Three Sheets away from St. Patty's Day

More than a few times in this space I've ranted and raved about a show called Three Sheets. In my humble opinion it's the best show on TV. Yes, it's a show about drinking and pub crawling. And no, it's not a show about - or for - alcoholics... we prefer to call ourselves "professional drinkers" (more on that later).

So if your snobbish sensibilities have already caused you to turn your nose up at it (and me)... go away. Why are you reading my blog?

Three Sheets is hosted by a fellow who in my estimation has the single greatest job in the history of mankind. Yes, you read that right... the greatest job ever in the history of men having jobs. Why? The incomparably funny Zane Lamprey gets paid to travel around the globe (the above picture was taken in my ancestral home of Croatia) and drink in bars. He also gets paid to travel around the globe and eat in exotic locales (via his show on the Food Network, Have Fork Will Travel). His job is better than yours. It's better than mine. It's better than being the Pope, the President or the guy who gets to shoot all the pictures for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues.

Yes. I have a man-crush on Zane Lamprey. It's totally platonic mind you as my lederhosen don't swing that way. But the man is my frickin' hero. If you've never seen the show... now's your time to hope aboard the Zane Train. The Mojo Network (where this glorious should-be award-wining show airs) is having a St. Patty's Day Marathon. Because really... every one's three sheets (and Irish) on St. Patty's Day!



PS. The new season of Three Sheets starts on April 10 (three days after my birthday)! WOOOHOOO!!

Wynkoop's Beerdrinker of the Year 2008 Announced

Ripped (literally) straight from the Wynkoop press release:

Matt Venzke of Yorktown, Virginia Wins 2008

Beerdrinker of the Year Contest

Virginia man wins Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 12th annual search for America’s ultimate beer fiend

(Denver, Colorado) – Matt Venzke, an avid beer lover from Yorktown, Virginia, has been crowned the winner of Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year contest.

Venzke, an aircraft maintenance manager, won the title in the hotly
contested National Finals on Saturday, February 23, at Wynkoop Brewing Company. This was his fourth time at entering the contest, he was a semifinalist last year.

“For four years,” Venzke said, “it’s been a dream of mine to win the Beerdrinker of the Year title. It’s great to now be recognized by the judges and previous winners. I’m proud to be among this very select group of beer lovers.”

“I feel like I’ve been given a flag to carry,” Venzke adds, “for all of the great things beer has to offer.”

Venzke’s home beer bar is The Taphouse on Queensway in Hampton, Virginia. He is the second straight Virginia resident to win the competition. (Diane Catanzaro of Norfolk, Virginia was the 2007 Beerdrinker of the Year.)

Venzke beat out finalists J Mark Angelus (of Nehalem, Oregon) and Richard Pedretti-Allen (McKinney, Texas). He landed the title with a combination of impressive beer drinking experiences, humor and beer ambassadorship.

Venzke’s resume boasted of many beer drinking experiences. Venzke has visited 454 breweries in 16 nations and 39 states. Over the past five years, he has recorded tasting notes on over 3200 different beers in 69 different styles.

He logged 3,000 miles in 2007 while traveling to breweries across North America. While stationed in alcohol-free Kuwait on a military deployment a few years ago, Venzke conducted a tasting of 17 non-alcohol beers.

Questions from the Finals judges elicited some revealing info from Venzke. When asked what he’s doing to get around the current ban on carry-on beer for US air travelers, Venzke winkingly cited an upcoming effort to petition US brewers to start packaging beer in 3-ounce portions.

His will, Venzke said, includes instructions for him to be cremated and his ashes used in a beer brewed for his wake. (“I’ve instructed my wife,” Venzke stated, “to tell people at the ceremony, ‘Matt is more a part of you than you think.’”)

The finalists weathered two hours of difficult questions from the judge panel, which included five previous Beerdrinker of the Year winners, Oregon beer writer Lisa Morrison, Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) beer columnist Jay Dedrick, and Wynkoop head brewer Thomas Larsen.

As the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year, Venzke wins free beer for life at Wynkoop Brewing Company, a $250 beer tab at the Taphouse on Queensway, and the opportunity to brew a special beer with Larsen for next year’s Beerdrinker of the Year event.

He also won clothing proclaiming him the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year, a place on Wynkoop’s Beerdrinker of the Year trophy, and the glory that comes with the lofty title of Beerdrinker of the Year.

The resume review panel for the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year search was comprised of the nation’s top beer writers and beer experts, and previous Beerdrinker of the Year winners.

Wynkoop Brewing Company was founded in 1988 by current Denver mayor John Hickenlooper. One of America’s first and most revered brewpubs, Wynkoop was a major catalyst in the revitalization of the previously neglected Lower Downtown section of Denver.

For interviews with Venzke and more information on Beerdrinker of the Year, contact Marty Jones at 303-860-7448 or beerdrinker@wynkoop.com. (Or you can join us at the Aleuminati and ask him any question directly.)

For more details on the Beerdrinker of the Year search and Wynkoop Brewing Company, visit www.wynkoop.com.

Breaking News for beer drinkers in New York!

Just got an Email alerting me to a pre-St. Patrick's Day event event that's being held TOMORROW in the Big Apple. I know, mucho short notice, but here be the details me lucky charmed New York beer drinkin' leprechauns!

Who: W Hotels guests, locals and fans of Sam Adams

What: A Sam Adams beer tasting (A Sam Adams expert will be on hand)

Where: Audrey at W New York – The Tuscany
130 East 39th Street, Between Park and Lexington

When: Thursday, March 13th, 2008 from 7PM to 9PM

RSVP (for the public): NYCHAPPENINGSRSVP@WHOTELS.COM

NOTE: This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is required.

If you got... let me know! Take pics, drink beer and make sure ya wear some green!

The LongShot heard 'round the world!

Or at least around the neighborhood.

You should be seeing the Sam Adams Longshot packages in your local liquor stores. I grabbed one this weekend (along with a hoary host of other new beers) and gave 'em both a try. Note: there should have been three beers - because there was three winners, but due to the hop shortage the third - a mucho hoppy beer - was not included this year.

