Jimmys No. 43

Let’s face it! Craft brewers just have a superior sense of humor. Case in point? Today’s Thursday Tap™  from Brouwerij de Dolle Brouwers from Esen, Belgium. They call their  highly ranked 10% ABV a “Tripel” but the true name, Dulle Teve, translates as “Mad Bitch.” The brewer jokes that they couldn’t get the name on the US label, but we’ve got no problems calling a beer a beer.

Dulle Teve continues our Belgian beer week theme, and, as always, regular bar/restaurant/oyster menus available. Tapping at 5 p.m. while supplies last.

This Wednesday, December 5th, beginning at 7-9 p.m., you can enjoy kimchi treats and meet Lauryn Chun of Mother-in-Law’s Kimchi and author of The Kimchi Cookbook: 60 Traditional & Modern Ways to Make and Eat Kimchi.

For $20 you get entry into the book launch party and a copy of Lauryn’s book (added bonus: $5 of the cover charge will go to Sandy relief), plus complimentary kimchi samples and tips from Lauryn.

Kimchi is not just cabbage! Using the traditional kimchi-making season as her guide and focusing on produce at its peak, Lauryn shows you how to create both robust winter kimchi and light summer pickles.

While our regular bar/restaurant service will continue to be availabl, we’ll be making some kimchi-centric additions to our regular kitchen menu, including offerings from Lauryn’s recipes such as (subject to change):

• Kimchi cornmeal pancakes;
• Kimchi sandwiches;
• Kimchi slaw with vegan kimchi and fresh cabbage.

So come out and talk Kimchi with Lauryn. (Regular bar/restaurant service available.)

If there’s one event you attend in December (yep! that’s tomorrow!), it should be tomorrow’s 3rd Annual Battle of the Belgians! Here’s the current line-up (and we’ll have more beers coming in both for BotB and our Monday night Vegetarian Nonsense Prix Fixe Dinner with Shelton Brothers). Of course, you can buy any of these amazing beers as part of our regular bar/restaurant menu, but at $45/ticket online (they’ll be $50 at the door), you’ll be getting the best of Belgium (and Belgian-style beers). Look at this line-up (subject to last-minute change):

• BFM XIV (La Quatorze, 14th Anniversary Beer)
• BFM Bon Chien 2011
• BFM Cuvee Alex le Rouge
• BFM Spike & Jerome’s
• BFM Anniversary Series: Cuvee du 7eme

• De Dolle Dulle Teve 20L keg
• Achel Brown
• Smisje Catherine the Great 20L keg
• Cantillon Mamouche
• Cantillon Grand Cru
• Brasserie Fantôme BBBOO
• Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse Trappist Achel Bruin
• Brasserie Dupont Saison
• Brasserie Dupont La Bière de Beloeil
• Brouwerif Hof Ten Dormaal Dark Farmhouse Ale
• Alvinne Balthazaar bottles
• Alvinne Gaspar bottles
• Alvinne Melchior bottles
• Alvinne Cuvee d’Erpigny bottles
• Hannsens Scarenbecca Kriek bottles
• Brasserie a Vapeur Vintage Tasting: 1996 Vapeur Cochonne, 1996 Vapeur d’Antan, Saison de Pipaix (current)
• Troubadour Obscura
• Troubadour Magma
• Piraat
• Brouwerij Van Steenberge Gulden Draak
• Brouwerij Van Steenberge Monk’s Cafe
• Brouwerij Bosteels’ Pauwel Kwak
• Brouwerij Bosteels’ Tripel Karmeliet
• Chimay Triple
• Brasserie d’Achouffe Houblon Chouffe
• Brouwerij Duvel Single
• Brouwerij Duvel Maredsous Dubbel

• Ommegang 3 Philosophers
• Ommegang Gnomegang
• Stillwater Artisanal Folklore
• Stillwater Artisanal Cellar Door
• Ommegang Hennepin
• The Bruery Fruet
• Midnight Sun Panty Peeler Triple
• Plus beers by Leelanau and Jolly Pumpkin

And as if that list isn’t tempting enough, Mr. BFM himself, Jérôme Rebetez, will be pouring his own beers. We’ll kick things off at noon (until 3 p.m.). Hope to see you there!

Note: Beers will continue to be available a la carte until we sell out!

As we get ready to greet December with all things Belgian-y, we’re putting on a distinctly American beer made with Belgian yeast strains for today’s Thursday Tap™. At 5 p.m., Jimmy will be tapping Stillwater Artisanal’s Folklore (a.k.a. 25 to one, which we’re still puzzling out since we thought it was 25 or 6 to 4!). This 8.4% Belgian Strong Dark Ale is described by the brewer as “A bracingly deep ale, built dark and rich with an elegantly lean body, accompanied by heady aromas of Belgian yeast, earthy hops and gently kissed by a wisp of smoke.”

So come out today and get ready for some great Belgian beers this weekend starting with Saturday’s Battle of the Belgians (featuring BFM’s  Jérôme Rebetez) through Monday’s Vegetarian Nonsense Prix Fixe Dinner featuring Shelton Brothers’ Belgians and the next two $10 Tuesday Tastings. If it’s interesting and unusual Belgian beer you’re after, Jimmy’s No. 43 has you covered. (As always, regular bar/restaurant service is still available during all these events.)

It’s our 3rd annual Battle of the Belgians and we have an amazing twist! Breaking news: Our main competition to Belgium this year will be Jerome Rebetez of BFM in Switzerland. He’ll be here pouring five of his beers. The beer list is still a work in progress, but you can join us from noon until 3 p.m. for many of the following:

From Switzerland:

• BFM XIV (La Quatorze, 14th Anniversary Beer) 20L keg
• BFM ADSBC Vertical Tasting: 2006, 2007, 2011 bottles + 2011 Grand Cru Edition bottles
• BFM Cuvee Alex le Rouge bottles
• BFM Spike & Jerome’s bottles
• BFM Anniversary Series: Cuvee du 7eme bottles, Cuvee du 8eme bottles, La Douze bottles, XIV draft

From Belgium:

• De Dolle Dulle Teve 20L keg
• Wostynje 20L keg
• Smisje Catherine the Great 20L keg
• De Glazen Toren Saison d’Erpe-Mere 20L keg
• La Rulles Cuvee Meilleurs Vouex 20L keg
• Alvinne Balthazaar bottles
• Alvinne Gaspar bottles
• Alvinne Melchior bottles
• Alvinne Cuvee d’Erpigny bottles
• Hannsens Scarenbecca Kriek bottles
• Brasserie a Vapeur Vintage Tasting: 1996 Vapeur Cochonne, 1996 Vapeur d’Antan, 1998 Vapeur en Folie, Saison de Pipaix (current), Vapeur de Bises (current, 2-3 years old)

Help us determine the best of the Belgians. Get your ticket here.