BEERzology

Big Dick Beer Is On The Rise!

2010-10-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here is an article from InterestAlert.com about a new website/apparel-accessories product line called "Big Dick Beer" which has the tag lines "Feels Great In Your Hands" and "Goes Down Smooth" and the beer by the same name will soon be in production..."the new company's focus long on humor, aims to penetrate markets nation-wide having just created a website in August 2010 and is ready to take all comers to its e-commerce site, BigDBeer.com. The new website sells funny t-shirts, hats, beer koozies, coasters, and glassware with Big Dick Beer's logo on it and their slogan, "Goes Down Smooth."

"Although making beer is a serious business, we don't take ourselves seriously," said Ralph Allen, founder. "We think that the country needs to lighten up some, and we hope that Big Dick Beer can help in some way."

In the future, BigDBeer.com will run contests for readers of the site's blog and for its followers on social media channels. BigDBeer.com will also be launching a beer in the near future. "We're in the early stages -- you could call it the foreplay -- of producing our beer," Allen continues. "We don't want to come out to the market prematurely, so we're taking it slow. Once we're ready, though, we expect that our beer will explode on the marketplace and really shake things up!" Go to BigDBeer.com for more information, to join the mailing list, or to purchase Big Dick Beer products now.

About Big Dick Beer...founded in 2010, Big Dick Beer revolutionized the beer industry with its clever innuendos, puns, and light-hearted approach. By making all of its products purely of concentrated awesome -- a distillation process which can only be learned after three consecutive lifetimes of study -- Big Dick Beer has created a product that either makes your hair glossier, your dancing better, your body more sculpted, or none of the above.

If you think that the country needs a little more humor and aren't afraid to let everyone know that, go to www.BigDBeer.com and join in on the fun by entering a contest, submitting a picture or video, or purchasing one of their quality -- and concentrated awesome -- products today. Find them on Facebook at http://facebook.com/BigDickBeer and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BigDickBeer."

(source: InterestAlert.com, bigdbeer.com)

Top 10 Beer Myths

2010-10-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

Ain't it the truth? Here is an article by Michael Hall found on the website DrinkingBeer.net about the top ten myths about beer...

"It seems like there is always that guy in the bar that has a crazy story about the beer he's drinking. The worst part, sometimes its believable, so you tell someone, then they tell someone, and thats a beer myth. Here are ten of the more outrageous myths about beer and what you need to know to set that guy in the bar straight.

Beer Myth 1: Beat the Beer Belly with Light Beer
OK, light beers have maybe 90-100 calories, regular beers generally have less than 200 calories. A beer lover would say the difference is comparable to the difference between McDonalds and a 5 star restaurant. A dietician would tell you the difference is negligible. So unless you are drinking 300 beers a week, I would drink the good stuff.

Beer Myth 2: The darker the beer, the more alcohol it contains
Not even close. Guinness is black, and has 4.2% alcohol. The color of a beer comes from the toasted malts, which has no effect on alcohol content. Ingredients like rice syrup, honey, and corn syrup add alcohol to beer, but do not influence the color.

Beer Myth 3: Beer is ruined if warmed and then refrigerated
This can be true, if you do it many, many times, and it will happen gradually. People think re-chilling beer will cause it to be "skunked". Beer can be ruined by air, light and time. Temperature won't ruin a beer unless it's extreme. Get fresh beer and store it in dark place, and it will be fine.

Beer Myth 4: Imported beers have more alcohol than domestic beers
This comes from the way US beers reported their beers' alcohol content. The rest of the world uses "Alcohol by Volume", here is the US they used "Alcohol By Weight". Since beer weighs less than water, US beers had smaller numbers, but not less alcohol.

Beer Myth 5: The Guinness they serve in Ireland is better
It seems widely accepted that beer in "the old country" is better than what they export to the rest of the world. The brewing process is cheap, so why would a brewery risk their reputation by brewing a different beer for export? It doesn't make sense, and it's not true. With few exceptions, the beer that is exported is the exact same beer that they serve in the bar across the street from the brewery. The difference is purely freshness. It takes two weeks for a keg of Guinness to get from Dublin to your favorite bar in the states. Some beers, like Fosters, is brewed in Canada under a license for sale in the US. But it is clearly stated on the bottle when this is the case.

Beer Myth 6: Beer shouldn't be Bitter
The bitterness of a beer comes from the hops. Hops are in all beers to balance the sweet malts and to act as a preservative. Some beers have a lot of hops, like India Pale Ales (IPAs) and some beers have less hops, like Wheat Beers. Hops can give a beer complexity and add all sorts of flavors and aromas, like pine, citrus, and earthiness. Hops are why people say beer is an acquired taste, but they also make beer delicious.

Beer Myth 7: The best beers are in green bottles.
As it turns out, brown bottles protect the beer from the light much better than green bottles or clear bottles. This myth comes from when there was a shortage of brown glass in Europe after WWII. The European beers were bottled in green instead, so green bottles came to represent imports. This certainly isn't the case anymore.

Beer Myth 8: The Thai beer Singha has formaldehyde in it
It seems widely believed that Singha is brewed with formaldehyde, as is Chang beer, San Miguel, Vietnamese 33, and Singapore's Tiger Beer. The most believable explanation for this one is that Singha is much more bitter and contains more alcohol than most lagers. When American or British expatriots and soldiers were drinking beer in Thailand, they got drunk much more quickly then they were used to, and it was much more bitter flavor then they were used to. To explain this it was suggested that it contained formaldehyde. Crazy.

Beer Myth 9: Corona is Mexican Piss
In the 1980s there was a rumor that Mexican workers were peeing in the Corona tanks that were destined for the US. Certainly alarmingly disgusting... if true. As it turns out this myth was started as a result of Corona's rising popularity in the US market, and who was jealous? Heineken. This was nothing more than a rumor started by a Heineken wholesaler in Reno. It all worked out, the guy from Heineken admitted his wrongdoing, and Corona continued it's rise to popularity. But the rumor can still be heard today in bars across the country.

Beer Myth 10: Women don't like beer
Thats crazy! My wife loves beer almost as much as I do. Women have brewed more beer than men in the History of Beer. Sister Doris in Bavaria brews Mallersdorf lager. Fortunately, this myth is far from true."

(source: DrinkingBeer.net)

Announcing BEERzology's Official Youtube Channel

2010-09-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, the BEERzology Official Youtube Channel has arrived! It went live on September 26, 2010 and is a way to compliment the BEERzology blog (http://BEERzology.blogspot.com/)
...presenting BEERzology's favorite Youtube videos on the topic of global beer products, beer TV and radio commercials, beer brewing and any other info related to the world of beer. So...go grab a cold one, then point your web browser to http://www.youtube.com/BEERzology (or just click on this link), sit back, relax and while away the hours enjoying all that the new BEERzology Official Youtube Channel has to offer. "Nuff Sed.

Budweiser Ad Aired Only Once For 9/11/2001 Rememberance

2010-09-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

This Budweiser beer ad was aired only once (so as not to profit from it) in rememberance of the Nation's tragedy which occurred on September 11th, 2001...check it out here:

Laura Hall: First Banned From ALL UK Pubs!!!

2010-05-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

UPDATE:22JAN2011 see article below - In a Daily Mail article by Andy Dolan he relates the story of Laura Hall, the first person ever to be banned from all Pubs and Clubs in the United Kingdom due to her binge drinking...
Woman becomes first person banned from EVERY pub and club in the country
By Andy Dolan
Last updated at 10:54 AM on 16th April 2010

A woman has become the first person to be banned from buying or drinking alcohol anywhere in England and Wales.

Laura Hall, 20, was issued with a Drinking Banning Order - nicknamed Booze Asbos - which bars her from entering any pub, club, off-licence or bar.

The two-year order also bans Hall from buying alcohol at any other establishment or shop, carrying it in an unsealed container or drinking it in a public place.

Last orders: Laura Hall cannot enter a pub or club for two years after committing a series of public order offences in Bromsgove, Worcestershire

Police applied to magistrates after Hall was convicted of breaching an Asbo imposed for drink-related anti-social behaviour.

She has been convicted of a series of public order offences, and had flouted bans from pubs and clubs through local Pub-Watch schemes in her home town of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

Kidderminster Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Hall faces a £2,500 fine if she breaks the conditions of the order.

Sergeant David Roberts, of West Mercia Police, said: 'There have been some Drinking Banning Orders issued already but this is the first to be issued on a nationwide basis.

'It bans Laura Hall from drinking or buying alcohol in any licensed premises across England and Wales. The conditions will also help to protect the public from the anti-social effects of Laura's behaviour.'

Officers applied for a DBO rather than another Asbo because Hall would be at risk of prison if she breached it again.

'We want to rehabilitate her rather than send her straight to jail, and hope the banning order will help Laura address her problems,' he said.

Under the terms of the order, Hall must attend an approved alcohol-misuse course. If she completes it without breaching any of its terms, the DBO could be lifted after 12 months.

Since their introduction in September, police and local authorities can ask magistrates to impose the orders on anyone responsible for alcohol-fuelled crime or anti- social behaviour to stop them drinking or entering licensed premises.

They cannot be issued to anyone with mental health problems or alcoholics.

But Rachel Seabrook, spokesman for the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: 'I think most of the disorder problems we see around alcohol reflects a lack of police enforcement powers and policing laws.

'I am not opposed in principle but I do have doubts about whether it's a realistic thing to enforce. How can a police officer in, say Wales, know whether this women has been banned if she turns up in his town?'

A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation last year found that female binge drinking had almost doubled over the last decade. According to Government statistics, the number of women involved in alcohol-related crime rose 30 per cent between 2005 and 2007.

UPDATE:
22JAN2011 - Laura Hall, age 21 and unemployed, gets lost on the road to recovery from alcohol abuse...she was found drunk on Tuesday 18JAN2011, arrested and fined for breaking the two year national pub ban placed on her. The only person ever in the U.K. to have such a sentence carried out by a court there. This, occuring just days prior to the TV show interview which is to be aired in Britain on Monday 24JAN2011 that follows her efforts to remain sober. Here are the details of the incident from a local UK newspaper (click here).

Russia Goes After Beer As Cause Of Alcoholism...Not Vodka?!

2009-10-10T10:02:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: 22JAN2010 - Russia Considers Beer As Food...but politicians there are trying to categorize it as alcohol in the eyse of the law...what? Click here to get the updated details on this issue.

Alcoholism in Russia? No way...oh it's the beer not the vodka! Here is an article from MarketWatch.com on the subject:

Russia targets beer, not vodka, to tackle alcoholism...
FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- Vodka may be the drink of choice for most Russians, but Moscow is focusing on beer in its attempt to clamp down on rampant alcoholism, a major cause of the country's social ills.

A draft bill under consideration in the Russian parliament proposes a dramatic increase in taxes on beer, provoking an outcry from the mostly foreign-owned brewing industry whose profits are bound to be hurt by the measures.

President Dmitry Medvedev has said alcoholism is "a national disaster" and is leading a campaign against it. On average, every Russian drinks 18 liters of pure alcohol a year, more than twice the level defined as dangerous by the World Health Organization, according to government statistics. Not surprisingly, alcohol is one of main causes of the country's high mortality rate.

"You have the macro environment of Medvedev's anti-alcohol campaign," said Kim Iskyan, an analyst at Eurasia Group. "The other big picture issue is Russia's fiscal situation. They are looking at 6.5%-7% deficit [relative to GDP], so they are trying to raise money any way they can."

The Russian economy has contracted sharply this year, hit hard by the global financial crisis. Against this backdrop, the country's budget deficit is expected to rise to about 7% of gross domestic product.

"It might be politically easier to focus on beer" rather than vodka, Iskyan said, though he added that the Russian beer lobby is "very effective and vocal."

200% tax hike?
A bill proposing to increase excise duty on beer by 200% from next year has been sent to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The bill also includes an increase in 2011 of 11% and a 20% increase in 2012.

In the coming weeks, the Duma and the Council of Federation, the upper house of parliament, will discuss and vote on the bill before they send it to President Medvedev for final approval and signing.

The Union of Russian Brewers, the industry's trade group, has been lobbying for a more balanced increase in taxes on beer.

Anton Artemiev, chief executive of St. Petersburg-based Baltika Brewery, says the bill will negatively affect the beer industry as well as Russia's economy, employment, and foreign investment climate.

"I find it very hard to understand the logic behind the disproportionate increase of excise duty on beer compared to strong alcohol, which will inevitably favor the consumption of hard alcohol, including vodka, and is bound to have a negative effect on alcohol abuse in the Russian society," Artemiev said in a recent statement.

The proposed legislation provides for only a 10% increase in the excise duty on strong alcohol like vodka, according to Artemiev. Vodka and other strong alcohol account for close to 70% of total alcohol consumption in Russia compared to 20% and 30% in most markets in the European Union, Artemiev says.

The Russian beer market is the third largest in the world and its growth potential has lured foreign multinationals to buy most of the local brewers in recent years. More recently, however, as the economy deteriorated and unemployment rose, beer consumption in Russia fell 5% in 2008 and 9% in the first half of the year.

History of Beer: A Timeline

2009-08-22T02:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a brief overview of the world's history on the news topic of beer...from the year 4300 BC through July 2009 (it will be updated from time to time)...presented in a timeline format with associated/suggested link topics for your further research enjoyment (includes an exact date where possible):

Ancient History
Historians speculate that prehistoric nomads may have made beer from grain & water before learning to make bread. Beer became ingrained in the culture of civilizations with no significant viticulture. Noah's provisions included beer on the Ark.

4300 BC,

Babylonian clay tablets detail recipes for beer. Beer was a vital part of civilization and the Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Hebrew, Chinese, and Inca cultures. Babylonians produced beer in large quantities with around 20 varieties. Beer at this time was so valued that it was sometimes used to pay workers as part of their daily wages. Early cultures often drank beer through straws to avoid grain hulls left in the beverage. Egyptians brewed beer commercially for use by royalty served in gold goblets, medical purposes, and as a necessity to be included in burial provisions for the journey to the hereafter.

Different grains were used in different cultures:

a) Africa used millet, maize and cassava.

b) North America used persimmon although agave was used in Mexico.

c) South America used corn although sweet potatoes were used in Brazil.

d) Japan used rice to make sake.

e) China used wheat to make samshu.

f) Other Asian cultures used sorghum.

g) Russians used rye to make quass or kvass.

h) Egyptians used barley and may have cultivated it strictly for brewing as it made poor bread.

1600 BC

Egyptian texts contain 100 medical prescriptions calling for beer. If an Egyptian gentleman offered a lady a sip of his beer they were betrothed.
Early brewers used herbals like balsam, hay, dandelion, mint, and wormwood seeds, horehound juice, and even crab claws & oyster shells for flavorings. Romans brewed "cerevisia" (Ceres the goddess of agriculture & vis meaning strength in Latin).

55 BC

Roman legions introduce beer to Northern Europe.

49 BC

Caesar toasted his troops after crossing the Rubicon, which began the Roman Civil War. Before the Middle Ages brewing was left to women to make since it was considered a food as well as celebration drink.

