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I'm Out.

I'm leaving. No more bartending, no more blog. My last shift will be this Friday, July 11th. I'm sad to go, but I have some exciting adventures ahead of me. I have been hired as a tour guide with TrekAmerica, and I am leaving one week from today.

My training consists of three weeks; one in their L.A. office, and two on the road, where I will get to experience what it's like to be a passenger on the trips that I will be leading. Just for the training, I'll get to tour San Francisco, Yosemite, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Moab, Arches National Park, and Las Vegas. Yes, I'm very excited. And feeling a little overwhelmed, as this has all happened so fast.

If you still care to read my stuff, you can catch my articles in Southwest Brewing News. I'll probably start a new travel blog, which I'll post here as soon as I have it. In the meantime, come out to the pub either Wednesday or Friday to wish me farewell!

Second First Draft

Time flies. Sorry to lead with such a cliche, but I can't think of a more creative way to say it. I can't believe this weekend is already July 4th. What happened to the summer? Before we know it, summer will be gone and it will be October. Which might not be such a bad thing, because you know what happens in October?

Tulsa Press Club hosts their annual fundraiser, First Draft. Last year was the first time I attended this event, and I have to slap myself on the hand for missing the previous years. If you like beer, well....I think you know where this is going.

The date is a mere 94 days away, on October 3rd. This year they've moved the day from Thursday night to a Friday night. Perhaps it's to accomodate those that work Friday morning and were tired of facing their boss hungover, with alcohol seeping out of their skin. Good for the nine-to-fivers, bad for me (and other bar employees).

How cool is First Draft? Cool enough to have a myspace. Yeah!

Mori-what-o?

Over the past couple weeks, I've gone to two different restaurants and encountered a 'confusion,' shall I say, over a particular beer. The beer responsible for the misunderstandings here is Morimoto Soba Ale. I figured since this beer is capable of confusing restaurant owners and bartenders, it was worth writing about in order to add some clarification.

I suppose the name could be a bit misleading in regards to its' origin. Morimoto....sounds Japanese, yes? The beer is actually brewed by Rogue Brewery in Oregon; one in a series in which Rogue collaborated with Japanese chef, Masaharu Morimoto to create a new line of beers. Other beers in this series include Morimoto Black Obi Soba and Moriomoto Imperial Pilsner. The elegant 22 ounce bottle features Rogue's signature screenprint design, only rather than the typical portraits Rogue generally depicts, this label presents artistic Japanese lettering.

According to Rogue's website, soba, also known as buckwheat, is a fruit commonly found in Japanese cuisine. Wikipedia lists soba as a type of Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. Not really sure which one I should deem more credible. Anyhow, it's origin is Japanese, at least that part is consistent. I assume it's for these reasons this beer is often found at Asian-themed restaurants.

For the beer itself, this is one I particularly enjoy. Yes, I must admit, part of it is because I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. The taste is very light, clean, crisp, and faintly sweet. It's one of those beers that I could drink on any occasion. I could drink it in the rain. And in the dark. And on a train. And in a car. And in a tree. It is so good, so good, you see!

So there I was, trying to order this beer at restaurant "A," let us call it. I believe I asked for the "Rogue Morimoto." I watched as our server walked behind the bar and grabbed a bottle which turned to be a Rogue Mocha Porter. Arriving at the table, he explained that this was the only Rogue beer they carried, and figured I must have been confused when I ordered my beer. When I pointed to Morimoto on their menu, he said, yes, they had it, but it wasn't Rogue. He proceeded to tell me I would like the Mocha Porter, because it was very similar to the Morimoto. Um, yeah. Fortunately for this guy, I'm not one who enjoys calling people out when they're dead wrong. I told him thanks, but, I really did prefer to drink the Morimoto. When he brought out the correct beer, I believe he noticed it was indeed, labeled as Rogue, yet seemed unwilling to admit his mistake.

Onto restaurant "B," another Asian bistro in town. Clearly demonstrated by the ornate exterior of the building and the elaborate interior, much attention to detail has gone into this place. What was overlooked, however, was their drink menu, where they have Morimoto labeled as a French beer. Not sure how they let this one slide by, a seemingly minor mistake in the scheme of things, but come on, how hard is it to see this beer is clearly not from France?

Everyone makes their share of mistakes. The moral of the story, as Confucius say: a man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake.

Oklahoma City McNellies Open!

It's officially official: the new store in Oklahoma City is open! Some people have been looking for more information, so here's what I know. The address and phone number: 1100 Classen Drive, 405-601-PINT(7468). Beer selection is just as vast as the Tulsa location, with 360 varieties; the biggest selection in Oklahoma City. They're planning the same specials as the Tulsa store, such as the infamous $3 burger nights on Wednesdays and Pint Nights. They'll also be selling those pesky mugs you've seen or own hanging in the Tulsa store. So if you're one of those who is severely dissapointed you can't order one in Tulsa (we ran out of space for them) you have a chance to get your name on one for OKC. I haven't been to visit the new location yet, but the feedback has been good so far. If you're in the area, stop by and check it.

Beer University, Round II

This upcoming Tuesday, June 17th!!! Last time I checked, there were still a few spots left. Same deal as last time, only we'll be drinking weiss beers in honor of the summer months. Be there or be lame. 382-PINT.

The Little Engine That Could

Just over four years ago, Elliot Nelson opened his first business in downtown Tulsa. At the time of the opening, this area of town was almost desolate. Downtown had a bad rap; a place to avoid after dark, a haven for the homeless and criminals.

