L'Chaim! Tonight is the first night of Chanukah, and tonight Chicago has the pleasure of hosting Jeremy Cowan, head Jew and maestro of schtick at Shmaltz Brewing. Tonight, Hopleaf was one of 88 chosen bars across the country pouring all seven Jewbelation beers, as well as the Vertical Jewbelation, a blend of all seven recipes then barrel aged. The Jewbelation beers, from 8 to 14, are notable not only for being delicious, but also for each being brewed with their number value of malts, hops, adjuncts and ABV. So . . . yeah, this year's Jewbelation, 14, has 14 malts, 14 hops, 14 adjuncts and . . . aaaaaaaaaaah. 14% ABV. One of those beers that is PERFECT if you only want one, or maybe two if you're not driving.

My friend Jeremy also has a book recently published!! Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah. Pick it up on Amazon or on Shmaltz.com. Here's some words from Jeremy about Jewbe 14 . . .

HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!!!

Here is the list of Chosen Bars that will be pouring all 8 Jewbelation beers this holiday.
Please check with the specific bars to find out when they are tapping each keg. L'Chaim!

NEW YORK

AMITY HALL: 80 W. 3rd St., New York, NY
BARCADE: 388 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY
BLIND TIGER: 281 Bleecker St., New York, NY
GEORGE KEELEY'S: 485 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY
GINGERMAN: 11 East 36th St., New York, NY
IDLE HANDS: 25 Ave. B, New York, NY
RATTLE N HUM: 14 E. 33rd St., New York, NY
WHOLE FOODS BOWERY: 95 E. Houston St., New York, NY

MR. BEERY'S: 4019 Hempstead Turnpike, Bethpage, NY
DECICCOS FOOD MARKET: 21 Center St., Ardsley, NY
TJ FINLEY'S: 42 E. Main St., Bay Shore, NY

CALIFORNIA (Northern)

BARCLAY'S: 5940 College Avenue, Oakland, CA
BEER REVOLUTION: 464 3rd St., Oakland, CA
CHURCH KEY: 1402 Grant Ave., San Francisco, CA
THE DAVIS GRADUATE: 805 Russell Blvd., Davis, CA
EUREKA BURGER: 7775 N. Palm Ave., Fresno, CA
PARISH PUBLICK HOUSE: 841 Almar Ave., Santa Cruz, CA
TORONADO: 547 Haight St., San Francisco, CA

CALIFORNIA (Southern)

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE: 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
HAMILTON'S TAVERN: 521 30th St., San Diego, CA
HAVEN GASTROPUB: 190 S. Glassell St., Orange, CA
STUFFED SANDWICH: 1145 E. Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel, CA
VERDUGO BAR: 3408 Verdugo Rd., Los Angeles, CA

ALABAMA

J CLYDE: 1312 Cobb Lane South, Birmingham, AL

ARIZONA

1702 TUCSON: 1702 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ
PAPAGO BREWING CO.: 7107 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale, AZ

COLORADO

FALLING ROCK: 1919 Blake St., Denver, CO
OSKAR BLUES: 303 Main St., Lyons, Colorado
TRINITY BREWING CO: 1466 Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO

FLORIDA

BRASS TAP: 2000 Piazza Ave., Wesley Chapel, FL
BROKEN BARREL: 4700 Babcock St. NE, Palm Bay, FL
DUNDERBAK'S: 14929 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL
DUNEDIN HOUSE OF BEER: 927 Broadway #A, Dunedin, FL
FERMENTATION LOUNGE: 113 All Saints St., Tallahassee, FL
KICKBACKS: 910 King St., Jacksonville, FL
REDLIGHT, REDLIGHT: 745 Bennett Rd., Orlando, FL
WORLD OF BEER - MELBOURNE: 2290 Town Center Ave., Melbourne, FL
WORLD OF BEER - UCF: 3402 Technological Ave., Orlando, FL

