• Friday Beer Fun – DIY Edition

    March 2, 2012 Author: Scott
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    With Spring coming soon it’s time to start your list of Spring projects to do.  Here are a few DIY beer related items that you might want to consider in the coming months.

    1. The first thing you’ll need is a beer mug, so why not make your own.
      http://www.instructables.com/id/wooden-beer-mug/
    2. You’ll need someplace to drink that beer, so why not build yourself a bar.
      http://www.brandozines.com/bar/


    3. You’ll need some beer to go with the mug and bar, so why not brew your own.
      http://www.homebrewing.com/how-to-homebrew-all-grain.php
    4. When the beer is done you’ll need a place to store it, so it’s time to build a kegerator.
      http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Homebrew-Kegerator
    5. Of course, maybe you’re looking for a non-conventional beer dispensing method, like a fire extinguisher.
      http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2009/03/thirst-extinguisher.html
    6. If you’re into bottling instead, you’ll need to make some labels.
      http://labeley.com/
    7. Or maybe you want more than just a label, how about a whole 4-6 pack setup?
      http://www.myownlabels.com/boxes-and-bags/PBC/
    8.  If you’re like me, you have kids around a lot, so you should have some beer for them, too.
      http://bakemeaway.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/butterbeer-universal-style/
    9. You could also have fun treats for the adults.
      http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-beer-popsicles-at-124457
    10. And lastly, while everyone is hanging out enjoying everything you’ve made they will surely be using your Wi-Fi.  Time to build a Wi-Fi booster.
      http://www.dalimunthe.com/2011/08/how-to-make-wi-fi-booster-using-only.html

  • Living on only beer for 46 days

    February 27, 2012 Author: Scott
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    Living on Beer for 46 days, could you do it?  On beer alone?  J. Wilson did.  In a quest to give up something for Lent, and see if someone could survive on beer alone he set to out to make a beer that would sustain him during Lent.

    A homebrewer and certified beer judge who is passionate about the flavors and culture of craft beer, I am what they call a “beer geek,” and so the monastic origins of the doppelbock style of beer had long intrigued me.

     

    According to legend, the 17th century monks of Neudeck ob der Au outside Munich, Germany, developed the rich-and-malty beer to sustain them during Lenten fasts, the traditional 46-day lead-up to Easter.

     

    Unfiltered, the bold elixir was nicknamed “liquid bread” and is packed with carbohydrates, calories and vitamins.

    After the story went main stream he was inundated with requests from media outlets around the world for interviews.  After a week of calls and emails it was time to unplug and let the experience wash over him.

    At the beginning of my fast, I felt hunger for the first two days. My body then switched gears, replaced hunger with focus, and I found myself operating in a tunnel of clarity unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

    Ultimately, it turned out to be a very good experience for him.

    Though I lost 25.5 pounds, I gained so much more. The benefits of self-discipline can’t be overstated in today’s world of instant gratification. The fast provided a long-overdue tune-up and detox, and I’ve never felt so rejuvenated, physically or mentally.

    As for the monks upon which he based the experiment:

    The experience proved that the origin story of monks fasting on doppelbock was not only possible, but probable. It left me with the realization that the monks must have been keenly aware of their own humanity and imperfections. In order to refocus on God, they engaged this annual practice not only to endure sacrifice, but to stress and rediscover their own shortcomings in an effort to continually refine themselves.

     

    Though they lived out their faith at a higher degree of daily devotion than the average person, they could sense their loss of focus. Taking nothing for granted, they took steps to rectify that problem on an annual basis. Shouldn’t we all, whether or not our religious tradition includes Lent?

     

    Source:  cnn.com

  • Sam Adams is brewing special beer for the Boston Marathon

    February 22, 2012 Author: Scott
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    I don’t like the idea of a low-alcohol beer to commemorate the Boston Marathon. As an avid runner I love a race that has beer on tap at the post race celebration. The best part of drinking at that point is knowing that regardless of what is in the beer (alcohol, carbs, calories, etc.), I’ve earned the right to drink the beer without worrying about those factors.

    I’m not alone in this regard, either. Just do a search for something like “Drinkers with a running problem” and you’ll get an idea of the how many people enjoy the activity of a post race drink. I have even participated in a race where you drink while running.

    Low-alcohol beer? Sounds more like  marketing (to those not running) than anything else. Anyone who has qualified for the Boston Marathon knows that carb loading is a something that needs to be done for longer races, and as such, I think a heavy beer, not a light one, would be better beer to commemorate the Boston Marathon.

    Most details about the special beer will be disclosed at the event, but in a media advisory, the company noted, “This unique brew is fitting for both runners and spectators on race day,” because it is a lighter body beer with a slightly lower alcohol level than many of the other beers in the Samuel Adams line-up.

