Philadelphia's Good Dog's 9th Anniversary Party Tonight

Aside from being an excellent craft beer and food destination, Philadelphia's Good Dog is not shy about their love for animals. Tonight from 7pm till close 10 percent of all their sales and 100% of money generated by raffle sales will go to The Morris Animal Shelter of Philadelphia . If their stellar food menu and amazing beer selection were not enticing enough they are featuring Good Fish, a beer brewed just for Good Dog by Flying Fish, games, raffles and tons of prizes. Full draft list, courtesy of Philly Tap Finder can be viewed here . Some highlights include Half Acre's Alpenglow , Troegs' Scratch 80 , and Weyerbacher's X Ray. Come Join us and I hope to see lots of you out tonight. Good dog is located at 224 South 15th Street in Philadelphia, PA.

Interview with Innis and Gunn's Dougal Sharp

During Starfish Production's 2012 Philadelphia Craft Beer Festival. I had a chance to interview Innis and Gunn's founder, mastermind, and brewer, Dougal Sharp. His award winning Scottish craft beer brewery has been gaining lots of fans and superlatives since it's inception in 2003.I grabbed an Innis and Gunn Rum Cask had a few words with the man who is making some of the most innovative and tasty beers on the planet.

Trey: Congrats on your success, you have achieved quite a lot in a short time. I was shocked to learn your brewery is less than ten years old and formed by accident!

Dougal: I was working at my Dad's brewery in Edinburgh at the time. We were contacted by a distillery, William and Grant to make a beer for them to impart beer flavor into whiskey. So we brewed them a special beer with a real sweet and malty character. After a month or so , they began to to store the beer in bourbon barrels. They added whiskey to the barrels and were pleased with the results. This was back in 2002, they began to order thousands and thousands of barrels of beer. They only regarded beer as a byproduct of making beer. The workers, this could only have happened in Scotland, were not keen to throwing beer away began to say it's too good to throw away. We put the beer on a tasting panel and everyone rated the beer as a 9 out of 9. We spent twelve months doing market research, we were originally going to call it something way different than what it is now. My father said to me , you should call it the middle name of your and your brother's, Innis and Gunn. After some market research we decided to launch the company as Innis and Gunn.



Trey: Oak is so vital to the wine and liquor community. Are you shocked to see barrel aging in beer to be a relatively new phenomenon?

Dougal : Well, yes and no. Yes, well looking back at this now, using bourbon barrels seems obvious. Oak was originally used in barrels of transporting the beer. The key thing is to use bourbon barrels. We have used rum barrels and even Irish Whiskey barrels, and there are still others to try. The thing about barrel aging is that it implies a whole new layer of complexity and flavors to the beers beers. We believe that oak helps us achieve balance. Our approach to making beer is to be balanced. If you think about great wines and spirits that are revered, they are balanced. I think that oak aging is the best way to integrate alcohol into the drink, in our case, beer.

Trey: Just to clarify, are all Innis and Gunn Beers are barrel aged?

Dougal : Yes, correct. We are experimenting all the time. What the key to our product is is flavor. There is a lot of different barrels, with different flavors. It's all about barrel aging for the US.

Trey: I was very pleased to hear about all the success and awards of your Rum Cask beer, so it's safe to say you aren't opposed to working with any barrel.

Dougal: No, there is no point in limiting yourself. It's worth trying everything at least once. We have discovered different ways to achieve different flavors.

Trey: I was happy to learn that your flagship beer, Innis and Gunn Original is now available in kegs. You must be excited.

Dougal: Oh Yes, we thought long and hard about it. I was reluctant to do it too soon. What I wanted to was focus building a business on bottles. What we know is that when people try Innis and Gunn for the first time, they have never had anything like it before. The most important thing is flavor. But we were getting asked by lots of customers for draft beer. For us it's less about volume, and more about awareness.

Trey: The beer community is surprisingly homogenous. Collaboration beers are the rage. Are you opposed to any collaboration projects?

Dougal: We have not done and yet, but we certainly aren't adversed to them.

Trey: I have not been able to find any info on which distillery your barrels, come from, is the source a secret?

Dougal: We have a policy of never naming the company that supplies our barrels. Which is fun , because a lot of people like to speculate. I like to sit and listen to people guess.

