Eli the Mad Beer Man's Page

Beer Wars: A Tasty New Hope, Part 4

CIGGS: Duke, I didn't come back just to say good-bye. I shouldn't tell you this, but... you're the only one I can trust.

Duke's eyes grow wide with anticipation over Ciggs' seriousness.

DUKE: What... are you talking about exactly?

CIGGS: I made some friends at the Beer Academy. (he leans in and whispers) When our frigate goes to one of the central systems, we're going to jump ship and join the Brewers Alliance.

Duke, dazed and stunned, is almost speechless. And disappointed.

DUKE: Join the Rebellion?! Are you kidding! How?

CIGGS: Quiet down will ya! You got a mouth bigger than a meteor crater!

LUKE: All the better to... never mind. I'm sorry. I'll be quiet. (he whispers) Listen how quiet I am. You can barely hear me.

Ciggs shakes his head angrily and then continues.

CIGGS: My friend has a friend who has a cousin on Beersteine who might help us make contact.

DUKE: Your crazy! You could wander around forever trying to find them.

CIGGS: I know it's a long shot, but if I don't find them I'll brew what I can on my own. It's what we always talked about. Luke, I'm not going to wait for the Empire to draft me into brewing macro-swill. The Rebellion is spreading and I want to be on the right side -- the side I believe in!

DUKE: And I'm stuck here...

CIGGS: I thought you were going to the Academy next term. You'll get your chance to get off this rock.

DUKE: Not likely! I had to cancel my application. There has been a lot of unrest among the Dirtpeople since you left...they've even raided the outskirts of Anchorhead.

CIGGS: Your uncle could hold off a whole colony of Dirtpeople with one racking cane!

DUKE: I know, but he's got enough mash tuns going to make the place pay off. He needs me for just one more season. I can't leave him now.

CIGGS: I feel for you, Luke, you're going to have to learn what seems to be important or what really is important. What good is all your uncle's work if it's taken over by the Empire? You know they're starting to nationalize beer commerce in the central systems. It won't be long before your uncle is merely a tenant, slaving for the greater glory of the Empire.

DUKE: It couldn't happen here. You said it yourself. The Empire won't bother with this rock.

CIGGS: Things always change.

DUKE: I wish I was going...Are you going to be around long?

CIGGS: No, I'm leaving in the morning.

DUKE: Then I guess I won't see you.

CIGGS: Maybe someday. I'll keep a lookout.

DUKE: Well, I'll be at the Academy next season...after that who knows. I won't be drafted into the Imperial Brewer's Guild that's for sure. Take care of yourself. you'll always be the best friend I've got.

CIGGS: So long, Duke.

Ciggs turns away from his old friend and heads towards the power station.

To BE CONTINUED...

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Beer Wars: A Tasty New Hope, Part 3

EXTERIOR: SPACE.

The Imperial Beerdestroyer comes over the surface of the
planet Brewooine.

EXTERIOR: BREWOOINE -- DESERT.

Wortland Wastes, or "No Beer Land", where the rugged desert mesas
meet the foreboding Suds Sea. The two helpless dudes kick up
clouds of sand as they leave the lifepod and clumsily make their
way across the desert wasteland. The lifepod in the distance
rests half buried in the sand.

TRIPEO: How the hell did I get into this mess? We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life.

Art answers with an agreeing fart.

TRIPEO: I've got to rest before I fall apart. My joints are killin' me.

Art continues to respond with a series farts.

TRIPEO: What a desolate place this is.

Suddenly Art whistles, makes a sharp right turn and starts off in
the direction of the rocky desert mesas. Tripeo stops and yells.

TRIPEO: Where the hell do you think you're going?

A stream of bodily noises pours forth from the small guy.

TRIPEO: Well, I'm not going that way. It's too damn rocky! This way is much easier.

Art counters with a long whistle.

TRIPEO: What makes you think there are settlements over there?

Art continues to make burping sounds.