In the pack is Rodney Kibzey's Weizenbock and Lili Hess' Grape Pale Ale. Now, I like Weizens and I like fruit beers, and maybe it's because I am still a bit sick... but I wasn't head over heels for either one. Don't get me wrong - they're good. They're just not great. No offense. But hey, who the hell am I? I grunt when I judge a beer. Thus, I give major props to them for not only being able to brew their own (which I cannot do), but for winning such a prestigious competition!

Rodney describes his traditional Bavarian brew (7.2% ABV) as "deep amber in color with a full creamy body and a dark fruit and clove aroma." Ya, I can agree with that. This was the better of the two, and something I'd drink again.

Lili describes here light-bodied brew (5.35% ABV) as such: "It's like you are drinking a pale ale after biting into a fresh green seedless grape!" Hmmm... don't know about you but I don't normally eat grapes when I'm drinking beer. I'm just not feeling it.

As much as I love Sam Adams, this is the third "thing" that's been somewhat of a disappointment to me. Last year they held the Beer Lover's Choice contest where, somehow, the Irish Red won over the Dunkelweizen. I went to two beerfests where SA had their voting booth, and both times the overwhelming choice was the Dunkelweizen. I do not like Reds. Period.

Oh well... plenty of other beers out there. Some good, some not so good. Some horrific. Tune in next time when I'll talk about one of those horrific beers. Until then... zivjeli!

Proposition 3-17

You really have to love the gang at Guinness. Whether you like their smooth, black as night beer or not (I love), their marketing campaigns are on par with that of that "Weisenheimer" brand of beer. Come on... the "Brilliant!" cut-out guys are hilarious.

Now they've come up with the whole Proposition 3-17 campaign. Never heard of it? Well, shame - or in this case, shamrock - on you! Prop 3-17 is their attempt to make St. Patty's Day an official holiday. Like Thanksgiving. If you haven't signed the petition yet, clickey click on over to the site and do like I did. See, proof positive...

It's your civic duty as a better beer drinking citizen of the global Beer World! Go! NOW! If Hallmark can make a holiday to sell their damn cards, then Guinness can make a holiday to sell their damn beer! RIGHT?!

Down... but not out

I'm still alive. Barely.

I started feeling the onset of "sick" last Friday morning. Knowing that I had to go up to Denver Saturday and Sunday for the prestigous Wynkoop Beerdrinker of the Year awards I pounded every over-the-counter med I could get my hands on.

Fran and I (along with our friend Stevie Chips) made it up there, but boy did I pay the price. I've been sick as a (Hair of the) dog since Sunday morning. I'm just now starting to come out of the funk enough to sit down at the PC for more than a few minutes. Rest assured, I'll be back in the beer drinking saddle with a complete write up, photos and video from the very cool and unique event up at Wynkoops soon. A lot has gone on in the beer world this week... so I have lots to catch up on.

Until then... Zivjeli!

Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado

Say you're tooling around the great outdoors... specifically, you're out in the hinterlands of the awe inspiring Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Say you get a hankerin' for some of the hoppily righteous brew that bubbles forth from the #1 beer producing state in these here United States of America. Take that California and Oregon! HA!

But wait... you don't know where to find such a place to quench what has now become a beast of a thirst! Your cellphone has no bars (I'd like to see the Verizon dude do a commercial out there!) and your Blackberry stopped pickin' (get it, pickin'... berries - work with me people!) up a signal at the last "y" in the road. You know there's a hoary host of hoppiness somewhere out here where the buffalo roam and the deer and antelope play! But where!?! WHEEEEEERE!?!?!

Only if you had a map...

A map that would guide your hop lovin' ass straight to the nearest brewery, brewpub or historic tavern. YES! That would be splendiferous. But... is there such a thing Mad Beer Man? Why, yes there is my young beery padawan.

The folks at the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado have you covered. This thing - this invaluable navigational tool they call the Great Beer Map - is something every Colorado Beer Geek needs to have tucked away in their backpack or glove box. It will save you from the Parched Throat Effect of high-altitude discombobulation, and help quench the beastly thirst monster that is known to attack the unprepared.

It is chock full of things you need (or at least want) to know. Where to get the brew, how long it will take to get to the brew, what type of brew (complete with a beer tree - sweet!) you might want to get once you get to where you want to go... photos, charts, diagrams - the list goes on! And once you get to where you're going, you'll want to take it inside with you. It's one helluva conversation starter sure to create envy in those Beer Geeks without such a magnificent tool. Trust me...

I've seen one. I have one. It is a thing of beauty. It is a font of knowledge. It's the Swiss-Army Knife of maps! It does everything but actually pour the beer into your mug. You need it, you want it, so get it. Now. It even comes in three fabulous flavors - folded ($12.95) for tight spots, rolled ($12.95) for the wall (I just ordered one to put up in my beer room) and for those who perspire too much, have overly active saliva glands, or just can't keep the beer in the container - they even have a rolled laminated version! Click on over to the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado site, which in and of itself is a fantastic keg of beery goodness, and order one now.

You wouldn't leave home without your driver's license, right? Why leave home without such an amazing, one of a kind tool like the Great Beer Map? Ya... you wouldn't.

Time to pay the Piper

On the cover of this morning's Colorado Springs Gazette there's an article about the rising cost of beer. The hop shortage has come home to roost, folks. Last week was the first I really began to feel the impact, with prices jumping at least $1.00 per 6-pack. While this was an expected rise, it still leaves a bitter aftertaste in the mouth and the wallet.

Staff reporter Scott Rappold recently spoke with John Osterhoudt, the GM for Bristol Brewing Company here in Colorado Springs, a brewery that likes to use a ton of hops. On February 1 Bristol raised their prices $1 per sick-pack, while prices at the brewery went up 50 cents per pint. Osterhoudt stated the price of hops, barley and grains jumped anywhere from 70 percent to 200 percent recently.

But as I (and many other beer geeks, beer columnists, beer lovers, etc.) have stated over the last few months... this is a world-wide shortage, not just something the Colorado based breweries are forced to deal with. And it may go on for a few years as supplies are replenished.

It's so bad that Andrew Bradley, the head brewer for Phantom Canyon (another Colorado Springs based brewery and one of my favorite hang outs), is growing hops in his backyard. "It might take more than a single year, but at least I’ll have some real American hops to work with.”

