Stone has Arrived!!

So I stop in my local beer store on the way home yesterday (Been fridge was empty! But I needed some walking around beer for the weekend, can't drag those kegs with me), I figured I would see if they has a sixer of the Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale that I had the night before. I have to pass the high grav/rare beer section on my way to the coolers so I figured I would stop to see what they had. Some nice additions that I did not buy, Dogfish Pumpkin, a few new belgians, Ommegang Chocolate something or other and then I saw it. They have gotten Stone Brewing in! Sweet! Stone just entered the GA market this week and have some great beers I have talked about before. This leaves Bear Republic as the one brew that I love that I can't get here in GA. Anyway, grabbed a bomber each of the Arrogant Bastard Ale and Ruination IPA. Looking forward to enjoying them this weekend!

Quick Beer Reviews: Radeberger Pilsner and Kona Fire Rock

Grabbed dinner and some beer at the monthly pub crawl that I set up for the MINI club that I am a member of. We meet at Six Feet Under, a nice little joint that serves good seafood and has a pretty decent beer menu. Tried the Radeberger Pilsner first. Was not impressed. It tasted like a pilsner, nothing amazing about it. Not near as good as Pilsner Urquell but better than some of the American Marco Brews trying to pass themselves off as Pilsners. Would I order it again? Nah, a rather forgettable brew.

For my 2nd choice I decided to try another brew that I have been meaning to give a try. Kona (Yes they brew beer in Hawaii) has just recently shown up here in Georgia (did I mention that Yeungling is coming is December!) and I had not yet sampled any other their brews. There was a wheat brew and the Fire Rock Pale Ale on the menu, seeing as we where sitting outside and it was getting a bit nippy I went with the Pale Ale. A very good brew. Nice and flavorful, a good hop kick but not to the scale of an IPA. Nice and dark color. I'll have to grab a sixer or a sample pack and give Kona a more in depth review in the near future. Give it a try if you can find it at your local or the closest liquor store.

Heinzelmännchen Brewery in Sylva, NC

Took in the Western Carolina v. Liberty football game this weekend in scenic Cullowhee, NC. By far the prettiest vistas of any football stadium that I have ever been to. Great views up and down the valley that WCU is located in from the stadium. Stopped in the Heinzelmännchen Brewery before the game to top off two growlers that I had purchased their back in the spring. Went with their new Dunkel Wies and the Kilted Gnome Scottish Style Ale (had this last spring). The Dunkel was excellent, sweet and smooth with a hint of hops. Very refreshing for a dark beer and perfect for cooling the mouth during the hot hours of the tailgate. The Kilted Gnome is a high grav (7.5%) and they have changed the recipe a bit from the spring. It is now a bit sweeter up front and has a nice hoppy and warming finish. If you are ever stranded in Western North Carolina and need a microbrewery fix make sure to stop in to Heinzelmännchen. Dieter and his wife Sheryl run the place and are very helpful. Samples of each beer style plus their root beer and birch beer offerings are available as are pretzels and a big selection of mustard. This is a must stop for me if I am anywhere near Sylva. Check out their website for directions and more info!

B Double E Double R U N

Ok, I really don't need any more beer seeing as I have two pretty full kegs in the basement but I plan on hitting the Beer Store this weekend to pick up a few new brews. Plan on picking up a least a case more of the Victory Hop Wallop (love this stuff). Also, going hunting for Terripan Big Hoppy Monster and their latest side project release. Plus I'm always on the lookout for North Coast Old Stock and any Stone Brewing Beer when they get here (Late this month). Happy hunting fellow Beer Snobs.

The Beer Snobs Official Beer Bocce Rules

So you like Bocce and have always wondered, how can incorporate drinking into this game? Look no further!

The Atlanta Beer Snobs Rules to Beer Bocce
(as passed on to me through the Chi Phi Fraternity at Georgia Tech)

Equipment Needed:
Bocce Set (Any set will do but for all terrain bocce a cheap set is best)
Dixie Cup
Duct Tape (Always handy to have for when a player throws a ball that lands on a man-hole and cracks in two)
Beer (each player must have a beer in hand during play)

Players:
2-8

Teams:
2 but can be split up other ways.

Field of Play:
Pretty much anywhere with grass or dirt. If a players ball hits a building, concrete, man-hole, sidewalk, street, chair, person, car ect. then that person must pay homage to the bocce gods by taking a generous chug of what ever they are drinking. If a ball is damaged during the game. Player damaging said ball must finish the game with the damaged ball. Player must also play any future games with the same ball (see duct tape above).

Rules:

1. Split players into teams
2. Decide which team will throw the Pepe (jack, pallino, the little target ball) to start.
3. Member from opposite team must "cup" the Pepe. This involves placing a Dixie cup over the top of the Pepe, preferably done in a semi-hilarious manner. In other words, make us laugh.
4. Team who threw the Pepe has the option to have first or last toss.
5. Once order is decided teams alternate throwing the large balls towards the Pepe.
6. If anyone knocks the Dixie cup completely off the Pepe, play is suspended until all players of the opposite team have finished their beer and returned with a full beer.
7. Once all throws have been completed tally the score.
8. A team scores points by having the closest balls to the Pepe. Example: If Team A has the closest ball and Team B has the next closest then Team A scores one point. If A has 2 balls closer than B they score 2 points ect. Only one Team will score points peer Pepe toss. Games are played to 10, 15, 21 points. It doesn't really matter, decide on a ending point when you start.
9. Starting the next round: Player with the ball nearest the Pepe throws the Pepe for the next round, player with the ball farthest from the Pepe has to place the Dixie Cup. If these are the same player than the player from the team that did not point and having the next farthest ball away will cup.

There are the rules. Go pick up a bocce set at Wally World or Target and give it a try at your next tailgate.