Rum Barrel's Hops Review Board convenes Sept. 5

The second meeting of the Rum Barrel Hops Review Board will convene on September 5 at 7 p.m. at the Rum Barrel.

Photo courtesy letspartymagazine.com

The rotating 5- to 7-member panel of Rum Barrel regulars, fans and beer connoisseurs meets every quarter--or three to four months--to decide what bottled beers and beer on-tap will be served at the bar for the next quarter. The panel does blind taste tests on up to a dozen beers and rates each one. The top four or five beers are selected for future serving.

A How-To Guide to Beer Tasting

"We wanted to provide customers with a rotating selection rather than the standard fare because there are a lot of new beers always coming out. We also wanted people to feel part of the process," said bar manager Robbie Riley.

To join next week's panel, leave a comment on the Rum Barrel's Facebook page saying why you'd like to be a panel member. To join upcoming panels, email Robbie Riley at Robbie(at)rumbarrelbar(dot)com with a brief paragraph on why you'd like to be a member.

Rum Barrel featured artist: Rock Solomon

Take one slightly insane cult-icon folk singer, mix in a zany old school saxophone player, simmer nine months, season to taste, let stand three more months, then come up with a cool name and you have Rock Solomon.

He performs Friday, August 24, from 8 p.m. on the Rum Barrel Quarterdeck

From a nomadic childhood traveling the Pacific Northwest living in old panel vans, trucks and buses with five siblings and a schizophrenic mother, Rock trained in piano, flute, drums and trumpet in his early teens, later becoming a well-known wild child.

He joined a high school metal band as a drummer, before dropping out of school, getting in trouble with the law and going on the run shortly after his 18th birthday. After a couple years of running from place to place and taking odd jobs, he abandoned everything and fled to Key West to start over. He arrived with no money, no friends, and slept on the beaches.

In a few short years, he enrolled in college and studied art, music, photography, acting and more. He won several art grants including the highly coveted SFCC grant for media. He landed leading roles in The Glass Menagerie, Sordid Lives & Incorruptible that won him great accolades and sold out performances. He won a music contest on MTV and modeled in ads in the New York Times. He wrote a play and a movie, built a recording studio, recorded three albums, made several short films and a feature, discovered romance and new friends, and changed the entire course of his life through sheer passion and determination.

Rock Solomon now lives part time in Key West and part time in Los Angeles where he works exclusively in music, film and acting.

Pat Croce’s Rum Barrel the new home of the Key West Gator Club

KEY WEST, Fla. (August 13, 2012) -- The Southernmost Philly sports bar takes on the University of Florida's orange and blue as the new official Key West Gator Club.

Owned by former Philadelphia 76ers president Pat Croce, the Rum Barrel welcomes the Gator Nation from the Sept. 1 season kick off for the first season game against Bowling Green State University scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with the traditional Rum Barrel tailgate on Front Streetwith free beer and hot dogs in the lead-up to game time.

"We're excited about our new headquarters for southernmost Gator fans," said Greg Oropeza, KWGC president. "We're encouraging all UF alumni, fans, and friends to come out to the Rum Barrel on game days to cheer on the Gators."

Visitors and fans alike can view all University of Florida football games with like-minded allegiance at the Rum Barrel, complete with food and drink specials. A signature Rum Barrel/Key West Gator Club T-shirt will also be available for purchase at the bar, its online shoppe and via the fan club website, events and its members.

"We're very happy to host Key West Gator Club, especially with Island Dogs across the street hosting the Seminoles. It's going be great rivalry--the Front Street battle of college ball," said general manager JC Picco.

The Rum Barrel will team up with the KWGC for the Aug. 26 Conch Cup Golf Tournament between local clubs from the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Miami.