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The Weakling Belgian Tripel Release Party w/Pine Travelers next Friday 9/9!

Happy Labor Day weekend all,

A week from today we’re releasing THE WEAKLING Belgian Trappist Tripel! The Weakling will be on tap when we open at 3pm and at 7:30 the Pine Travelers will provide original music that combines the gritty Americana of outlaw country, folk, and bluegrass with old school funk rave-ups and roots rock & roll.

I can report that The Weakling is turning out quite well and is finishing out at 9% abv. I’m really looking forward to tasting the finished product next Friday! The back story for The Weakling is we use Wyeast Labs’ seasonal release Canadian/Belgian yeast strain, which originally comes from Unibroue in Chambly, Quebec. This is a dynamite choice for the Tripel style that showcases the malt profile along with appropriate light fruit esters (e.g. lemons and oranges) and some of its own spicy character. Also expect good balancing hop bitterness along with a bit of Saaz noble hop flavor and aroma.

In other Belgian beer news for us soon we’re going to start barrel-aging the next batch of Brookie’s Sour Brown Oud Bruin in two oak barrels. More details later!

Hope to see  you for The Weakling release next Friday (if not before),

Jim

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Limited Releases for Great Taste week!

Hoppy Friday all,

Yes we’re busily engaged in preparations for the Great Taste of the Midwest on Saturday August 13th and leading up to it next week we’ll have FOUR limited releases starting next Wednesday the 10th!

On Wednesday we’re releasing a brand new beer that is a collaboration with the Mason Lounge: CATCHER’S MITT India Brown Lager! Bryan Richgels of the Mason asked me if I’ve ever heard of an “IBL” (I hadn’t) and suggested that we brew one and indeed we have! Weighing in at 6% abv, Catcher’s Mitt is kind of like a fairly hoppy American Brown Ale fermented with lager yeast so it has a nicely clean/crisp finish. It will also be on tap at the Mason!

Thursday August 11th we’re releasing SAISON DUROK, our more traditional Saison (compared to ALFERD Black Rye Imperial Saison) that (like Alferd) is spiced with Indian coriander and orange zest from organic Valencia oranges. A great summer style, this complex spicy/fruity/semi-bitter farmhouse ale was a hit last summer and is perfect for a limited August release.

Then on Friday the 12th our Great Taste Eve party will feature the release of two new beers and the fine acoustic rock stylings of local faves TREEMO!

At 3pm we’ll tap GLUTEN TOLERANT Wheatwine! This huge malted wheat/barley monster is our biggest beer brewed yet at 10.7% abv. Tons of caramel malt flavor/sweetness with a bit of spicy wheat aromatics followed by 69 IBUs of balancing hop bitterness. Gluten Tolerant will also be our 4PM special release at the Great Taste (and look for us at booth #507).

At 6:50 a very special/limited release for that night only: HOP-BORER Sour IPA! Yes the brett fermented version of our flagship beer HOP-BEARER. Hopheads and Brettheads unite on GT Eve!

Then TREEMO takes the stage at 7:30 for two stellar sets.

Hop to see you next week (if not before)!

Skal,

Jim

 

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First Anniversary Party this Saturday May 7th!

Our first anniversary was this past Saturday April 30th but we’re celebrating it NEXT SATURDAY MAY 7TH with a big all day party!

Our first anniversary beer being released that day is LA CHINGADA CACA Maibock! Maibock is one of my favorite German lager styles and is aptly named as a hearty brew to welcome the lovely spring weather.

Weighing in at 6.8% abv, the hallmark characteristic of La Chingada Caca is a fine balance of malt and hops. To me Maibock is like the ESB of German lagers, with a similar emphasis on a strong Munich malty character with an appropriate level of hop bitterness and flavor/aroma for fine balance.

Curious about the name? Feel free to ask me in person this Saturday. Also, the latest batch of our flagship HOP-BEARER IPA will be back on tap for the party.

The party starts when we open at noon and both La Chingada Caca and Hop-Bearer will be on tap when we open along with other sumptuous selections representing a nice variety of styles.

The exellent JON HOEL TRIO takes our stage at 7:30pm to kick the party up a notch. We’re looking forward to having them be the first jazz band to play in our cozy space.

So, please join us this Saturday to celebrate our anniversary by hoisting a glass of La Chingada Caca!

Ein prosit!

Jim

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Late May-July Live Music Schedule

All shows start at 7:30pm unless ortherwise noted

Fri, May 27 – Aaron Scholz & Chris Boeger

Sat, June 4 – The Viper & His Famous Orchestra

Fri, June 10 – Glacier Ridge Social Club (jazz)

Fri, June 17 – David Hecht

Sat, June 25 – Matt Joyce & Justin Aten

Fri, July 8 – Mike & Emma B

Sat, July 16 – Gin Mill Hollow

 

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My 50th birthday party THIS THURSDAY Feb. 4th!

Yup, I’m turning 50 on Thursday Feb. 4th and what better way to celebrate than having a big party at my brewpub? We’re releasing two new beers that day:

JANETHAN WIRED Espresso Porter that will be on tap when we open at 3. This is our year-round JANETHAN Robust Porter with Just Coffee’s Electric Monkey Espresso added at the end of fermentation. Look for Electric Monkey to accentuate the chocolate malt character in Janethan. 5.9% abv.

6:50 special release time: Rum-barrel aged BROOKIE’S SOUR BROWN Flanders Brown Ale! Our first sour beer will be available that night only so EXTREMELY limited release. Quite rummy upfront with some booze in the middle then a nice/restrained Brett sour character in the finish. 9.1% abv.

AND here’s our tap list for the party:

“UTAH” Kölsch

CRANE ALE APA

JANETHAN WIRED Espresso Porter

HOP-BEARER IPA

STELLA Belgian Dark Strong Ale

CHACHALACA American Stout

GRAINNE’S SPECIAL BITTER ESB

-AND- again at 6:50: Rum-barrel aged BROOKIE’S SOUR BROWN Flanders Brown Ale!

Guest beer:

Next Door Brewery’s VAMPIRE COSMONAUT Imperial Rye Stout!

There will be another surprise or two that night, as well.

Cheers! Jim

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