23 BC

Chinese brewed beer called "kiu"

500-1000 AD

the first half of the Middle Ages, brewing begins to be practiced in Europe, shifting from family tradition to centralized production in monasteries and convents (hospitality for traveling pilgrims).

1000 AD
By this time Europe had about 50 monastic breweries.
Links: Beer

1671 Apr 22
King Charles II sat in on English parliament after which he gave his Royal Assent to the several Bills that were presented to him, fourteen private Acts, and eighteen public, including an act for exporting “Beer, Ale, and Mum.”
Links: Britain, Beer

1755
The annual 12-day Bergkirchweih beer festival began in Erlangen, Germany.
Links: Germany, Beer

1755
Arthur Guinness began brewing a dark-brown stout in the town of Leixlip, Ireland.
Links: Ireland, Beer

1839
Trappists monks at St. Sixtus in Belgium began brewing Westvleteren beer in order to finance construction of a new monastery.
Links: Belgium, Beer
ELearners
For online college information, or program details including accredited online history degrees please visit eLearners.com for course details.

1860
John Wagner established Nevada's longest-operating brewery in Carson City during the rush to Virginia City. The Carson Brewing Co. built a new two-story brewery in 1865 in the commercial form of Classical Revival, on the corner of Division and King streets, where it was later turned into an arts and performance center.
Links: USA, Nevada, Beer

1860
William McGillin began opened McGillin’s Olde Ale House in Philadelphia. In 2009 it celebrated its sesquicentennial.
Links: USA, Pennsylvania, Beer

1862
The first US federal tax on beer was levied to finance the Civil War.
Links: USA, Beer, Civil War (US)

1867
Jacob Leinenkugel, an immigrant from Bavaria, founded Leinenkugel Beer to supply the lumberjack community of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. In 1988 the family business agreed to be acquired by the Miller Brewing Co.
Links: USA, Wisconsin, Beer

1883
The Brooks and Carey Saloon opened on Mission Road, Colma, Ca. It was later renamed the Brooksville Hotel. Frank Molloy purchased the place from Patrick Brooks in 1929 and renamed it Molloy's.
Links: USA, Beer, SF Bay Area, Colma
System Renewal
Optimizing legacy applications

1884
Cassilly Adams (1843-1921), American painter, completed a 9x16 foot painting titled “Custer’s Last Fight.” It was purchased by Adolphus Busch, president of Anheuser-Busch, in 1888. Lithographs of a smaller copy of the work began to be reproduced in 1896. In 1895 Busch donated the work to the US Seventh Cavalry. It was destroyed by a fire at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1946.
Links: Artist, USA, Beer

1888
In Chicago Louis Glunz set up shop as a wine, beer and spirits merchant at Wells and Division streets. By 2009 the Louis Glunz Beer company represented Chicago-land consumers with the largest portfolio of Micro, Specialty and Import Beers with 665 brands and 172 breweries worldwide.
Links: USA, Chicago, Wine, Beer

1890
Philippine brewer San Miguel began making beer.
Links: Philippines, Beer

1893
Charlie Wacker, director of the World's Columbian Exposition and a friend of Louis Glunz, was instrumental in making Louis a bottler of Schlitz beer for the Chicago Exposition.
Links: USA, Illinois, Chicago, Beer, Expo

1901
The US tax on a barrel of beer was reduced from $2 a barrel to $1.60.
Links: USA, Taxes, Beer
Timelines
Timelines organized by subjects.

1907
The San Francisco Brewing Company established a facility at 155 Columbus Ave, South San Francisco.
Links: USA, SF, Beer, SF Bay Area

1918 Sep
Pres. Woodrow Wilson ordered all US breweries to shut down on December 1 in order to save grain for the war effort.
Links: USA, Beer, WilsonW

1918 Dec 1
US breweries shut down due to a September directive from Pres. Wilson.
Links: USA, Beer, WilsonW

1934 Feb 20
In San Francisco a fire destroyed the recently opened Anchor Brewing Co. at 1610 Harrison St. The plant specialized in steam beer for which SF was once famous.
Links: USA, SF, Beer, Fire

1935 Jan 24
The 1st canned beer, "Krueger Cream Ale," was sold by Krueger Brewing Co. of Richmond, Va.
Links: Virginia, Beer

1939
Latrobe Brewing of Latrobe, Pa., began making Rolling Rock, a pale lager. It was later acquired by InBev SA. In 2006 Rolling Rock was acquired by Anheuser-Busch, which moved operations to Newark NJ. In 2008 Anheuser-Busch was acquired by InBev SA.
Links: USA, Pennsylvania, Beer

1955
The Old Milwaukee brand was first brewered by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company of Wisconsin. It was the first beer brand launched exclusively as a “popular” beer.
Links: USA, Wisconsin, Beer

1959 Jan 22
The Adolph Coors Co. of Golden, Colombia, introduced the aluminum beer can.
Links: USA, Colorado, Beer

1959
The West End Brewing Co., producers of Utica Club Beer, began running TV commercials in the Northeast US. The ad campaign included the Schultz and Dooley ceramic mugs based on the ad characters.
Links: USA, New York, Beer

1967
Gablinger’s beer, named after Swiss chemist Hersch Gablinger, was launched by Rheingold Breweries. Joseph Owades (1919-2005, brewmaster, developed the process to remove starch from beer and gave the formula to Meister Brau. The product failed but Meister Brau was sold to Miller Brewing. Miller successfully marketed the beer as Miller Lite.
Links: USA, Beer

1969
Fritz Maytag bought out Laurence Steese and took over the Anchor Brewing Co.
Links: USA, SF, Beer

1971
1988 Peter Bronfman (1929-1996) and his brother Edward Bronfman co-owned the Montreal Canadiens hockey team. Their uncle, Samuel, was the founder of the liquor company, Seagram Co. Ltd. The brothers acquired holdings in Brascan Ltd., a property mgmt. company, Noranda Inc., a natural resource company, and John Labatt Ltd., one of Canada’s 2 biggest brewers.
Links: Canada, Hockey, Beer, Liquor

1973
The SF pub Liverpool Lil’s began operating at 2942 Lyon St.
Links: USA, SF, Beer

1973
The Albion Brewery was declared a SF historical landmark.
Links: USA, SF, Beer

1974 Jun 4
Ten Cent Beer Night was an ill-fated promotion held by the American League's Cleveland Indians during a game against the Texas Rangers at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
Links: USA, Ohio, Baseball, Beer

1979 Feb 1
US Pres. Jimmy Carter legalized home brewing.
Links: USA, Beer, CarterJ

1980 Sep 26
A bomb attack at the Oktoberfest in Munich killed 13 people.
Links: Germany, Beer

1982 Jun 10
The Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company and the Old Milwaukee brand was acquired by Stroh Brewing Company of Detroit. The Old Milwaukee brand was first brewered by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company.
Links: USA, Michigan, Wisconsin, Beer

1983 Nov 9
Alfred Heineken, beer brewer from Amsterdam, was kidnapped and held for a ransom of more than $10 million. Heineken was freed Nov 30. Cor van Houton, the kidnapper, was shot to death in 2003.
Links: Netherlands, Beer

1983 Nov 30
Police freed kidnapped beer magnate Alfred Heineken in Amsterdam.
Links: Netherlands, Beer

1983
The Mendocino Brewing Co. became the 1st Brewpub in California and only the 2nd in the nation to open since Prohibition.
Links: USA, California, Beer

1984
The Reagan administration, spurred by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) ordered US states to raise their drinking age to 21 or lose 10% of their federal highway funds.
Links: USA, Beer, Liquor, ReaganR

1986 Feb
Eduardo Cojuangco (b.1935), aka Danding and crony capitalist to Pres. Marcos, fled the Philippines. Cojuango had acquired a controlling stake in San Miguel beer using public funds deposited in a bank that he controlled. In 1999 Mr. Cojuango regained his position as head of the board of San Miguel even pending litigation for 'ill-gotten wealth."
Links: Philippines, Beer

1989 Aug 24
British brewery Bass bought the Holiday Inn hotel chain.
Links: Britain, M&A, Beer

1992
In Finland the Wife Carrying contest was initiated to revive a 200 year old tradition from when Ronkainen the Robber tested aspiring members of his gang by making them carry huge sacks on their backs through an obstacle course. Cash prizes and the wife’s weight in beer was awarded to the winners.
Links: Finland, Women, Beer, Sociology, Games

1993
In Germany the Reinheitsgebot law of 1516 was relaxed to allow foreign brewers to sell their beer in Germany.
Links: Germany, Beer

1993
In Tanzania in a privatization drive part of the government stake in Safari beer was sold to a South African company.
Links: South Africa, Tanzania, Beer

1994
South African Breweries (SAB) moved into the China market.
Links: China, South Africa, Beer

1995
Anheuser-Busch Cos. bought the largest brewer in central China and began selling Budweiser in major Chinese cities.
Links: USA, China, Beer

1996 Aug 27
In Indianapolis 4 police officers engaged in a fight outside the city’s Circle Center mall. They were off duty and had just consumed a large amount of beer in the city’s luxury suite at a ball game. They were later tried for battery, disorderly conduct and public intoxication but the 1997 trial ended in a hung jury.
Links: Baseball, Beer, Indiana

1996
In Germany low-tetrahydrocannabinol hemp was made legal and quickly became a fast-growing cash crop. A young Berlin brewer began to add its flowering buds to his beer in violation of the 1516 Reinheitsgebot law on beer ingredients.
Links: Germany, Beer, Agriculture

1997 Feb
Ahmed Zayat, an Egyptian American, took over the Al Ahram Beverages Co. and began to build a state-of-the-art brewery to produce Egyptian Stella and Danish Carlsberg Beer.
Links: Egypt, Beer

1997 Jul 16
Jerold Mackenzie was awarded $26.6M for being fired from Miller Brewing in 1993 for sexual harassment for relaying a Seinfeld episode to a co-worker. Higher courts later threw the entire award out. In 2003 Mackenzie accepted an out-of-court settlement for $625,000.
Links: TV, Beer, Lawsuit

1998 May 2
Police fired tear gas into a crowd of 3,000 students at Michigan State Univ. who were protesting the end of drinking at Munn Field.
Links: Michigan, Beer

1998 Dec 26
President Clinton, in his weekly radio address, urged Congress to lower the blood-alcohol limit for drunken driving nationwide to 0.08 percent to conform with 17 states and the District of Columbia. The other 33 states have 0.10.
Links: USA, Wine, Beer, Liquor, ClintonB
System Renewal

1998
Anheuser Busch paid an estimated $80 million for exclusive alcohol rights to the 2002 and 2006 soccer World Cup tournaments. In 2000 Germany was selected as the host for the 2006 tournament and German fans became furious over the prospect of drinking Budweiser at the tournament.
Links: USA, Germany, Beer, Soccer

2000 Jun 1
Stores across Japan emptied beer vending machines to comply with a voluntary ban on beer vending to help reduce alcoholism.
Links: Japan, Beer

2000 Aug 28
Foster’s Brewing of Australia reported a deal to buy the California Beringer winery for some $1.5 billion.
Links: Australia, Wine, Beer

2001
The Firestone Walker brewery relocated from Santa Barbara, Ca., to Paso Robles. The brewers fermented their ales in used wine barrels.
Links: USA, California, Beer

2002 Jan 3
Alfred Henry Heineken (78), builder of a global beer brand, died in the Netherlands. Freddie designed the green bottle and logo. In 1983 he was abducted for weeks and released unharmed.
Links: Netherlands, Beer

2002 Dec
In Uganda Nile Breweries, owned by SABMiller began selling a new kind of clear lager-like beer called Eagle. Industrial enzymes were used to convert starches in sorghum to sugars. It sold well and expanded to other countries in the region.
Links: Uganda, Beer

2002
China surpassed the US to become the world's largest beer market by volume.
Links: China, Beer

2002
South African Breweries bought America’s Miller Brewing for $5.6 billion.
Links: USA, South Africa, Beer

2003 Feb 20
The Station, a Warwick, Rhode Island, nightclub erupted in a raging fire during a pyrotechnics display at a rock concert, 98 people were killed and 200 others injured. Flammable soundproofing was later blamed. In Feb, 2006, Dan Biechele, manager of the band, pleaded guilty to 100 counts of manslaughter in exchange for up to 10 years in prison. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison. In 2008 Anheuser-Busch and a Rhode Island beer distributor agreed to pay $21 million to settle lawsuits brought by survivors of the fire.
Links: USA, Pop&Rock, Beer, Fire, Lawsuit, Rhode Island

2004 Jan 9
The German Neuzeller Kloster Brewery announced plans to introduce its "Anti-Aging-Bier" this year and sell it in grocery and drug stores.
Links: Germany, Beer

2004 Feb 28
In Finland hundreds of trucks prepared to roll onto frozen roads at midnight, stocked with beer and hard cider for a population that eagerly awaits a historic government measure that will cut alcohol prices by nearly 40 percent.
Links: Finland, Beer

2004 Apr 16
After analyzing 730 confirmed cases of gout from among a group of 47,000 men over 12 years, London researchers demonstrated that drinkers are more likely to get gout, and that beer is worse and wine is best. Gout is caused by deposits of crystals of a chemical called uric acid in joints. Alcohol consumption leads to "hyperuricaemia" -- when the body produces too much uric acid.
Links: Britain, Medical, Chemistry, Biology, Beer

2004 Apr 19
Researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine that fairly heavy alcohol consumption appears to moderately increase the risk of cancer in the colon and rectum.
Links: Medical, Wine, Beer, Liquor

2004 May 5
British-based SABMiller launched an unsolicited HK$4.3 billion ($550m) bid for Harbin Brewery, China’s 4th largest brewer.
Links: Britain, China, M&A, Beer

2004 Jun 1
Anheuser-Busch offered HK$5.58 per share for China’s Harbin Brewery Group Ltd. 2 days later SABMiller withdrew its HK$4.30 offer.
Links: China, Beer

2004 Jul 3
Two Estonian students clinched the country's seventh straight wife-carrying world championship on Saturday, winning the "wife's" weight in beer and a sauna.
Links: Estonia, Beer

2004 Aug 27
It was reported that SABMiller was investing $82.2 million to build a brewery in Dongguan, Guangdong province, China.
Links: China, Beer

2004 Aug
An $11 billion merger between Belgium’s Interbrew and Brazil’s largest brewer AmBev formed InBev.
Links: Belgium, Brazil, Beer

2004 Sep 18
Munich's mayor opened the southern city's 171st Oktoberfest festival for a crowd of some 500,000.
Links: Germany, Beer

2004
Billy Gaines and Duncan Carrroll, graduates of Carnegie Mellon Univ., developed a Web site called bpong.com along with a multiplayer online beer-pong game. Beer pong had gained popularity on college campuses in the 1990s.
Links: USA, Internet, Beer, Games

2005 Feb 7
In England and Wales new laws came into effect that allow pubs, clubs and other drinking venues to apply to stay open 24 hours a day.
Links: Britain, Wales, Beer

