MICHELOB BREWING CO. TURNS UP THE WHEAT

The Michelob Family Continues To Offer New Beer Styles with Its Latest Wheat Sampler Pack

St. Louis, MO- After a long winter, beer lovers have anxiously waited to see what new recipes Michelob Brewing Co. brewmasters had up their sleeves to usher in the new year. Well, wait no longer – Michelob Honey Wheat is the newest beer to join the growing collection. This hand-crafted filtered wheat ale, brewed with orange blossom honey from the groves of Florida and California, completes an all-wheat sampler pack created just for spring and summer.

The Michelob Brewing Co. Spring/Summer Sampler Pack, available beginning March 2, includes Michelob Honey Wheat, year-round favorites Shock Top Belgian White and Michelob Dunkel Weisse, and the spring seasonal Hop Hound Amber Wheat.

Sampler packs are an easy and convenient way for adults to try several new beer styles. Brewmaster Kristi Zantop suggests arranging a wheat beer sampling at home with friends to have some fun and brush up on your beer expertise. The Michelob Brewing Co. brewmasters have made it easy by including an informative flighting sheet in each sampler pack and posting interactive videos to Michelob.com to guide beer lovers through the ingredients, coloring, body, bitterness levels and brewing techniques for the four styles, along with suggestions for glassware pairings.

To sound like a brewing pro, Zantop shares some key facts to bolster wheat beer know-how:

“When you’re sampling beers, always select the proper glass style and shape. This will enable you to enjoy the beer’s aroma and coloring – key parts of the tasting experience. With wheat beers, try a traditional tall, wide-mouthed glass.”

“Typically wheat beers are not filtered during the brewing process, giving them a cloudy, hazy appearance, but it’s not uncommon to encounter filtered wheat beers as well, like Michelob Honey Wheat. When unfiltered wheat beers are bottled, the beer’s yeast settles to the bottom, so when you’re pouring an unfiltered beer from the sampler pack, like Dunkel Weisse for instance, roll the bottle slowly in your hand before topping off the pour with the last inch of beer from the bottle – this helps redistribute the yeast.”

Over the past four years, wheat beer sales have skyrocketed – and it’s no wonder. Adults love wheat beers’ refreshment and endless variety of flavors and aromas, making an all-wheat beer sampler pack the ideal choice for the Michelob Brewing Co.’s newest special collection.

The four distinct wheat brews featured in the Michelob Wheat Beer Sampler Pack are:

Michelob Honey Wheat: a silky, smooth filtered wheat ale brewed with orange blossom honey. Zantop and her team wanted to push the envelope with their newest creation, playing around with different varieties of honey until they found just the right kind to give Honey Wheat a pronounced floral aroma and hints of orange citrus flavor.

Hop Hound Amber Wheat: an unfiltered American amber wheat ale brewed with Cascade, Willamette and Hallertau hops and a blend of the finest caramel, wheat and pale barley malts.

Shock Top Belgian White: an unfiltered Belgian-style wheat ale with a naturally cloudy and light golden color, brewed with orange, lemon and lime peels and coriander.

Michelob Dunkel Weisse: a surprisingly light unfiltered dark wheat ale with unmistakable clove and banana tones, a result imparted from the unique Bavarian yeast strain used.

“We played around with several recipe concepts before honing in and perfecting the Honey Wheat. Its smooth citrus flavor and strong floral aroma are just the right balance to our Bavarian-style dark wheat Dunkel Weisse with roasted malt and banana flavors, our Belgian-style wheat ale Shock Top with subtle citrus and spice notes, and our American-inspired Hop Hound Amber Wheat with its caramel sweetness,” said Zantop. “Whether you are hosting a sampling party or pairing the beers with your favorite foods, there’s something for everyone in this craft collection."

The Michelob Spring/Summer Sampler Pack is available at grocery and convenience stores nationwide through September in 24-packs (six of each beer), 12-packs (three of each beer) and six-packs (two of each beer, Hop Hound Amber Wheat not included).

Each recipe in the collection was developed in the Michelob Brewing Co. – a small, 10-barrel, state-of-the-art brewery with access to the best ingredients and brewing equipment.

Michelob Brewing Co. is a team of Anheuser-Busch brewmasters and sales and marketing professionals who focus their attention on creating new beer styles and bringing them to adults across the country. Once new recipes are perfected at the Michelob Brewing Co. they are brewed and packaged at Anheuser-Busch’s 12 regional breweries. For more detailed information and photos, visit www.michelob.com or www.anheuser-busch.com/ABMarketingmichelob.html.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Invites Chefs to a Showdown

Thirty teams using Saint Arnold beer as ingredient to face off at second annual One Pot Showdown

HOUSTON, November 24, 2008 – For millions of Texans, the phrase, “cooking with beer,” means standing by the grill with a spatula in one hand and a bottle in the other. Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, is challenging Texas chefs to poor the bottle into a pot to create a new innovative dish that reflects and celebrates the range of flavors found in Saint Arnold beers.

