Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout Beer Debuts in January

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers and local San Francisco chocolatier, TCHO, have collaborated on a brand new beer for 2014 called Black Hand, a Chocolate Milk Stout.

“There just didn’t seem to be a whole lot of milk stouts out there,” said Brandon Borgel, the brewery’s Director of Sales & Marketing. “We’ve done a few pilot batches in the past and we’ve absolutely fallen in love with the style. It’s a nice departure from the hoppy, West Coast-style beers that people have come to know and love from us.”

The brewery teamed up with Brad Kintzer, Head Chocolatier at San Francisco’s TCHO Chocolate, who recommended a special blend of Ecuadorian cacao nibs, which lend a subtle nutty character. The coarsely ground raw nibs are added twice in the brewing process, and provided incredible depth to the chocolatey flavors and aromas.

“We were looking to create distinct milk chocolate flavors not only with the addition of raw chocolate, but throughout the recipe of the beer as a whole,” said Brewmaster Kushal Hall. “We added lactose to create a creamy body and natural sweetness to the beer, oats to accentuate the silky mouth-feel, and de-husked chocolate malts to provide a softer flavor without too much bitter roast.”

The term “black hand” refers to the Prohibition-era practice in which mobsters would stamp the kidnapped victim’s handprint on a ransom note. As a nod to that history, Speakeasy hid a secret note in the design of the screen-printed bottles, which they are daring their fans to find. “If you should find it, you’ll know exactly what to do,” says Borgel.

The Black Hand (6.9% ABV, 37 IBU) will be available on shelves in 22oz bottles and on draft January through March. Visit the brewery’s website at GoodBeer.com for more information.

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

The Original Light Beer Brings Back The Original Lite Can

Miller Lite, the beer that launched the light beer category, invites consumers to reach for a piece of brewing history. On January 1, 2014, Miller Lite will release the limited-edition Original Lite Can, an updated version of the iconic packaging that changed the beer industry almost 40 years ago.

The Original Lite Can features the familiar images of hops, barley and the words "a fine pilsner beer," which reinforce the high quality ingredients and the unique brewing process that consumers have enjoyed for generations.

"There was a time when all that existed was heavy beer that weighed you down," said Elina Vives, marketing director for Miller Lite. "The launch of Miller Lite broke this category convention and offered beer drinkers the best of both worlds, great taste at only 96 calories and 3.2 carbs. Miller Lite is the original light beer and this limited-edition can celebrates that innovation and helps inform consumers of the rich history behind our beer."

In addition to becoming available to consumers in January, the Original Lite Can appears in the recent Paramount Pictures' release, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. The news team can be seen enjoying the Original Lite in the film, which was released nationwide December 18.

The limited-edition Original Lite Can will be available nationwide January through March in 12-, 16- and 24-ounce sizes.

Follow @MillerLite on Twitter and follow the conversation using #TheOriginal. For more information about the Original Lite Can, visit MillerLite.com and Facebook.com/MillerLite.

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

The Hunger Games Catching Fire is Fueling Archery Renaissance

Katniss Everdeen, the 17-year-old girl who hunts with a bow and arrow in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," is just one of many movie characters inspiring American youth to take up archery.

With the March release of the movie, combined with archery events televised during the Olympic Games in London last summer, more young people are taking up target shooting.

USA Archery, the national governing body for the Olympic sport, reports 357 youths competed last June in the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) National Championship. Only 171 in competed in 2001. Many of the new participants are young females.

"I'd say about 3 out of 4 of our lessons are now for young girls, ten to seventeen-year-old, are drawn to archery because of watching Katniss [Jennifer Lawrence] the Hunger Game movies." Says Rob Dunfey, founder of Archery Pro, a nationwide marketplace to connect students to archery instructors. He says business has doubled.

The Hunger Games is not the only movie to pique interest in archery. Younger girls idolize Princess Merida from Pixar's Brave. Boys have a desire to emulate the arrow-shooting hero Hawkeye from the The Avengers. In addition, adult interest has been spurred by the T.V. show Revolution.

Jennifer Lawrence took lessons from Khatuna Lorig, winner of silver and bronze Olympic medals. According to Lorig, the emphasis was on the basics to make the actress's portrayal realistic and safe. Although Lawrence had never even held a bow before, she appeared talented the movie after just fifteen lessons.

