Noteworthy Beers from Autumn Brew Review 2016

With so many fantastic beers on display at the 16th annual Autumn Brew Review, it’s hard to choose favorites. Instead I’ve highlighted some that stood out. Here they are:

Whiskey Queen from Indeed Brewing – A smooth Russian Imperial Stout that delivers flavors of bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, stone fruits and oak to the palate.

Twisted Zweig from Forager Brewing – This was probably my favorite __beer at the festival. An Imperial Berliner Weisse aged on black currants. Sour, juicy, and extremely drinkable. You’d never know this was an 8% (ABV) beer, which is almost dangerous. This brewery has really impressed me this summer and it would be worth your while to visit them down in Rochester. I was honestly shocked that there wasn’t a line at this booth.

Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout from Dangerous Man – Smooth and creamy milk chocolate with a little bit of heat (alcohol) on the end. It’ll be fun to explore some these barrel-aged beers coming out of Dangerous Man in the coming months.

IWL from Town Hall Brewery – This wheat based lager was very heavy on my two favorite hops—Mosaic and Citra. Another fine creation by Mike Hoops and his team of brewers over at the Seven Corners brewery. There’s a reason it’s the first place I take anyone new to the Twin Cities.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout from NorthGate – Dark stone fruits, chocolate, and bourbon dominated the flavor profile of this one. Nice example of the style for a brewery that focuses on British ales. This one stood out among the many other Imperial Stouts available at ABR.

Cheers!

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Fulton Releases a New Brand Called Standard Lager

Easy drinking lagers are hot right now in the craft __beer world, and Fulton just made a solid statement with Standard Lager. It’s actually a “brand” rather than just a new beer, similar to what Firestone Walker did with 805 Beer.

It’s an all-malt American lager (which means that they don’t use adjuncts such as corn) that’s clean and balanced—perfect for the grill, fishing off the dock, or the last few weeks on the patio.

This will be available in stores (12 packs) across at all of their accounts beginning in October.

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GRRRL Beer Rep Party at The Happy Gnome

The local __beer scene is loaded with talented ladies. Whether they’re brewing beer, selling it, or serving it—they are a big part of this exploding __beer scene. Local beer reps Gabby Rudisill from Ballast Point, Tara Alcure from Surly, and Sarah Meyer from Bent Paddle came up with the idea to celebrate women in the industry by bringing people together at The Happy Gnome in St. Paul just ahead of Autumn Brew Review. They are calling this event GRRRL Party, but guys are encouraged to attend as well.

They’ve also invited some reps from Family Tree Clinic, an organization that supports women’s health by providing care and resources for all. Come down to The Gnome and try out some special beers from all of these breweries and bring some cash to donate. On tap will be Hopmosa, Ballast Point Pumpkin Down on oak, Surly Four, Urban Growler Rhubarb Wit, Indeed Whiskey Queen, Bad Weather Tippin’ it Down and more.

See you there!

9.14.16

The Happy Gnome

498 Selby Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55102

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A Guide to Autumn Brew Review 2016

By Jeremy Zoss

The 16th annual Autumn Brew Review will be held this Saturday, September 17th at the Historic Grain Belt Brewery. Autumn Brew Review (ABR) is one of the largest and oldest __beer festivals of the state, and for serious craft __beer fans it is considered one of the most important beer events of the year. This guide will help you prepare for the event and maximize your beer-tasting enjoyment.

About Autumn Brew Review

Autumn Brew Review is the largest and longest-running craft beer festival organized by the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild. The non-profit outdoor festival feature unlimited beer tastings from local and national craft breweries, as well as a few ciders, wines, and non-alcoholic samples. Each visitor receives a commemorative tasting glass and guide, and can also enjoy games, food vendors on-site, beer educational sessions and more.

About the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild

The Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild is a trade group for Minnesota breweries. Most Minnesota breweries are members, but not all. The Guild works to promote Minnesota craft beer and to educate consumers about the great beer made in Minnesota. In addition to Autumn Brew Review, the Guild organizes events like Winterfest, All Pints North and the Land of 10,000 Beers exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair.

The Breweries

This year, 135 breweries will be participating in ABR. The list includes established locals like August Schell Brewing Company, Dangerous Man, Fulton, Indeed, Summit, Surly, Town Hall Brewery, and many more. ABR is also a great place to sample beers from some of the state’s younger breweries, including Bald Man Brewing, Disgruntled Brewing, Roundhouse Brewing, Wayzata Brew Works, and other breweries in their first few years of operation.

Of course, not all the breweries at ABR are local. Many heavy-hitting national breweries will participate as well, including Alaskan Brewing Co., Deschutes, Evil Twin, New Belgium, Oscar Blues, Sam Adams, Stone, and more. ABR often serves as the launching pad for national breweries entering the Minnesota market for the first time, and this year is no exception. For many visitors, ABR will be their first exposure to national breweries like California’s Alpine beer Co., Michigan’s Arcadia Ales, and the Colorado Saison specialists Funkwerks.

The Beer

ABR is more than an excuse to drink large quantities of beer – it’s about quality, too. No matter your tastes, make sure you seek out some hard-to-find brews in your favorite styles. Here are a few of the rare brews this writer hopes to sample at the festival:

• August Schell’s – Harmony of Spheres, Orbital Drift, and Tidal Disruption Weissbiers
• Bent Paddle – Double Shot Double Black American Black Ale
• Dangerous Man – Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout
• Evil Twin – 2014 From Amager With Love Imperial Stout
• Funkwerks – Multiple saisons
• New Belgium – 2016 Le Terrior American Wild Ale
• Prairie Artisan Ales – Prairie Bomb! Imperial Stout
• Surly – Barrel-aged Pentagram, Vanilla Oak Aged Darkness, One, Two, Three Anniversary Ales
• Toppling Goliath – King Sue Imperial IPA

Preparation and Tips

Here’s some advice to help you maximize your enjoyment of ABR:

• Here’s the most important advice of all: make sure you have arranged a sober driver to pick you up after the event! If you can’t try to travel via public transportation.
• In advance, make yourself a pretzel necklace. Lace several dozen pretzels on some string to wear around your neck. There will be plenty of food available to purchase at the event, but eating a pretzel between beers will not only keep you from getting too intoxicated, it will help reset your palate between samples.
• ABR has an app! Grab it from the Google Play store or the Apple App Store and use it to plan your visit.
• Expect big crowds and long lines. ABR is a big festival, so you will have to wait in lines. You won’t get a chance to try every beer you want, especially those tapping at specific times. Go with the flow, and don’t sweat if you miss out on a hard-to-find beer.
• Skip the standards. If you’ve had a beer before, don’t ask for a pour. There is only so much time to drink, so focus on seeking out samples from breweries you haven’t visited yet, or exciting new offerings from your favorites.
• There’s no shame in dumping beer on the ground. Drink every last drop and you’ll be drunk before you know it. Take a few sips and pour the rest – unless of course it’s too delicious to waste!
• Drink plenty of water. There are rinse stations throughout the event for rinsing glassware, but the water is drinkable. Staying hydrated will keep your palate fresher and stave off intoxication.
• Remember that festivals aren’t a completely fair way to try beers for the first time. No matter how many pretzels you snack on or water you drink, your palate will be pretty shot by the end of the day. Just because a beer didn’t stand out at ABR doesn’t mean you won’t love it later.
• Don’t be a dick. Even with long lines and big crowds of people who have been drinking for hours, ABR generally has a pretty chill vibe. Everyone there is united by the love of craft beer, so most visitors get along pretty well. Don’t be the one that ruins the fun.

