NanoBryg rss syndication » Hop Talk

Mikey the Hop

Posted: May 28th, 2011, 9:26am CEST by Matt

hoooooooooooot

Posted: May 27th, 2011, 11:02am CEST by Ron

(via icanhascheeseburger)

Permalink for 'Hop_Talk/2011/05/25/Magic_Hat_Demo'

I have never been a big fan of Magic Hat because every one of their beers have always tended to have a perfume aroma that bothers me to no end. However, this dark IPA was actually better than most. I think the dark roasted malts plus extra hops helped cover up that flowery note but it was still present. Consider this a kicked up brown ale with a dry finish.

Not something I’d go out of my way for, but if you are already a Magic Hat fan (which apparently many people are) then it is worth a try. Demo is 6.0% ABV and is brewed in Burlington VT.

Moving to Bohemia

Posted: May 23rd, 2011, 12:10pm CEST by Ron

Bohemia is a Mexican beer that shares characteristics of a German Pilsner lager beer. I tried this beer and it definitely tastes like every other pilsner import out there. That is, it is bland with no body, over carbonated and has a distinct trace of hops hidden by the strong flavor of water.

Bohemia is made in a Mexican micro-brewery, with hops imported from the Czech Republic which doesn’t mean a whole lot.

Named after the famed Czech region, Bohemia reminds me of a good, fairly unknown, song by Geddy Lee, “Moving to Bohemia”.

Bohemia is a most decorated Mexican beer having received gold medals at LeMont Selection in Paris, Rome and Madrid. Whatever LeMont Selection is, it doesn’t say much for the quality of selections they give awards to.

As proof of my recommendation, I gave the remainder of the six pack to my sister-in-law whose favorite beer is Labatt’s and she loved it.

A true gift

Posted: May 21st, 2011, 3:52am CEST by Al

My friend Chris has this steel credit card shaped bottle opener he keeps in his wallet. I’ve been hoping to get one of my own for quite some time. A few weeks ago I was at his place for a party when he had occasion to use it again and, as usual, I muttered something to the effect of “Man! I really gotta get one of those!”

So the lovely lady on his arm, Lisa, reached into her purse and pulled out this well-worn but still fully-functional version of her own and handed it to me.

She explained that it belonged to her brother, Will, who died last October. Beer lover that I am I would get much more use out of it than she, and it should go to someone who would appreciate it.

How could I say no?

Thank you, Lisa.

This one (and all the ones I open with this from now on) are raised in Will’s honor.

Bud nunchucks

Posted: May 20th, 2011, 7:38pm CEST by Al

(via Today and Tomorrow (via Boing Boing))

Hop Talk Podcast #4

Posted: May 15th, 2011, 4:00pm CEST by Al

Enclosure: [download]

In this episode we talk about

American Craft Beer Week
Personal Brewing Systems
August Busch IV
and Viagra Beer

Download it here: Hop Talk Podcast ep. 4

…or subscribe with iTunes

Show notes:

American Craft Beer Week is May 16-22, 2011. There are lots of events going on and the organizers expect events in all 50 states. More details at CraftBeer.com.

The WilliamsWarn Personal Brewery. It looks impressive; there’s a lot of stainless steel. But is it worth all that money?

August Busch IV resigns from the Anheuser-Busch InBev Board of Directors. The end of an era.

Brew Dog is at it again: Royal Virility Performance (a beer with herbal Viagra and aphrodisiacs in celebration of the Royal Wedding)

What we drank:

Ron: Custom Brewcrafters Caged Alpha Monkey IPA
Max: Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout
Don: Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
Al: Magic Hat Wacko Summer Seasonal

Spot a discrepancy? Something missing? Let us know. contact@hop-talk.com

Follow us on Twitter: @hoptalk and @hoptalkron

Music credits:

Background music at bar during intro:
Artist: Gnappy
Song: Best Not FUnck Around

Main intro:
Artist: A Thousand Knives of Fire
Song: She’s Yours

Outro Music:
Artist: Aphasia
Song: Metal Tank

Transition Music:
Artist: Devil In A Woodpile
Song: Beer Ticket Rag

Mama

Posted: May 14th, 2011, 9:57pm CEST by Matt

Beer graph

Posted: May 13th, 2011, 3:53pm CEST by Al

see more Funny Graphs

Local-local beer in Maryland

Posted: May 11th, 2011, 3:58pm CEST by Al

I try to support local businesses. It’s hard to do in our society, especially when huge mega-corporations keep getting bigger and pricing smaller businesses out of the market. I do this with beer by buying most of my beer from brewers within about 100 miles or so of where I live. The trouble is that almost all of their ingredients come from a long ways away.

When thinking of Maryland, “amber waves of grain” doesn’t generally come to mind. Maybe we can get some “amber ripples”.

