An Elector Day story ... and Bank Street Brewhouse changes its name to NABC Cafe and Brewhouse.

Scroll down and learn how Elector Ale came to be 14 years ago, but first, as you can see, Bank Street Brewhouse has a new name.

Since the guy who founded the business and wrote something like 96.7% of the press releases no longer is affiliated with the business, we might be waiting a bit for an explanation, though I'm sure it falls under the all-purpose heading of "rebranding."

And, before anyone asks, what I wrote in May remains the case: Here's the latest in the Great NABC Non-Buyout Saga of 2016.

On a more sensible note, it appears that the august (November?) institution of Elector Day has not been abandoned, and that popularly-priced pints of the elixir are available Tuesday at both locations, BSB (oops, the Cafe) and the original Pizzeria & Public House location on the north side.

While I may no longer be involved in the business, it is a matter of pride that Elector has survived three and a half White House terms, and (hopefully) will persist into a fifth residency.

As such, here's a freebie -- written in 2014, updated for now. It's okay; you can pay me later at the usual piece rate.

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Elector was born 14 years ago on Election Day, 2002.

Now it is the year 2016, and on November 8, Elector’s birthday will be celebrated at both NABC locations with big cuts in the “poll” tax: $2 Imperial pints of Elector, all day long, and $6.66 growler refills of Elector, all day long.

No longer must we labor under the delusion of an election day prohibition on alcohol sales, so drink early and vote often.

Here is the Elector Story.

Elector’s conceptual roots extend to the beginnings of NABC’s original garage brewery off Grant Line Road — now the Research & Development Brewery.

Elector was the third recipe brewed by NABC’s founding brewer, Michael Borchers, and his assistant, Joey Burns, and was made for the very first time on Election Day, 2002.

Brew day happened to be the mid-term congressional election following the disputed presidential race of 2000, in which Al Gore won the popular vote nationwide, but lost the White House owing to Florida’s uncounted hanging chads and the state’s subsequent votes for George W. Bush in the Electoral College.

Needless to say, as subversive leftists (and craft brewers, who always should be subversive leftists), this political outcome was still somewhat fresh in our minds in 2002 as Michael concocted an initially modest plan to follow Community Dark and Beak’s Best with a traditional English-style seasonal winter warmer.

Brew day was uneventful, but as the fermentation proceeded and time rolled past, it became obvious that the new batch of winter warmer was going to have a deeper burgundy color than planned, and also was considerably hoppier than the intended style should ever be.

Well, there’s nothing wrong with that, as it turned out.

The resulting hybrid was delicious, full-bodied and aggressively hopped, and we concluded that while the intent had been tamer winter warmer, the result was something else – Imperial Red, in our reckoning – and we went forward with the results.

These days, I prefer to call it Elector-Style Ale, such is the beer’s uniqueness. It is a one-off, and stylistically, there is no classification except fine flavor.

Before the finished character of our newly hybridized ale had become apparent, we’d already started the process of hybridizing its name, something that arose out of drunken mischief (imagine that) when after much discussion, Joey suggested Elector in reference to the Electoral College and the way it made the popular vote pointless, and by extension, democracy itself somewhat redundant.

I replied that the “-tor” suffix would suggest Doppelbock in the minds of knowledgeable drinkers, and of course we had no intention of producing a beer remotely close to Doppelbock.

Joey: “Right.”

Roger: “Right.”

Good, then we’re agreed … Elector it would be.

Now it’s fourteen years later, and I feel just as strongly as I did then: An Elector in hand is well worth two Bushes in retirement, any election day, and in fact, any time of the year. Elector’s back story would be sufficient to render it an iconic brand, and Tony Beard’s graphics greatly add to the mystique — but of course, it’s the liquid in the glass that really matters.

Trench warfare -- the regional "Good Beer Front" edition.

(Muttering) Ah, the humanity ... this bottle of low-cal, mass-market lager is attached to the hand of a sitting New Albanian council person. Do you know who?

At Facebook, the first comment appended to the photo was this: Sorry, but cannot hit 'like' for 'lite.'

Clever, Sam! At NABC, we work tirelessly to makes scenes like this part of our discredited collective memories, and not a daily matter for perusal. It keeps a boy quite busy, although these days, we have another helper. I'll allow the Scrum Coordinator to introduce himself, if he wishes.

