Beer Reviews, Beer Recipes, Homebrewing Tips and More

Strong Beer!

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:40:00 +0000

A friend of mine passed this along... the link not the beer. To be honest, I'm not sure I'd even try this beer! At 32% alcohol I'd classify it as paint-stripper perhaps? Jokes aside, these novelty beers generate buzz, good buzz for micro-brews which is okay with me. Maybe they'll send me a six pack to try...

Cheers.

Space Beer?

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:35:00 +0000

Have $100 laying around (for a six pack), an aptitude for reading Japanese Kanji and want to try some beer made from barley grown in space? You're in luck! Sapporo brewery is releasing a limited edition beer via lottery, only 250 six packs. The deadline to enter is 12/24, so hurry! :-)

http://www.sapporobeer.jp/spacebarley/index.html

Oatmeal Stout Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:53:00 +0000

Now THIS is ice cream. A great Oatmeal Stout Ice Cream recipe from "A Good Appetite" blog here:

Cheers!

Alcohol Consumption by Country

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:47:00 +0000

Think American's drink a lot? Think again... A very clever video from Babelgum creatively showing alcohol consumption by Country.

Cheers!

British Pubs

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:43:00 +0000

A great article from the NY Times this morning about British pubs, some preserving old world charm while others go the way of the do-do. Having spent a Summer in Britain I've often pined for a GOOD British pub here in the States. Know of any?

Best Beer Post

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:56:00 +0000

I have to give Dark Roasted Blend some props, this is a great post. Cheers!

The Bruery Celebrates Its First Year of Business

MrMoose2222@gmail.com (Ferment-O) — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:37:00 +0000

The Bruery Celebrates Its First Year of Business

Orange County, California – May 12, 2009 - The traditional first anniversary gift is something made of paper. The Bruery is giving their loyal fans the gift of Papier, their first anniversary ale.

While it may seem like The Bruery has been around for a decade, it was only one short year ago that Patrick Rue sold his first allotment of Batch #1 in Orange County, California.

A nation of beer fans followed Patrick’s blog from the inception of a business plan to an empty warehouse that was slowly filled with an assortment of brewing equipment. In due course, distribution networks were arranged, the 50th batch contest was executed and an entire team of hardworking employees grew around Patrick and The Bruery.

Through the year The Bruery has expanded from select Southern California establishments to being enjoyed by people in eight different states, spanning both coasts and still growing. Meanwhile, The Bruery’s distinctive beers have been collecting accolades and winning over palates with their unique twists on Belgian styles. Beer Advocate magazine tasted The Bruery’s three year round brews, Orchard White, Black Orchard and Saison Rue and published them all in the same issue with the same grade: straight “A’s”, calling Saison Rue “one of the top 10 beers [they’ve] had in 2008.” Draft Magazine then got ahold of Orchard White and distinguished it as one of the “Top 25 Beers of 2008” and called The Bruery the “brewery to watch in 2009.”

The success of a great brewery is shared by all. With growth, The Bruery has had the opportunity to build their menu of ales, expand their collection of oak barrels and provide room to experiment with beers made with Zinfandel grapes, yams, Thai basil and wild yeasts. The now overflowing Tasting Room serves a minimum of 7 different beers each weekend and The Bruery Provisions homebrew store recently opened adjacent to The Bruery so that others can experiment with their own beer visions.

With one successful year behind and a wide open future ahead, The Bruery is celebrating by releasing Papier, their first anniversary ale. A Belgian-style Old Ale layered with complex flavors of dark fruit, vanilla, oak, and burnt sugar, Papier is a robust ale, weighing in at 14.5% ABV and thought to be the perfect beer to mark this first big milestone. Best for sharing, this beer is ideal for cellaring until you have a celebration of your own…if you can wait.

