1/7/2011
Volume 223

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
"Craft Brewer" just gotten bigger
Whiskey distilleries in Florida? We've got proof
Personal Beer Robot
Man buys beer after allegedly being shot in leg by clerk

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:
Mascarpone and a Porter or Stout

Mascarpone is a very creamy, buttery Italian soft cheese made in much the same way as yogurt.  It is added to desserts and flavored with other ingredients or spread on toast.  Mix a bit of chocolate syrup, molasses, or maple syrup with the Mascarpone, spread it on bread or a cracker, and eat it along with a porter or stout.  The chocolate and coffee flavors of the dark beer with the cheese will seem like chocolate cream pie on the tongue.
Featured Cooking with Beer Recipe of the Week

Roast Pork Tenderloin in Brown Ale with Raspberry Chipotle Cream Sauce

By: Craftbeer.com

 Pork

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 20 minutes

Beer Style: Brown Ale

Seasonality: Winter

Serves: 6 - 8


Use your favorite American Brown ale and serve with rice pilaf or mashed potatoes. A recipe for the Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce is included, but a bottled version can be used.

Ingredients

-4 pounds pork tenderloin, 2 to 3 pieces
-2 teaspoons salt
-2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
-2 teaspoons garlic powder
-1 teaspoon smoked paprika
-1 teaspoon dried thyme
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-2 tablespoons butter, softened
-10 ounces brown ale
-1 cup heavy cream, warmed
-1/2 cup Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce
-Charcoal, if using Dutch oven
Instant read meat thermometer (crucial to preventing pork from overcooking)

Directions

Chris Swersey, competition manager for the World Beer Cup and river guide, says, "This recipe works as well in a Dutch oven over a charcoal fire as in a conventional oven. It's an easy preparation that takes little time and makes you look like a genius!"

Preheat oven to 375°F. Rub pork with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme. Heat olive oil in heavy, ovenproof skillet (cast iron is good) or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear pork on all sides until browned.

Remove pan from heat. Dab butter over pork in the pan, cover and roast 20 to 25 minutes. Roast until pork reaches 140°F (check each piece in 3 places with meat thermometer, and average readings). When done, remove meat to plate to rest; tent with foil. Don't overcook pork loin-once it hits 135°F, it cooks quickly.


Pour ale into roasting pan placed over medium-high heat. Bring beer to simmer and scrape bottom of pan with whisk or spatula to release spices and juices. Reduce to about half volume, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add warmed cream and Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce, and simmer and stir 2 to 3 minutes.


Remove sauce from heat and let sauce rest about 5 minutes before plating. Slice pork in thick slices, place on plate, and cover with sauce.

Fresh Beer Represents:
Avery Brewing
Ayinger
Blue Point Brewing
Boulder Brewing
Belhaven Brewing
Breckenridge Brewery
The Bruery
Cisco Brewers
Clipper City Brewing
Dogfish Head Brewing
Flying Dog Brewing
Gordon Biersch Brewing
Greene's Organic
Highland Brewing
Konig
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
Timmermans
Well's & Young's
Westmalle
Victory Brewing

LOCAL FLORIDA BEERS :
Inlet Brewing (Monk in the Trunk),
Gordash Brewing (Holy Mackerel)
Cigar City Brewing
Saint Somewhere
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
rayfreshbeer@yahoo.com 

Chris Montelius- District Sales Manager : Miami-Dade County
407-375-4203
chrismontelius@gmail.com 

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

Ryan Fischer - Sales : Broward County - East 
954-654-4512
Ryan@freshbeerinc.com
 
Kenny St. Cyr - Sales : Palm Beach County - North
561-723-0373
 
Blake Panichella - Sales : Palm Beach County - South
561-847-5485
Blake@freshbeerinc.com
 
Josh Brent- Sales : Miami-Dade County - Design District thru Aventura
954-654-3012
Josh@freshbeerinc.com  

Dave Crisafi - Sales : Miami Dade County - Midtown thru Coconut Grove and Miami Beach
305-219-4315

Cesar Vazquez - Sales : Miami-Dade County - South
Rich Abrams- Sales : Monroe County 
423-956-3991

Ian Salzberg  - Minister of Beer Communications
561-876-3519
Ian@freshbeerinc.com

Lauren Cifizzari - Herald of the Hops
508-963-9635

Adam Fine
Can you believe it is 2011? Hope you all had a Happy New Year celebration filled with friends, good food and of course good beer. I know we have all made resolutions to be better people and to treat our fellow man and woman better, going forward, and to lead healthier and more fufilling lives.  Isn't that what you said?  Or was it more like...Let's have the best 2011 we can have and enjoy every minute of it? 

