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I Can Never Leave Town
Again...
I'm sorry
folks... I really, really am. I mean, crikey, I leave town for 5
days and what happens? Oh, just a little financial turmoil,
that's all! As you can see in the before and after photos
to the right and below, it all started off so well... but somewhere it
all went terribly wrong. Let's break it down from my perspective.
Let's begin with Wachovia Financial. I currently have a car loan
through them and they just got bought by Citigroup, we'll wait and see
what transpires there. My checking and savings are through Wells
Fargo and thankfully their stock was recently upgraded from the status
of "underperform" to "neutral" so that's reassuring
(insert sarcasm here)! The DOW, although at a pretty crappy
11,082 when I left town, dropped a whopping 770 points on Monday alone
to 10,371 after a proposed $700 billion bailout didn't pass. I can't
understand why, with the "Don't ask, don't tell" clause
attached to it... I mean, REALLY!?!?!
As a result, my fellow Americans, I am hereby putting
the rest of my vacations on hold until this financial crisis
passes. You have my word! Now, on with the Brewsletter!!
This week we touch on all the events going on in our
support for the fight to cure ALS. Please read up on the disease
and help out those stricken with an ailment so horrible for which we
don't know the cause nor cure - yet. On the brighter side, our
brewers discuss the upcoming seasonal that is more popular than those
Jonas Brothers the kids are diggin' so much these days! We also
ask Four Peaks Manager Steve Lynch a few questions while our Scottsdale
compatriots discuss the goings on in the quaint little hamlet just
north of Tempe!
Lastly, my apologies for last weeks (failed) link to Cornhole Arizona's
Oktoberfest "no holds barred, knock down, drag out, double
elimination cornhole" tournament at Tempe Beach Park. It's
$45/ team and starts at noon this Saturday. Let's try this again;
all details available HERE.
Hugs and Kisses,
Your Friends at The Four Peaks Brewery and Four Peaks Grill & Tap
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The Fight Against ALS
 In case you hadn't noticed, we
are really devoted to fighting ALS, something you might know better
as Lou Gehrig's Disease. We have several functions going on
over the next couple months dedicated to finding a cure and ask
you for your participation. Don't worry, it's going to be fun!
First of all, stop into either Four Peaks location right now and buy
a "baseball" to put on our wall. Similar to the
"Boots For Troops" program we were involved in earlier this
year, you buy a baseball for ANY amount you like, write your name on
it and we'll put it up. Stop in any time from now until the
World Series to help out!
Speaking of World Series, from Game 1 until the dramatic end, we are
changing the name of our Sunbru Kölsch Style Ale to Lou Bru. In
honor of the man who originally brought much-needed awareness to ALS,
during the championship series (in which he was a six-time world
champion), Four Peaks  will
donate $1 for every Lou Bru sold! So come in and have a pint to
help the fight... hey, I kinda like that!
Coming up on October 12th, the Four Peaks Brewing Company will be
participating in the "Walk To Defeat ALS." This is
the ALS Association's signature event with over 100,000 people
participating nationally. Feel free to start your own team or
pledge money to a walker or a walk team... all the details are right HERE. It's easy to
donate to the Four Peaks team, just type in "Four Peaks"
under team name!
Last, but by no means least, don't forget about our Fourth Annual
Four Peaks Golf Classic on Wednesday, November 12th - also to benefit
the ALS Association. There are still spots available for teams,
and every year is more fun than the last. You can still
download an application form
from our website and fax it to (480) 303-9964!
We sincerely hope you will assist us in the next several weeks by
donating, sponsoring or participating in any one of these following
events.
Lou Gehrig, an American
Hero
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by Karina Lang
Another
week has passed, and the weather still remains slightly warmer than I
would like it to be. It's hard to believe that the month of October
is already upon us and it's still sun-bathing weather. Bragging to
your friends and family who are in other regions where it's much
cooler is always fun though, right?
 Alright, onto the Grill and Tap
dispatch... The Walk to Defeat ALS is coming up very soon, October
12th to be exact. If you didn't get a chance to check out our Four
Peaks Walk Page, please do! I know we already included a short
spiel about our fundraiser during the Playoffs and the World Series,
but ask any of your friendly servers or bartenders if you would like
to purchase a baseball and we will happily adorn it with your
name! All of the money that we collect during the fundraiser
goes to our Four Peaks Walk Team, and ultimately to the ALS
Association Arizona Chapter, so it's for a great cause!
