Lone Peak Brewery Creates Retro Red Ale to Honor Big Sky Resort

In 1968, the famous NBC newscaster, Chet Huntley, conceptualized Big Sky, the same year the phrase “you’ve come a long way, baby” was marketed. Big Sky Resort has indeed “come a long way” since the first chairlift turned opening day December 15, 1973. Celebrating forty years is nothing to scoff at and as they say, “you just keep getting better with age.”

Such a historical mile marker bodes a big weekend celebration December 13-15, 2013. Daily lift tickets will be $40 all weekend. Playing at Whiskey Jack’s on December 14th is Milton Menasco, whose music has been described as a cross between “a juke joint and a Jamaican beach bar with fiery guitar playing and gritty vocals blend.” Lone Peak Brewery brewed a special beer, “Retro Red Ale,” available in cans throughout the Resort’s establishments and on tap at select locations for the occasion and all winter. Birthday cake, ice cream, and the best 70-style ski costumes since, well, the 70s, round out the celebration.

Better with age, absolutely! Boyne USA bought Big Sky Resort in 1976. Boyne brought state of the art snowmaking systems and built more chairlifts, lodging, and the Yellowstone Conference Center. Big Sky Resort took on the massive endeavor of installing the Lone Peak Tram in 1995, giving Big Sky the highest vertical drop in the country and then in 2005, Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin partnered through the interconnect to bring the Biggest Skiing to America.

Ringing in its 40th Anniversary, Big Sky Resort is truly the Biggest Skiing in America after acquiring Moonlight Basin terrain and facilities in October 2013 and the Spanish Peak’s, Spirit Mountain terrain in July 2013. Together as one resort, under one name, Big Sky Resort is 5,750 acres, 4,350 vertical drop, 23 chairlifts, 7 surface lifts and the Lone Peak Tram to 11,166 feet in elevation.

Big Sky Resort has “come a long way, baby” and by no means is going to slow down as more investments and improvements are slated for the future.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Schell's Beers Take Home More Awards

The August Schell Brewing Co., the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the country, brewer of Schell’s and Grain Belt, has distinguished itself once again by winning three more World Beer Championship medals from the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI).

Schell’s Chimney Sweep, a cold weather seasonal available annually from November through March, won a silver medal scoring 89 points and earning the title of “Highly Recommended” in the Black Beer, Lager category. Chimney Sweep has a roasty maltiness, sturdy hop bitterness and an underlying smokiness. Judges from the BTI describe it as having “Attractive aromas of salted caramel, smokey mole sauce and cinnamon raisin toast with a supple, dryish medium body and a roasted nut, apple wood smoked peppercorn, peat and watercress accented finish.” They note that it is “Nicely balanced and would pair nicely with a BBQ brisket and smoked meats and fish.”

BTI Rating: 89 points (Highly Recommended)
Alcohol By Volume: 5.2%
Category: Black Beer, Lager
BTI Tasting Location: Chicago Tasting Room
BTI Tasting Date: Nov-6-2013

Schell’s Pils, one of the original craft beers produced by Schell’s, was awarded a silver medal scoring 89 points in the Pilsner, Lager category. It is a year round offering brewed with 100 percent 2-row barley malt and is dry hopped with Sterling hops. It has a rich malt body accented by a large floral hop and malt aroma with a refreshing hop tang. The Beverage Testing Institute describes it as being “Golden color. Aromas of herb, salt and peach bread with a hint of tomato jelly. Supple and finely carbonated with a tangy, medium body and a snappy lemon pepper, nut and arugula like hop finish” They stated that it is “Very well made and mouthwatering.”

BTI Rating: 89 points (Highly Recommended)
Alcohol By Volume: 5.0%
Category: Pilsner, Lager
BTI Tasting Location: Chicago Tasting Room
BTI Tasting Date: Nov-13-2013

Lastly, Schell’s Oktoberfest was also awarded a silver medal in the Märzen/Octoberfest lager category scoring an 89. True to German tradition, Schell’s Oktoberfest is brewed just once a year and is available during September and October. It has the perfect balance of Pale, Munich and Cara Pils Malts with Liberty and Perle hops, creating a rich, smooth taste. The judges described it as being “Bright deep amber color. Aromas of salty cheese turnover and melon with a crisp, frothy, dryish medium body and a tangy dried fruit pastry, pepper and arugula finish.” They said it was a “nice mouthwatering lager that will be great with fried and grilled foods.”

BTI Rating: 89 points (Highly Recommended)
Alcohol By Volume: 5.0%
Category: Märzen/Octoberfest, Lager
BTI Tasting Location: Chicago Tasting Room
BTI Tasting Date: Nov-6-2013

About August Schell Brewing Company: August Schell Brewing Company, located in New Ulm, MN, sits atop the same site it was built on in 1860. With its sprawling grounds, beautiful gardens, Schell Mansion, and deer park, the brewery is a tourist destination for any beer lover. Schell’s boasts a proud heritage of 153 years of continuous family ownership and specializes in craft beers. In addition to the line of specialty beers, Schell’s also produces Grain Belt Premium, Grain Belt Premium Light and Grain Belt Nordeast. For more information on Schell’s Brewery, tour schedules or any of their 17 quality beers, go to SchellsBrewery.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Great Raft Brewing Announces Three Flagship Beers During Launch Week

Great Raft Brewing will introduce its three flagship beers with a week-long launch celebration in the Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area.

Beginning Monday December 9, Great Raft Brewing will host a series of themed events to debut its three year-round beers — a black lager named Reasonably Corrupt, a pale lager named Southern Drawl and an American pale ale named Commotion. By collaborating with Shreveport restaurant and bar partners, Great Raft Brewing invites the local community to participate and enjoy these new beers and learn more about craft brewing.

Launch week events include:

• Monday, 12/9 – Tap Takeover, Zocolo
• Tuesday, 12/10 – Meet the Brewer, Rotolo’s Pizzeria – Shreveport
• Wednesday, 12/11 – Beer and Pizza Pairings, Frank’s Pizza Napoletana
• Thursday, 12/12 – Keep the Pint Night, PieWorks Provenance
• Friday, 12/13 – Merchandise Giveaway, What’s on Tap – Shreveport
• Saturday, 12/14 –Beer-for-a-Year Giveaway, Twisted Root Burger Co.
• Sunday, 12/15 – Beers and Brunch, Marilynn’s Place

“It was important for us to work with locally owned bars and restaurants to introduce our products. We not only wanted to work with craft-friendly establishments, but also wanted to partner with other small businesses in order to help celebrate the uniqueness of Shreveport,” said Andrew Nations, co-founder and president of Great Raft Brewing.

All three year-round offerings from the brewery will be available on draft during launch week and on a continuing basis following launch week. Great Raft Brewing is actively working with its distributor, Eagle Distributing of Shreveport, to supply its beers on draft to additional local bars and restaurants later this month. In early 2014, Great Raft Brewing plans to introduce its beer in cans as well.

“We want to build on the momentum of launch week by soon offering our beers in cans,” said Lindsay Nations, co-founder and vice president of Great Raft Brewing. “We are proud of these beers, and the business we’ve worked together to build. We’re excited to share a pint with those who have been following and supporting us on this journey.”

Great Raft Brewing sold its first pint of beer Oct. 15 in Shreveport, La., making the sale the first of a local brew since Prohibition. The launch week events are a continuation of Great Raft Brewing’s introduction to the local market.

Great Raft Brewing will soon open its tasting room alongside the brewery for tours, samples and sales. More information will be made available in the coming weeks regarding the grand opening and hours of operation.

For additional information on launch week events, visit GreatRaftBrewing.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Lose Weight On the Beer and Sausage Diet

Dr. Terry Simpson, of Phoenix, said there were some non-believers when he first mentioned a very unique diet he was supervising. "I don't think anyone believed we'd see any weight loss success, following a diet that consisted of just beer and sausage. I'm a physician, and I wasn't sure what to expect either. The results were pretty surprising, and defy most people's logic," shared the weight loss surgeon.

Could a diet made up of two components: beer and sausage, not known for being low calorie foods, actually help you to lose weight? For the past 3 years, one Phoenix man has followed the beer and sausage diet for the entire month of October. Evo Terra began his Oktoberfest themed diet in 2010, under the supervision of Dr. Terry Simpson, and the two diligently tracked the results.

"Evo drank up to six beers each day, and had two sausages each day, for the entire month of October. And would you believe he not only lost weight, but other health factors improved, as well? Of course when we started the diet 3 years ago, we weren't sure what the results would be after 30 days, but I don't think we expected the success Evo experienced," remarked Simpson.

Evo successfully dropped 14 pounds the first October, and has consistently lost weight each consecutive year. His cholesterol levels went down, and his blood chemistry got better, said Simpson.

"It was a fun diet for me to supervise," said the doctor. "I like collecting data, and let's face it, a lot of what we know about food, calories, and how our body uses nutrients is based on statistics gathered from large group studies. There aren't a lot of studies run on an individual. This beer and sausage diet allowed us to get new data on how the body processes and interacts with very specific foods, when limited to a very specific portion, for a controlled amount of time," said Dr. Simpson.

According to Dr. Simpson, this wasn't just a "throw caution to the wind, eat as much as you want, drink as much as you want" diet. He and Evo carefully designed the diet not to exceed 1,500 calories per day, and portion control was important. According to Dr. Simpson, one of the most important things learned from this experiment is - a calorie is just a calorie.

Dr. Terry Simpson is a Phoenix based physician who specializes in weight loss surgery. In addition to seeing patients, he spends time conducting research, exploring new foods, preparing healthy meals, and golfing on Sundays. For more information visit his website at DrTerrySimpson.com

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Dogfish Head to Make Namaste Available Year Round

Namaste, a Belgian-style white beer bursting with good karma, is making the leap from occasional release in a champagne-size bottles to year-round offering in 12-oz. 6-packs. The new packaging, coming at you in 2014, will be available in all of the states where Dogfish Head is sold.

"From the day we opened in 1995, the average beer we've brewed has been 9% ABV," says Dogfish Head Founder and President Sam Calagione. "We love going big, but we also hear the calls for a more sessionable off-centered ale. We hope you'll agree that Namaste is a great year-round quencher and food beer."

Made with dried organic orange flesh and orange rind, fresh-cut lemongrass and a bit of pepper and coriander, Namaste was originally brewed in 2009 to raise money and awareness for 3 Fonteinen, a Belgian brewery that suffered a devastating production loss.

The name, which roughly translates to "The spirit in me recognizes and celebrates the spirit in you," is also a nod to craft beer lovers the world over for spreading the word about small, independent breweries.

The coming year will also see the return of the ageable Raison D'Extra. It's our O.G. Raison D'Etre, with a little extra. This immodest brew, made with an obscene amount of malt, brown sugar and raisins, takes Belgian-style browns to new heights.

Also in 2014, Tweason'ale will be available year-round, and we have a couple of collaborations in the works for our Music Series. More on those later.

Of course, there's only so much room in the fermenters and on the bottling line, so to make room for the new stuff, we have to say goodbye (for now) to a few old friends. Raison D'Etre will be going to draft-only, and we won't be brewing any Immort Ale, Chateau Jiahu, My Antonia or Black & Blue next year. Will they ever return? Well, we have a soft spot in our hearts for each and every one of those beers, so never say never, OK?

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. Announces Launch of Canned Beers in 2014

Beginning in 2014, beer connoisseurs will get to enjoy craft brews from North Texas' oldest brewery as a 12-ounce canned beverage.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. will launch a selection of canned beers to the Dallas-Fort Worth market in early 2014, which will include 12-pack cases of Rahr's Blonde, as well as a new American pale ale that will be exclusively available in cans only. The launch will roll out to other Texas markets later in the spring.

Owners Fritz and Erin Rahr recognized the appeal of canned beers, and wanted to make this option available to their craft beer drinkers. Cans prevent unnecessary light and oxygen from breaking down the hops in a beer. They also prevent a metallic taste, and are much more eco-friendly.

"We are very excited to offer cans," said Fritz. "It will open us up to new markets, and fans of Rahr & Sons will be able to enjoy our brews in any environment—especially where glass bottles may not be permitted."

Head Brewer Craig Mycoskie brings a high level of expertise to this initiative. In his previous position, he worked at Wynkoop Brewery in Colorado, where he studied under Marty Jones—the man who made canned craft beer "cool."

"There are certain consumers who look for quality beer in cans, and they've had to look elsewhere until now," said Craig. "We're eager to make use of some incredible new hop varieties with the new American pale ale."

Rahr & Sons will use a specialty machine from Cask Canning, a Canadian company on the forefront of craft canning lines. The machine can fill up to 35 cans a minute, and production will begin soon.

