Cicero’s Italian Restaurant continues their fall Beer School semester this Wednesday from 5:30-6:30PM. Cicero’s Beer School provides background about beers and beer styles usually directly from people directly in the beer industry.

It’s a perfect opportunity to learn more about a style you’re unfamiliar with or to just brush up on a style you haven’t enjoyed in a while.

This week’s school is being taught by Paul DeVries, Regional Sales Manager for Goose Island Brewery. Paul will be on hand to discuss and sample Matilda (on draft), IPA and 312. Go out and take advantage of one of the few places where you can drink and learn!

If you can’t make it out to the Beer School, you can check out all of the classes via podcast at Cicerosbeerschool.com.

I know I’m very random about which new beer releases get their own post and which get just get put on the Friday Round-Up.  I’ll be honest, the reason is that there are just some beers I’m far more excited about than others.  That’s not to say those are beers aren’t important.  I’m just easily excitable about some beers.

Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout is one of those that tickles my fancy.  It’s just a wonderfully complex beer that gets better and better with each sip.  This beer is perfect for these cool fall evenings to just sit back and savor.  Paul from the Wine and Cheese Place now has this year’s beer available for $17.99 a four-pack.  For added fun, visit Andy over at the Galleria Whole Foods and pick up four-pack of the 2007 and sample them side by side.

I often have people asking me about aging beers.  I’m happy to say this is one of the best examples of what giving a beer a little age will do.  You’d be remiss if you have a cellar and don’t have this beer in your collection.  Go out and buy some today.

Ric Syberg, one of the Culinary Directors at Whole Foods in Brentwood, has also taken on the task of being the beer buyer for Syberg’s on Gravois. Ric has done all of us beer nerds the favor of adding some new beer to the Syberg’s menu. He’s added beers such as Rouge Dead Guy Ale, Bells Two Hearted Ale and (correct me if I’m wrong) two beers (thank you Dave) one beer I’ve never seen on a local beer menu here in St. Louis: Goose Island Imperial IPA and Goose Island Bourbon County Stout.

At 5 bucks per 12oz bottle retail, I’m kind of curious to see how much Syberg’s is planning to sell the Goose Island beers for. More important is that us beer nerds make the effort to patronize the location and show them that when they care about beer, we care about them.

Andy Snead, 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.