4th Annual NY Craft Beer Week :: September 16 - September 25, 2011

New York City's Top Craft Brewers, Celebrity Chefs, Beer Bars and Acclaimed Restaurants Celebrate Beer Week with an Array of Delicious Events & Promotions

Special Events in all Five Boroughs Featuring

Exclusive Press Preview Event at Brooklyn Brewery, 4th Annual Freaktoberfest Boutique Beer & Music Festival, Get Real's All-American Craft Beer & Food Festival, Zagat Sponsored "Beer Pairing Menus," Garrett Oliver's "Oxford Companion to Beer" Launch Event, Celebrity Chef Food & Beer Pairing Dinners, Meet The Brewer Events, Beer Tours, and Much More

Plus a New Official Beer for NY Craft Beer Week: Geektoberfest,
and iPhone & Droid Apps for NY Craft Beer Week

New York, NY - August 3, 2011 - The 4th Annual NY Craft Beer Week rounds up the state's premiere breweries, local celebrity chefs, over 100 beer destinations and 30 renowned restaurants across the City for an amazing line-up of special events happening in all five boroughs from Friday, September 16 - Sunday, September 25, 2011. Celebrated events such as the 4th Annual Freaktoberfest Boutique Beer & Music Festival, Get Real's All-American Craft Beer & Food Festival, and Brewer's Choice will return as part of this year's Beer Week. The week will also feature newly conceived boutique events, specialty food and beer pairing menus, educational tastings and tours, and the release of the official beer of the Week: Geektoberfest. Brewed by Shmaltz Brewing, Captain Lawrence Brewing, and Ithaca Beer Co., Geektoberfest includes a special blend of six barrel-aged beers, and will be available on draft at select Beer Week events and participating craft beer bars across New York City.

New York City beer enthusiasts and foodies alike will have the opportunity to enjoy over 100 craft beer destinations with the much-anticipated NYC Beer Passport 2011, the official NY Craft Beer Week program and resource guide. Passports are $10, and patrons will receive promotional deals and discounts on selections from their favorite craft breweries at participating venues. Each venue will feature one specific brewery, and instead of paying $7 per glass of beer, it's only $3 for the same beer through the Passport program (Passports have an offer for one serving at each bar). A majority of the bars will also offer a one-time $2 off a NY State produced beer through Labor Day 2012 to extend the Passport's value for those consumers unable to visit every bar during the Beer Week (offers may vary). Passports will be available for purchase at www.nycbeerweek.com, at each participating venue, a handful of retail outlets including the Strand Bookstore and others TBA, and in a new digital format as iPhone and Droid apps.

Passports include a calendar of all the featured events with a detailed description of each event, special editorial sections written by influential beer writers and industry insiders, FAQ's about NY Craft Beer Week, a list of all the participating restaurants with Zagat's "Beer Pairing Menus," a list of all the bars and retail outlets involved with NY Craft Beer Week, and much more.

Premiering this year is the NY Craft Beer Week mobile app for the iPhone and Droid, developed by technology partner Seed Labs. Both the free and paid apps will include: instant access to all updated content on nycbeerweek.org, a dedicated page for each venue (highlighting their brewery of choice, special offers and events schedule), a GPS powered map allowing users to find venues by distance, proximity to subway stops and featured brewery along with subway and walking directions, a searchable list of beers, and Foursquare-like functionality that will allow users to compete for fame, glory and prizes by "checking in" at venues and "checking off" beers they drink while simultaneously updating their Facebook and Twitter social networks on their activity. Badges that can be earned through "checking in" range from champions of various beer styles and beers from given geographic areas to conquering the full range of participating venues in each neighborhood. The free version of the app will serve as a companion to the printed passport, while the paid version will sell for $10 and allow users to redeem all of the deals offered in the printed passport.

Please see the initial list below highlighting the special events and promotions happening during the 4th Annual Craft Beer Week. Many more events and additional detailed information will be announced soon.

*Brooklyn Brewery Presents "Exclusive Press Preview Event" (Thursday, August 25, 6:30 pm)
-Come celebrate the release of the NYC Beer Passport. Fellow journalists and all participating breweries, bars, chefs, etc will enjoy locally produced artisan foods paired with craft beers provided by Brooklyn Brewery as well as other breweries.

