I know I’ve kept pretty quiet about the whole AB/InBev deal, mostly because I’m pretty apathetic to it.  I know it sounds pretty terrible, but in my eyes it’s just a business decision. (In fact this article sums up my feelings pretty well.)  I realize that a lot of people in St. Louis would be affected by the buy-out, but it basically comes down to one huge company buying another huge company.  It just so happens that people have a special place in their heart for one of the companies, but unfortunately all of the fliers, blogging and hand wringing in the world isn’t going to do much to stop it.

On the lighter side of all of this, it looks like Schlafly is trying to do their part to keep local beer local, they’ve begun a fund-raiser to buy InBev.  Now it’s only going to take 50 billion small one dollar donations to make it happen, but nothing is impossible!

If you’re not all festivaled (yes, I did just make up a word) out yet then Saturday, June 28th is your next chance to get yourself a sampler glass and enjoy some Missouri beer.  Westport Plaza is hosting a Beer and Brat Festival from Noon-6PM next Saturday to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.   Here is a list of the breweries who are attending:

• Schlafly
• Buffalo Brewing
• Anheuser-Busch
• Alandale
• Boulevard
• Griesedieck
• Gruhlke
• Ray Hill

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 dollars at the door.  Not too many things go better together than beer and brats.

Happy Friday the Thirteen to you all, hope your spooky June day goes well.

There is one thing I want to talk about before I start today’s Round-Up, there’s been some rumblings as of recent that I’m in cahoots with certain retailers or breweries when it comes to posting information. Let me just say that’s patently false. I credit the person who provides me the information first. Some people are more active about providing information and I think it’s only fair to credit them.

This is a free site and I run it because I love beer. Anyway, on to the Round-Up

Stuff from around the web

• Anheuser-Busch is getting viral.
• Beer and St. Louis makes for a very small world.
• A review of AB’s Winter Bourbon Cask Ale.
• Drink more beer, make more electricity.
• Adam Jedhav’s newest article in the Pos-Dispatch.
• St. Louis isn’t the only area affected by AB’s possible buy-out.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Avery 15
  • O’Fallon Whiskey Barrel Aged Smoked Porter
  • Brasserie Dupont Moinette Blonde
  • Brasserie Dupont Moinette Brune
  • Lagunitas IPA
  • Dogfish Head Festina Peche
  • Bolder Hazed and Infused
  • Bolder Copper Ale
  • Allagash Witte
  • Czechvar Pilsner
  • Westmalle Triple
  • Coniston XS Bitter
  • Urthel Hop-It
  • Ommegang Ommegeddon
  • Brasserie d’Achouffe Houblon Dobbelen Triple IPA
  • DFH 60min IPA
  • DFH 90min IPA
  • Victory Storm King
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock at the Clayton and Rock Hill locations:
  • Gouden Carolus 2008 Grand Cru Blue
  • Gouden Carolus 2008 Grand Cru Red
  • Achel Blonde
  • Achel Bruin
  • Daleside Monkey Wrench Dark Ale
  • Oberon Mini Kegs
  • Hitachino Espresso Stout
  • Brasserie de La Senne Zinnebir Blond
  • Brasserie de la Senne Stouterkik
  • Nogne Imperial Stout Norway
  • Nogne Porter Norway
  • Daleside Old LegOver
  • Mahrs Jubelfestbier
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new selections they have in stock:
  • Ommegang Witte (750ml bottles & 4-packs)
  • Southern Tier Cherry Saison (Seasonal)
  • Reunion ‘08 Organic Red Rye Ale (22oz bottles)
  • North Coast Le Merle (750ml bottles)
  • Samichlaus (750ml bottles)
  • Bell’s Hopslam (very, very limited so hurry!)
  • Bell’s Oberon 5L mini kegs

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• June 17 - STL Hops Meet Up
• June 21 - Hermann’s Rhythm and Brews
• June 28 - Westport Beer and Brat Festival

Stuff from around the web

• You may have heard that InBev is looking to buy AB.
• Schlafly into Soap.
• Goat beer, Miller Light and Schlafly Pumpkin Ale?
• Bakedblog visits the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour.