2005 Apr 4
In Canada Edward Bronfman, Canadian businessman, died. Bronfman and his brother, Peter, built Edper Investments Ltd. into a business with interests ranging from forestry and mining to banking, beer and hockey to form the core of what is today Brascan Corp.
Links: Canada, Beer

2005 Jul 19
British firm SABMiller announced a $7.8 billion purchase of Grupo Empresarial Bavaria, South America’s 2nd largest brewer. The Santo Domingo family of Colombia were Bavaria;s controlling shareholders.
Links: Colombia, Britain, Beer

2005 Jul 27
It was reported that some Chinese beer makers used small quatities of formaldehyde to improve color and prevent sediment from forming during storage. Major producers said they did not use the additive. The practice was abandoned in the West.
Links: China, Beer

2005 Sep 17
Germany’s 172nd Oktoberfest opened and will run to Oct 3.
Links: Germany, Beer

2005 Oct 3
Munich's two-week Oktoberfest drew to a close, and organizers said more people visited this year but they drank less beer than in 2004.
Links: Germany, Beer

2005 Nov 23
In Britain and Wales the early pub closing times, that had governed drinking in Britain since their introduction during World War I, were set to end at midnight. The laws had required most pubs to close at 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10:30 p.m. on Sundays. New rules allowed pubs, bars, shops, restaurants and clubs to apply to open any hours they like, although each license must be approved by local authorities.
Links: Britain, Wales, Wine, Beer, Liquor

2005
Vijay Mallya (27) inherited the UB Group of India when his father, Vittal Mallya, died of a heart attack. Sales for UB then grew from $100 million to $1.6 billion in 2003. Import duties on foreign liquor of up to 550% protected his business.
Links: India, Beer, Liquor

2005
In Laos the state-owned enterprise Beerlao, which traces its origins to French colonial times, added dark brew and a light beer to its regular lager this year and went into a 50-50 joint venture with Denmark's Carlsberg Breweries, the world's No. 5 beer-maker.
Links: Laos, Beer

2006 Jan 23
Belgian brewer InBev NV, the world's largest brewery by volume, said it has agreed to buy the largest brewer in China's Fujian province for 614 million euros ($740 million).
Links: Belgium, China, Beer

2006
Maureen Ogle authored “Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer.”
Links: USA, Beer, Books

2007 May 28
Britain’s public health minister said beer, wine and hard liquor packaging in Britain will carry warning labels next year detailing how many units of alcohol each drink contains as well as recommended safe drinking levels.
Links: Britain, Wine, Beer, Liquor

2007 Jul 31
A new study reported that drinking wine or beer every day increases the risk of bowel cancer. The British Daily Telegraph reported 35,000 people are diagnosed each year with bowel cancer and that it kills 16,100 a year.
Links: Canada, Medical, Wine, Beer

2007 Aug 30
Michael Jackson (65), a leading world beer critic, died in London. He praised the brews of Belgium and his books "The Great Beers of Belgium" and "World Guide to Beer" introduced them to many export markets, including the United States.
Links: Belgium, Britain, Beer

2007 Oct 9
Brewers SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing said they have agreed to combine their US operations to create a business that will have annual sales of $6.6 billion and be the second-biggest market player behind Anheuser-Busch.
Links: Canada, USA, Beer

2008 Jan 25
Scottish & Newcastle, the UK's largest brewer, announced it has agreed to be bought by Carlsberg and Heineken, for around 7.6 billion pounds.
Links: Britain, M&A, Beer

2008 Jun 9
Budweiser, US beer brewer, announced that it would go on sale in Vietnam.
Links: USA, Vietnam, Beer

2008 Jun 11
InBev, the Belgian-Brazilian brewing giant, offered $46 billion, or 65 dollars a share, in cash for Anheuser-Busch in a bid to create an unrivaled global brewing giant.
Links: Belgium, Brazil, USA, Beer

2008 Jul 13
Belgian-based brewer InBev announced it will buy Anheuser-Busch for $52 billion.
Links: Belgium, USA, Missouri, M&A, Beer

2008 Nov 18
Belgian brewing giant InBev announced it had completed the takeover of Anheuser-Busch to create the world's biggest brewer. Beijing agreed to Belgium-based InBev SA's takeover of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.'s Chinese operations as part of their global merger, but limited future acquisitions on anti-monopoly grounds.
Links: Belgium, USA, China, Beer

2009 Mar 9
French lawmakers passed an amendment to ban the sale of alcohol to teens under 18, part of an effort to tackle the rise of binge drinking in a country known for a relaxed attitude toward a little libation.
Links: France, Wine, Beer, Liquor

2009 Jul 1
Utah ditched a 40-year-old requirement for bar customers to fill out applications and pay a fee to become a member of a private club before entering a bar.
Links: USA, Utah, Beer, Liquor

2009 Jul 20
In Malaysia Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno (32), Muslim woman, was sentenced to six lashes and a fine of 5,000 ringgit ($1,400) for having a beer in a nightclub. She would become the first woman in Malaysia to be given the punishment under Islamic law.
Links: Malaysia, Women, Beer, Sociology

(source:timelinesdb.com)

Top 10 Chinese Beers

2009-08-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Market Shares of China’s Top 10 Beer Brands are listed below...In its seventh consecutive year occupying the number one spot in world beer sales, China is home to more than 300 breweries and more than 1500 beer brands...of these 300 breweries, only 20% of them are turning profits, while 32% are hovering around the breakeven point. The three giants leading China’s pack of domestic brewers are Tsingtao, Huaran Snow, and Yanjing. The top 10 beer brands account for 60.5% of the total market:

Rank / Beer Brand / Market Share (2008)

1 / Huarun Snow Beer / 17.79%

2 / Tsingtao Beer / 13.24%

3 / Yanjing Beer / 10.29%

4 / Henan Kingstar Beer / 4.51%

5 / Chongqing Beer / 4.30%

6 / Sedrin Beer / 3.16%

7 / Guangzhou Zhujiang Beer / 2.90%

8 / Kingway Beer / 1.54%

9 / Suntory Beer / 1.51%

10 / Wuhan Budweiser Beer / 1.26%

Click here for a list of China Beer Festivals for 2009

(Source: cnwinenews.com)

Beer Snobbery "The Subtle Art"

2009-08-06T01:51:00.000-07:00

As I was surfing the internet the other night on info about one of my favorite entertainment personalities, Jackie Gleason ("The Great One...gifted us with the notion that life is to be lived, and to live it fully you have to take risks. A lot of risks. “A safe life isn’t a life at all,” Jackie noted. “Too many people seem to be saving themselves for their wake.”"), I came across some articles of him on a website named ModernDrunkardMagazine.com ("standing up for your right to get falling down drunk since 1996"). There was an article in there regarding beer snobbery in America and being the aggregate-study-of-beer-blog this is, I thought it might behoove us all to be a little more enlightened on the subject. So here is what the editor of the site, Frank Kelly Rich, had to say on the topic of the art of beer snobbery in the U.S.:

"While wine snobs have blighted the earth for thousands of years (you can bet there was at least one guy curling his lip at the vintage of Jesus’ first and best miracle), Beer Snobbery is a relatively young art, especially in the U.S.

This is because every beer in the country once tasted exactly the same. Oh sure, there were Bud lovers and MGD aficionados who would swear they could tell the difference, but if you gave them a blind taste test, you’d soon discover they’d just keep asking for another “test taste” until there wasn’t any beer left and they were passed out on your sofa.

Furthermore, beer was considered the balm of the common man, it was not something you swirled in a glass and judged by its “nose.” It was something you swilled from a plastic cup and sometimes shot through your nose.

Then the microbrewery revolution swept the country and soon every abandoned firehouse, bank and shoe factory was outfitted with a vat and turning out every possible form and flavor of beer you could imagine, and some you would rather not.

It was perfectly natural then, with so many different beers to choose from, that a learned cadre of beer experts would appear to explain to the unsophisticated masses what is “good beer” and what “has the nose and character of a harbor-town harlot with a penchant for walking into walls caked with manure.” Thus arrived the beer snob.

Beer Vs. Wine Snobbery

Beer snobbery is less dangerous.
While wine snobs have been around long enough to be nearly universally despised and even hunted for sport in certain parts of the South, beer snobs are so new they’re considered by the general public to be as harmless as those people who carve elaborate sculptures out of Spam—someone to be viewed more with bemusement than with the scope of a high-powered rifle.

The dress is casual.
Wine snobs have a strict dress code involving turtlenecks, glasses designed to sit on the end of one's nose and silk scarves, but a beer snob can pretty much dress anyway he likes. Aside from the snooty expression, a typical beer snob is nearly indistinguishable from your least favorite brother-in-law.

The position doesn’t require a sensitive palate.
In fact, a too-sensitive palate just gets in the way. If a beer snob’s mind is busy trying to decipher a vast array of signals from his tongue, it becomes very difficult for him to think up a clever way to insult a fellow beer snob’s tie.

You don’t need to know what the hell you’re talking about.
The fact of the matter is, no one really knows how to tell a good beer from a bad one. The prestigious Beerophile Digest, for example, will declare McChumley’s Mauled Herring Ale to be “a delightful triumph of art and nature right up there with the pulsating shower head” while the brash Xtreme Brewski Review will assert the same ale to be “the sort of crap drank by hoity-toities who take lots of showers and stuff.”

You don’t have to learn a foreign language.
While a wine snob is expected to speak enough French to enrage a Frenchman, the beer snob only needs to speak enough English to infuriate an Englishman, which only requires slurring, “Hey you remember when we saved your butts from the Germans back in Dubya Dubya Two? Remember that?”

The terminology is simple and straightforward.
For example, the guy who pours the beer is a bartender and not some snooty guy whose title looks suspiciously similar to smellier but is actually pronounced like the cry of a gardener pleasantly surprised while trying to explain the holes in your lawn: “Some mole—yay!”

Enthusiasm and relish are more important than experience and research.
When it comes to rating beers, you don’t need to be able to identify the vintage or know which field the hops were grown in. This would just confuse you. Neither do you need to attend mundane festivals, read a bunch of dreary books or even sample a lot of different beers. All you need is a big helping of enthusiasm and relish, and by that I mean sarcasm and snootiness.

The Wide World of Beers

When you were a teenager you probably thought all beers were just called “beer” or maybe “brewski” if you were feeling technical. But as a beer snob you should be aware that there are many subcategories of beers, in the same way that certain dogs are called “Cocker Spaniels” and “Rat Terriers,” and some large rats are called “Chihuahuas.”

ale: some purists will tell you this English brew is not really beer at all, but these are the same type of people who will tell you that drinking a case of beer in the company of your dog is not a “kick-ass time.”

bitter: this hoppy English stalwart is a favorite among elderly men who smoke pipes, carry change purses and will insist that Field Marshal Rommel was “indeed crafty as a fox, but no match for this cunning English bulldog.”

bock: this German beer is named for the billy goat, because, just like a billy goat, it’s lively, strong and smells like a billy goat.

doppelbock: German for double billy goat. You get the idea.

export: this is a type of beer so awful the locals refuse to drink it, so the brewery ships it off to foreigners who don’t know any better.

fruit: these flavored beers were introduced to appeal to women and certain men who get very defensive when you inform them they are plainly homosexual.

lager: there are those who like to say this light, golden beer is served cold so as to distinguish it from urine, but the truth of the matter is urine also has a much better head.

malt liquor: some will argue this is not beer at all, but let me tell you something: if it tastes like a duck, smells like a duck and makes you walk like a duck, it is probably malt liquor.

porter: this strong beer was named for the rugged laborers who made it popular in Old England and would quite frankly drink billy goat sweat if it got them drunk.

stout: these dark, rich beers are called such because after drinking a dozen of them you will feel stout enough to wrestle all four of the cops by yourself.

trappist: this type of ale is brewed by monks noted for their skill at trapping tourists in their monastery’s overpriced gift shops. They changed their name from trapper to trappist in 1816 when they realized they spoke French and thus needed a fancier title.

The Three Prime Rules of Judging a Beer

1.) Use the proper terminology
Thirty years ago the only terms you needed to express a beer’s character were “tastes great” and “less filling.” The microbrew explosion, however, made it necessary to invent literally hundreds of new adjectives to explain how great or non-filling a beer truly is. Fortunately, you won’t have to memorize most of them because most are fake words that drunk beer experts made up on the spot and probably winced at when they saw them in print later. What else can explain why grown men are using words like Chlorophenolic, Balling Degrees, Sparge and Kräusening to describe something that can be purchased in the form of a Party Ball?

Brewmaster: So, what do you think of our delicious new Squashed Sulfur Beetle Stout?

Drunk Beer Expert: S’at what this is? Thought I axidenally drank from the bar’s fuckin’ soap bucket.

Brewmaster: What was that?

Drunk Beer Expert: I said I really dig its barzfookanzope bouquet.

Brewmaster: Oh! And that’s a good thing, right?

Drunk Beer Expert: Kiddin’ me? Barzfookanzope is Upper Bavarian for chlorophenolic!

Brewmaster: Oh! And that’s a good thing, right?

In fact, the only terms you really need to know are nutty, worty, fruity, hoppy, grainy, mouthy, sulpheristical, pine-needley, and bodacious. What do they mean? No one knows for sure. The important thing it to use as many of them as possible when you rate a beer. For example, you should never just say, “This beer is worty.” Instead you should say, “I find the wortiness of this beer fruity yet mouthy, with pine-needley undertones of sulpheristicallity, bodaciousamentally speaking.”

2.) Employ all of your senses.
If you taste a beer and think, “Gee, that tastes good,” do not say so. Use every pretentious bone in your body to resist even the slightest sign of enjoyment. Just because a beer tastes good does not mean it is good. You must bring into play your other four senses to make a proper judgement.

Sight: Look at the beer’s label. If you can see little gold medals, describe the beer as “a shining avatar lesser beers aspire to.” Do you see foreign words? If they look European, call the beer a “traditional, old-country stalwart.” If the words look like the symbols used in the funny pages in place of curse words, label the beer “an exotic wayfarer with delightful stories to tell.” If the label has a singing fish, dancing moose or any other sort of animal doing something an animal does not normally do, call it “a brash upstart with a lot to prove.”

Sound: Have you heard anyone else talking about the beer? If you have, try to cover your bases by incorporating as many of these opinions into your judgement as possible: “Yes, it’s the one in the green bottle, but on the other hand, it goes for six bucks a sixer at the Liquorama up on Fifth Street, right across the street from the Conoco Station with the hot chick working the register.”

Feel: Do you feel the brewery rep standing nearby will reward a good rating with free stuff? If so, upgrade your evaluation according to how much free stuff you think you might get. Thus, a merely decent beer may become “a mind-boggling triumph,” a bad one transforms into “a powerful new statement” and something that could pass as window cleaner ascends to “a real up and comer.” You don’t have to tell the rep it will be “up and coming” the next time you visit the rest room.

Smell: Does the beer smell foreign, or, in beer expert parlance, skunky? Foreigness is a good thing because foreign countries are farther away and the farther away a brewery is the better the beer tastes. Especially if says Export on the label, because foreigners don’t want to embarrass their country and thus only export the really good stuff.