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BeerPulse Deschutes Brewery and Bendistillery release Black Butte Whiskey

[Press Release:]

Collaboration of craft beverage masters creates a liquid intended to be timeless in taste and appreciation

21 September 2016 – Bend, Oregon – Deschutes Brewery and Bendistillery today announced the much anticipated launch of Black Butte Whiskey. Created over the past three years, this malt whiskey was double distilled from the wash of Deschutes Brewery’s flagship beer, Black Butte Porter. Available in very limited quantities, this sipping whiskey can be found starting today at the brewery’s two public houses, Bendistillery’s tasting room and Oregon liquor stores only.

Jim Bendis, founder of Bendistillery, said, “The origin of this project was nearly 20 years ago when I distilled and barreled a small batch of Deschutes’ Black Butte Porter __beer as an experiment. We all kind of forgot about it until we ran across that original barrel when we moved the distillery. Tasting that spirit is what really inspired us to collaborate with Deschutes to produce a whiskey we could share with everybody. It brings happy tears to my eyes witnessing a 20-year-old dream come to fruition!”

Gary Fish, founder and CEO of Deschutes Brewery said, “The whiskey was more about an opportunity to innovate at a new level by elevating the __beer and creating a very different product altogether. This is what can happen when you’re having fun and not bound by convention!”

Black Butte Whiskey was aged in new #4 char American oak barrels, and the resulting whiskey retains the malty, chocolatey notes of Black Butte Porter while gaining woody, earthy flavors from the oak. The body is full while the spirit drinks dry and clean. Ryan Schmiege, assistant brewmaster for Deschutes Brewery, said, “The base for this whiskey is very unusual because it is founded on a beer which is comprised of a lot of chocolate malts; not common for whiskey. I liked the challenges we had early on while learning to think, brew and ferment like distillers.”

The whiskey will be served neat or on the rocks at the Deschutes Brewery pubs in Bend and Portland starting today. Bottles are available at Bendistillery and Oregon liquor stores. Because a very limited amount is available, a future release for the next round of Black Butte Whiskey is slated for the end of 2017.

“I think the most exciting part of this project has been the public’s response. We have been able to sample and see how the whiskey develops over the years, so we know how good it is. But to see peoples’ eyes light up when they try it for the first time is the best part,” said Alan Dietrich, CEO of Bendistillery.

About Bendistillery
Founded in 1996, Bendistillery is one of the nation’s first craft distilleries and is still the most awarded craft distillery in the country. Their flagship Crater Lake Spirits brand are traditional American style gins, vodkas and whiskies all produced at their distillery in Bend, Oregon. http://ift.tt/1oNjp1L

About Deschutes Brewery
Named as OUTSIDE’s Best Places to Work for the last three years in a row and winner of the 2015 Oregon Sustainability Award, Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 as a brew pub in Bend, Oregon. Still family and employee owned 28 years later, the brewery is known for brewing a diverse line-up of award winning beers including the popular Fresh Squeezed IPA, Black Butte Porter, and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. From the beginning, the focus has been on crafting the best beer and food using thoughtfully curated ingredients. With a second brew pub in Portland’s Pearl District that has become a popular destination for craft beer lovers from around the world, Deschutes Brewery now ships beer to 28 states, the District of Columbia, and internationally from its main brewing facility located on the banks of the Deschutes River.  To find out more, visit http://ift.tt/SX8C4u.

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BeerPulse Heavy Seas 21 Anniversary Ale, Imperial Rye ESB aged in rye whiskey barrels, due out in Dec.

[Press Release:]

(Baltimore, MD) – Heavy Seas __beer is excited to announce the release of 21, an anniversary ale to celebrate the brewery’s 21st year of brewing craft __beer in Baltimore. This Imperial Rye ESB aged in local Sagamore Spirit rye whiskey barrels, will be released in early December within the “Uncharted Waters” Series.

“To celebrate our 21st anniversary, we have fashioned an Imperial Rye ESB brewed with imported UK Marris Otter malt, Crystal Rye malt, local Domino brown sugar, and a blend of spicy, herbaceous British and American hops – to the tune of 65 IBU’s,” says Heavy Seas Brewmaster, Christopher Leonard. “21 will be aged for sixty days in locally sourced, single use Sagamore Spirit rye whiskey barrels.”

“We wanted to create a synergy between the Rye Whiskey Barrels, the beer, and the consumer, taking him or her on a sensory journey. By incorporating ingredients that mirror and accentuate the flavors of the Whiskey that aged in the barrels first, we’ve developed a beer that speaks to the soul of the Rye fan while satisfying the Heavy Seas enthusiast.”

The product specs are:
Style: Imperial Rye Extra Special Bitter (ESB) aged in rye whiskey barrels
ABV: 10.5%
IBU: 50
Hops: Chinook, UK Kent Goldings, UK Fuggle
Malts: Marris Otter Malt, Crystal Malt, Caramalt, CaraRye Malt
Additions: Brown Sugar

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BeerPulse Epic Oak and Orchard Sour Ale series kicks off with first two limited releases

[Press Release:]

(Denver, CO) – In hardened bunkers built into each side of the great Rocky Mountain Range our mad fermentationists have been plotting in their secret sour-laboratories. They combine science, art and maybe a bit of alchemy making and breaking the very definition of sour beer. They’re constantly blending, tasting, and manipulating both bacteria and yeast in ways few others would dare to imagine, combining microbiological science with the flavors of untold-fruits and oak, until each __beer speaks or, better yet, sings to them.

Will these innovators and game changers be called out on “unsecure social networks,” blamed for pushing too hard against the boundaries of the very nature of beer? What if they tear a hole in the very fabric of the beverage universe by creating a __beer a world-class wine wishes it could be? The repercussions aren’t clear, the risks are high, and the world might simply, not be ready…. but the beer is. So line up you geeks and coinsures, whale hunters and traders, enthusiasts and critics, hipsters and haters, and join us in the brave new world of Epic Brewing Sour Beer.

This September we pull back the curtain and reveal not just one sour beer but an entire series, in fact, a full philosophy of what American sour beer can be. The project’s code name is Oak & Orchard and every release will be a surprise. The common theme between the beers is that they are all 100% barrel aged in either oak foeders, casks, or both and feature a fruit or blend of fruits. Pay careful attention to the hangtag on each bottle for a list of the unique ingredients.

