Tuesday: Election day. Opening time is 6pm. At RichO's, a cask conditioned firkin of Elector Ale will be opened at 6pm and a Michael Moore look-alike contest will be judged at 9pm. Roger Baylor promises to not short-pour Republican unless they refer to the "Democrat Party".

Saturday: Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day

Saturday - Chicago: Festival of Wood and Barrel-aged beer. Goose Island, Wrigleyville. 1-5pm. $25 at door.

• Great Lakes Nosferatu Stock Ale won't be coming to Indiana but it's very good. Burning River Pale's big brother. (Whoops. Nosferatu is available in Indiana - Thanks Jeff)
• New Holland's Phi Baltic Porter didn't make it to Indiana either and don't expect their new Dragon's Milk Strong Ale (10.5%) or next hear's Pilgrim's Dole Barley Wine (10%) but we hope to get to Holland, MI and grab a few bottles.
• But Indiana has Sam Smith's Winter Welcome back in the traditional bottle. Now in it's 15th year.
• Chicago's "Musical Brewers": Greg Brown has moved from Brass to Mickey Finn's. Anthony Carollo has moved from Flatlanders to Brass. Scott Prutton, owner of MoJo homebrewing supply has taken over brewing at Flatlanders.
• Ohio's newest brewpub is Cornerstone Brewing Company in Berea. Brewer Doug Beedy's initial offerings were an IPA, and oatmeal stout, two lagers, Belgian brown and a Belgian pale ale with rye.
• Thirsty Dog's Canton brewpub has closed. Still open in Dayton and Akron are still open.

Kevin's Pumpkin Ale is on tap. Not a pumpkin pie beer which means allspice and cinnamon. It's a restrained pumpkin-added ale that satisfies.

Red Bird Mild is about to make a return.

This winter's heavy ales include the return of Wee Alec about Christmas time, another yet-to-be-named old ale, and a barleywine on cask.

Also from Indiana - Back Road's Maple City Gold, Three Floyds' Alpha King, Dreadnaught, and Robert the Bruce, and Mad Anthony's Ol' Woody Pale Ale.

Harpoon UFO hefe (UnFiltered Offering), IPA, Oktoberfest; New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin; Rogue Chamomellow (w/chamomile spice); Avery The Kaiser Imperial Stout; Rockies Sweaty Betty Blonde; Bamberger Monk's Brau (unfiltered lager); Salopian Entire Butt Porter.

Some Belgians: Cantillon Kriek, Rose de Gambrinus (framboise), Grand Cru, Saint Lamvin (w/grapes), Fou'foune (apricot), Iris; Fantome Babillard, Printemps, Black Ghost, Pissenlit (dandelion saison), Gourmande; Kapittel Blond, Abt, Prior, Pater.

Avery's Beast Grand Cru this year comes in at 18.1% ABV.

Mike ordered 48 cases of this year's Double Bastard and all the Oak Bastard they could get. Coming soon.

The Carmel store has a new organic meats section - all the normal meats, salamis, etc.

Kahn's web site now has a search function that will, once the database is filled in, let you know availability and price of all their beer and wine offerings. Search by name, style, keyword (hoppy, malty, raspberry, etc).

Aged Harvest Ale poured from the wooden keg in bars such as BW3. The Heorot, and RichO's is a wonder. Deep, intense, malty, still, and just plain immense. A real assault on the senses. To be enjoyed at room temperature.

Unfortunately the bottled versions seem to be Lees Light. The Calvados cask aged has all the fruitiness as the cask version but is less intense. It also has CO₂ present which might well be proper but was disconcerting to our prejudices about this beer.

We can't speak (yet) about all 4 versions but can tentatively recommend them as very good beer worthy of the high-end market where they are placed. But they are not the same beer as that drawn on a handpull or from a wooden tap from a keg sitting on the bar.

• Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Special Reserve - aged in single malt whisky casks for 6 months. Very dark brown. Whisky comes through along with some dark fruit. Smoothed and refined with oaky wood notes. OEO tamed. 6% ABV.
• Urthel Quadrium Ale - lighter in color than some Belgian quads. Spice is the dominant note after the malt and Belgian yeast notes.
• St. Bernardus Pater 6 - a balanced caramelly Belgian brown. 6.7% ABV. One of St. Bernardus's "entry level" beers.
• St Feuillien Tripel - bottle conditioned. Effervescent that matches the yellow champagne color. Belgian yeast is dominant which gives a nice horse blanket taste.
• J.W. Lees Harvest Ale, Calvados Cask - all of the nuances without the pounce. Lighter color. (see above).
• Hanssens Oude Gueze - the lightest of the popular Guezes. The least cheek and tongue cramping of the style.

