On Independence Day, 1916, James Mullen and a fellow émigré were walking through Brooklyn, arguing over which of the two was the greater patriot to their newly adopted home. As the conversation grew more spirited, it became clear that the matter would best be settled by a battle of wills. They happened upon a Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand in Coney Island, and it was there that Mullen threw the gauntlet down.

“Alright, you tosser! I bet you I can eat more hot dogs in 12 minutes than you can!”

(Because, obviously, nothing says “patriotism” like meat in tube form.)

It should come as no surprise the eventual victor, seeing as though one participant remains anonymous. Yes, our hero Mullen choked down 13 hot dogs in 12 minutes, proving irrevocably his superlative love of America.

From these humble beginnings, competitive eating swept the nation, with Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest the flagship of the “sport.”

(Because, obviously, if it’s on ESPN it must be a sport.)

Do you ever look at Takeru Kobayashi or Joey Chestnut and think, “54 hot dogs in ten minutes? Wuss.”

Do you sometimes tune into Adam Richman’s belly-busting exploits and say, “Dude, you’re doing it wrong.”

Well, the Cannon Brew Pub, ever-tending to your desires (both dark and light), has recently unleashed a beast of a contest for all you aspiring “Gurgitators” out there.

Behold: The Turning Blue Burger!!

The Turning Blue Burger is a smokestack of three patties, three molten slices of cheddar, three slabs of Swiss, and eight landing strips of bacon on which rises a tower of jalapenos, mushrooms, and fried onions, slathered in chipotle sauce, and topped with a salad serving of lettuce and tomato. Feeling your belt start to buckle? Well, suck it in my friend because this monument to the Burger Arts comes fully equipped with a hearty helping of chili cheese fries.  Should you finish this meaty marathon in less than 30 minutes, not only is the meal on us (a $25.95 value), you also win a flippin’ sweet t-shirt (that you probably won’t be able to fit in for at least the next 24 hours).

Joe Leahy from Medford, NJ (pictured above) finished the burger in 29 minutes.

The question you have to ask yourself is, “Do you have it in you?”

Well.

Do you?

Let the games begin!

~Management

This weekend, history will be made.

In 18 World Cup tournaments, only eight countries have won the title. This Sunday, the Dutch and the Spaniards will take to the pitch in the final of finals in Soccer City, Johannesburg, and when the whistle calls a halt to stoppage time, a new name will adorn the greatest trophy in all of sports.

There is something exciting about breaking with tradition, about experiencing something fresh and new and wholly original.

So, why not join the Cannon Brew Pub this weekend for the last two South African 2010 World Cup matches, witness a new chapter in world football unfold, and scoff down on our scrumptious new menu items?

You could pair our new Penne Rustica or Columbus Portofino with a wine from our extensive new wine list and lament the fallen World Champions, Italy.

Or maybe order up a Turning Bleu Burger or some Bleu Cheese Tater Chips and laugh about the French. No head-butts, and watch your language, monsieur!

Or even better, go the tapas route and fill the table with a bevy of appetizers and cheer on La Furia Roja.

If you’re pulling for the Dutch, we must apologize for the lack of Ossenworst or Draadjesvlees, but we do now have mussels. Drunken Mussels, at that! (They’re tossed in beer!)

And, of course, no football match would be complete without everyone’s favorite hooligan juice: BEER! Our summer seasonal, Lakebottom Ale, is back on tap. And the beer board is full of other great craft-brew choices.

So, no matter where your allegiance (or taste) lies, come join us at the Cannon Brew Pub this weekend and lift a pint (or four!) as a new world champion lifts the coveted World Cup.

Ole, ole, ole, ole!

~Management

According to the Chicago Public Library, in America, the traditional gift to give your spouse on your first anniversary was paper. I’m assuming said paper was a forbearer to the Hallmark card and not a roll of pulp for the water closet.

Apparently, nowadays, a clock is the ideal gift for your first annual anniversary. Really? A clock? If you don’t already have access to a clock, then you’re more likely the flower girl than the bride.

And it doesn’t get much better with the biennial gift. Traditionally given? Cotton. Ah, the fabric of our lives!