Saint Arnold Brewing is accepting entries now for the Second Annual Saint Arnold One Pot Showdown scheduled for Sunday, January 25, 2009. Thirty teams will have up to four hours to toil on their best concoction. Judges will award prizes to the top three recipes based on creativity, use and distinction of the Saint Arnold beer in the recipe and overall taste.

“More people are discovering how well beer pairs with food,” said Brock Wagner, founder of Saint Arnold Brewing. “Using the beer as an ingredient is part of the evolution, showcasing the flavor and diversity found in craft beer. The fun part is seeing the innovative ways people incorporate the beer in their recipe.”

Using beer as an ingredient is just beginning to gain popularity in America, but it is common in beer-loving Europe. The Belgians call it cuisine à la bière, and the idea of blending food and beer is centerpiece of the U.K.’s gastropubs.

A capacity crowd is expected to sample the entries at the Second Annual Saint Arnold One Pot Showdown. A portion of each ticket sold to will benefit the Houston Food Bank, which feeds 80,000 different people each week and nearly a half million people each year. Last year’s event raised $1,800 for charity. Tickets will be available through the brewery.

Last year, the winning team created a delicious finger food that the brewery renamed “Saint Arnold Fried Beer,” using Saint Arnold Winter Stout as an ingredient. It would make a great addition to any football party and can be downloaded from the Saint Arnold Brewhouse Blog at www.saintarnold.com/mt. A chili recipe using Saint Arnold Amber Ale took second place while a soup recipe using Saint Arnold Brown Ale was third.

Rules for the Saint Arnold One Pot Showdown are available at http://www.saintarnold.com/news/onepot.html.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing's ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 21 dedicated employees. The brewery was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer.” It is located at 2522 Fairway Park Drive and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every Saturday at 1:00 P.M. For more information on Saint Arnold's five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

Christmas Cookies!

The season is upon us. In between trips to the store for my favorite holiday ales and spiced wine there’s more than a chance that I’ll be whipping up some baked goods. Pies and strudels are nice but nothing really says Christmas like Christmas cookies. Here are some great Christmas cookie recipes to check out.

One of my favorite recipes from this list of Christmas cookie recipes list is Rum Balls. My mom makes these every year although being a teetotaler she uses McCormicks rum flavoring. I like to make them using the real stuff and believe me, that makes all the difference!

Watching the waistline this year? Here are some low fat holiday recipes including a couple of cookies.

NEW LIMITED EDITION BOURBON COUNTY STOUT FROM GOOSE ISLAND MAKES ITS WAY WEST

Massive imperial stout now available to beer connoisseurs in three western states

Chicago, IL, November 5, 2008 . . . Goose Island Brewing Company has been celebrating the annual release of its Bourbon County Stout since it was first created 16 years ago by brewmaster Greg Hall to commemorate the 1000th batch at the original Chicago brewpub. As 2008 comes to a close, Goose Island has yet another reason to celebrate; thanks to larger distribution capabilities, the brewer is able to make the massive imperial stout, the first of its kind, available to beer connoisseurs throughout Oregon, California and Arizona. The beer begins shipping today and is scheduled to hit shelves of better grocery stores and beer specialty shops in the three states by mid-November, 2008.

When Bourbon County Stout was first crafted, Hall brewed an imperial stout in four-year-old bourbon barrels, where it aged for one hundred days. The 2008 batch kicked things up a notch by aging for 10 months in 16-year-old barrels. This process allowed the liquid to pick up its charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke flavors. With an alcohol by volume of 13% and a shelf life of five years, the finished product is clearly not for the inexperienced drinker; Hall developed Bourbon County Stout for seasoned craft beer drinkers and high end spirit connoisseurs who appreciate beers that come along once in a great while. Like a fine wine, the flavor of Bourbon County Stout evolves as it ages over five years, thereby lending a different flavor and experience for the drinker, no matter when he chooses to enjoy it.

“Until now, beer drinkers didn’t have access to massive imperial stouts in stores,” Hall said. “We set out to change that. This year, thanks to our commitment of increasing our barrel-aging capacity in our
brewhouse, we are proud to say that we can bring Bourbon County to more
beer enthusiasts than we ever imagined when we brewed the first small batch back in 1992. We think Bourbon County Stout will definitely make some memories and new fans this holiday season.”

