Beer Tap TV News:

This week on Beer Buzz Erik and Eli delve into beer can history, a few of the hundreds of summertime beer festivals, an auction, some beer awards… and one bad-ass breathalyzer.

Beer Buzz is the weekly show that will keep you informed and updated on all the things going on in the beer world, from the noteworthy to the nutty.  Know something we don’t (which is highly likely)?  Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com and share the news… we just might use it.

Show Notes:

UPDATES

Sadly, ole Butane never got in touch with us last week so he does not get a signed copy of Bob Skilnik’s book about big booties and beer.  We draw another name out of the keg, this time for a signed copy of Charles Bamforth’s book, “Beer: Tap into the Art and Science of Brewing.”  And this week’s winner is… you really didn’t think we would tell you here, did you?  WATCH THE EPISODE!

THIS WEEK IN BEER HISTORY

Since we’ve been talking about how canned beer is making a comeback with craft breweries, we found this little tidbit very appropriate. This Week in Beer History… on June 24, 1935, canned beer was introduced for the first time by the American Can Company and Krueger Brewing Co. of Newark, New Jersey.

Ah, but was it?

While doing research on this we discovered two different dates for this historic moment in beerstory.  Many websites have it listed as June 24 (many well known beer sites mind you), while many others say January 24. Then we stumbled onto KegLined.com – An illustrated History of the American Beer Can (http://keglined.pssht.com/main.html).  The actual date is in fact January 24, 1935. Think of this as yet another Public Service Awareness spot from Beer Tap TV.  If you recall, we also told you about the findings of Bob Skilnik who pointed out that Ben Franklin did NOT say: “Beer is living proof that God loves us.” We like busting beer myths. That’s just how we roll.

BEER NEWS

100 homebrewers convene in Mexico

We found this article on Charlie Papazian’s National Beer Examiner column. Homebrewed beer is on the rise in Mexico.  Elba Copado, AKA La Señora de la Cerveza, is an award winning brewster from Tlaquepaque. She reports that this year’s Mexican National Homebrewers Convention will be in San Pedro Tlaquepaque, in the area of Guadalajara. Activities planned include homebrew competition, a presentation of a Spanish language book about beer and the sampling of indigenous brews such as pulque and tequila.Last year’s event drew a mere 30 people, but this year they are prepping for 400 people and are now claiming to have 100 homebrewers in the Mexican homebrewing network.

The Covey Restaurant scores big at 2009 LA International Commercial Beer Competition

The Covey Restaurant and Brewery took home five awards recently at the LA Int. Beer Comp.  One gold, two silvers, and two bronze medals for its hand-crafted beer, according to Covey brewmaster Jamie Fulton, who fielded six beers at the competition last month. The Covey’s Scotch Ale brew aced the Strong Scotch Ale category, snagging a gold medal.  Silver medal winners in the Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale and Smoke-Flavored Beer categories were The Covey’s “100″ and Smokestack Stout, respectively. The Covey was awarded bronze medals for their Texas Wheat in the American-Style Hefeweizen category and their Vienna Lager in the Vienna-Style Lager category. The Covey’s Vienna Lager also won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup in 2008.

Karl Strauss Still Bringing Home the Gold

Not to be left out of the medal count, Karl Strauss Brewing Company is giving new meaning to the phrase “Golden Years.” The company is celebrating their 20th Anniversary with winning six brewing medals, including two Gold Medals at the Los Angeles County Fair. The company’s flagship beer, Karl Strauss Amber Lager, placed first in the Vienna Style Lager category, while their Conquistador Doppelbock won the German Style Strong Bock class. In addition to taking home two Gold’s at the LA Fair, the company was also awarded a Silver medal for Woodie Gold and a Bronze medal for their Red Trolley Ale. In San Diego, Karl Strauss won Silver in the Amber Hybrid category for their Red Trolley Ale and Bronze for their Amber Lager. “There are some great breweries competing at the LA and San Diego Fairs and to medal with that kind of competition is awesome,” says Segura.