Archery Pro connects students with pre-screened, certified professionals providing lessons in 2600 towns all over the United States. Students can learn in their own backyard or in one of the many archery ranges springing up all over. Lessons concentrate on stance and posture, and how to aim and draw the arrow.

The process of finding a lesson provider is streamlined by using Archery Pro. Not only has the increased interest in archery made advertising unnecessary for many lesson providers, some archery schools have waiting lists. "Although some teachers have to turn away prospective students, Archery Pro has classes available for those of all ages interested in taking up the sport," Dunfey said.

Dunfey commented, "Archers of every age are participating in tournaments in larger numbers than ever before, and during NBC's first week of the Olympic Games archery was the most-watched sport."

The nationwide archery lesson-provider website Archery Pro has seen an explosion of interest since the release of the Hunger Game movies. With two more films in the future, it looks like interest is just beginning. The future holds a great deal of promise for the sport of archery, and Archery Pro can help you master the fundamentals of the sport in only seven days of lessons.

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

Victory Brewing Company Debuts Hop Ranch Imperial India Pale Ale

Victory Brewing Company is pleased to announce the release of its newest seasonal offering, Hop Ranch Imperial India Pale Ale. Making its way to store shelves and dining establishments beginning today, Hop Ranch is the third recent new release for the brewery and is available in four-packs and on draft through February 2014.

Pungent and floral in every sip, this brew features full, juicy hop character, while expressing notes of mango, pineapple and the pleasantly sharp, biting edges of tart citrus fruit. Hop Ranch is available for purchase in many bottle shops, beer distributors and major gourmet grocery stores, including most Whole Foods Markets and Wegmans locations along the East Coast, as well as at many craft beer bars throughout Victory’s national distribution footprint. The suggested retail price for a four-pack is approximately $9.99, depending on location. Use Victory’s Beerfinder to discover a nearby location, or download the free Victory Mobile app for Android or iPhone.

Hop Ranch Imperial India Pale Ale traces its roots to Victory's Ranch series, a unique and comprehensive study of hops in which Brewmasters experimented with different hop varieties to showcase and celebrate a range of flavor profiles and distinctions, and is brewed with Mosaic and Azacca hops.

“Hop Ranch has a history that evolves from our desire to continue to create new and interesting recipes,” says President and Brewmaster Bill Covaleski. “Celebrating the wide variety of flavors and aromas that different hops deliver, this beer is a salute to hop ranchers who make it possible for us to develop an intense and flavorful beer that we, and hopefully our fans, will enjoy this season.”

About Victory Brewing Company

Victory Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery headquartered in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Begun by Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet, childhood friends who met on a school bus in 1973, the brewery formally began operations in February of 1996. Victory, Pennsylvania's widely acclaimed brewery and restaurant, now serves fans of fully flavored beers in 34 states with innovative beers melding European ingredients and technology with American creativity. To learn more about Victory Brewing Company, visit us on the web at VictoryBeer.com.

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

The Top 6 Local Breweries in San Diego

Earlier this month, the travel and tourism experts at SanDiego.com looked to find the best local breweries in San Diego. “With so many local breweries in San Diego we wanted to see who was doing it right,” says Erica James, tourism expert and editor at SanDiego.com. “We wanted to see what made these breweries unique to create such deliciously crafted beers.”

Pour me up a cold one! These San Diego local breweries are mixing things up, and putting the big time craft beers to shame. Using old fashioned techniques and special processes with fresh and unique ingredients, these beers just have something special that makes the mouth water.

Indian Joe Brewing - indianjoebrewing.com Their logo, “Native owned. Native grown.” says it all. The Brewery was named by its owner Max, after his Great Uncle Joe and his Native heritage. All of the fresh ingredients used to make the variety of beers at Indian Joe Brewing are local and native grown. Their beers are some of the most unique with a very wide variety, from a Blueberry Hefeweizen to a delicious Chai Stout, American Indian Pale Ale to an American Indian IPA, or even a Chocolate Hazelnut Porter. The atmosphere is extremely welcoming and fun. Another unique thing that Indian Joes Brewery does is they have a different local food cart that comes in each day to serve up some tasty grub!

