Top Beers for Christmas

If you've ever heard of the website Gunaxin, you're way cooler than I. Anyway, they've come up with their list of top Christmas beers. Check out the article >>>

So what are your favorite beers for the holidays?

When the economy busts, Pabst booms.

Great article from Fortune, explaining how Pabst Blue Ribbon has become the beer of choice among hipsters. And yes, it has the economy to thank.

Personally, I think it tastes like hot dog juice. But at $1.00 a can at a pub here in Omaha...I'm all about it.

Cheers!

Sam Adams Barrel Room Collection

Sam Adams has recently introduced a new premium line of product, called their Barrel Room Collection. For one, the packaging is awesome. Secondly, everything Sam Adams does is awesome, so I bet this stuff is just fantastic.

Read all about it from this BeerSpot.com article.>

Photo via TheDieline.com

The 411 on 901

I'm sure RJ and Ms. Potter already have the low down on this, but for the rest of you not currently obcessed with JT or residing in his hometown there is a new spirit popping up in the trendy spots. I had the opportunity to taste the superstar's tequilla offering at a local establish ment called S.O.B (South of Beale) during my coed softball team's end of summer league night out. I must say that the collective group of around 10 of us who had a shot were expecting something a bit harsher than what we got. We had the shot chilled and with training wheels, but it would have gone down smooth by itself. I recommend you try this one out if you see it in your local watering hole (only in Memphis, New York, STL, LA, Wisconsin, and Colorado for now).

Visit 901 Tequilla.

City of Baltimore puts cameras in Pub.

You have to be a pretty rough bar when the only way you can stay open is to let the city put cameras in. The funniest part of this story is the name of the bar, Shirley's Honey Hole.

Check out the article.
via The Baltimore Sun

Nebraska Athletic Director Says "No Thanks" to Budweiser

So, Bud Light is promoting a cheesy, ridiculous and awesome Tailgating Kit, including cans that bear your favorite team's colors.

Well, Tom Osborne of Nebraska said "thanks, but no thanks." How? You ask. Well, he's old, he wrote a letter. Long story short, he encouraged local distributors not to carry the the Red and White cans. Here's an excerpt from the Omaha World Herald:

Osborne said the NCAA Board of Directors has taken a negative stance on the promotion and that he, as athletic director, agrees with that position. Known for his opposition to alcohol-related ads in college sports, Osborne noted that his letter had prompted several local distributors not to participate in the promotion, turning away a “majority” of the red and white cans.

You can find the entire article HERE.

Beer vs. Your Badunkadunk

How many calories does your favorite beer have? Check this article.

Thanks to fellow beer lover, Scott Rowe for forwarding this to me.

Bosco's Review

Bosco's Beer is a midtown Memphis tradition. This is the hippie/indie slightly edgey, but not too dodgey area of the city where you can get a hand crafted pint and chill on the patio if you don't mind the heat. To really frame it up for out of towners, I once saw 10 cop cars chasing a car on very large wheels while in a karaoke joint around the corner from this bar called 'Yosemite Sam's.' Another way of putting it would be to call it a smaller, less corporate, and cooler Upstream for you Flatwater folks.

With that, I recommend the Midtown Brown, or the Hefeweizen.

Midtown Brown

(2001 Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal Winner)
A classic English-style Nut Brown Ale. Sweet and malty with the nutty flavor of chocolate malt, this beer is flavorful yet easy to drink. Pairs well with many of our menu items. Excellent with all cheeses and foods with caramelized flavors.O.G. 1056 I.B.U. 28

Boscos Award Winning HefeweizenWho remembers the first time we brewed this beer and Memphis collectively said, "Yuck, cloudy beer"?

Facts: O.G. 1044, I.B.U. 11

Awards: 2005 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner

2006 Great American Beer Festival Silver Medal Winner

2007 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner

This Hefe' may be my favorite and certainly is my answer to not being able to consistently find Boulevard Wheat down here. But don't take my, or their, words for it, come down to the south and have some shrimp and grits for brunch and a pint while soaking in the live blues on Sunday. Or, if you attend the GABF this fall in Denver be sure to look for them and sample their brews.