Trey: Are you surprised at the popularity of food and beer parings?

Dougal: What I am surprised about is that it took this long. As an industry beer has had it's ass kicked by the wine industry for 500 years. Some people think that wine is the only beverage that food can be matched with. Why restrict yourself? Beer does not go with every food, but it does go with some foods, just as wine does not go with all foods, but some foods.

Trey: I saw there was a cooking class featuring Innis and Gunn that had to add another class due to demand.

Dougal: The thing about matching food is just the natural evolution of craft beer. Beer and steak go well together, but how many people have actually tried it? They are lovely together. The fun is in trying. There is no fun in not trying.

Trey : Sales of been escalating by year for your brewery, some of your beers have a lengthy maturation process, do you have a hard time keeping up with demand?

Dougal: No. We have to be thinking quite far ahead.


Trey: Your brewery is now available for sale in 10 countries and 17 states, what is next in the horizon?

Dougal: Continuing to focus. We have doubled our work force. That is all about being able to focus on our existing market. Our consumers are the most important in our lives. As a business we want to get even better at relating to our customers. They are the people we want to focus on.

Trey : Canned beer is becoming far more expected than I expected, where do you stand on canned beer?

Dougal: We are watching it closely. We really want to see what happens in the US first. We are watching and learning.

Trey: Thanks for your time. Congrats, on your success and I looking forward to greater availability of your beer, both nationally and locally.

Dougal: Thank you.

Pennslyvania Beer Law Forum To Be Held 2/9 at Yards Brewery

Are you a Pennsylvania resident? Occasionally partake in a libation? Then you have probably noticed that Pennsylvania's Blue Laws are less than stellar. Our friends at Philly Beer Scene are hosting a debate between beer writer/blogger Lew Bryson and Pennsylvania Senator Chuck McIlhinney. Yards Founder Tom Kehoe will be on hand to monitor the debate/forum.

Open to the public, this progressive and informative event will be held on Thursday February 9th from 7:00 pm till 10:00 pm at the Yards Brewery in Philadephia in their tasting room. Their address is 901 N Delaware Ave Philadelphia, PA 19123. The bar will stay open late to accommodate this important event.


In addition to being a forum/debate between Bryson and McIlhinney, there will also be time to voice your opinions and present questions to theses two gentleman. Check out the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's webpage to brush up on the laws and to help make your questions as pertinent as possible. If you chose to attend, please be respectful of Yards and everyone else present. Many thanks to Yards and Philly Beer Scene for making such a unique event possible.

Sun King Brewery: Front Runners in the Canned Pounder Revolution

Indianapolis's Sun King Brewery is far ahead of the curve. They currently can three of their beers in 16 0z cans! I have long been an advocate of canned beer. Aside from using less packaging than bottles, protecting the beer from light, and being easier to ship and store 16 oz cans also contain more beer than their sand derived glass friends.

I enjoyed immensely enjoyed all the beers I have sampled from Sun King. As pictured(left to right), Osiris Pale Ale, Sunlight Cream Ale, and Wee Mac Scottish Ale.

Osiris Pale Ale is a beer to appease hop enthusiasts. This dry hopped 5.6% ABV pale ale weighs in at 50 IBU's and is brewed with American Hops. Osiris is perfect for tailgating on a nice warm day. Craftcans.com named Osiris one of their favorite pale ale's of 2011 and describes Osiris as "on the high end of the hop scale for pale ales and both are amazing."


Sun King's Sunlight Cream Ale is true to it's name. This easy drinking cream ale is a great session beer. This tasty low gravity beer is outfitted at 5.3% ABV and 20 IBU's. This all malt beer is finished with American hops and a cool fermentation and is accruing quite the loyal fan base. Sunlight Cream Ale was awarded the Silver Medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup in the Golden or Blonde Ale Category.

Sun King's third canned offering is perfect for colder weather. Fermented at a cooler temperature to mimic the Scottish Climate. This smooth and malty beer comes in at 5.3% ABV and 23 IBU's. Wee Mac pours a wonderful dark copper color and has rich hazlelnut notes and toffee undertones. Cans of Wee Mac conveniently fit in the pockets of your kilt.

