Some of you may already know Joe Billhartz, but if you don’t he’s almost singularly responsible for the craft beer scene in Southern Illinois.  He previously worked for Corral Liquor as their beer buyer, so for may years he worked diligently to bring some awesome beers to our area.  Joe is now working for Specialty Distributors helping to do his part to bring even more to us.  Why all of this info on Joe?  Well first, he’s awesome, but secondly he’s helping host a beer dinner at Neruda in Edwardsville, IL.

Course 1
Gaffel Kolsch, Germany
Green Bean and Sweet Red Pepper Salad

Course 2
Erdinger Hefe-Weizen, Germany
Scallop Ceviche
Scallops, Citrus, Avocado

Course 3
Duvel Golden Ale, Belgium
Steamed Mussels
In a Dry Sherry Thyme Butter Broth

Course 4
Lion Stout, Sri Lanka
Orange Glazed ‘Pork Wings’
With Baby Bok Choy

Course 5
Kasteel Rouge, Belgium
Chocolate Nut Torte With Blueberry Marscapone

The only catch about attending this beer dinner is that it’s tonight.  (Sorry for the late notice, I just found out about this one myself.) There is a reception at 6:30 p.m. and dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. The cost of the dinner is $60 per person plus tax and gratuity. You can make reservations by calling Neruda at 618-659-9866.

In case you missed it over at the BeerAdvocate forums, Bear Republic will be arriving in St. Louis in early July thanks to MoBev.  Bear Republic has been available in Illinois for quite some time, but you’ll finally be able to purchase it in both states which makes everyone’s shopping that much easier.  For those unfamiliar with Bear Republic, their most famous beer may be the Racer 5 IPA, here’s their description from their website:

This is a hoppy IPA. Did I say hops? Your brewer is a hop head! This is a full bodied beer using American grains. The goal was to create a base for showing off the unique floral qualities of two Pacific Northwest hops, Columbus and Cascade. Columbus is a new hybrid High Alpha Acid hop used mostly for bittering, but used heavily as an aromatic in this strong brew. Cascade is the balance that ties the malt and bittering hops together. It is a true specialty ale and is our brewer’s statement on this style. 2004 L.A. Commercial Brewing Competition, Silver Medal Winner; 2004 World Beer Cup, Silver Medal Winner; 2001 Real Ale Festival, San Diego, Gold Medal Winner; 2001 Real Ale Festival, Chicago, Gold Medal Winner; 1999 Great Amercian Beer Festival, Gold Medal Winner - og 1.070, ABV 7.0%, IBU 69. California State Fair Bronze Medal, 1997 Beerfest Invitational. 

Mmmmm, IPAs.

Mark Gustafson from Wisconsin (and with a name like that, you just knew he’d be from Wisconsin!) wrote in to ask:

Mike, I am hoping you can help me out in locating a decent liquor store that carries New Belgium beers on the east side of St. Louis. I am going to be in the O’Fallon area in a few weeks, and am hoping to stock up (no, not just Fat Tire, but all the other goodies that we can’t get up here in Wisconsin). I appreciate any help you can give me, as I have some friends back here in Milwaukee that I would like to treat to some beers as well.

After talking to Ryan Beach from New Belgium Brewery, he confirmed to me that Fat Tire, 1554 and Mothership Wit are now available in Southern Illinois.  But I’m not very familiar with O’Fallon, IL.  I realize he could take a short trip over to Corral Liquor in Granite City, but maybe someone knows of some place in O’Fallon?