Old Dominion Brewery equipment up for auction

All remaining assets from Old Dominion Brewery will be sold at Auction on July 9th, 2009 at 11:00AM EST. The auction will be Live Onsite and Simulcast on the internet via www.bidspotter.com. Auction attendees may bid live onsite at Ashburn, VA location or via the PC Computer. Items up for sale include:  Beer & beverage production support equipment (including forklifts), complete brew-Ppb restaurant & kitchen (over 150 lots), and a delivery van and refrigerated beer truck
BEER RELEASES

Radiant – Ninkasi Brewing – Eugene, OR

First summer seasonal, which will be available across the Pacific Northwestern states. According to one of the brewery partners, Nikos Ridge, “Ninkasi Radiant is a clean finishing, 6%  ABV Ale, and will be brewed through mid-October. It is dry hopped with liberty hops and the hop profile is slightly bitter vs floral in order to create a crisp clean finish.”

Cuvee de Tomme – Lost Abbey – San Marcos, CA

A massive brown ale base that is made from four fermentable sugars including Malted Barley, Raisins, Candi Sugar and Sour Cherries, this beer is fully fermented before being placed in Bourbon barrels where the beer ages for one year with the Sour Cherries and the wild Brettanomyces yeast that they inoculate the barrels with. One of the most complex and unique beers they make each year. ABV: 11.0%

BEER FESTIVALS OF THE WEEK

Because we’re in Beer Festival season, we’re adding a new segment to keep you updated on what’s going on in your area.

North American Organic Brewers Festival

Date/Time: June 26-28th, 2009, Friday and Saturday 12-9pm, Sunday 12-5pm
Location: Overlook Park, Portland, OR
Why: To promote sustainable living and celebrate organic beer.
Price: Admission is free, to sample beer a $6 compostable tasting glass is required, a four-ounce sample is $1, and a full pint is $4. A $1 discount off the tasting glass is given for either 3 cans of organic food, or a valid Tri-Met ticket

The world’s largest selection of organic beer, the North American Organic Brewers festival is a celebration of the earth. This year the festival is powered by a combination of solar panels, waste vegetable oil and biodiesel generators. Festival is proud to feature beers from around the world brewed with organic ingredients. The event benefits the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, the Oregon Food Bank, Oregon Tilth, and Willamette Riverkeeper. For more information or to see this year’s beer list visit www.naobf.org

3rd annual San Diego International Beer Festival

Date: Friday & Saturday, June 26 & 27
Time: Friday, 4:00-8:00PM; Saturday, noon-7:00PM
Location: Chevrolet Del Mar Arena
Prices: These prices include Fair admission (unless otherwise noted), a souvenir tasting cup and a wristband that entitles the wearer to unlimited one-ounce samplings of beer entered in the festival competition. You must be 21 or older to purchase wristband vouchers.

Advance purchase: Friday, June 26: $27.00, Saturday, June 27: $37.00, Two-day: $64.00
Day of event purchase, including Fair admission: Friday, June 26: $33.00, Saturday, June 27: $43.00, Two-day: $70.00

BEER GADGET OF THE WEEK

Alco-Checkpoint Breathalyzer

The reason we’re showing is this is because on past episodes of Beer buzz we’ve railed the current state of DUI laws and the fanaticism this country has on enforcing some truly bizarre laws while never bothering to actually EDUCATE anyone on how many beers it takes each individual to become “legally” intoxicated.  Well, one very enterprising company has come up with what can only be described as the perfect solution.  Leave it up to private industry to fix the problems of the government.

A forward thinking society would say: “Hey, this should be installed in every single establishment in the country that serves alcohol.”   You know why the government doesn’t want to do this though?  They want – no, they need – the revenue generated from DUI s.  Fact.

So, since the government doesn’t want to do what they should be doing for the people (instead of bailing out asinine, greedy, imbecilic corporations like the car companies and banks)… use it to make your own damn money and install this machine in your local bar, club, bowling alley, restaurant, ball park, casinos, parking garage, strip club, valet stands, private party… well, you get the idea.