McNellies: if you build it, they will come. A massive load of funds and labor were put into renovating the old building at 1st and Elgin, which is now home to "probably Tulsa's best pub." In the short history of McNellies, the downtown that Tulsans know today has come to life with the addition of more businesses, nightlife, and the new BOK arena, due to open this fall. Maybe that homeless guy will still hassle you on the corner, but some things never change.

The success of McNellies has been so monumental that Elliot has duplicated his idea, opening a second location in downtown Oklahoma City. The new pub is in the Plaza Court building at 10th and Walker. The new location has two floors with a bar on each, and a mezzanine overlooking the first floor. The anticipation of this new pub has been building for over two years, having an original opening date targeted for St. Patrick's Day of 2007. Finally the location has opened their doors this week, and Oklahoma City locals can now enjoy what the Tulsans have been enjoying for the past few years.

I guess the only bad news about this story is that McNellies, a former one-of-a-kind Tulsa treasure, is now a chain. While two locations hardly gives it a commercialized feel, I guess we'll know we have to worry when the staff is required to wear a minimum of 15 pieces of flare.

Beer Belly

Flipping through my Runners World magazine, I notice several advertisements implying that if you are one who enjoys an active lifestyle, Michelob Ultra is the beer for you. I started thinking about this clever marketing ploy by Anheuser-Busch, and it's pretty clear that our overtly obese population has bought into this idea of beers with 'light' labels. Often, I have customers (who half the time don't look like they enjoy an active lifestyle, but rather have a heaping plate full of sweet potato fries dripping with grease and a couple extra sides of ranch dressing in front of them) irritated because I don't have any 'light' beers on tap they are familiar with. I suggest other beers that are low in calories, but I sense their suspicion as they gaze at the tap handle and seem to think "Well it doesn't say light." Oh, my bad, you must know everything about nutrition because you saw a Miller Lite commercial.

Usually those who consume beers with the 'light' labels drink several of them in one sitting. I guess they would have to in order to get a buzz, since they're usually 3.2% domestics (one of the joys of living in Oklahoma). It really defeats the purpose of drinking a light beer if you have to consume twice as much to get the alcohol consumption you're looking for. Unless you're on weight watchers or some other strict diet, the likelihood that you're keeping track of calories is slim. So that extra 10 or 20 calories you're saving with your light beer probably isn't doing you much good in the long run.

I was going to post different calorie contents of beers for this blog, but then I decided that it really doesn't matter. I'm not going to drink a beer based on the calorie content, and I don't advocate that practice. If you're going to drink a beer, you may as well drink one you're going to enjoy.

Rumor Has It

There's been a lot of hype about Tulsa's new (and only) brewery, Marshall Brewing. For months and months, you've been hearing, "Coming soon...in the near future....any day now." This should be the last 'coming soon' notice, because the beer is kegged and ready for drinking.

Some of you may have had the chance to try a pint or two of Marshall's beers this past weekend at the American Craft Beer Festival. Eric Marshall had two of his beers available for sampling: Sundown Wheat, and McNellies Pub Ale. For those who haven't heard, Marshall has co-branding a beer with McNellies, which will be available not only at McNellies, but any other place that chooses to carry it, as well as in bottles for liquor stores. I've been told that we will have Marshall's beers on tap at McNellies within the next one to two weeks. I've got my fingers crossed that this information is accurate! Keep your eyes and ears open for the latest.

Beer Fest!

Throughout the year, Tulsa hosts quite a few festivals. There's Mayfest, Oktoberfest, D-fest, Jazz-fest, and Scottish Fest, to name a few. Whenever these events roll around, one of big highlights is being able to attend an outdoor celebration and drink beer. When you think about it, many more people are likely to buy a beer or five at Mayfest than a piece of art. If you're one of those people guilty of attending cultural festivals for the mere pleasure of drinking beer, it's your lucky day (well, weekend, actually). In conjunction with Mayfest and the Blue Dome Arts Festival, McNellies is hosting the first annual American Craft Beer Festival.

The festival begins Saturday afternoon (12pm) and offers 30 different American craft beers. Marshall Brewing will debut their much anticipated beer at the festival this weekend. A $10 charge will gain you access to festival, a commemorative mug, and 3 beer samples. After that, fill up your mug with any of the beers for $4. The festival will last until 8pm Saturday night, then from 12-4 on Sunday. The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, so head on downtown and enjoy the festivals galore!

Dinner Party

McNellies is hosting a Choc Brewing beer dinner this upcoming Monday, May 12th. The event will consist of a specialty four course dinner paired with an assortment of Choc beers. The menu is as follows:

First Course - Lump Crab Cakes Served on a Bed of Mixed Greens and Drizzled with a Roasted Red Pepper Coulis.
Beer Pairing - Waving Wheat

Second Course - Potato Leek Soup with Bleu Cheese Crostini.
Beer Pairing - 1919 Choc

Third Course - Pasta Carbonara Forestiere Topped with Smoky Bacon, Wild Forest Mushrooms in a Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce. Garnished with Red Pepper Flakes and Fresh Parsley. Accompanied by Garlic Toast.
Beer Pairing - Basement Batch Pale Ale

Fourth Course - Black Lager Baked Bon Bons Topped with a Chocolate Ganache
Beer Pairing - Miner's Mishap

Michael Lalli, head brewmaster of Choc Brewing, will be attending the dinner in order to offer his extensive beer knowledge, and answer any questions. I had the chance to visit with him a few weeks back when I toured the brewery, and I think anyone would enjoy meeting him and listening to him talk about beer.

