With a big thanks to Jon for the recommendation, I now have another hefeweizen on the list of ones I truly enjoy. Most of the time I prefer the dark (dunkel) versions but this one was definitely enjoyable. Now if only I can find a Weissbier that I really dig…

Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss pours a cloudy pale orange, similar to the color of straw. Its head is tall almost to the point of ridiculousness - it was nearly out of control while I was pouring it (you should have seen some of the first shots I took of the pour). Superb head retention, to say the least.

This hefeweizen carries the aroma of fresh, light lemon with a hint of banana and maybe even clove; similar to the nose of a hefeweizen dunkel, but lighter. I was treated to a medium body, with a smooth and slightly heavy mouthfeel, probably due to it being an unfiltered brew. Despite the fact that it isn’t a light, watery beer the hefe-weiss was very refreshing - light carbonation kept the sip smooth and the citrus flavors conjured up ideas of sipping it on a hot summer day. I look forward to drinking it again.

TAGS [ JULIUS ECHTER HEFE WEISS | BEER REVIEW | BEER REVIEWS | HEFEWEIZEN | HEFE-WEISS ]

Who isn’t on Facebook these days? KegWorks sure is. You should be come a fan. Need a good reason? Here’s 5:

1. It’s so easy a drunken monkey could do it! Simply click here then hit "Become a Fan" right under our photo (upper left portion of the profile)

Note: If you don’t have a Facebook profile already, you’ll need to create one to become a fan. C’mon – everybody’s doing it.

2. You’ll be the first to know. KegWorks blog posts are posted as Facebook Notes as soon as they go live. That way, you’ll always know when something new is posted and you don’t have to remember to check the website. You’ll also hear about the coolest new products, the best beers, and even KegWorks job openings as they become available.

3. Fun photos. We post our pictures and videos you can upload your own to share! We always love to see that crazy keg dispensing contraption you made with the parts you bought on our website.

4. Easy access to KegWorks employees and their extensive draft beer and cocktail knowledge. We’re on the page everyday, so whether you’ve got a great new beer you want reviewed, a question about your kegerator, or a cocktail recipe you’d like to share – we’re here for you!

5. You get to interact with cool people. In addition to the KegWorks staff, the other fans on the page are people who love beer and cocktails as much as you do (and that’s hard to do!) Go ahead; discuss your favorite IPA or how to make a kickass martini. Anything goes!

We’ll see you there!

TAGS [ FACEBOOK | KEGWORKS ON FACEBOOK ]

Have you ever thought of having a beer tasting party? There are so many types of home tasting parties nowadays why not a beer tasting party? It is perfect; friends, family and beer! This also gives everyone a chance to try a number of different beers, and who knows, you may really fall in love with one (or several) that you never would have had the chance to try on your own!

You could do a party based on season, such as Summer Beers or you could do it based on style, such as Weissbiers. The possibilities are endless.

Check out this website about beer tasting parties to help get you pointed in the right direction - there’s even a downloadable beer tasting score sheet. Have fun with it and remember… beer should be savored and enjoyed.

TAGS [ BEER | BEER TASTING PARTIES | BEER TASTINGS | BEER SCORING ]

In an online search I came across a URL that contained "Awesomely Chauvinistic Vintage Beer Ads" [nextround.net] and I just had to click. What I found is indeed chauvinistic and very entertaining.

Apparently traditional beer advertising was not so much about half naked girls and sex appeal as much as it was about women "knowing their role." I’m not exactly a feminist and I’m not easily offended, so as a woman in the beer business I really got a kick out of these time-sensitive ads. Can you imagine the reaction Schlitz, Miller, and Anheuser-Busch would get if they ran the campaigns today?

So here they are, in all of their prejudiced glory:

Who needs subtlety?

This one reeks of "Know your role and have dinner and a Miller High Life on the table when I get home from work, biatch."

This one is more of the "know your role and pour me a beer while I fix things with my tools and sheer brawn" type.

This ad seems to suggest that men should hang out with their friends and drink beer while women fix them dinner and long for the day that they can contribute something valuable to a conversation about work or politics.

Then there’s this ad that pictures a subservient member of staff rewarding the hardworking radio broadcaster with a beer. She’s certainly progressive if she’s out there working, I just hope she’s done serving his beer early enough to get home and make dinner and pour beer for her own husband.

The copy for the following ad reads "In this friendly, freedom-loving land of ours… Beer Belongs—Enjoy It!" That’s a nice message; except they should have clarified that you need to be a man to kick back and enjoy a brew over the holidays. Women shouldn’t have time to relax if they’re wrapping presents, preparing meals, raising children and bringing their men beer like they’re supposed to. Duh!

