-- Cabin Fever: Our Winter Beer Festival

-- Burns Night 2008

-- Seasonal Beers at The Tap Room

-- January at Bottleworks

-- January at The Tap Room

-- Other Schlafly Events

-- Top Fermentation: Tom Schlafly's monthly column

-- Live Music Listings
If you have trouble with links in this e-mail, please visit www.schlafly.com for complete information.

Burns Night is our annual, extraordinary celebration of the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796). The event is ideal for brightening up a cold, wet and dark St. Louis winter evening. And, since a poet like Bobby Burns deserves a beer like our Scotch Ale, we tap it each January on Burns Night in his honor.

Smoked Porter
The mild character of this porter, with its rich, roasty overtones, blends well with the subtle, smooth flavor of the smoked malt. January 4

HOLIDAY HOURS
Bottleworks will be closed on Monday, January 21.

Strange Brew: Cult Films at Bottleworks – Wednesday, January 2
Great films and great beer! Join us the first Wednesday of each month for a collection of weird and wonderful films from around the world, presented by the highly acclaimed Webster Film Series. The film begins at 8:00 p.m., admission is $4.00. This month’s film: I' m Gonna Git You Sucka (Keenen Ivory Wayans, 1988, USA, 88 min).

Observable Readings – Thursday, January 10
Now in its fifth season, Observable Readings presents live performances by local and visiting poets on the first Thursday of each month from September to May. This month: Dana Goodyear and Aliki Barnstone. 8:00 p.m.

Theology at Bottleworks – Wednesday, January 16
A popular open discussion for people who like to think and talk about the important issues of our day.  This month: “American Culture:  The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.” Is our culture molding us, or we it? Grab a brew, give your view and lend an ear to others.  Free and open to everyone. 7:00 p.m. For more info, e-mail midrash@journeyon.net.

Benefit Brunch for Fair Shares – Sunday, January 20
Help us support our community by attending one of our benefit brunches at Bottleworks, where we donate 10% of our sales to a worthy non-profit. This brunch benefits Fair Shares, dedicated to getting fresh, local, seasonal food into the hands of more St. Louisans – regardless of their income. See www.fairshares.org for more info and learn how you can support your local food loop with this wonderful, combined CSA (Community Supoprted Agriculture), the creation of long-time Schlafly employee Sara Hale, and her sister, Jamie Choler. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Maplewood Farmers' Market Pre-Holiday Sale – Saturday, January 26
Vendors from the Maplewood Farmer’s Market have moved inside to continue to provide fresh, local produce, meat, eggs, honey, raw milk, cheese and much more! 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Crown Room.
Black Velvet & Bluegrass – Monday, December 31
What are you doing New Year's Eve? See above for details.

HOLIDAY HOURS
The Tap Room will be closed on Monday, January 21.

Burns Night – Thursday, January 24
Our annual celebration. See details above.

Over the years Belgium has produced hundreds of different styles of beer and one recording artist with a hit that reached the top of the charts in The United States.  In 1963 Jeanne Deckers, a.k.a. Sister Luc-Gabrielle, a.k.a. Soeur Sourire, a.k.a. The Singing Nun, released the song “Dominique,” which not only made it to the number one spot, but was also the second best selling single for the year, right behind “Sugar Shack” by Jimmy Gilmer &  the Fireballs. It finished ahead of “He’s so Fine” by the Chiffons and “Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton; and way ahead of records by Stevie Wonder, The Beach Boys, Nat King Cole, Peter, Paul and Mary, Ray Charles and Elvis, among others. 

When Sister Luc-Gabrielle recorded “Dominique,” she was a Dominican nun at Fichermont Convent in Belgium.  She left the convent in 1966 after assigning all her royalties from the song to the Dominican Order.  She disagreed strongly with the Church’s position on birth control and recorded a tribute to oral contraceptives titled “Glory Be to God for the Golden Pill,” which did not sell anywhere nearly as well as “Dominique.”  Ms. Deckers subsequently encountered financial problems that eventually drove her to suicide in 1985. 

Read the rest of Tom's fascinating column by clicking HERE or visiting http://www.schlafly.com/topfermentation.shtml.

We feature live music Friday through Sunday at The Tap Room and Friday and Saturday at Bottleworks. Click HERE for our complete listings.