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Scroll down to see our new sections for Featured Cheese and Beer Pairing as well as our "Cooking with Beer" Recipe of the week! |
| Featured Beer and Cheese Pairing: |
American Pale Ale and a Surface Ripened Brick Cheese (Ex. Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale, Red Brick Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, Southern Tier Pale, Victory Headwaters Pale Ale, etc.)
Surface-ripened Brick, A Wisconsin original, Brick cheese has a mild and mellow flavor that becomes more pungent with age. Surface Ripened Brick is washed with a special smear of cultures to produce its distinctive taste and aroma. Excellent for table use, cooking and melting. A pale ale with a hoppy, citric taste balances with the creamy, mellow taste of Brick.
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| Featured Cooking with Beer Recipe of the Week |
Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout BBQ Sauce
Difficulty: Very Easy
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup molasses
-1/4 cup mustard
-1/2 cup chili sauce
-1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
-1/4 cup powdered onion
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon pepper
-1/2 cup Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout
Directions:
Combine all the players in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
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Fresh Beer Represents:
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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
Hoppin' Frog
Konig
Left Hand Brewing
Orval
Oskar Blues Brewing
Magic Hat Brewing Co.
Palm
Peak Organic Brewing Co. Pennsylvania Brewing
Red Brick Brewing
Rogue Ales
Saranac Brewing
Southern Tier Brewing Summit Brewing
Shipyard Brewing
Seadog Brewing
Steenbrugge
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
Tequesta Brewing
The Native Brewing Brands (ie. The Eleven, Native Lager and Thunderhead Red),
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| Fresh Beer Kegs for your Home | |
Total Wine and More carries a variety of Fresh Beer Craft Kegs for you to take home! This includes 1/6bbl (Slim) and 1/2bbl Kegs of many different styles and brands. Pre-ordering is necessary so please speak with your local Total Wine and More about available products.
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| Want to get some Fresh Beer in your establishment? |
Adam Fine - General Manager
954-629-7971
Ray Nickolaus - Sales and New Business Manager
561-339-0004 407-375-4203 954-261-0668
Ryan Fischer - Sales : Broward County - East
954-654-4512
561-723-0373 561-847-5485 954-654-3012 Josh@freshbeerinc.com
Dave Crisafi - Sales : Miami Dade County - Midtown thru Coconut Grove and Miami Beach 305-219-4315
423-956-3991
Ian Salzberg - Minister of Beer Communications
561-876-3519
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Another Craft Brewer's Conference has come and gone. For those of you new to this newsletter, the CBC is the one time a year that all the brewers in the craft brewing industry get together to discuss brewing, business, and the state of the industry. We, craft beer distributors, also get a forum of our own called the Small Beverage Wholesalers Conference which is somewhat of a misnomer these days as the craft industry is hardly small and neither are most of the distributors who attend. Also, the conference is one of the best places for these two ends of the industry to meet. It can be very productive to have us all together for a short time to catch up and work on things. It is also a great time to share a few beers and celebrate some of the successes we have had of late.
This year's conference was in San Francisco. Some great beers can be found in and around the Bay area, but you can also find some outstanding wines. A quick survey of the surrounding area finds over 600 different wineries currently operating in close proximity to San Francisco. 600! Absolutely incredible when you consider that the state of Calfornia being one of the most advanced in terms of amount of breweries and brewpubs only has about 255 in operation and that is across the entire state.
There are some striking differences between both of these industries. Grapes are only harvested once a year and the winemaking process can take months to years to complete. Both require large amounts of land to grow the basic ingredients but the way the land is used and owned is completely different. Both of these facts and a few others lend to a dramatically different dynamic when it comes to pricing. A single bottle of decent wine can cost you $30-$40 retail. That is equal to a decent CASE of craft beer. An expensive bottle of wine can go for $100 or $150 or even higher...the sky is the limit. The MOST expensive craft beers top out around $250 for a case. So which would you rather have a bottle of good wine or a case of good craft beer? I think you know where my dollar is going.