“Check yourself before you wreck yourself”

BREATH TESTER FEATURES:

•Digital display with 2 different colors to indicate the results of Blood Alcohol Concentration (red and green)
•4 graphic screens that guide you through the test (in case you can’t hear the voice instructions due to noise)
•Automatic calibration system: Starts every time the machine is powered on (calibrate every 2-3 months)
•Breathalyzer check-up system: Detects any malfunctioning of the machine
•Cleaning system: Eliminates any prior breath samples after each test
•Anti-condensation system: Prevents condensation from entering the machine after each test.
•Alcohol Sensor replacement indicator: The machine indicates when the alcohol sensor must be replaced
(supplied by Alco-Checkpoint). Sensors last between 800-1100 uses and cost only $59!
•Holds up to 600 straws, dispensed from bottom of machine (standard straws can be used)5. Electronic

Get One Today Starting At Only $1099!!   Think of it as a vending machine type of “route.” According to the website you can “realistically earn between $60-$125/week, which equals $3,120-$6,500/year, per machine.”   For more info contact Alco-Checkpoint at info@alcocheckpoint.com or call 858-740-1660
BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

Honest Pint Project

The Honest Pint Project started in Portland, Oregon.  or well over a decade, drinkers have known about the scourge of “cheater pints” thanks to pioneering reporting done by Back in the mid-1990’s Portland writer William Abernathy started taking a Pyrex measuring bowl into pubs, dumped his beer into it, and reported that “shaker pint” glasses were in fact largely 14-ounce glasses. In 2007, Jeff Alworth wrote about these “cheater pints” on his blog, Beervana (which we’ve featured on Beer Buzz before), sparking a new round of indignation. Alworth posted an online petition that garnered over 300 signatures in a matter of days demanding an honest pint. Members of the media picked up on the idea, and articles and stories have appeared on National Public Radio and the Wall Street Journal as well as a number of regional papers.   Check it out and demand your own honest pint!

Make sure you follow us on twitter:

@ErikBoles
@EliShayotovich

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles

Beer Tap TV News:

On this week’s episode of Beer Buzz we uncover the best beer gadget ever, period!  Plus, an entire island of beer… and drinking your way towards a healthier prostate.

Beer Buzz is the weekly show that will keep you informed and updated on all the things going on in the beer world, from the noteworthy to the nutty.  Know something we don’t (which is highly likely)?  Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com and share the news… we just might use it.

Show Notes:

UPDATES

Congrats to Opstaz (Jeff) who actually contacted us and now has a way cool Beer Tap TV shirt. See, that wasn’t so hard now, was it? This week we’re giving away another signed copy of Bob Skilnik’s book “Does my Butt Look Big in this Beer.” And the winner is… what she show to find out!

BEER NEWS

Beer Wars DVD Release

The Beer Wars DVD is now available exclusively on the Beer Wars website for a mere $19.95.

What’s inside? The Beer Wars DVD  (in English, Color 5.1 sound, 16:9 ratio)

SPECIAL FEATURES include:
* Beer Wars Live Panel Discussion (uncut)
* Deleted Scenes and Trailers

Some things you should know…
* Anat is Self-Distributing this film, so every DVD sale supports this independent filmmaker!
* This film will not be available on Netflix, iTunes or Amazon until next year.
* This BEER WARS DVD is available for purchase for home use only.
* If you’d like to set up a screening of the film for your film club, bar, brewpub, homebrew club any other group, please contact Anat Baron.
* This is an all-region NTSC DVD that is compatible with standard NTSC and all-region DVD players.

Odell Brewing Company embarks on new expansion

On June 9, 2009, Odell Brewing Company officially broke ground on its new expansion. The project, which includes an expansion of the existing manufacturing, office, and taproom facilities, will help the brewery accommodate increased and enhanced brewing operations. In addition to the building, the brewery will include improvements to its parking, shipping, and overall landscaping.

“While we are expanding capacity, we are really viewing this as an investment in innovation in both style and process,” said brewery owner Wynne Odell. Not only will the brewery gain much needed space, but it will also improve its creative brewing processes with investments such as a single-serve packaging line and a new barrel aging cellar.