The initial release was inspired by Syrah wine and spent the first part of its life in a recently acquired foeder from Napa Valley before being siphoned into casks with blueberry, boysenberry, and black currants. The beer’s aroma is floral, vinous and reminiscent of berries ripening on the bush. Its flavor explodes with fruit complexity and jam sweetness before being washed away with a puckering sourness and finishing with a hint of cranberry and a kiss of Brettanomyces funk.

Released in parallel, as a sister beer to the Syrah, is a Pinot inspired sour that features blueberry, boysenberry, cranberry, strawberry and plum. The fruity bouquet pops with red berries, French Oak and light cellar notes from the Brettanomyces. The beer is crisp and puckering with the tartness of unripe fruit and a complex vinous finish that any wine lover would admire.

The beer will release September 30th at our Denver Brewery on both draft and in 375ml wax dipped bottles. A special VIP tasting and cellar tour is available which includes a charcuterie pairing, select barrel tasting and your choice of either release for $30. Tickets are available at here. Seating is very limited and will sell out quickly.

The initial release is very limited and there’s no guarantee these particular blends will ever be produced again. Future additions to the series will be rolling out over the next few months as our mad fermentionists and their microbiological minions determine when the next reality warping sour beer is ready for human testing.

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BeerPulse Indeed Fresh Hop Ale arriving soon on draft

(Minneapolis, MN) – Indeed Brewing Co. announced this week its new Fresh Hop Ale. More below via the brewery website…

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THE STORY
Bright, resinous, and bursting with fresh blueberry and tropical fruit aromas, our Fresh Hop Ale is brewed with fresh Mosaic hops, harvested at their peak and shipped directly from Yakima, Washington, the epicenter of hop growing in the United States. These fresh hops deliver a uniquely robust flavor and aroma in this limited release ale.

THE GOODS
Malts: Pale Malt, Marris Otter, Torrified Wheat, Dextrin Malt
Hops: Fresh Mosaic hops
Yeast: A04 Barbarian
Specialty Ingredients: Fresh Hops

THE STATS
4.70% ABV | 35 IBU

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BeerPulse Bell’s Brewery announces Texas distribution partnerships, likely starting there in April 2017

(Comstock, MI) – Bell’s Brewery, Inc. is proud to announce its new distributor partnerships in the great state of Texas.

Fourteen distributors will help bring Bell’s entire portfolio to its 31th state.

They are: Andrews Distributing of North Texas LLC, Brown Distributing Company, Del Papa Distributing Company, Inc., Falls Distributing Company, GG Distributing Co., Great Plains Distributors, LP, Kristen Distributing Company, KEG 1 O’Neal, LLC, L & F Distributors, LLC, Mike Hopkins Distributing, Reed Beverage Inc., Silver Eagle Distributors, Standard Sales Company, L.P. of Odessa and San Angelo and Tri-City Distributors, LP.

Beer will begin shipping in the first quarter of 2017.

Bell’s announced its intention to distribute to Texas in April.

Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, South Dakota, Nebraska and West Virginia were all added to Bell’s distribution footprint in 2016.

County by county distribution information is available at bellsbeer.com.

Launch celebrations are also planned. Additional information will be announced as details become available at bellsbeer.com and on Bell’s social media.

ABOUT ANDREWS DISTRIBUTING OF NORTH TEXAS LLC:
Andrews Distributing of North Texas has more than 1,400 proud team members and distribution centers located in Dallas, Fort Worth and Allen. Founded in 1976 by Barry Andrews, they are celebrating 40 years helping their brewing partners, retail partners, team members and local communities thrive. Today, Andrews distributes more than 700 brands from 40 supplier partners in 16 North Texas counties. With their extensive industry experience, the Andrews team is committed to being the nation’s leading brand builder with a winning team culture.

ABOUT BROWN DISTRIBUTING COMPANY:

Brown Distributing Company is a family owned and operated beverage distributorship founded in 1962. The company employs over 400 dedicated __beer professionals and services 7 counties in and around the Austin area. We are proud of the community we live and work in and we give back by contributing to many non-profit, civic and educational organizations. Our family culture at Brown takes great pride in working together to provide quality beverages and unparalleled service to our customers. We are very excited to add Bell’s to our craft portfolio and are committed to helping build and foster the craft movement in our territory.

ABOUT DEL PAPA DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC.:

In 2010 Del Papa Distributing celebrated its 100th business anniversary. From its founding by an Italian immigrant, Omero Del Papa Sr., in Galveston in 1910, to its current operations distributing a variety of national, regional and local __beer brands from three distribution centers serving seventeen Texas counties along the Texas Gulf Coast, Del Papa has remained committed to supporting and strengthening the many communities in which its customers and employees live. In 2015 Del Papa Distributing created 2-Row Distributing, a strictly craft beer focused division to provide its supplier and retail partners with the necessary focus, expertise, and category management skills required for this exciting and growing category. Del Papa Distributing still speaks today to those old fashioned values of quality, honesty, integrity and work ethic. If anything these ideals have grown stronger over the course of a century.

ABOUT FALLS DISTRIBUTING COMPANY:

Falls Distributing Company is a locally owned beer wholesaler, headquartered in Wichita Falls, covering 13 counties in North Central Texas. With our 19,800 square foot refrigerated facility and best-in-market equipment and sales team, Falls Distributing Company is able to provide unparalleled service to North Texas customers. Since our company’s founding in 1961, our entire team, 63 members strong, is committed to making a difference in quality assurance, customer service, brand recognition, and a passion for craft beer.

ABOUT GG DISTRIBUTING CO.:

Giglio Distributing was founded in 1955 by J.C. Giglio in Beaumont, Texas. J.C. started with himself, one employee, no revenue and one company truck. Fifty nine years later J.C.’s son Charles formed a joint venture with Glazers Beverage, GG Distributing LLC based out of Longview, TX currently services thirty eight counties. With this strong heritage, our future totally depends upon building an outstanding team focused against great brands, maintaining quality and marketing attributes.

ABOUT GREAT PLAINS DISTRIBUTORS, LP:

Great Plains Distributors, LP is a third generation family owned wholesale beer distributor, operating in the southern High Plains of Texas since 1961. Based in Lubbock, TX, Great Plains provides unrivaled service to customers across fifteen counties and takes great pride in their fierce dedication to quality assurance, customer service, brand building, responsible alcohol consumption, and a passion for craft beer.

ABOUT KEG 1 O’NEAL, LLC:

KEG 1 began as a Knowledge Exchange Group of 10 of the nation’s largest distributors of alcoholic beverages. With the creation of KEG 1, LLC, these 10 principals went beyond the traditional sharing of best practices and quarterly meetings to form a partnership whose combined annual distribution approaches 100 million cases.

