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...

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)

Happy Siete De Mayo GOOD BEER Fans!

May is here, so you know what that means, right?  Time to stop



drinking beer with a lime in it?  Well yes, it's always time for



that.  But what I was going for was... IT'S KEG RIDE TIME!  Yes, the



release of your summertime favorite, Pedal Pale Ale is just around the



corner, and if you want to be among the first to get a taste from that



very first keg, you're going to have to get on your bike and ride.



But as usual, I'm getting ahead of myself here.  I've got some



pressing "sour beer" news from last time to catch you up on, plus a



great little beer event this Friday that I need to tell you about, so



let's do that stuff first... And who knows, this time, the newsletter



might not be so looooong.



"LICK YOUR WHAT"... AT GROWLER HOURS THIS WEEK?



Lichtenhainer... Pay attention now, and say it with me one more time:



LICK-ten-hi-ner, the first of the two collab-a-brews from the



Marzoni's and East End Brewing partnership is NOW ON TAP.  Outside of



a tiny little brewpub in a town in Germany where you'll probably never



go, there are only three places where you can get a taste of this rare



beer style:  Marzoni's in Allison Park, Marzoni's in Ducansville, and



of course right here at East End Brewing during Growler Hours.  Well,



I suppose we can add "your house" to the list if you take a Growler of



it home with you.



This session-iest of Session Ales, clocks in at a teenie-weenie 2.9%



abv.  Light bodied, easy drinking, and delicately sour, with just a



hint of smoke in the finish, it's a really interesting collection of



flavors that hangs together especially well in this small-beer



format.  Make sure you taste it twice, because first impressions are



difficult for something so different than anything you've had in a



glass before - unless you've been to that little town in Germany



(Wöllnitz).  Anyone?  No one?  See, I didn't think so.  And that's not



all.  It can do tricks too...



THE LICHTENHAINER/TOOTHPASTE EFFECT... TRY THIS AT HOME!



So, we've discovered a neat little tasting trick with this sour beer,



and the results are pretty stunning.  Here's your chance to amaze your



friends, mystify your neighbors, annoy the non-GOOD BEER Fans in your



life... all in 3 easy steps.    To pull it off, you'll need two



Growlers (one Lichtenhainer, one Big Hop), two glasses, and at least



one willing subject... which can just as easily be you.  As you might



guess, there's some beer tasting involved, so suck it up and try to



push through it, okay?



-Step one: Have a taste of a hoppy beer.  Mmmm... Big Hop, fresh from



the brewery.



-Step two: Have a taste of the Lichtenhainer... light, smokey, and a



little sour.  Great.  Now be sure to fully expose your entire mouth to



the flavor of the beer...  You don't need to gargle or anything, just



be sure to have a biggish taste of it.



-Step three: Here's the cool part... have another taste of your Big



Hop.  Notice anything different?  You will!  I'll not give it away



here, but let's just say that something is missing - something really



BIG is missing actually, and the effect is kind of shocking because



it's the same beer you had a minute ago.  Let's see wine do that -



Ha!



Not only is this a neat little stunt, but it offers some unique



insight into the way our sense of taste works, how contextual it can



be, and it makes you think about the dramatic effects you can create



when pairing beer with food.  (In this case, a good example of what



flavors NOT to put together.)  It's even more dramatic than the "the



toothpaste effect" you get with that first beer in the morning...not



that I've ever personally done that kind of thing mind you.



WARHOL HAPPY HOUR THIS FRIDAY!



Check this out from the Warhol Museum Newsletter:  "Friday, May 9,



2008, 5:30-7:30 PM  The Warhol Café welcomes Scott Smith and fresh



foursome of his brews to The Warhol Museum. Join the city's favorite



one-man-brewery to sample (and re-sample) Big Hop IPA, Fat Gary Nut



Brown Ale, Banana Boy Wheat Beer, and Black Strap Stout. Check out



EastEndBrewing.com for lots more info about the beers and their



brewdaddy."



I'm thinking that they meant "Monkey-Boy" Hefewiezen and not "Banana-



Boy", who very well may turn out to be his dimwitted and possibly well-



proportioned brother...yikes.  Anyway, the event is a good deal -



unlimited tasting for of four beers for two hours, light snacks, and



full admission to the museum...all for just 20 bucks!  Turnout has



been a bit light for these events so far, as they rotate through



different breweries, so here's your chance to show them what the power



of East End Brew can do!... not to mention scope some nice props for



everyone in the EEBC Event Marketing department.  (Old joke, different



day.)  Hope to see you there.



KEG RIDE 2008: HOW BIG CAN WE GO?



In 2006, our first Keg Ride drew enough people to tear through a



sixtel of Pedal Pale Ale at Kelly's Bar and Lounge with just one



round.  Last year, with something like 120 riders in tow, the half



barrel I dragged to The Harris Grill kicked in one round too...one



pint each.  How much beer will you make me pull this year?  Well,



that's entirely up to you - you and every person with a bicycle that



you forward this newsletter to (hint-hint)...



