Category: Beer

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

Blackfoot Brewing image courtesy blogspot,com

Reported by Ken Carman for Professorgoodales.net

All who love good craft beer know what a growler is. Sometimes they are simply 64oz apple cider jugs. Not recommended if you wish to wait anymore than a few days to sip, unless you want your beer to be flatter than Twiggy.

It’s a 60s joke, younguns, get over it.

The best, and the most hideously expensive, are what I call “Grolsch style,” with a ceramic top, rubber stopper/washer and metal clamps.

But “the best” thing about growlers is that you can pick up your beer at the pub/micro and take it home: hence lessening DUIs/DWIs. You enjoy your favorite beer, instead of a jail cell and the company of Bubba: who may like you a bit too much.

Who could hate growlers?
Continue reading “Growlers and the Law”

Saratoga/Glens Falls/Albany area

Hi All,

First up, of course, is our monthly meeting this Thursday, October 7th at 7pm at the tap room at OSB. We will be judging catagories 20 and 21, but feel free to bring anything you wish to share.

On October 16th, from 1-5, is the Octoberfest at Adirondack Pub and Brewery in Lake George to benefit the Red Cross. We will once again be manning a table, and sharing our homebrew. Anyone interested in assisting with set-up should be there around noon. Bringing homebrew is encouraged; I will have an English Bitter on tap.

At 9 am on Saturday, November 13th will be our 15th annual Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews at the Albany Pump Station. We are still in need of Judges and Stewards, and others to help prior to the competition. Anyone interested in being a judge or steward, please let me know as soon as possible; please include your BJCP # if you have one, as well as which styles you wish to judge/steward, and which you wish to avoid. Anyone interested in volunteering for other duties, please contact Chris Gersey at: knickerbockerbattleofthebrews@gmail.com . And of course, ENTER!!

Hope to see you all there,

Greg
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On October 16th at Adirondack Pub and Brewery, from 1-5, will be their Oktoberfest fundraiser for the Red Cross. Anybody interested in manning the club’s table with me, and/or providing some homebrew, please let me know. I will have an English Bitter on tap. See Adam’s email below for more info.

Hope to see you there,

Greg

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Our Oktoberfest will be held Oct. 16 from 1-5. As always you guys are welcome to have a table to serve some home brews and to educate people on home brewing. If you guys could be there by 12 so you can get set up and to help anyone else who needs help unloading that would be great

Thanks and if you need any other info just send me an email

Adam Schmeichel
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At 9:30am on Saturday, November 13th, the Saratoga Thoroughbrews will be holding their 15th annual Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews at the Albany Pump Station/C. H. Evans Brewing Co.  Judges and stewards should arrive no later than 9am for sign-in and coffee and bagels/doughnuts.  Lunch will be catered by Neil Evans/Albany Pump Station.  This is a BJCP/AHA sanctioned competition, and also qualifies for the New York State Homebrewer of the Year.  As always, judges and stewards may bring their entries on the day of competition, but ONLY if they are pre-registered prior to the entry deadline.  More info can be found at the Saratoga Thoroughbrews’ website:  www.thoroughbrews.com .  Medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each flight, as well as BOS top 3.  Please contact me, Greg Mobley, if interested in judging or stewarding, at:  gregskegs@yahoo.com .  Please include your BJCP # if you have one, T-Shirt size, and any categories you wish to judge/steward, as well as those categories you wish to avoid.

Hope to see you there,

Greg Mobley
President/Judge Coordinator
Saratoga Thoroughbrews
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Saratoga Thoroughbrews.org

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.

Written by Ken Carman

Topic: My Summer Brew Ventures

Since the late 90s I have been interviewing brewers, reviewing brew-based businesses and generally making a nuisance of myself all over the east coast at pubs and such. I’m especially good at the “nuisance” part; being winner of the 2002 Most Annoying Beer Geek Who Haunts My Brewery Award.

I’m kidding, of course.

Sort of.

Maybe.

Many of these reviews are lost. I could blame my various editors: I’ve had a litany of poor ones, really bad ones and a few good ones. But, to be honest, I could have gone out of my way to save the damn things myself, so in that regard I blame, well let’s see… me! And, as a caveat to that admission, I also didn’t have the ability to post pictures like I do now. So every year I will endeavor to take pictures of brew related businesses, at least those who are still in business, featured in past reviews in at least one edition of Brew Biz.

I will start out with one of the main attractions in this edition, David Wollner’s Willimantic Brewing.

Continue reading “Brew Biz: Werts and All”

Tim Dohms, right, of Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom poses with the crew behind his personal “Best of Show” at the 2010 Emerald Coast Beer Festival, L.A. Lagers from Mobile. (Phil Bailey/GoPensacola.com)

Written by Tim Dohms for PNJ.com

Time to show my respect and admiration for the only people around more enthusiastic about beer than I am: the brewers. We’re fortunate to have at least ten local and regional brewclubs who do great justice to the classics and experiment with what could and should be the next big thing.
Continue reading “BEER GARDEN: A look back at Emerald Coast Beer Festival”