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Beer 4 Chx (49 items)

July 17, 2008
15:50
InBev to Change Cardinals Uniforms
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So, as you know, I was born in St. Louis, MO and grew up right outside. I'm a huge fan of the Cardinals and was raised on Budweiser. And as the whole world knows, Anheuser-Busch has just been taken over by InBev, a huge Belgian beer conglomerate. This may be big news in general but it is HUGE news in St. Louis! My friends and family keep sending me emails as if I have something to do with this (which I don't by the way!) or can do something about it (which I, obviously can't!) However, some St. Louisans are taking it all with a grain of salt.
(Don't put salt in your beer!)

Here's my favorite so far. And stay strong my St. Louis brothers and sisters!
InBev to Change Cardinals Uniforms

(Brussels) Anheuser-Busch has accepted a $52 billion takeover bid from Belgium-based InBev NV to create the world's largest beer maker and end a month-long standoff. While pitching the deal in recent weeks, InBev chief executive Carlos Brito has said that he is "committed to the city of St. Louis" and that changes here would be minimal. One that Brito said will show up shortly after this weeks Major League Baseball All-Star event in New York will be a minor one in the long standing uniforms worn by the St. Louis Cardinal Baseball team.

First-baseman Albert Pujols, one of the first to try the new outfits said "while it may take a little time for Cardinal fans to fall in line behind the change, I personally like them a lot. They'll really be enjoyable during those hot, muggy days in late July and August. I expect all of the fans will be wearing them before the end of the season!"

Sporting goods stores around the St. Louis area report brisk sales of the new Cardinal memorabilia.

Click here for the picture of the new uniforms!

*Beer 4 Chicks does not claim any responsibility for this article or this picture!
July 16, 2008
17:53
Gr8t Place to 8 and Drank
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Just wanted to give a shout out to my client's opening! The fabulous new 8oz Burger Bar on Melrose in Hollywood is opening today! I mean, really, at the end of the day is there anything better than a great burger and beer combination? - Except maybe a burger and a beer float? You know how I feel about beer floats!

I'm really stoked to be able to say that I worked with 8 oz. on their beer list. They have some gr8t beers now, rare and delicious. Mostly from local sources! They have Dale Brothers from Upland, Skyscraper from El Monte, Telegraph from Santa Barbara, The Lost Abbey, Port Brewing and Stone Brewing Company from the San Diego area. They have gr8t crisp lagers in the form of Craftsman 1903 and Victory Prima Pils. They also let me do gr8t beers in cans! We did Dale's Pale Ale, Gordon's and Old Chub from Oskar Blues Brewing Company out of Colorado. Also, just for fun, we have some kitschy cans in the form of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schlitz and Olympia! (article coming soon on canned beers and why they aren't all bad)

Here's what Urban Daddy just wrote about them:
"You'll recognize the address-it's the famed former home of celebrity chef Govind Armstrong's Table 8, which is moving up the street-but not much else. Instead of mohair walls and endless small plates, you'll now find a rustic, come-as-you-are vibe...and a rustic, eat-what-you-want burger menu. (All that remains is the occasional flash of Armstrong's signature dreadlocks to confirm you're in the right place.)

Grab the large leather booth in the back of the left room if you came with a pack of carnivores, a seat at the bar on the right for a quicker solo meal, or stick to the open-air sidewalk for a casual date. You'll be having that Beer Float (like a root beer float, but using one of the specialty brews instead of soda) with the Estancia Grass-Fed Burger, or building your own ode to beef with housemade extras like Fried Green Tomatoes and Purple Mustard. But if you've brought along someone who likes her burger bars a little less burger-y, she can have her patty in turkey, fish or veggie form.

You won't judge."
You can also read about them on today's Daily Candy !
Here's their kick ass BEER LIST!

On Tap
Telegraph White Ale
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Craftsman 1903
Full Sail Pale Ale
Skyscraper Lugnut Lager
Telegraph Stock Porter

Big Bottles
Ommegang Hennepin
Lost Abbey Lost & Found
Wandering Aengus Heirloom Cider
Franziskaner Hefe Weisse
Dale Bros. Pomona Queen

Small Bottles
Allagash White Ale
Victory Prima Pils
Port Brewing Shark Bite Red
Anderson Valley Boont Amber
Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
ACME India Pale Ale
Flying Dog Road Dog Porter
Unibroue Fin Du Monde
North Coast Blue Star American Wheat Ale
Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Great Cans
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Gordon
Oskar Blues Old Chub

Kitschy Cans
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Schlitz
Olympia
8 oz. Burger Bar is located at 7661 Melrose Ave between Stanley and Spaulding in Hollywood, CA. Their phone number is 323-852-0008.
July 10, 2008
22:16
The Breast Fest
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My dear Aunt and namesake Christine just passed away from breast cancer this April, so when I saw this event, I thought it fitting to give you all a heads up about it! Even though it sounds like the kind of event where you might see t-shirts, and they might be wet, The Breast Fest is actually an annual craft beer festival that helps raise funds to fight breast cancer.

