Here's the latest edition of the newsletter from East End Brewing. If you'd like to sign and get your very own copy emailed to you on the day the beer news breaks, you can do that HERE. You can even browse the newsletter archives by clicking on (you guessed it) "Browse Archives" over by the sign-up box.

Otherwise, please read on...

Good Morning GOOD BEER Fans,				July 18th, 2008

Whoa.  I've let this go a little too long again, and now I've got a

newsletter that's just BURSTING with all sorts of GOOD BEER events,

GOOD BEER Dinners, GOOD BEER Press, and most importantly, GOOD BEER!

There's a lot to cover this time, so I'm calling another 2-

fer...Welcome to the July/August GOOD BEER News, where you get two,

yes TWO months worth of stunning GOOD BEER News for the price of one.

And what a savings that is!  So, first things first - the beer...

PANTS NOT ON FIRE:

Brrrrr!  Is it cold in here or what?  (Don't say "What"... just play

along, okay?)  Gee whiz... I sure don't know what the deal is with the

freezing cold stretch of weather we've seen lately.  Did it hit the

single digits last night?  Well yes, I suppose you're right.  It's

time for me to keep my word.  I said it would be a cold day in July

before I'd ever put out Winter beers in the middle of Summer, and I

won't let a little screwy weather make a liar out of me... so here's

the deal:

GRATITUDE BARLEYWINE 2007 IS FINALLY HERE!

Set your calendars back six months folks, because the day has finally

come!  Yes, thanks to "The World's Best Brewery Volunteers" (trademark

pending), all 1500 bottles were labeled up a couple weeks back, and

we're getting the finishing touches on them as we speak.  These long

awaited bottles are now donning the gayest of apparel (get it?  winter

beer, Christmas song?  Oh never mind...I'll stop that now.) - in the

form of hand printed labels from Pittsburgh's Micro-est Letterpress,

Third Termite Press.  And each and every single label features brand

new, fresh tasty artwork from Pittsburgh's very own renaissance woman,

Mary Tremonte.  (Check her out here:

http://www.artistsimageresource.org/archive_and_exhibition/artists/Ma...)

Since the wait has been SOOO long, we're doing it up big-time for this

year's release.  Available all at once, there will be...

- Gratitude 2007: Finally ready to take home...Tasters will be served!

- Gratitude 2006: Last chance before it becomes "last year's model"

and the price jumps up.

- A limited amount of discounted Ugly Gratitude 2006, for those more

concerned about the contents than the packaging (no relation to the

Ugly American).

- And lastly, for the special collector out there, limited packs of

what I'm calling a "Stacked Vertical" collection: a Barleywine Six-

Pack with three 2007s, two 2006s, and one bottle of the much sought

after, resurrected from my personal stock, red waxed 2005 Gratitude.

The perfect set for someone looking to get caught up on Gratitude

history, and great catch-up pack if you're looking to drink a three

beer vertical each year from now on....

- No pushing, no frontsies, no backsies, and there will be some limits

on the amount you can buy per visit so that everybody gets a chance

for some.

But, that's not all...

SO, WHAT'S LEFT TO MELT?

Since it would just be strange to let this year's release of Gratitude

sit out there all by itself in the middle of summer, we've set the way

back machine for December of 2007 and brewed up a single batch of SNOW

MELT WINTER ALE for moral support.  No, this isn't some old keg that's

been festering in some forgotten corner of the brewery for the last

six months.  We save those for George.  It's a full-sized batch of

fresh stock, just for fun, that I'm offering only at the brewery.  And

at one other location...well two locations actually, but we'll talk

about that soon enough.

It all happens on SATURDAY AUGUST 9TH at our regular 12-5pm Growler

Hours.

"IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME... I HATE YOU."

No, I don't hate you.  But, I'd like to know how you feel.  A while

back, I was approached by some folks at the Katz School of Biddness at

Pitt about helping out with class project - one that involves East End

Beer, and all of you GOOD BEER Fans out there.  Since the marketing

department here at East End Brewing is a little understaffed these

days, I thought it might be a nice way for me to get to know you all a

little better, and well... give you more of what you want.  Because

after all, you are the people who make all this beer-making stuff

possible on this end, so I need to keep you happy, right?  Thanks

again for that, by the way... but I digress.