Poor House Brewing Company - poorhousebrew.com Poor House Brewing Company offers great local craft beers that they brew in-house with their "Breaking Bad" looking 3 barrel brewhouse operation. Everything was built and designed by founders Chris Finch and Alanna Scheer. The tasting room atmosphere has a very unique, unpretentious and rustic vibe. Many compliment this design, saying that it feels like drinking in a garage with best friends. The bartenders are all female craft beer geeks looking to share all things beer with guests. They harvest their own cascade hops right out the front doors which are in full bloom right now. They are currently using their own hops to 'fresh hop' their house IPA called Experimental Batch no. 6 IPA. On the 30th of every month, brewed exclusively for 30th street Chris makes a beer with 30 different hops called 30 Hop IPA which tends to be a favorite around the neighborhood. Other hyped house brews include: Clusterfukk IPA (single hop), Davy Jones Double Stout (imperial stout aged in rum barrels), Tournay (Belgian Ale aged in Chardonnay barrels for 1 year), Mr. Romoto coffee stout (stout brewed with cafe moto coffee beans).

Prohibition Brewing Company - prohibitionbrewingcompany.com A craft brewery offering specialty brews, flavorful food and a casual atmosphere for guests to enjoy a brew. Prohibition Brewing Company opened 2 years ago on 11/11/11 and ever since then they have been growing at a great rate alongside many other North County breweries. Offering many local favortites as well as their own, including, Hef U Up, Oatmeal Stout, Dirty Blonde, Pale Ale, Cali IPA, Ruby Red, SBA, and Black Double IPA.

Rip Current Brewing - ripcurrentbrewing.com Starting out as home brewers, Rip Current Brewing is unmatched in San Diego for awards as a 3 time winner of Brewing Machine (top SD homebrewer, CA Homebrewer of the Year and Ninkasi award for Top Homebrewer in the World). They have a very broad range of award winning beers and their priority is variety and choice offering 15-20 different brews on tap, and a single tap that rotates daily offering a unique small batch beer. As homebrewers they learned the importance of water. Most breweries in town use the same water for all of their beers, but not Rip Current Brewery! With an in house water treatment center, each and every beer has its own grain/hop recipe as well as a water recipe. This has a great impact on the final taste of the beer.

PB Ale House - pbalehouse.com A world class micro brewery and restaurant situated right near the beach in Pacific Beach, CA. Their handcrafted beers are brewed in house and on tap, also featuring other great beers on tap for patrons. The food is delicious, with a very friendly staff. PB Ale House has a wonderful rooftop open air bar area to sit down and appreciate the beautiful weather in San Diego while checking out the amazing views.

Lightning Brewery - lightningbrewery.com Jim Crute, the owner of Lighting Brewery and a chemist, has been making beer since his college days in 1982. Now he has turned his passion into a career with some of the finest craft beers around. Over the years Jim has tried it all and has refined his craft with classic beer styles that master brewers have been calibrating for centuries. While other breweries may add taste and flavors in a speedy method by using additives, Lightning Brewery does it the old fashioned way by nature with time, with the most difficult fermentation and lagering processes. In just the 6 years that Lightning Brewery has been around they have won 30 nationally recognized beer awards, including a coveted Best in Show!

Grab your friends and head down to one of these six awesome breweries in San Diego. We suggest getting a flight and trying them all! Find out what type of beer is your favorite!

SanDiego.com is one of San Diego’s oldest and busiest travel and tourism websites, known as the local authority for all things San Diego. The author of this article, Erica James, is a native San Diegan who truly believes that there is no place more fun and exciting than beautiful San Diego!

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

The Rare Beer Club Says You'll Never Get a Beer You Don't Want

The Rare Beer Club’s PSP (Personalized Shipment Program) allows members to easily add more bottles of either or both of the upcoming featured beers, add more of favorite past selections, replace one or both of the featured beers with favorite past selections, choose not to receive one of the featured beers, or even skip the entire shipment altogether. In short, members are in complete control of what they receive each month and will never get a beer they didn’t want to get. No other beer club offers that kind of flexibility.

Each month prior to receiving their shipment, members are sent an email detailing the two upcoming beer selections and given the ability to customize what they want to receive. Members are automatically enrolled in the program and gift recipients may easily enroll upon request.

