TGIFACBW - and Avenue Pub Grand Tasting today!
First of all, thanks for all the positive feedback on yesterday's blog post. It was a little on the personal side, so I wasn't sure how it would be received. As I do more and more writing, I'm trying to find my "voice" or style, something that's informative, interesting, and enjoyable to read.
Last night was the St. Charles cask crawl. I showed up a little later than usual at the Avenue (had a meet & greet for Nyx riding members at Finn McCool's right after work.) I headed upstairs to try the Parish Envie cask and ran into fellow drinkin' writer Todd Price from NOLA.com who was celebrating his birthday there! That was very cool to finally meet, since we'd corresponded in email and on social media a bunch but never met in person.
I loved the Parish Envie on cask. It's a really great solid pale ale already, and it was excellent on cask, double dryhopped with Amarillo and New Zealand Pacifica. I should have gotten a second one before they ran out. Sadface. I also tried the Hibiscus Canebrake, which was drinkable and pleasant enough, but I thought the hibiscus overwhelmed the wheat and hops making it kind of like hibiscus mead or something. But it was super popular - I got one of the last pints - so what's too hibiscus-y to me was clearly perfectly hibiscus-y to others.
There was supposed to be a NOLA Blonde dryhopped with Citra, but there was some sort of mixup and they actually tapped the NOLA Blonde with crab boil seasoning. Heh. That's not something I'm so into, so I didn't try it.
Headed down to the Irish House where I was able to hang out with the NOLA Brewing crew as well as the Southern Eagle team. I also met up with Andrew Godley (founder of Parish) and Matt Murphy (executive chef at the Irish House) while there. I hope I might be able to help out with planning or promoting more Irish House beer dinners in the future. Tried the NOLA cask, which was a mixture of Hopitoulas and Blonde, and the Parish Canbrake dryhopped with New Zealand Rakau hops. Both were super drinkable, mild and pleasant. Went down very smooth.
Returned to the Avenue to hang a little bit with the Southern Eagle and Parish contingent and also in (vain) hopes to score a last pint of the Parish Envie. Sadly, the cask was kicked by then so I took comfort in a pint of Southern Tier Live, which was freaking delicious as always. (Always = the several pints I've had of it since the rollout on Monday.) Met some very cool folks and had some great conversations. YAY.
This is the big day! ACBW Saturday! Here's what's going on:
Bulldog Mid-City
4 p.m.-6 p.m. — Rogue Brewing featuring special releases of a Nitro Filtered Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout and Double Deadguy.
6 p.m.-8 p.m. — New Belgium sampling featuring releases from their Lips of Faith Series and staples like Flat Tire and Sunshine Wheat.
Bulldog Uptown
2 p.m.-5 p.m. — Bayou Teche Mid Day Cask Event featuring a cool twist on an old favorite.
5 p.m.-7 p.m. — Sam Adams Night featuring Blueberry Hill Lager, Porch Rocker, and Chocolate Bock.
7 p.m. — North Coast Brewing featuring Barrel Aged Old Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout.
Chimes of Covington
6-8 p.m. — Two Abita casks available: Buffalo Trace Turbodog cask and Belgian Style Golden Ale cask
Irish House
Small plate pairing, $11. Anchor Steam with bacon & cheese croquettes
Last night was the St. Charles cask crawl. I showed up a little later than usual at the Avenue (had a meet & greet for Nyx riding members at Finn McCool's right after work.) I headed upstairs to try the Parish Envie cask and ran into fellow drinkin' writer Todd Price from NOLA.com who was celebrating his birthday there! That was very cool to finally meet, since we'd corresponded in email and on social media a bunch but never met in person.
I loved the Parish Envie on cask. It's a really great solid pale ale already, and it was excellent on cask, double dryhopped with Amarillo and New Zealand Pacifica. I should have gotten a second one before they ran out. Sadface. I also tried the Hibiscus Canebrake, which was drinkable and pleasant enough, but I thought the hibiscus overwhelmed the wheat and hops making it kind of like hibiscus mead or something. But it was super popular - I got one of the last pints - so what's too hibiscus-y to me was clearly perfectly hibiscus-y to others.
There was supposed to be a NOLA Blonde dryhopped with Citra, but there was some sort of mixup and they actually tapped the NOLA Blonde with crab boil seasoning. Heh. That's not something I'm so into, so I didn't try it.
Headed down to the Irish House where I was able to hang out with the NOLA Brewing crew as well as the Southern Eagle team. I also met up with Andrew Godley (founder of Parish) and Matt Murphy (executive chef at the Irish House) while there. I hope I might be able to help out with planning or promoting more Irish House beer dinners in the future. Tried the NOLA cask, which was a mixture of Hopitoulas and Blonde, and the Parish Canbrake dryhopped with New Zealand Rakau hops. Both were super drinkable, mild and pleasant. Went down very smooth.
Returned to the Avenue to hang a little bit with the Southern Eagle and Parish contingent and also in (vain) hopes to score a last pint of the Parish Envie. Sadly, the cask was kicked by then so I took comfort in a pint of Southern Tier Live, which was freaking delicious as always. (Always = the several pints I've had of it since the rollout on Monday.) Met some very cool folks and had some great conversations. YAY.
This is the big day! ACBW Saturday! Here's what's going on:
Saturday May 18
Avenue Pub
2 p.m. — 5th Annual Avenue Pub Grand Tasting. The Avenue Pub cellars bottles and kegs all year long for this day and will turn over every tap line in the building plus a few jockey boxes and gravity taps to American Craft beer. Over 100 American options to choose from. Consult the Pub’s website for an up to date list. http://theavenuepub.com/events-calendar/american-craft-beer-week/acbw-grand-tasting-day.
Barley Oak
Avenue Pub
2 p.m. — 5th Annual Avenue Pub Grand Tasting. The Avenue Pub cellars bottles and kegs all year long for this day and will turn over every tap line in the building plus a few jockey boxes and gravity taps to American Craft beer. Over 100 American options to choose from. Consult the Pub’s website for an up to date list. http://theavenuepub.com/events-calendar/american-craft-beer-week/acbw-grand-tasting-day.
Barley Oak
1 p.m. ACBW All Craft Beer Appreciation Day. Many craft beers on tap and a bottle share with an additional 25 different craft beers. The Telegraph Salesmen will be playing downstairs starting at 1 p.m.
Bulldog Mid-City
4 p.m.-6 p.m. — Rogue Brewing featuring special releases of a Nitro Filtered Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout and Double Deadguy.
6 p.m.-8 p.m. — New Belgium sampling featuring releases from their Lips of Faith Series and staples like Flat Tire and Sunshine Wheat.
Bulldog Uptown
2 p.m.-5 p.m. — Bayou Teche Mid Day Cask Event featuring a cool twist on an old favorite.
5 p.m.-7 p.m. — Sam Adams Night featuring Blueberry Hill Lager, Porch Rocker, and Chocolate Bock.
7 p.m. — North Coast Brewing featuring Barrel Aged Old Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout.
Chimes of Covington
6-8 p.m. — Two Abita casks available: Buffalo Trace Turbodog cask and Belgian Style Golden Ale cask
Irish House
Small plate pairing, $11. Anchor Steam with bacon & cheese croquettes
I'll be at the Avenue Grand Tasting for the bulk of my day. I may also check out the Irish House pairing (as I love both Anchor Steam and bacon & cheese croquettes) and may wander to the Bulldog to have a taste of the barrel aged Old Rasputin. Basically, I'll be at the Avenue at 2 and we'll see what happens..
Happy and safe beer drinking to you all! Catch you on the flip flop.
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