Beer in a Box

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124882355717088341.html

I came across an article that said MillerCoors is planning on packaging beer in a box. It is something of a home draft system that can sit in your fridge and keep beer fresh for 30 days. To me this if very reminiscent of the "party ball" of years past.

For you recycling people out there this could be a great environmentally friendly alternative to cans or bottles. I don't think the recycling angle will be how they market it but it seems resonable to me. They did mention this little jem, "The price per ounce is roughly 15% higher than for an 18-pack of the same beer, MillerCoors said." I don't really see how this is going to work out.

So B&B bloggers would you ever consider a box a viable container of beer?

Dogfish Head in Inc. Magazine

In this month's Inc. Magazine, founder Sam Calagione walks through the Dogfish Head's steady climb to cult status, if not fame, and how they stay sane as inevitable corporate-ness creeps into the business. The article is a feature in their "How I Work" spot. Meeting rules and laws laid down by his wife (and company VP!) Mariah and their two kids are discussed as well. And, of course, there's the beer...

Read the full article here.

Once you've done that, who wants to go in on a brew pub?

Flying Fish Brewery Names Beer by turnpike exits.

Get a load of this article from the Associated Press:
NJ brewery draws ire for naming beers after exits

The brewer is Flying Fish Brewing Company. If your exit had a beer, what would it taste like?

Welcome to Kearney

Thanks for the intro Bryan. It’s good to be on board. Even though I’m in college I assure everyone that I don’t tote 30-packs of Busch Light these days. I’m always out trying new shit so this blog is right up my alley.

For the first post I have to chime in on a central Nebraska diamond, I’m talking about Platte Valley Brewery. If you want the balance of chill atmosphere and damn-good local microbrew then here is your reason to come to Kearney.

This is a little rundown of what they have to offer:

S.O.P. (South of the Platte) – Mexican-style lager, lightest beer they have but refreshing as hell

Hefeweizen – Classic German wheat, you’ll enjoy the Platte Valley version

Red Rock – Wheat beer, an orange overload similar to Shock Top

Adam’s Amber – German-style brown ale, Newcastle fans rejoice

I.P.A. – Good bitter beer with all the finest choice hops, barley n’ shit

Stout – Tied with Sam Adams Cream Stout as my favorite all-time stout…heavy with a ton of coffee, chocolate, and oatmeal flavor

Platte Valley has a beer for just about anybody, and they’re all solid. Like I said the place is laid-back with couches, wireless internet, and a beer garden. They also have the best drink special in Kearney: Thursday nights, any beer, 32 oz. mugs for $3.50. Do yourself a favor and hit it up, it’s on the south edge of downtown.

P.S. - You may hear that Thunderhead is the best brewery in Kearney, but it’s as overrated as “The Hangover.”

Chicago Microbrews

I love Chicago. I love Microbrews. If you're like me, you'll love this article from the New York Times Travel section.

Chicago's New Wave of Microbrews
via NYT

New Writer

Kids, it's summer. Drink beer and write about it. But in other efforts to revive Brews and Booze, I've commissioned the help of a college kid. Ryan Larsen (Chris's Brother). His resume is mortared with skills. He's a senior broadcasting major at UNK...so he knows how to write, and he obviously knows how to drink. After all, you can't spell drunk without UNK. But even more impressive, he currently works as a news director for NTV in Kearney...working hand-in-hand with the infamous Seth Denny. If that's not enough street cred, I don't know what is.

And he's rad at Nintendo.

So help me welcome the newest writer (and hopefully savior) to Brewsnbooze.blogspot.com.

Cheers!

The Science of Beer Tasting.

Apparently, you don't just pour it, chug it, and slam the glass on the table. Take it from this guy:



via FORA.tv - The Science of a good beer

By the way

Newcastle Brown Ale is one terrific beer. So good, it appears someone has created a Newcastle-inspired shoe. Put's a new meaning to "puttin' on your drinkin' shoes." After a rough day at the half-pipe, there's nothing like a Newcastle.

Nebraska Beer Events

Here's a list of upcoming summer beer festivals in Nebraska...The Good Life.

June 11: Nebraskaland Days MicroBrew fest in North Platte. Thursday, June 11, features the 3rd annual Wild West microFEST at the Wild West Arena Pavilion. Come join in the fun and sample 15 different Craft beers made available by Johnson Brothers Liquor Company from Omaha, Nebraska. The tasting begins at 5:00 p.m. and runs through 9:00 p.m.

