NABC calendar highlights for November, 2014.

NABC CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS FOR NOVEMBER … 2014

Quick reference dates:

• November 1 (Saturday): ThunderFoot Oak Aged Cherry Imperial Stout release at both NABC locations
• November 4 (Tuesday): Elector Day at both NABC locations
• November 28 (Friday): Saturnalia kickoff (Pizzeria & Public House only) and Naughty Claus Spiced X-mas Ale release (both NABC locations)

Welcome to our quick recap of upcoming events involving the New Albanian Brewing Company.

There are plenty of special goings-on during the cooler weather months, but typically these events are scaled somewhat smaller than those falling on open air dates in summer and fall. When the beers move indoors and the days get shorter, there is more time for contemplative and thoughtful drinking.

It seems like only yesterday that we were motoring to the Bloomington Craft Beer Festival. That was in April, and now the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season is coming. Taking all these factors into consideration, NABC will lead off November with a momentous release, one that isn’t scaled small … no, not at all.

Saturday, November 1
ThunderFoot Halloween Hangover and 2014 release at both NABC locations, with a special program at Bank Street Brewhouse
For the first time since 2011, NABC has brewed, bottled and kegged a new batch of ThunderFoot, our much sought-after, reasonably epochal Oak Aged Cherry Imperial Stout. 22-ounce bombers go on sale at both NABC locations on Saturday, November 1. You can buy as many bombers as you like for $13 each, plus sales tax. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Next year, we’ll make more. Drafts of ThunderFoot also will be pouring at both locations on the 1st of November, offered in half-pint pours only, and with no growlers allowed (see above).

The Pizzeria & Public House opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, withThunderFoot bombers and draft, as well as the usual wholesome food and drink options.

At Bank Street Brewhouse, we’ll have Eh Cumpari Pizza’s mobile wood-fired pizza oven on site from 1:00 p.m. until John decides to fold his tent. We think he’s experimenting with Nutella and bacon. Also at BSB on the 1st, our friend, musician and urban poet Thunder Wrane will perform in the WCTU Reading Room at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 4
Elector Day at both NABC locations
NABC’s Elector Ale was born 12 years ago on Election Day, 2002. Now it’s 2014, and on November 4, we’ll be celebrating Elector’s birthday at both NABC locations with big cuts in the “poll” tax:

• $2 Imperial pints of Elector, all day long
• $6.66 growler refills of Elector, all day long

The Pizzeria & House opens at 11:00 a.m., and Bank Street Brewhouse at 3:00 p.m. No longer must we labor under the injustice of an election day prohibition on alcohol sales, so drink early and vote often.

Friday, November 7
Our friends at Bridge Liquors (110 Knable Lane in New Albany) will be offering NABC’s ThunderFoot and Hoosier Daddy for a Friday night beer tasting from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 22
“Chili, Brats, and Brew” is a fundraiser for the Vintage Fire Museum and Safety Education Center (723 Spring Street, Jeffersonville). The museum is a nationally known collection of restored fire engines (hand pumpers, chemical engines, horse-drawn steamers and early motorized engines) and other equipment dating back to 1756. NABC will be on hand to sell Progressive Pints for pairing with the food.

Plaid Friday, November 28 
Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMXIV and Naughty Claus release
Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMXIV, kicks off on Plaid Friday, November 28, at NABC’s Pizzeria & Public House. This is the eleventh edition of Saturnalia, which first took place in 2004.

For Saturnalia, we try to find representative samples of winter and seasonal styles (themselves pleasingly varied, in stylistically terms) from guest breweries, and augment them with others that strike us as somehow festive in purely subjective ways. Not only is it fun, but it’s also educational, providing Roger with frequent polemical opportunities to pontificate about the importance of unleashing our innermost pagans. When the lineup of Saturnalia guest drafts is finalized, typically a last-minute task, it will appear on the NABC web site.

Saturnalia also marks the annual release of NABC’s Naughty Claus (Spiced X-mas Ale). While pre-ordered supplies of Naughty Claus will be shipped to wholesalers and retailers prior to Saturnalia, we’ll not begin pouring Naughty Claus (at both NABC locations) until our traditional holiday opener on the 28th of November. While we understand the demands of the marketplace, our preference is to be seasonal when seasonal really matters.

Saturday, November 29
The annual Holiday Fest and Jingle Walk takes place in downtown New Albany. The walk itself takes place in the afternoon and emphasizes wine tastings in retail shops. FYI: Bank Street Brewhouse will be serving beer.

Looking ahead:

• January 2 (Friday): Hoptimus Inception Reception 2015 … at NABC Bank Street Brewhouse
• January 18 (Sunday): Old Lightning Rod Day … at NABC Bank Street Brewhouse
• January 31 (Saturday): BIG Winterfest … at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis IN
• February 21 (Saturday): Tailspin Ale Fest … at Bowman Field, Louisville KY
• February 27 (Friday): Gravity Head 2015 … at NABC Pizzeria & Public House

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Note: Both NABC locations will be closed on Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 27.

NABC has two locations in New Albany. Our original Pizzeria & Public House near IU Southeast offers a pizzeria-style food menu, NABC’s beers of proven merit and a list of quality guest beers. In downtown New Albany, our taproom at Bank Street Brewhouse no longer prepares meals, but you can pair NABC drafts and bomber bottles with delivery food, carry-in or the contents of your own picnic basket. However, for those venturing to read all the way to the end, there may be a surprise coming soon on the BSB food front. We’re working on it.