So, if you have an opinion (and you know that you do), and you've got

about 10 minutes to kill (granted the length of this newsletter isn't

exactly opening up your afternoon, is it?), I'd really appreciate

hearing what you have to say.  It's totally anonymous, totally

painless, totally fat free, and guaranteed to bring you at least 10

minutes closer to death - or quitting time, or even beer-o'clock,

which ever comes first.  Plus, it's a big help - not only to me, but

to the students who put all if this together.  But if that's not

enough, as an added bonus for everyone who takes the survey, free

tasters of East End Beer during Growler Hours.  Just mention it when

you come in.  (Honor system please.)  Here's survey link:

http://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_afPpEgol34uTuBK&SVID=Prod

RUN AROUND THE SQUARE WITH EAST END BREWING!

Last year, there was a little impromptu team of beer-focused runners

winding their way around the back streets of Regent Square, all

sporting East End Brewing t-shirts.  Pretty cool, right?  In fact,

they even brought home a trophy!  (Granted, they went to the store,

paid money for it, took it to the run, and then brought it home.)

This year, we're formalizing our team's participation ever so slightly

by offering YOU a chance to run as a part of Team East End.

To sign on, there is no qualifying heat, there are no cumpulsories,

and there's no test for doping... (so you can drink as much Black

Strap Stout as you want the night before this notoriously hot and

humid race.)  In fact, it's pretty easy to qualify for Team East End

as we've set the bar pretty low... and by bar, we mean a keg of beer.

And by low, I mean it'll be at the bottom of Frick Park Hollow at the

end of the run, carefully placed for a little post run celebration.

So if  this sounds like the serious type of running team you'd like to

be a part of, all you need to do is contact our new Team Coordinator

this year, Greg Null at mrnul...@hotmail.com.  You'll also need to

register at www.runaroundthesquare.com

I'd say the chances of bringing home another trophy are already

looking very good this year.  See you there!

ANOTHER PIPER'S CASK ALE UPDATE:

Part of the shortage some of you may have seen around here this last

month is due to the massive amount of Real Ale that's been flowing out

of the hand engines at Piper's Pub on the South Side.  "Real Ale" is

any beer that's NOT been sterile filtered, NOT dispensed using

compressed gas, and DOES contain a bit of live yeast to keep it fresh

and tasty!  It's LIVE BEER that's actively fermenting in the cask...

and Piper's has been blowing through the stuff, so much so that it's

caught me off guard a bit on the supply side here.  And they're only

getting started.  In August/September, look for the second and

occasionally the third hand pull (tap) to go into service, giving you

your pick of 2-3 fresh cask offerings.  Time to ramp up!

CALLING ALL LOCALS:

So, the fine folks with the kickin' patio over there at the Harris

Grill have been back up and operating rather nicely for few months

now, and they've finally called to to book the next Beer Dinner.  This

time, the focus is LOCAL - not only featuring beer brewed less than 2

miles from your table, but food grown at Harvest Valley Farms, in

Valencia.  The menu, by the new "Chef Matt" (not to be confused with

the old "Chef Matt") will be both vegetarian and omnivore friendly.

It's on Wednesday, September 17th and space is limited to 50 seats.

Reserve a spot by calling 412.362.5273 or emailing

partyg...@harrisgrill.com.  See you there!

RANDOM BITS OF RANDOM PRESS:

- Speaking of local...We learn some great beer stuff in Matt Sober's

Trib Review column (in spite of his unfortunate name).  Namely that

Homewood is much closer than St. Louis!

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/tribpm/s_577690.html

- AND YET MORE LOCAL focus in a random bloggy, sustainable way...

http://sustainablog.org/2008/06/30/sustainable-living-rule-2-have-fun...

- NOT LOCAL: Though he does refer to his new home town as

"Clevo" (huh?), here's a random blog that mentions EEBC.  (This

doesn't count as press, but there's still some nice words here on the

'Burgh) http://clevelandbachelor.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-thoughts-on-our-urba...

-WHEAT FEST REVISITED: Guess what The City Paper has in mind to beat

the heat this summer... (Hint: It involves BEER.)