*NYC Passport 2011
-Passport holders have access to special promotions at 100+ craft beer venues all over New York City (during the Beer Week and throughout the next year)!

*Zagat Sponsored "Beer Pairing Menus"
-Happening throughout the entire Beer Week, Zagat will present three- or four-course beer and food pairing menus at several prestigious restaurants. Each prix fixe menu includes a unique beer pairing for each course with prices varying between the restaurants.

*4th Annual Freaktoberfest Boutique Beer & Music Festival (Southpaw, Park Slope: Friday, September 16, 7 pm, $50)
-Sponsored by Shmaltz Brewing Company, Southpaw, Smuttynose and Beertender Brooklyn, more than 20 brewery owners will pour specialty beers while famous sideshow performers host the event and offer special performances alongside local indie-rock bands, burlesque dancers, and DJs. Freaktoberfest is the official "Opening Night Celebration" of NY Craft Beer Week. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketweb. More info is available at freaktoberfest.blogspot.com.

*Brewer's Choice (City Winery: Thursday, September 22)
-15 Brewmasters present their best beers and favorite food pairings in an intimate walk around tasting event for more than 400 people. More info at www.nycbrewerschoice.com

*Get Real's All-American Craft Beer & Food Festival (Friday, September 23 & Saturday, September 24)
-A one-of-a-kind tasting event, Get Real's All-American Fest will feature 80 of America's finest craft beers on tap, a cask bar with 30 cask-conditioned ales, the tri-state area's best homebrews, food tastings from some of NYC's top restaurants and food artisans, educational seminars, and, new for 2011, the first All-Americas Craft Chocolate Fest featuring some of America's top artisanal chocolate makers. Event details can be found at getrealny.com.

*The Ultimate Brewmaster's Degustation @ Mas (farmhouse) (Date and Price TBA)
-A reprisal of the phenomenal dinner held during the 2010 Beer Week. The special menu for the night at fine dining standout, Mas (farmhouse), will feature six courses prepared using creative reinterpretations of beer, and each course will be paired to a beer from different breweries. Many of the beers being featured during the dinner will have their brewmasters in attendance. Additional details will be announced soon.

*Brewer's Brunch (Sunday, September 25: Location and Price TBA)
-The best way to cap off an extended week of outstanding beers is to kick back with your friends and relive the best moments. With the hair of the dog in full effect, expect to find a broad selection of beers, reinventions of classic brunch cocktails using beer, and a broad gathering of industry luminaries as a leisurely brunch is enjoyed and the Beer Week is brought to a celebrated close. This is the "Official Closing Event" of the Week. Additional details will be announced soon.

*Garrett Oliver's Oxford Companion to Beer Launch Event (Location, Date & Price TBA)
-Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster and award-winning author of The Brewmaster's Table (2005), Garrett Oliver will host a special event celebrating the launch of his new book, Oxford Companion to Beer. Additional details will be announced soon.

*"Meet The Brewer" Events
-Occurring at several participating beer bars throughout Beer Week, top NY craft brewers will offer extensive selections from their beer line-ups, and will offer tasting notes.

Josh Schaffner, Director of NY Craft Beer Week, comments about the upcoming craft beer extravaganza, "Over the past four years, the concept of a Beer Week has progressed from non-existent to the most exciting series of events for the year in every beer drinking city throughout the country. NY Craft Beer Week is no exception; travelers come from throughout the world just to engage with the beer community, while local consumers eagerly anticipate the special events and the arrival of new Passports. It is with great excitement that there are now more beer-centric bars, restaurants and stores participating in the Beer Week than ever before, and a new set of smart phone apps will make the offerings even more accessible to all."

Brooklyn Brewery's Brewmaster Garret Oliver says, "NYC Beer Week is a great opportunity for people to check out the creativity and talent of New York's brewers. New York City is famous for having the best of everything, and NYC Beer Week is going to show off America's most diverse and exciting beer scene."

NY Craft Beer Week is proud to have Brooklyn Brewery, Shmaltz Brewing Co, and Empire Brewing Co as sponsoring breweries, Zagat Survey as a food partner, Just Food as a charitable partner, and Ace Hotel as the official hotel partner. Ace Hotel is a 12-story boutique hotel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan with 260 rooms and is offering a Beer Week rate of 15% off on their normal room reservations during the Beer Week. Reservations can be made using this link: http://acehotel.com/beerweek .


