Larry Chase of Granite City Food & Brewery emailed to let me know that one of their best-selling seasonals, their Oktoberfest, goes on tap as of October 8th. Here’s the breakdown of the beer from Larry:

Ingredients include:

Grain Cargill GC Special Blend, Munich, Vienna, Crystal
Hops Northern Brewer, Tettnang, Sterling
O.G. 1.055

Apparently this beer sells out within 2 weeks of it being tapped, so if you’re a fan of Oktoberfests make sure to get over to GCFB ASAP.

While we’ve seen more and more beers hitting St. Louis shelves as of recent, I’ve heard of a few that we won’t be seeing any time soon:

Bells - Java Stout and Sparkling Ale: Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing these two seasonals on store shelves this year as they’re being retired.  According to Bell’s rep Jim O’Connor both beers are being retired due to raw material issues.  But all is not bleak, we will see a return of Hell Hath No Fury to the St. Louis area along with a new Christmas Ale.

Founders Devil Dancer:  While we’ve all tried to weathered through the hop shortages this year here’s a victim that cuts straight through my heart.  Founders has announced that we will not be seeing their triple IPA Devil Dancer on shelves this winter.  On the plus side, Founders has expanded their capacity which means we’ll be seeing more of the beers we love so dearly (Red’s Rye) and hopefully more of the special seasonals they put out as well (Kentucky Breakfast Stout.)

Being the greedy bugger I am, one of the first questions I asked when Avery first arrived was, “Awesome, but are we getting the specialty and seasonal beers too?”  Sadly, at the time the answer was, “We don’t have them yet.”  Well, things are finally looking up as Paul from the Wine and Cheese Place just informed me that Avery’s Imperial IPA Maharaja is now available in St. Louis.  Here’s the description from Avery’s website:

Maharaja is derived from the sanskrit words mahat, - “great” and rajan - “king”. Much like its namesake, this imperial IPA is regal, intense and mighty. With hops and malts as his servants, he rules both with a heavy hand. The Maharaja flaunts his authority over a deranged amount of hops: tangy, vibrant and pungent along with an insane amount of malted barley - fashioning a dark amber hue and exquisite malt essence.

This newest Avery Dictator completes the “Dictator Series” joining the likes of The Kaiser & The Czar. Be aware that The Maharaja is a limited release only available for the summer. Welcome to his kingdom!

I’ve also been informed that we’ve only received 15 cases so far.  But there is no guarentee that more is on the way.  The easiest way to make that happen is to buy some as soon as possible.  Show Avery we love their product, that way we’re more likely to keep getting these limited releases.

Ok, so yesterday’s post was completely terrible. From messing up twice on the type of bourbon barrels to doubting it would see store shelves this week. Sorry about that, should have checked with people in the know before spouting off. Oh well, onward and upward.

According to Derek Bean, the sales manager for O’Fallon, the bulk of the 31 cases should be hitting store shelves today. So I’d contact your local retailer to see if it’s available to pick up today. If the frenzy for Hopslam was any barometer, this one is sure to go fast as well.

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

We have a lot of new readers to STL Hops, welcome to you all. This is the Friday Round-Up, a place for me to post some of the cool stuff I’ve found throughout the week along with new beers and beer events in the St. Louis area.

A couple of firsts for me tonight. For the first time ever, my homebrew will be judged in a competition. After some good compliments at Mondays St. Louis Brews meeting I’m hoping to get some decent scores and some decent input. The other first for me tonight is that this will be my first time judging a competition as well. I’ve got some excellent judges by my side, so I hope I don’t fumble too much. Enough of my blathering, on to the Round-Up:

Stuff from around the web

• The history of the Kegerator provides some interesting history of St. Louis brewing.
• Anheuser-Busch is using its Michelob brand to battle craft brews.
• STL Hops and Washington University are looking to improve your love life: Beer helps you get laid.
• How did you celebrate the REAL anniversary of prohibition?

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines sent me this last weekend of beers he has in his stock. Give him a call to see if they’re all still there:
  • Ommegang - Chocolate Indulgence Stout
  • Dogfish Head - 60 min IPA
  • Dogfish Head - Chicory Stout
  • Anderson Valley Brewing Co. - Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
  • New Holland - The Poet Stout
  • Allagash Brewing Company - Allagash White
  • Allagash Brewing Company - Allagash Grand Cru Reserve
  • Avery Brewing Company - The Reverend
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Brouwerij Van den Bossche - Pater Lieven (Kerst Pater Special) Christmas
  • Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck - Brigand Belgian Ale
  • Charleville Vineyard - Charleville Tornado Alley Amber Ale
  • Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg - Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier Helles
• Paul also informed me that they’ll be tasting Kerst Pater, La Chouffe Golden Ale, Delirium Noel, Brigand and Great Divide Titan IPA on Saturday between 11AM and 3PM.
• 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:
  • Brouwerij Het Anker - Gouden Carolus Noel (4-pack)
  • Carlsberg Sverige - D. Carnegie & Co. Stark Porter
  • Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg - Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier Helles (4-pack)
  • Greisediek Brothers Brewery - Golden Pilsner (6-pack)
  • Abbaye de Leffe S.A. - Leffe Blonde (6-pack)
  • Anheuser-Busch - Shock Top Belgian White (Formerly Spring Heat Spiced Wheat) (6-pack)
• Chris is also expecting these beers in today at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Dubuisson - Bush de Noël (Scaldis Noel) (750ml)
  • Goose Island Brewery - Imperial IPA (4-pack)
  • Goose Island Brewery - Bourbon County Stout (4-pack)
  • Goose Island Brewery - Christmas (6-pack)
  • Pyramid Breweries - Snow Cap (6-pack)
  • Unibroue - Terrible (750ml)

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Dec 8 - Happy Holiday Homebrew Competition
• Dec 26 - Schlafly 16th Anniversary Party

Are you a homebrewer? Have you entered the Happy Holiday Homebrew Competition yet? If you haven’t you still have a sliver of time to enter. It’s really simple, you just register your beer here, print out the confirmation, and then drop off the beer, entry fee and confirmation at either The Tap Room, St. Louis Wine and Beermaking or Worm’s Way. Who knows, you could come away a winner? Here’s this week’s Round Up:

Stuff from around the web

• The Brew Site did a review of O’Fallon’s Pumpkin Ale
• Anheuser-Busch tells us that the beer market is strong, but then warns about beer prices going up.
• Bill let’s us know about a new brewery/restaurant in Granite City Creve Couer (thanks Bill), with an unusual way of making beer
• St. Louis native Neal Stewart lets us know what his fantasy beer dinner would entail.
• AB moves into the vodka biz.

Beer Releases and News

• 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):
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Pumpkin
  • Anchor Brewing - 2006 Our Special Ale Magnum
  • Anchor Brewing - 2007 Our Special Ale Magnum
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck - Brigand Belgian Ale
  • Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV - St. Bernadus Mixed 6 Pack
  • Shmaltz Brewing Company - He’Brew Jewbelation Eleven
  • Coors Brewing Company - Blue Moon Full Moon Winter Ale
• Paul also informed me that they’ll be tasting Blue Moon Full Moon Winter, Anchor Christmas, Harveys Christmas Ale, Delirium Noel, Sam Smiths Winter Welcome, He’Brew Jewbelation and Gouden Carolus Noel on Saturday between 11AM and 3PM.
• 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:
  • Mendocino Brewing Company - Mendocino Imperial IPA Winter Seasonal
  • Arcadia Brewing Company - Arcadia Imperial Stout (4 Pack)
  • Arcadia Brewing Company - Arcadia Shipwreck Barrel Aged Porter (22oz Bomber)
  • Arcadia Brewing Company - Arcadia Cereal Killer Barleywine (220z Bomber)
  • Barons Brewing Company - Barons Extra Special Bitter
  • Barons Brewing Company - Black Wattle Superior Wattle Seed Ale
  • Tooheys Brewing - Tooheys New
  • Anheuser-Busch - Brewmasters Private Reserve 2007
  • Anheuser-Busch - Michelob Celebrate Series
• Chris is also has these beers in today at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Left Hand Brewing Company - Snowbound (6 packs)
  • Left Hand Brewing Company - Warrior IPA (Bombers)
  • August Schell Brewing Co - Snowstorm (6 Packs)
  • Boulder Beer - Never Summer Ale (6 Pack)
  • Breckenridge Brewery - Christmas Ale (6 Packs)
  • Sprecher Brewing Company - Winter Brew (4 Packs)
  • Sprecher Brewing Company - Dopple Bock (4 Packs)
  • Wychwood Brewery Company - Bah Humbug

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Dec 3 - St. Louis Brews Homebrew Club Meeting
• Dec 8 - Happy Holiday Homebrew Competition
• Dec 26 - Schlafly 16th Anniversary Party

The ninth of November already? Really? Jeez. It’s going to be 2008 before you know it. Anyway, did anyone happen to attend the Schlafly/Ritz dinner last night? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend as I had prior commitments. If you did attend, please give me a heads up.

