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