Here is a rundown of coming NABC events, appearances and grenade launchings.

Last Friday, NABC said goodbye, farewell, amen ... free at last, free at last ... I will forget you, some day. No longer are we bound to Heidelberg Distributing, our Greater Kentucky area wholesaler. We are free agents, and this time, it is hoped we'll find a partner willing to work with us.

On Tuesday, November 5, we celebrate Elector's birthday. At 11, Elector's about ready for middle school. See how Elector's appearance has changed over the years from 2002 to 2013, and get the details of the Elector Story, and $2 pints (and $6.66 growler refills) at both NABC locations on the 5th.

Also on the 5th, I'll be pouring samples and providing soapbox oration at DNA's 1st Tuesday networking gig at Uptown Art (5 -7:30 p.m.), located just cross Bank Street from Bank Street Brewhouse.

On Thursday, November 7, we'll be at 99 Hops House, Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg. The casino is visibly supporting Indiana craft beer, and as a director seated on the board of the Brewers of Indiana Guild, I'm delighted to drive up and chat about our steady progress toward being a great brewing state ... and in case it wasn't reported behind the local paywall (hint: it wasn't), there are now 74 breweries operating in Hoosierland. There's also one fewer prohibitionist in the Indiana House, so join me in saying "amen" at the long overdue termination of legislative malpractice.

And then there's Houndmouth, the band and the ale, all around throughout November. The second night of Houndmouth's Thanksgiving weekend show has already sold out, but tickets are available for Friday.

You say you want a panic attack? Try agreeing to speak at what appears to be a modest craft writing symposium at the University of Kentucky (my mom's alma mater) next February, and then realize that it is to be populated by true heavyweights of my industry. Well, if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, then baffle 'em with bullshit ... hmm, wonder if Houndmouth's free to accompany me? As the band captivates the crowd, I'll make for the unguarded cash bar.

There's a bar, right?

Let's do an Elector Day recap, with Electimus and a requisite graphic Elector retrospective.

Let's do an Elector Day recap.

Since 2010, Indiana no longer labors under the restrictive "blue laws" that formerly forbade alcohol sales until the closing of the polls at 6:00 p.m. Kentucky has no such luck, and life there will be painfully dry until early this evening.

Over here on the Sunny Side, some taverns will open at 7:00 a.m., and package stores will be doing business as usual.

Both NABC locations will be open at 11:00 a.m., serving beers of proven merit. Our time-tested Elector Ale (for over a decade, it has made democracy pointless) will be on special all day at $3 for an imperial pint.

Also, there's a rare beery surprise: Electimus, which comes out of hiding only during presidential election years. It's a blend of 70% Elector and 30% Hoptimus, and there's only one keg of Electimus at each NABC location. That's it.

In 2008, there was no Bank Street Brewhouse, and so the tradition begins there tonight. I'll be there. The Pizzeria & Public House will be rocking, too, as has been the case since Bill Clinton was elected in 1992.

Vote (and drink) early and often, people. Let's kill a few minutes with a visual history of Elector. First, the official Tony Beard "HOPS" poster for 2012.

The Elector Day 2008 poster was designed by John Campbell. The crazed John McCain image is a classic.

Just how far has Elector progressed since the first clip art cut 'n' paste from 2002? Here is what I cobbled together, pre-Tony.

By 2007, glimmers of a new Elector were to be seen. For a fairly succinct history of Elector, how it was first brewed and the way it came to be named, go here.

There was a retrofit in preparation for bottling, once Elector was being brewed downtown at Bank Street Brewhouse.

Which brings us to the present day -- Elector Day, 2012.

And a big round of applause for the inimitable Tony Beard. He thanks you, and we thank you.

Tuesday is ELECTOR DAY. In Indiana, that means ALL DAY long.

Just a reminder: Since 2010, Indiana no longer labors under the restrictive blue laws that formerly forbade alcohol sales until the closing of the polls at 6:00 p.m.

This is good. We will be ready. Never again will you be compelled to accept an illicit half-pint of Kessler before following your party boss's instructions.