GEORGIA

BRICK STORE: 125 E. Court Sq., Decatur, GA
LEON'S FULL SERVICE: 131 E. Ponce De Leon Ave., Decatur, GA
MIDWAY PUB: 552 Flat Shoals Ave. Southeast, Atlanta, GA
ORMSBY'S: 1170 Howell Mill Rd. Northwest, Atlanta, GA
THE PORTER: 1156 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, GA
TACO MAC - CRABAPPLE: 685 Crossville Rd., Roswell, GA
TACO MAC - KENNESAW: 600 Chastain Rd. NW, Kennesaw, GA
TACO MAC - MALL OF GA: 3250 Woodward Crossing Blvd., Buford, GA
TACO MAC - NEWNAN: 301 Newnan Crossing Byp, Newnan, GA
TRAPPEZE PUB: 269 W Washington St., Athens, GA
WILD WING CAFE: 2145 Roswell Rd., Marietta, GA
YOUNG AUGUSTINE'S: 327 Memorial Dr., Atlanta, GA/
STEINBECKS: 659 East Lake Dr., Decatur, GA

ILLINOIS

HOP LEAF: 5148 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL
RADIO MARIA: 119 N. Walnut St., Champaign, IL
SMALL BAR: 1415 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL
SMALL BAR: 2049 W. Division St., Chicago, IL

INDIANA

NEW ALBANIAN PUBLIC HOUSE: 3312 Plaza Dr., New Albany, IN

LOUISIANA

AVENUE PUB: 1732 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA
BARLEY OAK: 2101 Lakeshore Drive, Mandeville, LA

MARYLAND

MAX'S: 737 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD
VICTORIA GASTRO PUB: 8201 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, MD

MASSACHUSETTS

THE AMESBURY ALEHOUSE: 33 Main St., Amesbury, MA
CAMBRIDGE COMMONS: 1667 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA

MICHIGAN

HOP CAT: 25 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI

MISSOURI

BROADWAY BREWERY: 816 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO

MONTANA

THE RHINO: 158 Ryman St., Missoula, MT

NEBRASKA

CRESCENT MOON: 3578 Farnam St., Omaha, NE

NORTH CAROLINA

FLYING SAUCER CHARLOTTE: 9605 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC
FLYING SAUCER RALIEGH: 328 W. Morgan St., Raleigh, NC
THIRSTY MONK SOUTH: 20 Gala Drive #101, Asheville, NC

OREGON

THE BIER STEIN: 345 E 11th Ave., Eugene, OR
GREEN DRAGON: 928 SE 9th Ave., Portland, OR

PENNSYLVANIA

BOCKTOWN BAR & GRILL: 690 Chauvet Dr., Robinson Township, PA
FAT HEADS SALOON: 1805 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA
P.O.P.E.: 1501 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA

SOUTH CAROLINA

BARLEYS GREENVILLE: 25 W. Washington St., Greenville, SC
CLOSED FOR BUSINESS: 453 King St., Charleston, SC
FLYING SAUCER COLUMBIA: 931 Senate St., Columbia, SC

TENNESSEE

FLYING SAUCER NASHVILLE: 111 10th Ave., Nashville, TN

VIRGINIA

BEER RUN: 156 Carlton Rd., Charlottesville, VA
CHURCH KEY: 1337 14th St. NW, Washington, DC
FIREWORKS PIZZA: 2350 Clardndon Blvd., Arlington, VA
MEKONG: 6004 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA
WHOLE FOODS SHORT PUMP: 11173 W. Broad St., Glen Allen, VA

WASHINGTON

THE RED HOT: 2914 6th Ave., Tacoma, WA
BROUWER'S CAFE: 400 N 35th St., Seattle, WA

WISCONSIN

MADURO: 117 East Main St., Madison, WI
SUGAR MAPLE: 441 E. Lincoln Ave., Milwaukee, WI

Shmaltz Brewing Company is Dedicated to Crafting Delicious Beer and Delicious Shtick... L'Chaim!

