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

One of my biggest peeves is the fact that beer isn’t given the same respect that wine is. Both are ancient beverages steeped in history and by in large lovingly produced by people passionate about their craft. So why does it always feel like beer is given the “swill of the working man” feel? After looking over the beer list from the Repeal of Prohibition Festival, Bill Burge has one idea why: Beer names can get a bit goofy.

Beer lovers are always trying to get beer to reach the wine plateau, but are names like Hoptimus Prime Imperial IPA, Rabbid Rabbit, or BORIS the Crusher hurting the cause?  For the most part wine is labeled by type of grape used or area of production, or in the case of wines produced outside of France, classic area of production they’re trying to reproduce.  But beer isn’t held by the same standards of labeling.  Breweries and brewers are given free reign to get creative with their names.

I’m not one to try and stifle creativity of brewers, it is after all the creativity of American brewers that provides us with all of the amazing things they produce.  But would beer benefit from going to a wine labeling style?  On a local level, I think Schlafly employs a labeling/naming style similar to wine: Schlafly Pale Ale or Schlafly Oatmeal Stout.  It’s a clear and concise advertisement (and let’s not forget, that’s what labels really are) of the product contained within.

But what about beers that don’t fall into a clear style (not to mention the argument of there is too much emphasis of style in beer)?  That’s where things get a bit tricky and at that point creative monikers may come into play.  It’s an interesting idea and I’d love to hear everyone else’s thoughts on it.

In my quest for trying to find as many of my homebrewing ingredients as humanly possible I’m reaching out to all of my blog readers to help me find a pumpkin. I was talking to Sauce’s own Mr. Burge yesterday and he recommended that I purchase a pumpkin now instead of in August, because in his words, “the early ones aren’t as sweet, the colder it gets, the flavors are more concentrated.”

So on his recommendation, I’m going to purchase a pumpkin now, roast it, puree it and freeze it for next August. I’d prefer finding a pumpkin from one of the local farmers, but I have a feeling that pickings may be light. Any help?