If you're just joining us, here's how this works: You show up here at



the brewery on Friday, May 23rd at 6:30pm (Yes, we're still open for



Growler Hours that day, but I'll warn you that car parking might be



tight with all the bicycles... nice!), get signed in with someone who



looks like they're in charge, collect your token - a very important



step, and be ready to follow the bouncing keg(s) that I'll be pulling,



BY BICYCLE to this year's mystery tap spot.  We'll take a low-speed,



family friendly, meandering, human-powered, beer delivering, two



wheeled tour of Pittsburgh's greater East End.  Upon our arrival,



we'll get the keg(s) into position, and for everyone who made the



trip, the first round of Pedal Pale Ale, from the very first keg of



the year, is on me!



Yes, the pace will be gentle.  And no, there won't be very many



hills....need I remind you that I expect to be pulling at least one



160 pound keg of beer behind me.   Besides, I spend all my waking



hours brewing these days, which leaves very little time to train for a



ride like this. We'll also be using a much nicer trailer than the poor



thing I dragged along last year - or so the guys at Bike Pittsburgh



(www.Bike-Pgh.org) tell me.  Less roadside bungee cord wrangling



should be involved this year, and all that time can be better spent



with a pint of fresh beer in hand!



Check out the pictures from previous years here:



2006 http://www.eastendbrewing.com/image/tid/18



2007 http://picasaweb.google.com/mike.vindler/PedalPaleAleRide61507



and http://mtnbiker.smugmug.com/gallery/3009403



So that's it.  Short and sweet this month - another East End Brewing



FIRST!  See you at the Warhol on Friday, or here at the brewery on the



23rd for the BIG RIDE... and be sure to bring a friend!



Cheers,



Scott



www.EastEndBrewing.com



BUY A GOOD FRIEND A GOOD BEER (TM)

Good Morning GOOD BEER Fans! April 11, 2008
Nothing like that first GOOD BEER (News) of the day to start the
weekend off right. Though, maybe it's a little on the early side. But
don't worry. You can still enjoy a quick newsletter read over a cup of
your second favorite brewed beverage, before you start thinking about
coming to the brewery for your first favorite brewed beverage...

SESSION ALE #7: WHEAT HOP...RETURNING TO GROWLER HOURS THIS FRIDAY...
as in TODAY!
Yes,
you read that right - and maybe you read it last time too.
We're now doing Friday night Growler Hours every
week, so come on out for the debut and start your weekend off
properly! If you missed it last time, WHEAT HOP is an American Wheat
beer that will shatter your preconceived notions of what a wheat beer
can be. The malt side is pretty standard for the style, delivering a
light bodied beer of
modest strength at 4.5% abv, but that's where convention takes a walk.
The hops kick in, big, bright, and grapefruity, more along the lines of
what you'd find in a IPA. Put in the same glass with the modest wheat
base,
they really shine. And, as I'll get into later, hoppy beers might be
getting a little scarce around here, so enjoy them while you can. Hope
to see you tonight!

SEASON OF THE WHEAT...ALMOST COMPLETE
So, with the addition of Wheat Hop to East End Witte and
our new Spring Seasonal Monkey-Boy Hefeweizen, we've got three out
of four wheat beers on tap. And the fourth? Well, I'm getting a
little ahead of myself here. Let's back up a step. I want to tell you
about our collab-a-brewing adventures...

COME ON, YOU CAN SAY IT...."LICK-TEN-HI-NER"
Lots of you have been asking how the East End/Marzoni's collab-a-brews
went
last month. Since opening day of baseball season was this week,
let's just say that we're batting 500. "Lichtenhainer" is the style we
brewed at Marzoni's, with Bill starting his sour mash on a Monday. I
made the short drive to Ducansville (near Altoona) the following
Thursday morning to help him finish it up, having given the mash four
days to sour. When I arrived, Bill was shoveling the sour mash from
the insulated pic-a-nic cooler where it had been working all week, into
his mash tun. The brew space had a great aroma of sweet/sour lemonade
with a distinct aroma of smoke - yes, this is a sour SMOKED beer! The
rest of the brew day was pretty standard, and Bill did all the work.
This past weekend, a couple weeks later, we shared an early taste of
the Lichtenhainer, and it's going to be a really interesting beer...
medium body, nicely smoky, with a distinct but measured sour finish to
it. I'm looking forward
to the final version, fully carbonated and ready to enjoy!

HOW GOSE THE GOSE?
The Gose... well, the 4 day long sour mash part of the brew went very
well. It was challenging to keep a larger sour mash volume warm in an
unheated tank at East End Brewing in March, but with some creative
equipment configuring and
once-a-day
reheating, we ended up with a fantastic sour flavor to the mash. In
spite of the strange smells that it produced during the week, it was
much more than I had hoped for...but that didn't last long. When we
mashed in the rest of the malted wheat, things immediately went off the
rails...
a 45 minute runoff turned into at least four consecutive stuck mashes
(we lost count) and a 3.5 hour test of physical exertion. Instead of a
nice clear wort, we turned that wonderful sour mash into a thick,
milky, starchy liquid
that when boiled, scorched on the bottom of the kettle, like a pot of
cream soup left on the stove way too long. Ugh. So after spending most of
the week tending the sour mash,
a loooong day of brewing, and 10 days of fermenting, I finally moved
that batch to its final resting place...the drain. Luckily, it was an
easy
decision to make - my customers have VERY discerning tastes you know!
All in all pretty disappointing. But on
the upside, I
now know how to make a great sour mash, and I'll be
getting back on the horse to have another go at this beer in about a
week or so.