Perhaps the message here is "know your role and get my dinner on the table faster– you’re getting in the way of my beer delivery."?

"It’s OK…. I saved the Schlitz!" says it all. Just make sure you know your role when the boat tips over.

And lastly, there’s this gem from the KING of beers. Apparently this guy is the king of getting women drunk. As long as they know their role as he does it, it’s ok.

Hope you enjoyed these blasts from the past as much as I did. I’d keep writing but I’ve gotta go pour Tom, Dave, Kris, Greg and John their lunchtime beers!

TAGS [ BEER ADS | FUNNY BEER ADS | OLD BEER ADS | VINTAGE BEER ADS | BEER ADVERTISEMENTS ]

Today marks the very last day of World Cocktail Week, and what impeccable timing we have, adding three new cocktail garnishes to our arsenal just yesterday. Not just any cocktail garnishes, mind you, but drunken ones.

Fruit and such has long been a great addition to your favorite mixed drinks, adding color, flavor and flair. Fresh garnishes are most often the way to go, but that’s not the only route. Perhaps next time you’re mixing up a Manhattan, you might try adding a Whiskey Tipsy Cherry instead. Each gigantic, liquor-soaked, long-stemmed cherry bursts with fresh fruit flavor and malt whiskey. Even try muddling these with orange for an incredible Old Fashioned with an extra boost of whiskey.

If dirty is more your style, our Vermouth Tipsy Olives are a perfect solution. I don’t know about you, but I find that, oftentimes, bartenders bruise the alcohol in my mixed drinks by adding far too much vermouth (Tip: just a swirl of vermouth will do - you should even toss it out after it’s coated the glass… please, please stop overusing vermouth… PLEASE!). With these French vermouth-soaked, pimento paste stuffed olives, there is no need to add any extra vermouth to your cocktail - it would just be supreme overkill.

Finally, in celebration of the last day of World Cocktail Week, a nod to another cocktail classic, the Gibson Martini, originally created in the late 1800’s. This martini is exactly the same as the original gin martini, except a pickled cocktail onion is used as a garnish instead. Of course, you couldn’t choose a better cocktail onion than our Vermouth Tipsy Onions, which add the vermouth kick for you (unless you prefer a ton of vermouth, which I don’t).

Gibson Martini
2½ oz gin
½ oz vermouth (or less, depending on your taste)
1-3 cocktail onions for garnish

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the cocktail onion(s) and enjoy.

TAGS [ COCKTAIL GARNISHES | TIPSY CHERRIES | TIPSY OLIVES | TIPSY ONIONS | LIQUOR SOAKED GARNISHES | COCKTAIL RECIPES | GIBSON MARTINI | GIBSON MARTINI RECIPE ]

Just as American Craft Beer Week began yesterday, tomorrow will be the last day of World Cocktail Week. Each year, according to The Museum of the American Cocktail,

World Cocktail Week, celebrated from May 6th - 13th, was established to promote a better understanding, appreciation, and respect for the cocktail and its history. The date commemorates the first reference of the term "Cocktail" in the 1806 edition of "The Balance and Columbian Repository"

What better way to celebrate than with a classic cocktail recipe, one that’s stood the test of time over the last 100 years? Try your hand at mixing this one up tonight:

Ward Eight
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
1½ oz bourbon or rye whiskey
¼ oz grenadine
Cherry and orange slice for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients and shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and orange slice and enjoy.

A bourbon like Maker’s Mark would be quite delicious with the grenadine, since it’s on the sweeter side but with a bit of a kick. A perfect classic cocktail to celebrate the end of World Cocktail Week.

Cheers!

TAGS [ COCKTAIL | COCKTAILS | COCKTAIL RECIPE | COCKTAIL RECIPES | WORLD COCKTAIL WEEK ]

Yesterday kicked off American Craft Beer Week! You all know how passionate I am about craft beer, so I won’t get into that again now, I just wanted to let everyone know that there are all kinds of events to celebrate the occasion and they’re happening all over the country! You can find out what’s going on in your area here.

If there’s nothing local, simply grab your favorite craft brew, put on the inspirational video below and feel good about your beer independence!

If you’re interested in my thoughts on craft beer, check out my post, Beer Wars, and visit AmericanCraftBeerWeek.org to learn more.

TAGS [ AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK | CRAFT BEER WEEK | CRAFT BEERS | MICROBREWS ]