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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Beer time at Gene's, Blue Plantation and Holler to perform
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Polish up the bier steins and pint glasses — popular Avondale tavern Gene’s Hafbrau (817 Savannah Hwy.) plans to host another big, sudsy beer bash. They do this kind of thing every fall with their annual Oktoberfest events. This one must be their Bavarian-styled "Märzen" festival. 
Sponsored by Georgia-brewed SweetWater 420 (an assertively hopped pale ale), Gene’s "Outdoor Beerfest" will feature a variety of ales and lagers, seafood and barbecue, and live acoustic Americana music by local singer-songwriter Lindsay Holler (with guests) and cool bluegrass and folk music by Blue Plantation.
Say “prosit” on Sun. April 19 when the bash kicks off at noon. Admission is $5. Proceeds benefit Pet Helpers. Visit www.geneshaufbrau.com and for more.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Au revoir À vous, Nyon (part two)
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Dear Feedback File, 
Back in town after a enjoyable, week-long visit with my younger brother Stewart and his family in the French-speaking Vaud region of Switzerland. It was great to get away from Charleston for just a little while — and just as cool to return to swing of things. I snapped some extra photos in the Swiss town of Nyon, at Le César bar near home base (their careful and deliberate service of Belgian beers — each in its own elegant glass vessel — was excellent and well worth the high-franc price), on a slow boat ride across Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), in the French town of Yvoir, and in the big, hilly city of Lausanne (30 minutes north of Nyon). Stewart and his wife have an adorable, sharp witted two-year-old. They’re quite a trio.
Here’s a list of a few things I learned last week while over there: 
1. Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar tastes just fine at room temperature.
2. They love the band Harvey Milk and Scandinavian black metal at the Disc-à-Brac store in Lausanne (the best record store I saw all week).
3. Synthesizer techno dance music seems most popular with those who blast it from expensive motorcycles.
4. On Swiss cable, the Sky News, BBC World Service, Bloomberg News, and Geneva’s Léman Bleu channels blow the comparatively slick, celebrity and “i-News” driven CNN International away.
5. Butter and salty cold cuts on chewy wheat bread for breakfast ain’t bad.
6. Never make a tipsy Moroccan lady angry in a Swiss bar.
7. While cultural mix in Swiss cities seems pretty international (with a healthy dose of Latin, Slavic, Germanic languages bandied about), most Swiss tend to be ultra-traditional and isolationist in nature.
8. Most of Switzerland is actually rolling fields and farmland (and mountains).
9. In Swiss thrift stores, framed art is way overpriced, but the old VHS tapes are a bargain.
10. Fried Perch fillets goes great with a lemon-dijon butter sauce.
Au revoir. Les acclamations et remercie!
Ballard
Friday, March 20, 2009
Bonsoir from Nyon (part one)
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Dear Feedback File,
It's been a while since I've visited anyone or played any gigs in Europe ... since a tour sitting in on drums with the radiant and dynamic Shannon Wright in late 2004, actually. I made it back to the continent in one piece a few days ago for a quick visit with my brother Stewart and his cool family. Stew's an in-demand specialty machinist who happened to play as a bassist in a few Charleston rock bands (Plug Ugly, Not, and Bison, circa 1989-1993). He still has bass guitars and amps scattered around.
After a 15-hour trip from Charleston to Philly to Frankfurt, and, finally, Geneva, I landed in the scenic Swiss town of Nyon -- an old Roman city just 25 minutes north of Geneva on the coast of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman). It's very Frenchy European in this town. I'm definitely one of the slobbiest-looking guys here. Stewart's wife is Czech. It's a fascinating and amusing cultural mix.
My young niece is almost too cute and squealy -- a real doll. It took two days, but she doesn't cry, wince, or scream when I walk in the room. I think she likes me just fine now.
While this officially a family visit, I have managed to sample some interesting cuisine and beverages along the way (in the name of research for the City Paper, of course). The strong Le Semeause coffee, the sweetish Czech-made Becherovka liqueur, fatty salami, the homemade veal and carrot stews, the grainy rye breads, the industrial-strength Fit Crisp Muesli (“with Apfel und extra knusprig”), and the meatballs with cranberry jam at the weird Ikea mega-warehouse down the highway – they all have made impressions on me. But I like the beer the best.
From the Czech Republic, I've enjoyed a few lagers that can't be found in the States. Zlatopramen and Březňák Světlý Ležák beers come from the northern Bohemian town of Ústí nad Labem. They're similar in malt flavor and hop aroma to the more recognizable Staropramen (from Prague) and Pilsner Urquell (from Pilsen), but with less of a spicy hop accent. Sipped a can of Budweiser Budvar (the original Budweiser from Bohemia) with some asparin and barbecue-flavored peanuts, too.
At the laid-back Le César pub, Stewart and I enjoyed several classic Belgian ales (such as Duvel, the dark and light Chimay ales, and a malty and deceptively strong Brugse Zot), plus a few weird and weak-flavored Swiss and French lagers. Feldschlösschen is mighty popular in this Vaud region, but it's extremely light and mildly metallic in flavor. The Le César bartender played copious Beatles and Fat Domino tunes over the late-night stereo, much to the delight of a local guitarist at the bar (who happened to be the town's only microcephalic).
The local "American Idol" TV show is called "Star Nouveau." The Swiss let people bring dogs into grocery stores and restaurants. Meat, bread, pasta, beer, wine, and coffee are incredibly expensive. The city streets are disturbingly clean. City drivers are excruciatingly polite to pedestrians. Many of the Swiss toddlers resemble grimacing baby versions of Eastern European leaders of the 20th Century. The view of the snow-capped Jura Mountains is fantastic.
I hope things are well over in Charleston. Gotta go watch a Czech version of Sesame Street's Elmo.
Au revoir.
Ballard
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Beer Dinners Galore Downtown
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Someone must have rung the bell — this week and next, there'll be four terrificly elegant (and potent) "beer dinners" offered at some of the most elegant restaurants in town.
Combining the best of both barley and grape, Tristan Restaurant (55 S. Market St.) presents a four-course “Beer vs. Wine” dinner on Thurs. Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Chef Aaron Deal has created a four-course menu to paired with ales, lagers, whites, and reds to be selected by Sommelier Brian Austin. At the end of the dinner, votes for each course will cast by the diners, tallied, and a beer or wine winner will be announced. Limited seating is available by calling Tristan at (843) 534.2155.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Beer News, Red Legs Scotch Ale
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 11:09 PM
It’s been a beery month, indeed … we’ve been preparing for a cover story on the worldwide hops and barley shortage and how it’s affecting the local craft brewers (stay tuned). City Paper enjoyed a really nice sample of Coast Brewing Company’s new Red Legs Scotch Ale — a whole growler’s worth! Brewers/proprietors David Merritt and Jaime Tenny are starting to bottle more frequently, in addition to the kegging of their big-flavored Hop Art I.P.A. and specialty ales.
The Red Legs Scotch Ale is an astonishingly malty, slightly smoky take on the traditional Scottish style. The term “Scotch ale” is normally used specifically to identify a very strong, dark, malt-accented speciality from Scotland. Other Scottish styles include Light, Heavy, Export, and Strong. Coast’s version is perhaps slightly lighter in color (deep copper/brown), with a touch heather in the mix of ingredients. Well-conditioned, and clean-tasting, the Scotch Ale is
The ale is available on tap at EVO Pizzeria, Mellow Mushroom, Brixx Pizza, and Daily Dose. The next release for April will be a Honey Wheat Pale Ale, brewed with local honey. Cheers to all of that!
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