Beer Philosopher - Drink Wisely.

Spotted Cow, Spotted Record

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:33:00 +0000

According to this article in the Wisconsin State Journal, a New York City bar owner has been cited for selling New Glarus' Spotted Cow - a cream ale - at his bar in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Apparently 50 cases of the beer were confiscated from the bar.

Not only does New Glarus not sell their beer outside of Wisconsin, but the bar owner was also in violation of state laws prohibiting the direct purchase and sale of beer without the intermediary of a distributor.

Kinda makes you wonder how - and why - this enterprising bar owner ended up with all of the New Glarus beer - he obviously made the trip over to Wisconsin and picked up 50+ cases of Spotted Cow at retail to resell in his bar. Or someone did on his behalf.

I guess it's a compliment to New Glarus that their beer is being actively sought outside of their own state, but obviously this isn't the way to go about it. As far as I know, New Glarus has no plans of expanding their distribution much to the chagrin of beer geeks far and wide. Still you've got to respect their commitment to quality and keeping a local product intact in the face of obvious demand in the market.

The moral of this story ...? Bigger isn't always better, I suppose. And neither is getting busted for shirking the law.

Microcarbon-nation

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Our friends to the North seem to be pretty hip to the commercial trends, it seems. We already know that "nano" technology is all the rage in electronic equipment and medicine, but who knew the same concept could be applied to beer? Molson Coors, that's who!

In a press release from Montreal, Quebec, we learn that the company is investing a healthy stock in a new process they dub "microcarbonation" that is set to take the Canadian market by a storm of tiny bubbles. The product is called Molson M. According to the release, microcarbonation involves a process by which "the beer is injected with CO2 through smaller, finer bubbles with a high level of precision and consistency."

Hmmm.

Interesting statement, that. I've always assumed that the process of force carbonating beer involves injecting CO2 in its gaseous form into uncarbonated beer. There are no bubbles until that pressurized CO2 is released. The resulting release of CO2 gas results in the formation of carbonation "bubbles" we all know and love. In other words, I didn't know you could actually inject carbonation bubbles much less that CO2 came in bubble form! Here I thought the bubbles were merely the by-product of a release of CO2 pressure.

I learn something new all the time.

Granted, the process could be describing the size of the opening of the instrument used to inject CO2 gas, but once again it would seem that the "size" of the CO2 injector would make absolutely no difference in the size of the resulting CO2 bubbles once a container is opened or a draught drawn ... either the beer is carbonated to the proper volumes of CO2 or it's not. Right?

All of this leads me to wonder whether this new process is really substantially new or innovative, or whether it's closer to the mark to say that it is a brand spankin' new marketing concept carefully devised to breath life into a mainstream brand of "premium" lager? Judging by a couple of statements in the release, I suspect the latter.

"To stay on top of our game, we have to be innovative in how we build brands ..." says Ian Freedman, Molson Coors' Senior Vice-President & GM for Quebec. "...we are introducing a liquid that will reinvigorate a beer market that has long been looking for excitement and something new."

Certainly this is indeed a new marketing concept, but I would contend that a CO2 bubble is a CO2 bubble is a CO2 bubble. I'm not convinced that controlling the size of the "bubble" going in makes any difference in the size of the bubble coming out. Maybe this microcarbonation process was used to initially carbonate the beer - that I can buy - but once the beer is in the hands of the consumer I can't help but think that the Molson M bubble will be burst.

Perhaps the more carbonation-savvy readers can disavow me of this notion if I'm wrong, from a technical perspective, but save for the tighter, thicker carbonation you get through the use of nitrogen-infusion, a CO2 bubble by any other name ...

Dualism Optimism

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Over the last couple of years, I've taken to submitting a few of my homebrewed beer to various AHA / BJCP-sanctioned competitions. I haven't done this with the intent to win anything, per se, but I thought it would be a good venue for getting an objective opinion about my beers and maybe some helpful tips for improvement.

I suffer - as I imagine many homebrewers do - from a little bit of tunnel vision when it comes to my own beer. I suppose I'm too close to it, having brewed it myself, but it's more difficult for me to evaluate my own beer accurately than another person's.

Anyway, I've received some very valuable feedback on everything I've entered thus far. I highly recommend homebrewers who are just getting in to the rhythm of brewing their own beer to seek out as many objective opinions as possible. It will only improve your brewing skills over time. Particularly, "official" homebrew comeptitions provide a reliable source for valuable feedback that is really hard to come by otherwise.

Occasionally, too, it's nice to have your efforts rewarded/reinforced when you happen to place with one of your brews! I recently sent my 'Dualism' - a particularly strong (9.8% ABV) Baltic Porter - to the 2nd Annual Strong Beer Competition in Georgia. Much to my genuine surprise, it took 1st place in its category (specialty beer). Then, to my complete amazement, it took an over all 3rd place in the Best of Show round. You can see the comeplete competition results here.

Because this particular beer was oaked in Chambourcin-infused American oak, and it is a really high alcohol beer, I didn't enter it in its own classification. I debated this one, because Dualism is a style-buster of sorts, but it appears I made a good choice in retrospect. Bottom line, even though the beer itself performed far better than I'd have imagined it would, I still received very good advice from the judges that means more to me that a couple of ribbons.

Don't get me wrong, though ... the ribbons are nice too!

Holiday Beer Dinner - Kindling Spirits

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:11:00 +0000

This has already been announced on various social networking sites, but I thought it might be wise to offer a head's up here as well. Kindling Spirits, along with beerphilosopher.com, will be hosting a special Holiday beer dinner on the evening of November 16th, 2009.

