Sixpoint Brewing Launch Party at Bleachers

Just a quick heads-up that there will be a Sixpoint Brewing (Brooklyn, NY) release party on Thursday the 2nd from 7-10pm at Bleachers on Grape Road in Mishawaka.

As you may have heard, Sixpoint started distributing beer to Indiana early last week, and is available at many South Bend area liquor stores. They will be pouring Bengali Tiger IPA, Righteous Rye Ale and Sweet Action Cream Ale by the Pint or Pitcher. Stop on down to make some bad decisions with the newest brewery to hit Indiana!

If facebook is your thing, there is also an Event page for this.

**So it was brought to my attention that "Stop on down to make some bad decisions..." may be construed as me recommending you don't go to Bleachers, or drink Sixpoint. In fact, that is semi-stolen from the movie "Wedding Crashers" and in no way a slight on the fine establish of Bleachers or the delicious brew from Sixpoint.

TheBeerIsGood.com Craft Beer Roadtrip!

I've been wanting to sponsor a craft beer related road trip for some time now, which has been rekindled with the success of local craft beer fan, Jay Fields, and his most recent beer tour around the Michiana area.

With that said, I'm putting together a fact finding committee with all of the various personalities in my head, and together we would like to gauge the interest of such a trip. At this point I will likely engage Royal Excursion for a bus, and will have around 30 spots available. The cost of the trip will only provide the safe transportation to a handful of great craft beer locations in the most popular city chosen, however I will try to work in some schwag from locations we visit.

So with that in mind, if you are interested, please take the below survey to give us a better idea of what you are interested in. Once I have a pretty good idea of where people want to go, and how much people are willing to pay, I will start putting together more solid details. I'm thinking sometime late Spring would be a lot of fun, and the weather would most likely be warm, without being hot. By the way, to keep costs down, I do not intend to make a profit off of this. Having a killer time is payment enough for me!

Founders KBS release info

Nearly every month seems to have an exciting release, and one of the most anticipated of the year is March, with the release of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS). KBS is not only one of my top 3 favorite beers (check out my review from last year), but it also highly rated on Beer Advocate and other beer related websites. 

For those not familiar with KBS, from the Founders website...

"What we've got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight."

Founders has posted information regarding the release of KBS at the brewery here, but the bullet points are as follow...

• Saturday, March 10th at 11am at their Taproom in Grand Rapids
• To purchase a case, 4-pack or individual bottle, enter through the rear entrance
• $114 per case, $19 per 4-pack, $4.75 per bottle, 1 case limit
• First come, First serve. KBS will sell out quickly

If you'd rather skip the shenanigans of the release party and pick some up around the South Bend area, keep in mind that bottles are extremely difficult to come by and often sell out without hitting shelves. To the best of my recollection, Fiddler's Hearth (South Bend, IN) and Wheatberry (Buchanan, MI) had KBS on tap last year shortly after it was released at the brewery. When I hear more, I'll be sure to pass along the information.

2nd Annual Blue Chip Brewfest Update

Just received an email from the fine folks at Blue Chip with a poster that provides a little more information about the brewfest in April...

Per the poster, it looks like the VIP admission will give you access to limited release beers paired with food, and you will also get a few other goodies. Tickets go on sale at 10am on February 1st at Ticketmaster.com, so don't miss out!

Tap Lists in and around South Bend

Here's a complete run-down of tap lists to help you formulate your weekend drinking plans. As usual, if you happen to know what's on tap somewhere, shoot me an email... andy@thebeerisgood.com


Fiddler's Hearth (South Bend, IN)Southern Tier - Back Burner
Founders - Red's Rye
Flat 12 - Pogues Run Porter
Great Divide - Oak Aged Espresso Yeti
Schlafly - Brown
3 Floyds - Alpha King

The Mark (South Bend, IN)
St. Bernardus - Apt 12
Upland - Teddy Bear Kisses
Great Divide - Hercules
Great Divide - Oak Aged yeti
Flat 12 - Pogues Run Porter
New Belgium - Ranger IPA
Southern Tier - Imperial Oat
Stone - 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale
North Coast - Old Rasputin

Corndance (Mishawaka, IN)
Goose Island - Sofie
Dark Horse - Scotty Karate
Dark Horse - Crooked Tree
Greenbush - Mammoth
Founders - Dirty Bastard
New Holland - Dragon's Milk
Evil Genius - Good N' Evil

