It's Been A Very Long 40 Days, But I'm Back Into The Swing of Things Now

LENT IS OVER! I have a lot to write about, so I don't really know where to begin. I'm going to save my post on my recent beer related adventure for tomorrow. Today I just wanted to hit on a few things that I'm excited about regarding beer.

First off on my list is last night's announcement VIA Twitter regarding Lagunitas' plans to open a brewery in Chicago. The formal article from the Chicago Tribune can be found here. I was very very excited last night when I read this, not only because I love Lagunitas beer, but because I think this will do big things for a city that already has a booming and thriving craft beer scene. Even though I'm new to the whole beer blogging thing, I've been enjoying craft beer for a long time and I think this will have nothing but a positive effect on the city as a whole. Chicago receives enough attention from the craft beer scene as is, but I think this will make our great city stick out even more. I can't wait to follow this story as it develops more throughout the next year and a half. I'm also very excited about the thought of insanely fresh Lagunitas beer just a stones throw away from my house. This can't happen fast enough in my eyes.


Anybody that follows my twitter probably already knows that I will be attending my first Dark Lord Day this year. I got the tickets in the mail today, and that got me even more excited for this event. I will obviously have a full post devoted to this epic event after April 28, but I figured it would be nice to share with anyone who didn't know that I got tickets and can't wait to go.


Last but not least, I did remain productive during my fast from beer. I took the money that I would've spent drinking and put it into upgrading my home brew system. I made a new all grain mash tun that I should be putting to use Saturday. I'm thinking of brewing a six gallon batch of brown ale. I also want to start experimenting with sour beers, so I hope to take a gallon of the brown ale and play around with that. I also would like to start doing more posts related to home brewing. I'm no expert by any means, but I think it would be fun to share some of my successes and failures and I experience them. I hope to have a very productive summer in regards to honing my brewing technique. I'm excited to say the least.

I know this was a pretty boring post, but I had a lot I wanted to hit on before I got back into the swing of things with beer reviews, brewery adventures, and home brewing mishaps. I look forward to keeping up with the blog from here on out and I hope my posts from here on out prove to be at the very least a little entertaining.

Dark Lord Day 2012

I'm sure by now anyone who knows even a little bit about the craft beer world has heard the most recent Dark Lord Day news. Tickets go on sale March 17. They're 15 bucks and the limit is two per person. The link is here. I know I'll be furiously re-clicking refresh that afternoon hoping and praying for tickets to an event I still haven't been lucky enough to attend.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Dark Lord Day, it is an event held once a year at the Three Floyds Brewery in Munster, Indiana. The event is held as a sort of release party for Three Floyd's Dark Lord Imperial Stout. I have yet to attend this event or try this beer, so I can't tell you a whole lot about it from a first hand perspective. All I can say is that the event is supposed to be a blast and the beer is supposed to be amazing (Google it). They also release some special versions like a barrel aged variety among others. I think it will be interesting to see what this year's even brings. Every year for the past 3 years I have tried and failed to either get tickets to the event or procure a bottle for tasting. This year I will prevail!

I wish everyone best of luck in getting tickets and their bottles of Dark Lord this year. This will definitely make or break my St. Patrick's day (at least until I drown myself in Michael Collins and Boulevard Irish Ale.) Cheers!