Jura Superstition has pure Jura island SMS character. Not on the shelves yet and we don't know what the price will be.

Pogue bourbon is a special recipe from Bardstown, KY for a local Indianapolis guy's distribution. Quite nice, plenty of burn without much harshness. Not complex in character, just the good stuff basics.

Speaking of hops, Stone IPA is on tap at MacNiven's.

Things must be going well in Iraq. From the Distinguished Brands newsletter: "Batilka, Russia's biggest beer exporter, plans to enter markets in Brazil, Cuba, India and Iraq next year. Owned jointly by Scottish & Newcastle and Carlsberg, Batilka currently sells in 35 countries."

Coming up: Kwak, Cantillon Grand Cru.

Kasteel Cru is from Coors and Karlsbrau of Alsace. Curious Brew is from Kent and uses Cascade and Saaz hops and is fermented twice.

Saturday - Louisville, KY: Brew dinner at Winston's Restaurant at Sullivan University. $60. 6:30pm. Beers from New Albanian and Cumberland. Reserve a space by calling Michael Borchers at 812-944-2517.

Now you can find the nearest good pub with your cell phone via text messaging. It costs 50 pence and gives you directions and a map and automatically tracks down your phone to find where you are.

Also on tap: weiss, blonde, ruby, pale, and stout. Also on the menu: shepherd's pie pizza.

Floyd plans to open his Jim Beam hogshead of Bourbon Stout on December 20th. He used a Belgian strong ale yeast and it's been aging since January.

Also on tap: wheat, weizen, amber, pale, IPA, porter. The gold, porter, wheat and Dragonfly are available at the bar $6/6-pack; $20/case.

Near Thanksgiving, Upland will unleash this year's Winter Warmer. They also have 1 keg each of last year's and 2002's to open near the same time for tasting comparisons. We had a touch of 2003's last night and it has married well into a world class beer. Hopefully they'll bottle a bit to bring back a GABF gold medal to Indiana next year.

Indiana Daily Student article about the geography lesson.

• Summit Great Northern Porter - Light bodied but with quite full taste. Properly dark color.
• Summit Grand (Pilsner) - hoppy full on European style.
• Summit Oktoberfest - Good malty example.
• Summit Oatmeal Stout (their newest beer - available in nitro keg only).

The Vagrant's Choice hit the drain. Bye bye.

Also on tap: Warsteiner Dunkel, Pilsner. Weihenstephaner Hefe, Pilsner. Spaten lager, Oktoberfest, Optimator. Amber. Razz. Guinness.

The Porter and Flying Duck American Brown are both available on the hand pull. The Brown is smooth, balanced and very nice.

Rockies Never Summer Ale is a winter seasonal now in the state.

Cincinnati will get a Beer Hall of Fame in 2006 if the plans of Randall Herbst go forward. Supporting info: 110,000 sq ft with a brewery and up to 7 restaurants.  These guys also have the US Beer Drinking Team and Beer Radio. They need to raise something like $3M to make the HOF real.

Wednesday - Indy: Rock Bottom unleashes Demon Sweat ESB at 6pm downstairs at a Mug Club party. "A full-bodied Extra Special Bitter with rich malt flavors of toffee, raisin and slightly nutty notes. Accompanied by a mild grassy and floral hop character. Our ESB is sure to put you in the autumn mood at 6.2% ABV."

This will be a good opportunity to stop in and say "bye for now" to brewer Tim Marshall. (see below).

Wednesday - Indy: Rathskeller Customer Appreciation Night. 5-9pm. $3.75 for a large Amber.

Wednesday - Delafield, WI: Museum of Beer and Brewing fundraising brewmaster's dinner. Delafield Brewhaus. 4-course dinner and lecture. 6:30pm. $49. Reservations: 414-265-2337.

Thursday, Friday - Bloomington: Fall Bloomington Beer Festival. Presented by Big Red Liquors to benefit the Boy's and Girl's Club of Bloomington. 6-9pm. Bloomington Convention Center. $25 on Thursday. $30 on Friday.

Thursday - Avon: Dick's BBQ beer tasting. $25 incl beers and a meal. Reservations suggested.