Well at Fresh Beer, it is a little of the first part and a lot of the 2nd.  We've got lots of great things planned for 2011.  New breweries, new beers, tastings, beer festivals, beer dinners...fun, fun and more fun!  Just to start out 2011 with a bang...we have just picked up the Young's and Well's breweries so we've added a whole lineup of some of the best English and Scottish beers you have ever had.  We'll be bringing back the Young's Double Chocolate Stout in cans and bottles shortly because we know you have had it on draft and want to have it at home...especially for Valentine's day.  Don't forget that V-day is just around the corner.

And the breweries that we work with have got new stuff for 2011 also. So keep an eye on this newsletter for things like Victory Headwater's Pale Ale, Shipyard Double Thumper, Boulder Kinda Blue, Native Everglades Pale Ale and Magic Hat Circus Boy. And don't forget the best beer festival in all of Florida and possibly the entire Southeast, Jupiter Craft Brewers Fest, is just around the corner.

Raise a glass and join me for toast for the new year.....Here is to all good things in 2011...we look forward to bringing you the best beer in the country and we thank you for all your support this past year and in the new one.

Cheers,

Adam Fine
Director of Hoperations
New Accounts and Deals: 
 
PALM BEACH COUNTY

CUT 432 (432 East Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483) - Come stop by for their awesome happy hour and the Dogfish Head experience with all your favorite Dogfish Head drafts that pair amazingly with their delicious happy hour food menu.

THE DUBLINER (435 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432) - Has added Stone IPA to their growing bottle list.

PACKY'S (11379 West Palmetto Park Road # F, Boca Raton, FL 33428) - Has added Blue Point Toasted Lager to their draft selection.

T.G.I. FRIDAYS (3800 Fairchild Avenue Palm Beach Gdns, FL 33410) - Now has Shipyard Export on draft and Prelude in bottles. Can't wait to grab some of those delicious potato skins and some craft beer on draft.

DARBSTER (8020 South Dixie Highway West Palm Beach, FL 33405) - This awesome vegetarian restaurant now carries Monk in the Trunk, Greens Gluten-free Dubbel, Rogue Mocha Porter and Peak Organic Pomegranite Wheat.

THE FOOD SHACK (NEW ADDITION) - (103 South Hwy 1 Jupiter FL 33477) - They have added onto their restaurant a new tapas bar with a great beer selection including Arrogant Bastard Ale, Cigar City Maduro Brown, Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA, Blue Point RastafaRye, Magic Hat #9, Oskar Blues Mama's Lil Yella Pils, Native Lager, Monk in the Trunk and many more.

TUCCI'S FIRE N COAL PIZZA (50 NE 1st Ave Boca Raton, FL 33432) - Is now serving up some Flying Dog Old Scatch, Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA, Shiner Bock, Victory Golden Monkey, and Boulder Brewing Sweaty Betty. Stop in for a pizza and a pint tonight!

SEASONS 52 (2300 N.W. Executive Center Dr. Boca Raton, FL 33431) - Is now serving some local brews including Native Lager, Monk in the Trunk and Cigar City Jai Alai IPA for your enjoyment.
 
BROWARD COUNTY

FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT (Terminal Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL) Has Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Monk in the Trunk and Native Lager all on draft at Chef Allen's burger bar in terminal 4. It's even before security so anyone can go no matter what flight. Maybe one day we will make it into the greyhound and tri-rail stations...

TEXAS HOLD EM BBQ (21 Southwest 7th StreetFort Lauderdale, FL 33301) - Now open in Fort Lauderdale. Carrying Stone Smoked Porter, Victory Hop Devil, Shiner Bock, Monk in the Trunk, Native Eleven Brown Ale and Magic Hat #9 bottles.

SEASONS 52 (2428 East Sunrise Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304) - Now carrying some local brews including Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Monk in the Trunk and Native Lager in bottles.

THE BEER STORE (109 South Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, Fl 33062) - Has done some big things for craft beer and now carries over 75 different beers from Fresh Beer! We will let you know when they hit a 100 and then 1000 etc... We know you want it.

COCONUT WINE AND SPIRITS (4859 Coconut Creek Parkway, Coconut Creek, FL 33063) - Is now carrying brews from Flying Dog, Monk in the Trunk, Blue Point and Carib.

ROK BRGR (208 SW 2nd St Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301) - This just opened Burger Bar and Gastro Pub has brought in a great selection of craft beer and is carrying over 20 bottled beers from Fresh Beer including brews from Avery, Dogfish, Flying Dog, Shipyard, Magic Hat, Rogue and more...

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

JIMMY'Z KITCHEN (2700 North Miami Avenue #5, Miami, FL 33127) - The South Beach staple has now opened a location in Wynwood. With over 15 different beers from us you are sure to find one to pair with their great food.

BACKLOT AT PARAGON THEATERS 13 (3015 Grand Ave # 322 FL 33133-5124) - The newly redone movie theater in Cocowalk has now added a bar. You will be able to get Boulder Sweaty Betty, Breckenridge Avalanche Ale, Magic Hat #9, Rogue Dead Guy, Southern Tier Pale and 2XIPA, Strongbow, and Woodchuck Amber. You can enjoy one before, after, or even while you are watching a movie. It's just a shame that you'll have to get up to go to the bathroom during the show... well worth it.

BIG PINK (157 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139) - Big Pink has embraced the craft beer movement and you can now get a Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA on tap at this legendary South Beach diner.

FADO IRISH PUB (900 S. Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130) - Brickell's newest Irish Pub now has Strongbow on tap as well as bottles of Orval.

SPLITSVILLE BOWLING ALLEY (Suite 202 5701 Sunset Dr, South Miami, FL 33143) - Has brought on Shipyard Old Thumper on draft! That's right you can stop by for a couple games and grab a pint... If your not good at bowling just ask em to put up the bumpers and enjoy some brews.

UNIVERSITY RESTAURANT & PATIO (1050 Northwest 14th Street Miami, FL 33136) - Has brought on Magic Hat #9 on draft and Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA in bottles. Stop by for some great Greek food and happy hour specials.

Special Beers Being Added to Accounts:
THE PORCH(429 Caroline Street Key West, FL 33040) - Now has Cigar City Batch #69 Cream Ale on draft!
WORLD OF BEER (4401 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073) - Has Southern Tier Choklat, Terrapin Bid Daddy Vlady Imperial Russian Stout, Left Hand Good Juju and much more!
JOJO'S (13889 Wellington Trce, #A20, Wellington, FL 33414) Brought on Magic Hat Hex as their January Beer of the Month... $3.00 PINTS!
THE PUB (
237 Southwest 145th Terrace, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027) - Has Young's Double Chocolate Stout and Belhaven Scottish Ale on draft.

Upcoming Events:


January 8th
Stop by Total Wine (850 North Congress Ave.Boynton Beach, FL 33426) where Matt will be sampling out some brews from Shipyard and Sea Dog from 4-6pm.

January 8th
Join Ross Barnacle from Shipyard (and yes that is his real last name) for a Tasting at Total Wine (14750 Biscayne Boulevard North Miami, FL 33181) from 5pm-7pm. He'll be tasting some Sea Dog Apricot, Blue Paw Blueberry Wheat Ale, Shipyard Old Thumper and Shipyard Export Ale.

January 8th
If your lucky enough to be in Key West stop by Finnegans Wake (320 Grinnell Street Key West, FL 33040) in the evening where Matt Villei will be sampling out Shipyard Fuggles IPA on draft.

January 11th
Zach from Blue Point will be hosting a pint night at World of Beer (4401 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073) from 6:30-8:30pm. They'll have RastafarRye, Hoptical Illusion IPA, and Toasted Lager all on draft. Buy your first pint and keep the glass plus other giveaways!

January 13th
If you missed him on Saturday, your in luck... you can stop by Whole Foods (11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410) to grab some Shipyard and Sea Dog Samples from Matt Villei from 4-6pm. The man loves giving people beer... fortunately he found the right line of business to be involved with cause otherwise he would be just some weirdo at the bar trying to give you beer.

January 14th
We told you... he loves giving you beer. Matt will be serving up some samples at Total Wine (11221 Legacy Avenue Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410) from 4-6pm.

January 14th
Pint Night at Duggan's Pub (6076 Okeechobee Blvd West Palm Beach, FL 33417). From 7-9pm stop by and order your first pint of Sea Dog or Shipyard and keep the glass!! Plus Matt will be there to answer any questions you may have about the brews, He's also a great listener so if you've had a long week or have some exciting news to share he's more than happy to lend you his ear.

January 14th
Stop by Total Wine (14750 Biscayne Boulevard North Miami, FL 33181) for a tasting of some Shipyard and Sea Dog brews that Ross will be pouring up for your enjoy ment from 5-7pm.

January 14th
If you're a fan of Chili's and some baby back ribs stop by Chili's (3015 Grand Ave # 310 FL 33133) from 5:30-7:30pm for some free samples of Shiner Bock and some fun giveaways. Lauren will be there to hook you up with some beer and answer any questions you may have.

 

January 15th
Join us for the "3rd Annual Coral Gables Block Party"  benefitting the Miami Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund. The street party begins at 5pm and is located on Ponce de Leon Blvd between Miracle Mile and Aragon Avenue with great microbrews, wine, delicious food, exciting drawings and live music by People You Know.

Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Details available at http://www.thebuonicontifund.com/miami. All for a great cause.

January 21st
Start off your weekend right with a tasting of some Shipyard and Sea Dog Brews from 4-6pm at Total Wine (5050 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33486).

January 21st - 23rd

Join us for Fairchild Garden's 5th Annual International Chocolate Festival (10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables, FL 33156) with Coffee, Tea and Beer.  There will be three days of chocolate treats, delicious cups of coffee, soothing cups of tea and beers that complement chocolate from Rogue and Shipyard.


Don't miss, chocolate samples, cacao tree sales, the ChocoKids area, cooking demonstrations, the ChocoWalk,  informative lectures and much, much more. View video and photos of past International Chocolate Festivals to see what makes this event so special. For more details on the event visit their website.


January 26th
Join Il Mercato Cafe and Wine Shop (
1454 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard Hallandale, FL 33009) for their Brew Master Series Dinner.  For their first they we will be joined by Bobby G, head brewer from Holy Mackerel Brewery. The dinner menu for this special event will be completely new and designed with beer in mind. Bobby G will also be there guiding you through each beer, and explaining why they paired them with each course. The dinner will be at 7pm and cost $47 per person. Menu details will be posted soon. 
 

January 28

Enjoy a night under the stars in an intimate setting with the country's most inspired brewers! The 3rd Annual Field of Beers Festival will take over Roger Dean Stadium ( 4751 Main Street Jupiter, FL 33458 ), the beautiful spring training facility of the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. America's best craft breweries and top Palm Beach chefs headed by host Chef John Carlino, team up for a classic beer and food pairing.


Meander throughout the stadium visiting fifteen teams of brewers and chefs innovative, original creations, specifically designed to compliment one another. Educate yourself in the art of interpretive pairing of food and beer as they explain the choices they made and illuminate why the foods flavor profiles go so well with the hand-crafted specialties. For tickets visit http://jupitercraftbrewersfestival.com/fobhome.html


January 28th

Grand Opening of The Shipyard Emporium  in Orlando. If you are in Central Florida it'll be a great time to check out the new Shipyard spot. For more info check out www.shipyardemporium.com


January 28th
Join the founders and distiller of Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey at Total Wine (14750 Biscayne Boulevard North Miami, FL 33181) from 2-6pm for a tasting of their delicious bourbon-style whiskey plus they will have a bottle signing.... great gift for a whiskey lover.


January 29th
If you missed the folks from Palm Ridge Reserve the day before, stop by Total Wine (15980 Pines Boulevard Pembroke Pines, FL 33027) for a sampling and bottle signing of this awesome Micro-distilled whiskey from 12-4pm.


January 29th

Join us from 1-5:30 pm at Roger Dean Stadium (4751 Main Street Jupiter, FL 33458) for The Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival. There's no better way to experience the ever-growing world of craft brewing. Guests will sample and savor brews from some of South Florida's as well as the nation's finest breweries. With paid admission and proper identification (stating you are 21 years of age or older) guests will enjoy unlimited samples of the brews. All this while listening to some of the best local entertainment around!

In the past 4 years the festival has come a long way.  Thank you all for your support and great energy throughout. This year's festivities have been taken to a new level. Not only are they raising the bar with variety of beers but they are also expanding the festival grounds (by 4000 sq ft.!).  As they are closing the street, they are debuting yet another event at the amphitheater - Craftoberfest, where craft beer meets Octoberfest! For ticket info visit http://jupitercraftbrewersfestival.com/index2.html
 

February 2nd

Hold the date... Beer Dinner at The Pub (237 Southwest 145th Terrace, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027). More details TBA.


February 5th

If you like books (especially one of the best book spots in South Florida), Join us for a craft beer sampling at Books & Books (265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134). $20 includes samples of 15 different craft brewed beers and some hors d'ouvres. The sampling will begin at 5pm and go until 7pm.
 

February 11th
We are lucky to have the the founders and distiller of Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey down again for a bottle signing and sampling of their Florida micro-distilled bourbon-style whiskey at Total Wine (850 North Congress Ave. Boynton Beach, FL 33426) from 2-6pm. These guys are awesome... you gotta love anybody that makes their own friggin whiskey!


February 12th
If you live  a little more North and didn't have a chance to meet  the folks from Palm Ridge Reserve the day before, stop by Total Wine (11221 Legacy Avenue Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410)  for a sampling and bottle signing of this delicious micro-distilled whiskey from 12-4pm.

New Arrivals:

 
Southern Tier
SOUTHERN TIER BREWING COMPANY
 

Cuvee #3 - ALE IMPRESSIONS: Dark amber color, rich caramel malt flavor with noticeable bitterness. Slightly sweet and roasty finish, with mild hop aroma. OAK IMPRESSIONS: Flavors of French and American oak imparting unique qualities present in series one and two. Impressions of vanilla, toasted coconut and almond.

Krampus Imperial Helles Lager - St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil side kick and enforcer of 'the list'. European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children. Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. This Imperial Helles Lager will warm even the darkest hearts.


 

Victory Logo
VICTORY BREWING COMPANY

Helios Ale - (Re) Introducing Helios Ale. Victory had rebranded and repackaged the former V-Saison and now introduces Helios Ale. This bottle conditioned, Belgian-inspired ale remains the same refreshing ale that you may have enjoyed as V-Saison however, in a more approachable, less expensive 22 oz capped bottle. Helios Ale has an earthy, aromatic hop start and shifts into aspects of lemon peel and black pepper. This is a quenching, invigorating ale, despite its substantial strength.



Left Hand Logo
LEFT HAND BREWING COMPANY

 Polestar Pilsner - One you have tasted a true pilsner you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have seen the light, and there you will always long to return. Let Polestar guide you out of the wilderness, just as the North Star has guided explorers to their destinations and back home again. Light, crisp and elegant, pilsner is the true test of brewing prowess. Less is more.


Wells and Youngs
WELLS & YOUNG'S BREWING COMPANY

Young's Double Chocolate Stout - Unsurprisingly for a beer from the Young's stable, Double Chocolate Stout has been recognised as an award-winning brew on several occasions, including: Brewing Industry International Awards Gold Medal Winner 2000, Silver Medal Winner 2002 and Bronze Medal Winner 1998 and 2004. Luxurious and at the same time with a hint of decadence, Young's Double Chocolate Stout has it all, delivering a satisfying, indulgent taste without ever becoming overly sweet. Pale Ale and Crystal malt, Chocolate Malt, a special blend of sugars, Fuggle and Golding hops, real dark chocolate and chocolate essence are combined to deliver a stout of with real credentials.


Belhaven
BELHAVEN BREWERY

Scottish Ale - Malty and hoppy, Belhaven loves the classic Scottish Ale and they've been brewing it longer than any of the other beers they produce. Delivering a sweet, smooth and creamy finish, Scottish Ale has a stunning ruby colour in the glass. Magic.

Wee Heavy - It may have come from a right old recipe but Wee Heavy fits the bill today as much as it ever has. It is a classic Scottish heavy but has a lightness of flavour and a great reddish colour in the glass. Cracking stuff if they do say so themselves


Terrapin Logo
TERRAPIN BEER COMPANY

Side Project Volume 13 - Big Daddy Vlady's - Terrapin "Big Daddy Vladdy's" Russian Imperial Stout is number 13 in their Side Project Series of beers. Brewed under the strictest Socialist guidelines, this Imperialistic Stout will be carefully monitored and allocated accordingly. Black as the coldest Siberian Winter's night, this colossal, viscous beverage will bring the hammer and sickle down on your little girly man's palate. Spike's Brewing Words of Wisdom: Feel free to serve in a shot glass! Na zdorovje!
   