ABOUT KRISTEN DISTRIBUTING COMPANY

Kristen Distributing Company has been family-owned and operated since 1930. Current President, John Kristen, is the 4th generation of leadership. Kristen’s seasoned sales and delivery teams bring unparalleled customer service to the 28 central Texas counties in their territory. Based in Bryan, Texas, Kristen Distributing Company operates 2 warehouses selling a diverse portfolio of alcohol and non-alcohol products. We believe we sell the finest beverages in the world and are excited to welcome Bell’s Brewery to the Kristen Distributing Company family of brands.
ABOUT L & F DISTRIBUTORS, LLC:

L&F Distributors is a third generation family business which focuses on distributing beer along the Texas and Mexico border. Our mission is to provide the best service for our customers, fully support our community, be the trusted source of knowledge for our industry, and provide an ideal place of employment.

ABOUT MIKE HOPKINS DISTRIBUTING:

Mike Hopkins Distributing Company, Inc. prides itself on service, quality, and community involvement across its seven county central Texas distribution footprint. With nearly 70% market share, MHD is the market leader and a 2nd generation beverage distributor proud to support local, regional, and international brands.

ABOUT REED BEVERAGE INC.:

Reed Beverage is a family owned distribution business that was founded in 1952 serving 37 counties in Texas. Our Mission is to build great brands and partnerships through our unwavering commitment to quality and service. Reed Beverage is a responsible community partner, and very proud of the work we do and the great brands we represent. We strive to excel in every phase of our business and set the standard in the beverage business for West Texas.

ABOUT SILVER EAGLE DISTRIBUTORS:

Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. is the nation’s second largest beer distributor. The company employs more than 1,400 employees that serve 16 counties in Texas through operations in Houston, San Antonio, Pasadena, Cypress, Conroe and Rosenberg. Silver Eagle distributes a broad selection of domestic and import brands as well as microbrews and craft beers and several non-alcohol beverages and waters. For more information, visit www.silvereagle.com.

ABOUT STANDARD SALES COMPANY:

Standard Sales, in Odessa and San Angelo is located in Permian Basin of West Texas and West Central Texas. Our 32,000 sq. mile territory of oil rich land, is made up of 28 counties and Standard Sales proudly provides exceptional sales and service to the area’s 1,230 retail accounts. At Standard Sales, we understand each ingredient plays an important role in crafting a fine beer. It’s the perfect combination that gives each beverage its own spirit and we pride ourselves in selecting only the best products for your unique spirit, too. We share this attitude with our Standard Sales family – a family of individuals and partners with a variety of unique and diverse talents, abilities, thoughts, and feelings that together, make a perfect team.

ABOUT TRI-CITY DISTRIBUTORS, LP:
Tri-City Distributors, LP, located in New Braunfels, Texas, is a central Texas beer distributor servicing Comal, Gonzales and Guadalupe Counties. Scott Brown, owner of Tri-City Distributors, LP which he purchased in 1988, started as a single supplier distributor with 350,000 cases of annual sales, to a distributor that offers brands from over 25 beer suppliers with expected annual sales of 2 million cases in 2016. With a customer focused culture and a passion for beer, Tri-City has continued to grow and maximize its portfolio through relentless pursuit to customer service, investing in brand building awareness and staying locally involved in the communities it serves.

ABOUT BELL’S BREWERY, INC.

Bell’s Brewery, Inc. began in 1985 with a quest for better beer and a 15 gallon soup kettle. Since then, we’ve grown into a regional craft brewery that employs more than 500 people over a 30 state area, in addition to Puerto Rico and Washington DC. The dedication to brewing flavorful, unfiltered, quality craft beers that started in 1985 is still with us today. We currently brew over 20 beers for distribution as well as many other small batch beers that are served at our pub in Kalamazoo, the Eccentric Cafe. Our ongoing goal is to brew thoughtfully, creatively and artistically. 100% family-owned and independent, we strive to bring an authentic and pleasant experience to all of our customers through our unique ales and beers. For more information, please visit bellsbeer.com.

You can also find Bell’s on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and Pinterest.

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BeerPulse Boulder Beer GABF 35th Anniversary IPL just released in bottles and draft

[Press Release:]

(Boulder, CO) – Boulder __beer Company, Colorado’s First Craft Brewery, just released a commemorative __beer brewed in celebration of the Great American Beer Festival’s milestone 35th Anniversary in 2016. Brewed in collaboration with the festival, the beer is based on a homebrew recipe of Charlie Papazian – GABF Founder and Past President of the Brewer’s Association.

“Back in 1982 when Charlie created the GABF, Boulder Beer toasted the occasion with a commemorative GABF ale,” said Boulder Beer President Jeff Brown. “Thirty-five years later we’ve teamed up with Charlie again, tapping into one his current homebrew recipes, an India Pale Lager.”

The GABF 35th Anniversary IPL has big citrus and tropical notes of mango, melon and lemongrass from the complex assortment of hop additions, with a slightly sweet malt flavor for balance. As a lager it also has a clean yeast profile providing a backdrop for the Citra and Equinox hops.

“We’re proud to be one of a handful of breweries to have participated in all 35 GABFs, and we look forward to many more!” said Jeff.

The IPL will be available in 22 oz bottles and on draft at select retailers throughout the Front Range in Colorado.

Founded in 1979, Boulder Beer Company has been a pioneer in the craft brewing industry for 37 years. Their passion for innovation keeps their brand mix diverse, offering a taste for every palate. They currently package seven year-round beers, numerous rotating seasonals, and periodically release very limited-edition, small-batch brews throughout the year. Shake Chocolate Porter is currently their #1 selling beer.

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BeerPulse Massachusetts Brewers Guild elects new president, Night Shift Brewing’s Rob Burns

[Night Shift Brewings Rob Burns: Photo By Tim Oxton]

[Press Release:]

(Everett, MA) – Over the years, the Massachusetts craft __beer scene has supported the growth of 100+ breweries and brewpubs throughout the state. With this growing popularity in craft beer, it has become critical that brewers have a collective voice advocating for and promoting their interests. This is where the Massachusetts Brewers Guild (MABG) comes in – a state-level organization that’s committed to protecting the rights of craft brewers. The MABG has been supporting the industry since 2007, and for six years, Rob Martin, founder of Ipswich Ale Brewery, has been leading the charge. Early last week, however, the Guild appointed Rob Burns, co-founder of Night Shift Brewing, as their new President.

In March 2015, after becoming inspired by the energy behind the Brewers Guilds in other states, Burns decided to add his voice and support to the Massachusetts chapter. Starting out vocal from the get-go, he quickly got involved in Government Affairs and found himself testifying at a State House committee in support of House Bill 245 – a petition for change to the archaic wholesale distribution laws. Over the past year, Burns has continued to increase his involvement in the Guild, most notably by heading up the hiring process of their new (and first) full-time Executive Director, who starts this fall.

With this new role, Burns will focus on “promoting the hell out of MA brewers” and aims to “make more people aware of all the great __beer in the state, help start-up brewers make quality beer, and get more people in the industry hanging out together so we can build a tight-knit community.”

