8/27/2010
Volume 214

Welcome to the Bi-Monthly Installment of the Fresh Beer Times.
Dedicated to letting you know where and when you can find the freshest beer in South Florida
In This Installment
New Accounts and Deals
Upcoming Events
New Arrivals
120 Proof Beer - The Strongest Beer in the World - For Now
Returnable beer bottles to become extinct if Straub doesn't get back some cases
Look out! Beer Goggles are Real
Attention Homebrewers, get your kettles going...

Scroll down to see our new sections for Featured Cheese and Beer Pairing as well as our "Cooking with Beer" Recipe of the week!

Stay up to date!
 
 
 

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Featured Beer and Cheese Pairing:
Gruyere paired with an Indian Brown Ale (ex. Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale and Terrapin Hop Karma Ale)
 
Gruyere is one of the most famous Swiss cheeses. It is made from cow's milk and has a nutty, slightly sweet taste with complex musty and mushroomy notes. While the sweet roastiness of the malt compliments the nuttiness of the cheese. The medium body and richness of the brown ale pairs up nicely with the medium strength of this cheese.
Featured Cooking with Beer Recipe of the week
Raging Bitch and Chips
 Raging Bitch and Chips
 Ingredients:
  • 6 cups flour
  • 3 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • 36 oz (3 bottles) Flying Dog's Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA
  • 5 pounds firm-fleshed whitefish (tilapia, pollock, haddock, or cod), cut into 1-ounce strips
  • Cornstarch, for dredging

Directions for Bitch Batter and Fish:

  1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper, and Old Bay seasoning.
  2. Whisk in the beer until the batter is completely smooth and free of any lumps.
  3. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. (Note: The batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead of time.)
  4. Heat oil in deep frier or pan to 350 degrees.
  5. Lightly dredge fish strips in cornstarch.
  6. Working in small batches, dip the fish into batter and immerse into hot oil.
  7. When the batter is set, turn the pieces of fish over and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
  8. Drain the fish.
  9. Serve with malt vinegar.

Directions for Homemade French Fries:

  1. Use a mandolin slicer with a wide blade, slice the potatoes with the skin on.
  2. Place in a large bowl with cold water.
  3. Heat fryer to 320 degrees.
  4. Drain potatoes thoroughly, removing any excess water.
  5. When oil reaches 320 degrees, submerge the potatoes in the oil.
  6. Working in small batches, fry for 2 to 3 minutes until they are pale and floppy.
  7. Remove from oil, drain, and cool to room temperature.
  8. Increase the temperature of the oil to 375 degrees.
  9. Re-immerse fries and cook until crisp and golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  10. Remove and drain on roasting rack.
  11. Season with kosher salt.
Fresh Beer Represents:
Avery Brewing
Ayinger
Blue Point Brewing
Boulder Brewing
The Bruery
Clipper City Brewing Dogfish Head Brewing Flying Dog Brewing
Gordon Biersch Brewing
Greene's Organic Highland Brewing
Left Hand Brewing
Orval
Oskar Blues Brewing Magic Hat Brewing Co. Peak Organic Brewing Co. Pennsylvania Brewing Rogue Ales
Saranac Brewing Southern Tier Brewing Summit Brewing Shipyard Brewing
Seadog Brewing
Stoudt's Brewing
Stone Brewing
St. John's Brewing Terrapin Brewing Westmalle
Victory

LOCAL FLORIDA BEERS : Inlet Brewing (Monk in the Trunk), Gordash Brewing (Holy Mackerel) Cigar City Brewing and the Native Brewing Brands (ie. The Eleven, Native Lager and Thunderhead Red)
 
Want to get some Fresh Beer in your establishment?

