Happy 4th of July to you all. I hope the the start of your three-day weekend is going well. Looks like we’re going to have almost perfect weather for fireworks, friends, food and beer (I lost my alliteration). Hope everyone has a great time and remembers to be safe. Here’s the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• A couple of reviews about Schlafly’s latest offerings.
• The Post-Dispatch has been all up in the beer business lately.
• William at Year of Beer reviews Boulevard’s Double-Wide IPA.
• The Suburban Journal takes a look at The Stable.
• Java Journal looks at microbrewing in St. Louis…
• …and Bill Burge gets rant-y over the phrase “craft beer.“

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some beers he has in his stock:
  • Capital Brewing Company - Special Pilsner
  • Capital Brewing Company - Bavarian Lager
  • Capital Brewing Company - Wisconsin Amber
  • Capital Brewing Company - Munich Dark
  • Dark Horse Brewing Co. - Black Bier
  • Dark Horse Brewing Co. - Crooked Tree IPA
  • Moylan’s Brewing Co. - Pale Ale
  • Moylan’s Brewing Co. - IPA
  • Moylan’s Brewing Co. - Kiltlifter
  • Two Brothers Brewing Co. - Oh Brother Tripel
  • Lagunitas - Lucky 13
  • Lagunitas - Maximus IPA
• Andy from Whole Foods let’s us know about some new beers he has in his stock (and remember if you don’t see it on the shelf, be sure to ask for it):
  • Avery - Karma
  • Avery - 14′er ESB
  • Avery - Red Point
  • Avery - White Rascal
  • Shmaltz Brewing Company (He’Brew) - Sword Swallower
  • Shmaltz Brewing Company (He’Brew) - Albino Python
  • Hitachino XH, Espresso Stout 330ml
  • Gouden Carlus 2008 Red and Blue 750ml
  • Mendocino - Spring Bock
  • Mendocino - Summer White
  • New Belgium Folly Pack w/ Old Cherry
  • Ommegang Witte 750ml
  • Bison Brewing - Reunion Beer 2008
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • McAuslan St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat
  • McAuslan St. Ambroise Plae Ale
  • McAuslan St. Amborise Oatmeal Stout
  • Avery Karma
  • Avery 14er ESB
  • Avery Redpoint Amber
  • Mikkeller Stateside IPA
  • Nils Oscar IPA
  • Nils Oscar Kalasol
  • Nils Oscar Imperial Stout
  • Nils Oscar Barley Wine
  • Eisenbahn Lust
  • Eisenbahn Defumada Smoke
  • Haandbryggeriet Dark Force
  • Haandbryggeriet Norwegian Wood
  • Brasserie de la Senne Taras Boulba
  • Gavroche French Red
  • Nogne IPA
  • Nogne Saison
• 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:
  • Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12, 16 & 30
  • Anderson Valley Summer
  • Shipyard Summer
  • Lagunitas Maximus
  • Lagunitas Lucky 13
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new and special selections they have in stock:
  • Maredsous Dubbel and Trippel (750ml)
  • Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de Keizer 2008 (750ml)
  • St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat (4pk)
  • St. Ambroise Pale Ale (4pk)
  • St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout (4pk)
  • Berghoff Red Bock Winter Ale
  • Shiner Bohemian
  • New Grist Sorghum Beer
  • Bell’s Oberon 5L mini kegs & 6pks
  • Buffalo Bill’s Orange Blossom
  • Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock vintage 2003 & 2004
  • New Belgium La Folie

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• July 16 - Newstead Tower Public House Boulevard Beer Dinner
• July 17 - Starr’s July Beer Dinner

I hope everyone is ready for a great weekend of drinking, this festival is shaping to be even better than last year’s. Here’s the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Fox’s Screwballs took a trip over to Anheuser-Busch before the Cubs-Cards series.
• Matt’s Beer Blog reviewed Schlafly’s Export IPA.
• Adam Jadhav of the Post-Dispatch has created a new column called Hip Hops. This is the first in what’s hopefully many columns to come.
• The Slag Pile picks up some beer at Lukas Liquor.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • DFH 120 Minute (Maybe today, probably next week)
  • Founders Rubaeus
  • DFH Aprihop
  • Schlafly Export IPA
  • Jolly Pumpkin Calbaza lanca, Bam & E.S. Bam
  • Two Brothers Monarch White
  • Sierra Nevada Summerfest
  • Hofbrau Maibock
  • Avery Collaboration
  • Lefthand Chainsaw
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Bam Bier Batch 280/281
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Calabaza Blanca Batch 285
  • Jolly Pumpkin - ES Bam Batch 288/289
  • Jolly Pumpkin - La Roja Blend 4,2008
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Oro de Calabaza Batch 275
  • Altenmunster Maibock
  • Bison Brewing Reunon 08 Organic Red Rye
  • Lindemans Cuvee Rene
  • Traquair House Ale
• Paul also informed me for those not attending the Heritage Festival, that they’ll be tasting the Jolly Pumpkin beers at the Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton between Noon and 3PM.
• Ric at Sybergs on Gravois alerts me to some new beers he’s carrying for your drinking enjoyment:
  • Augie’s Rye Pale Ale
  • Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• May 8, 9, 10 - St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival
• May 10 - Iron Barley’s 5th Anniversary Party
• May 14 - Newstead Tower Schlafly Beer Dinner
• May 15 - Whole Foods IPA Beer Tasting
• May 15 - Mangia Italiano Spring Beer Dinner
• May 29 - Starr’s May Beer Dinner

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

I’m in the process of working on a couple of projects that I think everyone will enjoy, so hopefully we’ll see those come to fruition in the coming weeks. Anyone headed down to Stout and Oyster this weekend? I may stop by on Saturday afternoon, but I have a rather busy weekend ahead of me. On to the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Anheuser-Busch discusses their newest recipe, Sun Dog Amber Wheat.
• The Post-Dispatch had a recent article about the growth of craft beer.
• Hope you don’t plan on bringing some of that craft beer down to Dogtown parades.

