February is shaping up to be a great time to be a beer drinker in the Cincinnati area. The weather’s cold and the nights are long, but there are an amazing number of events coming in the next few weeks. Here’s a quick rundown:

In a few weeks, it will be the inaugural celebration of Cincinnati Beer Week. An official site has popped up to try and track the various events around the city, but I recommend hopping over to the Hoperatives blog for their take on the latest information. Here are a few of the events about which I’m excited:

Thursday February 2
Party Town Local Breweries Backroom Brawl from 6:00 – 8:00pm
Party Town kicks off Cincinnati’s Inaugural Beer Week with a “Backroom Brawl” of only local craft brews featuring the “Cincinnati Beer Week Barleywine,” a collaboration between local brewers, and our 18 tap growler program voted “Best of 2011″ by Cincinnati Magazine! Cost $2.00

Friday February 3
Arnold’s Bourbon Barrel 1861 Porter Happy Hour Tapping at 5pm
In honor of beer week Christian Moerlein has remixed a batch of the Arnold’s 1861 Porter. Arnold’s is already the only place that you could get the Porter, but for this special release, Christian Moerlein will be aging the same beer in a bourbon barrel.

Saturday February 4:
Cincinnati Brew Ha-Ha! from 07:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Cincy Brew Ha-Ha Winter Edition will bring all that has been enjoyed over the past 5 years indoors to the Cintas Center on Xavier University’s campus for its Winter Edition. This one-of-a-kind local event features top beers and top comedians creating the perfect recipe for a great time. From ales to lagers and pilsners to stouts, there is something for every type of beer aficionado – including 6 firkins! Cincy Brew Ha-Ha Winter Edition will feature over 80 selections of beer to sample and multiple comedians on 2 stages.

Additionally, there are a bunch of other events, including a 3 Floyds beer dinner at Tellers (2/8) and a selection of Left Hand beers on tap at the Hyde Park Cock and Bull (2/9) . This all leads up to the Cincinnati Winter Beer Festival on the 10th and 11th. Last year, this event was a great time and apparently it’s going to be even bigger this year. Click over to their site for more information and tickets.

On Feb 25, the Moerlein Lager house will be opening as part of the Banks, adding the first alternative to the Holy Grail, which opened last March. Tickets are $150 and the doors open at 6:30. More information can be found over on the Lager House official website.

I’m off to drink a Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere. That should help keep me sated until next month.

A quick post on one of our almost local breweries: Schlafly of St. Louis. Michelle and I had the chance to stop in here on our way through Missouri and enjoyed the visit. On tap were two cask conditioned alternate versions of the 80/- (80 Schilling) and the Golden Ale.

I sat down with the cask conditioned 80 schilling. Cask conditioning allows a secondary fermentation to occur within the storage container. In this case it added an extra layer of smokiness that I usually don’t find in the normal Schlafly offering. AbV was in line at 4.7 to create a very enjoyable drink.

I also tried a small sample of the Pumpkin Ale from draft and found a pumpkin-pie flavor along with a very noticeable sweetness. This was pumpkin pie filling with a touch of whipped cream. The 8% alcohol was not apparent.

The food was also impressive. I had a pulled pork sandwich along with a side of the Beer Cheese soup. Michelle had a ham and egg sandwich. We could have easily split either entree between the two of us. The portions were generous and the food itself was well prepared and matched the beer.

Overall, I would give a to the Schlafly brewery experience. We did not have time to take the tour at the Bottleworks location, but if any readers have been on that tour, let us know in the comments. For anyone visiting the St. Louis area, I recommend a quick stop by the brewery to split a meal and try something from their large selection.

You can always follow me on Untappd to see what I am enjoying.

It was announced today that Anheuser-Busch has purchased Goose Island. Now remember, Anheuser-Busch itself is owned by global conglomerate InBev, so in essence, InBev now owns Goose Island.

I know this is probably a good thing for Goose Island, and the deal was worth a lot of beer: $38.8 million. According to WBEZ Chicago, not much will change:

In a statement, the head of Goose Island, John Hall, said the Chicago company has grown so rapidly in the last five years that demand for Goose Island beers has outgrown the capacity of its brewery. Hall said the company has had to limit production of some of the beers. Hall said the deal with Anheuser-Busch will help Goose Island continue to grow.

