OK, by now everyone should know that the store-specific Twitter accounts are your source for all beer arrival updates. I hope that you are all as happy as we are with the initial response to this. I have been at some stores lately and found customers walking in the door, already knowing about some new specialty beer or rare item that they are going to order. I am going to stop asking them how they know about these things already, because the answer is always the same: Twitter. Once I get caught up with some projects this week, I am going to link every store's Twitter address on this blog so that you can one-stop-shop so to speak. I will never be confused with a tech-savvy member of society, but I will admit that these applications are pretty cool.
The future of Fred's Beer Page is not much different than the past: I will keep you folks posted on special events, my beery adventures, and beer-related news. This may include new arrivals, and those inclusions may be frequent. It is the store-specific arrivals that I am no longer posting.
In lieu of that, take note of:
- Do not miss these kegs next week! Four kegs each of the rare Duvel Green and Ommegang's 2009 Inauguration Ale (aka Obama-gang) are in GA for four Taco Mac stores to feature. Tuesday you can get these beers at Decatur or Metropolis, and Wednesday at Johns Creek and Old Milton. Not sure what I am talking about? Please give the rest of the world the address to the cave you are living in, or a brief description of the rock you live under. If you just arrived from outer space, please taste these beers before you annihilate our planet. Thanks.
So, why have I not been in touch in a week? Well, last week was short based on Memorial Day. Then I was in Washington D.C. over the weekend for a beer event called Savor. This was a pretty dressed up beer festival sort of atmosphere, with some nice little foods next to the beer stations. It was all in the National Building Museum, which was a great venue. The breweries there were all top-notch, which was nice. Some festivals are more quantity than quality, and this one was not overly crowded either. Somebody still felt that it was appropriate to fart freely, which reminded anyone within a 15 foot radius that we were still just at a beer event, in case you were feeling "fancy".
Thanks to Expedia, we got a deal at the Willard InterContinental. Nice digs. The bar specialized in mint juleps. Everyone seemed to be in on the deal, too. Blue-blooded Washington insiders sipping sweetened bourbon heaping with crushed ice and fresh mint. It looked nice, but I had a festival to go to that night, so liquor was not on the afternoon menu for Fred. Plus, we had a few beers with lunch at RFD, which is owned by the Brickskeller people. Bell's Two-Hearted and Anderson Valley Amber tasted great. OK, I had a bloody mary, too. Sorry. Flying makes me thirsty for spicy daytime cocktails.
After the event (www.savorcraftbeer.com) we were all over town. I visited an old friend who bartends at a place called Sova (I had a Parisian Side Car-don't know what was in it, but I looked pretty sophisticated!). Then we went to some old, stylish restaurant that had many separate rooms, multiple bars, garden seating, etc. Listen, when you're all beer- and Side Car-ed up, you need to pick a place with fewer options for getting lost. I know the employees must laugh watching customers like me wander aimlessly around the cavernous restaurant looking for the bathroom, which is in the basement! This was just amusing enough to the Lagunitas guy and I, that we figured Grand Marnier snifters were a good idea. That's how it starts. Someone has a bad idea, but presents it in such a way that you think it is a good idea, and your enthusiasm convinces that person that it actually was a good idea all along. Sometimes those ideas are your own, other times, you're the accomplice. Then there was that other place over there, and we drank all of that other stuff there, and...you get the picture. Drinking with my friend from Lagunitas is like playing basketball with Michael Jordan back in the day. You might be on the same court, but you will never be on the same level.
So between the short week and the weekend out of town, here I am again. "But it's Friday already!" you say. True. But, there is another Sierra Nevada Beer Camp beer in Atlanta. It is at Manuel's Tavern on N. Highland, which just happens to be 3 blocks from my house. Sorry, but I spent last Monday and Tuesday "researching" this beer (black IPA? India Dark...? Totally delicious...) extensively. I have one conclusion after my research: I hope there is still some left next week. This week is short too, because I am headed to New Orleans for 2 days starting tomorrow. We visit Abita on Friday, having dinner at NOLA Friday night, and then left to our own mischief all day Saturday. Once we get back on Sunday, we are headed straight to V-High for the end of Summer Fest. Monday is an office (i.e. hang over) day, then the two Duvel Green/Obama-gang days. Up next day is Thursday, and we head to Chattanooga for Riverbend (you can Google that if you want). Rough? Remember, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." If you know that quote, without having to use Google, I will be impressed. If you have to use the internet, feel free. Just don't blame me when your conscience calls you out and the shame sets in. The one last week was too easy. If you think you know this one, be prepared for a few follow-up questions. That takes us to next Friday. I will be driving home from Chattanooga that morning. The weather prediction for the inside of my vehicle that morning: foggy. For those of you who forgot, in between these dates I actually have a job to do. Feeling sorry for me? Didn't think so. Worried about me? Please. Stand back, I'm a professional.
That's it for today. Have a great weekend, and I will see you all soon.