On May 16th, The Bruery invites all who can make it to their anniversary celebration. The event will be held at The Bruery itself from 11am to 6pm, allowing 150 patrons in at a time to enjoy nearly all of The Bruery’s beers, including some very limited edition kegs and bottles. Papier, which hits shelves in June, will be previewed for the first time at the celebration, including tastings of the bourbon, brandy and rye single barrel editions. The door fee is $25 and includes beer, food, Bruery glassware and an amazing afternoon. Beachwood BBQ will be catering the event with their delectable BBQ specialties and there will be cheeses and desserts as well…did someone say Bruery’s Belgian Waffles?

Come celebrate with The Bruery, and if you can’t make it, pick up a bottle of Papier and share in a toast to more great beer to come!

The Bruery is located at 715 Dunn Way, Placentia, CA 92870

Kids Beer!

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:10:00 +0000

I just had to re-post this one... I spent several years living in Japan and never saw this! The bottle reads Kodomo Nomimono which means Kid Drink, but it looks like beer to me. I think it's fun, in the proper context. What do you think?

Life & Death of Beer Brand Names

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:25:00 +0000

When I first started drinking beer, it was about quantity and price. When you're looking for sheer volume and you want it cheaply, Milwaukee's Best was the weekly go-to. FORTUNATELY I grew out of that stage and it looks like I'm not the only one.

The article below was re-printed from Mediapost.com an excellent advertising news source. It'll give you a small glimpse inside the life and death of some well known beer brands...

-----
Rolling Rock's popularity might be soggy, but the brand -- which is reportedly up for sale by Anheuser-Busch InBev -- is not on the bottom of the consumer perception barrel for beers. Other beer brands suffer from worse reputations among consumers polled by YouGovPolimetrix' Brand Index, which says it is the only daily consumer-perception research service.

Four brands -- Coors' Keystone, A-B/InBev's Busch, and Miller Brewing Co.'s Milwaukee's Best and Icehouse -- demonstrate that longevity does not mean equity. The brands are so besmirched that the breweries should consider retiring them, it says.

The index -- which tracks 30 beer brands -- says that not only is the perception of those brands negative, but it is negative by a long shot.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based firm says the four don't have a single positive score in the ranking based on surveys of men from January this year until this past Friday. The scores are based on an average of the satisfaction, quality, impression, reputation, value, and recommendation scores. In none of those parameters did any of the four brands score positive numbers, per the firm.

Ted Marzilli, SVP and global managing director for YouGov BrandIndex, says in the two years the firm has been following the category, the four brands at the bottom have stayed at the bottom. "But Keystone and Milwaukee's Best rate much lower than Busch and Icehouse."

He says Busch is relatively popular among 50-plus consumers, lower-income consumers and those in the Midwest. "And when you look at Icehouse it has a niche among African-Americans and is rated more highly by women; its selling points are that it is less bitter, and crisper than others."

Brands that have moved up over time include include Corona, which has gone up modestly, Pacifico and Heineken Light. Marzilli says Budweiser has dropped four or five points recently.

Milwaukee's Best has a minus-20 ranking, followed in ascending order by Keystone, Icehouse and Busch, at minus-10. The industry average in the index is currently around 4.9. At the other end of the spectrum is Samuel Adams, with the highest score -- 26.51 -- of the 30 major beer brands tracked by the Index. Two through five on the list are Heineken, Guinness, Corona and Michelob, with a ranking of 13.12. And Rolling Rock comes in at number 18, with a score of 3.18.

Per the research firm, BrandIndex interviews 5,000 people each weekday from a representative U.S. population sample, constituting some 1.2 million interviews per year. The research firm says respondents are drawn from an online panel of more than a million consumers, with a +/- 2% margin of error.

