Hello Nickel Beer Fans!

We are going to open up this Thursday, March 27th to show the SDSU v. Arizona sweet 16 game in the NCAA basketball tournament.  We will open at 5 pm, tip off is at 6:15 pm and we will stay open until the end of the game which should be around 8:15 pm or so.  We’ll be doing a Happy Hour special with $2 off all pitchers while we are open on Thursday, so you can get a pitcher of Back Country Gold or Julian Pale Ale for just $15.  Feel free to bring your own food to snack on for the game.  Even if you don’t want to watch the game, you can stop by for a pint or a growler fill.

Thursday night will also mark the return of our popular Chinook IPA.  That means that we will have 3 IPAs on tap – Chinook, Hop Heaven Farms IPA and Volcan IPA.  The taps will be full and for the first time we will be pouring 11 different house beers.  In addition to all of the great hoppy beers, the Filthy Paws Porter is being poured on the nitrogen tap and it is dark, creamy goodness.  I have a nitro keg of Devil’s Copper for the future and I will be making a keg of nitro Vanilla Bean Stonewall Stout.

And for you fans of the Fix It Pale, we just tapped the last keg so enjoy it while you can.  In its place we will soon have the new Demolition Extra Pale Ale, a 5.8% light colored but very hoppy beer.  It was brewed to celebrate the one year anniversary of us taking over the building and starting work.  Julian Pale Ale and Back Country Gold are both in the fermentors and Barleywine will be coming up very soon in the brew schedule (and then I will be filling rum barrels with it).

Over the weekend we will tap a cask of Hop Heaven Farms IPA on Friday.  The beer exclusively uses hops from Hop Heaven Farms in Baker City, Oregon.  It is a blend of Chinook, Cascade and Centennial.  Also, we are now open until 7 pm every Saturday night so you have more time to enjoy your favorite brew.

Taste of Julian

We are participating in the Taste of Julian on Saturday, April 12th from 1 pm to 5 pm.  It is a tasting tour of Julian that includes restaurants, wineries, Julian Hard Cider and of course Nickel Beer.  Everyone provides some sample bites and the majority of the places are right on main street, a few though require a short drive (there is also a shuttle service for a fee).  Tickets are $20 in advance and include the tasting samples at all participating locations.  Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event, but they will be $25 and can be purchased at Town Hall.  Town Hall also has discounted tickets for locals.

This event is a great way to tour around Julian and see what it has to offer.  All of the money goes to the Chamber of Commerce to support events throughout the year like the annual tree lighting in November.  For more information, including a list of the participating places, and to buy tickets on line visit: http://www.jma.memberlodge.org/TOJ.

Our First Award

This past weekend we won our first award at the brewery – at the Daffodil show.  Lindsey won 4 ribbons (2 first place) and a best in Division award.  Now in addition to great beer, we have award winning flowers.  After the show, she won a prize package from Just 2 Cowgirls in town.  It included a great hat, goat’s milk soap, jewelery, a very comfy t shirt and more.  Just 2 Cowgirls is right on Main Street in the Stonewall building just up the stairs on the north side of the street.  The owner is really nice and they have lots of wonderful stuff so be sure to stop by next time you are in town (it is a great place to go gift shopping).

In San Diego

We will have a little bit of beer coming down the hill.  Next Thursday, April 3rd we will have a cask of Chinook IPA at O’Brien’s.  I am hoping to have a night of Nickel IPAs at O’Brien’s in April as well.   I will be bringing some nitrogen tap beers to West Coast BBQ and Brew in La Mesa next week including the Filthy Paws Porter.  And look for some of our beers to be on tap at Fathom Bistro in the not too distant future.

That is your Nickel beer update for now.  We can’t sell Beer Cheese right now as we have been told we need a permit to do so (i.e. the government needs their pay off).  In the meantime, I am working on ordering a variety of beef jerky to sell at the tasting room and you are always welcome to bring food to snack (just clean up after yourself please or we might have to throw you in the jail cell).

We’ll see you soon for a great Julian brewed beer.  Cheers, Tom