Please visit RahrBrewing.com and Facebook to stay up-to-date on further developments.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Fado Irish Pub in Seattle Hosts Launch Party for KCCO Black Lager

WHAT: Resignation Brewery, the new extension from the multi-faceted entertainment and digital media company, Resignation Media (theCHIVE.com, theCHIVERY.com), is hosting an exclusive launch party at Fadó Irish Pub this Saturday to kick off the release of its highly-anticipated beer, KCCO Black Lager, in Seattle. Tickets for the event sold out in just two minutes as fans jumped at the chance to be some of the first to sample the native beer which is brewed at the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville, WA.

WHEN: Saturday, November 23 from 6-9pm

WHERE: Fadó Irish Pub - 801 1st Street - Seattle, WA 98104
FadoIrishPub.com/Seattle/

BACKGROUND: KCCO Black Lager has mild notes of coffee and chocolate with a waft of smoke, but is very crisp and clean with a dry finish. The beer debunks the myth that that all dark beers are heavy and high in alcohol content, making it the perfect beer for any gathering.

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Learn first-hand what it means to be a Chiver and sample KCCO Black Lager. Photo and interview opportunities are available upon request only. Space is extremely limited to this sold out event, so all requests must be arranged prior to the event.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Santa Rosa Breweries Win Top Awards at Great American Beer Festival 2013

Make way for beer in wine country as local brew-masters shine on the National radar at the Great American Beer Festival. The big winners include; Third Street AleWorks, with two awards, including GOLD for Blarney Sisters’ Dry Irish Stout in the Classic Irish-style Stout category and BRONZE for Bombay Rouge in the Imperial Red category. Russian River Brewing Company took SILVER for Sanctification in the American Brett Beers category and it was BRONZE for Bear Republic for Heritage in the Scotch Ale category.

The winners were chosen from more than 4,800 beers entered at the festival’s competition and only 252 medals were awarded in total, these stand-outs blew away the competition. The ever growing craft-brewing community in Sonoma County is keeping right-up with the much-loved wine industry. Tour, taste and see full list of popular local breweries or call for info (800) 404-7673.

Santa Rosa’s Russian River Brewing Company is known by industry aficionados as one of the best breweries in the United States with a large selection of beer from big hops to Belgium ales. Their brews including Pliny the Elder is considered to be one of the best in Northern California and their beers are currently ranked No.1 and No. 2 in the US by Beer Advocate, with the Elder outranked only by Westvleteren 12, made by Trappist monks in Belgium.

Third Street Aleworks and Bear Republic’s offerings also scored high on the list which is graded from beer industry experts and members of the community using data from millions of user reviews. Russian River’s coveted craft, Pliny the Younger, is made in small batches and available for only two weeks each February drawing crowds from California to across the U.S. to taste the ultra-hoppy triple-IPA. In fact, beer enthusiasts from as far as Japan and Denmark make the yearly pilgrimage for the release. Sonoma County's Economic Development Board has just presented the first ever Sonoma County Beer, Cider and Spirits Conference in Santa Rosa to explore and support the local beer culture.

At the Brewers Association World Beer Cup, 799 breweries from 54 countries entered 3,921 beers in 95 style categories. The international judging panel from 27 countries conducted blind tasting evaluations and Santa Rosa brewers were big winners. Third Street Ale Works took home two awards including the gold medal (top award) in the categories of Classic English-Style Pale Ale and Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout.

The Annadel Pale Ale was the top rated beer in the English-Style Pale Ale and Blarney Sisters Dry Irish Stout was the top rated beer in the Irish-Style Dry Stout. The Russian River Brewery medaled for their Supplication in the American-Style Sour Ale category. Bear Republic Brewing Company won the top award for their Black Racer; an aggressively hopped Black India Pale Ale brewed with crystal and roasted malts to achieve layered flavors with very little roast character relative to its dark color, in the American-Style Black Ale category.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Beer Pong Enthusiasts Will Flock to Las Vegas for The World Series of Beer Pong

What was once thought of as a simple college game has become a beloved, mainstream sport, complete with its own mega, international tournament – The World Series of Beer Pong. The 9th installment of The World Series of Beer Pong (WSOBP), presented by BPONG.COM, will be held January 1st-5th at the Flamingo Las Vegas.

The 2014 WSOBP is expected to draw up to 1,000 players from across the United States and over a dozen countries. Cups will be racked, balls will be tossed, and friendships will be tested, all in the name of the largest beer pong competition in the world!

WSOBP rules allow for play with beer, water or another liquid, although for logistical reasons, The WSOBP IX will follow suit with most bars who run tournaments and will play with water in the cups. The WSOBP will be played with water to further foster the growth of the sport by eliminating the potential issues of showing beer on air, thus allowing the sport to be aired across television networks and in the media. During play, two-person teams stand at opposite ends of an 8-foot-long table, where ten 16-ounce cups, filled with roughly 4 ounces of water, are placed in a bowling-pin formation. Each team takes turns tossing beer pong balls (similar to table tennis balls) at their opponent's cup formation. If a ball goes into a cup, the cup is removed from the game. The first team to eliminate all of its opponent's cups wins.

When all the games have been played, the last team standing will claim the title of Beer Pong World Champion and take home its share of the prize pool. To date, BPONG.COM and The World Series of Beer Pong have awarded over $500,000 in cash prizes.

On top of the main competition play and spectator event, BPONG.COM is also known for hosting exciting side events that players and spectators alike can participate in, including a CoEd tournament, requiring each team to have one male and one female player, and a random partner tournament, which gives players from around the world the chance to get randomly paired with a player and meet new people.

Players interested in competing in The WSOBP IX must register online by the December 10, 2013 deadline. Player packages currently start at $499. All packages are priced per person and include a four-night hotel stay at Flamingo Las Vegas as well as entrance into The WSOBP IX main event, which includes a guaranteed minimum of 12 games of play.

For more information or to register, visit bpong.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

2nd Annual Bull City Food and Beer Experience Announced for March 9 in Durham NC

DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, partnering with Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom and Sam’s Quik Shop to host 2nd Annual Bull City Food and Beer Experience.

What: Bull City Food & Beer Experience - Three local partners collaborate to create a true Bull City Experience with a national twist. DPAC, Sam’s Quik Shop together with Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom founded the Inaugural Bull City Food & Beer Experience to stimulate and educate your palate and mind through pairing of local food showcasing 30 Durham restaurants and unbelievable beer from 30 premier craft / import breweries. In addition to the food & beer pairings, guests will be able to enjoy an onstage experience featuring 20 Cask-Condition beers from breweries across the country and a local craft brewers panels by the owners of 5 of the premier local craft breweries.

