I can always tell when The Stable‘s Beverage Manager Jerad Gardner is excited about a new release, he calls me.  So what’s got him so excited that he takes the time out of his busy day to give me a ring?  Here’s what to expect tonight at The Stable:

• New Holland – Existential (Double IPA)
• Bear Republic – Late Harvest (Marzen)
• Bear Republic – The Grizz (10% American Brown)
• Bear Republic – NorCal California Style Bitter
• Bear Republic – Racer X

According to Jerad, these should all be available this evening. He didn’t know what the Northern California Ale was and there is no record of it online. So I’ll guess we’ll just wait and see! Some information about the NorCal beer from John:

RateBeer has an entry for Bear Republic NorCal California Style Bitter that is listed as a 4.6% California Bitter session ale.

Thanks John!

Newstead Tower Public House is hosting another in their line of monthly beer dinners with this dinner featuring selections from Bear Republic Brewery. The date of the dinner is April 22nd at 7PM. The cost of this event is $40 and reservations are required. You can make reservations by calling 314-535-7771.

For those of you that may not be aware, Cicero’s Italian Restaurant in the U-City Loop holds a Beer School every Wednesday from 5:30-6:30PM.  The school provides background and plenty of knowledge about beers and beer styles.  It’s perfect opportunity to learn more about a style you’re unfamiliar with or to just brush up on a style you haven’t enjoyed in a while.

This week’s school is being taught by Jim McGinn from Missouri Beverage.  Jim will be on hand to discuss Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye and Racer 5 as well as two English beers from St. Peter’s Brewery, their Cream Stout and English Ale.  Go out and take advantage of one of the few places where you can drink and learn!

Way back in June I told everyone about some of the beers I had tasted at Growlers Pub twice yearly tasting event. How did Growler’s do? Let’s find out:

Draught

• Spanish Peaks Crystal Weiss
• Breckenridge Avalanche
• Breckenridge 471 IPA
• Boulevard Bully Porter
• Leinenkugel Creamy Dark
• Kona Fire Rock

Bottle:

• Lemp Lager
• Anchor Porter
• Arcadia Coco Loco
• Bridgeport ESB
• Ommegang Rare Vos
• Bridgeport IPA
• O’Dells 5 Barrel
• Left Hand Haystack Wheat
• Left Hand Polster
• Left Hand Jackman
• Left Hand Sawtooth
• Left Hand Milk Stout
• Rogue Hazelnut Brown
• O’Fallon Gold
• Spanish Peaks Black Dog
• Avery Ellie’s Brow
• Avery IPA
• Samuel Smith Imperial Stout
• Samuel Smith Organic Lager
• Samuel Smith India Pale
• Old Peculiar
• Ayinger Celebrator
• Ayinger Dunkel
• Bitburger
• Gouden Carlous Ambrio
• Pilsner Urquell
• Beamish
• Peroni

I don’t know about you but, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Just as a refresher here are a few beers from the tasting back in June:

• Avery Hog Heaven
• Arcadia Coco Loco
• Het Anker Gouden Carolus Carolus D’Or – Cuvée Van De Keizer
• Great Divide Yeti
• De Proefbrouwerij – Reinaert Flemish Wild Ale
• O’Fallon Smoke
• Great Divide Hercules
• Left Hand Milk Stout
• Arcadia Hopmouth

So basically of the beers I tried, two made the cut. How sad is it that I walk into a restaurant with over 130 beers and I usually order the same two beers? I think that’s why I like places like The Stable so much, while it’s awesome they have one of my favorite beers on draught, I find that I only have one glass of it before wanting to try another beer. Growlers has 32 draught beers and changed out 6? Weak.

It looks like their continuing price gouging on Ommegang beers continues, Rare Vos is still $11.25. We also have five Left Hand choices? Seems a bit excessive to me. Nothing against Left Hand, but we get 5 Left Hand beers and no Bear Republic or Great Divide? This list is making me pretty angry and I think it’s just a continuing example that Growlers knows very little about beer and doesn’t have any interest in learning.

Well, it’s been a long time since the original post detailing Bear Republic‘s arrival to the St. Louis area, but the day has finally arrived. Starting tonight, you should hopefully be able to find Bear Republic in some of your favorite beer stores around the St. Louis area. Bill from Missouri Beverage has confirmed that Bear Republic should be arriving today at 2PM and hopefully be on some of the store shelves later this evening. There is a possibility we don’t start seeing it until Saturday or even not until Monday. But what’s a few more days at this point?

Here’s a list of beers scheduled to arrive today:

• Bear Republic Red Rocket
• Bear Republic Racer 5
• Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye
• Bear Republic Pete Brown
• Bear Republic Special XPB
• ear Republic Big Black Bear

In case you missed it over at the BeerAdvocate forums, Bear Republic will be arriving in St. Louis in early July thanks to MoBev.  Bear Republic has been available in Illinois for quite some time, but you’ll finally be able to purchase it in both states which makes everyone’s shopping that much easier.  For those unfamiliar with Bear Republic, their most famous beer may be the Racer 5 IPA, here’s their description from their website:

This is a hoppy IPA. Did I say hops? Your brewer is a hop head! This is a full bodied beer using American grains. The goal was to create a base for showing off the unique floral qualities of two Pacific Northwest hops, Columbus and Cascade. Columbus is a new hybrid High Alpha Acid hop used mostly for bittering, but used heavily as an aromatic in this strong brew. Cascade is the balance that ties the malt and bittering hops together. It is a true specialty ale and is our brewer’s statement on this style. 2004 L.A. Commercial Brewing Competition, Silver Medal Winner; 2004 World Beer Cup, Silver Medal Winner; 2001 Real Ale Festival, San Diego, Gold Medal Winner; 2001 Real Ale Festival, Chicago, Gold Medal Winner; 1999 Great Amercian Beer Festival, Gold Medal Winner – og 1.070, ABV 7.0%, IBU 69. California State Fair Bronze Medal, 1997 Beerfest Invitational. 

Mmmmm, IPAs.