3.) When in doubt, speak in tongues.
To express an unqualified opinion of a beer is akin to waving a big flag at the enemy, so they know exactly where to shoot. If you are unsure about the quality of a beer because you can’t see the label and are not sure if the rep is going to give you free stuff, you have to deliver an opinion so obtuse onlookers won’t know if you’re complimenting the beer or plan on using it to poison the rats in your cellar.

Instead of saying, “I guess it’s sorta okay,” you should say: “Seems its pompitude has been finely demastered in a congenial sort of way, yet its essence disambiguates the fustification of its mischarateristics to the degree I wonder about the referentialability of the primal dewortnicity, if I may paraphrase famed beer critic Baron Von Troutenmyer.”

It’s hard to disagree with a man you can’t understand, though they might try. If a competing beer snob tries to draw you out from behind your brilliant smokescreen by saying, “Hate to disagree, but I think the dewortitude terrifically interpolative and fusticating with character,” glower at him for an instant and say in a very stiff tone, “Funny, I could have swore I just said that.”

Another safe tactic is to compare the beer with one that doesn’t actually exist. Because the beer ranks swell every week, even the most knowledgeable of beer experts won’t call you out, for fear of appearing “out of the loop.” So instead actually stating an opinion of a beer, say it is “a lot like The Abandoned Shoe Factory Brewery’s new Soothsucker Pine Sap Ale, in the sense that they’re completely different.”

Types of Beer Snobs

Deciding you want to be a beer snob is not enough. You also have to decide what sort of beer snob you want to be.

The Beer Fuehrer
This curmudgeonly gentlemen will declare he would rather guzzle urine than drink what he considers “bad beer.” And by bad he means any beer that comes in a can, has commercials on television, or has been heard of by more than fifty people. He can only pity the poor fools who sit in bars drinking the swill disgorged by the vast corporate vats, when they could be drinking swill produced in much smaller ones.

The Hops Head
The power-crazed Dr. Frankenstein of beer snobs, this wretched soul has descended so deeply into the pit of snobbery he has convinced himself that the vile liquid (he will call it something akin to Super Duper Black Cherry Berry Power Porter) he concocted in his basement is not only non-poisoness, but superior to the stuff it took monks 50 generations to perfect. One caveat: the longer and more grandiose the title of his obscene creation, the more likely it will be good for poisoning the rats in your cellar.

The Beer Geek
The beer world equivalent of a Trekkie, this fan is forever making pilgrimages to far flung festivals and conventions, will belong to any number of beer associations (and wears the T-shirts to prove it) and has never had sex with a woman where there wasn’t money involved. Beards are common and they have a powerful fetish for steins.

The Beer Lover
These are the Rex Reeds of the beer snob community. They have never met a beer that was not “gorgeously fabulous” or “fabulously gorgeous.” The closest they ever come to a bad review is when they mistake the glass of water used to clear the palate for beer, and even then they’ll give it three stars and declare it “a promising new light lager worth keeping your eye on.”

Interacting with Other Beer Snobs
While it’s perfectly fine and extremely pleasurable to rabidly denounce whatever swill your non-beer snob acquaintances are slopping down their gauche gullets, you must carefully weigh each word when amongst your own.

You will probably meet them at a beer club meeting. Beer snobs are generally very eager to form beer clubs, partly to discuss new beers, but mostly because their regular friends won’t drink with them any more.

At these meetings members are expected to present their “discoveries.” A discovery is an exciting new beer you introduce to your fellow beer snobs. If a fellow beer snob introduces a new beer to you, however, it is not called a discovery. It is called a travesty.

When judging another fellow’s travesty, don’t worry about the taste so much as to where the fellow is situated on the Beer Snob Ladder. Those above you should be treated with grudging deference. Those below are to be condescended to in the manner of a weary yet indulgent grown-up patting the head of a simple-minded yet well-meaning mongoloid child eager to show off yet another shiny and utterly worthless object that caught one of his unattractively bulging eyes.

You should save your vast stores of vitriol for those sharing the same rung as you, for you cannot ascend the ladder unless you plant a foot firmly upon their credibility.

When one of your rung mates foolishly encourages you to try one of his new travesties, smile agreeably, take a sip, then act as if a bug just flew into your mouth. After letting your dismay register with the club, turn your head discreetly and spit into your handkerchief. Subtlety is key. Do not behave as if the bug is a giant dung beetle, but rather a common housefly that has spent the day joyfully wallowing in billy goat manure. Deliver the coup de grace by muttering, “Well, that was certainly interesting.” In the parlance of the beer snob, interesting roughly translates into “One large step below Satan’s venereal urine.”

When it’s your turn to present a discovery, be keenly aware the act is the beer snob equivalent of wagging your testicles between the bars of the Mongoose Cage at feeding time. Rivals will do their level best to defame and discredit you, which is why you must immediately distance yourself as far from your discovery as possible. Act as if it were a hideously deformed orphan you found wandering the streets and, out of the goodness of your heart, are just trying to make a few introductions so it can possibly secure a future position as grave digger or bell ringer. Make sure you damn it to the degree that any response at all will seem unmitigated praise. Then, once you get a fingerhold, start suggesting that your orphan might not only be suitable for a grave digger position, but the head grave digger position.

You: “Don’t be alarmed. It may seem a horrid wretch, but given a chance it might just reveal itself as being merely disgusting.”

Rival Beer Snob: “Well, you’re dead on about its horridly disgusting wretchedness, but I once ate a large beetle that tasted only slightly better.”

You: “Funny you should say that! Because noted beer expert Sir Edward Edwardsbottom declared this very beer to have the potential of an especially large and ambitious dung beetle.”

Rival Beer Snob: “Dung beetle, yes, that makes sense, I—"

You: “Do you really think it that ambitious and promising? I must say, there is something rather large and bombastic about it. Why, you’ve given me a new appreciation of this bold brew. Though perhaps not as enthusiastic as you, I think it may be a real up and comer!”"

Greatest Beer Ads - Beer Goggles

2009-08-03T02:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a comedic ad for Tuborg Beer...according to them women get more attractive with each additional brew:

Greatest Beer Ads - Pure Blonde Beer

2009-08-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

Ads for Pure Blonde Beer...didn't even know it existed!!!:

Greatest Beers Ads - The Most Interesting Man In The World

2009-08-03T01:49:00.000-07:00

So whenever you see these ads run on TV guys for "The Most Interesting Man In The World"...how many of you wish it were you they were talking about? Imagine and enjoy...as the girls say...this ad campaign was designed for men:

"Introduction"

"MostInteresting(the first one)"

"Chicken"

"Careers"

"Life"

"PickupLines"

"Narcolepsy"

Greatest Beer Ads - Swedish Bikini Team

2009-07-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

Remember the days of summer sipping on Old Milwaukee beer at the beach? If these memories are fading fast take heart...you can enjoy the old ads featuring the Swedish Bikini Team...they were eventually pulled due to bad press and sponsors' pressure about these commercials objectifying women...pretty tame stuff by today's TV standards...in fact the ads (which ran on TV in 1991) are considered the 2nd most popular beer ad campaign of all time (according to an AD AGE poll)...they were on TV for only 7 months...the names of the original members of the team were Avalon Anders, Suzanna Keller, Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst, Jane Frances and Peggy Trentini (pictured at above-left):

"Beach"

"Gold"

"Truck"

Top Chicago Area Beer Gardens 2009

2009-07-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Ahh...nothing like summertime...and Beer Gardens...here is a listing of several of the best beer gardens for the year 2009 that the Chicago suburbs have to offer...be sure to check these out:

Alumni Club
Alumni Club in Schaumburg boasts the largest dining garden in the Northwest Suburbs, complete with a stone firepit, an outdoor grill, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and a professional built-in Bagz court, all surrounding a massive Tiki Bar bordered with palm trees and a waterfall. Overlooking a pond and acres of beautifully landscaped parkland, the beer garden creates the perfect atmosphere for dining or cocktailing alfresco. On Fridays throughout the summer, weather permitting, Alumni Club will host an outdoor Happy Hour Buffet from 5:30–7:30 p.m. featuring burgers, brats, and hot dogs. On Thursdays, sign up for Bagz tournaments for a chance to win prizes! 871 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg. 847-397-3100. http://www.alumniclub.com/.

Anyway’s
Anyway’s in Oakbrook has a lovely little beer garden—a patio extension to their dining room with complete food menu and bar service. It has authentic Chicago brick walls topped with glass to keep out traffic noise. All tables have umbrellas, and it’s a perfect place to dine alfresco for lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack. 5 East Roosevelt Road, Oakbrook Terrace. 630-932-9323. http://www.anywayspub.com/.

Breakaway Lounge
The beer garden at Breakaway Lounge in Villa Park is a great place to hang out and enjoy a drink and a bite to eat. Outside, you can get away from it all – their beer garden is a great break away from your crazy everyday life! 345 North Avenue, Villa Park. 630-833-0081. www.myspace.com/thebreak_away.

Capri Classic Italian Ristorante
Voted #1 Italian Restaurant and Best Chef in the NiteLife Best of the ‘Burbs, Capri should definitely be on your list of places to eat this summer. They have outdoor seating available on their patio, drink specials Tuesday through Thursday, and live music Tuesday through Saturday! Come and have lunch or dinner on the patio!
17 W. 400 22nd Street, Oakbrook Terrace. 630-279-3825.

CD & ME
CD & ME in Frankfort is owned by landscapers, so of course their outdoor space is a true delight! With their beautiful landscaping, waterfalls, firepit, gazebo, and outdoor stage, look no further than CD & ME for your next big event! Their Thursday night concert events are open to the public, with great live artists every week. 23320 S. La Grange Road, Frankfort. 815-469-7315. http://www.cdandme.com/.

Champps Americana
For all of you beer enthusiasts, Champps in Lombard now proudly features a total of 42 beers on draft! Take your pick, and enjoy the great beer variety while taking in a summer breeze on the outdoor patio. Also, check out Champps’ extensive menu filled with burgers and more. This is a great place for a summer evening.
2301 Fountain Square Drive, Lombard. 630-627-3334. http://www.champps.com/.

Cubby Bear
The Cubby Bear in Lincolnshire has a huge second-floor outdoor deck! Come outside for some drinking or to grab something off the outdoor grill on Thursday–Saturday. Bagz games are always available, and soon they’ll have pool tables outside, too! This is sure to become your favorite outdoor hangout. 21661 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Lincolnshire. 847-541-4700. http://www.cubbybear.com/.

Famous Freddie’s Roadhouse
Head over to Famous Freddie’s in Fox Lake to celebrate their 10th summer all season long! Located on the Pistakee Lake, Freddie’s multi-level outdoor deck offers patrons a scenic lake view, making it the perfect place for dining and cocktailing during beautiful summer days and nights. Freddie’s is equipped with an outdoor Tiki Bar as well as a Frosty Bar featuring frozen drinks. Bagz is available for play as well as Nintendo Wii games, Beer Pong, NTN Trivia, and more. With its one hundred boat slips, a special section for motorcycle parking on the weekends, and entertainment all summer long, Freddie’s is a popular stop for many! 510 S. Park Avenue, Fox Lake. 847-587-9677. http://www.famousfreddiesroadhouse.com/.

Finn McCool’s
Located off of Algonquin Road just west of Route 53, Finn McCool’s offers guests a fenced-in concrete patio area for meals alfresco on sunny days and Irish beers or cool cocktails on warm nights. A waitress will serve the full Finn’s menu including appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and house specialties to guests dining in the beer garden. Make Finn’s your Friday hang and enjoy an $8.99 Lake Perch Fish Fry. 1941 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg. 847-303-5100. http://www.finnmccoolschicago.com/.

Harry’s Sports Bar and Grill
Harry’s is a huge bar with great daily specials and the perfect beer garden for some fresh air—or to crush your friends at Bagz! This is a great place to watch your favorite sporting events on over 40 TVs and 3 big screens. The menu at Harry’s includes a variety of delicious, homemade appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, chicken, beef, steak, and pizzas; of course, food service is available outside. They have a great audio system so there’s always music inside and out! 9901 W. 55th Street, Countryside. 708-354-3333.

Hawthorne’s Backyard
Hawthorne’s Backyard in West Chicago should be your go-to place this summer if you’re the outdoorsy type. They have a staggering FOUR ACRES of fun! With sand volleyball, Bagz, horseshoes, bocce ball, a firepit, and of course the huge beer garden, you’re sure to have a great time here. Plus, for all you bikers out there, show up at Hawthorne’s Backyard on your “Hog” any Saturday or Sunday between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and you’ll get a FREE pulled-pork sandwich! 1200 W. Hawthorne Lane, West Chicago. 630-293-6700. http://www.hawthornesbackyard.com/.

Indian Lakes Resort
After you’ve played 18 holes of golf on Indian Lakes’ championship course, unwind on Master’s Patio overlooking the water. After enjoying the great outdoors, take a dip in the pool with your family before a delicious meal at one of Indian Lakes’ fine restaurants, followed by an evening of entertainment, wine-tasting, sports—or more golf! 250 West Schick Road, Bloomingdale. 630-529-0200. http://www.indianlakesresort.com/.

Jambalaya at Pheasant Run
At Pheasant Run, the Midwest’s largest entertainment resort, you have plenty of options for enjoying the great outdoors. Enjoy 36 holes of championship golf. Create a splash in three pools. Experience a night of live theater, music or comedy. And get ready for the taste of New Orleans at Jambalaya! 4051 East Main Street, St. Charles. 800-4-PHEASANT. http://www.pheasantrun.com/.

John’s Buffet
They say “There is no buffet at John’s Buffet!” What they do have, besides an extensive array of tasty treats and a huge beer and wine selection, is a great beer garden on the east side of the building with an outdoor café. Come out to John’s Buffet! 27W482 Jewell Road, Winfield. 630-752-2000. http://www.johnsbuffet.com/.

Maple Avenue Pub
Enjoy the spring sunshine in the beer garden at Maple Avenue Pub in Lisle! In the summer, play some Bagz on the patio—and have you planned your 4th of July festivities yet? Come to Maple Avenue Pub, because they have a great view of the fireworks! The beer garden features a full menu—including appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas—and music every day and night. 1227 Maple Avenue, Lisle. 630-971-8730. http://www.mapleavepub.com/.

Maxum Bar and Grill
Maxum in Hinsdale features a great, covered beer garden which makes the perfect outdoor hangout to drink and enjoy Maxum’s yummy entrées. This is not your typical bar cuisine! And don’t forget to try one of their Daily Drink Specials, from buckets of beer to shots and bombs. 9300 S. Kingery Highway (Route 83), Hinsdale. 630-789-6800. http://www.maxumbarandgrill.com/.

Mickey Finn’s Brewery
Mickey Finn’s in Libertyville is well-known for its awesome beer and live music, but have you checked out their beer garden yet? It’s a cozy patio with umbrellas and full food service – a great place to kick back with one of Mickey Finn’s truly unique, flavorful ales and lagers. 412 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville. 847-362-6688. http://www.mickeyfinnsbrewery.com/.