When: March 9, 2014, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

Where: DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC 27701

Who: Fans of Food & Beer

Tickets: Tickets go on sale Friday November 22, 2013 at 10AM.

• Online at DPACnc.com or BullCityExperience.com
• DPAC Ticket Center: 919.680.2787, 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC
• Ticketmaster.com / Ticketmaster Charge by phone at 800.745.3000

Benefiting: This event is a fundraising event to benefit the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (EllerbeCreek.org).

Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on November 20. Joining Friends of DPAC is free, and you can register at DPACnc.com.

Admission into the Bull City Food & Beer Experience includes:

• Souvenir Glass and Tasting Notebook
• Food sampling from 30 of Durham's finest restaurant's & Beer Tastings from 50 breweries
• Keynote Speakers - Premier local craft brewers panel -names to be announced at a later date
• Live Music from Mipso will be rounding out the sensory experience with their bluegrass inspired music live on stage.
• A limited number of Imperial VIP Ticket Holders will enjoy all elements of regular admission plus an exclusive event poster, exclusive T-shirt, 30-minute early event access, private access to VIP tasting lounge, VIP imperial laminate and specialty spirit, rare beer and wine tasting only available to Imperial ticket holders.

This event is a fundraising event to benefit the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (EllerbeCreek.org).

The mission of the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association is to:

• Enable a living creek - a healthy stream in which an appropriately diverse group of native fish and invertebrate species thrive
• Create a network of preserves and trails along which people can hike, bike, and walk from the Ellerbe Creek headwaters to Falls Lake
• Build ties among Durham's diverse neighborhoods and communities using Ellerbe Creek as a link
• Partner with the City and other groups that seek to move Durham to become a regional model for proactive urban stormwater management
• Help adults, and especially kids, have the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate being outdoors in a learning and safe environment

For additional information including participating Restaurants & Breweries please visit BullCityExperience.com

Date, time, prices, and all participants are subject to change.

All ticket holders must be 21+ years of age & must bring valid photo ID. Event reserves the right to refuse service to anyone at anytime.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Thunder Canyon Brewery Wins Bronze Medal at 2013 Great American Beer Festival

Tucson headquartered Thunder Canyon Brewery won the Bronze Medal in the Cream Stout category at this past weekend’s Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for their Dark Lightning Milk Stout brew.

The Great American Beer Festival invites industry professionals from around the world to participate in a blind taste-testing of beers in each specified style category. Ultimately, the goal of the Great American Beer Festival Judge Panel is to identify the three beers that best represent each beer-style category as described and adopted by the Great American Beer Festival.

The judging panel awards gold, silver, or bronze medals that are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence. These awards are among the most coveted in the industry. Of the 4,809 beers entered in 84 categories, Thunder Canyon Brewery’s Dark Lightning Milk Stout won the Bronze Medal in the Cream Stout category.

To try the award-winning Dark Lightning Milk Stout, visit Thunder Canyon Brewery at either of their two locations; Downtown at 220 E. Broadway, or Foothills Mall at 7401 N. La Cholla.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

2X4 Brewing & Imports Launches Canada's Select Brews

Scott Fore, President of 2x4 Brewing & Imports LLC, is pleased to announce the recent signing of nine (9) new states and the District of Columbia with distributors to represent Canadian craft beers and ciders imported by 2X4 Brewing & Imports, LLC, under its Canada's Select Brews™ portfolio.

The following states and distributors will sell the beers from Canada's Select Brews™ portfolio. These Canadian craft beers and ales are shipping to these new markets now through the end of December to prepare for official January market launches with distributor sales staff.

Alabama - United – Johnson Brothers

Georgia – Quality Wines & Spirits

Illinois – Stoller Wholesale Wine & Spirits

North Carolina – Fine Wine Trading Company

Maryland – Hop & Wine Beverage

Maine – Pine State Trading Company

Virginia – Hop & Wine Beverage

Tennessee – Lipman Brothers

Vermont – Capital Candy Co/ Granite City Beverage

District of Columbia – Hop & Wine Beverage

The Canada's Select Brews™ family of craft beers, ales and ciders will be offered to retailers and restaurateurs as a package of high quality, hand crafted, and unique products from Canada that will add depth and quality to the craft beer category. These beers are not only award winning they are also brewed in Canadian locales that are natural and pristine. Their underlying stories and high quality provide excellent market appeal in the USA import craft beer market.

The portfolio currently consists of two British Columbia Craft Breweries, Howe Sound Brewing from Squamish, BC and Parallel 49 Brewing Company from Vancouver.

2X4 is in contract negotiations with one more additional BC brewery and six more breweries from the Ontario and New Brunswick provinces. Signing announcements for new member breweries to the portfolio will be made in the coming weeks.

According to Fore, the goal of Canada's Select Brews™ is to promote and create Canada's finest craft beers to the US market and introduce a new "Import Craft Category" that emulates and exceeds the artistry of craft beers made in North America.

The distributor partners listed above are eager and excited to begin the distribution of the beers as they have found the beers to be excellent quality and competitive in price due to logistic preparations handled by 2X4. These new states will add to the statewide California distribution signed last month with Young's Market Company. Additional distributor agreements in review for Arizona, Florida and New York will be finalized and announced by the end of January 2014.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Where a Hockey Fan Can Find Affordable Beer

Every year, SaveOnBrew.com, the world's only beer price-search engine, releases a report on beer price trends in NHL hockey arenas across the country. The new infographic shows that the best deal on beer can be found at Verizon Center, home of the Washington Capitals - at $8.00 for a generous 24 ounce beer (33 cents per ounce).

However, this year, fans of the Colorado Avalanche can rejoice in the fact that they are no longer drinking the most expensive arena beer. Madison Square Garden, home to the New York Rangers, charge a whopping $8.75 for a meager 12 ounce beer (or 73 cents per ounce). Last year, a 20 ounce beer cost just $7.50 (38 cents per ounce) at the Garden.

“You would think the arenas would be looking for ways to make it up to fans after last years strike-shortened season,” said SaveOnBrew founder Mark Davidson. “Yet, in many of the arenas we looked at, the arenas raised beer prices – quite dramatically – to make up for the lost revenue.”

There were a few arenas that responded to the fans’ demands for more affordable beers. For instance, the Scottrade Center – home of the St. Louis Blues -- charged the $7 for a twelve ounce serving last year, where this year a 20-ounce serving can be had for the same price, giving fans a little more value for their money.