Currently available only in Indiana, Sun King is making waves in the craft beer scene. Craftcans.com recognized Sun King as one of innovative breweries of 2011. In addition to their 3 canned beers , Sun King has some draft only beers. Check out their webpage, visit them next time you are in Indianapolis and let them know you appreciate their hard work and quality libations. Hopefully an expansion is possible in the near future.

Philly Beer week is finally here

This sounds like an amazing event! Deschutes Brewery is coming to Philly Beer week. On Monday 6/6 they are invading London Grill for some amazing and rare beers, paired with an amazing four course meal. Hope to see you there. Try to buy tickets in advance, this event will likely sell out. Call and make a reservation if you can attend. Here are all the details:

WHEN: Monday, June 6 at 5pm



WHAT: Deschutes Brewery Beer Dinner at London Grill

Join Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery brewmaster Larry Sidor for an evening of unbelievable beer, food and music. Deschutes is in town for Philly Beer Week, and doesn’t have regular distribution in our fair city – so this is a rare chance to sample some of their damn tasty beers. The evening begins at 5p.m. with an “ East Meets West” reception, featuring Deschutes Brewery seasonal beers Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale and Twilight Summer Ale. Also during the reception schmear of smoked salmon rillette with preserved lemon will be served to the musical sounds of the Carol Moog Trio. At 6 pm, the four-course dinner begins, pairing Deschutes ales with everything from salad to dessert. You’ll be feasting on such pairings as Mirror Pond Pale Ale with Locavore Salad; Obsidian Stout with Singapore Soft Shells; Black Butte Porter with braised goat mole; and The Abyss Imperial Stout with ginger gelato. Your palate will thank you!

WHERE:

The London Grill

2301 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130-2515

CONTACT:

1-215-978-4545; www.londongrill.com

Flying Dog Cares About The First Ammendment and Are Not Afraid To Go To Court About It

Frederick, Maryland's Flying Dog Brewery is none to happy with the Michigan State Liquor Control Commission's action of banning Raging Bitch in The Great Lakes State. Teaming up with Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise to overturn Michigan Liquor Control Commission's act of banning Raging Bitch in Michigan. When Flying Dog applied for a license in September of 2009 for Raging Bitch. The label of Flying Bitch is adorned with the artwork of the legendary Ralph Steadman. The Michgian State Liquor Commission stated that the label on Raging Bitch is "detrimental to the public health,safety, and welfare". The attorney representing Flying Dog, Alan Gura of Washington DC's Gura and Possesskky,PLLC's response to the Michigan State Liquor Control Commission, “Regrettably, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and its members have taken it upon themselves to control not merely alcoholic beverages, but speech as well,”. Gura further states “The defendants arbitrarily imposed their personal tastes in banning Raging Bitch, clearly violating Flying Dog’s First Amendment right to free expression.” Gura and Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso announced their legality actions at a craft beer bar Crunchy's in Lansing, Michigan near Michgian University's Campus.

Flying Dog created Raging Bitch, a Belgian Style India Pale ale to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their brewery in 2010. The beer became a smash hit. Raging Bitch is now Flying Dog's number one selling beer.

Upon learning of the lawsuit Steadman, known most notably for his work with Hunter S. Thompson. replied “Freedom of speech and artistic expression is as fundamental to our being as the alphabet itself. I thought censorship went out with D.H. Lawrence’s ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ about 50 years ago! So if you are feeling a strong itch to drink Raging Bitch, just do it and get on with life.”


Flying Dog is seeking lost revenue as a result of the band and to have the beer sold in Michigan. Caruso further elaborates “We believe in free choice,” he said. “We do not believe that Michigan citizens deserve government regulators arbitrarily deciding what their beer should be called.”


Caruso and the rest of the wonderful people at Flying Dog are trying to protect the First Amendment and allow everyone to enjoy their beers. In addition to Raging Bitch, the rest of their beers are fantastic. Drink up. Support them, contact them and tell them you care.

Here is a link to their web page

Stella Artois "Chalice" Cans coming April first

The World's best selling Belgian Beer Stella Artois will soon make a canned version of their beer available in the US. Starting April first 440 ml (or 14.9 oz.)The Chalice picture on the can is shown to demonstrate the preferred glassware for Stella Artois to be drank out of.


