Canadian Women's Hockey Team celebrates winning Gold Medal by drinking beer on ice

On Thursday February 25th the Canadian Woman's Hockey Team defeated the US Woman's Hockey team 2-0. The hard working lasses from the Great White North won The Gold Medal and celebrated with a few beers. In Kevin Smith's movie Mallrats Jason Lee states that, "I've got a weird thing for girls who say, abooooot". I now understand his tastes in women.

Shortly after their win the Canadian Woman's Hockey team issued an apology, "The members of Team Canada apologize if their on-ice celebrations, after fans had left the building, have offended anyone...Our players and team vow to uphold the values of the Olympics moving forward and view this situation as a learning experience." As a hockey lover and a beer enthusiast I see no problem with the ladies enjoying some beer in celebration. I found the apology to be totally unnecessary. If the Men's team had celebrated in this fashion it would have not been a media worthy issue.

I view the 2010 Canadian's Woman Hockey team not as troublemakers but as trailblazers, for choosing to celebrate with beer over champagne. Keep up the good work ladies. If the trend of drinking beer over champaine to celebrate a victory caries over to other sports maybe we will see Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol say no to Kristal and pry open a Sierra Nevada after their next NBA championship victory.


If you wish to read more : http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/blogs/postblog/2010/02/canadian-womens-on-ice-beer-and-cigar-party-raises-ioc-ire.html, http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=842966&catid=14

Weyerbacher takes "Zotten" off the market

Weyerbacher Brewing Company from Easton, PA has halted producing their Belgian style pale ale, "Zotten" and is removing it from the market. Weyerbacher has been in a legal battle with Bierbrouwerij De Halve Moon. Bierbouwerij De Halve Moon claims that Weyerbacher's labeling, the name, and other aspects of Zotten are similar to their beer, Brugse Zot. Weyerbacher president David A. Weirback comments, "Weyerbacher was unaware of the US trademark of De Halve Maan and had no intention to infringe on the rights of De Halve Maan. We are particularly respectful of the part of small Belgian breweries in the world beer scene and hereby officially apologize to the family owners of De Halve Maan." If you have purchased Zotten you can return it for a full refund through March 18th, 2010.

Zotten fans fear not, the beer will resurface in the next few months under a different name with a new label as well. Weirback further states , "The new name will have no connection whatsoever to fools, jester or any imagery like that. We have a name in mind, but are checking very carefully (for obvious reasons) to see that its OK to use. We should know within 2 weeks and will announce it then." While it is a shame to see two breweries involved in such a sticky legal battle, it is pleasant to see that beer beer formerly know as "Zotten" will survive the litigious hassle that Weyerbacher has been made the target of. I am very curious to see what the new name is, I hope it is sarcastic.


the official press release from Weyerbacher.com

Bottled and draft beer now being poured at the new Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting, PA

Whole Foods, a supermarket which prides its self on having healthy high quality and healthy food has opened a new store in Plymouth Meeting, PA. In addition to having a vast array of high quality, organic food, and prepared food, this location sells beer and wine.





For a long time, many have viewed Pennsylvania Blue Laws to be goofy and aggravating. But the availability of beer at supermarkets in PA is bound to put a smile on the faces of many beer enthusiasts.

Upon entering the supermarket I eagerly inquired as to how to get to "beer area" of store, a very polite employee escorted me to my destination. All of the wine and beer is partitioned from the rest of the store. There is a very nice seating area with 6 different beers on draft and several different wines. Not only do you have the option of enjoying a pint or a glass of wine on you're trip to the store you can also bring a growler of beer home with you. All of the draft beers are from local breweries and will constantly be rotated. The beer prices vary, but are all very fair. Some of the breweries featured on my visit were : Sly Fox, Victory, Lancaster, Flying Fish, and Troegs. Store manager Andrew McCormick commented, "local beer is very important to us. The quality is just too good not to sell." Whole Foods gives you the option to purchase a growler or bring you're own.

In addition to selling draft beer, Whole Foods also sells packaged beer. To match the trend of the very fair draft beer prices, the packaged beer features some of the best prices I have seen for takeout beer in the area. The packaged beer selection is very eclectic and current. Over a 100 different beers are available for purchase. Some beers are available in 6 packs, some are available in 12 packs and some are sold by the bottle. Local beers are heavily represented. Year round favorites and seasonals from Yards, Victory, Stoudts, and Sly Fox all vacate the shelf.

