4th ANNUAL BEER DINNER

I know it has been awhile, but there is a bug or something on blogspot that is causing some minor problems. We will do what is necessary to get by for now. On Feb. 10 at 5:30 pm Mr. John and the hard working staff along with Master Chef Bill Beck present The Wild Game And Belgian Beer Dinner.The cost is $59 per person and does not include gratuity. There are only 75 tickets to this fine event and from what I been hearing on the hop vine, is that 40 tickets are already gone! So lets get to the menu! We will start off with a Happy Hour Buffet which will feature Fire Roasted Pig with Venison Sausage Glazed with Beer BBQ Sauce and Gourmet Mustard and Bread. The next course is my fav-o-rite Belgian Cheese with an array of Fresh Fruit and Crackers. Salad Course is Pheasant Confit on top of Baby Greens with Celriac Candied Hazelnuts tossed in Raspberry Framboise Vinaigrette. Now on to the big one, Beer Braised Buffalo Short Ribs with Barley Risotto and Witter-Kerke Sauteed Leeks, Turnips and Brussel Sprouts. To finish it up the night, Raisin and Plum Rice Pudding with Baked Drunken Apples. And now THE hardest part, THE BEER! Mr. John is picky about his Belgian beer and is always looking right up to the last minute for something to please all the Northsiders. Here is a small list of what might be on for the dinner or at least on tap. Lucifer, De Glazen Toren Ondineke Tripel, Brouwerji Strubbe Grand Cru Oud Bruin, St. Bernardus Pater 6 and what I am pushing for, a year old keg of Allagash Musette. You know what the say, GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

BEST OF 2007 PART TWO

Don't worry, I'll be done before this year is over. I promise. Now back to the awards! There are 365 days in a year and I probably try 40 or 50 beers a day. That comes out to 12.7 million ounces of beer a year. (Figures supplied by The Jethro Bodine Institute of Science And Math.) So when it comes to picking out some of the best beers of the year, why hell it's a lot of work. So to make it easier, I have not counted a boatload of stuff that I have only sampled. Only full glasses of beer have made this list, so lets go! BEST BEERS OF 2007- Southern Tier-Choklat. Take a vat of chocolate, dump it in a fermentor and bring it up to 11%. Then put it in a Godiva barrel and instead of dry hopping you dry chocolate it. Then you run it through Randall The Chocolate Animal and presto, you got this beer. Southern Tier- Pumking. Picks up where Weyerbacher left off with their Imperial Pumpkin. Lip smacking good and not overwhelmed with pumpkin pie spice. Portsmouth Brewing-Barleywine. One of the best barleywines I have ever had, period. Weyerbacher-12th Anniversary. A rye style barleywine that was really different. I love the dryness that rye gives to beers. Union Barrel Works-Kolsch. Their first batch of this stuff was so, so, good, we got a keg for Session Fest. Allentown Brew Works.-Rude Elf. This years draft was as Tony The Tiger says "It's Great'. Less spices, more flavor. Southampton-Burton Ale Cask. I could drink this session beer all day till it runs out of my ears and you know how tall I am. Southampton-Foreign Extra Stout. Hello roasted malt and more malt and more malt. Goose Island-Matilda and Defiant Brewing-Farmhouse Ale. Put the funk into my face! Sly Fox-Nelson Sauvin. Remember all the talk about hops tasting like grapefruit? Here is the real deal. Captain Lawrence-Smoke From The Oak Bourbon Barrel. Just the right amount of smoke, bourbon and porter make this right smart. Dogfish-Johnny Rawton Pils. One of Mike's last beers before he left, it was a 5% slightly hopped version and was easy drinking. Some talk of making it in Milton. Troegs-Scratch Number Three. The brothers Troegs say they might make this triple again. Just what I need, another night I can't remember. Stoudts-Hoperator. A very hoppy bock, just like me. Founders-Breakfast Stout. Another great dessert beer. Victory-Braumeister Pils. This spring release was maybe one of the best ones they have ever done. I am sure there is a hundred or so more, but you get the idea. Now go out and get yourself some of this fine stuff.

THE BEST OF 2007 PART ONE

Ladies and gentleman, I threaten and promised and now it is time to deliver the envelope. But first this disclaimer: In no way shape or form does the following represents the views, hope or dreams of the hardworking folks of The Northside. Any complaints, problems or mistakes are inconsequential. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate. Any rebroadcast can and will be subject to laughter. Now on with show! BEST BEER EVENT- Belgium Comes To West Chester At Iron Hill. What was not to like? Take some of the area's best brewers and have them bring their Belgian style beers, put them all on tap at the back bar and go to funky town. The variety of the beers that were there was simply amazing. If I could only find my drunken notes from that night. SECOND PLACE-Troegs 10 Anniversary At Harrisburg. When you want to have your first big event at a brewery, just do as Troegs brothers did. Put every beer you make on tap. Hire a couple of food vendors. Then get a whole bunch of unbelievable bands to play for you. Finally tell mother nature to clear up in time for your event and kids, you got one hell of an event.Can you say Troegs Triple? THIRD PLACE-Sly Fox IPA Project Day At Phoenixville. This year was maybe the best varietal of hops that they have done overall since they started and that's saying a lot. This event gets better run each year and that's saying a hell of a lot. After Nelson the one that surprise me the most was Southern Cross. SC on the hand pump, yeah that's the ticket. BEST NORTHSIDE EVENT- Session Summer Of Love Fest. Look, I like all my events but anybody who knows me well (Sorry guys) knows I like to do something different and this was WAY different. Great weather, great band, food and session beer. What better way to kick off the summer! More awards on the way so stayed tuned to this channel.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Another year down and a new one just begun. So what resolutions have you made this year? Are you going to work out? Drink less? Eat better? Get a new job? Go to Belgium? Okay, one outta five for me, at least right now. It is day one after all. In other news the hop heads have come to polls to vote and It's Not The Heat, It's The Hops! has won the best event of 2007. Congratulations! Finally this week The Best of 2007 and The You Gotta Be F&^%#* Kidding Me Awards. They will sure get people talking. But now it's back to my lazy boy to watch tonight's movie starring Marion Jones and Floyd Landis in "The Steroids Who Ate My Medals"