Four different membership types are available from The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, but when only the best will do, The Rare Beer Club™ features the finest the world of beer has to offer in limited-release, artisanal beers such as Jolly Pumpkin's Biere de Goord, an oak-aged spiced saison brewed exclusively for club members. Or Elevation Brewing Company's Prostator, an 8.5% Bamberg-style smoked dopplebock which was also only available to members. Owner Kris Calef states, “We work with the world's hottest microbreweries such as Fantôme, Lost Abbey, Jester King, Cigar City, Mikkeller, The Bruery, and Anchorage Brewing Company to bring you their latest creations, often months before they're available only in local markets.”

Memberships range from 2-12 months and can be sent monthly, every other month, quarterly or even on specific months. Gift givers can even combine a Rare Beer Club™ membership with the company’s three other beer club options into one custom membership using its Design Your Own Club Program™. Any of the four beer clubs may also be combined with the company’s other exclusive clubs including Wine, Cheese, Cigar, Chocolate, and Flower of the Month Clubs.

For more information, please visit BeerMonthClub.com or call 800-625-8238.

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

Flatiron Hall in NYC Offers Avion Tequila Barrel Aged Brew

Tequila Avion is excited to announce the launch of a limited edition Avion Tequila Stout, available exclusively at Flatiron Hall, a beer cellar located in New York City's Flatiron district. After the huge success of Avion Tequila IPA in September, Flatiron Hall and Tequila Avion collaborated to develop another tequila infused expression. Avion Tequila Stout is crafted by aging award-winning Farmer Jon's Oatmeal Stout in Tequila Avion Anejo barrels for three months, creating an ultra-rich, uniquely crafted beer. Just in time for the holiday season, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to try the exclusive stout at the acclaimed beer hall.

Avion Tequila Stout has a smooth taste with notes of dark chocolate and espresso. The use of the Tequila Avion Anejo barrels gives the stout a rich, complex flavor profile with a hint of tequila on the finish. Tequila Avion is made using exceptional Avion Agave and a proprietary ultra-slow filtration process. The liquid is then aged for two years in American oak casks to create Avion Anejo, which are the barrels the Avion Stout is aged in. The Avion Tequila Stout marks the second beer Flatiron Hall has aged using Tequila Avion barrels, after an exclusive launch of Tequila Avion IPA this past fall.

"At Flatiron Hall, we are constantly coming up with ways to expand and elevate our beer selection. After the successful launch of the Avion Tequila IPA this fall, we wanted to continue aging our beer in barrels made with the 'World's Best Tasting Tequila,' said Carey Martin, Flatiron Hall Beverage Director.

Ken Austin, Founder and Chairman of Tequila Avion, said, "Avion is always at the forefront of innovation and when approached about making a beer using our Anejo barrels, I was excited about working with Flatiron Hall, who like Avion, has a deep appreciation and dedication to superior taste. After learning that the Avion Tequila IPA sold out within days after its release, we seized the opportunity to continue this partnership and develop the Avion Stout for the holiday season."

Avion Tequila Stout is available exclusively at Flatiron Hall for a limited time only.

For further information on Tequila Avion, or to locate bars, clubs, restaurants and liquor stores that sell, stock, or carry Tequila Avion, please visit TequilaAvion.com or email info@tequilaavion.com. Fans can also follow Tequila Avion on Facebook or on Twitter @TequilaAvion.

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

Chicago's Fatpour Upgrades Self-Serve Beer Tables to Pourmybeer System

Recently voted Best Beer Bar in the US by ‘Nightclub & Bar’ the ownership are not resting on their laurels. From the outset, the focus has always been to “Think and Drink different". They back up their robust beer list with a menu that attracts “foodies” for miles around. Their menu was also built with beer in mind. It is itemized by color code to show you what particular beer style would suit your gastronomic choice best.

Indeed ‘best’ is a superlative that fits Fatpour Tapworks. The establishment is owned and managed by the Big Onion Tavern Group who have five other successful concepts in the Chicago metro area. Their seventh location is due to open in the coming weeks and will host the self-serve concept there as well.

They sought out a self-serve beer system when they opened the location initially and what they got was one that did not work as billed and, worse, went unsupported by the company that sold them the system.