The Pub (Granger, IN)
Sun King - Malus Pi (Fruit Beer, Apple Pie ingredients) (Almost gone)
Sun King - Wee Mac
Sun King - Osiris
Bell's - Two Hearted
Bell's - Hopslam
3 Floyds - Alpha King
Greenbush - Distorter

Chubby Trout (Elkhart, IN)
3 Floyds - Gumballhead
3 Floyds - Alpha King
Bell's - Two Hearted
Bell's - Oarsman
Bell's - Hopslam
Bell's - Double Cream Stout
New Belgium - Fat Tire
New Belgium - Ranger IPA
Flat 12 - Glazed Ham Porter
Flat 12 - 1/2 Cycle IPA
Stone - Arrogant Bastard
New Holland - Dragons Milk
Founders - Breakfast Stout

Fat Tomato (Elkhart, IN)
3 Floyds - Gumballhead
Bell's - Two Hearted
Flat 12 = Lacto-matic Stout
Upland - Wheat
New Belgium - Fat Tire

Rivals Sports Den (Osceola, IN)
New Belgium - Fat Tire
3 Floyds - Pride & Joy
3 Floyds - Robert the Bruce
Goose Island - 312

Miles Lab (Elkhart, IN)
Brooklyn - Lager
3 Floyds - Gumballhead
3 Floyds - Arctic Panzer Wolf
3 Floyds - Alpha King
Bell's - Winter White
Bell's - Hopslam
Boulevard - Unfiltered Wheat
Upland - Dragonfly IPA
Harpoon - Leviathan
Shiner - Bock
Rogue - Dead Guy
Anchor - Christmas Ale '11
Tyranena - Rocky's Revenge
Schlafly - Porter
Returning soon... Bell's Two Hearted & Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout

Bleachers (Mishawaka)
Founders Breakfast Stout
3 Floyds Dreadnaught
*Both beers available in pitchers, $5.75 (yes, I said $5.75)

Bar Louie (Mishawaka)
3 Floyds Robert the Bruce
3 Floyds Gumballhead
3 Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf
Founders Porter
Founders Breakfast Stout
Bells Two Hearted
Flat 12 Walkabout
Greenbush Anger
Figure 8 Black Corridor
Stone Vertical Epic
Stone Double Bastard
Great Divid Oak Aged Yeti

Wheatberry (Buchanan)
Left Hand sawtooth
Founders Old Curmudgeon
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
Brewery Vivant Triomphe
Lagunitas Sucks (Holiday Ale)
Arcadia Hopmouth
Rogue Double Dead Guy
Anchor Steam
Big Sky Powder Hound
Dark horse Crooked Tree
North Coast Old Rasputin

Legends (Notre Dame)
Bells Hopslam

2nd Annual Blue Chip Brewfest Info (Michigan City, IN)

Just got word that Saturday, April 14th, will be the 2nd Annual Blue Chip Casino Brewfest in Michigan City, IN. I only have a handful of details at this point, which are listed below, and I will post the lineup when I get it. Check back here for more info!

- April 14th, 2012, 1-5pm
- Special VIP event from Noon-1pm
- $35 General Admission
- $55 VIP
- $15 Designated Driver

Ben Amster of Indiana Beer said that this year's event will be "Bigger and Badder," so I hope to see you all there!

More Michiana tap lists...

Ok, next time I swear I will try to get all of the tap list updates into one post, I was a bit disorganized this time. Thanks to everyone that preemptively sends me their tap lists, that makes doing this a lot easier than calling everywhere.

Corndance (Mishawaka, IN)
Goose Island - Sofie
Dark Horse - Scotty Karate
Dark Horse - Crooked Tree
Greenbush - Mammoth
Founders - Dirty Bastard
New Holland - Dragon's Milk
Evil Genius - Good N' Evil

The Pub (Granger, IN)
Sun King - Malus Pi (Fruit Beer, Apple Pie ingredients) (Almost gone)
Sun King - Wee Mac
Sun King - Osiris
Bell's - Two Hearted
Bell's - Hopslam
3 Floyds - Alpha King
Greenbush - Distorter

