If you made it out to the Duff’s Autumn Beer Dinner in November 2007 or a couple of events when she last visited in 2009, then you had a chance to meet New Belgium Brewer Lauren Salazar.

Well if you didn’t have a chance to meet her, she’s coming back into town this week to kick off the New Belgium’s newest year-round selection, the Ranger IPA.  Here’s a list of events she’ll be attending this week:

Tuesday, Feb. 9th

• STL Hops/New Belgium Party at Mattingly Brewing Co.

Wednesday, Feb. 10th

• Pi Restaurant (Delmar) Ranger IPA/Lips of Faith Tasting with Lauren Salazar 7-8:30 pm
• Ranger IPA/Lips of Faith Tasting at Dressel’s Pub with Lauren Salazar 9-11 pm

Thursday, Feb. 11th

• Ranger IPA/Lips of Faith Tasting at The Stable with Lauren Salazar 6-8 pm
• Ranger IPA/Lips of Faith Tasting at The Bridge 9-11 pm

Lauren is a great brewer and provides plenty of information about New Belgium beers, so make the time to go out and visit one of these events. Here’s Lauren’s bio from NB:

Lauren Salazar, New Belgium Brewing Company

Lauren is the Sensory Specialist and a Quality team member at New Belgium Brewing Company, where she has been employed for over eleven years and sensory-focused for over ten. She developed the sensory program from a basic production check to its present program and is responsible for all facets from design to implementation to re-engineering. Other areas of interest and fun at the brewery include brewery-wide flavor training, new product development, small/esoteric beer production and wood barrel project blender. Lauren is a judge at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival, has presented and taught short courses for the CBC, WBC, AHA, ASBC, MBAA and many others.

Salazar received her BSW from the University of Georgia a lifetime ago and holds a Certificate from UC Davis for Applied Sensory Science and Consumer Testing.

The Bridge tap house and wine bar is the newest venture from restaurateur Dave Bailey.  If Bailey’s name sounds familiar it’s because he’s also the owner of the hugely successful Bailey’s Chocolate Bar and breakfast/brunch/lunch spot, Rooster.

Not surprisingly, his newest location is just as hip as his last.  With a warm wood vibe including reclaimed tree branches being used as light fixtures, it will easily be one of the most popular bars in St. Louis.

But we’re here for the beer, so what does he have to offer?  How about 36 draught selections and soon over 150 bottled beers to choose from.  I’ve also been told that he’ll continue the tradition he started over at the Chocolate Bar by housing beers for aging.

The pricing on beers is very reasonable and growlers will be available for table consumption as well. Bridge isn’t open quite yet, but expect it to be open by February 10th at the latest.

The current draught list, which will be always changing, will be available after the photos and the break.

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