Cheers,
Adam FineDirector of Hoperations
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New Accounts and Deals:
T.G.I. FRIDAYS - Will be featuring Magic Hat #9 on draught April through mid-September. Keep an eye out for "special menu items" prepared with Magic Hat #9! And don't forget to pair it up with a pint of the not-quite pale ale.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
WORLD OF BEER (101 N. Clematis Street Suite 100 West Palm Beach, FL 33401) - We know you have heard of the amazing World of Beer in Coconut Creek and in other parts of the state...Well, WEST PALM you now have your own. Come check out this craft beer mecca, with HUNDREDS of different craft beers and specialty imports available plus a massive draft beer lineup, constantly changing. Don't try to drink them all in one night though...
TOTAL WINE AND MORE (960 South State Road 7 Wellington, FL 33414) - Has opened their newest location in Wellington. If you haven't yet been to one, you are missing out on one of the largest selections of craft beers and specialty imports that you will ever see. Not to mention their huge selection of everything else alcoholic. Come check it out and get stocked up on some great beers... there's even some great sampling opportunities right around the corner!
SWEETWATER GRILL (1507 S. Federal Highway Boynton Beach, FL 33435) - This new Boynton Beach Spot will be opening April 6th. They will be carrying Palm, Tequesta Der Chancellor Kolsch, Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale and Blue Point Toasted Lager on tap. Bottles (and cans) will include Monk in the Trunk, Woodchuck Amber Cider, Orval, Victory Golden Monkey, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Avery White Rascal, Youngs Double Chocolate, and Oskar Blues G' Knight. AWESOME SELECTION for this new craft beer spot.
PADDY MCGEE'S (307 E Atlantic Ave Delray Beach, FL 33483) - Has brought in a bunch of new delicious draft. They now have Palm, Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, and Monk in the Trunk all on tap. Plus, they have Youngs Double Chocolate Stout in cans.
DIVE BAR (318 U.S. 1 Jupiter, FL 33477) - Jupiter's newest craft beer spot has just opened up (with a 2,000 gallon jellyfish tank and a view of the marina) plus they have Monk in the Trunk, Shipyard Summer Ale, Tequesta Brewing's Der Chancellor Kolsch and Gnarley Barley Pale Ale on draft!
TEQUESTA BREWING COMPANY (289 S. US Highway 1 Tequesta, FL 33469) - Has some tasty Fresh Beers on guest draft this weekend including Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, Sea Dog Blueberry, Monk in the Trunk, and Victory Prima Pils. You can even get a taste of some of their brews at the following locations:
KENNY'S MARKET (214 East Ocean Avenue Boynton Beach, FL 33435) - This family owned & operated market is just minutes from the Delray strip. Stop in for the best prices on 40+ Craft Beers including some brews from Magic Hat, Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, Rogue, Victory, Southern Tier, Stone, Narragansett, and many more.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
BURGER N BEER JOINT (1766 Bay Road Miami Beach, FL 33139) - Just added 20 new bottled beers and Magic Hat #9 on draft... It wouldn't be Burger N Beer without the Beer. GRAND CENTRAL (697 North Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33136) - Downtown Miami's coolest new night club now has craft beer. You can pick up a Magic Hat #9, Cigar City Jai Alai, or Dale's Pale Ale while dancing your socks off. VILLA 221 (221 NE 17th St Miami, FL 33132) - This new event house has been featuring Narragansett for it's weekly Sun N Fun Saturdays. Hi Neighbor grab a ganssett at the Villa! DE RODRIGUEZ CUBA (101 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139) - Celebrity chef Douglas Rodriguez is another convert to craft beer. With his new restaurant De Rodriquez Cuba he has paired Cuban fare with some great craft beers like Cigar City Guava Grove and Maduro Brown Ale, Virgin Islands Mango Pale Ale, Avery White Rascal, and Westmalle Tripel. Muy delicioso! ONE BAL HARBOUR RESORT ( 10295 Collins Avenue Bal Harbour, FL 33154) - Now carries draft Native Lager and Dale's Pale Ale, as well as bottles of Magic Hat #9, The Eleven Brown Ale, Monk in the Trunk, Left Hand Milk Stout, and Avery White Rascal. Enjoy spectacular views from the balcony of the inlet and the beach while enjoying some great beer. MIAMI LAKES ALE HOUSE ( 3271 NW 87th Avenue Miami, FL 33172) - Their newest location, serving draft Rogue Dead Guy, Stone Arrogant Bastard, Magic Hat #9, Sea Dog Blueberry, and Shipyard Export Ale! Go out grab some zingers and enjoy a tasty craft brew. PINCHO FACTORY (9860 sw 40 street Miami, FL 33165) - The #4 rated Burger Spot in South Florida now carries Victory Headwaters Pale Pale, Golden Monkey, Shiner Bock, Magic Hat #9, Woodchuck Amber Cider and Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA in bottles. Special Beers Being Added to Accounts:
TOWN KITCHEN & BAR (7301 Southwest 57th Court South Miami, FL 33143) - Has bottles of Avery Maharaja.