The 8th Annual "Fermenting Change" Microbreweries Battling Breast Cancer Brewfest or the "Breast Fest," hosted by the Marin Brewing Company and Moylan's Brewery & Restaurant & Noonan's Bar and Grill is being held this Saturday, July 12th from 1-5pm in Larkspur, CA. ALL proceeds to benefit Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic.

In the past eight years, the “Breweries Battling Breast Cancer” event has managed to donate over $100,000 for the clinic, in hopes of offering help to those needing but not having enough income for cancer services.

With offices in Oakland and San Francisco, CMCC is a state-licensed primary care clinic providing free complementary alternative medicine treatments (acupuncture, massage therapy, Chinese and Western herbs, therapeutic imagery), social services and educational workshops for low-income women with cancer.

The beer-tasting benefit offers a wonderful opportunity to sample and compare some of the finest locally brewed beers in a fun, sunny outdoor setting while listening to live music. Some of the breweries included in this year’s benefit are: Moylan’s, 21st Amendment, Iron Springs, Lagunitas, Magnolia Pub & Brewery, Bear Republic, Rubicon, Russian River, Third Street Ales Works, to name a few.

Admission for the event is $30 in advance (tickets sold until 5pm on July 11th) and $35 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Marin Brewing Company or Moylan’s Brewery & Restaurant, Marin Brewing Company is located at:

Larkspur Landing Courtyard
1809 Larkspur Landing Circle
Larkspur, CA 94939

Here's a Full List of Breweries Attending...

Marin Brewing Company, 21st Amendment, Anderson Valley, Beach Chalet, BJ’s Brewery, Black Diamond, Broken Drum, Drakes Brewing, Fox Barrel Cider, Half Moon Bay, Iron Springs, Lagunitas Brewing Co, Magnolia Pub, Moon Light, Moylan’s, Mateveza, Mount St. Helena, North Coast, Rubicon, Russian River, Santa Cruz, Seabright, Stone Brewing, Third Street Aleworks, Triple Rock, Two Rivers Cider.
If you go, please lift a pint for my dear Aunt Chris!
6:12
I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found:The Beer Mapping Project
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So, this is rad. Some genius decided that he always wanted to know "exactly where he is and how far he needs to go for good beer." So he created this website called beermapping.com, and its awesome. If you like beer like I do, this is a great site to get you to the best beer places in the world, and the ones in your neighborhood.

If you want to find the best beer places in almost any major city you can go to the City Beer Maps section and it maps out google style, where the places are and their addresses and phone numbers. If you do not see your city on this list, type your city name into the search field in their lookup page and check their database for the brewpubs or breweries in your neck of the woods.
You can also use the system's proximity functions to create your own maps of an area. Simply use the location lookup page to find a site to be used as a center point of your map and then select a radius to display from that center point.
You can also use their Map Skip function to create a proximity map based on an address.
Say you have a super beer nerdy friend like I do (Hi Larry - I'm sure you already know about this.) and they always know the newest great place or the newest brewery. Well, you can keep up with them on this site as well, because they now have a Buddy Activity page that tracks the site updates from the people on your Buddy List.

And check this out. They also have a mobile search page! So if you aren't near a computer, but you suddenly need a beer you can type [beermapping.com] in your browser on your blackberry and do a search of the city or zip code you are in and up will pop complete results. How rad is that, seriously. Its like full-on 2.0 bro.
July 04, 2008
12:10
The Session #17Better Late Than Never
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"The Session," which has been deemed as "a monthly virtual beer tasting" is hosted by a different blogger each month, and each month has a different theme chosen by the host. And each month, really rad beer bloggers and brewers and authors join in. I don't really belong, but since this month's subject is about going against the grain and drinking anti-seasonally, I thought I'd give it a try.

Okay, so I'm going to try writing this session thing again. And its funny that this time the subject should be drinking anti-seasonally. Or should we just go with the broader picture and say non-conformity as it relates to beer. The reason why its funny is because I've only posted on one other Session out of the 16 previous Sessions, even though I've really wanted to join in and even though I very responsibly have "Blog the Session" repeating on my google calendar on the first Friday of every month. I'm having a moment of clarity and its apparent to me now that I hate authority, even my own.

