Beer Tap TV News:

This week Eli and Erik talk about the Guinness Brewery nearly blowing up as well as the top beer stories of the past year.  Plus, they get Abstrakt and go all BarBeerian while tossing back a few beers.  Join them for the last Beer Buzz of this decade… here on Beer Tap TV!

Beer Buzz is the ONLY weekly, televised show that keeps you up to date on what’s 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!

Show Notes:

UPDATES

Last week’s winner was BrewDog (AKA Andrew, our resident Beer News Hound) who correctly answered:  What does the Christmas expression “yuletide” actually mean? The answer we were looking for was ale-tide, which was included with his dictionary sized reply.  Congrats to Andrew who says he’s been looking for a legit pair of Hefe glasses for awhile.  Now you have some!

This week’s trivia question is… NOT!  By the way, we moved it around.  Starting now it will never be in the same place, so you’ll have to watch the entire episode to see where we ask the trivia question.   It’s one of our many New Year’s Resolutions.  But you’ll want to stick around because this week we’re giving away the biggest prize package EVER!

Hey, don’t forget… there’s a full blue moon tonight!  If you didn’t see yesterday’s episode of Taste Buds (featuring Blue Moon’s Grand Cru)… go watch it!

If you’d rather watch us in High-Def on your Big Screen… we’re now on TiVo under the Food & Drink section.  We’re also on Facebook and YouTube!

We filmed a ton of video at this year’s GABF.  Go watch it here –> Beer Tap TV GABF page and on the GABF video hub page on Examiner.com.

BEER NEWS

Story #1: The Guinness brewery almost blew up! – Last week news that the Guinness Brewery caught fire spread like… well, wildfire. But did you know that the entire St. James Gate complex in Dublin came within moments of blowing up?

Story #2: The Year in Craft Beer:  Top 10 Stories – We cover the top 10 craft beer stories of the year as noted by BeerNews.org.   According to the BeerSage this isn’t a completely subjective list as these are the stories that got the most hits on his site during the year.  We go through the list, then expand on what we covered here on Beer Tap TV.  It’s been a great year for craft beer!

BEER RELEASE OF THE WEEK

Abstrakt from BrewDog – Abstrakt will be the concept beer outlet for BrewDog and Abstrakt will only ever brew and release a beer once. BrewDog’s Abstrakt is about exciting, progressive and conceptual beers, beer which not only push the boundaries but smash them up completely.

BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

The BarBeerians – A group of beer lovers with a great sense of humor (just look at their name and logo) located in Helena, Montana. They have an almost barbaric desire to share their love of beer with the rest of the world.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter:  @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Beer Tap TV on Facebook
Beer Tap TV on YouTube
Beer Tap TV on TiVo: Under the Food & Drink section

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

Beer Tap TV News:

This week on Beer Buzz… Eli and Erik give you a history lesson about Ole Saint Nick, dish on Stone’s possible venture in Europe, inform you that BrewDog needs help ASAP, and show you a giant Christmas tree made out of beer bottles.  All this and more on the Christmas Eve episode of Beer Buzz!  From all of us here at Beer Tap TV we want to wish all of our loyal fans a Beery Christmas and a Hoppy Brew Year!

Beer Buzz brings you the latest news about the beer industry.  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

Last week’s winner was Goose (AKA Noah) who answered:  On last year’s Christmas episode what beers were Eli and Erik drinking as they doled out their list of gifts for your Beer Geek? What was the tagline for the beer Eli was drinking?  What was the nickname of the brewery Erik’s beer was from? ANSWER: Eli was drinking Oskar Blues Ten Fidy (tagline: This dog will hunt) and Erik was drinking Z-Lager (nickname: 40 Collins).   Noah won the wheat Spiegelau glasses.  Congrats! And thanks for watching, Goose!

This week’s trivia question is… hey, we’re in the Christmasy spirit, but not THAT much!  Watch to find out and if you answer correctly you’ll win a set of glasses from Spiegelau!

If you’d rather watch us in High-Def on your Big Screen… we’re now on TiVo under the Food & Drink section.  Check us out! We’re also on Facebook! BFacebook and YouTube, so be sure to check hit us up there too!

We filmed a ton of video at this year’s GABF.  Go watch it here –> Beer Tap TV GABF page and on the GABF video hub page on Examiner.com. Check out both sites!

BEER NEWS

Story #1: A Christmas History Lesson about Ole Saint Nick – Nicholas was a Bishop of Myra (now part of modern-day Turkey) who died between 342 and 350 AD.  Known as Nicholas the Wonderworker, he had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus.  Saint Nicholas became the protector over travelers and brewers through the legend of the Three Clerics.