TRIPEO: Don't get technical with me you overweight blob of skin!

Art continues to make burping sounds.

TRIPEO: What mission? What are you talking about? OK, I've had just about enough of you! Go that way! You'll be S.O.L within a day, you nearsighted fart factory!

Tripeo gives the little guy a kick in the ass and starts off in
the direction of the vast Suds Sea.

TRIPEO: And don't let me catch you following me begging for help... because you ain't gonna get it!

Art's reply is a rather rude sound. He turns and trudges
off in the direction of the towering mesas.

TRIPEO: No more adventures! I'm not going that way.

Art burps to himself as he makes his way toward the
distant mountains.

EXTERIOR: BREWOOINE -- SUDS SEA.

Tripeo, hot and tired, struggles up over the ridge of a sand
dune only to find more dunes, which seem to go on forever.
He looks back in the direction of the now distant rock mesas.

TRIPEO: That outta shape piece of crap! This is all his fault! He tricked me into going this way... but he'll do no better.

In a huff of anger and frustration, Tripeo knocks the
sand from his shirt. His plight seems hopeless, when a glint
of reflected light in the distance reveals an object moving
towards him.

TRIPEO: Wait, what's that? A transport! I'm saved!

The now sunburned dude waves frantically and yells at the
approaching transport.

TRIPEO: Over here! Help! Please, help!

EXTERIOR: BREWOOINE -- ANCHORSTEAM SETTLEMENT -- BREW STATION -- DAY.

Duke and Ciggs are walking and drinking a malt brew.
Brewmeister and the others can be heard working inside.

DUKE: (Very animated)...so I cut off my power, shut down the afterburners and came in low on Beak's tail. I was so close I thought I was gonna fry my instruments. As it was I busted up the Skyhopper pretty bad. Uncle O'hen was pretty upset. He grounded me for the rest of the season. You should have been there... it was fantastic!

CIGGS: You ought to take it easy, Duke. You may be the hottest bushpilot this side of Mos Tooheys, but those little Skyhoppers are dangerous. Keep it up, and one day - WHAMMO, you're going to be nothing more than a dark spot on the side of a canyon wall.

DUKE: Look who's talking. Now that you've been around those giant starships you're beginning to sound like my Uncle. You've gotten soft in the city.

CIGGS: I've missed you kid.

DUKE: Well, things haven't been the same since you left, Ciggs. It's been so... lonely.

Ciggs looks around then leans in close to Duke.


TO BE CONTINUED...

Appetite for Life: Widmer Brothers

Chances are you've watched the Travel Channel a few times and thus are likely to know who Andrew Zimmern is. If not, he's the short, funny, bald guy who trots around the world tasting stuff you and I would never put in our mouth. "Bizarre Foods is like an hour long episode of the Survivor or Fear Factor segments where contestants eat a plate of moving... things.

Well, Zimmern also does a web show for MSN called Appetite for Life wherein he travels around the country sampling the food, and the life of the places he visits. There are currently six episodes, but beer geeks will want to watch #5 (Portland, Oregon), where Andrew visits Widmer Brothers Brewery and talks with Rob Widmer.

Beer Wars: A Tasty New Hope, Part 2

EXTERIOR: Brewooine -- BEER WASTELAND -- DAY.

A beer wasteland stretches from horizon to horizon. The tremendous
heat of the planet's twin suns settle on a lone figure, Duke
Flymalter, a hopfarm boy with heroic aspirations who looks much
older than his twenty-one years. His dreadlocks and baggy tunic
give him the air of a simple deadbeat with a goofy smile.

A light wind whips at him as he adjusts several valves on a
large battered brew kettle. He is aided by a beatup tread-robot
with six claw arms - three of which hold cans of beer. The little
robot appears to be barely functioning -- much like Duke, and
moves with jerky motions.