The brewery has also incorporated multiple environmentally friendly installations and “green” considerations in its plans. Such as a roof mounted photovoltaic system that will generate 50 KW of energy, which is approximately 1/3 of the brewery’s summer daily peak demand. Solar tubes in the brewery’s new warehouse will provide natural lighting, and a day-lighting system will actually turn off light fixtures when this natural light is sufficient. The brewery will also include a water recovery system in its bottling line that will capture clean rinse water and use it for landscape irrigation. Odell Brewing expects to complete the expansion in early 2010.

Is it the end of the coaster?

The cardboard beer mat made its debut back in 1880. Friedrich Horn, a German printing and board mill company, created small cardboard mats and printed messages on them. Before long, their simple invention had become a firm fixture under beer glasses across the country. Bar keepers liked them as they protected their tables, didn’t need washing and didn’t cost them anything — advertisers footed the bill in a bid to reach new customers.

The world’s biggest beer mat company, Katz Group, declared bankruptcy at the end of April. Tucked away in Weisenbach in the south-west of Germany, Katz Group, which was founded as a sawmill in 1716, had been in the beer mat business since 1903. Katz International Coasters controlled around two-thirds of the European market and 97 percent of the US market.

Ska Brewing Wins Double Gold with Canned Beers at North American Beer Awards

Ska Brewing Company announced that two of its beers, Modus Hoperandi and the ESB Special Ale, both available in cans, won gold medals at the 2009 North American Beer Awards.  Ska’s Modus Hoperandi IPA won gold in the American-Style India Pale Ale category, and their ESB Special Ale won gold in the Best Bitter category. A third Ska beer, the Buster Nut Brown Ale, won bronze in the English Brown Ale category.

The North American Beer Awards (NABA) is a prestigious annual event, now in its thirteenth year. Judges include brew masters from major national breweries as well as experts from small, independent breweries, beer journalists and certified judges. Judging is performed in a blind format, and all of the proceeds from the associated festival are donated to charity. Winners were chosen from an impressive field of more than 1,100 beers in 72 categories.

According to Ska Co-Founder Dave Thibodeau, the awards are especially notable because both the Gold Medal winners are available to the public in cans, with the Modus Hoperandi being Ska’s newest year-round release. “The cans are proving to be a great fit with our outdoor-loving culture here in Colorado. There are a lot of scenarios – a raft trip or backcountry journey for example — where cans work better because they’re light and they don’t break. Now people can have the convenience of a can, with a gold-medal winning craft beer inside,” says Thibodeau. “Just the thought of it makes me want to put a few in my backpack and take off right now.” Ska’s line of canned beers also includes the True Blonde Ale, a 2006 Bronze Medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival.

The NABA gold-medal wins come at an especially busy time for Ska, as they continue to increase production capacity to meet demand. Late last year Ska opened its new, $4.8 million, 24,000-square-foot world headquarters and tasting room, and added a larger canning line. Ska recently expanded its distribution to include Texas and Kansas and the beers can also be found throughout Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, Illinois and North Carolina.

BEER RELEASES

Festina Peche – Dogfish Head – Milton, DE

A refreshing neo-BerlinerWeisse fermented with honest-to-goodness peaches to (get this!) 4.5% abv! Because extreme beers don’t have to be extremely boozy! Available in 4-pack and draft during the sweaty months.

Sadly, there are only a few breweries left in Berlin still brewing the BerlinerWeisse style which is characterized by its intense tartness (some say sour). There were once over 70 breweries in Berlin alone making this beer! In addition to fermentation with an ale yeast, Berliner Weisse is traditionally fermented with lactic cultures to produce its acidic or green apple-like character. It is delicately hopped with a pale straw color and served as an aperitif or summertime quencher. To soften the intense sourness, Berliner Weisse is traditionally served with a dash of essence of woodruff or raspberry syrup.