The dinner will consist of a multitude of holiday-inspired dishes (TBD) accompanied by a selection of five special seasonal beers that are sure to get your holiday spirit in high gear.

Additional hard-to-find and seasonal beers will, of course, be available for purchase at Kindling that night.

Here's our tentative beer lineup for the night of the 16th:

Sand Creek Cranberry Special Ale (ale brewed w. cranberries) 5.2% ABV

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice (spiced winter warmer) 6% ABV

August Schell Snowstorm (Baltic porter) 6% ABV

Avery Old Jubilation (Winter Warmer) 8% ABV (Updated!)

Brasserie A'Chouffe N'Ice Chouffe (spiced Belgian dark strong ale) 10% ABV

This dinner is RSVP-only, and you can reserve your spot(s) by stopping in at 1420 Main St. Carterville or by calling (618) 985-2226. Tickets are $30 per individual and the dinner will begin shortly after 6:30 PM. There will also be live music to help set the mood, compliments of The Swamp Tigers.

Our beer dinners at Kindling routinely sell out, so be sure to RSVP right away if you're interested in attending. Tell 'em the Beer Philosopher sent ya!

Cheers!

She Found Good Ale

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Marika Josephson - a beer enthusiast and transplant from NY - paid a visit to Kindling Monday night for our weekly beer tasting madness. If her latest post on She Brews Good Ale is any indication, she had a good time! I'm always excited to hear about people in Southern Illinois who are excited about beer. Marika takes her passion a couple of steps further by blogging about it on the afore-mentioned blog and as the new Beer Examiner for the Carbondale area on examiner.com. She's even begun homebrewing of late.

Please be sure and drop her a line and support her efforts. The more interest and enthusiasm this region has, the better the beer will be. Granted, we're not a metro market down here, but getting out from under the shadow of the ABInBev giant sure feels pretty good to me.

Big Muddy Brewing

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Here's a nice little feature in the Fall 2009 issue of Southern Illinois Magazine highlighting Chuck Stuhrenberg's Big Muddy Brewing operation in Murphysboro. Southern Illinois is slowly but surely crawling up out of the mire of bad beer and embracing craft and specialty beers like never before. Chuch is one of the "new wave" of homebrewers turned craft brewers to emerge in the immediate area.

If you're local, please support his efforts to bring a better quality of beer to the region. Besides, he's a nice guy!

Orvalevard?

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Nicole Bean from Boulevard Brewing Co. sent me this very interesting bit of news earlier today ... Orval is one of the most unique beers in the world, and a standout among the Belgian Trappist beers in my mind. This collaboration will certainly yield something interesting, and is quite a get for this Midwestern brewery, I'd say. Cheers to the outcome! Here's the press release in its entirety:

PRESS RELEASE

Boulevard To Collaborate With International Brewer

KANSAS CITY, Mo., October 9, 2009 – Boulevard Brewing Company today announced Jean-Marie Rock, brewmaster at Orval, the renowned Trappist brewery located in southern Belgium, will team up with Boulevard brewmaster Steven Pauwels to create a small production, limited release beer. The joint effort, a first for the Midwestern craft brewery, will take place during Rock’s late October visit to Boulevard’s Kansas City facility.

The brewers, both native Belgians, will produce an Imperial Pilsner similar to a lager brewed by Rock at the start of his career. It will, according to Pauwels, be a tribute to Pilsner beers; full flavored and refreshing, brewed with 100% Pilsner malt and 100% Saaz hops, using time-honored techniques.

“The beer will be made in a very traditional way,” said Rock. “The methods by which it will be brewed, fermented, and lagered are no longer employed, though they made this beer fantastic. It is time to get a beer like this back in a glass.”

For his part, Pauwels is thrilled by the chance to work with his notable colleague. “In this, Boulevard’s first collaborative effort, we are pleased to honor a brewer who has had such an enormous influence on me and on so many other craft brewers. Jean-Marie mastered dry hopping and brewing with wild yeast long before craft brewers began experimenting with the techniques here in the U.S.”

The beer, to be packaged in 750ml bottles as part of Boulevard’s Smokestack Series, is expected to be available in January, and will be distributed through Boulevard’s wholesaler network.

About Boulevard Brewing Company
Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard’s portfolio of seven year-round and five seasonal beers are available in a 17-state region stretching from Utah to Alabama, and North Dakota to Texas.

Beer Payola?

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:21:00 +0000

I stumbled across an interesting article in Advertising Age this morning. It appears that the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is going to be issuing new rules that will apply to bloggers with regard to particular product endorsements and mentions. This new set of rules will not be unlike those that apply to broadcast media, like radio.

For those who aren't familiar with the radio world, "payola" - basically receiving some sort of payment in the form of monetary reward or product in exchange for mentions or endorsements - is strictly illegal, though it still happens with some frequency in my experience. The existing rules seem to leave some ambiguity as to what is, or is not, payola and many of the infringements are kept "under the table" or overlooked based on their relative insignificance.

These new rules are set to go into effect on Dec. 1st, 2009, and appear to be pretty comprehensive - particularly for bloggers.

So, my question is how these new rules will apply to beer bloggers, specifically?

I've made it no secret that I receive occassional product samples from breweries. This is something that I've done for years, and I either write about the beer or I don't. The decision is my own, and I've never been under any sort of obligation to mention a particular product. The breweries send them with the hope that the beer press will offer up some free promotion, of course, but there's no "pay to play" aspect to it. Honestly, I like to think they also seek our honest evaluation of their product too.

