Bells “The Oracle” DIPA Ale

September 15, 2009 by Rob

I’m the proud new owner of six Bells “The Oracle” Double IPA.  If everyone hadn’t heard, Bells brewed a small batch of this Double IPA.  It came out a couple weeks ago, and they finally reached my beer store, where a six pack was safely stuck aside for me.   The beer differs in malt/hop profile from the Two Hearted and Hop Slam.   It is just as good as everyone says (see Beer Advocate reviews – click here).  This beer is a hop bomb.  A huge citrus smell and taste.  A very upfront hop wallop, with the malt flavors sitting far in the back.
I’m not sure it’s confirmed, but I read somewhere it weighs in at 10.4% ABV & 110 IBU’s.   Wow.  For as “big” as this beer is, it’s very drinkable.   I sipped on one out of my favorite Bells tulip glass after dinner tonight, but had to take a break half way through to go mow the lawn.  I put the glass in the refrigerator, came back over an hour later, and the beer still has a slight head on it.  I haven’t seen these at any store, but keep your eyes opened and report back to us.  Mine were $3.19 per bottle.  I read on Beer Advocate that they arrive at stores and quickly disappear.  Maybe the popularity of this will give Bells reason to brew it once a year.   We can only hope!!     Thanks Bells, another fantastic release.

Posted in Beer News, Beer Pictures, Beer Review, Beer Style, beer 5 Comments »

Jolly Pumpkin Ann Arbor location to open Wednesday

September 15, 2009 by Rob

The Ann Arbor Michigan Jolly Pumpkin location opens to the public on Wednesday, September 16th @ 11 a.m.
Address:  311 S. Main Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (click for map)

More information on the opening, posted on Beer Advocate:

Here is what the opening draught list will look like:
- Bam Biere
- 
Bam Noire
- 
Autumn Bam (pub only amber / wheat sour brewed in Dexter)
- Chocolate Stout (non-sour brewed onsite)
- Belipago (non-sour Belgian IPA brewed onsite)
- Vienna / Marzen (non sour brewed with Ale yeast onsite)
- North Peak Diabolical IPA (66.6 IBU’s and 6.6% ABV)
- 
North Peak Siren Amber

Posted in Beer and Food, Brewery/Brewpub 5 Comments »

Beer List Announced for MBG UP Oktoberfest

September 3, 2009 by Kevin Nash

Here are all the details including beer list from http://www.michiganbrewersguild.org/ on the upcoming Oktoberfest in Marquette, MI. This is the first year for this event and I hope the UP is ready to party because I am. I should put a disclaimer on that last sentence. I am ready to party a safe amount for someone my age which is nowhere near the level of someone in their 20s. It’s all relative.

There will also be a party on Saturday September 5th at 6pm at Michigan Brewing to help bag tokens for this event.

 

U.P. Oktoberfest – Marquette, MI – 9.12.09
  BREAK OUT YOUR LEDERHOSEN

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 1-6 PM
MATTSON LOWER HARBOR PARK
MARQUETTE, MI

More than 150 beers from some of Michigan’s finest microbreweries and brewpubs. Live music. Food available for purchase. Rain or shine. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Beer Event, Michgan products, beer 1 Comment »

Why you should brew your own beer

August 26, 2009 by Rob

By Sean Fallon – Gizmodo – Aug. 26, 2009

Did you know that in most states, you can brew up to 100 gallons of beer or wine per adult in your home, 200 gallons max? So why are you still buying it from the supermarket?
To put that into perspective, 200 gallons will fill roughly 2000 12 oz bottles of beer or about 1000 standard 750mL bottles of wine. You can’t sell it, that’s illegal, but you can drink it yourself. While setting sail on a river of beer might seem enticing, many people are wary of homebrewing because it appears to be overly complex and scientific—but the truth is that basic beer and winemaking isn’t much more difficult than making soup. And the best part is that doing it yourself can have you enjoying a better quality of beverage at a substantially reduced cost….  click here to read the rest of the article

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And while we’re on the subject, if you haven’t heard, Monroe, MI has a homebrew club!   We meet the 2nd Thursday of every month.  This months meeting is September 10th @ Harbor Inn & Ale from 6-8 p.m..  The topic of discussion will be:  Growing, harvesting hops and how to use them in your homebrew.   See:  MuskratMashers.com for more info.

Posted in Brewing, Homebrew Club, Muskrat Mashers No Comments »

Seasonal Beer Relaease – Wheatwacker Ale

August 26, 2009 by Kevin Nash

I am throwing up a quick post then getting back to preparing for Maggie’s first birthday.

Looking for something to do tonight? There is a beer release at Original Gravity so there is your answer Fishbulb. (Simpson’s reference).