Upcoming Beer Festivals

MrMoose2222@gmail.com (Ferment-O) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:57:00 +0000

Thursday, April 16

2nd Annual Blues Brews and BBQ
When
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009
Where
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, FL

Clipper City Night
When
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009
Where
Barcade, Brooklyn, NY
Description
718-302-6464 www.barcadebrooklyn.com

DOGFISH HEAD SPRINGFEST
When
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009
Where
Standings Bar, NYC
Description
"DOGFISH HEAD SPRINGFEST" featuring 5 DFH brews on tap plus FREE PIZZA!! 43 E. 7th St., NYC 212-420-0671 www.standingsbar.com

Friday, April 17

17th Annual Peoria Int'l Beer Fest
When
Apr 17 – 18 2009
Where
Peoria, IL
Description
309-676-5292 www.jaycees.com/projects/ibf/ibf.htm

The Brewmaster's Table with Garrett Oliver
When
Friday, Apr 17, 2009
Where
NYC
Description
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm $95 Demonstration, Beer Pairing and Tasting While many people think of wine as the best accompaniment for food, craft beer is actually far more versatile with the wide range of dishes we eat today. Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery and author of the award-winning book The Brewmaster's Table, will show you how to cook some of his favorite dishes (including some featured in the New York Times) and pair them with The Brooklyn Brewery's flavorful beers. On the menu: Goat Cheese and Granny Smith Apple Omelette, Fettuccine with Lobster, Chorizo and Peas, Goan-style Crab Cakes, Lamb Scottadito, Brewmaster's Burgers, Chocolate Stout Float. Instructor: Garrett Oliver, Head Brewmaster, Brooklyn Brewery

Saturday, April 18

17th Annual Peoria Int'l Beer Fest
When
Apr 17 – 18 2009
Where
Peoria, IL
Description
309-676-5292 www.jaycees.com/projects/ibf/ibf.htm

18th Anniversary Party
When
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
Where
Willimantic Brewing, Willimantic, CT
Description
860-423-6777 www.willibrew.com

6th Hickory Hops
When
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
Where
Hickory, NC

Belgian Night in NYC
When
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
Where
Belgian Cafe and East Village Tavern, NYC
Description
http://www.citydusk.com/index.php?option=com_attend_events&task=view&id=30

Black Party
When
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
Where
Founders, Grand Rapids, MI
Description
616-776-1195 www.foundersbrewing.com

Central Maine Brewfest
When
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
Where
Augusta, Maine
Description
www.centralmainebrews.com

Erie Micro Brew Festival
When
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
Where
Erie, PA
Description
814-454-2200 www.eriebeerfest.com

Rockfest
When
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
Where
Rock Bottom, Chicago, IL
Description
www.brownpapertickets.com

Monday, April 20

Six Course Cask Beer Dinner
When
Monday, Apr 20, 2009
Where
Lazy Boy Saloon, White Plains, NY
Description
914-761-0282 www.lazyboysaloon.com

Friday, April 24

Six-course beer tasting dinner
When
Friday, Apr 24, 2009
Where
Plattduetsche, Franklin Square, NY
Description
$65 per person, reservations required, call (516) 354-3131 featuring the beers of Weihenstephan brewery http://www.parkrestaurant.com

Saturday, April 25

8th Annual Virginia Beer Festival
When
Apr 25 – 26 2009
Where
Norfolk, VA
Description
www.festeventsva.org

City Paper's 13th Annual Beer Festival
When
Saturday, Apr 25, 2009
Where
Fells Point, MD
Description
410-523-2300 www.citypaper.com/ads/brewfest.html

Dark Lord Day
When
Saturday, Apr 25, 2009
Where
Munster, IN
Description
219-922-3565 www.3floyds.com

Green Flash Brewing Event
When
Saturday, Apr 25, 2009
Where
Jimmy's No. 43, NYC
Description
www.jimmysno43.com

Hop Fest V
When
Saturday, Apr 25, 2009
Where
Drafting Room, Spring House, PA
Description
215-646-6116 www.draftingroom.com

TAP NY
When
Apr 25 – 26 2009
Where
Hunter Mountain, NY
Description
800-486-8376 www.tapny.com