The dinner begins at 7pm and the cost is $40 per person (tax and gratuity not included). To make a reservation, call the pub at 382-PINT, or email info@mcnellies.com.

Stone Brewing

I was taking a hiatus from updating this blog for a couple weeks, as I spent time on the beach in California, with my thoughts far disengaged from McNellies, dismissing any thoughts or desires of beer. Well, for the most part anyway. During my last couple days on vacation, I learned that I was in close proximity of the Stone Brewery, located in Escondido. I believe it would have been deemed a sin for me to not visit, so my friend Cera and I made the short trip to the brewery.

As soon as we walked through the front doors, I felt like I had left one paradise and entered a new one. The staff greeted us with friendly nods and welcomes while I gawked at our surroundings. The front room was full of Stone merchandise, bartering t-shirts, novelty pint glasses, cycling jerseys, belt buckles, and other branded products. As we walked through the restaurant and bar, making our way to the outdoor seating area, I noticed how much consideration had gone into every detail of the massive property. As might be expected, the walls were made of stone, with their signature gargoyle mascot etched above, gracing the room with its grandeur. Our outdoor seating area was surrounded by an ornate lush garden, and I caught a glimpse of the horticulturist, a Rastafarian looking man with a long gray beard, tending the plants.

The food menu was just as impressive as everything else I had seen so far. Many items offered were made with local and organic foods, and a handful used beer as an ingredient. I could go on and on about how great the food was, but I imagine most of you who are reading this are far from Escondido, and it would be cruel of me to make you want something you can't have. So moving on to the beer...

The beer menu listed 32 beers on tap, ten of which were made at the brewery. Another 71 beers were available in bottles, and of all the beers offered, I had only heard of a handful. Choosing only one seemed an impossible task, and I felt a genuine understanding for those that come to McNellies for the first time, overwhelmed with so many options. I ordered a sampler, which consisted of the 'core four' Stone beers: Stone Pale Ale, Stone Smoked Porter, Stone IPA, and Stone Arrogant Bastard.

The Stone brewery is known for producing high quality "big character" beers, with high alcohol percentages and a focus on the hop notes. Stone Brewing is probably best known for the Arrogant Bastard Ale, with a commercial description that reads:

"This is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory ---maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it's made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you're mouthing your words as you read this. "

As you can tell by this description, the folks at Stone Brewing have a great sense of humor, as well as marketing tactics. According to Wikipedia, Stone Brewing is consistently rated as one of the best brewers in the U.S. and world by Ratebeer.com and BeerAdvocate.com. And after a visit, I can see why. All of the beer we tried was excellent, and the brewery tour was pretty amazing as well.

I could have stayed there for days, weeks, months. Cera pretty much had to drag me out of the door. Stone beer isn't quite as unattainable as their food, as it's available in 26 states, but unfortunately, Oklahoma isn't one of them. So, next time you're out of state, I would highly suggest you try and get your hands on some.

Choc Brewery

Last week I made a trip to Krebs, Oklahoma. You may be asking yourself, "Why might one visit such a seemingly desolate place?" Although Krebs is by no means a tourist destination in itself, there is at least one good reason to go: beer.

Krebs is home to the Choc Brewery, the oldest brewery in the state of Oklahoma. The brewery was founded by Italian immigrant Pietro Piegari, who came to the mining town of Krebs in the early 1900's. After suffering an injury in a mining accident, Pietro was left without work and began brewing beer with a recipe he learned from the local Native American tribe, the Choctaw Indians. His beer became a popular offering for the local miners, and Pietro, who later changed his name to Pete Prichard, opened a restaurant serving Italian food and Choc beer.

Pete's Place is run today by Pete's grandson, Joe Prichard. The restaurant holds seating for 500, with small private dining areas spanning the majority of the restaurant. The food is served family style, with traditional Italian fare. My advice on the lamb fries: eat first then ask later. Don't make the same mistake I did and come early, cause they don't open the kitchen until 4pm unless it's Sunday. Fortunately, I was offered some good beers to hold me over.

Attached to Pete's Place is the Choc Brewery, separated by a connecting glass door. Choc currently offers four quality craft beers available to the public year round: Choc 1919, their original American unfiltered wheat ale; Basement Batch, a traditional pale ale; Waving Wheat, a Belgium style wheat beer brewed with coriander and citrus and Miner Mishap, a German-style black lager. Choc also brews a couple beers exclusively for Pete's Place: Miners Light and a Peach Beer. Plans to add two more beers to their collection are in the works, which will be called Last Laugh and Pietro Piegari.

If you want to take a road trip, the Choc Brewery is about a two hour drive from Tulsa, and it's definitely worth the visit. But you don't have to drive that far for the beer; McNellies offers Waving Wheat and Basement Batch on tap, and the other two Choc beers are available in bottles. Support your local brewery and have a few pints.

April Specials

The new month has arrived and that means...new specials! So everyone (K-Brick) can stop whining about how we haven't had anything for a couple of weeks and once again save a buck or two on a good brew.