What will this mean for Night Shift Brewing? Burns will have to shift a lot of his focus away from the brewery, but ensures that the value added is huge. He asserts that, “helping other breweries, building relationships, and helping promote the state’s beer scene will benefit all including NSB.” With a solid team of 11 other board members, the Massachusetts Brewers Guild is in a great position to make 2017 an even better year for craft beer in MA.

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BeerPulse Dodie, Chronology: 12, Confession and Frambulous from The Bruery now available in The Rare Beer Club

[Sponsored / Paid Post:]

Today we’re excited to announce another Rare __beer Club® Special Offer, this time featuring four very limited-production and limited-distribution beers from The Bruery and Bruery Terreux in Orange County, CA. You can read a summary of these inventive beers below or visit the special offer page for full tasting notes and access to the order form. All beers are 750 mL.

If you’re new to the club: welcome! One of the best things about being a member is that, in addition to our normal monthly selections, you can take advantage of our periodic special offers on additional exciting and hard-to-find beers. Cheers!

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IMPORTANT BEERPULSE NOTE: In order to get these beers from The Bruery, you DO need to sign up for a membership and order from the normal batch of selections for at least one month. Learn more here to get first-time discounts and general details on the club. Selections as of last month include (but are not limited to) beers from Jester King, Mikkeller, Nebraska Brewing, Logsdon, Jolly Pumpkin and more.

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Bruery Terreux Confession – This collaboration between Bruery Terreux and Fess Parker Winery is an Oak-aged Sour Blonde Ale fermented with Riesling grapes, with wild yeast adding tart acidity and subtle funk. One of the best beers we’ve had from The Bruery, Confession is bright and golden, with white wine character conjuring herbaceous and apple-y Riesling notes and the soft vanilla, buttery, and toasty oak barrel character of California Chardonnay. 9.4% ABV.

Bruery Terreux Frambulous – A Blended Sour Blonde Ale aged in Oak Barrels with Raspberries, Frambulous delivers immense, pulpy raspberry notes (and color) with a smooth but deeply developed lactic sour presence of tart grapefruit and lemon custard, with subtle oak adding key structure. Nuanced and expressive fruit character meets diverse acidities, with that time spent in oak barrels adding a hint of tannins and subtle vanilla. 5.3% ABV.

The Bruery Dodie – A Strong Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels with Grape Must, Cherries, Orange Zest & Spices, Dodie is modeled after the Manhattan cocktail. Dense, hazy golden-brown, Dodie employs rye, barley, wheat, a blend of 20+ spices, and grape must for bitters-esque and vermouth-like notes. Vibrant orange zest, plush cherries, and a slightly prickly carbonation add lift and brightness to this sturdy brew. 11.7% ABV.

The Bruery Chronology: 12 – This Bourbon Barrel Aged English-Style Old Ale is an intricately packed, 16.7% ABV, English-style old ale that’s spent 12 months in Bourbon barrels. Deep, hazy dark brown and super complex with notes of bourbon, brown sugar, and fruity, vinous warmth. A thread of red wine meets bourbon and dried dark fruits with hints of vanilla and char, marshmallow and bright oak, and a surprisingly lean feel from just enough fine-bubbled CO2. 16.7% ABV.

Flexible ordering allows you to order 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 total bottles, combining any of the four featured beers in any way to get there so that you can easily try all four. Orders ship after our September 30 cut-off date.

Order online or at 800-625-8238 Mon-Fri 7 am – 5 pm Pacific. If your Rare Beer Club membership was a gift, you will be contacted by one of our team members for payment information if you submit your order online.

CLICK HERE to sign up as a new member through BeerPulse with a discount. Then CLICK HERE for full Bruery beers tasting notes, and to access the order form.

If you wish to get any of these limited selections, please respond to this special offer by 12:00 PM Pacific on Friday, September 30.

Cheers!

Kris Calef
President, The Rare Beer Club®

*****

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BeerPulse Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Berlin opens for business (video)

(Escondido, CA) – Quick media note from Stone Brewing Co. regarding the recent opening of its Berlin location…

“You may have heard by now that Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Berlin and our Berlin brewery are in full operation! It’s a momentous occasion come to fruition six years after Stone’s founders first stepped foot on the property of the historic 1901 gasworks facility. Last week we officially opened the doors to our destination restaurant and __beer mecca, offering 75 different beers on tap – the largest selection in the entire country of Germany! We’re now distributing Stone beers to 17 countries throughout Europe.”

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BeerPulse The Lost Abbey Madonna and Child, a Tequila Barrel-Aged Sour Ale, due out in coming week

[Press Release:]

(San Marcos, CA) – Since 2006, The Lost Abbey has been experimenting with its Oak Aging Program, using barrels from across the spectrum of sprits, and now they will be releasing their second Tequila barrel-aged beer, Madonna and Child.

A dark sour ale with Lime and Salt, Madonna and Child was inspired by Southern California’s love for Margaritas.

Intense citrus aroma with just a hint of sweetness, Madonna and Child begins with a refreshing lime tartness, balanced with some dark sugar and ending with a splash of salt and some spice from the tequila.

“The blending process for Madonna and Child was an adventure in itself,” said Tomme Arthur, COO and Co-Founder of The Lost Abbey. “We really wanted to capture the essence of properly crafted Margarita which proved to be a nice challenge for our crew”.

Madonna and Child will be available throughout The Lost Abbey distribution network in the coming week.

About The Lost Abbey
Founded in 2006, The Lost Abbey produces an extensive line-up of continental and American- inspired ales and lagers. Under the direction of visionary brewmaster and co-founder Tomme Arthur, the brewery has garnered dozens of awards including the 2007 Great American __beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year, The 2008 world Beer Cup Champion Small Brewery and the 2013 Champion Brewery at the San Diego International Beer Festival. The company’s beers, many of which are aged in oak barrels for 12 months or longer, are universally recognized for their complexity, unique flavors and bold boundary-pushing styles. For more information, contact Port Brewing / The Lost Abbey / The Hop Concept at 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069, telephone (800) 918-6816, and on the web at www.LostAbbey.com

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Every Beer And Pizza Lover's Wildest Fantasy Just Came True

Homer Simpson will be licking his lips.

That's because beer-infused pizza is now a thing. Mmmmm.

One Pizza Hut restaurant in north London, England, is launching a one-day trial of the bizarre combo on Friday.

And if enough people dig the new pie, created by adding craft __beer to its dough, the chain may roll it out across its 270 eateries in the United Kingdom.

Love craft beer? 🍺
Love pizza? 🍕
You’re in for a treat at Pizza Hut Finchley Lido 🍺🍕
We've COMBINED THEM #BeerPizza pic.twitter.com/2bU9MxTjj3

— Pizza Hut UK (@pizzahutuk) May 17, 2016

It's unclear whether the potentially delicious/disgusting blend will ever arrive in the U.S.

"We know that craft beers are really popular right now and we're celebrating this not just by adding craft beers to our menus, but also by adding this to our pizza dough," said Pizza Hut U.K.'s director of marketing Kath Austin. 