Thank goodness, they are remaking FOOTLOOSE

I mean, really. So many unanswered questions from the Kevin Bacon version. Mmmmm. Bacon. AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaannnyway . . . I have a new friend named Nina (Hi Nina!). I was having a drink at Emerald Loop with some old friends, and met Nina, who reads this little bloggy rant that I do. So excited was I that someone other than, oh, ME, reads this thing, I thought I should offer up some updates on what has been quite a big week in beer!

Last Sunday was the premiere of BREWMASTERS, the new reality show which follows my friend Sam Calagione, founder and main man of Dogfish Head Brewing. It's on the Discovery Channel. The first show featured the story behind BITCHES' BREW, a beer brewed to celebrate the anniversary of the release of Miles Davis' album of the same name. It is a really delicious stout, and we just got some more cases in! If you saw the show and want the beer, ask your better beer store. If they don't have it, they can get it.

Today is BLACK FRIDAY. Black Friday is the unofficial kickoff day of the (White) Christmas season. No more racial profiling in our holiday season! But I digress. Today also marked the release of BOURBON COUNTY STOUT RARE, or RARE BOURBON COUNTY STOUT, from Goose Island, not just Bourbon Barrel aged, but also aged for two years in 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle casks. What's the diff? Generally, the older the casks, the smoother, less biting, more candy-and-vanilla notes come out in the bourbon. Pappy Van Winkle is known for being exceptionally smooth. So, today at Binny's on Marcey Street, they sold through 120 cases of Rare Bourbon County Stout, 20 cases of Vanilla BCS and 20 cases of Coffee BCS. The Rare costs $40-something a bottle, but that won't stop me from buying one. For tonight, though, I'm content with ending the night with just a plain ol' bottle of 2010 Bourbon County. Thank you again to friends old and new. Happy day after Thanksgiving; I am still totally thankful.

LAST WEEK WAS MY BIRTHDAY!

What the heck! It just took me about a half hour to re-set my password to get onto this site, so I could compose this important message for those that read this. OOoooh, I'm sleepy. Big deal, right? We're all sleepy, we are none of us getting as much sleep as we'd like. And before we know it, it'll be time for the last season of OPRAH.

I was in Mexico for my birthday. The only beer at the resort was Dos Equis. So, the Saturday we got back, we went to Hopleaf for my annual birthday sandwich. Cashew butter and fig jam. Yeah!

Tonight -- Drank some Dogfish Head beers out of the crisper. Fall seasonal beers are starting to become available. Great Lakes Oktoberfest, Three Floyds Munsterfest and Moloko Milk Stout, and Dogfish Punkin should all be at your local liquor mart. Go get some fresh beer! Let us know what's your favorite!

New beers from Three Floyds! Always a reason to celebrate. Available RIGHT NOW from Galleria Liquors and most of your better beer emporiums: BLACKHEART -- their English-style IPA, brewed with English malts, hops and yeast. Piney, citrusy, very astringrent. A strong sweet malt bill balanced by loads of English hops. AND -- very limited availability but MAY be available at LUSH WINE AND SPIRITS -- ARCTIC PANZER WOLF. According to Three Floyds: “A dry and stupendously hopped medium bodied Imperial IPA brewed with Canadian two-row malt, dextrose sugar and lots of American hops. Arctic Panzer Wolf has superior aromas of marmalade, white wine, pine and apricot all mixed with an intense American hop bitterness.” Supposedly, the Arctic Panzer Wolf will be available in 22 ounce bottles from time to time throughout the year, much as my personal favorite, DREADNAUGHT, is available. Run to the store and buy these now! Oh, and I think BLACKHEART is on draught now at The Paramount Room at 415 North Milwaukee!