Story #2: Near Beer and Cookies for Santa? – Labatt Breweries of Canada launched a series of ads in early November that promoted their non-alcoholic beer with the tagline “Leave one out for Santa. He’s driving.”  The Labatt ads are meant to imply that Santa shouldn’t be downing any alcohol, lest he crash his sleigh into a passing jetliner, but some consumers told the newspaper it sends the wrong message.

Story #3: BrewDog appeals for more investors – BrewDog, our favorite UK brewer, could be forced to cancel plans to raise £2.3m ($3,695,638) via an issue of 10,000 shares unless it can find more investors in the next two weeks. The group is seeking to raise the money through what it calls its ‘Equity for Punks’ share offer to fund expansion projects, including a new brewery facility.

Story #4: Stone to open a brewery in Europe? – Yup.  But watch the video from Greg and Steve to get the complete lowdown on what they’re planning to do.

HOMEBREW COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Ska Snowdown Homebrew Competition – Ska Brewing is proud to announce the return of the Snowdown Homebrew Competition for 2009.  Entry opened on December 15th and will close on January 15th. Beer entries must be in Ska’s posession no later than January 18th. The Snowdown Homebrew Competition’s website is www.durangohomebrew.com.  The event is also a preliminary for the 2010 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Pro/Am category, and will be an AHA/BJCP certified competition.

BEER GADGET OF THE WEEK
This green Christmas tree is made from 1,000 unopened Heineken beer bottles. The festive display is located in front of a mall in Shanghai.

BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

RandyClemens.com – Randy Clemens is a freelance food writer based in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the California School of Culinary Arts, and a BJCP Recognized Beer Judge. He’s written for several major publications including: Gourmet, Imbibe, Wine Enthusiast, Draft and BeerAdvocate

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter:  @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Beer Tap TV on Facebook
Beer Tap TV on YouTube
Beer Tap TV on TiVo: Under the Food & Drink section

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

Beer Tap TV News:

Beery Christmas! In this special Christmasy episode of Beer Buzz Eli and Erik — aka Santa’s Lil Beer Buzzed Helpers — provide you with 12 more gift ideas!  There’s only one week left to get your Beer Geek something for Christmas, but since no one actually goes to the store to buy gifts anymore and almost all of these gifts are still available via online shopping. You might recognize some of them since we’ve featured a few as Beer Gadgets of the Week, but they still make great Christmas presents!  And if these don’t pique your interest, take a gander at our Christmas list from last year (http://beertaptv.com/BeerBuzz/2008/12)!

Show Notes:

UPDATES

Last week’s winner was Hopsfan (AKA Jimmy) who answered:  What people made the forerunner of a heather-flavored brew now known by its Gaelic name as Fraoch.  ANSWER:  The Picts.  Jimmy won himself a set of tulip Spiegelau glasses! Congrats! This week’s trivia question is… asked in this week’s episode, so be sure to watch it!  If you answer correctly (in the forums) you’ll get a set of wheat beer glasses – I’m dreaming of a Wheat Christmas – from Spiegelau!

After a year in planning and developing the Brewers Association and the American Homebrewers Association have launched a new, kick ass interactive website for all things craftbeer at www.craftbeer.com.  Beer Tap TV is the only beer video show to have the honor of being listed as a “Recommended Website.” Go to the “stories” tab –> Recommended Website –> Craft Beer Web Casts/Pod-Casts (http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/stories/recommended-websites)

We’re now on TiVo under the Food & Drink section.  Check us out!

We’re on Facebook! Become a fan today!

We Tube with YouTube too! Now watch us on YouTube!

We filmed a ton of video at this year’s GABF.  Go watch it here –> Beer Tap TV GABF page and on the GABF video hub page on Examiner.com. Check out both sites!

THE 12 BEER GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS

Gift #1: Spiegelau Glassware – The Class of Glass – Available on Amazon.com as a set of 2 (of the Pilsner, Wheat and Lager) glasses for $23.92 each, or a set of all of them for $72.83.

Gift #2: DeCapper – The one-step pushdown bottle opener! The most fun you’ll ever have taking your top off! Prices vary from $8 – $18

Gift #3: Brew Dogs of Colorado -  This book is a photographic tribute to the special relationship between Colorado’s craft brewers and their dogs. More than 200 color photos introduce readers to over 70 dogs and owners from Colorado’s craft brewing companies.  $29.95

Gift #4: Deer Rump Bottle Opener – Impress your friends!  Amazed your drinking buddies! And embarrass your wife… all with one incredible gift!  Need we say more?  $199 for the finished product, or $99 for the Do-It-Yourselfer Kit!