This is very exciting news. Such a widely liked and available beer in cans is only going to help people get over their prejudices over canned beer. The Brewer claims their logic for canning beer as "The new Stella Artois can will allow beer connoisseurs to enjoy their favorite Belgian lager at outdoor occasions, such as food and wine festivals, where glass bottles and signature chalices may not be permitted."

picture and story complied from Anheuser-Busch's web page

Worlds's Most Expensive Beer Brewed With Antarctic Ice

Perth, Australia's Nail Brewing brewed 30 bottles of "Antarctic Nail Ale" using water from melted ice from Antarctica. A few bottles have been sold of "Antarctic Nail Ale" but to date the most impressive has been for $1850 for one bottle at an auction this past November. The beer is being put to auction and sold to benefit the Sea Shepard Conservation Society , a 33 year old organization whose mission statement is "to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species".

Nail Brewing's John Stallwood's idea to create "Antarctic Nail Ale" was partially inspired by Scottish Brewery Brewdog's "End Of History". During its inception "End of History" was the most expensive and strongest beer in the world. In addition to being a beer with a price tag of around $770 per bottle and a 55% abv, Brewdog took some heat from environmentalists for packaging "End of History" in dead animal carcasses. Stallwood states “It’s great to sell the most expensive bottle of beer in the world, but it’s all about a good cause. It’s also good that a beer about saving the whales is now most expensive beer in the world, rather than high alcohol beer sold in animal carcasses."


In addition to raising money for a great cause, "Antarctic Nail Ale" is a a very special beer for another reason. “Over 90% of beer is water, so the Antarctic Nail Ale could possibly be the world’s oldest and purest beer,” Stallwood claims.


If you are interested in purchasing a bottle, please check Nail's web page here to see when the bottles will be put on auction in the future. Currently available only in Australia, Nail's flagship beers, Nail Ale and Nail Stout have won many awards and have been generating quite a buzz lately. Nail's decision to help a good cause have brought some good press to the brewery that will hopefully aide their growth in the future. Beer records are meant to be broken. Hopefully more brewers will have the mindset of Stallwood rather than just producing beer in the sheer name of accolades and capitalism.

For more information and donation information on Sea Sheppard Conservation Society check out their web page here

compiled from :
Ecorazzi
and
Nail Brewing's web page

picture from:
Ecorazzi

100 US Craft Breweries Now Involved in Canning

Our good friends at Craftcans.com now claims that 100 Craft breweries can or have announced plans at least one of their beers. 40 states are now involved in counting and currently produce over 250 different beers in cans and growing. Which brewery deserves accolades the this huge milestone? Battle Creek Michigan's Arcadia Brewing Company has acquired a canning line and will began canning later this spring. Arcadia will begin canning their summer favorite, Whitsun. Arcadia's decision to can their refreshing wheat beer will no doubt appease the thirst of beer fans everywhere.

Canned beer is privy to many advantages over bottled beer. Here are just a few of the many advantages of canning: Cans keeps all light out, require 75% less packaging than bottled beer, are more than twice likely to get recycled than glass. Modern cans no longer impart the "metal taste" into the beer. I am very excited for the influx of canned beer. You can defiantly fit more beer cans than bottles in a backpack.


Story compiled from: CraftCans.com

Picture from : Beer47.com

Wood'ja Beer event Tommorow 2/12 At The Nodding Head Brewery and Restaruant in Philadelphia, PA

Barrel aged beers just getting more experimental and popular and Samson Street's finest, The Award Winning Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant is is having a wonderful beer event this weekend on Saturday Feb 12th. Starting at 3 pm some very unique and rare suds will be poured. Barrel aged beers just getting more experimental and popular and Nodding Head is plan This is surely an event not to be missed. Brewer Gordon Grubb's beers never disappoint. The "Phunk" barrel has a phenomenal track record in producing outstanding beers. If you are going to be in town, this is a must!