Damn. Be sure to read the whole article (and some of the fanatical rants and raves left in the comments section by readers are also hilarious, if not completely false and ridiculous).

Speaking of Bristol... they're tapping a keg of Skull & Bones tomorrow night. I might be down there, and if so will report back.

The National IPA Championship

This might very well be one of the funniest (not to mention cleverest) things I've seen in some time.

Great Lakes Brewing News is holding a "March Madness" style bracket contest for the National IP Champsionship.

As the Guinness Guys would say: BRILLIANT!

Go register, check out the competitors, then go and make your predictions! You can even print out the brackets just like normal NCAA March Madness pools. Better hurry though, first round starts 2/23/08!

The '08 Beerdrinker of the Year Award goes to...

Sorry, we won't know the winner until Saturday, February 23rd, which is only a few days away. Oh how the anticipation builds...

However, the Wynkoop Brewing Company's judging panel has picked its three finalists for this prestigous award (which I talked about in a previous post back in October). They are:

Richard Pedretti-Allen, from McKinney, Texas. Richard is a recording producer and three-time BDotY finalist, an avid homebrewer and certified beer judge. So far he's visited 100+ brewpubs in North America, has won sevearl homebrewing awards, and owns over 7000 beer coasters. Dat's a lotta coasters! Oh ya, he's also a member of the Aleuminati.

J Mark Angelus hails from Nehalem, Oregon, and is a semi-retired prosecutor. Aside from being a beer geek and a 2007 BDotY semifinalist, J Mark has sampled 916 beers, visited 68 breweries and attended nine beer festivals. NICE!

Lastly we have Matt Venzke from Yorktown, Virginia. When not mangaing aircraft maintenance maintainers (that profession sounds ripe for a Bud Light Real Men of Genius ad!), Matt travels the globe in search of damn fine beer. He's pounded pints in 454 different breweries in 16 countries and 39 states. Last year alone he logged over 3,000 "brewery visit" miles! Matt is also a member of the Aleuminati.

In less than two weeks these three worthy finalists will be grilled by a judging panel made up of previous BDotY winners and national beer experts. The judges -- as always -- will be dressed in traditional jurist wigs and robes, and will cross-examine each finalist like they were hostile witnesses. Their answers will help determine the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year.

And Fran and I will be there to record the historic event live and in person!

We have plans to meet up with fellow Aleuminati members Matt and Richard. Special guests (well, special to me anywho) Chris and Meredith Nelson, aka The Traveleing Beer Geek(s) - and fellow Aleuminati members - will also be in attendence! Stevie Chips might also be there chugging whatever stout-a-rrific brews they have on hand... who knows who else might show up!

Will you be going? Let me know!

Sam Adams Longshot ABVs

Busy Monday... sorry for no big update today. One's coming tomorrow - promise! Got some really interesting stuff to ramble about.

I did want to give a quick update to a question that was asked of me a few weeks ago. Butch asked what the ABV content was in the Sam Adam's LongShot beers. I just heard back from my contact today!

The Grape Pale Ale comes in at 5.35% while the Weizenbock tips the scale at 7.2% ABV. So Butch... you'll be good to go with the Grape, not so much with the Bock. Sorry man!

Until tomorrow... Zivjeli!

I saw a U.F.O.

As I mentioned the other day our sojourn to the Nashville Flying Saucer Draught Emporium was pallet bending. The selection was nothing short of magnificent. In fact, the only other beer bar that I've personally been to with that kind of selection is the world-famous Falling Rock Taphouse. And I'm pretty sure they don't have 175 beers available. While both are on my list of beer bars to visit before you die, Flying Saucer wins hands down. In fact, I loved it so much I'm looking at franchise possibilities. Possibilities being the key word there.

I joined their U.F.O. Club ($14 gets you a T-shirt, membership card, and the chance to get your name engraved on a plate and stuck up on the wall). Only... I left the T-shirt sitting on the bench upon my inebriated departure. How inebriated? Well, here's what I had:

Pints:

• Abita Purple Haze from Abita Brewing Company (Abita Springs, LA)
• Yazoo Hefe-Weizen from Yazoo Brewing Company (Nashville, TN)
• Rochefort 8 from Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame Saint-Remy)
• Rochefort 10 (a whopping 11.3% ABV)
  
• Ommegang Hennepin Farmhouse Saison from Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)
• Ommegang Abbey
• Dinkel-Acker Dark from Dinkelacker-Schwabenbraue AG (Stuttgart, Germany)

Build-Your-Own Flight sampler that included 5 five ounce pours of:

• Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head Brewery (Milton, DE)
  
• Yazoo Hefe-Weizen
• Yazoo Dos Perros
• Rogue Shakespear Stout from Rogue Ales Brewery (Newport, OR)
  
• Dinkel-Acker Dark

And for kicks, two Beer Mixers:

• Cream of Wheat - Belgian Witbeir & Guinness
• Raspberry 'n Cream - Belgian Witbeir with a splash of Lindemans Framboise

How can I remember all that? Weeeeell... I may have been hammered, and I think I saw a U.F.O. too - but I remember damn good beer. (Full disclosure: I took home a menu from the joint. What, you thought I remembered all those off the top of my head? Bwaaahahaha!)

The two Rocherforts were absolutely exquisite, as were the brews from Ommegang. I was surprised by the maltiness of the Dos Perros and the Dinkel-Acker Dark, but they were a great change of pace to the Belgians I was gulping. The mixers were, surprisingly, very tasty. Ya ya... I like fruit beers. So what?

As you know, I don't do technical reviews. Good. Bad. That's my grading policy. The thing I've found over the years - reviews are wholly subjective to each individual, so why bother? The biggest reason though... I don't like taking notes when I'm drinking beer. I'm drinking beer people - not doing homework! So I've linked every beer I tasted that night to the fine BeerAdvocate community where you can read far more technical reviews of each one. Think I picked some pretty great beers considering the overall score of each one on BA.

You'll notice there are no pix from my excursion. Well, I forgot my digital camera and it was too dark for my lame cell phone camera to function. Guess that means I have to go back soon. Oh... darn. Give me a hollah if you've had any of these beers and let me know your thoughts.

