Ommegang brewmaster leaves for New Glarus
We really, really, really balked at this one. Peetoteeto from Pop The Cap drops this news on the Beerinator forum today. Is it just us or does “Director of Quality Control” sound like New Glarus is going to be making a lot more Wisconsin Red? (That is not at all a bad thing.) Phil Leinhart will rise to the task of new brewmaster in Cooperstown. The full press release is here.

Dogfish Head gets their anthropology on… again.
Dogfish Head is releasing Theobroma, in August 2008, which is based on pottery shards found in Honduras that contained the “earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink.” Never to disappoint with the crazy, Sam and crew, used “Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs, honey, chilies, and annatto (fragrant tree seeds).” Theobroma is 10.0% abv and will be available in Champagne bottles. This description reads like the brew is more of a Gruit, though definitely not European. We want to know more.

The New York Times needs better beer writers
While we sit over here just trying to get used to the little things like writing ‘08 on everything, the NYT invests in yet another beer article published today. (They have had a ton lately.) This one questions the merits of Extreme Beer and comes complete with two exceptionally dumb photos of a tattooed and pierced (and what looks to be naked) guy, whom we can only guess is meant to represent the Extreme Beer Drinker. He has “Carpe Diem” on his traps, “Ruthless” on his chest, and “Hard” on his knuckles. And piercings. And jewelry. He is totally extreme, dude. Bring the man a Stone Ruination. (Which is mentioned in the article, by the way.) Our favorite quote? “Many beer lovers are aghast at the creative liberties American brewers are taking with traditional styles, feeling that the bigger-is-better principle is reducing American brewing to the equivalent of a frat party.” Aghast? Really? Here. Join the ranting. Er, I mean debate.