31 July 2009

A New Obama Economic Stimulus Plan.....





Though I have a suspicion that--like much of the ballyhooed "stimulus plan" from the current administration--it'll all get p*ssed away...........

(From Tom Toles, Washington Post. More from the Post on the "beer summit," complete with requisite puns and cliches, here and here.

30 July 2009

Metropolitan beating heat with White Marsh Blueberry firkin

E-mail from Bruce Dorsey at Metropolitan in Federal Hill on tonight's firkin:

So it looks like it's gonna be a thoroughly hot and muggy. Why not
come in this evening for a delicious firkin of White Marsh Blueberry
Ale, from the White Marsh Brewing Co. in White Marsh (aka Red Brick
Station). Officially called "They Made Me Do It Blueberry Ale," this
beer is a mild golden ale with over 210 lbs of free range blueberries
added. The 4.1% beer is almost violet in color with a sweet clean
flavor with hints of blueberry. Also available split half and half
with Guinness!

In the Upstairs Bar starting at 6.

But What Beer SHOULD Obama, Gates, and Crowley Be Drinking?


From Slate.com last night:

When Obama announced that he would have a Budweiser on Thursday night, it suggested he was going for the most regular-guy brand he could find. (It sells for about $6.50 for a six-pack.) But it turns out that the cop likes the same kind of fancy beer the professor does: He's having a Blue Moon, a Belgian-Style witbier ($7 to $9 a six-pack), while Gates is having a Red Stripe ($7) or Becks ($8). Upon this affinity for upmarket beers may be built a towering reconciliation.


Much more analysis at the link.

But come on. We can have some fun with this.

I want suggestions of beers that SHOULD be drunk by the respective photo-op whor--I mean, invited guests at the White House. Pick sarcastic, biting commentary in the beer names.

Gates: Black Sheep? Sisson's had a Wise Guy Weissbier ages ago...... Shepherd Neame Spitfire?
Crowley: Anyone got a police-themed beer other than Great Lakes' The Eliot Ness?
Obama: Of course, everyone's mentioning Avery Brewing's "Collaboration Not Litigation" beer, but can't we do better than this? Isn't there, for want of a better way to phrase it, a "Kumbaya" beer or something?

Suggestions/entries solicited. Any that really get me laughing or shouting in agreement win a prize TBA.

UPDATE: Bruce Elliott of WBAL Radio: "What, can't they even agree on one beer to share?"

MORE: It seems like everyone's got a comment on this overwrought issue. Brewers. Full-of-itself NPR. DC City Paper blog. Jim Koch of Sam Adams via NPR again.

27 July 2009

FINAL(?) Cider List for Max's July 28th

See y'all there......... See earlier post for more info if needed......

Appeltroew Appely Brut
Appeltroew Pommeaux
Aspall Dry Cider
Aspall Medium Cider
Aspall Organic Cider
Domaine Christian Drouin Poire
Domaine Pays D' Auge Cidre
E. Dupont Bouche De Normandie
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche 1998
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche 2002
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche 2003
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche 2004
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche 2005
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche 2006
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut 2006(Draft)
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut 2007
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut 2007(Draft)
E. Dupont Cidre Cuvee Colette 2004
E. Dupont Cidre De Givre 2005
E. Dupont Cidre De Givre 2006
E. Dupont Cidre De Givre 2007
E. Dupont Cidre Reserve 2008
E. Dupont Pommeau 1998
Farnum Hill Extra Dry
Farnum Hill Semi Dry
Farnum Hill Summer Cider
Henneys Dry Cider
Henneys Sweet Cider
Henneys Vintage Still Cider 2007
J.K Scrumpys Cider
Olivers Blackeney Red
Olivers Bottle Conditioned Cider
Olivers Herfordshire Dry Cider
Olivers Herfordshire Dry Perry
Sarasola Saqardosa
West County Baldwin
West County Kingston Black
West County Redfield

23 July 2009

Wanna buy an "Irish Pub"?

Lucy's, the former Maggie Moore's (and for ages before that the Baltimore Equitable Insurance Building) is for sale on Craigslist:

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bfs/1270428402.html

That rent figure needs to be presented to every nincompoop who thinks running a bar is a terrific idea.

22 July 2009

Pratt Street Ale House beer dinner Aug. 23

From Steve Jones' blog (in the list at right):

Pratt Street Ale House will be hosting its first ever Beer Pairing Dinner on August 23, 2009. Come to the Ale House to enjoy a Gourmet Five Course Meal paired with our very own Oliver Ales! Tickets are on sale now and seating is limited! Call now to book your space!


No word on price, courses, or beers yet. Dare we hope for an encore for Baltimore Beer Week?