"We're proud to be the first chain in the U.K. to trial a beer-infused dough base. We look forward to rolling these out nationwide if they prove popular."

Customers at the chain's Finchley Lido Hut branch will have to whisper the secret code words "I like it hop" when they order their free beer-infused Steak Feast or vegetarian American Hot pies on Friday.

But they'll have to be quick. There's only a limited number of pies available.

Although the new pie may sound peculiar, Pizza Hut isn't a stranger to the weird dough game. Cheeseburger, Marmite or hot dog-stuffed crusts, anyone?

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How To Stop The Tragic Loss Of Beer On St. Patrick's Day

You can lose __beer on St. Patrick's Day by forgetting to put the six-pack in your backpack. Or you can lose it by getting it stuck in your facial hair.

Harry's grooming has a funny plea to avoid both the tragedy and embarrassment of the latter.

The stout you save may be your own.

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106-Year-Old Woman Says Beer Is The Secret To Her Longevity

Centenarian Sadie Snyder celebrated her 106th birthday Thursday and shared the surprising secret to her long life. Snyder told NECN News that she's been drinking __beer for as long as she can remember -- since she was 6 years old. 

Snyder said her father worked in the __beer industry. "Every week, he'd bring home a case of beer, and I'd wait up for him to come so I could have it. By the end of the week, they were all gone," Snyder told NECN.

We're not sure if she threw back any drinks at her birthday celebration, but we do know there was a cake, a bouquet of flowers from her 105-year-0ld best friend, and even a card from President Barack Obama at the party hosted by her Boston-area assisted living facility.

Snyder says she's feeling "great" and her physical therapist agrees. 

And perhaps the beer has something to do with it. Other centenarians have also said they can toast their health with a pint or two. A Staten Island woman turning 101 said that she still drinks beer and wine daily. Another Pennsylvania centenarian said "a lot of booze" has kept her going for 100 years. 

The protein and B-vitamin content is said to be higher in beer than in wine and some evidence suggests it can increase your "good" cholesterol levels -- when drunk in moderation. But don't go rushing out to buy a six-pack just yet. Most physicians agree that it's not a good idea to start drinking if you don't already and that moderation and care are extremely important with alcohol consumption. 

h/t NECN

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16 Foods Good For Longevity

16 Foods Good For Longevity

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Asparagus

Asparagus is anti-inflammatory and provides digestive support, according to "The Longevity Kitchen," a book that explains the life-extending benefits of healthy foods.

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Is This Finally The Year For Nitro Beer?

Nitro beer "will change the world of craft brewing," Food Republic proclaimed two years ago.

Last year, CNBC said nitro is "beer's new frontier."

And this year, after three years of experimentation, Samuel Adams launched a new line of nitro (short for nitrogenated) canned beer, which includes a white ale, IPA and coffee stout; it says more varieties are forthcoming. People like them for their velvety smooth, well-balanced mouthfeel.

This all makes us wonder: Could 2016 finally be the year nitro goes mainstream?

Another Pint Please.../Flickr

First, a little explanation: Nitro beers aren't like your average beer; they get their fizz from a mix of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The nitrogen interacts with the __beer to make it a smoother, creamier, more evenly flavored, less bitter __beer with a bigger, frothier head. Nitro beers from the can really do taste and feel like a beer from the tap at a bar. 

How does it happen? We'll let the Brewers Association explain:

"Nitrogen is largely insoluble in liquid, which is what contributes to the thick mouth feel. This effect is helped by a special piece of tap equipment known as a restrictor plate that forces the beer through tiny holes before it lands in the glass. That process causes the 'rising' effect that is topped with the head. And it’s really only the bubbles on the sides of the glass that fall. Inside they are actually rising, as typically seen with a poured carbonated beverage."

So why aren't more beers doing it?

It's a hard process to perfect. "We've had to put several million dollars of special equipment in just to fill these widget cans properly," Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams beer and chairman of Boston beer Company, told CNBC. "We spent two years and a couple million dollars to put in the changes to the canning line to do it right."

It's even harder for the smaller craft brewers to do it, and a spokesperson for the Brewers Association told HuffPost it doesn't have data on how many brewers currently make nitrogenated beers. Left Hand Brewing's Nitro Milk Stout and Oskar Blues' Old Chub are more widely available craft nitros, and whereas breweries' biggest sellers are usually pale ales and IPAs, Left Hand's best-seller is that stout. 

Guinness is the nitro beer you probably already know about; shake an empty can of Guinness stout and you'll hear that nitrogenating widget rattle inside. It launched this technology in 1988, and recently debuted a new nitro beer, its IPA, last year.

Guinness' widget floats in the can; Samuel Adams' is fastened to the bottom of the can, and when you open the can, Samuel Adams recommends pouring the beer immediately into a glass, right down the middle, for the best result.

So: Yes. With two big brands making several nitro beers and microbreweries finding success with theirs, it's obvious that we're in the midst of a nitro moment -- but it'll take more than Samuel Adams and a new Guinness to make it explode in the marketplace.

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This Brewery Is Making Beer From Recycled Waste Water

Amid California's drought, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is reducing its environmental footprint by making beer from recycled wastewater. The water, taken from sinks, showers and washing machines, hasn't impacted the taste of the __beer either. Mavericks Tunnel Vision IPA passed a taste test at a Bay Area sustainability conference with flying colors last year. 

Check out the video above to see exactly how the brewing company makes the beverage. 

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Belgium Now Has An Underground Beer Pipeline

BRUGES, Belgium, Sept 16 (Reuters) - A Belgian brewery is turning on the taps of a pipeline buried beneath the medieval city of Bruges to transport its __beer to a bottling plant some 3 km (2 miles) away.

Four years in planning and five months in construction, the Halve Maan (Half Moon) brewery will officially open a pipe that will rid the historic city center and its tight cobbled lanes of beer-laden trucks weighing more than 40 tonnes.

The brewery bid farewell on Thursday to the last of those trucks, one of between 10 and 15 per week, from streets designed for a horse and cart and now packed with tourists.

Half Maan’s managing director, Xavier Vanneste, said the idea of a pipe had seemed crazy until he saw local workmen laying underground cables and started looking into it.

The brew master, five generational lines down from founder Henri Maes, said he could have moved the brewing to beside the bottling plant built in 2010 and kept the old site as a museum. But he wanted to retain the beers as products of the old city.

“People want to see something that is alive and not just some dusty museum,” he said.

Before World War Two, the city had some 30 __beer makers, but Halve Maan is the last of the old guard left and on a site where an earlier “Halve Maan” brewery operated 575 years ago.

The current site still brews the staple blond and brown Brugse Zot and the maltier and stronger Straffe Hendrik, but also welcomes visitors to its bar and more than 100,000 to its museum, both clear adverts for the brands for Belgians and foreigners.

The picture-perfect center of Bruges is a magnet for some 6.5 million tourists per year and a Unesco world heritage site home to early Flemish painters and filled with Gothic brick buildings, canals and historic churches.