No "we'll send you 'X' if you write about 'X,' in other words. I have never agreed to write a review or offer an endorsement of a product in exchange for that product. Paid endorsements just don't do anything for me, and I have no interest in doing them. To the credit of the craft beer industry, I've neven been asked to do so either.

Will these rules curtail the craft industry's practice of providing the established beer media with product samples going forward? I don't know, but it sure is looking that way to me. Take a look at the new rules (.pdf document) for yourself and let me know what you think by posting a comment, won't you?

Dinner Bell's Tonight

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:38:00 +0000

Tonight is the night, folks! Bell's Beer dinner at Kindling Spirits, beginning at 6:30PM. In anticipation of the event, I thought I'd post the finalized menu just to get your collective appetites going early ... you'll need them!

Here's the menu (click for larger version):

Oh, and if this doesn't sufficiently excite you - and you actually have a pulse - we may just have a little something special from Bell's to cap off the night (in extremely limited supply). Hmmm. Of course, you'll only find out what it is if you have already RSVP'd ... or ... you check in with Kindling Spirits RIGHT NOW to see if there might be a spot or two remaining for the dinner tonight. Call (618) 985-2226 to check for last minute reservations.

6:30PM, $40 per plate includes full four-course meal paired with 5+ Bell's beers. Cheers!

Founders Keepers

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:34:00 +0000

Like other areas within the region - particularly the Metro East area - Southern Illinois is seeing its fair share of an influx of great craft and specialty beers into the market. Without question, the amount of great beers is exponentially greater now than it's ever been before. Locals have a reason to celebrate this fact and less reason to drive 100 + miles to find quality craft and specialty beers in any reasonable quantity.

I, for one, am not so sentimental that I am really missing the all day beer run that much. My wallet is missing it even less.

Since our neck of the woods isn't the beer wasteland it used to be anymore, where is the curious craft consumer to begin? After all, a visit to a good retailer - like Kindling Spirits in Carterville - can be a bit of sensory overload. After all, you've got the regional standards like Schlafly and Boulevard, of course, but sharing shelf space with them these days is a plethora of terrific brands that are likely unfamiliar to many casual beer - even the casual craft beer - fans.

Just looking at domestic craft beer brands that have made their appearance here within the last 6 - 9 months, we've got the likes of Avery, Bell's, Boulder, Breckenridge, Dark Horse, Dogfish Head, Founders, Great Divide, Hoppin' Frog, Lagunitas, Left Hand, New Holland, The Lost Abbey, Three Floyds, Tommyknocker, Victory and many, many more ... none of these beers - save for Bell's - have ever seen the interior or a retailer's store in the immediate area.

So what's a thirsty beer aficionado to do? My first recommendation is to sample as many of these brands as possible. Easier said than done, right? Actually, no. It's easily done too.

You don't have to buy a six-pack and commit to 72oz of a beer you're not sure you'll like just to have the chance to give it a try! If you visit the afore-mentioned Kindling Spirits - the best craft and specialty beer selection in the immediate area, by the way - you can purchase a single bottle of almost anything on the shelves. Not only that, you can drink it right then and there in the dining room, on the porch (Kindling is a big log cabin) or on the patio under one of the huge green umbrellas.

This is, by the way, the only place you can do this in the area as well, not to mention the fact that you can assemble a mixed six-pack to take home.

As if that's not enough for firsts in Southern Illinois with regard to Kindling Spirits, come pay a visit on Monday nights and you'll find yours truly hosting an open beer sampling session for interested customers we call "Drink Wisely!" between 6pm and 8pm. Sometimes we go with a style theme - like Belgian Witbiers - and sample an array of that that style of beer to compare and contrast. Other times, we might feature a series of beers from a particular brewery ... it just depends on the week. I'm available to answer questions and talk through the beers with whoever cares to know more. A big part of appreciating craft beer is knowing craft beer. The more you know about something you enjoy, the deeper your enjoyment becomes. Before you know it, you've got yourself a bona fide passion on your hands.

At least that's what happened to me.

If you like a little (or a lot) of food with your beer, join us monthly - usually one Monday out of each month, but occasionally on a Friday - for our famous (already!) beer dinners. We've already featured a 5-course Belgian beer dinner, Boulevard Brewing Company beer dinner, a Schlafly cask party and a dinner, and we've got Bell's Brewery coming on September 11th, '09! In October - tentatively the 2nd - we're going to host a "Little Oktoberfest" celebration, complete with authentic German fare and plenty of kegged maerzen beer to wash it all down with.

The Oktoberfest event isn't available for RSVP as of this post (9/4/09), but should be within the next week or so. Until then, why not RSVP for one of the last remaining spots for our Bell's dinner on September 11th? Here's a chance to sample five terrific Bell's beers and enjoy a full, four-course meal for only $40 per person. If you're interested, call (618) 985-2226 and tell 'em the Beer Philosopher sent ya!

Finally, you might be wondering why I entitled this post "Founders Keepers." Me too. Actually, I just liked it and I wanted to make mention of one of my personal favorite breweries, since it was referenced in the comments section of Mike's (STL Hops) blog I previously referred to in the hyperlink at the beginning of this post. Founders Brewing Company - out of Grand Rapids, Michigan - is one of the most diverse, "big beer" brewing bunch of folks you'll find anywhere and their beers are exceptional across the board. If you're looking for a good place to start in expanding your craft beer repertoire, I can't think of many - okay any - that are better. Like the commenter on the STL Hops blog said, Founders represents one of the best "bang for your buck" buys in beer, hands down. Many of their bottled offerings, for example, are available from Kindling Spirits for less than $2 per bottle. That's insane.

