Happy 4th of July to you all. I hope the the start of your three-day weekend is going well. Looks like we’re going to have almost perfect weather for fireworks, friends, food and beer (I lost my alliteration). Hope everyone has a great time and remembers to be safe. Here’s the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• A couple of reviews about Schlafly’s latest offerings.
• The Post-Dispatch has been all up in the beer business lately.
• William at Year of Beer reviews Boulevard’s Double-Wide IPA.
• The Suburban Journal takes a look at The Stable.
• Java Journal looks at microbrewing in St. Louis…
• …and Bill Burge gets rant-y over the phrase “craft beer.“

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some beers he has in his stock:
  • Capital Brewing Company - Special Pilsner
  • Capital Brewing Company - Bavarian Lager
  • Capital Brewing Company - Wisconsin Amber
  • Capital Brewing Company - Munich Dark
  • Dark Horse Brewing Co. - Black Bier
  • Dark Horse Brewing Co. - Crooked Tree IPA
  • Moylan’s Brewing Co. - Pale Ale
  • Moylan’s Brewing Co. - IPA
  • Moylan’s Brewing Co. - Kiltlifter
  • Two Brothers Brewing Co. - Oh Brother Tripel
  • Lagunitas - Lucky 13
  • Lagunitas - Maximus IPA
• Andy from Whole Foods let’s us know about some new beers he has in his stock (and remember if you don’t see it on the shelf, be sure to ask for it):
  • Avery - Karma
  • Avery - 14′er ESB
  • Avery - Red Point
  • Avery - White Rascal
  • Shmaltz Brewing Company (He’Brew) - Sword Swallower
  • Shmaltz Brewing Company (He’Brew) - Albino Python
  • Hitachino XH, Espresso Stout 330ml
  • Gouden Carlus 2008 Red and Blue 750ml
  • Mendocino - Spring Bock
  • Mendocino - Summer White
  • New Belgium Folly Pack w/ Old Cherry
  • Ommegang Witte 750ml
  • Bison Brewing - Reunion Beer 2008
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • McAuslan St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat
  • McAuslan St. Ambroise Plae Ale
  • McAuslan St. Amborise Oatmeal Stout
  • Avery Karma
  • Avery 14er ESB
  • Avery Redpoint Amber
  • Mikkeller Stateside IPA
  • Nils Oscar IPA
  • Nils Oscar Kalasol
  • Nils Oscar Imperial Stout
  • Nils Oscar Barley Wine
  • Eisenbahn Lust
  • Eisenbahn Defumada Smoke
  • Haandbryggeriet Dark Force
  • Haandbryggeriet Norwegian Wood
  • Brasserie de la Senne Taras Boulba
  • Gavroche French Red
  • Nogne IPA
  • Nogne Saison
• 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:
  • Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12, 16 & 30
  • Anderson Valley Summer
  • Shipyard Summer
  • Lagunitas Maximus
  • Lagunitas Lucky 13
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new and special selections they have in stock:
  • Maredsous Dubbel and Trippel (750ml)
  • Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de Keizer 2008 (750ml)
  • St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat (4pk)
  • St. Ambroise Pale Ale (4pk)
  • St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout (4pk)
  • Berghoff Red Bock Winter Ale
  • Shiner Bohemian
  • New Grist Sorghum Beer
  • Bell’s Oberon 5L mini kegs & 6pks
  • Buffalo Bill’s Orange Blossom
  • Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock vintage 2003 & 2004
  • New Belgium La Folie

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• July 16 - Newstead Tower Public House Boulevard Beer Dinner
• July 17 - Starr’s July Beer Dinner

July 17th marks the date of yet another dinner being put on by Starr’s Market. As always, you have five courses and 10 beers to sample during the dinner. Here’s the menu:

Summer Vegetable Salad
Sierra Nevada Summer Fest
Reisdorf Kolsch

Fried Green Tomatoes with Fried Oysters and a Light Blue Crab Sauce
Fried Green Tomatoes with imperial sauce (no crab) - Vegetarian
Tomos Watkin OSB Bitter
Buffalo Belgium Stout

Tender Fried Rabbit Pieces and homemade Fettuccine with a sherry cream sauce
House made Fettuccine with Wild Mushrooms - Vegetarian
Thirez Blond dry Hopped Farmhouse Ale
Karmeliet triple

Pittsburg Style NY Strip Steak with New Potato Hash
Tofu, Hicama, and Vegetable Stir Fry - Vegetarian
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Amber ale
LaChoulette Amber

Normandy Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream
Unibrou Ephemere Apple
Black Dog Kristal Weiss

Dinner starts at 6:45PM. The cost of the event is $36.95 (plus tax and tip) for the carnivores and $26.95 (plus tax and tip) for you veggies. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 314-781-2345. If you’re concerned about missing the Tour de France, do fret. Bud informs me that it’ll be on the TV so you won’t miss a moment.

Some of you may already know Joe Billhartz, but if you don’t he’s almost singularly responsible for the craft beer scene in Southern Illinois.  He previously worked for Corral Liquor as their beer buyer, so for may years he worked diligently to bring some awesome beers to our area.  Joe is now working for Specialty Distributors helping to do his part to bring even more to us.  Why all of this info on Joe?  Well first, he’s awesome, but secondly he’s helping host a beer dinner at Neruda in Edwardsville, IL.