About NY Craft Beer Week
NY Craft Beer Week is a ten-day celebration of all things craft beer in the five boroughs of New York City. It is as much about civic pride as it is about appreciating the splendors available to us and celebrating the people who make it all happen. NY Craft Beer Week's focus is to fuse libation education with community appreciation, providing opportunities to discover new favorite breweries, beers, bars, stores and restaurants for enjoyment throughout the year. Learn more at: www.nycbeerweek.com.

About the Official Beer of NY Craft Beer Week: Geektoberfest
Brewed by Shmaltz Brewing, Captain Lawrence Brewing, and Ithaca Beer Co., Geektoberfest will feature a blend of six barrel-aged beers. All of the beers are originally brewed in the state of New York, and Geektoberfest will only be available on draft during NY Craft Beer Week. The beer represents each brewery and the folks at NY Craft Beer Week's exuberant appreciation of the mecca they call home, New York.

Become.com - From the beer store

As I warned you, here comes the first post from the beer store. Today we're interested in Become.com. The website is a retail outlet that features a variety of consumer goods. Let's take a look at a few.

First up we have glass top dining tables. This offering from the home and garden category at Become.com features the sort of furniture that you might expect. Dining room tables with glass tops so you can see who is playing footsie with whom. Devious devices for uncovering illicit affairs but devilishly difficult to keep clean. I like a glass top myself; it's always fun to try to see who is fooling around with whom.

Next up we have the vinyl tablecloth category. This is perfect if you got a glass top dining room table but suddenly found that you have a few connections that you want to keep secret. So, when the neighbors come over trying to hide their affairs, you keep the tablecloth off but, when the office staff comes over for a pool party, you put the tablecloth back on to hide your own connections, right?

Regardless of how all these affairs turn out, wouldn't it be great to collapse in a dish chair? If your glass top table winds up getting you caught in an illicit affair, what better place than a chair that encourages bad posture to nurse your wounds with a scotch or four? And, if you happen to get away with it, well, is there a better place to celebrate with a beer or six than exactly the same chair?

Boulevard Brewing Reports for Fundraising Duty Brewery to sponsor U.S.S. Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 30, 2010 – When Boulevard Brewing Company began to consider becoming an official sponsor of the U.S.S. Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning Committee, the Kansas City craft brewer knew right away that it didn’t want to simply cut a check. Instead, Missouri’s largest American-owned brewery saw an opportunity to inform citizens about the new Virginia-class submarine while enlisting their participation in this historic event.

For every barrel of Boulevard beer sold in the state of Missouri during the months of May, June, and July, the company will contribute $1.00 to the Commissioning Committee. “No matter what Boulevard product a customer buys—a six-pack, a bottle of one of our Smokestack beers, or a pint at any Missouri bar or restaurant—money will be contributed to the Commissioning,” said Bob Sullivan, Boulevard’s chief sales and marketing officer. “With 40% of our sales coming from Missouri, we’re on track to be the event’s single largest contributor.”

In April, 12‑pack containers of gold medal-winning Boulevard Pilsner debuted in packages showcasing Boulevard’s sponsorship and featuring an illustration of the submarine. The brewery also created distinctive glassware, server apparel, and other materials retailers can use to promote the campaign. “The number of accounts that have embraced this opportunity has blown us away,” said Tod Smith, director of sales for the brewery. “It’s been really gratifying to see Missourians sense of pride and their eagerness to support our troops.”

The U.S.S. Missouri is the seventh of the new Virginia-class submarines. Longer than a football field and weighing in at more than 7,800 tons, she is manned by a crew of 134, who will go to sea for months at a time. The commissioning will take place on July 31st in Groton, Conn. The ship is expected to see at least 30 years of active duty.

About Boulevard Brewing Company
Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard’s portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers are available in 12 Midwestern states, with selected offerings distributed in an additional eight states.

Beer Filled USB Data Storage

Finally… a USB for every BEER LOVER! Perfect for everyone associated with beer and the brewing business.

This amazing electronic data storage device is filled with liquid “IMITATION BEER”, has 2GB of storage, red flash, PC compatible, MAC compatible, rewritable, made of clear vue plastic, and is obviously portable.

