As gross as this may sound, I’m literally salivating just hearing about this news.  I don’t know why, but as soon as I start just thinking about sour beers I begin salivating like crazy.  But anyway, one of the best breweries in America with one of the worst names is coming to St. Louis.  Jolly Pumpkin out of Dexter, Michigan is now available at Starr’s Market.

Ben from Starr’s says they’ve received Mam Bier, Calabaza Blanca, ES Bam, La Roja, and Oro de Calabaza.  If you haven’t figured out, I’m so extremely stoked about this.

Andy Sneed, the beer specialist at Whole Foods, let me know that starting on Friday he’ll be selling the Goose Island Imperial IPA for $13.99 a 4 pack. Normally priced at $19.99 a 4 pack, this is an amazing deal on a fantastic beer. As these were the last few cases available from Gray Eagle, this beer won’t last long. Make sure to say “hi” to Andy while you’re there.

If you’re a fan of black beers and bivalves, Schlafly has the weekend you’ve been waiting for. This Friday (5:00 p.m.-Midnight) and Saturday (Noon-Midnight) is the 2008 Schlafly Stout and Oyster Festival.

Schlafly is flying in over 25,000 oysters not to mention shuckers from both coasts to demonstrate to you their shuckin’ skills. If the tantalizing thought of oysters isn’t enough, they’ll also be offering three of their stouts:  Nitro Irish Stout, Oatmeal Stout and the Coffee Stout.  (Unfortunately, the Imperial Stout isn’t part of this festival.)

These events are always a lot of fun, but they’re also extremely busy.  If you’re interested in going I’d make sure you allot plenty of time to waiting for a table.  You can always have a few beers at the bar and play some darts, after all that’s what we did for Cod and Cask.

Way back when (ok, only about 2 months ago) I talked about the Gastropub’s invasion into our fair town. Now that I think about it, invasion sounds like a bad thing and more beer places are never a bad thing.

Anyway, Ian let’s us all know that the Newstead Tower Public House opens this evening.

Here is their website, if you happen to go, please let me know how your experience was.

Whew, it’s finally Friday. I don’t know about you, but I’m already gearing up for the holiday weekend next week. As I do all of the cooking on the holidays, Thanksgiving isn’t really a day off for me. But I’m planning ahead and making sure to visit Andrew at Bon Vivant on Wednesday to pick up some beer to get me through Thursday. Anyway, enough rambling, onto the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• This may be a bit old, but I just came across it. Brewmaster Teri Fahrendorf is traveling the country and made a stop in at Schlafly.
• Anheuser-Busch launches a redesigned website touting some of their environmental contributions.
• Roger at the The Potable Curmudgeon shares his thoughts on the Schlafly beer dinner in Louisville.
• I have it on good authority that we’ll be hearing information about the 2008 St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival at any time now.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Great Divide - Fresh Hop
  • Great Divide - Hibernation
  • Ommegang - Chocolate Indulgence Stout
  • Coniston Brewing Co - Bluebird Bitter
  • Coniston Brewing Co - Old Man Ale
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Hite Brewery Company - Hite
  • Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck - Kasteel Rouge (From Paul, “Kasteel blends their Brune with Mon Cheri brandy that has infused with Piemont cherries and aged for over a year.”)
  • Fort Collins Brewery - Fort Collins Big Shot Seasonal Ale
  • Anchor Brewing - Anchor Steam Christmas Ale (6pks and Magnums)
  • Brouwerij Het Anker - Gouden Carolus Ambrio
  • Brouwerij Het Anker - Gouden Carolus Noel
  • Boston Brewing Company - Sam Adams Winter Ale
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Christmas Ale
  • Anheuser-Busch - Winter Bourbon Cask Ale
  • New Belgium Brewing - La Folie
  • Bells - Double Cream Stout
  • Bells - Winter White
  • Bells - Java Stout
  • Bells - Cherry Stout
  • De Proefbrouwerij - Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap
  • Klosterbrauerei Ettal - Ettaler Kloster Edelhell
  • Brewery Castle Eggenberg - Mac Queen’s Nessie
  • Barons Brewing - Barons Black Wattle
  • Barons Brewing - Barons ESB
• Paul also informed me that they’ll be tasting Hite, Gouden Carolus Ambrio, Fort Collins Big Shot, and Green’s Discovery (along with Dogtown Pizza!) on Saturday between Noon and 3PM.
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new selections they have in stock:
  • Brasserie De L’abbaye Du Val-dieu - Val Dieu Grand Cru
  • Brouwerij Van Den Bossche - Kerst Pater
  • Private Landbrauerei Scheuerer - Moosbacher Lager
  • Private Landbrauerei Scheuerer - Moosbacher Weissbier
  • Private Landbrauerei Scheuerer - Moosbacher Schwarze Weisse
  • Private Landbrauerei Scheuerer - Moosbacher Kellerbier
  • Coors Brewing Company - Blue Moon Full Moon Winter Ale
  • Fort Collins Brewery - Fort Collins Big Shot Seasonal Ale (22 oz bottles)
  • Mendocino Brewing Company - Mendocino Imperial IPA Winter Seasonal
• Chris at Randall’s Wine & Spirits in St. Louis alerts me to some new beers sets he has in stock, just in time for the holiday season:
  • Bell’s - Best Brown Ale
  • Bell’s - Java Stout
  • Bell’s - Winter White Ale
  • Bell’s - Double Cream Stout
  • New Belgium Brewery - La Folie
  • Brasserie De L’abbaye Du Val-dieu - Val Dieu Grand Cru
  • Van Den Bossche - Kerst Pater Special Christmas
  • Anchor Chistmas Ale (6pks and Magnums)
  • Odell Brewing Company - Odell Isolation Ale
  • Pyramid Breweries Snow Cap
  • Great Divide - Titan IPA
• Chris is also expecting these beers in today at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Ommegang - Chocolate Indulgence Stout
  • Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck - Kasteel Rouge
  • Brasserie de lAbbaye des Rocs - Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru
  • Lagunitas Brewing Company - Sirius Ale
  • Lagunitas Brewing Company - Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale
  • Nøgne Ø - det kompromissløse bryggeri - Nøgne Ø Winter Ale
  • Ridgeway Brewing - Ridgeway Curious Collection (Lump of Coal, Santa’s Butt, Bad Elf, and Winter Welcome)

