Hope you’re all planning on having an exciting or relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. I’ve got a brewing session planned and a lot of beer I’m planning on drinking. Please be safe this weekend. Here’s the (short) Round Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Christine’s thoughts on some of the local beer dinners in St. Louis.
• Craft Beer Radio has some coverage of the Savor Beer and Food festival.
• Year of Beer reviews O’Fallon’s Goat’s Breath Bock beer.
• The blog Pfiff! talks about beer’s cousin Whiskey and talks about the incestuous marriage between them.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale
  • Sierra Nevada Summer Fest Lager
  • Victory Prima Pilsner
  • Schlafly Summer Kolsch
  • Two Brothers Monarch White
  • Mahr’s Unfiltered Lager
  • Coniston Bluebird Bitter
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock at the Clayton and Rock Hill locations:
  • Brauerei Heller Bamberg Hells Lagerbier
  • New Belgium La Folie
  • Maredsous 8
  • Maredsous 10
  • Ommegang Witte
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new selections they have in stock:
  • Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Artisan Amber Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza Artisan Golden Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam Hoppy Farmhouse Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca Artisan White Ale
  • New Belgium La Folie

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• May 29 - Starr’s May Beer Dinner
• June - St. Louis Microfest

When Mike Leahy from the Rock Hill Wine and Cheese Place sent me an email saying, “We just got a very allocated case of 08 La Folie from New Belgium!” I about fell out of my chair. La Folie is normally a winter release and it’s May. So after a few phones calls I’ve been told this is indeed a small smattering of the 2008 release of La Folie.

I’ve been told that only 8 cases came to St. Louis, so you can probably find them at all of the usual suspects. I don’t know if this will be the year’s only release of this beer (I’d like to think not) but better be safe than sorry if you’re a fan of this beer.

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. This week has been insanely crazy between all of these events and things going on at work, even I’m shocked I’m still alive. And as much as I love Eric and Lauren from New Belgium, I’m secretly glad they’re heading home. I don’t know how much more I could take.

What’s that? The Schlafly Beer and Cheese tasting is tonight? I guess I can take a bit more.

Quickly put, as I’m running out of time, last night was a blast. Dave from Beer, Wine and Whiskey was there (in fact you can read his write up of the event), Steven and Brennan from Schlafly were where, Charlie from O’Fallon was there, it was like a who’s who of the St. Louis beer scene. I also got the chance to meet Dave, the owner of Bailey’s, which allowed me to gush about his beer selection. It was just a blast being able to stand around and gab about beer for hours on end.

But if the gabbing wasn’t enough, then the vintage bottles of La Folie broke out. We had a chance to try two different 2004 bottles and one 2005. Being able to try the two 2004 side by side was really impressive and it’s amazing how much different two bottles can be, even if they were bottled on the same day.

It was a great event and it was great to meet everyone from New Belgium. It’s just a blast being around people that have the same passion and love that you do and then have the fun of sharing it together. I can only hope that some of my passion comes across here at this blog and that you start feeling the passion too.

Sorry about the lack of pictures, I was just having too much fun!

In the Breaking News department, I’ve gotten word from BA Forums that La Folie has made it’s way to Missouri and will be available to purchase tomorrow! I’ve spoken to both Lukas Liquors and Whole Foods in Brentwood who’ve confirmed that they’ll be receiving some tomorrow.

If you’ve never had La Folie you’re in for a treat and surprise. It’s a refreshingly sour wood-aged beer in the style of a Flanders Red. It’s something to be slowly sipped and appreciated. You’ll do yourself quite a service to buy it and even more of a service if you can buy one to drink and one to age for a few years.

I’m being told that quantities are limited this year, so make sure to purchase it as soon as possible. I know I am!