It’s not just the pipeline that is novel. The way it was funded is too.

The pipeline cost some 4 million euros ($4.5 million). Halve Maan received a subsidy from the Flemish regional government, but also raised about 350,000 euros through crowdfunding, among the largest ever in Belgium, paying contributors back in beer.

Those paying the top-rate 7,500 euros will be rewarded with a bottle of Brugse Zot every day for the rest of their lives.

Halve Maan should also benefit too after volumes grew by 30 percent to some 5 million liters (8.8 million pints) last year and are set for 20 percent expansion in 2016.

“We could potentially increase by a factor of four or more with the new pipe. The bottleneck has been the trucks,” Vanneste said. ($1 = 0.8897 euros) (Additional reporting by Marilyn Haigh; Editing by Alexander Smith)

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beer and Wine Picks Based on Your Favorite Foods

Beer and Wine Picks Based on Your Favorite Foods

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If you like French fries, you'll love... Chardonnay and lager

Fries' best feature? Caramelization, the crunch created when a spud's sugar meets high heat. Oak transforms Chardonnay in a similar fashion, and lager shares a creamy texture with both these treats.

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Chicago Bar Selling Anti-Trump Beer

A Chicago bar is using what it knows best to take on Donald Trump: beer. 

Rogers Park Social is currently offering a __beer they’re calling “C****a Tu Pelo” and giving $1 of the proceeds from every drink to the local chapter of the ACLU, according to WGN-TV.

The full name of the beverage actually means, “F**k your hair.”

A photo posted by 5 Rabbit Cervecería (@5rabbitbrewery) on Jul 25, 2016 at 9:28pm PDT

The beer, originally called the Trump Golden Ale, was initially meant to be a house __beer for Trump Tower, and is made by a local brewery called 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, which is Latino-owned. But the name of the brew was changed, as was the brewery’s relationship with Trump, after the GOP nominee said Mexican immigrants were “bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists” into this country.

Bar owner Erik Archambeault told DNA Info that he wanted to donate part of the proceeds in order to ensure that everyone benefits from beer sales.

“We usually wouldn’t want to take a particular political stand as a business,” Manager Wally Andersen told DNA Info. “But living in one of the most diverse neighborhoods around, it makes sense to support this local brewery and their awesome products.”

If you’re in Chicago, you can snag a “C――- Tu Pelo” at Rogers Park Social from now until November. 

Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.

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Anti-Trump Street Art From Around The World

Anti-Trump Street Art From Around The World

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Egg Donald Trump (Furia ACK)

Furia ACK sprayed this portrait of Donald Trump in London's East End in January -- only to then pelt it with raw eggs and encourage other passersby to do the same. " I honestly believe a lot of people in the same situation would gladly do the same against him and his views,” the artist told London 24.

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'Dirty Water' From Boston's Charles River Is Being Used To Brew Beer

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IPAs For People Who *Think* They Hate Them

For Bon Appetit, by Joshua M. Bernstein.

Courtesy of Otter Creek Brewing

This is Foaming at the Mouth, Joshua M. Bernstein’s hopped-up adventures in the ever-expanding universe of beer. And yes, he would like another round, please.

Everyone loves IPAs, right? That was my theory when I started writing Complete IPA, my deep dive into the recent phenomenon that’s seen IPAs take over tap lines from L.A. to Tokyo, Rio to Berlin and beer-soaked lands in between. But as I, uh, endlessly researched (hey, that double IPA ain’t going to drink itself), I discovered both bitter revelation and opposition: “I don’t like IPAs,” I heard time and again.

Anchovies? Blue cheese? I get the intense dislike. What’s not to love about fragrant IPAs? They’re flavor chameleons, tasting like rainbow sorbet or evoking pine forests, sipping as smooth as gelato or spiky with bitterness. They’re blank slates for breweries’ experimental whims.

The IPA is not one thing, it’s everything, with flavor combinations as infinite and inventive as Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. I’ve heard the complaints, the bitterness and booziness, staleness and uncertainty. Whatever your beef with IPAs, I guarantee I’ve got one you’ll actually like.

Problem: You don’t like bitter beers
Fix: Try the new-breed Northeast-style IPAs.

During the IPA’s early millennium ascent, brewers escalated bitterness, constantly one-upping each other with beers so bitter you could barely finish a bottle. It was like sports bars serving ever-fierier chicken wings.

That fad’s phasing out. By using hops (especially varieties evocative of things like tropical fruit and ripe peaches) later in the brewing process, __beer makers intensify fragrances and aromas, not bitterness. Keep the __beer unfiltered for a foggier color and fuller flavor, maybe add oats and wheat for smoothness, and you have a template for the juicy new-school IPA that’s sweeping the Northeast and the nation.

If you’ve had the Alchemist‘s silky-smooth Heady Topper or any IPA from Hill Farmstead, you’ll like the dankly addictive Substance from Maine’s Bissell Brothers, or maybe Trillium’s Congress Street IPA. Think: biscuits, sun-warmed peaches, sweet melons.

Courtesy of Sixpoint Brewery

Many Northeast IPAs are hard-to-get, requiring a road trip. (Try this Vermont trek.) More widely distributed examples include Otter Creek Backseat Berner, a sweetly hazy stumble through pine forests and citrus groves, and Sixpoint Puff, as cloudy and resinous as a dorm room.

Moreover, the Northeast style has spread nationwide, with Colorado-based Odd13’s Caribbean-fruity Codename: Superfan and Portland brewery Great Notion doling out hazy, hardly bitter hop bombs like Ripe and Juice Box.

Problem: IPAs all taste the same
Fix: Seek out a new hop variety.

Pine trees. Citrus. Primo weed. Taste too many IPAs and they blur together like lunch at a cut-rate Chinese buffet. To escape the flavor fatigue, grab a pale ale or IPA humming with fresh varieties of hops, the flowers that impart bitterness, aroma, and flavor. Here are some hops to look out for:

Founders Mosaic Promise and Karl Strauss Mosaic Session IPA both showcase (you guessed it) Mosaic hops, which impart notes of blueberries, papaya, peaches, and pine.

Germany’s Mandarina Bavaria hop adds orangey complexity to beers such as Ska’s Modus Mandarina IPA (it also contains sweet orange peels).

Like watermelon Jolly Ranchers? You’ll love El Dorado hops, which star in Maine beer Company’s A Tiny Beautiful Something and Stone Delicious IPA, a gluten-reduced beer also containing the citrusy Lemondrop hops.

Related: 17 Gluten-Free Beers That Actually Taste Good

New Zealand’s fruity Nelson Sauvin hops provide a white wine–like nuance in Widmer Brothers’ Upheaval IPA and SanTan Brewing’s MoonJuice, which also contains Australia’s peachy, melon-like Galaxyhops. Give it a go in Tasmanian IPA, from Schlafly, or Tallgrass 8-Bit Pale Ale.

Always want to be surprised by an IPA? Firestone Walker’s canned and bottled Luponic Distortion features a new blend of experimental hops every 90 days.