Until next time... Zivjeli!

Flying Saucers, Stupid People and Bad Beer

Just got back from our Nashville trip, so I'm playing catch up at work. However, the sojourn to the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium was nothing short of mind (and palette) blowing. With over 175 beers available (when we were there), this is what a beer bar should be! I'll have a full write up on my visit in a day or two, but for now... check out this nugget:

A female driver in St. Augustine, Florida, was arrested for having a 24-pack of Busch beer strapped into her daughter's car seat. Now, I can understand the fury of the officer upon seeing craptacular beer like Busch being handled with such reverence. Busch beer? I think I'd rather drink my own piss (like Bear Grylls did in the Australian outback episode of Man vs. Wild) . It probably has a higher ABV and more taste than Busch beer. Anywho... the worst part? This numnut had her 16-month old daughter in the car with the Busch beer. Unrestrained. Busch beer strapped in the baby seat... baby not. Wow.

What happened to priorities people? What happened to... taste?! I have the answer.

Join the Aleuminati and find out for yourself.

Ask the Mad Beer Man

Last week I had a reader ask me what the beer was that they talked about on Zane's (of Three Sheets) trip to the Delirium Cafe in Belgium. They weren't allowed to say the name of the beer or who brewed it, and by the looks of it they never even drank it. During the episode a few clues were dropped, and fortunately they displayed three bottles - without any labels. One had a green cap, one had a blue cap and the third had a yellow cap. Just like the ones in the picture below...

Thanks to the glory of HD DVR, my dazzling investigative skills (honed from 10 years of being a private investigator no doubt), and the Internet... the beer Zane wasn't even allowed to drink came from the Westvleteren Brewery in Belgium. Founded in 1838, it resides inside the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren.

The brewery currently brews three beers:

• Westvleteren Blonde (green cap) - at 5.8% ABV.
• Westvleteren 8 (blue cap) - (formerly Extra) at 8% ABV.
• Westvleteren 12 (yellow cap) (formerly Abt), a 10.2% ABV.

As Francois (the bartender at the Delirium Cafe) said, you can only get one case and you have to actually go to the abbey to get the beer. And he's right. Since September 2006 you can only get one case per car license plate. And that one crate must be reserved via their "beerphone" (+32 (0)70 21 00 45) beforehand. The monks absolutely will not sell any beer if you just drive up hoping to get some.

So there ya go! The wife and I (along with what may be several more folks from the Extraordinary League of Drinkers) are planning on going to Oktoberfest in 2010, and part of that sojourn will include a trip to Belgium... and the Delirium Cafe.

Ramblings of a Mad Beer Man

I need a beer. Thank God it's Beerday, huh?

If you've been perusing the site this week you'll notice quite few new additions on the sidebar. I've been busy trying new stuff out, some of which didn't work out so well due to massive load time lag. So I removed them. Nothing worse then a laggy blog that won't load fast, right? Hell, if you can pop open a cold one and down it before the page is done loading... why bother!?

You also might have noticed the addition of the "I'm a member of the Aleuminati" badge. It's right under the "Who are the Aleuminati?" logo. Click on it and go find out what that's all about. Trust me, you'll want to be a part of this new global brotherhood while it's still on the ground floor. It's gonna go, and it's gonna go huge.

As I've mentioned before I'm not much for making detailed analytical reviews of beers. It either tastes great, or it tastes like ass. I leave the sophisticated, intricate reviews to those who know what the hell they're talking about. Me... I'm a writer not a chemist. Or a poet. ;) But if you know what you're talking about I want to hear from you! What the hell does a pint of Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence taste like? What does any of the bajillion local (to you) craft beers taste like? LET ME KNOW!

I'll be heading out to Nashville, TN, on Monday for some business. Snooze. Fortunately, the wife and I are hitting up the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium Monday night. I'll be sure to write up the experience and upload some snaps.

Enjoy the Super Bowl this weekend as the Giants upset the Patriots. Yup, you read that prediction right. And nope, I don't care about either team... so I don't care if I'm wrong. I just hope the game is good. Sadly, it's the last NFL game of the year (sorry, the Bore Bowl, er... Pro Bowl doesn't count).

Catchya all next week... Zivjeli!

Prohibition Era Booze Laws Brew Trouble

On April 7 (my birthday - no wonder I'm such a beer geek!), 1933 (not my birthyear), Prohibition was repealed for beer of no more than 3.2% ABV, eight months before the ratification of the 21st amendment (which repealed the 18th amendment).

Here we are some seventy-five years later, and several states in this great country of ours still have Prohibition era laws on the books regarding the brewing of beer and serving of alcohol. Here's a few that were mentioned in a recent AOL news article:

• A few weeks ago Idaho lawmakers introduced a bill to repeal a law created way back in 1939, a law that bans distilled liquor sales on election days. According to the state liquor chief that law costs Idaho $400,000 in sales each time. Similar laws exist in eight other states, relics of the days when saloons served as polling places. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Delaware, Kentucky and South Carolina also have legislation in the system to lift Election Day sales bans.
  

• Beer Geeks in Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia are lobbying to overturn laws that ban sales of beer that exceeds 6% alcohol. WTF!? Stuart Carter of the Alabama lobbying group Free the Hops says Belgian ales and craft beers (which are far above that ABV range) appeal to tourists and aficionados, not "kids" (those at or just over the age of 21) and frat boys who binge drink. So why make everyone suffer?

But William Perkins of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board has never met a beer he liked. He supports state restrictions. "The intellectual argument ignores the ill effects of alcohol," he says. "Piling up more beers, no matter how tasty or expensive or exclusive, doesn't make sense."

No Mr. Perkins... you don't make sense.

If you want to lend support to our southern Beer Geek brethren, check out Free the Hops as well as the Beer Activists website. Know the Issues!

Bud aims to drown Super Bowl

According to a recent AP report by Seth Sutel, the conglomerate that is Anheuser-Busch is dropping 7 ads for their "beer" during Super Bowl XLII. Six of them will focus on the craptacular swill that is Bud Light, while one features the good ole Budweiser Clydesdale's. Sadly it's not a new one showing the massive horses playing football (i.e., with a zebra as the ref or streaking sheep). Good stuff! Although their product may not be real beer, their ads are the best!

