I do have to apologize for the lack of updates in the past week or so, I have had some problems at work and haven’t had a second to do any posts. I will start posting way more often from today on, here are some festivals for the latter part of July;

• Indiana Microbrewers Festival: Indianapolis - July 21
• Annafest: Forchheim, Germany - July 22-31
• Oregon Brewers Festival: Portland - July 26-29
• The Farsons Great Beer Festival: Ta’Qali Park, Malta - July 27-August 5
• BrewExpo 2007: State College, PA - July 28

This is a serious threat to our beer drinking lifestyle, ha ha (just open whole image up to read it);

Here are some more festivals in July;

• Festival of Beer and Flowers: Laako, Slovenia - July 11-15
• Dartford Real Ale Festival: Dartford, England - July 13-15
• Friday the Firkenteenth: Philadelphia - July 13
• Poppy Line Beer Festival: Sheringham, England - July 13-15
• Portland International Beer Festival: Portland, OR - July 13-15

Have fun!

I was sent this link recently of a old commercial for Miller High Life beer, all I can say is that how much have beer commercial changed in the last 40 years! (new ad)

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I was round my parents house the other day and my father and I where enjoying some of his home brew straight from the keg when my mother decided our glasses needed washing. I was rather annoyed to see that she was washing them with soap, as I have always been told that soap is the devil of beer glasses.

Soap can leave a film on the glass (even if you cannot see it) and can distort the flavor of the beer as well as reducing the head. I think we have all been in a bar or restaurant somewhere were the beer has virtually no head and looks filmy around the edges, this of course would be the place washing the glasses in soap. This includes all popular detergents and washing up liquids, don’t listen to anyone who tells you that some forms of soap are good for beer glasses - they are not.

Another huge no-no to washing your beer glasses that many people make a mistake in is the dishwasher! A dishwasher not only releases a large amount of soapy soap all over every dish, it also has an abundant of other foods and liquids in it. So if you where washing your glass in the same dishwasher as a plate you have just eaten seafood off, you may end up getting a hybrid flavor of pilsner and salmon in your next beer…. not a good thought.

The best method that I use for cleaning my beer glasses is simply and natural… water. After you finish using your glass simply rinse it out well in warm water making sure it is completely clean, it is best to rinse out immediately after drinking as this will reduce things sticking to the glass. Now just let sit and dry, or get a clean (must be clean) towel and dry off your glass. If you keep to this simple method you should always have a nice clean beer glass with no ‘extras’ in it.

And keep you eye out on your mom!

A local microbrewery has launched a beer for one of America’s most recognizable rednecks: Larry the Cable Guy.

Git-R-Done beer, named for the comedian’s famous catchphrase, was launched Saturday by SchillingBridge Winery & MicroBrewery, from the small town where the 44-year-old actor-comedian grew up.

The owners of the small family winery say the light beer is made from high-quality ingredients with more “flavor and body” than popular corporate beers.

Mike Schilling, who runs the winery with his wife, Sharon, is confident Git-R-Done beer will appeal to the comedian’s fan base.

Read full story here;

I was watching some TV last night when the Flash Beer commercial for Carlton Draught came on, its a clever (if not - incredibly stupid) commercial based on the 80’s chick flick flash dance. After some of their previous commercials including The Big Ad you can’t be shocked at this effort. If you haven’t seen it then check it out;

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It’s the height of the northern beer festival season, it seems that there is another one round every corner so get out there;

• Food, Beer and Wine Festival: Mackinac Island, Michigan - July 1
• Olesummer Festival 2007: Talinn, Estonia - July 4-8
• Beer on the Wye: Hereford, England - July 6-8
• Hastings Beer & Music Festival: Hastings, England - July 4-7

Enjoy!

For the last year or two I have become a huge fan of Micro brewed beer, and it just happens that there has been a huge increase of micro brewers popping up over the last few years. All over the place specialty microbreweries are opening up and quite often use the local area and environment as the name of their product.

Last night while browsing through my local liquor store I came across a good example of a micro brewed beer using the area to promote the beer. Outback Pale Ale is made by The Outback Brewery which make their beers in an area to the west of Sydney. They make their beers to traditional methods that where used at an old brewery in the area, and by using the name ‘Outback’ they have portrayed the beer as a one made in the desert.

The Pale Ale itself was actually a very nice drop, it has a nice pale ale taste but is so smooth that it goes down a treat. The flavors itself are not as strong as other pale ales I have taste, but fruity flavors and a toffee taste come through to make the beer a top one.

I did find that the head was a little weak probably due to the fact that it seemed a little under carbonated, and this pale ale like many other micro brews comes in just a 330mL bottle. Why can’t they produce them in tall boys! On the price front we picked up a 6 pack of the pale ale for about 15 bucks, and I believe at this stage it is only available around the Sydney area.

Overall the Outback Pale Ale is a good package, nice marketing and a well rounded pale ale gives me no choice but to give it a thumbs up. They also produce an award winning chili beer which I will have to taste and review soon, not that I have ever tasted any other chili beer to compare with.

Tennessee is set to become the first state in the nation to require proof of age from anyone, no matter the age, who buys beer for off-premises consumption.

The Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act, designed to curb underage drinking, takes effect July 1. It will expire after one year to give lawmakers and vendors a chance to review its effectiveness. The legislation does not apply to the sale of wine and liquor purchases or to beer sales at restaurants and bars.

Jarron Springer, president of the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, has embraced the law, saying it will make Tennessee a national leader on the issue of underage drinking. Older customers who are obviously of legal age to buy beer could be put out by the requirement, but Springer hopes they will cooperate with clerks.

Read the full story;