And the modern take? China. Diamonds are forever, but cadmium is cheaper.

Thankfully, Brewmeister Hank didn’t consult Wikipedia for gift ideas when celebrating his, and wife Carrie’s, first two years of marital bliss.

No, Carrie let him know exactly what she wanted: the amber waves of Red Jacket and the hops of Special ‘Ops, together! In one mug!

And it was so.

The Amberversary India Amber Ale is now on tap, and you’ve got an open invite to join in the festivities. And at 6.5 ABV, the celebration will no doubt be a smashing success.

Come on in to the Cannon Brew Pub today, and raise a pint to the First Family of local brewing arts.

Congrats, Hank and Carrie! You guys rock.

Cheers,

~Management

Memorial Day is upon us, which means most of us are looking forward to a long weekend filled with good food and strong drink with close friends and family.

This, of course, does not apply to us.

We here at the Cannon will all be clocking in this weekend (anyone care for some good food and strong drink?).

But don’t feel bad for us, our precious pubflies!

After all, Memorial Day is about more than hitting the road, grilling out, sipping cold beer in the hot sun, and having an extra day to recuperate.

The Cannon Brew Pub is very much indebted to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Not only are our Ft. Benning neighbors some of our most frequent and enthusiastic patrons.

They are also the very spirit of this place.

After all, these walls were raised by the hands of Rangers. Some, sadly, are no longer with us. But we will always remember the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of our heroes in uniform.

So, yeah, we’ll be working this weekend.

But what better place to celebrate the lives lost in the defense of our nation than a home away from home that was built by their own hands?

We raise our pints to all who serve.

Cheers,

~Management

In less than three days, Columbus will once again open its doors to visitors from near and afar as archers, cyclists, barbeque masters, Rock n’ Rollers, friends and families, dogs who are smarter than I’ll ever be, and, of course, lumberjacks, descend on Uptown’s Riverfront for a celebration of sportsmanship, community, and summertime fun at this year’s Aflac Outdoor Games.

And The Cannon Brew Pub will be right in the middle of it all!

After all, is there any better way to cool off from an afternoon of axe-throwing and airborne dogs than to pop into the Cannon for a quick, cold craft-brewed pint to fortify for further fun in the sun?

Well, perhaps. Depending on which side of the palate you get off on.

The Cannon Brew Pub, long time bastion of the beautiful brewing arts, is proud to announce the roll out of our new wine list! This is no slapdash, slipshod tug at the vine. Our collection was carefully and thoughtfully selected to compliment your favorite Cannon dishes. Sip a Shiraz with your Flame-Kissed Rib Eye. Swirl a Sauvignon Blanc with our Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. Or do what I’m doing right now: checking out the legs on a pretty little Pinot between bites of Chicken Bayou.

Ah, life is good.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend for the Aflac Outdoor Games.

And to all you Lumberjacks out there: if you cut down trees, eat your lunch, and then go to the lavatory, we’ve got some of the best beers this side of “The Pond.”

And if Wednesday you go shopping and have buttered scones for tea, well, our wine list has you covered, too.

Cheers!

~Management

I was going to write a blog today about, oh, I don’t know… beer?

Maybe food?

Hey, it’s what we do.

But before I put pen to paper, so to speak, I popped in over at our Facebook fan page and saw a post on the wall that made me change my mind.

From Katie:

“My husband, son and I ate here yesterday for the 1st time… food and service were excellent! Can’t wait until we relocate in July and get to enjoy it all the time! Happy Mother’s Day to our server with a 6 year old boy and congrats to the Manager who’s going to have a child this Wednesday! Take care!”

This thoughtful (and excited!) post brought it back home that, more than the beer (which is the best around), more than the food (which is consistently delicious), it is all of you out there, all of our customers, the regulars who call these walls their “local,” you guys are what makes the Cannon what it is today.

So, thank you Katie! Looking forward to seeing you and your family around more often.

And thanks to all the rest of you.

Especially the moms!

We raise our pints to you.

Cheers,

~Management

So, I went to lunch at the Cannon today to alleviate the hankering I’ve had for a Dr. Schley’s chicken sandwich.

