Features
Scaring Up Sales for Halloween
by Dave GausepohlAs Halloween increasingly becomes an adult holiday as much as one for kids, many breweries have discovered that All Hallow’s Eve is a theme to increase sales.
Canadian Beer Festivals: Drinking in the Culture
by Don TseCanada is a culturally diverse nation. While the United States is more of a melting pot, Canada celebrates its cultural diversity. With less than 33 million people spread over almost 4 million square miles, to say that there are great expanses between Canada’s major centers would be a mild understatement. But this geographic separation has... View Article
A Dirty Half-Dozen Off Flavors
by Randy MosherWhile we all wish it weren’t so, you will sometimes encounter off-flavors in beer. Poor brewhouse technique, problems during fermentation or packaging, product mishandling, even dirty draft lines can all contribute. Here’s a roundup of some of the most common miscreants.
Major Flavor and Aroma Groups in Beer
by Randy MosherMalt Aroma Nearly all malt flavor and aroma comes from the chemical reactions that occur when malt is kilned. The same chemistry as bread toasting or coffee roasting gives a wide range of possible sensations: bready, nutty, malty, toasty, roasty coffee, chocolate, burnt. Different combinations of time, temperature and other factors create this range. Part... View Article
The Art of Tasting Beer
by Randy MosherI imagine you need no instruction on drinking beer. Happily slurping fresh pints at a favorite hangout is a joy that takes little practice to perform with confidence. After my own first half-dozen beers, I had it cold. But appreciating beer means understanding its complexities. You will need to develop a palate that is guided... View Article
Beer Music
by Bob TownsendRap The Pain Relievaz “Untether The Blimp.” Dogfish Records (www.dogfish.com ). The follow-up to The Pain Relievaz’s surprisingly witty first disc, “Check Your Gravity” avoids the sophomore jinx with even bigger beats and badder rhymes. Inspirational couplet: “We may be more white than even Bryant Gumbel, but we bitch-slap the mic like it was Barney... View Article
Marty Jones’ Five Favorite Beer Songs
by Bob Townsend1. “There Stands the Glass” by Webb Pierce (also covered in deeply soulful fashion by the late great Ted Hawkins). My all-time fave—bittersweet, adult, blunt and great fun/therapy to sing and play. 2. “Hungover Together” by the Supersuckers. Hilarious. 3. “What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Made a Loser out of Me)” by Jerry Lee Lewis. The... View Article
Musicians Brew-a-lot
by Bob TownsendRick Nielsen, lead guitarist (remember the five-necked guitar?) and principal songwriter with rock band Cheap Trick, is also a co-owner of award-winning Piece Brewery in Chicago. In the eighties, Tony Dewald was the drummer with the influential Canadian indie “sludgeabilly” duo, Deja Voodoo. He is now the headbrewer at Dix Barbeque and Brewery in Vancouver.... View Article
Brewers Jam-a-lot
by Bob TownsendIt’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your local brewers are tonight? If it’s a Friday, there’s a good chance they’ve traded their rubber boots for a pair of Doc Martins or blue suede shoes, strapped on a Les Paul or a Fender Jazz Bass, and are about to test the mics and crank up... View Article
Beer + Music = Happiness
by Bob TownsendAt a pub in Seattle, the band on stage launches into the churchy opening riff of “Take Me To The River.” The rendition is more Talking Heads than Al Green. And people in the crowd nod and cheer as they begin to recognize the tune and lock into the rhythms being conjured by bassist Craig... View Article
Strange Alliance
by Greg KitsockPolitics can generate some surprising alliances. In July, the National Beer Wholesalers Association—the brewing industry’s most influential lobbying group—found itself siding with MADD, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth and similar anti-alcohol organizations. Their common ground was support for H.R. 864, the Sober Truth on Preventing... View Article
Columns
Departments
Subtle and Sought-After: Belgian Tripel
by K. Florian KlempIt would be hard to deny that Belgian ales are often a spiritual experience—both literally and figuratively. Because of the alliance that many breweries have with religious abbeys, brewing is seen as equal parts technology and divinity, with some of the brews being downright sublime. Even so, many of Belgium’s secular breweries also seem blessed... View Article
with Jean-Marie Roc
by Julie JohnsonAll About Beer: How did you get your start in brewing? Jean-Marie Roc: It’s a long time ago. I was intent to be a brewer when I was 12. I already appreciated. From the beginning, at the midday meal we got low alcoholic beer, tafel beer every day. And on the Saturday evenings in the... View Article
Other Great Beer Spots in College Towns
by Paul RuschmannAnn Arbor, MI—Arbor Brewing Co. Austin, TX—The Ginger Man Pub Berkeley, CA—Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse Cambridge, MA—Cambridge Brewing Co. East Lansing, MI—Harper’s Restaurant & Brewpub Fort Collins, CO—New Belgium Brewing Iowa City, IA—Old Capitol Brew Works and Public House Madison, WI—Student Union at the U. of Wisconsin Philadelphia, PA—McGillin’s Ale House Seattle, WA—The Trolleyman... View Article
Beer In College Towns
by Paul RuschmannLast issue, when you left us, we were sitting at the bar at the Carolina Brewery (460 West Franklin St.) in Chapel Hill, NC, facing the gleaming 10-barrel Bohemian brewing system, and sipping the wonderful work of brewer Jon Connolly.
