The Champagne of Blogs » eBrews

2008 Year in Review Photos

Dave Selden — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:58:14 +0000

Perhaps it’s too early to be doing a “year in review” post, but if Fred Meyer can sell tinsel at Halloween, I can post whatever I like, when I like. I was going through photos tonight in hopes of entering Alan McLeod’s beery Christmas photo contest. It’s become an annual tradition at his blog, one that may sound familiar to longtime Champagne of Blogs readers: we won the contest a few years ago with a photo from taken at Thom and my “Metolius Brewing” experience. Here’s what I entered into the contest this year:

Amanda (Thom’s wife) drinking Camo-brand Malt Liquor, New Year’s Eve 2007

Sarah (Dave’s wife) Drinking Duvel on the Train to (where else?) Belgium

A Beer Blogger’s Life
(Taking Notes at a Beer Bar in Belgium)

Cars Waiting in Line for Beer at Westvleteren’s Sint-Sixtus Abbey

Obligatory Foreign-looking/Arty Beer Photos

The Greatest Bar on Earth
(t’Brugs Beertje, Bruges)

Waiting in Line for the Greatest Beer Festival on Earth
(FredFest 2008)

Backyard Hops

It Takes a Village
(Teaching Siobhan and Ben to Brew)

That’s what I sent in. Of course, the year’s not over yet …

Hey, is this thing on?

Dave Selden — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:51:01 +0000

I’ll try to keep the nerd talk to a minimum here, but suffice to say that we made some software upgrades to the blog last night, and everything appears to be functioning normally (let us know if you see anything wonky).

In fact, we added some new features to the site thanks to the upgrade, namely a glimpse into our brand spanking new Twitter feed! Check the sidebar out to see our three most recent tweets, or just follow us. You know you want to. You’re … twitter curioius.

Some other beer bloggers/organizations are also tweeting now:

Bailey’s Taproom
The Green Dragon (I guess that employee stayed for the Rogue era)
Lisa Morrison, aka The Beer Goddess
Brookston Beer Bulletin
Siobhan at Imbibe Magazine
Oregon Brewer’s Guild

Let us know if you know any other tweeters we should add … did I just say “tweeters?” Ouch.

BJCP Guidelines on the iPhone!

Dave Selden — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:09:51 +0000

This may be old news to some, but I haven’t seen it covered on other beer blogs … someone named Joshua Baran has developed a free application for the iPhone that contains all the BJCP style guidelines. No more debating the difference between a double IPA and an Imperial IPA (trick question … there’s no BJCP guidelines for a double IPA!) … this is just one more tool in the wonder-killer’s toolbox. Now you have to get an iPhone.

Temporarily? Disabling the Beer Calendar

Dave Selden — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:54:33 +0000

I have been swamped beyond belief at work of late, and haven’t had much time for updating the calendar of Portland Beer events that used to be over there in the sidebar and perhaps in your iCal. If anyone would like to take up the mantle, please raise your hand in the comment area below … I have some good ideas for it, but too little time to implement.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

eBeer Roundup No. 125

Dave Selden — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:24:48 +0000

Wow, this beer+internet thing has really taken off. I have all kinds of beer-related links to share:

March Madness
Make your picks in the National IPA Championship, sponsored by Great Lakes Brewing News. I have Two-Hearted Pale going all the way.

A single elimination bracket of 32 IPAs from across the nation are going head to head in a battle to see who has biggest cone-jones! The National IPA Championship (NIPAC) starts with the preliminary round on February 23rd in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Enter your prediction of each round on-line to qualify for the 2008 NIPAC Winners Contest. All contestants that correctly predict the winners of every round and the final champion will be included in a NIPAC Contest Winners Drawing. Prizes include a full case of beer from the 2008 National IPA Champion, tee-shirts, posters and brewery merchandise.
Sam Adams Pours One Out for the Little Guys. Jim Koch sure is a swell guy.
Allagash Brews North America’s First Spontaneously Fermented Beer. And there’s a video! On the internet! What’s next, downloadable beer?
Beer on the Radio! What’s next? Downloadable beer? What? Did I stutter? Somebody make it happen!

Got beer links? Send ‘em to us with our phancy-schmancy contact form!

From the Mailbag No. 174

Dave Selden — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:56:31 +0000

We get some pretty great e-mails via our fancy contact form, but this one ranks as one of my favorites. Imagine my post, helping to put on a bacon festival … in my hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. I can feel my heart beating a little faster (harder?) just thinking about it.

Hey Dave,

Great Blog! I thought you may find some interest in this…

The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival

It is going to be held here in Des Moines, IA on March 1st. Brooks, the guy who is putting it on, wants me to give a talk about making home made bacon. I’ve only made it once, so far, following the directions you put up. I left a note in the comments section after I finished it as well. I’m not sure if I’m going to speak at it yet, I would like to put together a presentation showing the different steps if it works out.

Also, the place where the event is going to be held “El Bait Shop” has over 100 beers on tap. The Iowa Brewers Union is going to be there as well with samples of some beers specially made for the event.

Austin

Oh, I’ve been to El Bait Shop. I reviewed it. And it is awesome. Not “homemade bacon” awesome, but pretty awesome. Thanks for reading, Austin

Best of the Worst

Dave Selden — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:11:57 +0000

Sometimes, you put off a great blog post just a little too long, and someone else scoops you. It’s a little frustrating. It can also be liberating – especially in this case …

Over at The Brew Site, Jon has been conducting a series of posts called “American Macro Week,” in which he tried, and rated, 15 of America’s best-known industrial lagers. It’s a story idea we’ve kicked around over here at BS Brewing, as Dan and Bruce are particularly fond of High Life and Pabst, respectively. And now you can see why I called this pseudo-duplication of efforts liberating – now I don’t have to drink all this crappy beer!