EARTH DAY IS APRIL 22nd - CELEBRATE IT WITH SOME SUSTAINABLY BREWED
BEER!
Leave the car at home and walk, ride your bike, or ride the bus to
Growler Hours at
East End Brewing that day. If you do, not only can you enjoy plenty of
indoor bike parking (just in the entry way there...), but as an added
incentive, I'll knock a buck off every Growler fill-up. (Honor system
now kids!) Plus, for
every
Growler you take home, you'll get a chance to take your pick of
some free music to take home - new CD releases in spiffy new
Earth-friendly packaging, courtesy of the nice folks at EMI... while
supplies last.

So to recap, you get Earth-friendly beer
(http://www.eastendbrewing.com/node/6) at a discounted price, free
music with Earth friendly packaging, and depending upon how you get
here, you might even get a bit of training in for the PEDAL PALE ALE
KEG RIDE, coming in May!

DID I MENTION THAT THE KEG RIDE IS IN MAY?
We have a date! On Friday, May 23rd, you will show up at the brewery
with your bike and 100 or so of your closest GOOD BEER Friends with
their bikes, and help deliver this year's very first keg (or kegs,
depending upon the turnout!) of PEDAL PALE ALE to it's mystery debut
location. We'll start gathering at 6:30 pm, and leave the brewery
right at the end of Growler Hours that day... which is 7pm. Plan on
signing in and collecting your voucher as soon as you arrive. Just
like always, for everyone who comes out for the ride, the first pint's
on me!

HOPS AND MALT... WHAT A FIX WE'RE IN!
Hopefully by now, you've heard from a few sources about the
double-whammy ingredient shortages your favorite brewers are facing
this year. It's an ugly situation that's thankfully getting local and
national press...which will make what's to come sound a little more
believable. I probably don't need to go into how we got into this
little fix, but I wanted to take a moment to tell you how the hop
shortage effects
me here at East End Brewing, and how it will effect you... the GOOD
BEER Fan who happens to drink quite a bit of my beer. We'll save the
malt story for another time.

LET'S DO THE MATH...
A hop shortage is a scary thing for me. Mostly
because Big Hop IPA still accounts for about 60-70% of the beer I brew
here. Big Hop is brewed with a combination of Centennial and Cascade
hops, at the combined rate of roughly 20lbs per 10 barrel batch. Up
until recently, I could get these hops for roughly $5/lb. Today, if I
can find them at all, prices are more like $26 pound - and I can't find
them. So, the hop portion of the materials went from $100/batch to
$520/batch - call it an extra 400 bucks I need to come up with. Spread
across the 20 kegs I'll get from that batch, that means a keg of Big
Hop will cost 20 bucks more to make (roughly 20%), so I need to add $20 to the price of a keg and $2 to the
price of a Growler. I've held off while I've worked my way through the
rest of the 5 dollar hops, but the time has come and we'll start the
new Growler prices May 1st.

This is painful for me. One of the primary reasons I started this
brewery was to bring fresh local beer to Pittsburgh at an AFFORDABLE
price... and while a 12 dollar Growler of Big Hop might not be called
"expensive", it's more than I hoped it would have to be. To make
matters worse, I'll be running out of hops for Big Hop IPA this summer,
and I'm not sure what I'm going to do...reformulate with different
hops? brew some "Little Hop"? or stop making it until more hops come
on the market. Let's just say that 60-70% number probably won't hold
up this year.

If you'd like to read more about this dreadful situation, check out
this interview I did with the guys from www.ShouldIDrinkThat.com for
Flavor Magazine:
http://flavorpittsburgh.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=75

WHEW, THAT WAS DEPRESSING! HOW ABOUT SOME GOOD BEER EVENTS TO LIGHTEN
THE MOOD:
Apr 23rd - "Beer Tasting Goes 'Burgh" at Rania's in Mt. Lebanon http://www.rania.com/classes.html#c14
Apr 27th - Slow Food's Earth Day Birthday
http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/event_earthdayBirthday.html
May 17th - Pints for Pets at the ballpark in Altoona, home of
the
Curve. www.PintsForPets.com
May 23rd - Pedal Pale Ale KEG RIDE arrive 6:30, depart 7:00, from the
brewery
June 7th - Penn Brewing's Microbrewer's Fest
http://www.pennbrew.com/data/english/microbrewersfest.htm
June 11th - Bigelow Grille Veg Beer Dinner CANCELED... Kevin is leaving
Bigelow, but we'll do it again at his new home soon!

THIS JUST IN...BREAKING GROWLER NEWS:
You can now get Growlers of East End Brew at Cappy's on Walnut St. in
Shadyside!

That's enough for one morning - see you tonight at the Wheat Hop Debut!
Cheers,
Scott

www.EastEndBrewing.com
BUY A GOOD FRIEND A GOOD BEER (TM)