A 30-second ad will cost a whopping $2.7 MEEEEEELLION this year. That's gonna set them back $18.9 for 3 1/2 minutes of advertising time. Someone's getting shafted.

According to Bob Lachky (executive vice president for global industry and creative development) two of the Bud Light ads will rely on "rug-pull" gags involving special powers that the beer supposedly endows on drinkers. One spot shows people breathing fire (which of course goes terribly wrong during a date), while another gives X-ray vision (something a woman wishes she didn't suddenly have).

Other Bud Light spots include a humorous look at some cavemen who stumble upon a useful discovery — the wheel — when they need a way to get their cooler made of stone to a party. Another depicts a clever way that a guy attending a wine and cheese party still gets to enjoy his beer. The Clydesdale spot spotlights a horse that didn't make the final cut to join the team and took a year to train — with a Dalmatian.

I'm sure they'll all be funny and once again the highlight of the Super (Boring) Bowl.

Drinking at a Mile High

And we're off with another TGIB (Thank God It's Beerday) Nuggets 'o News Friday Edition!

So I've decided that I definitely want Scott Kerkman's job. Why? He's a Chief Beer Officer. Seriously. It might sound like a frat title, but Scott works for Four Points by Sheraton to run their Best Brews program. Basically he gets paid to jet off to Germany’s Oktoberfest, Denver's Great American Beer Festival, and other fests around the globe. He also gets to go on frequent V.I.P. tours of local breweries. Oh, and he receives a case of free beer to sample each month.

Aside from Zane Lamprey (host of Mojo's Three Sheets) , Scott has the best job in all the world.

But it's not all fun and games... oh hell, yes it is! Scott goes around and educates the bartenders at the chain’s 125 hotels to become "beer ambassadors." Additionally, he makes beer selections, writes up training manuals for the bar staff, and travels (again with the traveling!) to all the other Four Points hotels across the country to host happy hours. Basically, to drink till you drop.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS MAN'S JOB?!

Speaking of drinking till you drop...

Earlier this year Colorado claimed the #1 spot for overall beer production. To go along with that prestigious award, we can now add this not so prestigious honor - the #1 (Denver) and #3 (Colorado Springs) spots in Men's Health Magazine's Top 10 Dangerously Drunk Cities in America. I guess the two go together though, right? Ugh.

I need a beer.

Zivjeli!

Sam Adams drinks in the new year!

In case you didn't hear, the Samuel Adams 2007 Beer Lover's Choice contest is a wrap. If you attended any sort of beer festival last year you probably ran into their booth. I did... on more than one occasion. At the booth folks were asked to samples two different beers - an Irish Red and a Dunkelweizen, then vote on what they liked the best. The winner, based on votes from over 42,000 people was... the Irish Red. Starting this month you'll be able to find Samuel Adams® Irish Red on store shelves.

I didn't care for it, neither did anyone in my party. We all preferred the Dunkelweizen much more. Oh well... they still have a plethora of great beers for me to sip. Like...

Every year Sam Adams lets their employees go hog wild and compete for best employee home brew. Now that's an employer to work for! Three finalists are picked and judged at The Great American Beer Festival here in Colorado (which I didn't attend last year, but will be FOR CERTAIN this year). The winner gets their brew tossed into the Longshot package. The Longshot contest is the open competition that lets anyone submit a home brew. Last year over 2000 entries poured (sorry) in. Beginning in February we'll be able to taste 2 of the 3 winning brews...

The third winner was a Double IPA. Bad timing for Mike McDole in California since we're in the midst of a world-wide hop shortage. Because of this global pandemic we won't be able to taste this bad boy until next year. But I can't wait to give the Weizenbock and Grape Pale Ale a swig or three!

Mapping your way to Beer Heaven!

For those of us who live here in the great Rocky Mountain state of Colorado, having an "Emergency Kit" in the car during winter is a necessity. You just never know when a freak snow storm is going to blow in and gobble your car. They're kinda like Britney when she gets around alcohol. But I digress...

A new beer related product just hit the stands that you'll most certainly want to add to that "Emergency Kit." Say you're tooling around the high country taking in all of it's purple majesty. It's around noonish and you're mouth feels like the underside of a lizard's belly. It's a parch that only a great microbrew will quench. And Colorado doesn't lack in exquisite brews. But where to stop for a cold one? Well, if you had one of the new Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado Maps you'd know exactly where to stop!

Say what? A map that has the locations of all the breweries?!

Oh yes my fellow beer confessors... but it has soooo much more. This 36 x 48 inch, full color, two sided map includes locations and information for all of the 100+ brewery's in the state. The back-side has a close-up inset of South Denver to Fort Collins - what I like to call "Beer Alley" due to the numerous breweries in the area. But there's more! Additional info is included for ski resorts, 14ers, historic taverns, driving distances, and state & national parks. BUT WAIT! These bad boys are available in a few forms: flat and rolled for shipping, or folded to fit in your pocket or glovebox (both available for $12.95). There's even a special laminated version suitable for hanging ($29.95).

I know!

So what are you still doing here hop head? GET A MOVE ON! Clickety-click on over to their website and order a few for yourself (cuz you know you're gonna spill that luscious elixir on it at some point and who can afford to be WITHOUT one of these "treasure maps"?). While you're at it, order one for everyone you might deem beer worthy.

See ya on the open road (but always drink responsibly)!

Beer Can Furniture - Suhweeeet!

I love beer so much that I want to convert my coffee table into a "beer" table. Chairs? Why, beer-cheers of course! How about the couch? Beer-ouch. Night stand? Beer stand. You get the drift. Well, apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this is a swell idea. Fran prolly wouldn't like it though.

Enter Bernard Dier's version of beer-topia. Way back in 1936 ole Bernie soldered 420 Pabst Blue Ribbon cans into this decadent, envy-inducing set of furniture.

I want beer can furniture too!

Has anyone done something like this? If so, drop me a line and send me some photos! I wanna see your handy work.

TGIF Roundup!

Several nuggets o' knowledge to drop on ya on this magnificent Friday... so let's get right to it!

