January 6

• Currently on tap at J.K. O’Donnell’s (Fort Wayne) – Kulmbacher Eisbock – very smooth, tasty and a nice winter beer to warm you up, Murphy’s Stout, Guinness, Smithwick’s Red Ale, Warbird Shanty Irish Red Ale, Warbird Mustang Gold, Harp Euro Pale Lager, Old Speckled Hen, Stella Artois, Three Floyd’s Gumballhead, Ommegang Witte, and Strongbow Cider
• Seasonal Selections (Limited Quantities) at J.K. O’Donnell’s – Harvey’s Christmas Ale, De Ranke Guldenberg, Urthel Samaranth, New Day Dry Blueberry Honey Wine (Mead) from Elwood, IN, New Day Semi Sweet Plum Honey Wine (Mead) (from Elwood, IN), Dansk Viking Blod (Mead), and Lurgashall Tower of London (Mead)

January 5 Just a reminder, the B.I.G. Winterfest is in 3 weeks. Sat, Jan 24. Indiana State Fairgrounds. See you there.

The official Hoosier Beer Geek New Years Eve party at Deano's Vino ended sometime in the early AM. With Dogfish Head 120, Delirium Tremens, and Brugge Thunder Monkey on tap, no telling exactly when the last dog was hung. pictures

Short sips:

• Alcatraz Belgian Dupple - Candi sugar, honey, and lotsa malt.
• Rock Bottom, 86th St 2007 Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout - Big, big whiskey nose. Sweet whiskey vanilla. This is secretly on tap now and is scheduled to be poured at the B.I.G. Winterfest.
• Mike Ditka Merlot and Pinot Grigio. Not even tasted but available at Old Town Ale House.

Beer Advocate has discussion groups including their Great Lakes Group. They have now started a Chicago Group.

There's a bit of Moylan's IPA and Moylander Imperial IPA out in Indiana stores. Victory Storm King and Old Horizontal will hit stores in the next couple of weeks. You can find out where at World Class Beverages Beer Finder. We're also told Goose Island Mild Winter is also here.

Hoppin' Frog is looking for your beer ideas. email

Bell's will team up with De Proef for collaboration beers in 2009. article

You might remember the Treasurer of the BJCP when all the money disappeared. He's pled guilty. article

"It took an hour to clear the intersection". You know where this is headed. Frozen beer lake story.

Recession and deflation combine for the 99p pint. JD Wetherspoon's real ale at their 713 pubs becomes the cheapest on the planet? article

Stolen directly from Fark: "If you ever wanted to smell, taste, and feel the need to use the urinal all at once, the 'Heineken Experience' reopens in Amsterdam" article

Denver guy with 15,569 bottles of beer on the wall. But they're all Bud. sad guy

January 1

Happy New Beer! For recent news click on Fall, 2008 on the Beer News Menu to the left!