Chubby Trout (Elkhart, IN)
3 Floyds - Gumballhead
3 Floyds - Alpha King
Bell's - Two Hearted
Bell's - Oarsman
Bell's - Hopslam
Bell's - Double Cream Stout
New Belgium - Fat Tire
New Belgium - Ranger IPA
Flat 12 - Glazed Ham Porter
Flat 12 - 1/2 Cycle IPA
Stone - Arrogant Bastard
New Holland - Dragons Milk
Founders - Breakfast Stout

Fat Tomato (Elkhart, IN)
3 Floyds - Gumballhead
Bell's - Two Hearted
Flat 12 = Lacto-matic Stout
Upland - Wheat
New Belgium - Fat Tire

Rivals Sports Den (Osceola, IN)
New Belgium - Fat Tire
3 Floyds - Pride & Joy
3 Floyds - Robert the Bruce
Goose Island - 312

Miles Lab (Elkhart, IN)
Brooklyn - Lager
3 Floyds - Gumballhead
3 Floyds - Arctic Panzer Wolf
3 Floyds - Alpha King
Bell's - Winter White
Bell's - Hopslam
Boulevard - Unfiltered Wheat
Upland - Dragonfly IPA
Harpoon - Leviathan
Shiner - Bock
Rogue - Dead Guy
Anchor - Christmas Ale '11
Tyranena - Rocky's Revenge
Schlafly - Porter
Returning soon... Bell's Two Hearted & Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout

On Tap around Michiana

Just a quick list of beers on tap in the area that I'm aware of... This was a stir of the moment list, so I didn't have a chance to check with my friends at The Mark, Fiddler's Hearth, Chubby Trout, The Pub, etc. If you have been somewhere that serves craft beer, please drop me a line with what is on tap to andy@thebeerisgood.com

Bleachers (Mishawaka)
Founders Breakfast Stout
3 Floyds Dreadnaught
*Both beers available in pitchers, $5.75 (yes, I said $5.75)

Bar Louie (Mishawaka)
3 Floyds Robert the Bruce
3 Floyds Gumballhead
3 Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf
Founders Porter
Founders Breakfast Stout
Bells Two Hearted
Flat 12 Walkabout
Greenbush Anger
Figure 8 Black Corridor
Stone Vertical Epic
Stone Double Bastard
Great Divid Oak Aged Yeti

Wheatberry (Buchanan)
Left Hand sawtooth
Founders Old Curmudgeon
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
Brewery Vivant Triomphe
Lagunitas Sucks (Holiday Ale)
Arcadia Hopmouth
Rogue Double Dead Guy
Anchor Steam
Big Sky Powder Hound
Dark horse Crooked Tree
North Coast Old Rasputin

Legends (Notre Dame)
Bells Hopslam

Bare Hands Brewery Imperial Dry-hopped Porter

Style: Imperial Porter (Dry-Hopped w/ Cascade)
Brewery: Bare Hands Brewery
Package: Draft - 12oz Snifter
ABV: 9%
Location: Bare Hands Tasting Room (Granger, IN)

Aroma: Coffee, dark chocolate and roasted malt with citrus and floral hops on the back end that plays together well.

Appearance: Rich mahogany highlights and darker toward the center with a tan frothy foam head that leaves spots of lace clinging to the glass.

Taste: A hoppy smack to the face, balanced out with a delicious roasted malt flavor. Grassy, earthy hops hinting throughout. A mild bitter finish rounds out the experience.

Mouthfeel: Medium mouth feel, coats well with mild carbonation.

Overall: A very delicious brew with a huge flavor profile that blends a rich, roasted side with a floral, citrusy hop side. This could pass as a Black IPA, but whatever it is, Bare Hands created yet another terrific beer.

Notes: This is a beer I sampled at Zoo Brew last September. Although I'm sure it's very similar to the previous version, Chris undoubtedly tinkered with it. I'm not entirely sure how he comes up with his recipes, and I don't care.. they are pretty damn good!

Grade: A-

An afternoon with Four Horsemen Brewing Company

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to drop by to see my friends at Four Horsemen Brewing, but yesterday was a perfect day for getting out, drinking down and chatting up.