On to the round-up!

• Bill Burge let us know that Anheuser-Busch is putting out a new cookbook that looks to help pair beer and food. “Great Food, Great Beer” will be available in the beer aisle at most grocery stores.
• According to the TheBeerBaron14 at the BA Forums, Bailey’s Chocolate Bar will be carrying a special sour beer called “Eric’s Ale.” Eric Salazar, who created this beer and also helped to create La Folie, will be at Bailey’s on Tuesday night to drink and discuss the beer.
• Tempered Woman posted a recipe for Green Chicken Chili featuring Schlafly IPA. Sounds like a perfect cold weather dinner.
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Breckinridge Brewery Double Hopped IPA Small Batch 471
  • Boulevard - Nutcracker Ale
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Christmas Ale
  • Barons Brewing Company - Barons Extra Special Bitter
  • Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers - De Dolle Oerbier 2006 Special Reserva
  • Green’s Gluten Free Beers - Green’s Quest (UK Company, Brewed in Belgium)
  • Green’s Gluten Free Beers - Green’s Discovery
  • Green’s Gluten Free Beers - Green’s Endeaver
  • Samuel Smith - Winter Welcome Ale
  • Bell’s - Winter White Ale
  • Goose Island - Christmas Ale
  • Goose Island - Imperial IPA
  • Grolsch Magnums
  • Anheuser-Busch - Budweiser Private Reserve Magnum
• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock. If you live in South County (or anywhere for that matter!), it’s well worth the drive:
  • Founders Brewing Company - Founders Backwoods Bastard
  • Founders Brewing Company - Founders Harvest Ale
  • Dogfish Head - 90 min IPA
  • Dogfish Head - Raison D’Etre
  • Goose Island - Bourbon County Stout
  • Weihenstephaner Festbier
  • Sierra Nevada - Hop Harvest Ale
  • Boulder Beer - Cold Hop British-Style Ale
  • Clipper City Brewery - Heavy Seas - Winter Storm (”Category 5″ Ale)
  • Clipper City Brewery - Heavy Seas - Loose Cannon (Hop3 Ale)
  • Two Brothers Brewing Company - Heavy Handed IPA
  • Victory Brewing Company - Storm King
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new selections they have in stock:
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Christmas Ale
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Oak-Aged Barleywine-Style Ale
  • Goose Island - Christmas Ale
  • Goose Island - Bourbon County Stout
  • Goose Island - Imperial IPA
  • Pyramid Brewing - Snow Cap Ale
  • ODell - Isolation Ale
  • Bell’s - Winter White Ale
  • Breckenridge - Christmas Ale
  • Boulevard - Nutcracker Ale
  • New Belgium - 2 Below (also available in kegs!)
  • Samuel Smith - Winter Welcome Ale
  • Rogue - Santa’s Private Reserve Ale
  • Boston Brewing Company - Samuel Adam’s Winter Lager
  • O’Fallon - Goat’s Breath Bock
  • Anheuser-Busch - Michelob Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale
  • Anheuser-Busch - Budweiser Brewmasters Private Reserve

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Nov 12 - Autumn Beer Dinner at Duff’s
• Nov 14 - Beer and Cheese Tasting at the Schlafly Tap Room
• Nov 20 - First Capitol Brewers Homebrew Club Meeting
• Dec 8 - Happy Holiday Homebrew Competition

I don’t know about you, but this is a busy beer week for me. I’ll be visiting Duffs, Bailey’s and Schlafly this week. But I’m not complaining, I mean how can you complain about 3 great events all in the same week? Enjoy the weekend and enjoy some good beer as well.

This really should have been done earlier in the week, but life happens and it just didn’t happen when I wanted. But better late than never, right? As I mentioned last Friday, Saturday was the national Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day. As such I went over to St. Louis Wine and Beermaking to purchase some yeast to homebrew a Scottish 80 Shilling.