Dogfish
DOGFISH HEAD CRAFT BREWED ALES

My Antonia - My Antonia started out as a Collaboration beer when Sam brewed it at Birra del Borgo (hope you can read Italian) outside Rome, Italy with owner/brewer Leonardo DiVencenzo in October of 2008. In 2010, they began brewing My Antonia at Dogfish Head brewery in Delaware for U.S. distribution. My Antonia (named after the Willa Cather read), is a continually-hopped imperial pilsner. This original 2008 batch was brewed and distributed by Birra del Borgo. A small quantity was sent over to the United States. The 2010 release has made it to limited markets here in the U.S.
   
Other returning favorites hitting the shelves:  
 
Terrapin Wake-N-Bake Imperial Oatmeal Coffee Stout, MooHoo Chocolate Milk Stout, Southern Tier Choklat and Victory Yakima Glory

"Craft Brewer" just gotten bigger. Brewers Association changes definition.
By: Todd of Beer Advocate

The Brewers Association just announced that they've changed their definition of "craft brewer."
http://www.brewersassociation.org/ ... definition 


"In the BA's craft brewer definition, the term 'small' now refers to any independent brewery that produces up to 6 million barrels of traditional beer. The previous definition capped production at 2 million barrels. The changed definition is currently in effect and can be reviewed on the BA website, BrewersAssociation.org. The change to the bylaws went into effect December 20, 2010."

The reason?

"The industry's largest craft brewer, The Boston Beer Company, is poised to become the first craft brewer to surpass 2 million barrels of traditional beer within the next few years. Loss of The Boston Beer Company's production in craft brewing industry statistics would inaccurately reflect on the craft brewing industry's market share."

Nick Matt commented: "Rather than removing members due to their success, the craft brewing industry should be celebrating our growth." For full article and comments
Whiskey distilleries in Florida? We've got proof
By Roger Bull
Florida Times-Union
"My family's been making whiskey for 146 years," he says. "I've been licensed since March."


He is fully legal these days, but his operation isn't quite as romantic as our vision of moonshiners tending their stills hidden back in the woods. Day operates Flagler Spirits out of a nondescript industrial park not far from U.S. 1, fermenting his mash, distilling and bottling the liquor: Whiskey from local corn, vodka from local potatoes and rum from Belle Glade molasses.


The only giveaway that anything unusual is going on in there is the sign reading "Flagler Spirits, spirit conjurers and alchemists."


Down in Umatilla, Dick and Marti Waters are making their own small batches of oak-cured bourbon-style whiskey. For full article

Personal Beer Robot
By: Wesley Griffin of Beer Universe

There's a moment when almost every child wants to be an inventor.  It comes while we're listening to our teacher tell us about Thomas Edison or Alexander Graham Bell - or, for some of our kids, Mark Zuckerberg - and we're suddenly transfixed on the idea of creating something new.  Dreams sometimes fade, though, and not very many of us end up owning patents.  One intrepid college student has recently lived the dream by creating and introducing to the world: the personal beer robot.


The robot, not quite our imagination's analogue to R2D2 or Rosie from the Jetsons, is actually a custom refrigerator.  You can change the temperature inside or choose to have your preference of Bud Light, Bud Light Lime, Bud Select or PBR dispensed with a few simple taps on your iPhone.  That's cool, of course, and it satisfies the dual college tendencies to be lazy and to drink beer.  But that's not the reason it will likely be purchased en masse once production commences.

There is an innocent-enough looking webcam mounted to the refrigerator, and after choosing a brew, its video feed will then appear on your iPhone.  The goal is to center yourself in the frame, and click Fire! The personal beer robot will then send your can of beer flying across the room and into your waiting hands.  It launches immediately, so make sure to drop your iPhone quickly onto the couch.  The robot's inventor admitted that he recently smashed his lamp with a PBR. For full article and video demonstration

Man buys beer after allegedly being shot in leg by clerk
Associated Press

Flint- Flint police say a man determined to buy alcohol at a local store got a shot and a beer - then ended up in the hospital with a bullet wound.

The Flint Journal reports the unidentified victim told police he was standing outside the store about 9 p.m. Monday when he heard a gunshot and felt a pain in his leg. The man, allegedly shot by a store clerk, then asked the clerk why he shot him but did not get a response. The victim then entered the store and bought beer. He later walked to a friend's home, who took him to a hospital.


Police said the man was treated for his wound and listed in good condition.


No further details were released. Messages seeking further information were left with police. For original article