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!!