So, unless you've been living under a rock or were blown out of the area last May 8th, you owe it to yourself to check out the great beers right here in Southern Illinois. Oh, and be sure to stop in and say hi some Monday night at Kindling. We'd love to meet you!

Beer Activism Pays Off

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Beer is getting its fair share of press these days with potential tax increases looming and a "beer summit" on the White House lawn. Instead of wasting time talking about photo-ops (more than enough of that has happened already), I thought I'd share some encouraging news and remind beer-loving readers that your voice really does count! Even in beer-related matters!

Last week I posted a piece about the House Small Brewers Caucus. If you didn't read it, and don't know what the Caucus is all about, you can click here to see the original post. I encouraged readers to write to their respective Congressman and voice support for the caucus.

I did, and here's what I got back from Rep. Jerry Costello of Illinois. Encouraging, I thought, and shows that they've done some research. Now there's even more reason to write and show support for the brewing industry with the Brewers Excise and Economic Relief Act (B.E.E.R. Act)on the table and possible going before the full House of Representatives for a vote. This is important stuff and would be a real boost for small brewers who struggle to balance a high level of quality with economic realities.

So, write your letter (instructions - and even a template - are provided in the afore-mentioned post) and see what response you get!

Dear Shawn:

I wanted to drop you a note to let you know I received your message regarding the House Small Brewers Caucus.

I appreciate you contacting my office and thank you for sharing your views with me. There are over two thousand brewing companies in the United States operated by national, regional, and small brewers, creating jobs and benefiting local communities. Pleased be assured I will continue to work closely with my colleagues to help small brewers remain competitive.

You may be interested to know that H.R. 836, the Brewers Excise and Economic Relief (BEER) Act, has been introduced in the House. This legislation would repeal the 1990 tax increase on beer, reducing the tax to $9. This legislation would also reduce the tax on brewers who produce less than two million barrels a year to $3.50 a barrel. H.R. 836 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. Should this bill come before the full House for a vote, be assured I will keep your views in mind.

If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jerry F. Costello
Member of Congress

Become a Founding Subscriber to Beer Connoisseur!

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Have you heard of Beer Connoisseur Magazine? Perhaps not, unless you're a regular in social networking circles where buzz has been building about this new, high-end consumer magazine to be published quarterly beginning in early December 2009. In addition to the build up for the print publication's debut, a bevy of talented writers have already been churning out some terrific content on the online home of Beer Connoisseur - beerconnoisseur.com. If you haven't visited the site yet, you owe it to yourself to have a look around. I've seen a lot of beer-related websites in my time and this one is one of the most professional, visually-compelling sites out there. The appeal is more than aesthetic, however. The site content from the stable of hand-picked online contributors is simply stellar as well. I've learned a lot already! In many ways, Beer Connoisseur represents the future of where media is headed in relation to craft and specialty beer coverage.

I am honored to be involved with the project and look forward to helping make the inaugural issue the best it possibly can be. If you're interested in subscribing (to the magazine, to the members-only portion of the website, or both!) I'm happy to be able to offer you a special invitation code as beerphilosopher.com readers that will give you some additional "founding member" perks!

Perks are good!

Simply visit the subscription page and enter the invitation code FBC-0102 into the form when you fill in your subscription information. It's that simple and you'll be enjoying the terrific beer articles and information online in minutes and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the offline version in your mailbox or newsstand this winter!

Hurry, become a founding member while you still can!

Cheers!

Life & Limb or Limb & Life

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:08:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE

Chico, CA (08/12/09)—This fall independent craft brewers Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head, will release two collaborative beers. Limb & Life—a draft-only beer—will debut in October; with Life & Limb 24oz bottles and limited draft to follow in November.

The beers—Life & Limb, and Limb & Life—are dedicated to the family of beer drinkers and enthusiasts worldwide who continue to support the little guys, iconoclasts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who risk life and limb to shape the vibrant craft-brewing community. Over the years, the two brewers—Ken Grossman and Sam Calagione—have become friends in the industry. They quickly realized how many similarities they share. Grossman’s history as a craft-brewing pioneer and his radical approach to brewing are echoed some fifteen years later by Calagione—through his boundary-pushing innovation and tireless promotion for the cause of craft beer.

Both men started out as home brewers obsessed with beer-making. Both share deep values of sustainability and responsibility. Both share the desire to pass their breweries on to the next generation, and both started out small—from humble beginnings—and built vibrant, creative, beer-centered and fiercely independent breweries, despite the long odds.

Their mutual respect, admiration, and none-too-few shared glasses of beer led to the collaborative idea.