Currently we have 16-ounce bottles of Ayinger Oktoberfest on special for $3.50. This is an excellent beer special, one of the better ones we've had in a while. The Ayinger Oktoberfest is a German lager with a hearty malt character. It's an orange-amber color with a fruity sweetness and a slightly bitter aftertaste. In addition to being a tasty brew, the bottle cap (pictured) is pretty exquisite as well. Ask your bartender or server to save it for you if you're into that kind of thing. This is one of those 'while supplies last' deals, so I wouldn't be surprised if they go very quickly.

Our other special is Boulevard Dry Stout for $2.50. We just got this one back on draft, which is better than the bottled version because nitrogen is used (versus the carbonated bottle) which creates a creamier body and a beautiful pour similar to Guinness. This beer has a dry, clean body with a complex flavor. John Roux-Lough, former president of Guinness Importing Co. describes the Boulevard Stout as having an American body, but an Irish soul. This was sampled during Beer University, and the Boulevard rep suggested trying it with an aged cheddar or cheesecake.

So there you have it. We also have some new beers on draft this month, but I don't have a beer menu with me, so you'll have to come in and check out the selection yourself.

Campers with Class

This weekend my boyfriend and I went on a camping trip to the Wichita Mountains. We had settled at the campgrounds and were sitting by our campfire when a camping cohort embarked upon our territory, asking to borrow a corkscrew. Although there were signs clearly posted indicating the consumption of alcohol was prohibited on the campgrounds, we did, indeed, have one to lend. "I'll trade you an ESB," the camper offered. I was quite taken aback by this statement. Perhaps I'm not giving enough credit to the typical Oklahoma camper, but I dare say that most wouldn't have known what this guy was offering. It seemed presumptuous of him to believe we knew what an ESB was. I mean that in an endearing manner.

For those that aren't familiar with an ESB, here's a description taken from beeradvocate.com:
Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB)
ESBs are essentially more aggressive and more balanced Bitters, both in alcohol and hop character, but nothing overpowering. Color range will be similar, though leaning towards the darker end of the scale; dark golds to copper. Low carbonation. Malts tend to be more pronounced, often toasty and fruity, with maybe some notes diacetyl. And despite "bitter" being in its name, ESBs are not really all that bitter. They key to an ESB is balance.

The beer this guy had to offer was a Sierra Nevada ESB, a newly released spring seasonal beer by the California craft brewery. It's the breweries variation of the ESB style, labeled as an Early Spring Beer. Ken Grossman, owner of Sierra Nevada brewery explains, "Our ESB blends the best of English tradition with the boldness of West Coast style. Featuring English ingredients, we added a Sierra Nevada twist by leaving the ale unfiltered, which enhances mouthfeel and hop aroma creating a slightly reddish-copper hue."

I found the beer to be very tasty, not to mention a vast improvement over the lukewarm Rolling Rock we had brought along. It was the first time I had seen this beer, and McNellies doesn't carry it quite yet. If I had to venture a guess, I would assume we will have it sometime in the near future. .

86 Specials

We haven't had any beer specials for the past week, and I don't believe we're going to have any for the remaining few days of the month. Following the onslaught of St. Patrick's Day, we ran out of our special beers of the month.

For me, it's almost refreshing to not offer a special for once. It gets monotonous pouring the same beer over and over again, and changing the same keg multiple times in one night. I also think it's nice that people choose a beer that they prefer to drink, not just the cheapest one. However, many people disagree with my adoration of the lack of specials. I've had multiple people who have been flabbergasted once told there is no special. They act like I've told them a family member is terminally ill.

All will resume back to normal come April, which is only a few days away. Generally our specials cost around $3. We have quite a few beers on the menu for $4. If that extra dollar is going to break the bank, perhaps you shouldn't be in a bar anyhow, eh?

Hooray beer!

Before I started this blog, I basically just drank beer without thinking too much about it. Nowadays, I feel guilty if I drink a beer with a 'devil may care' attitude. I feel like I should be taking notes, researching the brewery, observing the yeast particles, blah blah blah. But sometimes I miss the feeling of just knocking back a few and getting on with my day. Today, I decided to hell with it; it's beautiful outside, I just want to sit on my porch and drink a beer. That's all.

I opened my refrigerator and reached to the very back where I stored a few Red Stripes that had been left by a friend who stayed with me over the holidays. When she left them, I thought they would most likely sit there and waste space. With all my other options, the likelihood that I would grab a Red Stripe seemed slim. But today, it seemed like the perfect choice.

I grabbed the stocky little bottle and cracked it open. I didn't bother making one single observation or even pouring it in a glass, I just drank it. It's not a bad beer by nature, nor is it anything extraordinary. And for that, I enjoyed it immensely.

4 years and counting

Tuesday night McNellies turned 4 years old, and we celebrated in style with the first Beer University. There was a great turnout, probably 50 or so people eager to learn about beer. We sampled a total of 28 different porters and stouts in a time span of two hours. At the beginning of class, everyone was very attentive, but after about the 10th beer, the room was buzzing (literally). Here's a list of the beers we sampled, in order:

• Samuel Smith Taddy Porter
• St. Peter's Old Style Porter
• Anchor Porter
• Boulevard Porter
• Left Hand Black Jack Porter
• Sierra Nevada Porter
• Samuel Adams Honey Porter
• Rogue Mocha Porter
• Fuller's London Porter
• Guinness Extra Stout
• Murphy's Stout
• O'Hara's Irish Stout
• Old No. 38 Stout
• Boulevard Stout
• Bridgeport Black Strap Stout
• Rogue Shakespeare Stout
• Samuel Smith Imperial Stout
• Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
• Rogue XS Imperial Stout
• Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
• Great Divide Yeti Oak Aged Imperial Stout
• Samuel Adams Cream Stout
• St. Peter's Cream Stout
• Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
• Rogue Chocolate Stout
• Mackeson XXX Stout
• Left Hand Milk Stout
• Guinness Draught Stout

Here's a comparison of my first beer notes versus my last beer notes:

























My scanner didn't do the best job of making these visible; but you get the idea. After 28 beers, I have to give myself a pat on the back for even being able to pick up my pen and write anything, regardless how hard it may be to decipher. I believe a good time was had by all, and I look forward to the next "educational meeting."