Our life like “HEAD FOAM” particles will not dissipate, and the golden liquid will not fade from daylight use.

When inserted into any USB port, you are ready to upload, download, store, and transfer any file.

Perfect for MP3 files, to view videos, and to run any of your applications. Buy one or a thousand!

No minimum order! In stock ready for immediate shipping. For quantities of 24 or more, custom pad printing is available for up to 4 colors on one side. The "Beer Filled" USB measures 3” x 1”.

For more information, purchase samples, pricing, distribution opportunities, and to place orders, contact Creaciones de Encargo Mfg. of Ocoee, Florida. creacionesdeencargo@gmail.com, 888-400-6532.

Firemans Brew

Extinguish your thirst with Fireman’s Brew, a premium micro-brew created by two Los Angeles based Firefighters. Conceived while battling a brushfire high above the Glendale Mountains, Fireman’s Brew grew out of their vision to create a line of premium handcrafted ales that would quench their thirsts after an exhausting day on the fire lines. Originally created by firefighters for firefighters, Fireman’s Brew is now available at on and off-premise throughout Southern California.

Fireman’s Brew offers a diverse menu of flavors, aromas and textures that combine the finest of all-natural ingredients and artesian spring water to deliver a bold, full-flavored, traditional taste of a handcrafted micro-brew.

Fireman’s Brew is offered in three distinct varieties:

* Fireman’s Brew Blonde: This smooth, golden beer is made with real Saaz hops to create a truly fine Pilsner style lager – with a crisp and refreshing taste. (5.0% Alc./Vol.)
* Fireman’s Brew Redhead: A smooth, rich, amber ale combining five different styles of malt and several different Yakima Valley hops to deliver a flavorful red ale with a rich caramel flavor. (5.5% Alc./Vol.)
* Fireman’s Brew Brewnette: This smooth, traditionally-styled, rich dark southern German dobblebock is made with Perle and Hallertau hops and a combination of eight varieties of malt – to create a strong yet easy to drink beer. (10.8% Alc./Vol.)

Founder and creator Rob Nowaczyk is an active duty Los Angeles County Firefighter (Station #7 West Hollywood) and true hometown American hero. Throughout his eighteen years of civil service as both a firefighter and paramedic, Rob has responded to the call to help aid and rescue thousands of lives from tragedy. Rob is also the winner of the 2009 Dodge Ram Challenge – a nationally televised competition that pitted teams of working class heroes against each other through a series of extreme stunts and physical challenges.

In addition, the company is committed to giving back to the heroic cause upon which it’s founded. To that end, Fireman’s Brew donates a percentage of proceeds from every product sold to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation – a foundation dedicated to serving the families of fallen firefighters nationwide. Fireman’s Brew is the only beer recognized by the Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Fireman’s Brew retails for $8.99 / 6-pack of bottles. Brewed locally in Inyokern, CA.
www.firemansbrew.com

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.

Rogue Nation Continues New Expansion, Plants Its Flag in Nine Countries

NEWPORT, OR, October 20, 2008 – Ex-pats and locals alike can now order up a bottle of Rogue Ale in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago. The countries may be new to Rogue, but selling abroad isn’t: the Newport, Oregon based craft brewery has been exporting its lineup of ales for years, beginning in Japan in 1993. Since then, it has expanded to Canada (Albera, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec), England, Guam, the Philippines, Sweden, and most recently, the People’s Republic of China.

Rogue Nation will continue to expand into more countries to further gain support for its recent application for admission to the United Nations. Among its arguments for recognition, coins and currency, passports, national ID cards, stamps, license plates, a flag, a constitution, a national past time, a literary journal, a farm and a pledge. More important, Rogue Nation is an expression of a shared culture and language that unites its citizens in a common bond.

Owing to its philosophy that “variety is the spice of life,” Rogue Ales crafts a wide range of ales made with the finest hops and barley malt, free range coastal water and Pacman top fermenting proprietary yeast. Rogue does not use preservatives, additives or chemicals, nor does the brewery pasteurize its products. For more information, visit www. rogue. com.

Celebrating its second century, Rogue Ales is an Artisan Varietal Brewery founded in Oregon in 1988, as one of America’s first 50 microbreweries. Rogue has 550+ awards for taste and quality and is available nationally and in 20 countries.

