Aug 27, 2009
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing | 7 comments
As a sometimes home brewer who primary has made ales from the British Isles, I have several authentic British pint glasses. Authentic because they are emblazoned with a royal engraving on the glass, which certifies it one imperial pint (~20oz). Truth be told, all these glasses are now made in Calais, France, but they are the royal standard.
Now it seems they may be in danger of becoming a thing of the past, due to the Home Office’s obsession of ridding the United Kingdom of anything that could possibly be used as a weapon. That would be tragic, in my opinion.
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Jul 16, 2009
Posted by Sebastian in Boneheads, Brewing, New Jersey | Comments Off
Apparently neo-prohibitionist group MADD is angry at Flying Fish brewery over in New Jersey for naming one of their beers “Exit 4 American Trippel.” Apparently unaware that people in New Jersey locate other New Jerseyans through “What exit are you at,” MADD seems to feel that any association with highways and beer is entirely wrong, and promotes drinking drunk driving. Apparently the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is worried people might think they have suddenly turned into a microbrewery, and are taking notice.
I’ve always liked Flying Fish beers, so if you’re in an area you can get it, have some this weekend. I’m particularly going to try to track down some Exit 4 Trippel, and enjoy a few bottles out on my patio, just as a nice f**k you to MADD. What’s next? Calling the FAA and bitching that their name and logo promote drinking and flying? Hang in there Flying Fish. Don’t let the nannies win.
Hat Tip to Instapundit
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Jul 2, 2009
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing | 7 comments
A guide to which states consume the most beer. Seems that Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Nevada drink more than most. You’d think for people that drink so much beer, Montana would have better microbreweries. Maybe this is my excuse to move out there.
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Mar 26, 2009
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing | 6 comments
Illinois defeats two gun control measure in as many days, and now Utah has legalized home brewing. What’s next? Is Texas going to pass a law allowing gay marriage?
It’s good news though. It’s been a long time since I’ve made any beer. I keep meaning to brew up a batch, but I usually brew out on the back patio. I’ve decided that’s how I will celebrate it’s completion. I’ll just have to look at it as a $5000 piece of brewing equipment.
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Sep 9, 2007
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing | 7 comments
Many people aren’t all that familiar with the adult beverage known as mead, which is a form of wine that is made from honey rather than grapes. I’m a brewer, and not much of a wine maker, but I figured I’d try my hand at making a batch of mead.
I have to declare my experiment only a partial success. Success in the sense that I have something alcoholic, that isn’t disgusting to drink, but only partial in the sense that it has a lot of autolytic notes. That’s usually a result of leaving the fermented product on the yeast cake too long, and not racking into another fermenter often enough. I certainly am guilty of getting lazy with this batch. I started this batch late last winter, racked it to secondary in late spring, put it off into a corner and kind of forgot about it until earlier this week.
Fortunately, my friend Gene tells me that autolytic notes are a feature of champaign, so I decided to actually keg the mead, and charge it with some carbonation. If the mead is sparkling, it might actually taste correct for that style. One thing is for sure, at least, it’s effective stuff. I drank a little of the leftovers, and I’m doing pretty well right about now.
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Sep 9, 2007
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing, Philadelphia | 5 comments
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a great editorial up on beer buying in Pennsylvania, for those of you who are unfamiliar with our arcane alcohol control laws:
It still makes little sense for the state to be in the liquor business, but the nearly $500 million in annual revenue generated by liquor sales and taxes is a powerful incentive to maintain the status quo.
Where does that leave consumers? Hoping for whatever customer-friendly upgrades to the state’s liquor-sale rules are possible, that’s where.
(Remember, it’s still against the law to zip over the bridge and bring back your favorite, reasonably priced tipple from New Jersey.)
Enter the Sheetz convenience-store chain, along with its years-long legal battle seeking the right to sell beer for take-out.
I am south of the Wawa/Sheetz line, but I wish Sheetz the best of luck with this case. Wawa is sure to take advantage of this as well, so a win for Sheetz is a win for everybody.
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Sep 1, 2007
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing | 2 comments
Michael Jackson, who is the beer critic of beer critics, has died as the age of 65 from Parkinson’s disease:
Jackson especially loved Belgian brews. His books “The Great Beers of Belgium” and “World Guide to Beer” introduced them to many export markets, including the United States.
By identifying beers by their flavors and styles, and by pairing them with particular foods and dishes, Jackson helped give birth to a renaissance of interest in beer and breweries worldwide that began in the 1970s, including the North American microbrewery movement.
This is to the beer community like losing Jeff Cooper was to us gunnies. This weekend, I will enjoy a bottle of Liefmans Frambozen in his memory. So long Michael.
Hat tip to Rustmeister.
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Aug 22, 2007
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing, Philadelphia | 6 comments
I’m familiar with the neighborhood Dock Street Brew Pub is going into. A former girlfriend of mine lives at 48th and Baltimore. I will definitely pay it a visit when it opens.
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Aug 7, 2007
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing | 4 comments
Pennsylvania is home to some really fantastic breweries, from Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, to Pennsylvania Brewing Company in Pittsburgh, it’s a great state to live in, if you’re a beer lover. I’m happy to see us adding Philadelphia Brewing Company to the family of excellent Pennsylvania brewers.
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Aug 5, 2007
Posted by Sebastian in Brewing, Pennsylvania | 2 comments
I have to congratulate the Boston Beer Company, makers of Sam Adams, for choosing to open a new brewery in Pennsylvania rather than Freetown, Massachusetts.
Bit of advice for Deval Patrick: When business is fleeing Massachusetts for Pennsylvania, man, you have a real problem.
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