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 ]

There’s a new beer collaboration going on! The oldest brewery in the world and the largest independent American brewery are joining forces to create a new craft beer that’s sure to be just as legendary as its founders.

The Associated Press reports that Germany’s Weihenstephan and Boston Beer Co, maker of Samuel Adams, are working on jointly producing a new craft beer to be marketed in both Germany and the U.S. next spring.

The beer has yet to be named, but here’s what we know:

• It will be bottled with corks instead of metal caps
• It will be high octane with more than 10% alcohol
• It’s being described as a champagne-like "crisp pale brew"

It follows Germany’s famed Reinheitsgebot, or purity law, which states that beer can be brewed with only four ingredients: water, malt, hops and yeast.

While discussing the new project, Jim Koch (Boston Beer founder and master brewer) told the AP, "Today the U.S. and Germany have two great brewing cultures - one that’s emerging and one that’s 1,000 years old. There’s enormous creativity, energy and excitement about beer in the U.S."

Apparently, the beer is already 2 years in the making. I’m glad I didn’t know until now because I’m pretty excited! If Weihenstephan’s wheat beers that I’ve had are any indication, this is gonna be good.

It seems the large U.S. craft breweries are very into the collaboration thing this year. Boulevard Brewing (the eighth largest independent craft brewery) announced its plans to create an Imperial Pilsner with Jean-Marie Rock of Orval from Belgium. Dogfish Head has six different collaborations under their belt (they’ve worked with Harold Brewery in Prague, Sierra Nevada, Norrebro Bryghus Brewery in Copenhagen and Birra del Borgo outside of Rome, Italy - just to name a few) and I’m sure there’s more to come! The good news is that when you put two great brewers’ heads together, you just might end up with better beer!

TAGS [ WEIHENSTEPHANER | BOSTON BEER CO | SAM ADAMS | COLLABORATION | BEER COLLABORATION | BEER NEWS ]

Only moments ago I received a text from Deron, letting me know that Hansen Beverage Co., makers of Monster Energy drinks, dropped the litigation on Rock Art’s Vermonster brew.

Score one for the little guys!

TAGS [ VERMONSTER | ROCK ART BREWERY | ROCK ART VERMONSTER | MONSTER ENERGY | HANSEN BEVERAGE CO | BEER NEWS ]

Now that I’m an official beer snob, I tend to be quite critical of others’ judgment calls – especially when it comes to judging craft brews. In true beer snob fashion, I assume that 95% (if not more) of the general public has no idea what makes a beer "good" and they wouldn’t know actually know a high-quality ale or lager if it fell from the sky and hit them over the head.

Men’s Journal ran an article on October 5th titled "America’s Best Beers" and I must admit authors Christian DeBenedetti and Seth Fletcher did a fantastic job compiling an impressive list.

I was glad to see that Stone Brewery’s Levitation Ale, Flying Fish Exit 4, Victory Prima Pils and Dogfish Head Squall IPA made the cut. In fact, several of my favorites made their top 15 and based on their proven impeccable taste, I can’t wait to try the others that I haven’t yet had the opportunity to enjoy – and I stress the "yet."

The guys broke things down into categories, choosing three of their favorite lagers, ales, dark beers and Belgian styled brews, plus three that they deemed "best cutting edge."

An additional 10 beers are mentioned in the article Top Five Beer Towns in the U.S., published the same day.
(In case you were wondering it was San Diego, NYC, Portland (OR), Philadelphia and Chicago that made that list).

Check them out, tell us if there’s a brew you wish had been included and let us know what YOU think!

TAGS [ AMERICAN BEER | TOP AMERICAN BEERS | MEN'S JOURNAL | BEST BEERS | 25 BEST AMERICAN BEERS ]