Normally I’d save this info for Friday, but I thought I’d give you guys a quick update:

• Chris at Randall’s Wine & Spirits in Fairview Heights has just received Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA in stock. This IPA has 120 IBUs, 21% ABV and 450 calories per 12 oz serving. Chris let me know that the amount that came to Southern Illinois is extremely limited, so pick this one up ASAP.
• Paul from Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton received a ton of special export beers in yesterday:
  • GERMANY
    • Aventinus Vintage 2004 (only 250 cases made)
    • Gosebrauereri Leipziger Gose (in traditional flask bottle with long thin neck)
    • Schneider Hopfen Weisse
    • St. Michaelsburg Kellerbier 16.9oz
  • BELGIUM
    • Glazen Toren Jan de Lichte 25.4oz
    • Glazen Toren Cuvee Angelique 25.4oz
    • Brouwerij De Regenboog ‘t Smisje Blond 11.2oz
    • Brouwerij De Regenboog Dubbel 11.2oz
    • Brouwerij De Regenboog Grand Reserva 11.2oz
    • Brouwerij De Regenboog Catherine the Great 11.2oz
    • Alvinne Gaspar 11.2oz
    • Alvinne Podge 11.2oz
    • Alvinne Extra IPA 11.2oz
    • Vapeur Cochonne 25.4oz
    • Strubbe Ichtegem Grand Cru…11.2oz
  • ENGLAND
    • Harvey A.leCoq Extra Stout 11.2oz
  • SCOTLAND
    • Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12yr Highland Park Cask…$6.99
    • Harviestoun Ola Dubh 16yr Highland Park Cask…$7.99
    • Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30yr Highland Park Cask…$13.99
  • SWITZERLAND
    • Franches Montagne Abbay de St. bon Chien 2007 25.4oz
    • Franches Montagne Cuvee du 8eme 25.4oz
    • Franches Montagne Cuvee du 7eme 25.4oz
  • MALTA
    • Farsons Lacto Milk Stout 11.2oz
  • ITALY
    • Baladin Wayan 25.4 oz
    • Baladin Xyauyo 16.9oz
    • Piccolo Birrificio Seson…25.4oz
    • Como Malthus Birolla…16.9oz
    • Beba Molto Molto 16.9oz
  • ARGENTINA
    • Otro Mundo Golden Ale
    • Otro Mundo Red Ale
  • WALES
    • Tomos Watkin Lovely Ale
    • Tomos Watkcin OSB (old style bitter)

Some of these beers have some great stories which Paul has up over at the Wine and Cheese Place Blog.

We’re almost a 1/3 of the way through the year already. Crazy. On the plus side, the weather has been gorgeous as of recent which always makes for some fun outdoor drinking. Here’s your Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Local boy brews beer at Harvard.
• Hops and barley prices are once again rearing their ugly heads.
• The Wall Street Journal was hoping that Anheuser-Busch’s push into the craft market would help their bottom line. Unfortunately, it didn’t.
• Speaking of problems for AB, what do you do when your rival starts a blog?
• The Beer Evangelists review Schlafly Bière De Garde.

Beer Releases and News

• 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:
  • Boulder Brewing Sweaty Betty
  • Pyramid Curve Ball Kolsch
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Caracole Amber 25oz
  • Dark Island Pints
  • Ettaler Kloster Dunkel Pints
  • Fiddlers Elbow
  • Flag Porter
  • Harviestoun Old Enging Oil
  • Harviestoun Bitter Twisted
  • Kulmbacher Eisboch
  • Butte Creek Organic IPA
  • Radeberger Pilsner
• Ric at Sybergs on Gravois alerts me to some new beers he’s carrying for your drinking enjoyment:
  • Southern Tier Hoppe
  • Southern Tier Unearthly
  • Southern Tier Big Red
  • Ommegang - Hennepin

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• April 26 - 2008 Beerfest at Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton
• April 30 - Starr’s Beer Dinner
• May 3 - National Homebrew Day
• May 8, 9, 10 - St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival

I was cataloging some of my commercial beer last night and my girlfriend comes downstairs and notices that the beer is just sitting on the shelves and says, “you better hope we don’t have an earthquake, those will just fall off the shelves!”

Luckily, everything survived the great quake of 08. How about a Round-Up?