Described by some as “a great cigar beer,” Bourbon County Stout is dark and dense. The flavor is so intense, Hall says, that only the most decadent chocolate dessert can stand up to it.

Bourbon County Stout will be available on tap at Goose Island’s Clybourn and Wrigleyville brewpubs as well as in 12 ounce bottles in specialty stores, with suggested retail for a four-pack at $19.99.

IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY RELEASE OF TRIPLE BOCK BOTTLES WITH 3-D LABEL

PHOENIXVILLE, PA – On November 28, the region’s most celebrated beer and food destination, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, will release their Triple Bock, a heady, high-alcohol winter brew that is a perfect way to warm up as the weather starts to get cooler. Brewed for a special, limited holiday release of just 1,300 bottles, Triple Bock is the newest addition to Iron Hill’s Reserve Bottle Beer line, large bottles designed to drink in the restaurant, take home or for a gift for the beer lover. Triple Bock will be available for sale at all seven Iron Hill locations.

“Triple Bock is a strong, dark lager, a more potent version of a classic German Doppelbock,” says Phoenixville Head Brewer Tim Stumpf, who created and brewed the recipe. “We’ve crafted ours with a smooth, roasted flavor that balances its higher alcohol content and makes it easy to enjoy.”

Triple Bock will be sold in 375 mL bottles, at 13.2 % alcohol. Bottles will retail for $12, or $25 with a limited edition Triple Bock t-shirt. Both the beer and the t-shirt will be sold with complimentary 3-D glasses, making them a fanciful and innovative holiday gift for beer lovers.

Triple Bock’s eye-catching 3-D label was designed by gifted local graphic artist Jeff Schaller of PinkCow Studio. Schaller also created the signature wall murals at several Iron Hill locations. The label features a long-horned ram, the traditional symbol for Bock style beers, and is meant to be viewed through 3-D glasses that make the ram’s horns appear to leap off the bottle.

“This is a special beer, and it deserved a special label,” says Iron Hill Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson. “Jeff has created some amazing art for us over the years, and we’re thrilled to include his spectacular design on our newest bottled beer.”

Triple Bock joins other bottled reserve beers available for the holidays, including Abbey Dubbel, Barleywine, Belgian Tripel, The Cannibal, Russian Imperial Stout, Old Ale 2005 and 2007, Fe 10 Anniversary Ale, Quadrupel, Oak-Aged Quadrupel, Wee Heavy, Rauchbier and Saison. In addition, the Old Ale 2008 will be released in December.

Since 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has consistently been recognized for its outstanding beers and cuisine, accruing over 100 “Best of” awards from regional magazines. Their hand-crafted beers have also won acclaim and in total, they have received 39 medals from the three most prestigious beer events, the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup and Real Ale Festival.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has seven locations: Wilmington, DE; Newark, DE; West Chester, PA; Lancaster, PA; Media, PA; Phoenixville, PA and North Wales, PA. An eighth location is planned for Maple Shade, NJ in early 2009. For more information about Triple Bock or Iron Hill, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit their website at www.ironhillbrewery.com.

VGS INTERNATIONAL INC. LAUNCHES ÍS—PRONOUNCED “ICE”—VODKA

Los Angeles, CA, October 23, 2008--VGS International Inc. (VGS) has announced the US launch of ÍS™ VODKA (pronounced “ice.”) An ultra-premium blend of naturally pure Icelandic water and non-genetically modified European wheat, this super-premium vodka is distilled seven times to ensure an unparalleled taste experience. “As consumers of luxury products become more health-conscious, we are proud to introduce a spirit made with the purest water on earth to the American marketplace,” said Madeline Vinski, CEO of VGS International Inc., the parent company of IS Vodka. Currently available in California and Nevada, IS plans to expand its distribution rapidly through an arrangement with importer/distributor MHW, Ltd.

While many vodkas are made with local spring or worse, municipal water, IS vodka features unique, uncommonly pure “esker” water from Iceland. A cousin of the artesian spring, eskers form when water—in this case, from a glacier—percolates to the surface through layers of clay and gravel, resulting in not only a rare geological formation, but one of the purest water sources on earth. Extraction is managed in an ecologically responsible manner by members of the local Icelandic community.

Master Distiller Peter McKay of the United Kingdom, a graduate of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and a judge for the International Wine & Spirit Challenge, developed a special distillation formula for ÍS Vodka using pure Icelandic water, the finest non-genetically modified European wheat and a third (secret) ingredient. McKay distills this blend seven times for ultimate purity, unrivalled quality and consistently exceptional taste.

