Black Star Co-op Unveils Brewpub Location

Exciting news, folks: The Black Star C0-op Brewpub has apparently taken a major step toward transitioning from really neat idea to an actual physical business. On Saturday, they'll host a preview event of what will eventually be their brewpub in the new Crestview Station Midtown Commons development. Sadly, I can't make it, but I'm real fired up about the location, because it's within stumbling distance of my house. Pictured is an aerial rendering of what Crestview Station will look like when it's done; now just imagine a member-owned brewpub in the middle of that.

Toast Fail

From my very favorite blog, Failblog.org


see more Epic Fails

More beers added to Draught House Party

I just got an e-mail saying that these beers have been added to the Draught House 41st anniversary party (see post below):

Bear Republlic Racer 5 (cask)

New Belgium Eric's Ale
New Belgium Transatlantique Kreik
(512) Bruin, which will be randallized with Centennial hops
Avery Duguna IPA
Bear Republic Mach 10

gates open @ 1pm

come out and try a Black and Tan cupcake!

Blowout 41st Anniversary at Draught House

The Draught House will be celebrating its 41st birthday on Saturday with an insane number of fantastic beers, more than any normal human could drink in a day (of course, I suspect I have some superhuman readers).

UPDATE: I was just told that Travis E. Poling, creator of the Beer Across Texas blog, will be at this event to sign copies of his new book of the same name. He coauthored the "guide to the brews and brewmasters of the Lone Star State" with Paul W. Hightower, creator of the Texas Beer blog.

It's time for us to celebrate our longevity again with a big party. We are excited to present a number of special and cask ales to be enjoyed during the festivities. We offer...

Draught-

Our own House made Double IPA,as fresh as it gets with 3 pounds per barrel of American Hops.

Stone Cali-Belgique- a Belgian IPA hybrid

Stone Self Righteous- a Black IPA

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid- big 'ol Imperial IPA

Dogfish Head 120- the biggest IPA of all time?

Live Oak Treehugger- the 3 year old Barley Wine that we all miss...

New Belgium Tart Lychee-3 year old, aged in oak, blended sour ale with lychee and ceylon cinnamon.

Cask-

Brooklyn Pennant- classic English Pale Ale

New Belgium Hoptoberfest- hopped up blond ale

Green Flash Hop Head Red- Red IPA?

Green Flash West Coast IPA- the pinnacle of American IPA's

Allagash Curieux- bourbon barrel aged Triple

Saint Arnold Christmas Ale- probably my favorite SA beer. Very rich and great on cask

Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye- excellent rye IPA only made better on cask.

Real Ale Firemans #4- this beer rocks out of the firkin.

these beers can be sampled for $2 each in a commemorative glass

this list will probably increase over the next 2 weeks....

Additionally we have

DJ Jubal spinning a classic soul set from his vast collection of vinyl

Beer trivia games with prizes sponsored by Austin Homebrew Supply

Bourbon and Coke Pork chops on a stick

Jerk Chicken on a stick

Veggie Kabob with mint and yogurt

Saturday Nov. 7th from 1pm-10pm

4112 Medical Pkwy

Austin Texas

78756

www.draughthouse.com

check us on twitter!

Killing Bats = Bad Karma

The Freetail Brewing Company press release below is a lot more charitable about San Antonio Spurs star Manu Genobli killing a bat that was delaying a game than I am. Learn something about the region in which you live, Genobli. A bat is not a "just a mouse with wings" — bats eat the 5 zillion @#$%ing mosquitoes that can make life a living hell in Texas. We need them, a lot more than we need rich sports stars. I wish the damn thing had bitten him. Or at least, I hope the next time he tries to relax on the back porch of his no doubt lavish house, he gets swarmed by hungry mosquitoes.

UPDATE: Ha ha, I just heard on the news that he has to get a series of rabies shots.

FREETAIL BREWING CO. OFFERS PEACE BETWEEN MANU GINOBILI AND AREA BATS

Locally owned and operated brewpub seeks to draw attention to the value of Mexican Free-tailed Bats

(November 2, 2009) San Antonio, TX – Immediately after Spurs superstar and San Antonio hero Manu Ginobili killed a bat that had twice delayed the basketball team’s game versus the Sacramento Kings, Freetail Brewing Co. has announced it is willing to broker a peace accord between the veteran guard and area flying mammals.

“Mexican Free-tailed Bats are an important part of our local eco-system and the Texas State Legislature has in fact recognized this by naming them the Official Flying Mammal of Texas. Many people may not realize that the San Antonio area is home to the largest population of Mexican Free-tailed bats in the world,” said Freetail Brewing Co. Founder and CEO Scott Metzger. “A single bat can eat up to eight times its body weight of pesky insects in a single night, making them a vital asset to area residents who love sitting on the patio, enjoying a beer and taking in Texas’s beautiful vistas.”

“I don’t think it was a big deal,” Ginobili said, later adding, “It’s just a mouse with wings.”

Metzger has a difference of opinion. “While I don’t think Manu has any interest in stomping on bluebonnets, burning pecan trees, or spitting on the Alamo – I think he should recognize how important these creatures are to our area,” adding that he would love to see Ginobili contribute to Bat Conservation International which owns Bracken Cave, home to over 20 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats.

Metzger had a final message for Ginobili, saying “We know Manu is a great citizen of San Antonio, and we look forward to seeing him fly for more dunks while the bats fly through our skies at night.”

Freetail Brewing Co. is founded on the pursuit of creating exciting, innovative and unique world class beers and wood-fired gourmet pizzas. We embrace the laid back and fun-loving South Central Texas culture and set out to create products that mirror the lifestyle of our diverse and rapidly growing community. We believe in promoting an increased appreciation of craft beer and its responsible enjoyment. We believe in going above and beyond customer expectations not only through our products, but also through exceptional customer service. We believe in providing a dining and leisure experience unmatched in the local community. And in case you didn’t get it the first time… we believe in having fun.

For more information visit www.freetailbrewing.com.

Bike Pub Crawl

Now this is right up my alley. I'm trying to save up some cash for my wife's 40th birthday blowout, but I may have to join at least some of this.

Perhaps this is how I'll console myself for missing Wurstfest this year.

New Records!

This post is for statistics geeks only.

The effect of the "In the Can" video continues: A month after boosting me to new records in September, now October has blown those marks away. September's new mark for hits in a month was 5,208, but October more than doubled it: 10,596.

My all-time record for page views was 7,279 last October. This October raised it to 13,009.

Yes, I'm a hit whore. Let's drink a toast to Google.