I'm going to Malt Disneyland!

This MSNBC bit by Lew Bryson focuses on what I like to call "The land o' milk(stouts) and honey(ales) - BELGIUM! Whatever we're doing over here in the good ole US of A with beer, Belgium has already done it. Like 1,000 years ago. Belgium is to beer what videotape is to the New England Patriots. Or Lidocaine is to Roger Clemens.

Fran (that's my incredible wife) and I just started planning our mega European trip in 2010, which coincides with the 200th Anniversary of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Coincidence? Not hardly. But I digress... Belgium will, if all things go according to plan, be included on the itinerary. I already have one Belgium bar on the "Bars to visit before you die" list (the Delirium Cafe in Brussels), but thanks to Lew's article I've just added another - the Tavern Dulle Griet in Ghent.

They offer over 250 different beers, including all the famous Trappist beers and an extensive range of exclusive Gueuze and Kriek beers. Their specialty truly is special! To get the “Max of the House” you must first take off a shoe, which then gets hoisted into a basket and raised to the ceiling. Hell, after a few hours at the Griet I'll give 'em more than a shoe!


Cicerone Certification Program Update

Got an Email from Ray Daniels - Director, Cicerone Certification Program - regarding a few new changes to the Cicerone Program. Check out the site for all the details, but here's a quick breakdown:

1. A revised and updated Novice Syllabus is available. This can be reviewed (it appears in the registered user area) to see what will be on the Certified Beer Server Exam.
2. You can now take the Certified Beer Server Exam ONLINE. This is required to become a full-fledged Certified Cicerone. The exam must be completed in 30 minutes or less, so be prepared if you decide to take it online.

Hop it like a monk!

Dean Biersch is the co-founder of Gordon Biersch, one of the top brewpub chains in the U.S. But that concept came about twenty years ago. Today he's got a new idea that he thinks can become yet another chain. One I'm very intrigued by because Fran (my soul-mate and "BDB" - Best Drinking Buddy) and I have designs on eventually opening our own pub.

Now a resident of Sonoma, California, Dean plans to start this new project by reopening the 105-year-old former electric-rail depot in Sebastopol and christening it - HopMonk Tavern. Dean plans on buying a house pilsner from Gordon Biersch while rotating 16 other draught selections, including one devoted to cask-conditioned beers, starting with one from Petaluma's Lagunitas Brewing Co. If you're an IPA fan, you'll absolutely dig their hoptastic version. While I was on holiday a few weeks ago I stumbled upon one of their rare seasonals - Cappuccino Stout. It fuggin rocked! These guys are great... and a bit wacky! They literally brew up whatever the hell they feel like and stick 'em in 22 ouncers. BAM First come first serve. But I digress...

The type of draughts will focus on seasonal selections. According to Colorado-based (the #1 brewing state in the country mind you) Brewers Association spokeswoman Julia Herz, seasonals rank #2 in sales only behind pale ales. People love 'em! I know I do! And I hope this thing takes off like a rocket! One free of lidocaine and B-12 that is. ;)

Have a great weekend, and imbibe some good brews while watching football! Zivjeli!

Eighth Annual Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival

If you're not doing anything this weekend (January 10 - 12, 2008) - the shenanigans actually kick off tonight - and are a fan of the three B's (Big, Belgian and Barleywine) then you might want to head up to Vail, Colorado, and check out the 8th annual BIG Beer Festival.

This has turned into a rather hifalutin affair over the years. Well, as hifalutin as craft beer fests get that is. This year they have some serious heavyweight guests in attendance, including:

• Will Meyers of Cambridge Brewing Co.
• THE Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head Brewery
• Peter Bouckaert from Coloraod's very own New Belgium Brewing Co. and
  
• Avery Brewing Co.'s own Adam Avery

Over the next three days there's a brewmaster's dinner, a homebrew competition, seminars and a tasting event. Damn I wish I could go! Wish I knew about it sooner. Or remembered it. Whatever. At 40 I can't remember which - DOH!

For all the details (and there are quite a few), check out the website. If you do go, be sure to drop a few comments here (and photos if you have 'em) and let me know how it was.

Three Sheets NYC Pub Crawl

I'm a big fan of the Mojo HD show Three Sheets. The hilarious Zane Lamprey, perhaps the greatest host the world has ever seen, zips around the globe sucking down suds and booze in every port. Truly, a worldwide pub crawl. Oh what I wouldn't do for a gig like his!



But did you know there's a new episode?!? I didn't until my buddy Steven dropped the 411 on me. In this one-hour special Zane comes back to the good ole USA and bounces around New York City for a New Year's Eve pub crawl. In case you missed it the first time (like I did), Mojo has rebroadcast it several times (with more to be aired, check the schedule), but if you like you can watch the entire episode online. What's more, you can inspect and print off the actual pub route that Zane takes through NYC by going here. Very cool!

My favorite place was the Burp Castle. Anyone who watches the show regularly knows what you must do when you burp (it's a real drinking game). I like it so much that I've included it on the list of bars one must visit before they die. Here is how Zane describes the Castle: Say excuse me, wipe your feet, and come on in to the Burp Castle–The name says it all. Hidden behind a group of aggressive shrubbery and a shabby white fence, the monastery-styled bar describes itself as a “temple of beer worship.” Sporting a drink menu of 12 draft beers imported from Belgium, Germany and Britain, this popular abbey themed pub captures the quirky medieval style while maintaining its modern twist.

Oh yes... one other thing. Want to party with Zane? Cuz my wife and I sure as hell do! Well, now you can - but it'll cost you. Check out the official "Zane Crawl" website for all the details. The site doesn't officially launch until tomorrow, but you can get some of the facts ahead of time.

Until next time... Zivjeli!

The Beer Buggy

If there's one thing I like more than beer it's gadgets. When you combine the two... oh it's a hoppy, hoppy day indeed.

The Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing in Las Vegas and one of the nifty - and completely useless - gizmos to be revealed is The Beer Buggy. This remote control buggy allows you to plop two cold bottles of your favorite brew into the driver and passenger seats and drive them (remotely) to their intended location. For a mere $40 (available at Spencers), what's not to like?

Hoppy New Year!