PHILADELPHIA’S “JOE SIXPACK,” DON RUSSELL, ANNOUNCES HIS SECOND BOOK, CHRISTMAS BEER

PHILADELPHIA, PA – This fall, Philadelphia Daily News beer columnist Don Russell, whose alter-ego, Joe Sixpack, is a renowned authority on the city’s brewing scene, will celebrate the release of his second book, Christmas Beers: The Cheeriest, Tastiest and Most Unusual Holiday Brews (Universe, 2008). It is the first comprehensive collection of information about the 2,000-year-old worldwide tradition of brewing and drinking festive ales and lagers during the winter holidays.

“I have had the privilege of traveling around the world in search of great beers,” says Russell, “and whether in Austria or Norway, crafting a strong drink to celebrate the winter solstice is a universal tradition. This book covers this lovely custom from its early origins to modern innovations. ‘Christmas beers’ are more of a tradition than Christmas itself, spanning a huge range of cultures and practices.”

At once informative and conversational, Russell’s Christmas Beer includes traditional libations brewed by pagans to celebrate the festival of Saturnalia alongside modern potables including Smuttynose’s “Winter Ale” and Schmaltz Brewery’s “He’brew Jewbelation.” Irreverent in tone and impressive in scope, Christmas Beer is a natural gift for beer lovers and a lighthearted but thorough exploration of holiday drinking culture.

“‘Winter Warmers’ are highly seasonal and also very regional,” says Russell. “In Christmas Beers, I’ve broken them down historically and regionally, and included plenty of fascinating anecdotes about the way they have evolved over the centuries.”

Christmas Beers ranks the “50 Best Christmas Beers,” with Harrisburg, PA brewery Troeg’s “Mad Elf” coming in number one; offers reviews of 150 plus Christmas brews; and provides home brewing recipes for ambitious readers who want to try their hand at the winter warmer brewing tradition. The book also shines a spotlight on cultural reactions to mixing Christmas and beer, examining how advertising has adapted to regulations forbidding the inclusion of children’s characters, such as Santa Claus, on beer labels. Beers that have been banned in some American states, including the English import “Santa’s Butt,” are also explored.

Russell himself has choreographed an event to celebrate the release of Christmas Beers. On Sunday December 7, he will host a Winter Warmers Tasting at West Philadelphia’s Armory (3205 Lancaster Avenue, 215-823-4850). As a component of the tasting, he will offer classroom-style instruction on the qualities of Christmas beers, information that is taught at only one other place in the country. Festive food will also be served; admission is $75. For more information on these events, please visit www.joesixpack.net.

Don Russell is one of America’s leading beer writers. His first book, Joe Sixpack’s Philly Beer Guide: A Reporter’s Notes on the Best Beer-Drinking City in America (Camino, 2007), enjoys tremendous popularity, and his Daily News column, “Joe Sixpack,” is one of that paper’s most-read features. He is also a weekly host on Glen Macnow’s “Midday Show” on Sports Radio 610 WIP Philadelphia. He is an avid world traveler, storyteller, beer drinker, and a founder of Philly Beer Week, an acclaimed celebration of beer culture in Philadelphia, now in its second year.

For more information on Don Russell, or to order a copy of Christmas Beers, please visit www.joesixpack.net.

Beer Focused Programs on ’08 EC Schedule

(TRAVERSE CITY, Mich) – In addition to the wealth of food and wine classes and two public receptions at the 2008 Epicurean Classic, a selection of classes and a gourmet dinner will focus on the vast world of beer.

Learn from experts such as Rex Halfpenny, publisher of Michigan Beer Guide; Ron Jeffries from Jolly Pumpkin Ales; Anheuser- Busch brewmaster Matt Licklider and representatives from New Holland Brewing Company, during these beer-specific programs at one of the premier culinary events in the country. Admission into the beer classes is $29 each. Advanced reservations are required online at www.EpicureanClassic.com.

