Capt Keith's Beer Blog

This holiday season, we have a special glass for you. A little Yule Fuel to kick start the holiday spirit. So, bring your gang – and get to your favorite Saucer early because this glass is a good one & will surely go quick. Check it out……..

Now for the really good part. Greg Koch from Stone turned loose of some of his vintage Imperial Russian Stout for every Saucer (Little Rock and KC excluded – sorry dudes).

You will have the rare opportunity to try this 2007 vintage IRS.  Get off work early and run, don’t walk to the Saucer to get this glass and this beer! I hope to see you there.

We will release the Edge of Darkness on Wednesday the 11th in San Antonio. My friend Rusty Woodland will be there with me to make a toast. This is the beer we helped create at  Sierra Nevada beer camp #12. It is a robust brown ale that has been wet hopped as well as dry hopped. We released a few kegs at the Fall Beer Festivals, both in Fort Worth and in Austin. The beer was well received. There are only a handful of kegs left and we have only two in SA, so this will likely be your only opportunity to try this unique brew.

We will feature Edge of Darkness and other fine Sierra Nevada brews during Brewery Night, so come and prepare to lift a glass with us and then take it home with you.

Cheers Keith

This is our 4th year in a row to host the Fort Worth Beer Festival. Each year the crowd has grown in size and last year was the biggest yet. If you have not attended this annual event, let me explain how it will work.

You do not have to pay to get in the event.

You pay for a Tasting Card so that you can sample 10 of the 25 beers we are featuring. The cards identify which beers are in the various tents. Each time you try a beer, we will pour 4 oz and then punch your card. For a $5 bump in price, you can sample from the UR Not Worthy Tent. That was Marc’s idea – to include a grouping of beers that are very rare on draft and that he has been saving for all of you! In this tent, you’ll find beers like Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Avery Beast Grand Cru and some Vintage North Coast Old Stock.

If you find a beer you like, you can buy a full pour with tickets or 4 punches of your tasting card.

A big tent will be set up with tables and chairs to take a load off or just sit and eat some killer beer food. We’ll fire up the Brat and Pretzel tent just before 2 PM. Expect beer brats and German pretzels with spicy mustard and seasoned kraut. Perfect fall beer food for an outdoor event.

As the doors open, we will tap the bung on some Real Ale Oktoberfest. We have a limited supply so get there early. Also, I will be on hand to tap the first keg of Sierra Nevada Edge of Darkness from my beer camp. Come see us and let’s raise a glass to some great weather with friends and the best beer selection ever presented at an outdoor venue in the history of Fort Worth, Texas.

Tap Night or Rare Beer Night begins Thursday – October 8th at 7 PM at the Flying Saucer in Charlotte.

Each week we will release a rare, very limited, hard-to-find beer at 7 pm. For the very first release, Erik has chosen a cask of Foothills Double IPA aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels. These are 23 year old Kentucky Bourbon barrels. This will be an interesting release and you’ll have a chance to get your chalice next Thursday. Beerknurds unite!

Houston is home of the ever popular Saint Arnold Brewing Company owned by Brock Wagner. Their beers have grown in popularity over the years and we’ve found many that we just cannot live without. One of my personal favorites is the Elissa IPA, which is a common find at most grocery stores that are in the know. Whole Foods, HEB and Central Market will have most of their line-up on any given day.

When it comes to their Divine series, it can be more of a challenge to get your hands on the juice. This year’s style is a Scotch Ale that comes in just above 9% abv. To read more about it, check out this link sent in by Jake Rainey of our Houston Saucer – Divine Reserve No. 8.

He’ll be tapping the keg at 4 pm this Sunday, which of course is appropriate since that his our day of tribute to the Local Breweries. The weather is supposed to be fine and the big screen will be down for some NFL. Hussle down and get some fresh draught while it lasts.

For years, I have been reading this magazine and find it a helpful resource to learn about new beers in the market place. Every issue offers up some material that helps strengthen my knowledge of beer and brewing.

It’s helpful for me to learn about new breweries on the scene and rare beers that have cult followings – even if we cannot get them in our markets. I just like to make a mental note so that when I travel, I know what to look for in the beer joints.

We have been working with Daniel Bradford’s gang at the World Beer Festival in Raleigh and Durham since ‘99 and recently in SC last year. I think they have done much to promote this beer movement and educate us. It’s a magazine that I usually read cover to cover.

All About Beer staffers are beerknurds and to show the love, they’ve offered all of our members a special rate. Check out their website if you are interested - All About Beer.

The event will be held upstairs in Half Acre Hall and will be hosted by Lagunitas’ “beer weasel” Ron Lindenbusch. Six of Lagunitas’ beers will be paired with a specially selected five-course menu. Featured pairings include the Dog Town Pale Ale with a salad of mixed greens and goat cheese; the India Pale Ale with a filet of salmon with tarragon chive sauce; the Maximus Imperial IPA with peanut- and spice-rubbed chicken satay with curried rice pilaf; the Cruising with Ruben & The Jets Stout with artisan sausages over beer-braised cabbage; the Old Gnarly Wine as stand-alone feature; and the Brown Shugga with molten chocolate lava cake à la mode with raspberry drizzle.

Ron is expected to bring a vintage Brown Shugga for a vertical sampling. It is a rare opportunity for us to have someone like Ron come and speak to our loyal beerknurds. We are saving space for only 45 people to make it more informative and interactive for those who attend.

Since we picked up the HopSlam, we have moved 7 kegs and are now forced to hold back the rest of the stock for the March 4th Brewery night with Bells.

Matt has a treat for those of you who plan to attend.  A Cask of HopSlam that will be tapped at 7 PM SHARP. Mark your calendars – it will not last long! This beer is a Double or Imperial IPA with over 100 IBU’s and just at 10 % abv. Go easy, it goes down easier than you’d think.

Austin’s anniversary party on Saturday was a big hit. Thanks to all of  you who came to sample a few rare beers and make it a fun night and to Lee  for the Blog and a big one to Ted and gang for saving those beers back and not being selfish with them.

This was our first time to attempt live music and Los Flames kept a good vibe. Those guys are really talented and we appreciate them coming to help liven things up. A special thanks to Ruben Ramos.

You will most likely never see Sierra Nevada Anniversary ale on tap for a buck a pint again, so I hope you got your fill. That was Ted’s special treat to say thank you for choosing the Saucer to supply  your thirst for good beer.

We deliberately held back the 120 Minute IPA for the last tapping. That’s a good thing because it would have blown your palate. Live Oak Primus Cask lasted almost an hour. Real Ale cask Rye was a nice treat from the boys in Blanco. Midas Touch was on most of the day with 2 kegs. Brasserie de Rocs made it all night which was surprising. The Bigfoot is still on tap – we had plenty.

Thanks to Blue Note Bakery for the cake.

Next event will be on Groundhog Day when Rob Tod from Allagash will host a beer dinner.