As a matter of fact, now that I'm thinking about it, I probably started drinking craft beer to be a non-conformist. It wasn't conscious at the time, but now, looking back, I definitely wanted to differentiate myself from the cosmo drinking, "I'll just have something lite," girls I constantly found myself competing with. Big beers made me tougher, stronger, cooler - Belgians made me smarter, more sophisticated, more complicated than those stupid lollipop heads.

Hell, only five years ago, just being a beer drinking female living in this vast city of salad eaters, I was sadly considered, "unique" or even worse, "interesting." Now things have changed dramatically, which is awesome. And I'm not exactly sure what I'm trying to say with all of this other than anti-seasonal?..anti-conformity?..its been that way my whole beer drinking life. And to tell you the truth, the beer drinkers and brewers that I know are the biggest group of non-conformists I've ever met. Every one of them.

So, anti-seasonal beer drinking? I like drinking a Yulesmith in July at Lucky Baldwins as much as the next person; and I will down a Maibock anytime of year. But perhaps the more shocking fact is my guilty confession that my anti-conformity / anti-craft beer rules beer is one from my childhood (err..early adulthood,) from the town I was born in and raised near. When its cold out and the skies are gray...I keep one beer in the fridge for particularly depressive episodes: the beer that will wake me up from even my deepest winter doldrums - one single bottle of Budweiser. There, I said it...effing sue me.

One taste of it and I'm 16 (err... 21) again and I'm back sitting on my floating dock on our lake, with Richard Marx on the radio, and Coppertone, and my boyfriend Rob trying to get me to skinny dip. Ah, the days before I knew better about a lot of things - the days before I discovered complicated Belgians and Guns-n-Roses. It always reminds me not only of how innocent I was (aside from the underage drinking - and the skinny-dipping,) but how far I've come!

And.... Scene.
July 02, 2008
3:32
The Beer Chick in Forbes.com!
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So there is a great article today on Forbes.com with a special feature called The Drink, edited by David M. Ewalt. This article has great link to the Forbes list for the World's Top Brewery Tours - and we're talking craft beer tours here.

You might also want to check out the "A Drink With..." section, where a variety of cool people were asked what their favorite drink was. The article features favorite drinks from Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali, Lorraine Bracco, and Jamie Oliver to name a few.

They featured some beer people like Rob Tod (met him) from Allagash, Garrett Oliver (who I finally met, by the way) from Brooklyn Brewing Company, Jim Koch (not met yet) from Sam Adams, W. Leo Kiley III -the Molson Coors CEO (probably won't meet ever), Geoff Lively from Rock Bottom and Dan Carey from New Glarus (awesome.)

Oh yeah and they also asked ME what my favorite drink was! I said a vodka and diet coke - PSYCHE! Click here to see The Drink special feature homepage. And click here to see what I said my favorite alcoholic drink was.

Also, a quick shout out to my girl Bonnie Graves, who is a sommelier (wine), consultant and author who was also featured!
June 18, 2008
17:54
The Most Expensive Beer in the World
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Well, the Alstrom brothers, who in their magazine - Beer Advocate - recently wrote a scathing article titled "Pay no more than $5" referring to the increasing cost of beer - well their heads are probably exploding over this one.

Behold, the most expensive beer in the world, Jacobsen Vintage No. 1. This beer is 2800 Danish Krone. Which today is the equivalent of ... wait for it.... wait for it....

Five hundred and Eighty Three Dollars - Almost Six HUNDRED dollars!

Only 600 (I'm assuming diamond) bottles of this 10.5% abv barleywine have been brewed and in a very short time the expensive brew has become a topic of heated discussion between beer connoisseurs and journalists alike. Could this beer be that good? Is this just a publicity stunt?

Truth be told, I don't understand what could be so special about this beer. Is the water source the tears of angels or something? The brewers say that its as the only contemporary beer that has ever been matured in J.C. Jacobsen's original crypt-like cellar from 1847. That the beer is matured for six months in new Swedish and new French oak barrels. "The project started as a wild idea and a wish to create a new type of beer that had never been seen before. During the aging process in new barrels, lots of chemical processes take place. Not all reactions are known but they taste wonderful," says Jens Eiken, Head Brewer at Jacobsen.

Again, according to the brewers, because I haven't tasted it, the beer has flavors of vanilla, smoke, caramel, dark fruits and port. "The bitterness is soft and intriguing. During the production and aging of the barleywine, Maillard reactions are continuously caused which adds caramel, nut and yeast aromas to the beer. In Jacobsen Vintage, you can taste different personalities in the beer in the form of Maillard, Schiff, Amador and Strecker." (Uh...what? Yeah, these names are all chemical reactions that can produce various aromatics and flavor compounds.)

