Beer Brewed with Doo-Doo Real, drinkable beer brewed with elephant poo? Yes. More specifically, a stout from Japan's Sankt Gallen Brewery called Un, Kono Kuro, brewed with coffee beans fed to elephants and then "recovered" from their excrement (at which point they are referred to as "black ivory"). Seems like a bit of a stretch, but according to one reviewer, "This is some good s***!" Seems as though one might be compelled to wash their mouths out with a bit of beer soap after drinking this one... Would you try it?
How Stupid You Look With Beer Beer Goggles An excellent rip on craft beer geeks, presented by CollegeHumor: Some highlights: "Look what he's got his lips all over!" "How did this happen? You started this night out with that nice little Hefeweizen." "That beer is a 2, and everyone is watching you drink it!" "Now I feel like you're hop-blocking me!" "Just wanna get my mouth wet!" "Dude, I've been with literally hundreds of beer like that." "I don't like blondes, they give me headaches!"
Craft Beer and Movie Pairings: Oscar Edition Do we need another excuse to drink good beer? Nope. Did we find one anyway? Yep. Cue up one of these Oscar-winning movies of years past and enjoy one (or three) Acadamy-approved pairings. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2004 Winner) British Pale Ale Beer was the most popular drink in middle earth, and it was often consumed in large quantities out of metal steins. The British Pale Ale style was originally brewed with very rich, hard water (something that would have likely been available in the shire), and typically has low alcohol content. This noble choice would not impede one's ability to protect the ring. Commercial examples: Old Speckled Hen, Boddingtons Pub Ale, Bass Pale Ale, Fuller's London Pride Million Dollar Baby (2005 Winner) | Porter The dark, bold, and roasty flavors often found in porter-style beers will be your ringside companion for this edgy drama. Historically an English style, the newer American-style porters are often available in a range of alcohol content, from lightweight (4%) to fairly heavyweight (8%). Commercial examples: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, Founders Porter, Deschutes Black Butte, Sierra Nevada Porter Crash (2006 Winner) | American IPA Known for its spicy, citric, and bitter flavors, the American IPA pairs well with the hard-edged grittiness Crash's plot and characters. The film is set in Los Angeles, and California is one of the main stomping grounds for the ever-popular West Coast IPA style, further solidifying these partners in crime. Commercial examples: Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Russian River Blind Pig, New Belgium Ranger IPA, Harpoon IPA, Surly Furious The Departed (2007 Winner) | American Rye Ale American gangsters are synonymous with back room deals and strong drinks. This uniquely American style of beer that often flies under the radar (like a good mobster deal) can have notes of spice, slight sourness, and rye whiskey. Commercial examples: Founders Red's Rye PA, Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye, Sixpoint Righteous Ale, Boulevard Rye-On-Rye No Country for Old Men (2008 Winner) | Bock Set in 1980's Texas, this thriller is deserving of a beer that is is dark like oil but drinkable enough to quench desert-crossing thirst. Also known as a "symbol for better times to come", the bock is a perfect match for this talkie. Commercial examples: Shiner Bock, Anchor Bock, Samuel Adams Winter Lager, New Glarus Back Forty Bock Slumdog Millionaire (2009 Winner) | Light Lager The mild bread and malt flavors of Indian (or Indian-inspired) lagers will serve as an unassuming yet welcome companion to the dramatic trials and triumphs of this spicy, savory, and sweet story. And, you should be able to acquire some for less than one million rupees! Commercial examples: Taj Mahal, Kingfisher, Flying Horse Royal Lager, Maharaja Premium Pilsner The Hurt Locker (2010 Winner) | American Strong Ale What could be more American and strong than an American Strong Ale? Pair this intense, forceful military flick with an equally strong liquid comrade. Commercial examples: Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot, Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, Great Lakes Nosferatu, Sierra Nevada Life & Limb The King's Speech (2011 Winner) | English Bitter English culture and English Bitters can be described using the same three adjectives: dry, clean, and unoffensive. England's staple beer of both past and present, the Bitter is often served with low carbonation and close to room temperature and - leaving more room in the fridge for leftover bangers and mash. Commercial examples: Fuller's ESB, Redhook ESB, Shipyard Old Thumper, Honker's Ale The Artist (2012 Winner) | Bière de Garde The Artist and the Bière de Garde style both exemplify romance, art, and French culture. Known for toasted malt flavors, noble hop aromas, and fruity esters, the Bière de Garde is a complex yet balanced beer that will keep your mouth happy during this silent film. Commercial examples: Ommegang Bière D'Hougoumont, Jolly Pumpkin Oro De Calabaza, Two Brothers Dumaine DuPage, New Belgium Biere De Mars
2 Behemoth Breweries, 210 Brands How many of those not-so-crafty brands that you see stocked at nearly every liquor store across the country are owned by "Big Beer"? Probably more than you thought. According to an article by MPR Planet Money, the two biggest beer companies on the planet — Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller — now own more than 200 brands based in 42 countries (including 18 in the U.S. alone). How big is too big, and how important is it that we know who produces the beer we drink?