Here is some more info about the barel aged beers set to be poured for the event :

(Cask Two-Year-Old) Wee Heavier, (9.5%ABV) which is a strong, Scottish-style ale that has been aged in a wooden cask that once held Calvados brandy, and more recently JW Lees Harvest Ale. This ale is very dark in color, and full-bodied with a 'roasty' character and sweet malt flavors. It'll make your belly happy. (Disclaimer: the two-year-old barrel aged beer could possibly be volatile or magnificent. Either way, we have plenty of great back up beers - it's all part of the fun).

Pho-Tay, (7%ABV) which is our O-Tay aged in the Phunk Barrel. This beer started off as a golden ale brewed with eighty-four pounds of organic buckwheat and Belgian yeast, giving it a unique spicy character. It then, of course, picked up oak and brett characteristics.

Saison De La Tete, (6%ABV) which is a blend of a young saison, and a sour barrel aged, low alcohol, hoppy pale ale. Then, we added flavors of brett and oak to the slightly funky saison character.

ALSO: SPECIAL GUEST BEER FROM FRIENDS AT RUSSIAN RIVER

Consecration, (10%ABV) which was aged in American oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. They not only use Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus, but also add currants to the beer while it is aging in the barrels.

I am not 100% sure, but I have a feeling Nodding Head will be pouring their additional house beers in addition to the the beers to be tapped for the event. This is a pay as you go (ie pay per beer and no cover charge) beer event.

21st Ammendment Brewery to can their "Bitter American" beer

A session beer in a can. Why not? San Fransisco's 21st Amendment Brewery has decided to release brewpub and previously draft only favorite in cans. 21st Amendment informs us that "4.4% ABV, 42 IBUs, with full hoppy flavors that you would find in an India Pale Ale." "Bitter American" is generously hopped with warrior and cascade hops and dry hopped with simcoe and centennial hops. High gravity beers have their place but 21st Amendment makes a very logical statement as to why they decided to release this beer in the winter " The bigger beers are fun to enjoy, but they sometimes get you in trouble with your significant other, the floor below your bar stool or the morning after for that matter." This beer is defiantly not your typical late winter seasonal.

21st Amendment has become one of my favorite breweries. Canned beer is a wonderful alternative to bottled beer. Canned beer uses 75% less packaging than glass, does not shatter, hides light, not nearly as heavy, and easier to transport. The cans used in brewing today are lined and do not have the metal taste that accompanied the beer you stole from your grandfather's fridge. 21st Amendment are the forefathers of canning styles of beer which have previously been available only in bottles.

This is the third seasonal the San Fransisco based brewery currently can. Their other two seasonals "Hell or High Watermelon", a tasty watermelon wheat beer and "Fireside Chat" a tasty 7.9% abv beer spiced with cocoa nibs. I am always excited to have new beer available in cans and look forward to trying this one. Some of my favorite beers are low gravity beers, you get to try more beers and not fall off you're bar stool. I have never been let down by the wonderful folks at 21st amendment brewery. The beer will be available soon in cans and on draft wherever 21st Amendment beers are sold.

2010 Deschutes Abyss

One the world's most eclat and coveted beers, Deschutes Abyss has just been released. Drink up. Beeradvoate.com ranks this beer #5 in the world. Deschutes never lets a thirsty person down.

Classified as a Double or Imperial stout and pouring a very dark brown with a creamy white head. The Abyss weighs in at 11% ABV and 65 IBU's. Deschutes's highly creative beer is amply hopped and is made with brewers licorice and black strap molasses. The beer is also dry hopped with vanilla beans and cherry bark. Abyss is aged in bourbon, oak, and pinot barrels. The bourbon and licorice are very effervescent and contribute to the complexity of this sipper of a beer.

The Abyss is truly a phenomenal and special beer. If you are lucky enough to find some, I suggest having a bottle right away and putting a few in your cellar for a later day. Deschutes promises that "this precious liquid only gets better with age."

Bend,Oregon's Deschutes is not available everywhere in the US yet. If you wish to see Deschutes in your market, contact your local distributor and tell them you wanna drink Deschutes. They are truly a extraordinary brewery who makes superb beers at a very reasonable price. Their Mirror Pond has long been one my favorite beers.