The collection of libations does not just stop at local beer. Whole Foods also sells beer from quality US breweries, Belgium breweries and breweries from other parts of the world. Beers from Bells, Russian River, Steamworks, Cigar City, Lost Abbey, Oskar Blues, Lakefront, Port, The Bruery, Founders, Orval, Chimay, Westmalle and many other world class breweries are available for purchase. The customers are not the only people excited about the stellar selection, McCormick comments "I am excited to bring in more beer, especially from German breweries." Even in such a short time of being open, the selection is very adroit and well done.


Whole Foods is located on 500 W. Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting, PA. They are open 7 days a week from 8 am to 9 pm. Here is a link to their web page. A rooftop deck, in which you can enjoy a beer outside is currently under construction.

Pretty Thing's Jack D'or

Pretty Things "Jack D'Or" is a wonderful domestic take on the Belgian Saison style. The beer was consumed from a Duvel goblet, poured from a 22 ounce brown bottle.

Jack D'or pours a very crisp light yellow with a small amount of white head and some lacing. The beer is very carbonated, with lots of bubbles crawling towards the top of the glass. The aroma of the beer is very inviting, with notes of lemon, yeast, more citrus and some faint pepper notes. The beer's taste is dominated by yeast, lemon, and some familiar North American hops. Jack D'or finishes very dry, pleasantly refreshing. The beer hides its alcohol very well. Overall, very well done. Jack D'or is true to the style , but possesses enough of its own character to set itself apart from other saisons.

Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project, is a brewery driven by head brewer and owner Dann Paquette. Dann, a 18 year brewing veteran has recently moved to New England from England. Pretty Things claim they brew "fun beer for fun people." Their beers are currently available for purchase in Boston, Philadelphia, and NYC. Pretty things has been receiving lots of buzz and praise as a result of their creative and delicious beers as well as their unique packaging.


Brewery: Pretty Things
Beer name : Jack D'or
Style: Saison
ABV: 6.40%

Score : A

Weirdest beer ever created ? Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch: Weasel edition

I was recently tipped off to a beer that left me with my jaw on the floor. There are plenty of weird and creative beers out there. Some of the stranger ones include a bacon beer from Front Street Ale house, Shorts has produced a peanut butter and jelly beer, and Magic hat has brewed a beer made with beets. I think Mikkeller now wears the crown for creating the weirdest beer concocted.

Mikkeller is the project of brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergs whose beer is created as a result of Bjergs traveling around the world. Bjergs collaborates beer with other breweries and also uses other brewery's facilities to create his own beer. Mikkeller's "Beer Geek Brunch" varies slightly from their "Beer Geek Breakfast". Beer Geek Breakfast is a 7.5% oatmeal coffee stout. The slight variations being a higher abv (10.9%) and a very interesting type of coffee bean. The coffee used in this beer are coffee berries that have been eaten and passed by a weasel like animal from southeast Asia called a Civet. That's right boys and girls, the coffee beans have already been made a tasty lunch by the Civet and then were collected to make beer. The Civet has a very discerning pallet and only chooses the highest quality coffee beans. The coffee is obviously very expensive, it sells for approximately $150 a pound. It is regarded by many as being the best coffee in the world.

I am not a coffee enthusiast, especially in my beer but if someone poured me a glass I would not turn it down. Curiosity would get the best of me if I did not take a sip. I was very skeptical regarding the validity of "weasel coffee", which is what this style of coffee is commonly referred too but I have done some research and it is very real. Dave Barry has even wrote a very funny article about the coffee used by Mikkeller, which can be read here.

Barry remarks,"What kind of world is it when you worry that people might be ripping you off by selling you coffee that was NOT pooped out be a weasel."

"Beer Geek Brunch" has been very well received in the beer community. Mikkeller deserves massive accolades for going the extra mile with this beer.