Moretti’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
The garden at Moretti’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in Bartlett makes for a very enjoyable outdoor dining experience, with its stone firepit, two-sided fireplace, and outdoor grill situated on a large deck surrounded by sculptured landscape. Enjoy dinner and lunch in this comfortable beer garden. 1175 W. Lake Street, Bartlett. 630-837-4992. In Schaumburg, Moretti’s has a large patio surrounding the outside of the building, overlooking a lushly landscaped garden area perfect for summer dining and enjoyment. Guests will be treated to the full menu on the patio, where they can choose from pizza, Italian, and American favorites. It’s great for a family meal, a work lunch, or even a few happy hour cocktails after work. Enjoy Moretti’s Mini Martini Flight in the sun and choose three to sample including the Pomegrantini, Limon Drop, Razz-Tini, Cosmo, Fuzzy Naveltini, Blue Moon Martini, and Apple Martini. 1893 Walden Office Square, Schaumburg. 847-397-4200. http://www.morettischicago.com/.

Pete & Johnny’s Tavern and Grille
Pete & Johnny’s in Lisle has a large, comfortable outdoor beer garden for all of your dining and drinking needs! They pride themselves on their great service, quality dishes, and reasonable prices; make sure to stop by the beer garden this summer to enjoy a daily drink special… or even to take Pete’s Challenge!
2901 Ogden Avenue, Lisle. 630-848-1900. http://www.peteandjohnnys.com/.

Ray’s Evergreen
Ray's Evergreen Grille is the home of the famous outdoor Tiki Bar, the western suburbs’ best outside full-service bar. Sit outside and watch the Cubs or the White Sox on their huge plasma TVs and enjoy the best drink specials in town. Join one of the Bagz tournaments every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night on the grass under the lights – with prizes provided by Ray's. And you can't miss College Night every Monday! Bring your school i.d. and take advantage of $0.50 draft beers and shot specials. Make this summer special and enjoy the outside while it lasts! 1400 W. Main Street, St. Charles. 630-584-3535.

Rolling Lanes
Enjoy the summertime with outside drinking and dining at Rolling Lanes. Of course, you’ll also want to try their Daily Drink Specials, Karaoke, or superb live entertainment in the 10th Frame Lounge! With Candlelight Bowling, Cosmic Bowling, and parties galore, Rolling Lanes is the place to be! 6301 Joliet Road, Countryside. 708-352-7262. http://www.myrollinglanes.com/.

Rooster’s Barn and Grill
Check out Rooster’s – “The Hot Place for Cool Meals” and spend some time in their beer garden patio! They’ll take reservations for any size party at any time, so bring your friends and try one of the over 500 hot sauces to sample (or purchase, if one of them hits the spot). Rooster’s serves up great lunches and dinners daily, and breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. Plus, they have all-you-can-eat crab legs on Thursday and Saturday! 122 W. Lake Street, Bloomingdale. 630-307-9995. roostersbarnandgrill.com.

Ryans Public House
The beer garden at Ryans is a lovely, intimate space that you should definitely check out. Narrow and running the length of the building, with brick walls, hanging lights, and umbrellas, the Ryans beer garden has a great urban feel not usually found in the suburbs. Enjoy one of their delicious menu items with full service outside, and bask in the summer sunshine! 8942 W. Ogden Avenue, Brookfield. 708-485-7400. http://www.ryanspublichouse.com/.

Shark City Sports Bar & Billiards
The beer garden at Shark City delivers a South Beach experience right in Glendale Heights, featuring a beautiful waterfall and private cabanas! Munch on their great appetizers, delicious sandwiches and burgers, or healthy salads and wraps while enjoying tunes from the DJ or live entertainment from Thursday to Saturday. 2240 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights. 630-893-9346. http://www.sharkcity.biz/.

Two Rivers Bar & Event Center
Two Rivers is building a huge firepit in the middle of their large beer garden! Enjoy the music and the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere in the beer garden while you savor their special skewer menu, featuring pork, beef, lamb, chicken, fish, and vegetables. Or order off their regular menu for Eastern European and American favorites, plus delicious homemade burgers. Yum! 10997 S. Archer Avenue, Lemont. 630-257-8187.

Villa Sofia
Come to the brand-new beer garden at Villa Sofia! It’s a beautiful red-brick outdoor space under a large wooden awning and table umbrellas. In this 1500 square foot beer garden, you can relax with one of the options from the bar or the full menu. And what a menu it is! Gourmet dishes with pheasant, wild boar, venison, wild duck, quail, and many more – Villa Sofia offers the best wild game recipes around. What better place to experience these dishes, live music, and karaoke than in the beer garden? 26400 N. Rand Road, Wauconda. 847-526-2112. http://www.villasofiausa.com/.

(source: nitelife.org)

And here are a links to Chicago downtown beer gardens listed by neighborhood:
Downtown, Near North, Near West & Near South
North Side – Lincoln Park and Old Town
North Side – Lakeview
North Side – Far North & Northwest
West Side
South Side

(source: chibarproject.com)

Top 10 Italian Beers

2009-07-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

Here are what I deem to be the top ten Italian beers available out there...

1.
Birra Morena
Type: Pale Lager
ABV: 4.6%
Bottle Size: 330ml

2.
Birra Moretti
Type: Pale Lager
ABV: 4.6%
Bottle Size: 330ml

3.
Menabrea
Type: Pale Lager
ABV: 4.8%
Bottle Size: 330ml

4.
Nastro Azzurro
Type: Premium Lager
ABV: 5.2%
Bottle Size: 330ml

5.
Peroni Gran Riserva
Type: Dortmunder/Helles
ABV: 6.6%
Bottle Size: 330ml

6.
Peroni Red
Type: Pale Lager
ABV: 4.7%
Bottle Size: 330ml

7.
Beba

8.
Castello

9.
Dreher (owned by the Heineken group)

10.
Forst

Others to consider:
• Ichnusa (owned by the Heineken group)
• Birra Messina
• Poretti (owned by Carlsberg Italia)
• Splügen (owned by Carlsberg Italia)
• Theresianer
• Raffo Beer

Top 10 Weirdest Beers For 2009

2009-06-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

Here is an article grabbed from a site called "thesharkguys.com" (by the authors of The Man Who Scared A Shark To Death and Other True Tales of Drunken Debauchery)...apparently they have found the weirdest beers that are currently out there...read on and be amused:

"These days, there is a trend towards making alcohol-related products taste like something else – hence the rise of alcopops and various other beverages that are commonly ordered by girl drink drunks [see excellent Kids in the Hall sketch of the same name] The weirdest alcoholic beverages we’ve ever consumed—whiskey distilled with a snake in it (Laos), hot pepper paprika pálinka (Hungarian brandy derived from the Slav, ‘to burn’), pumpkin ale and that shitty fake absinthe sold all over the Czech Republic that looks like what an army barber would use to clean razors—look positively benign in comparison to these brews.

Beer manufacturers are adding ingredients to their brews to excite the Budweiser-deadened taste buds of your average guzzler, and, in some cases, to test their gag reflexes as well. Here then, is a run-down of the Top 10 Weirdest Beers we can find.

1. Pizza-flavored beer seems like the type of unorthodox brew that would do the latter, as, up until this point, the only pizza-flavored beer familiar to the recreational boozer has been the end of the night palette clearing, known in some circles as “bending and sending” (which results in “pavement pizza”). However, according to this review from the Fairfield County Weekly, Tom Seefurth’s Mamma Mia Pizza Beer is actually quite quaffable, if not actually the most authentic-tasting beer. While the brewers do include oregano, basil, tomato and garlic in the mix, it isn’t exactly a slice of pie crammed into a beer bottle. According to the reviewer, “…it resembled the taste of pizza-flavored Combos or Pringles… rather artificial, kind of like the Baco-Bits of the alcohol world.” The reviewer, a Shark Guy in spirit, scoffed at the pizza beer’s low alcohol content (4.5 percent) and said that he’d “just as soon knock back a beer-flavored beer.” [Editor's note: We should mention that we take no responsibility for sickened stomachs. Also, this next one is not meant for humans, but like those sad stories of senior citizens on fixed budgets being left to dine on the Alpo, there is nothing to stop you from trying it out for yourself].

2. Steak-flavored beer for dogs: Who among us hasn’t emptied out the odd pint into Rover’s bowl just to see what would happen when he got a little tipsy? One of our favorite tales in the animals section of our book, The Man Who Scared a Shark to Death and other True Tales of Drunken Debauchery, concerned a footman to the Queen of England who was fired for putting whiskey in the water bowls of the royal corgis [Word had it the pooches liked it 'neat' and have since straightened out] The beer we’re talking about here though, the Dutch Kwispelbier – “tail-wagging beer” is non-alcoholic, and tastes like beef. The beer has recently gone on sale in the UK. According to the distributors of the canine brew, while little Fido may not end up as hammered as his owners, he’ll at least be drinking in solidarity with them: “It means pets are even more a part of family life as they can enjoy a beer, too.”

3. Banana Beer. A garden hose and a g-string away from being a Budweiser marketing executive’s wet dream, unfortunately this brew is going to have to stay in the realm of the subconscious for now as these suds are predominantly brewed in Kenya. According to Howtopedia, which is like Wikipedia without the citations (perhaps not the best source for launching a home bootlegging business), banana beer is made using the fermented juices of sorghum and, if you haven’t guessed it by now, bananas. “Come, Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana / Daylight come and me wanna go home” (where I won’t be sipping on this)

4. Beer and Milk Makes Bilk: According to the good folks over at PETA, beer is actually better for you (not to mention poor ole’ Bessie the cow) than milk. “Beer in moderation is good for you, while even one glass of milk supports animal abuse and harms your health,” says a PETA spokesperson. But for those of us not quite ready to throw dairy out the door and embrace the joys of soy, the good news is that the salutary effects of both milk and beer can be found in one ingeniously named Japanese product: Bilk. The brewer, dealing with an oversupply of milk due to lower consumption in Japan, decided to use surplus to create a beer that is 30% milk. According to Reuters, “apart from a slight milky scent looks and tastes like ordinary beer”. Currently, Bilk is available only in the region where it’s produced, Hokkaido, and by mail order. The manufacturer said that further distribution would depend on how the initial beer fared in local markets, and we’re guessing the lack of reports following on from its introduction last year tell us pretty much all we need to know about how that went.

5. Tomato Beer / Kidsbeer. First, this perennial, grown in your front and backyard if you’re Italian [would make a great addition to those, You Know You're Italian If lists, right alongside your nono's fig tree]. Marginally more masculine than a Bloody Mary or a Caesar (though it still won’t grace any Superbowl tailgates any time soon) it’s red enough so that if it comes up after a night on the town you’ll seek admittance to the nearest ER. According to sources, “the beer seems to act as an antioxidant and has plenty of vitamin E, more than 1000 times that of regular beer”, which might be “zero”, it didn’t say. "A half pint for the little man" The tomato is actually South American in origin, specifically Peru. It is theorized that Cortez brought it back from the New World along with syphilis and it’s safe to say Europe has not been the same since.
Neither has Asia. It’s actually the Japanese who are responsible for this Sunday Gravy brew, unsurprisingly, given their penchant for squid ice cream and Pepsi Ice Cucumber drink, not to mention a non-alcoholic beer marketed at children, Kidsbeer!. According to the New York Times, the potable, “which comes in a brown bottle and is advertised with the slogan “Even kids cannot stand life unless they have a drink,” (Editor’s note: probably not the best slogan to use in a country with one of the world’s highest suicide rates) is lager-colored and foams like beer, but tastes like cola.”

6. Champagne Beer: Champagne tastes? Beer budget? Willing to drink anything we suggest? Well boy do we have the beer for you. The Krait Prestige Champagne Lager, the US name for the UK Cobra Beer, claims to be the world’s first champagne lager and the only lager to be re-fermented in the bottle, a process usually reserved for Trappist ales (drinking Trappist ales, incidentally, is probably the only good thing about being a Trappist monk). The bottle is made to look like a champagne bottle, and offers a combination of the two products inside (throwing into complete chaos standard rules such as “beer after wine, you’ll do just fine”). Whether such a mix would appeal to you depends on whether you enjoy champagne. If you are of a mind with the journalist Christopher Hitchens who once said, “The four most over-rated things in life are champagne, lobster, anal sex and picnics” then this may not be the product for you.

7. Chocolate Donut Beer: Brewed by Shenandoah Brewery in Alexandria Virginia, which, we shit thou not, offers a major discount for law-enforcement officials (the discount doesn’t specifically apply to the donut beer, but still…) comes the Chocolate Donut Beer. This begging-for-a-Homer-Simpson-reference beer is in league with pizza beer in terms of giving you something to drink to remind you of the unhealthy things that you like to eat. The beer overwhelmingly positive feedback on Beer Advocate, including an A+ rating from a guy who said it smelled “Like you just opened a pack of those cheap waxy corner store chocolate gem donuts”.

8. Chipotle Beer / Chili Beer. Fully ripened smoke-dried jalapeno beer, perfect to wash down a plate of nachos at your local dive. Mixed reviews on this one:

“Starts out spicy, mellows with a very faint hint of toasty malt before developing much more heat and finishing with an intense, peppery bite”,
“Way too much black pepper”
“Roasted malt, roasted spicy pepper, very small amount of caramel sweetness”
and the always unappetizing…
“Kind of feels like its leaving a coating on my mouth”

9. Japanese Yellow Protein Beer. The less said about this the better. We’ll leave it to one reviewer, who opined: “Feels like I’ve just woken up and need to brush my teeth”. Don’t forget to floss…and finally…

10. Creme Brulee Beer. To close, as a way to cleanse the palette in dessert fashion, Crème brûlée Beer. Because when you think vanilla custard, cream and caramel…Do not light with a blowtorch, not because you could blow yourself to smithereens (we frankly don’t care), but because you need at least 100 proof to be flammable.
Bottoms up."

Beer Colors and Hues Chart and Lovibond Units

2009-06-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

Beer Hues in Lovibond Units

There are so many colors and hues of beer that can be seen...curious about how many there are and how they make a difference in a brew's appeal? Well, here ya go: I could go into great explanation on color effects but why bother when a guru has already done it for us. Below is an article by Dr George Fix that says it all:

(Article by Dr. George Fix)
Color affects the appreciation and evaluation of beer in subtle but definite ways. The "halo effect" refer to a situation where a positive (or negative) response to one attribute leads to an over evaluation (or under evaluation) of other attributes. The color of beer can be a powerful but often subconscious generator of the "halo effect."
An example is the low marks given to otherwise satisfactory beers in competitions where the entry's color is inappropriate for the category. In professional tasting, the "halo effect" is generally regarded as an unacceptable bias. However, in less formal settings it reflects the natural influence that physical appearance of a food or beverage has over sensory anticipation. For this, and other reasons, color control in brewing is important, and the goal of this chapter is to review the basic issues. Before describing the test we first review the units in which beer and wort color are measured, and then review the factors that affect color in malting and brewing.