A bright sparkle in the morning sky catches Duke's eye.
Instinctively he dry heaves thinking it a figment of his hungover
imagination. Realizing it's not, he grabs a pair of mangobinoculars
from his prized imitation Batman utility belt and scans the sky.
He stands transfixed for a few moments studying the heavens, then
dashes toward his dented, crudely repaired hoopty... a '27 Galaxy
Groundcruiser (an auto-like vehicle that travels a few feet off
the ground on a flatulence-resonance field). He motions for the
tiny robot to follow him.

DUKE: Hurry up ya sorry sack of bolts! Come with me! What are you waiting for?! Get in gear!

The robot spins around in a tight circle, stops short, and pops
his lid. Smoke begins to pour out of every joint. Duke throws
his arms up in disgust. Exasperated, the young farm boy jumps into
his '27 Galaxy Groundcruiser and leaves the smoldering robot to
hum madly.

INTERIOR: REBEL GROWLER -- MAIN HALLWAY.

The awesome, seven-foot-tall Dark Lord of the Macro makes his
way into the blinding light of the main passageway. This is
Darth Fermentor, right hand of the Emperor. His face is blocked
by flowing black robes and a grotesque breath mask, which
stands out next to the fascist white armored suits of the
Imperial Beerstapo. Everyone instinctively backs away from
the imposing figure and a deathly quiet sweeps through the
Rebel troops. Several of the Rebel troops break and run in a
frenzied panic.

INTERIOR: REBEL GROWLER.

A woman puts a card into Art Deetzo's hand. Art burps.

INTERIOR: REBEL GROWLER.

Lee Tripeo stands in a hallway, somewhat bewildered. Art is
nowhere in sight. The pitiful screams of the doomed Rebel
soldiers can be heard in the distance.

TRIPEO: Art! Art Deetzo! Where the hell are you?

A familiar farting sound attracts Tripeo's attention and he spots
little Art at the end of the hallway in a smoke-filled alcove. A
beautiful young girl (about sixteen years old) stands in front of
Art. Surreal and out of place, dreamlike and half hidden in the
smoke, she finishes adjusting something on Art's face, then
watches as the little guy joins his companion.

TRIPEO: WTF?! You weren't doing what I think you were doing?! WERE YOU!?

Beerstapo troopers can be heard battling in the distance.

TRIPEO: They're heading in this direction. What are we going to do? We'll be sent to the torture racks of Guantánamo or smashed into who knows what!

Art waddles past his goofy friend and races down the
subhallway. Tripeo chases after him.

TRIPEO: Wait a minute, where are you going?

Art responds with a fart.

INTERIOR: REBEL GROWLER -- CORRIDOR

The evil Darth Fermentor stands amid the broken and twisted bodies
of his foes. He grabs a wounded Rebel Officer by the neck as
an Imperial Officer rushes up to the Dark Lord.

IMPERIAL OFFICER: The Beer Star plans are not in the main computer.

Fermentor squeezes the neck of the Rebel Officer, who struggles
in vain.

FERMENTOR: Where are those transmissions you intercepted?

Darth Fermentor lifts the Rebel off his feet by his throat.

FERMENTOR: What have you done with those plans?

REBEL OFFICER: We intercepted no transmissions. This is a beer wagon! We're on a beer delivery mission!

FERMENTOR: If this is a beer wagon... where is the Dalmatian?

The Rebel refuses to speak but eventually cries out as the
Dark Lord begins to squeeze the officer's throat, creating a
gruesome snapping and choking, until the soldier goes limp.
Fermentor tosses the dead soldier against the wall and turns to
his troops.

FERMENTOR: Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans. Bring me the Dalmation alive. Oh, and while you're at it... a a cold beer too.

The Beerstapo troopers scurry into the subhallways.

INTERIOR: REBEL GROWLER -- SUBHALLWAY.

The lovely young girl huddles in a small alcove as the
Beerstapo troopers search through the ship. She is Princess Leia
Hopgana, a member of the Alderaan Brewers Association. The fear
in her eyes slowly gives way to anger as the muted crushing
sounds of the approaching enemy grows louder. One of the
troopers spots her.

