Case of the Mondays

Today I've got a very special brew in my glass. One that I've been wanting to drink and write about ever since I started this blog (which was only 3 weeks ago {which is crazy because it feels like so much longer.}) Right now I want to raise my glass and send a 'Cheers!' over to the guys at [Monday Night Brewing]. Because of their diligence and determination I am able to have a taste of their Drafty Kilt.

Today is their launch day. They went from brewing in a garage, much like I do in my own kitchen, and are now the newest craft brewers in Atlanta, -- and America. You have not seen them on the shelves, because they are not there yet; they are only on draft right now. But rest assured that very soon you will see these at your local beer store in their [nifty looking bottles].

I've had the pleasure of meeting a couple of them back at the Brookhaven Beerfest and was quite excited to have that chance. Heard about this group from a friend of mine about 6 months ago, and after checking them out I instantly gained a ton of respect for what they have done. From homebrewers to beer sellers, they have done what I only hope to be able to do. Basically, I want to be them and I want their beer to be in me. Go to their site, [www.mondaynightbrewing.com] and read through their story. Do it.

This Drafty Kilt I am drinking right now is going to take these guys somewhere. Categorized as a Scotch Ale, this is a very well rounded beer. I've been trying to describe it with my own words but I think that the MNB guys couldn't have said it better:

"A roasty scotch ale with a hint of smoke. Full-bodied, but not overpowering. Smokey, but not in a creepy bar kind of way. Sweet, but not obnoxiously so. Sound like your ideal mother-in-law? Fair enough, but it also is a pretty dead-on description of our Scotch Ale. In a difficult hop-growing climate, Scottish brewers relied on other ingredients to impart flavor and bitterness – one such ingredient was smoked malt. Drafty Kilt is a dark, malty bombshell of a beer."

This is spot on. I don't want to try and describe it any other way because this is exactly what my taste-buds are saying.

You might have also noticed the giant jug in which this beer came from and that it doesn't anywhere say 'Monday Night'. That's because it's a growler. Also known as a 64oz container of draft beer that can be purchased from a store and taken home. Draft beer, to take home. Aka awesome. I picked up this guy, as you can probably tell, from [Hop City]. This is the place that I wish could be my second home. In previous posts I have mentioned my Local Homebrew Store (LHBS), and this is it. Located on the Westside of Atlanta they have become an anchor to the community and supply many people, myself included, with a vast assortment of craft beer, wine, and homebrew supplies/ingredients. They also have Bud Light... if that's your kinda thing. Please go visit these guys and gals. They'll really change your world when it comes to beer. In so many other ways than I can.

For now I will stop with the long drawn out post, and simply direct you to a few places. Visit Hop City and Monday Night at their site, and follow them on twitter/facebook. They'll appreciate it and you'll appreciate the info you get in return.

@mondaynight and http://www.facebook.com/mondaynight
@HopCity and http://hopcitybeer.com/

Monday Night Brewing
Drafty Kilt
Scotch Ale
7.2% abv
"Weekends are overrated."