Pictures from World Beer Cup Dinner -- A.K.A. Beer Prom

I was privileged to attend the World Beer Cup dinner at the Sheraton Hotel, the closing event of the Craft Brewers' Conference and, by all reports, the largest beer dinner EVER. It was SO awesome, it was so awesome it was stupid! Here's some pictures.

Happy EASTER and Craft Brewers' Conference

By now, I imagine most people who read my blog know my mom passed on March 13. I've just been a little unmotivated to do anything over the minimum since that day. Can't explain it. Then came Easter on April 5th and the week after that was the CRAFT BREWERS' CONFERENCE in Chicago! I have to say, that was a pretty amazing week. So much to do! I got to meet one of my idols, Fritz Maytag of Anchor Brewing; I was able to spend some time with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head and my pal Doug Moody of North Coast Brewing. I had a fantastic dinner at N9NE Restaurant, paired with North Coast beers. We drank New Holland Envious at the Green Mill. At least two events every night! Totally distracting for me, and really fun. I will collect pictures and post here!

The night before Easter, we decorated eggs at John and Tom's house. And, of course, I brought along some of my favorite bottles, such as Dogfish Head Red and White, Three Floyds Rabid Rabbit, Coney Island Human Blockhead, and many others.

Thanks to all for your patience and love during my Mom's illness and passage. Of course I thought I would be just fine, but it has been harder than I imagined. Good friends and good beer always help.

Mom's been in the hospital again, that's why no blogging

Yeah. That's why. It's not just laziness. My mom's in the hospital, so I've barely been on line, let alone blogging. She is currently on dialysis to try to clear an infection in her blood, and she has been on a respirator since last Thursday.

So, right now, I am having a nice New Holland Full Circle Kolsch. I've been wanting a German-style beer since watching the "drink a boot of beer" portion of last week's AMAZING RACE.

Thoughts and prayers, please, dear readers. By the way, my mother's favorite beer is Seadog Blueberry Wheat. Have a nice toast to Sandy Piechota! Cheers, Mom!

Here's Pictures!! BRANCH 27 CHIMAY DINNER!

Yes, indeedy, it was quite a dinner. Last Wednesday, the 24th, we enjoyed a four-course dinner at Branch 27, courses lovingly prepared by Chef John Manion with Chimay beer pairings. We all know about Chimay, right? Chimay beers are brewed under the auspices of the monastery at the Abbey D'Scourmont in Chimay, Belgium. They have been brewing beer there since 1850, and it has been available for sale outside the abbey since 1863. Chimay beers have been available here in the United States for the past 20-ish years. There are three available -- the Premier or "red label", which is their Belgian Double style, the Cinq Cent or "white label", which is their triple style, and the super-rich and delicious Grand Reserve, or "blue", which was originally brewed as a special Christmas beer.

We stopped eating long enough to take pictures of Chef Manion's Parmesan Gnocchi with pork meatballs (think sausage meatballs, ridiculously good!) and braised kale. This was the second course, and it was so good and we ate so much of it that we forgot to take pictures of the third course, the Gunthorp Farms Porchetta with polenta.

Dessert was a Chocolate and Walnut Tart with CHOCOLATE BACON, served with a Jereboam of the Chimay Grand Reserve from 2008. A Jereboam is a large-format bottle, and beer ages differently in large bottles. This beer had a smooth, almost-port-like quality.

The Branch 27 dinner for March will be paired with DOGFISH HEAD BEERS! We are starting to put that together now, so call Branch 27 for reservations. It will sell out fast! www.branch27.com

Chimay Dinner at Branch 27

ooof. too full. Can't post now. I love Chef John Manion. We took some pictures of the Gnocchi and pork sausage and the chocolate tart with the chocolate bacon. I'll get it together for tomorrow.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME -- get reservations NOW for the Dogfish Head Beer Dinner coming up at the end of March.

