Beer Notes

These are going to run me ragged.

-- A limited number of 750ml bottles of Flying Dog's 2oth Anniversary beer, 'Raging Bitch' a Belgian IPA will be available for $20 at their brewery on Saturdays (includes a case and poster). Fear not, because it appears that regular bottled versions will be available in mid-December.

Also, their spring seasonal 'Garde Dog' a French biere de garde style (one of my favorite beers) is now being bottled per Twitter, I can't wait to see that hit shelves and sample some from the brewery during Tour days.

And, well, Happy Holidays (via rep JT's Twitter)

-- This week at Frisco Grille: Troegs Mad Elf pint night on Wednesday (7 PM+) and Heavy Seas Yule Tide Firkin for Firkin Thursday! Also this month: Otter Creek Pint Night (Wed 12/16), Gordon Biersch Pint Night (Wed 12/23) and 'Customer's Choice' pint night w/choice of any glass they have (Wed 12/30) plus the usual Firkin Thursdays (they have a Olivers Ale/Pratt St. Alehouse Merry Old Ale Cask for use at some point) every Thursday 4 PM+ throughout the month.

-- Lures in Crownsville is having a special firkin on Tuesday December 15th. Starting at 6 PM they'll pour Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale with fresh Simcoe hops. It will be $15 for a bottomless glass and $8 a pint.

-- Gilly's in Rockville has expanded from two taps to six thanks to Dogfish Head Alehouse Gaithersburg passing along their draught system. Currently on tap: Clipper City Golden Ale, Dales Pale Ale, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Lancaster Winter Warmer, Weyerbacher Winter

Other events: 12/9 Blue Moon Grand Cru free tasting, 12/10 Magic Hat tasting and 12/19 open house tastings including winter beers and gourmet cheese.

I really wish they were closer to Baltimore City or Howard County, its just this cool little bottle shop with six beer taps, great bottled beers that you can enjoy at the store (small corking fee for bottles) with selections from their deli including sandwiches, cheeses and other items.

-- Midnight Sun's Sam Sessa examines the allocation process and dilemmas that face Brewer's Art in distributing its wildly popular Resurrection and other offerings. Only about 30 kegs get shipped out a week to the various bars.

-- World Cup 2010 draws are out and America will face England on June 12th. Pratt Street Ale House brewer Steve Jones is a son of England and will mark the day by brewing his special Best Bitter that was last brewed for the Chelsea vs. AC Milan game in town.

-- Not quite sure what to make of Jilly's, a 22-tap bar+grill type joint along Rt. 40 in Ellicott City. I came in once and found some quality craft taps, but also a great deal of taps we find everywhere around town. Another visit is pending but I like their hours (until 2 AM daily) and am happy they've put together a website.

-- Yours For Good Fermentables' Tom Cizauskas briefly explains the 'Three Tier' system that governs beer allocation in Maryland. He also celebrates the Friday birthday of legendary Max's beer procurement chief Casey Hard.

-- Local beer writer Chuck Cook saw his article - Belgium: The World's Beer Country get published in the inaugural issue of Beer Connoisseur. Kudos.

-- More notes on Red Brick Station's two latest brews and a peek at something to be made down the road from Alexander Mitchell's Beer In Baltimore.

-- The seemingly dormant blog 'Grains N Grapes' has sprung to life and is in the middle of a redesign. It is run by Kevin M. Smith who writes for the ubiquitous Mid Atlantic Brewing News.

-- Clipper City founder Hugh Sisson's step-son has opened a bar called The Rowhouse Grille (1400 Light St.). It currently has eight taps, three of which smartly include Clipper City offerings.

-- Thanks for the follow, Grin and Baer It!

-- Thanks also, BaltiManual, which has an interesting writeup of Baltimore bars.

-- Be sure to also check out local blog 2nd Floor Brew

-- Please follow my Twitter account, MDbeerspotter if you are on Twitter. There's quality interaction and occasional informational goodies.

-- Finally, anyone have any interest in something like a Howard County Beer Week somewhere down the road? It would be much scaled down from the amazing creation that was Baltimore Beer Week but I'd love to see the burgeoning beer culture in Howard County showcased in a reasonable manner.