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Second Anniversary Party this Saturday 4/29!

Greetings,

Yes our second anniversary party is this Saturday April 29th starting at 2PM when we open and you’re invited!

Needless to say celebrating our second anniversary is a big deal for us, particularly within the context of the imminent opening of our second location–the Parched Eagle Taproom–on the near east side of Madison (and more on that soon)!

Our official anniversary beer–LA CHINGADA CACA Maibock–will return on tap when we open at 2! Checking in at 7.1% abv, this batch promises to be as good as last year’s i.e. this brewmaster is excited! Maibock is one of my favorite lager styles because it’s all about malt-hops balance, making it kind of the ESB of German lager styles. Expect plenty of malt and hops in this batch! Also I think it will be interesting to taste it side by side with 2XGSB Imperial ESB.

From 4 to 9 our good buddy Chef Andy Ziegler of Athens Gyros will be serving their OUTSTANDING tacos in our music room. La Chingada Caca should pair nicely with either their steak or pork tacos.

And at 7:30 seminal local bluegrass band OAK STREET RAMBLERS take the stage to kick things up a proverbial notch! Note: this will be the last musical performance at the Parched Eagle as we will be giving up the music room in advance of opening our taproom. A difficult decision for us to make (as live music has been a success for us) but the right one.

Come on by for this the first Parched Eagle event for Madison Craft Beer Week that is a VERY special occasion!

Ein prosit!

Jim

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2XGSB Imperial ESB release this Friday 4/14!

Next Friday at 3 we debut a brand new beer: 2XGSB Imperial ESB! This beer is the imperial version of our acclaimed ESB Grainne’s Special Bitter. More English malt, more English hops, more of everything with similar hallmark balance! Initial tastes of this new creation that was suggested by a regular customer has this brewmaster excited! This beer will be upwards of 8% ABV and a serious new addition to our beer portfolio.

Expect plenty of biscuity Maris Otter base malt character coupled with caramel malt notes backed up by 50 IBUs of balancing hop bitterness with delicate and pleasant mint, grass and floral tones from Fuggles hops.

Common Chord then takes the stage at 7:30! Common Chord is a collaborative acoustic ensemble spearheaded by artistic directors Michael Bryant and Tracy Jane Comer, both of whom are singer/songwriters and multi-instrumentalists.

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Señor Smoke Scotch Ale returns TODAY!

Friday greetings,

Today I’m excited for the return of our late winter/early spring “wee heavy” Señor Smoke!

A richly complex malt profile is accentuated by a wee bit of German smoked malt, lending just the hint of smoke in aroma and flavor that I intend as the hallmark of Señor Smoke! This batch is clocking in at 7.8% abv, too.

Señor Smoke was one of my favorite new releases of 2016 and preliminary tastes of the ’17 batch have me excited to have it back on tap today starting at 3pm when we open.

And for reference, the beer is named after former Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Aurelio “Señor Smoke” López, who was on my rotisserie league team circa 1979-1980, so its release right before the Opening Day of baseball season is most appropriate.

Sláinte,

Jim

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The Parched Eagle Taproom

Hoppy Friday!

This week has brought not only the arrival of spring but also BIG news for us as we have officially announced our second location: the Parched Eagle Taproom that will be located at 1444 E. Washington Avenue on Madison’s near east side!

The Taproom will be just that: a bar serving eight of our beers on tap along with four rotating guest beers AND a firkin system featuring (usually) one of our English-style pale ales! We will not be installing a brewing system there. We’ll continue brewing out of our original location while also ramping-up contract brewing with our buddies the House of Brews in order to meet demand for both locations.

The Parched Eagle Taproom will look much like the current Parched Eagle Brewpub, with a wooden bar and rustic atmosphere. With 676 square feet, the maximum capacity will be 49 people with seating for 36.

We will have neither food or live music at the Taproom but one of our partner businesses in the building–Art In–will continue to be the live music venue there. 1444 E. Wash is shaping up to be a most interesting multi-venue location perhaps reminiscent of the Hotel Washington. The Parched Eagle Taproom will fulfill the role as craft beer destination there!

As this is the Brewer’s Blog I would be remiss in not mentioning a new creation that will be the house beer for the Taproom: BURGEONING GOTH QUEEN Oatmeal Stout! Look for BGQ to be big, rich, bold, and pretty thick and creamy given use of oats. Target ABV is 6.8% and there will be enough IBUs (International Bittering Units) to balance out the sweetness from the oats and malts.

Cheers!

Jim

Here are a couple of links for more info on the Taproom:

http://isthmus.com/food-drink/beer/parched-eagle-brewpub-plans-for-second-taproom-on-east-wash/

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Saturday 2/18 release of Pegboy Pils & Classical Guitar Society!

Beautiful Friday greetings!

Tomorrow (Saturday February 18th) we release our second new beer of 2017: PEGBOY PILS German Pilsner!

German Pilsner is one of my favorite lager styles and I’m excited to keg it this afternoon and have it debut tomorrow when we open at 2. One of the reasons why I like the style is its hop-forward character featuring elegant (noble) German hops. Ours features Perle for bittering and the classic Tettnang for aroma and flavor. Expect mild herbal/floral notes coupled with top of the line German Pilsner (and a bit of light German Munich) malt!

Here’s the overall impression from the BJCP 2015 style guidelines for German Pilsner:

“A light bodied, highly attenuated, gold colored, bottom fermented bitter German beer showing excellent head retention and an elegant, floral hop aroma. Crisp, clean, and refreshing, a German Pils showcases the finest quality German malt and hops.”

I have high hopes that Pegboy Pils will have all of those qualities.

The beer is named after my favorite Chicago punk band: check ’em out online!

Meanwhile at 7:30 that night the Classical Guitar Society will make its debut on our proverbial stage at 7:30! I’m really looking forward to the combination of a beer named after a punk band with a classical guitar performance. Should be tasty!

Ein prosit!

Jim

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