Here is the link for the official webpage of the weasel edition of "Beer Geek Brunch"
and here is a link if you wish to purchase Civet Coffee

A six pack a day keeps the Dr. Away

This article published some very good news for beer lovers everywhere, especially men. Men who drank a glass of wine or one beer a day were at a 35% lower chance of a heart attack than men who did not drink any alcohol. It gets better folks, the same study revealed that men who drank a whole bottle of wine or a six pack were 54 % less likely to have a heart attack. The article further states that too much alcohol is harmful for men, but a moderate amount is encouraged.

full article can be read here

Spectacular draft list at Victory Brewpub

Victory usually has a pretty amazing draft list. But when I checked out their web page, I was blown away. In addition to the usual suspects, three new beers that I know of: Bottom's up Brown, abbey 5, and Strangeways Golden Ale. I am especially excited to try the brown ale. Sales of brown ales have been down in the last few years, and its nice to see a new one. On the handpump they have, Uncle Teddys's, Hopdevil, and Yakima Twilight. Uncle Teddy's and hopdevil really shine on the handpump. Yakima Twilight is an IPA/double IPA the likes of which I have never seen. Yakima Twilight weighs in at a well hidden 8.7 abv and is brewed using whole flower Yakima Valley hops and german malts. It pours a dark brown with tons of head and is pleasantly hoppy, pushing 90 ibu's. I have never had Yakima on the pump, but I cannot wait to try it. You will catch me at the victory brewpub very soon.

As of Monday here is what they have on the lines, from their site :

HOPDEVIL IPA
PRIMA PILS
VICTORY LAGER
GOLDEN MONKEY
STORM KING STOUT
HOP WALLOP
FESTBIER
MAD KING'S WEISS
DONNYBROOK STOUT
WILDDEVIL
OLD HORIZONTAL
ABBEY 5
ST. VICTORIOUS
BRAUMEISTER PILS
SCARLET FIRE
BOTTOM'S UP BROWN ALE
STRANGEWAYS GOLDEN ALE

and on the handpump:
HAND PUMP
HOPDEVIL IPA
UNCLE TEDDY'S BITTER
ESB
YAKIMA TWILIGHT

Some February happenings at Earth, Bread, and Brewery

I have been recently informed about some wonderful events happening at one of my favorite stomping grounds, Earth,Bread, and Brewery in the Mt Airy section of Philadelphia. The First event occurs on February 18th and will feature 7 different beers from Iron hill, and the second is brewery night is on February 25th, and will be attended by Dogfish Head Founder, Sam Calagione. The event will feature some very rare Dogfish Head beers. Free Dogfish head glasses will be dispersed, while supplies last.
Earth, Bread, and Brewery is a wonderful place to go try some amazing beers and enjoy some of the best flat bread pizza in the existence of mankind. The staff is knowledgeable and everything is very reasonably priced. I hope to see everyone out, I am very excited.

Here is some more info on The Iron Hill night on February 18th, from beeradvocate.com:
Visit all the Iron Hill brewpubs in one evening? Well not quite, but you may see more brewers in one place than you ever have. Earth - Bread + Brewery hosts an evening of beers from Iron Hill. All the pubs will provide us with a single sixtel of their best and the first to drain is the champ. Iron Hill has some of the best brewers in the land (evidenced by their vatful of medals). This will be fun.

Here is more info on the Dogfish Head night on February 25th, from beeradvocate.com:

Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head's founder and supreme leader of off-centeredness, proves he's down to earth by coming down to EARTH (Bread + Brewery, that is). He's sending us some tasty treats such as BLACK+BLUE and RED+WHITE and 4-5 other crazy-delicious drafts. We'll also prepare some Dogfish-infused food offerings and pairing suggestions. Free Dogfish pint glasses (one per while supplies last). Come meet Sam, shake his hand, drink his beer and steal his glass.

Three Floyds: Pride and Joy

So last night I was lucky enough to have been given a six pack of Three Floyds Pride and Joy. Three Floyds is an amazing brewery from Munster, Indiana. They used to sell Three Floyds in Philly but they do not distribute here anymore. The Philly beer scene is one of the best that I know, but 100% of my beer nerd friends are sad that Three Floyds is not available in Philly currently. People even drive from all over the states to attend Dark Lord Day, an event in which they sell bottles of their imperial stout, Dark Lord. They are my favorite brewery that I cannot purchase in Southeastern, PA. My favorite beer that they brew is Gumballhead. Not many things make me happier than finding Three Floyds's green and pink bottle caps in my pockets.

