Capt Keith's Beer Blog

Matt does it again in KC. He is bringing you the best the market can offer up in the form of liquid gold. This Monday – January 18th he will tap the bung on a Cask of Hopslam.

Hopslam is a seasonal, high-gravity American Double/Imperial IPA from Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich., and is only available from Jan. 7 through February each year.

The casks will be tapped starting at 7 p.m. Tell your friends, write your momma and bring the kids if you must. Don’t miss this rare chance to taste this “biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale.”

It is that time of year if you are near Columbia, South Carolina.

Our friends at All About Beer Magazine are hosting the 2nd Annual World Beer Festival at the convention center just around the corner from the Flying Saucer. I attended last year and there were many world class beers available and all of the usual suspects. Belgian ales are plentiful, local craft breweries are eager to give you a taste of their love for the art and many of the major craft players will be on hand to taste you on their special line up.

Smuttynose was a favorite of mine last year – look for Kevin Love when  you hit their booth – he is knowledgeable and passionate about his beers. The Smuttynose IPA was a fantastic example of the style and I recommend it. Look forward to trying a Barleywine this year. Hope they bring one.

Attend one of the beer lectures if you get the chance. Greg Glaser’s presentation is very well done and extremely informative and they pass out beer for you to taste as you go along. There should be several opportunities and I thoroughly enjoyed them last year.

The Flying Saucer will have a booth set up with merchandise and some of the folks from our local chapter. Ted from Austin will be on hand as well as Jeff from Raleigh. The Saucer is hosting a Brewers Dinner with beers on Friday night which could be an opportunity to talk beer with those who make it. Come by the Saucer after your session to warm up and have a killer beer with us. See you there!

3 Amigos Drinking Rogue Ale with Jim

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.

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.