Month: September 2010

Profiled by Ken Carman

This is not quite your standard American IPA. The hops are a bit more earthy and also Noble in character. There’s also just a bit of high alpha sense: but by no means enough to spoil the style. Just enough to tantalize the taste buds.

Poured with rocky head that faded fast. A bit better, but still faded fast with cold bottle sampled a few nights later.

Light copper with a head that fades fast it has just a bit caramel to nose and the palette. Though some caramel the body is pretty light. Hops dominate. Obvious dry hopping. High alpha are Galena like. Maybe Amarillo, Fuggles and a Saaz twist? Just a few guesses.

The sample I had as I wrote this was warm. I have had it cold: indeed I recommend it that way. Slight astringency noticeable when warm. Hops cling to roof of mouth and linger. Not quite as much cold.

I’m not sure this is an IPA for everyone, but it is an interesting take on the standard Americanized IPA.

Written by Carolyn Smagalski for bellaonline.com

The Silly Beer Laws by U.S. State in the list below are, by no means, a complete list of laws governing beer or alcoholic beverages. They are merely a broad illustration of the range of regulations covered, from the ridiculous to the mundane.

Alabama
Cities and counties can choose to be “wet” or “dry” – 26 of 67 counties do not allow alcohol sales…A statewide ban on draft beer sales requires that cities and counties must take Legislative action to lift the ban in each jurisdiction. However, a section of the law allows draft beer “in rural communities with a predominantly foreign population. . . in accordance with the habit and customs of the people of any such rural community”…Twenty-three counties and cities have abolished the ban against Draft Beer in their districts…Likewise, Sunday alcohol sales are only allowed if a referendum has been passed…Ban on off-premises sale of alcohol on Sundays.

Alaska
In Fairbanks, AK, it is illegal to serve alcoholic beverages to moose.

Arizona
An obviously intoxicated person can only stay for 30 minutes at the establishment that recognized he was drunk.

Arkansas
Ban on off-premises sales of Alcohol on Sundays

California
It is illegal for producers of alcoholic beverages to list the names of retailers or restaurants that sell their products, whether it is in advertising or in newsletters…It is illegal to display alcoholic beverages within five feet of a cash register in a store that sells both alcohol and motor fuel…A server can be convicted of selling alcohol to a minor if the minor uses a false or altered ID to obtain the alcohol.

For further silly laws, please click…

HERE

(Note: there is a second page too: link at the bottom.)

YOS has pondered poverty for most of his life. What to do. What to do. All those welfare queens in their limos that crowd our streets picking up their food stamps for doing nothing. You’ve seen them, right? Why one of those welfare queens almost ran over Scribe yesterday on the way to get his welfare check. DAMN YOU ELTON JOHN! Well, that’s what the vanity plate said.

Those ^%$#@ pansy Liberals won’t let us carve the poor up and serve them for Thanksgiving.

What to do. What to do.

Making beer is cheap.
Continue reading “Ye Olde Scribe Presents: A Beery Good Solution to Poverty”

Profiled by Ken Carman

This is a bit Saison-like. Light. Pale yellow. Nice head. A bit hazy: chill haze? Nose a bit fruity. Head fades fast. Just a bit of orange peel sense and coriander. Light on the palate. Just a bit of an orange nose.

A very pleasing light beverage: the orange and coriander dominate but still light; obviously an ale.

If you’re looking for a strong example of a Belgian beer I wouldn’t go here. More like an Americanized version and very light. The carbonation fades fast and not a lot in the body. This is a wheat beer, but the wheat sense is light at best: very, very background. That pleases me because I’m not a wheat fan, but those seeking a wheat beer may be a bit disappointed… maybe more than “a bit?” The pale malt is far more dominate, as far as the malt sense goes. No hops; so light on the hops at best? Web site says high alpha hops: not much. IBUs low… their site says 16. Seems less than that.

This is more of a beer for those just getting into craft beer, or learning to appreciate it, than those looking for classics of a style, or a stand out version of any style.

