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Spotted this article. It's a great piece with even Lew Bryson contributing. Well worth the read. Modern technology keeps making advances. Here's the article: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a..._beer_bottles_3 Does anyone know if Iron City is carried by anyone here in the Philadelphia region?

Met up with a few eGulleteers at the S.I.B. We went on Sunday, which isn't ideal, because a lot of the beers were already gone, even though we got there at opening time. We shared, in an attempt to, 1. taste as much as possible, and 2. not get too blasted. Hitachino Nest - Japanese beer, belgian wit style. I really like this, and this was the first time I had it on tap. Not as much spice as what I remember from the bottled version. Still, very nice. Leavenworth Blind Pig Dunkelweizen - This used to be my absolute favorite local brew. It looked like muddy water and tasted like heaven. I can still remember the first time I tasted it 11 years ago in Leavenworth at the brewery, that's the impact it had on me. Well, Leavenworth has changed brewers multiple times and I believe they've also changed owners. But I thought I'd give it a whirl. IMO, it was a mistake. I want to believe that this keg was mislabeled. It is so dramatically different that what it used to be. It might be truer to a real german dunkelweizen, but damn, I still miss the old BP. Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pils - We really liked this one. Apple-y flavors, clean, crisp, bright. I'll seek this out again. They also had the soba earlier in the weekend but were out Maybe that's an indication of how good that one is...? Lagunitas Sirius Cream Ale - YUM, very slight spice, creamy. Really liked this one. (ok, you might notice that we were sticking to the "american imitation of international styles" side of the table, but hey, we eventually worked our way down) Salopian Entire Butt Porter - Leave it to the Brits to come up with a name like this, apparently its a term used for a porter blended from a variety of ales, this one uses 14 different malts Dominant flavor: chocolate malt and coffee. I liked it, but not everyone at our tasting table did. Porters always make me think of ice cream floats especially the roasty, toasty ones. Okocim O.K. Bohemian Pils from Poland - soft and light. Not much body. Nice, not remarkable. Urthel Triple: huge contrast to the Okocim! sweet, full bodied, full alcohol, but nicely balanced. 9% yippee! Regenboog t'Smisje Calva Reserva - WOW oh wow. This one was fabulous. Fruity, big round flavors. Almost wine like. Aged in calvados casks for 6 months. I need to taste this one again. Would be magnificent with food. At a wopping 12%, its a sipper. Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emperor - Candy-ish, with an alcohol burn, this one was lost on me following the Reserva. Or maybe it was the Kerkom Bink Bloesem that I found so cloying. Things were a bit fuzzy at this point. Maredsous 8 - on tap! Slightly sweet, but plenty of toasty malt. Seemed less intense than the bottled versions I've had. Alpine Pils - a local brewery's take on a Czech Pils - MsRamsey thought this one was skunked. It tasted and smelled fine to me, if a bit unexciting. North Coast Pranqster - mild version of a belgian golden. almost lemony. I liked this one. LaChouffe Golden - what's not to like? Kastelanski Polish Mead - a honey mead. Like dessert wine. Thick. Tasted like baklava. Really not bad at all, but very sweet. Beers they were out of that bummed us out: Belzubuth, Yeti, Monty Python's Holy Ale, Wye Valley Buddy Bach, Regenboog t'Smisje BBBourgondier, Cantillon Fou'foune, Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Riva Lucifer, Fantome Pissenlit, Ridgeway Bad Elf, and a few others. Our fine panel of tasters took this opportunity to discuss & plan to attend the Cask Beer Festival, coming up in October. We'll be posting notes on that one, you bet.

the article on beer Validation on this change, beer drinking enthusiasts? Have the microbreweries made this a reality? Thinner, but more satisfied? True for you and your friends?

From the 01/06/04 Washington Post business section: Frederick Brewing, makers of Wild Goose and Blue Ridge beers, will be sold to settle about $3.1 million in debts, the company's court-appointed receiver said. Mark Dottere said he expects to conclude a sale of the Frederick Brewing building and sox-acre property inthe Wedgewood Business Park to an unidentified buyer by late January or early February. The brewing equipment would be sold separately to an operator who would then lease the plant and continue producing beer, Dottroe said. Let me also add that Frederick also brewed the Crooked River line and was the contractor for the 12 oz. bottles for Stoudt's Brewing. In 2002 FB took home a GABF gold for the Crooked River ESB and a bronze for the Wild Goose oatmeal stout. The Crooked River Yuletide Ale was one of my favorite new beers of 2002.

Sampled this while in Philly this past weekend (at Eulogy). Man is this stuff good for the price (found out it's selling here in DC for $5.99 for the large bottle and $8.99 for a six-pack). Will have to try it again before I can really describe it, but it's a nice spiced, darkish brew that reminds me of a mellower abbey-style beer. Complex and interesting.