Sunday, April 26

8th Annual Virginia Beer Festival
When
Apr 25 – 26 2009
Where
Norfolk, VA
Description
www.festeventsva.org

TAP NY
When
Apr 25 – 26 2009
Where
Hunter Mountain, NY
Description
800-486-8376 www.tapny.com

Friday, May 1

18th Cask Head Cask Ale Festival
When
May 1 – 3 2009
Where
Brazen Head, Brooklyn, NY
Description
718-488-0430 www.brazenheadbrooklyn.com

Saturday, May 2

18th Cask Head Cask Ale Festival
When
May 1 – 3 2009
Where
Brazen Head, Brooklyn, NY
Description
718-488-0430 www.brazenheadbrooklyn.com

14th Annual St. Louis Microfest
When
May 2 – 3 2009
Where
St. Louis, MO
Description
314-436-BEER www.stlmicrofest.org

1st Annual Billtown Brews Festival and Home Brew Competition
When
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Where
Williamsport, PA
Description
Come on out and enjoy fine brews from local, regional and national breweries and wineries at our 1st Annual Billtown Brews Festival... We will also will be having a HOME BREW Competition, so make sure you tell all your HOP Head Friends about us...There will be entertainment from the band The Dirty Nickels and an opening acoustic act...The donation for this event is $40 ahead or $45 at the door. This includes your admission, samples, food, entertainment, tasting glass, and a complimentary Souvenir Program...Hope to see you all there..BBF 09 Tickets are available at the Genetti prior to and including the day of the event or can be purchased by mail to: Billtown Brew Festival, c/o Jason Letteer, 912 North Front Street, Milton, PA 17847 spikedbudguy@live.com 570-490-2112

3rd Annual Great International Spring Beer Festival
When
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Where
Providence, RI
Description
401-274-3234 www.beerfestamerica.com

World Beer Fest
When
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Where
Raleigh, NC
Description
www.allaboutbeer.com/wbfraleigh

Ok, I'm busted...

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:12:00 +0000

Ok, now I just feel silly. Good one Kegworks!

Cheers!

Instant Beer, Cool or just really sad?

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:51:00 +0000

I was shopping around for some imperial pint glasses several months ago and came across Kegworks.com. I get periodic newsletters for them, but I'm not sure what to think about this latest product feature...instant beer. Apparently for the "first" time in the States insta-beer is now available. Simply add cold water, a powdered beer pack and voila. I wonder if this is what they drink on the Space shuttle?

Being an amateur beer maker I have to assume I am NOT their target market. So it got me thinking, who would want Insta-Beer? What purpose does it serve? Some immediate ideas are; legally carting beer over State lines without a license... or perhaps carrying beer on a plane not being subject to the 2 oz fluid limitation? If you have any other ideas, I'm all ears. Out of curiosity I would like to taste Insta-beer, but I'm not willing to pay for it.

Cheers!

Founder's Breakfast Stout

MrMoose2222@gmail.com (Ferment-O) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:24:00 +0000

Beer: Founder's Breakfast Stout
ABV: 8.3%
Rating: 9.5 (this is one of my top 10 favorite beers) (1-10 with 10 being the best)
Style: Imperial Stout
Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Glass: Snifter

My Notes
Appearance: It pours black like dirty motor oil with a one finger tan head that dissipates quickly.
Nose: Chocolate, coffee and oatmeal.
Taste: Extremely well balanced. The body on this beer is as smooth as silk.
Notes: The taste is out of this world. The coffee flavors jump right out at
the start. Followed by the chocolate and oatmeal sweetness. This truly is breakfast in a glass. This definitely is one beer to cellar.

Commercial Description: You've got to love coffee to truly appreciate this phenomenal brew. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. Breakfast Stout has an intense fresh roasted coffee nose toped with a cinnamon colored frothy head that seems to never fade and makes you wish breakfast could last forever.

If anyone would like to trade beer, email me.