Here’s one store owner’s reaction to the changing beer laws: “I’ve got to change my whole store to accommodate this.” This vendor delivers a cart filled with Coors beer to Coors Field in Denver.

Written by Lew Bryson for msnbc.com and portfolio.com

If you don’t live in Pennsylvania, this is going to sound a little weird: When I go to the beer store (a state oddity), I have to buy at least a case of beer.

It’s not because of my terrible thirst; it’s the law. We call it the case law, and it’s been in place for more than 70 years, since shortly after the repeal of Prohibition. You can’t go to the store and buy six-packs, 12-packs, or single bottles.

We can buy six-packs at licensed premises, like bars and ­restaurants — if they offer the service. Not all of them do, although some people buy a bar license and sell only six-packs, an interesting end run around the law. But there’s a catch there too. You can’t buy more than two six-packs at a time — though if you step out the door, you can step back in and buy two more.
Continue reading “Cheers! Stupid Beer Laws Falling Off”

Written by Ryan Grim for Huffington Post

The California Beer & Beverage Distributors is spending money in the state to oppose a marijuana legalization proposition on the ballot in November, according to records filed with the California Secretary of State. The beer sellers are the first competitors of marijuana to officially enter the debate; backers of the initiative are closely watching liquor and wine dealers and the pharmaceutical industry to see if they enter the debate in the remaining weeks.
Continue reading “California Pot Initiative Opposed By Beer Industry”

Ken Carman is a BJCP judge; homebrewer since 1979, club member at Escambia Bay and Music City Homebrewers, who has been interviewing professional brewers all over the east coast for over 10 years.

The Topic: An Emerald Coast Beer Fest Story

Shortly after the sun sets, the crazies come out. No: not goblins, nor gremlins, not even Godzilla’s second cousin Oilzilla who; some claim, has been feeding on oil spill eating bacteria and haunting the Emerald Coast. No, I’m referring to crazies like me. Barley Wine and Big Beer People. We raid our fridges for any beer 10% and over…

And then Gabriel blows his horn…
Continue reading “Brew Biz: Werts and All”

From Beerinfo.com Author unattributed

Chico, CA — Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced a partnership with the Trappist-Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux to create the only authentic Trappist-style Abbey ales in America.

For nearly 1000 years, monks have been brewing ales behind monastery walls. Their closely guarded traditions and techniques produced styles of beer unlike anything else in the world. These unique Trappist-style Abbey ales are known for their uncompromising quality and compelling flavor.

In 2011, Sierra Nevada and the Trappist-Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux are working to bring this centuries-old tradition to America with Ovila—the nation’s only authentic Trappist-style Abbey Ale.
Continue reading “Sierra Nevada joins with Trappist Monks to brew Authentic Abbey Ales”

From the writers at Huffington Post

Munich’s famed frothy festival, Oktoberfest, may get all of the glory, but the destinations listed in ShermansTravel.com’s roundup of cities for beer lovers proves that the world is full of destinations where the natives know – and love – their beer, and that are primed for sampling local brews all year long. So no matter how you say “cheers” – whether prost, na zdraví, kampai, or salúd – their list of the top cities for beer lovers will help you raise a glass around the globe. Text courtesy of ShermanTravel.com, adapted from “Top Cities for Beer Lovers.”

Amsterdam

Cozy, neighborhood watering holes serving beer (or pils as the locals call it), the Dutch way – with exactly two fingers’ worth of foam on top – aren’t hard to find in this beer lovers’ city. Heineken, Grolsch, and Amstel are three of the best-known native brews, but a sampling of artisanal blends and witte (wheat) beers from neighboring Belgium are also on the menu at Amsterdam’s cozy “brown” bars, so called for their antiquated, nicotine-stained walls. If your interest in hops goes beyond consumption, take a tour of the Heineken Experience, where tastings are encouraged.

For more: including pictures, please click…

HERE