Duvel Timeline

Here’s a fun video from YouTube on the history of Moortgat’s Duvel (DO-vul). Sorry, I can’t translate it. Enjoy none the less.

A Round-Up of Wine-Related Links

A review of Ridgefest, wines for under $10, tasting barberas, wines to accompany biryani and a sommelier’s dream.

Support Tax Relief for Small Brewers

I’ve previously brought this issue to the attention of my readers, but I wanted to mention it again as I was prompted by an action alert from the Brewers Association in my inbox earlier today. Bill H.R. 4278, and the tax relief it would provide,  represents a leveling of the playing field for the small craft brewer and a significant way to bolster growth and stimulate jobs within the industry.

Tax cuts seem to do that.

Rather than reiterate the nuts and bolts of the bill myself, I’ve elected to republish the action alert I received in its entirety below. The Brewers Association President, Charlie Papazian, and the Director of the American Homebrewers Association, Gary Glass, have already articulated the need far better than I could.

After reading this alert, won’t you please consider writing your Representative and encouraging them to support this important bill? Most real, substantive action takes place at the grassroots level. Don’t underestimate your our voice, or the collective voices of like-minded people everywhere. The future growth and prosperity of the American craft brewing trade may just depend on it.

Dear Beer Enthusiasts, Homebrewers, Breweries & Beer-Allied Companies,

We are asking you to support America’s small brewers by making a very simple request of your U.S. Representative to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 4278. 

Federal legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 4278, seeks to enact a reduction in beer excise tax for America’s small brewers.

For small brewers brewing less than 6 million barrels annually, this legislation would cut the small brewer tax rate in half, to $3.50/barrel on the first 60,000 barrels, and reduce the upper tax rate from $18/barrel to $16/barrel on beer production above 60,000 barrels up to 2 million barrels.

Of the 1,525 breweries in America, 962 are brewpubs and 470 are the smallest bottling breweries, which produce volumes of 15,000 barrels of beer a year or less and sell their beers in local markets. Once barrel equals about 13.8 cases of beer.

The original small brewer tax rate of $7/barrel was established in 1976 and has never been updated. Since then, the annual U.S. production of America’s largest brewery increased from about 45 million to 107 million barrels and over 200 million barrels globally (or 1,240,000,000 five-gallon batches of homebrew!). Much has changed and the challenges small brewers face as small American businesses have grown dramatically since 1976.

Why is this a good idea?

1. A tax reduction will help grow small business breweries and provide greater access to the beers you enjoy.
2. Harvard University’s John Friedman’s study, Economic Impact of Small Brewers Excise Tax Reduction (H.R. 4278), (link opens a PDF), reveals that H.R. 4278 would also help stimulate job creation quickly and at a low cost:
   • The bill would generate more than 2,700 new jobs over the first year to 18 months, followed by an average of 375 new jobs per year over the following four years.

Please contact your U.S. Representative and ask that he/she sign on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 4278.

We have developed a resource page to give you the information and tools you need to make the case to your Representative for supporting this tax relief measure—and by extension, for supporting the small brewery businesses that are such a vital part of our local communities.

On the resource page, you will find a link to a list of current sponsors of H.R. 4278. If your Representative DOES NOT appear on this list, please take a moment and email your Member of Congress to ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4278.

If your Representative is already a cosponsor, please email him/her a brief thank you for their support of small brewers and you, the craft beer drinker and enthusiast.

Thanks for helping us advance the interests of all small brewers by contacting your Representative on this issue. Your active support is absolutely essential to our success.

UPDATE: Here’s a link to a very compelling video the Brewers Association put together regarding the importance of this bill. 

Drink wisely, tax fairly.

Chalkboard Keggerator and Blended Sour

Back in September I put together my first keggerator, and I’ve got to admit that I am now a convert to kegging.  I’ve enjoyed being able to force carbonate beer, fill any size glass (or just have a taste), and it really is much quicker/easier than bottling. However, I hadn’t found a good way of letting my friends know what beers I have on tap (besides just telling them and pointing). I had considered getting a small chalkboard or white board to put on the wall next to it (as many homebrewers do), but that didn’t seem like enough fun for me.

After using a can of chalkboard spray paint to refinish an old chalkboard that my girlfriend bought from someone on Craigslist, I had the answer to my dilemma.  So I took the collar off the keggerator and sprayed the front with two coats of the paint an hour apart.  After 24 hours the surface was ready for me to chalk the names of the two beers on tap.  It is functional, and I think it looks pretty cool/unique.

The new labels came in very handy for my housewarming/birthday party over the weekend.  I still had plenty of my “Pound of Hops” IPA on tap, but I kicked the keg of Hoppy Saison a week back.  It seemed like a waste to have a two tap system with only one keg, but I didn’t have any other batches ready to drink.  So I decided to blend some bottles of homebrewed beer to make a special dark sour cuvée.  After some small scale tests I settled on a six pack each of my Sour Squash (big acidity, not much funk) and Big Funky (strong, some oxidized dark fruit, no carbonation), and one 750 ml bottle of my Adam clone to add some richness and a hint of peat.  The blend was a big hit at the party, combining the best aspects of the three beers to yield a sour, but balanced beer with lots of dark fruit complexities.