19 July 2009

Anyone for Christmas in July? LIST UPDATED

Once again, the annual Christmas in July at Max's Taphouse as this Tuesday's Beer Social upstairs in the Mobtown Lounge @ 6 PM:

DRAFTS
Anchor Holiday Ale 2007
Corsendonk Christmas
De Ranke Pere Noel
Gouden Carolus Noel
Samichlaus Helles 2008
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2007
St Fueilien de Noel
Troegs Mad Elf

BOTTLES
Bogedal No 137 Christmas Edition
De Glazen Toren Canaster
Dieu Du Ciel Soltice D'Hiver
Klein Duimpje Kerstbier
Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper 2007
Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper 2008
Mikkelller To/From
Nogne O Peculiar Yule
Olfribrikken Kloster Yul
Olfribrikken Winter Porter
Ridgeway Insanely Bad Elf
Sierra Nevada Celebration 2002
Slaapmutske Kerstmutske
Sogaards Julbok
Tournay De Noel

Beers from big bottles will be available by the glass. If tradition is any indication, there may be a few giveaways as well.

Not enough?

ON THE BEER ENGINES:
Olivers Best Bitter
Whitemarsh Blueberry

NEW DRAFTS
Dogfish Head Chateau Jaihu
Dogfish Head Theobroma
Newcastle Brown
Boddingtons
Southern Tier Hoppe
Southern Tier Unearthly
Allagash Burnham Road
Cape Ann Fisherman IPA
Saranac Pommegrante Wheat
Pauwel Kwak
Grado Plato Cukumerla
North Coast Brother Thelonious
Brew Dog Paradox
Ommegang Rouge
Southern Tier Cuvee Series #2
Contreras Valier Divers
Contreras Valier Blonde
Italiano Cassissona
Smuttynose Imperial Stout

15 July 2009

When Activist Groups Run Out of Things to Do......


Mothers Against Drinking is.... oh, I'm sorry, Mothers Against Drunk Driving is upset at Flying Fish Brewery in Cherry Hill, NJ for naming beers after NJ freeway exits:

It is acceptable to name your alcoholic beverage after a moving vehicle so long as a car isn't the vehicle in question; e.g. Night Train Express wine and Warbird beer (How about Thunderbird? - Ed). In fact, it's frowned upon to give alcohol a name that can even be associated with cars. New Jersey craft brewer Flying Fish has attracted the attention of MADD, the NJ Turnpike Authority (NJTA), and the press for breaking the taboo with its line of beers named after exits on the New Jersey Turnpike.

The Exit 4 American Trippel was the first in the "big beer" series -- they come in 750-ml bottles -- part of "a multi-year brewing experiment to brew a series of beers as diverse as the great state of New Jersey." Exit 11, a Hoppy American Wheat Ale, will be coming later this month and is "a tribute to Woodbridge's exit, where the Turnpike meets the Garden State Parkway." Which must taste delicious...

MADD feels that "The combination of a roadway and advertising for any kind of a beer doesn't make any kind of sense." The NJTA wants to make sure no one thinks it's turned into a brewer. To address both issues each bottle of flying fish includes a disclaimer, "The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has no affiliation with the Exit Series. Both the Turnpike Authority and Flying Fish agree that you should never drink and drive." That hasn't quite quelled the controversy, but it does tell people two things they should already know.


(Photo by Mike Derer, AP)

14 July 2009

Revised CIDER list @ Max's June 28th

Let's just copy, paste, and edit (for some grammatical errors) the e-mail:

July 28, 2009
Max's Mobtown Lounge(upstairs)
NO ENTRANCE FEE

JUST A REMINDER THIS IS THE NEW DATE: JULY 28th

THE CIDERS:

ON DRAFT:
E Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut 2006
E. Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut 2007

IN BOTTLES:

FRANCE
Domaine Christian Druion Poire
Dupont Cidre Bouche 1998
Dupont Cidre Bouche 2002
Dupont Cidre Bouche 2003
Dupont Cidre Bouche 2004
Dupont Cidre Bouche 2005
Dupont Cidre Bouche 2006
Dupont Cidre Cuvee Colette 2006
Dupont Cidre Cuvee Colette 2007
Dupont Cidre De Givre 2006
Dupont Cidre De Givre 2007
Dupont Cidre Reserve 2008
Dupont Pommeau 1996
Dupont Pommeau 1998

SPAIN
Sarasola Saqardosa

ENGLAND
Aspall Dry Cider
Aspall Medium Cider
Aspall Orgainic Cider
Henneys Dry Cider
Henneys Sweet Cider
Henneys Vintage 2007 Cider
Olivers Blackeney Red
Olivers Herefordshire Dry
Olivers Bottle Conditioned

US
Appeltroew Appely Brut
Appeltroew Pommeaux
Farnum Hill Extra Dry
Farnum Hill Semi Dry
Farnum Hill Summer Cider
JK Scrumpys
Original Sin
West County Baldwin
West County Kingston Black
West County Redfield

So here they all are, again this is the list and may be subject to change. We will be offering sample size glasses for all of the ciders. Cheers!