    Source: boston.com

  • Beerporn – Ellicott Mills Brewing Company – Alpenhop Pale Ale

    February 21, 2012 Author: Scott
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    image

    $9 pitchers for Fat Tuesday!!

  • Beijing, China Craft Beer Scene Growing

    February 21, 2012 Author: Scott
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    It seems that the craft beer movement has started to catch on in Beijing , China.  The city now has two microbreweries.

    But according to both brewers, there’s a growing and largely untapped market in China’s capital as disposable income rises and beer-swilling residents clamor for more variety at the pub.

    This is good news for the residents of Beijing, who until now may not have not the joy of drinking a finely crafted beer.

    Mr. Jurinka and Slow Boat co-founder Daniel Hebert are looking to open a tap room and sell their beer directly to local bars and restaurants in the meantime, with each pint typically retailing for about 40 to 50 yuan ($6.35 to $7.90). The brewery currently carries six standard beers, with a new seasonal beer introduced each month. At the moment it produces 60 hectoliters per month — about 100 kegs — but plans to expand to three times that capacity.

    This upswing in activity isn’t too much of a surprise, after all, craft beer being imported into China is on the rise.

    U.S. microbrew beer exports to China hit a record in 2010, with sales reaching $546,000, five times the level just five years ago, according to figures from the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office in Beijing. And beer consumption overall is rising, too: SABMiller reported that China saw volume growth in beer consumption of 6%from 2005 to 2010, higher than the world average growth rate of 3.3% or the emerging-market average of 5.7%. In 2010, Chinese drinkers consumed 31 liters per capita, or 40.89 billion liters, according to Credit Suisse.

    Those visiting Beijing will no doubt seek out the small craft beer scene, but the locals are still just beginning to find their love of good beer.

    Foreigners are among the breweries’ most loyal customers, but both said they’ve been heartened by interest from locals.

    “We didn’t think that would be the case right off,” said Mr. Jurinka, but in Beijing, “the disposable income and wealth levels have reached a level where these things are now accessible.”

    With relatively low per-capita rates of beer drinking, China has plenty of room for growth, Mr. Jurinka said. Besides, he added, “Why would you ever order a Tsingtao when you can order a craft beer?

     

    Source: wsj.com

  • How Indy Brewers are Outpacing Beer Industry Growth

    February 16, 2012 Author: Scott
    1 Comment

    The folks over at intuit.com put together a great graphic showing how small, independent breweries are growing.

    Though large breweries dwarf independent craft breweries in volume of production, the growth of small breweries has eclipsed overall beer industry growth in the last few decades. By tapping into local tastes and offering unique brews, craft brewers are now experiencing the heaviest level of growth they’ve seen since 1900.  In this infographic, we look at where the movement stands today and what really defines a craft brewery. Click on the infographic below for an enlarged view.

    Source: intuit.com

  • The World’s Best Beers 2012

    February 12, 2012 Author: Scott
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    At the end of January ratebeer did their 11th annual “ratebeer best” competition.  The 2012 results are in and the list can be found at http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/.

    The overall winner for 2012 was Westvleteren 12 from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus.

    The areas of competition were:

    THE BEST BEERS IN THE WORLD BY STYLE CATEGORY
    All beers listed are gold medal winners. (Note: In some instances the displayed scores are equal for beers of different places. This is not an error. Our calculations simply render much greater detail than we can display.) 

     

    THE BEST BREWERS IN THE WORLD
    All brewers listed are RateBeer Best 2012 Gold Medal winners. (The total number of brewers in our contest is over 12000. The 100 listed represents less than the top 1% of all brewers — the creme de la creme of world brewing. For comparison, more than double the percentage of the population qualifies as genius.) 

     

    THE 2012 TOP NEW BREWERS IN THE WORLD
    From the list of all new brewers – a whopping 1473 this year, these elite few have risen to the top. We anticipate these are the brewers to watch in the coming years. All are RateBeer Best 2012 Gold Medal winners.

     

    THE BEST BEERS IN THE WORLD – OVERALL
    The best 100 beers in the world as rated by tens of thousands of our worldwide tasters. All beers listed are RateBeer Best 2012 Gold Medal winners.

     

    BEST BEERS BY COUNTRY
    Ratings are by RateBeer representatives living around the world and tasting the beers available in each country except British Isles. Only countries with statistically adequate membership representation are listed below. All listed are RateBeer Best 2012 Gold Medal winners.

