Sorry again about the lack of posting this week, it’s been pretty hectic. I promise that next week will be better. In the meantime, here’s the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Looks like Anheuser-Busch is trying to find some space in downtown St. Louis.
• An exhibit I’ve been meaning to visit, Kettle to Keg is still at the Missouri History Museum
• Looks like some of the big boys are facing a state probe. Which isn’t as much fun as it sounds.
• The Big Foamy Head podcast had a chance to try out the Schlafly Bourbon Aged Imperial Stout.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Ommegang - Rare Vos 12oz
  • Boulder Brewing - Obovoid
  • New Holland - Night Tripper
  • Brouwerij St. Bernardus - St. Bernardus Abt 12
• Jerad from Piasa Winery lets me know about some beer beers he has to offer you:
  • Boston Brewing Company - Sam Adams Triple Bock
  • Schmaltz Brewing - Jewbelation Eleven
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Unibroue - Unibroue 17th Anniversary
  • Kulmbacher Brauerei AG - Mönchshof Kellerbräu
  • Brasserie de Blaugies - Saison De L’Epeautre
  • Brasserie de Blaugies - Bière Darbyste
  • North Coast Brewing Co. - Le Merle

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Feb 23 - Beer Lovers Anonymous
• Feb 29 - New Belgium Beer Dinner at Whole Foods
• Mar 5 - Imperial Beer Tasting at Whole Foods
• Mar 5 - O’Fallon Beer Dinner at Big Sky Cafe

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.

Not unlike the Friday Round-Up, the Store Spotlight is hopefully going to be a regular feature on STL Hops. I’m going to give you a little information about beer stores in the area and a few pictures as well. Let me say a couple of things really quickly, I receive no money from running STL Hops, I do it for the love of the beer. By spotlighting these stores I hope to keep you informed about store owners that are just as passionate as the rest of us and keep you patronizing all of these locations.

Store: Piasa Winery Address: 211 W Main St, Grafton, IL 62037 (Map it) Selection: About 80 Beers

Tucked right next to the Mississippi River on the Great River Road in Grafton, Piasa Winery provides a selection of about 80 beers on average. I had a chance to talk to Jerad Gardner, the manager of Piasa Winery, he told me that he tries to specialize in beers that you can’t get in Missouri. Breweries such as Founders, Dogfish Head, Allagash, Lagunitas. He’s also more than happy to provide special orders as well. If he can get it, he’ll have it for you usually within two weeks.If you’ve got a trip planned to visit Grafton (or even if you just live in the area) make sure to stop by and visit Jerad and Piasa, show him how much you love beer too.

Unfortunately the first Round-Up of the year is going to be really short. I’m sick as a dog, but I’m powering through it to let you guys in on some good info.

Stuff from around the web

• The Beer Philosopher gives us his take on Schlafly Christmas Ale.
• Mike from The Hoosier Beer Blog makes a visit to the AB Tour.
• Speaking of AB, it looks like they’re trying to make in-roads into the Latino community.
• If you missed KSDK’s news story about holiday beer the firs time around (like I did) they have it posted on their website. (Thanks Stephen!)

Beer Releases and News

• Jerad from Piasa Winery let’s me know about some beer beers he has to offer you:
  • Lagunitas - Undercover Shutdown Ale
  • Barley Island - Brass Knuckles Oatmeal Stout
  • Victory - Prima Pilsner
  • Bear Republic - Black Stout
  • Great Divide - Saint Bridgets Porter
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the seasonal selections they still have in stock here.

u>Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Jan 9 - All Hail Pale Ale at Whole Foods
• Jan 19 - Cabin Fever: Schlafly Winter Beer Festival
• Jan 19 - Beer Tasting at Rendezvous Cafe & Wine Bar
• Feb 29 - New Belgium Beer Dinner at Whole Foods

Who’s ready for some Christmas? Eh? Eh? Well I know what I’m ready for, Festivus. Tonight we’ll be airing our grievances and then come the feats of strength. It’ll be a lot of eating, drinking and yelling. If that’s not what the holidays are all about, I don’t know what is.

Stuff from around the web

• Anheuser-Busch is going to begin distributing beer from Starr Hill Brewery.
• KC Beer Blog expresses his love for Saisons.
• The Economist looks at how the hop shortages are affecting smaller breweries, in this case O’Fallon Brewery.
• I need to get to be friends with this guy fast, that’s my kind of party.

Beer Releases and News

• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • O’Fallon Brewery - Chocolate Cherry
• Paul also informed me that after a 97 year wait, the “real” Absinthe is back. Absinthe with the wormwood. So if you’re looking to see the green fairy, nows your chance. He also informs me that his XMas beers are on sale for the holiday.
• Jerad from Piasa Winery let’s me know about some beer beers he has to offer you:
  • Lagunitas - Lumpy Gravy
  • August Schell Brewing Co - Snowstorm
  • Boulder Beer Company - MOJO
  • Brouwerij Huyghe - Delirium Noel
  • Victory Brewing - Hop Devil

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Dec 26 - Schlafly 16th Anniversary Party
• Jan 19 - Cabin Fever: Schlafly Winter Beer Festival
• Jan 19 - Beer Tasting at Rendezvous Cafe & Wine Bar

Sorry for the short Round Up, not much got released and not much going on. Everyone must be preparing for the holidays. Make sure you have a safe and wonderful holiday and luckily if it’s not wonderful there’s always good beer that can be had.

I think of St. Louis of a small town so often that I forget that it’s really not. We’re a city of about two and a half million people, but it sure doesn’t feel like it at times. So when places off the beaten path come to my attention, it’s always a bit of a shock. “This place sounds pretty cool are we sure it’s in St. Louis?” Well in this case they’re not really in St. Louis, they’re in Grafton.

As a was perusing the latest Sauce Magazine this week, I noticed an article about The Rotten Apple in Grafton, Illinois. It didn’t take long for the article to completely grab my interest:

And, most importantly, it serves and promotes great beer.

It turns out that The Rotten Apple serves 16 hard ciders and 12 regularly rotating selections of draught beer. I hear the food is pretty great, to boot. It turns out that The Rotten Apple is also looking to craft brew at their location in the future as well. It’s like this place is begging me to visit.

If that’s not enough to get you to visit Grafton, how about this? Jerad Gardner, the manager of Piasa Winery in Grafton informs me that in addition to the hundreds of different wines they have to offer, they also carry an impressive selection of about 90 different beers. Jarad’s newest offerings will be detailed on the Friday Round-Up each week, so you’ll know what you can expect when you visit.

I’ve always loved the beautiful drive up the River Road, now at least I have a couple of excuses to make the drive.