Latest Updates:

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Cheer or Beer?

Christmas BeersWhich comes first ... the holiday cheer or the holiday beer? Does it take beer to make cheer, or cheer to make beer? These are the questions.

No matter your answer, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday this year and an equally fun and safe New Year. Thank you for continuing to read my little corner of the blogosphere. I'm looking forward to what 2010 will bring for better beer everywhere.

Have you received the inaugural issue of Beer Connoisseur magazine yet? You can subscribe online right here, or check your local bookseller, like Barnes & Noble or Borders, for a copy. I think the first issue turned out very well and I've gotten a lot of good feedback so far. The next issue is really right around the corner - publishing in March 2010 - so read up on the winter issue while it 'tis the season, 'cause we'll be moving on to Spring before you know it!
Bogedal
In the 'we wanna know' category, what Christmas seasonals did Santa bring you this year? Are you planning to open anything special today or tomorrow to celebrate the season? If so, visit the Aleuminati forums and let us know what you're planning to pour!

We've had a wonderful selection of seasonals in stock at Kindling Spirits this year, so I've certainly been enjoying my share, to date. The photos here represent a few that have stood out for me. We'll be back on track, too, with our regular beer dinners in 2010. Please let me know if you have any requests or ideas and we'll see if we can accommodate! Do you want to see a particular style featured? Maybe a favorite brewery? Let's make it happen!

Cheers and Merry Christmas!

Shawn

Friday, December 11, 2009

Le App


Although true beer geeks likely are not beating the pavement to find their next Stella Artois, the marketing might behind Anheuser-Busch InBev has invested in the release of what promises to be a slick little iPhone app called 'Le Bar Guide' to aid thirsty pedestrians in their search for suds.

According to a press release, Le Bar Guide takes advantage of a full national database of bars coupled with iPhone street view and an impressive-sounding little technology called augmented reality. Essentially, this tool provides digital images on the iPhone screen when the phone is in camera mode and pointed at the ground, horizontally or even at the bar itself. These images provide information in the form of real-time digital directions to your nearest watering hole and pertinent information about it once you've arrived. Now I don't care who you are, or what you drink, that's cool.

A company called Acrossair was enlisted to create the new app, which boasts high levels of interactivity beyond the afore-mentioned digital overlays of your feet walkin' the street to find your next beer. User generated content, like ratings, is part of the app as well. You'll be able to rate your digitally defined destinations based on the French-focused 'Le Menu, ' 'Le dance,' 'Le Clientele,' and, of course, 'Le Service.'

Oh, and there's even a 'Le Taxi' tool integrated into the app that provides local taxi service phone numbers in case you're "Le wasted" and unable to stomp your way home.

The fully-featured 3D version of the app is available for iPhone 3Gs only, but a 2D version can be accessed for older iPhone or iTouch users. You can find the app now in the Apple App Store.

I'm downloading the app as I type this, so we'll see shortly. Oh, but do you think I'll be violating the terms of service if I use the app for finding something other than a Stella Artois? I guess we'll find out, won't we!

Monday, December 07, 2009

Beer Connoisseur Magazine Arrives

Beer Connoisseur MagazineThese are exciting times for the world of craft beer. Not only is the industry enjoying ever-increasing success and popularity among a wider and more diverse audience, the craft beer movement is also taking something of a step forward in terms of respect and sophistication. Beer is now more than an afterthought to many retailers and restaurant owners, for example, and serious consideration is given to properly showcasing the merits of better beer as it relates to food accompaniment, presentation, cellaring and proper serving etiquette. These are considerations that were once virtually the sole jurisdiction of the wine crowd - at least as far as popular culture was concerned.

In case there was any ambiguity, this is a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for beer to be "more like wine," but I certainly am saying that it deserves equal respect and consideration at any table or in front of any audience. I won't argue here for beer's intrinsic sophistication vs. wine - for that you might consider reading the great book by Charles Bamforth, "Grape Vs. Grain." Rather, I'm just excited to see beer finally get some respect around here.

There's nothing at all wrong with beer's historic blue collar image - this is in part what makes beer so approachable - but I think it's important to understand that beer cleans up pretty well. That blue collar beverage can hold its own with the best of the wines, though its vocabulary might not be quite so snooty.

Speaking of cleaning up pretty well, I'm thrilled that the newest entry into the world of craft and specialty beer publications is now hitting mailboxes and newsstands everywhere. The Beer Connoisseur Magazine takes beer journalism in a brand new direction and, in my admittedly biased estimation, helps to significantly elevate the discussion of beer in popular culture like to other print publication heretofore.

Why?

A big part of it is the look and feel of the magazine. It's a large-format, high gloss piece on good stock - it feels of quality. Add to that the excellent composition and layout work within and you have a beer magazine that could rival the best publications in the wine world. Lynn Davis, the magazine's publisher, sums this up when he says:

“We have produced a type of title that hasn’t existed for this segment,”

Avoiding the typical low-brow humor and sporadic profanity that seems to litter at least a few of the other craft beer publications on the market, the Beer Connoisseur Magazine looks, feels and reads "classy." This is a breath of fresh air, I think, and one that will prove successful. In this day and age, particularly, it's tough to launch a niche magazine like this one and make it sustainable. I can't guarantee that this one will be, but I'm certainly rooting for it. I think the craft beer world is ready for a more refined and nuanced take on the craft beer industry. Initial feedback seems to indicate that others feel the same way, according to Nick Kaye, the magazine's Editor:

“The response from both within the industry and among beer lovers has been nothing short of awe inspiring. It seems that brewers and beer lovers alike have been waiting for a publication like The Beer Connoisseur™ to come along.”

The magazine is published quarterly and can be obtained via annual subscription here or at fine bookstores and retailers like Barnes & Noble, Borders and Books-A-Million. Consider picking up a copy and see if you don't agree that Beer Connoisseur offers a new level of quality and depth in the craft and specialty beer publication arena.

For sake of full-disclosure, I am the beer styles writer for the magazine and my task is to feature four distinct beer styles that pair well with each of the four seasons. This works out nicely given the magazine is quarterly. The inaugural issue that is hitting newsstands now features winter beer styles. The next issue set to publish in the Spring will highlight beers that help welcome in warmer weather. I invite you to follow me on my journey through the seasons of beer with Beer Connoisseur Magazine!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Spotted Cow, Spotted Record

New Glarus Brewing Spotted CowAccording to this article in the Wisconsin State Journal, a New York City bar owner has been cited for selling New Glarus' Spotted Cow - a cream ale - at his bar in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Apparently 50 cases of the beer were confiscated from the bar.

Not only does New Glarus not sell their beer outside of Wisconsin, but the bar owner was also in violation of state laws prohibiting the direct purchase and sale of beer without the intermediary of a distributor.

Kinda makes you wonder how - and why - this enterprising bar owner ended up with all of the New Glarus beer - he obviously made the trip over to Wisconsin and picked up 50+ cases of Spotted Cow at retail to resell in his bar. Or someone did on his behalf.

I guess it's a compliment to New Glarus that their beer is being actively sought outside of their own state, but obviously this isn't the way to go about it. As far as I know, New Glarus has no plans of expanding their distribution much to the chagrin of beer geeks far and wide. Still you've got to respect their commitment to quality and keeping a local product intact in the face of obvious demand in the market.

The moral of this story ...? Bigger isn't always better, I suppose. And neither is getting busted for shirking the law.

Advertisement: