Cool Stuff

Vote For Founder’s New Label

Founder’s Brewing is asking for help with picking a label for an upcoming beer.  Apparently Founder’s has been working on the recipe for about 2 years but ran into some naming rights issues. Now they have 3 labels to choose Continue Reading →

Fat Tire’s Joy Ride

In honor of New Belgium Brewing’s 20th Anniversary, Fat Tire is going on a joy ride.  Through Labor Day 2011, Fat Tire headlines a Joyride Campaign focusing on stories about the beer’s history; both in enjoyment and in brewing process.  The Joyride campaign leads up to a big surprise in June – and the release of New Belgium’s Fat Tire inspired release of Super Cru.  New labels will accompany the promotion – the infamous tire slowing leaving the Fat Tire labels, only to return loaded up from the Joy Ride.  (Or for the Joyride?)

Check out the promotion site —> Joy Ride 2011

Dogfish Head Ta Henket

Back on at the brewpub in Milton, Delaware is another interesting beer from Dogfish Head.  They have brewed it once before.  Ta Henket is the name, another beer meets archeology and history.  If you watched the Brew Masters series, you Continue Reading →

Kiuchi Brewing Bottles Water For Quake Victims

Kiuchi Brewing – best known for Hitachino line of beers suffered some damage in the recent Japan quake.  Posted to their website since the quake –

A big earthquake happend around our brewery.  It will take a long time todo our ordinary job including export to foreign countries.
We will do our best to reconstruct our brewery, so please wait for a while.

In leiu of brewing, Kiuchi Brewing is has suspended production of beer and is bottling water to help the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Posted to a BeerAdvocate forum today was a response from B. United, importers of Hitachino:

40 Days Of Beer For Lent

Many people give up things for Lent.  I actually know people that have given up beer for Lent.  Here is guy that went the other way on sacrificing for Lent – food. Not beer. He will drink nothing but Continue Reading →

Untappd Adds Desktop Checkins

For those Untappd users out there, the ability to checkin on your desktop/laptop is now available.

The number of Untappd users seems to multiply daily, and many users suggestions to the developers were that they wanted to checkin without the smartphone. Continue Reading →

Posted in Cool Stuff, Founders Brewing

Vote For Founder’s New Label

Founder’s Brewing is asking for help with picking a label for an upcoming beer.  Apparently Founder’s has been working on the recipe for about 2 years but ran into some naming rights issues. Now they have 3 labels to choose from (at left.)  From Founder’s:

Here are the materials you’ll need to help you make your decision:

A Description. The beer you’ve been waiting for. Keeping your taste satisfied while keeping your senses sharp. An all-day IPA naturally brewed with a complex array of malts, grains, and hops. Perfectly balanced for aggressive aromatics, moderate bitterness and a remarkably clean finish. It’s the perfect companion for tall tales around the bonfire, working around the yard, or introducing great craft beer to your Uncle Ernie and Aunt Claudia.
The Stats: 4.7% ABV, 42 IBUs, 6 SRM
Tasting notes: Fresh and hoppy, tropical fruits, oats and wheat.
Ingredients: Three varieties of malts, Simcoe and Amarillo hops (among others).
The accolades: Won a silver medal at the 2010 GABF.

And, by the way, you only get to vote once–there’s no wavering in the craft beer world. Make your decision by 5pm on Monday, April 4, or else it doesn’t count

http://www.foundersbrewing.com/blog/beer/help-us-pick-a-label

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cool Stuff

Work For Dogfish Head. Live Your Dreams. Send Me Beer.

Dogfish Head Brewing announces various positions open now or coming soon to the brewpub & company.

Mentioned on Twitter, Dogfish Head is looking for actors & actresses to be “Tour Stars” for the brewery tours.  Also need a brewpub brewer, Tasting Room Guide, Cashiers & more.   Check it the position descriptions & more <Dogfish Jobs>

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Cool Stuff, New Belgium

Fat Tire’s Joy Ride

In honor of New Belgium Brewing’s 20th Anniversary, Fat Tire is going on a joy ride.  Through Labor Day 2011, Fat Tire headlines a Joyride Campaign focusing on stories about the beer’s history; both in enjoyment and in brewing process.  The Joyride campaign leads up to a big surprise in June – and the release of New Belgium’s Fat Tire inspired release of Super Cru.  New labels will accompany the promotion – the infamous tire slowing leaving the Fat Tire labels, only to return loaded up from the Joy Ride.  (Or for the Joyride?)

Check out the promotion site —> Joy Ride 2011

Full Press Release:

FT. COLLINS, CO — New Belgium Brewing announced today that the Fort Collins brewer of Fat Tire will take a Joy Ride through Labor Day 2011 in celebration of their 20th anniversary.

A folding Mad Magazine style print campaign kicks off the first half of the celebration, followed by interactive Fat Tire story sharing with fans and the release of a New Belgium Super Cru in June. The initial print campaign focuses on the inherent tension of creating the famously well-balanced Fat Tire.