Gracefully tall and sleekly elegant in shape, the ÍS Vodka decanter is as luxurious and evocative as the spirit inside. Stylized icicles adorn the sides of the bottle, a reminder of its contents’ icy origins, while a substantial, handsomely finished nickel-plated cap provides a crown. The focal point on the front of the bottle is a medallion molded in the image of a mythical Icelandic angel—the “living logo” of the ÍS Vodka brand. The angel hoists a sphere emblazoned with a “7,” the number of times ÍS VODKA is distilled. The brand name is enameled on the bottle is pure silver foil, a metaphoric reflection of flickering Arctic sunlight on an Icelandic glacier.

Though comparable in quality and taste to internationally acclaimed vodkas in the ultra-premium price category (which can cost $75 or more), ÍS VODKA, retails for $39.95, a standout among its price peers. “We wanted to ensure an ultra-premium quality experience that was accessible to most consumers,” Vinski says.

The Peninsula Beverly Hills, the only AAA Five-Diamond and Mobil Five-Star hotel in Southern California for fifteen consecutive years, purchased the very first case of ÍS VODKA shortly after the first container hit US shores in September. “We’re impressed both by the smooth finish and the hint of fire in ÍS VODKA,” said the Peninsula’s Food and Beverage Director Christian Boyens. The brand has expanded its Southern California distribution to include the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey, Morton’s Beverly Hills, BondSt Beverly Hills, Ago, and many others. “We’re confident customers and consumer nationwide will embrace IS VODKA’s combination of quality, taste and value,” Vinski concludes.

About Viking Glacier Spirits (VGS) International, Inc.

VGS International Inc. is a private holding company established for the purpose of introducing ÍS VODKA to the super-premium segment of the global vodka market. Viking Glacier Spirits (US) is the exclusive importer of this spirit to the United States of America. IS Vodka is an ultra-premium blend of naturally pure Icelandic water and non-genetically modified European wheat, distilled seven times to ensure an unparalleled taste experience. VGS invites all consumers of ultra-premium spirits to “taste vodka for the very first time” by visiting: www.isvodka.com

IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT ANNOUNCES 8th LOCATION IN MAPLE SHADE, NJ

MAPLE SHADE, NJ – In May 2009, the region’s most celebrated brewery and dining destination, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, will open their eighth location in Maple Shade, New Jersey (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300). The new outpost will mark the group’s first foray into New Jersey.

“We hope that beer and food lovers in New Jersey will enjoy our house-brewed beers and delicious cuisine as much as our fans in Pennsylvania and Delaware,” says Iron Hill founding partner Kevin Finn. Along with co-owners Kevin Davies and Mark Edelson, Finn has continuously sought out thriving suburban locations for their award-winning concept, beginning in Newark, DE in 1995. The Maple Shade location is made even more special by the fact that all three owners hail from New Jersey.

The executive chef and head brewer have not yet been named, but will no doubt continue Iron Hill’s tradition of culinary and brewing excellence. The new location will accommodate 280 guests and serve Iron Hill’s menu of new American favorites including their signature Brewski Burger, with mushrooms, bacon and a choice of American, sharp cheddar, Swiss, provolone or muenster cheeses; Fish and Chips, North Atlantic Pollack battered in their own Vienna lager and served with French fries, cole slaw and malt vinegar; Black Pepper Crusted Ahi Tuna with a salad of lentils, spinach, grape tomatoes and shallots and a port wine vinaigrette; and Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with smashed Yukon gold potatoes, crispy friend onion rings, asparagus and thyme pan jus. Iron Hill will be open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

Iron Hill Maple Shade will also offer an impressive selection of their house-brewed beers, including: Vienna Red Lager, an Austrian lager with bread-y malt aroma and a clean, crisp finish; Pig Iron Porter, dark, flavorful and chocolate-y with good balance and a slight bitterness; Raspberry Wheat, a filtered American wheat beer with a touch of natural raspberry flavor; and Ironbound Ale, a celebration of American ales made from the nation’s finest hops varieties such as Cascade, Crystal, Centennial and Chinook.

Iron Hill is poised for even more impressive growth in the coming years; Citibank recently approved them for $10 million in funding for six additional locations throughout the mid-Atlantic region by 2011.

Since 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has consistently been recognized for its outstanding beers and cuisine, accruing over 100 “Best of” awards from regional magazines. Their hand-crafted beers have also won acclaim and in total, they have received 39 medals from the three most prestigious beer events, the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup and Real Ale Festival.

They operate seven award-winning locations: Newark, DE; Wilmington, DE; Media, PA; West Chester, PA; North Wales, PA; Phoenixville, PA and Lancaster, PA.

For more information about Iron Hill, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit their website at www.ironhillbrewery.com.