According to the survey, fans could still buy 3 beers for under $20 at PNC Arena, SAP Center, Canadian Tire Center, Consol Energy Center, Tampa Bay Times Forum, Joe Louis Arena, Nationwide Arena and Bell Centre.

“On the other hand, if you’re going to see the NY Islanders play, better plan on spending almost $30 for three beers,” Davidson says. “At SaveOnBrew, we say: relax! Stay home, invite some friends over, and split a couple 24-packs. You’ll pay less and probably have a better time without the hassle of stadium traffic and hemorrhaging money.”

Before loading up on beer for the game, Davidson recommends using SaveOnBrew.Com to find the lowest local retail prices. The beer price database and the NHL infographic can be viewed on SaveOnBrew.Com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Biryt Energy Beer Launches in Beirut

Biryt Energy Beer, the new product that "tastes like a great beer, with energy on top!" is looking to take Beirut by storm. It is steadily building up its distribution and is currently available in a multitude of pubs, bars and grocery stores. The brand is positioning itself as an alternative to the beer and energy drink products that are saturating the market.

Biryt Energy Beer contains no caffeine, taurine, colorants, fat or cholesterol. Instead, its healthy malt base formulation, as well as its 7 essential vitamins makes it a particularly tasty, refreshing and energizing beverage. The product's multiple benefits include increased physical performance and mental alertness, improved reaction speed and concentration, as well as reduced stress recovery period.

According to a company spokesman, "Biryt's awesome taste should appeal to both beer and energy drink fans. In fact, Energy drink lovers will have the pleasure of enjoying a tasty, refreshing beer while boosting their energy, and beer lovers will be able to enjoy their preferred drink with an extra energy twist!"

Lebanon's youth has already started taking to the product, particularly in pubs and bars around Beirut. Biryt Energy Beer's new and original concept might just prove to be this year's success story.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Karl Strauss Expanding into the Inland Empire One Pint at a Time

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is excited to expand its reach into the Inland Empire, with a new brewery restaurant opening in the gateway city of Temecula. This marks Karl Strauss’ first brewery restaurant in Riverside County, where the company’s beer sales have been achieving double-digit sales growth year over year. Karl Strauss currently distributes to approximately 1,000 on and off-premise accounts in the greater Inland Empire, with sales expected to significantly increase in 2014. “The craft beer scene in Temecula is taking off, and we’ve seen that reflect in our beer sales,” says Paul Segura, Brewmaster, Karl Strauss Brewing Company. “We are looking forward to sharing our innovative line-up of beers with thirsty fans at our new brewery restaurant and expanding retail accounts.”

The new brewery restaurant features a custom-built 7-barrel JV Northwest system, 2-vessel brew house, 14-barrel fermenter, and two 14-barrel bright tanks. “We’re putting the finishing touches on the brewery and our inaugural brew will be ready to go by Thanksgiving,” says Segura. “We know the locals like their hops, so we’re kicking off our tank-tap program with Rasta Red, a bold, hoppy red ale.” The custom-built concrete bar features 12 taps of Karl Strauss’ handcrafted beers, including pioneering favorites like Wreck Alley Imperial Stout, award-winning Red Trolley Ale, and Tower 10 IPA. There will also be several taps dedicated to special releases and tank-tap beers brewed on-site.

In addition to being part of Temecula’s thriving craft beer scene, Karl Strauss Brewing Company is proud to support local causes important to the community. Prior to opening, Karl Strauss partnered with Temecula nonprofit, Bike 365, to raise awareness for improved bike paths throughout the city. Karl Strauss donated all tips raised during its soft-opening, totaling $9,166 to help Bike 365 further its mission.

For more information and pictures of Karl Strauss’ new brewery restaurant, visit karlstrauss.com.

About Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Karl Strauss Brewing Company has pioneered the San Diego beer scene since 1989 with innovative beer releases like Big Barrel IIPA and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. The brewery has won 54 medals over the past three years and its Red Trolley Ale is one of the most award winning beers in the world. The company is currently ranked #39 on the list of the country’s top craft breweries with sole distribution in California. 2013 is on pace to be another exciting year of double-digit sales growth, with the main brewery tasting room and new brewery restaurant in Temecula now open. For more information visit karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Southern Tier Brewing Among 10 Reasons to Visit Chautauqua County and Western New York This Winter

Chautauqua County in western New York sits directly in the path of lake effect snow storms that gather strength over Lake Erie and drop more than 200 inches of snow annually. More often than not, the holidays are welcomed with a carpet of white and the winter season becomes a frozen crystal wonderland. This pocket of precipitation is precisely why winter is a perfect time to plan a visit.

With annual snowfall that rivals Colorado ski towns, western New York offers plenty of opportunity for downhill snow sports. Near Findley Lake, the Peek’n Peak Resort and Spa provides an excellent backdrop for true beginners all the way to expert level skiers and snowboarders with 27 slopes, eight chairlifts, three progression terrain parks and a half pipe. There is a tubing area and trails for cross country skiing. The instructors at Peek’n Peak’s Snow Sports School are professionally trained and the lodges, dining rooms, pool and spa are welcome amenities after a day on the slopes.

Chautauqua's numerous trails and open spaces provide access for cross country skiing and snow shoeing. Long Point State Park, Lake Erie State Park, Chautauqua Institution, and the Jamestown Audubon Center offer picturesque landscapes, trails, and potential for wildlife viewing. A local retailer, Evergreen Outfitters, schedules regular guided snowshoe hikes, including one during the full moon.

More than 400 miles of trails groomed by five local snowmobile clubs provide an ideal setting for sledding over old railroad beds, former trolley lines, open farm fields, heavily wooded areas, and seasonal roads. Trails officially open a week or so before Christmas, weather permitting. New York requires that all sleds be registered and advanced preparation is recommended. Information on how to register and where to find trail conditions is available at http://www.tourchautauqua.com/snowmobiling.aspx.

Winter is a great time to visit the wineries in Lake Erie Wine Country. Tasting rooms are less crowded than during the peak summer and fall tourist seasons, the experience is more educational and intimate, and many new vintages are released. Also winter and Ice Wine, a specialty wine unique to the northern climate, naturally go together. During the annual Wine and Chocolate Weekend, February 14-16, 2014, each of the participating wineries will pair a luscious chocolate creation with a wine accompaniment.