Saturday, I made the trip up to State Line Liquors in Elkton, MD mainly to but some Old Horizontal (it's having trouble making it to DC). And lo and behold - State Line had Deus. I just had to get some (pricey at almost $24 a bottle). This is a champagne like beer. It goes through a traditional fermentation and maturation in Belgium. Then is goes through a remuage and degorgement in France (can any wine people translate for me?). I am having trouble describing the taste, mainly because I have never tasted anything like it before. All I know is that it is one of the best beers I have ever had. I am friends with the owners of Breaux Vineyards in Virginia. I can hardly wait to share a bottle with them and see how they like it.

From today's Sacbee, an article on holiday brews: Holiday Brews This reminded me of my time working at a brew pup in Victoria and the two seasonal ales available: barley wine (Christmas ale) and ginger ale. Now that I'm living in the bowels of Hell (AKA Sacramento), I'm wondering if there is anywhere to buy ginger ale locally. Can anyone help?

Was anyone able to get any of this stuff? They're sold out (in bottles) at the brewery and the one distributor I figured would have it (Beeryard) is also sold out, with a good sized waiting list for the next run of bottles.

Here is my list of my favorite beers I had for the first time in 2003. Bottle: Gold: Deus Silver: Old Dominion Baltic Porter Bronze: MacTarnahan's Blackwatch Bourbon Porter Finishing out the top 10: Three Floyd's Dreadnaught Avery 10 Victory Grand Cru Dogfish Head Punkin Ale Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA Allagash Summer Ale Stoudt's IPA Tap: Gold: Rock Bottom Arlington 4th Anniversary Ale (imperial IPA) Silver: Fordham's Wizard Wheat (weizenbock) Bronze: Gordon Biersch (DC) Schwarzbier Finishing out the top 10: GB Vienna lager GB hefeweissen Sweetwater Tavern belgian wit RB- Arlington imperial stout John Harvard's DC - imperial stout Sweetwater Tavern (Centreville branch) winter spruce beer Sierra Nevada Rauch beer

Which forum? Beer? Soft Drinks? In the News? Japan? Well, move as needed, but here's a Kyodo news story right here. Call me crazy, but these things never seem to taste very good.

Article here. I particularly like Julie Bradford's (editor of All About Beer magazine) view:

Aside from the monthly beer dinners at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia, and a less formal monthly one at Waterzooi on Long Island, NY, there are fewer and fewer beer dinners these days, it seems to me. But prove me wrong; tell us about any good beer dinners in your neck of the woods. I was inspired to post this by a menu I received today from Todd Ashman, perennial medal winning brewer when he was at Flossmoor Station in Flossmoor, IL, and now the new brewer at Titletown Brewing Co. in Green Bay, WI. To welcome Ashman, this is what Titletown BC will serve up as an Inaugural Beer Dinner with Todd, for, get this, $17.50 per person. And I hear the weather there this time of year is just special. To wit: Inauguration Dinner Invitation Join us in welcoming Brewmaster Todd Ashman to Titletown Brewing Company. Enjoy a gourmet Wisconsin meal where each course is coupled with the perfect ale to complement and contrast the complex flavors in both the food and brew. Prior to seating Wisconsin Craft Cheeses and Assorted Sausages with Railyard Ale Beer Mustard Beer Pairing - American style Wheat Ale and India Pale Ale Soup Stilton Beer Cheese soup Beer Pairing – Old Fort Howard Pale Ale Salad Baby Spinach and Endive with Wisconsin “Blue” Cheese, Door County Cherries Caramelized with Toasted Oats and Molasses Brown Ale then Topped with Raspberry Honey Ale Vinaigrette Dressing and Walnut Crustini Beer Pairing – “400” Honey Ale Entrée Smoked Pork Chop served on a bed of spent grain stuffing with warm German Potato Salad and fresh vegetables Beer Pairing – Johnny Blood McNally Irish Red and Railyard Ale Dessert Warm Bread Pudding Topped with a Russian Imperial Stout Bourbon Sauce Beer Pairing – Russian Imperial Stout and / or Toasted Oats Molasses Brown Ale Starts at 3:30pm with Tours of the Brewery and Historic Train Station with dinner served promptly at 5:00pm After Dinner: Hang out with Todd and Talk Beer!! Cost: $17.50 plus gratuity For those of you who have never sampled Ashman's beers, they are extraordinary, and I would imagine that will far outshine the decent, starightforward menu they have planned above. So, are beer dinners a dying breed or what?