Problem: IPAs are too strong
Fix: Grab a session IPA—or six.

Over the years, the IPA’s baseline ABV has crept up to around 7 percent. Two or three pints can swirl eyes like peppermint candy. That’s to say nothing of the double, triple, and quadruple IPAs, rivaling Riesling and Cabernet for ABV supremacy.

Instead of sacrificing sobriety for flavor, breweries have created low-alcohol, high-aroma IPAs that are about as boozy as Bud Light—but about a million times more flavorful. Try Evil Twin Citra Sunshine Slacker, as bright and tropical as a Caribbean vacation; 21st Amendment Down to Earth, reminiscent of toast topped with berry jam; or a Founders’ citrus-spritzed All Day IPA, a party beer sold by the 15-pack suitcase.

Courtesy of Founders Brewing

Problem: IPAs never, ever taste fresh
Fix: Check for the bottled- or canned-on date, or hit a brewery for a release.

To savor an IPA as the brewer intended, you should drink them close to their birthday.

Deciphering freshness used to be difficult, the date code a hieroglyphic string of numbers and letters. Increasingly, breweries utilize a simplified “best by” or “packaged on” code, commonly found on a beer bottle’s neck or label, or a can’s bottom. Generally speaking, IPAs are ideally enjoyed within 90 days. And seek out beers stored cold, far from sunshine.

Instead of stalking a delivery truck, you can also look for Stone’s Enjoy By series of IPAs. Their expiration dates—37 days after packaging—are built directly into the label, while Sam Adams similarly themed Rebel Raw double IPA has a 35-day shelf life.

Courtesy of 21st Amendment Brewery

Problem: You don’t know what an IPA tastes like
Fix: Try a fruited IPA.

Buying IPAs has never been easier—or more mystifying. But labels don’t always accurately describe the liquid inside, sometimes leading to disappointment. To hedge your bets, look to the new breed of fruit-infused IPAs. Done deftly, adding blood oranges, grapefruit, or pineapple can accentuate the inherent fruity profile of hops. Fruited IPAs are never subtle, sure, but they are truth in advertising, a trusted commodity.

Courtesy of Dogfish Head Brewery

Try Dogfish Head’s brand-new Flesh & Blood, tart and zesty with lemon pulp and blood orange juice, and New Belgium’s Citradelic—a sweetly tropical love letter to tangerines. Also, Ballast Point has spun off several variants of its tropical Sculpin, including pineapple and grapefruit versions that taste like never-ending summer vacation.

More from Bon Appetit:

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make These Lemon Desserts

No-Cook Pasta Sauces You Should Have Up Your Sleeve at All Times

Gooey, Gorgeous Cheese Recipes

35 Make-Ahead Breakfasts so You Can Sleep in and Eat Well All Week

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Brewing Up Some Fun in Munich

Join me as we drop in on a classic __beer garden in Munich -- we're under the chestnut trees as happy locals enjoy a hot evening with cold (and very big) beers. I love Munich's Viktualienmarkt, a lively world of produce stands and budget eateries. Imagine enjoying a nice German __beer here with your favorite travel partner.

---

This is Day 55 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I'm reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, and beyond. Find more on my travel blog.

(This post originally appeared at blog.ricksteves.com/munich-beer-garden.)

Follow Rick Steves on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RickSteves

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The Booze You Get For Christmas Says This About You

Ornaments, chocolates, framed pictures, coffee mugs, handwritten greeting cards expressing your deepest sentiments: These are some of the presents you could give this holiday season that won't be nearly as appreciated as alcohol.

But why do some people receive bottles of champagne for Christmas while others receive PBR tallboys? What is the gift-giver saying about the recipient? Scientists spent years researching these alcoholic beverages thoroughly, many of them developing serious drinking problems, and came back with these answers.

Here's what people are really saying when they give you these alcohol beverages with a bow on top:

• Fancy Champagne

  A photo posted by @kdb__ on Dec 15, 2015 at 1:33pm PST
  "Please give me that promotion."
• Case of Budweiser

  A photo posted by Matt Dever (@matrd37) on Dec 25, 2014 at 7:47am PST
  "I put a lot of thought into your gift while I was at the gas station."
• Southern Comfort

  A photo posted by Southern Comfort (@southerncomfort) on Dec 12, 2015 at 2:41pm PST
  "I found this unopened in my liquor cabinet."
• Home-Brewed Beer

  A photo posted by Amber Sky Lilly (@lucidcreator) on Sep 19, 2015 at 9:08pm PDT
  "You seem forgiving enough to forget how sick everyone got from this recipe last Christmas."
• Enormous Bottle of Wine

  A photo posted by Emma Bjerre Cobley (@emmacobleyy) on Dec 15, 2015 at 12:19pm PST
  "Have a nice Christmas alone!"
• 2 Oz. Bottle of Liquor

  A photo posted by Diego Yaco (@yacobmx) on Mar 21, 2014 at 4:26pm PDT
  (Said sarcastically) "Don't drink this all in one sitting!"
  
  NOTE: if the giver and recipient are both tiny, mystical forest pixies, the message is actually...
  
  (Said somberly) "Don't drink this all in one sitting."
• Guinness

  A photo posted by Fionns Guelph (@fionnsguelph) on Dec 9, 2013 at 12:54pm PST
  "All I know about you is that your last name is O'Connor."
• Lady Bligh Spiced Rum

  A photo posted by Tristan (@kicksandpies) on May 16, 2015 at 5:28pm PDT
  "You give off a 'broke pirate' vibe."
• Expensive Wine You've Never Heard Of

  A photo posted by Colectivo Decantado (@colectivodecantado) on Dec 5, 2015 at 11:16am PST
  "I have sophisticated tastes and you should consider sex with me."
• Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey

  A photo posted by Cortney King (@littlekinggg) on Dec 25, 2013 at 1:40pm PST
  "You are 14 years old."
• Johnnie Walker Red Label Whisky

  A photo posted by The Eye Of Gates (@teogphotography) on Dec 13, 2015 at 7:59pm PST
  "Sorry, you aren't exactly a Black Label friend."
• Barrymore Pinot Grigio

  A photo posted by Barrymore Wines (@barrymorewines) on Aug 21, 2015 at 6:19am PDT
  "To You, From Drew Barrymore. Obviously. No one else would give someone they care about Barrymore Pinot Grigio."
• $1.9 Million Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne

  A photo posted by First Class Magazine (@firstclassmagazine) on Jul 3, 2013 at 3:53pm PDT
  "Oh, shit. There was a $10 limit on the office gift exchange?"
• Four Loko

  A photo posted by @fourloko_christmas on Dec 1, 2014 at 2:26pm PST
  "I want you to die."

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President Obama Drinking Beer

President Obama Drinking Beer

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President Barack Obama holds a __beer during a visit to Gator's Dockside restaurant in Orlando, Florida, on September 8, 2012 during the first day of a 2-day bus tour across Florida. AFP PHOTOS/SAUL LOEB

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