The Search is Off

This week is certainly turning out to be some collection of local shout-outs. I'm sure there are some out there (especially those receiving said shout-outs) that aren't bothered by it at all. I've been searching for a particular case of beer for the better part of a year. I came to the assumption that it wasn't distributed to this side of Pennsylvania even though it was brewed in Philadelphia.

Yesterday morning I got a tweet telling me that it was finally possible to claim a case of this beer for myself. A mission had finally come to an end. I honestly couldn't believe it.

@burghbeersnob your unicorn has arrived twitter.com/BrewsOnCarson/…
— Brews on Carson (@BrewsOnCarson) April 22, 2013

I have a sort of Mount Rushmore of beer gods here in Pittsburgh. The first two that come to my head are the owner of Blue Dust Jerry Miller and the publisher of Craft Pittsburgh Magazine Tim Russell. Miller seems to be able to pull any strings he wants to get the beer that he wants for his gastropub. Russell's publication has done a lot in promoting the local beer scene here in the city.

Bringing some cases of the Tavern Spruce to Pittsburgh elevates Jake Nickman, the owner of Buddy's Brews on Carson to such a status (might not count as anything to you but it sure as hell does for me). His bringing in of this lost Yards beer reminded me of Miller finagling a ton of pumpkin brews for his outdoor pumpkin festival late last fall. Oh yea, there's also a ton of beer to choose from as well as a cool automatic door when you're carrying out your case.

Maybe a beer review tomorrow?

Monday Rant: Where Art Thou, Benjamin?

At some point in the summer of 2012 I came across one of the most fascinating cases of beer I've ever delved into. Not only was the case of beer extremely intriguing, but so were the individuals the three beers whose personal recipes were used in the brewing of said beers.

If you are one of the few that actually follow my musings on this blog you probably know I'm talking about the Yards Ales of the Revolution Sampler. The three individuals were of course George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.

My next-to-last one! Have mercy.

The Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale was an above-average beer. I thought General Washington's Tavern Porter was fantastic, but I loved Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce the most.

Every time I head out on a beer shopping venture locate where the Yards Brewing section is. I find the Ales of the Revolution case and sometimes find entire cases of both the Tavern Ale and Tavern Porter. Unfortunately, I'm yet to catch myself hungrily staring at a case of Poor Richard's.

Where could it be? Do entire cases of this fine beverage even exist? If not, why are the other two pieces of the amazing variety pack the only ones in their own respective cases? Tese questions are part of my most-recent craft beer quest.

There are certainly other ways of retrieving this fine brew. I could always buy the variety pack again. I've also seen single bottles of Tavern Spruce at D's Six Pack and Dogs in Regent Square. A six pack of Tavern Spruce once in a while could hold over my hankerings. This beer in small batches is just alright. I want to get a decent buzz on quite a few of them sometimes and pretend I'm a colonial meteorologist.  Until then, I'll continue to search for information leading to the finding a case of this beer. That's even if cases exist.