To celebrate National Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day, St. Louis W&B was putting on an all-grain homebrewing demonstration. Luckily I was smart enough to bring my camera to snap a couple of pictures:

What was originally going to be a 5 minute trip turned into an hour of standing around, watching a pot try to boil and talking homebrewing techniques with novices and experts. It was nice being able to help new guys out and give them some tips and also pick up some tips from people more experienced than I.

When I got home a small homebrewing task awaited me. I needed to move my Belgian Dark Strong from the carboy to a corny keg for aging. Usually this goes pretty easily, but for whatever reason I ended up with a lot of water on myself and the basement floor. Oh well, it least the beer is being aged now.

I cleaned myself up and let myself dry out a bit and then headed over to The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton to visit with Paul and to sample the 06 Schlafly Barleywine vs the 07 Barleywine.

It’s amazing what a year can do, I found that the hops on the 06 have really dropped out and the malt character has really started to come into it’s own and develop a really amazing beer. That’s not to say the 07 isn’t ready to drink right now. It’s a fantastic beer that may make hopheads pretty happy.

I’ve never been to the Clayton Wine and Cheese Place as the Rock Hill location is right down the street, but I’m here to tell you that this is a dangerous place for a beer lover.

Everywhere you turn you think, “Oooh, I want that! And that! And That!” and the next thing you know you’ve given Paul 60 of your hard earned dollars. That’s if you’re lucky to keep it less than that.

One last thing that’s not all beer related (except it goes fantastic with it) is that Wine And Cheese Place is selling salami that has been created by the wonderful Salumi Cured Meats out of Seattle. If you’re a fan of salami, you’ll do yourself a huge favor by ponying up the dough and picking some of this up. It’s absolutely delicious.

I just realized I totally blanked and forgot last night was the St. Louis Brews Meeting. I’m really disappointed I missed it. Well anyway, a new month is upon and it’s time for another Round-Up.Plenty of stuff to report today, so let’s get it going.

• Emilie from Sugar Plum has a recipe for brownies using Schlafly Oktoberfest beer.
• In case I haven’t said it enough, Schlafly is releasing their 2007 Barrel Aged Imperial Stout and Barley Wine today. You may find it in your local stores, but if you want to be safe, buy it at the Tap Room or Bottleworks.
• Speaking of Schlafly, their Biere de Garde has been sited at the Trader Joe’s on Manchester near 270.
• 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:
  • St. Bernard Brouwerij - St. Bernardus Gift Sets (6, 8, 12 and Tripel plus a Chalice)
  • Chimay - Chimay Gift Sets (Red, Blue, White plus a Chalice)
  • Ridgeway Brewing - Ridgeway Curious Collection (Lump of Coal, Santa’s Butt, Bad Elf, and Winter Welcome)
  • St. Bernard Brouwerij - St. Bernardus Abt 12 60th Anniversary
  • New Belgium - Frambozen
  • New Belgium - 2 Below
  • Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers - De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva 07
  • St. Bernard Brouwerij - St Bernardus Christmas 750
• Chris is also expecting these beers in today at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers - De Dolle Stille Nacht
  • Founders Brewing Company - Founders Breakfast Stout
  • Founders Brewing Company - Founders Pale Ale
• Kristie at the RFT has an interesting review of Samuel Adams Octoberfest.
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Rogue - Santa’s Private Reserve Ale 22oz
  • Rouge - Santa’s Private Reserve 6pk
  • New Belgium - Frambozen
  • Schlafly - 2007 Oak Aged Reserve Imperial Stout
  • Schlafly - 2007 Oak Aged Barley Wine
• Paul also informs me that they’ll be having a tasting tomorrow from 1-4 at the Wine and Cheese Shop in Clayton featuring the following beers:
  • 2006 Schlafly Barleywine Ale
  • 2007 Schlafly Barleywine Ale
  • Schlafly Biere de Garde
  • 2006 Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emperor
  • 2007 Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emperor
  • 2007 Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Nov 3 - Teach a friend to Homebrew Day
• Nov 8 - Schlafly Beer Dinner at the Ritz
• Nov 12 - Autumn Beer Dinner at Duff’s
• Nov 20 - First Capitol Brewers Homebrew Club Meeting

The upcoming beer events section is a bit sparse. So if you have an event you want to promote, feel free to contact me and I’ll make sure it makes it onto the events calendar. Have a good weekend and make sure to either teach someone or learn how to homebrew!