Much to get to . . .

• Knowing that I cannot sing even a little bit or play anything, I am glad to find out that there is help out there for me to play a little tune while kicking back with a beer.
• As a general piece of advice I would recommend that if you are charged with keeping track of something worth upwards of a million dollars, maybe you should take the night off from hitting the bar.  Sure a beer or two is acceptable, but do yourself a favor by not starting a tab.
• I had to pass along that advice before linking to this story telling you that drinking could help you live longer.  That may trump my recommendation, but doing what is necessary to track of the valuables is still a good idea.
• I like the idea of having a guide like this to assist my decision making and directions when travelling to other states.  My hunch is that it would not take as long to put together a version of this for Florida.
• In the spirit of at least somewhat cancelling out the possibility of drinking beer lengthening your lifespan, I present you with a deep fried version.  Who knew that a liquid could be fried like that?
• You all know that I am a sucker for lists and this one hits on a perfect combination (for me) of beer and travel.  I will have the push pins in the map moments after I complete writing this post.
• I defy you to not watch a video of an animal drinking (and enjoying) a few beers.  There is also a bonus of a bad joke at the end.
• To close the week, an article that highlights some reverse engineering of sorts via Dogfish Head’s musically inspired Bitches Brew.  There is a pretty good chance that I won’t get to try this one, so I like to read reactions from the folks who do get to.

DFH Bitches Brew (via http://www.npr.org/)

Cheers!

You can go to the Beer Wars website or do whatever other research you want to learn more about the person who made the movie and how it came to be since I am only going to try to hit on a few points from the content of the film.  So let’s not call it a review, but more of me giving you a reason or two why you should see it if you have not done so already.

Here we go . . .

First, I do have to say that I found it at least mildly funny (if not confusing) that it took someone that worked with Mike’s Hard Lemonade to make a movie like this, but I guess it makes some sense as they all go on many of the same trucks in the end.  Combine that with the fact that she says very early on that she is allergic to alcohol and does not drink any of the stuff this movie is about and you really have to look at the movie as more of one about our capitalistic system and the business of alcohol as much as, if not more so, than the world of craft beer specifically.

Short of getting to see more of the politics behind the beer business, I was aware of most of the stuff in this movie going in.  To be truthful I actually fell asleep half way through the first time trying to watch it (what a great pitch, huh), but I cannot be blamed for the lack of explosions in Beer Wars.  For those of you who just pick up your same beer at the grocery store time after time without really thinking about it, you do owe it to yourself to see Beer Wars if for no other reason than because everyone owes it to themselves to know where everything they consume comes from and how it gets to them.

In the end it still comes down to drinking what you like (and nothing should change that), but after watching this and learning how distribution works for the smaller guys and how scary the politics behind the beer industry is, you will at least start seeing the store beer displays quite differently.

As with really any documentary style film there is an agenda going in and is likely edited together accordingly, so you do have to keep that in mind as you watch this one.  I mean if I was able to pick the light beers in a blind test when I never drink them otherwise, I have to think that there is a pretty good chance at least a few people passed that little test for her.  However as with most documentaries, this one is definitely based on many truths and you can easily do the research on whatever facts you may be suspicious of.

Is it really all about innovation or should it be about excellence?  Why not both?  You can watch and decide for yourself where you fall on the conflict in the beer world of advertising and hype versus quality and character.

If you do see it or have seen it already, let me know what your thoughts are!

For this week . . .

• If only to balance out my beer universe I will lead with a few new releases from Cigar City Brewing.  If I can’t have my Allagash anymore at least I will be able to have a little José Martí, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, and Sea Bass to help me cope.
• I will likely have to request a few cans of Genesee beers when my family comes to visit as well.  That is not because I have not had them before, but because I really want to see what the new 24 ounce cans look like.  Thanks to Mr. S. Jim for a heads up on that new arrival!
• Thanks to The Wife and Cousin Erin for sending me this list of beers as they well know I am a sucker for such rundowns.  Now I need to get working on trying the ones I have yet to get to on that one.
• I really had to pass along this one not because they are yet another craft brewer that has turned to canning their beer, but because he says that they use a hand-operated filler and seamer that limits them to sealing one can at a time.  That is crazy!
• To close this week is a little about one of the pioneers of craft beer and the collaboration brew that was recently created with someone who he inspired along the way.  Not a really long read, but definitely a good one.

Ken Grossman and Jack McAuliffe (via http://www.washingtonpost.com/)

Cheers!

Enough rambling . . .

• Being partly owned by A-B InBev already may soon turn into being completely controlled by the beer industry giant for the Craft Brewers Alliance.  It is far from a done deal, but it is not exactly a stretch either.
• I am not even close to needing another beer book on my shelf as I already have a handful of half-read ones that will last me another year, but I do like to keep up on what is coming out.  Since I read his work in BeerAdvocate Magazine I plan to at least flip through his book the next time I find myself in a book store.
• This story just missed the deadline for the beer news last week and I rarely will pass up passing along a story involving Genesee so it had to be in this week.  With this new acquisition/combination in the craft beer world maybe I will see some more Genesee products down here alongside the Magic Hat?
• Usually I pass along medical studies that indicate some sort of benefit from drinking beer, but the news can’t all be good I guess.
• After starting to grow some of their own barley and hops some time ago, Sierra Nevada will soon line the shelves with the first beer that they have achieved organic certification for via the USDA.

Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale (via http://beernews.org/)

Cheers!

And away we go . . .

• Getting the story with the weakest tie to the craft beer world out of the way first, I have to give a shout out to my new favorite (though former) flight attendant.  It is at least somewhat fascinating that he grabbed a few beers on the way out and I am wondering what they were.  Surely we can narrow it down to a few options.
• Each week I find multiple stories based on the debate over the exact definition of craft beer.  I think this one is a very good read on just that topic.  Though I have not put nearly as much thought into as many others seem to (from what I read), I do tend to lean on the flavor and quality side of the argument.
• Creating lists is a tough thing to tackle, even when the list is actually compiled by the votes of the people.  That is what the Alström brothers are dealing with as they tweak their top beer lists.  As subjective as the enjoyment of beer is, I do not see why people take the time to get upset about the shuffling.  Just relax and enjoy your favorite beer!
• Already knowing why I have not tried to brew a pilsner at home, it is nice to read that my reasons are much the same as many of the craft brewers out there.  I am mostly speaking of the cost and the light profile revealing flaws parts.
• After looking at this list I realize that truly extreme brewing ingredients have yet to even enter my mind.  It is nice to know that the possibilities are really endless.  I would not at all mind pairing a hotdog with the mustard seed beer and I really would like to see what the salt water beer tastes like.
• To close the day is another list and probably the most unique of the bunch.  The basis of the list is actually the unique part and certainly offers different perspective.  I enjoyed finding out a bit more info about the bigger meaning behind those beer names.

Ninkasi Tricerahops (via http://www.wired.com/)

Cheers!