40 Yo'

What's the absolute worst, most ridiculous, embarrassing beer you can picture yourself drinking? Although there's likely a heap of beers that fit this category, personally I can't think of anything worse than a "beer" that is commonly served in a 40-ounce bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag, sold dirt cheap, and often purchased in nickels and dimes. Yep, I'm talking about the lowest of low: malt liquors.

A malt liquor is an American beer style characterized by high alcohol content, light body and color, and very little hop character. They are brewed with high amounts of malts, heartier yeast strains, dextrose, and corn or rice. Some breweries use special enzymes that make virtually all the sugars fermentable, therefore artificially inducing a higher alcohol content. The average alcohol content of a malt liquor ranges from 6%-9%.

Malt liquors tend to have a bad reputation. Probably due to a combination of the horrible taste, and the fact they're the beverage of choice for the homeless and unemployed. The seedier the neighborhood, the more crushed cans of Steel Reserve scattered about street. A larger bottle with a high alcohol content sold at a low price = more bang for your buck.

I was inspired to write this blog after a night at Arnies, when my friend suggested I order a Mickey's. I didn't know what Mickey's was, and come to find out, it's a malt liquor. It was served in a small squatty green bottle that looked more like ginger ale than beer. The label read "fine malt liquor;" what an oxymoron. The suggestion was made not because of the quality of the beer, but because there's a riddle on the bottom of the cap. Their website is pretty flashy as well, so at least I got some entertainment from it, but the beer...not good.

For some reason, we have 40 ounce bottles of Old English stocked at the pub. I assume we carry them as a bit of a joke, kind of like the domestic tall boys. Strangely enough, some people get really excited when they see them. And when one person orders one, they tend to turn into some kind of a fad. As if one person walking about the place with a forty in hand doesn't look ridiculous enough, I suppose other people spot them and think, I too, desire to look like a tactless imbecile. I guess if you want to get a laugh from your beer choice, this is the one to order.

Beer University

On Tuesday, March 11 at 7pm, McNellies will host our first ever Beer University class. This is a new bi-monthly event, presented by Elliot Nelson, McNellies owner and beer maestro. The class will span a few hours covering the intricacies of Stouts and Porters, a subject inspired by the St. Patrick's Day season.

During the course, we will sample somewhere between 20 to 30 beers. You'll get to extend your enjoyment beyond the sensory pleasures of drinking beer to learning about the different beer styles, brewing techniques, history of breweries, packaging and labeling, and many other tidbits of information that you probably never thought about. If your memory is anything like mine when alcohol is involved, I'd recommend taking notes if you want to remember anything the next day.

When I was hired at McNellies, I was "required" to go through a beer class. Standard protocol. It was then that I realized that my job was pretty damn cool. If only all my college requirements could have been so fun. But nooooo, instead I was required to take courses such as statistics and micro-economics, something I've used again....uh, never. Learning about beer and drinking beer seems far more entertaining than trying to calculate the standard deviation from the square root of the variance.

So, join us one week from today to learn about something fun that you may actually deem useful. Impress your friends and make some new ones. Practice drinking good beer for St. Patrick's Day. Seating is limited, so be sure and reserve your spot as soon as possible.

Cost of a college education: $35,000
Cost of Beer University: $30
A night at the pub getting hammered and calling it educational: priceless.

The Countdown Begins

St Patrick's Day is coming soon, and unless you live under a rock, you already know that it's a pretty big day for McNellies. You may have noticed regular ads in the Urban Tulsa throughout the year reminding you to “get your liver ready” for the big day. You only have two weeks left to prepare, so don't let yourself down.

To celebrate the holiday, McNellies will have the streets will be blocked off (nothing really unusual for downtown these days), a huge inflatable Guinness pint will grace the front of the building, beer tents will be set up outside, and bagpipers will be marching through playing their festive tunes. Enough people to form a small army will flock to the pub in their favorite green clothing, and everyone will joyfully exclaim how proud they are to be "Irish."

The funny thing about St. Patrick's Day at McNellies is that we rarely serve any good beer. The tall boy domestics are (sadly) the biggest sellers by a long shot. Last year I recall looking at the boxes upon boxes of Anheuser-Busch products and thinking we couldn't possibly, POSSIBLY sell all that crappy beer. Yet, to my utter surprise and horror, we sold every single one, even ran out. I'm not sure which was more disturbing: the thought of having to look at a horde of green Bud Light cans for the months following St. Patrick's Day if we didn't sell them, or learning that when the masses are faced with a huge selection of good beer, they opt for Bud Light.

St. Patrick's Day at McNellies may not be the best day for people to see what the pub is really all about (read: beer), but it will be a guaranteed good time for all those who wish to paint the town green in spirit of the best holiday of the year.