Gift #5: The Beer Sweater – For when you love your beer enough to keep it toasty warm!  Free!  Creator Melissa Martensen shows you how to make this hand made gift.

Gift #6: The always popular beer related clothing – Available at CraftBeerClothing.com (prices range from $14.99 – $15.99 for XXL) or Yesterbeer.com ($18 – $19 for XXL).

Gift #7: Beer Holster Cult – These hand crafted leather brew ho-ho-holsters make the perfect gift for your favorite beer drinker and hell raiser! $35 – $40

Gift #8: Beer Gift Baskets – Available from BeerGifts.com or GourmetGiftBaskets.com. Prices range from $40 to $170 depending on what beers and goodies are included.

Gift #9: Beer Tasting and Hop Appreciation Kit – Learn how to savor beer taste, aroma and flavor with this complete hops kit, one of the greatest and most enlightening beer gifts – ever.  $39.95

Gift #10: Beer Wars DVD – Beer Wars is a feature-length independent documentary that takes you on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of your favorite beer.  $19.95

Gift #11: Arkeg – Drink n Game – Think of it as an in-home iPod for your video games that also serves up cold, frothy brew.  Regularly $3,999 now on sale for $3,499

Gift #12: Stainless Steel Dual Tap Kegerator & Draft Beer Dispenser – Stainless steel double tap kegerator combines an inexpensive imported refrigerator with commercial-grade, NSF approved beer lines. $645.15 with FREE shipping!

BEER RELEASES OF THE WEEK

Legend – Tommyknocker Brewing Company – Idaho Springs, CO

To the 9’s – Karl Strauss Brewing Company – San Diego, CA

BEER GATHERING OF THE WEEK

Shmaltz Brewing Company hosts two Chanukah events in San Francisco – One was last night (at the Toronado), but you can still catch the other one at the DNA Lounge in SF tomorrow night!

BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

BeerInBaltimore.com by Brad Klipner – A passionate beer geek who resides in Baltimore, Maryland.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter:  @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Beer Tap TV on Facebook
Beer Tap TV on YouTube
Beer Tap TV on TiVo: Under the Food & Drink section

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

Beer Tap TV News:

This week on Beer Buzz Eli and Erik talk about the FDA buttin’ their nose into the beer industry, all the different and surprising brands the Evil Macro Brewing Empires own, a few different Top 25 lists, gadgets, releases and more!

Beer Buzz brings you the latest news about the beer industry.  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

Last week’s winner was WarsonBrewing (AKA Jesse) who answered: “You foam within our glasses, you lusty golden brew, whoever imbibes takes fire from you.”  Where did those lyrics come from? ANSWER: Lyrics from the opera “The Bartered Bride” by Smetana, 1866.  Jesse won a DeCapper!  Watch to find out what this week’s trivia question is and if you answer correctly you’ll win a set of tulip glasses from Spiegelau!

Today is  National Lager Day – so be sure to drink a lager!

We’re now on TiVo under the Food & Drink section.  Check us out!

We’re on Facebook! Become a fan today!

We Tube with YouTube too!  Catch us on YouTube!

We filmed a ton of video at this year’s GABF.  Go watch it here –> Beer Tap TV GABF page and on the GABF video hub page on Examiner.com. Check out both sites!

BEER NEWS

Story #1: FDA issues a wake-up call about additives – Brewers have been adding coffee to their porters and stouts for a while now.  To Beer Geeks, this is not new news.  However, it must be to the Food and Drug Administration since they’re cracking down on caffeinated alcoholic beverages as if it were more poisonous than the crap the pharmaceutical companies spew out.

Story #2: The Top 25 Beers from The Wine Enthusiast Magazine – In the June issue of Wine Enthusiast the editors introduced a Beer Buying Guide — which they admit was equal parts acknowledgment of the craft beer movement and a means to satisfy strong hints on the part of readers and staff. In keeping with craft beer’s popularity they just released their “Best of Year” issue which includes their Top 25 Beers of 2009.

Story #3: The 25 Best American Breweries of the Decade (2000-2009) by Paste Magazine – Paste magazine specializes in music, film, TV, books and video games. But they’ve also got a special place in their heart for beer. We can’t argue with their Top 25 list, especially since four of them come from Colorado!

