Blog strike is over! Editing resumes.

This blog is back in circulation after a 19-month hiatus. We will endeavor to keep the content as fresh as the beer that is pouring in the basement.

On Sunday, October 10 Chris and Dan brewed Thespian Stout, a recipe kit from High Gravity that is designed to resemble Rogue's Shakespeare Stout. In early November it should be pouring!

No photos of the brewing process were taken, but Dan did get a shot of Aleena in her usual silly fashion clutching the newly-refilled 50-pound CO2 cylinder before its transport down into the basement. (All the carbon dioxide leaked out in September after a faulty switchover of one of the lines to dispense from a homebrew Corny keg. Oops.)

Chris and Dan got the cylinder inside the house successfully, and hopefully it will last many years. Currently pouring are Ebel's Weiss, a homebrew Saison, and a homebrew Raspberry Red Ale. If you haven't tried some, please come by!

Goose Island IPA now pouring!

Tracy and I picked up a full keg of Goose Island IPA on Friday night -- 15.5 gallons of hoppy goodness. It should be pouring for a couple of months -- come over!

The other three beers are from Two Brothers -- as usual, Ebel's Weiss is pouring, as well as Cane and Ebel and Northwind.

The beer lines will require cleaning soon, but Dan is going out of the country for two weeks. Maybe Tracy and our neighbor Chris will take care of it while he's gone?

Cheers!

Basement remodel complete! Social calendar picking up.

(Editor's note: The three-month writers strike is over, and this blog is back in action.)

It has been a long two years, but we have finally completed the bulk of our basement remodel. The floor was finished the day before Thanksgiving, and we had a fun time hosting relatives for a few days in late November. Since we have put up trim and put on some finishing touches. Next up is a new bar, which will be fun to purchase and assemble.

Since the basement was done and we had many houseguests, on the Friday after Thanksgiving we hosted Mega Game Night II, with 20 people total participating. In December we enjoyed the basement further by hosting our first Winter Solstice gathering, which was a hit as 17 people attended. More parties are forthcoming!

Regarding beer, we allowed the big keg of Alpha King to expire, as we had ordered a full half barrel of Victory Pale from Emmett's. (We sure like that one.) Also pouring is Goose Island Matilda, and any day Cane and Ebel will tap out, to be replaced by our first keg of Anchor Steam.

Our next big gathering is Ultimate Fighting on January 31 -- it's not really our thing, but our friends requested it, so we're gonna have fun. Then on February 22 we'll have an Oscars party, but this time guests are required to dress up.

And as always, people are welcome by to watch soccer, football, and hockey. If you haven't been over lately, come by for a pint sometime!

Emmett's Victory Pale Ale is back. First homebrew club meeting tonight...

The Cain and Ebel tapped out right after my previous post (or was it before?), and last night Tracy and I stopped by Emmett's and picked up a keg of Victory Pale Ale that we ordered months ago. Because of a change in management and some remodeling in their basement, the order was messed up, but no biggie. Nobody went thirsty at our place, that's for sure!

So our current lineup is Allagash White, Victory Pale, Heavy Handed IPA, and Alpha King. It's a nice selection, but as cooler weather approaches I'd like to get a brown, a porter, or a stout pouring. Fear not, I'll make it happen.

Tonight my neighbor Chris Albert will join me to attend a meeting of the Urban Knaves of Grain, a west suburban homebrew club. We are looking forward to meeting people and then starting to make our own beer. Hopefully in the coming months we'll have one of our own creations pouring. Tune in or come by to find out!

Cain and Ebel: here, but not for long. Alpha King refilled, Allagsh White is back!

It has been ages since the last update. In that time we have been to Australia and back, and after our return we changed a few of the kegs around.