COLOR UNITS
Beer and wort color traditionally have been measured visually, and early on the Lovibond (degL) scale was adopted as a standard. This consists of a well-defined set of color samples that are used for comparison. A visual match with a beer or wort sample defines the degL of the sample. In modern brewing, photometric methods have replaced visual comparison, and the American Society of Brewing Chemists has developed the so-called Standard Reference Method (SRM), which is widely used. Results are expressed as degrees SRM, and for the purposes of this article these units can be regarded as the same as degL. Some examples are presented in the chart below.
Standard Reference Method (SRM) for Beer Color Evaluation
(See table 1 above)
It is important to know that totally different units are used in England and Europe (i.e., degrees EBC). This is because of the different analytical procedures that are used for measurement. The following formulas have been used to relate these units:
(degEBC) = 2.65 x (degL) - 1.2
(degL) = 0.377 x (degEBC) + 0.45
I have found that they give reasonable results for light-colored beers (e.g., those whose color does not exceed 4 degL); however, they are inaccurate for deeper-colored beers. Discussions with Roger Briess of Briess Malting Company indicate that these formulas are not held in high regard by professionals.

INFLUENCE OF MALT
After the grain is steeped with water, it is allowed to germinate, then is dried in the kiln. It is in the kiln where coloring pigments such as melanoidins in malt are formed via the Maillard or browning reaction, a very common oxidation that occurs in many foods when they are cooked or exposed to air. By controlling the kiln temperature, the maltster can control the color of the kernels and hence their coloring potential in brewing. Typical values for various malt types are shown in Table 2.
A rule sometimes used by homebrewers is that the color contributed by a malt is equal to its concentration in pounds per gallon times its color rating in degL. For pale beers this rule can give reasonable results. For example, 10 pounds of pale malt with color 1.6 degL in five gallons should produce a beer whose color is near
1.6 x 10/5 = 3.2degL.
But for darker colored beers this rule can give erratic results. It also ignores the factors other than malt that contribute to beer color. Cereal adjuncts like rice make no contribution to beer color. Corn and unmalted barley have only a slight effect.
(See table 2 above)

INFLUENCE OF BREWING CONDITIONS
Differences in brewing conditions can lead to substantial color changes in the finished beer, these effects being particularly important for beers at 5 degL or less.
Water As the alkalinity of the water increases, so does the extraction rate of the coloring pigments in malt. The mash pH I has the same effect, and increasing pH leads to worts with deeper color.
Mash Color increases with the amount of contact time with the grains. Thus, a prolonged mash will produce a deeper-colored beer than a short mash.
Kettle boil The Maillard reaction also takes place as wort is boiled; therefore, wort color increases with boil time. A fact that is sometimes overlooked is that wort simmering has the same effect. The point is that this will lead to an incomplete hot and cold break, which in turn leaves more coloring elements in the finished wort.
Hops Some color is obtained from hops both in the kettle and in storage containers when postfermentation hopping is used.
Fermentation The proteinous matter produced during the cold break is full of coloring materials and, hence, removal of these materials will reduce color. It has been reported that color changes during fermentation vary with yeast strain.
Filtration This can dramatically reduce color. It should be noted that a clear beer will appear to be lighter color than turbid beer.
Oxidation
At all stages of brewing, air pickup will deepen beer color. This is as true of hot wort production as it is of bottled beer with head-space air.

BRIESS COLOR TEST
This is a simple test designed for homebrewers and microbrewers. Comparisons have shown that will give color readings with errors more than on percent for beer whose color is 17 degL or less. Beer whose color exceeds 17 degL will be essentially black in appearance. It is not particularly important to quantify color beyond this point. The standard for this test is Michelob Classic Dark. The reason is that it is widely available, and its color is known (17 degL). On very rare occasions one will come across old bottles of this beer where haze has developed because of mishandling by distributors. These should not be used in this test. By the same token, the sample to be tested should clear and free of haze. The test consists of diluting the standard with water until a color match with the sample is obtained. Figure 2 gives the relationship between the amount of water added and the degL of the sample.

MATERIALS NEEDED
Distilled water--Colored tap water can increase the errors in this test from I percent to 10 or 20 percent.
Blender--Dissolved CO2 in the beer will affect its color. Both the standard and the sample should be degassed. This can be done in a blender. A lot of foam will be created, but once it recedes and the beer falls clear it is ready for testing.
Light source--It is important for the visual comparison to take place in a well-lighted environment. Ideally, this consists of a lamp with a 100watt bulb against a white background. Be sure to use the reflected rather than direct light, and place the samples the same distance from the light source Also, take time in making the comparison because the difference in one or two degL is not that great.
Vessels--These are the most important components to this test. After extensive experimentation it became clear that two sets are needed. For detailed testing, two glass jars of one-inch diameter and a capacity of at least 125 milliliters are best. For samples below 10 degL the volume of these vessels is not large enough. Two white 12-ounce export (long neck returnable bottles will be needed. The Miller Brewin Co. has been using these bottles. So has Corona, but the label, which cannot be removed, is a distraction.
Syringe--This is needed to measure 10 cc = 10 ml of water.

PROCEDURE
Clean everything.
De-gas standard and then sample in blender.
Measure in 20 ml of standard beer in export bottle No. 1.
Measure in 20 ml of sample beer in export bottle No. 2.
If colors are different, measure in 10 ml of distilled water to bottle No. 1 and 10 ml of sample beer to export bottle No. 2.
Continue Step 5 until colors become close. At this point the comparisons should be made in the one-inch diameter jars. Transfer 25 to 50 ml into these from the export bottles and return after comparison. Cut the water and sample beer increment from 10 ml to 5 ml.
When a color match is obtained, record the total amount of water added. Figure 2 gives the associated degL.

EXAMPLE - BASS PALE ALE
At the start the 20 ml of standard beer (Michelob Classic Dark) will be discernibly darker than the sample (Bass). After adding 30 ml of water to the standard, the colors will become close, and at this point the one-inch jars are needed. A match is obtained after an additional 10 ml of water is added. Thus a total of 40 ml of water was needed, and from Figure 2, we see that Bass has a color of 10 degL. Since only 60 ml of liquid was used in each bottle, the entire test could have done in the one-inch diameter jars. Note that the relationship between degL and dilution water is not linear. For example, adding 20 ml of water to 20 ml of Michelob Classic Dark (17 degL) will not cut the color in half. In fact, instead of 17/2 = 8.5 degL the color will be higher, namely 13 degL (see Figure 2). This lack of proportionality is why the relationship between degL and degrees EBC can be in error. It also explains why beer color and malt color are not proportional. At the lower color range, on the other hand, proportionality is approximately valid. Thus, diluting 20 ml of Molson Export Ale (4 degL) with 20 ml of water will give a color very close to Budweiser (2degL). More generally for beers whose color is 4 degL or less, the curve in Figure 2 is given by degL = 4(140/VA + 20) where VA is the dilution water in ml.

(The author acknowledges the significant contributions made through conversations with Roger Briess. In fact, the simple color test described above is essentially his idea. The author's contribution was to work out the data represented in Figure 2.)

Beer Styles List And Descriptions (AHA / BJCP)

2009-06-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

There are many different styles of beer out there in the big wide world...ever wonder what they are? Here is a list of them based on AHA (American Homebrewing Association) and the BJCP (Beer Judging Certification Program) guidelines. Click on a link below in one of the categories for a description of the style:

BJCP BEER STYLES

American Lager

Light/Standard/Premium
Dark Lager
Classic American Pilsner

European Pale Lager
Bohemian Pilsner
Northern German Pilsner
Dortmunder Export
Munich Helles

Light Ale
Blonde Ale
American Wheat
Cream Ale

Bitter & English Pale Ale
Ordinary Bitter
Special or Best Bitter
Strong Bitter/English Pale Ale

Scottish Ale
Light 60/-
Heavy 70/-
Export 80/-

American Pale Ales
American Pale Ale
American Amber
California Common Ale

India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale

Koelsch & Altibier
Koelsch-Style Ale
Dusseldorfer Altbier
Northern German Altbier

German Amber Lager
Oktoberfest/Maerzen
Vienna Lager

Brown Ale
Mild
Northern Brown Ale
Southern Brown Ale
American Brown Ale

English & Scottish Strong Ale
Old Ale
Strong Scotch Ale (Wee Heavy)

Barleywine & Imperial Stout
Enblish Style Barleywine
American-style Barleywine
Russian Imperial Stout

European Dark Lager
Munich Dunkel
Schwarzbier

Bock
Traditional Bock
Helles Bock/Maibock
Doppelbock
Eisbock

Porter
Robust Porter
Brown Porter

Stout
Dry Stout
Sweet Stout
Oatmeal Stout
Foreign Extra Stout

Wheat Beer
Bavarian Weizen
Bavarian Dunkelweizen
Berliner Weisse
Weizenbock

Strong Belgain Ale
Dubbel
Tripel
Belgian Strong Golden Ale
Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Belgian & French Ale
Belgian Pale Ale
Witbier
Biere de Garde
Saison
Belgian Specialty Ale

Lambic & Belgian Sour Ale
Straight Lambic-style Ale
Gueuze-style Ale
Fruit Lambic-style Ale
Oud Bruin Ale
Flanders Red Ale

Fruit Beer
Fruit Beer

Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Spice/Herb/Vegetable

Smoked Beer
Classic Rauchbier
Other Smoked Beer

Specialty
Experimental and historic

Mead
Traditional Mead
Varietal Honey Traditional Mead
Cyser
Pyment
Other Fruit Melomel
Metheglin
Braggot

Cider
Standard Cider and Perry
New England-style Cider
Specialty Cider and Perry

AHA BEER STYLES

Barley Wine

English-Style Barley Wine
American-Style Barley Wine

Belgian and French Ale
Flanders Brown / Ouid Bruin
Dubbel
Tripel
Belgain Pale Ale
Belgain Pale Strong Ale
Dark Strong Ale
White (Wit)
Biere de Garde

Belgain-style Lambic
Lambic
Gueuze Lambic
Fruit Lambic

Mild and Brown Ale
English Light Mild
English Dark Mild
English Brown
American Brown
Irish Red Ale

English-style Pale Ale
Classic English Pale Ale
India Pale Ale

American-style Ale
American Pale Ale
American Amber Ale
American Wheat

English Bitter
English Ordinary Bitter
English Special Bitter
English Extra Special Bitter

Scottish Ale
Scottish Light
Scottish Heavy
Scottish Export

Porter
Brown Porter
Robust Porter

English & Scottish Strong Ale
English Old Ale/Strong Ale
Strong Scotch Ale

Stout
Classic Irish-style Dry Stout
Foreign Style Stout
Sweet Stout
Oatmeal Stout
Imperial Stout

Bock
Traditional Bock
German-Style Helles Bock/Maibock
Doppelbock
Eisbock

German Dark Lager
Munich Dunkel
Schwarzbier

Classic Pilsner
German-Style Pilsner
Bohemian-Style Pilsner
American-Style Pilsner

American Lager
American Lager
American-Style Light Lager
American-Lager/Ale or Creame Ale
American-Premium Lager
America Dark Lager

German Light Lager
Munchner-Styule Helles
Dortmunder/European-Style Export

Vienna/Marzen/Oktoberfest
Vienna
Marzen/Oktoberfest

German-Style Ale
Kolsch
Dusseldorf-Style Altbeir

German-Style Wheat Beer
Weizen/Weissbeir (Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier)
Berliner Weisse
Dunkelweizen
Weizenbock/Weissbock

Smoked Beer
Bamberg-Style Rauchbier
Classic-Style Smoked Beer
Other Smoked Beer

Fruit and Vegatable Beer
Fruit and Vegatable Beer
Classic-Style Fruit Beer

Herb and Spice Beer
Herb and Spice Beers
Classic-Style Herb and Spice Beer

Specialty Beer
Specialty Beer
Classic-Style Specialty Beer

California Common Beer
California Common Beer

Mead, Traditional
Sparkling Traditional Mead
Still Traditional Mead
Sparkling Braggot
Still Braggot

Mead Fruit and Vegetable
Sparkling Melomel
Still Melomel
Sparkling Cyser
Still Cyser
Sparkling Pyment
Still Pyment

Mead, Herb and Spice
Sparkling Metheglin
Still Metheglin
Sparkling Hippocras
Still Hipposcras

Cider
Still Cider
Sparkling Cider
New-England Style Cider
Specialty Cider

Chicago Beer Joint TWISTED SPOKE Features "$2.50 Tuesdays" and "Smut and Eggs Saturdays"

2009-06-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Stopped by the Twisted Spoke (located at 501 N. Ogden Ave. / 500N, 1300W /Chicago, IL ph#312-666-1500) the other day for dinner and a brew...suprisingly they offer a large list of beers to choose from and since I happened to be there on a Tuesday, Jay our server, pointed out that all five dollar beers on the menu are only $2.50, hence "$2.50 Tuesdays" for these selected beers. Early on Sunday mornings from Midnite to 2:30 AM "The Spoke," as locals refer to it, features "Smut & Eggs", a showing of porn films from the 1970s while you munch on an early morning breakfast after a Saturday night of partying. The bar is easily identifiable from the street as a human skeleton sits astride on a motorcycle on top of the building.

As Sean Parnell has written for The Chicago Bar Project, his review states : "...It is much more than just "biker friendly" as it is often described in many of the standard, mind-numbing reviews. At the Spoke, you'll find some of the best burgers in town, one of the few rooftop patios around, excellent Bloody Marys, and the strangely alluring "Smut & Eggs." The Twisted Spoke comes to you out of the same madness from which sprang Twisted Spoke Lakeview, Pie Hole, and the dearly departed Bone Daddy, and, by itself, has become one of the best bars in Chicago. What is "biker friendly" anyway? Twisted Spoke is located at the corner of Ogden and Grand Avenue in West Town where, up until recently, most bar owners have feared to tread. The only other bars inhabiting the area also known as River West are the Matchbox, Emmit's Pub and Richard's, so it can be a bit difficult to find a cab afterwards; the bartenders can call you one if you have trouble. Otherwise, it's pretty difficult to find parking in this part of town due to all the new condo construction (your best bet is on Ogden and don't park in the empty lot across the street or the tow trucks will get you). Bone Daddy, under the same ownership, used to be located just up the street on Ogden but shut during the summer of 2003...the Twisted Spoke sports a facade encrusted with rusted metal plating and a wall of narrow, plate-glass windows that open out in summer. This is a result of the Twisted Spoke's recent "remodeling." Considering that the previous version looked like the farmhouse in the original version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the new Twisted Spoke is far more inviting and much less scary. However, they did keep their skeletal Hells Angel mascot: a vintage motorcycle-riding, wheelie-poppin' skeleton, which can be seen revolving from a long black pole at the bar's helm. Four motorcycles can be found half buried within a "planter" lined with the same rusted metal as the bar itself, making what has to be the most unusual "garden" around. More motorcycles, of the unplanted variety, can usually be found lined up in a neat little row just outside the bar. A motorcycle handlebar serves as the outer door's handle and mind your step as you walk in as there's a short, fairly steep cement ramp. Once inside, you'll find the hostess's stand just beyond several framed accolades, including Top 10 rankings for Best Hamburger, Best Fries, Best Barbeque, Best Late-Night Dining, Best Outdoor Dining, Best After Work Dining, Best Neighborhood Bar, Best Place to See and Be Seen, Best Singles Bar, and Best Cheap Eats by Citysearch: Chicago in 2001. A scuffed cement floor leads to both cancerous and non-cancerous sections of the dining room, with its curving black banquette along the east wall and low-slung, galvanized metal tables and black vinyl chairs across from it. Cardboard beer six-packs contain the condiments and a corrugated metal ceiling can be found above. The wall above the banquette features track-lit, black & white photographs that look like Glamour Shots of Baby Boomers on motorcycles. Various antique motorcycle parts, including helmets, piston blocks, crankshafts, rims, license plats, sprockets, and horns dot the walls and columns around the room. Back around to the left of the hostess stand, you'll find a short hallway that leads to an exposed brick bar area in the eastern portion of the Twisted Spoke. This area features a pool table, a couple of cocktail tables, a motorcycle propped up on a brick landing, and a smallish wooden bar that runs against the southeastern wall. A very good selection of microbrews can be found behind the bar that includes

Stella Artois, Anchor Porter and Sprecher Bavarian, served from over a dozen taps and even more can be had in bottles. Each month, one of these beers is featured by "Butch" for the recession-friendly price of only $2; they don't tell you what beer it is but rather, "We have 53 good beers, 1 bad. It's best not to ask questions. What is it? What it is is $2." Most other beers are $2.50 on Tuesdays. The Spoke also serves up an excellent selection of bourbon in the spirit of brethren bar, Delilah's —you know a bar takes its bourbon seriously when they have Jim Beam on tap like they do at the Twisted Spoke (Beam cocktails are $2 every day). The bathrooms, labeled "Chicks" and "Dicks" (each with a listing, including Nixon, Daley and "Daley (again)," can be found across from the bar, down a short curving hallway...".

Top 10 St. Patrick's Day Festivals In The USA

2009-03-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

Wondering where the ten best St.Patty's Day fests are in the U.S.? Look no further..."St. Patrick’s Day started out as a religious holiday commemorating the patron saint of Ireland. Today “St. Paddy’s” in America has become a celebration of Irish food, culture, and drink, as well as anything having to do with the color green. Typically observed with loud music, dancing, parades and green beer, St. Patrick’s Day festivities happen everywhere in the country, and they are perfect opportunities for beer enthusiasts everywhere to come together and have their fill. No matter where in America you live, chances are there’s going to be a festival in a city near you come March 17. Below is a list of what we think are the top 10 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S.:

1. Chicago, Illinois
Downtown Chicago hosts one the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. It begins with the world-famous dyeing of the Chicago River. The huge, vibrant green river flowing through the middle of the city is a must-see sight. After the dying of the river, people cluster up along Columbus Drive to witness the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, replete with pipe bands, giant floats, Irish dancers and tons of other entertainers commemorating Irish culture. Then it’s on to the nightlife, as the party continues in the many Downtown Chicago bars and nightclubs.

2. Boston, Massachusetts
St. Patrick’s Day first came to America in 1737, and the holiday was first celebrated in none other than Boston, Massachusetts. Over 850,000 people show up every year to this Irish bash, many of them from out of state. And with the population of the city being 16% Irish, Boston hosts one of the most enthusiastic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Boston starts partying a full week before St. Patrick’s Day. This year, the city will host the fourth annual Gaelic Gourmet Gala, featuring top chefs from Ireland and Boston. Throughout the week there will be Irish band concerts as well as beer and food specials at bars and restaurants, like the 75 Chestnut, for those who dress their Irish best. On the 15th, South Boston hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, with an estimated 600,000 people showing up.

3. Washington D.C.
There are many, many celebratory events and activities throughout the Nation’s capitol come St. Paddy’s Day. The most famous of these is probably the Shamrock Festival at the RFK Stadium. It happens on March 14 and it’s an all-day event showcasing over 50 Irish bands, dancers, games and other activities. There’s a huge parade the following day, featuring bagpipe players, and Irish folk dancers, as well as the required floats and marching bands.

4. New York City, New York
New York City has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a parade since 1762. They expect well over 1 million people to show up. There are over 150,000 marchers alone. Green beer and the sound of bagpipes will be everywhere in the streets of NYC. If you get there a few days earlier, take the time to make the pilgrimage to the beautiful St. Patrick’s Cathedral as well as the many Irish Pubs and Bars scattered throughout the city.

5. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is by far the best mid-western city for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. To start, Michelob sponsors a 5 mile run on the 14th. There is then a huge St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown St. Louis, featuring character balloons, Irish dancers, equestrians and large floats. At night, the celebration crescendos as people head off the many bars and pubs in the area offering festive drinks, plenty of green beer and Irish food.

6. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with parade since 1825. What started out as a modest affair has turned into one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Savannah’s parade draws crowds of over 400,000 people. Dying the city’s fountains green is one of the traditions unique to the city. Seeing the green fountains, as spring starts creeping up on the Georgia city is one of the most enjoyable sights you can witness.

7. San Francisco, California
In the western United States, you won’t find a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that’s bigger or richer in history than the one that takes place in San Francisco. Called one of the most fashionable parades in the country, San Francisco’s St. Patrick’s Day parade follows the city’s iconic trolley tracks. Afterwards the nightlife gets livelier throughout the city’s many Irish bars and pubs, as the celebration draws thousands of people from all over the state.

8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia has been celebrating the famous Irish holiday since 1771. The city’s annual parade is the second oldest parade in the country, and it is organized by the Saint Patrick’s Observance Association. The parade draws about 500,000 people and this year, it will be held on March 15th. There will be thousands of marchers and CBS will be broadcasting the event live.

9. Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City first held a St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1873. Today the event draws a crowd of about 200,000 spectators. One of the things unique to this particular parade is that the grand prize winner of the procession gets an all-expense paid trip to Ireland, so participants really give it their all. After the parade, head over to Westport, where you’ll find some of the best post-parade drinking and partying establishments in town.

10. Dublin, Ohio
There are nine cities in the United States named Dublin, but Dublin, Ohio is the one that lives up to its name the most, especially when St. Patrick’s Day comes around. The city hosts a miles-long parade featuring floats, bands and leprechauns. There are plenty of post-parade bashes to attend. If you are in the mood to explore some of the city’s Irish heritage, you can head over to the Historic District, and enjoy some Irish food and Celtic music
(source: beertastetest.com)

Top 10 Irish Beers (Ales, Lagers, Cream Ales)

2009-01-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

Irish beer offers two beer styles and a hybrid ...these are ales, lagers with cream ales being a hybrid of lager and ale brewing styles. Ales are "top-fermented" beers where the yeast thrives in warmer temperatures and withstands higher alcohol concentrations. The stout beers are part of the ale family. They are dense and dark and are brewed from a base of roasted malt. Lagers are "bottom-fermented" beers that are stored at low temperatures for longer periods of time (weeks to months—the word lager comes from the German word lagern, "to store") and are light in color. Cream Ales are a hybrid of ale and lager brewing techniques. They are ale-fermented at a lower temperature and then conditioned like a lager (low temperature). Cream ale coloration ranges from amber to red.

1) Beamish Stout (Ale) - dense,malty,dark,chocolaty; full-bodied

2) Guinness Draught (Ale) - roasted malt and chocolate; slightly bitter

3) Guinness Extra Stout (Ale) - strong coffee flavor; slightly bitter

4) Murphy's Irish Stout (Ale) - mocha flavor; very smooth

5) O'Hara's Celtic Stout (Ale) - mocha flavor; not bitter

6) Harp (Lager) - smooth, solid and bitter

7) Kinsale Irish Lager (Lager) - golden color, flowry flavor

8) Kilkenny Irish (Cream Ale) - toasted malt, sweet and creamy

9) Murphy's Irish Red (Cream Ale) - hoppy flavor touched by fruit and caramel

10) Murphy's Irish Amber (Cream Ale) - similar to Murphy's Red but slightly sweet

Growth Of World Beer Consumption <3% In 2008

2009-01-04T14:37:00.000-08:00

According to the Plato Logic November 2008 Research report, beer consumption worldwide has grown less than three percent this year. Also, it was revealed the Chinese beer brand "Snow" (brewed by partners SABMiller and China Resources Enterprises, Ltd.) has become the second biggest beer brand based on volume, in the world. China is the largest beer market in the world and has achieved this just in the past decade. The researcher stated that the world's five biggest beer markets were China, United States, Russia, Brazil and Germany. Plato Logic also forecasts that world beer consumption will grow by less than 3% in 2008, after the 5,6% growth seen in 2007. Plato lists the top ten beer brands as: Bud Light, Snow, Budweiser, InBev's Brazilian beer Skol, Corona, Heineken, another Brazilian InBev brand Brahma, Coors Light, SABMiller's Miller Lite and China's Tsingtao. SABMiller plc has brewing and beverage interests in more than 60 countries across six continents. The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries are the manufacture, distribution and sale of beverages. Its brands include international beers, such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Miller Genuine Draft and Grolsch along with local brands, such as Aguila, Castle, Miller Lite, Snow and Tyskie. The Company is one of the bottlers of Coca-Cola products. The company’s markets range from developed economies, such as United States to markets, such as China and India. (source:globalmalt.com)

The Beer Wench's Men of 2008

2009-01-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well, "The Beer Wench" (a.k.a. Ashley Routson) has picked her men for 2008...I am very distraught...I'm not on the list...but who knows maybe I'll make it for 2009 (actually making her phone list would be even better...HA). Anyway, I've enjoyed following her beer blogging via "The Beer Wench - Drinking Through The World One Beer At A Time" blog. I have just begun doing the blogging thing myself recently and out of the various topical blogs I have (40 actually), beer is one of them that I try to consistently cover. I am far from being any kind of beer snob, but have been trying my hand at reporting on some of the basic info and spreading the word out there on beer in general...actually more like the cultural aspects of beer and "Top Ten" lists on several beers of the world, YouTubes, etc. A few of these brews I have tried and eventually the rest shall not be denied...but I only have so much time and where-with-all to leisurely imbibe. In tribute to all those out there blogging on beer and especially all of the knowledge that beer bloggers like "The Beer Wench" have imparted to me on savoring "liquid bread", I would like to reprint her article here regarding her male choices for 2008 which I found to be a good read:

The Wench’s Men of 2008

January 1, 2009 by The Beer Wench

Welcome to the year 2009! Here is to another great year full of drinking beautifully crafted, unique and excellent beers! Cheers!

The current trend amongst many of my favorite bloggers has been to create some sort of list to commemorate the past year. Some have written posts about the top ten blogs that they have either written or read in 2008. Others have listed the top ten wines or beers that they had tasted in 2008. Some have done both.

Technically, my blog is not even a year old. (The Beer Wench was born February 7, 2008) This makes it a little difficult for me to make a compilation of my favorite posts or blogs or even just Beer Wench experiences for the entire year.

HOWEVER, since my blog is only in its first year … it and I have experienced tremendous leaps and growth in the seemingly small amount of time that we have existed.

As a way of welcoming in the new year as well as reflecting upon the last year, I have chosen to create a list of the 3 most influential people on The Beer Wench (both blog and person) in 2008. Honestly, several people have made a tremendous impact on my beer tasting … beer drinking … beer writing experiences. Although most of these people will go unnamed, I hope they know how much I appreciate them and the education, encouragement and experiences of which they have provided me!

I have chosen to highlight the 3 most influential people on both myself and my blog in 2008. In my opinion, these 3 individuals have educated, inspired and helped develop me and my blog into what we have become today. And without any further ado … allow me to present The Beer Wench’s 3 biggest influencers of 2008.

Drum roll please…

3. Sam Caglione.

It is no secret that The Beer Wench is obsessed with Dogfish Head beers. In many ways I attribute my passion for craft beers to Dogfish Head. Not only is the beer DAMN GOOD, but the stories that accompany each ale are equally intriguing. Drinking Dogfish Head is more than just mere consumption of beer. It is an experience. Each ale has a compelling story. Each ale is brewed with unique and interesting ingredients. Each Dogfish Head ale is brewed with an obscene amount of TLC … and trust me, you can taste it.

I have many of these extraordinary “off-centered ales” sitting in my “cellar” at this very moment. (And by cellar I mean the several cardboard boxes of beer I have sitting in my closet. Currently, I have Raison D’Extra, World Wide Stout, 120 Minute IPA, Pangea, Theobroma, FORT, Red & White, Punkin Ale, Midas Touch, Chicory Stout, Palo Santo Marron, Olde School Barley Wine…)

My preoccupation with everything Dogfish Head resulted in my reading of “Brewing Up A Business” … written by the brilliant founder and owner of Dogfish Head, Sam Caglione. His book was extremely compelling and surprisingly inspirational. Sam’s dedication to producing the highest quality “off-centered” ales is rather amazing. His passion for beer is contagious.

One of my most memorable moments of 2008 was my first visit to the Dogfish Head Brewery and Brewpub in Delaware. Unfortunately, Sam was not around at the time. HOWEVER, I am intent on meeting him (and his wife Marnie) in person … in the very near future. Until then, I will just have to stalk them via Twitter (@dogfishbeer).

PS: Rumor has it that The Beer Wench will be co-hosting a Twitter Taste Live beer event with Sam Caglione in mid-February. Stay tuned for official confirmation. (’The virtual tasting will definitely happen … when and who will be involved is TBA.)

I encourage you all to raise your glass to Sam Caglione and the ridiculously awesome beers he has created at Dogfish Head Brewery! CHEERS!

2. Michael Jackson.

My number two is a no brainer. Almost all homebrewers, brewmasters, beer bloggers, beer connoisseurs, etc. can attest to the fact that Michael Jackson, even after his death, is and was the most influential person in the modern day beer world to have ever walked the planet.

His books are my bibles. Especially when it comes to Belgian beers. And we all know how much I love my Belgians. Any time I need information, confirmation, further education about a Belgian beer, style or brewery … I consult MJ (my pet name for Michael Jackson). He is my go to reference when it comes to beer.

Unfortunately, the infamous Beer Hunter died before The Beer Wench was even conceptualized. His death occurred just as I was coming in to my beer obsession. And sadly, I will never have the honor of meeting him. He will never be forgotten, though. I have aspirations to keep his legacy alive and lofty dreams of becoming a female version of The Beer Hunter. (After all, like MJ, I combine a passion for beer with a “skill?” for writing.)And now I ask you all to raise a glass to my number 2 … quite possibly the most infamous man of the beer world … Mr. Michael Jackson. CHEERS!

1. Brian Van Zandbergen.

Who is this mystery man, you ask? How on earth can any one person out rank THE Michael Jackson? Why have you not heard me mention him before now? Or have I …

Allow me to explain. Brian has had, without a doubt, the biggest impact on my beer world yet. He completely revolutionized the way I thought about and tasted beer.

Need elaboration?

I met Brian in Chicago. I was in town for the National Restaurant Association show. 2008 was the first International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event at the NRA show. Naturally, after the day long event … everyone involved spent a good amount of time eating and drinking throughout the entire city of Chicago.

