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• 

  Lying to FedEx

  Posted: May 2nd, 2008, 4:47pm CEST by Dave

  I dropped off my entries into the Sam Adams Longshot contest at FedEx Kinko’s Wednesday morning. According to Sam Adams’ web site, shipping beer is allowed by most commercial carriers if the beer is being shipped for analytical purposes. Still, they make it very clear that shipping beer to their three drop locations nationwide should not be done via USPS, and both FedEx and Kinko’s web sites make it clear that alcohol is not supposed to be shipped (with exception above).

  Not trusting your average FedEx customer service specialist to be aware of the arcana of alcohol shipping (ok for analysis, not for consumption), I decided to tell a fib if I was asked what my packages’ contents were. Bruce told me he wrote “Beer Supplies” on his slip; I thought I’d try “yeast samples.”

  Sam Adams didn’t make my life any easier - the shipping address was for “Sam Adams Homebrew Competition” c/o “Beer, Beer and More Beer,” in Riverside, California, and the clerk did ask what was inside. I replied with my canned “yeast samples,” which he followed up with “But not liquid, right?” I think he may have been hinting that I should respond in the negative (which I did) a la the gun store clerk in Beavis and Butthead who asks repeatedly “You boys eighteen? … Let me try this again … you boys eighteen?”

  In case you’re wondering, I sent in my English brown ale in two variations, one of which was bottled with a Torrefazione Palermo coffee bean in each bottle (”Bitter Seed Brown”). Bruce sent in his Blueberry lambic and an old ale. We’re both looking forward to getting our judging sheets back, which is a really nice benefit of participating.

  I love the idea of this contest, which puts the winner’s beer into mass production by Sam Adams, and sends the finalists to GABF for free, but it seems some of the mechanics could be more finely tuned. Maybe they could add dropoff points in each state? It’s not as if they don’t distribute nationally - maybe the delivery chain could work backwards just this once.

  Did you enter the Longshot contest this year or in years past? How’d you handle the shipping dilemma? Must we all be liars?

• 

  Viva Las Hofbrau

  Posted: May 2nd, 2008, 2:45am CEST by Bruce

  As a former resident of Southern California, I used to be quite familiar with weekend trips to Las Vegas. Now that life has slowed down a bit and getting there is a little pricier than a three hour drive, I get out to Vegas about every other year…. but earlier this week that’s exactly where I found myself. Vegas.

  One thing I figured is this will be a vacation away from good beer, and for the most part I was right. The beer of choice in Vegas seemed to be Bud Light in the aluminum “bottle”; talk about a beer wasteland… with one notable exception, The Hofbrauhaus

  Designed to be a faithful recreation of the Hofbrauhaus in Munich (I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been), Eryn said it did look similar, which in Vegas I suppose is good enough. Here’s what I do know, this place was fun and the beer was good.

  Pardon the photo quality, all I was armed with was my camera phone. Here’s a general interior shot, as you can see, it’s got a high ceiling making the place feel nice and open. The beer garden was closed for a private reception full of what I can only describe as drunken nerds. We arrived in town on a Sunday, so the place wasn’t packed, I’d say the room was running at about 40% capacity but I could see on a Friday or Saturday a packed house.

  Arriving on Sunday also meant I missed the tapping of their seasonal Maibock on Friday. Checking in at a healthy 7.2% ABV, the Maibock was surprisingly light with a nice malty body. Unfortunately they wouldn’t serve it in a liter mug, so here’s Eryn with our puny half liters of Maibock and Dunkel.
  

  Like any good German beer hall there was a band. The photo may not tell the whole story, but I think it is safe to say these Austrians do quite well with the ladies. I don’t understand why the dude in the lower right is wearing a lei in a German beer hall.
  

  The food also exceeded expectations. We ordered a sausage sampler plate seen below featuring some of the best frankfurters I’ve had this side of Ottos along with an excellent Brat and a chicken sausage. We also enjoyed a schnitzel with some delicious german potato salad.
  

  After the Maibock, round two arrived in the form of a liter of the Dunkel. Sweeter and with a little bit of caramel, the Dunkel was another excellent beer.
  

  As you can see, it’s BS Brewing approved.
  

  So, with all this beer flowing, fun music playing and plenty of toasts, what do you think happens, even on a slower Sunday night? That’s right, lots of dancing on tables and benches. Although not this guy, another did do enough table dancing and high fiving people he eventually got cut off, so don’t go completely crazy. Drink responsibly.
  

  Overall, if you’re looking for beer that isn’t Heineken, MGD or Michelob Amber Bock and you want to soak up a little of that faux-Vegas Octoberfest feel, I recommend the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas as a refreshing change from the noise and clutter of the Strip.

  The Hofbrauhaus is located on Paradise Road, across the street from the Hard Rock and is open from 11 to midnight on weekends (Fri & Sat).

  Disclaimer: My meal and airfare was paid for by me; lodging was courtesy of my wife.