PINTS & UNION PORTFOLIO: Sign of the times, and a beer update.

David "Lad of the Village" Thrasher's take on the classic pub sign now has been mounted above the door to Pints&union. It looks incredible, and I believe the hours of operation have settled into predictability:

Sunday: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Saturday: 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

I'm the beer guy, so here's a beer update.

The current draft list includes two pinch-hitters (Wychwood Hobgoblin in for Fuller's London Pride, and Bell's Porter temporarily replacing Anchor Porter). Rounding out the lineup (* signifies a seasonal beer):

Guinness
Pilsner Urquell
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Falls City Classic Pilsner
*Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
*Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

We have two conventional keg boxes with a free tap in each capable of pouring a slim 1/6 barrel keg. So far we've briefly used only one of them (for cider), but if things break the right direction, next week we'll tap kegs on each of them.

One of these taps will be devoted to a legacy comfort beer (Belgian Tripel is sounding appropriate to me). This one will be considered a seasonal, rotating but not week to week.

The other tap will be subject to whim, and it usually will be one-off. The overall goal remains stability, but we also want to have some fun, so this one will feature creative craft brewers, many of them American. The only requirement is 1/6 barrel availability -- and for the beer in question not to be owned by AB-InBev. I have an idea for the opener, though beyond this hunch, I haven't thought much about it.

It shan't be hard to find suitable occupants for the whim tap. The legacy comfort beers actually are a bit more limited in terms of sourcing -- which helps to explain why they're neglected. Welcome to my conundrum.

Stay tuned for further updates. The first six weeks have involved laying out the basic beer program and observing the reaction. Beginning next week, I'll also start tweaking the bottles and cans, as well as announcing the beer class format and dates.

PINTS & UNION PORTFOLIO: Revised weekend hours, with a noon opening on Saturday and hangover relief on Sunday from noon - 4 p.m.

Noted local raconteur and occasional artist David Thrasher's pub sign for Pints&union is coming soon to a facade on or near 114 E. Market. Note the city branding mechanism at the top.

Nice touch, Dave. Have I mentioned the pub is carrying ANCHOR Steam (bottles) and ANCHOR Porter (draft)? You'll be reminded every time you cross a downtown street.

Extended Saturday hours at Pints&union begin on August 25th at 12 noon. On Sunday, August 26, hangover relief debuts from noon to 4:00 p.m., short and sweet.

Tuesday - Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Saturday: 12 noon to 2:00 a.m.

Sunday: 12 noon to 4:00 p.m.

Closed on Monday 

Fans of Woody's Roadhouse will be happy to learn that "Woodrow on the Radio (above) spins fine 45rpm wax for your hangover recuperation and enjoyment in New Albany's newest and hippest tavern."

It's slated to happen each Sunday.

There'll be a unique Sunday menu: Croque Madame (above), Tikka Poutine, French Toast, Scotch Egg (below), Shrimp Cocktail, and Beer & Grapefruit Salad.

Otherwise, the daily food menu will change often. The best way to keep abreast is monitor Facebook.

This one is a top-level state secret.

Bottles of La Trappe Quadrupel, a classic Trappist ale from the Netherlands, have been added to the Pints&union beer list. As noted, it is my intent to have a strong core of Belgians (and affiliates).

For those who have enjoyed the exemplary draft Daredevil Munich Dunkel Lager, the third of our allocated three kegs was tapped earlier this week. When it's gone, probably early next week, it will be time for Oktoberfest season to begin.

The final decision has yet to be made, but I'm leaning toward a traditional Munich interpretation. Also, Wychwood Hobgoblin continues to stand in for Fuller's London Pride, and probably will remain pouring through September.

See you Sunday.

BEER WITH A SOCIALIST: Whether sheep stealer or highwayman, he was hanged just the same at Cannards Grave.

How this for a pub sign?

Bud Light drinkers used to feel this way when they wandered by mistake into the Public House. The illustration comes from a 1972 book called British Inn Signs.

Where five roads meet on the A37 near Shepton Mallet (Somerset) is a gruesome sign of a man hanging from a gibbet.

The back story takes on a number of versions, which are considered in this modern update.

The Story of Cannards Grave

To the south of Shepton Mallet is the oddly named Cannards Grave, where, according to legend, the ghost of 17th century publican Giles Cannard still walks.

Tom Kennard, often called either Giles, or Tom the Taverner, was the landlord of a public house which stood on the crossroads between the Fosse Way and many other roads to the West Country. Opposite the inn stood a grim reminder of the relative lawlessness of those times, a gibbet, on which smugglers, highwaymen, bandits and other miscreants met their end ...

It looks as though there's still a pub on or near the site: The Highwayman, Cannards Grave, although the first review expresses annoyance.

Was not impressed with this pub. The beer (St Austell) was cloudy and didn't taste good. Changed it for the other one on, can't remember what it was, and it was the same. The Landlord or Manager said it had recently been changed and was the top of the barrel! Top of the barrel?? Real Ale isn't served from the top!!

A glorious St. Austell cask ale, mishandled?

That might well be a hanging offense.