    Australia and New Zealand- Best beers
    Belgium – Best beers
    Canada – Best beers
    Denmark – Best beers
    Germany – Best beers
    Italy – Best beers
    The Netherlands – Best beers
    Sweden – Best beers
    British Isles – Best beers
    United States – Best beers

    The 15 best beers in the world overall were:

    1. Westvleteren 12 Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
    2. Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter Närke Kulturbryggeri
    3. Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Stout Goose Island Beer Company (AB-InBev)
    4. Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) Founders Brewing Company
    5. Rochefort Trappistes 10 Brasserie Rochefort
    6. Bells Hopslam Bells Brewery
    7. Russian River Pliny the Younger Russian River Brewing
    8. Cigar City Pilot Series Passionfruit and Dragonfruit Berliner Weisse Cigar City Brewing
    9. AleSmith Speedway Stout AleSmith Brewing Company
    10. Deschutes The Abyss Deschutes Brewery
    11. Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout Cigar City Brewing
    12. Bells Expedition Stout Bells Brewery
    13. Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout Three Floyds Brewing Company
    14. 3 Fonteinen Armand’4 Oude Geuze Lente 3 Fonteinen
    15. Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Mikkeller

     

    CNBC did a great sildeshow of the top 15, which can be found at http://www.cnbc.com/id/46327587.

    Source : http://www.ratebeer.com/

  • Heavy Seas Beer and Oyster Fest – February 2012

    February 10, 2012 Author: Scott
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    Kelli and I recently went to the Heavy Seas Beer and Oyster Fest.  It was a lot of fun hanging out at the Heavy Seas Brewery and getting to meet Hugh Sissons again.  Below are the pictures from the event.  I refrained from doing beer reviews, as there were too many beers to drink, and I really just wanted to relax and have a good time.  After clicking on a picture below to enlarge it you can use the arrow keys or your mouse wheel to go to the next picture.

    We arrived at the Heavy Seas Beer and Oyster Fest about 45 minutes after it started.

    We arrived at the Heavy Seas Beer and Oyster Fest about 45 minutes after it started.

    There was plenty of action, but I headed straight for the closest taps for a Märzen.

    There was plenty of action, but I headed straight for the closest taps for a Märzen.

    Right after that beer I ran into owner, Hugh Sissons.

    Right after that beer I ran into owner, Hugh Sissons.

    He recommend I try the Black Cannon Black IPA before it ran out, so I did.

    He recommend I try the Black Cannon Black IPA before it ran out, so I did.

    There was a good crowd on hand for the fest.

    There was a good crowd on hand for the fest.

    And it was really cool to see where they brew the beer.

    And it was really cool to see where they brew the beer.

    Food was included, and the shrimp sandwiches were perfect!!

    Food was included, and the shrimp sandwiches were perfect!!

    1:07 p.m., and just in time.

    1:07 p.m., and just in time.

    Fried Oyster sliders. I had to take this picture quickly because they were going fast.

    Fried Oyster sliders. I had to take this picture quickly because they were going fast.

    In the back of the brewery there was a two tap setup, so I grabbed another Märzen.

    In the back of the brewery there was a two tap setup, so I grabbed another Märzen.

    It was an Oyster fest, after all. There were a lot of varieties from which to choose.

    Jonathan (a serious oyster expert) was on his 3-4 plate.

    Jonathan (a serious oyster expert) was on his 3-4 plate.

    He and Kelli love going to oyster fests together.

    He and Kelli love going to oyster fests together.

    There also was live music playing all day.

    There also was live music playing all day.

    Huge was signing his new book Brewing in Baltimore, with Author Maureen O'Prey. He wrote the forward.

    Huge was signing his new book Brewing in Baltimore, with Author Maureen O'Prey. He wrote the forward.

    His book can be bought from Arcadia Publishing If you’re interested in buying it.

    Nice 'stache.

    Nice 'stache.

    Last picture before I hung up the camera for the day was Kelli getting oyster ice cream...it wasn't good. It tasted like an oyster/seafood soup.

    Last picture before I hung up the camera for the day was Kelli getting oyster ice cream...it wasn't good. It tasted like an oyster/seafood soup.

    Website: http://www.hsbeer.com/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/heavyseasbeer
    Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/HeavySeasBeer

  • Valentine’s Day Beerporn

    February 9, 2012 Author: Scott
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    What better way to say I love you on Valentine’s day then with Ommegang’s Aphrodite, Adoration, & Seduction.

  • The quest for every Dogfish Head beer ever made

    February 8, 2012 Author: Scott
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    Dogfish Head has long been a favorite among many craft beer enthusiasts, and this loyal following has an interesting fan base.  It seems that Mat Pipno made it his personal quest to find and try every single Dogfish Head beer ever made since 1996.  He did well in finding all but one of the beers, the Festina Lente.  To get this last beer, he arranged a trade of beers with Dogfish Head owner Sam Calagione.  The video below is the exchange they made.