"The new system has been much more impressive and reliable than the one we had previously,” said Ryan Marks of the Big Onion Tavern Group.

Customers can access beer themselves in a controlled manner. Patrons are served up to a limit of two beers per person at the tables. Once they hit their limit, they are re-assessed by staff and re-upped for two more if they are deemed to be OK for re-serving. “While the concept brings that initial wow factor to the patrons, the owners get the satisfaction of knowing that kegs pouring through our taps cost 25% less with no waste,” said Josh Goodman, PourMyBeer Owner and Co-founder. “Having the opportunity to work with Ryan and the Big Onion Tavern Group has been great. These guys have definitely figured out the ingredients required to build and maintain very successful, long-lasting Restaurants & Bars.”

Consumer choice, increased sales from no waiting for service and maximizing keg yield are the three things that brought Fatpour to the concept originally.

“Now that we finally have a working system in place we are realizing what we had envisioned when we sought it out at the beginning,” said Marks.

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

2nd Shift Brewing Near Hermann Missouri Offers a New Brew Experience

Beer lovers and connoisseurs visiting the Hermann Missouri area will be pleasantly surprised by the newest brewing creation coming from 2nd Shift Brewing. Named “Manor House Saison,” in honor of Cedar Creek’s iconic white-columned state house, the beer will be an all-barrel fermented saison.

Built in the 1860’s, the Manor House, located between New Haven and Hermann Missouri, was a retreat for Steve Crider, the owner of 2nd Shift Brewing, during his days as a home brewer. Later, when his passion became his profession, opening his brewery at Cedar Creek was a natural step.

“How many people can say that they own a brewery in an authentic Western Town?” asked Crider. Located in the Saloon of an old Hollywood movie set, Cedar Creek’s Western Town is quite unique, just like the unique hops pairings of 2nd Shift.

Opened in 2010, 2nd Shift’s reputation has preceded their name in part to Crider’s specialized “dry hopping” brewing method. Dry hopping refers to the process of adding aroma hops during fermentation to release additional fragile aromatic oils that are normally lost in the boiling process. The end result is a fragrant and robust hop flavor that is highly coveted by beer drinkers.

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

Karl Strauss Brewing Company's Blackball Belgian IPA Honored 3 Years In a Row

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is honored that its Blackball Belgian IPA is one of 25 handpicked beers to make it onto Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 25 Beers of 2013 list. This marks the third year in a row that Karl Strauss has made the prestigious national list and the second time that Blackball Belgian IPA gets top honors for its high quality and unmatched flavor profile. According to Wine Enthusiast Magazine, “these represent the most dynamic and exciting beers reviewed this year. They exhibit extraordinary craftsmanship, innovation and quality at prices that still represent affordable luxury.”

Karl Strauss was one of only two San Diego breweries to make this year’s list, landing at #15 on the countdown with a stellar 92/100. The review says, “This subtle IPA shows great balance and nuance. A cloudy orange color in the glass, it leads with lively aromas of orange and grapefruit zest, yeast, pressed yellow flowers and a touch of white pepper. The palate offers similar notes, but with a fruity core of under-ripe peach and pineapple. It’s richly textured, with a full mouthfeel and light carbonation. The long, dry finish is accented by earthy hop and bready yeast flavors.”

Blackball Belgian IPA is part of the company’s bold, hoppy Karl’s Coastal Reserve Series. “This series showcases our hoppiest creations, from double IPAs to dry-hopped imperial pilsners. We’re all hopheads in the brewery and the Coastal Reserve Series is where we get to push the boundaries and really put hops front and center,” says Paul Segura, Brewmaster, Karl Strauss Brewing Company. Blackball is a Belgian-inspired IPA with a unique West Coast hop profile. Coriander and curacao add a distinct citrus character, while a traditional Belgian yeast strain lends subtle notes of spice to the beer. A blend of New Zealand and Cascade hops add a bright, citrusy aroma and a hefty bitterness. Blackball Belgian IPA is brewed sporadically and only available at specialty retailers throughout the year, making this small-batch beer hard to find, but worth the search.

