The Friday Mash (Leaves of Grass Edition)
On this day in 1819, Walt Whitman was born on Long Island. He is best known for his epic poem, Leaves of Grass, which he published with his own money in 1855. Whitman, who had strong political views, originally supported the temperance movement, but came to enjoy wine and Champagne later in life. Too bad craft beer hadn’t been invented yet.
And now….The Mash!
We begin in Germany, where brewers are worried that extracting natural gas by “fracking” threatens the purity of the water they use to make beer.
This summer, Rachel Dean of Cincinnati will be offering guided tours of her hometown’s microbreweries. Her tours will also include tasting and sensory education.
Philly Beer Week kicks off this evening, and SeriousEats.com has ten places to drink beer in the City of Brotherly Love.
After two years of delays, the 1990s boy band Hanson finally has its own beer. It’s called–what else?–Mmmhops, and it makes a cameo appearance in the film Hangover 3.
Fat Head’s Brewery, which has gained national acclaim, will build a brewpub in Portland, Oregon’s Pearl District. It will sell local micro products as well as its own beers.
A clever German, who apparently had a lot of time on his hands, has invented a device that can open 24 beer bottles at once.
Finally, ESPN’s DJ Gallo has a remedy for the less-than-hygenic conditions found in ballparks: drink beer, which might contain enough alcohol to kill those nasty bacilli.
The Friday Mash (Thriller Edition)
Thirty years ago today, Epic Records released Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the biggest-selling album in history. It was a pioneer in using music videos as a promotional tool, and seven singles from the album reached Billboard’s top ten. If you’re thinking, “hey, wrong Michael Jackson!”, you’re our kind of blog reader.
And now….The Mash!
We begin in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine district, where Christian Moerlein beer will be brewed in a 19th-century brewery building. Before Prohibition, Christian Moerlein was Ohio’s largest-selling brand.
Ry Beville’s love of craft beer has developed into an occupation. Beville, a native of Virginia, publishes Japan’s only bilingual craft beer magazine, the Japan Beer Times.
John Hall is stepping down as CEO of Goose Island Beer Company, along with COO and founding member Tony Bowker. The Chicago-based brewery will continue to brew Goose Island’s “Vintage Series.”
Deb Carey, the president of New Glarus Brewing Company, was invited to the White House to discuss small business-related issues. She traded beer with the president: two bottles of her Serendipity ale for three bottles of White House Honey Ale.
Can you get a couple of sixers in Iraq? Yes, provided you find a shopkeeper who sells it “under the counter”…and leave the store before attracting attention.
Rogue Ales is rolling out a “novel” beer: White Whale Ale, made with a few pages from a copy of Moby Dick. The beer, an IPA, honors Portland, Oregon, bookseller Michael Powell.
Finally, tomorrow is Zwanze Day. Thirty-six select locations around the world–16 in the U.S.–will be pouring Cantillon Zwanze, a rhubarb lambic.
The Friday Mash (Hurray for Hollywood Edition)
On this day in 1923, the iconic “Hollywood” sign was officially dedicated in the hills above Hollywood, California. It originally read “Hollywoodland ” the name of the housing development it advertised. The four last letters disappeared when the sign was renovated in 1949.
And now….The Mash!
We begin in Livermore, California, where the First Street Alehouse has more than 6,000 beer cans on permanent display. It’s North America’s largest collection, assembled over 36 years by local resident David Goett.
The world premiere of “The Cincinnati Beer Story”, a documentary chronicling the history of beer-making in the that city, will take place at Mecklenburg Gardens in Cincinnati. Several members of the film team are scheduled to speak.
A power outage caused by last week’s freak windstorm resulted in part of Port City Brewing Company’s beer being fermented at a higher-than-planned temperature. The Virginia-based brewery decided to release it as a California common beer called Derecho Common.
Evan Rail updates us on London. Once derided as Britain’s worst beer town, it has experienced a revival, with over 20 breweries in operation and several more on the way.
Call it “glass-roots politics.” Lobbying by beer lovers and media coverage prodded Alabama’s liquor regulators to rescind their ban on Founders Dirty Bastard and Backwoods Bastard.
Regents of the University of Minnesota voted to allow beer sales at TCF Stadium, the home of the Golden Gophers’ football team. The way that team has been playing, fans need a few to get them through the game.
Finally, Ben Davidson, a defensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders who starred in a Miller Lite commercial with John Madden and Rodney Dangerfield, passed away at the age of 72.
Beer…By the Numbers
The Friday Mash (Standard Time Edition)
On this day in 1883, American railroads replaced sun-based local time with four time zones, which survive to this day. Time zones have strange boundaries, which often divide states in two, because they once connected railroad stations in major cities. But wherever you live, it’s Ludwig Standard Time. Which means it’s time for a beer.
And now…The Mash!
We begin in Chesterfield, England, where the local constabulary caught 19 wanted criminals with a sting operation that offered them a crate of free beer.
Our friend Lew Bryson, who began the “Breweries” series published by Stackpole Books, is now going on television. His new series, “American Beer Blogger,” is a half-hour series dedicated to all facets of the craft beer market.
Christian Moerlein was the first person inducted into Cincinnati’s Beer Barons’ Hall of Fame. It’s located at the brewery named for Moerlein, which will open on the riverfront in February.
Did you miss this year’s Wurstfest in New Braunfels, Texas? The annual celebration, which began 50 years ago, has grown into a ten-day, German-themed “Salute to Sausage.”
