Together they packed a vinegar punch, a double shot of peppers and a spice grinder full of fun.

Riggwelter Yorkshire Ale at B-21 for $3.99/btl in-store.

The answer was not an India Pale Ale, but a hefty no-nonsense English strong ale from Yorkshire, the Rigg Welter from Black Sheep Brewery.  Whew, Yorkshire ale is from a different planet, one that deserves more attention and savoring: the strength is in massive broad hops as well as big alcohol.

Riggwelter is an exceptional ale from Black Sheep, a young brewery with old traditions. Btw, the name is what old Yorkshire farmers call a sheep that’s fallen and can’t get up (Must have been a wave of sheep-tipping).

This is dark coffee brown with a creamy head with an aroma of fresh roasted coffee that carries through to an earthy flavors of coffee and malt and hops bitter enough to stand up to all the flavors on my plate.

It’s a hop heads delight, one of many on the expanding shelves of craft beers at B-21.

- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler

Indeed these are not your fraternity brother’s kegs or the hosers who lived under your first apartment. Kegs have joined the beer revolution with boutique beers and imports on draft in your own home or backyard. Look at the some of what’s on today’s keg list: Heineken, Amber Bock, Killian’s  Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Pilsner Urquell, and Yuengling (now our hometown brew). Even Labatt’s Blue for Bob and Doug MacKenzie.  For me, it’s a choice between Newcastle Brown Ale and Shiner Bock, but since this is Shiner’s centennial year, I’ll go with some boot-scootin’ Texas smooth.

Just ring the keg line at 727-722-9100 to find out keg prices. There’s still a deposit for the keg and the whole set-up of you need one, but one thing’s changed, you don’t have to get the keg back the morning after.

Btw, if you’ve got the stout-hearted friends, B-21 can special order Guinness by the keg too.

Party on, dudes.

This needn’t be complicated or worrisome. The math is rough but very simple.  A standard 750ml bottle holds a little over 25 ounces of wine.  That gives you five 5-ounce pours.  Suppose you have a party that will last two hours.  For a minimum, plan on one bottle of wine for every two wine drinkers (two and a half glasses each).

• (3) bottles for six people
• (6) bottles for twelve
• One case for 24

For a party that runs longer, figure 50 percent more and round up.  Don’t worry about buying too much, surplus wine will keep.  And many guests will add bottles to the stock.  Most parties in recent memory seem to have added up to a net gain in my wine rack.

If you’re using Champagne just for toasts, you should get eight glasses per bottle popped.

How much red?  How much white?  For a dinner party you may know your guests well enough or have careful wines planned.  Otherwise start with a 50/50 split between red and white (which includes pink and bubbles).  Buy more red IF the party is in the evening or the weather is cold.  Buy more white IF the party is in the day time or the weather is hot.  (A great time to think pink and introduce dry roses to your non-believers).

For beer drinkers, calculate three 12-ounce bottles per person.

• 18 bottles/cans for 6 people (three 6-packs)
• 36 bottles for 12 people (six 6-packs)
• 72 bottles for 24 people (twelve 6-packs or three 24-bottle cases)

That’s  W/2 + 3B = PB  (W=wine drinkers, B= beer drinkers and PB= Party Beverages)

Still have questions?  You can always call one of the B-21 Wine Experts to help you plan your party!  (1-888-B21-WINE or 221-9463)