Maybe its the artwork. Each bottle of Jacobsen Vintage No. 1 is labeled with an original hand stilled lithographic print made by the Danish artist Frans Kannik. The prints depict fables of Sif. Sif was married to the Nordic god Thor, who was often used by Carls Jacobsen as a symbol of strength.
Reading this back, I really don't mean to be snotty about this. To me, though...beer is supposed to be accessible. That's the draw. That's what I love about it. I'm not trying to be cheap. I don't prescribe to the Alstrom bros. $5 dollars a pint thing, hell, I'll even shell out $50 for a big bottle of some of the best beers in the world. But the point that I always make when I compare beer to wine is that even if you are drinking the best beers in the world, you are not paying the same kind of prices that you do for wine.

It has been reported that the reason that this beer is so expensive is that with such limited production, the beer wouldn't be exported from Denmark, where the beer is still a rare commodity. (It's primarily only sold in three high-end restaurants in Copenhagen.) Still, Gayot.com pointed out that Jacobsen Vintage No. 1 "costs 357 times more than Carlsberg’s main lager brand, Carlsberg Beer. Over the next two years, Carlsberg plans to follow up their upmarket foray by releasing two new, similarly priced creations."

I'm sure that this beer is a heavenly experience. I'd love to try it one day. But I hope that this is not the price trend that the beer world starts to follow. I'm afraid if that happened, there'd be another kind of micro-brew revolution to write about!

If you try it, tell me about it. I'll drink vicariously through you!
June 12, 2008
16:55
Kolsch in the LA Times!
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Hey Guys!

Check out the Los Angeles Times article on Kolsch beers by Charles Perry! He interviews yours truly and talks about a really great style of beer from Cologne, Germany. My favorite right now is the Reissdorf Kolsch. Its crisp, bright, malty but light-bodied. A great beer for summer!

Click here to read!

Sweet!
c to the p
May 25, 2008
16:55
Westlveteren Part Deux
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I did it! I had Westvleteren! My friend Brian arrived and brought me and my friend and fellow beer chick Hallie two unlabeled green capped Westvleteren Blondes.

Apparently, Westvleteren is the only Trappist brewery in the world where the monks actually still do all of the brewing. And they take it even further. This brewery has only FIVE monks that run most of the brewery. Five monks. I think that they hire a couple of secular people to do some of the grunt work, but its mostly the monks doing their monky thing and making the beers all special and stuff.

I must say that this beer was delicious. I almost can't describe it, and you know that says a lot. The balance of the beer is absolutely amazing and so delicate, yet rich in flavor and spices. I wanted to say pepper - but it was so fragile that I amended the description to 'white' pepper. I do wonder though, if the hype of the Westy (as those in the know call it) made me love it more or if this beer was really as good as it seemed. I am a Los Angeles girl, after all, and greatly influenced by such things as hype. But, no.... I think it was a damn fine beer (Sorry for the cursing monks.)

I will say that because of all the hype - and I'm probably contributing to - and because of the rareness of these beers, the abbey is totally against the resale of their beer. (I didn't buy this beer - a friend brought it from the abbey.) It is there sincere wish that the beer is only available for sale at their abbey or at the small shoppe in town. No bars or pubs are supplied with this beer. And actually, monks at the brewery have explained that they are not trying to increase production to meet the demand of this beer. Westvleteren 12 was named "Best Beer in the World" in 2005 by ratebeer.com.

In fact, the monks have stated that they have "a desire to live a peaceful monastic life," and that "We are no brewers. We are monks. We brew beer to be able to afford being monks." And even though that makes this beer ridiculously hard to get, I respect and dig that philosophy!
May 23, 2008
15:50
Like a Virgin
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So, there's something that I have to tell you people. There is something that I have never done. There is a Trappist Ale that I've never tried before. But tonight, that's all going to change.