Course 1
Gaffel Kolsch, Germany
Green Bean and Sweet Red Pepper Salad

Course 2
Erdinger Hefe-Weizen, Germany
Scallop Ceviche
Scallops, Citrus, Avocado

Course 3
Duvel Golden Ale, Belgium
Steamed Mussels
In a Dry Sherry Thyme Butter Broth

Course 4
Lion Stout, Sri Lanka
Orange Glazed ‘Pork Wings’
With Baby Bok Choy

Course 5
Kasteel Rouge, Belgium
Chocolate Nut Torte With Blueberry Marscapone

The only catch about attending this beer dinner is that it’s tonight.  (Sorry for the late notice, I just found out about this one myself.) There is a reception at 6:30 p.m. and dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. The cost of the dinner is $60 per person plus tax and gratuity. You can make reservations by calling Neruda at 618-659-9866.

Sorry for the small Round-Up today, everything just seems relatively quiet on the beer front in St. Louis.

Stuff from around the web

• Neat write-up about the Rotten Apple.
• Don over at OatSoda reviews the Export IPA from Schlafly.
• If you’re Green and like beer, Schlafly is the place for you.
• More information on the upcoming Stable opening.
• CraftBrewRadio interviews Tom Schlafly.

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:
  • Hitachino Nest XH Matured in Sake Casks
  • Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale
  • Thiriez Extra Dry Hopped French Farmhouse Ale
  • Inveralmond Brewery Blackfriar
  • Orkney Dragonhead Orcadian Stout
  • Mendocino White Summer Ale

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• June 21 - Hermann’s Rhythm and Brews
• June 21 - Wine Stein and Dine
• June 28 - Westport Beer and Brat Festival
• July 16 - Newstead Tower Public House Boulevard Beer Dinner

This was not only another fun night thanks to the crew at Starr’s Market but also a sold out one. I’m glad to see more people attending not only the beer dinners at Starr’s, but beer dinner as a whole. The actual food this month was not nearly as good as the April dinner, but it was still adequate. But I thought the pairings this month were outstanding. It took a beer like the Southern Tier Unearthly DIPA, a beer that I don’t quite care for, and turn it into something I loved with the dinner. Here are some photos:

Just a reminder for those of you who may have forgotten and have not yet made dinner plans, but the May Beer Dinner put on by Starr’s Market is tonight. The event begins at 6:45 PM and costs $36.95; you can make reservations by calling (314) 781-2345. Here is the menu if you’ve forgotten:

First Course
Summer Bean Salad with Herb Vinegrette and Cherry Tomatoes
Bell’s Oberon
New Belgium Mothership Whit

Second Course
Spicy Schezwan Quail over Asian Slaw with a Lemon Grass Glaze
or Spicy Grilled Tofu Steak over Asian Slaw with Lemon Grass Glaze
Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA

Third Course
Apple Butter Mustard BBQ Pork Tenderloin , Sweet Potato Mash & English Peas
or Sweet Potato English Pea Risotto (Vegetarian)
Caracole Nostradamus
Wostynte Mustard Ale

Fourth Course
Cipollini Onion and Goat Cheese Tart
Fullers Vintage Ale 2007
Aventinus Dopplebock

Fifth Course
Mini Blueberry Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Cantillon Iris
O’Fallon Weach

Hope you’re all planning on having an exciting or relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. I’ve got a brewing session planned and a lot of beer I’m planning on drinking. Please be safe this weekend. Here’s the (short) Round Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Christine’s thoughts on some of the local beer dinners in St. Louis.
• Craft Beer Radio has some coverage of the Savor Beer and Food festival.
• Year of Beer reviews O’Fallon’s Goat’s Breath Bock beer.
• The blog Pfiff! talks about beer’s cousin Whiskey and talks about the incestuous marriage between them.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale
  • Sierra Nevada Summer Fest Lager
  • Victory Prima Pilsner
  • Schlafly Summer Kolsch
  • Two Brothers Monarch White
  • Mahr’s Unfiltered Lager
  • Coniston Bluebird Bitter
• 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:
  • Brauerei Heller Bamberg Hells Lagerbier
  • New Belgium La Folie
  • Maredsous 8
  • Maredsous 10
  • Ommegang Witte
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new selections they have in stock:
  • Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Artisan Amber Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza Artisan Golden Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam Hoppy Farmhouse Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca Artisan White Ale
  • New Belgium La Folie

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• May 29 - Starr’s May Beer Dinner
• June - St. Louis Microfest

Sorry about the really late notice on this one, but for some reason it slipped off my radar. Maggiano’s Little Italy in Richmond Heights will be hosting a beer dinner featuring Schlafly beers tonight, May 20th at 6PM. Here’s the menu for tonight’s dinner:

“Fish and Chips”
Pilsner

Crispy pork shanks, frisee, spring radish, green goddess dressing
Pale Ale

Grilled squab, braised ramps, sorrel mustard sauce
Summer Kölsch

Ballotine of rabbit, quinoa, morels, spiced game jus
Number 15

Chocolate stout souffle, espresso semi-freddo, caramel sauce
Oatmeal Stout

The cost for tonight’s event is $50 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made by calling 314-824-2402.

Nick Vickery of Schlafly Beer, sent me over the menu for the Schlafly beer dinner on Wednesday, May 14th at 7PM at the Newstead Tower Public House. Reservations are required and the cost is $40. You can make reservations by calling 314-535-7771.