The complete list of Top 25 reviews will be featured in this December’s issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Blackball Belgian IPA is available in limited quantities throughout the year in 22oz bottles and on draft. For more information on Karl’s Coastal Reserve Series, visit KarlStrauss.com

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

A Cool Gadget That Makes A Chelada Right Inside Your Beer Bottle

A San Antonio startup has invented an easy way to build a chelada inside a beer bottle. The BrewsKey "unlocks the flavors of your beer" using 100% natural dehydrated lime and sea salt.

What is a Chelada?

A chelada (Spanish translation: "my little cold one") is simply a salt-rimmed glass of beer with lime added. In Texas, where the BrewsKey is manufactured, asking the bartender for a "dressed" beer is common. The bartender will stick a lime wedge in and sprinkle some salt on the bottleneck. Some believe that adding the salt and lime enhances the flavor of the beer; however, "it does have sort of an 'ick-factor' associated to it if you really let yourself think about it" laughs BrewsKey online marketing coordinator, Anne Gerber. "With The BrewsKey, you never have to lick salt off a dirty beer bottle that contains a manhandled lime wedge."

How The BrewsKey works

Using the product is simple: Unscrew the top of The BrewsKey actuator, load in a flavor cup which contains the 100% natural lime and sea salt, place it on top of the bottle, and slam it down. Repeat depending on the amount of flavor the user wishes to extract from the cup. The BrewsKey makes a perfectly dressed chelada every time! View the step-by-step instructions here.

When you "dress" a beer using The BrewsKey:

• The natural lime shoots into the beer, distributed on the inside neck through to the bottom
• The sea salt lines the top rim and inside the bottleneck

See a quick product demo video of The BrewsKey here.

"Lots of folks these days get their daily coffee fix from little flavor cups. Why not their beer, too?" says Gerber. "We think The BrewsKey is a great addition to a home bar and it's portable so folks can make any beer into chelada whether it's at the bar, a BBQ, or a football game."

BrewsKey reload cups are available in quantities of 12, 24 and 48 count box sizes. The BrewsKey actuator is sold separately. Customers can also give the product a test drive with The BrewsKey Starter Kit which includes The BrewsKey actuator and six BrewsKey reload cups - a perfect party pair with a six-pack of beer.

The BrewsKey and reload cups are sold on the company's website at TheBrewsKey.com and at retail locations in San Antonio. Wholesale inquiries are welcome.

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

August Schell Brewing Company Releases 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series

The August Schell Brewing Co., the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the country, brewer of Schell’s and Grain Belt, is releasing a new series to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Schell’s Pils.

In 1984, the August Schell Brewing Company’s President Ted Marti had the passion and vision to break away from the then popular image of beer in America. At that time, America's unique beers and breweries had all but disappeared, leaving only a few who mass-produced commodity beers with little or no character, tradition or culture worth mentioning. With a rich German heritage, Schell’s introduction of a full-flavored, traditional Bavarian-style Pilsner was only the start of the breweries contribution to the craft beer revolution that stands stronger than ever today. Later that year, Ted introduced Schell’s Weiss Beer followed by numerous other craft beer varieties over the years.

The Schell’s 30th Anniversary Pilsner Series will consist of four different Pilsner beers. It will include the original recipe from 1984, Schell’s current Pils beer and two new innovative varieties made to help celebrate this historic occasion, a Roggen and Mandarina Bavaria Pils. Schell’s original Pils recipe is what the late beer aficionado Michael Jackson called “One of the best American examples of the Pilsner style.” It has a light maltiness, delicate noble hop aroma and a pleasant hop bitterness. The current Pils beer recipe has evolved over the past 30 years. Today it is brewed with 100% 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 Roggen Pils is a twist on the traditional, featuring spicy rye malt coupled with spicy Tettnang and Smaragd hops from the Tettnang region of Germany. The fourth Pils variety showcases a new hop from Germany called Mandarina Bavaria. Its strong tangerine and citrus notes dominate the flavor and aroma.

This series will be released in 12-pack samplers containing 3 12oz. bottles of each variety and sets of 4 1/6-barrels starting in February. A series to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Schell’s Hefeweizen will also be available in July.

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.