Beer from the Westvleteren Trappist Brewery is a treat bestowed on only the few who are 1) willing to reserve their ONE case (the maximum you are allowed to buy) by "beerphone;" 2) able to get to Belgium; and, 3)able to drive to the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren to personally pick the beer up. OR those who have a hook-up like a fellow beer fanatic friend whose company headquarters are in Belgium! YEAH.
As with all other Trappist breweries, the beer is only sold in order to financially support the monastery and other philanthropic causes. Trappist breweries are supposed to exist to make just enough money to help run the monastery and not necessarily to make a profit.
Modern commercial breweries might say "Vous etes fou!" to these selling methods, but the Father Abbott on the opening of their new brewery said, "We are no brewers. We are monks. We brew beer to be able to afford being monks." It is the only Trappist brewery where the monks still do all of the brewing with only FIVE monks running the brewery, with an additional five monks helping during bottling. Its no wonder this beer is so rare!
So, back to me. This morning my friend called me and said, "I have something for you." I told him to say "The eagle has landed," but I guess he forgot - Anyway... tonight he is bringing me the Westvleteren Blonde (green cap) a 5.8% ABV beer for me to try for the very first time. This style is relatively new (about 10 years old) but its comes from a brewing tradition that started in 1838. This Blonde style is the beer that replaced a previously produced lighter beer that served as the monks' table beer.
The brewery currently brews only three beers: the Blonde, Westvleteren 8 (blue cap,) 8% ABV and Westvleteren 12 (yellow cap,) at 10% ABV. The members of BeerAdvocate.com and RateBeer.com (my two favorite websites), consistently rate the Westvleteren 12 as their most favorite beer. The 12 is considered by many to be the best beer in the world.
So here I go. Tonight, I become de-virginized. Tonight I drink Westvleteren.
I'll let you know how it was.
May 13, 2008

21:06

Another Test

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May 12, 2008
13:31
Helles Yeah!
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With summer quickly approaching my palate has shifted towards the more crisp and refreshing and nuanced beers: beers that don't necessarily smack you over the head with huge flavors and high alcohol contents. Now - don't get me wrong girls... I love those beers too..its just that lately, I've been in the mood for something a little "lighter." OMG!!! I know... I said it. What? Has the self-proclaimed beer chick whose first article was titled "Turn Away From the Light?" gone loca?

Aside from writing about myself in the third person, the answer is no, la chica de la cerveza no esta loca! I have found a nice happy light colored pale lager style that, if done right, I like a lot; especially for summer: called Helles. Now...what the hell is a Helles beer?

The word "Helles" (pronounced hell-us) actually means "a light one" in German. But this light really only refers to the color of this beer and not necessarily the alcohol content. And, according to the German Beer Institute, "if there is one beer style that typifies the greatness of German, and especially of Bavarian beer-making, it is this straw-blond lager." The subtlety of flavor from a Helles challenges the palate, in the best way.

Don't get Pilsners and Helles confused. This style is a Bavarian style (Southern Germany) not the Bohemian style that Pilsners are. This beer looks like a Pilsner, but its not. It looks like a dazzling blond sparkling beer, but because it is a full-bodied beer with more malty characteristics, this style is extremely satisfying to the sophisticated beer drinker. You may think you're drinking a light-bodied beer because usually, this style - like many lagers - has virtually no nose. These beers should be dry, but never harsh, it should have some good hops but be delicately balanced and elegant. A great summer beer for cool beer chicks.
Here are some good Helles that I've enjoyed:
May 02, 2008
15:43
Beers For Your Mother
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I'm a bad bad blogger, I know. I haven't written in ages and I sincerely apologize. I've been focusing on the book but am now re-committed to the blogging. I've been neglecting my responsibilities. I feel guilty. Hmmm, that reminds me of something.... Oh yeah! My Mom! Just kidding. Kind of.

I can't tell you how proud my parents were when I told them that I had discovered my passion, and that my passion was beer. Their reaction was less than effervescent to say the least. They were more casky (see Real Ale article) about it.

Slowly, though, through methodological tasting and pulling and prodding, I've finally turned my mother (who's past annual beer consumption consisted of one-half can of Bud Lite on Superbowl Sunday) into a bonafide beer drinker. And thank God, because there are times when she could really use one, believe me. Love you Mom!

So, with Mother's Day coming up. I thought that it might be interesting to list the beers that led up to her becoming a cool beer chick.

The first time I brought my parents to my favorite beer bar I knew I had my work cut out for me when they told me - the self-proclaimed beer chick - that they wanted a beer that tasted like Diet Coke and they weren't kidding. So I went to the bar and I ordered a Lindeman's Peche Lambic for my mother and I ordered a Rogue Hazelnut Brown for my father. I brought them to the table.

My parents tasted both beers and quickly traded, my dad opting for the Lindeman's Peche (we'll talk about him another time), and my mother savoring the Rogue. "I love this!" she said. And then she uttered a statement that I hate, "This doesn't taste like beer at all." I let it slide, because, you know, she's my mother; and I focused on the positive. That a) my MOM was drinking a dark as molasses beverage that b) wasn't Diet Coke that c) was BEER and that d) she was loving it!

