09.09.09 Stone Vertical Epic

Stone Brewing's doing this -- oh hell, you all know what the Stone Vertical Epic is. I'm not telling you something you don't know, except I will reinforce that it's a thing of real scope and genius. Anyway, Stone sent me a sample bottle of 09.09.09, and I got it today, and for once, I'm not forgetting or hoarding, I'm drinking. Here's what I "tweeted" (and I put it in "quotes" because I think the word's "stupid", not because I didn't know what it meant, or because I thought you might not) about it:

Stone Vertical Epic 09.09.09 is black, smells of roast malt and sweet orange, roasted bitterness, not heavy, and just slightly medicinal... it's like an herbal tonic. Stone says: "Belgian porter." Reminds me strongly of the Ellezelloise Hercule Stout.

That's actually pretty high praise -- I really like the Hercule Stout -- but it makes me wonder: has Stone, in brewing this beer, created a style? Will there be more? Will the GABF include a "Cali-Belgian-style Porter or Other Dark Ale" category in their continuing efforts to suck up to the brewers of California?

Yeah, I'm a bit burnt about the whole "style" thing lately. This isn't a "style," and if there isn't a "style" that contains a beer like this so that contests can "judge" it and award it a "medal"... Well, that's a flaw in the whole idea of contests. And it can't be fixed by adding more semi-styles.

Back to the beer. Cathy went to bed, so I'm stealing hers. I'm picking up some unsweetened chocolate as it warms up, and a bit more malt sweetness under the overlying draw. The finish hangs in the mouth -- black coffee, maybe grounds -- but is refreshed with each sip as that sweet orange hits and fades, leaving the dry roasty bitterness. Good stuff, and hats off to the brewers.

This isn't an easy beer. It's not expected (well, unless someone said, "Hey, try this, it's a lot like Hercule Stout!"), it's not bitter or funky or super-strong. It's probably not something you'd move to just after mastering Samuel Adams. But it's very well-made (as should be expected from Stone these days), it's intriguing, and it's unlike 99+% of other beers. For a once-a-year one-off release? That's perfect.

Brunch and a Beerfest, this Sunday

Wanted to remind you about the beer brunch I'm hosting this Sunday in conjunction with the Jenkintown Jazz & Brewfest. It's a nice time at the West Avenue Grill, right on the square where the fest is going to be (so you'll already be parked, primed, and ready to go when the fest opens).

Join me for french toast and vegetable omelettes, and glasses of Erdinger Oktoberfest Weizen and Long Trail Coffee Stout. We'll talk beer and breakfast, drinking culture, the latest stuff I'm turning up on the research for the new edition of Pennsylvania Breweries, and some tips on throwing a beer brunch.

It's $25 as part of a Brewfest ticket, which is an additional $25: it's like 5 hours of beer festival and two great jazz acts for $50, a steal. Tickets are available here. Come on out, it's supposed to be a gorgeous fall day in Jenkintown!

Breaking story...Pernod Ricard sells off glögg brands...

In a shocking move, Pernod Ricard announced that they would sell off almost all the Vin & Spirit brands they purchased just last year. The French family firm, the world's second-largest drinks company, paid kr55 billion (about $8.9 billion) for the Swedish state-owned firm. They will be keeping only one brand and selling off everything else, including Blossa Glögg and 40 brands of wine, like the popular Chill Out brand.



Okay, it's not actually shocking: the one brand they're keeping is Absolut, which was the only reason they bought V&S in the first place. I just saw the story, and I wanted to put the word glögg in a headline. Sorry. Back to work.

Cinderella story... Outta nowhere... It's in da hole!

Just learned (from her own blog) that Suzanne Woods is the winner of this year's Mystery Beer Weekend at the Memphis Taproom, correctly identifying 27 out of 33 unlabeled beers tapped at the taproom over the weekend. Awesome. Even more so when you recall that she came in second last year. Our Girl Suzanne knows her shit!

What is perhaps even more awesome is that Brendan lined up 33 beers that had never been poured at the Taproom before. Pretty damned cool, and so totally non-lazy. (Or maybe not -- see below. Maybe I'm the one who's lazy.)

Monk's Cafe has re-opened...mostly

Uncle Jack's reporting that Monk's Cafe has re-opened; the two front rooms, that is. The back bar won't re-open till next week. Hats off to Tom and Fergie...and, of course, to all those who accused them of being overly optimistic about re-opening by today. You just don't know these guys. Things happen.

Double-Barrel Release at Allentown Brew Works

Update! This is at the Allentown Brew Works location, not the Bethlehem Brew Works location as previously posted. Sorry, the e-mail wasn't specific, and I made an incorrect assumption.

Just got an e-mail from Allentown Brew Works: brewmaster Beau Baden has released two new barrel-aged beers today. He's got an imperial stout (10.5%) and a barleywine (9.0%), both aged in bourbon barrels for nearly a year; both are on and pouring now. There's a solidly beery way to start your lost -- er, long weekend!

Lew, Live, On Da Radio!

I'll be a guest on a local radio show this afternoon: WDVR FM 89.7, out of tiny Sergeantsville, New Jersey. I was asked to stop by and talk beer, and bars, and drinking on "Bleecker Street Cafe," with Chris Poh and Ed Petersen. I'll be on from about 1:45 to 3:00 EST; drop by the website and give a listen if you can't pick it up on the radio. Chris is also the editor of American Public House Review, a magazine/webzine about great bars, and I'll be doing an interview with him after the show for a future article. Should be a fun afternoon.

It's Official: Lappy has arrived in Maple Shade

Of course, you all know that Chris Lapierre is brewing at the new Iron Hill Maple Shade. But now the local paper knows it. Nice piece on one of the nicest guys in the biz, right here.

How'd I get anything done?

Just realized that last month was the busiest month ever for blog posting for me. I posted a rather ridiculous 60 times in August, beating January's 58, when I was pushing hard on purpose to make my post a day average goal. No idea why I posted so much last month.

Well, gotta get back to work.

Beer and Bacon Fest selling out fast -- what a shocker!

Just this afternoon it hit me that I was about the only person left on the Internet who hadn't posted the Bacon Bra picture, so when I got the e-mail from Clipper City about only 40 tickets being left to their Heavy Seas Beer & Bacon Fest -- ARRRGGGHH!!! -- the synchronicity was too much to ignore.

It's for real -- the fest, not the boobs, though I guess they're real, too -- and it's September 19, noon to 4. 300 people only, $40 tickets (available here), and over fifteen kinds of bacon from around the world, used in bacon donuts, bacon salt, bacon explosions, bacon candy, bacon mac & cheese...and maybe bacon bras, who knows? Bacon rules, these days. Oh, and there will be beer, too, plenty of that big, robust Heavy Seas stuff, maybe even from the Mutiny Fleet line. Hugh Sisson is embracing his inner pyrate these days...

Pirates, Pig, and Pints. What more could you ask for?