Jon’s results, from best to worst, with links to each beer’s review:

Coors Original and Pabst Blue Ribbon (tie)
Olympia
Icehouse and Miller Genuine Draft (tie)
Hamm’s
Miller High Life
Rainier
Budweiser Select
Budweiser
Miller Lite
Bud Light and Keystone Light (tie)
Coors Light and Busch (tie)

I really enjoyed reading the reviews. I have a story about almost every beer he reviewed (Bud was my first beer at the ripe old age of 14) and I liked that he relayed his own personal stories with the tasting notes. Nice work, Jon!

Anyone Using the Beer Calendar?

Dave Selden — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:40:26 +0000

Quick survey: who’s been using BS Brewing’s Portland Beer Calendar? It’s a feature we added to the blog’s sidebar over the summer, but it doesn’t seem to be getting much use from anyone other than me and my iPhone.

I’ve gotten behind on updating it for December, but if people out there are using it, I am inclined to keep it up.

Please comment in the affirmative if you want it to live on!

The Beer Prayer

Dave Selden — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:15:02 +0000

This was sent in by a co-worker of mine, and is pretty funny. Like Hooters, it is delightfully tacky. Origin unknown.

The text:

Our lager,
which art in barrels,
hallowed be they drink.

Thy will be drunk,
(I will be drunk),
at home as in the tavern.

Give us this day our foamy head,
and forgive us our spillages,
as we forgive those who spill
against us.

And lead us not into incarceration,
but deliver us from hangovers.

For thine is the beer,
the bitter and the lager,
for ever and ever,
barmen.

Gift Ideas for the Beer Lover

Dave Selden — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:26:44 +0000

Not sure how it happened, but the holidays are here again. And with them, the request for Christmas ideas from our loved ones. At BS Brewing, we don’t really go in for “neckties,” but we feel a little funny asking Aunt Mildred for a wort chiller. This year, we developed a handy list of things we like, and think you will too. Pass this link along to Gladys. She’ll get the hint.

Charcuterie Cookbook.

If you’re not making your own bacon yet, you obviously haven’t been paying attention to this blog, or the 100,000 or so people who followed links to our article on how to do so. New Zealanders, Finns, and yes, even Iowans have sent us photos of their attempts, and they all look amazing. Trust them, trust us, and read the book that started it all, Charcuterie. $23.10, available from Amazon.com.

Laser (infrared) Thermometer.

Originally, I ordered this to do some beer glass testing (coming 2008), but have found new uses for this novel gadget every day. I’ve used it to check wort temperature (having killed several digital thermometers by way of immersion), check oil temperature in cooking, and even to see where cold air was entering my house. It’s also a source of endless feline entertainment. $39.95, available from Amazon.com.

Michael Jackson’s Ultimate Beer.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this year, you’ve probably heard the news that the famous beer writer died this year after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. Thankfully, his words live on in this lushly-illustrated coffee table book. Its emphasis is a little more British, but provides a great background on the beer styles of the world. $19.77, available from Amazon.com.

Meat Slicer.

Once you start making your own bacon and sausage, you’re going to want one of these puppies. Converts ham to ham sandwiches in under 2 minutes. $99.95, available from Amazon.com.

Kegging System.

If there’s one thing I dislike about homebrewing, it’s washing bottles. I typically go in for 22 oz. “bombers” since it requires me to sanitize about half as many containers as I’d need to if I used 12 oz. bottles. Even easier, though, is kegging beer. 1 container, sanitized in about 5 minutes, to make 5 gallons of awesome. $189.95 gets you a regulator, C02 tank, hoses, and pressure-tested 5 gallon Corny keg from Let’s Brew in Portland, Oregon.

Kegerator.

Of course, once you have a keg, you’re going to need a kegerator. Get something purpose-built, or get your started by requesting a gift certificate from Steinbart’s here in Portland. $200-500.

Beer Movies.

Like beer? Then you’ll love sitting on your ass with a cold one while you watch a movie about a real-life beer road trip (American Beer), a fictional beer-drinking contest (Beerfest), or the movie that begat the “beer movie” genre (Strange Brew). $10-20, available from Amazon.com.

Digital scale.

When you get serious about homebrewing, you get serious about your recipes, tweaking them over and over until they are just so. And the best way to do that is to ensure a consistency of measurement. In brewing, that measurement is weight. Get accurate, without spending a fortune. As a bonus, it’s great for portioning your homegrown hops! $24.95, available from Amazon.com.

Fancy Beer Glass.

Some are content to drink swill from the bottle, and some are content to slurp their beer from aluminum cans. But not you. As a true connosseur, you deserve the best. And in our opinion, the Duvel beer glass is the king of kings, with its unique tulip shape, delicate lip, and laser-etched bottom. $5.99, available from Belmont Station in Portland, Oregon.

Subscription to Beer Advocate magazine.

A whole magazine about beer? Believe it or not, there are actually 7 or 8 magazines devoted to beer culture, but this one is the best, in our opinion, edited by the Alstrom brothers, the livers who brought the world BeerAdvocate.com, the most heavily-trafficked beer review site online. $19.99 for a 1-year subscription, available at BeerAdvocate.com.