As gross as this may sound, I’m literally salivating just hearing about this news.  I don’t know why, but as soon as I start just thinking about sour beers I begin salivating like crazy.  But anyway, one of the best breweries in America with one of the worst names is coming to St. Louis.  Jolly Pumpkin out of Dexter, Michigan is now available at Starr’s Market.

Ben from Starr’s says they’ve received Mam Bier, Calabaza Blanca, ES Bam, La Roja, and Oro de Calabaza.  If you haven’t figured out, I’m so extremely stoked about this.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago about Short’s Brewing holding a vote to determine where they’re distributed next. Well, the vote totals were released and we’re doing very, very, well:

• 1 OH 74 -
• 2 PA 63 -
• 3 MO 59 Up 15
• 4 MA 58 Down 1
• 5 FL 50 Up 3
• 6 MN 48 Down 2
• 7 IL 48 -
• 8 MI 47 Down 1
• 9 CA 45 Down 5
• 10 MD 44 Down 1

As you can see, we’re in third place, which is just awesome work.  But I’d like to see us win this, so it’s time to do your part if you haven’t already.  If you haven’t voted, go vote.  If you have voted, get a friend to vote!  We all sit around and wish for more beers to be available in St. Louis, now you have a chance to make it happen.  Voting ends March 31st, so there isn’t much time left.  Bring Short’s to Missouri and St. Louis and we’ll all be able to enjoy the fruits of everyone’s labor.

I can’t tell you how often I wonder how to get some beer that isn’t normally distributed in St. Louis to finally be available. I think we’ve been lucky that we’ve had more and more craft breweries finding distributors here as of recent. Well you can now do your part to make yet another craft brewer available in the area.

Short’s Brewery out of Bellaire, Michigan is holding a vote to see where they’ll be distributed next. While our vote will mean something, there are a few consideration for the final decision. From their website:

Shorts Brewing Company is expanding into other states. Where those states are is partially up to you! As part of our expansion formula we are considering this vote in our calculations. The final decision will be determined by state laws, logistics, competition, and your vote.

I’d like to think that our proximity to MI makes us a more suitable candidate then say, California. But our enthusiasm will help as well. A quick look at the beers they offer makes me want you to vote and for you to get your friends to vote. So do your part and bring Short’s to Missouri.

_{Thanks to Paul for alerting me to this story.}

Last May, Bill had planned a trip to Michigan to run a marathon so he could qualify for the 2008 Boston Marathon. While there, he decided to take a trip to visit Bell’s Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo. When he came back, he brought along some beer with him. One of these beers was the Consecrator Doppelbock. I remember it being this wonderfully malty, clean bock with a slight bit of sweetness. It was a really wonderful beer.

Well, I was just made aware that the Doppelbock has reached St. Louis and is now in stock at the Wine and Cheese Shop in Clayton and Rock Hill. Make sure to pick this one up and try it out for yourself. If it was a wonderful beer in May, it’ll be even better in February.