Since then, my mom's been open to trying many new beers. Some she loves, and others not so much. Most of the beers that she likes are beers that "don't taste like beer at all," and that's okay. I've tried to explain to her that beer has a huge vast width of taste and flavor and the beer she likes does indeed taste like beer - but, what are you gonna do? Baby steps.

Here are some of the beers my mom (and hopefully your mom will too) dig.

Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Ales Brewery - Newport, OR:
I mentioned before that this was the first dark beer that my mother had consumed in her life. This American Brown Ale is wonderful. Full of roasted hazelnut and chocolate notes, this beer maintains its richness without being cloying or heavy.
6.2% abv.

Hoegaarden Original White Ale - Hoegaarden, Belgium:
My mom discovered this beer on a trip to England. She wrote it down while she was there and brought the note back to me. "YES mom... I've HEARD of Hoegaarden." (They really don't get what I do yet.) Anyway, turns out that my mom really likes Belgian Witbier. This one, I'm sure you all know with its coriander and citrus zest and bright light body....but did you know your mom would like it?

New Glarus Spotted Cow - New Glarus Brewing Company - New Glarus, WI:
My mom called from the University of Wisconsin's Student Union to tell me that she was enjoying this farmhouse ale. "Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts." This beer "gives a nod to our farmers with a little hint of corn." This beer is unfiltered and on the lees to create full flavor in a relatively light bodied beer.
4.8% abv.

Jahva Imperial Coffee Stout - Southern Tier Brewing Company - Lakewood, NY:
This one surprised the heck out of me. My mom and I wanted a late afternoon coffee, but we didn't want to get all jacked up. I had a bottle of this in my fridge (Thanks Larry), and I suggested that we try this. I thought for sure that mom would poo poo this one, but turns out she loved it. This beer is made with Jamaican coffee, so, I assume there is some caffeine there, but the 12% abv. balances that caffeine right out, let me tell you.

Happy Mother's Day to all you hot beer drinking mamas out there!
February 26, 2008
5:13
A Woman's Work Is Never Done
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Your man comes home from a long hard day at work, and you've been in the kitchen for hours. This isn't the stereotypical situation here though. You've been slaving in the kitchen over a hot stove, but you're not coming up with a pot roast. You've been brewing BEER! YES!

Homebrewing is so much easier than people think. Well, I take that back. It is something that, like cooking, takes a little time to learn and some practice to get right. You'll develop a deep appreciation for what master brewers can actually do. But, homebrewing is easier than you think. Its really just a little cooking and cleaning. You know...womens' work. (heave)

I'm going to start a series on homebrewing for women, focusing on smaller batches and starting out with easy partial grain recipes, but in the meantime, if you are interested, Los Angeles women can start at my friend Natalie's Homebrew Club just for Women called the ALT Society.

This month the meeting is on February 28th at 7:30pm at Culver City Home Brew Supply Co. This place is headquarters of the homebrew club that I belong to called Pacific Gravity, which luckily for me, is mostly men. But this meeting is just for the chicks, who sometimes can feel a little intimidated by all the testosterone floating around that place. There will be home-brewed beers there, of course, with munchies and lots of female support. Its a great place to go to get your questions answered and to get geared up for brewing beer at home.

Click here for directions. You can email Natalie at emtcutie959@yahoo.com if you have any questions or want additional information.

Good luck ladies! And get to BREWING! A woman's work is never done.
January 31, 2008
21:01
Are You Ready For Some Football Beers?
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Want some recommendations on some great beers to celebrate the Super Bowl holiday? Wine Sommelier and Consultant (and friend and cool beer chick) Bonnie Graves interviewed me for her yahoo.com food blog called Girl Meets Grape.

Click HERE to read all about the beers.

P.S. One more year Favre! One more year.
15:37
SAVORAn American Craft Beer & Food Experience
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Check this out. This looks so cool! I'm going to try and go to this. Tickets go on sale on February 4th. Click on the image and it will take you to the events official website.
January 25, 2008
15:22
Young Experimenting Perfection Seekers
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I'm a YODA today! I'm the Yeppie of the Day! What the hell is that?

Well, my dear friends, yeppienation.com says, "Remember the Yuppies of the 80's? Baby boomers who where hungry for money and status, well many of their kids are now Yeppies (Young Experimenting Perfection Seekers)...These 20 and 30 somethings don't aspire to a job in finance and a BMW in the driveway. If anything they quit their jobs to go backpacking for an undetermined duration... Yeppies are life shopping...in search of ideal existence."