Stuff from around the web

• Anheuser-Busch employees are seeing green (and luckily it’s not green beer.)
• If you missed it, the Post-Dispatch had an article about “extreme” beer in St. Louis.
• Here’s a little homebrew article that you may find interesting.
• It doesn’t look like AB is merging with anyone any time soon.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - E.S.Bam
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Bière
• Jerad Gardner, of the Rotten Apple lets me know about his most current draught selection. If you haven’t been to the Rotten Apple, take the time to visit:
  • Rogue Brewing - Brutal Bitter
  • Avery Brewing - Colaboration Not Litigation
  • Dogfish Head Brewing - 90 min IPA
  • Schlafly Brewing - Summer Kolsch
• 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:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - E.S.Bam
  • Jolly Pumpkin - La Roja
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Bière
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Oro De Calabaza
  • Three Floyds - Robert the Bruce
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Arcadia Whitsun
  • Blanche Namur
  • Burton Bridge Old Expensive
  • De Proeuf La Grande Blanche
  • Hanssen Gueuze
  • Hanssen Kriek
  • Hanssen Outbeitje
  • Hop Back Summer Lightning
  • Kapuziner Schwarz Weiss
  • Mahrs Pilsner
  • Mahrs Weisse
  • Moosbacher Keller Bier
  • Moosbacher Weisse
  • Moosbacher Schwarze Weisse
  • Moosbacher Lager
  • St. Freuillien Brune
  • St. Freuillien Tripel Abbey
• Chris at Randall’s Wine & Spirits alerts me to some new beers sets he has in stock at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - La Roja
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Bière
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Oro De Calabaza
  • Flying Dog Double Dog
  • August Schell Maibock
  • New Holland Pilgrim’s Dole
  • De Ranke XX Bitter
  • Mendocino Maibock
  • Schlafly Kolsch
  • Schlafly Raspberry Heffe
• Chris is also expecting these beers in today at the St. Louis Randall’s:
  • Mendocino Maibock
  • Gouden Carolus Ambrio
  • Brigand Belgian Ale

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• April 20 - Cicero’s Field Trip to Charleville Brewery
• April 22 - Pappy van Winkle Smoked Porter Release Party
• April 23 - Beer Tasting with Ray Hill at Rendezvous Cafe & Wine Bar
• April 26 - 2008 Beerfest at Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton
• April 30 - Starr’s Beer Dinner

As you may have gathered from my Store Spotlight of Piasa Winery, I recently made the trip out to Grafton, Illinois. I’m trying to find a way to avoid the old, “no trip to ________ is complete without stopping here” but I’m having a hard time getting around it. If you’re a fan of beer, you need to make a trip out to The Rotten Apple.

The Rotten Apple
220 W. Main St. (Map It)
Grafton, IL 62037
(618) 786-2798

Beers: A few weeks ago, Jerad from Piasa dropped me a line to let me know what new beers he had available, he also let me know what The Rotten Apple had on draught. As soon as I saw Gouden Carolus Noel on draught, I knew I had to make the trip. Needless to say, what they have in a small selection they more than make up in a great selection. Click the image on the right above for their draught beer selection from 2 weeks ago.

Food: A nice selection of Cajun specialties and American favorites. If you’re looking to eat some red beans and rice or some alligator, The Rotten Apple should be your first choice. Click here for a copy of their menu.

Intangibles: This is a wonderful old building with a rustic charm. If you happen to sit upstairs, you’ll have a fantastic view overlooking the Mississippi. It looks like they even have outdoor seating for the warmer months. The other intangible, Illinois is a no smoking state, so you’ll get to enjoy your meal smoke free.

Interesting Fact: Our server informed us that The Rotten Apple is actually owned by a company called Amalgamated Brewing and according to him, they’ll be opening a new Brewery/Distillery as part of the old Lemp Brewery property. Hopefully we’ll be seeing this new brewery opening soon.

If you didn’t see it yesterday, Ian from the RFT linked to an article in the New York Times talking about some of the Imperial/Double/Crazy IPAs that some breweries are doing right now. While almost none of the beers listed on their taste test are available in St. Louis (with maybe the exception of the Great Divide beers) many of these are available just across the river in Illinois.

If you’ve never had the chance to try their choice for the best Imperial IPA, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, you need to make your way over the river quickly. It’s a wonderful beer that packs a wallop of in your face hops, but backs it up with a tasty malt backbone.