Night of the Bastards @ Craft Ale House

For any major event it's always good to prepare.  It's key for survival. With Philly Beer Week only a couple days away what better way to gear up than to shock the system with a few heavy hitting bastards?  Tonight (6/1) Craft Ale House in Limerick (or is it Royersford?) unleashes Night of the Bastards.  All things bastard from Stone Brewing and others. Let the prep work begin!  Start time is 6pm.

Draft List

Stone Arrogant Bastard

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Stone Lukcy Basartd (yes, that's how you spell it)

Stone Double Bastard

With a few special guest Bastards.

Founders Dirty Bastard

Founders Backwoods Bastard (yum)

Blue Point Old Howling Bastard

Get Bastardized!!!

The Power of Collaboration: Dogfish Head/Victory/Stone Release Saison du BUFF

Yesterday the collaborative powers of  Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head), Bill Covaleski (Victory) and Greg Koch (Stone) unleashed Saison du Buff. The brew commemorates the short lived, Brewers United for Freedom of Flavor (BUFF) formed by the three brewers back in 2003. 

The Belgian farmhouse style ale breaks away from the norm with some creative herbal touches.  A unique blending of sage, rosemary, thyme and parsley is sure to keep this from being a ho-hum saison. You sure wouldn't expect anything from these guys to get labeled run of the mill. The beer is being brewed at all three breweries. The current batch was done at Stone Brewing and the next brewings happen during Philly Beer Week. First up is Dogfish Head on June 6th (release July) and then Victory Brewing  on June 10th (release August). 

A few words from the guys who do the brew


Dogfish Head / Victory / Stone Saison du BUFF from stonebrew on Vimeo.

The Oakquinox @ Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens

Being here in Philly, knowing we are blessed with a remarkable beer scene it's not too often that I get jealous of other cities. Even if something great isn't happening here there is easy access to the northeast.  New York, Baltimore and DC are all close enough for a weekend roadtrip.  Even a jump up to Boston isn't out of the question.That puts a lot of great beer in easy reach.  However when I look at what Stone Brewing is doing next month I'm irritated that I can't just drop everything and head to So Cal.

Check out Stone's Oakquinox: a celebration of barrel aged and wood-infused beers. The draft lineup has me frothing at the mouth. Then to make it even better the bottle list knocks it out of the park. This is the type of  wood head's fantasy day I'd love to see more of here. I know Standard Tap just had Big Wood Weekend during Philly Beer Weekend and a short while back Capone's unleashed some serious barrel aged drafts but the Stone event is at another level. 

For now unless someone is willing to send me to Escondido, CA on April 18th (come on Lee hook a brother up) I'll have to be satisfied lounging on the deck, sipping on something bourbon aged and dreaming of the grand Oakquinox. Cheers!

Buffalo Trace's Warehouse C

Reach the Vertical Limit w/Stone @ Craft Ale House

Test your vertical limit tonight (2-24) at the Craft Ale House with three vertical flights from Stone. The hardest workin' rep in the land Lee Marren is in house stirring up the room and explaining all things Stone. This is a rare opportunity to sample so many vintages of great beer at one sitting. The journey starts at 6:00PM and goes til 11:00PM. Enjoy your flights.

Old Guardian Barley Wine: 06, 07, 08, 09

Double Bastard Ale: 06, 07, 08, 09

Imperial Russian Stout: 06, 07, 08, 09

Also on draft

09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

How 'Bout Them 7 Stones @ Capone's

Lee Marren is a mad man! This guy may be the rockingest rep in the beer biz. Take no offense Dr. Joel (New Holland), Ms.Woods (Sly Fox) and Ms. Mulligan (Victory) we love you and all those who make a living with the worlds greatest beverage. It just seems like it wasn't that long ago that I shared in a jeroboam of Double Bastard during Stone Night at Craft Ale House. Yes, there is a soft spot in my beer swollen liver for Stone Brewing and more specific Arrogant Bastard. I've been hooked since my first sip eons ago.

For today's event at Capone's Matt and Lee have pulled together 7 Stone treats. The highlight (oh yeah) is a 2006 keg of Brandy Barrel Aged Double Bastard Ale. The taps open at 11:30am just in time for your liquid lunch. To chat with Lee shoot to Capone's after 6pm.

"Your not worthy". PAYG

Stone Drafts

Indian Pale Ale

Ruination IPA

Arrogant Bastard Ale

Russian Imperial Stout 2008

Double Bastard Ale 2009

Vertical Epic 09.09.09

Stone Double Bastard Ale aged In Brandy Barrels

Walking with Stone CEO Greg Koch

TJ's East Coast/West Coast Throwdown

Yeah, this time it's an east coast vs west coast thang. In TJ's ongoing regional beer battles the tag team from New York Ithaca/Southern Tier takes on California's Stone/Coronado. Throwdown goes 7pm-12am. Can't we all just get along?


(West Coast):
Stone IRS
Stone Vertical Epic 09.09.09
Stone Cali-Belgique
Stone Ruination
Stone 13th Anniversary
Coronado Hoppy Daze
Coronado Islander IPA
Coronado Red Devil
Coronado 12th Anniversary Stoopid Stout
Sierra Nevada Estate Harvest or Moylan's Hopsickle

(East Coast):
Ithaca Flower Power
Ithaca Eleven
Ithaca Cold Front
Ithaca Cascazilla
Ithaca Outdoor Harvest Ale
Ithaca Brute
Ithaca alpHalpHa (CASK)
Southern Tier Pumking
Southern Tier Mokah
Southern Tier Creme Brulee
Southern Tier Unearthly
Southern Tier Cuvee II
Southern Tier Harvest
General Lafayette Bier de Cerise

Stoned or a Resurrection?