Leap for Larkin

Tonight our favorite Irish band, Larkin will be playing upstairs at McNellies. The Guinness will be flowing freely (not actually free, but cheap at $4 for an imperial pint) and the crowd will be full of Irish cheer. Their infectious enthusiasm for all things Irish is a great way to get geared up for St. Patrick's Day.

Larkin is a 6-member band from Tulsa who plays traditional Irish folk tunes and uses instruments such as the tin whistle and fiddle. Vocalist Chad Malone bursts with charisma as he roars out lyrics in an Irish accent. The more pints they consume, the more difficult they are to understand. It's all part of their charm.

They begin at 10pm, or "whenever they're good and ready," as their poster indicates. So come out, raise your pint, and be sure to slosh it on the floor so all my customers downstairs will complain about getting dripped on all night.

Afterall, the 29th is an extra day added to the year. Spend your bonus day getting bolloxed with the Irish.

Great Scot(ch)!

McNellies is notorious for a great beer selection, but we also carry an extensive assortment of scotches. In order to encourage people to try some different varieties, we have recently added a scotch flight to our menu. The cost is $30, and you get to choose 5 out of the 7 following single malt scotches:

• Talisker
• Caol Ila
• Glenkinchie
• Oban
• Lagavulin
• Dalwhinnie
• Cragganmore

Regretfully, my knowledge of scotch is inadequate and therefore I have no personal testimony of these. If you click on the photograph, you'll be able to read the commercial descriptions. Perhaps one of these gloomy days when I'm itching with boredom, I'll head down to the pub and try one of these flights.

Big Sky Brewery

Oklahoma has recently acquired some new beers from the Montana brewery, Big Sky. The Big Sky Brewery offers four varieties year-round, all which are now available at McNellies. The Big Sky Brewery has themed their beers with Montana wildlife, and I choose the one with the most interesting name to try first: Moose Drool.

I'm not sure why the name of this beer drew me to try it. You would think with such a disgusting name and repulsive picture on the label, it would have the opposite effect. Perhaps it's the train wreck theory that led me to try it. Anyhow, as distasteful as the packaging is, I found the contents to be quite the opposite.

Moose Drool is a brown ale that poured with a small head, spare lacing, and a murky dark brown appearance. It's darker in color than other brown ales that come to mind, such as Newcastle, Avery's Ellie Brown Ale, and Tilburgs Dutch Brown Ale. It's a lightly hopped beer with a smooth taste and 5.3% alcohol content. It's brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate, and whole black malts and Kent Goldings, Liberty, and Willamette hops. I found the beer to be very well balanced, not too sweet or hoppy, with substantial flavor. It's known to be the best selling beer from the brewery, and the best selling beer brewed in Montana.

Other beers from the brewery include Scapegoat Pale Ale, Trout Slayer Ale, and Big Sky IPA, as well as two seasonals: Powder Hound Winter Ale and Summer Honey Seasonal Ale. I gave the Big Sky IPA a try last night and wasn't a huge fan. I found the aroma to be very pleasing, but the taste was all hops, too much in my opinion. I know, I know, it's an IPA and therefore that's what it's supposed to be, but I felt like I was eating one of those hop pellets again.

If you want to try some new beers, get on down to McNellies. With a name like Moose Drool, you must be curious to try one.

Drop The Bomb On Me Baby

One of the most popular "shots," if you can even call it that, at McNellies are Irish Car Bombs. They are particularly favored by the staff, which should be a good indication they're something to write home about. For those who are unfamiliar with the Irish Car Bomb, allow me to explain how this shot works.

A pint glass is filled about half way full of Guinness. A a mixture of an Irish Cream and Irish whiskey, usually Baileys and Jameson, are poured into a shot glass. The shot glass is dropped into the glass of Guinness, then immediately chugged. You can't take this shot slowly or it will began to curdle, which is pretty disgusting. I don't even like the word curdle, much less the effect. But when taken properly, this shot is quite tasty and fun.

As the name may indicate, this is a rather potent concoction. It's one of those drinks that tends to sneak up on you, so drink with caution. It will definetley get the job done. Normally a rather pricey drink at $6.50, this week Irish Car Bombs are on special for $4.00! So, come on in and knock back a few. And if you have a few too many, take a cab! City cab: 582-3333 or Yellow cab:587-6611

Cerveza de Guatemala

Right now my boyfriend is in Guatemala. Although coffee is their primary export (and the purpose of his visit), even good ol' Guatemala produces and exports cerveza. So I thought I'd drink a Guatemalan beer in his honor; the only one we carry at McNellies: Bahia.

Bahia is a premium imported lager brewed by Cerveceria Centro Americana, and available in select markets across the United States. It's packaged in a clear bottle with a Marlin pictured on the label. It's comparable to Corona, or "Crapona," as I've heard it called. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be great, so I can't say I was disappointed. The taste wasn't unpleasant or offensive, but there wasn't much substance to it. It has a slightly sour flavor and a bit of skunkiness. Due to the warm climate of Central American countries, brewers don't grow barley or hops, and instead have them imported. They typically make light, basic lagers intended simply as thirst-quenchers. So, for what it is, it wasn't too bad. If I ever find myself roaming the streets of Guatemala, parched with thirst, I would gladly welcome the sight of a bottle of Bahia.

Fire Sale!