Adam Fine - Head Beer Pimp
954-629-7971
 
Ray Nickolaus - Sales and New Business Manager
561-339-0004
[email protected] 

Chris Montelius- District Sales Manager : Miami-Dade County
407-375-4203
[email protected] 

Bob Gordash - Sales : Broward County - West 
954-261-0668

Kenny St. Cyr - Sales : Palm Beach County - North
561-723-0373
[email protected] 

Blake Panichella - Sales : Palm Beach County - South
561-847-5485
[email protected]
 
Josh Brent- Sales : Miami-Dade County - Design District thru Aventura
954-654-3012
[email protected]  

Dave Crisafi - Sales : Miami Dade County - Midtown thru Coconut Grove and Miami Beach
305-219-4315
 
Cesar Vazquez - Sales : Miami-Dade County - South
[email protected]
305-926-6581
 
Rich Abrams- Sales : Monroe County 
423-956-3991
 
Ian Salzberg  - Minister of Beer Communications
561-876-3519
Adam Fine
I'm a foodie.  I love everything about food...eating, cooking, talking about food, watching TV shows about food.  It may sound a bit obsessive but we probably spend a good third of our lives if not more eating so why not enjoy this part of our lives to the fullest.  And that doesn't even begin to touch on the social part of food.  What would we do if we didn't go out for dinner with our friends ?  What party have you been to that didn't have delectable treats to enjoy while socializing ?

At Fresh Beer, we have always been interested in the connection of beer and food.  Beer dinners are a regular part of our promotional schedule.  Coupling beer with food can take the meal to a whole new level. Properly paired beer can raise up both the taste of the food AND the beer. 

In the spirit of the beer and food connection, we have started a new addition to our newsletter.  First there is a beer and cheese pairing suggestion hopefully to guide you to some great new combinations.  Second we are introducing a "Cooking with Beer" section which will feature recipe made with one of our fine beers.   This month's feature "Raging Bitch and Chips" which can take your average Fish and Chips dish to a whole other place.  And if you have never tried some great cheese with some great beer...be sure to try out this month's pairing...It is a DELICIOUS combination.  OK...now I've got to go eat something...all this typing is making
me hungry!
 
Cheers,
 
Adam Fine
Director of Hoperations and Head Beer Pimp
 
New Accounts and Deals: 
  
 
PALM BEACH COUNTY
 
THE BLIND MONK (downtown West Palm Beach, 410 Evernia Street #107 phone 561 797-0023) - is now open. They are carrying a fine selection of wines and craft beers in a very laid back setting. Beers selection consists of Orval, Westmalle Tripel, Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA, 90-Minute IPA, Midas Touch, Raison D'etre, Avery White Rascal, Monk in the Trunk, Holy Mackeral, Left Hand Milk Stout, Ayinger Brau Weiss, Celebrator and Victory Prima Pils. Look forward to them carrying some hard to find limited release and seasonal beers here in the near future.
 
SOUTH SHORE  (downtown West Palm beach) - Is now carrying Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale in cans.
 
SPIRO'S TAVERNA (in Jupiter) - Just opened and decided to start things right with  Monk in the Trunk on draft.
 
THE CRAB HOUSE (in Jupiter) - Is now pouring Monk in the Trunk on draft.
 
HAVANA HIDEOUT (downtown Lake Worth) - Has made a few additions to there beer menu. They are now serving Stone Pale Ale and Cigar City Maduro Brown Ae both on draft plus Dogfish Sah'tea and Terrapin Rye Pale Ale available in bottles.
 
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY (City Place in West Palm Beach) - Has added Stone IPA to their bottle menu.
 
IMPROV COMEDY CLUB (City Place in West Palm Beach) - Will be pouring Arrogant Bastard ale next week on draft. Guaranteed to help make any comedian funnier.
 
LOST WEEKEND (On Clematis) - Is now pouring Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA and Magic Hat #9 both on draft.
 
LEFTOVERS CAFE (Jupiter) - Now has Blue Point Hoptical Illusion on Draft and Native's Thunderhead Red. This is in addition to Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA, Dales Pale Ale, and Cigar City Maduro Brown ale.
 
QUARTERDECK (Boyton Beach) - Now has Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA on Draft. 
 
JOHN BULL (West Palm Beach Village) - Now has Old Thumper and Shipyard Summer Ale on draft. Stop by and say hello to Paul. Tell him that Matt sent you.
 
HURRICANE WINGS (West Boca) - Now has Holy Mackerel and Monk in the Trunk on draft.
 
DUGGANS PUB  (at Okeechobee and Haverhill) - Great prices on Shipyard and Sea Dog beers. They have Old Thumper, Export and Blue Paw all on draft.
 
BENNY'S ICEHOUSE (9803 South Military Trail, Boynton Beach) -Will be bringing in Blue Point's RastafarRye on draft soon.
 