Look out Chicago, Stone's a-comin'

That's right, Chicago Beerios!! Stone is coming!! We don't know with which distributor they'll be, but one way or another, STONE BREWING WILL AT LONG LAST BE IN CHICAGO!! Yeah, you can tell, I'm a little excited.

In the past, I've picked up bottles of delicious Stone beer on visits to Indiana and New York, or anywhere I happened to find it. What I can honestly say about their beers are, they are consistently, dependably excellent. I had the chance to chat with Aaron, the Midwest Stone rep, today at Twisted Spoke. We talked about how Stone Brewing is one of those breweries where you can pick up ANY of their beers and be confident you're going to have a fantastic drinking experience. Three Floyds, Dogfish, Lost Abbey . . . there's a few breweries where, even if a certain style isn't your favorite, or if a particular beer is a little "out there" for your palate . . . you still KNOW you're gonna have an awesome fermented beverage.

SO . . . rumor has it, Stone Brewing products will be available in Chicago by the beginning of April. When I know where you can buy them, I'll let you know.

By the way, I got my ticket today for the Chicago Beer Society's Day of the Living Ales! Did you?

New Holland Embossed Bottles -- get 'em while you can!

Who's excited about the Tim Burton ALICE IN WONDERLAND movie? I am!! It is my all-time favorite story, can't even tell you how many times I've read the original stories. And Tim Burton is one of my favorite directors. So tonight, I am enjoying a bottle of New Holland Imperial Mad Hatter I saved from last summer. I know, I know, you're not supposed to save IPA's, you want to drink them fresh, the hop character changes, the bitterness mellows, the citrusy piney character starts to smooth out and sweeten . . . I know!! And yes, the Imperial Hatter has mellowed. But it's still delicious, and it went great with my italian-style turkey sausages, green beans and baked potato.

IN MORE INTERESTING BEER NEWS . . . another reason for breaking out the Imperial Hatter was, I want to rinse out the bottle and save it. This year, New Holland will not be using the embossed art directly on the bottles for their High-Gravity series. So, if you are a borderline-hoarder beer-collector like I am, go out and get a Dragon's Milk, a Pilgrim's Dole, some stores still have the absolutely delicious Charkoota Rye -- get the bottles and save them! The new labels are beautiful and I am excited to try the new styles they're releasing -- and I promise to let you all know as soon as they are available. The Imperial Hatter will be available from time to time throughout the year in both bomber and four-pack formats. Dragon's Milk will be in both bombers and four-packs, too. Extra, extra, extra awesome.

Meantime, I hear the new Showplace ICON theaters on Roosevelt Road will be featuring Mad Hatter IPA on special when the movie is released! I'll be there. Can't wait!!!

FLOSSMOOR STATION SING THIS SONG, DOO DAH, DOO DAH

I have a new bunch of friends!! Our team went out to FLOSSMOOR STATION BREWERY, in historic Flossmoor, Illinois, natch, and oh man, did I have a good time! We met and hung out and drank beers with Brian and Richard, the brewers; Sandy the Marketing/PR/overall go-to gal sampled us out on ALL the beers (that's right -- ALL), and we had some nibblies and drank more and just had a blast. In hindsight, I wish I would have EATEN more, but we had an Olympic Opening Ceremonies party to go to, so I didn't want to be too full. Anyway.

We just started selling their beers last week, and I gotta tell ya, it's a lot more fun to sell beer when you've BEEN to the brewery, you've MET the people . . . it is just a joy. And I must say, I honestly think the liquids are just delicious. In bomber bottles, we have the Stationmaster Wheat beer, a light, very easy to drink American wheat ale; the Pullman Brown, a dark, rich, slightly chocolatey and somewhat smoky brown ale -- might be my new favorite American brown ale, and TWO of their many IPA's. The "Hoppy Hoppy Joy Joy" is a fantastic, INTENSELY hoppy and complex classic American IPA -- floral and citrusy and piney -- there's a lot going on, not like some IPA's lately that just taste like they boiled some Cascade hops in some light malt and called it a beer. The other IPA is called "Chaos" (I think), which is a Belgian style IPA using an authentic Belgian yeast strain. Really good. SO!!!