"Our Side, A Collaborative Gypsy Ale": a beer from masterminds Mikkeller and Stillwater

Two of the world's hottest and most eccentric brewers Mikkel Borg Bjergsø from Denmark and Brian Stillwater from Baltimore, Maryland have joined forces to make a beer. Mikkeller and Stillwater make for an ideal team. Both brewers have been generating amazing results and have been producing some of the most coveted beers in the world. Their joint project beer will certainly generate some buzz. What a wonderful way to start 2011!

"Our Side" is a brand new beer, but the beer's label gives it's lucky recipients some insight "Mikkel and Brian are two of the world’s most unconventional brewers. By designing beers at various breweries around the globe, they have found the freedom to experiment and innovate, resulting in unique beers that often blur the lines of definition. After having met at a festival in Bodegraven, NL the two realized that their first creations both were called Stateside. It was then an obvious decision to make the two recipes into a new product, packed full of piney, resinous hops, and backed by the esters of a farmhouse yeast strain."

Their highly anticipated collaboration beer containing "piney, resninous hops" and fermented with "a farmhouse yeast strain" are elements which promise not to disappoint. This is a new beer and the information on it is sparse, I will post more info when it becomes available.

The Beer makes its official debut later today at 6 pm at 4 very lucky bars. Max’s Taphouse (Baltimore, MD), ChurchKey (Washington, DC), Rustico Restaurant (Ballston, VA) and Rattle & Hum (NYC). I have been to Max's and Rattle N Hum and they are two world class establishments. If you are free later tonight, by all means go have yourself a glass or several of "Our Side". If you make it, please drop me an email and let me know what you think. Cheers.


story compiled from Beerinbaltimore.com

Jubelale- A Festive Winter Ale

So summer is over boys and girls, but fear not, our good friends at Deschutes have you covered. Just in time for for late fall and early winter, Jubelale is released. Jubelale is a Silver medal winner for the "other beer category" at the 2007 Australian International Beer Awards and Gold Medal winner of the 2006 World Beer championship. Jubelale is a spicy, yet hoppy winter warmer designed to put a smile on your face anytime of year, but is really nice for those nights where you need to throw another log on the fire. Tipping in at 60 ibu's and 6.7% abv this silky smooth dark beer goes down nice and easy. Outfitted with Dark Crystal malt and enough hops to appease hopheads this beer warrants your attention and your glass. This year Deschutes proudly decorates Jubelale with a cool new label this year with some wonderful artwork from local Oregon artist Natasha Bacca. Be sure to put some of these in your fridge this as soon as you can!

Available wherever Deshutes beer is sold.

3rd Anual Oktoberfest at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia

The wonderful folks at World Cafe Live are eagerly preparing for their Oktoberfest on Sunday October 24th. The Event starts at noon. Over 30 different breweries from Germany will be poured. The event also will feature stellar food and live music.

World Cafe live is located 3025 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. Conveniently located on University of Pennsylvania's campus.

This is a beerfest , so please take public transportation if possible. World Cafe Live is located less than two blocks from 30th street station

For more info and to purchase tickets, click here . World Cafe's beer events always seem to sell out, so grab tickets soon. I hope to see you there!

Only German breweries will be featured, including:
Aktien,Becks,Bischoff,Einbecker,Flensburger,Franziskaner,Hacker-Schorr Klosterbrauerei,Paulaner,Schneider,Spaten,Warsteiner,Weihenstephan,Weltenburger, and many more!

2010 World Beer Cup Results

Backed by the Brewers Association, the results from the 2010 World Beer Cup have been revealed. Originating in 2004, The World Beer cup has weeded through tons and breweries to find the best beers produced in the world. This year's contest featured entries from 642 different breweries bringing 3,300 different to be judged. 44 countries entered the contest, hoping to win an award for 90 different styles of beer. The winners of this year's World Beer cup should be extra proud this year, since its inception the amount of breweries and beers entered has more than doubled.

In the Award most pertinent to US Craft beer, Ballast point was the big winner. Ballast point took the Gold for "World Beer Cup 2010 Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Small Brewing Company". Ballast point's "Sculpin" and "Big Eye" are two stellar IPAs that surely contributed to their award.

Philadelphia area breweries earned several awards. Newark Delaware based "Iron Hill" were crowned "Best Large Brewpub". Iron Hill currently runs 8 stellar Brewpubs in the immediate Philadelphia area. The pride of Samson street, "Nodding Head" took home the silver in the "German-Style Sour Ale" category with their flagship beer, "Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse". Yards Brewing Company took the Bronze medal in the "Extra Special Bitter or Strong Bitter" with their killer session beer "ESA".