WINSTON TRAILS GOLF COURSE (Lake Worth) - Will be tapping some kegs of Blue Point Toasted Lager over the next week. Not a bad way to finish up a round of golf... or start one. 
 
JOJO'S RAW BAR (Wellington) - Offering Shiner Bock up as the "Beer of the Month" which means $3.00 pints all month not to mention... Magic Hat #9 $3.00 All day, every day. 
 
BONEFISH GRILL (Boynton Beach) - Will be bringing in Bluepoint Toasted Lager and RastafaRye on draft this upcoming month.
 
 
BROWARD COUNTY
 
IL MERCATO CAFE AND WINE BAR (1454 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd. In the Publix Shopping Center)  - Now open and serving Narragansett Draft, Stone IPA and Native Lager bottles.  An affordable, unpretentious spot, Il Mercato Cafe is a refreshing, unique experience.  Check it out. 
 
HURRICANE WINGS (Coral Springs at Coral Ridge Drive and just North of The Sawgrass) - Is carrying Holy Mackerel and Shiner Bock.
 
WINE SHOP OF CORAL SPRINGS - Is stocking a handful of Shipyard Beers.
 
DUFFYS (Plantation) - Sea Dog Blue Paw and Holy Mackerel are back by popular demand.
 
 
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
 
GIGI (3470 N. Miami Ave, Midtown, Miami) - New restaurant from Top Chef contestant Jeff McInnis featuring noodles, bbq and beer.  They will be carrying Rogue Morimoto Soba, Avery White Rascal and Shiner Bock. 
 
THE GOLDEN HOG (89-95 Harbor Dr., Key Biscayne) - Key Biscayne's answer to Whole Foods is now carrying 22 beers from us.  Great food and now great beer too.
  
 
Special Beers Being Added to Accounts: 
  
8 OZ. BURGER BAR - Will have on Dogfish Head's Midas Touch for a limited time.  The only place on South Beach with it on tap.
ABRAXAS (Miami Beach) - As mentioned before... Mikeller Centennial Single Hop IPA and Big Worse Barleywine both on draft.  
CERVEZAS (South Miami) - Has a keg of Dogfish Head Burton Baton and they aren't scared to use it
JOHN BULL ENGLISH PUB (West Palm Beach) - Is carrying Shipyard Pumpkinhead ale on draft. $4.50 pints and $7.00 pumpkin Bombs.
ROXY'S PUB (Downtown West Palm Beach) - Now has Pumpkinhead ale on draft.
GRATIFY GASTROPUB (Downtown West Palm Beach) just added Monk in the Trunk on draft.
DADA'S IN DELRAY - Will have Left Hand's St, Vrain Tripel, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, and Italy's Panil Barriquee Sour Red this week.
BX BEER DEPOT (Lake Worth) - Just got in some Cigar City Jai Alai, Cigar City Humidor series, Italy's Panil Barriquee Sour Red, and Left Hand Oktoberfest.
LEFTOVERS CAFE (Jupiter) - Will have on draft Shipyard's Smashed pumpkin and Southern Tier's 422. Along with Left Hand Oktoberfest, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Avery Maharaja, Southern Tier Big Red, Terrapin Hopsecutioner and Pumpkin Head ale in bottles.
BAR LOUIE (Boynton Beach) - Now has Pumpkinhead ale on draft.
THE COTTAGE (Lake Worth) - Is also pouring up Shipyard Pumpkinhead on draft!
HURRICANE WINGS (Plantation) - Serving up Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin on draft
YE OLD FALCON PUB (Davie) - Is serving up Pumpkinhead's big brother, Smashed Pumpkin, on draft.
STAGE 84 - Offering up not only Smashed Pumpkin on draft but also Shipyards new Wheat Ale as well.
TOWN (South Miami) - Has bottles of Cigar City Humidor IPA and Terrapin Reunion Belgian Style Scotch Ale.
Upcoming Events:   
 
For the Month of August:
Shipyard and Sea Dog Raffle at World of Beer in Coconut Creek. Stop by anytime and order a Shipyard or Sea Dog beer and receive a raffle ticket to win a nice Summer prize pack including a Shipyard beach umbrella, beach chair, beach towel, bucket and some other goodies. The winner will be pulled at the end of the month... so your best bet to win is to get over there and drink up some brews from Shipyard and Sea Dog.
 