We need to make room for some new beers, so we are going to offer the following pints at a special "fire sale" price of $3 until we run out:


* Paulaner Hefe-Weis
* Paulaner Lager
* Boulevard Porter
* Pyramid Snowcap
* Bridgeport Ebenezer

The outgoing beers will be replaced by:

* Leinenkugel Red
* Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat
* Leinenkugel Creamy Dark
* Bridgeport Beertown Brown
* Bridgeport ESB

Also, for the month of February, pints of Harp and Abita Amber are on special for $3.

Fuller's Vintage Ale

The year was 1997 when Fuller's brewery of England released the first edition of their Vintage Ale. Every subsequent year in November, Fuller's has released a new edition of the award-winning brew. There are many characteristics about this beer which make it so exceptionally outstanding.

The packaging is the first thing that catches your eye. The single bottle comes in a ornate deep crimson colored box, giving the indication of a high class product. Open the box and you'll pull out a 16.9 ounce brown bottle of the Fullers Vintage Ale, with a issue number marked on the front of the label. Included in the box is a small card with a guide to the previous Vintage Ales that form the classic range. Essentially, the beer is the same each year with slight variations.

Only one batch of the beer is made each year, and it's much sought after by beer aficionados. My bottle was numbered 86,998 out of 100,000, so although it is a limited edition, it's not that hard to get your hands on a bottle. The price tag may be off-putting to some; it goes for $14 a bottle at McNellies. If you're willing to splurge a little, it's well worth it.

The Fuller's Vintage Ale is one of the most complex and flavorful beers I've had the pleasure of drinking. It's a beautiful deep velvet color, and features a full-bodied, smooth and creamy texture. Slightly sweet with hints of fruitiness and citrus fused with caramel and spicy notes are some of the taste words that came to mind as I drank the bottle. The alcohol content is rather high at 8.5%, which creates a nice warming effect. A pleasant lingering aftertaste followed each swill of the liquid.

The Vintage Ale is bottle conditioned, reaching it's peak condition in three to four years. The only way I'll be able to properly enjoy this ale is if I happen to come across an edition from 2004. I know myself well enough to know that I can't hold onto a beer of this caliber for four years without giving into the temptation of cracking it open. I'm weak, what can I say?

Frosted Glass

Last night I overheard some guy asking for a frosted glass with his beer. When he was told we don't have frosted glasses, he seemed astonished. "But you're a beer bar!" he exclaimed. He was drinking Heineken Light, by the way.

I was tempted to approach the fellow and explain to him we don't have frosted glasses for a reason. The reason being that BECAUSE we are a beer bar. Drinking a beer that's overly chilled has multiple negative side affects. It numbs your palate, masks the flavor, interferes with the aromas, and alters the serving temperature. Pouring your brew into a frosted glass causes water condensation on the inside of the glass, diluting your beer. Condensation on the outside of the glass also occurs, leaving your beer lying in a soppy puddle.

Not everyone will understand or care that drinking beer from a frosted glass is improper. But even if we did want to suit those people, we don't have the space to chill our glasses. In addition to the 60 draft beers McNellies carries, we have another 297 in bottles. Storing 357 beers is no easy feat. Also, keep in mind, for each bottled variety, we stock at the very least 8. If you do the math, that's 2,376 cold bottles of beer we are storing in our coolers, plus 60 kegs, as well as back-up kegs. So, yeah, our coolers are pretty much full.

Ephemere

It doesn't happen very often where I drink a beer I've never had before and say, "Euerka! This is my new favorite!" Well, this happened recently, or at least I thought so at the time. And, to be honest, I didn't actually say eureka.

Late one night after we closed the bar, a co-worker and I decided to split one of the newer beers we have at McNellies. We picked out a large bottle of Ephemere by the Canadian brewery, Unibroue. Unibroue has a reputation for producing an exotic collection of outstanding ales. The Ephemere is one in their series of fruit-based beers, this one being apple. Although I highly enjoy other beers by Unibroue, I didn't expect I would like this fruity flavored brew. We cracked it open and I must say, I was floored. I absolutely loved it. I raved about it to anyone who would listen, and went to the liquor store the following day and bought every bottle on the shelf (which, for the record, was three). I couldn't wait to share the tasty beverage with my friends and family.

The Ephemere is packaged in a 25.4 ounce pressurized bottle with a cork. The enchanting label features golden foil lettering and a female pixie perched upon colorful vines with mountains in the background. The beer is brewed with apple juice, coriander, and curacao. The heavy aroma of green apples can be detected from a few feet away. It pours a straw yellow color with a full frothy head, which diminishes fairly quickly. There seemed to be a high amount of carbonation, with lots of bubbles in the glass, having a spritzy quality. The apple flavor was very dominant, but it wasn't as sweet or offensive as I would have expected. I found it to taste more like a beer than many of the other fruit beers, which often demonstrate a sticky syrup quality.

I don't know the actual translation of the word Ephemere, but ephemera is listed in the dictionary as "things that exist or enjoyed for only a short time; something transitory; lasting a day." This seemed to prove true when I drank the beer for the second time. I'm not sure what happened, but I didn't get the same thrill I had the first time. Perhaps it was because I had low expectations the first time I tried it, whereas the second time I had high expectations. Whatever the case, I find the name of the beer to be very suiting.

Breck beer

Yesterday I picked up a flier for an art reception taking place this weekend. I was told the artist who had dropped them off was "real cool," kind of in a sarcastic manner. He said he was from "Breck." As in Breckenridge. I've never been to Breckenridge myself, so I'm not familiar with the lingo, but I am familiar with the beer. At least one of them, anyway: the Breckenridge Avalanche.