Casey Hard
Max's Taphouse
www.maxs.com

Flying Dog @ Muggsy's Mug House Thursday

From Danny at the former Sean Bolan's on S. Light Street:

Muggsy's is having a Pint Night with Flying Dog on Thursday July 16t--we will have at least 4 different Flying Dog Beers on tap and you get an official Flying Dog pint glass with the purchase of a Flying Dog Beer. Should be a fun nigh--pass it on to your friends, and let's pack the place.

09 July 2009

Tonight--firkin @ Metropolitan

From Metropolitan in Federal Hill:

Tonight for Firkin Thursday we tap a firkin of delicious Thirsty Dog
Ale brewed by the DOG Beverage Co. in Westminster, Maryland (and
served locally at the Dog Pub on Cross Street). Thirsty Dog is a 5.2%
English-style pale ale brewed with Kent Golding hops. For those of
you who've had the beer at Dog Pub, its even better firkin style - the
cask-conditioning gives it a crisp smoothness unavailable on regular
draft. Tonight in the Upstairs Bar starting at 6:00 pm.

07 July 2009

CIDER TASTING @ Max's POSTPONED to June 28th

Quick update from Max's Casey Hard:

Due to an unfortunate accident with one of my guest speakers, the Cider Social is going to be re scheduled to July 28. This will also give me a chance to get in a few new ciders that would have not made it in on time.

06 July 2009

FREE Concert @ Blob's Park, Jessup July 15th

From a Blob's Park e-mail:

COME ON OUT TO THE HALL ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 15, AROUND 7 PM TO ENJOY A FREE CONCERT! The Kiedricher KCV Musikanten and Blaskapelle Gladbachtal bands are playing. These two bands from Germany perform a broad repertoire from polkas to swing. Excitement is building as the German guests and their DC-area hosts plan for a grand tour of the sights and sounds of our nation's capital. The combined bands from the Rheingau area in Hesse, Germany, will play entertaining music at the Blob's Park in Jessup, Maryland on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 7pm. Come enjoy some good music and learn the fine German art of Gemütlichkeit!


Need I tell you the beer's good and German?

SPBW at Grand Cru this Saturday


July 11th: The Society for Preservation of Beers from the Wood is holding their monthly "meeting" at Grand Cru, in Belvedere Square's market. Time and beers TBA. (Grand Cru hasn't updated that website since February, so.......)

05 July 2009

A Future Clipper City Heavy Seas Bomber

Clipper City announced the winner of its Letter of Marque Homebrew Competition, which received 23 entries:
Frank Butt & Neil Heinlein with their Hop Rye Porter.
Frank and Neil will get to visit the Clipper City brewery to help brew their winner beer in the spring. Watch for this beer to be released as part of their Heavy Seas Bomber Series in June 2010.
Honorable mentions went to:
2nd Place: Brian Glass for his "Uber Schwarzbier"
3rd Place: Brandon Miller & Les White for their Wheat Wine

While we're at it, watch for these upcoming Clipper City events:

July 7 Beer & Wine Dinner at Corks, Baltimore MD
July 8 Meet the Brewers at Mahaffey's, Baltimore, MD

04 July 2009

Who's Ready for CIDER? and CHRISTMAS? (UPDATED)



Dispatch from Casey Hard at Max's Taphouse:

"I have the Cider Tasting set for July 14th, a Tuesday. As of right now, I have around 30 different ciders from the US, Spain, England, France and the US. I am waiting on a few before I send a full list out. But should have it by mid next week. Cheers!"


See you there!

UPDATE: The annual "Christmas in July" beer social is slated for the following Tuesday, July 21st.

Happy Independence Day!


I don't know what I'm supposed to think about this.

I mean, I'm not one of those folks that will assault you if you burn or desecrate an American flag, but....... you know, I just....... I dunno.

So what all-American beer are YOU consuming today?

(Venue displaying this "flag" remaining unnamed for the time being--not out of respect or lack thereof for the venue, but........ well, we'll explain later.)

01 July 2009

Latest cask at Pratt Street Ale House

New on the beer engine today: Nut Brown Ale, 5% abv infused with raw cacao nibs for a slight hint of chocolate in the finish.