5 Reasons to Drink Craft Beer During the Big Game! Good beer goes better with the Super Bowl, and that's the plain truth. Here's why: 1) Taste | Higher quality ingredients and more complex recipes lead to better tasting beer. 2) Alcohol Content | Most craft beers range from 6% ABV to 9% ABV, while the typical macro-brewed beer is around 5%. 3) Fewer Trips to the Loo | With more flavor and alcohol per serving, you'll be drinking a lot less water. 4) Food Companionship | Those wings, veggies, chips, and cheese pair much better with flavorful beer! 5) Small Business | You're already supporting "the man" enough by watching the game and all of those ads. Why not show the little guys some love?
Today in History: The First Canned Beer is Sold On January 24, 1935, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company of Newark, New Jersey delivered 2,000 cans of Krueger's Finest Beer and Krueger's Cream Ale to drinkers in Richmond, Virginia. The shipment of cans was a test conducted in partnership with the American Can Company, and the test was a success. More than 90% of drinkers approved of the canned brew (we would have too, if it were free!), which led Krueger to increase production and distribution of canned beer. More on the history of canned beer in this History Channel Article.
The 20 Most Influential Beers of All Time There are some high quality picks on this list compiled by First We Feast, many of them classic examples of the style. How many have you had? Here's what we've been fortunate enough to have imbibed in the past: Guinness Allagash White (one of our favorites) Sam Adams Utopias Saison Dupont Westmalle Tripel Anchor Steam Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye Pilsner Urquell Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Sierra Nevada Pale Ale And here's what's on our wish list! Cantillon Classic Gueuze Russian River Blind Pig IPA
New Belgium Brewing: Now 100% Employee-Owned New Belgium Brewing's Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) has bought out the remainder of the company shares, making it 100% employee-owned. These guys make some of our favorite beers (La Folie, Ranger IPA, and Le Terroir) and have some pretty awesome themes to their organization - bikes, sustainable energy, and umm... beer. Congrats, guys!
The 100 Best Beer Bars in America There are some real goodies on this list compiled by Draft Magazine, and we've been to a few of them! Are there any in your neighborhood? According to the article, The list celebrates those special haunts with less than three locations and one passionate focus: beer. There might be darts and a jukebox or candlelight and a turntable; there might be five beers or 500. But in every spot on our list, you’ll find an excellent brew in your glass and people—staff, owners, barflies—who care about that as much as you do.
Beerquil? Study shows beer helps fight colds. "Consuming large quantities of a key ingredient in beer can protect against winter sniffles and even some serious illnesses in small children, a Japanese brewery said, citing a scientific study." That's good enough for us... no need to read any further! According to the AFP, humulone (a compound found in hops) helps protect the body against viruses. The research suggests that up to 30 "commercial" beers would need to be consumed in order to get any significant level of humulone. Since many craft-brewed IPAs are up to 10x hoppier than their commercial counterparts, perhaps 3-4 would do the trick!
