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View Full Version : Beer Buzz 009: Layoffs, nucleation & space beer


BeerTapTV
12-11-2008, 10:07 AM
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:

ABInBev "cans" 1,400 U.S. workers (http://www.inbev.com/press_releases/20081208_1_e.pdf)

In what is being a called a "workforce reduction" the Belgian/Spanish owners of ABInBev, in all their infinite "wisdom" (who in the use actually likes Stella exactly?), are going to can approximately 1,400 salaried positions, affecting about 6 percent of the company’s total U.S. workforce.

Bastards.

About 75% of those are based at the brewer’s corporate headquarters in St. Louis, while other reductions will occur in field and brewery locations. What's more, an additional 250 U.S. positions that are currently open will not be filled, and an additional 415 contractor positions will be pink slipped.

Boy, those foreigners sure didn't waste time hacking up an American institution, did they?


New Belgium glassware nucleates your beer (http://thefullpint.com/2008/12/08/new-belgium-glassware-creates-rolling-carbonation)

New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado (makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale), has some nifty new glassware. Using science and technology, the traditional Belgian globe shaped glasses will have bike-shaped etchings on the bottom which creates a bubbly nucleation. This "nucleation" results in rolling carbonation throughout the beer that will help enhance the beer’s flavor by delivering a greater olfactory experience.
Lots of big, scientific-y words to say: It makes the beer better.
The new glass holds 13.5 ounces and is made of thicker, more durable glass. It has a beaded lip and a narrow opening that enhances the beer’s bouquet. The reinforced stem keeps hands your paws from warming the beer and thus allows the beer to remain at the desired temperature.


The Lost Abbey creates two beer clubs (http://www.lostabbey.com/saints.php)

2009 Patron Sinners and Saints Club

They started the Sinners Club in 2008 -- due to its popularity they’ve increase membership from 225 to 350 members. It contains the rarest beers from their barrel room, many of which are produced in very limited case quantities. Patron Sinners get two 375ml bottles every other month beginning in January of 2009 – Membership is $235 (which does not include shipping of the beers; this is processed via a credit card on file for each shipment). All 350 member slots are already SOLD OUT,so if you want to find out what beers you'll be missing go to the website (www.lostabbey.com)
Saints Club (200 Members Total)

The Patron Saints Club consists of two 750 ml Lost Abbey beers shipped every other month beginning in February of 2009 -- total of 14 beers. $160.00 (which does not include the shipping costs for the beers; shipping costs are processed via a credit card on file at the time of each shipment). Again, check out the site for the list of beers in this club.

Both clubs offer a 10% discount on all non-special release beers, brewery purchases and merchandise at the brewery. Does not apply to Keg Purchases.


Sapporo to hold tastings of first "space beer" (http://www.examiner.com/x-383-Southern-Colorado-Beer-Examiner~y2008m12d3-Space-beer--You-bet)

We may not have flying cars like the ones envisioned in the old Hanna-Barbera cartoon, The Jetsons, but don't think mankind is resting on their laurels. We do have the International Space Station.
And what have the astronauts and scientists been doing up there in the vacuum-y climate of deep space?

Making beer.

Barley used in a new space beer -- a collaborative effort between Japanese brewer Sapporo and Okayama University biologists -- is actually a third-generation offshoot from the original barley plant stored for five months inside a Russian lab on the space station. Sapporo has made 100 liters of the out of this world beer, named Sapporo Space Barley, but it's not for sale.

In January Sapporo will hold tastings of the world’s first space beer.... which apparently tastes just like regular beer. "Regular beer" being relative of course. But if you want to try some... don't hold your breath. Only thirty couples, selected via lottery, will be invited to the events at the company’s six plants from Hokkaido to Oita Prefecture. It's already been tested on both lab animals and Sapporo employees, so it should be safe to drink.

If you are one of the very lucky few who get a sample be sure to give me a shout. I want to know if this brew does in fact taste like "regular beer."

Watch and download the entire episode here! (http://beertaptv.com/BeerBuzz/)

Butane
12-11-2008, 01:32 PM
I like Stella...... However, cutting jobs sucks. Booooo!

Eli the Mad Beer Man
12-11-2008, 02:09 PM
I like Stella...... However, cutting jobs sucks. Booooo!

I have found that virtually every beer that comes in a green bottle is fully skunked. Becks, Heineken, Rolling Rock, Stella... all have the same smell.

I recently tried Stella. I threw up in my mouth a little.

I get that everybody's tastes are different and I'm by no means capping on anyone for liking those beers. But... I don't like 'em, can't (and won't) drink 'em. Water is more preferable.

But that's me. ;)

martin001
12-11-2008, 06:46 PM
eli, erik -

great to see some updates! i just watched your 2 latest updates of beer buzz and was very amused and saddened (damn drunks crashing beer trucks).

Butane
12-12-2008, 12:24 AM
Yeah, I tend to stay away from most green bottled beers. I loathe Grolsch and die a little on the inside everytime someone buys it at my store. I have a quick question. Since Mickey's is in a green bottle, does it also skunk? Imagine that, a skunky 40. Bad times piled on more bad times.

ChipperDave
12-12-2008, 09:26 PM
You absolutely KNEW AB-INBED was going to lay off people. I've been through TOO many mergers at Hewlett Packard and each and every time a big merger happens TONS of good people are going to get laid (off) that is. I just know they're going to start brewing Bud in some foreign country next to reduce costs. It WILL happen! Mark my words. (I got to stop posting after drinking an imperial stout). Time to get off my soap box. AB-INBEV even is going to shut down their sports division who are in charge of doing those Super Bowl commercials. Sad sign of the times.

Love those New Belgium glasses! Going to give those Sam Adams glasses a run for their money. Don't know if they'll do much for a dark thick stout though but for all other brews - YES!! You watch. I bet Flying Dog will come out with their own line of specialty glasses very soon.

I'm so glad that Lost Abbey and Port Brewing are now shipping brews to Colorado. I've got a Lost & Found in my beer cellar now. LiquorMax in Loveland, CO has all of the distributed Lost Abbey and Port Brewing beers. I just had their Old Viscosity blended beer and OMG that was awesome! Going to hold off on their Lost & Found for a bit and open it during the holidays. I'll probably sip on that while I brew my first batch of beer in 11 years in January.

My vote for BDOTW is: The Wilson Kansas Cop! I bet those volunteer firefighters were PO'ed. They probably put out fires by pissing on the fire.

Look forward to more episodes. Prost!