August 27th-29th
If you didn't have a chance to make it out for Avery weekend at Abraxas don't fret... Mikeller Weekend at Abraxas kommer (is coming in Danish). Mikkeller Centennial Single Hop IPA and Big Worse (American Style) will be on draft... The only place in South Florida to find it and only until the kegs are gone... so stop by for a little taste of scandananvia... bring some smoked fish if you'd like. They will also have bottles of their Black Hole Imperial Stout and Cascade Single Hop IPA, all on special, all weekend! If you aren't familiar with this radical brewer check out this conversation about beer from a recent documentary.
 
August 27th
Blake Panichella will be doing a tasting at Coral Springs Fine Wine and Spirits showcasing Shipyard and Seadog from 4:30-7. Stop by, say hello, drink some beers, play some patty cake... its all good.
 
August 27th
Join Matt for some more tasty treats from Shipyard  and Sea Dog. He will be serving up some Pumpkinhead and Sea Dog at Total Wine Fort Lauderdale from 5 -7pm. Only in South Florida can you go to the beach on a hot day and stop by Total Wine for some Pumpkinhead on your way home... I'd recommend it.
 
August 27th
Milam's (Bird Rd, Miami) - Ross from Shipyard will be tasting some Shipyard brews from 5-7pm. So if you are trying to decide what to drink this weekend, this is a great opportunity to sample before you buy... It's like walking around and sampling at costco but with beer...

August 28th 

Ross will once again be pouring some Shipyard goodies at The Golden Hog in Key Biscayne.  Stop by the best new beer spot on Key Biscayne from 12-2pm and get your first taste of Pumpkinhead of the season.
 
August 28th
Although they have been serving up some delicious brews already for over a month The World of Beer in Coconut Creek will be celebrating their Grand Opening starting at 12 noon until 2am. Festivities kick off at 3pm as the Mayor of Coconut Creek cuts the ribbon with a bag piper and a live WQAM radio remote following after! Smugglin' Yo-yo's gets on the stage to rock out World of Beer style from 9pm-1am. There will be give-aways, free food from 160 Degrees, Fish City Grill, Lime, Scarfone's and Crepe Maker from 4pm-8pm and cold beer flowing all day! Abi's Place non-profit organization will be giving away 5 free cruises too! So come by and celebrate with their great staff! 

September 1st 
Terrapin Night at The World of Beer in Coconut Creek from 7-9pm. The only place to get Terrapin Rye Pale Ale and Hopscutioner on draft and some limited bottles as well!
 
September 2nd
Matt from Shipyard will be sampling out some brews for your enjoyment at Whole Foods Wellington from 5-7pm.  With the beer seasons changing it will be a great opportunity to get a taste of some fall brews.
 
September 2nd
Annivesary Party, Celebrating 3 years of Coffee District. Performances by Furious Rod, Soup, Richard King & Special Guests. Special Beer Tasting from 7-11pm, including The Bruery COTON on Tap (1 of 2 Kegs South Florida!), Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, Lefthand Oktoberfest & many more special brews.
 
September 4th
For the conch blowing, fun loving, beer drinking crowd down in the keys, we are happy to be taking part in the Key West Brew Fest on Labor Day Weekend. Come out to the Southernmost Resort for a great time. We will be representing over 20 different beers and hope to see some of you craft beer lovers down there. Check out www.keywestbrewfest.com for details and ticket info.
 
September 9th
If you haven't yet checked out Riverside Market in Fort Lauderdale, stop by from 5-7pm for a sampling of Shipyard and Sea Dog Beers. A great opportunity to get a taste of some brews and check out their impressive craft beer selection.  
 
September 10th
Riverwalk Trust hosts 'The Original' Riverwalk Mutts and Martinis Yappy Hour, Fort Lauderdale's largest outdoor, pet-friendly cocktail hour, on September 10, 2010, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The goal of the event is to bring together the Downtown community and their favorite four-legged friends for a night of celebration and networking while raising funds for the Riverwalk Trust. The event will be held along the Riverwalk at Briny Riverfront Pub.

