Some art and design student in the UK built a Ford Mustang out of beer cans as part of a promo for Budweiser.
Source/Image: NewCarNetCo.uk 

The Brewers Association’s Export Development Program, which recently sent US craft beer to China, has now sent more to Europe. Sweden is the largest export market for US craft beer. Who knew?
Source: Beertown.org

A graduate student at the University of Colorado sent a fermentation kit into orbit on the space shuttle a few years back and it worked!
Source: NewScientistSpace

Did you know it’s the US Treasury that controls alcohol labeling and not the Food and Drug Adminstration? Yeah, we didn’t either. Anyway, they’re aiming to mandate standards of labeling within three years.
Source: USAToday

Remember back in May when we told you about Frank Boon sending several Lambic casks to the States for a vertical tasting? And we too quickly claimed that cool events like that don’t happen down South? How wrong we were! The Boon casks have made it way beyond Boston and The Brickstore Pub in Decatur, GA is having a Vanberg & DeWulf dinner tonight. We are going. And so, please know Bruisin’ Ales will be closed today in the interest of beer education.

Ah, Bele Chere. You came and went and thankfully, you are now over. This was our first since the late 90s and we were amazed at the total lack of “beautiful living” the festival displayed. We sincerely thank our regulars who dropped by during the festival to buy some beer, but there is no question we are officially on the side of those that say Bele Chere significantly hurts downtown businesses. We feel there is a responsibility by Bele Chere to promote local businesses directly and not force us to rely on paid advertising opportunities like the Mountain XPress “Guide to Bele Chere.” If it were any other weekend, our weekly ad in the Mountain XPress would do just fine. For the record, we did our part after-hours to shop locally at Cornerstone Minerals and eat at two fantastic restaurants, Thai Basil and Zambra.

Well, at least there was no gang violence. (Wait. What?)

One great thing came from preparing for the war that never happened, however: We converted the entire cooler into singles racks. We like it and think you’ll like it, so it’s staying. You can still yank a full sixer of anything cold you want or mix-n-match them. 

Here’s a nifty appetizer recipe from About.com: Beer Puffs. These flavorful puffs can be filled with crabmeat or whatever suits your fancy for a tasty appetizer.

1 cup beer (experiment!)
1/4 pound butter
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
Filling of your choice

To Prepare: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Butter or oil a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.

In a heavy saucepan, heat beer and butter until it barely comes to a boil and the butter is melted.

Add flour and salt, lower heat, and stir constantly until the mixure pulls away from the side of the pan and forms a ball. Remove from the heat and let rest for 1 minute. Add eggs, one at a time, beating each one in until the dough is shiny.

Drop or pipe dough in 1-inch rounds onto prepared baking pan. Bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees F. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F. Bake an additional 10 minutes until brown and dry. Let cool away from moisture.

Yield: 60 to 80 small puffs

Recipe by: Peggy Trowbridge Filippone

So we can get ready for Bele Chere, there will be no in-store tasting today. (We’re crazy, but not that crazy.) We will pick-up with tastings next Thursday, August 2.