The Irish novelist James Joyce had his way with words, as when he considered the origins of Guinness Stout in this passage from Ulysses.
— Hurry up, Terry boy, says Alf. Terence O’Ryan heard him and straightway brought him a crystal cup full of the foaming ebon ale which the noble twin brothers Bungiveagh and Bungardilaun brew ever in their divine alevats, cunning as the sons of deathless Leda. For they garner the succulent berries of the hop and mass and sift and bruise and brew them and they mix therewith sour juices and bring the must to the sacred fire and cease not night or day from their toil, those cunning brothers, lords of the vat.
The late, great Scott Hand (1969 – 2021) was Monnik Beer Co.’s “lord of the vat.”
Scott was a singular figure in Louisville brewing history, and it is fitting that Monnik Beer Co. (1036 E. Burnett Ave.) honors his memory each year.
Join us at Monnik (on Friday, March 20th) to celebrate a very dear friend of ours, Scott Hand. We’ll be releasing seven beers, including the 12P Dark Czech Lager, the Eagle Skull Saison, and Oma’s Hefe, that day to honor the memory of our friend.
We will also be featuring Scott’s favorite club sandwich special all weekend long along with a couple cocktail specials including Scott’s preferred recipe for an old fashioned, and one of his favorite tiki cocktails.
Scott Hand day is a chance to remember our dear friend and gather together to share stories and memories of this great man and brewer.
I’m confident that Scott would fully approve of closing today’s post with an unabashed pitch for the aforementioned 12 P Dark Czech Lager, a wonderful beer developed by his onetime assistant and successor, Buddy McHagan. It will be released on the 20th. Scott, we miss you — and your brewhouse is in a damned fine pair of hands.
12 P Dark Czech Lager: Our take on a classic dark Czech lager, 12 P is double decocted for a rich honey sweet pilsner base malt flavor, with cold steeped chocolate and midnight wheat to add color without astringency. Hopped from first wort to whirlpool with Czech Saaz, 12 P has full noble hop aroma and flavor with a pleasant bite on the semi-dry milk...Read more
