Howdy all, quick question, what common tie exists between NHL super-star Gordie Howe and Texas craft beer?
Ready for the answer? The Houston Aeros signed Howe in ’73, allowing him to fulfill a dream of playing hockey with his two sons, and this April, Houston’s own Saint Arnold Brewery will be hosting the 10th annual get together for enthusiasts of craft beer and Aeros’ hockey that will include a pregame meet up at the brewery, group seating for an Aeros’ game, and post game wind down at a local pub (click here for details.) Read the rest of this entry »
Alright gang, time to shine the spotlight on a local craft brewer that seems to be making big strides every time I hear about them. I am, of course, referring to Finch’s Beer Company located in sunny Chicago. Now I like this company already for the following reasons: 1. Umm, hello? They’re out of Chicago. 2. They involve birds in their labels and I’m sort of a bird watching nerd. 3. They have a great festival presence and were at both MWBF & SCBF in 2011. 4. They can their beers. 5. Their latest can design was in collaboration with another local business, Chicago clothier Threadless (@threadless), and is super cool. 
Penn Brewery is pleased to present its lineup of summer seasonal beers for 2012, as well as the 16th Annual Pennsylvania Microbrewers Fest. Leading Penn’s summer lineup is the Brewery’s original wheat beer, Penn Weizen. Penn Weizen is one of the most decorated Hefeweizens made in America, making it a truly Elite Wheat! Its honors include:
An experienced group of beverage industry experts have joined together to launch Capital Brands LLC to bring unique premium alcohol beverages to the global market.
Introducing the must have for any music fan. Take a look at the Marshall fridge. The iconic amp made famous by Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Judas Priest and Spinal Tap is now a functional beer fridge. Marshall licenses this fridge so it has all of the classic black and gold Marshall trappings along with Jim Marshall’s signature.
Kentucky Ale’s beer fans will be pleased to hear that there have been new advances with their beloved ale. The Alltech beverage division is not only growing in Kentucky, but out of state as well as their distribution has now expanded into Chicago. This adds to the beer’s current distribution in Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Indiana, along with their distribution network in China.
We made it! The first day of spring is here! This winter no one that I know had to resort to cannibalism or cutting open a Tauntaun to survive the much-less-than-brutal conditions. This amazing weather makes me delay my inevitable March “Irish Beer Style” reviews and forces me to focus on something much more appropriate. The first time I had La Chouffe was on tap at Gutherie’s Tavern in Chicago, IL. We pitted it against every wit, wheat, and Belgian in the house and it still came out the winner. At the time I did not know it was a golden and left very impressed with this beer that was unbeknownst to me until that evening. Well, that started a search to find this beer and when I did I knew that I’d be sipping it on a beautiful sunny day and today is no exception. Let’s pour! 
Well boys and girls, it’s a game night for the Dallas Stars, and your host is without a simple, throw-back beer. What is a fan of beer and the National Hockey League supposed to do? Well, obviously it would require that I negotiate listening to the game du jour against the Winnipeg Jets and enjoy a fine craft beer.
After talking to several brewers over the past couple of weeks, we have decided to add six new categories to the 2012 U.S. Open Beer Championship. These categories include: Sessions Beer, American-Style Black Ale, Baltic Porter, Wood/Barrel-Aged Strong Stout, Wood/Barrel-Aged Sour Beer, and Gluten-Free Beer. 
This review is rather ill-timed. This beer is Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale, even though the evidence of spring surrounds us. It seems my little corner of the Midwest is having nothing but 70 degree days all week! Which means three things. First, I can write this review outside. Second, I picked the perfect weekend (that just past) to move all my beer from the garage (which in winter serves as an excellent beer fridge), to the cool dark basement. Third, it’s time to break out the motorcycle! 
Today is Saint Patrick’s Day, a day that a lot of Americans will use as an excuse to drink adjunct lagers that have been dyed green (just like they do in Ireland?) If you must celebrate a holiday that properly celebrates merriment and the consumption of alcohol, please follow the German tradition. Don’t add fake color to beer, brew beer specific to the holiday, and make it last a couple of weeks.
Alert your taste buds! Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) is just weeks away from bringing craveable gourmet burgers to the Portland area, with the opening of their newest Red Robin located at 800 Gallery Blvd. across from the new Walmart, on Monday, March 26 at 11 a.m. Red Robin – known as the gourmet burger expert – offers more than two dozen high-quality gourmet burgers served with Bottomless Steak Fries® (which means free refills!) as well as a variety of salads, entrees, soups and wraps made with the freshest ingredients, many of which are made in-house. 
Craft Brew Alliance, “CBA” (Nasdaq: BREW), an independent craft brewing company comprised of Widmer Brothers Brewing, Redhook Brewery and Kona Brewing Co., has changed its brewery ticker symbol from ‘HOOK’ to ‘BREW.’ The new ticker helps convey the blended colorful histories, different cultures, and shared knowledge of CBA’s three craft breweries –- Redhook, Widmer Brothers, and Kona – together as one team, and emphasizes the shared passion of the entire CBA team: brewing great craft beer. This change culminates the company’s rebranding efforts, which started in January and included a name change from Craft Brewers Alliance to Craft Brew Alliance and a new logo featuring an elevated ‘A’ to indicate the power of the alliance between the three craft beer brands. The ‘BREW’ ticker will be effective at the opening of the trading day on Thursday, March 22. 
Today three iconic brands – Guinness, Baileys And Bushmills– joined New York City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to announce a month-long “Safe Rides Home” campaign to promote responsible consumption of alcohol throughout the bracket-busting playoff season, on St. Patrick’s Day and for other festivities throughout the month of March. Now through the end of the month thousands of free taxi, livery car and public transit rides will be given away to legal drinking-age adult consumers, encouraging New Yorkers and visitors to the city to always plan for a designated driver. 
Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurant is building a signature store in the new Love Field terminal. As a Dallas-based company, Dickey’s looks to represent lip smackin’ Texas barbecue in the expanding airport.