In the Festina Peche since the natural peach sugars are eaten by the yeast, the fruit complexity is woven into both the aroma and the taste of the beer so there is no need to doctor it with woodruff or raspberry syrup – open and enjoy! ABV: 4.5;  IBU: 8

Sunrise Weissbeir – Victory Brewing Company – Downingtown, PA

This unfiltered, Bavarian style Hefeweizen is true to its origins with all ingredients except for the water having been imported from Germany. It remains unfiltered to feature the tangy, fruity flavors of its unique yeast. The imported German malt contributes greatly to add a crisp, citric snap that makes this beer a superb summertime refresher.

Malts:  2 row German barley and wheat malt
Hops: German and Czech whole flowers
Yeast: imported, of German origin
Alcohol by volume: 5.7%
Availability: Draft and bottles, June through Autumn.

NEW BEER BAR OF THE WEEK

Beer Island

Welcome to the only Island in the world, where to get there, you don’t have to put your shoes through a metal detector. In fact shoes are optional. Coney Island welcomes something, that we all fantasize about a Beer Island! This family friendly resort, serves a wide selection of beer, wine and entertainment. We offer many bottled varieties and several premium beers on tap, and naturally they are served ice cold, a welcome refreshment on a hot day!

BEER GADGET OF THE WEEK

Build a Remote Controlled Beer Keg

The crew on Revision 3’s  show “System” updates the classic beer keg with motorized wheels and a remote control tap to build the ultimate robotic beer keg. Although the modern beer keg has been with us since the 1960’s the technology surrounding it has advanced much. The gang at System figured they would put a few 21st century bits of technology on the thing and turn it into a mobile and easily controlled beer dispenser.  Watch and learn!
BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

Lyke 2 Drink

Rick Lyke is a veteran drinks journalist who writes about beer, wine and spirits. His work is published regularly in a number of magazines including DRAFT and All About Beer. Read about beer, wine and spirits; travels to breweries, distilleries and wineries; festivals and events; alcohol issues; beverage marketing; and have fun along the way.

Pints for Prostates

Pints for Prostates is a grassroots effort to reach men with a critical message about prostate cancer screening using the universal language of beer. Started by prostate cancer survivor and drinks journalist Rick Lyke, the goal of the program is to communicate with men in a friendly and non-threatening way about the need for regular PSA testing. All funds raised by Pints for Prostates go directly to Us TOO International (http://ustoo.org/) to assist with that group’s support, education and advocacy efforts.

It’s a big week for the Pints for Prostates campaign. First off as part of Father’s Day weekend they have seven events going on around the country. If you are near Stanley, Iowa; Issaquah, Wash.; San Francisco, Calif.; Raleigh, N.C.; or Newport, Eugene and Portland Oregon, plan to come out and help raise funds for Us TOO International.  Details are on our Facebook page and we’ll also be announcing some more events shortly, so the chances are we’ll be coming to a town near you soon.

Secondly, late last week they received word from the Lance Armstrong Foundation that Pints for Prostates has been invited as one of a limited number of groups to participate in the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit taking place in Dublin at the end of August.

Their Facebook page hit 900 members this week and they’d love your support in reaching more guys as Father’s Day approaches. Please help in their quest to reach men using the universal language of beer by going to the Pints for Prostates page and clicking on the Share+ button along the right side. From there you can post a message on your Facebook page or send an email to your friends. The more men we reach, the more lives will be saved.

Make sure you follow us on twitter:

@ErikBoles
@EliShayotovich

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles

Beer Tap TV News:

Beer Buzz is the weekly show that will keep you informed and updated on all the things going on in the beer world, from the noteworthy to the nutty.  Know something we don’t (which is highly likely)?  Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com and share the news… we just might use it.

Show Notes:

UPDATES

We have a brand new WINNER this week!  We’re scrapping the Beer Gloves this week ‘cuz really, who the hell wants to wear mitt toasters in the middle of summer?  This week we’re giving away… a Beer Tap TV shirt!  The winner is… watch the show to find out!