Story #4: The Big Brewer’s Brands – Anat Baron (director of Beer Wars) kept getting asked about a list of which brands are owned by which of the two big beer companies operating in the U.S., Anheuser-Busch InBev and Miller Coors.  Well-known beer writer Jay Brooks (Brook Stone Beer Bulletin) put together that list, and it’s one every Beer Geek should look over.

BEER RELEASES OF THE WEEK

Fullsuit – Karl Strauss – San Diego, CA – A medium-bodied Belgian ale with toasted malt flavors, oak undertones, and a dry warming finish. It’s brewed with a blend of brown and caramel malts, and fermented with a Belgian yeast strain.  Can you say yummy?

BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

Lost in the Beer Isle by Josh Dion – Josh is a Boston-area regular guy who loves trying new beers and learning. His blog is intended to be un-intimidating so if you’re looking for a blog where beers are evaluated by the origin of the hops within, you’re in the wrong place.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter:  @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Beer Tap TV on Facebook
Beer Tap TV on YouTube
Beer Tap TV on TiVo: Under the Food & Drink section

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

Beer Tap TV News:

This week on Beer Buzz Eli and Erik talk about the new wave of nanobreweries popping up everywhere, the cow spotted in a NYC sports bar, two of the world’s strongest beers, Saints and Sinners, blogs and more!

Beer Buzz brings you the latest news about the beer industry.  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

Last week’s winner was Junglist (AKA Eric) all the way over in Australia. He answered:  In what episode did we first bust another long held beer myth about a kite flier? ANSWER:  Episode #15.  We were of course talking about the statement “Beer is proof that God loves us…” that’s been erroneously attributed to the one and only, Ben Franklin.  Eric won himself a set of Spiegelau glasses and a copy of Gary V’s book Crush It.  This week’s trivia question is… come on now, you know you have to watch the episode! If you answer correctly (in the public forum thread of this episode) you’ll get a snappy DeCapper!

If you’re in the Colorado Springs area tonight be sure to swing by Trinity Brewing Company for the the official launch party for the two new colla-brews from Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head – Life & Limb and Limb & Life.  Read all about it here.  We’ll be there taping a live-audience episode of Taste Buds!

We’re now on TiVo under the Food & Drink section.  Check us out!

We’re on Facebook! Become a fan today!

We Tube with YouTube too!  Catch us on YouTube!

We filmed a ton of video at this year’s GABF.  Go watch it here –> Beer Tap TV GABF page and on the GABF video hub page on Examiner.com. Check out both sites!

BEER NEWS

Story #1: Nanobreweries find niche between homebrew & microbreweries – For years, microbrewers (less than 15,000 barrels a year) defined the small-batch experience. But the battered economy and a reawakening of Americans’ sense of the neighborhood has led to the rise of nanobreweries.

Story #2: Boston Beer Company pushes limits on “extreme” beer – The maker of Samuel Adams beer has released an updated version of its biennial beer Utopias — at 27% ABV it’s the highest alcohol content beer on the market in the U.S.

Story #3: Spotted Cow seen in New York City sports bar – Officials with the New York State Liquor Authority confiscated 50 cases of Spotted Cow from the Mad River Bar & Grille on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in early November. What makes this such a big deal?  Spotted Cow is brewed by New Glarus Brewing Co. in Wisconsin and is not licensed for sale outside the state of Wisconsin.

Story #4: Brewery launches Tactical Nuclear Penguin, ‘world’s strongest’ beer – Sam Adams may be releasing it’s new batch of Utopias, but Scottish brewery BrewDog claims to have the world’s strongest beer – “Tactical Nuclear Penguin” weighs in at a whopping 32% ABV!

BEER RELEASES OF THE WEEK

Registration for the 2010 Lost Abbey Saints, and Lost Abbey Sinners opened on Tuesday, December 1 at 6am Pacific Time.  If you want to be a part of one of these very exclusive clubs, you best get on it! Only 200 Saints are allowed at $160 a pop.  Of course there are more Sinners (350), and it will cost you more too ($235).

NEW BREWERY OF THE WEEK

Asher Brewing Co – Boulder, CO – A microbrewery with an organic bent. “We think brewing with better ingredients will make better beer,” co-founder Chris Asher said.

BEER BLOG OF THE WEEK

Beer Goggins with Clare Goggin – Clare intrepidly navigates the world of beer consumption which is often perceived as a man’s domain.  She’ll be your personal taste-tester, your party-planner, your drinking bud, and the chick who drank you under the table last Saturday with one hand tied behind her back.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter:  @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Beer Tap TV on Facebook
Beer Tap TV on YouTube
Beer Tap TV on TiVo: Under the Food & Drink section

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Eli Shayotovich
Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com