Man I love hearing beer geeks fight. At the end of the day, I just love and want to drink beer. But… there are some style questions that come up along the way. 2010 was a big year for Black IPA errr Cascadian Dark Ales aka the dark-hoppy beers. This is a battle I’ve seen wage on for a while now. What beer geeks sometime forget ( and I’ll get flamed for this) is that there really isn’t anything wrong with calling something a black IPA. At the end of the day, you tell me its a black IPA I know what to expect.
The only real issue is how to evaluate and just these beers in competition. That’s where the Brewer’s Association comes in. Each year they evaluate beer styles and emerging beer styles in an attempt to bring some clarity to the situation.
Best read this one straight from the press release..
Boulder, CO – January 12, 2011–The Brewers Association (BA) recently released its 2011 Beer Style Guidelines. Updated annually, the guidelines currently describe 140 styles of beer and are used in prestigious beer competitions, like theGreat American Beer Festival® and theWorld Beer Cup®.
For 2011, several beer style descriptions have been significantly updated:
Belgo-American-Style Ales
Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin/Oud Red
German Bock
Rye Beer
Additionally, two beer styles have been renamed. American-Style Sour Ale is now known as American-Style Brett Ale, and its description has been significantly revised. American-Style Black Ale is the new name for American-Style India Black Ale, and it too has updated style guidelines.
UPDATE: 11/1/11. Show has been dropped by Discovery Channel. 6th Episode has yet to air.
OFFICIAL WORD FROM DISCOVERY CHANNEL:
I just received a call from Network Communications Spokesperson at The Discovery Channel: [Discovery Channel] is working on completing Continue Reading →
I still can’t believe the success The Bruery (Placienta, CA) has had in 3 years. With good reason. The beers are great. Like this one – Chocolate Rain.
Chocolate Rain has been a draft only, rare offering by The Bruery. Even Continue Reading →
Looks like Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY) will be closing down for a bit this year. There are internal improvements that the brewery would like to make. From Ommegang:
We’re closing Brewery Ommegang for two weeks in late January 2011. We’ll completely tile the brewhouse and packaging hall as well as make other improvements. Our objectives are improved efficiany, better and faster sanitation, and an enhanced ability to grow. Increased demand has seen our brewing schedule literally double in the past 14 months. While we’re delighted with the growth, we now need some additions, improvements, and renovations to allow brewing and packaging to run more efficiently.
If you drink beer, by now you understand “macro” vs “micro” brewing. Obviously your BMC (Bud, Miller, Coors) qualify as your macro breweries. SweetWater, Stone, Dogfish Head, 3 Floyds, etc are micro brewers aka -craft brewers. The question I hear Continue Reading →
Man I love hearing beer geeks fight. At the end of the day, I just love and want to drink beer. But… there are some style questions that come up along the way. 2010 was a big year for Black IPA errr Cascadian Dark Ales aka the dark-hoppy beers. This is a battle I’ve seen wage on for a while now. What beer geeks sometime forget ( and I’ll get flamed for this) is that there really isn’t anything wrong with calling something a black IPA. At the end of the day, you tell me its a black IPA I know what to expect.
