Hello Nickel Beer Fans!

After selling just a few kegs down the hill we are now getting around to doing some actual events down in San Diego.  Our very first multi-tap event will be Thursday night, the 23rd at Monkey Paw Pub and Brewery downtown.  It is owned by our friends Karen and Scot Blair who also own Hamilton’s and Small Bar.  I will be at Monkey Paw during the day to brew a collaboration beer for the 20th Anniversary of O’Brien’s – a smoked weizenbock we are calling Wrathchild.  If all goes well Monkey Paw will be serving up Devil’s Copper and the nitro version of Stonewall Stout all day and tapping our first cask of Bitter Beer Writer ESB in the evening.  I will post up the exact details tomorrow on the Facebook page once I get to the pub.  For more information and directions, please go to: http://monkeypawbrewing.com/.

Back up the hill at the tasting room this weekend we will be releasing another new beer – Back Country Gold.  As you might imagine, it is golden colored and brewed basically in the style of a Cream Ale.  It is lightly hopped with a nice malt flavor and a quick finish.  The perfect beer for these warm winter days we are having.  Keep an eye out for more Habanero Beer Cheese this weekend.  We now have two nitrogen taps flowing, one with Stonewall Stout and the other with Bitter Beer Writer ESB (both of which are tasting great if I may say so).  And in addition to our own beers we now have Julian Hard Cider on tap as both a non-beer and gluten free option.  Just like our beers, you can get the cider in 5 oz, 9 oz or 16 oz pours.

Looking Ahead

Next week will be our second San Diego draft event which will take place at O’Brien’s on Wednesday the 29th.  We’ll have 4 draft beers – Julian Pale Ale, Devil’s Copper, Volcan IPA, Stonewall Stout (nitro) and a cask of Bitter Beer Writer ESB all on tap by 5 pm.  For those who are not familiar with O’Brien’s, it is the pub that Lindsey and I own in San Diego.  You can find more info and directions here: http://obrienspub.net/.  Everything we are bringing down to O’Brien’s will be in a full keg so I expect several of the beers to be on tap for a few days, though the IPA will undoubtedly be quick to go.  Our next San Diego area events will be at the Toronado and West Coast Barbecue and Brew in February.

Next weekend we will be hosing a Pot-Luck Party for the Superbowl on Sunday, February 2nd.  We’ll be hooking up a 2nd TV in the brewery and bringing in more chairs and stools to fit everyone in.  Bring an appetizer/finger-food/snack or dessert to share with friends.  We’ll be putting out some food and snacks as well (there are rumors of some pickled goodies coming our way).  I will post up more details as we finish making them up.

I know that many of you would like to see us expand our hours, and while that is coming, it is not happening soon enough to accommodate everyone.  We will be open on Monday, February 17th for Presidents Day next month.  And I am often around the brewery on Mondays doing work.  If you see my green Toyota Tundra in the parking lot and you need your growler filled, feel free to stop by.  I might not have a lot of time to chat, but I will be happy to fill your jug and send you home happy (exact change or paying by credit card will be appreciated).

In the tank right now I am doing a grand experiment.  I am fermenting a beer with 60 gallons of raw apple cider produced from local apples down at Calico Ranch in Wynola to create an Apple Pie Beer.  It is tasting great so far and it has a very strong pronounced apple flavor.  I am thinking that it is going to take a little more time than normal to condition the beer but I expect to have it on tap by the middle of February.  Next up on the brew schedule is a Porter and then it will be time to make more Devil’s Copper.

When In Julian

I am trying to highlight a place to eat, shop or stay in Julian each email.  This week I want to let you know about a nearby B&B – Butterfield Bed and Breakfast.  It is just down the road from the brewery – not even three quarters of a mile away according to Google.  The inn has several different rooms all decked out in a particular theme.  There are pictures of the rooms on the website at: http://www.butterfieldbandb.com/.  All of the rooms have cable tv, private bath and several have wood burning fireplaces.  Included is a country gourmet breakfast.  The same nice folks also have a cabin for rent separate from the B&B if you want to be more on your own.  You can find that at: http://www.blackoakcabin.com/.  As always, please let the local businesses know that you came up to visit Nickel Beer Company.

That is your Nickel Beer news for now.  Hopefully we will see you at the tasting room or around town.  Cheers, Tom