On this fun evening along Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk, a $25 donation ($20 prepay online) gives attendees two complimentary drinks, appetizers, live music, silent auction, chances to win raffles and prizes and lots of fun treats and activities for their pets including dog massages, canine contests and doggie ice cream. Dog adoptions will be available courtesy of the Humane Society of Broward County, and a portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold will go towards the Humane Society of Broward County. Tickets may be purchased by clicking here or at the door the evening of the event. Sea Dog Brewing will be present to give beer drinkers some tasty brews to sip on, if your not the martini type.

September 11th
Matt from Shipyard will be posting up at Total Wine in Pembroke Pines to give you a taste of some brews from Shipyard and Sea Dog Brewing Company from 1-3pm.
 
September 21st
If you have ever been to Town in South Miami you know how good their food and beer selection is. Well, finally they will be hosting a beer dinner that is sure to make your mouth water. Their menu consist of the following pairings:
 

Course 1: Eggs and potatoes- potato crisps, potato foam, Serrano ham, fried egg, demi glace, truffle oil paired with Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

Course 2: Ahi poke- ahi tuna, wontons, cucumber spicy Asian dressing paired with Oskar Blues Gordon,

Course 3: Duck nachos- duck confit, white corn tortillas, sour cream, avocado, and pepper jack cheese paired with Cigar City Jai Alai  

Course 4: Baby Backs- beer braised baby backs, white corn bacon grits, pickled red onions paired with Ayinger Oktober Fest-M�rzen

Course 5: Torijja- caramelized brioche, coffee ice cream, plum compote paired with Southern Tier Cr�me Brulee

 
The dinner will cost $50 a head (and well worth it). TOWN Kitchen & Bar is located in Plaza 57 at 7301 SW 57th Court in South Miami, call 305-740-8118 and ask for Leo to RSVP. Start time still to come... get pysched!
New Arrivals:
 
   
Panil
 
Panil Barriqu�e - Located in Italy, Doctor Renzo Losi's Panil brewery makes many excellent natural beers in time-honored, classic styles.

Save the wild yeasts! From senseless abuse and pasteurization.

Suddenly beer-lovers here in the States are all a-titter over dark, sour, wood-aged ales. These complex, fruity-tasting beers, native to the Netherlands and Belgian Flanders, represent one of the oldest beer styles in the world. In their traditional form, these Sour Reds - also known as 'Flemish Red' or 'Oud Bruin' beers - are related to real lambic beers: a touch of wild yeast and bacteria coming from the wood give acidity, both lactic (sour) and acetic (vinegar).

Barriqu�e is the only all-natural, traditionally-made example you will find today, and it comes from, of all places, Italy. This masterpiece is 'triple-fermented.' Primary fermentation is in stainless steel. The deep earthy, sour character results from three months of maturation in cognac barrels from Bordeaux, followed by re-fermentation and further aging in the bottle. Barriqu�e is not pasteurized or filtered, and no sweeteners are added, so it is uncompromisingly dry and complex, and endlessly interesting.
 
 
 
The Bruery
 
Coton - Coton is The Bruery's second anniversary ale. It is the same recipe as Papier, but created using the Solera method. They blended a portion of Papier that had been aging in oak barrels with this new batch of the same beer, adding an additional layer of complexity that will grow over time as we continue to age and blend with each anniversary, creating an older average age to the ale.
 
Autumn Maple - Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal is a different take on the "pumpkin" beer style. Brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, and maple syrup, and fermented with their traditional Belgian yeast strain, this bold and spicy beer is perfect on a cold autumn evening.
 
Tradewinds Tripel - The Bruery's  Summer seasonal, Trade Winds Tripel is a Belgian-style Golden Ale with a Southeast Asian twist. Instead of using candi sugar (typical for such a beer), they use rice in the mash to lighten the body and increase the gravity, and spice with Thai Basil. The result is an aromatic, digestible and complex beer made for a lazy summer evening. 
 
  
Southern Tier
SOUTHERN TIER BREWING COMPANY  
 

Harvest - "quadrupulus humulus lupulus" Harvest Ale is ther celebration of the changing weather and the sowing of hops and barley that will be used in Southern Tier's upcoming brews. They usher in the fall with a classic English style Extra Special Bitter of the highest order. Deep ruby in color with an even deeper hop flavor... in fact, they throw fresh English hops into every brewing vessel, then dry hop after fermentation to impart a zesty kick. This beer has real hop character that mingles with fresh malted barley for an experience that will make you wish it were fall year 'round.