Beer Releases and News

• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock at the Clayton and Rock Hill locations:
  • Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale Southern Hemisphere
  • J.W.Lees Manchester Star Ale
  • Altenmunster Maibock (2 liter swing top bottle)
  • Gouden Carolus Tripel 25oz
  • Vapeur Saison de Pipaix 25oz
  • Lowenbrau (German version)
  • Pilsner Urquel in 4pk cans
  • Corona 12 oz Cans
  • Heineken 12oz cans
  • Newcastle Brown 6pk cans
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new selections they have in stock:
  • Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock vintage 2003 and 2004
  • Ettaler Kloster Edelhell
  • St. Michaelsberg Kellerbier
  • J.W. Lee’s Harvest Sherry Cask ‘07
  • J.W. Lee’s Harvest ‘97
  • J.W. Lee’s Harvest Port Cask ‘07
  • J.W. Lee’s Harvest Lagavulin ‘07
  • Gaspar (Belgian I.P.A.)
  • Guido (Belgian Strong Ale)
  • Podge (Belgian Imperial Stout)
  • Demon Hunter (Belgian Style Dark Ale)
  • Xyauyu Reserva Teo Musso (English Barleywine)
  • Harviestoun Ola Dubh Highland Park 30yr
• Chris at Randall’s Wine & Spirits alerts me to some new beers sets he has in stock at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Left Hand Chainsaw ESB
  • Avery Majaraja
  • Flying Dog Woody Creek White/ Kerberos/Canus Major Sample Four Pack
  • Two Brothers Dog Days
  • Fort Collins Rocky Mountain IPA
  • Shiner Bock
  • Shiner Blonde
  • Cave Creek Chili Beer
  • Red Macgregor
• Chris is also expecting these beers in today at the St. Louis Randall’s:
  • Schneider Hoppfen Weiss
  • Southern Tier Imperial Extra Pale Ale
  • Southern Tier Uber Sun Imperial Summer Wheat
  • Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA
  • Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12yr
  • New Belgium La Folie
  • Tomos Watkin OSB
  • Tomos Watkin Lovely Ale
  • Otro Mundo Red
  • Otro Mundo Golden Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin La Roja/
  • Jolly Pumpkin Oro De Calabaza
  • Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
  • Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
  • Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam
  • Sierra Nevada Summerfest
  • J.W. Lees Manchester Star Ale
  • J.W. Lees 07 Harvest Ale
  • 1809 Berliner Weisse
  • Hitachino Japanese Classic Ale
  • La Rulles Estivale
  • Cuvee Angelique Belgian Ale
  • Schneider Aventinus 03 Vintage
  • Farsons Lacto Stout
  • Cuvee Alex Rouge
  • Alvinne Podge Imp Stout
  • Maredsous 10/6/8

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• June 6 & 7 - St. Louis Microfest
• June 21 - Hermann’s Rhythm and Brews

I don’t think I’ve seen a shot of this online yet, so here you go:

I’m pleased to announce that the winner for the two tickets to the Saturday afternoon session of the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival is Wesley Crawford! Congrats to Wesley and thank you everyone for entering. If you didn’t win, don’t be too upset, I’m going to have a few more things to give away in the next few weeks.

I once again want to thank Dan Kopman from Schlafly Beers and Jay Cunningham from Anheuser-Busch for providing the tickets to this event. Hope to meet a lot of you at the festival! I’ll be posting a lot of information about it on this blog this weekend!

Are you the procrastinating type? Were you planning on waiting until the last minute to buy your tickets to the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival? Well today is your lucky day, I’m giving away two passes to the Saturday Afternoon session of the Heritage Festival. This $60 value will allow you to partake in one of the best beer festivals in the area. All you need to do is email contest@stlhops.com with your favorite St. Louis brewery and your favorite beer from said brewery.

I want to thank Dan Kopman from Schlafly Beers and Jay Cunningham from Anheuser-Busch for providing the tickets to this event. This contest will end on May 5th at 9AM CDT when I will pick a winner at random. If you don’t win this one, don’t worry I will be holding more contests like this in the future, so you’ll have another chance then. Good luck!

We’re almost a 1/3 of the way through the year already. Crazy. On the plus side, the weather has been gorgeous as of recent which always makes for some fun outdoor drinking. Here’s your Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Local boy brews beer at Harvard.
• Hops and barley prices are once again rearing their ugly heads.
• The Wall Street Journal was hoping that Anheuser-Busch’s push into the craft market would help their bottom line. Unfortunately, it didn’t.
• Speaking of problems for AB, what do you do when your rival starts a blog?
• The Beer Evangelists review Schlafly Bière De Garde.