I know, I know, most purists will usher in the New Year with a bottle of bubbly, but for those of us who appreciate beer, New Year's Eve provides an excellent opportunity to crack open a special bottle of BEER! What will it be for you? For me, well I have a case of Lindeman's Cuvee Rene (1994 vintage) that will probably see some damage tonight, as well as a bottle of Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus, as a prelude to the midnight toast I will probably savor the flavor and aroma of an old Thomas Hardy's that is stashed in the back of my beer shelf. Oh, boy, I can't wait! I'm getting thirsty as I post this

Hi folks! At the invitation of our esteemed moderator (Rich), I jumped in here to see what's going on. Looks like fun! I noticed several mentions of DeuS (great beer, BTW). I'm in need of a DeuS glass. I found one during a shopping trip to Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg, VA, but need a second. There'll be no drinking of DeuS around here until my beerdrinking significant other and I both have a glass. Has anyone seen them for sale in your beer shopping? Cheers! Cornelia

Saw this in the store the other day and decided to try it, a bock beer with real chocolate as an ingredient. Basically a good but not great beer. I thought the chocolate taste was too strong. Reccomend this as no more than a dessert beer. I also those that it was way overpriced at $16/bomber sized bottle.

This appeared today on Business Wire. edit to rework link

Some of us folks in California are sick of the Arnold-hype. Yet I guess a beer producer in Oregon is going to ride some of the coattails. Story here - in USA Today.

In a Kyodo article today (I cannot locate a linkable story ) announced Kirin Brewery Co.'s creation of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt beer! How cool is that? They employed an experimental archaeological technique interpreting the wall paintings that illustrated beer-making in the New Kingdom (1570-1070 BC!!) working with a Waseda University, Japanese professor and director of Egyptology Research. This special beer is going to be served to approximately 200 people, via a lottery like drawing and will take place late February, as a part of the ancient Egyptian beer fair from January 18 until March 28. I wonder how such a beer would taste?!

Huber Bock has always been brewed in Monroe Wisconsin by a guy who commutes from Chicago, at least last time I knew. It is a good brew with a 'smokey' flavor. It started out at $6/case for returnables and gradually escalated to about $10/case. For a while it was simply not available. Now it is back in non-returnables for about $7/12 pack or $14/case. I wonder if the cost of returnables was actually more than the cost of throwaways? BTW, it my understanding that Berghof 'Dark' is essentially the same brew and that the reintroduction of 'Augsburger Dark' is also about the same. That is about as good a story as Miller taking Leine's from a $6/case beer to about $12/case by tacking on Miller's overhead and advertising costs. Of course Miller was also responsible for killing the Lowenbrau brand in the US! Yes, I know it is now available again but only as a light beer. When asking the importer why no dark, the answer was that dark doesn't sell. Reply, of course not, all your data is based on beer brewed in Canada. Enough, I have to get ready to watch the Pack! Requires beer and brats! -Dick

Article Here

I'm planning a late night sushi snack tonight. Any suggestions for a good beer/sushi match?

Hubby said I didn't need to buy the beer called for in my southwestern chicken stew recipe. Said we had plenty. Well, we have pale ale, Bass ale and some kind of belgian dubble(?). We also have Guinness - which he said not to touch! What would be a suitable substitution here? Since I don't drink beer, I have no idea what taste differences I'm dealing with here. Can I use the ale?

Susan and others, I stopped by Old Dominion earlier today and talked to one of the brewers. OD has received permission from the ATF to start bottling their bourbon stout and selling kegs to restaurants. For now, OD just be selling the kegs and will sometime in 2004 start bottling it.

Hi all, fellow beer lover here... I'm trying to find a beer tasting to bring some people to as a holiday gift. We're looking for something adult, but still fun. That is to say that we're not going with the intention of partying and getting plastered (although that may happen by the time we're through), but would love to try some unusual or seasonal brews. I know there are many wine classes in New York, but I haven't been able to find a beer tasting that isn't a huge festival. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks! -ral

As suggested by fresco on a separate thread, I might as well do a drinkblog. This suggestion is particularly timely, as tonight I will be attending Bell's Brewing Co.'s annual "Eccentric Ale" bash, held at the brewery in Kalamazoo, MI. This is an event wherein many Kalamazoo-ians consume mass quantities of the highly alcoholic (and noxious) Eccentric Ale. Many also vomit in the streets. I do not vomit! I promise to keep faithful track of everything that I drink from today (Friday) until the end of my weekend, which is Tuesday. I will not have access to a computer every day, but I will post as often as I can. This is going to be fun and educational! So far, Friday, December 12: I have not had anything to drink which contains alcohol. Of course, I am still at school here in Chicago. But in an hour, I will board an Amtrak train bound for Michigan, and no train ride is complete without a visit to the Club Car. Cheers.