 

Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale"bewitched and brewed with pagan spirit" Pumking is an ode to P�ca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. P�ca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night by tossing them on its back and providing them the ride of their lives. It is a journey from which everyone returns forever changed!

 

Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow its alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let its deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape the Pumking.This beer is brewed with pagan spirit yet should be enjoyed responsibly.

 
 
Victory Logo 
VICTORY BREWING COMPANY
 
Festbier - Seductively smooth, this medium-bodied amber beauty is akin to the great Oktoberfest beers of Munich. All German malts and whole flower European hops make this lager true to style.
 
 
Cigar City
CIGAR CITY BREWING COMPANY
 
Humidor Series Cedar Aged IPA - The Humidor Series is a rotating offering of Cigar City Brewing beer aged on cedar. Cedar has a more subtle effect on beer than more traditional woods like oak. But, we think that once you taste it you'll agree that cedar deserves a place alongside oak in the brewer's wood-aging toolbox. This offering of the Humidor Series is the Cigar City Jai Alai IPA aged on cedar and a 2009 Gold Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival. 
 
 
Magic Hat
MAGIC HAT BREWING COMPANY
 
Hex Ourtoberfest - Ourtoberfest is a celebration of the kindred spirits from seasons past. As they rise from their wooded underworld, a Hex is cast across the land, and song and dance celebrate the low-slung sun.
 
"To the gateway of a new season as it opens. The Hex falls upon us all, a want for warmth within the season's change.
 
Celebrate Ourtoberfest with a toast to the gatekeeping spirits of autumn. Hex is a malty amber ale offering hints of toffee and caramel with its slightly smoky finish. (Hitting shelves next week)
 
 
Shiner Oktoberfest 
SHINER BEERS 
 
Oktoberfest - In Shiner, TX (pop. 2,070), They're suckers for tradition. Which is why this classic Oktoberfest brew is made with the highest quality two-row barley, Munich and caramel malts, along with German grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops. It's Shiner's way of honoring their ancestors and the beer they loved to celebrate with. So raise your stein to tradition and enjoy this utterly classic brew.
 
   
 
Festbier -  Gordon Biersch FestBier celebrates fall and the flavor profiles of beers served at the modern day Oktoberfest.  Originally, the Oktoberfest was held in the middle of October.  The brewers were motivated to increase beer sales and moved the date to the last week of September through the first week of October.   At the same time, they created the modern day Oktoberfest beer with a lighter body than M�rzen with a more robust, hoppy flavor. The maltiness is created via a combination of dark-roasted Munich malt and pilsner malt.  The hoppy aroma is achieved via the imported Hallertau and Tettnang aroma hops.
 
Other returning favorites hitting the shelves:  
Ayinger Weizenbock, Cigar City Jai Alai 12oz. Bottles, Shipyard Pumpkinhead, Pugsley Series Smashed Pumpkin, Left Hand Oktoberfest, Dogfish Head Theobroma.
 
Coming Soon: Victory Moonglow Weizenbock, Ayinger Weizenbock,  Magic Hat Night of the Living Dead and Holy Mackerel Panic Attack
120 Proof Beer - The Strongest Beer in the World - For Now
Ladies and Gentlemen, just one week after "The End of History" was released by BrewDog, the record has been shattered. A Dutch brewery, brewery, 't Koelschip (The Refrigerated Ship), has recently released a 60% ABV (120 proof) beer. The beer is called "Start the Future" adequately named after BrewDog's "The End of History" (how cute).
 
If you have followed Beer Universe over the past several months, you will know that they have covered this topic through several series of articles:
 
At 60% ABV, the Dutch brewery is really pushing the envelope. As a comparison, there are only a handful of mainstream alcoholic beverages which are stronger: Bicardi 151 and Everclear. Both of these beverages are 75.5% ABV (Everclear is also available at 95% where legal). By the way, sometimes rubbing alcohol (the stuff you can't and shouldn't drink) ranges from 70% - 100% depending on the manufacturer.
 