Title: Seasonal Beer Release- Wheatwacker Ale
Description: American style wheat beer that is very drinkable and refreshing.
Brew Crew members get $2.00 pints of Wheatwacker all night!
Start Time: 6:00pm
Date: 08-26-2009

Posted in Beer Event, beer No Comments »

Great Lakes Cider and Perry Festival

August 23, 2009 by Kevin Nash

Flanders: “Ho ho ho, suckin’ down the cider, uh? Hey, word to the wise [shows Homer a card] season pass! It pays for itself after the  sixteenth visit. You know, most people don’t know the difference between apple cider  and apple juice, but I do. Now here’s a little trick to help you remember.  If it’s clear and yella’, you’ve got juice there, fella!  If it’s tangy and brown, you’re in cider town.  Now, there’s two exceptions and it gets kinda tricky here…[Homer's brain gets bored]  

Homer’s Brain: “You can stay, but I’m leaving”. [brain floats away; Homer is now staring blankly]

Flanders: …can be yellow, if they’re using late season apples. And, of  course, in Canada, the whole thing’s flip-flopped. [Homer collapses] Oh, my!  I’d better get you some cider.”

Don’t let what happened to Homer happen to you take your family to the Great Lakes Cider and Perry Festival on September 12 & 13.  It has events for the kids plus cider and perry for the adults so it is fun for the entire family.  Some of the events are limited so you may want to sign up as soon as possible.

2nd Annual Great Lakes Cider and Perry Festival

September 12 & 13, 2009 at Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. John’s MI 989-224-3686

Saturday

11am – 6pm: A general tasting from  (like last year)

Besides sampling ciders and Perry from across the great lakes and Canada, there will be food booths as well.

Plus, all the fun Uncle John’s stuff….. cider pressing, donuts, nature walk, kids playground, etc.

Book Signing by Ben Watson author of Cider Hard & Sweet – History, Traditions & Making Your Own 2 nd Edition & by Sharon & Lorri Co-Authors’ of From the Vine

Evening: Free dinner for Volunteers and Wine Makers

Sunday

8am – 11am: Pancake Breakfast/Board Meeting for GLCPA members only

11am-12pm: Antique Apple Tasting (ticketed event)  Limited to 50 people (Ben Watson will work with several growers and sample varieties from the past.)

12:30pm -1:30pm: Cider & Cheese Pairing event  (ticketed event)  Limited to 50 people  (Ben Watson will carry us through a sampling of cheeses from the Great Lakes paired with ciders & perry)

Afternoon:  Best of the Non –Professionals tasting (bring your own for admission)

Admission:  The are 3 ticketed events – Sat. tasting/ Sunday Antique Apple & Cider Cheese Pairing

Each event is $10 The first 50 people to buy all three tickets shall receive a $5 discount  ($25 for all three)  Tasting glass included for Saturday tasting and includes tickets for 10 pours.

Posted in Beer Event, beer No Comments »

Histroric Brewing Demonstrations

August 19, 2009 by Kevin Nash

This is from Mike O’Brien off of the CBinM site.

My wife, Denise, and I will be in Riverside park this week end – Fri., Sat. and Sun. at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival doing ’seat of the pants’ brewing demonstration each day.

Anybody interested in seeing how simple all grain brewing can be – should plan on coming down to check it out!

Event details…

http://www.ypsilantiheritagefestival.com/livinghistory.htm#livinghistory

Posted in Beer Event, Beer History, beer No Comments »

Brew n’ Brats For Tots

August 5, 2009 by Kevin Nash

It is a long way off but I do get excited when beer events are located within 15 minutes of my house. Any questions can be sent to monroe.cac@comcast.net. When I get more details I will post them.

Title: Brew n’ Brats For Tots
Location: FOP Hall 1051 Strasburg Road 
Date: 2009-10-17
Start Time: 4pm
End Time: 11pm

Tickets: $25/presale, $30/ at the door

All proceeds go to the Monroe County Child Advocacy Center

Includes beer and admission

 Entry ticket gives you 4-4oz.samples of beer

Commemorative glass for beer samples given on admission

Extra samples will be available for purchase at

• 5 tickets for $10
• 12 tickets for $20

Venue Date and time

October 17 4p-11p

Venue Michigan Fraternal Order of Police Hall

1051 STRASBURG RD MONROE, MI 48161-9719                                              

Silent Auction Items

Food

Traditional October fest food will be available for purchase

Posted in Beer Event, beer 1 Comment »

House Small Brewers Caucus

August 4, 2009 by Kevin Nash

The AHA is asking for help from American beer lovers. They are asking you to write your U.S. House Representative and ask him to join House Small Brewers Caucus. Below is the action alert along with the form letter to send out to your Representative.

