Beer Buzz 033: Raise an Honest Pint!
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
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
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!
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