DC Addendum

One thing I forgot to mention in my last blog about DC. On Thursday night, Brace took me to a bar called the Brickskellar. Their website can be seen here. They have over 1000 beers on bottle, and 10 rotating taps. It truly was a beer drinkers paradise. They had everything I was looking for, including the trusty Harpoon IPA. They have beer from a huge variety of countries, including Ethiopia. Check out the website, and definitely check out the Brickskellar next time you're in DC.

Beer in our Nation's Capitol

A merry hello from DC as I'm set to fly back home to Boston in an hour from now. I've spent four days down here and had an amazing time. Great to reconnect with old friends and make new acquaintances.

Until you leave our fair area of New England, you can't truly appreciate how fortunate we are as craft beer drinkers. There were several brewpubs down here, one which we ate at on Saturday night, but predominantly, unless the beer was brewed at the pub itself, anything available came from outside the region.

We ate at Capitol City Brewing Company on Saturday, and I tried their ESB. Not a bad offering at all. I was just left yearning for more.

Again, without traveling outside the region, you just don't get a sense for the vast variety of choices we have in New England. We are surrounded by brewery after brewery, who consistently crank out delicious and diverse beers. Next time you enjoy a local beer, pause for, if just, a second, and be thankful that you live in a place where the beer flows freely from local breweries, and you don't have to say things such as 'This is a great beer. Where's it from?' More than likely, it's from just down the road.

E signing off from DC.

How to Brew Beer in a Coffee Pot

Your dreams have come true.

Why go to a brewery when you can make beer in your coffee pot?

I would like to go out on a limb here. I am not a coffee drinker, but if I messed up the coffee pot, I could imagine that it would cause a disruption in the house.

If you have a spare coffee pot and you are interested in making some of your own tasty brew, please check out this article.

This is a very informative article written by Bill Drew.

http://www.allaboutbeer.com/features/235coffee.html

Beer ingredient may fight prostate cancer

This is a very bold statement and an interesting article.

We don't hear much about Oregon anymore (unless you are a fan of the classic computer game - Oregon Trail), until today.

After many experiments, a few researchers found that an ingredient in beer seems to help prevent prostate cancer, at least in lab experiments.

The trouble is you'd theoretically have to drink about 17 beers a day for any potential benefit. And no one's advising that.

Researchers at Oregon State University say that the compound xanthohumol, found in hops, inhibits a protein in the cells along the surface of the prostate gland. The protein acts like a switch that turns on a variety cancers, including prostate cancer.

It's every man's dream to hear that beer and pizza can prevent cancer," he said. "However, the 17 beers and four large piazzas needed to get enough xanthohumol and lycopene to help prevent prostate cancer is unfortunately not advised.

Atkins noted that drinking 17 beers a day can lead to alcoholism and cirrhosis of the liver, and overdoing it on pizza can lead to obesity and other health problems.

Keep your ears and eyes out for this.. ..

To read the entire article.. visit..

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/06/12/beer_ingredient_may_fight_prostate_cancer/

Best of Belgium Multi-pack

In preparation for the World cup (and because Dad bought it for me), Ian and I enjoyed a sample from the Best of Belgium multi-pack. This multi-pack contained 3 types of Beers totaling 18 beers:


* Stella Artois http://www.stellaartois.com
* Leffe http://www.leffe.com/
* Hoegaarden

main website: http://www.inbev.com/

Stella is one of my favorite light beers. It's very different than the local microbrews, but I always enjoy a draft Stella in a traditional Stella glass.

I had never had Leffe Blond before sampling this multi-pack. It was a light beer and was ok.

I have tried Hoegaarden in the past. I wasn't a fan, but I enjoyed it this time. Hoegaarden (Hoegaarden Blanche) is also referred to as a Belgium White or a wheat beer. It's a yellow fizzy beer with a taste of lemon. It's refreshing on a hot summer day.

After having a discussion with a colleague, living in Belgium, we decided that this multi-pack should be renamed. Here are a few options:

* Beer that the Dutch was not planning on drinking.
* Best of Belgium beer that you could buy in a discounted multi-pack
* Best of Belgium beer that was not created by Monks.
* Best of what Belgium has to offer in the US in an 18 pack of summer delight

After slight confusion, Ignace was quick to understand the contents of the multi-pack. He commended: "Yeah, I know which way the wind blows now..... You're having big industry beer in your best-of-Belgium, buddy. .... I would weep deep, shocking, heartrending, soul-destroying, earth shattering tears if that was anywhere near the best of what Belgium has to offer."