“This agreement helps us achieve our goals with an ideal partner who helped fuel our growth, appreciates our products and supports their success,” Hall said in a statement.

In announcing the acquisition, Goose Island said Hall will continue to be responsible for the Chicago brewery, which the company says will remain in operation.

So I have my fingers crossed I won’t see a Matilda Select or Fleur Lime anytime in the near future.

The kit that I have is from an Australian outfit called Coopers.  The rad thing about the kit (aside from the hilarious Australian instructional video) is that it comes with some of the bells and whistles that I did not have before like a hydrometer and a sticker thermometer.  Being from Australia, all the temperatures are in Celsius, so I may look into a Fahrenheit one as well.  But if you can deal with some metric conversions, this is a solid kit to have.

My favorite thing about this kit is how easy it is to use.  Everything is streamlined and simplified from the instructions to the malty goodness in the can.  With that in mind, this kit is perfect for beginning brewers who are just looking to try it out.  However, one of the best parts about homebrewing is tampering with recipes and trying new ideas.  I would recommend a gift certificate to Listermann Brewing Company for an intermediate or advanced home brewer in the Greater Cincinnati Area.

The first part of the process from the kit is the mix.  Mixing beer is very similar to baking or cooking.  You have ingredients, temperatures, and methods to mix them all together.  The kit makes this process super easy by premixing your hops and malt.  You essentially boil some water then dump it in the fermenter, add in the can of malt and hops, add in the pre-measured amount of sugar, stir, add more water, wait until the fermenter reaches a certain temperature, throw in the yeast, jam in the air lock, and seal it up.  It is that easy.

The hardest part about this whole process may be the waiting involved!  Soon, I’ll complete the second and third steps in the process, brewing and bottling.

Cheers to your good health!
Steve

Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey (70.95) – Dry fly is a Washington distillery that is using 100% wheat aged for 2 years in a new charred barrel. This has a nice baked bread nose with straw finishing with a hint of mint and sweet. A whiskey that is 100% wheat  is rare, and this long finishing whiskey is  a great example of what can be done slightly differently using local ingredients.

Maker’s Mark 46 (33.99) – The “second great idea” from Maker’s Mark has an addition of toasted French oak into the final aging process. This makes a spicier version of the traditional Maker’s Mark that gives it a flavor that is closer to a Rye whiskey using wood instead of the grain to give the new flavors. A nice way to show what effect different types of wood or aging can have on a whiskey.

Party Source Buffalo Trace “Wheat on Rye” (59.99) – A collaboration between Party Source and the Buffalo Trace experimental team taking a traditional bourbon and performing a secondary aging in a used Rye barrel. This adds a spicy flavor while not overpowering the traditional softness of the wheat bourbon. The base was a barrel similar to Old Weller before the Rye aging and it did a really nice job of connecting the two different flavors into a single whiskey.

Rick Wasmund’s Kegs o’ Bourbon (Not Available) – The first of two different types of smoked bourbons. Rick smoked the grain over a nice soft wood combination (apple, cherry). This adds another level of flavor and was brought straight from the barrel to the tasting. I think this one needs a little more time to settle down and presented slightly confused on the flavors. I’d recommend it for anyone who wants to try a sweeter, fruitier whiskey.

MB Rowland Black Dog Corn Whiskey (31.99) and MB Rowland Black Dog Bourbon (Not Available) – The Black Dog is made using a “dark fire” the corn in our miniature tobacco barn, giving the product a smoky, sweet flavor. The bourbon version is then aged in the charred oak. this produces a bourbon that has distinct characteristics that are usually found in scotch. I thought this was a really interesting change and has potential for a lot of really nice applications.

Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Strength (74.99) – This is the new product replacing the Marriage line. The Marriage was limited to a combination of two of the Four Roses recipes and this allows for more options in the creation of the yearly release. This one was a nice traditional bourbon that was a great end to the tasting. A combination of 3 different recipes aged between 10 and 15 years makes this a very nice spicy bourbon. I will miss the story behind the Marriage, but this is a worthy successor.

Cigar City Brewing is located in Tampa, Florida. The goal at CCB is two-fold: make great beer, and educate people about Tampa’s culture. The first part is understandable and the second part is very intriguing. They are trying to reverse the notion that Florida is a “beer wasteland” and their Jai Alai IPA is making great strides toward that goal.