Next Sunday - Indy: Great Fermentations All Grain brewing class. Contact Anita for details.

The cask conditioned ale coming up in about two weeks is their Dirty Helen Brown Ale aged in a bourbon barrel.

Dustin Boyer will take over Tim's post as head brewer here in Indy. Dustin was an assistant here in the past and has been at a Denver Rock Bottom for a couple of years now.

Jack Frey will replace Eric at Main Street. He is a member of the Ohio Valley Homebrewer's Association and has been Eric's part-time assistant most of this year.

We could expound on the virtues of both of these gentlemen for some time but we'll just sadly say "see you later" to both friends.

In about a month a malt liquor named Hoosier Honey will come on tap - 6.7% ABV. Naturally carbonated using corn and honey in the mash. We had a taste and it's a fine, balanced beer now that will only improve with time. Omar declined to rename it Da Bull in keeping with the big house theme.

During Colts home games they have blue beer available - the Weiss Guy.

• Oatmeal Stout - smooth with roast and dark fruit character.
• Dunkle Weiss - dark brown so the cloudy nature is barely noticed. Chocolate malty with a bit of German spice.
• Vagrant's Choice - Malt Likka at 9.5% ABV. Moderately dark color. Alcohol comes through along with a hot spiciness. Not a crowd favorite.

Next Wednesday Tim's last brew, Demon Sweat ESB, will be unleashed at 6pm. 6.2% ABV. Everyone is invited to come bid a fond adieu.

The official IndianaBeer 2004 flu shot.

Fuller's London Pride will served be on all United Airlines flights between the US and the UK. It's already being served on British Airways and American Airlines flights.

"There are few more shocking drinks than a true gueuze. Maybe they should print a warning on teh beer menus. As it passed my lips, it was as electifying as a live wire - tart, acetic, and attention grabbing. Winey, cidery, earthy like a truffle or a new potato and drying, drying all the time, it caught the throat with each swallow. What strikes you is the way gueuze can leave your teeth ringing, as if they've just been given a violent spring clean. Your gums tingle and recede. It demands heroism. Your palate has been rudely awakened; your metabolism has been kicked into gear." - Jeff Evans.

""The Isle Of Man Pure Beer Act, like the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot over two centuries earlier, expressly forbade any substitutes or additives - other than sugar - to the natural brewing ingredients of malt, yeast, and hops."

All Week - New Albany: RichO's Hop Fest. continues. Next Saturday a  Cask-conditioned BBC (St. Matthews) Ultra will be opened. On tap at any time may be Alpha King, Anderson Valley Belk’s ESB, Hop Ottin’ IPA, Avery 11, BBC cask-conditioned APA, Bluegrass Brewing Company Ultra, Browning’s IPA, Dogfish Head 60, 90, 120 Minute, NABC cask-conditioned Elector, Rockies Hazed and Infused, Mojo, Rogue Dry Hopped Red, I2PA, Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale, Stone Arrogant Bastard, IPA, Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA.

Today - South Bend: Vine Liquors Octoberfest beer festival at the Vine Restaurant in downtown. 3-7pm. 75 beers. Chili and brats. $30, 2 for $50.

Tuesday - Greenwood: Shallos Beer tasting.

Tuesday - Carmel: Fredrick Booker Noe III, great grandson of Jim Beam and son of the legendary distiller Booker Noe, will be at Hamilton Beverage for a tasting and bottle signing. 5-6pm.

Thursday - Castleton: Chalkies "Locals Appreciation Night" 5-8:30pm. $2 pints of Upland drafts. Free food. beer paraphernalia.

Next Sunday - Indy: BW3 Woodchuck tasting. 10pm. $3.25/pint.

Some tastings

• Mountain Creek Classic Lager - competitive with Budmillercoors. No real off flavors except a hint of cooked corn.
• Kinsale Irish Ale - slightly darker, slightly more taste. Cold, refreshing. Popular on tap right now.
• New Glarus Eisbock - mahogany. Solid, deep taste with very little nose. Alcohol is noticeable only after imbibment. Dangerous. Just won a bronze at the GABF.
• New Glarus Imperial Stout - yep, dead black. Big black schwarz ale. Not roasty or toasty, just big, balanced, and smooth. An impossible beer.
• Duchese De Bourgogne - fine, fine, Flemish red ale. Sour and complex. Dark brown. Rich. A desert island beer.