In addition to some amazing beers, lots of the beers also had very clever names. Some of my favorite beer names from this year's competition were "Dude! Where's My Vespa?" from Rock Bottom in Arlington, Va, "Bourbon Barrel Aged Piper Down Scottish Ale" from Ballast Point, and "Thor's Hammer" from Central City Brewing from Surrey, Canada

Experimentation and deviation from the norm seemed to be a refreshing aspect of this year's World Beer Cup. The categories for "Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer" and "Herb and Spice Beer or Chocolate Beer" were the categories with the largest entries. These two categories each received more entries than the "American-Style India Pale Ale" and the "American-Style Imperial Stout" category.

Click here for a complete list of winners.

Congrats to all the winners and a big thanks to all the 642 breweries who made this happen and the Brewers Association for hosting a wonderful contest.


picture and results compiled from the official World Beer Cup 2010 web page

Lots of Wonderful Beer related events coming this Spring at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia

Philadelphia's premier live music venue is also one of Philadelphia's premier beer destinations. Every February, World Cafe organizes and hosts the "Beats, Brews, and BBQ" festival. An event which sells out shortly after tickets goes on sale and


features some amazing beer from the US and other parts of the world.

While World Cafe is planning to throw Philly Beer Week events , April is also going to be very special and have several days and nights focused around beer. In collaboration with Dibrunno cheeses, every weekend will feature food and beer pairings. Each week will feature different beer and cheeses, carefully picked to compliment each other.


Here are the dates for the Food and beer pairings:
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 | Tasting begins at 5:00pm | Upstairs Live
Sunday, April 11th, 2010 | Tasting begins at 5:00pm | Upstairs Live
Saturday, April 17th, 2010 - SOLD OUT
Sunday, April 25th, 2010 | Tasting begins at 5:00pm | Upstairs Live (on sale soon...)

If you wish to go, it is best to purchase tickets soon. The event on April 17th is already sold out.

tickets and more info can be purchased here :

On April 6th, World Cafe is having another music themed music event. Local Philadelphia band, Agent Moosehead will play music from original Nintendo music as World Cafe screens the classic film "The Wizard". Prizes include A K2 snowboard, A Sam Adams 25th anniversary mini fridge , plug and play games and many more. Tetris, Mike Tyson's Punch Out, Duck Hunt, Contra, Excitebike, and Super Mario Brothers 3, with the grand prize going to the winner of the Super Mario Brothers 3 Challenge.

Tickets are are only $5 and World Cafe will be slaking its participants from their always stellar beer selection.

Movie begins at 7:00pm
Gaming competition at 9:00pm
Live Nintendo Music Concert at 10:00pm

Tickets and more info can be found here

Last but not least, on Sunday April 18th World Cafe is hosting its fantastic Belgian equivalent of their "Beats , Brews, and BBQ festival. World Cafe Manager Ryan Starr informs us that, " Our 3rd Annual Belgian Bierfeesten. A Belgian only beer festival (not even American craft Belgian styles are allowed) featuring the newest and most sought after products coming from over seas. In addition our festivals always include live entertainment, give-a-ways, and a price inclusive buffet prepared by our Executive Chef Mike Breslin complete with Belgian food favorites made with Belgian beers. Partners this year will include Wetten Imports, Merchan Devin, Global Beer, and 12% imports to name a few."

This years "Bierfeesten", promises not to disappoint. Some of the breweries being poured include Van Steenberge, Brasserie De Brunehaut, Brasserie Val de Sambre, Brewery Gaverhopke, Brasserie De Cazeau Brewery Het Alternatief Brewery Contreras, Brasserie Bottresse, Shelton, Mikeller, De Ranke, Brasserie des Geants, Beersel, Blaugies, De Graal , De La Senne, De Proef, Duyster, Ecaussinnes, Ellezelloise, Houfbrouwerijke, Kerkom, Serafijn , Slaapmutske, Achel- Trappist, Cantillon, Drie Fontinen, De Ranke, Fantome, Orval - Trappist, Chimay - Trappist, Rochefort - Trappist , Westmalle - Trappist

Tickets will sell out so grab them while you can.