Pride and Joy pours a really nice copper color with a generous off white head and lacing that stays around as the contents of my glass empty. The beer is very carbonated with fruit, yeast and a pleasant hop notes. The beer goes down very smooth. I am very much into session beers, and this is one of the best I have ever had.

Overall another home run from Three Floyds. What an interesting concept, take a traditional British mild and add some hops. I was surprised when I learned this beer to be 6.5% abv. Pride and Joy goes down very like a 4% beer.


Like Three Floyds as much as I do? Contact them via their webpage: http://www.3floyds.com/contact-us/

Like I have done, write them and tell them how much you love them and wish you were able to purchase their beer.

Brittish Government Invents Shatterproof Pint Glass

Here is a link to the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8495617.stm

I found this article to be very interesting. There are over 87,000 pub fights are year in England, which cost the National Health Service over $4 Billion a year. Basically the British government is saying, "Well Liam and Caleb are going to take the Manchester United's loss's a little too hard. They are going to get rowdy and belligerent, but lets keep the shards of glass from harming Cameron while he enjoys his fish and chips." I support this idea, I like the idea of people being able to drink out of glassware while cutting back on injuries in pubs. The shatterproof glasses borrow engineering principles derived from car windshields, which are also designed to keep people safer. The cost of not having to replace glassware so frequently will help more pubs save money as well.

Here is a link to the article from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8495617.stm

Great article on Dogfish Head

Not my article, I am not that narcissistic. The article is almost a year old, but I think its a good one. I am still shocked about how hard the wood they use for Palo Santo Marron is. I have always been a big fan of DFH, and it is nice to see some really nice press about Sam Calagione.

here is a link to the article:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/24/081124fa_fact_bilger?currentPage=all

2010 Beeradvocate.com Stone soup party

Another year has passed. On Saturday January 30th, lots of brave souls left their warm houses to migrate to the General Lafayette Inn in Lafayette Hills,PA. It is a chance for all lovers of beer to meet and share some of their favorite beers. Ev, the organizer of event just wants everyone to have a good time. I arrived at the general with a few friends and could not have been happier. The rules are simple, bring a glass and whichever beer you would like to share put on one of the tables. After the bottles are empty they are placed on the mantle, by the end of the day over 100 bottles accumulated above the fireplace. There was beer from all over the states and the world. The beer was composed of super rare beers from years ago
, beers not distributed anywhere near suburban Philadelphia, and there were amazing home brewed beers. Some of the breweries that were present were: Bells, New Glarus, Dogfish Head, Yards, Deschutes, Three Floyds, Cantillon, Alesmith, Hair of the Dog, Captain Lawrence, Mikkeller, and many others that I am forgetting. The highlights for me were defiantly the 2004 Cantillon Iris, Captain Lawrence cuvee de castleton, Jolly Pumpkin Beer de Mars, 2006 Dogfish head World wide stout and a New Glarus Berliner Weiss from the unplugged series.

I was happy to see so many of my friends and I just waned to Thank Ev, Chris Leonard, and the rest of the General Lafayette Inn crew.

here are a few of my favorite beers I was lucky enough to try:

Ommegang to release 6 new beers this year!

Well this is wonderful. A new beer every few months. I cant wait to check them out, the highlights for me are the Belgian Pale ale and the old bruin. Not many Us breweries have tackled the old bruin, but I have faith that Ommegang will do the style justice.


from draftmag

"Jan-Feb 2010: Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout. Very slightly revised for the 2010 edition. In release.

Mar-Apr: Ommegang BPA (Belgian-style Pale Ale). 5.8% abv. Five malts, two hops, and dry-hopped. Citrus & tropical fruit aromatics.

May-Jun: Ommegang Tripel (name not yet confirmed). Around 9%, spiced, we're in the test brew stages now.

Jul-Aug: Ommegang Sour Ale. Around 6% ABV. Oud Bruin style beer made in collaboration with Liefmans of Belgium. Name TBD.

Sep-Oct: Ommegang Scotch Ale. A new Belgo-Scotch mash up. ABV, name, and even recipe still to be confirmed.

Nov-Dec: Ommegang Adoration. Still 10% ABV, still malty, still big, and spicy. But may be tweaked a bit."