The Flying Saucer in Downtown Memphis is celebrating its 16th anniversary this Saturday with a party featuring rotating taps and 16 rare beers over 16 hours.
Among the beers that will be served are Yazoo Barrel Aged Porter, Sweetwater IPA, Green Flash Red Rye IPA, Abita Wheat IPA, Sierra Blindfold IPA, Goose Island Matilda, Blackstone Tripel, Yazoo/New Belgium’s “Rufus” and more.
Last night, I hit the jackpot with an invite to the Golden Ticket Beer Sampling Event at the Flying Saucer in Downtown Memphis.
The Memphis Beer Week event was a 25-seat tasting of 15 of the rarest beers that could be found.
Pliny the Elder from Russian River? Check. 2006 Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery? Check. All the beers served were brews that you can’t buy in Memphis, and some were beers that are long out of production and have been aging nicely. It was a beer geek’s dream.
The Golden Ticket tasting was organized by Kirk Caliendo, district manager for the Flying Saucer, and Austin Sawyer, import, craft and specialty brand manager for Budweiser of Memphis, which has been putting on the Beer Week events. They did a great job of finding an array of beers to satisfy even the most discerning craft beer drinker.
That giant bottle above is .79 gallons of Brass Knuckle Imperial IPA from Marin Brew Company. It’s a super hoppy beer that, at 9.6% ABV, packs quite a punch.
Here are three of my favorites from last night:
Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin – North Coast Brewing Company
I’ve had Old Rasputin before, the popular Imperial Stout from North Coast Brewing. But I got to try the small batch version of the beer that was aged for nine months in 12-year-old bourbon barrels. It had nice notes of bourbon on the nose and it tasted like strong roasted malts and chocolate. This beer was so popular at the table that people kept picking up the empty bottles, trying to get just a few more drops!
Dank Tank Some Strange – SweetWater Brewing Company
I’ve never had a beer from SweetWater Brewing Company that I didn’t like, and Some Strange did not disappoint. The 10% ABV Black India Pale Ale from Sweetwater’s Dank Tank series is hopped with Amarillo, Pacific Jade and Zythos, and then dry-hopped with Falconer’s Flight, Falconer’s 7 C’s and Topaz. The beer was just released and is the first Dank Tank beer to flow out of SweetWater’s new brewhouse.
Consecration – Russian River Brewing Company
Pliny is one of my all-time favorites, but it was a real treat to try Russian River’s Consecration. Aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels with currants, it’s a tart sour ale that leaves your mouth watering and your taste buds reeling.
Here’s the full list of beers that were sampled:
1. Pliny the Elder, Russian River Brewing Company
2. Matilda, Goose Island Beer Co.
3. 2010 Brooklyner Weisse, Brooklyn Brewery
4. Dank Tank Some Strange, SweetWater Brewing Company
5. 2009 Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chein, BFM Brasserie Des Franches-Montagne
6. Game of Thrones Iron Throne, Brewery Ommengang
7. Brass Knuckle Imperial IPA, Marin Brewing Company
8. Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock, Weisses Bräuhaus G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH
9. Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV, North Coast Brewing Company
10. Local Species, Blue Mountain Brewery
11. Imperial Eclipse Stout, FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
12. Allagash Curieux, Allagash Brewing Company
13. 2006 Black Chocolate Stout, Brooklyn Brewery
14. Consecration, Russian River Brewing Company
15. Walker’s Reserve, Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beers from Brooklyn Brewery finally arrive in Memphis this week, and there will be a special “tap takeover” tonight at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium to kick things off.
Ten Brooklyn beers — including some rare brews — will be available at both Memphis and Cordova Flying Saucer locations, starting at 7 p.m. And since it’s “pint night,” pours will be just $3.
Brooklyn Brewery perennials and special beers on tap tonight include Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brown Ale, Brooklyn Sorchi Ace, Brooklyn Blast! and Brooklyn Wiess. In addition, rare brews that are part of Brooklyn’s “Brewmaster’s Reserve” series will include The Concoction, The Companion, Mary’s Maple Porter, There Will Be Black and Gold Standard.
Brooklyn Brewery beers are hitting the Memphis area as part of a new distribution deal with Budweiser of Memphis. Look for the beers in restaurants and craft beer bars, liquor stores (high-gravity beers) and grocery stores (low-gravity beers).
Brooklyn Brewery ranked No. 13 on the Brewers Association’s annual list of Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in the United States, based on 2011 beer sales volume.
Craft beer bar Flying Saucer in Cordova is celebrating its 7th anniversary with a party on Saturday, Jan. 19.
The Saucer will be tapping seven rare brews — a different one each hour — starting at 5 p.m., with live music by Free World.
The Cordova Saucer is located at 1400 Germantown Parkway, Suite 114.
A blog about homebrewing, craft beer and beer news in Memphis and beyond. More here.
FuzzyBrew was just featured in Pamela Denney's book, Food Lovers' Guide to Memphis:
