nabc | March 8, 2012
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Founders invades Gravity Head on Friday, March 9

… and a look at the Gravity Head schedule in 2013

March 8 update: To a non-Gravity Head keg of Founders Centennial IPA added yesterday to Friday’s tap list, Eric has sourced a Gravity Head special cameo keg of Founders Backwoods Bastard, bringing the number of Founders ales to be poured Friday to 11.

You’re welcome.

Gravity Head 2012 rolls forward, albeit with ranks thinning more rapidly than ever before. At 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning (March 9), Gravity Head’s third weekend will open at NABC’s Pizzeria and Public House with this powerful wave of ales from Founders (Grand Rapids, Michigan):

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Imperial Stout (2010) 10.5%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Founders Double Trouble 9.4%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
Founders Blushing Monk Founders Brewing Company 9.2%

19A. OLD ALE
Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale 9.8%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Founders Nemesis (2010) 12%

21A. SPICE, HERB, OR VEGETABLE BEER
Founders Breakfast Stout (2010) 8.3%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Founders CBS Imperial Stout (Canadian Breakfast) 10.6%
Founders KBS Kentucky Breakfast Stout (2011) 11.2%

But there’s even more, because we happened upon yet another Founders specialty, and will sacrifice it on Friday, too:

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Founders Curmudgeon’s Better Half 11.9% (unlisted cameo)

If you’re keeping track, this makes a total of nine Founders on Friday (that’s catchy: “Gravity Head 2012: Founders on Fried Day”), but we’ll also extend the merriment of F’s to include our pals at Flat12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis), and two of their ales also will be tapped at 11:00 a.m. on the 9th:

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Flat12 Vulgar Display of Hops 9.7% (unlisted cameo)
Flat12 Winter Cycle 9.3%

Naturally, there’ll be other listed Gravity Head selections pouring, as well as plenty of other beers on tap from NABC, America and the planet. For frequent lineupdates, go here, and follow @nabcnews on Twitter.

Lastly, the coming third weekend of Gravity Head has become synonymous in recent years with the arrival of John Host, genial Founders sales impresario, in the company of a visiting delegation of revelers from Cavalier Distributing, the official Indiana wholesaler for Founders. They’ll be on hand in the early evening, and for those still wondering, this is why we’ve started reserving Founders ales for their third weekend starring slot.

As advance notice, the schedule will work the same way in 2013, barring the unexpected (like the end of the world as we know it, or other interruptions in routine).

Friday, February 22, 2013
Gravity Head 2013 will open at 7:00 a.m. for tailgate breakfast, with an opening weekend tap takeover by featured guests from Sun King Brewing Company in Indianapolis.

Saturday, February 23, 2013
You may see an expansion of breakfast hours to Saturday morning, although this hasn’t yet been conclusively approved.

For the first full week of Gravity Head 2013 and its second weekend, we will keep dates open and free of special promotions, having learned by costly experience that it’s the most likely time for the business to suffer closures owing to impromptu, unannounced ritual screwings by public utility monopolies, like Indiana American Water (2010) and Duke Energy (2012). The gas company presumably is next in line, although I hope they’re not reading anything except meters.

Friday, March 8, 2013
The unleashing of accumulated Founders kegs, as before, along with the usual delegation’s visit.

Roger A. Baylor, NABC

Category: Festivals, Gravity Head, NABC Pizzeria and Public House |
nabc | March 1, 2012
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Bonus unlisted Gravity Head visitors now include a Better Half

Will there be others?

Already there’s been a cameo/bonus/unlisted Gravity Head keg, already come and gone:

Marsha Mallow’s Malted Milk Stout 8% abv … New Holland Collaboration Brew with City Provisions (Chicago)

Today another unexpected keg was delivered: Founders Curmudgeon’s Better Half 11.9% abv

It will join the Founders third weekend wave on Friday, March 9, along with all listed Founders ales and both of Flat12′s (Winter Cycle and Vulgar Display of Hops). Other bonus appearances still are expected, but it’s too early to predict when they’ll go on tap:

Against the Grain Oak-Aged Dilator Doppelbock circa 8% abv
Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale 8.2% abv

Flat12 Bierwerks Vulgar Display of Hops 9.7% abv

Schlenkerla Eiche (gravity-dispense) 8% abv

Sun King Dominator Doppelbock 8.1% abv
Sun King Isis Imperial IPA circa 9% abv

Three Floyds Topless Witch 9% abv
Three Floyds Stygian Darkness 9% abv

Category: Festivals, Gravity Head, NABC Pizzeria and Public House |
nabc | March 1, 2012
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Gravity Head Update

