Archive for July, 2009

Last minute notice on this one, so we’ve shifted the tasting schedule! Alan Shapiro, owner of SBS Imports, will be in our fair mountain city TOMORROW for a sampling of Dirk Naudts’ (“The Prof”) De Proef beers. It’s a four-beer line-up of some of the collaborations between De Proef and American brewers, including Van Twee with Bell’s Brewery, which isn’t even on the market yet! (That one is “while supplies last,” so come early.) All of these beer are on the funky side, using brettanomyces for a refreshing, sour taste on the palate.

De Proef Zoetzuur
“From the Flemish translation for ‘sweet-sour.’ This is a unique amber colored ale of multi-yeast strain fermentation, with a hint of Belgian Kriek (cherry) juice added. The brewer has combined these elements in a subtle and complex blend where sour notes are balanced by tart fruit, hints of wood, and a velvety finish.” [7.0% abv]

De Proef Van Twee
Collaboration between Dirk Naudts and John Mallett of Bell’s Brewery in Michigan, this is a Belgian ale brewed with cherry juice from Michigan sour cherries and using native Michigan beets for the bottle-conditioning sugar. Described as a hybrid Porter and abbey Dubbel. [7.5% abv]

De Proef Signature
“A unique collaboration with noted San Diego brewer Tomme Arthur [of Lost Abbey/Port Brewing]. A complex hybrid of aggressively hopped west coast IPA, combined with traditional Belgian brettanomyces fermentation. Strong citrus hop notes followed by hints of sourness and delicate spice and a long finish.”[8.5% abv]

De Proef Les Deux Brasseurs
“The second beer in the Brewmaster’s Collaboration Series created with Jason Perkins of Allagash Brewing in Maine. LDB is fermented with two strains of brettanomyces – on from each brewery. A bright golden ale with a full rocky head. A complex array of aromas and flavors including apricot, peach, pineapple, barnyard/sour notes from the brett, graham craker, herbal and spicy hop notes.”

And we’ll give you hint that the next collaboration is going to be with an American brewer must closer to home: Spike from Terrapin Brewery in Athens, Georgia! Ok, so that wasn’t a hint. Oh, well! See you tomorrow.

[Image: Beernews.org]

Yeah, I know. Again! Vote, vote, vote for Asheville!

Imbibe Magazine is holding its own unscientific poll for The Best Craft Beer City in the America. The Asheville Chamber is already on it this morning and we’ve spread the word far and wide. Now it’s your turn to vote and spread the word—email it, blog it, Tweet it, stick it on FB, Digg it, Stumbleupon it—whatever you want. Checking this morning tally, Asheville is killin’ it with 45.9% of the vote. Looks like we’re going to be neck-in-neck with Portland, Oregon again. Keep the votes coming! Let’s win this one straight-up! I love you all for being so passionate about beer. Really, I mean that.

We have some special love for Imbibe Magazine, because last year they named the humble storefront one of the “Top Ten Bottleshops in the Country.” Imagine our shock and awe when we opened that issue! …And we may or may not be contributing to an upcoming issue, but you didn’t hear that from us. It’s pure conjecture.

Now, VOTE, peeps!

The NC beer tax issue is on for tomorrow. Here’s the whole shebang, straight from the inbox:

Dear Beer Enthusiast,

I’m writing with an urgent request. The North Carolina legislature will decide if beer taxes are included in the budget proposal by tomorrow afternoon.

We need your immediate help, before the legislature singles out beer drinkers to balance the budget. We need as many calls as possible into the legislature, to help shape the debate.

Help stop this unfair tax.

Step 1: Please call the North Carolina legislative hotline at 919-614-8418, and ask for your State Representative and State Senator, and respectfully ask them to take beer taxes out of the budget. We are doing everything we can to get final correspondence into the North Carolina legislature, as the final budget agreement between the North Carolina Senate is being developed.
If you don’t know the names of your State Senator and State Representative, the legislative hotline operator will help you find their names.

Step 2: Forward this request to your friends and family. Help us grow the campaign.

Step 3: Join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120370789357 to show your support for North Carolina beer, and oppose unfair taxes!

And this is why you don’t want a beer tax…
As I’ve mentioned before on the dear ol’ bloggy blog, the UK pubs are suffering immensely from beer taxes. Accordingly to Bloomberg, 52 pubs are closing a WEEK. Holy crap. That is just insane. The total number of closings total 2,337 in the last year with a loss of over 24,000 jobs. Further, the pub closings are wreaking havoc on the government, too. With each pub that closes, the government loses £107,000 in lost taxes annually, in addition to jobless benefit claims. “Closing pubs are not only a loss to communities, but a loss to the Treasury,” BBPA Chief Executive David Long said in the statement. “Government now needs to listen to the pub sector in the same way it listens to other sectors suffering this level of job losses.”

Woman in Malaysia to be flogged over beer
A Malaysian model will be flogged with a rattan cane for consuming beer in public at a hotel nightclub—”a punishment usually reserved for men in various crimes ranging from rape to bribery.” Wow. So, beer is the equivalent of rape is the Muslim world? Disgusting.

Someone stole a lot of beer in Florida
There’s always some weird news coming out of Florida (especially if you’re a FARK fan), but this is ridiculous: $70,000 worth of beer was stolen from a trucking company in Tampa. “One trailer was carrying 1,260 six-packs of Corona Extra beer, deputies say. The other trailer contained 990 six-packs of Corona and 990 cases of Modella Especial beer.” At least is wasn’t craft beer!

This one’s for the dudes
Portraying men in beer ads as “dogs, dolts, dopes” has jumped the shark. Or, it will very soon. Is this news?

Starbucks jumps on the bandwagon
We have absolutely no clue as to why they would be doing this, but one Starbucks in Seattle is “experimenting” by adding beer and wine to their menu. One can assume, if it takes off, more will do the same. Or are coffee sales down that much? I can tell you, I won’t be ordering a Venti Porter anytime soon.

AB-InBev to go “upscale” with Belgian-style beers
This just makes me want to puke. “…Can Anheuser-Busch—maker of Bud Light, Budweiser and Natural Light—successfully manage the upscale brands in the U.S.? Anheuser-Busch is known for its ability to flood the zone with huge brands but has historically been less successful at nurturing niche products. But with InBev now in charge, selling the high-end Belgian beers is a higher priority.” Yup, start looking for more of those Stella Artois ads on the idiot box. Wonder what the head honchos at A-B think of that merger now?

On Thurday, July 23, Hugh Sisson, founder and partner in Clipper City Brewing Company in Baltimore, Md. will be here for a tasting of the Heavy Seas line. Heavy Seas is a favorite around these parts. So embrace your inner pirate and join us! We’re one of the firsts to have the brand new Big DIPA! Arghhhhh!

Small Craft Warning
“We call this beer an Über Pils – a pilsner style bock lager. Rich, malty, and well rounded but with a firm structure of noble hops. Surprisingly pale in color for such a powerful, complex beer.” [7.25% abv] Silver Medal- World Beer Championship 2007

Red Sky At Night
“This beer is brewed in the Belgian Saison style (farmhouse ale). A potent yet delicate ale, brewed with a unique Belgian yeast which develops a spicy, fruity flavor. Enormously complex. Available from May to around August.” [7.5% abv]

Peg Leg Stout
“A dry Imperial stout with rich black color and aromas of roasted coffee, molasses, dark chocolate, toffee and caramel. Rich, powerful, and lingering.” [8.0% abv]

Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale
Called Hop 3 (hop cubed) ale to reflect the enormous amount of hops in this beer: over 3 pounds per barrel! Also the beer is hopped 3 ways – in the kettle, in the hop back, and dry hopped. Winner of the Overall Best of Show Award in the Maryland State Governor’s Cup 2005 Competition and voted the #1 IPA by Mahaffey’s Pub. Available year round!” [7.5% abv]

Big DIPA (new!)
“This Double IPA, is the first in the Heavy Seas Special Edition Series. Hopped 3 times in the brewing process, Big DIPA has an earthy hop aroma. In keeping with the Heavy Seas philosophy we’ve made a big beer with a surprising balance. The label artwork was created by Kurt Krol, one of our brewers who also helped to develop the recipe.” [10.6% abv]