Barrel Aged BarleyWine tasting

A group of us beer-geeks decided to drink a shit load of BA BarleyWines. Nothing like strong, high abv beers.  Of course, we just couldn't drink BA BWs...throw in some BA Old Ales, Stouts, One-off lager and a hurtful ghost chili-pepper beer for good measure:

Goose Island King Henry
Dry Dock Blighs
Pelican Mother of All Storms
Hoppin Frog Barrel Aged Naked Evil
Deschutes Mirror Mirror (2009, but not infected, we had good luck)
Schafly Oak-aged Barleywine
Firestone Walker Sucaba
Firestone Walker Abacus
Hebrew 15:15
Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine
Central Waters Y2K
Backcountry Bourbon Barrel Barleywine
Backcountry Barleywine (both of these in unlabeled bottles thanks to Alan the brewer!)
Great Divide Barrel Aged Hibernation
Surly Darkness
Cigar City Marshal Zhukov's
Founders KBS
Founders Breakfast Stout
Westy 12 (Westvletern)
Stone Old Guardian
Town Hall Milk Stout (growler)
Bells Quinannan Falls Lager (nice palate cleanser and rare bottle with a cool story behind it, thanks Corey!)
New Glarus Cranbic
New Glarus Apple Ale
North Coast Old Stock Cellar Reserve
Saint Arnold Divine Reserve
Twisted Pine Ghost Face Killah 

Just about every beer was fantastic. The Mirror Mirror seemed infected (hollow and light) and the Ghost Face Killah just hurt. 

Good times, good beer, great beer geeks. 

I think the next tasting will concentrate on Saisons!

Pub Dialogues briefing

Last night was OvalOptions' first session of the Pub Dialogues. Held at the Wynkoop's Mercantile Room, the atmosphere was great and anxious. Discussing the topic of Taxes and R.O.I. people shared opinions, concerns and generated some great ideas.  We gathered feedback, which was almost all positive. Participants loved the exchange and marveled at the skills of their group facilitators. Several had "more fun" than they thought they would and anticipate the next session.
Negative feedback was the parking, day of the week and desire to stay longer.

Overall, this was a success on a relatively small scale. We hope to have another session at the Wynkoop in about 6-9 weeks, or possibly at another venue. 

The Pub Dialogues

On January 31st at the Wynkoop will be OvalOptions' first session of The Pub Dialogues; an effort to bring people out of the chat room and into the pub.  Online dialogue, discussion, chat, forums and the like have just about killed debate, discussion, communication and dialogue about important (even trivial) topics. The Internet has affected the real world, from presidential elections to neighbor to neighbor relations. People have forgotten how to talk with each other.

It's FREE   6:30pm-9pm

The Pub Dialogues is a facilitated group discussion centered on a topic chosen in advance by OvalOptions. This session concerns taxes and their return on investment (R.O.I.). Where should tax money go?

The Wynkoop is Denver's staple brewpub, and they are generous to allow use of their Mercantile Room for this occasion.

Grab a PINT and bring your EARS!  All ages welcome, 21 to drink alcohol.