TROOPER: There she is! Set for stun!

Leia steps from her hiding place and blasts a trooper with
her hopistol. She starts to run but is felled by a paralyzing
ray. The troopers inspect her inert body.

TROOPER: She'll be all right. Inform Lord Fermentor we have a prisoner.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Help pick the official 2009 Great American Beer Festival poster!

Every year the folks at the GABF have to choose from a number of different poster designs. Well, they want your help to pick the design for 2009! Go here and choose from the six posters they have on display and cast your vote! The winning design will be revealed in late May.

Here are a few of the posters...

Beer Wars: A Tasty New Hope

Want to work for All About Beer Magazine?

You can.

All About Beer, now in its 30th year of bid'ness, is hiring an Account Manager. Basically you have to do two things really well: dig drinking cold craft beer and dig making "yucky" cold calls.

I never was a salesman.

As Account Manger, some of your duties will include (but certainly aren't limited to) managing sales of advertising space in All About Beer Magazine, World Beer Festival programs, and company websites, to homebrew suppliers, brewery suppliers, national non-beer, and local beer-related accounts.

Oh, and you'll probably be everyone's beer biotch when the beer fridge goes empty.

So if you're interested check out Craig's List and reply with a resume and cover letter to: jobs@allaboutbeer.com

Good luck!

Brewers Association releases Top 50 breweries list

Boulder, Colorado • April 13, 2009 – Brewers Association, which represents the majority of brewing companies in the U.S., announced the annual list of top 50 brewing companies. Released are lists for both Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies¹ of small and independent craft brewers (see Craft Brewing Statistics) plus a Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies list. Rankings are based on sales volume in 2008.

"In 2007, 35 of the top 50 brewing companies were small and independent craft brewers. In 2008 there were 37," states Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association. "Craft brewers continue to have success and generate excitement behind the flavorful beer movement, but not without recent challenges including price increases for raw materials and supplies, as well as access to market issues."

Changes from last year's list include breweries moving up or down in the rankings based on volume sales. There was one new entrant into the Top 50 Craft list, The Saint Louis Brewery, and two craft brewers have claimed spots in the Top 50 Overall list—Big Sky Brewing Co. and Mac & Jack's Brewery. Consolidation of MillerCoors, last year's number 2 and 3 brewers, opened up a slot, and the merger of Widmer Brothers and Redhook into the company now named Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. opened up another slot filled by emerging small and independent craft brewers.

A more extensive analysis of statistics on the craft beer segment in 2008 will be released April 22 during the Craft Brewers Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The Association's full 2008 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual breweries, will publish in the May/June issue of The New Brewer on May 19.

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume
(Based on 2008 sales)

Rank	Brewing Company	City	State
1	Boston Beer Co.	Boston	MA
2	Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.	Chico	CA
3	New Belgium Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
4	Spoetzl Brewery	Shiner	TX
5	Pyramid Breweries Inc.	Seattle	WA
6	Deschutes Brewery	Bend	OR
7	Matt Brewing Co.	Utica	NY
8	Boulevard Brewing Co.	Kansas City	MO
9	Full Sail Brewing Co.	Hood River	OR
10	Magic Hat Brewing Co.	Burlington	VT
11	Alaskan Brewing Co.	Juneau	AK
12	Harpoon Brewery	Boston	MA
13	Bell's Brewery, Inc.	Galesburg	MI
14	Kona Brewing Co.	Kailua-Kona	HI
15	Anchor Brewing Co.	San Francisco	CA
16	Shipyard Brewing Co.	Portland	ME
17	Summit Brewing Co.	Saint Paul	MN
18	Stone Brewing Co.	Escondido	CA
19	Abita Brewing Co.	Abita Springs	LA
20	The Brooklyn Brewery	Brooklyn	NY
21	New Glarus Brewing Co.	New Glarus	WI
22	Dogfish Head Craft Brewery	Milton	DE
23	Long Trail Brewing Co.	Bridgewater Corners	VT
24	Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.	San Jose	CA
25	Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co.	Newport	OR
26	Great Lakes Brewing Co.	Cleveland	OH
27	The Lagunitas Brewing Co.	Petaluma	CA
28	Firestone Walker Brewing Co.	Paso Robles	CA
29	SweetWater Brewing Co.	Atlanta	GA
30	Flying Dog Brewing Co.	Frederick	MD
31	BJ's Restaurant & Brewery	Huntington Beach	CA
32	Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants	Louisville	CO
33	BridgePort Brewing Co.	Portland	OR
34	Odell Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
35	Victory Brewing Co.	Downingtown	PA
36	Mac and Jack's Brewery	Redmond	WA
37	Big Sky Brewing Co.	Missoula	MT
38	Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants	Chattanooga	TN
39	Karl Strauss Brewing Co.	San Diego	CA
40	Breckenridge Brewery	Denver	CO
41	Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe	Eureka	CA
42	Otter Creek Brewing Co.	Middlebury	VT
43	Utah Brewers Cooperative	Salt Lake City	UT
44	North Coast Brewing Co.	Fort Bragg	CA
45	Blue Point Brewing Co.	Patchogue	NY
46	Boulder Beer Co.	Boulder	CO
47	Pete's Brewing Co.	San Antonio	TX
48	McMenamins Breweries	Portland	OR
49	Anderson Valley Brewing Co.	Boonville	CA
50	The Saint Louis Brewery, Inc.	St Louis	MO

Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume
(Based on 2008 sales)

Rank	Brewing Company	City	State
1	Anheuser-Busch InBev	St. Louis	MO
2	MillerCoors Brewing Co.	Chicago	IL
3	Pabst Brewing Co.	Woodridge	IL
4	Boston Beer Co.	Boston	MA
5	D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc.	Pottsville	PA
6	Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.	Chico	CA
7	Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc.	Woodinville	WA
8	New Belgium Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
9	High Falls Brewing Co.	Rochester	NY
10	Spoetzl Brewery	Shiner	TX
11	Pyramid Breweries Inc.	Seattle	WA
12	Deschutes Brewery	Bend	OR
13	Iron City Brewing Co.	Pittsburgh	PA
14	Minhas Craft Brewery	Monroe	WI
15	Matt Brewing Co.	Utica	NY
16	Boulevard Brewing Co.	Kansas City	MO
17	Full Sail Brewing Co.	Hood River	OR
18	Magic Hat Brewing Co.	Burlington	VT
19	Alaskan Brewing Co.	Juneau	AK
20	Harpoon Brewery	Boston	MA
21	Bell's Brewery, Inc.	Galesburg	MI
22	Goose Island Beer Co.	Chicago	IL
23	Kona Brewery LLC	Kailua-Kona	HI
24	Anchor Brewing Co.	San Francisco	CA
25	August Schell Brewing Co.	New Ulm	MN
26	Shipyard Brewing	Portland	ME
27	Summit Brewing Co.	Saint Paul	MN
28	Stone Brewing Co.	Escondido	CA
29	Mendocino Brewing Co.	Ukiah	CA
30	Abita Brewing Co., L.L.C.	Abita Springs	LA
31	The Brooklyn Brewery	Brooklyn	NY
32	New Glarus Brewing Co.	New Glarus	WI
33	Dogfish Head Craft Brewery	Milton	DE
34	Long Trail Brewing Co.	Bridgewater Corners	VT
35	Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.	San Jose	CA
36	Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co.	Newport	OR
37	Great Lakes Brewing Co.	Cleveland	OH
38	The Lagunitas Brewing Co.	Petaluma	CA
39	Firestone Walker Brewing Co.	Paso Robles	CA
40	SweetWater Brewing Co.	Atlanta	GA
41	Flying Dog Brewing Co.	Frederick	MD
42	BJ's Restaurant & Brewery	Huntington Beach	CA
43	Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants	Louisville	CO
44	BridgePort Brewing Co.	Portland	OR
45	Odell Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
46	Victory Brewing Co.	Downingtown	PA
47	Straub Brewery	Saint Marys	PA
48	Cold Spring Brewing Co.	Cold Spring	MN
49	Mac and Jack's Brewery	Redmond	WA
50	Big Sky Brewing Co.	Missoula	MT

For additional statistics, see Craft Brewing Statistics.