So I've been hearing a lot about their "Winter Warmer" Wintertime Comfort and just had to give it a try. Wintertime Comfort (Strong Ale, 9.7%) is all spiced up with ginger, slightly boozy and described as "liquid gingerbread," which I certainly agree with. Originally brewed for the Indy Winterfest, they decided it would be nice to share in their taproom, and I'm glad they did. This was definitely my favorite beer they've brewed so far, and I applaud the fact that it comes in a pint glass, instead of a snifter.

While there I had a chance to hang out with Stephen Foster, Brewing wizard in charge of crafting their lineup, which is always a good time. He brought over samples of the Blonde and Pale, which he had tweaked the water on to give both a more flavorful experience. They say blondes have more fun, and that is definitely the case with FHBC's, as they have done a nice job of hopping it up. Although I typically reach for more hoppy versions of Pale Ales (Zombie Dust, Daisy Cutter, etc), I did enjoy the latest iteration of their Pale, due to it's crisp and refreshing qualities. Bottom line, they are doing their best to bridge the gap between Beer Geeks and the average drinker... so if it has been a while since you've stopped by, I think you'll find there is something for everyone's taste.

Another reason I wanted to stop by was based on their new 90-something IBU IPA they have been working on; Hop Rush. Come to find out, this must be a fairly popular new beer, as by the time I arrived, all they could eek out was an ounce or two of foam. Although it's hard to get a complete picture of a beer based on such a small amount, it did have a great citrusy hop aroma and taste. This small amount was enough to catch my interest though, and I'm looking forward to a much larger pour next time.

Thanks again to Stephen and Four Horsemen for their hospitality, I always have a great time visiting.

Sixpoint invades Indiana

Technically speaking, the absolute best drinking vessel in the world happens to be the Tallboy. Fortunately for us hoosiers, Sixpoint Brewery of Brooklyn, NY agrees. It was announced earlier in the week by hoosierbeergeek.com that the latest addition to Indiana craft beer would start selling as early as next week, and would be distributed by Cavalier.

I called around to a few stores in the South Bend area, but unfortunately none of them knew anything about this new offering. Fortunately I happen to know the area rep for Cavalier, so I couldn't help but give him a call. Come to find out, the target date to have Sixpoint beers in area stores is Tuesday, January 24th. The opening lineup will consist of Sweet Action (Cream Ale, 5.2%), Righteous Ale (Rye, 6.5%), Crisp (Pils, 5.4%) and Bengali Tiger (American IPA, 6.4%) and Resin (February) (DIPA, 9.1%).

I've had Bengali Tiger while in NYC, and although it's heavier malt bill is not my favorite IPA quality, I'm definitely going to give it another shot, along with the other 4 that are all new to me. When I have confirmed sightings of tallboys in our area, I'll pass it along. It's definitely an exciting time for craft beer in Indiana!

Andy
andy@thebeerisgood.com

Happy New (Brew) Year!

All work and no play makes Andy a dull boy!

I took some time off from writing and fighting the good fight of craft beer to... well... drink it. In the few short weeks that I dropped off the map, Bare Hands has opened (and by my estimation is pulling in fist-fulls of well deserved dollars), Fiddler's Hearth, Bar Louie and the Mark have been putting on amazing beers (cask Hopslam anyone?), and news of Sixpoint (Brooklyn, NY) coming to Indiana has hit (more on that soon...).

I thought about all the things I would like to do bigger and better in 2012 for craft beer in our area, however after much meditation with bottles of Short's Huma Lupa Licious, I concluded that continuing to drink my way through events, reviews and news is almost assuredly the way to go.

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the new year, 20 days late. Cheers to an even less sober year, and even stronger commitment to the craft beer revolution!

Andy
andy@thebeerisgood.com

Founders All Day IPA

Happy New Year everyone, we here at TBIG hope you had a great holiday and capped off the year with an incredible beer.

Most of you may know by now, I have a real bug up my ass about Founders All Day IPA. I had it for the first time at Founders Fest back in June (or was it July, it's a little fuzz). Sitting at around 4.5%, it has a ton of flavor, super smooth, and after drinking a growler of it, you shouldn't need your stomach pumped.

With that being said, it's going to be released in specific markets (Michigan only, it seems) 11 months out of the year, with January getting no love. The official release date is February 6th, however S.E. Michigan has seen limited quantities, due to either a mistake, or perhaps a test run. We won't see it in Indiana, but I don't mind going for a drive through Pure Michigan to stock up on a case or two.