Sorry for the lack of any timely posts, but you know how this time of year gets. However, with the holidays out of the way it's time to rev the beer confessional back up! Without getting into a lot of detail, here's what happened over the last few weeks:

• Spent Christmas with the wife's folks in California.
• Got a bunch of beeraphernalia, including a new beer fridge from my wife! Thanks honey!
  
• Visited the world famous Russian River Brewing Company (which is only 10 minutes from the in-laws) and tasted most of their beers! Pliny the Elder will knock your socks off if your an IPA fan (8.0%ABV and 100 BUs), but my fave was Salvation, which of course I couldn't buy in a growler or in their 750s.
  

• Our gang of professional drinkers spent New Year's Eve in downtown Colorado Springs, mostly hanging at Phantom Canyon and imbibing a great many of their various excellent brews. We listened to the rockin' tunes of our friend's band Mystic 7, who sounded great despite the wind chill induced MINUS 15 degree temps! Great job guys!
  

Over the next few weeks you'll be seeing some serious changes around here. I'm adding more features, plus I have a few things in the works that will absolutely be of interest to you (like moving the blog to a dedicated hosted website; a potential project with the gang at the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado, another project with my friend the Beer Philosopher, and more)!

Stay tuned... 2008 is gonna be hoppin!

Drinking up a good read

I'm 40 years old. Which is seven more than the cryptic number 33 on the label of a Rolling Rock bottle, five less than the number on a Colt 45 can, and fifty nine less than the 99 bottles of beer on the wall.

What the hell does all that mean? No clue.

But it goes with the mentality of a new beer magazine called, well... Beer Magazine. By looking at their website (which has been only slightly updated since the last time I perused it, meaning it's about as interactive as a slab of frozen ice), a second issue is out on the newsstands now.

At first glance through its shinny pages (the mag looks gorgeous) you'll find somewhat juvenile humor laced throughout (comparing toilet papers?). You'll also notice the gorgeous babes and their boobs. Nothing sells beer like babes and boobs. And toilet paper. I know sex sells, and it goes hand in hand with all the beer ads we've seen for years on television, so its par for the course.

But don't let all that fool you. It did me at first. Beneath the glossy babes is a helluva good magazine. Unlike many of the staid, ultra-conservative beer oriented rags... Beer Magazine is different. In a good way. The last thing we needed is another "thinking man's" beer mag. I give huge props to Derek and Mike for seemingly combining frat boy beer mentality that will sell millions of issues to the Beer Bongers of the world, with beer knowledge that will sell to millions of beer enthusiasts. Sounds like a winning combo to me!

I give Beer Magazine two solid beer thumbs up, and look forward to this becoming a 12-times-a-year mag!

The 12 Days (or so) of Christmas

Since we're this close to Christmas - what would the holidays be without that festive and now legendary version of "12 Days of Christmas" from our boys up north - The McKenzie Brothers! Took a little scouring to find a good video to accompany the song, but found one I did. Created by a guy named Rogue Angel, it makes the song even MORE of a classic if you can believe it!

So without further adieu...

Can you Digg It?!

You might have noticed the appearance of "Digg It" buttons next to each post on the site. So what the hell is "Digg?" I'll let Digg tell you. The following is taken directly from their website:

Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. From the biggest online destinations to the most obscure blog, Digg surfaces the best stuff as voted on by our users. You won’t find editors at Digg — we’re here to provide a place where people can collectively determine the value of content and we’re changing the way people consume information online.

How do we do this? Everything on Digg — from news to videos to images to Podcasts — is submitted by our community (that would be you). Once something is submitted, other people see it and Digg what they like best. If your submission rocks and receives enough Diggs, it is promoted to the front page for the millions of our visitors to see.

The "Digg It" button next to each post allows you the reader to make the call. Was it such a well written piece (HA!) that it should be nominated for a Pulitzer? Is it about something you think everyone in the Blogbeerosphere should know about? Then... DIGG IT!

to do so roll the cursor over the "Digg It" button. You can still left click on the button like you normally would any other link, but currently there's a glitch in the system that instead of opening up a new tab or window, it takes you directly to Digg. If you want to avoid that and remain on the Beer Geek page, scroll over the button and RIGHT click instead of left click. A menu window will open. From there "Open in a new Tab (or Window)" and you're set.

You have to be a member to actually Digg stuff, so for those of you who aren't... it's a simple process. I'd greatly appreciate the help. This way the site gets a lot more traffic and everyone wins!

Thanks!

So Say We All!

Ok, well... all 3 of you anywho. The votes are in and we have a winnah!

"Confession is good for the soul. Along with a good beer or two."

I likey. So much so that I'm toasting it with a Young's Double Chocolate Stout at this very moment. This sucker is so smooth, with just the right hint of chocolate, that you'd swear this wasn't a pint of beer. Damn that's good! And it goes perfect with the funk weather that has moved into Southern Colorado. Winter is making it's presence known with sub 30 degree temps and a bit o' snow. This after hitting 70 degrees earlier this week. SEVENTY!

I'm off. Have a great weekend and be sure to drink at least one good beer in the next 48!

Zivjeli!

What's that smell?

Speaking of "going green"...

Seriously though I stumbled across this: 5 ways to use skunked beer. Instead of tossing it down the chute, "go green" and do something beneficial (sorta) with that nasty beer. Check it out!

Christmas (Beer Bottle) Tree, O Christmas (Beer Bottle)Tree...

I thought it was time to get festive around the confessional.

*Thanks to Larry for sending this along to me. I back tracked the photo to the website listed in the bottom right corner of the photo under "Unusual Christmas Trees." And how!

Canadian Beer Drinkers = Global Terrorists!

It would appear that those silly Canadians are at it again, eh. According to Denise Young, a researcher at the University of Alberta, Canada, 1 in 3 Canadian households use an outdated refrigerator (aka a "Beer Fridge") to store their Elsinore and Molson. ROCK ON CANADA!

Seriously though... these archaic ice boxes have a significant impact on household greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy consumption.