Brewery tours are popular at Southern Tier Brewing Company throughout the year. The Empty Pint Brewery Pub offers a selection of 14 draught beers, including some guest taps, Thursday through Saturday, evenings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Hickory smoked pulled pork, meatloaf, and cheese sandwiches, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are also on the menu. Guided tours of the brewery are offered on Saturdays at 12:15, 1:00, 1:45, 2:30, 3:15 and 4 pm. The 45-minute tours are available on a first come basis and often sell out by mid-afternoon. Visitors should prepare for touring a working production facility that may be hot, cold, wet and noisy.

The annual Currier & Ives Sleigh Rally takes place at Chautauqua Institution, Sunday, January 19, 2014. While the rally participants are horsemen and their sleighs, spectators can watch the Victorian style sleighs and costumed drivers as they parade through the historic grounds with sleigh bells jingling at approximately 12 noon.

Sleigh rides are offered on Saturdays and Sundays throughout January and February through the historic grounds of Chautauqua Institution. Rides run every half hour from 1 pm to 3 pm and tickets are available at the Chautauqua Bookstore on Bestor Plaza. This is a lot of fun for couples or as an outing for the whole family.

President’s Day Weekend brings with it the annual Winter Festival in Mayville, February 14-16, 2014 featuring events, activities, and contests for all ages including fireworks, a flare parade, bonfire and horse drawn wagon rides. If the weather cooperates, visitors might see ice and snow sculptures, or even a castle made from blocks of ice harvested in the traditional way from Chautauqua Lake.

Bed and breakfasts, vacation homes, resorts and inns are available for lodging during the winter months, providing getaway time by the hearth, with some hot chocolate, a bottle of local wine or some Southern Tier beer.

For more ideas on visiting Chautauqua County any time of year, visit tourchautauqua.com or call 1-866-908-4569.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Startup Brewery Challenge at December 5 Brewbound Session in San Diego

Brewbound is pleased to announce the return of its Startup Brewery Challenge, a unique opportunity for new craft brewers to partner with one of the country’s largest craft beer companies, Craft Brew Alliance.

The competition will take place at the December 5 Brewbound Session in San Diego. New craft brewery owners will have the opportunity to show off their business plans, new beers and receive immediate feedback from an expert judging panel. The 10 U.S. craft beer companies who enter will have been on the market for less than two years and have annual revenues of $2 million or less.

Competing for the chance to become Widmer Brothers' "Brother for a Day," the winning company will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Portland, Ore. with the opportunity to craft a new collaboration beer with Widmer Brothers Brewing, take an extensive tour of the company’s pilot and production breweries, participate in Widmer Brothers’ daily taste panel and meet with its sales, marketing, graphics, quality assurance and packaging departments.

The first installment in Brewbound's Startup Brewery Challenge featured four Oregon-based craft beer companies and was held during the Brew Talks Portland meetup in July. After the challenge, the participating breweries and Widmer Brothers came together for a five-brewery collaboration, which resulted in the creation of 5th Wheel, a Belgian dark strong ale. The beer is currently being brewed at the Widmer Brothers 10-barrel pilot brewery in Portland and will be available, on draft, at the December Brewbound Session.

Format and Application Process:

Brewers wishing to participate in the Startup Brewery Challenge should visit the application page for a complete listing of rules and selection criteria. Applicants will be evaluated and chosen by the Brewbound team. Questions about the competition can be directed to Mike Vassallo at mvassallo@bevnet.com or 617-231-8827.

About the Brewbound Session:

The Brewbound Session, which will be held at the Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego, is a full-day conference for beer industry professionals. The event focuses on the strategic marketing, brand building and business development issues that most directly impact craft brewers. A variety of distribution, retail, investment and branding discussions are offered.

For more information see brewbound.com

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Room Slated for November Opening in Berkeley

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is targeting early November to open its Berkeley, Calif., space, coined the Torpedo Room. The intimate venue—whose name is inspired by the brewery’s innovative dry-hopping device, the Hop Torpedo—fits into a mixed-use building on Fourth Street between University Avenue and Addison Street. The Torpedo Room can host approximately 45 craft beer drinkers for educational tastings of unique and limited Sierra Nevada beers, as well as the occasional craft-centric event dedicated to beer science.

“Our brewers develop creative, flavorful beers at an impressive pace,” said Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada’s founder. “They’re usually small batches, and it’s those beers folks will find in the Torpedo Room. We think it’s exciting—using rare offerings to showcase who we are and to talk about the science behind our beers. We really hope visitors take part in the dialogue.”

The Torpedo Room will feature 16 taps, and draught beer will be served in taster flights. Guests will also have the option of filling growlers to go, as well as purchasing six-packs, cases and individual specialty bottles. Light snacks will accompany beer flights, but there is not a full menu.

“West Berkeley fosters a great, progressive culture,” Grossman said, “and that includes a lot of ambitious food and drink. We’re eager to be part of the Bay Area craft scene while still staying close to our home base in Chico.” Ongoing construction on the Torpedo Room capitalizes on Berkeley and greater Northern California talent. West Berkeley neighbor Trachtenberg Architects, Inc.; Ferrous Studios, Inc., in nearby Richmond, Calif.; and Chico-based craftspeople Westgate Hardwoods are among those helping Sierra Nevada create a rich atmosphere.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Craft Beer Site LetsPour Ships 200,000th Bottle

LetsPour.com, the largest online craft beer store, announced shipping of its 200,000th bottle and rolled out a new service to satisfy increasing customer demands by offering lower prices and next-day delivery on bottles and fresh growlers in Washington State.

“Unbelievable!" said LetsPour CEO Raghav Kher. “200,000 bottles in about half the time we expected! We want to thank Washington’s beer lovers for making this exciting journey possible. This just proves what we've said all along: American craft brewing is the wave of the future.”

Kher attributes LetsPour's success to the sophistication of craft beer drinkers and growing demand in Washington and across the country. Beer enthusiasts traditionally used message boards and forums to hunt down and trade beers they couldn’t get locally. But that is really low-tech and definitely not easy. It’s also a $12 billion market that’s growing 15% a year.

Beer enthusiasts are increasingly venturing online to explore styles and brands not available in local shops. LetsPour’s dedicated staff constantly searches to find and obtain the nation's best beer. The site is well-known for daily offerings of hard-to-find selections and seasonals that aren't widely available.

“Among craft beer geeks, shopping for beer online is all about getting your hands on extremely limited, highly sought after beers as soon as they’re available,” noted Kher. “We’ve had customers confess that rather than working, they are monitoring LetsPour so they can pounce on a beer as soon as it launches.”

LetsPour also will offer a limited selection of growlers of tap-only beers online for delivery the next day in Washington state. These 1-liter growlers are filled using a state-of-the-art tap module that first fills the containers with CO2, eliminates all oxygen contact and keep the beer fresh.