… as of 5:00 p.m. today, Thursday, March 1st

(19) ON TAP NOW

13F. RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Bell’s Expedition Stout 10.5%
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (2010) 10%
Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2010) 10.8%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Bell’s Hopslam 10%
Mikkeller I Beat yoU 9.75%

15C. WEIZENBOCK
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock 12%

18C. BELGIAN TRIPEL
NABC Le Diable Blonde (2010) 10.7%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Hair of the Dog Fred 10%
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine (2009) Circa 11%
Three Floyds Behemoth Blonde Barley Wine 12.5%

21B. CHRISTMAS/WINTER SPECIALTY SPICED BEER
Haandbryggeriet Bestefar 10%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Great Crescent Bourbon’s Barrel Stout 8%
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Old Engine Oil Special Reserve Conditioned in Highland Park 18-Year-Old Scotch Barrels Circa 11%
NABC IX — Ninth Anniversary Ale (2010) 9%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
NABC/O’Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010)(keg) 10.7%
Shmaltz He’Brew Jewbelation Fifteen – 15th Anniversary Ale 15%
Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine 12%
Two Brothers Bare Tree (2010) 10%

(16) YET TO BE TAPPED

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Founders Imperial Stout (2010) 10.5%
Upland Teddy Bear Kisses Russian Imperial Stout 10.2%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Flat12 Winter Cycle 9.3%
Founders Double Trouble 9.4%
NABC/De Struise/LBS B’Urban Trotter 9.2%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
Founders Blushing Monk Founders Brewing Company 9.2%

19A. OLD ALE
Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale 9.8%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Founders Nemesis (2010) 12%
Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine 10.2%
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine (2009) 9.6%
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine (2010) 12%

21A. SPICE, HERB, OR VEGETABLE BEER
Founders Breakfast Stout (2010) 8.3%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
BBC (Main and Clay) Bearded Pat’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Barley Wine (2009) 11%
Founders CBS Imperial Stout (Canadian Breakfast) 10.6%
Founders KBS Kentucky Breakfast Stout (2011) 11.2%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
Upland Ard Ri Imperial Red 9.3%

(18) THEY GAVE THEIR ALL … GOODBYE

00. NEW HOLLAND – STYLE UNTO ITSELF
New Holland Barrel Aged Charkoota Rye 8.4%
New Holland Blue Sunday “Gravity Head Sour Blend” 8.7%
New Holland Charkoota Rye 8%
New Holland Dragon’s Milk 10%
New Holland Envious Circa 8%
New Holland Golden Mean 8.1%
New Holland Imperial Hatter 9.4%
New Holland Silent Night 11%

5E. EISBOCK
Kulmbacher Eisbock “Bayerisch G’frorns” (2010) 9.2%

13F. RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout (cask; 2009) 10.5%
De Molen Cease and Desist (a.k.a. Rasputin, Disputin) 10.7%

16E. BELGIAN SPECIALTY ALE
De Proef Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird) 9%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 15.04%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER
Highland Park 18-Year-Old Scotch Barrels Circa 11%
Left Hand Wake Up Dead (barrel-aged; nitro) 10.20%
NABC Oaktimus 10.7%
North Coast Grand Cru 12.9%

23. SPECIALTY BEER
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 12%
Hair of the Dog Adam 10%
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life and Limb (Version 2, 2011) 10.2%

(1) BONUS UNLISTED KEGS BLOWN

New Holland Marsha Mallow’s Malted Milk Stout 8%

Category: Festivals, Gravity Head, NABC Pizzeria and Public House |
nabc | February 23, 2012
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The Gravity Head fan vote winner for 2012 is …

Sour!

We have a runaway winner (by a 3-1 margin) in the Gravity Head 2012 vote for the 19th tap:

    De Proef Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird)
    De Proefbrouwerij
    Lochristi-Hijfte BELGIUM
    Bitterness: 45 IBUs
    Alcohol by volume: 9%

    www.sheltonbrothers.com

Gravity Head Twist: It’s called Flemish Primitive for two reasons: Wild yeast, and a school of Flemish painters. Multiple strains of Brettanomyces yeast are used here, and uncharacteristically generous late hop additions.

There was a four-way tie for second place, and 12 beers in all received votes. For the complete list of starters, go here … and get ready.

Roger A. Baylor, NABC

Category: Beer, Festivals, Gravity Head |
nabc | February 23, 2012
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Gravity Head bonuses …

… from Three Floyds and Flat12

Previously, I had a few good words to say about the process of Gravity Head foraging.

In recent years, after establishing exactly what we had on hand during Gravity Head and making comprehensive lists and programs, we’ve still welcomed various kegs as “bonus” unlisted surprises — cameos, as it were.