Sadly, that means I too am a gobal terrorist. See I also have one of these stone age coolers down in my basement where I keep all my liquid gold. I inherited it from the folks who we bought the house from - a fellow beer lover who also happened to be a home brewer. I have no clue how old it is, but every month or so I have to don the gloves and safety goggles, grab a hammer and ice pick, and trudge down to "defrost" the sucker. Alas, the wife and I have talked about getting one of those fancy, new fangled "frost free" fridges. This report gives us impetus to "go green."

Aspen's Splendor

Beer connoisseurs up in Colorado's high country rejoice! This month (hopefully) the Aspen Brewery will open it's doors, adding to the ever growing list of breweries dotting the state.

















Duncan Clauss, Rory Douthit and Brad Veltman signed a three-year lease on a 2,000 square-foot space with plans to offer up to eight original brews. They've hired Jason Courtney, a 38-year-old master brewer, recognized as one of the best micro-brew makers in the country.

For all the details check out this Summit Daily News article.

The Beer Man Cometh

Unless you've been living in a keg - and who could blame you? - for the last few months, you've heard about the impending world-wide hop and barely shortage. We all knew it was coming. Well, it's here.

The latest newsletter from one of my favorite craft breweries, Left Hand Brewing (makers of the scrumptious Milk Stout and seasonal Snowbound Ale), just landed in my Email. Within is an interesting, well-written article from Joe Schiraldi, VP of Brewing Operations. It's so good, and the subject matter so important, that I'm reprinting it (without permission at the moment, but I am sending an Email to them asking for it) right here and now. Be sure to visit their site and sign up for the newsletter if you haven't done so yet!

So start saving those pennies fellow Beer Confessional Goers because the price of beer is about to skyrocket. Without further ado...

Many of you have probably heard by now of the sudden upheaval in the price and supply of hops and malting barley. This is certainly going to have an enormous effect on our industry and the beers we have all come to enjoy. I would like to take some time to write about a couple of things, in particular why we find ourselves in this predicament and what Left Hand is doing to mitigate the problem. First, how did this all come about?

Regarding hops, it is important to understand that this problem has been developing over the course of the last twenty years. In the most basic analysis, it can be understood as lack of acreage.

Alpha acid is the compound hops contain that lends the bitterness to beer. Over the years, hop varieties that contain a high percentage of alpha acid have been in demand. At the same time, the major brewers have been making less bitter beers. I know it's hard to tell but AB etc. use a tremendous amount of hops. Because of the increased bittering capacity per acre and a reduction in alpha demand in the world hop market there was an over abundance of hop production in the mid 1990's. This resulted in falling prices and excess hops.

To preserve the brewing value of the excess, hop extracts were produced which can be stored for long periods of time. As the prices fell it became difficult for growers to stay in business. As there were less and less growers the extract began to sell off which further reduced hop prices. Over the next several years more and more growers sold their family farms to developers or began to sell other crops that had a more solid financial bounty.

The expected yield for this year's crop did not meet expectations. This was mostly due to damaging weather in the form of flooding and hail in the hop growing regions of Europe. Unfortunately, in the years preceding this, the excess extract has since been sold off. This brings us to where we are now. Quite simply there are not enough hops to meet the world's demands. The shortage is estimated at 10- 15%. We now see a huge spike in the price of hops. In some instances as much as 400% for certain varieties. Many breweries contract their hops one to two years out. Many small brewpubs and breweries didn't. They relied on a spot market for their hop needs. The spot market no longer exists. It is a very real fact that many businesses will close because you can't make beer without hops and they can't get any hops at any price. So what does this mean to the craft industry?

Quite simply, almost nothing good will come of this. Big brewers in a panic began purchasing vast quantities of hops with cash on the barrel- head for up to five years out. This added more fuel to a frenzied market. In addition, we will see a favoring of high alpha varieties over aroma hops. This in my opinion will make less varieties of hops available to craft brewers. On a more optimistic note, I hope this event causes a maturing of the hop industry. I do believe that increased cooperation and communication between brewers and growers in the form of long term contracts breeds an industry that benefits all and reflects fair pricing to everyone.

It will take several years before this crisis is behind us. It takes that long to reap the benefits of newly planted acres. In addition, growers are planting conservatively to avoid repeating the cycle again.

Things are only slightly better in the world malting barley market. The problem here is also two- fold. Basically, there are all kinds of barley grown in the world. The best that is grown each year on our little planet is malting barley used in making beer. It is grown mostly in North America, Europe and Australia. Europe and Australia have both seen poor harvests two years in a row. Australia has been fighting a terrible drought for years and Europe saw excessive rains. The North American crop is of fair quality and is perceived to be a more stable source for brewers. World interest in North American barley has spurred price increases. World conditions have resulted in a diminished volume as well less than ideal quality. Typically, when the quality goes down you have to use more of it to make beer. It's what I like to call the Malacci crunch or "gettin' ham and egged". The quality sucks, your usage goes up and we get to pay more per pound for the privilege.

Adding further stress to the market is the booming food as fuel thing. Why grow barley when you can get a subsidy check to grow corn for ethanol? This feeds big revenue into the animal feed market since corn is being diverted. The market for alternative feed grains is lucrative right now. These two things put the squeeze on the malting barley supply. The result is higher prices. For us about 72%. So where does this put Left Hand you ask?

I keep saying to myself, "Yeah this sucks but it could be worse." Luckily, we have always contracted our hops. Sure my price has gone up but I am not battling a last minute scramble to secure my hop supply for next year. I guess I am taking comfort in the fact that I actually do have hops. Some are not so fortunate. I am currently working with my suppliers on several levels. First, to secure my supply with a contract for the next three to five years. Secondly, I am working with my suppliers to change my hop needs to reflect the different portfolio of hops that I believe will be available to me in the coming years. As far as malting barley is concerned there is very little I can do to avoid paying prevailing market price or futures prices for barley. We are getting ours from North America and I have enjoyed the quality of grain we have been seeing. I hope that next year's barley is not markedly inferior. The last time we saw really bad barley was back in the late 90's to early 2000's if I remember correctly. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Anyway, the price of beer is going to go up. I try to appease my uneasy spirit with this little quip adapted from the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, " Beer will get you through times with no money better than money will get you through times with no beer." Cheers!

Gee, what a nice Christmas present for all of us on this first Day of December, huh?