“It’s the hardest beer for us to make,” laments New Belgium Brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert. “The hop/malt balance required makes me pull out what little hair I have left… [but] the Belgian inspiration, the elegance — it’s worth every ounce of frustration.”

In the same two-page spread (the first ever from New Belgium), CEO and co-founder Kim Jordan reflects on Fat Tire’s early success.

“We began by taking mixed cases of homebrew to parties,” Jordan recalls. “Fat Tire was the go-to beer even then.”

The first half of the Joy Ride campaign focuses on New Belgium co-worker Fat Tire stories, including a series of mail-able postmaster cards and online video content. In June, New Belgium plans a surprise showstopper — stay tuned! ­— and fans will be encouraged to submit their stories for a chance to win a 20th anniversary Fat Tire cruiser bike.

One of the most tangible manifestations of the celebration will be the June release of New Belgium Super Cru — a riff on the classic Fat Tire that is still in development.

“Getting to reimagine Fat Tire is an exciting opportunity,” Bouckaert mused. “Do we go big and hoppy? Maybe sour? Add fruit? I do not know yet. It will be something memorable and probably it will make us crazy getting there.”

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cool Stuff, Dogfish Head, Rare Opportunity

Dogfish Head Ta Henket

Back on at the brewpub in Milton, Delaware is another interesting beer from Dogfish Head.  They have brewed it once before.  Ta Henket is the name, another beer meets archeology and history.  If you watched the Brew Masters series, you saw Sam and friends travel to Egypt in the episode “Ancient Ales.”  The yeast comes from Egypt, along with some very interesting ingredients.

DFH Backstory:
Working with our archeologist friend Dr. Pat McGovern, this beer was created to incorporate the ancient ingredients and techniques described in Egyptian hieroglyphics. It was brewed to 11.4Plato with Emmer (an ancient form of wheat) and loaves of hearth baked bread and flavored with dom-palm fruit, chamomile, and zatar. Fermentation was carried out by a native Egyptian saccharomyces yeast strain captured by Sam and Floris during a recent trip to Egypt.

Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Availability: Draft only at the brewpub. 12/1/11: Now Shipping on Bottles!

5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Cool Stuff, Hitachino, Kiuchi Brewery

Kiuchi Brewing Bottles Water For Quake Victims

Kiuchi Brewing – best known for Hitachino line of beers suffered some damage in the recent Japan quake.  Posted to their website since the quake –

A big earthquake happend around our brewery.  It will take a long time todo our ordinary job including export to foreign countries.
We will do our best to reconstruct our brewery, so please wait for a while.

In leiu of brewing, Kiuchi Brewing is has suspended production of beer and is bottling water to help the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Posted to a BeerAdvocate forum today was a response from B. United, importers of Hitachino:

Hi Polly:
Thank you so much for your very kind words & understanding. Indeed, New Orleanians can probably best relate to the incredible scope & scale of this disaster. I received the following email from Toshiyuki Kiuchi yesterday {see below}.
I am in touch with Toshiyuki to organize how best the proceeds of many fund raising events can be transferred directly to him /to the families in need without loss to bureaucracies and/or administration.

1. They are all ok . Kiuchi brewery, in particular the Sake part, was damaged & need fixing/rebuilding. He will keep you posted.

2. The most damage was caused to Sendai, about 180 miles northeast of Mito. Lots of damage, but more importantly, lots of people missing.

3. Kiuchi brewery is now using their full brewery capacity to bottle water for people who have lost their homes. As you might have read on the internet there is a severe shortage on food & water there. We are extremely proud of Kiuchi Brewery’s commitment
and fast action to help everyone in need.

4. We are putting together a shipment of special kegs & cases [at our cost] to be shipped to Kiuchi Brewery as soon as possible/appropriate. We want to organize a special event at Kiuchi brewery to raise money for all these many people who have lost their homes and loved ones.

I will keep you posted.

PS Over the next months we will not be able to perfectly serve all our markets with Hitachino Nestbeer. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and your /our Hitachino customers. But we DO believe that you and all your /our Hitachino customers will understand & embrace Kiuchi Brewery’s societal responsibility and commitment.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cool Stuff, Videos

40 Days Of Beer For Lent

Many people give up things for Lent.  I actually know people that have given up beer for Lent.  Here is guy that went the other way on sacrificing for Lent – food. Not beer. He will drink nothing but beer and water for 40 days.  Newspaper editor J. Wilson is curious how Franciscan monks sustained themselves on a Lenten diet of beer and water.  A doctor will be monitoring his progress.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cool Stuff

Untappd Adds Desktop Checkins

For those Untappd users out there, the ability to checkin on your desktop/laptop is now available.

The number of Untappd users seems to multiply daily, and many users suggestions to the developers were that they wanted to checkin without the smartphone. Great for home drinkers.  If you choose to check in online, you will not have the ability to add your location and share on Foursquare.  Still mobile site only.

Other notes:

– Recently, Untappd added a simple 1-5 rating system.  Click the stars “Itunes” style.
– A homebrew distinction was added to the the Untappd system.  Now when you add a homebrew, you can designate it as such.

Happy drinking.

by Reid Ramsay