ddbits...Fascinating info from a poster, who gleaned this about why Pliny the Elder won’t be sold at Beverages & More stores in California: :”they won’t agree to store it refrigerated.” This has long been the rub with BevMo. They do an admirable job bringing hard-to-find beers to the Bay Area. Trouble is, their refrigerated storage is tiny. Most beer sits on shelves in warm rooms with bright light. Light and heat are killers for beer, even an uber-hop beer like Pliny…

More new beer…Coming up: Lagunitas, “We’re Only In it for  the Money,” the fourth in the Lagunitas commemorative beers series marking the 40th anniversary of the release of each album by Frank Zappa, the iconoclast-musical genius, who blended rock and roll and classics and jazz improvizaion. This one’s an 8.25 percent, Belgian-style tripel. Stephanie at Lagunitas (Petaluma, CA) said it was bottled this week, goes to distributors next week and to most stores by early August. Can’t wait. The tripel style’s a good fit for Lagunitas.

Events...Thursday night, July 17, 5:15 - 6:45 p.m., Belgian beer and cheese tasting and discussion panel, Commonwealth Club, San Francisco
Panel members: Michael Azzalini, Owner, La Trappe, San Francisco, Christian Albertson, Owner, Monk’s Kettle, San Francisco, Sinead Carey, Area Sales Manager, Star Brand Imports, Rick Mitchell, Owner, Luka’s, Oakland; Bruce Paton, Beer Chef, Cathedral Hotel ;Aaron Porter, Owner, The Trappist, Oakland, $20 for club members; $32 non-members. Here’s the club’s description of the evening:

Belgian beer is becoming increasingly popular in the Bay Area; the region has recently seen the opening of at least five new pubs devoted to the brews of Belgium. These beers are noted for their complex flavors and the mix of sweet, sour and bitter combined in a single glass. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to sample a wide variety of Belgian beers. Learn about the origins and favorite beers of these establishments and snack on a selection of local cheeses and other treats from Belgium.

Friday, July 18, 6:30 p.m. Bruce Paton’s Beer Dinner with the beers of Bear Republic, Healdsburg, Cathedral Hill Hotel, 1101 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Make reservations at www.beer-chef.com.