Slanté

Best Value Happy Hour

MrMoose2222@gmail.com (Ferment-O) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Firewaters in Chadds Ford PA has the Best Value Happy Hour.

$2.00 local micro drafts and free munchies. On Friday the 13th the $2.00 beers on tap were Troegs Nugget Nectar & Pale Ale, Sly Fox O'Reilly's Stout, Victory Hop Devil, Dogfish Head Brown and Hook & Ladder Firestarter. So basically for $10 you can get half lit and have your belly full. They also have 50 different draft beers and over 100 bottles. If you haven't tried it yet, Firewater's has had Founder's Breakfast Stout on tap the last couple of times that I've been there. Great beer. Watch here for my rating of it soon.

Bad things about Firewaters. The music is extremely loud and they allow smoking.

With that being said, it's hard to find a good beer for less than $5 a pint unless you stay home to drink.

Slanté

If you know of a great happy hour, email me and I'll check it out.

Quality Beer Today, You're All Spoiled!!

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Kids these days are spoiled! (When I say kids I mean anyone slightly younger than myself and currently over the legal drinking age. I sound like my Father now!)

When I started cutting my teeth and enjoying beer there were few options. The closest I got to a full bodied beer was Red Stripe or Fosters! I remember walking down the beer isle begging for something different. Then in the late 90's, the craft-micro-beer trend started to hit. Thank god! I was no longer forced to choose between Bud & Miller.

Now there's a different challenge, which QUALITY beer should I try next... Hopefully we'll become a resource for YOU as we uncover some of the finest tipples available.

Cheers!

Please support Beer4Dummies.com by visiting it's sponsors.

Philly Beer Week 2009

MrMoose2222@gmail.com (Ferment-O) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Today is the beginning of Philly Beer Week 2009. If you love beer, this is the week (actually 10 days) for you. There are over 684 different events. Have fun but be safe. http://www.phillybeerweek.org/

Weyerbacher Heresy

MrMoose2222@gmail.com (Ferment-O) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:31:00 +0000

Beer: Weyerbacher Heresy (aged by me for 3 years)
ABV: 8%
Rating: 9 (1-10 with 10 being the best)
Style: Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co. Easton, PA.
Glass: Snifter

My Notes
Appearance: It pours black like dirty motor oil with a one finger tan head that dissipates quickly.
Nose: Chocolate, coffee and bourbon.
Taste: Extremely well balanced with a long lasting flavor. Excellent!!
Notes: This is a bottle of Heresy that I have aged for 3 years. For the amount of alcohol, this beer is scary easy to drink. This is a great beer when it's "fresh". If you can, it is worth aging this beer. I normally rate this beer an 8 but aging helps meld the flavors making this a world class beer.

Brewery Description: This is an incredibly intriguing ale made by aging our Old Heathen Imperial Stout in oak barrels that were used for making fine Kentucky bourbon! The result is an extraordinary, dark, and mysterious stout whose very essence has been enhanced. The aroma is filled with vanilla, cocoa, and roasted coffee beans. This silky-smooth brew has notes of oak, whiskey, roasted barley and vanilla that meld together on the tongue to create an incredible sensation. Heresy is released in February.

Slanté

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, $1.50/btl

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Let me start by saying, this is one helluva beer! At roughly $9 a six-pack it comes at a premium, but you will not be disappointed. Extremely rich and full bodied it literally flogs your taste buds, but it's remarkably smooth. This is definitely a Cooler weather beer, I can't imagine tossing this back after mowing the lawn. The Indian Brown Ale comes in at a hefty 7% alc. so you'll get some bang for your buck as well.

Cheers!

Got Beer?

noreply@blogger.com (Wine-O) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:46:00 +0000

Welcome to the latest installment in the 4Dummies network, I hope you enjoy learning more about one of the world's oldest beverages. (yes that is a Got Beer belt buckle, in case you were wondering)

Cheers!