I thought this was a bizarre name for a beer, but they tie it into Tampa’s past as a Jai Alai mecca. Apparently, there used to be a bustling Jai Alai “fronton” or arena in Tampa but it has since closed. CCB named their IPA in honor of the sport.

This is a good beer from start to finish. It has a very hoppy aroma with hints of grapefruit in the nose. It’s a honey-brown color with lacing that lingers on the side of the glass. The mouthfeel has a substance but is not sticky. The taste has a bitterness to it that reminds you that you are drinking an IPA. The finish is also very balanced. Overall, it is very drinkable which can be unusual for an IPA.

I would definitely recommend a Jai Alai to an IPA drinker visiting Florida. It’s a solid beer and it’s reasonably affordable ($1.99 per bottle, cheaper in 6-packs). I feel lucky that I was able to find good beer brewed locally. I had their Maduro Brown earlier this week and it was excellent as well.

Cheers to your good health!
– Steve

What better way to embrace your inner jolly than to grab a winter ale or two and cozy up to the fire (chestnuts encouraged).  I have tried a few winter beers this season and hope to guide you to a warm-up-your-toes selection in the same way that Rudolph guides Santa’s sleigh. *Disclaimer: I did not drink all these beers in a single sitting.*

Delirium Noel 2009
Fact: Delirium makes great beer.  It is a tad pricey, but this Christmas beer would be perfect for the beer lover on your list or a Secret Santa who enjoys a craft brew.  A 22 oz. will cost around $10, but you get what you pay for.  It has an opaque brown color, a quickly dissipating head, thin lacing, and a spicy aroma.  Medium body, with full flavor.  Most Delirium beer you drink has a very fruity flavor and this is no exception.

Stone/n0gne-0/Jolly Pumpkin Special Holiday Ale 2009
Now this is an interesting beer.  Sometimes brewers do a collaboration project with one other brewery, but the three-headed team of Stone, n0gene-0, and Jolly Pumpkin came up with something special.  Of all the Christmas beers, this was the most interesting that I tried.  It has a complex flavor profile which makes it a beer to drink by itself.  It has a decent amount of carbonation, and it tastes like a Bonnaroo tent in your mouth.  This serving of liquid incense contains Caraway, Juniper, White Sage, and Chestnuts flavors.  I highly recommend this for anyone looking to try something outside the box.

Alesmith Yulesmith
A solid Christmas beer that starts with a spicy aroma.  It has a near perfect mouthfeel, not too heavy but not too light.  And the flavor finds a way to balance malt and hops very evenly and ends with a hoppy, dry finish.  A recommendation for anyone who enjoys I.P.A.s, but this would probably turn off the occasional beer drinker.

Anchor Brewing Company Our Special Ale 2010
Every year Anchor tweaks its Christmas beer recipe.  I can respect that.  If Bob Dylan taught us anything it is that the times they are a-changin’.  It has a dark, chocolate brown color with some flecks of ruby when you hold it up to the light.  The aroma contains ginger, caramel, and roasted malt.  A combo of sweetness, ginger, and toffee make you want to keep drinking this beer.  I will be waiting patiently for next year’s release!

Bell’s Christmas Ale
Bell’s is one of my favorite breweries, so I had high hopes for this beer and I was not disappointed.  It is a light brown color, almost amber with a slightly hoppy smell.  The taste has a delicious malt flavor with some citrus and hop notes.  The mouthfeel is smooth and rich.  And it has very well done balanced finish.  I hope my stocking is stuffed with a few of these come Christmas morning.

Breckenridge Christmas Ale
I feel like this is a middle of the road Christmas Ale.  It has a brown, slightly red color with a spicy, cinnamon nose.  The flavor is malty and spicy with a bubbly, carbonated mouthfeel.  One surprise is the amount of alcohol in this beer at 7.4% ABV, which can help you loosen up around those pesky in-laws.

Christian Moerlein Christkindl
A beer that most Cincinnatians hold dear to their hearts.  Moerlein’s Christkindl is a unique take on the Christmas beer.  It plays off the memory association of Christmas and a particular taste, chocolate.  This is not a chocolate beer.  But the chocolate flavor reminds you of being a kid opening presents on Christmas morning.  There is definitely something nostalgic about this beer.  It has an amber color with a spot of gold, and a hoppy, caramel aroma.  The malt taste carries throughout the beer and meshes well with the chocolate.  A great 6-pack gift option for loved ones or yourself.