“I have gotten to know Ken through our years on The Brewers Association Board and at numerous beer events throughout the country. As a brewer myself, it is inspiring to see a person like Ken drive a beer-centric (as opposed to a biz-centric) brewery so far and so wide while sticking to his original ideals and integrating his family into the company. I have enjoyed talking (and drinking) beer with his children, especially Sierra and Brian who currently work alongside Ken at Sierra Nevada. The iterative process of conceptualizing and brewing this beer with Ken and all the folks at Sierra has been a joy. We have designed this beer to intertwine signature aspects of both of our breweries’ creative approaches—from sustainability to exotic sugars, from bottle conditioning to cellarability. I hope Mariah, our amazing co-workers, and I can keep Dogfish on track with our beer-centric ideals for many years to come. I will know how successful we’ve been at this task if my children, Sammy and Grier, are able to share a bottle of 2009 Life & Limb with Sierra and Brian at a beer dinner or festival 15 years or so from now. I am hopeful that, as they toast each other, they can hold their heads up high knowing our two breweries were among many fine breweries that breathed LIFE into the colorful, diverse, and beautiful LIMBS of the American craft-brewing family tree.” – Sam Calagione, President and Founder, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

“Sam and I have spent many evenings laughing, arguing, and toasting glasses, talking about where we are in the business and where we’re going. As Sierra Nevada approaches our 30th anniversary, it’s inspiring to step back and see how far American craft beer has come. People like Sam and Dogfish help to push the boundaries of beer, and it has been fun working with him and the Dogfish crew. This is our first time working with maple syrup in beer on this kind of scale, and the first time we know of anyone using birch syrup. It has been an interesting and inspiring experience and will hopefully lead to big things. As a beer, Life & Limb has so much meaning for me personally, and for the brewery. As our first collaborative release, we couldn’t have had a better partner. Our families are coming together in this beer, both literally and figuratively by using ingredients from our family “farms”—estate hops and barley from us; maple and birch syrup and exotic sugars from Sam—and by having the Dogfish family come to Chico to brew. As the bottled beer ages and changes over time, it will be great to see our families share this beer over anniversaries of their own.” – Ken Grossman, Founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong beer that defies style characteristics—brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman “farm” at the brewery in Chico. The beer is alive with yeast—a blend of both breweries’ house strains—bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska; it is the first beer we know of ever to use birch syrup in the brew. If stored under good conditions, this rich, full-bodied beer should age well for years. Life & Limb will be available in 24-oz. bottles and limited draft starting this November.

Limb & Life is a companion to the big beer—an acorn off the larger tree. It is a 5% ABV small beer—a low-gravity beer made using the residual sugar as “second runnings” from the first larger brew, fortified with American hops. This is a session beer. Its big brother is a sipper. Limb & Life will be a limited draft-only product, a prelude to the bigger beer, available in select bars and restaurants this October.

The two beers will be bottled at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., in Chico, CA and released through the Sierra Nevada distribution network.

###

Is your Beer well Represented?

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:11:00 +0000

If you enjoy craft beer - and I assume you do if you're reading this post - I want to strongly encourage you to participate in a push to encourage members of Congress to join the House Small Brewers Caucus. What is the HSBC? Here's an excerpt from a recent email blast from the Brewers Association President, Charlie Papazian, and the Director of the American Homebrewers Association, Gary Glass:

"The U.S. House of Representatives Small Brewers Caucus was formed in 2007 by interested Members of Congress. Their mission is to gain a better understanding of all aspects of small, amateur and professional craft brewing, from business and regulatory issues to the brewing process and history of the small brewing community."

Why is this Caucus important? Here's yet another excerpt from the alert I received:

"Currently, only 49 Representatives belong to the Caucus. To put that in some perspective, 344 Congressional districts are home to at least one small brewery and we assume every one of the 435 districts is home to homebrewers and beer enthusiasts."

Now here's the rub for Illinois, specifically ... there are currently no Caucus members from our state! We need to ensure we have good representation in Congress, especially in our current economic climate. As we've already seen, beer is vulnerable to increased taxation and other infringements that will only be avoided with a strong voice in House of Representatives!

Please visit the official U.S. House of Representatives web site to access your Representative’s personal web page and contact information – just enter your zip code in the “Find Your Representative” search box in the upper left-hand corner and then click on your Representative’s name on the page that displays to enter his/her personal web page.

If you need a little assistance in drafting an appropriate letter, simply copy and paste the example below and customize it as you see fit. Remember, it's going to take a real grassroots effort to grow the Caucus and grow our collective voice in Washington! Please let your rRepresentative know you want his/her support for the future of craft and homebrewed beer TODAY!

Suggested letter for your U.S. Representative

Dear Representative _____________,

As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to join the House Small Brewers Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Peter DeFazio and Denny Rehberg.

The purpose of the Small Brewers Caucus is to provide Members of Congress and their staff an opportunity to learn about activities of the American craft brewing community, which includes over 1,500 small and independent American brewery businesses, and beer and homebrewing enthusiasts that participate in and contribute to local community activities and economies. The Small Brewers Caucus also offers opportunities to learn about the science and art of beer and brewing, the dynamics of running a small business as a brewery, the associated regulatory and societal issues and the value of craft beers and small brewing activities.

As a beer enthusiast and ardent supporter of America’s small professional and amateur brewers, I appreciate the many contributions their small, independent businesses make to their local communities. From their flavorful and distinctive locally brewed beers to their community involvement, small breweries are important economic and social hubs in their local communities.

Please contact the Washington office of either Representative DeFazio (202-225-6416) or Representative Rehberg (202-225-3211) to learn more about the Small Brewers Caucus and to join. Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

The Funk of Perfection?

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Lessley Anderson, senior editor at chow.com, contends that a beer that evokes descriptive language like "barn yard" or even "body odor" is arguably the perfect beer. Has Lessley lost it?Should she begin looking for a new gig? No citrusy hops mentioned in her review; no bready malts to speak of in her description - just the earthy, funky experience brought about by Brett.

Who is Brett? And, more importantly, how has Brett managed to beguile such a refined palate? It's been happening in Belgium for centuries and thanks to several intrepid craft brewers here in the U.S., Brett is bringing the funk to a beer bottle near you.

No need to stand down-wind.