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=48109

TOTALLY PACKED GOOD BEER EVENTS CALENDAR:

July 30 Bocktown Christmas in July: http://bocktown.com/artman/publish/article_13.shtml

Aug 2 Pedals and Pints @ Spitfire Grill - An Eco Friendly Day of

Bikes, Beers & Bites: http://www.spitfiregreensburg.com/eblast2.html

Aug 9 GRATITUDE 2007/Snow Melt Release at the brewery: 12-5pm

Aug 9 Millvale Brew Fest: http://www.millvalepa.com/BrewFest08.aspx

Aug 10 "Big Host Pig Roast" by Slow Food Pittsburgh - Braddock, East

End Beer at the Elks Lodge http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/event_2008_braddock.html

Aug 18 Red Room Veg Beer Dinner - Chef Kevin Sousa's new gig will

bring a new menu to pair with lots of new beers!

Aug 23 Run Around the Square - JOIN TEAM EAST END by contacting Greg

Null mrnul...@hotmail.com: www.runaroundthesquare.com

Sept 13 Steel City Big Pour: Watch for a special East End Beer

release, and cask ale galore!  www.constructionjunction.org/events/view/4

Sept 17 Harris Grill's HARVEST Beer Dinner www.HarrisGrill.com

Reservations: 412.362.5273

That's all for now.  Talk to you again in early September with

breaking news about this year's Big Hop Harvest Ale, your next Session

Ale, new bottle releases, and a whole lot more about some special

happenings we've got planned for the Steel City Big Pour.  I think

you'll be pleased.

Now, go take that survey!

Cheers,

Scott

www.EastEndBrewing.com

BUY A GOOD FRIEND A GOOD BEER (TM)