Christmas comes only once a year which is a bummer that you can only experience some of these beers for a short time.  I have a nagging suspicion that mid-April I will find myself jonesing for Special Holiday Ale 2009.  Luckily spring beers are around the corning.

Cheers to your good health!

- Steve

Beer
Beer is a great option for several reasons.  First, it usually takes longer to become intoxicated.  No one wants to get sloppy on a first date, and beer will let you loosen up without becoming completely untied.  Also, you can pair your beer with your food, making your meal more enjoyable and possibly scoring some Food Network points.  The last reason why beer is a good choice is that it you can make it last a long time.  You drink at your own pace, casually sipping if the night is going well or guzzling if the date is not going so well.  If love is a battlefield, then beer is a versatile ally.

Local Beers
Local beers are a solid choice because it shows that you did a little research and want to literally drink in your current surroundings.  A good choice in Cincinnati would be a Christian Moerlein OTR Ale.  In Louisville, Falls City is an excellent beer if you can get it and the Bluegrass Brewing Company should offer a beer that you can enjoy as well.

Seasonal Beers
Seasonal beers are a way of showing that you are hip and current.  A Christmas beer will let your date know that you are not a Grinch.  This also varies by location, but if you do a little reconnaissance work, most restaurants have their drink list on their website.  If you are going to a place without a website, your date probably won’t care what you are drinking anyway.  Most places will have something seasonal on tap.  Check ahead or ask your server.

What Not To Order

Experimental Beer
The only ‘rule’ that I can give you is to get something you know you like.  So if you like lager-style beers, it would not be advised to order the double I.P.A.  As impressed as you think your date will be, the ‘choking-down-this-beer-that-I-hate’ face is not attractive.  A first date is no time to get experimental with your beer palate.  Stick to what you know.

The Special
In the event that your first date destination has a beer special, I would avoid it.  Most of the time, it is Bud/Miller/Coors, and what does getting the special really say about you?  I am cheap and enjoy cheap beer.

The “Big-Ass-Beer”
Some restaurants have gigantic beers as an option (i.e., Hofbrauhaus 1-liter mugs).  Shy away from this option for three reasons.  Strike one, your date may think you are an alcoholic.  Strike two, you are on this date to interact and socialize, not to drink.  And strike three, assuming you are as charming as I imagine you are, your beer will get warm as you converse with your guest.  The “Big-Ass-Beer” is out.

First dates are a time for high nerves and small talk.  By putting some thought into your drink selection, if the conversation runs dry you now have something to talk about, your beer!  Good luck.

Cheers to your good health!

- Steve

Not every draft is available with the deal, but their staple brews (Nitro Porter, Cream Ale, Red Ale, and Pale Ale) are there every week along with a seasonal or two.  Recently I snagged a jug of the Brown’s Brown Ale.

Brown’s Brown is a nut brown ale (i.e., Newcastle), which is one of my favorite styles of beer.  It has a very dark brown color and a coffee colored head.  A nut aroma is expected along with some mild caramel notes.  A great aspect of this particular beer is the smooth mouth-feel.  I am not sure if it qualifies as a session beer, but beware that you can consume pints quickly. The balance of the beer flavor and the nut flavor is well done.  You know that you are drinking a beer.  There is a great hazelnut flavor that carries throughout the drink and through the aftertaste.  It is slightly less sweet than a New Castle, but they are in the business of beer not candy.

If you are in the neighborhood, I would highly recommend dropping in and grabbing a brew from Cumby’s.  The Brown’s Brown is a solid choice for all you New Castle fans out there, or for anyone trying to impress their friends and upgrade from Bud Light.  If you miss their Brown’s Brown, they also have a Simcoe IPA and a Special Bitter (the latter is eligible for a growler refill).

Cumberland Brews
1576 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 458-8727

Cheers to your good health!

- Steve

Michelle & Steve

Steve is Kevin’s younger brother. He just graduated from the University of Louisville in May and is looking at law school for fall. He’s become quite the beer connoisseur and is also interested in spirits. I know this is My Wine Education, but I seem to have a lot of beer drinking readers as well. In addition to my wine posts, you’ll be watching Steve’s journey through learning about both beer and spirits. It should be fun, because he’s so much younger than Kevin and me. It should lead to some fun opinions and reviews.

So welcome Steve! His first post will be arriving here shortly.