Take a peek at this excellent video Lessley sent over, documenting her recent brush with Brett.

(If the video doesn't display, click here.)

While the vast majority of beer-drinkers (at least of the White House "beer summit" variety, it seems) would never dream of ascribing such colorful descriptors to a beer, Lessley, and a small but growing segment of beer devotees find the pinnacle of beer complexity and character in these small batch, artisan ales with a certain sour power.

I'm inclined to agree with Lessley wholeheartedly, even though I have yet to try Russian River's Supplication, much to my dismay. I have, however, given in to Temptation and recommend you do the same, assuming you can't find Lessley's idea of "the perfect" beer. If you should come across it, though, I'll be happy to take it off of your hands to save you the trouble of having to use such ugly words to describe your beer.

Cheers!

Mobile Blogging

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:40:00 +0000

I often find myself away from my laptop but in need of posting something on the site quickly. Heretofore, i've relied on Twitter to accomplish this (via the 'Latest Updates' widget above). I decided to give true mobile blogging a try to see how feasible it might be for posting on the fly ... this is my "test" post - complete with a great photo taken at Kindling Spirits!

Cask and Ye Shall Receive

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:49:00 +0000

It's official! Mark your calendars for Monday, July 27th! We'll be hosting Schlafly (The St. Louis Brewery) and having a cask party, featuring their dry-hopped brown ale. To accompany this glorious elixir, another one of Kindling Spirits' great dinners will be thrown in. A great meal, and a great cask-conditioned beer, for only $15!

You can't get that kind of treatment just anywhere. As a matter of fact, you can't get that treatment anywhere else in Southern Illinois!

Our last event on July 13th SOLD OUT in record time (with over 50 in attendance!), so you must RSVP (pre-pay only) to Kindling Spirits as soon as you possibly can to reserve your seats. RSVP by stopping in the store, or calling (618) 985-2226.

The event will kick off at 6pm. Be sure to tell 'em the Beer Philosopher sent ya when you stop in or call!

Cheers!

Kindling for the Smokestack

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:46:00 +0000

The second of what we hope will be monthly beer dinners at Kindling Spirits is in the books and the event was a wild success! A huge thanks to Nicole Bean of Boulevard Brewing Co. for helping us get this dinner off the ground and for talking through the fine series of Boulevard beers we enjoyed. The turn out was even better than we could have hoped - although I failed to do an official head count, we easily topped 50 attendees. If you've been in the Kindling banquet room, you know that means an absolutely packed house! A huge thank you, too, to everyone who attended. I saw a few regulars, of course, but I was amazed at how many new faces I saw in the crowd.

We enjoyed several of Boulevard's year-round offerings, including two versions of their Unfiltered Wheat. By two versions, I mean we sampled the beer in the standard 12oz glass bottles that most are familiar with, but we also enjoyed the beer in a new, terrific-looking 16oz aluminum bottle as well (held by Nicole in the photo). A great presentation for this beer and a terrific way to enjoy a well-made American wheat beer in a durable and versatile package. These will be a big hit for outdoor events that don't allow glass bottles on premises. I know I'll take advantage of these new bottles for the remaining Sunset Concerts in Carbondale, assuming we get more in stock in time!

The food, as always, was excellent. While we didn't formally pair the food with the beer lineup this time 'round, the beers still matched well throughout. The Unfiltered Wheat was light and refreshing and complimented the starter course of fresh green leaf salad masterfully. The main course was Kindling's famous steak sandwich and the bolder flavors of Boulevard Pale Ale and Single Wide IPA proved to be a great accompaniment to this course. Finally, and probably the highlight for me, was the foray into Boulevard's Smokestack series of beers - namely the Belgian-style quad, The Sixth Glass. This dark, rich and fruity ale paired wonderfully with the fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies we were served. Decadence! Finally, Nicole was so kind as to bring along several bottles of the new Smokestack Two Jokers Double Wit for everyone to ... err ... umm ... cleanse the palate at the end of the night.

All in all, I was exceedingly happy with how the event turned out and am thrilled to see so much interest in better beer in Southern Illinois. All I can say is that it's about time we start to do things like this in the area because it's clear there is plenty of interest from both beer geeks and the general public. I'll look forward to announcing the next couple of events scheduled at Kindling for later this month and into August. Stay tuned for that info soon.

Saisons Greetings

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:12:00 +0000

My second article for Beer Connoisseur was just posted and it's a timely one for a couple of reasons. For one, the Saison style is one of my personal favorite summertime beers, hands down. Who am I kidding? Saisons are one of my favorite beers regardless of season.

The other reason is that, for the intrepid brewer, saisons are also a terrific style to brew in warm weather as they benefit from a relatively hot primary fermentation. In fact, members of the Aleuminati Alechemists are taking advantage of this fact even now for our third collaborative beer brewing session. I hope to get in on this action soon as well, but with a baby due to arrive any day now, I'm gonna wait until I can focus on the beer again. Until then, you can read about the saison-brewing exploits of Aleuminati luminaries like Ray Grace and Rob DeNunzio right here.

Oh, and if you haven't subscribed to Beer Connoisseur Magazine yet, and want to become a founding member - complete with many additional benefits - I invite you to use my special invitation code when you subscribe. Just enter FBC-0102 in the 'Promotions' field when subscribing!

Cheers!

Boulevard Beer Buffet!

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:42:00 +0000

On Monday, July 13th we're gonna take our usual "Drink Wisely" session at Kindling Spirits down a new path ... or perhaps I should say a new Boulevard!

