Gravity Head begins Friday, February 22, 2013: Return of the Living Gravity Dead.

(Poster by Tony Beard)

Gravity Head begins Friday, February 22, 2013: Return of the Living Gravity Dead.

Apocalypse Done; Now They're Back: "This isn't a costume, it's a way of life."

Gravity Head is NABC’s annual celebration of the brewing world’s biggest and best. Beginning on February 22, and lasting until all the kegs are gone, we’ll be devoting numerous taps to showcasing these rare and sought-after beers, as chosen to exhibit maximum diversity of flavors and stylistic inspiration. Not all listed Gravity Head beers are served at the same time. There is constant flux. See the blackboards for daily selections. Many other NABC beers and guest drafts will be available during the festival, which pours through early April.

For the Gravity Head beer list and further links, go here.

Rules of the Game: Pleasure and Responsibility.

For those readers who are contemplating Gravity Head attendance for the first time, please be aware that we’re very serious when we command you to arrange transportation from the venue at the conclusion of your gravity session or have a designated driver. Typically, a cab ride to Louisville costs $50, and less to Southern Indiana hotels. This isn’t very much when split two or three ways … and it’s far less than the cost of the irresponsible consequences. For us to continue the tradition of Gravity Head, it is absolutely imperative that everyone in attendance plays by the rules. Foremost among these is your personal responsibility as an adult drinker to refrain from driving intoxicated!

Big Beers, Small Glasses: Pours & Pricing.

Listed Gravity Head selections are available in small pours only, approximately 4 or 10 oz. pours, depending on the beer and the type of glassware used. Prices are indicated on the blackboards. Not all Gravity Head beers are available at the same time! Always check the blackboards at the Public House and Pizzeria to see what’s on tap.

Gravity Head 2013 Schedule of Events: Special events and appearances that will occur on fixed dates during gravity’s annual amok time.

Friday, February 22 ... "Gravity Tailgate Breakfast”

Way back in 2008, we convened early (4:00 a.m.) for a gravity breakfast with Terry Meiners of WHAS television in Louisville. In the years since, the concept has been tweaked, and so now breakfast starts at 7:00 a.m., when it’s actually legal to drink beer in Hoosierland. There’ll be locally-baked Honey Cream doughnuts; breakfast snacks prepared by the marvelous Sarah; Ed Needham's home-roasted coffee; and the full opening day roster of Gravity Head selections. Stop by and get into the spirit before you go to work … but seriously, it’s Gravity Head. What’s work got to do with it?

Friday, February 22 ... “Opening Ceremonies”

Regular hours and menu begin at 9:00 a.m. Members of the FOSSILS and LAGERS homebrewing/beer appreciation clubs and their chosen guests will again enjoy preferred seating in the entire Prost room, beginning at 3:00 p.m. We’re also expecting an ambassador Sun King Brewing to drop by for a high-level liquidity conference.

Saturday, February 23 ... "The Annual Patty & Larry Buckeye Contingent Visitation”

In a resumption of past tradition, the afternoon arrival of these hardy and perennial Buckeyes means tapping a special wooden pin of cask-conditioned, barrel-aged JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale. In 2013, we’ll add Big Dawg Brewery’s 180-Shilling Claymore in honor of Lees-drinker-turned-pro-brewer Richard Shroyer. Look for all-day barroom duty.

Sunday, February 24 ... "Optional R & R"

The Pizzeria & Public House is closed on Sunday. We’ve only just begun the journey, so listen to your body. Drink liquids, rest, and avoid both lifting and the operation of heavy machinery. But, if you insist on living like a rock star, NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse is open from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for Brewhouse Brunch (until 2:00 p.m.), the locally famous Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar, and the only Sunday carry-out beer within staggering distance of the Indiana riverbank, as dispensed in growlers.

Friday, March 8 ... “Cavalier & Founders Night”

Founders Brewing joins the wholesaling gang from Cavalier Distributing (Indianapolis) for an evening of mannered sipping and agitated revolutionary chat. To mark the occasion, Gravity Head kegs from Founders, Flat12 & NABC will swamp the taps.

Saturday, March 16 ... “Early St. Patrick’s Day”

Wearing of the green is one thing, but ingesting green-tinted swill is tantamount to wearing a badge that reads, “I’m neither Irish nor particularly bright – scoff at me.” The accepted colors of Irish beer are black (stout), red (ale) and gold (lager), and in our traditionally minimalist fashion, we’ll be offering three non-Gravity draft selections that roughly approximate each of these styles, while endeavoring to shun other, more inauthentic forms of proto-Hibernian revelry. You have been warned.

Also, March Madness dates:

March 19-20 First Four 2012 NCAA basketball tournament

March 21-24 Second and third rounds 2012 NCAA basketball tournament

March 28-31 Regionals of the NCAA basketball tournament

Saturday, April 6 & Monday, April 8 Final Four and Championship
of NCAA basketball