“The first time the beer in our growlers is exposed to air after leaving the keg...is when you unscrew the cap!” Raghav Kher said, “Short of traveling to the brewery, this is the freshest beer you can drink. And, you get to do it in the comfort of your own home.”

Next-day delivery and local pricing is available for the entire selection of craft beers that ship from LetsPour’s Washington distribution center. Orders must be placed by 12 pm online in order to guarantee delivery the following day. Orders placed on Friday by 3pm will be delivered on Monday. Orders placed on the weekend will be delivered on Tuesday. For a handful of remote locations, LetsPour may not be able to guarantee next-day delivery.

Washington’s Online Craft Beer Facts (based on data from LetsPour 2012-2013)

Top breweries from which Washington customers order beer:
1. Cigar City Brewing, Florida
2. Bell’s Brewing, Michigan
3. Elysian Brewing, Washington
4. Odell Brewing, Colorado
5. Dogfish Head Brewing, Delaware


Top craft beer styles ordered by Washington customers:
1. IPA
2. Stout
3. Belgian-style ale
4. Amber/red ales
5. Porter
6. Pumpkin ales

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

A Guide to Choosing a Theme Bar for A Man Cave

Man caves are one of the few rooms in the home where going all out with a theme is the norm rather than a taboo. Bars are often a main component of man caves, and an excellent place to begin expressing a bold theme. HomeThangs.com has introduced a guide to a few nice pieces to get the ball rolling.

For a car enthusiast or as part of a retro 1950s drive-in themed space, a bar modeled after the front end of a little red Corvette or bubblegum pink ‘57 Chevy is the perfect way to make a bold theme pop. Both playful and stylish, these are definitely a statement piece that can easily command an entire room. Plus, they’re compact enough to work in a small space, but not so small as to be impractical to use.

Even just a little old world flair can go a long way toward establishing a bold theme. Man caves often feature lots of dark wood in deference to the gentleman’s parlors and libraries, and a beautifully made wood bar is the perfect way to add a touch of masculinity to the space. Lighter wood with dark wood detailing can evoke an old West, saloon style feel to it that makes it feel both rugged and sophisticated, while ones with classic carving are perfect to match the glitz and glam of an old fashioned movie theater style.

A serious, dedicated bartender should look for a bar that has plenty of storage, even if it isn’t particularly large. A wine rack might be nice in the kitchen, but in a man cave there should be enough space and equipment to really mix some drinks. The more organized the storage the better, as keeping wine and liquor bottles, stemware, mixing equipment, and ice all sorted can streamline the mixology, while having ample counter space makes it easy to whip up drinks for a crowd.

For smaller man caves that are limited on space, look for multipurpose bars with multiple interchangeable tops. That is, bars that have green felt tops designed for a rousing game of blackjack, roulette, or craps in addition to the wood bar top. These are essentially really high quality three-in-one game tables. During ordinary use, they have a sleek wood top, but quickly and easily swap to one of the three game surfaces, meaning the man cave can double as a private casino for a boys’ night in.

Even with a relatively ordinary looking wood bar, there’s still a whole world of opportunity to get creative with bar stools. Bar stools come in an absolutely spectacular variety of designs, far above and beyond the standard four legs and a cushion top, like stools that come with a saddle instead of a seat, or better yet, bar stools with sculptural bases. Man caves are meant to be fun spaces free from traditional housekeeping etiquette. So while shopping for new bar furniture – or really any piece of furniture – feel free to go a little wild and opt for bold statement pieces (or furniture that’s just a little bit silly or showy).

HomeThangs.com is not only a home improvement superstore, it also provides expert design tips and a comprehensive shopping guide, taking the ideas from professional interior designers, and offering tips to the consumers on how to pick the products to best suit their needs.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Odell Brewing and Silver Grill Cafe Offer Cinnamon Roll Brew

Who doesn't love cinnamon rolls (especially from the Silver Grill Cafe)?

Who doesn't love beer?

Who doesn't love cinnamon-roll-flavored-beer?

If you're not sure about that last one, we here at Mad Hopping recommend that you get on down to Odell Brewery or the Silver Grill Cafe in Fort Collins, Colorado on November 14th to give it a try.

The cinnamon roll flavored beer, CinnsationAle, is a sweetly spiced autumn ale, infused with hundreds of tasty bits of the Grill’s famous cinnamon rolls.

A launch party for CinnsationAle will take place from 4-6 p.m., Nov. 14 at Odell’s, 800 E. Lincoln St., with free Silver Grill cinnamon rolls provided.

CinnsationAle will then be on tap at Odell and Silver Grill, while supplies last.

Diners at the Grill will be able to buy a pint to take home with them, and readers of the Silver Grill’s monthly newsletter, Grill Talk, will receive a second pint free.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Deschutes Brewery Beers Coming to Kentucky and Ohio

Deschutes Brewery announced today that its craft beers will be available in the states of Ohio and Kentucky starting on January 24, 2014. The Oregon-based brewery will be working with Heidelberg Distributing Company’s Rampant Brands Division, which focuses exclusively on the distribution, education and sale of craft beer. Rampant serves Ohio’s 88 counties as well as all retailers in the wet counties of Kentucky.

Stacy Denbow, expansion manager for the brewery, said, “With 11 million future fans and more than 22,000 licensed retail accounts, we knew moving into Ohio would be a huge undertaking. Partnership with an expert company like Heidelberg’s Rampant Division gave us a great opportunity to launch in Ohio, as well as extending into the great Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

From January 24-February 6, Deschutes Brewery will be traveling to cities around Ohio and in the Louisville area of Kentucky for special tastings and other events. Look for details coming soon. Initially, Deschutes Brewery will be offering Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, the nation’s number one selling craft porter, Inversion IPA, and its spring seasonal, Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale. The beers will be available in six-packs and draft.

Earlier this year, Deschutes Brewery completed an expansion at its main facility in Bend, Oregon with a total of 10 new 1,300 barrel fermentation tanks. When all the new tanks are utilized, the brewery will have the capacity to brew more than 460,000 barrels annually to fill demand in its expanding distribution footprint.

