December 2009 Archives

Ken Landin, a drywall contractor who has a passion for brewing beer, is turning the old Athens Opera House into a brew pub and music hall.  A brew pub isn't usually a big economic engine. But for Athens, the opera house is a special landmark that has been in ruins for years, and Landin and others in this Greene County community believe the restoration of the historic building can breathe new life into the village...

I have made a temporary change to the comments setting for this blog due to an influx of spam.  Comments may still be made anonymously, but they will be held for approval.  I will work to approve and publish comments as soon quickly as possible after they have been submitted.

Thanks for reading, thanks for the comments, and keep them coming!

- Blake

In this episode of the Beer Break Podcast, we sample holiday craft beers and discuss 10 gift ideas for the craft beer enthusiast.

Also new this episode: Listener comments- Thanks to our wonderful audience!  Leave one at (315) 908-BREW and we may include it in our next recording.  Happy holidays!

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Later this week we will be recording a new holiday edition of the Beer Break Podcast, and we'd like you to share your favorite holiday beer with us!

It's simple: Just call (315) 908-BREW (2739) and leave a brief voicemail. Tell us:

• Who you are (first names are fine)
• Where you're from (you don't need to include detailed directions)
• What your favorite winter seasonal beer is (Preferably a NY beer, but not necessarily)
• Why it's your favorite.

We look forward to hearing from you, and possibly including your message in our podcast!

By recording a voicemail you affirm you are 21 or older and that The New York Brew Authority may publish it in the Beer Break Podcast.  Standard long distance rates may apply.

Chicagobusiness.com had an interesting article today about Budweiser's surge of marketing for "Bud Lite Golden Wheat" to put a dent in the marketshare of MillerCoors' long-established "Blue Moon" wheat beer.

Both are trying to ride the wave of the craft beer renaissance, and both can be found in just about every supermarket in the state.

I loved this nugget from the article:

Bud's wheat beer also is made with coriander and citrus flavors. In a distinction only a marketing maven could love, Anheuser-Busch says it's not a craft beer but a "more flavorful light beer."

Too funny.  Just don't make me drink it.

Perusing the always informative Beer Advocate site today and came across some information to share on the blog.  The GABF medal-winning Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. of Pleasantville, NY is releasing the Nor' Easter:

This Saturday we will release our 4th Vintage of our Nor' Easter Winter Warmer...

This one starts out as a rich, dark ale, brewed with five different malt varieties imported from the far reaches of the brewing world. Combined they produce a beer that is almost black in color, but very mild in the level of roasty character imported by the dark malts. The initial fermentation is carried out with our Belgian yeast strain which imparts some fruity and spicy notes to the beer. Once the initial fermentation is complete we pump in a "secret" elderberry blend that sets off a second fermentation and brings the alcohol level to around 12%. After a brief cold aging period the beer is then put into freshly emptied bourbon barrels and aged for an additional month before being bottled.

This years vintage is smooth, rich and has a pronounced elderberry character that I have not tasted since the original homebrewed version back in '97.

Release date: December 12th
Production: 320 cases
Price: $12 per 750ml bottle

You can check out the Beer Advocate forum thread here.  Follow Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. on Twitter @cptlawrencebeer.

In this episode of The New York Brew Authority's Beer Break podcast, we discuss a recent trip to three Cooperstown-area breweries (Butternuts, Ommegang, and Cooperstown Brewing Co.) and prove there's more to Cooperstown than just baseball.

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A lot going on in New York recently for this week in blog and web.  Enjoy!

The Daily Mail
Microbrewery owners look to 2010 opening
Leading off this week's edition is news of a new Catskills area brewery.  The Crossroads Brewing Company has a planned opening in 2010 in Athens, NY.  Beer will be brewed on location for both retail and commercial sales.

Must Love Beer
Wine Enthusiast names top 25 beers of 2009
So... if you love wine, what would a list of top beers look like from your perspective?  Wine Enthusiast has given it a shot.  Number one on the list is New York State's own Captain Lawrence Brewing Company.  Southern Tier makes the list, not far behind.

Here for the Beer
Six Point Craft Ales - Interview with Founder Shane Welch
Shane Welch of Six Point discusses the brewery's distribution strategy in this video interview.  Interesting insights on starting the brewery as well, including a stint where he actually made it his home.

The Village Voice
Our Ten Best Beers
This New York City publication lists what they call their "ten best beers."  Any surprise that exactly half of them are made by New York breweries, including the top three picks? 

The Washington Post
FDA issues a wake-up call about additives
So is caffeine in beer dangerous?  The FDA sent letters to makers of alcoholic beverages with caffeine in them, giving them a month to prove they are safe.  Among the recipients is the Ithaca Beer Co.