Boulevard Brewing Co. has partnered with beerphilosopher.com and Kindling Spirits to bring you an evening of great beer, great food and great conversation around the other two!

Beginning at 6PM, we'll host a casual "meet and greet" featuring some fine Boulevard beer in a way you've likely never seen it before - packaged in new aluminum bottles! This is your chance to sample some beer and give the brewery feedback on their new packaging. I don't know about you, but I could definitely fit some Boulevard aluminum bottles in my cooler for upcoming Sunset Concerts! Let 'em know if this is a product you'd like to see hit our local market!

After the meet and greet wraps up, we'll convene in Kindling's banquet room at 7PM for a session of Boulevard beers, including Unfiltered Wheat, Single-wide IPA and the Smokestack Series The Sixth Glass - accompanied by one of Kindling's excellent buffet-style dinner spreads which I'm told will feature a nice salad, chips and their bistro-style steak sandwich.

I can taste it already!

As if that weren't enough, Nicole from Boulevard is gonna walk us through the featured beers during dinner and then break out a special "mystery beer" she's bringing in just for the event. I don't know what it is yet, but it promises to be something unique and elusive. How do you like that, fellow beer geeks?

Seating is very limited, so be sure and RSVP early to get a spot. They'll undoubtedly fill up fast!

Tickets are only $15 each.

Kindling Spirits is located at 1420 Main St. in Crainville, IL (just east of the Carterville crossroads in the old Pioneer Cabin location).

Please RSVP to (618) 985-2226 and tell 'em the Beer Philosopher sent ya!

This is sure to be a terrific night and let's face it, you can't eat a decent meal for this price anywhere else in the region and get great food, great beer and increase your beer IQ all at the same time.

RSVP ASAP!

Pucker Power

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:24:00 +0000

During a recent tasting event I was hosting at Kindling Spirits - a local boutique beer and wine retailer I work closely with - I deviated from our typical course of excellent, but otherwise "common" beer styles - and threw a slight curve ball at my friends in attendance. Grabbing a green-tinted bottle from the walk-in cooler, I proceeded to pry the crown off of the bottle and then draw the cork up and out, resulting in an audible "poof" as the pressure in the bottle released the accumulated carbonation inside.

This was the first indication that my friends were in for something ... different. A crown and a cork. Hmmm ... odd.

Once poured into our house sample glasses (tulip-style, in case you're keeping score), I encouraged the group to let the beer warm a bit by cupping the glassware in both hands, then to swirl the contents vigorously and breathe in the aromas emitting from the glass and into the air. This exercise alone was enough entertainment for me, as I observed peculiar, somewhat contorted looks and a decided grimace or two from those around me.

What my friends were smelling obviously wasn't your typical fare.

The brave souls slowly tilted their glasses and tasted the pale gold -colored liquid inside. The reaction this time was priceless. For some, you would have sworn they'd just sipped pure lemon juice, while another quickly summed up his thoughts on the experience with a definitive, "no." The consensus seemed to be that this stuff had clearly gone bad and anyone with good sense would be crazy to intentionally drink this vile substance to which they'd been subjected. I'm sure many now question my palate, and sanity, as a result.

Good. The process has begun.

The bottle I brought out was a Lindemans Cuvee Rene - a good but not superlative example of the Belgian gueuze style, in my estimation. While the majority of Lindemans beers you'll find in wide distribution are of the sugary sweet variety and not representative of the traditional Belgian lambic beers, this particular beer I find to be an exception and contrary to my audience's reaction, a good "gateway" beer to introduce the uninitiated into the wild and wooly world of sour beers. Cuvee Rene is not overpoweringly sour and contains enough sweetness to round out the tart edges of this spontaneously-fermented beer. It's tame, relatively speaking.

While sour beers are still something of a rarity in many parts of the U.S., we are starting to see a growing interest in these wildly complex (pun intended) beers and several American craft brewers are leading the way. Rather than elaborating on the who and what here, I thought I'd share this surprisingly good read from the L.A. Times on the subject. The article mentions several terrific and innovative craft breweries who are doing terrific things with wild yeast strains and wood these days, like Allagash, Jolly Pumpkin and Russian River.

If you've never had a traditional lambic or gueuze (the Lindeman fruit beers don't count, sorry), I'd encourage you to keep your mind - and your palate - open and try one. Ideally, attend a tasting or a beer dinner where these sour beers are being featured. Often times, the context in which you drink these beers makes a huge difference in how you perceive them. Food pairings, of course, can change an otherwise "offensive" beer into something special. Don't force your palate into submission just because you feel like you'll lose beer geek cred if you don't like sours. They are for many, admittedly, an acquired taste and the pleasure truly is in the journey. Take your time and before you know it, you'll likely be sipping sours with the rest of us wild and crazy people.

Drink Wisely on beerconnoisseur.com

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:38:00 +0000

I'm proud to announce that yours truly is now a writer and blog personality at the brand spankin' new beerconnoisseur.com website. This slick new site is the precursor to the publication of the inaugural issue of Beer Connoisseur Magazine, slated for first publication in November 2009. I'm excited to be a part of this new endeavor and look forward to contributing to the site and magazine as the "beer Styles" guy.

If you'd like to check out my initial column on the website, you can do so right here. If you'd like to become a founding subscriber to the magazine and get some additional perks for doing so, use my special invitation code FBC-0102 when you sign up. Not only will you be one of the first to receive this new magazine when it's published, you'll be supporting my efforts there and ensuring we have a successful launch!

