Stop on by the Blind Pig tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. for a unique opportunity to sample the beers of Capital Brewery, one of the premier Midwestern craft breweries. Not only is this a great opportunity to check out some tasty brews that are not yet available in our area, but Capital’s brewmaster, Kirby Nelson, will be on hand to wax about his creations and field questions.
Based in Middleton, Wisconsin, on the outskirts of Madison, some of Capital Brewing’s more popular beers include the Munich Dark – a rich, malty German dunkel; U.S. Pale Ale – a medium bodied, full flavored Pale; and my personal favorite, the Island Wheat – a smooth American style wheat beer. Be sure to check out the Autumnal Fire tonight. The Autumnal Fire is an “awe-inspiring” Octoberfest style beer.
Capital intentionally steers away from the highly hopped, high octane, high alcohol content beers that many of the midwestern microbreweries focus on. According to Nelson, Capital intends to provide “balanced beers brewed with the understanding of the term drinkability that we believe it is the duty of beers to exhibit.” Mr. Nelson continues that Capital’s beers “have their own personality and soul but they want to be in harmony with your palate, not assault it into numbness.” Another unique aspect of Capital is that the Island Wheat can be found in cans. Not too many other micros have their products in cans, plus they’re nice for fishing, camping and backyard hanging out.
Nelson, who celebrates his 21st year as Capital’s brewmaster this month, hopes that he and the patrons of the Blind Pig experience “a pleasant, enjoyable evening of ‘Leisure With Dignity’ as the saying goes. From my standpoint, beer should be an adjunct enhancing enjoyable life experiences. And we want all who attend our events to learn about our beers and beer/brewing in general and to have a good time while visiting with us.”
The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Blind Pig, located at 120 Walnut Street in downtown Champaign.