But let me tell you: as tasty as the food was, the good doctor was bested by Brewmeister Hank.

Oh, that heady aroma of fermentation, the bitter beauty of noble hops boiling in the wort, all the tiny, magical molecules isomerizing together into that first and most perfect gift to all of mankind: BEER!

John Singleton Mosby (December 6, 1833 – May 30, 1916), also known as the "Gray Ghost," was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War. His command, the 43rd Battalion, 1st Virginia Cavalry, known as Mosby's Raiders, was noted for its lightning quick raids, partisan or ranger-like tactics and his ability to successfully elude his Union Army pursuers and disappear with his men, blending in with local farmers and townspeople. (Wikipedia)

It’s so nice to once again have the thick-scented musk of craft ales lingering above the high-top tables, to hear Hank banging away in the brewery loft. Everything in its right place.

As many of you already know, the City Mills Wheat and Red Jacket are on draught, but this weekend will see two newcomers crash the beer board.

The stalwart Special ‘Ops will drop later this week, and many toasts and much rejoicing will no doubt follow as this hometown favorite makes its long-awaited return.

But, do yourself a favor:

Put a pint aside for the new seasonal, Mosby’s Ale, a Kölsch-style German blonde ale. Originally a specialty beer from Cologne, Mosby’s is lighter than a lager and less bitter than a Pilsner. This is the perfect beer for sitting outside on a hot summer night and beating the heat with friends. Extremely refreshing and dangerously unassuming, one good pour deserves another.

Also, important to note, our Mosby’s Ale is dedicated to our Ranger friends and family who work hard on our behalf, day in day out. Our brewpub was built by the hands of Rangers, and we’ll never forget that.

So, to all of you who serve: Salute!

~Management

As some of you may have noticed last week, between the 4/20 revelries, Earth’s big “birthday” bash, and the ’10 NFL Draft, the Cannon brushed the dust off our erasable marker and took to the Beer Board to announce that craft beers are back in Columbus!

City Mills Wheat was the first overall pick. Not surprised it went round one, considering it is light on its hops and a good fit for the weather, a crowd pleaser that is both refreshing and replenishing.

But I, like many of you out there, still waited with bated breath to see when fan-favorite “The Red Jacket” would get the call up.

Well, it is with insurmountable excitement and a glee beyond compare that I can say to you today:

“Red Jacket went second overall!”

That’s right, folks. Red Jacket is back on tap!

If that doesn’t put butts in seats, nothing will.

Unless maybe we trade down for Tebow.

As for future signings, the Cannon Brew Pub is projecting “Special ‘Ops” to go next in the draught, followed by our dark horse pick, the German style blonde ale called “Mosby’s Ale.”

We’ll do a player profile on this up-and-coming superstar in next week’s blog.

Until then, come on down and stuff your mug with some of the best and brightest beers in the nation. This Draught Class is primed for greatness.

Cheers!

~Management~

Joe Montana’s last minute TD in the ‘82 NFC Championship Game.

80s edgy heartthrob-turned-mangled mutant Mickey Rourke’s baffling resurgence.

Sly Stallone’s last round in every Rocky film.

Jay Leno’s return to The Tonight Show.

Well, that last one was a bad example. (I’m with Coco!)

Today, these Giants of Fortune Reversed stand in the grand shadow cast by the irrepressible and irreplaceable Hank Standridge.

The dust has settled and Brewmeister Hank is back to work, bringing to a close an arduous season of draught-drought and deprivation.

That’s right, folks!

Beer is being brewed once again in our fair city.

AT THIS VERY MOMENT!!

Now, before you all bum-rush the bartender in an agitated state, all hopped up from hops lust, you must take into account that it will be a couple weeks until the yeast faeries sprinkle their magic throughout the realm. I will say that among the masterpieces-in-waiting you’ll find RED JACKET, CITY MILLS WHEAT, and a TBD seasonal brew.

So, in the coming days and weeks, that pained puckering of pursed lips, that languid longing for delicious local suds, all of that will finally and gloriously be quenched.

Our dark days of temperance are turning towards the light.

But, don’t call it a comeback.

We’re just back to the regular jam.

Cheers,

Management