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Nov 20 - First Capitol Brewers Homebrew Club Meeting
• Dec 6 - St. Louis Brews Homebrew Club Meeting
• Dec 8 - Happy Holiday Homebrew Competition
• Dec 26 - Schlafly 16th Anniversary Party

Well the weekend is almost upon us, so that means it’s time for the STL Hops Round-Up.

• Mike at Hoosier Beer Geek alerted me to an interview he did with Mitch Turner from St. Louis Brewery. It’s good stuff, be sure to check it out.
• Dan checks in with an article about cask beer in the New York Times. As some of you may know I’m completely obsessed with the cask O’Fallon 5 Day IPA. If you want to try it I would suggest heading down to Iron Barley and giving it a shot.
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Ridgeway Brewing - Bad Elf
  • Ridgeway Brewing - Seriously Bad Elf
  • Ridgeway Brewing - Very Bad Elf
  • Ridgeway Brewing - Santas Butt
  • Cropton Brewery - Rudolphs Revenge
  • Wychwood Brewery Company - Bah Humbug
  • Brouwerij Huyghe - Delirium Noel
  • Harvey & Son Ltd - Harveys Christmas Ale
  • Microbrouwerij Achilles - Serafijn Christmas Angel
  • O’Fallon Brewery - Goat’s Breath Bock Ale
  • ODells Brewery - Extra Red Ale
• Lukas Liquor also has a new few beers in stock:
  • Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck - Kasteelbier Donker
  • St. Bernard Brouwerij - St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
  • Sierra Nevada Brewery - Harvest Fresh Hop Ale
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Winter ESB
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Coffee Stout
• Schlafly’s ESB is also available at the Bottleworks. I saw it the other night while at the Maplewood Farmers’ Market.

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Oct 26 - Beer tasting at Randall’s Wine & Spirits
• Oct 26 - Halloween Beer Tasting at Provisions
• Oct 27 - Beer and Wine Tasting at Wine and Cheese Place
• Oct 31 - Cicero’s Beer School
• Nov 3 - Teach a friend to Homebrew Day
• Nov 12 - Autumn Beer Dinner at Duff’s

Well you’re now all round-up. Next week is going to be pretty exiciting at STLHops. I’ll have a write up about last night’s beer dinner at Mangia Italiano and an interview with Dave Johnson from O’Fallon Brewery for starters. So be sure to come back all next week to check it out. In the meantime drink some good beer this weekend.