Happy Summer GOOD BEER Fans,					June 6, 2008
What a PACKED month we've got in store for you, and this newsletter is
no exception!  Sure the keg ride is behind us, but we've got more
beers in the lineup right now than I've got ways to serve it - and
there's no shortage of GOOD BEER Events in the works too.  And since
someone turned up the heat in here, you're here just in time for our
SEASON OF WHEAT, which just hit full stride this week - no less than
FOUR wheat beers flowing, in a wide range of beer styles.  More on
that in a bit though.
First, we interrupt this newsletter with an ABBREVIATED summary of
GOOD BEER News... for those who may not make it through to the end.
HEADLINE GOOD BEER NEWS:
- Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ride draws 225 cyclists to help deliver the beer!
- Last keg of Dubbel Trubbel delivered to Sharp Edge Emporium this
week, so get it while it lasts.  It won't be coming back.
- Session Ale #13:"Here it Gose Again", aka The Gose... is on tap NOW
at the brewery.
- Session Ale #14: Scottish 80 Shilling to debut EXCLUSIVELY at
Piper's Pub on their new cask system.
- "Little Hop" kid's shirts and onsies arrive just in time for
Father's Day... so Father can get one.
- YES, we're open on Friday the 4th of July... and on Thursday July
3rd too, with regular 5-7pm weekday hours.  Fireworks after sunset -
just not here.
- Growler Covers now in stock:  Keep your beer cold, out of the sun,
fresh and tasty - available in your choice of  Gold-N-Black or Black-N-
Gold.
- Richard Jumps Ship!  Come to Growler Hours on Saturday June 21st
just before 3pm for a SURPRISE party for your favorite Growler Hours
Host... seriously, don't tell him!
- Gratitude 2007 is coming... really it is.  More next month on the
big release plans.
Now back to your regularly scheduled, much chattier, GOOD BEER News,
already in progress...
RE-DOUBLING IN KEG RIDERSHIP STUNS REGENT SQUARE HOCKEY KIDS:
Seth (aka employee-for-a-day) who pulled the second keg, sent me this
little transcript from the ride...
Little hockey kid, "Hey is that a keg?"
Scott, "Yeah"
Little hockey kids, "Coooool"
Scott......*puzzled look*
So MY kids know what a keg is, and they might not even be very
surprised to see one being pulled behind a bicycle, but what was that
all about???  I guess maybe everyone can appreciate a Keg Ride -  and
from what I could see, all 225 of you did!!!  What a turnout, what a
ride, what a great day to be riding around on a bike heading for a
fresh pint of beer.  I had a great time giving my half barrel a tour
of Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill, Frick Park, Wilkinsburg, and Regent
Square, and I think Seth, who pulled the quarter barrel would say the
same thing.  Yes, I wimped out and called in a ringer for the second
keg, but I'm claiming it was a trailer capacity issue, and hopefully
next year we'll figure out how to string two of them together.
THE ROUTE, THE DESTINATION:
So, after a bit of misdirection, a few completely unnecessary loops,
and plenty of cheers from passers by, we arrived at The Map Room in
Regent Square, where after a quick game of "bounce the kegs down into
the basement", we played an even shorter round of "how fast can we
empty 2 kegs"...and as you saw, the answer was: "pretty damn fast".
Luckily, they had plenty of Big Hop IPA in reserve - and on cask too!
Here's the route we took if you live in Regent Square and would like
to re-live the day with your own "Growler Ride" - link at the bottom
of this page: http://www.eastendbrewing.com/node/442
Thanks to Erok, Scott Bricker, Free-Ride, and Bike-Pgh for everything
from supplying our "spoke tokens" and tap handles (all from salvaged/
reused materials of course), loaning us that stylin' trailer and those
portable bike racks, and for all their help in organizing this event.
Check out www.Bike-Pgh.org and www.FreeRidePgh.org for more about
these groups, and for more about BIKE FEST (http://bike-pgh.org/events/
bikefest/) - which kicks off June 27th with a big party/fundraiser
downtown, and lots of East End Brew.. the official beer of Bike
Pittsburgh.
Here's some ride photos that have been sent in - I'll get these up on
the site in a bit, as well as any others you'd like to send
along...hint-hint:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mike.vindler/PedalPaleAle52308
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erokore/2519373042/in/photostream/
http://www.meetin.org/city/MEETinPITTSBURGH/NewsDetails.cfm?NewsID=17628
SO, YOU MISSED THE KEG RIDE...
Yes, it's an opportunity that comes by just once a year, and somehow
in spite of all the newspaper ads, television commercials during the
Stanly Cup playoffs, and the sky writing (seriously, how did you miss
the skywriting?), you still managed to NOT come out for the keg ride.
Well, there's another opportunity to do something REALLY fun on a bike
coming up soon, so don't make the same mistake twice.  Because this
time if you miss it, you'll have to wait another 250 years for it to
come around again.  I'm in... who's with me?
YOU HAD ME AT "FULLY CATERED"
"Washington DC to Pittsburgh on 2 Wheels - Celebrate 250 years of
Pittsburgh's history with this unforgettable 8-day bike tour following
George Washington's footsteps from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh, PA.
We're putting on the ritz for this FULLY SUPPORTED, FULLY CATERED,
camping trip featuring breathtaking scenery, evening entertainment and
outstanding meals..."(Maybe with some East End Brew in the mix too,
but we're still working on that...)  "Limited to 250 riders, you will
become part of history which began with our nation's first president
and finishes with a Pittsburgh 250 celebration at Point State Park.
Early Bird Cost $785, After June 15 $875.  For more information
contact: biketour@ventureoutdoors.org or read more about it at
www.ventureoutdoors.org/biketour.asp"
OH NO...MUST BE THE SEASON OF THE WHEAT!
Apologies to Donovan aside, here's your chance to get in on the
broadest spread of summer beers ever to cross the taps at East End
Brewing - and right now, that means Wheat.  While the tangy flavor
