Brian Vander Ark & Griff @ Charlie Foster's

I expected this to be an interesting show and was not dissapointed. Brian started out performing solo, and then Griff would join him off and on through the set to accompany on harmonica and vocals. Here is the setlist- I hope I've got most of the titles correct!

Little Man
Fit to be Tied
I Went with the Road (With Griff)
I Want All of You (With Griff)
Medicate Myself
1229 Sheffield
Lilly White Way
Cup of Tea
Penny is Poison
Mississippi Moon - cover (With Griff)
Surivival (with Griff)
What Happiness Is (With Griff)
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - cover (With Griff)
Who Do You Love - cover (With Griff)
The Freshmen
Colorful
Martyr Material
Out like a Lamb
Photograph
Never Let You Down (with Griff)
Veneer
Ice Cream Man - cover (with Griff)

I know he played Hero somewhere in there too (Don't remember when,) and Griff joined him on the as well.

What's on Tap? Grandville/Kalamazoo edition

Angie went to Kalamazoo this weekend to check Brian Vander Ark at Charlie Foster's (Seafood Restaurant.) They were doing dinner packages, but I had a couple of gift cards left from Christmas, so we decided to stop at Carabba's in Grandville on the way down instead. (After I seeing and smelling the dishes at Charlie's Fosters, I wish we would have opted for the dinner package - Angie & I are planning a return trip for dinner sometime!)

Carabba's sole local brew was Fonder's Pale Ale.
Charlie Foster's had a better selection: Kalamazoo's own Winter White & Two-Hearted, as well as New Holland's Poet & Arcadia I.P.A!

BELL'S HOPSLAM 2009

I found this at Wayne's Deli. I looked up my batch ID on bellsbeer.com and here is what I found:

The Batch ID that you entered '8908', is a Bell's Hopslam Ale. Your Bell's Hopslam Ale was packaged on January 5, 2009

A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale. With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?

Original Gravity:

1.087

Alc. by Vol.:

10.0%

Avail. Pkgs.:

4/6/12 oz. bottles (case), 15.5 gal. keg

Dates Available:

Limited Release

January 7th through February

State Availability:

Information coming soon.

What's On Tap? Hop Hound Amber Wheat

Don't let the packaging and the label fool you into thinking this is a brand new microbrew from your local brewery: if you look closely, you'll see that this is part of Anheuser-Bush's Michelob line of premium beers. That being said, like other Michelob varieties, this isn't all that bad. Interestingly enough, it's being billed as a spring seasonal, introduced in 2008, but I'm just now seeing it for the first time in this area. I'm assuming they are justing getting a headstart for 2009- I'm sure noone would mind Spring coming a little early this year. I found this on tap at Northside Pub, along with Bell's Christmas ale. It also appears to be available in 6-packs just about anywhere beer is sold.

HOPSLAM 2009

Be on the lookout for Hopslam, Bell's seasonal 10% alcohol IPA which should be available this week.

More information here:

Bell's Brewery Inc.'s HopSlam to be available this week; Oberon release date announced

Bell's beer continues to expand

Bell's beer just announced another expansion to the tune $5+ million. Read the full article here:

$5.2 million expansion moves ahead at Bell's Brewery in Comstock Township

Alleyways opens with 21 beers on tap!

Article here:

Restaurant developer invests $300K in Muskegon eatery’s renovation

I will have to check it out tonight and update here will a full report!

UPDATE: Just got back from Alleyways, I had the Leinie's 1888 Bock, and Bell's Winter White. Other beers on tap include, but are not limited too Goose Island 312, Founder's Pale, New Holland Sun Dog, Longhammer IPA, and Samuel Adams Seasonal.

Bell's Beer to collaborate with Belgian Brewery

Bell's to partner with Belgian brewer's De Proef for their 2009 collaboration series. Check out the full press release here:

http://beeradvocate.com/news/1693174

What's on tap?

City Cafe in downtown Muskegon had the following to offer tonight:
FOUNDER'S CENTENNIAL IPA
NEW HOLLAND CABIN FEVER
NEW HOLLAND SUNDOG

They had also just recently ran out of Bell's Christmas Ale!

(Big improvement from Bud & Heineken!)

Featured Beer: Kalamazoo Stout

from http://www.bellsbeer.com/

A full-bodied stout with plenty of roast flavor. Kalamazoo Stout is available year round, leading our vast portfolio of stouts.

Original Gravity:
1.063
Alc. by Vol.:
6.0% - 220 cal. per 12 oz.
Avail. Pkgs.:
4/6/12 oz. bottles (case), 15.5 gal. keg
Dates Available:
Year Round

January 1st through December
State Availability:
FL, IA, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, OH, PA, VA, WI

The Batch ID that you entered '8773', is a Bell's Kalamazoo Stout. Your Bell's Kalamazoo Stout was packaged on October 2, 2008

I found this six-pack at Jack's corner store / gas station at Airline & Hile - I can only hope they keep carrying it!

Bell's Eccentric Day: Dec. 5th = Anyone interested?

"After much deliberation we have decided to thrown (sic) another Eccentric Day! Doors open at 9 am and will close at 1 am. Join us for great food, beer and hooplah. There will be a $1 cover charge at the door to cover a few extra incidentals this year. Come dressed eccentrically please. The only other requirement is that everyone enjoy themselves responsibly."

BIRTHDAY BLOG

I am currently much enjoying a couple "Hell Hath No Fury's" from my six-pack of the week on my birthday -yeah!

I was probably robbed by Ladd's at $16 a six-pack, but I'm not a regretting a single sip of this mighty fine brew - my only regret was scaling back on Brownbag Monday and actually humiliating myself and drinking some of the awful new Bud Ale - what was I thinking? But don't worry I won't ever make that mistake again!