As I mentioned last week, the Four Peaks 4th Annual Golf Tournament
is coming up, make sure to reserve your spot. We have quite a
few interested parties already staking their claim, so don't
wait! It's sure to be even better than last year, especially
since I will be there... yeah... hmmm. Have a great week!
Cheers!
Don't forget to stop by The Whole Foods Market off of Raintree and
the 101 on Saturday, October 4th from 12 until 2 pm. Karina
will be doing a beer tasting of our Kilt Llifter Scottish Amber Ale
and the 8th Street Ale. If your are in the neighborhood, do
drop in!
You can contact Karina at (480) 303-9967 ext. 209
A Little Bit About ALS...
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5 Questions With Steve Lynch.
Oh fair readership, I've been looking forward to this one! As
you may or may not know, I have known Steve for the better part of 10
years now. We both started in the kitchen back in 1998 as line
cooks... line cooks! That's right Steve Lynch, Steve Lewis,
Randy Schultz and myself were the first incarnation of the Four Peaks
kitchen back when Bill Clinton was in office, thank you very much!
We've watched dinner stretch into lunches and finally to Sunday
brunches.
As a result of our combined years, I've put together a most
challenging set of questions! So I hand the floor over to the
man that can make an Italian Beef Beer Bread blindfolded. Folks,
here's Esteban!
1. After 10+ years here at the Brewery, what has been your
favorite seasonal and why?
Great question! As I'm sure you are aware by now, I have a deep love
for pale ales but I have been known to stray on occasion. Hands down,
the most drinkable beer for me has always been the Leroy Brown. The
roasted malts and mild bitterness make it my perfect session
beer. I put the Impale Ale at the top of my list for a perfect
seasonal pale, and the Black Betty Schwartzbier at the top for all time
smoothness. As far as the names go, "New York" Peach and
Abbey Normal (Young Frankenstein reference but not many get it) are
by far my top choices. Currently, I am getting a fix of the elusive
"Centenni-Ale" seasonal and it's fantastic! 
2. As we all know from Civics class, while watching the British
bombard Baltimore during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote
"The Star-Spangled Banner" as a P.O.W. aboard a British
ship. Why are crab cakes so popular there?
Making a good crab cake is much like a religious right of passage for
a Baltimore boy. Gently folding all the ingredients at the end is the
secret. Most Arizona crab cakes are pattied and crushed like a
McGriddle and deep fried. A good Baltimore crab cake is light,
fluffy, golden broiled, and the size of a softball. Don't forget the
sprinkle of Old Bay Seasoning and the ode to the Iron Man Cal Ripken
before consumption!
Side-note: I hope many Red Coats choked and met their makers on
Maryland crab shells during their occupation of Fort McHenry.
3. Imagine it is Football Sunday, what item off our breakfast menu
would you order and what would you wash it down with?
Eggs Benedict, no swine, add medium rare tenderloin filet, extra
jalapeno hollandaise. There is nothing more delectable in the morning
than poached eggs, tender steak, runny yolk and warm cow's blood
oozing through the crevices of a toasted muffin. Wash it down with a
Hopknot, put the Ravens on a big screen for the first time in a
decade, and I'm in heaven!
4. How has the movie "Tango and Cash" changed who you
are as a person? Explain.
Everything about who I have become I owe to Ray Tango and Gabe Cash.
These two men bravely came together on screen to work toward the
common goal of kicking corruption's ass! Though
brutally bashed by every film critic throughout the known world, the
underlying message of cooperation, decisiveness, dedication, loyalty
and teamwork come through to give me the feel good movie of the
summer. Tango and Cash should own a restaurant, now that would
be awesome. 
5. We started at roughly the same time, the tumultuous summer of 1998,
young, fresh-faced kids... you became a General Manager with
Conservative/Republican leanings whereas I became a
Bartender/Brewsletter editor with a more Liberal/Democratic
leaning. That being said, are you taping all your manager
meetings and if you are, can I get copies of them? Also, what
is the extent of your involvement in "Brewery-gate?"
I could ensure the manager meeting transcripts go public but they are
not nearly as interesting as The Smoking Gun. If anyone is interested
in hearing us grumble about wobbly tables and broken televisions I
will put it on Podcast. Brewery-Gate? If that was the hanging of the
Red Sox flag I had NOTHING to do with it! And as far as politics
goes, we try to save the debate for the bar and not the office. All I
know is, Can we do what's right for the people and change the nation
one pint of hand-crafted ale at a time? "Yes We Can!"