Mr. Dan Bengel hit me with a Facebook invite that creates a slight biblical dilemma for Wednesday night. The Craft Ale House is having a Turn to Stone event with Stone Brewing rep extraordinaire Lee Marren supplying a fine mix of southern California goodies; Stone 13, Cali-Belgique, Sublimely Self Righteous, Ruination and Vertical Epic 9-9-9. Sounds perfect. Oops, Brendan and crew are opening the doors to Resurrection Ale House on the same night. Don't all you beer guys convene at a giant round table in a secret location so nights like this don't happen? Now a choice must be made. Do I head to the city for a resurrection or make my way to the country to get stoned? Decisions, decisions, decisions.




Big Dan's musical choice might be more spot on but I am feelin' this Black Crowes cover.

Stone 09/09/09

Yes, it is time again for those arrogant bastards (I say that with the utmost respect) over at Stone to release the next creation in the Vertical Epic series, 09/09/09. Since 2002, 02/02/02, a VE beer has been released on the date when numerically the month, day and year match up. The "Vertical" part takes place with the release of 12/12/12 when all releases (How many do you still have?) are to be tasted in a grand, actually "Epic", "Vertical" tasting. If you don't already have this year's VE or if you are waiting for the grand date of 12/12/12 not to worry Head Brewer Mitch Steele lays out the details on The Stone Blog.

Mitch Steele (Head Brewer): During the brewing process we added dark candi sugar, vanilla bean, and tangerine peel to complement the flavors of the porter. The vanilla bean addition is fascinating, as it actually enhances the chocolate character from the roasted malts, and the candi sugar adds a nice hint of molasses flavor to the finish. The tangerine actually turned out to be quite subtle on the finish, and combines nicely with the chocolate malt character. We aged this beer on French oak chips, which contributes a smooth and subtle woody undertone and even more vanilla flavors.

Abv: 8.6%
IBUs: 50
Starting Gravity: 20 degrees plato
Hops:-Perle (German)-Magnum (German)
Grain Bill: -Pale Malt-Crystal Malt-Belgian Aromatic Malt-Chocolate Malt-Black Malt-De-Husked Black Malt
Additional Ingredients: -Tangerine Peel-Vanilla Bean-Dark Candi Sugar

Firewaters: Stone Night

As much as I wish I could go to every beer related event around Philadelphia, until someone gives me a check at the end of each week for spouting my thoughts I have to pick and choose wisely. My time limits had me choosing between Stone @ Firewaters and Founders @ The Drafting Room. Although The Drafting Room was scheduled to have KBS, Cerese (still haven't had it on draft) and four other Founders brews on tap, a chance to chat with Lee and sample from 10 Stone drafts at one sitting won out.

When I first heard that the event was at Firewaters in Concord I was a bit shocked. I knew they had a nice beer selection (50 taps & 101 bottles)but I had never heard of them doing a big craft promo. If this was there first they are starting off strong. Lee Marren worked his magic and brought in old favorites and some hard to find drafts.

Pale Ale
IPA
Ruination IPA
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
2007 Old Guardian Barley Wine
2007 Imperial Russian Stout
08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale
2006 Double Bastard Ale
2008 Old Guardian Barley Wine aged in red wine barrels

Just having the ability to dedicate that amount of space to one brewer and still have a huge selection was impressive. The guys at Firewaters, JJ and Jason (I'm terrible with names so I hope that's right. If I'm wrong let me know and I'll make the correction.) discussed how an encounter with Lee and his boss sparked the promotion idea and brought it to fruition. With that much space there was real motivation to put on some interesting choices. If this had been a weekend promo instead of a midweek the turnout may of been larger. Although, Pat (check below for the guy with the tattoo) had enough Stone enthusiasm to make up for any empty seats.

I hope this is a sign of things to come from Firewaters. My impression is that even though they advertise a great beer selection the proximity to Hooters and the party bar feel may deter some beer people. It shouldn't. I don't think every great beer bar has to be warm wood and low lights or have that classic corner bar feel. Mainly they need to have fresh beer, a good selection and people in charge who are passionate and know the business of beer. From the look of it they can check off all the above. More photos.

Get Your Stone On

Firewaters in Glen Mills/Concordville, PA (route 1 near 202) is hosting a big Stone Beer Night with 10 Stone beers on draft. Wednesday 4/29, P.A.Y.G, 7-10pm.

Pale Ale

IPA

Ruination IPA

Arrogant Bastard Ale

Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

2007 Old Guardian Barley Wine

2007 Imperial Russian Stout

08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale

2006 Double Bastard Ale

2008 Old Guardian Barley Wine aged in red wine barrels

I have to admit it, this is a place that tends to fall under my radar. I'm not sure if it's because it's not on my normal beer trail, it's hidden by the bright lights of Hooters (they share a building), lack of craft beer promos or a bad experience years ago. Either way it deserves another chance and what better night than one with Stone as the focus.

Lee Marren (Stone area rep) will be on hand talking beer, answering questions and deeming you worthy. No fizzy yellow beer here!

Happy 08-08-08

This is a huge day around the world. August 8th, 2008 is the start of the Olympic Games, the start of preseason football for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (Go Steelers!!) and in the beer world it's time for a new Vertical Epic from Stone Brewing. This year's Vertical Epic 08-08-08, the seventh in the series, is a Belgian style golden ale. The epic series started with 02-02-02 and each beer is designed to cellar until sometime after 12-12-12. After Dec 12th, 2012 the idea is to have a vertical tasting of the entire series. Each beer is unique and will continue to change through the years which will make for an interesting comparison after the release of the final beer in the series. However if you are a late comer to the epic idea or just can't wait Stone won't mind if you pop the cap on a few beers now and enjoy. Check out the STONE EPIC 08-08-08 link for more information.