New Arrivals For Friday 12.28.07

I hope everyone had a good holiday, I know I did. As far as the store is concerned, we're still running in high gear in anticipation of a busy New Years Weekend. We still have 40+ kegs in stock that aren't spoken for, so give us a call if you need to grab something at the last minute. At this point we may not have the exact brand you're looking for, but we should be able to find something you'll enjoy drinking. Give us a call at 503.232.8538 and we'll let you know what's still available.

Chateau Napoleon Brut: This California "Champagne" is perfect for New Years Eve toasts. It's reasonably priced at under 10 dollars a bottle, it's pleasantly dry and effervescent, and did I mention it's under 10 dollars a bottle. I figure anyone who loves wine the way we love beer has probably already got something special for NYE, but if you need some inexpensive bubbly I highly recommend a bottle or two of this.

Deschutes - Green Lake Organic Ale: I haven't had a chance to try this yet, but here's what it says on the side of the bottle. "The idea for our Green Lakes Ale evolved quite organically. Made with five types of 100% ORGANIC malted barley and balanced with Crystal and Salmon-Safe Sterling hops, this auspicious amber ale is as easy to drink as it is on Mother Earth. So when you drink a Green Lakes Organic Ale, every day becomes Earth Day."

Boulder - Obovoid Empirical Stout: I had a small sample of this, and it this point I'm not quite sure what to make of it. In a way it seems like the brewers were trying to do too many things at once; there's some creamy mouthfeel from the oats, some astringency and "woodiness" from the oak chips, and an almost painfully dry finish. Kind of schizophrenic and confusing, but maybe I'll warm up to it once I've had a chance to enjoy a larger sample and see how it evolves once it's had a chance to breathe. It's gotten pretty positive reviews, so maybe my taste buds are just out of whack today.

I think that's it for today. Remember to party safely on NYE, we'd like to continue having all of you as customers in 2008. On that note, we have a wonderful non-alcoholic sparkler for all the Designated Drivers out there. Spruce Goose Sparkling Pinot Noir Juice tastes great, and makes a perfect alternative to that crappy "cold duck" stuff you'll find at the grocery store.

Last but not least, you may have noticed the widget on the right sidebar counting down to Abyss Day 2008. T-minus 18 days and counting...

Quick Note: Abyss Release Date

I just received word from my Deschutes rep that the "Official Release" date for the new batch of The Abyss will be January 14, 2008, and not in December as previously reported. Not surprisingly, I've been told to expect a price increase as well. No word yet on how much of an increase, but I wouldn't be shocked to see it retailing for closer to $10 per bottle this year. Even at that price it's an amazing value for one of the world's best Imperial Stouts.

In other Deschutes news, the next beer in the Bond St. Series will be the new Green Lakes Organic Amber. Deschutes Founder Gary Fish describes it as "a classic amber ale using caramel and Munich malts for a nice color and six different varieties of hops. The reddish colored brew has a nicely balanced taste with a distinctive but restrained hop profile that includes Salmon-Safe certified Sterling hops."

More on Green Lakes on John Foyston's excellent blog.

In even more exciting news, keep your eyes peeled for Dissident, a Flemish Sour Red/Brown ale, scheduled to be released at some point after The Abyss. People will be freaking out over The Abyss, but I have a feeling Dissident is going to be the one to stock up on. I may be wrong, but I have a strong feeling that the crew in Bend is going to blow people's minds (and palates) with this one.

EDIT: I just received "real" pricing info from the distributor. Pricing is always somewhat variable once it hits the distributors in different states, but based on what I was quoted you can expect the beer to retail for $10-12 per bottle.