follow in the next week or two...