More info and tickets for The "3rd Annual Belgian Bierfeesten" can be found here.


World Cafe is located at 3025 Walnut Street In Philadelphia, Pa. World Cafe is always open for lunch , and serves fantastic food and beer during all of their concerts. World Cafe's constantly updated web page can be viewed here

Flying Dog's "Raging Bitch", a Belgian style IPA

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their brewpub. Formerly of Aspen, Co, now residing in Fredrick, MD has released a wonderful Belgian style IPa. I have had several IPA's from Belgiam, and several domestic versions of the style Raging Bitch is a fantastic version of the style. Raging Bitch is hands down better than all the domestic versions I have tried, and even runs circles around the IPA's that I have had from Belgium as well. I was shocked when I learned Raging Bitch's ABV was 8.3%, it is masked very well and drinks like a 5.5 % beer. The price of the beer is also extremely reasonable, especially considering the high gravity of the beer.

Artist Raph Steadman does all of the artwork for flying Dog's labels. Steadman , who was a long time friend of Hunter S. Thompson is very serious about his artwork and his beer. The phrase, "Good Beer, No Shit" which Steadman went to court for 4 years with the Colorado Liquor Control Board to get onto A Flying Dog label.

Edward "Eddie" Edwards, who runs the New Hampshire State Liquor control board has banned Raging Bitch. He does not care for the name. Not only will Flying Dog lose the revenue loss from the beer not being distributed in New Hampshire, but more importantly people in New Hampshire will have a harder time trying this wonderful beer.

Specs (From Flying Dog's official web page) :

ABV: 8.3%
IBU's: 60
Plato: 18
Specialty Malts: 60L Crystal
Hops: Warrior, Columbus, Amarillo
Process: El Diablo yeast used to give Raging Bitch a trademark Belgian-style taste, dry hopped with Amarillos


Drink up. The wonderful people at Flying Dog have really produced a unique and special beer. It is currently on draft and in 12 oz bottles. Flying Dog continues to make a fantastic product, with some of the fairest prices on the craft beer market.

read here if you with to learn more about Raging Bitch being banned in New hampshire

Clever Jab To Buweiser Care Of "The Onion"

America's premier fake newspaper, The Onion published a short, but amusing story about a man drinking several Budweisers. The Patron analyzes the Budweiser label and reads it aloud. The tale pokes fun at giant brewery's marketing, flagship product and their bragging of using rice in their beer. Check out the rest of the article, The Onion is way funnier than I am.

Check out the article, here

Half Lambic , Half kombucha

Yes its true boys and girls, Lambrucha a a beer that is a blend of Lambic and Kombucha( a fermented tea beverage) now exists. Like lots of popular beers kombucha is often made with Brettanomyces (often refered to as Brett). The recent popularity of "sour" beers, fans of the quasi orphan style should be ready to embrace Lambrucha with open arms. Like guezes, lambics, brett. beers and all other "sour beers", kombucha is very tart.

Lambrucha is the brainchild of Beer Gods, Don Feinberg and Wendy Littlefield of Vanberg and Dewulf. Feingold and Littlefield were the first importers of Duvel, first slaking the US in 1982. After trying kombucha in 2008, Feinberg enlisted the help of some professionals to help create Lambrucha. Feinberg worked with a Belgian Lambic brewer, an engineer, and brewer of kombucha(also organic), the result being the groundbreaking Lambrucha. The beer is currently available in 750 ml bottles. Lambrucha pours a "fiercely bubbly, bone-dry, rose-color liquid that greets the palate with a burst of lemon, then softens into flowery, herbaceous notes as it goes down." (from Tasting Table Chicago). Fans of session beers will be very excited to hear that Lambrucha weighs in at 3.5% abv, perfect for your lunch break. Breweries are always pushing the limits, and blurring the lines of what is "beer" but Feingold and his crew have created something worthy of massive accolades.



Lambrucha was brewed last summer, and is currently available in Chicago with a nationwide release starting in may.

Click here to read more about kombucha, which is largely believed to be a very healthy drink.


From Tasting Table Chicago