SUPPORT MY NEW PALS! Go buy a bomber bottle. I know my Binny's, on Grand Ave., has it.

Mystery Beer, are you ready for your mystery beer . . . (to the tune of Mystery Date)

The NEW, TOP SECRET, MYSTERY beer from Founder's Brewing, out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is called NEMESIS. Why? Of what or who is it the nemesis? With what does this beer have an adversarial relationship? Boring, everyday beer? Maybe.

Nemesis is the name that the Founder's folks have given to their annual four-pack that, I believe, will change every year. The 2009 release is a 12% ABV maple-bourbon-barrel-aged barley wine. The bourbon barrels used to age this beer were once used for aging maple syrup from Northern Michigan. The beer is a delicious, malty, sweet, vanilla, bourbon wheat ale. AND only 60 cases and NO barrels came into Chicagoland. So, what I'm saying is, if you see it, buy it because it won't be on the shelves for long!!

Tomorrow, FIELD TRIP!!! Sort of. We're all taking the Metra to Flossmoor Station Brewing in the south suburbs!

A new day, a new beer to look forward to, and a fond farewell

Just got word today of the new collaboration beer from two of my favorite local breweries, THREE FLOYDS and HALF ACRE. Looks like it will be called INVASION, looks like it's a Helles Bock. Mmmmmmmm. Helles Bock. Artwork looks amazing! We know nothing more!! But, we are quivering with anticipation! More info to come from Lincoln at Three Floyds and Gabriel at Half Acre -- you will know as soon as we know, dear reader. Watch this space!

On a more personal note, last week I said goodbye to an old friend--one I hadn't seen for a long time. Victoria Miller, "the Vic" to all who knew and loved her, made her transition to the non-physical about a week ago, at the age of 90. She lived a full and fantastic life. Vic was in community theater in our town, and my mom did costumes and make-up for them, back when my parents were still married. Vic opened a gift shop, and my mother went to work for her. Around this same time -- I was seven, almost eight -- my mother and I ran away from home. We left my father at the beginning of the summer (I remember it was the last day of second grade) and when we came home around the end of June, my dad had moved out -- I later learned Mom had served him with divorce papers while we were away. We stayed at many different friends and families' homes during our time away, including on the couch in the office of Vic's gift shop. Not long after that, my mother began dating one of Vic's sons.

Thus began a more than ten-year period in which the Miller family was my second family, and "the Vic" was my second grandmother. She was a true bon vivant, she loved good food, good wine, good scotch, and most of all, her good friends and family. She really loved life for all of her 90 years. She had the wonderful gift of being truly interested and invested in whomever she might encounter, and looking back, I have become acutely aware of what she and her family meant to me. So Au Revoir, Victoria. Clink a glass of good wine for me on that deck in heaven. I'll put a picture of Vic on the side of the blog. Long may she wave!

And let us not forget the one and only original Goose Island Clybourn

I am so excited about REVOLUTION BREWING. I mean, who isn't, in the beer community here in Chicago? But in all the excitement, leave us not forget our old dear friend GOOSE ISLAND CLYBOURN. I stopped by there today in hopes of seeing some old friends and maybe getting an audience with Nate, who is in charge of choosing guest draughts. And since I was there anyway, what the heck, I figured I should sample a couple of Wil's fresh brews.

I love having brewpubs nearby with super-talented, awesome brewers producing some of the best beer made anywhere. In the course of this past week, I was reminded at both REVOLUTION and GOOSE that there really is nothing more delicious than fresh, fresh beer. I had a little sample (really, just a little) of Lincoln Park Lager -- brand new today, as fresh as can be, 5.6% Vienna-style lager. And a small taste of Cheffe Berry Stout, from the Chef Collaboration Series. This one is a stout brewed with Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee and blended with berries for a lovely, smooth, coffee-licious but surprisingly bright and not heavy 7% stout.