"Duneland Brewhouse closed it's doors on Oct 3, 2004.
I went in on Monday the 4th and dumped A LOT of good beer down the drain.
I didn't cry but I was very tempted.
The aroma was wonderful.
I hope that the good Lord will forgive me."

Barb made good beer but Duneland was the wrong brewery at the wrong time. Jinxed. The equipment was not appropriate. The owners and staff were uncaring. Sigh.

Beer in the Region is alive and well - Three Floyds, Back Road, Duneland Homebrewers Association. We'll be hearing from Barb again.

Summit EPA, IPA & Porter can once more be found in Indiana - and the price is a bit lower than last spring.

Some brewers that distribute in Indiana won gold medals.

A-B also announced "B to the E" a malternative to hit the streets in November if the feds give approval. It has caffeine, ginseng, and guarana with flavors of blackberry, raspberry, and cherry. Nope, we haven't tried it.

Asahi has canceled production of beer in Japan in plastic bottles, citing waste disposal objections.

Fuller's ESB won the Celebrator Beer News blind tasting.

2) The Vegetarian Society Awards named Guinness one of the three most coveted foods containing meat. Isinglass is used in the finings. The other two products are Licorice Allsorts (gelatin) and Smarties (cochineal - made from crushed beetles).

3) Here's The Webtender's Top 100 requested drinks. #1? Jello shots.

Tuesday - Fishers: Payless Liquors first Beer Tasting. 6-8pm. Oktoberfest beers. (Payless plans to hold tastings in their store every other Tuesday).

Wednesday - Chicago: 2nd Annual Festival of Barrel-Aged beer. Goose Island Wrigleyville. Presented by Illinois Craft Brewers Guild.

Thursday - Ann Arbor: Arbor Brewing Oktoberfest Tasting. 7pm-9pm. $25 incl sampling, appetizers, door prizes.

Friday through ?? - New Albany: RichO's Hop Fest. "We’ll be exceeding OSHA’s legal limits on IBU’s per square foot of floor space when Lupulin Land 2004 begins on Friday, October 8. It is our third harvest hop celebration, and a good occasion for Kentuckiana’s hopheads to unite over a pint or two of America’s most bitter beer and to banish thoughts of abominations like Keystone to the nether regions formerly reserved for sinners, miscreants and Auggie Busch’s backyard brunch chardonnay sippers."

Alpha King, Anderson Valley Belk’s ESB, Hop Ottin’ IPA, Avery 11, BBC cask-conditioned APA, Bluegrass Brewing Company Ultra, Browning’s IPA, Dogfish Head 60, 90, 120 Minute, NABC cask-conditioned Elector, Rockies Hazed and Infused, Mojo, Rogue Dry Hopped Red, I2PA, Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale, Stone Arrogant Bastard, IPA, Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA.

Saturday - Noblesville: Barley Island Hogtoberfest band and beer in the parking lot. A full evening of fun, food, and froth. 6-10pm. $12 in advance, $14 at the door. All ticket proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville.

Next Sunday - South Bend: Vine Liquors Octoberfest beer festival at the Vine Restaurant in downtown. 3-7pm. 75 beers. Chili and brats. $30, 2 for $50.

• Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout -  Good thick stout with a bit of malty sweetness. Caramel malt. Slight bittersweet chocolate notes. A winner.
• Old Rasputin - The classic Imperial Stout. Strong roasty. Not something you'd serve to the neighbors. 9% ABV.
• Left Hand Imperial Stout - Generally all-around lighter than Rasputin. More aroma but not as assertive. Rough, barky, edges. Doesn't match standards. Interesting that it says "Please Keep Refrigerated".
• Bell's Java Stout - Could sit and smell this all day. Strong black coffee. This is a 2003 bottle and it has aged very well. Smooth. 9.9% ABV.
• Sprecher Oktoberfest. Light oaky copper. Right smack in the middle of the Oktoberfest style. Recommended.
• Trinity Red Ale - Brownish, definitely not red. Refreshing. Mild. From Goose Island and sold at Trader Joe's.
• Helmar Babe Ruth Big League Brew - Hoppy pre-prohibition lager. 4.4% ABV. One bottle had floaters from oxygen getting past the cap. The other was pleasant but not outstanding, although plenty of nice bitterness. Neat label of the Babe - under license.

If you can't wait, drop by tonight as they are opening a pony keg of last year's batch at 5pm. It's a perennial favorite and won't last the weekend.