That's what I am...I'm a yeppie, and proud of it. However, instead of dropping a job to go backpacking, I'm left jobs to go beer drinking. I'd like to thank my parents who are so thrilled beyond words that my passion is beer. I'd like to thank the readers of this blog who have supported me in my effort to elevate beer to the level that it deserves. I'd like to thank companies like Craftsman Brewing Company, Deschutes Brewing Company, Unibroue, Telegraph Brewing Co., Artisan Ales, Wine Warehouse who have helped me in this endeavor. I'd also like to thank the Yeppie Nation, who clearly understand what's important in life. So do not try to drink good beer, DRINK good beer. Seek it, live it, love it. In the words of the original Yoda, "Do or Do Not, There Is No Try."

May the Force be with you.
January 19, 2008
17:05
Winter Warmer Beer Social "Upstairs" @ 3 on Fourth
» ‎ Beer 4 Chx

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Winter Warmers Beer Social
"Upstairs" @ 3 on Fourth

Wednesday, January 23
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Along with Chef Daniel Snukal, I'm going to be hosting a casual tasting of Winter Warmers, a unique style of beer made with sweet malts and flavored with spices, herbs, nuts and fruits. A naturally higher alcohol content and the spicy aromas make these microbrews the perfect elixir for a chilly January night. Complimentary appetizers provided by 3 on Fourth. (See menu below.)

A special prix fixe dinner will be available after the event to beer social guests only.

$35 per person, including tax
$30 special prix fixe dinner (optional)
Space is limited for this event; call 310.395.6765 to reserve a glass.

3 on Fourth
1432A Fourth St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Winter Warmers Menu

Beer
Telegraph Winter Ale - Telegraph Brewing Company, Santa Barbara, CA
Honesty Ale - Craftsman Brewing Company, Pasadena, CA
Holiday Spruce - Craftsman Brewing Company, Pasadena, CA
Quelque Chose - Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec
...and more!

Appetizers
Warm Roblochon with Orange Marmalade
Goat Cheese, Beet and Balsamic Crostini
Brillat Savarin with Strawberry Arugula and Fried Bread
Chocolate-dipped Cherries
December 21, 2007
20:33
Are You Experienced?or The Best Name For A Beer Ever
» ‎ Beer 4 Chx

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So I'm lucky enough to have several close relatives that live in Wisconsin. My father is from Wisconsin. This is especially lucky because New Glarus Brewing Company, one of the best breweries in the midwest in my humble opinion, is only available in - you guessed it - Wisconsin. Dammit!

I've had their Wisconsin Belgian Red, which is a hell of a beer. They describe the style as a "Wisconsin Cherry Ale," who knew? Its a wonderful fruit beer that truly tastes like fresh summer cherries. Tart and sweet, tannic and dry, this ale is not the cloyingly sweet Kool-Aid that we are sometimes used to getting with fruit beer here in the states. They call it "a marriage of wine and beer." This beer is brewed with whole Door County (where I used to swim in the summertime) Montmorency Cherries, Wisconsin Farmed Wheat and Belgian Roasted Barleys. This beer is then cold cellared in oak tanks for one full year. If you have a chance to try this beer, do so.

Now then, on to the topic of this blog which is the Best Name For A Beer Ever. A few times a year, NGBC will cut their brewmaster and co-owner Daniel Carey loose to brew whatever he chooses, crazy, unfettered and free. Always handcrafted, these beers are very limited editions with no promises of ever being brewed again. Right now, one of those beers is one named Smoke on the Porter. Yes! Isn't that awesome? Can't you just hear Deep Purple now?
Here's what the brewery says about this beer. "Smoke on the Porter began with our neighbors at Hoesly's Meats. Their smoke house aromas waft through our door creating a special kind of decadence that must be shared. Wisconsin barleys were generously cold smoked with apple wood by the Hoesly family. Brewmaster Dan then harnessed dark malts smoked in Bamberg to create a team that steps out as a creamy smooth black brew that will forever linger in your mind as Smoke on the Porter."
This beer is creamy and smooth. Beer Advocate magazine says, "...the malt really shines with a soft cake-like sweetness within. Suggestions of dark roasted coffee and bitter dark chocolate come to mind.... No doubt, the balance of this smoked porter is unsurpassed."

So toast life with beer from the land of Wisconsin.