So, I know the lines at REVOLUTION will be long and punishing this weekend, but go on! Take the time, you know you want to! And after you've had a pint or two and a bit of food, go on over to GOOSE ISLAND . . . try one of their new beers. Or try an old favorite. Drink local.

Hmmmmm, I wonder if my Beer Advocate subscription has expired?

I SAY I WANT A REVOLUTION! I WANT IT NOW!

Yeah, I'm cool. Want to know how cool I am? I got invited to a pre-opening party for Revolution Brewing!! I know. Super cool.

Jim Cibak, the brewmaster, and I met several years ago at the Goose Island Beer Academy at the Clybourn pub. We bonded over our shared love of I.P.A.'s. He was working for Three Floyds at the time, and just the nicest guy. And an awesome brewer!! After a stint in Cali brewing at Firestone-Walker, among others, he was lured back here to work his beery magic at his own pub! And all of Chicago is the better for it.

ooo, the bar is beautiful!! Can't wait to spend many hours there! The hope is, the Rev will get their actual liquor license tomorrow, Wednesday the 3rd, and I am hoping to be enjoying a beer with some bacon popcorn by Thursday. Tonight I enjoyed a Workingman Mild, which is described as a lunchtime beer (hello???? FANTASTIC IDEA!!!) at only 3.5 % ABV but full of flavor. Dark malts, caramel and toffee notes with just enough hop backbone, yeah, this is a real beer but I could still sit and drink three or four and not be slurry.

Visit their website at www.revbrew.com, and get down there as soon as you can.

Also, if you happen to see Randy Jackson, could you please tell him there IS NO MILLION PERCENT? As in "a million percent yes"? That the very definition of PERCENT is PART OF A HUNDRED? Drives me crazy. Thanks for letting me vent.

The DAY IS NIGH

Okay, it's a little early, but can I please be excited about DARK LORD DAY??? I am, already. It's sad.

DARK LORD DAY IS APRIL 24th!! SATURDAY!! Clear your calendar, book your room at the local Marriott (there's one right there by the hospital), or get your buddies together and book a limo. It's worth it!! Give yourself up to the Dark Lord. Have no responsibilities to hold you back. But remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Stay hydrated. Eat a good breakfast. Maybe bring some snacks in case the lines are too long. But seriously, don't drive if you can help it. You'll thank me after you've been drinking 10% beers for five or six hours straight.

If you have homebrew -- well, I should qualify that by saying, homebrew that you are willing to share -- bring plenty! If you have beer from your part of the world that is not available in the Chicago area -- bring as much as you can carry! There will be beers to trade! There will be other people with beers you want to try!

You all know of what I speak, yes? Of course you do. DARK LORD DAY is Three Floyds' annual release party of their multiple-award-winning Russian Imperial Stout. To beer geeks such as myself, it is nothing less than an annual pilgrimage. A sort of Woodstock celebration of some of the best beers in the world. By the by, THREE FLOYDS was just chosen by Ratebeer.com as the world's best brewery. We'll be celebrating that, too!

Watch this space for more details as they come to light, and more survival tips for the Day. To learn more, visit www.darklordday.com.

DRAGON'S MILK

I love, LOVE New Holland Dragon's Milk. Had a lovely evening with friends last night, played some board games and some Wii, watched Saturday Night Live, and drank a Dragon's Milk. It's the perfect beer for a relaxing winter night. It's dark, complex, somewhat sweet and slightly boozy, all qualities I look for in my beer and my friends.

Today I am going to work on my preparations for my upcoming Belgian beer class. Got the Michael Jackson Great Beers of Belgium 6th edition, got my Randy Mosher Tasting Beer, got my Global Beer DVD, had a hearty breakfast . . . Happy Sunday to one and all!!