Support the Community of Beer Enthusiasts
and Small Brewers-
Contact Your Congressional Representative

Dear Beer Enthusiasts and Homebrewers,

We’re asking you to contact your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to join the House Small Brewers Caucus. What is the House Small Brewers Caucus?

The U.S. House of Representatives Small Brewers Caucus was formed in 2007 by interested Members of Congress. Their mission is to gain a better understanding of all aspects of small, amateur and professional craft brewing, from business and regulatory issues to the brewing process and history of the small brewing community. The members of the Caucus are passionate about small brewers and craft beer. Co-chairs Representative Peter DeFazio (OR) and Representative Denny Rehberg (MT) have themselves been homebrewers and are avid beer enthusiasts.

Currently, only 49 Representatives belong to the Caucus. To put that in some perspective, 344 Congressional districts are home to at least one small brewery and we assume every one of the 435 districts is home to homebrewers and beer enthusiasts.

You can help by asking your U.S. Representative to join the Caucus. Help assure that you have the strongest voice possible speaking on your beer behalf in Congress.

You’ve come to appreciate the flavor, diversity and quality of your homebrew or locally brewed beers from America’s small breweries. In these uncertain economic and legislative times you can imagine how important it is to educate Congress about the community of homebrewers, beer enthusiasts and small brewers.

Ask your Representative to join the Caucus. Following are resource materials to assist you, including a brief message you can use to make your contact, either sending it “as is” or modifying it to add your personal message.

Thanks for all you do in support of America’s small brewing community.

Charlie Papazian

President, Brewers Association

Gary Glass

Director, American Homebrewers Association

_________________________________________________________

Below is a list of the 49 U.S. Representatives who are currently Small Brewers Caucus members. If your Representative DOES NOT appear on this list, please take a moment and email your Member of Congress about joining the Caucus.

If your Representative is already a member, please email him/her a brief thank you for their support of both small brewers and you, the craft beer drinker and enthusiast.

Please visit the official U.S. House of Representatives web site http://www.house.gov/ to access your Representative’s personal web page and contact information – just enter your zip code in the “Find Your Representative” search box in the upper left-hand corner and then click on your Representative’s name on the page that displays to enter his/her personal web page.

House Small Brewers Caucus Roster (as of July 28, 2009)

Suggested letter for your U.S. Representative

Dear Representative _____________,

As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to join the House Small Brewers Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Peter DeFazio and Denny Rehberg.

The purpose of the Small Brewers Caucus is to provide Members of Congress and their staff an opportunity to learn about activities of the American craft brewing community, which includes over 1,500 small and independent American brewery businesses, and beer and homebrewing enthusiasts that participate in and contribute to local community activities and economies. The Small Brewers Caucus also offers opportunities to learn about the science and art of beer and brewing, the dynamics of running a small business as a brewery, the associated regulatory and societal issues and the value of craft beers and small brewing activities.

As a beer enthusiast and ardent supporter of America’s small professional and amateur brewers, I appreciate the many contributions their small, independent businesses make to their local communities. From their flavorful and distinctive locally brewed beers to their community involvement, small breweries are important economic and social hubs in their local communities.

Please contact the Washington office of either Representative DeFazio (202-225-6416) or Representative Rehberg (202-225-3211) to learn more about the Small Brewers Caucus and to join. Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

Posted in Beer Laws, Beer and Politics, Brewery/Brewpub, beer 1 Comment »

Original Gravity Brewing Events For This Week

August 4, 2009 by Kevin Nash

There are two more reasons to go to Original Gravity this week.  Although, I never have a shortage of reasons to go to the OG. Sadly, I do have way too many reason why I can’t get to the OG.

The first event is Thursday is a Michigan Fruit Beer Small Batch Release. Below are the details from their website.

“MI Fruit Beer Small Batches - Thursday August 6th @ 6:00pm
We will have (3) seperate small batches of beer this Thursday August 6th. Each Beer is showcasing a unique MI grown fruit. A common beer style (Belgian Training Wheels) was used as the vehicle for each of the following fresh fruit varieties. Red rasperries, blueberries, and red currants.”

The next event is on Saturday at 6pm. It is a Beer 4 Boobs event which is a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Please come out and join the fight against breast cancer. You can come early with the whole family or later to enjoy the music of In Stone. Below are the details from their website.

“Beer 4 Boobs – Breast Cancer Fundraiser – Saturday, August 8th
Join OG and local 3-day participants, team Guardian Girls, to help end breast cancer with a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. BBQ, Live music from In Stone !!!”

Posted in Beer Event, beer 1 Comment »