Oh, by the way, this new gig won't replace what I do here or the growing community of beer lovers over on the Aleuminati. I'll do 'em all ... and just sleep less.

Cheers! And please be sure to offer feedback on the column over on the BC site. The more feedback we get, the better my column will be and the better the new website and magazine will be as well.

Good Beer at Sunset Concerts? Yes, You Can!

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:41:00 +0000

The 2009 Sunset Concert series begins tonight at 7pm on the steps of Shryock Auditorium in Carbondale with the reggae stylings of The Arc Band. If you're a local, I'm sure you're already familiar with these early summer concert events. I'm sure you're familiar, too, with the ban on glass bottles on premises. For those of us who enjoy "better" beer, this has meant that we're relegated to drinking mass-produced swill from cans or forgo beer altogether. While these options are fine for some, I'd like to offer a couple of alternatives newly available this year that might just solve the dilemma local beer geeks face each year.

Thankfully, many craft brewers are beginning to utilize the can for packaging these days. It's got a lot of advantages and the myth that the beer will have a metallic taste from the can has been dispelled time and again. While we still lack the availability of many canned craft beers here, we do have a couple of new options just in time for the Sunset Concerts!

New Belgium Brewing Co. in Fort Collins, Co now offers their popular Fat Tire amber ale in cans. This beer offers a more flavorful beer for the buck. You can get a 12 pack for roughly $18.99.

If you wanna try something a little edgier, why not grab a sixer or two of Ska Brewing's Special E.S.B. Not only is it exponentially cooler than the kitchy, trying way to hard to be hip PBR, it actually tastes good. This one is gonna have a more pronounced hop presence than the afore-mentioned Fat Tire. You can only find this beer at the best beer retailer in Southern Illinois - Kindling Spirits in Crainville. Call (618) 985-2226 for availability and tell 'em the Beer Philosopher sent ya!

Either way you go, you no longer have to drink bad beer to enjoy a good time at the Sunset Concerts. Cheers!

Growing Wheat

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:21:00 +0000

Looks like the folks at ABInBev are looking to cash in on the growing popularity of wheat beers by further expanding their Bud Light line to include an unfiltered (really?) wheat beer with a decidedly Belgian twist. How appropriate. Bud Light Golden Wheat appears to be poised to challenge the MillerCoors success found in their Blue Moon beers with this orange and coriander-infused light beer. They also hope to avoid the disasterous failure of the "craft lite" versions of the Miller beers unleashed on a few test markets last year.

While I have to admit it will be interesting to see what the ABInBev folks do with this beer given that Bud Light is the prototypical American light lager and the addition of wheat to the grain bill will surely take this beer in a new direction, I have my doubts. An authentic witbier this won't be, I'm confident, but it might have a bit more character that it's citrus-centric sibling, Bud Light Lime.

Might, I say.

If I were the AbInBev brain trust - and I'm not - I might think a brand facelift for the Hoegaarden product might be a better use of marketing resources and introduce the American mass-produced beer drinking public to an arguably better beer at the same time. That is, if they were looking to release a wit. They're not.

A Bud Light by any other name is still a Bud Light.

Odell Expands

thebeerphilosopher@yahoo.com (Shawn, the Beer Philosopher) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:19:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE

Fort Collins, CO - It was golden ales not golden shovels on June 9, 2009, as Odell Brewing Company officially broke ground on its new expansion. The project, which includes an expansion of the existing manufacturing, office, and tap room facilities, will help the brewery accommodate increased and enhanced brewing operations.

“While we are expanding capacity, we are really viewing this as an investment in innovation in both style and process,” said brewery owner Wynne Odell. Not only will the brewery gain much needed space, but it will also improve its creative brewing processes with investments such as a single-serve packaging line and a new barrel aging cellar.

Odell Brewing has partnered with local businesses RB+B Architects, BHA Designs, Northern Engineering, and Delta Construction for the project. The brewery has also incorporated multiple environmentally friendly installations and “green” considerations in its plans.

“The design team made a concerted effort to create a facility that is both healthy and efficient,” said project manager Brendan McGivney.

The brewery will work with Abound Solar on a roof mounted photovoltaic system. Abound’s solar panels, installed by Wirsol, will generate 50 KW of energy, which is approximately 1/3 of the brewery’s summer daily peak demand.

Solar tubes in the brewery’s new warehouse will provide natural lighting, and a day-lighting system will actually turn off light fixtures when this natural light is sufficient. The brewery will also include a water recovery system in its bottling line that will capture clean rinse water and use it for landscape irrigation.

In addition to the building, the brewery will include improvements to its parking, shipping, and overall landscaping. Drought-resistant plants will be used throughout the landscaping, and porous pavers will be used in the parking lot to minimize rain runoff. These porous pavers will be showcased by the city of Fort Collins as one of their Low Impact Development Pilot Projects.

Odell Brewing expects to complete the expansion in early 2010.

Odell Brewing is an award winning brewery, nationally and internationally: 2008 North American Beer Awards – gold medal for 5 Barrel Pale Ale. 2008 World Beer Cup® – gold medal for IPA, silver medal for Double Pilsner, silver medal for Cutthroat Porter. 2007 Great American Beer Festival® – gold medal for IPA, silver medal for Easy Street Wheat, bronze medal for Extra Special Red. 2007 Stockholm International Beer Festival – bronze medal for 5 Barrel Pale Ale. 2007 Australian International Beer Awards – silver medal for 90 Shilling, silver medal for Cutthroat Porter, silver medal for Easy Street Wheat and bronze medal for 5 Barrel Pale Ale.

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