Get some IBUs in an IBA

Happy Friday!

It's been a long week and I'm glad the weekend is nearly here. To save you from end-of-weekend blues, this coming Monday (the 13th) Schlafly posted on Facebook that they'll be tapping a cask of India Brown Ale at the Foundry in Westport starting at 4pm (happy hour).

What's India Brown Ale? Pretty much what you think. Schlafly's website says, "this unique brew has the color of a brown ale, but the aroma of an American-style IPA. This beer will prove just how complex a brown ale can be."


I haven't had many IBAs, but the couple that I have had are super delicious. Dogfish Head's is the first that comes to mind which, of course, we can't get here. Saranac, though, makes one but I can't recall seeing one out here. I know Lukas in Overland Park typically carries a pretty big selection of Saranac - does anyone know if they carry the IBA? Any other IBAs in town?

Friday at the Foundry

I'll try to keep this short. We went to The Foundry tonight (new website, by the way) and noticed something significant:  they've moved the McCoy's taps from the wall to the center bar island, opening all of the wall taps to third-party brews (finally!!). One of the biggest wishes we've had about The Foundry is that they'd open up more of their taps to non-McCoy's brews, because the McCoy's brews are on tap about 30 feet away. They had a better idea:  add more taps.

I sampled their 10th anniversary and Rye of the Tiger beers tonight (but closed out the evening with the always-favorite Maudite). The 10th anniversary was really good, but I wasn't in the mood for such a strong beer (Yes, I know, I got a Maudite. It's different. Honest.) The 10th is actually 3 years old and is quite boozy, warming, and a bit hoppy with lots of bread and caramel in flavor. There are some fruity esters, but they're not overwhelming. If you're looking for a balanced American Barleywine, I would recommend this one. It was served on tap at a good carbonation level and just a wee bit on the chilly side. Let it warm up before fully enjoying.

I tend to find McCoy's beers to be middle-of-the-road, but the Rye of the Tiger ale was also very good. No detectable off-flavors and a nice pale ale with the spiciness and mouthfeel you'd expect from rye. I do think this would have been better for the early-spring days of late March or early April, but it's a nice change from the heavy, malty brews of winter.

Cheers!

And in Local News...

I recently received an email via Free State's mailing list (sign up!), as well as an update from the Foundry (I e-mailed them a while back with praise for Left Hand's Smokejumper and apparently Todd there kept my email). Here's the latest:

Happy Birthday Free State! To celebrate, they'll have 20 beers on tap (12-15 at any given time) between 2/18 and 2/23. Once a keg blows, they put another on, so your selection will be varied throughout this time frame. We'll be there Friday after work. Will you?

The Foundry in Westport recently got a few new kegs in. They have a keg of Hopslam, one of Val Dieu Grand Cru, and another of Duchesse de Bourgogne.


Oh, and regarding my post about New Belgium's Dark Kriek aka Dunkelweiss 30. I emailed Barley's and apparently it is the dunkelweiss. It's the strangest dunkelweiss I've ever had, with overwhelming flavors of dried cherries and chocolate. Most reviews I've read on beeradvocate and ratebeer state similarities to banana bread, which I completely did not get. I think I'll have to make the sacrifice and try this one again, as all I really tasted the first time around was dried cherry, a little raisin, caramel, and chocolate. Maybe my tastebuds were broken that night. It's possible.