Did I mention that The New Glarus Brewing Company is located in and named after the quaint town of New Glarus, Wisconsin? New Glarus is known as "America's Little Switzerland," a fact that is evident the minute you drive into town. You feel like you stepped back in time a hundred years to a small town in Switzerland. The Brewery is just one of many unique businesses in New Glarus. There are also antique stores, meat markets, two museums, an authentic Swiss bakery and a fine array of restaurants with authentic Swiss cuisine. In fact, my family and I used to make the treck from Madison, WI for schnitzel and noodles! For more information on New Glarus and its local business, visit the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce at www.swisstown.com.

Also, I thought that this would be a good time to announce that my fantasy football team, Testeverdes Settatesties, is in the Superbowl. (I'm playing the person who introduced me to New Glarus Brewing Co. - But I will still beat him down.)

And also, Go Packers!
December 04, 2007
5:19
Winter Warmer Ales!
» ‎ Beer 4 Chx

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So I finally have it together enough to participate in this month's "The Session," which has been deemed as "a monthly virtual beer tasting. Hosted by a different blogger each month, and each month has a different theme chosen by the host." I've kept my eye on it over the last few months and have really enjoyed the exchange and some of the brilliant beers. This month is about Winter Beers, and since I had just written about them, I thought that I would include The Session in this post.

So my fellow chicks, I should tell you, if you haven't found out by now, that there are certain beers which are only brewed for the Winter season. These beers run the gamut in flavor, but a lot of them are spicy, malty, piney and a little higher in the alcohol content department: all things that you know this beer chick likes. So, without too much more ado, here are some of my favorite holiday seasonal beers or beers that are great as special holiday treats and gifts!

Samichlaus Bier - originally brewed by Hurlimann Brewery
Rheinfelden, Switzerland
Want a little warming up on a cold winter night? Only want to have one seasonal ale? This one is it. Samichlaus ("Santa Claus" in Swiss-German dialect) is brewed every year on December 6th, St. Nicholas' Day. The delicious lager is then matured an entire year before being released the following December. At 14% alcohol by volume, this beer was once the world's strongest lager and has been listed in The Guinness Book of Records. But don't shy away. Samichlaus has a smooth creaminess with brandy, cherry flavors and spice. Yum.
Pairs With: Rich and roasted foods, duck, pork and cured meats.
Try it with German chocolate cake or rum tart.
Glassware: Specialty Samichlaus Glass or Small Tulip or Snifter

Craftsman Holiday Spruce - Pasadena, CA
This Winter warmer has an unbeatable balance...but its a big balance, the aroma is a mix of fruit and sweet spice. One detects cinnamon, allspice, and really delicious orange and orange peel notes in the flavor. Then the maltiness hits you with distinct fruitiness. I get apples and old world fruit like raisins and figs. Then the beer rounds out with nice spiciness and dryness provided by the FRESH SPRUCE TIPS that Craftsman uses in the brewing of this beer. Does anything say Winter more?
Pairs With: I served this beer last night at a beer dinner and it paired amazingly well with a bite of marinated beets and goat cheese with a rosemary pesto. Forget about it.
Glassware: Teardrop

Anchor Christmas - San Francisco, California
Famous for its Steam Beer, Anchor Brewing's Christmas Ale or "Our Special Ale" has been a west coast tradition since it was first brewed in 1975. Available only from Thanksgiving to New Years, this ale's recipe is different every single year and it is kept top secret. Since ancient times trees have symbolized the winter solstice. So every year this beer bottle label features a different tree. Because of the special limited ale inside and the special label, Anchor Christmas is very collectable. There are people who claim to have a bottle from every year. This is a great beer to drink at a holiday party or to bring as a gift. Besides regular 12 oz. bottles, this beer is sold in magnums: a big unique one of a kind present.
Pair with: This beer is different every year. The style will determine what it pairs with.
Glassware: American Shaker Pint Glass

Deus Brut de Flandres - Brouwerij Bosteels - Buggenhout, Belgium
This beer isn't necessarily a winter ale, but if you want to bring a fabulous gift that nobody other than a beer aficionado would know, or you want something special to lift for that holiday toast, the Deus Brut des Flandres is the way to go. This divine drink combines the best of two production methods. Using techniques developed over centuries of brewing, first the beer is brewed in Belgium, then the ale is matured and refined in the champagne region of France, using ancestral Champagne making techniques. This beer makes me want to celebrate.
Pair with: Deus makes an excellent aperitif (before food) or digestive (after food). Its also great with desserts.
Glassware: Flute

Deschutes Jubelale & Cindercone Red Ale - Bend, Oregon
Hailing from the Northwest US brewing mecca, Jubelale calls itself an "apres ski brew." Perfect for a gathering of family and friends, Jubelale is a strong festive ale characterized by a large malty body ba

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