Beer Talk
Avant Garde
by Stan HieronymusPort Brewing Co. San Diego County, CA Available: CA, AZ The beer is made with Custom Toasted malts that are made by running Golden Promise Barley through our restaurant pizza ovens. Avant Garde features a hybrid fermentation with a lager yeast at ale temps. The Lost Abbey brand of beers are made by Port Brewing... View Article
Krušovice Imperial Lager
by Stan HieronymusKralovsky Pivovar Krušovice Krušovice, Czech Republic Imported by: Binding Brauerei U.S.A. Place: Norwalk, CT Available: NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, GA, FL, IL, WI, OH, CA, UT, WA In nine years, exports of Krušovice have expanded from three countries to nearly 30. It was named best Bohemian Style Lager at the 2006 World Beer Cup... View Article
Big Sky IPA
by Stan HieronymusBig Sky Brewing Co. Missoula, MT Available: MT, ID, WA, OR, AK, CA, NV, CO, WY, ND, SD, MN, WI According to the brewery: “In Montana, many classic memories are made right after someone says ‘Hold my beer and watch this!’ These bold, assertive moments deserve a bold and assertive beer—Big Sky IPA. The distinct... View Article
Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
by Stan HieronymusShmaltz Brewing Co. Saratoga Springs, NY Available: CA, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MD, DC, DE, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, PA, TN, VA, WA, WI “Brewed with an obscene amount of malts and hops,” to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of satirist and comedian Lenny Bruce, featuring... View Article
Sunset Wheat
by Stan HieronymusLeinenkugel Brewing Co. Chippewa Falls, WI Available: IL, IN, IO, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, NY, ND, OH, OK, SD, WI Leinenkugel Brewing Co., founded in 1867, is in its fifth generation of family ownership. Sunset Wheat is first new year-round offering. Alcohol (vol.): 4.9 Color: hazy golden Bitterness: 13 Original Gravity: 12.5 Final... View Article
Newport Storm Derek Extreme Stout
by Stan HieronymusCoastal Extreme Brewing Co. Newport, RI Available: RI, CT, MA Derek, a stout, is the fourth in the “Cyclone” series of beers, following past limited releases that included a brown ale, a bock and an IPA. These “extreme” beers are given human names, like the Atlantic storms they commemorate. Alcohol (vol.): 8.7 Color: 117 Bitterness:... View Article
Sea Hag IPA
by - -New England Brewing Co. Woodbridge, CT Available: CT The Sea Hag is said to be the ghost of the faithful wife of a New Haven scoundrel. When he fled town to escape his creditors, she followed him to sea and vanished mysteriously. Alcohol (vol.): 6.2 Color: copper-amber Bitterness: 65-70 Original Gravity: 15.3 Final gravity: 3.5-3.8... View Article
Chocolate Porter
by - -Bayhawk Ales Irvine, CA Available: CA, TX Alcohol (vol.): 5.1 Color: dark ruby Bitterness: 35 Original Gravity: 1050 Final gravity: 1013 Malts used: Chocolate, crystal, pale and black malts Hops used: Perle, Liberty and Willamette
Warped Speed Scotch Ale
by Stan HieronymusLake Louie Brewing Co. Arena, WI Available: WI Alcohol (vol.): 6.8 Color: n/a Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: 1066 Final gravity: 1014 Malts used: 100% Briess Hops used: HopUnion North American varieties
Third Eye PA
by Stan HieronymusSteamworks Brewing Co. Place: Durango, CO Available: CO, AZ, NM Steamworks is celebrating its tenth anniversary with events to benefit the local humane society. Steamworks’ fans can join a Mug Club that includes four Durango-based breweries: Three Rivers Brewing, Ska Brewing, Carvers Brewing, and Steamworks Brewing. Mug club members can enjoy beer specials at any... View Article
Okto
by Stan HieronymusWidmer Brothers Brewing Co. Portland, OR Available: WA, OR, WY, MT, CA, ID, CO, AZ, NM Alcohol (vol.): 5.5 Color: 25 Bitterness: 25 Original Gravity: 13.5 Final gravity: 3.6 Malts used: Pale, Caramel Munich 60 L, Extra Special and Carapils Malt Hops used: Alchemy (bittering); Mt. Hood and Tettnanger (aroma)
Hefeweizen
by Stan HieronymusGordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose, CA Available: CA, AZ, NV, OH This hefeweizen is brewed in the German style with yeast that produce …esters. Alcohol (vol.): 5.4 Color: 24.0 EBC (9.46 Lovibond) Bitterness: 12 Original Gravity: 12 P Final gravity: 2.1 P Malts used: 58% Wheat malt, 38% Pale Malt, 4% CaraMunich Malt Hops... View Article