I had a chance to learn this first hand, until my travel plans fell through. Ignace planned on taking me to a mecca for beer lovers. None of the mentioned beers would have been served in this place. There are hopes and dreams of eventually visiting this heavenly place. Until then, I can only place these dreams on hold and imaging ignace's offer..

"I'll take you to beer heaven, and you will get to make a selection of that which is truly good beer."

Notes: These beers are not widely offered in Belgium. They were owned separately and bought out by Inbev brewery.

EVENT- Guinness Legacy

Guinness Legacy Event

When: Monday 06/12/2006
Where: Kitty Osheas Irish Pub
Beverly, Massachusetts

Ian and I attended the Guinness Legacy event and had a pretty good time. It was more enjoyable than the first event that we attended in Boston. We are happy to report that better appetizers were provided and the beer was very tasty.

It was a hard place to view a presentation, but we managed to have a fun time while enjoying the traditional Irish pub.

At the event, we were tucked into the corner and happened to sit next to two lawyers (Ken and Carl). It was rather interesting. Ken was complaining that he didn't have his free beer yet, when was the food coming out and why we had to listen to some guy speak. GOSH!!! it was for free beer. Free GOOD beer. Carl explained that he was free to leave when ever he wanted and that he would drink his share.

It was hilarious. It was like watching Ian and I have a discussion. For those who haven't been there, I have no problems drinking Ian's beer.

HA HA HA

For those who are curious, they provided a good sample of Guinness, Smithwicks, and Harp.

Visit Carl at www.attorneygoodman.com

Vermont Brewers Festival

When: July 21 & 22, 2006
Where: Waterfront Park
Burlington, Vermont

"The Vermont Brewers Association is pleased to present the annual Vermont Brewers Festival in Burlington's scenic Waterfront Park. The Festival's tent village setting is perfect for enjoying the magnificent views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, so bring your friends and family. It's a great way to celebrate American Beer Month!"

Promoting craft brewing in Vermont

This sounds like a really good time. Check out the website if you are interested.

http://www.vermontbrewers.com/festival.html

Making the rounds- Boston Globe Article

We've been a little behind with the blogging and review aspect. This had no impact in our enjoyment of beer. I have saved a few beer related articles that I wanted to share with the 2beer guy friends and family.

We are lucky to live in an area that is devoted to craft beer. This article discusses one brewpub per state....

* Willimantic Brewing Co. (Willimantic, Conn.) aka Frog City. http://www.willibrew.com/
* Gritty McDuff's (Portland, Maine) http://www.grittys.com/
* The People's Pint (Greenfield, Mass.) http://www.thepeoplespint.com/
* Portsmouth Brewery (Portsmouth, N.H.) http://www.portsmouthbrewery.com/
* Trinity Brewhouse (Providence, Rhode Island) http://www.trinitybrewhouse.com/
* Vermont Pub and Brewery (Burlington, Vermont) http://www.vermontbrewery.com/

I have visited the Portsmouth Brewery and we have reviewed some of Gritty's offerings, but we haven't experienced anything from the other brewpubs.

If you're in their area and looking for something to do, check them out. Read the article if you would like to learn some additional information about these brewpubs.


Article info : "In old ports and downtowns region-wide, designer brews and friendly places await your pleasure" by By Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff May 28, 2006

http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/articles/2006/05/28/making_the_rounds?mode=PF

I Just Gotta Post

I really have nothing much exciting to post, but since the last post was nearly 3 weeks ago! I just feel that I must contribute in an effort to bring forth further, more relevent and interesting posts!
I believe that the Two Beer Guys are visiting Salem this evening to sample some excellent Guinness. At some point I was to join them, but alas, it was just not in the cards for me! I compensated with two shorts of Guinness from the tap at Spud's. Always a great standby, I will say that even though if may not be the ultimate of microbrews (in fact, not a microbrew at all!), it is still one of my favorite brews after a long day. So tonight, I raise my figurative glass in a salute to Guinness!!!