About Deschutes Brewery

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Deschutes Brewery began as a brew pub in downtown Bend, Oregon and is known for such brands as Black Butte Porter, its flagship brew and the nation’s number one selling craft porter, and the popular Mirror Pond Pale Ale. In addition to its original Bend pub, this family and employee-owned brewery opened a second pub in Portland’s Pearl District in 2008. The company’s main brewing facility is located on the banks of the Deschutes River and produces over 250,000 barrels of beer annually for distribution in 21 states and two provinces. Deschutes Brewery was named one of America’s Best Places to Work in 2013 by Outside Magazine. To find out more, visit DeschutesBrewery.com

About Heidelberg Distributing Company’s Rampant Brands

Rampant Brands is a Heidelberg sales and marketing division focused exclusively on the distribution, education, and sale of Craft Beers. With a presence in all eight Heidelberg markets, Rampant sales professionals not only call on accounts in every major city, but also educate the entire beer sales force on new products and trends so its brands can reach every corner of the Heidelberg footprint.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

A New Small Batch Brew from Waterloo Brewing Co.

Waterloo Brewing Co., the craft brewing division of Brick Brewing Co. Limited (TSX: BRB), today unveiled a new seasonal mix pack for beer drinkers to enjoy this Fall and Winter. Waterloo Small Batch Brews feature two of their traditional brews - Waterloo Pilsner and Waterloo Amber in this case - and one seasonal specialty beer; new Waterloo Union Mills Porter. Black in color, this robust Oatmeal Porter is hand-crafted with chocolate roasted malts, well balanced hops, flaked oats and pure Formosa Spring Water providing this 7% alc. brew with its roasted smoky flavours and a shade of chocolate subtlety.

"Waterloo Brewing Company is Ontario's original craft brewery dating back to our Formosa brewery in 1870," noted George Croft, President and CEO, Brick Brewing. "We have a tremendous heritage of crafting quality beers worthy of Ontario, national and international recognition. In fact our Waterloo Amber was awarded Gold at Monde Selection in Belgium earlier this year."

"We're very proud to include Union Mills Porter in this specialty sampler," offered Chief Operating Officer Russell Tabata. "Weather can sometimes determine what type of beer we choose to drink and when the weather turns cold it's an opportunity for this selection of our craft beers to shine. There really is nothing like a hearty, well-crafted porter to tame our cold Ontario winters. We hand-crafted this porter with a dedication of our craft brewing art combined with inspiration to produce what we feel could be one of the finest porters in the world."

Waterloo Brewing Co. Small Batch Brews can be found in select Beer Store lobby locations across Ontario starting November 4th, 2013 for only $13.50 including deposit.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Escape to the Tropics with Maylani’s Coconut Stout from Airways Brewing Company

Just in time for cooler autumn weather, Airways Brewing Company is releasing a tropical treat for craft beer lovers throughout the Puget Sound area. A long-time favorite in the Airways Tap Room, Maylani’s Coconut Stout will be now be available from October to April in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draught beginning Thursday, October 10.

“Maylani’s is the perfect fall and winter seasonal beer – dark and rich, but still highly drinkable,” said Alex Dittmar, founder and head brewer at Airways Brewing Company. “This beer is a favorite of many of our customers, including our friend Maylani, who moved back to Hawaii. We thought it was appropriate to not only name the beer after her, but to also put it in cans so we can send it to her.”

Maylani’s Coconut Stout is an easy drinking beer with the subtle aromas of chocolate and coconut, thanks to the 10 pounds of locally sourced cocoa nibs and fifty pounds of toasted coconut added to each batch. Ebony in color with a rich creamy head, the beer features a mellow flavor of oats, chocolate malt and real chocolate, perfectly balanced with the right amount of hops for a bittersweet finish. Featuring an approachable 35 IBUs and 5.3 percent ABV, it pairs well with almost any dessert, and of course, tastes delicious just on its own.

Beginning Thursday, October 10, Maylani’s Coconut Stout will be available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at both Airways locations for $12. And, starting October 15, 4-packs will be available throughout the Puget Sound region at select specialty bottle shops —including Chucks Hop Shop, 99 Bottles, Pint Defiance, Beer Junction, Special Brews, Malt & Vine, Total Wine Tukwila and more.

This Thursday, October 10, a special cask of Maylani’s will be tapped at the Airways Brewing Tap Room as part of a release party celebration. The beer will be on draught at both Airways locations.

In addition to Maylani’s Coconut Stout, craft beer enthusiasts can pick up the brewery’s flagship Sky Hag IPA and Chocolate Stout in 22-ounce bottles. Pre Flight Pilsner is also available in 16-oz cans. Pints, tasters and growler fills can also be found at the Airways Brewing Tap Room or Airways Brewing Beer & Bistro in downtown Kent.

For more information about Airways Brewing and its selection of handcrafted brews, visit www.airwaysbrewing.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Firestone Walker Launches New Look for Core Beers

Paso Robles, CA—Firestone Walker Brewing Company is set to unveil new labels and corresponding six-pack sets for its core beers, bringing fresh energy to the packaging of DBA, Pale 31 and Union Jack. Enhancements include a more unified color palette and enhanced visual emphasis on the brewery’s “Lion v. Bear” iconography.

To help spread the word, the brewery has released “My New Package,” a short video featuring co-proprietor David Walker’s wry take on this development.

“The new packaging isn’t a complete departure, but it’s a leap forward,” said Jamie Smith, the brewery’s vice president of marketing. “The overall look is familiar, but DBA, Pale 31 and Union Jack will now jump out more vividly as a family of beers. Our shelf presence will be stronger than ever.”

The new packaging was designed in house by the brewery’s marketing team. The final designs were created from the vantage of both form and function, not only seeking a more impactful retail presence, but also a meaningful look that speaks to a sense of place and heritage.

“The unifying gray background on the new labels is inspired by the shades of textured metal that you see at our brewery,” said Andrew Wickstrom, the brewery’s design director. “We kept the secondary colors for DBA (blue), Pale 31 (yellow) and Union Jack (red) while creating new logos that represent the personality of each beer. The lion and bear icons are now more crisply defined as well. Overall, we think it’s a nice balance between fun, fresh and familiar.”

The lion and the bear represent brewery proprietors and brothers-in-law David Walker and Adam Firestone. The lion celebrates Walker’s British heritage, while the bear is a nod to Firestone’s California roots. With claws out and fists up, they mirror the spirited sparring that has been a driving creative force behind the brewery since day one.

“The lion and the bear tell the story of the brewery,” Smith said. “They go right to the heart of the brand and the beers. There’s power in an icon, and we want to illustrate this more prominently.”

The new packaging for DBA, Pale 31 and Union Jack will begin rolling out on October 15. Corresponding new tap handles featuring the new beer logos will follow soon.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.