by Luke on October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween! For this week’s Hump Day Genius Fix, being ol’ Hallow’s Eve and all, I thought it only fitting to entertain you with “Mr. After Halloween Costume Shop Salesman” (click below to listen). According to Wikipedia, the term Halloween (and its alternative rendering Hallowe’en) is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the eve of “All Hallows’ Day”, also which is now known as All Saints’ Day. Some modern Halloween traditions developed out of older pagan traditions, especially surrounding the Irish holiday Samhain, a day associated both with the harvest and otherworldly spirits. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century.
It was estimated that there were 36.1 million potential trick-or-treaters in 2006; the U.S. produces 1 billion pounds of pumpkins annually; Americans consume an average of 26 pounds of candy per capita (most around Halloween) annually; and Number of costume rental and formal wear establishments across the nation in 2005 was 2,232. But best of all, there are 161 different beers matching the search for “pumpkin ale” on beeradvocate.com, so drink up. and happy Halloween.
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[audio:http://thefuntimesguide.com/audio/Bud_Light_Real_Men_of_Genius_Mr_After_Halloween_Costume_Shop_Salesman.mp3]
by Luke on October 30, 2007
According to a press release from Flying Dog Brewery, they will soon be one of many craft breweries participating in a 
national program called Craft Beer and Food for the Holidays–a free program organized by the Brewers Association–which highlights the ways in which beer styles complement many traditional American holiday foods.
The program (located online at www.beerandturkey.org) explores the pairings of ale with traditional American holiday favorites, a pairing frequently mentioned in reference to the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.
The web site was created in 2006 to encourage those hosting holiday celebrations to include craft beer in their holiday dinner menus. www.beerandturkey.org has information for beer and food enthusiasts who want to learn “what to drink” and “how to serve” craft beer at their holiday meals. There is also a database of breweries who have posted their holiday release 
beers and information on holiday dinners associated with the breweries.
According to the press release from the brewery, The Brewers Associates notes that caramelized and toasted grain flavors in many beers complement the flavors of roast turkey while herbal hop additions pair nicely with popular holiday seasonings such as sage. Furthermore, the carbonation, fruitiness and balanced bitterness of many craft beers allow them to stand up to creamy, butter-rich preparations like mashed potatoes, creamed corn and similar fare.
Julia Herz, Director of Craft Beer Marketing for the Brewers Association stated,
“Our country’s history is rich with stories of beer and food and craft beer picks up where wine leaves off. Many styles of beer both complement and contrast the food they are paired with, whereas wine mostly contrasts. The holiday dinner table is a very appropriate place for beer made from America’s small, independent and traditional brewers.”
[images via beerandturkey.com]
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by Luke on October 29, 2007
I can think of no better use for Bud Light!
Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox, 2007 champions of the world!
[images via boston.com]
by Luke on October 28, 2007
It was brew day in the Livingston household. My dad I got to work in a 5 gallon Autumn Maple Wheat (brewed with 64oz of pure organic dark amber maple syrup, added at the boil at flame-out). We named the beer “World Series Wheat” due to the timing of the brew. Below are some pictures from the brewing process. If you don’t brew your own and would like to learn (which I highly recommend you do – it’ll bring your beer appreciation to an even higher level), might I recommend How to Brew – By John Palmer, ”a complete online book that will teach you how to brew beer at home. It covers both malt extract and all-grain brewing”. Or, if you want a real book-in-hand book (with tons of great recipes), pick up The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charles Papazian. Enjoy…
My dad adding the malt extract to the boil
Stirring the wort
I just added the hop pellets to the boil
Spent grains (it was a partial-mash brew)
The final product percolating away in the primary fermenter (note: I made a HUGE mistake and didn’t account for the fact that we ended up adding 64oz of essentially liquid sugar to the mix, so we ended up with an enormously powerful blow-off, which knocked the blow off tube pictured above clear off. It made a big mess, but I think the beer is fine; most importantly.)
by Luke on October 27, 2007
The Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois is hoping a new website will help in their fight against a beer-tax proposed by Chicago mayor Richard Daley. A tax which the group claims would make beer in Chicago one of the most heavily taxed beverages in the country. The site (which is located at www.abdi.org) gives visitors the ability to contact the city councilman that represents their district.
Stop Chicago Liquor Tax Increase is a “web-based action center” which connects interested parties directly with the Chicago city councilors and aldermen who will be voting on Daley’s proposed beer-tax next week, according to a release from the ABDI.
Mayor Daley’s proposal, which was announced Oct. 10th, 2007, calls for an 87.5% hike on all alcohol sold in the city; an increase which would raise the cost of beer 30 cents per gallon, or approximately eight cents per six-pack. In case that doesn’t sound like much to you, the ABDI notes that, overall, the increase would cost Chicagoans $13.1 million a year.
Hi and welcome to Blog About Beer. My name is Logan and I live just north of Portland, Oregon, a city that has more craft breweries than any other in the US. I'm a full time marketer, blogger, and dad to the most beautiful girl in the world. I'm also a homebrewing and craft beer fanatic.