One night, I found myself in the same Irish restaurant as a Mr. Brian Van Zandbergen. A mutual friend introduced us … knowing that I was an aspiring beer connoisseur and that he was not only a beer connoisseur and the Merchant Du Vin representative for Illinois … but also the infamous author of The Beer Enthusiast’s Guide to Chicago!

When I first met Brian, I thought I knew about beer. BOY WAS I WRONG. Although I was the biggest advocate of American craft beer, I still had a thing or two to learn about the world of beer. And Brian made sure to school me … and school me he did. We traveled around the city of Chicago to all of his favorite, and arguably the best, beer bars in the entire city. And learn about beer I did.

Because of Brian, I am obsessed with Belgian beers. And because of Brian, I am head over heels … completely in love with Lambics. And because of Brian, the GUEUZE is my absolute favorite style of beer.

I told Brian that I loved IPAs and Double IPAs. He schooled me on what a real IPA was. And then he schooled me on the Belgians.

Brian gave me one of the most memorable beer experiences of my young Beer Wench life … and for that I am eternally grateful. He is an amazing mentor … and friend.

And now I ask you all to raise a glass to my friend, my mentor … a fellow beer lover and connoisseur … Brian Van Zandbergen. Thanks, Brian. You have inspired me in more ways than you will ever know. I look forward to visiting you in Chicago sometime in the near future! Cheers!

Beer Is Liquid Bread According To Singing Legos

2009-01-03T23:12:00.000-08:00

Well...I thought this was funny anyway:

Top 10 Finnish (Finland) Beers

2009-01-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

Beer from Finland...? Yes, they have beers and brews too! The first brewer in Finland was started in 1819 by Nikolai Sinebrychoff. In 1969, beer was available through shops and bars. Barley is the most common grain used. Here are the top ten Finland beers complete with a link to the (April time frame) Annual Helsinki Beer Festival:

Urho - The best domestic brew in Finland is brewed by Hartwall
Karhu - This is a fine full-bodied beer, not too fizzy, keeps it head; reminiscent od a light German beer; "karhu" translates to "bear" in English.
Olvi - Olvi is a separate brewery from Sinebrychoff (karhu) and Hartwall (classic) and is a very fine beer.

Lapin Kulta - Pretty mild tasting mass produced beer, but better than most Finnish beers.

Koff - no longer available in Sweden!

Karjala - a good beer
Stadin Panimos Porter - an okay beer

8 Sahti - is a homemade brew using barley and flavored with juniper

9 Lammin -
10 Huvila -

Others - Perho Brave Beer, Perho Summer Beer, Perho Spring Beer (Easter), Perho Christmas Beer (November/December - Dark Beer), Krouvi Multigrain (Carlsberg)

Extra special bonus...Here is a sampling of funny Finnish Beer TV Ads:

Top 10 USA Domestic Beers / Brands

2008-12-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

The Information Resources Incorporated (IRI) report indicates craft beer sales are on the increase and it also states the following domestic brews are the ten best selling labels here in the good ole USA. These are sales that are tabulated in outlets that IRI monitors, such as supermarkets with at least $2 million in sales, convenience stores and retail liquor stores, to wit:

1. Bud Light

2. Budweiser

3. Miller Lite

4. Coors Light

5. Corona Extra

6. Natural Light

7. Heineken

8. Michelob Ultra Light

9. Busch Light

10. Miller High Life

A Beer Tree Christmas - Kegs

2008-12-24T23:07:00.000-08:00

Yes...a Christmas tree made out of beer kegs !

Beer Run

2008-12-24T20:14:00.000-08:00

Need to make a beer run?:

A Top Beer Ad For Christmas Time

2008-12-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

"A little candle light and a little Bud Lite":

A Beer Tree Christmas - Cans

2008-12-24T19:50:00.000-08:00

The Ultimate Beer Can Christmas Tree:

A Beer Tree Christmas - Bottles

2008-12-24T19:36:00.000-08:00

The Ultimate Beer Bottle Christmas Tree:

"A Beeeer In A Tree": The 12 Days Of Christmas

2008-12-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

For all you "HoseHeads" out there, remember the brothers Bob & Doug McKenzie? From the Great White North segment on the old Second City TV show...here is their rendition of "The 12 Days Of Christmas (A Beer In A Tree)" for your seasonal enjoyment, you "Hosers", while you break open a new cold one and get hosed:

Top 10 English Bottled Beers

2008-12-21T20:36:00.000-08:00

Here are the top ten English bottle beers to check out when you get the chance:

1) Newcastle Brown Ale: (1927) Currently considered to be the best selling bottled beer in Europe...famous for being the first Northern-style Brown Ale.

2) Bass Ale: (1777) From Burton-on-Trent. When dark stouts and porters were the most popular beers, William Bass set out to copy the London brewer Hodgson and make a pale coloured beer. There are two bottled versions available in Britain. The version called "Our Finest Ale" is the tastiest and closest version to the original. The version sent to America is blander and stronger than the British versions. There is also a Belgian version which is considered the best of the bottled beers carrying the Bass name.

3) Worthington White Shield: (1829) White Shield is now owned by Coors, though brewed at the mostly autonomous Museum Brewing Company. This is the genuine Burton Pale Ale and another brew produced in Burton-on-Trent.

4) Gale’s Prize Old Ale: Brewed in Hampshire, it has a “dried apricots in vinegar” flavor (motelpogo). Prize Old Ale is best had after it has aged 20 years.
5) Theakston’s Old Peculier: England’s best-known and most popular Old Ale.

6) Morland Old Speckled Hen: (1979) It was launched on the anniversary of the founding of the MG car factory (the beer's name refers to the old, mud spattered factory runabout which the locals dubbed “old speckled ‘un”).

7) Harvey’s Imperial Extra Double Stout: (1700's) Also known as A. le Coq Imperial Stout, it was named after a Belgian by the name of A. Le Coq who was the man in charge of exports of this beer to the Baltic region. The Courage Imperial Stout is rarely made - it hasn’t been brewed since the 1990’s, if you actually find a bottle it will cost you. There is an Estonian brewery, Tartu, that revived A. Le Coq’s Imperial Extra Double Stout. It is only brewed once a year, and then aged for two years before being sold to the public.

8) Robinson’s Old Tom : (1900's) It is an aged beer and has an oaky, wine quality. It can be close in style to a barley wine, but is more complex than that. This beer has won the Supreme Champion at the CAMRA Winter Beers 2000 festival award.

9) Wadworth 6X: (1920's) This brew still deliveres its beers around Devizes in a horse-drawn cart. Its a traditional bitter. Though the beer is big in the UK, it's not exported to America.

10) Mackeson Stout: From a Kent brewry, the XXX that is exported to America has a higher abv than the original British milk stout which is 3% abv. Because of its low strength, sweet taste and supposed nutritional value, Mackeson has long been a beer associated with little old ladies. (source: ratebeer.com)

Top 10 Aussie Beer TV Commercials

2008-12-21T20:17:00.000-08:00

Here is a collection of the "Top Ten Australian Beer TV Commercials"...this collection of ad videos is about ten minutes long; what makes beer commercials so endearing to me is their great use of humor and the Australians tend to do this very well. Take a gander at these videos fron YouTube.Com and judge for yourself:

The Basic German Beer Brew Types

2008-12-16T22:24:00.000-08:00

The Germans are all business when it comes to beer. They have the "national brewing laws" established in the year 1516 that specifies what goes into brewing recipes for beer. German brewers adhere to the Reinheitsgebothops ("purity order") dating from 1516 (and most recently updated in the Vorläufiges Biergesetz of 1993). Only hops, malt, water, and yeast are the ingredients. They have a "National Beer Day" which is celebrated every April 23rd. The Germans are behind only the Czechs and the Irish in their per capita consumption of beer.Germans produce about 10% of all the beer volume in the world, having 1200 breweries offering five to six thousand beer varieties (however the U.S. has the most breweries in the world numbering around 1500). So, here is the list of German beer brew types:

ALTBIER - from Dusseldorf / light- to medium-bodied beer with a hint of bitterness in the finish.
brand: Diebels

BERLINER WEISSE - from Berlin / tart, sour tasting wheat beer with a low alcohol content known as the "Champagne of German beers"
brand: Berliner Kindl Weisse or Schultheiss Berliner Weisse.

BOCK - from Munich / "granddaddy of German beers" is a full-bodied, rich, malty lager, dark in color, not bitter and fairly high in alcohol content...the varieties of bock are "Helles bock" (lighter than traditional bock and is medium-bodied with a gold to light amber color); "Doppelbock" (stronger version that is very full-bodied with a balanced bitterness); "Eisbock" (strongest type of bock, is chilled until ice crystals form on the beer and as a result is very concentrated and high in alcohol content after the ice is removed during the brewing process; its a very full-bodied beer with a high degree of sweetness)
brand: Franziskaner but Zology prefers Celabrator Doppelbock

DORTMUNDER - from Dortmund (a.k.a "export") / strong, pale lager with a good balance of hops and malt and a touch of sweetness, light- to medium-bodied beer, gold in color brand: Royal Fürstenberg or Henninger

MUNICH DUNKEL - from Munich / medium-bodied, dark, low to moderate alcohol content, high in malt, medium bitterness
brand: Erdinger Dunkel

WEIZENBIER - from South Germany (a.k.a "weissbier") / light- to medium-bodied wheat beer sometimes cloudy-looking in appearance; varieties are "Hefeweizen" (bottle- or keg-conditioned); "Dunkelweizen" (darker, stronger version, medium- to full-bodied taste); "Weizenbock" (stronger, medium- to full-bodied beer that can be light or dark in color)
brand: Erdinger

KöLSCH - from Köln (a.k.a Cologne ) / blonde, light to medium body, very fruity, acidic, medium bitterness
brand: Reissdorf

MäRZEN - Munich / medium-bodied lager, bitterness, high in alcohol content, amber color
brand: Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen

HELLES - from Munich / caramel sweetness, mildly hopped, malty beer, golden in color
brand: Augustiner Helles.

PILS - national / flowery, medium-hop bouquet, dry, light to medium body
brand: Holsten or Astra

RAUCHBIER - from Bamberg, Northern Bavaria / smoke-flavored, dark and generally sweeter beer with low bitterness, dark amber color.
brand: Heller-Trum Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier.

Prost! (source: Askmen.com)

Top 10 World Beer Cup 2008 Medal Winners

2008-11-24T12:07:00.000-08:00

The World Beer Cup is an international competition held every two years... this year 2,864 individual bottles of beer were entries, representing 58 countries: Although beers from 21 countries won medals, the USA (158 awards), Germany (25), Belgium (11), Japan (10), Australia (6) were the top five winners. There were 128 judges from all over the world, even countries without competitors in the contests. For more information on the winners, visit this page .
(source for this article: http://inventorspot.com/)

Best Beer 1.Best Classic English-Style Pale Ale: MacTarnahan's Amber Ale, Pyramid Breweries Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
Relatively new to MacTarnahan's repertoire of ales, its Amber Ale is made with fresh Cascade hops from the Northwest, making its flavor crisp and complex. Thus, it goes best with grilled or gamey meats and full-flavored fish. There were 35 entries in this category.

Best Beer 2. Best German-Style Pilsener: Trumer Pils, Trumer Brauerei Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
Trumer Pils has a 400 year history, dating from the original family-owned Trumer Brauerei in Salzburg, Austria. It has carried both the brewing tradition and the original crisp, slightly tart taste with it through the centuries. It is made from imported malt and hops from Germany and Austria and is fermented with a propriety yeast. There were 72 entries in this category.

Best Beer 3. Best Belgian and French-Style Ale: Brugse Zot Blond, Brouwerij De Halve Maan, Brugge, Belgium
Don't let the fool on the bottle fool you. This Belgian ale has been a winner of many beer competitions over the years. Practically the national beer of Belgian, you can find Brugse Zot Blond served in many crepe and sandwich bars in Brugge. It has a sweet fruity flavor and is bubbly and light, with only six percent alchohol content. There were 37 entries in this category.

Best Beer 4. Best German-Style Dark Wheat Ale: Schneider Weisse Original, Schneider Weisse, Kelheim, Germany
The Schneider Weisse Original is spicy with the smell or clove and nutmeg and, according to the brewer, it is fresh, clean, full, harmonious and balanced. In the end it leaves an impression of slight, fine bitterness. There were 29 entries in this category.

Best Beer 5. Best American-Style Light Lager: Old Milwaukee Light, Pabst Brewing Co., Woodridge, IL, USA
The beer that made Milwaukee famous has also been making the best light beer (light in calorie and carbs), according to beer raters. Milwaukee's Old Style Light is reported to have some taste of hops and malt; "refreshing" is the word reviewers most often used to describe it. Old Milwaukee Light has 113 calories and 7 grams of fat. There were 34 entries in this category.

Best Beer 6. Best American-Style Lager: Tooheys Extra Dry, Tooheys Pty Limited, Lidcombe, Australia
No, it's not Budweiser! Toohey's Extra Dry, known in Australia simply as Ted's, is a refreshing drink with not too much taste of hops, malt, or fruit, geared to young beer drinkers. Advertising is also geared toward the young and the ads are popular down under for some outlandishness, including its beer-addicted walking tongue. There were 48 entries in this category.

Best Beer 7. Best Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout: Blarney Sisters Dry Irish Stout, Third Street AleWorks, Santa Rosa , CA, USA
What? Better than Guinness? The Blarney Sisters Dry Irish Stout has won several top awards in the Irish stout category. The chocolate and caramel flavor is strong, but not overwhelming; some say there are hints of licorice and coffee. A full-bodied beer, it's poured black from the tap. There were 20 entries in this category.

Best Beer 8. Best Scottish-Style Ale: McGarveyʼs Scottish Ale, Oggi's / Left Coast Brewing Co., San Clemente, CA, USA
This ruddy ale has plenty of flavor without being heavy. Molasses add a nice sweet aftertaste. Left Coast Brewing says there's a tad bit of hops in the ale to keep the bitterness out. Good beer to drink by itself or with a grilled chicken or fish. There were 24 entries in this category.

Best Beer 9. Traditional German-Style Bock:Bock Lager, Elk Grove Brewery and Restaurant, Elk Grove, CA, USA
Interesting history about this German lager. The beer was firt made by Trappist monks to drink while fasting during lent. Just picture that!
The Elk Grove Brewery has an health assortment of brews, with its Bock Lager being one of its seasonal beers. The Elk Grove Bock Lager is described as a full-bodied, strong beer, with German style malts, having "a smooth, rich complexity not found in many beers. On tap in late January: limit is 3 pints. There were 21 competitors in this category.

Best Beer 10. Wood-and Barrel-aged Strong Beer: Paradox Grain, BrewDog, Fraserburgh, UK
This beer is a marriage of Scotland's greatest productions of whisky and stout. BrewDog partners with Duncan Taylor Ltd of Huntly, aging its Paradox Grain in the casks of some of the greatest whiskeys ever made. "The distinct flavours of these whiskies is beautifully infused into the beer giving a unique and unrivalled experience for both beer and whisky lovers." There were 14 entrees in this category.