A stout dilemma

Many people have preconceived, often false, notions of stouts. This glorious beer has a heavy color and a heavier name (in-laws are stout, not beers, right?). People tend to associate the following traits with this heavy outward appearance:

• Bitter
• Thick and rich
• High alcohol

This is the subject of a recent New York Times article, which does a good job debunking these myths. Writer Eric Asimov says,

Stout in its classic form is one of the lighter ales, paradoxically full-bodied yet delicate. For years, my go-to midday brew was draft Guinness Stout, a once-rare beer that has become easier and easier to find in New York in the years since the city?s beer consciousness was raised. Aside from the enticing flavors of roasted barley and coffee, a properly pulled pint is low in alcohol, around 4 percent, fractionally less even than Bud Light. It?s probably wishful thinking, but I like to think a midday stout aids the digestion. I know it improves the imagination.

I have to say stouts are some of my favorite beers. There’s also a lot of versatility within the style. Cherry stouts, milk stouts, chocolate stouts, coffee stouts, Russian Imperial stouts. The maltiness of the stout can hold up to a lot of added flavors. I still want to brew our mint chocolate stout again. OMG DELICIOUS.

If you’ve stayed clear of stouts because you thought they were too heavy or too alcoholic, I beg you to try again. There’s a stout out there for [almost] everyone.

Image source: knightbefore_99

No brewing tonight

In lieu of brewing, I leave you with a joke.

A neutron walks into a bar. “I’d like a beer,” he says. The bartender promptly serves up a beer.
“How much will that be?” asks the neutron.
“For you?” replies the bartender, “no charge.”

And that, folks, is how it’s done.

Piggly Wiggly taking craft beer seriously

A Piggly Wiggly in Myrtle Beach, SC has become the first grocery store in the Southeast to sell 64 oz growlers of beer. A PIGGLY WIGGLY. When Piggly Wiggly jumps on board, you know craft beer is no joke. You also might start looking out for other signs of the apocalypse. And this particular Piggly Wiggly isn’t selling Keystone Light on tap. They are selling the good stuff:

• Founders Breakfast Stout
• Bells Best Brown Ale
• Moylan’s Hopsickle Imperial IPA
• Hercules Double IPA

Prices range from $11-20, much cheaper than the same beers if bought in bottles. Michael Byrd, assistant store director at aforementioned Piggly Wiggly (PIGGLY WIGGLY?!), is getting plenty of praise. Jeff LeVine of Carolina Craft Distributing in Rock Hill, says this:

“It’s the first grocery store in the Southeast – that’s seven states – to run with the beer growler station. He’s blowing our minds, and we’re proud to have him as a customer. We’ve begged customers to do it.”

Read the full story from the Charlotte Observer. I can’t believe it. A PIGGLY WIGGLY.

Image source: Joe Architect

Monday Night recap: “Hip-Hopopotamus” edition

Due to lack of a real name for last night’s brew, a lighter-bodied American IPA made with a bundle of our freshly harvested Cascade hops, I am going to refer to it by its code name, Hip-Hopopotamus. Just know that the Hip-Hopopotamus’s lyrics are bottomless. Here’s one of our hop additions:

In completely unrelated news, Monday Night hereby declares the next brew night Puppy Night. Hopefully Stella (the puppy in the photo below) will be coming back to frolic and eat poop. Or whatever puppies do…

We had a smidge of our Belgian-style wit on tap, but pickings were pretty lean. We’re still behind with our beer production because of the beer that got ruined when our fermentation chamber broke in September. I still allege that Joel broke it on purpose because his feelings were hurt.

And last night marked the first backyard fire of the season for Monday Night. A sure sign that winter approaches. Fortunately not even Father Winter is a match for Joel’s expert fire-building skills. I didn’t realize they taught fire-building in Girl Scouts.

Zing! But seriously Joel, where are those Thin Mints I ordered?

Brewing something hoppy tonight

We’ll be brewing an American IPA tonight with a poop-load of freshly harvested hops. If you’re man (or woman) enough to brave the cold, we’d love to have you. Bring your own beer, as we’re “between batches” at the moment.

Note: no actual poop will be used in production of this beer.

Great Decatur Beer Fest this Saturday

The Decatur Beer Fest is back, and sold out once again. Joel will be holding it down for the Monday Night crew, so be sure to give him a hearty man-slap on the butt if you see him (ladies, high fives are also acceptable). Joel may or may not be tweeting the event under his moniker, @slackerjoel. I’m going to go with “No,” considering his last tweet is from September.

Unfortunately one of my best friends scheduled his wedding for the same weekend as the Decatur Beer Fest. Which puts him squarely in the “Used to Be One Of My Best Friends Zone.” Nonetheless, I will be attending the wedding in my last great act as a selfless friend.

Little Rock Art Brewery goes up against corporate America

Rock Art Brewery in Vermont got a pretty interesting note from lawyers at Monster Energy Drinks’ parent company, Hansen Beverages.

Your client’s use…of VERMONSTER in connection with beer will undoubtedly create a likelihood of confusion and/or dilute the distinctive quality of Hansen’s MONSTER marks.

Essentially Hansen is threatening Rock Art Brewery with legal action for trademark infringement for their Vermonster Barleywine. Rock Art Brewery has decided to fight, despite their lack of deep pockets. Hear from Rock Art’s owner, Matt Nadeau:

We’ll be following this story with interest. And we’re obviously rooting for David in this David vs. Goliath saga.