We got a keg of Cain and Ebel a couple of weeks ago, and it is still pouring, but not for long. Ebel's Weiss ran out, and this past weekend we braved the record rainfall and made a trek to Sam's Wine and Spirits in the city. There we picked up 5-gallon kegs of Allagash White, Two Brothers Heavy-Handed IPA, and another half barrel of Alpha King. We love that stuff!

Tonight is a gathering for my mother and sister, who are visiting from El Paso. Pictures will be posted subsequently. All are welcome to stop by!

Northwind finally gone. Mad Hatter IPA now back, Alpha King refilled

Today we hosted another Diplomacy game, and of course during the event all three beers tapped out. But Tracy was a trooper yet again, and she ran up to Sam's Wine and Spirits and got another 15.5 gallons of Alpha King, a corny of Ebel's Weiss, and a corny of Mad Hatter. "I was going to get Cane and Ebel, but I made an executive decision." Works for me. Thanks Tracy!

Come on over to enjoy these great beers!

Ebel's Weiss is back!

The keg of Centennial Amber that we picked up back on March 22 finally tapped out today. We knew its demise was imminent, so yesterday after buying a rain barrel for the house, we swung by Sam's Wine and Spirits and purchased a keg of Ebel's Weiss. Last night the amber finally tapped out, so at noon today we ran back up to get the keg prior to our little gathering to watch Germany win their first match at the Euro 2008 soccer tournament.

Ebel's Weiss is a mainstay at our home, and usually occupies Tap 1, but due to having the half-barrel of Alpha King, things are a little off.

The Northwind should tap out any day (it's a bit warm for that kind of beer these days), and this week we hope to hit Goose Island Clybourn after a Cubs game to get a replacement -- hopefully it will be something unique!

Keep checking here to stay updated!

Alpha King is on draft! Yes!!! Beer lines cleaned - because we care

Sunday wound up being a big day for us. With the weather being ugly in the morning, we decided to skip the Cubs game and stay in suburbia. After watching the last games of the English Premier League season with Brian Anderson from next door, we had brunch at Uncle Julio's, and then decided to swing by Sam's Wine and Spirits to see what was going on.

With approval of the front desk, we went into the cooler to survey their offerings, and imagine our surprise when we found a 1/2 bbl of Three Floyds Alpha King! We could not pass it up -- this is something we've been hoping for since Day One. Since we were expecting a keg or two to empty soon, we knew that room would free up soon in the fridge for the big keg, though we would lose a tap due to space constraints.

At the house, we poured the Ebel's Weiss into a pitcher until it blew and then cleaned the beer lines. Below are some photos. In the evening we put the Aviator Doppelbock on the deck with the spare CO2 cylinder and dispensed it until it blew on Monday night. It was a great keg while it lasted...

Come by to enjoy the 71st best beer in the world on draft! It'll be here for a while -- perhaps long-term. One can dream!

Same beers pouring, but not for long...

We have not bought a keg since April 2, if that can be believed. The same four beers are pouring, but not for long. We will get another keg of Victory Pale Ale soon, and then we'll look for something darker for the fourth tap.

The basement remodel continues, and no parties are planned in the near future, but don't let that stop you if a cold craft beer beckons!

Beer dispenser survives earthquake!

At 4:36am last night, I was at home watching the end of the Padres vs Rockies 22-inning marathon in high definition on the DVR, enjoying a pint of Centennial Amber, when I felt the house shake. At first I thought a truck was rolling by our street, but that didn't sound right. I also dismissed the possibility of an earthquake, since I live in Chicago and not California. But I was wrong!

Those of you who know me are aware that I have been itching to feel an earthquake for many, many years. Finally I did! While enjoying the ninth-longest game in MLB history, and a craft beer from the local brewpub -- perfect circumstances. And after baseball I watched some live Australian Rules Football. Despite working until 3:30am to get things done, it was a magical night for me that I will never forget.

There was no damage to the house, of course, so everyone is still welcome to come enjoy our setup. I can't promise a 22-inning baseball game or any seismic activity, but I can guarantee good beer and great fun!