When the Hindenburg airship went down, taking the lives of 38 people and injuring another 60 on May 6th, 1937 much was lost. The Hinderburg, carrying 97 passengers on board, was destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey.

Fire Chief Leroy Smith of the Matawan Fire department in NJ came across a fire-damaged bottle of Lowenbrau Beer and took it from the wreck site.

This week, that bottle of beer went to auction and fetched the sum of £9,400, but "with buyer’s premium, the bottle will cost the purchaser £10,810," or around $18,000 USD. That price gives it the world record for the most expensive bottle of beer ever sold. A $400 bottle of limited edition Carlsberg previously held the record.

Who needs Pabst when you can buy Hindenburg?

TAGS [ HINDENBURG | LOWENBRAU BEER | BEER AUCTION | BEER NEWS ]

Together, we can buy Pabst Brewing Co.

If you didn’t hear already, Pabst Brewing Company is up for sale. Rather than having it swallowed up by another big brewer, two advertising agencies are asking all of us to come together and crowdsource to buy Pabst Brewery!

For as little as the cost of a single bottle of beer, you too can become part of history, as one of the owners of Pabst Brewing Company. C’mon guys - $5 is all it takes.

Cheers to the efforts to save Pabst, and cheers to everyone who gets involved!

Learn more about the efforts to buy Pabst here.

TAGS [ PABST | PABST BREWING COMPANY | PABST BREWERY | PBR | BUY PABST ]

Just Beer Brewing Co. is a small operation that’s making a big impact. Yesterday, November 10th, they released their new brew, Semper Ri, at the U.S. Marine Corps celebration in Boston. Brewed on the very day that brewery owner Bill Russell’s stepson, 2nd Lt. Joshua Bruins, and his Marine regiment were deployed to Afghanistan, it’s truly a beer with a cause.

Russell describes Semper Ri as a winter beer that’s "very crisp and drinkable." With 20% rye malts and a name that plays on Marine Corps motto, it will be available in 22-ounce bottles at select retail outlets in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

For the seven months that Josh and his unit are abroad, Just Beer will put $2 from the sale of every bottle towards care packages for the troops.

Due to limited availability and distribution, it’s likely that you may not be able to get your hands on your own bottle of Semper Ri but I’ve written to the brewery to find out if there are other ways to contribute. I’ll keep you posted!

As we honor and remember all of our veterans and the brave men and women still serving our country today, I’d personally like to thank Just Beer for their idea and their efforts. Some of us might not always know how to adequately express our gratitude and respect for the countless American heroes who make great sacrifices to ensure our freedom - but we all know how to enjoy a beer.

TAGS [ SEMPER RI | JUST BEER BREWING CO | VETERANS DAY | USMC BIRTHDAY ]

While enjoying my dessert of Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, I ran into this article on USA Today, by Jessica Leving (thanks @tattoodbrew). Seems that more and more states are beginning to loosen up on old ABV constraints, some even up to 16% ABV.

I happen to be enjoying a pint of rather low octane beer right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m not psyched about the movement. I truly appreciate beer—especially craft beer—for everything it has to offer, from the nose and mouthfeel, to the taste, beginning to end. Loosening the law on brewers means more interesting offerings from the brewery, and I’m all for it.

There are, as the article states, those who express concern over higher alcohol levels and abuse, who are determined to make sure that laws don’t change. I, however, agree with Paul Gatza, who was quoted as saying that "consumers of specialty or microbrewed beers, also known as craft beers, ‘don’t drink to get drunk. They drink to appreciate the flavors.’" like myself.

Cheers to change, my friends.

TAGS [ BEER NEWS | BEER LAWS | CRAFT BEER | MICROBREWS ]

You’ve got to love Bud ads… especially when they’re touting the Buffalo Bills (who practically invented the no-huddle offense). Enjoy!

TAGS [ BEER ADS | BUDWEISER AD | BUD ADS | BUFFALO BILLS BUDWEISER AD ]

Thanks to Pete for passing me the link to this Clamour post on Pabst Brewing’s 4th Annual PBR-inspired art contest!

Pabst accepts art inspired by PBR in the following four categories; photography/digital media, 2D (painting, drawing), 3D (scuplture, collage), and poetry! Last year’s poetry winner wrote a haiku, while the man who sealed the deal in the 3D category sculpted an iconic Pabst Blue Ribbon eagle. As for last year’s photography winner? That would be Timothy Dolph from Atlanta. Check out his winning entry below:

Think you have what it takes to win a prize this year? You have from now until January 15, 2010 to submit your art to Pabst.

Cheers!

TAGS [ PBR | PABST | PABST BLUE RIBBON | PBR ART CONTEST | PABST ART CONTEST ]

Today is October 27th, 2009 and it just so happens to be American Beer Day! Celebrate with a favorite American brew, be it a craft beer or whatever brew that does it for you… as long as it’s made in the USA.

Cheers to American brewers and beers across the nation!

TAGS [ AMERICAN BEER DAY | AMERICAN BEERS | AMERICAN BREWS ]