In Pnomh Penh, Cambodia, national brands Anchor and Angkor have been joined by newcomer, Kingdom Pilsner. Kingdom brews a Continental lager adapted to local tastes.
Session #58 has been announced. Its theme is, appropriately enough, A Christmas Carol–you get the idea–and it will be hosted by Phil Hardy of Beersay.
Finally, a Phoenix-based company has come out with a beer made for dogs. Bowser Beer is non-carbonated, contains no hops, and (sorry, Ludwig) is non-alcoholic.
The Friday Mash (Friendly Confines Edition)
One hundred and fifty years ago today, William Wrigley, Jr., was born. Wrigley owned Catalina Island; the Wm Wrigley Jr. Company, the maker of chewing gum; and the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs still play–unfortunately, quite badly–in the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field.
And now….The Mash!
We begin in Cincinnati, where Opening Day is next April 6. However, the Moerlein Lager House, which is near the ballpark, will get a two-month head start on the Reds. It will serve eight mainstay beers, plus a rotating monthly special.
Just in time for the Great American Beer Festival, Laura Bly of USA Today takes us along the Colorado Beer Trail. Her article has bonus video of the Boulder Beer Bus.
When Pope Benedict XVI visited Germany, a brewery in Berlin made a “Papst Bier” in his honor. Before serving the beer, brewery staff “ensouled” it with Gregorian chants played on a ghetto blaster.
British bloggers Boak and Bailey report that their country’s breweries have gone through the archives to find pre-1970s beer recipes to re-introduce to a new generation of drinkers.
What do Denver’s food trucks and breweries have in common with the oxpecker birds and zebras? As Billy Broas of Billybrew.com explains, each gains an advantage from cooperating with the other.
From the No Good Deed Goes Unpunished Department, a Washington, D.C. resident had to apologize for bringing a case of beer to the firefighters who put out a blaze in his house. The firefighters didn’t drink the beer while on duty, but still face disciplinary action.
Finally, Detroit fans toasting the playoff-bound Tigers have a new place to raise a glass: Tashmoo, a pop-up beer garden that features a rotating lineup of Michigan-brewed micros.
Beer…By the Numbers
World’s number-one brewery Snow Beer’s annual production: 16.5 billion pints.
Countries in which Snow Beer is sold: 1 (China).
States where Flying Dog beers can be found: 33.
States where New Glarus beers can be found: 1 (Wisconsin).
U.S. craft beer sales in the first half of 2011: 5.1 million barrels.
Change from a year ago: Up 14 percent.
Czech Republic’s per capita beer consumption in 2010: 161 liters (first in the world).
Second-place Germany’s per capita beer consumption: 109 liters.
U.S. per capita beer consumption: 79 liters.
Acres of hops under cultivation in Washington State: 24,300.
Acres of hops under cultivation in Colorado: 75.
American India Pale Ales entered in last year’s Great American Beer Festival: 175.
India pale ale’s share of the U.S. craft beer market: 14.3 percent.
Expected attendance at this weekend’s Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati: 500,000.
Year the first Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati was held: 1976.
Reviving Cincinnati’s Brewing Heritage
A story we’re following with interest is the construction of the Christian Moerlein Lager House on Cincinnati’s riverfront. This two-story establishment, which could open as early as November, will feature a 6,500-square-foot microbrewery, two outdoor beer gardens, and a hops garden. It will have room for more than 1,100 customers.
The project was conceived by Greg Hardman, who acquired the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company and aims to revive the city’s brewing heritage. Hardman has bought the rights to more than 60 beer brands original to Cincinnati including Burger, Hudepohl, Hudy Delight, Little Kings, Top Hat and Windisch-Mulhauser. Many of these brands date back to the 19th century. Hardman told Cincinnati.com, “I envision everyone saying: ‘You have to go to Moerlein Lager House. They have every single brand of beer that was brewed in Cincinnati.’”
Hardman has launched a worldwide search a brewmaster, who will not only have access to Hardman’s Cincinnati beer recipes but will also will be free to create new Moerlein-owned lagers. These traditional beers will pair well with the food menu, which will specialize in dishes unique to 19th century Cincinnati.
The Friday Mash (Good King Wenceslas Edition)
On this day in 1271, Wenceslaus II of Bohemia was born. According to the Radio Prague website, “King Wenceslas convinced the Pope to revoke an order banning the brewing of beer, which may explain why he’s called Good King Wenceslas. It was a small step up from there for breweries to start hawking their wares to the general public as well, and so the Czech beer industry was spawned.”
And now…The Mash!
We begin with a New York Observer profile of Alex Hall, the Englishman who sold New York City on Real Ale.
A pub crawl by remote? The Guardian chooses the five best pubs depicted on television shows. Paul is upset that Pommeroy’s from Rumpole of the Bailey didn’t make the list.
The pub might be endangered, but Britain is seeing “a staggering increase” in the number of new breweries. According to CAMRA, the national brewery count is four times what it was in 1971.
Take a world beer tour without leaving New Jersey. Peter Genovese of the Jersey Journal found beer from 34 different countries at local liquor stores.
BeerConnoisseur.com’s Chris Gigley wonders if hard cider is craft beer’s next big trend. He also serves up a six-pack of craft ciders to get you started.
What happens to Sam Adams Longshot competitors? Some of them start breweries. Jason Roeper, a finalist in 2009, teamed up with Randy Schiltz (how’s that for a name?) and started Rivertown Brewing Company in Cincinnati.
Finally, from the Department of Trivial Trivia: the world land speed record for a barstool is 53.557 miles per hour.