This edition of Beer Notes touches on Russian River, The Bruery, Draft Magazine’s top 25, and a few other things. Enjoy!

Fresh from the Russian River blog this morning: “Consecration will be released on February 2nd on draught and in 750ml bottles at our pub and limited distribution in No. California. Starting that week, we will also distribute bottles and kegs to Southern California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Philadelphia. […]”

“Pliny the Younger will also be released on February 2nd on draft only. It will be available at our pub, select accounts in the Bay Area, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Philadelphia.” [ed: the only way to take the beer home with you is to do a growler fill at the pub]

“Rejection is currently on tap at our pub and has limited distribution on draft in Napa, Sonoma, and the Bay Area.” …an aptly named beer for Valentine’s Day.

Draft Magazine recently published its top 25 list of beers online though the group of beers isn’t ranked 1-25. A few relatively unknown beers including Cascade Apricot Ale. Bill Brand has re-posted the list and is getting some comments over at his blog.

The Bruery held its homebrewers competition recently and will brew a batch of beer based on the winner’s recipe. This year’s winner, Al Buck, brewed a Gueuze called Grand Funk Alehouse. Says Patrick Rue, “This beer reminds me a lot of Drie Fonteinen Oude Gueuze. It’s sour for sure, but there’s so much finesse in the layered flavors of leather, barnyard funk, citrus / lemon, and indescribable qualities that make this so wonderful. Al told me this is a blend of a 1 year old lambic and a 2 year old lambic. We’ll brew this in mid-February of this year, and the 2nd batch in February of 2010. At the proper aging rate, this beer will be released in the Spring of 2011.”

Other tidbits:

It is looking like Boulevard Single-Wide IPA will be released in bottles by mid-Feb in some areas.

If MadRyan is right, New Glarus Stone Soup may be on shelves in as little as two or three weeks.

New York Times article on the craft beer scene in Utah