The Breckenridge Brewery was opened in February of 1990 by Richard Squire, who had a vision to ski all day and drink great beer every night. Over the past 17 years, his dream has turned into a reality, growing his business from a small brewpub to one of the most thriving craft beer breweries in the nation. The Breckenridge Brewery produces five brews year-round, and three seasonal varieties. Although most people probably associate the word 'avalanche' with winter and therefore would think it to be a seasonal brew, that's not the case. The Avalanche is available all year, and is the number one selling beer from the brewery.

The Avalanche is an amber style ale. The web site states an aroma of pale grains, but I thought it smelled more like socks. There was minimal carbonation in the brownish amber colored beer, and a head that diminished very quickly. A nice mixture of sweet malts and bittering hops made for a very smooth, well balanced beer. It had a taste of prunes and caramel with a clean, dry finish. Overall, I thought it had a pretty good flavor, although it was hard to get past that foul aroma that was hitting my nose. It did, however slightly diminish as the beer had time to air out. Although it wasn't one of my favorite beers, I'd be willing to drink it again.

If you want to give this one a shot, you don't have to travel to "Breck" to get one; it's available at McNellies. I might suggest holding your nose.

Sam Adams Utopias

Often customers peruse through the beer list at McNellies and are shocked to find a beer priced at $125. When I point to the colossal 3 liter (101.4 ounce) bottle of Chimay Jeroboam placed atop the beer cooler, people understand the price is based on quantity. So I can imagine the astonishment people would experience if we carried the strongest and most expensive beer in the world, Samuel Adams Utopias. Last week, thanks to an avid beer enthusiast, I had the pleasure of drinking this exclusive brew.

When I first heard about the Sam Adams Utopias, I thought it to be pretty unbelievable: a beer with 27% alcohol and a suggested retail price of $120-$140. How is this even possible? Once I started to research this beer, I learned of the intricate details which went into crafting such an elite beer. It's the most unique and complex in a series of brews by Sam Adams, known as "extreme beer." The mission of creating extreme beers was to challenge the definition of what beer is, and "to go where no beer has gone before." I think it's safe to say, mission accomplished.

Nothing about this 2007 release of Utopias resembles traditional ideas of what people think of as beer. The 24 ounce handcrafted bottle is a collectible brew kettle with a beautiful copper finish and two sliding doors that open to reveal Sam Adams. A limited release of only 12,000 bottles were released worldwide, each bottle listing the production number on the bottom. Included with the purchase of the bottle is a custom designed Riedel crystal snifter glass to further enhance the essential characteristics of the Utopias. The specialty bottle and glass alone account for a substantial portion of the costly price of this exquisite beer.

Samuel Adams Utopias is definitely a beer to be savored. The recommended serving size is 2 ounces at room temperature, ideal for an after-dinner drink. The beer is composed of a blend of brews using an extended aging process, some aged 13 years in a variety of casks, which add to the unique and complex flavor. The finest all-natural ingredients are used, including a selection of Bavarian Noble hops, hand selected by Sam Adams brewmaster, Jim Koch.

If I had been given this beverage without being aware of what I was drinking, I probably wouldn't have guessed it was a beer. The Utopias pours a beautifully rich, deep amber color and no head whatsoever. The beer is uncarbonated and the aroma has an alcoholic sweet smell. It has a warm, sweet flavor, tasting similar to a sherry or cognac. The beer is brewed using maple syrup, which distinctively stands out. It has a delicious flavor that immediately hits the front of the tongue and has a pleasant long-lasting aftertaste. If the alcohol content wasn't so high, I would have desired to drink much more than the recommended 2 ounces.

You won't be able to find this beer at any retail liquor store nationwide, but if you must try this beer, the going rate on Ebay is $250. Perhaps they call it Utopias because in a perfect world, everyone would be able to afford to drink this beer.

New Beers Resolution

"Someone" gave me a bunch of crap for my last title, "Hoppy New Year," which I thought to be very clever and funny, but this person seemed to believe it was cheesy and predictable. So, in order to further amuse/spite this person, I felt the need to use another "clever" title for my entry. That being said, I'll move on to the point: McNellies resolves to have new beer specials for the month of January.

Currently we have Warsteiner Dunkel on draft for a special price of $3.00. It's a traditional dark German lager that has a rich, refreshing quality. There is a roasted malty flavor, with subtle traces of hops. The texture is not too thick or heavy, and the color is a dark coffee-like brown. The alcohol content is 4.9%, features little carbonation and a nice, clean finish. Overall, a pretty tasty beer.

Beginning on Monday, Jan 7th, McNellies will have a new Russian beer on special each week. The first beer will be 16.9 ounce bottles of Bogemia, a pale lager with a rather high alcohol content, at 8.4%. I've never tried this beer, but according to reviews on ratebeer.com, I'm led to believe it's not the tastiest beer out there.

Following the Bogemia, one of the Red East beers will be on special; unfortunatley, I didn't catch if it was the Classic or Extra. If you want to read up on the Classic, you can view my previous blog entry on that one.

For the final week, Snow Cougar will be on special. The Snow Cougar is another pale lager, with a slightly dry and bitter quality. It's been a while since I've tasted this one, but from what I recall, I thought it was okay. The name stands out more than the beer.

Make your new years resolution to drink new beer. And hoppy, er, happy new year.