June 26th: The Nebraska Craft brewers at the Omaha summer arts festival Friday June 26th 4-11pm, Saturday June 27th 11am -11pm and Sunday June 28th Noon to 5pm. Over 20 Nebraska beers on tap at the World Music Pavillion on 13th st between Farnam and Harney.

July 11th: The Crescent Moon Sunfest Saturday July 11th from 3pm to 8pm at the Crescent Moon.(36th and Farnam in Omaha) Sampling of over 100 different beers, an annual outdoor beer tasting extravaganza. Always a sold out event, you can buy your tickets and get more info from beertopia at 402-905-2603

---The Craft Beer festival at the Shadow Lake Towne Center in Papillion in conjunction with the Sarpy county Art fair. (Hwy 370 and 72nd st.) Actually not sure of the festival name yet, but this will be a large regional beer fest with possibly 30 to 50 breweries participating outdoors on Sunday September 13th. This is shaping up to be a very large beerfest with a large offering of beers! More information should be available somewhere somehow as time nears-- is that specific enough? haha.

Bud Loses Local Flavor

I got this from the local paper. Check it out. InBev is not going to use Beechwood from Memphis anymore! Cheers.

What is zoobrew you ask?

ZOOBREW is awesome, or at least it looks that way. Where else can you see wild animals and sample 100 brews from around the world? At the Memphis Zoo. I'm so there. For those of you who just jumped over to Expedia, the particulars are: May 22, from 7 to 10 p.m.$20 members, $25 nonmembers. Must be 21 and older to enter.

Man Gets DUI for driving a Barstool

Some dude drank 15 beers then drove this thing. Awesome.

Read the story.

New York Times and Booze

I had never seen this before, but apparently the New York Times also has a blog entirely dedicated to booze. And it's great.

Here's the Synopsis:

For the past 10,000 years or so, wherever humans have gathered, there has been alcohol. Some never touch the stuff. But most do. It is used to celebrate, commiserate, mourn, remember and, often, to forget. It is different things to different people: libation, anesthetic, emotional crutch, social lubricant, addictive substance, sacred potion, killer or commodity. In "Proof," contributors consider the charms, powers and dangers of drink, and the role it plays in their lives.

Check it.

Big Sky indeed

Big Sky's Trout Slayer Ale is a delicious beer that needs to get in your lawnmowing, grilling, day drinking rotation, bitches.

Sam Adams v. Lienenkeugel = Mike Tyson v. Glass Joe

Lienenkeugel Classic Amber - Tastes like the glass bottle. Shitty. I don't recommend. Sam Adams White ale is a whole different story. To give it reference, it has everything Blue Moon has, without having anything Blue Moon has. Wow, it's very smooth. Very wheaty. But unlike Blue Moon, there's no sweetness or hint of whateverthefuck. Just plain goodness.

Sam Adams White Ale. This, friends, I recommend.

Sorry, I'm too lazy to post pictures. Hope this does the trick.

New Omaha Brewery

Okay, this beer is fantastic. The brewery was started by the old head brewer for Upstream. If you're in Omaha, I highly reccommend getting yourself a sip of LUCKY BUCKET.

http://luckybucketbrewing.com/

RIP

i
believe
this
blog
may
be
dead

Product Placement

Dear Anheuser-Busch,

Congratulations on your successful product placement during the last few seasons of Entourage. Man I love that show. Especially Turtle. He's my favorite. In fact, they are all pretty badass. I want their lives. I want to live in a mansion with my friends and do cool Hollywood/LA stuff. But I know that will never happen. So I'll just drink a Bud Select. Why? Because They drink it. And now I do. Huge Bud Select fan. In fact, I'm enjoying a Bud Select at this very moment. I don't particularly like the taste of it. I actually find it rather bland and not particularly satisfying. But those guys on Entourage make it look so cool. At home. At a hip club. On the beach. Hitting golf balls from a rooftop. Wherever they go--they're drinking Bud Select. Sure, my life is pathetic and boring compared to the fellas on the show. But with a Bud Select in my hand, I'm a legend in my own mind! Cheers Anheuser-Busch Advertising Minds. Cheers.