First Beer Tasting of 2012

Join us on Friday evening as we kick off our 2012 beer tastings with a killer line-up of more than a dozen brews from three gypsy brewers. Gypsy brewers are commercial brewer without a brewery. Unlike contract brewing, were a beer is made by a brewery under another label, in gypsy brewing all the actual work is done by the visiting brewer on the host brewers equipment. In addition to the three featured brewers we will also pour a GABF gold medal winner from Marin Brew Co on draft.

Based out of Somerville, Massachusetts, Pretty Things has quickly become a staff favorite at the Jug Shop. The brewers, Dann and Martha Paquette, consistently produce delicious interpretations of classic ale styles. On Friday we will feature the Hedgerow Bitter, Jack d' Or Saison, Our Finest Regard Barleywine, and Babayaga Smoked Stout.

Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergs� is the proprietor of one of the greatest bottle shops in the world. Located in Copenhagen, Denmark, �lbutikken has become a beer destination featuring many fine brews from around the world. Jeppe's brother, Mikkel Borg Bjergs�, has already made a huge impact in the beer world as one of the most famous gypsy brewers (Mikkeller), so Jeppe decided it was time for him to give commercial brewing a shot. This venture spawned Evil Twin Brewing and the beers are incredible. On Friday we will have Williamsburg Hipster Ale, Soft DK Stout, Soft XMAS Pretty Please with a Cherry on Top Cherry Vanilla Imperial Stout, and Disco Beer Chardonay Barrel Aged Imperial IPA.

With Baltimore, Maryland as his home base, Brian Strumke of Stillwater Artisanal Ales creates what he calls American Farmhouse Ales. Drawing inspiration from both Belgium and American craft brewers, Brian is able to create incredible complex and delicious ales. On Friday we will pour Stateside Saison, Existent, Autumnal, and Cellar Door from the bottle as well as Debutante from draft.

At this year's Great American Beer Festival, my posse and I spent most of our time running around the Denver Convention Center seeking out rare barrel aged beer and sour ales. A SF local convinced me that I had to go try Arne's new IPA. The Arne they were speaking of is Arne Johnson, Head Brewmaster of Marin Brewing Company and the IPA is his new creation Three Flowers. This refreshing IPA is brewed with a dollop of spicy rye and deftly hopped with Cascade, Citra, and Chinook. The result is an absolute knockout brew that balances its forward floral hop aroma and flavors with just enough malt to keep it from becoming tiring to the palate, all the while remaining incredibly refreshing. It certainly stood out amongst the thousands of other beer in the room that day and I was thrilled to hear later that it was awarded a gold medal in the rye beer category. Upon my return I reached out to Marin Brew Co's distributor and was able to score a single keg that I have been patiently storing in our cooler for a special tasting. My patience has been exhausted. We're tapping it on Friday. See you then.

Eric Cripe

Certified Cicerone(tm)
Jug Shop Beer and Spirits Manager