Beer Releases and News

• Joe Billhartz of Specialty Import Distributing Co. let me know of some beer over in Illinois. Contact your favorite beer store to see if these are available:
  • Boulder Brewing Sweaty Betty
  • Pyramid Curve Ball Kolsch
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Caracole Amber 25oz
  • Dark Island Pints
  • Ettaler Kloster Dunkel Pints
  • Fiddlers Elbow
  • Flag Porter
  • Harviestoun Old Enging Oil
  • Harviestoun Bitter Twisted
  • Kulmbacher Eisboch
  • Butte Creek Organic IPA
  • Radeberger Pilsner
• Ric at Sybergs on Gravois alerts me to some new beers he’s carrying for your drinking enjoyment:
  • Southern Tier Hoppe
  • Southern Tier Unearthly
  • Southern Tier Big Red
  • Ommegang - Hennepin

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• April 26 - 2008 Beerfest at Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton
• April 30 - Starr’s Beer Dinner
• May 3 - National Homebrew Day
• May 8, 9, 10 - St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival

You may remember way back last year when Boston Brewing Company, the makers of Samuel Adams beer, debuted the ultimate beer glass.  The glass was designed for ultimate beer enjoyment with a narrow base to keep your beer cool and a tulip top to allow for maximum aroma.  One of the other design features was laser etching at the bottom of the glass that provides a nucleation point for continuous bubbling from the CO2, which also helps to provide more aroma from the beer.  This isn’t new technology, Champagne glasses have had this feature for quite some time.

Well, it looks like AB has followed suit and has designed a glass of their own which also contains the same laser etching feature found in the Samuel Adams glasses.  And from the looks of the picture Paul from The Wine and Cheese Place sent me, it looks like it really works.  If you looking for a beer glass that’s not nearly as funky looking as the Sam Adams ones, this may be your best option.

I was cataloging some of my commercial beer last night and my girlfriend comes downstairs and notices that the beer is just sitting on the shelves and says, “you better hope we don’t have an earthquake, those will just fall off the shelves!”

Luckily, everything survived the great quake of 08. How about a Round-Up?

Stuff from around the web

• Anheuser-Busch employees are seeing green (and luckily it’s not green beer.)
• If you missed it, the Post-Dispatch had an article about “extreme” beer in St. Louis.
• Here’s a little homebrew article that you may find interesting.
• It doesn’t look like AB is merging with anyone any time soon.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - E.S.Bam
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Bière
• Jerad Gardner, of the Rotten Apple lets me know about his most current draught selection. If you haven’t been to the Rotten Apple, take the time to visit:
  • Rogue Brewing - Brutal Bitter
  • Avery Brewing - Colaboration Not Litigation
  • Dogfish Head Brewing - 90 min IPA
  • Schlafly Brewing - Summer Kolsch
• Joe Billhartz of Specialty Import Distributing Co. let me know of some beer over in Illinois. Contact your favorite beer store to see if these are available:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - E.S.Bam
  • Jolly Pumpkin - La Roja
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Bière
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Oro De Calabaza
  • Three Floyds - Robert the Bruce
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Arcadia Whitsun
  • Blanche Namur
  • Burton Bridge Old Expensive
  • De Proeuf La Grande Blanche
  • Hanssen Gueuze
  • Hanssen Kriek
  • Hanssen Outbeitje
  • Hop Back Summer Lightning
  • Kapuziner Schwarz Weiss
  • Mahrs Pilsner
  • Mahrs Weisse
  • Moosbacher Keller Bier
  • Moosbacher Weisse
  • Moosbacher Schwarze Weisse
  • Moosbacher Lager
  • St. Freuillien Brune
  • St. Freuillien Tripel Abbey
• Chris at Randall’s Wine & Spirits alerts me to some new beers sets he has in stock at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - La Roja
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Bière
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Oro De Calabaza
  • Flying Dog Double Dog
  • August Schell Maibock
  • New Holland Pilgrim’s Dole
  • De Ranke XX Bitter
  • Mendocino Maibock
  • Schlafly Kolsch
  • Schlafly Raspberry Heffe
• Chris is also expecting these beers in today at the St. Louis Randall’s:
  • Mendocino Maibock
  • Gouden Carolus Ambrio
  • Brigand Belgian Ale

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• April 20 - Cicero’s Field Trip to Charleville Brewery
• April 22 - Pappy van Winkle Smoked Porter Release Party
• April 23 - Beer Tasting with Ray Hill at Rendezvous Cafe & Wine Bar
• April 26 - 2008 Beerfest at Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton
• April 30 - Starr’s Beer Dinner