The real deal...

Since I counted the beers a week and a half ago in the beer room (850), we've already added another 25 or so, and today I added another 10! Running out of shelving again...

+ Rogue Double Mocha Porter 750mL
+ Old Suffolk Ale (Greene King Brewing, England)
+ Victory Baltic Thunder 22oz
+ Affligem Tripel & Dubbel 750mL (Belgium)
+ Czech Rebel (Czech)
+ B.B. Burgerbrau Dark (Czech)
+ Murphy's Irish Red 6pk (Ireland)
+ Curim Celtic Wheat 4pk (Carlow Brewing, Ireland)
+ Fischer Blonde (France)

Back in stock:
- North Coast beers including Old Rasputin, Red Seal, Scrimshaw, and Pranqster
- North Coast Old Stock 2010 release

Happy (Burlington) Mardis Gras!
Cheers,
Jeff

Bigfoot Sightings

Checking in with updates on Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Sightings this week:
- Monkey House, Winooski (draft)
- Das Bierhaus, Burlington (bottles)
- Ruben James, Burlington (draft)
- American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, Burlington (draft)

Also, while you're at Flatbread, try the Old Ale. I've been really digging this style lately, malty, somewhat sweet, low in carbonation - perfect for long sipping sessions in cold weather. The Zero Gravity version is super tasty and less sweet than North Coast Old Stock Ale, if you're familiar with that one. Say "Hi!' to Alison and Chad for me!

Cheers,
Jeff

New Vintage Brews and others

The Rare & Vintage Cabinet is all full up at the moment! I had to make room for 6 new vintages of George Gale & Co. Prize Old Ale: 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998 and 1996! Just wonderful. And we're the only store to stock any! Most of these are extraordinarily limited, so don't hesitate too long. The older vintages tend to sell-out first.

Also added this weekend:
+ Southern Tier Back Burner Barley Wine Ale 22oz (Limited Run)
+ Genesee Bock Beer 12pks

And a big thank you too all those who showed up to the Harpoon Tasting last night! A rousing good time had by all! More tastings coming up, check the main website for dates and times.

Cheers,
Jeff

Vintage, Cask Aged, and LOTS of New!

HOLY-it's-raining-beer-batman-COW! I spent most of my day pricing, organizing and putting up brand new goodies, some of which are super rare. We received a whole slew of back-vintage J.W. Lee's Harvest and Cask beers and are the only retail store in Vermont that has any! Tasty (and supremely ageable) brews!

Exclusives:
J.W. Lee's -
+ Harvest Vintages 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, & 2008
+ Lagavulin Cask Vintages 2005, 2007 & 2008
+ Port Cask Vintages 2005, 2007 & 2008
+ Sherry Cask Vintages 2005, 2007 & 2008
+ Calvados Cask Vintages 2006 & 2008

New Additions:
+ Beer Here "Dark Hops" Hoppy Black Ale (Denmark)
+ Mikkeller Tomahawk Single Hop (Denmark, brewed at De Proef))
+ Mikkeller Amarillo Single Hop (Denmark, brewed at De Proef)
+ Mahr's Pilsner (Germany)

Restocks & New Vintage:
- Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine 2010
- Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, Oro, Blanca and Bam 750mL's
- Spezial Rauchbier (Germany)
- Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel
- De Ranke XX Bitter

Enjoy the goodness that is beer!
Cheers,
Jeff

B-town's very own German Ski Chalet

This past Saturday night my-coworker Adam and I ventured forth in to the frigid cold to check out the newest beer spot in Burlington. Down at the bottom of Church St., past Manhattan Pizza but before Big Daddy's Pizza stands the newly constructed, 3 story beige-stone-faced Das Bierhaus. The first thing you notice is that there's no front door. A black iron gate bears a sign in German announcing to enter through the alley, something common in Montreal but rarely found in Burlington. ID'ed and on up the stairs, we headed to the Ski Chalet-themed 2nd floor bar. This place is packed with boisterous and happy young professionals. This is no college bar, but a respectable and clean establishment. And who do we find sitting at the bar but our co-worker Andrew! We ordered .3L Ayinger Celebrators from Colin behind the bar and set about enjoying the ambiance.

Before too long we were chatting with proud owners Nick and Chad. Nick explained that he wanted to bring a bit of the Alps to Burlington, which proved to be somewhat difficult. Sourcing delicious wurste and hand crafted suds were not readily available locally. After a lot of set backs, Nick and Chad forged ahead establishing connections with importers, distributors and all manner of beer-o-philic folks. And I'm glad they did!

I've always been a fan of the Germanic approach to beer and have long felt that most people haven't been properly introduced to how amazing German beers can be. For many years, the only beer people knew from German resembled Beck's: pale, crisp lagers in green bottles. But there are so many other styles unique to Germany that Das Bierhaus is introducing to the Burlington area: smoked beers, weizen doppelbocks and kolsch just to name a few. You can order draft beers in three traditional sizes, .3L, .4L and .5L and will have them delivered to you in the proper glassware.

My Celebrator gone, I moved on to the illustrious Schneider Aventinus and fell in love with it all over again. Delicious and creamy, smooth yet textured, it was what some would call a "religious experience."

Long story short, this place is great. If you love beer (and/or sausages), you should pay Das Bierhaus a visit and explore some exotic yet traditional suds. (I've included the current beer list below.)

Prost!
Jeff

"Die Draft Liste"
Lagers: Becks, Spaten Premium, Weihenstephan Original, Ayinger Celebrator.
Ales: Reissdorf Kolsch, Weihenstephan Hefeweiss, Erdinger Hefeweiss, Schneider Aventinus.
"In der Flasche" (bottles)
Includes selections from Schlenkerla, Pinkus Organic, Uerige, Franziskaner, Weihenstephan, Schneider, Duvel, Sierra Nevada, Stoudt's, Victory, Stone, Dogfish Head, Haproon, Long Trail, Otter Creek/Wolaver's, Rock Art and Sam Adams.

Adds

Newest digs (+) and Seasonals (-):
- Southern Tier Gemini 22oz (50/50 blend of Unearthly Imp. IPA and Hoppe Imp. Extra Pale)
+ Manchester Brewing Over-Regulated Ale 22oz (Very Limited!)
+ Long Trail Pale Ale (new brew!)
- Long Trail Coffee Imperial Stout (2010 release)
- Wolaver's Pat Leavy's All American Ale (2010 release)
- Harpoon Celtic Ale
+ Budweiser Select "55"
+ Margaritas by Mike's (Lime, Raspberry and Peach flavors)

And we cornered the last of the '09/'10 Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout in Vermont for your drinking pleasure!

More to come!
Cheers,
Jeff