BEER NEWS

Proposed Increase of Federal Excise Tax a Serious Threat to Small Brewers and Your Beer Choice – Contact Your Senators Now

We received the following letter from the Brewers Association…

Dear Beer Enthusiast,

Small brewers are facing an imminent an extremely serious threat to their businesses.  The Senate Finance Committee in Washington, DC is currently considering a proposal to increase and equalize the excise tax for alcohol beverages as part of healthcare reform deliberations. This proposal would triple the excise tax for 4.5% ABV beer and impose even higher excise tax rates for higher ABV beers. If such a proposal becomes reality, there is no question that many small brewery businesses will suffer, some will close and consumers will face higher prices and diminished choice in the marketplace. The Brewers Association brewery members and leadership have been actively engaged in building the case against an excise tax increase, recently submitting a letter to the Committee outlining our opposition. We need you to speak out now. Today or tomorrow at the latest.

For the of the letter be sure to check out our forum thread, where every shred of info you need to contact your Senator is listed.

Back in Episode #26 we talked about how much the beer industry helps support the economy by providing nearly 1.9 million jobs and generating nearly $62 billion in wages and benefits.  Guess what’s going to happen should this excise tax actually go into effect?  Those numbers will decrease dramatically, especially for the small breweries who can’t afford to pay anymore taxes on their beer.

Brewers Association Poll Finds Quality of Beer Remains Priority Despite Economy

Back on Saturday, May 30, over 1,900 attendees enjoyed craft beer and food pairings from 68 craft breweries at the sold-out SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. A post-event survey conducted by the Brewers Association finds that demand for quality beer remains high despite the economy. An overwhelming 91.4 percent of surveyed attendees said the economy has not affected the quality of beer they purchase. In addition, 98.8 percent of respondents cite “high quality” as their main priority when purchasing beer, as opposed to “low price” or “brand recognition.”

“A total of 68 craft breweries, each small and independent, participated in SAVOR, the premiere beer and food pairing event in the U.S. These breweries are succeeding despite a number of challenges including access to market, rising cost of raw materials and ingredients, and tax issues on both the federal and state level—not to mention the economy,” stated Charlie Papazian, President of the Brewers Association. “We’re happy that interest in craft beer is so strong that SAVOR, as a second year event, sold out 8 weeks in advance.”
Other Results from the SAVOR Survey

When it comes to spending habits, over half (54.9 percent) of surveyed SAVOR attendees said they spend more than $50 per month on beer, while 36.6 percent spend between $25 and $50 and only 8.6 percent spend less than $25 per month. And contrary to popular belief, many beer lovers enjoy other fermented beverages as well. Nearly half of respondents (46.9 percent) claimed to look outside the beer glass and consider themselves to be cross drinkers (enjoying a combination of beer, wine and/or liquor), while 51.6 percent identify themselves as beer lovers exclusively.

Survey Methodology: The Brewers Association survey of SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience attendees took place online from June 1-2, 2009, with data derived from 257 respondents.

The 2nd Annual Global Warming Open

The Brewing News is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Global Warming Open, a contest pitting refreshing summer beers against one another to determine the most refreshing beer in America. Like the National IPA Championship, beers will be accepted by any brewery choosing to enter the competition. Participating breweries will be placed randomly into the competition brackets. Judges will be choosing the winning beer on a single elimination basis. Winners of the each round will advance to the next round. The judges, all craft beer connoisseurs, will sample your beer in summer conditions. They will be sitting in a hot tub while making their determinations.

At the same time, beer lovers will choose their winners for each round on-line. They will log onto their website locker room (brewingnews.com/gwo) and read a brief description of each beer as well as view an image. They will then fill out their brackets. A grand prize will be awarded to the person who gains the most bracket points. The top prize will be a free case of the winning beer. Results of each round will be posted on-line within twenty-four hours. Winners will be published in our August/September 2009 issues.

As mentioned above, the Global Warming tournament will be interactive. Readers will be able to make their own choices as to who they think will win each round. The readers will be able to log onto the web and read a brief description of each individual beer as well as view an image. They will then fill out their brackets and choose a winner. A grand prize will be awarded to the reader who predicts the most correct GWO brackets. The top prize will be a free case of the 2008 Global Warming Open Champion beer and a $100 gift certificate for Brewing News Beerware! Results of each round will be posted on-line within twenty-four hours. Final results and winners will be published in our August/September 2008 issue.