COFFEE DISTRICT (325 NE 2nd Ave. Delray Beach, Fl 33444) - Has Avery Maharaja, Southern Tier Oak Aged Unearthly, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Dogfish Head My Antonia & 60-minute IPA, Shipyard Summer Ale, Terrapin Hop Karma all on draft and Cigar City Papaya IPA, Hunahpu, Vuja De, Left Hand TNT, Panil Sour & much more in bottles.
LASER WOLF (901 Progresso Dr Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304) - Will be tapping a keg of Left Hand TNT.
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Upcoming Events:
April 1st
A Cigar City and Youngs Double Chocolate Stout tasting will be hosted by (very appropriately) Prime Cigar Bar (2240 NW 19th Street Boca Raton, FL 33431) from 7:30-10pm. The event will cost $25.00 per person plus gratuity but that includes tasting of Cigar City Maduro, Jai Alai IPA, Bolita Brown, Papaya IPA and Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Also you will receive a cigar to enjoy during the event!
April 1st
Stop by the newest Total Wine and More ( 960 South State Road 7 Wellington, FL 33414) for sampling of Shipyard and Sea Dog from 4-6pm and PALM from 5-8pm. Representatives from both breweries will be there to walk you through their products... stay tuned because we have A LOT of tastings planned to open the new Total Wine with a bang!
April 2nd
Stop by Total Wine and More (15980 Pines Boulevard Pembroke Pines, FL 33027) for a Red Brick Tasting from 1pm - 3pm. Lauren will be there to walk you through the lineup and give you a sample of their Laughing Skull, Blonde, Porter, and Pale Ale. Come check out the newest regional craft brewery in South Florida... straight from the ATL.
April 3rd
Bethany, from Stone, will be at the new Total Wine and More ( 960 South State Road 7 Wellington, FL 33414) from 3-6pm sampling out some liquid arrogance. Stop by for tasting of some DELICIOUS California craft beer.
April 5th
Sea Dog Promo Pint Night at World of Beer (4437 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073) from 6:30-8:30pm. Matt will be there to offer up some samples of Sea Dog Blue Paw, Sea Dog Apricot, Sea Dog Raspberry and Sea Dog Hazelnut Porter. Buy your first Sea Dog Beer and get a souvenir Sea Dog Pint Glass to take home (while supplies last). April 6th Craft Beer Tasting at Sunset Corners (8701 Southwest 72nd Street Miami, FL 33173) from 6-8pm. Featuring delicious samples from Hoppin' Frog Brewery plus many others. Free to the public so don't miss it out on a great opportunity to sample some tasty craft beers and maybe do some shopping at one of the best craft beer selections in South Florida!
April 7th
Fourth Annual Blues, Brews and BBQ at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (5550 Northwest 40th Street Coconut Creek, FL 33073). We will be out pouring some brews at their Beer Festival with blues rocker Michael "Iron Man" Burks. $35 a person gets you in for a big selection of some craft beers for your enjoyment, 5-11pm.
