I dropped a little nugget of information in last week’s anniversary post, but it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. On October 24th at 7PM, STL Hops will be having it’s First Anniversary Party in the Schlafly Tap Room Cellar. I don’t think there is a better place to have a beer nerd party than surrounded by brewing equipment.

Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets and the cost is $13.76. Why $13.76? Because with the BPT service fee, the exact cost of the ticket is $15. All of the proceeds for this event will be donated to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Your ticket will include beer and snacks. Right now I have confirmations from the following brewers on beer:

• Schlafly
• O’Fallon
• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
• Boulevard
• Buffalo Brewing
• Morgan Street

Keep checking back on this post because I’m working on not only getting a bunch of brewers but also a bunch of swag as well. Also, only 70 tickets are being made available, so get them while you can.

Purchase tickets HERE.

Tomme Arthur is the head brewer of Lost Abbey/Port Brewing company out of San Diego. In his most recent blog posting, he drops this little nugget of info toward the end:

Post Great American Beer Festival, it looks like we will turn our attention to the Midwest and seek out some distribution in the greater Chicago area. We have been looking at this market long enough and it is time to move some beer towards the Great Lakes. If all goes well, you might even see some Lost Abbey beers on the shelves in time for Christmas. That won’t suck.

While this does not immediately affect us in St. Louis, all of the beers we currently see in Southern Illinois got there because of Chicago and some faithful beer nerds who made sure they make it down our way. So while there is no guarentee we’d see these beers in our area, the idea that it could be possible does not “suck.”

I can’t believe it’s already been a year. I started this site a year ago basically to sound off about beer and also provide a little information for beer lovers in the area. I know I’ve said this a ton of times, but I’m really amazed what this site has become. It’s not longer just a single crazy beer nerd and some of his ramblings, but 385 posts and 1400 comments later this place has become a full-fledged community of beer enthusiasts. I’m really proud of the site and the people who have come aboard for the fun. So, I thank everyone who has stopped by and added something to this community. Thank you.

Now, what’s missing? Is there anything you’d like to see more of? Is there something else that could be done? I’m always up for suggestions, ideas, and criticism and would like some feedback on what could be done to make STL Hops more valuable to you. So feel free to let lose, I’ve got thick skin.

Also, two other little notes that will hopefully be of some interest to some of you. First, the STL Hops Anniversary party will be on October 24th at the Schlafly Tap Room, the total cost will be $15 per person and all proceeds will be donated to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. I’ll have more information about this event to all of you soon. The second item is that I’m in the middle of finishing a new logo for STL Hops which means I may have some swag for people to buy (at cost) in the near future.

Once again, thank you for making this first year so successful.

A few of the guys from the Forums have decided to get together and do what beer nerds do best, drink beer. So, if you’re itching for trying some interesting beer with some great guys, this is the event for you. Here’s just a sample of a few of the things that may be opened tomorrow:

• Cuvee De Castleton
• Kate The Great
• Beatification Batch 2
• BA Alesmiths (Wee Heavy, Numbskull and Speedway)
• Westy 12 or 8
• Unibroue 400th Anniv.
• Double Wide
• Sixth Glass
• Heavy-Weizen
• Creme Brulee
• Dark Lord 07 or 08
• Abyss
• Mikkeller Black Hole
• New Glarus Belgian Red
• New Glarus Raspberry Tart

Marc Nolan is hosting this even at his house, the address is 5534 Southfield Dr Apt M, Oakville, MO 63129. If you have any questions for Marc, his phone number is 314-471-7889. They’re shooting to start tasting some beer about 7PM. Also, as this is a beer tasting, you should  bring something to sample with the group as well. If you’ve been sitting on something for a special opportunity to break it out, here’s your chance!

With the 4th of July Holiday fast approaching I’ve begun deliberating about what beer I want to take to our annual event.  While this year it looks like we’re going to have mild (and maybe rainy) weather, you always need to consider the fact you’re going to be outside in the sun.  So usually things like stouts, porters and a lot of imperial beers are out of the running for me.

For the most part I’m not a big fan of American-style wheat beers like Schlafly “Hefe” and Boulevard Wheat.  Sure they make a fine lawnmower beer for some folks, but I still want a bit more flavor.   I think Dave and I are the same wavelength about wheat beers.  If I’m going for something cloudy and yellow, I want something with another depth of flavor, be it the spice of a Wit or clove/banana of a Weiss.

Fruit beers are another option.  I think too many beer nerds are too quick to dismiss fruit beers. Sure when they’re bad, they’re usually really bad.  But when they’re good, they can hold their own with some of the best beers out there.   The one concern about some fruit beers is that they can fall into the upper tier of the alcohol range sometimes.  Just something to consider.

What about the old stand-by beers, like Pale Ales, APAs or IPAs? Those are always decent choices, but I’ve never been a huge fan of bitter beers in the hot sun.  Beer should be refreshing in that environment and shouldn’t weigh you down too much with flavor.  That being said, I’ve become much more of a hophead in the past year so I may have to give them another go this year.

Well, enough babbling, what have I decided on?   Well, I’m still trying to decide and maybe some of you can throw out some things I may have forgotten about.  But at this point:

• Bell’s Two Hearte
• O’Fallon Wheach?  (I love it with a hot dog)
• Unibroue Apple Éphémère
• Hitachino Nest White Ale

What are your choices for celebrating this holiday?

This has been eagerly talked about in the STL Hops Forum, but it looks like the day has finally arrived. Friar Tuck located at 9053 Watson Road in Crestwood is now open just in time for your Memorial Day purchases. The website promotes over 900 beers in each store:

We’re serious about beer! Friar Tuck stocks virtually every beer we can get our grubby hands on. Domestics, imports, micro and craft brewed beers from all over the world. With over 900 different beers in every store, you’ll be serious about beer too.

It’s great to see another store in St. Louis committed to providing fantastic beer choices to us beer nerds. If you check out Friar Tuck, please send along your thoughts. I’m going to try and swing by today if possible.

_{^{Thanks to cubby_swans in the Forums for doing the leg work on this one.}}

Unless you’re a duck, it’s pretty miserable outside.  I’m pretty busy right now, so I’ll put a few pictures up that I think you’ll enjoy.

You may remember the package of pure pleasure I received a few weeks ago thanks to my lovely girlfriend.  Never one to leave well enough alone or to even be satisfied with what I have, I went ahead and bought some more beer shipped in from California.  What you see there is:

• Firestone Walker - Double Barrel Ale
• Stone - Ruination IPA
• Alesmith - Decadence Anniversary Ale
• Lost Abbey - Red Barn Ale
• Lost Abbey - Lost & Found
• Alesmith - Horny Devil

I’m also supposed to be receiving another very special package from Lost Abbey in this week, two 375ml bottles of Red Poppy.   You may be asking yourself, “Mike, what the hell do you do with all of this beer?”  Let me show you:

Well, I drink what I can and I cellar a lot of it for special and not so special occasions.  Bill and Ellie saw this a couple of weeks ago and Bill proclaimed that I was becoming one of those “crazy beer guys.”  The ones that will never be able to finish all of the beer they collect.  He may be very well right about that, because I sometimes I have a hard time bringing myself to drink some of this.  I especially don’t enjoy drinking it by myself, these are the kind of things you enjoy with friends that will really appreciate it.