wheat contributes to a beer can be pretty subtle, it makes a great
base to build a beer on - whether that beer is hoppy, spiced, tart, or
full of bright esters.  Sometimes I think we need to put in a bell at
the brewery, so we can ring it every time someone says "I don't like
wheat beers... but I like this!"  Here's the four we've got going:
1. EAST END WITTE - Your Belgian White Beer, year-round favorite, and
always #2 or #3 at Growler Hours.  It still amazes me that there's
only one or two places with this on tap around town, but that's
fine... you know where you can find it 12 months out of the year.
2. MONKEY BOY HEFEWEIZEN - Named for the big banana esters produced by
the German yeast strain, this is our "Spring Seasonal" that I've
decided to keep around for a little while longer.  No bananas were
harmed in the brewing of this beer.
3. SESSION ALE #7: WHEAT HOP- Proving once and for all that not all
wheat beers are created equal, this is more of a lower alcohol IPA
than any kind of American Wheat Beer you typically see.  Quantities
are limited on this one, as it winds down to make room for the next
Session Ale.
4. LUCKY SESSION ALE #13: "Here it GOSE again"
I'm not one to be superstitious, but let me just say that the only
batch of Session Ale I've ever moved to the floor drain for long term
storage, was the first brew of Session Ale #13: "Here GOSE Nothing".
Not to be deterred, we're sticking with the same number for the re-
brew of this rare Gose style, refreshingly tart, mildly salted, and
delicately spiced... once referred to as "the love child of a Berliner
Weiss and a Belgian Witte".  This time, the 3 day long sour mash and
brew session came off without a hitch, and I'm really happy with the
results.  See for yourself THIS THURSDAY (as in yesterday) during
Growler Hours when you can get your first taste.  Second and third
tastes can be found at the two Marzoni's locations shortly afterward,
as this beer is the other half of the collab-a-brew sessions I did
with Bill Kroft.  See www.marzonis.com for more.
FOR FATHER'S DAY, BYOB at EEBC...
That's "Bring your own BABY" folks.  Yes, there's been a unique little
impromptu contest in the making here.  We had a standing record for
the youngest individual to come through the doors here, with Nathaniel
making his first brewery visit at the tender age of two... two WEEKS
that is.    Well, it's time to pass along the drool covered belt to
the next generation, as Gus takes his turn at the top, coming in at
just 1.5 days old.  Since his parents stopped by Growler Hours with
him on the way home from the hospital (some say a little Stout helps
with milk production - but only if Mom drinks it guys), this one
should stand for a while.  Unless of course, someone delivers at the
brewery.  Uh...don't do that.  Yes, we've got plenty of hot water, but
a hospital is probably still a much better choice.
Here's the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakekrohn/2393513977/in/photostream/
So remember for Father's Day this year, a bit of fresh local beer will
always look better down the front of Dad's shirt than some silly
necktie.
IT'S BEEN A YEAR ALREADY?
July 12th 6-9pm: STUBBLE AND SMOKE, another Wayno show is back at the
Zombo Gallery.  Who's Wayno?  Have a look at that bottle of Smokestack
Heritage Porter or The Ugly American you've got sitting on your shelf
at home to see some of his handiwork.  (Or see www.wayno.com)  Come
out, have yourself a hand-crafted East End Brew, and check out some
fresh, tasty, hand-crafted artwork.  For more details, call
412-904-3703, see www.ZomboWorld.com.
COME SAY GOODBYE TO THE HOST WITH THE MOST:
...the most smart-ass comments, that is.  As you may have noticed at
Growler Hours lately, Richard has been suspiciously absent.  If you're
new around here or just  haven't been to the brewery yet (and shame on
you, by the way...), Richard is the guy who you've seen behind the
taps for the last 2 and a half years - the one with an uncanny ability
to gently insult you and somehow compliment you in the same breath...
and that's just the first impression.  It goes downhill quickly from
there.  He's also the guy I credit for making Growler Hours what it is
today, a mainstay of East End social networking and a sample-filled
phenomenon that's taken on a life of it's own.  Richard and his wife
Martha (of Black Strap Stout cake mix fame) are moving to the other
end of the state later this month, and since he is notorious for NEVER
reading this newsletter, I'm using it to invite all of you to his
SURPRISE going away party, figuring he'll never see this.  So, come
out to the brewery during Growler Hours on Saturday June 21st some
time before his planned 3pm arrival, and we'll send him off in style!
Bring yourself, and anything you might deem appropriate for the man of
the "hour".
GOOD BEER EVENTS:
- June 6th: Gose debut this Thursday..as in yesterday, and running
until it's gone.
- June 7th: Penn Fest this Saturday
- June 18th: Twilight Beer Tasting at Make Your Mark is back - this
time with food!  Limited to 40 people. Call 412-365-2117 to reserve
your spot.
- June 21st at 3pm: Richard's Last Day and Surprise party - come help
send him off... but DON'T TELL HIM!
- June 27th: Kick off Bike-Pgh's BikeFest in style at the big downtown
shindig.  Pedal Pale Ale and MORE.  www.Bike-Pgh.com
- July 12th: Wayno's "Stubble and Smoke" at The Zombo Gallery www.ZomboWorld.com
SOME RECENT PRESS:
TRIB PM COVERS "Outdoor Beer Events" now too:
- Keg rides...http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
outdoors/s_568968.html
- Beer Hikes...http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/
fooddrink/s_569593.html
BEER AS FOOD... I KNEW IT ALL ALONG: It's a small mention in the Post
Gazette, but the idea that GOOD BEER has become a natural part of the
"Pittsburgh Food Scene", that's just cool.  Here's to that - and
impressing your visitors with a trip to Homewood for Growler Hours!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08146/884163-34.stm
Enough already!  Talk to you next month...
Cheers,
Scott
www.EastEndBrewing.com
BUY A GOOD FRIEND A GOOD BEER (TM)