Tom Flores, the head brewer at Brewer’s Alley, has been working with a local dairy farmer, Greg Clabaugh, to produce a barley malt for brewing, and the fruits of their labor have just come online. And this apparently the first time this has happened in a century.

The Washington Post says:

“As a brewer, I’m really excited that we can develop flavor straight from the field, pick what variety we want, how it’s planted, harvested and how it’s germinated and turned into malt itself and how it’s dried,” Flores said. “That’s a lot of fun for the brewer. We like to have control over our raw materials.”

Clabaugh said beer produced from the farm is a perfect example of value-added agriculture — a process of increasing the economic value and consumer appeal of an agricultural commodity.

It’s called “Amber Fields” and the style is a best bitter and weighs in at 4.4% ABV. I can’t wait to try it.

National Homebrewers Conference sets attendance records (again)

Posted: May 11th, 2011, 3:03am CEST by Al

Are you going to the National Homebrewers Conference in San Diego on June 16 to 18? If so, you’ll be in good company. A lot of company.

The organizers are projecting that they’ll be hosting upwards of 1,900 participants. That’s a 50 per cent increase over last year.

Hobbyists will immerse themselves in three days of concentrated education-30 different seminars all told-to expand their homebrewing knowledge. Expert speakers, including well-known authors and professional brewers, will cover the gamut of topics, ranging from ingredients to brewing techniques to advanced recipes. While attendees may have a difficult choice deciding which seminars to prioritize, all will be sure to hear the keynote address, given by Vinnie Cilurzo, founder and brewmaster of Russian River Brewing Co., on Friday, June 17.

If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, well, you’re out of luck. It’s sold out.

Read the entire press release: National Homebrewers Conference Break Attendance Records Again

Blame it on the Baby

Posted: May 7th, 2011, 2:07pm CEST by Matt

Beer geek meets girl

Posted: May 6th, 2011, 5:22pm CEST by Al

[www.youtube.com]

I’m glad we’re not like that, right guys? Guys?

(via Brookston Beer Bulletin)

Permalink for 'Hop_Talk/2011/05/01/Hop_Talk_Podcast__3_%e2%80%93_What%e2%80%99s_so_funny_about_beer_'

Hop Talk Podcast #3 – What’s so funny about beer?

Posted: May 1st, 2011, 4:12pm CEST by Al

Enclosure: [download]

We talk to Matt Amaral, who pens the HomeBrood comic strip (formerly called Beef N’ Beer) and learn about inspiration in strange places, incorporating family into a comic strip, and more.

Download it here: Hop Talk Podcast ep. 3

…or subscribe with iTunes

Show notes:

You can find Matt’s work at the Hop Talk HomeBrood page as well as Bay Area Craft Beer.

What we drank:

Ron: Anchor Porter
Max: Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter
Don: Magic Hat Blind Faith IPA
Al: Lagunitas IPA
Special guest, Matt Amaral: Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness

Spot a discrepancy? Something missing? Let us know. contact@hop-talk.com

Follow us on Twitter: @hoptalk and @hoptalkron

Music credits:

Background music at bar during intro:
Artist: Gnappy
Song: Best Not FUnck Around

Main intro:
Artist: A Thousand Knives of Fire
Song: She’s Yours

Outro Music:
Artist: Aphasia
Song: Metal Tank

Transition Music:
Artist: Devil In A Woodpile
Song: Beer Ticket Rag

NanoBryg rss syndication » Hop Talk » May 2011

Feeds

Hop Talk (14 unread)

Mikey the Hop

Posted: May 28th, 2011, 9:26am CEST by Matt

hoooooooooooot

Posted: May 27th, 2011, 11:02am CEST by Ron

Magic Hat Demo

Posted: May 25th, 2011, 11:27am CEST by Ron

Moving to Bohemia

Posted: May 23rd, 2011, 12:10pm CEST by Ron

A true gift

Posted: May 21st, 2011, 3:52am CEST by Al

Bud nunchucks

Posted: May 20th, 2011, 7:38pm CEST by Al

Hop Talk Podcast #4

Posted: May 15th, 2011, 4:00pm CEST by Al

Enclosure: [download]

Mama

Posted: May 14th, 2011, 9:57pm CEST by Matt

Beer graph

Posted: May 13th, 2011, 3:53pm CEST by Al

Local-local beer in Maryland

Posted: May 11th, 2011, 3:58pm CEST by Al

National Homebrewers Conference sets attendance records (again)

Posted: May 11th, 2011, 3:03am CEST by Al

Blame it on the Baby

Posted: May 7th, 2011, 2:07pm CEST by Matt

Beer geek meets girl

Posted: May 6th, 2011, 5:22pm CEST by Al

Hop Talk Podcast #3 – What’s so funny about beer?

Posted: May 1st, 2011, 4:12pm CEST by Al

Enclosure: [download]