Beer Releases and News

• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • J.W. Lees - Moonraker Ale
  • Wye Valley Brewery - Dorothy Goodbody’s Wholesome Stout
  • Brauerei Weihenstephan - 1809 (Berliner Weiss)
  • Gasthaus & Gosebrauerei Bayerischer Bahnhof - Gose
  • Pivovar Klaster - Premium Lager
  • Boston Brewing - Sam Adams Long Shot (6 pk including 3 bottles each of Weizenbock and Grape Pale Ale with Maple Syrup)

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Mar 7 & 8 - Schlafly Stout and Oyster Festival
• Mar 20 - Beer Tasting at Rendezvous Cafe and Wine Bar

Today is my girlfriend Irene’s birthday, so I want to wish a very happy birthday to a woman that puts up with all of my beer discussion, dinners, ramblings, travel, purchases and general insanity. If you’re still shopping for that beer nerd in your life, be sure to check out my choices for 10 beer gifts in St. Louis. Onto the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Keith Shank at A Visual Roundup gives his thoughts on Schlafly Oatmeal Stout.
• Granite City Food and Brewery looks to be opening in January 2008 in Creve Coeur. According to the article, that looks like the first of many locations in the area.
• Sara White over at Sauce has a nice write-up of local breweries and their bourbon barrel beers. (Say that three times fast.)
• The PD has a very interesting interview with a future brewer working at Anheuser-Busch’s pilot brewery.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Jolly Pumpkin - Noel de Calabaza
  • Avery - Old Jubilation
  • Great Divide - Samurai Ale
  • Anchor Brewing - Christmas (’06 also available)
  • Brasserie de Blaugies - La Monsuse Winter Saison/li>
  • Brouwerij Het Anker - Gouden Carolus Cuvee Vander Keizer
  • Brasserie St. Feuillien - St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel
  • Brauerei Weihenstephan - Weihenstephaner Vitus
  • Brauerei Weihenstephan - Weihenstephaner Korbinian
  • Mahrs Bräu - Mahr’s Christmas Bock
  • St. Peter’s Brewery Co - St. Peter’s Winter
  • Greene King / Morland Brewery - Ruddles County Ale
  • Dogfish Head - 90min IPA
  • Dogfish Head - Chateau Jiahu
  • Lagunitas - Lumpy Gravy
  • Duvel (3L Bottle)
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter (4 pk)
  • Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale (4 pk)
  • Charleville Vineyards And Microbrewery - Half Wit Wheat
  • Beamish and Crawford Plc - Beamish Irish Stout (4 pk)
  • Carlsberg Danmark A/S - Carlsberg Elephant Beer
• Chris at Randall’s Wine & Spirits in St. Louis alerts me to some new beers sets he has in stock, just in time for the holiday season:
  • Beamish and Crawford Plc - Beamish Irish Stout (4 pk)
  • Carlsberg Danmark A/S - Carlsberg Elephant Beer
• Chris is also expecting these beers in today at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Lagunitas - Lumpy Gravy
  • Dogfish Head - Chateau Jiahu
  • Brasserie d’Achouffe - N’Ice Chouffe
  • Pivzavod Baltika / Baltic Beverages Holding - Baltika #4 Original (Dark)
  • Pivzavod Baltika / Baltic Beverages HoldingBaltika #6 Porter
  • Mikkeller - Santa’s Little Helper

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Dec 19 - Holiday Beer Tasting at Whole Foods
• Dec 26 - Schlafly 16th Anniversary Party

As fellow beer enthusiasts you may or may not be aware that hop and malt prices have sky rocketed. In fact trying to find specific types of hops right now is near impossible. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has picked up on the story of local brewers hop pinch.

For now, it’s a mad dash among small breweries to find supplies of the hops that define their brews. Brewmasters are mulling ad hoc recipes to mimic certain flavors in case they can’t get the usual varieties of hops. Suppliers are tightening payment terms, demanding faster cash.

Hops are “incredibly scarce,” said Daran Churovich, brewmaster at Kirkwood brewpub Alandale Brewing Co. “Everybody’s scrambling.”

Much of beer’s flavor and aroma is affected by hops; not being able to purchase the hops that are specific to the commercial beer you’re producing could lead to a noticeable change in the beer itself. One of the most important aspects of the brewing industry is consistency. You want every pint, every bottle and every keg to taste the same from one batch to the next. Being forced to change what hops you use puts a real crimp into your consistency.

This hop scarcity problem isn’t affecting just the big (or little) boys, but homebrewers as well. Talking to Dave a few weeks ago at St. Louis Wine and Beermaking he was pretty frustrated about the lack of hop availability. Fortunately, homebrewers are a bit luckier in this regard. We’re not selling a product, we’re brewing beer to drink for ourselves and friends. We have the luxury of experimenting and using newer or more unusual hops such as Marynka (Polish,) Pride of Ringwood (Austalian,) Progress (UK,) or Newport (US.)

I have a feeling over the next few years in the US we’re going to see the strongest craft breweries survive and those that are producing mediocre beers being to falter and close up. No matter what, we’re all going to be paying a higher price in the end.

_{Thanks to Jim for the Denver Post article.}