Here are three more kegs, transiting this way, and unlisted. From our friends on the Hoosier side of Chicagoland …

Three Floyds Topless Witch (12C Baltic Porter 9%)
Three Floyds Stygian Darkness (18E Belgian Dark Strong Ale 9%)

Eric’s working on placing these into the rotation, and they’re still a week or two out. Meanwhile, also from Indiana:

Flat12 Bierwerks Vulgar Display of Hops (14C Imperial IPA 9.7%)

We’ll work it into the rotation on March 9, alongside the Founders wave and the other Flat12 selection, Winter Cycle.

Roger A. Baylor, NABC

Category: Beer, Festivals, Gravity Head, NABC Pizzeria and Public House |
nabc | February 23, 2012
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The Publican’s Gravity Head Diary

Thoughts on New Holland, Sun King and Founders

Following last year’s Great Taste of the Midwest, the Curmudgeons exited Wisconsin via Milwaukee, loading the Crown Vic onto the Lake (Michigan) Express to Muskegon, and then enjoying a short drive to Holland for a few days of rest and relaxation at the wonderful City Flats Hotel.

New Holland Brewing Company is situated a block away from the hotel, and one afternoon over beers with Fred Bueltmann, it occurred to me to ask whether New Holland would like to “open” Gravity Head 2012 in the same fashion as Three Floyds “headlined” the 2011 edition, with a mini-tap takeover at the beginning. Fred was amenable, and that’s why the New Holland contingent will be on tap all at once when this year’s Gravity Head begins next week.

In the past, we didn’t do things like this, but in my view, it’s vital to follow a pathway of constant reinvention. Wholesale changes seldom are necessary; rather, little changes have a way of keeping ideas fresh.

Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Brewers of Indiana guild, and Clay Robinson of Sun King asked me if Gravity Head 2012 might still be able to use a few additional kegs. Well, of course it would. In recent years, after establishing exactly what we had on hand during Gravity Head and making comprehensive lists and programs, we’ve still welcomed various kegs as “bonus” unlisted surprises — cameos, as it were.

In this spontaneous fashion, and although they’ll not be listed on the 2012 Gravity Form, expect to see kegs of Sun King’s Dominator Doppelbock and Isis Imperial IPA during Gravity’s Head’s run.

Also, we’re expecting a selection or two from Three Floyds; Oak-Aged Doppelbock from Louisville’s Against the Grain; a keg of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale from Alltech in Lexington, Kentucky; and gravity-dispensed Schlenkerla Eiche. There may yet be others. In the past, we didn’t run Gravity Head in this exact fashion, but nowadays, it sounds like fun, and so we do it. Do you see a pattern emerging?

Clay and I briefly discussed another beer-related item yesterday, and so I am highly pleased to announce that Sun King will take over the taps at the beginning of Gravity Head 2013, which will be the 15th such celebration. Might there be time for a Gravity Head collaboration brew between Sun King and NABC? Maybe, maybe not. You’ll just have to keep reading.

Meanwhile, there have been a handful of questions and comments since the Gravity Head starting lineup was released, and most of them have been about our decision to place all of the Founders beers in a phalanx, and execute a second bold tap takeover two weeks into the revelry.

In explaining this, it is helpful to remember that no matter what we do, all Gravity Head beers cannot be poured at once, for the simple reason that it isn’t the way we choose to operate the fete. Gravity Head is a state of mind that lasts for weeks, and from the start, the guiding principle has been to accommodate our regular customers throughout the Greater Louisville area by providing successive, undulating waves of higher-gravity goodness.

The Founders “second wave” tradition has evolved over the past three or four years. Founders wares are distributed in Indiana by Cavalier, and it has been convenient for Mat to bring the whole crew down from Indianapolis to visit on an early March date, after Gravity Head has already begun. It also is convenient for John Host of Founders to be here during the same time.

In logistical terms, after the zany hysteria of opening weekend, our collective livers begin to flag as the Gravity Daze inexorably accumulate. By grouping all the Founders beers into a bloc, we can create the effect of relaunching Gravity Head, serving as the second half kickoff. We get to spend some time with John and Cavalier, and there is much happiness in the land.

One thing’s for sure: There will continue to be tinkering with the Gravity Head concept. Gravity Head may have started as my idea, but in the years since inception, thoughts and ideas from numerous other employees, guests, brewers and passers-by have gone toward making it into what you see now. Even I can’t say for sure what it will look like in five years. Comments or suggestions? Let me know, and thanks for your patronage.

