Archive for the '2010' Category

At the moment I’m sitting in the terminal at the San Antonio Airport. My purpose for being here? I’m heading out to my home state of Colorado and the city of Denver to attend the Great American Beer Festival, the largest beer festival in the world..and the best one. Over 400 breweries are represented here each year over a course of 3 days with many events spread throughout the week.

GABF is a Mecca of beer events and one that seems to bring pretty much everyone involved with craft beer together in one convenient spot. I confess though, this is my first visit to this wonderful event. I grew up in Colorado, lived in Denver for many years and come back each year to visit, yet I have not attend the one event should be attended. At least I’ve made this year and what a blast it will be. My family is here and my sister is coming to town as well. Fun, family and beer.

What is absolutely amazing is that many attending already know each other well, but have never met, or at least not often. This phenomenon can be explained with two words: Social Media. Social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter have done a lot for many, and this certainly is true of the craft beer world. Many talk daily, trading information on beers they’ve had, homebrewing tips and recipes, places to go and cultivating friendships. Without this connection, the world of craft beer would be much smaller. What a great opportunity for all of us to meet up! A great group of people with a common mission: to learn about and educate others about the world of craft beer.

Sarah Huska lives in the Chicago area. An area known for the 1893 World’s Fair that spawned the first Ferris Wheel and also brought Chicago back from the dead after fires nearly destroyed the city in 1871. But why stop there? Chicago is home of the Cubbies, the White Sox, Blackhawks and Bears. Mike Ditka, Al Capone, Wrigley Field and Chicago style deep dish pizza. For me, it’s one of the cleanest metropolitan cities in the United States. Chicago has had quite a history the last 150 years. But Chicago is also becoming known for other things. Sure the allure of Michigan Ave. is hard to resist. Lake Michigan is gorgeous to look at, but Chicago is also known for its involvement in craft beer. It also home to Ray Daniels and the Cicerone Certification Program.

What has this to do with Sarah Huska? Quite a lot actually. She is the sole employee for the Cicerone Program and responsible for most of the administrative duties. Don’t et that fool you though. Sarah knows a hell of a lot about beer. Not just the styles, how to pour, or what the 3-tier distribution system means to beer in the U.S., no she knows what is needed in a particular style, how it should look and feel and taste. She’s seemingly taken what was an interest and turned it into a passion. Oh, and she’s only 24.

Continue reading ‘The incomparable Ms. Sarah Huska.’

Orignaly posted on Aug 31, 2010 19:31 – By: Jeremybanas
Weekend Destinations for the Craft Beer Aficionado

Texas is big. I know, surprise, surprise. You can drive for hours and never leave the state. So where can you go for a quick weekend get away? A place that takes both no time at all to get to, but gets you away from the daily grind? There are many places in and around San Antonio, Austin and Houston that both natives and visitors can get to with relative ease. Blanco, Texas is one such town. Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, this quant little town boasts quite a lot of history, beautiful landscape and fun things to do. Rivers, hills and lots of antique shopping. Plenty for everyone. For those who also partake in the pleasures of a American craft beer, Blanco is also home to the Real Ale Brewing Company.

Continue reading ‘Real Ale Brewing Company’

Continue reading ‘Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling’

It’s August newsletter, Scottish craft brewery, Brewdog, announced it had yet again brewed the world’s strongest beer. This one weighing in at 55% ABV. For the longest time, Samuel Adams Utopias was the strongest, weighing in at around 7%, depending on the year. Then last year, Brewdog hatched its Tactical Nuclear Penguin, weighing in at 32%. This was achieved by freezing the beer, removing water from it, thus increasing the alcohol by volume. Soon after, German brewer, Schorschbrau, came up with a brew that was 40% ABV.Ok, now we’re justing trying to one up each other. Not to be out done, Brewdog came bck with a 41% ABV concoction called ‘Sink the Bismark!’. Now Brewdog has arrived at ‘The End of History’. A 55% ABV beer.

Although beers of this high an alcohol concentration should be enjoyed in very small pours and over a sufficient period of time, it’s hard to really enjoy these beers. Utopias was pushing it as it is. That tasted like a fine cognac and a very good one. With Tactical, Sink The Bismark! and The End of History, we seem to be getting to the point where were artificially upping the abv simply because we can, and not pushing the edge of brewing.

It seems to be trendy to have the highest ABV beer out there and as much as I love and respect what Brewdog is and seems to be trying to do, please, let’s stop the madness and brew a beer that isn’t a marketing ploy. Brewdog has some very solid beers and I buy many of them, let’s stick with creative and not blow my palette .

That being said, I don’t mean to offend the fine folks at Brewdog. I love their stuff. I just had to get this off my chest.