No, not a trip on a flying saucer — rather, a cruise sponsored by the bar chain named the Flying Saucer, which just opened up an Austin location. I suppose I really ought to turn this blog into pay operation and charge these guys for advertising, but ah hell, this sounds cool enough that it deserves publicity. Here's the press release they sent me:
Flying Saucer Presents Spring Brews Cruise
Dallas, Texas, Jan. 14, 2008 – The Flying Saucer will present its first Spring Brews Cruise May 3-8 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas.
The five-night Western Caribbean cruise will feature seminars and beer tastings with Julie Bradford, editor-in-chief of All About Beer; Sam Calagione, author and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery; and Adam Avery, president and brewmaster of Avery Brewing Co. [Lee asks: "What — no one from Full Sail or Anchor Steam?"]
“At The Flying Saucer, we’re dedicated to elevating the perception of beer and educating our customers about the great craft beers that are available. Hosting an event like this is a part of that,” said Shannon Wynne, owner of The Flying Saucer. “It’s rare to have these beer experts together at one event, much less a series of seminars, and some of the featured beers will be limited editions. This cruise is something beer enthusiasts won’t want to miss.”
Reservations are available through The Flying Saucer’s Dallas office, and space is limited. Rates are $849 for an inside stateroom, $949 for an ocean view stateroom and $1,299 for a junior ocean view suite. Pricing is per person, based on double occupancy and includes accommodations, all meals, entertainment, beer seminars and tastings and all port fees, taxes and gratuities. A deposit of $100 is due at the time of booking, and reservations must be made by Feb. 29.
The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium was founded in 1995 in Fort Worth, Texas. Offering a wide variety of imported and domestic quality craft beers, as well as a full pub menu, The Flying Saucer family has now expanded to 12 locations in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Another location is expected to open in Kansas City, Mo., in 2008.
For more information about the cruise or to make reservations, please contact Mike Currie at Cruise Holidays at (817) 421-7447 or dreammaker@cruiseholidays.com. Cruise Holidays will then advise passengers on how to register online.
Sorry, I was too tipsy Thursday night and too busy Friday night to write up the new Flying Saucer, and now I'm too busy watching my Texas Longhorns struggle against my wife's sorry-ass Mizzou Tigers in basketball. Maybe I'll get to it tonight — I can combine it with a review of the Opal Divine's Marina location, to which I'll be making my first-ever visit tonight. In the meantime, entertain yourself with this review by Josh, an excellent beer-blogging colleague of mine here in Austin.
Hanging out at the Flying Saucer last night (which was awesome, by the way — more on that later) Lance mentioned this comedy routine, which has a useful analogy from an appropriately named comedian:
Well, so much for me being an accurate source of info. Disregard what this post said earlier today. I was a little unclear on what the Flying Saucer's PR person was saying, but apparently, despite appearances on Tuesday, the new beer bar at the Triangle (see my previous posts) really is going to open on Thursday. So maybe I'll go check it out after all.
Flying Saucer, a Fort Worth-based chain of 11 beer bars, is opening a location here in Austin. Which would have me excited on its own, but I'm positively giddy because the new one will be pretty close to my house. It's going to be in the Triangle (the fairly new development between Lamar, Guadalupe, and 45th Street), which is already the site of one my favorite Italian restaurants, Mandola's. And if the picture shown from their website is any indication, I'm gonna like this place.
This is an excerpt from an e-mail I got from their PR person:
Not only does the Saucer provide an incredible beer selection, but the owners try to really elevate the perception of beer. As I’m sure you know, people are now considering beer much in the same way they do wine – as something to accompany and complement a meal, not just wash it down, and something to be appreciated in its own right. The Saucer’s menu changes seasonally to reflect the different types of beer that are popular at different times of year and to allow customers to sample a greater variety. It also explores beer and food pairings, with its menu featuring a guide as to what to pair with what. The waitstaff, too, is well-educated on the different varieties of beer and can easily make recommendations to customers.
Opening day is Thursday. See you there.
From Modern Drunkard magazine's "86 Rules of Boozing":
If you owe someone twenty dollars or less, you may pay them back in beer.
I should have subscribed to Modern Drunkard magazine at least two years ago, but I still haven't done it. I shall rectify that soon. In the meantime, to make amends, I shall post selected excerpts from the magazine's "86 Rules of Boozing" — the ones that pertain to beer.
Rule No.8: "When the bartender is slammed, resist the powerful urge to order a slightly-dirty, very-dry, in-and-out, super-chilled half-and-half martini with a lemon twist. Limit orders to beer, straight shots and two-part cocktails."