Roger A. Baylor, NABC

Category: NABC Pizzeria and Public House |
nabc | February 16, 2012
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Gravity Head 2012

The starting lineup

All of the starters will be tapped and ready at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, February 24, when the Public House opens for Gravity Head tailgate breakfast. A final selection will be determined by the vote of fans (see below). For the .pdf of this year’s official Gravity Form, go here.

New Holland Barrel Aged Charkoota Rye
New Holland Blue Sunday
New Holland Charkoota Rye
New Holland Dragon’s Milk
New Holland Envious
New Holland Golden Mean
New Holland Imperial Hatter
New Holland Silent Night

Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout (2009)(cask-conditioned)
De Molen Cease and Desist
Dogfish Head Olde School
Left Hand Wake Up Dead (Nitro Keg)
NABC/O’Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010)(CO2 keg)
North Coast Grand Cru
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Kulmbacher Eisbock

The cask-conditioned, gravity-pour pin of NABC/O’Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010) will be tapped on Friday, March 2.

All of the beers from Founders will constitute the now-traditional third weekend wave, starting on Friday, March 9. The Flat12 Winter Cycle will be tapped that day, too.

The list of beers eligible for the Gravity Head Fan Vote will be released next Monday, February 20, and the voting will commence from that time until Thursday (23rd) at Noon.

Roger A. Baylor, NABC

Category: Festivals, Gravity Head, NABC Pizzeria and Public House |
nabc | February 16, 2012
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Our Cellarman’s Recommendations

We have just a week until Gravity Head kickoff. I have been in the deepest depths of the Pizzeria and Public house getting everything ready. Checking and rechecking to make sure all goes as planned. We are also approaching tap emptying time. Selections on the guest draft side will be diminishing over the next week. This is to ensure that we are able to kickoff with the most Gravity Head beers possible. So come in and get some lower alcohol beer while you still can. My recommendations and Friday draft specials can be found below.

Recommendations, Draft Specials 

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye – Rye IPA
Flat 12 Nunmoere – American Black Ale

Cheers,

Eric Grey, Cellarman

Bottle Specials:

Sierra Nevada Ouila Saison
Thornbridge St. Petersburg

Category: Draught Offerings |
admin | February 14, 2012
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Thought-provoking free movies in Prost!

The following is from Carol Tvaroh, who belongs to an organization called Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan (HCHP). On at least one previous occasion, the group screened a video (Michael Moore’s “Sicko”) in Prost, at the Public House. They asked to come back with a series of documentaries and we’re delighted to accommodate them.

The schedule of upcoming films is as follows …

 

Feb. 20th – THE LAST MOUNTAIN (about mountain-top removal coal mining)
                
Massive profit allows Big Coal to wield incredible financial influence over lobbyists and government officials in both parties, rewrite environmental protection laws, avoid lawsuits and eliminate more than 40,000 mining jobs.  (Official selection 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
                                                   
April 2nd – GASLAND (about fracking)  Winner Special Jury Prize  2010 Sundance Film Festival for best US documentary.
               
GASLAND documents Josh Fox’s cross-country odyssey to investigate the controversial process of hydraulic fracturiing to obtain natural gas.  Fox was recently arrested while trying to record a Senate hearing on “fracking” for a followup documentary.

April 16th – SICKO (why the US health care system isn’t working for most people)
                
An accurate and scathing indictment of America’s failing health care system by award-winning film-maker, Michael Moore.

May 21st – Robert Greenwald’s KOCH BROTHERS EXPOSED – The 1% at its very worst
               
This movie is timely, since the Koch’s and ALEC are now in the news, and the Koch brothers are working hard to suppress, or at least to discredit the movie.

It documents some of the ways in which the Koch brothers have manipulated government with the power of their billions of dollars, and caused untold damage to the nation, the people and the and the planet.  All in the name of greed, for money and power.  This is a “must see” movie.

June 11th – PRAIRIE GIANT – a biopic about Tommy Douglas and his struggle to establish Canada’s health care system.

Category: Events, NABC Pizzeria and Public House, Prost! Rooms |
nabc | February 9, 2012
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Recommendations …

02/09/12

 

Just tapped at the Pizzeria & Public House: Triton Deadeye Stout (American Stout) & Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire (Dark Farmhouse Ale). Come on down and consume! Today’s draft specials, Beak’s Best and Old 15-B.

Our Cellarmen’s Recommendations …

Rogue Good Chit
Triton Deadeye Stout

Cheers,

Eric Gray, Cellarman

Bottle Specials:

Nøgne Ø Andhrímnir Barley Wine
Sierra Nevada Ouila Saison
Thornbridge St. Petersburg

Category: Beer, NABC Pizzeria and Public House |
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