Check out their website and join them for what will be one of the most fun events this summer!

On a side note… the new issue of the Rocky Mountain Brewing News should be out right now.  Pick it up as he’s the new Lower Front Range Columnist, talking about all things craft beer related in Southern Colorado.

Arctic Craft Brewery melts away, Rocky Mountain grows

Sometime last month Arctic Craft Brewery closed their doors.  I found out about this while stumbling around on another beer website. I sent an Email to both John Dunfee, brewing mad man of Arctic, to find out what happened, but I haven’t heard back from him yet.  Apparently Duane Lajun of Rocky Mountain Brewery in Colorado Springs already has Arctic’s bottling line and word has it that he’s buying some of John’s other brewing equipment  as well.

In addition to that, Duane is in fact opening a new brewpub in the Springs… it will be called the “Rocky Mountain Brewing Company,” and will be located next to the newish Hollywood Theatre on the north side of town, just off Interquest & I-25. It will be a sit down restaurant brewpub with 6 beers brewed on site with 4 taps featuring various Colorado beers. The original site will continue to be a production brewery where Duane brews his cutting edge beers

BEER RELEASES

White Ale – Alaskan Brewing Company – Juneau, Alaska

Alaskan White Ale is based on a Belgian-style witbier, literally translated to “white beer.” White beers, or “witbieren,” are named for the suspended wheat proteins creating a cloudy appearance in this unfiltered beer. It has a soft, slightly sweet base with the unique spice aroma of coriander and crisp, citrus finish of orange peel. A light and effervescent body combined with the smooth palate creates a complex and delicate beer that is deliciously refreshing in any season. ABV: 5.3%, OG: 1.047, IBUs: 15

Allagash Confluence Ale – Allagash Brewing Co. – Portland, Maine

Confluence Ale is created with a mixed fermentation; utilizing a house primary Belgian style yeast in combination with a proprietary Brettanomyces strain. Confluence is brewed with a blend of both imported pilsner and domestic pale malts as well as a portion of caramel malt, resulting in a complex malty profile. Tettnang and East Kent Golding hops are added in the brew process to balance the intricate malty profile while adding a sweet and spicy citrus aroma.

After fermentation, Confluence undergoes a lengthy aging process in stainless steel tanks to enhance the flavors. Prior to bottling, it is dry hopped with a Glacier hops, providing a pleasant balance of aromas. Confluence is then bottle conditioned and aged in our cellar prior to release.  ABV: 7.5%, OG: 1064, Recommended Cellaring Temp: 50°F, Recommended Serving Temp: 40-50°F

NEW BEER BAR OF THE WEEK

Sin City Brewing Company opens inside The Flamingo

Sin City Brewing opened a second location inside the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.  All of SC’s beers are on tap.  Their new location is open from 11am until 2am. Sinners can watch sports on three plasma screen televisions, surrounded by etched red metal surfaces, and a patio adjacent to the 15-acre pool and wildlife complex.

BEER GADGET OF THE WEEK

Due to “technical errors” – like inebriation, Beer Gadget of the Week will return next week. We hope.

BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

Thank Heaven for Beer

Nate and Mike both share the goal of teaching and brewing.  One of Mike’s goals for the site is to get you (the reader) to be passionate about beer.  He wants to see you exploring and pushing your normal expectations for a beer.  Nate and Mike both want you to learn and find something new each week. Speckled throughout their site is their mission statement.  According to the sudsy duo “there are millions of pretentious pseudo-intellectual pen wielders across the blogosphere (beter not be talking about me!) many of whom may be the curators of a beer blog much finer than this.”  They say they aren’t on a mission  to be different or  claim to be some esoteric knowledge of beer that can only be found on THFB.  They just love beer. So check ‘em out!

Make sure you follow us on twitter:

@ErikBoles
@EliShayotovich

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles