The Friday Mash (Montreal Edition)
On this day in 1642, the French established a colony at Ville-Marie. It became modern-day Montreal, Canada’s second-largest city. Montreal has become the home of a thriving craft beer culture, and is the site of the 20th Mondial de la Biere, which gets underway May 29.
And now…The Mash!
We begin in Krakow, which has long been famous for its history and culture. It has recently become Poland’s craft beer capital with more than 50 bars specializing in regional microbrews and beers from foreign independents.
There’s at least one thing congressional Democrats and and Republicans can agree on–namely, the BEER Act, a bill that would cut the federal tax for small breweries.
The Odell Brewing Company has brewed a special beer for a butterfly that lives on Colorado’s Front Range and loves hops. Proceeds from the beer will go to scientists studying the rare creature.
Now that Western countries have lifted economic sanctions on Myanmar (a/k/a Burma), brewing giants are planning to enter the country, which has 60 million people and a per capita consumption less than one-tenth of China’s.
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery has yet another way to expose beer drinkers to the arts. It’s teamed up with a San Francisco a cappella group for an evening of classic drinking songs and Dogfish Head beers.
In Michigan, which dominated this year’s Beer City USA voting, the Economic Development Corporation is touting the state’s microbreweries in its “Pure Michigan” tourism commercials.
Finally, a Labrador retriever named Frank lives up to his breed’s reputation by fetching beer for his owner. Man’s best friend indeed.
The Friday Mash (Wicked Wind Edition)
We’ve had nasty weather this week, but it pales in comparison to conditions atop Mount Washington, New Hampshire, on this day in 1934. The world’s strongest-ever wind gust, 231 miles per hour, was recorded there.
And now….The Mash!
We begin in Oregon, where lawmakers may designate Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the official state microbe. It’s also used to make bread, cheese, and craft distilled spirits, all popular Oregon products.
Mystic Brewery in Chelsea, Massachusetts, is honoring Red Auerbach, the legendary Boston Celtics basketball coach, with–what else?–a Rauchbier. Back in the day, Auerbach lit up a cigar to celebrate a Boston victory.
The Sly Fox Brewing Company is the first American brewery to use topless cans. Just pull the tab up, then then peel the lid away, to expose a 1.75-inch-wide opening that allows you to enjoy the beer’s aroma.
Many craft brewers have branched out into spirits, and some familiar names–including Ballast Point, Rogue, and Dogfish Head–have been awarded medals by the American Distilling Institute.
English transplant Adrian Dingle got himself banned from BeerAdvocate.comfor his outspoken opinions. Dingle’s rants about beer and culture now appear on his DingsBeerBlog.com.
The Four Seasons Resort in Vail, Colorado, has joined forces with Crazy Mountain Brewing, a local micro, to offer “Brew and Renew” treatments. They include foot soaks, body wraps, scalp treatments, and full body scrubs.
Finally, Paste magazine has compiled a list of ten music-inspired beers. It includes “Brother Theloneous” Belgian-Style Abbey Ale; “Smoke on the Water” Porter; and–wait for it–”Dark Side of the Moose,” a dark ale brewed in Wales.
The Friday Mash (Tom McCall Edition)
Today would have been the 100th birthday of former Oregon governorTom McCall. He’s best known for environmental initiatives, including the nation’s first returnable bottle bill. The Oregon Brewers Fest takes place every July at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland.
And now…The Mash!
We begin in York Haven, Pennsylvania, where Jeff Lebo has built a house for his collection of 83,000 vintage beer cans. His Brewhouse Mountain Eco-Inn offers overnight accommodations.
Serving miners? Krogh’s Brew Pub of Sparta, New Jersey, is storing casks of Imperial Stout in an old iron and zinc mine. They’ll be tapped at next year’s celebration of Krogh’s 15th anniversary party as a brewpub.
Iron Maiden, the heavy metal band, has teamed up with the Robinsons brewery to brew its own beer: Trooper, named after one of the band’s most popular songs.
Victory Brewing Company and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery are hosting “Amber Waves,” an exhibition of beer and the art promoting it at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference.
After Thomas Knight of Key West got caught stealing from an airport bar at 5:40 am, security handed him a trespass warning. At least he isn’t on the no-fly list.
Homebrewer Robert Scott has invented the Tapit Cap, which keeps growlers of beer fresh and carbonated. He’s trying to raise $80,000 on Kickstarter to bring his device to market.
Finally, a toast to Mark and Mandie Murphy, who have opened a baseball-themed brewery in Ontario. The Left Field Brewery’s lineup includes the wonderfully-named 6-4-3 Double IPA.
A Night at the Opera
Opera singer Jim Cornelison shatters beer glasses while singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”:
Grab a Flagon and Sing
The Poxy Boggards sing “I Love You Beer” at the at the 49th annual Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindale, California.
The Friday Mash (Winter’s Tale Edition)
Winter is here! The southern solstice occurred at 11:12 am Greenwich Mean Time. Both ancient and modern cultures have marked the first day of winter, and the lengthening days that follow it, with rituals and celebrations–and the liberal consumption of beer.
And now….The Mash!
We begin in Nashville, where country singer Thomas Rhett has stirred up a hornets’ nest with his new single, “Beer With Jesus.” It stands at number 21 on the country charts.
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal will hear a complaint against Earls Restaurants, which serve Albino Rhino beer. Earls says the name is derived from an animal, not people suffering from albinism.
Why did St. Sixtus monastery allow Westvleteren 12 to be sold in the United States? The monastery needed a new roof, and the monks knew American beer geeks would pay big bucks for their ale.
One of the beer world’s trends of 2012 is nanobreweries. These pint-sized breweries (pun intended) require less than $100,000 to start, and their product serves as “a liquid business card.”
From the Odd Couple Department: in La Crosse, Wisconsin, City Brewery is turning biogas into electric power, then sending some of it to Gundersen Lutheran Health System, which is aiming to achieve energy independence.
Ever have problems transporting multiple growlers? Now there’s a solution: Growler on Board, which not only holds three growlers, but also keeps them from bumping into one another.
Finally, the Brewers Association’s definition of “craft brewery” didn’t sit well with the August Schell Brewing Company. The 152-year-old brewery blasted the BA for excluding it because its grain bill includes a small amount of corn.
This just in: Ludwig wants you to know that he’s going on vacation for the Christmas holidays. The lion limo will arrive Sunday, and he doesn’t expect to get back until after New Year’s. In the meantime, keep quaffing those holiday ales.
Skol!
Tonight we have a music video by Congolese artist Bill Clinton Kalonji, who sings the praises of Skol beer.
Kalonji’s video was mentioned in a recent blog post by Martyn Cornell, The Zythophile, who tells yet another little-known story about brewing history. Skol, which has a strong following in Africa, parts of Asia, and Latin America, began life more than 50 years ago in a most unlikely place: Alloa, a small town in Scotland.
The Friday Mash (Land of 10,000 Lakes Edition)
On this day in 1858, Minnesota was admitted to the Union as the 32nd state. Its name comes from a Native American word meaning “sky-tinted water.” Small wonder, then, that Hamm’s Brewery advertised its beer as “from the land of sky-blue waters”–a lyric taken from a century-old song written by Charles Wakefield Cadman.
And now…The Mash!
We begin in Ocean City, New Jersey, which voted down BYOB beer and wine in restaurants. The town, which has been dry for more than a century, calls itself “America’s Greatest Family Resort.”
Japan’s Suntory Liquors is producing Rolling Hop beer to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of The Rolling Stones. The hops used to make this 4% ABV brew are infused with citrus.
Yes, you can find craft beer in the Magic Kingdom. Since 1997, a brewery has operated at Disney’s Boardwalk Hotel. It’s owned by the Big River Brewing Company.
In case you missed it, here is the list of winners at the 2012 World Beer Cup. They were announced at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego.
Man’s best friend, indeed. Bes, a Labrador retriever, has been named Australia’s Most Talented Pet. Her talent? She can open the fridge, and fetch her owner a can of beer.
Ashley Rouston, The Beer Wench, introduces us to ten women in craft brewing who deserve to be celebrated.
Finally, in Debary, Florida, a bear has wandered the streets near the marina, chugging beers found on back porches and popping in at a local tiki bar. Maybe the bear wanted to be in a Hamm’s Beer commercial.
“Save Water, Drink Beer”
Chris Young performing “Save Water, Drink Beer” at the Academy of Country Music 2012 awards show:
The Friday Mash (Coronation Street Edition)
On this day in 1960, Coronation Street debuted. The British drama, set in the fictional Manchester-area town of Weatherfield, is the longest-running soap opera of all time. Coronation Street’s characters often hung out in a pub called The Rovers Return Inn, which became a free house in 1996.
And now…The Mash!
We begin in New Glarus, Wisconsin (population 2,200), which has one renowned brewery and 12 licensed establishments, all of which serve New Glarus beers. The Chicago Tribune’s Josh Noel hit as many as he could responsibly handle in one evening.
Actor Will Ferrell has offered his services as a spokesman for Old Milwaukee beer–for free, no less. He even produced several commercials, which will run locally in the Davenport, Iowa, area.
Just in time for Christmas, the Battle of the Elves is over. Troegs Brewing Company and Bethlehem Brew Works agreed to settle their dispute over the elf logos on bottles of their high-gravity holiday ales.
A hundred years ago, the Griesedieck Brothers Brewery opened for business in St. Louis. Two members of that family, Ray Greisedieck and his son, Bob, are once again brewing beer.
One person you need to know is Chris Crabb, the woman behind the Oregon Brewers Festival and two other events. Beervana wouldn’t be the same without her.
It’s a no-no for breweries to make health claims about their product, but a 12-pack of Coors Light was a life-saver for an Alaska man who got himself stuck in a snowdrift for three days.
Finally, British singer Adele is no fan of beer brewed on our side of the pond. On her last American tour, Adele banned North American beers from her tour bus.