Back By Popular Demand: Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean

Some things are just too good to deprive the world of. That ideal is the impetus for Stone Brewing Co. re-releasing its delicious and wildly popular Stone Smoked Porter w/Vanilla Bean. Previously bottled only once in 2012 as a 12-ounce special edition bottle run, the beer was an instant hit with Stone fans, many of whom voiced their fervent adoration and positive feedback via social media, inspiring Stone to re-brew this smoky, semi-sweet wonder a year and a half later (hey, we’ve been busy). Beginning today, it will be available in 22-ounce bottles as well as on draft at select retailers, restaurants and bars nationwide.

Stone Smoked Porter w/Vanilla Bean was first brewed in late 2006. As has been the case with many Stone beers, it all stemmed from a case of “What-If,” when Stone Small Batch Brewer Laura Ulrich found herself intensely inspired after pouring Stone Smoked Porter over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This visceral experience led Ulrich to wonder: What if we were to brew our classic year-round version of Stone Smoked Porter with the addition of whole Madagascar vanilla beans?

Since Ulrich’s epiphany, the beer has become a cult favorite, due in no small part to flavor combinations that taste as though they were specifically made for each other. The natural flavor of the vanilla beans marries seamlessly with the chocolate, malt and coffee-like overtones of Stone Smoked Porter. The result is a beer that, even with its hints of savory peat-borne smoke, comes across as something of a liquid dessert. Pour it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it’s easy to see why Ulrich—as well as Stone’s brew crew and fans—became so instantly enamored with this special brew.

This is the first of three specialty versions of Stone Smoked Porter that will be released throughout the upcoming year. The next to debut will be Stone Smoked Porter w/Chipotle Peppers in May, followed by Stone Smoked Porter – Harvest Addition Edition, incorporating myriad botanicals, that’s aptly scheduled for autumn.

Until last year’s limited release, the vanilla delight had only been available on draft at a small number of venues, special events and for occasional growler fills. Now, thanks to the positive outcry and demand from fans, winter is about to get a little sweeter and, ironically, a lot less vanilla.

Tasting Notes, provided by Brewmaster Mitch Steele

Appearance: Pours deep brown with a rich tan head.
Aroma: A nice blend of vanilla and cocoa, with hints of yeast esters, coffee and smoke. As it warms, the roast character increases.
Taste: Vanilla starts off, and then mid-palate the cocoa and smoke come in. The finish has a slight vanilla astringency and a malty fullness.
Palate: Incredibly balanced and complex; smooth with a slightly dry finish.
Overall: Ever since Brewer Laura Ulrich suggested making a cask of Stone Smoked Porter with added Vanilla Beans back in 2006, this beer has been both a fan favorite and a Team Stone favorite. We’ve brewed many small batches of it over the years, and we’re always happy to make more!

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

Hawaii's Fern Grotto Inn Delighting Visitors with Beer Tastings

Fern Grotto Inn, a collection of vacation rental cottages in Kapaa, Kauai, recently carried out its annual survey of its guests, asking them about their favorite Kauai attractions and activities. To everyone’s surprise, beer tasting was one of the favorites behind snorkeling, kayaking, and lounging at the beach.

“We’ve conducted this open-ended survey for several years, but this is the first time beer tasting has shown up as a favorite activity among guests,” says Paul Juma, who owns and operates Fern Grotto Inn.

As interest in beer grows on the mainland, travelers are seeking out regional breweries wherever they go, including Kauai. This has given the island’s burgeoning industry a huge boost.

Kauai is currently home to three microbreweries: Kona Brewing Company, Hawai’i Nui Brewing, and Kauai Island Brewery and Grill. The latter is the westernmost brewery in the United States and also the only brewpub on the island.

All three companies experiment with unique beers inspired by island flavors. Kona Brewing Company’s Koko Nut Brown Ale, for example, was brewed with real toasted coconut. They also make Wailua Ale, which features the bright flavor of passionfruit.

“I hope to see awareness of Kauai’s microbreweries grow here and stateside,” comments Juma, “This survey has certainly opened my eyes to the opportunities we have here, and I’ll have to start mentioning beer tasting to my guests when they inquire about the best local activities.”

Fern Grotto Inn, based in Kapaa, Hawaii, has six vacation rental cottages on the east side of Kauai. Fern Grotto Inn prides itself on providing luxury accommodations for guests who want an authentic Kauai experience.

For more information, call Paul Juma at 808-821-9836 or visit his website: FernGrottoInn.com.

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