April 8th
Matt from Shipyard will be sampling out some brews at Total Wine and More (11221 Legacy Avenue Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410) from 4-6pm. Stop in for a sample and say hello. April 8th Red Brick Tasting at Total Wine and More (14750 Biscayne Boulevard North Miami, FL 33181) from 5pm - 7pm. Lauren
will be sampling out some of their Laughing Skull, Blonde, Porter, and Pale Ale. April 8th Magic Hat #9 Kickoff at Sandbar (3064 Grand Avenue Miami, FL 33133)! Stop by from 9pm - 10pm for $3.50 pints of delicious #9 and if you're lucky you might just take home some sweet schwag!
April 9th
Have you tried Belgium's Best Selling Amber Ale? Well if not, Stop by the newest Total Wine and More ( 960 South State Road 7 Wellington, FL 33414) where a representative from PALM will be sampling this delicious brew from 1-4pm. April 9th Summit Brewery Night at The Filling Station (95 Southeast 2nd Street Miami, FL 33131-2102) from 8-10pm. Come and try some delicious Summit brews on tap: Horizon Red Ale and Extra Pale Ale. Beer specials + live karaoke = one great Saturday night! April 10th If you missed her the week before, Bethany from Stone will be back at it sampling some tasty craft beers at Total Wine and More (960 South State Road 7 Wellington, FL 33414) from 5-8pm. Get your pallet ready because fizzy yellow beer is for wussies. April 14th Come join us at the famous Chef Allen's (19088 NE 29 Ave Aventura, FL 33180) for a delicious Burger and Beer Dinner starting at 6:30 pm. The lineup of decadent dishes includes: Poultry Slider Trio Duck Confit, Ah-So BBQ Chicken, Turkey & Cranberry Paired with Orval Vegetarian "Burger" Grilled Abalone Mushroom Parmesan "Bun", Oven Dried Tomato, Balsamic Aioli Paired with Monk in the Trunk Chicago "Deep Dish" Burger House-Made Italian Sausage, Roasted Tomato Sauce, Brioche Bun Paired with Native Lager "Classic Burger" Creekstone Farms Ground Brisket, Braised Pork Belly Watercress, Guava-Onion Ketchup Paired with Terrapin Hop Karma Sweet "Burger" Sugar Cookies, Chocolate-Hazelnut Ice Cream Cherry Reduction, Pistachio Crisp Paired with Left Hand Milk Stout (Space is limited to 24 guests so please reply as soon as possible) $69 per person April 14th We know you love him...Matt from Shipyard will be sampling out some Shipyard and Sea Dog brews at Total Wine and More (1906 Cordova Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316) from 4-6pm. The man loves giving people beer... you could be one of those people. April 14th Come by Laser Wolf (901 Progresso Dr Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304) from 9pm-11pm to get acquainted with the newest craft brewery to come to South Florida! The Red Brick Pale Ale, Red Brick Brown Ale, Red Brick Porter, and Laughing Skull Amber Ale (on draft) will all be featured at a special price of $4! Buy your first Red Brick beer and get a souvenir Laughing Skull pint glass to take home (while supplies last). April 15th Did you miss him in Fort Lauderdale the day before?...Well Matt is kind of like the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile (but with beer)... He travels around from place to place bringing a little bit of sunshine into peoples' lives... Stop by Total Wine and More ( 5050 Town Center Circle Boca Raton, FL 33486) from 4-6pm to get a taste of Shipyard and Sea Dog brews. April 15th PALM will be sampling out their delicious Belgian Amber Ale from 5-8pm at Total Wine and More ( 960 South State Road 7 Wellington, FL 33414). Stop in for a taste and pick up a 6-er for the weekend!
April 17th
Join us for the First Brews & Bites - Craft Beer Tasting at Mary Brickell Village (901 South Miami Avenue, Suite 206 Miami, FL 33130). On this closing day of the Miami Food and Wine Festival, guests will tap into some favorite craft beers and micro-brews from around the world at dozens of different tasting stations. Admission to the event includes a commemorative tasting cup, beer tasting, food from top area restaurants and great entertainment.
$75 per person VIP admission begins at 1:00 pm
$55 per person general admission begins at 2:00 pm
For more information about the festival, please go to www.miamiwinefestival.org or contact United Way at 305-646-7111. April 20th Come get STONE'D on 4/20 at Cervezas (5835 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143)! Stone Brewery and Cervezas are working together to put an impressive line-up of Stone products for this brewery night. Starting at 7:00pm, they will be tapping the first keg of Stone Chipotle Pepper Smoked Porter to hit the state of Florida. In addition to the porter, Stone Ruination will be on draft and they will be running the Stone IPA through the Randall with fruity pebbles (yes the cereal).
Also arriving from Stone Brewery's cellar are 2008 aged bottles of Russian Imperial Stout and Old Guardian Barleywine. Plus $2 off bottles of Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Stone IPA, and Stone Pale for those who prefer the classics. Don't miss out on a CRAZY lineup. April 22nd He's back at the newest Total Wine and More ( 960 South State Road 7 Wellington, FL 33414) to sample some brews... Stop by from 4-6pm where Matt Villei will be sampling some Shipyard and Sea Dog brews. April 30th Come celebrate Miami New Times & Zoo Miami Brew at the Zoo on Saturday, April 30th. Come out and sample beer from around the globe. The party runs from 7pm to 11pm for GA.
The VIP pass includes designated tented VIP area, unlimited beer & spirits samples and catered food and early entry to sample beer from 6pm-7pm without the hassle of any lines. Space is VERY LIMITED so get your VIP right away.
Performing Live: Otis Day and the Knights (as seen in the movie Animal House) Opening Act The Blues Brothers Plus Local Favorites Rosco Martinez. For ticket info visit their website. May 2nd Get ready for a delicious 3-course beer dinner at Waxy O'Connors (690 sw 1st Court Miami, FL 33130) - They will be serving up the following menu for your enjoyment: Welcome Drink- Left Hand Sawtooth First Course- Smoked Salmon over rye toast points, dill spread and salsa Beer: Terrapin Rye Pale Ale Second Course- Marinated Skirt Steak with red ale au jua and a Wisconsin cheddar mac n cheese Beer: Summit Horizon Red Third Course- Beer battered chocolate brownies with a raspberry gastric Beer: Timmermans Framboise Make sure to mark it down on your calendars cause this is going to be tasty!
May 5th
Mark it down on your calendar because, Tucci's Fire N Coal Pizza ( 50 Northeast 1st Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33432) will be hosting their first beer dinner. Stay tuned for more details! May 11th Cigar City Beer Dinner at Leftovers ( 451 University Boulevard Jupiter FL, FL 33458)! It will surely be some amazing food and beer, paired to perfection. Menu and more details TBA but get excited and mark it down on your calendars! May 12th Cigar City Brewing and Tequesta Brewing are teaming up to takeover all of the taps at Coffee District (325 NE 2nd Ave. Delray Beach, Fl 33444)! We'll have some delicious beers from these local breweries and it won't be a night to miss. More details TBA but stay tuned and get excited!
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New Arrivals:
AVERY BREWING COMPANY
Joe's Pils - A contemporary rendition of a classic style, Joe's is hopped with purpose: beautifully bitter and dry with an abundance of floral, Noble German hops. Uber sessionable. Utterly American. This is Premiuim American Pilsner. Available for the first time in Florida and in 12oz. Cans!
STONE BREWING COMPANY
Old Guardian Belgo Barleywine - Stone's illustrious brewing team spiked a few barrels of the Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine with their Belgian yeast strain last year, and they absolutely loved it. So much, in fact, that they knew they needed an excuse to make more. So, in their unending quest to constantly challenge the status quo (even their own), they came up with Odd Beers for Odd Years, a program to release odd beers - e.g. Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine - in odd years (2011, 2013, 2015...). It was met with a bit of resistance (to say the least) since they weren't originally offering the traditional Old Guardian alongside it, but they've mended their ways and decided to make both. You're welcome.
PEAK ORGANIC BREWING COMPANY
King Crimson- an Imperial Red Ale that delivers a royal bounty of luscious, fruity American hops on top of a sturdy, deep red malt backbone. This beer is lavishly dry-hopped with Simcoe, adding a citrusy and piney flavor and aroma to the toasty, sweet malt notes. This special treat is a very limited release, so enjoy it while you can!
STEEN BRUGGE ABBEY BEER
Blond - Blond beer with a warm, full-bodied flavour in combination with Bruges' subtle herbal mixture (gruut).
Dubbel Bruin - Brown beer with a fullbodied, rich flavour in combination with Bruges' subtle herbal mixture (gruut).
Tripel - Triple beer with a malt character and fragrant hint of hops with Bruges' subtle herbal mixture (gruut).
Wit - White beer with a refreshing flavour in combination with Bruges' subtle herbal mixture (gruut).
BOULDER BEER
Kinda Blue Blueberry Wheat Ale - SO WHAT did the brewers at Boulder Beer Company compose for the 10th release in their Looking Glass Series? An American wheat placed in perfect measure with muted tons of blueberry. Kinda Blue - a tasty and tasteful summer brew that you can't turn your back on. It's as cool as the day is long. In every great collection there are standards. Make this one yours.
HOPPIN FROG BREWING COMPANY
B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout -
Winner GABF Gold Medal 2008 - This Bodacious Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout will crush you like no other! This is the grand-daddy of all stout styles, with an intensely deep roasted and full bodied flavor. A robust hop character adds a refreshing balance.
Mean Manalishi Double I.P.A. - Explore the extremes of hops, and experience all of their bitterness, flavor and aroma with this Double I.P.A. An extreme, super-assertive and satisfying amount of American hop character is balanced with a toasty, caramelized, intense malt presence.
Silk Porter - Dark, robust and silky-smooth, with many flavors of roasted, toasted and caramel malts. Porter is an old-world beer style, so popular that it helped start the industrial revolution. Taste the history.
CIGAR CITY BREWING COMPANY
Papaya IPA - A tropical take on Jai Alai IPA with unsweetened dried papaya added to the beer post fermentation.
HEAVY SEAS BEER
Aarsht Red - Heavy Sea's version of the Irish Red Ale, brewed with 3 kinds of grain then pulled through a pot of gold with 2 kinds of hops. Slainte!
Black Cannon - The style is an oxymoron but this ale is an extension of their Loose Cannon style brewed with black malt.
DOGFISH HEAD CRAFT BREWED ALESNamaste - A Belgian-style White made with dried organic orange slices, fresh cut lemongrass and a bit of coriander. This beer is a great summer quencher. Namaste was originally brewed at their brewpub with Dogfish's friend Leo from Birra del Borgo in Italy as a tribute to their friends at 3 Fonteinen brewery in Belgium, who had devastating production loss (1/3 of their annual production!) at their brewery in 2009.
VICTORY BREWING COMPANYDonnybrook Stout - The most refreshing dark beer you could ever imagine this side of Dublin! Low alcohol and roasted barley keep it clean and flavorful. The subtle earthiness of European hops harmonize with the roasted barley to offer a whiff of peat. Served with the classic nitrogen pour, Donnybrook delivers an impressive head and silken body of a classic stout (draft only).
Other returning favorites hitting the shelves:
Stone Old Guardian Barleywine, Avery IPA, Ellie's Brown, White Rascal (Now available in cans), Avery Maharaja, Dugana, Karma Belgian Pale Ale, Shiner Family Reunion 6-packs (ask your local Publix about bringing some in), Shipyard Summer Ale, Blue Point 6-packs including their Blueberry Ale, Pale Ale, Toasted Lager and Hoptical Illusion IPA and Dogfish Head My Antonia
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Chicago-based Goose Island brewery sold to Anheuser-Busch
BY DAVID ROEDER of Chicago Sun Times
By selling itself to the largest brewer on the planet, has Chicago's Goose Island sold its craft-brewed soul?
Blogs and Twitter accounts of beer fans frothed with the news Monday that Goose Island's corporation, Fulton Street Brewery LLC, sold control to Anheuser-Busch InBev, maker of Budweiser and Bud Light. Many wondered about Goose Island beers being changed for the mass market. "The end of the world" was one person's review of the deal.
But everyone should relax, said John Hall, Goose Island's founder and president. He will remain as chief executive officer, the recipes and processes are sacrosanct and the deal represents a "commitment to Chicago," Hall said.
"Anheuser-Busch isn't coming in to make changes," Hall said. "They're buying us because we have created a viable business model."
Hall said Anheuser-Busch will provide capital to help Goose Island expand its output of Honkers Ale, 312 Urban Wheat Ale and other products. On tap this summer is a $1.3 million investment in the company's brewery at 1800 W. Fulton, which can't meet demand, and Hall said he'd like to find another local site for beer production.
Criticism of the deal would make more sense if the buyer were a hedge fund, he said. "There would have been more pressure from a financial investor that doesn't understand the beer business," he said.
Goose Island announced after the sale that Hall's son, Greg, resigned as the brewmaster. John Hall said his son fully supports the sale but wants to start a new venture outside of brewing. He said his son will remain as a consultant on strategy and beer styles. For full article
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Man to live on beer alone for Lent
An Iowa man who is subsisting solely on beer for the duration of Lent says he is trying to combat the "teetotalling, neo-prohibitionist tendencies" of some elements of Christianity while also paying homage to the beer-making Bavarian monks of the Middle Ages.
"I hope beer lovers learn something reasonable about Christianity, and I hope Christians learn something reasonable about beer," J. Wilson, 38, writes in the first entry of his blog, Diary of a Part-time Monk, where he is chronicling his 46-day "journey."
Wilson, an editor at the weekly Adams County Free Press, plans to write a book about the experience. Modelled on the liquid fasts practised by German monks in the 17th century, on weekdays he drinks four 12-ounce (355 mL) beers, each with 288 calories and a 6.67-per-cent alcohol content. On weekends, five beers are allowed.
Wilson's regimen isn't the only instance of Lenten sacrifice, with news reports that some individuals have forsworn Facebook or Twitter between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
"You're not going to Hell if you drink a beer," says Wilson, who describes himself as a "non-denominational" Christian.
His purpose is to give Christians a "reality check" and a history lesson. "Back in the Middle Ages - and far beyond that - the Church and beer were very linked." For full article
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Flying Dog files suit to overturn label ban
Flying Dog Brewery, with the support of the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, has filed suit in U.S. District Court to overturn the Michigan Liquor Control Commission's ban on the sale of a popular beer it calls Raging Bitch. The suit also seeks to recover damages from the loss of Flying Dog sales under the statewide ban.
A press release explains:
The brouhaha began in September 2009, when Flying Dog Brewery applied for a license to sell Raging Bitch, the company's 20th anniversary commemorative beer, in the state of Michigan. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission barred the sale of Raging Bitch, claiming that the beer's label - designed by renowned British artist Ralph Steadman - is "detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare."
Flying Dog Brewery disagrees. "Regrettably, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and its members have taken it upon themselves to control not merely alcoholic beverages, but speech as well," said Flying Dog Attorney Alan Gura of Washington, D.C.-based Gura & Possessky, PLLC. "The defendants arbitrarily imposed their personal tastes in banning Raging Bitch, clearly violating Flying Dog's First Amendment right to free expression."
Gura and Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso announced the filing of the case at Crunchy's, a craft beer pub near the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing.
Caruso called the pending legal action about more than a beer label. "It's about regulators gradually morphing into self-appointed thought police," he said. "We believe not only in freedom of speech and artistic expression for both businesses and individuals, but also in the individual's fundamental right to choose or reject books, art, literature, artisanal craft beer, and other forms of artistic expression based on their personal preferences." For full article
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Cops break up fight over last beer
Police in Victoria, B.C., were called to break up a fight between a man and his nephew over the last beer in a case.
Police said the two men became embroiled in a dispute on Saturday around 5 p.m.
"This 'less filling' versus 'tastes great' argument escalated to the point of a fist fight," police said on their operations blog.
By the time police arrived, the uncle had left the apartment. Neither man was injured.
"The report did not indicate who actually got the coveted beer at the bed of this 'brew' haha," police said. For original article
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