¹The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewer's brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

New Sam Adams LongShot variety packs hits shelves

New Samuel Adams LongShot Variety Six-Pack Hits Shelves Nationwide Featuring Winning Brews From 2008 American Homebrew Contest

2009 Homebrew Contest Call for Entries Underway

BOSTON, April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- As America's interest in homebrewing and craft beer is at an all time high, Jim Koch and the brewers at Samuel Adams are proud to foster the talents of aspiring homebrewers by offering their unique recipes to craft beer drinkers across the country as winners of the 2008 Samuel Adams(R) American Homebrew Contest(TM). Samuel Adams Founder and Brewer Jim Koch, was joined by a panel of industry experts to select California-resident Alex Drobshoff's Traditional Bock in the final round of judging. Alex's beer bested more than 1,300 consumer entries.

Alex's beer will be joined in the LongShot six-pack by California-resident Mike McDole's Double IPA and Samuel Adams Employee Carissa Sweigart's Cranberry Wit. Mike's Double IPA won acclaim from the judges in 2007, but due to the worldwide hops shortage and a desire to preserve the integrity of the beer's recipe, calling for seven hop varieties, Mike elected to delay the brewing of his beer for the 2009 LongShot package. All three winning homebrewers brewed their winning recipes alongside the Samuel Adams brewers in Boston and their bragging rights also include having their recipes bottled and available nationally in the 2009 Samuel Adams LongShot Variety Package. Available for a limited time starting in April.

Samuel Adams employees compete in an annual homebrew competition. This company tradition, started in 2001, encourages passion and knowledge for craft beer while paying tribute to Jim Koch's "first" batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager(R), homebrewed in his kitchen in 1984. Jim and the other brewers at Samuel Adams selected three finalists from all of the employee entries. These three employee homebrewers attended the 2008 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and asked festival goers to taste and vote on their favorite. In the end, Carissa Sweigart's Cranberry Wit was the favorite and will be featured in the 2009 LongShot variety pack alongside the Traditional Bock and Double IPA.

"The number and quality of entries submitted to the Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest and our annual employee contest continues to increase year after year," said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams(R). "As a homebrewer for more than 25 years, I'm proud to see that passion for great beer is passed on to our employees. The brewing creativity and innovation in both the employee and consumers homebrews is more impressive every year. Alex's Bock, Mike's IPA, and Carissa Sweigart's Cranberry Wit are all exceptional brews that push the limits and demonstrate the endless boundaries of big flavor and the infinite ingredients available to today's craft brewer."

A panel of industry judges including our dear friend, the late William Brand of The Oakland Tribune, Tony Forder of Ale Street News and Marty Nachel, author of Homebrewing for Dummies, joined Jim Koch in selecting the 2008 consumer winners. Together, they determined the final winning consumer recipe based on the American Homebrewers Association Beer Judge Certificate Program guidelines. Each beer was carefully evaluated by style category and judged on how well the style characteristics and flavors were exhibited.

The 2009 Samuel Adams LongShot variety six-pack will be available nationwide in select retail stores in April 2009 for a suggested retail price of $9.99. The variety pack will include two bottles each of Alex Drobshoff's Traditional Bock, Mike McDole's Double IPA and Carissa Sweigart's Cranberry Wit.

ABOUT THE WINNERS AND 2009 CONTEST

Alex Drobshoff's Traditional Bock is a bright copper German inspired bock with a complex, full bodied mouthfeel. Underlying notes in the brew include hints of rich plum and cherry aromas paired with a toasty, malt flavor. He was inspired to create his Traditional Bock after listening to his friends travel encounters that described German beer as something that only could be experienced in Germany. Alex was up to the challenge and set out to replicate an authentic German bock right at home in California. The two year attempt to create this brew resulted in an award winning German inspired bock with a complex, full bodied mouthfeel. Alex's beer features hints of rich plum and cherry aromas paired with its toasty, malt flavor make this a great beer to linger over on a cool evening.

Mike McDole's Double IPA was inspired by the brewer's own deep appreciation for hops. Known in his West Coast Homebrewing community as having an affinity for hoppy beers, Mike used over six pounds and seven different varieties of American hops per barrel for his Double IPA. An intense beer that explodes the senses, Mike's brew is pale orange in color but makes up for it in a robust and malty taste. A full-bodied pale ale with strong spicy, floral and citrus aromas, this Double IPA is a hop-lovers' dream come true.

Carissa Sweigart, a national sales representative for Samuel Adams currently based in Colorado, chose her own hometown ingredients from Cape Cod as the inspiration for her winning Cranberry Wit. A delicious blend of cinnamon, orange peel, coriander and grains of paradise with hints of cranberry, Carissa's brew is bright, fruity and refreshing. The perfect beer to sip on a chilly day, this crisp brew is flavorful and well rounded.

2009 AMERICAN HOMEBREW CONTEST

Aspiring homebrewers have another shot at fame by entering the 2009 Samuel Adams(R) American Homebrew Contest(R). Interested beer drinkers can check online at www.SamuelAdams.com now for contest rules, regulations and information on purchasing a homebrewing kit. In addition, they can download Jim Koch's video, "The Art of Homebrewing" offering his personal tips on making a successful homebrew. Entries must be received between April 15 and May 1 and the winners will be announced at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival.

The Samuel Adams(R) American Homebrew Contest(R) continues the tradition first established with the 1996 Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest and is a natural link to the company's roots. Jim Koch knows first hand the challenges and the personal rewards of creating a quality homebrew. He brewed the first batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager in his kitchen in 1984. More than 20 years later, Koch is a recognized pioneer of the U.S. craft-brewing revival, and he continues to push the boundaries of brewing and follow his passion for elevating the craft beer-drinking experience.

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY BACKGROUND:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father's attic. After bringing the recipe to life in his kitchen, Jim brought it to bars in Boston with the belief that drinkers would appreciate a complex, full-flavored beer, brewed fresh in America. That beer was Samuel Adams Boston Lager(R), and it helped catalyze what became known as the American craft beer revolution.

Today, the Company brews more than 21 styles of beer. The Company uses the traditional four vessel brewing process and often takes extra steps like dry-hopping and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. It passionately pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of its classic beers by constantly searching for the world's finest ingredients. While resurrecting traditional brewing methods, the Company has earned a reputation as a pioneer in another revolution, the "extreme beer" movement, where it seeks to challenge drinkers' perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company strives to elevate the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions the world over, and in the past five years it has won more awards in international beer competitions than any other brewery in the world. The Company remains independent, and brewing quality beer remains its single focus. While Samuel Adams is the country's largest-selling craft beer, it accounts for just under one percent of the U.S. beer market. For more information, visit www.samueladams.com.

Source: Samuel Adams

Web site: http://www.samueladams.com/

Domo Arigato, Mr. Beerboto!

When I stumbled across this...



... which by the way I must have in my home immediately, I thought of this....



Unfortunately, according to the website, this beer pouring robot is sold out. The features of this R2-D2 looking robot:

• Stores and refrigerates 6 cans
• Programmable voice (male, female, or custom)
• Cleaning mode
• Child lock

And you got these things included in Delivery:

• 2 custom glass mugs
• 6 Foam cup bases
• Plastic floor protector
• Instructions in Japanese and English

If anyone has this, or knows how to get one... shoot me an Email! I WANT ONE!!!!!