A Non-Stop,
Adrenaline-Fueled Thrill Ride!!!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Tuesday,
October 7th:
***SOLD
OUT***
Don't forget about our delicious beer dinner at the exquisite Tempe
Brewpub this evening dear ticket holders.
Sunday,
October 12th: Walk to Defeat ALS.
To join Four Peaks' Walk Team, or for more information, visit our Walk Team Page!
Monday, October 20th: Two
words... Pumpkin... Porter.
Tuesday, October 21st: Tickets
still available for our Beer And Cheese Pairings in Tempe!!!
$25 all-inclusive. ALL THE INFO...
Tuesday, November 4th:
Election Day, so get out and vote!!!!
Wednesday, November 12th:
Fourth Annual Four Peaks Charity Golf Tournament to Benefit The ALS
Assocation of Arizona. We are now accepting players and teams!
Please click HERE to sign up!
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Brewers Blog XVII: More Popular Than Jesus
(pronounced "hay-soos")!
We're brewing our most popular seasonal tomorrow; Pumpkin
Porter. This beer continuously amazes us, and not in the sense
that it is a great beer but in the fact that it is so popular.
We start getting requests for this beer in August and they don't let
up until the day we release it, which is October 20th if you're
wondering.
We're very excited, as we are every year. We can't wait to get
that first smell of the mash tun and then, later, when we inhale the
pumpkin and the spices; it's as if Fall has officially arrived.
Bye-bye heat, hello patio, and, yes, we will have another Pumpkin
Porter, thanks. The sad part is that we can't make more of it.
The plain truth of it is that we can't take up tank space and
sacrifice Kilt Lifter production.
In a way though, that's OK. We feel that if we make more then
it will lose something. It's special because it is limited,
because it takes special ingredients and, frankly, because it is not
common. It must be sought out and savored because it will not
be around forever. It's a bit like Christmas or a birthday when
you were a kid. The anticipation, the event, and then the long
wait for next year.
Even with all of the
anticipation for this beer there are always those who are asking,
what's next? Well, that would be the Winter Wobbler. It's
a great name for a beer that changes each year. This year we're
going to try our hand at a Russian Imperial Stout. That's all
we'll say for now, we'll reveal a little more when the time
comes.
In the mean time, though, enjoy a Pumpkin Porter and be sure to get
your fill because like the Fall it only comes around once a year.
Make Your Own Jack O' Lantern!
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CASK-CONDITIONED AND
SEASONALS
IN SCOTSDALE THIS WEEK
Oatmeal Stout: Our local favorite in its cask
manifestation is truly a taste sensation! Its subtle roastiness
and subdued dryness is indicative of its English origin.
Smooth, rich, dark and, quite honestly, fantastic!
IN TEMPE THIS WEEK
Kilt Lifter Scottish-Style Ale: Our multi-award winning
flagship ale in that special, one-of-a-kind style brewed with Kent
Golding hops. For you beer nerds out there, this is not a man,
but rather a place. Goldings are the traditional Old English
hops, the style grown in mid-Kent county of Southeast England -
hence, Kent Golding hops. Now you know!
LE
SEASONAL DU JOUR!
Hoof-Hearted Wit: Our version of a Belgian
Wit. Similar to a Hefeweizen due to the cloudiness and some
clove and tart flavors, ours is brewed to style with dried bitter and
sweet orange peel and coriander seeds. Enjoy one today because
supplies are running out!!!
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Now A Few Parting Words...
As we all patiently await the coming of the Pumpkin Porter in less
than 20 days, there are a few small things I want to touch on.
First of all let's not forget to show up for the Vikings/Saints
matchup on Monday the 6th, we will be offering Walleye, Tater Tot
Hotdish, and Brat specials... oh yeah, and Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
to placate the Saints fan(s) out there. For those of you not
brave enough to go for the full-fledged beer dinner, why not give the
Beer and Chese Pairings a whirl? It's only $25 and will no
doubt be a blast. Finally, for all you earth conscience folks
in our readership, we are looking into discontinuing the styrofoam
to-go containers! That's right, so please bear with us in the
upcoming weeks as we weigh some options and go with the most green
(and affordable) option out there...
"Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in
anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their
misery no more."
Proverbs 31:6-7. That's right, The Bible said so!
We're
in a financial funk, and the only prescription is... MORE COWBELL!
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