There Was Pouring at the Blue & Gray Festival

Pouring of beer that is. There was indeed some rain as well on Saturday, but the intermittent and sometimes heavy rain didn’t dampen enthusiasm at the Blue & Gray Brewing St. Patrick Day parade and festival. By the time I arrived for a late lunch, the parade was over but the event was still packed with folks enjoying themselves. I ended up parking quite a ways away and walking through the industrial park to the brewery.

One of the notable aspects of tis annual Blue & Gray event is the family-friendly atmosphere. The annual parade is much anticipated and folks always stay afterwards to enjoy the festivities; inclement weather notwithstanding.

The entertainment was under a large tent which was filled to standing room only. I ate my meal of bangers and mash standing inside the future home of “Lee’s Retreat”, the brewpub under construction at the brewery. My meal was followed by a welcome pint of Blue & Gray Stonewall Stout as a foil against the cool damp air. Stonewall Stout has a nice balance of roasted malts and mild sweetness. The finish is slightly bitter. It has a creamy mouthfeel with light carbonation. Overall it’s a well-done stout that is sure to satisfy and is my favorite among Blue & Gray’s year-round beers.

I’ve posted a few pictures from the event here.

This Just In …

Occasionally I’ll try to post a list of new releases and late arrivals at local retailers to give my beer-starved readership a head’s up on what’s available locally for those of us who suffer from BADD – Beer Attention Deficit Disorder – like I do.

I seldom drink the same beer twice in a row and the influx of great beers into Southern Illinois in the last 18 months or so is only fueling my affliction. Poor me.

To kick things off, I’ll start with some new arrivals at Kindling Spirits in Carterville. In addition to these new beers, be sure to check our my previous two posts regarding a couple of very special beers now available from Founders out of Grand Rapids, Michigan!

 Lots of great stuff from Southern Tier this week!

Much more to come soon! Stay tuned.

Founders Keepers

A quick follow up on my post yesterday regarding Founders KBS. Rumor has it that not only is the KBS in as of today at several local retailers, the mysterious and elusive Founders Nemesis is also available in very limited quantities.Or will be very shortly.

If you don’t know all about KBS, read my previous post. If you don’t know all about Nemesis, join the club. It’s different every year and made only once a year … or once ever. Read a little more here.

You can find these two rare beers from one of the finest American craft brewers – Founders – at Kindling Spirits in Carterville or Pinch Penny Liquors in Carbondale.

Tell ‘em the Beer Philosopher sent ya!

Belgian vs. Belgium and Pliny vs. Pliney (Rant)

Just a quick Friday rant, it’s Belgian beer not Belgium beer.  It is just amazing just how often I hear it said or see it written incorrectly, and for whatever reason it really drives me crazy.  You wouldn’t say you enjoy England beer (or France fries for that matter), so don’t say you like Belgium beer (unless you are talking about New Belgium beer). 

On a related note Russian River’s Pliny the Elder/Younger has a short “i” (pln not pln).  I am well aware the the brewer (Vinnie) is one of the main offenders, but he didn’t make up the name.  I also hate when I see people spell it Pliney, because I can hear them in my mind saying it wrong.

Beer related words I pronounce incorrectly that I’m sure drive other people crazy include Hoegardden, Lambic, Gueuze along with pretty much every other Belgian beer term and brewery name.  To check on your pronunciation skills, check out The On-Line Guide to Belgian Beer – Pronunciation Guide.

Any other beer words that anyone has a pet peeve with?

How Important Is It for a Red Wine to Be a Dark Color?

Do most people believe that a darker red wine is better than a paler red wine?

Virginia Beer Wednesdays at CAH

The email from Capital Ale House let me know that Blue Mountain Brewery’s MacHayden’s Wee Heavy was a “featured beer” in Fredericksburg this week. That’s a Virginia beer that I’ve not yet tried. Since every Wednesday is “Virginia Beer Day” at all Capital Ale House locations, when drafts of Virginia beers are discounted, I decided to stop by for a pint after work yesterday. Many Virginia breweries are represented in the CAH lineup, including Blue Mountain, Starr Hill, St. George, Blue & Gray, and Olde Richmond.

Blue Mountain MacHayden’s Wee Heavy pours cola-brown with a beige head. (Cell phone photo at right.) There’s not a strong aroma, but I detected light smoke and caramel notes. The taste is very pleasing with bready, dark malts. There’s a bit of bitter hops to go along. I found it to be a well-balanced and enjoyable drink.

I could have easily enjoyed a second MacHayden’s, but I decided to order another Virginia beer that I’ve missed trying out, Olde Richmond Batch No. 11 India Pale Ale. I admit I don’t know much about this Hampton Roads brewery. Batch No. 11 IPA pours a golden yellow with a very thin head. The aroma is light citrus. The flavor was bitter citrus rind with a sweet malt in the background. It was an enjoyable, though not extraordinary IPA.

I enjoyed my brief visit to “Virginia Beer Day” and I got to try out two, new-to-me beers. Since this is a weekly event, I look forward to returning again to support our local breweries.