Thinking about 60% ABV another way is comparing your traditional 5% ABV beer (let's  take Budweiser). If you drank 12 Budweisers in a row, you'd get the exact same buzz from drinking one bottle of Start the Future. I suppose if you are only trying to drink 1 beer when you go out, this may be the one that you'd want to select. Although, please remember this is supposed to be consumed more as a spirit than a beer. For full article
Returnable beer bottles to become extinct if Straub doesn't get back some cases
Yuengling prepares to phase out its returnable bottles at country's oldest brewery in Pottsville.
 
ST. MARYS, Pa. (AP) - One of the last breweries in the country that still sells beer in returnable glass bottles needs help from its Pennsylvania customers to keep the environmentally-friendly program.

Straub Brewery, a 138-year-old family-owned business about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, is begging customers mostly in Pennsylvania but also some in Ohio, New York and Virginia to return thousands of empty cases.

Without them, Straub says it will do as nearly every brewer has done over the years - eliminate returnable bottles from its inventory. Only one other major brewer and the nation's oldest , D.G. Yuengling & Sons of Pottsville, still sells beer in returnable bottles. But it plans to phase out the practice by fall.
 
All major brewers, including Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Coors, gave up on returnable bottles years ago because their costs multiplied with national distribution. About 12 percent of all U.S. beer was sold in returnable bottles in 1981, but since 2007 the percentage has been negligible, according to the Beer Institute in Washington, D.C. In Pennsylvania, more than a quarter of all beer was sold in returnable bottles in 1981, but that was when state liquor control laws required most beers to be sold by the case through distributors which readily accepted the returns. For full article 
Look out! Beer Goggles Are Real
Strangers really do look sexier when you drink booze, science confirms
 
For the first time, scientists have proven that "beer goggles" are real - other people really do look more attractive to us if we have been drinking. Surprisingly, the beer goggles effect was not limited to just the opposite sex among the ostensibly straight volunteers recruited for the study - they also rated people from their own sex as more attractive.

Scientists in England gave 84 heterosexual college students chilled lime-flavored drinks that were either non-alcoholic or given a dose of vodka equivalent in alcohol to a large glass of wine or a pint-and-a-half of beer.

After 15 minutes, the volunteers were shown photos of 40 other college students from both sexes. Both men and women who drank booze found these faces more attractive, "a roughly 10 percent increase in ratings of attractiveness," said researcher Marcus Munafo, an experimental psychologist at the University of Bristol in England.

The researchers also asked volunteers to rate their mood, "and there were no differences on those measures in the alcohol group compared to the no-alcohol group," Munafo added. "This suggests that the effect we observed wasn't due to a general change in mood."

It did not escape Munafo that the results are rather obvious.

"Everyone knows about beer goggles," Munafo said. "But some of our results suggest that there's more going on than we might have thought." For full article

Attention Hombrewers, get your kettles going...

The Best Homebrew event in the state, The Sunshine Challenge is a 2-day event combining a wide variety of activities in the Central Florida Home Brewers club homebrew competition. The location is the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites across from Universal Orlando at 5905 Kirkman Road, Orlando.

 

You might be asking: "When exactly is this spectacular event?" Officially, SC10 will kick off with the commencement of judging at noon on Friday, November 19th and ends with the awards ceremony the evening of Saturday, November 20th. Actually, there is a lot more that will be happening at the hotel. For example, there will be a Belgian Beer Tasting Thursday night. After the judging on Friday, they will be hosting a Beer Festival organized by Seth Walker and JR Silva and their team. Food will be included in the price of admission.

 

The fun continues on Saturday! Begining with more Judging. In the afternoon there is a Pub-crawl (details of stops TBD) with the bus picking up crawlers at the hotel front door and returning them just in time for a short of nap before the Awards Banquet.

 

Unofficially, SC10 starts weeks earlier with the receiving and registering of entries. Entry deadline is Sunday, November 7th.

 

At this point, I'm sure you are asking: "Wow! That sounds GREAT! How do I sign up?" The best way is to keep watching the club website. Of course, they always need help with entries. Specifically, brew and enter then volunteer to Judge and/or Steward. Plan on attending and bringing homebrew to the hotel and having FUN! For more details visit: http://www.cfhb.org/sunshine