Both NABC locations will be open at 11:00 a.m. and serving beers of proven merit. Our time-tested Elector Ale (it makes democracy pointless) will be on special all day, and we may yet have a beery surprise or two -- like Electimus, which usually comes out of hiding only during presidential election years. Electimus is an eye-opening and aisle-crossing blend of Elector and Hoptimus. Supplies will be very limited.

I likely will be at Bank Street Brewhouse for the duration. The Public House will be rocking, too. Vote (and drink) early and often. Just for the fun of it, here's an original Elector poster from around 2003, followed by one of Tony Beard's More recent designs (his work is at top, too).

Obama defeats Romney, and ...

As always, NABC's artwork comes to you courtesy of the inimitable Tony Beard, who continues to conjure designs as a basis for a pre-election Elector marketing run. Meanwhile, the clear favorite among designs previously displayed here is this one.

Hope: Beer or Hops?

My favorite is Hops, but let me know what you think. One of these designs, or a variant, likely will be the basis for a pre-election Elector marketing run. As always, our artwork comes courtesy of the inimitable Tony Beard.

Elector Day is coming.

We're printing a slew of these for duty in the days prior to the election, because it's always worth remembering: An Elector Makes Democracy Pointless. Note also that in conservative Indiana, the rules have been liberalized (read: rationalized), and we can serve beer while the polls are open.

An Elector Day pint special.

Because a troglodyte surely will complain, note the small print: In the state of Indiana, discounted alcoholic beverages are offered all day long during business hours, to all comers in a strictly non-discriminatory manner, provided (a) you're 21 years of age and can prove it, and (b) not already intoxicated. Enjoy Elector Day responsibly.

NABC in bottles: Coming fairly soon.

In the beginning of Bank Street ops, it was our aim to package NABC beers in cans, but to be perfectly honest, we could not afford the required investment. Some day, I trust that canning will occur; until then, we've acquired a small bottling machine and soon will begin packaging in 22-oz bottles ("bombers" in the argot).

The Elector label has been submitted for Federal approval, and graphics wizard Tony Beard is starting on the next label designs for the higher gravity beers in our line: Hoptimus, Thunderfoot, Elsa, Tunnel Vision and more.

It makes democracy pointless.

From the amazing Tony Beard, the poster for NABC's Election Day Elector promotion.

Was I in downtown New Albany last night, and did I do all that?

Times may be changing in New Albany, but days like yesterday still strike me as somewhat surreal when viewed from the sobriety of a morning after.

Perhaps some day this will change -- not the sobering up, but the surrealism.

The Confidentials began with late afternoon, craft-roasted coffee at Dueling Grounds, browsing the Destinations Booksellers racks as we sipped, and then adjourning to the Bank Street Brewhouse for frites and a beer each.

Next stop was Wick’s on State for dinner with the Bluegills. Upon entering, I heard a familiar voice: Hugh E. Bir, covering Conway Twitty’s “Tight Fitting Jeans” from a stool in the crowded barroom. Mike Wyckliffe didn’t wait for me to ask, and within minutes, I was behind the bar, changing the tap handles as Elector replaced Amber Bock on tap.

This led to progressive pints to accompany our pizza and salad, and sated, the four of us proceeded to Horseshoe for the local leg of The Who singer Roger Daltrey’s “Use It or Lose It” tour in the Showroom. To my considerable surprise, the Horseshoe’s main barroom had BBC Bourbon Barrel Stout on tap, and it proved a worthy libation for sipping as I caught up with Mo, arguably the area’s biggest fan of The Who, after a chance meeting with him along the concourse.

This isn’t intended as a concert review. At the same time, Daltrey was spry and in as good a voice as one might imagine at the age of 65. The set list was predictably filled with Who songs, but to Daltrey’s credit, some of these are seldom played live by anyone, including the group itself. A version of “Going Mobile” was sung by Daltrey’s band mate, Simon Townshend (yes, the younger brother of Peter), and will stand as my top concert moment of the year so far.

When it was over, we returned home to reset clocks and contemplate the evening’s central theme: Most of it took place within New Albany, and all of it within 10 miles of home, without crossing the river to Louisville.

Let’s all pat ourselves on the back … and return to work, because the trick now is to keep the momentum going.