TASTING CLASSES

Real Beer with Real Cheese - Rex Halfpenny
Friday, September 12 - 2:30 pm

Explore the amazing taste sensations to be found in pairing beer with cheese. Stepping way out of the box, away from mass-market American cheeses and mass-market light beers, challenge yourself to learn about the breath and diversity of aromas and flavors found in different old world beer styles and how they harmonize with classic old world cheeses. Discover for yourself how these two ancient food groups compliment and enhance each other in a delightfully informative presentation. Rex Halfpenny has traveled all over the US and much of the world in search of beer. He has been making beer, wine and mead at home since 1992. He left the corporate world in October 1996, to pursue self-employment in the brewing industry and since February 1997, he and his wife, Mary, have been publishing the Michigan Beer Guide, a unique periodical focusing on the Michigan beer culture.

A Tasting Tour of Europe's Most Historic Beers - Matt Licklider
Saturday, September 13 - 11:30 am

Here's a fantastic opportunity to belly-up for a tasting and history lesson of beers from the brewing world's heart and soul: Belgium, Germany and England. Anheuser- Busch brewmaster Matt Licklider will guide you through a flight of beers from some of the oldest breweries in the world including Stella Artois (Belgium), Leffe Blonde (Belgium), Hoegaarden (Belgium), Bass (England), Boddington's (England), and Beck's (Germany). If you thought you were familiar with these historic breweries, think again. In the brewing world, they don't take the word "brewmaster" lightly. Learn from the best. Matt has worked for Anheuser-Busch for more than 16 years in multiple A-B breweries around the world from Wuhan, China to Cartersville, GA to Fort Collins, CO. Matt is currently the Assistant Brewmaster in the Baldwinsville, NY brewery having responsibilities for the Brewhouse and Fermenting operations.

Artisan Sour Style Ales: Small Scale Production At Its Best - Ron Jeffries
Saturday, September 13 - 1:00 pm

Join owner and brewmaster Ron Jeffries of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, voted 8th Best Brewery in America, in an exciting look behind the scenes at this most enigmatic of breweries. Taste examples of Jolly Pumpkin's exquisite sour beers, as well as classics from around the globe. Well, Belgium anyway. Listen, learn, taste, enjoy, and fully understand why these are some of the world's most interesting, difficult-to-make beers.

Beers for Cellaring - Rex Halfpenny
Saturday, September 13 - 2:30 pm

The majority of the beer consumed in America is designed to be served young. Light American Lagers are engineered to the least objectionable to the most people, to do this they are filtered, pasteurized, highly carbonated, and served ice cold. These beers will not age at all. But this is only one kind of beer, like box table white wine designed to be served chilled does not reflect the world of wine. Many beer styles are brewed to be far more complex, are packaged live, and will condition over time if properly cared for. While sampling a variety of beer styles brewed to higher alcohol strength and to far greater complexity, learn everything you need to know to make wise purchase decisions for cellaring beer. Remember, you may not be able to afford the world's most expensive wines, but the best beers in the world are attainable and still remarkably affordable.

From the Farm to the Table Gourmet Dinner
Aerie Restaurant at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

Featuring Select Beers from New Holland Brewing

Friday, September 12 – 6:00 pm

Chris Turano is a tremendously respected Chicago culinary talent with experience at some of the city’s most acclaimed dining spots. This dinner will reunite Turano with Grand Traverse Resort executive chef, Ted Cizma, formerly of Grace and Elaine’s in the Windy City. Turano is the top chef at Dine in the Crowne Metro Plaza Hotel in Chicago. Reservations are required by calling 231-534-6000.

Crisp pork with roasted red haven peach and veal jus with chile pepper and fresh basil

New Holland Brewing Co. Golden Cap- Saison Ale 2008
A modern interpretation of a traditional farmhouse ale. A soft, pale beer, Golden Cap accentuates the flavors and aromas of summer fields. Brewed with an ancestor to wheat called spelt, and bottle-conditioned; its straw-colored body accentuated with lively carbonation and unique fermentation profile evoke fresh cut hay and cracked peppercorns

Seared and Chilled American Bison Tenderloin with golden beet vinaigrette, marinated heirloom Romano beans and fresh horseradish

New Holland Brewing Co. "Black Tulip" Trippel Ale 2008
Golden in color, Black Tulip Trippel is a delightful beer with a slightly sweet body. Its ester-laden character reveals an enigmatic dance between Belgian ale yeast and Michigan beet sugar, conjuring hints of bananas and rock candy. Its inviting flavor is complemented by a pleasing dry finish.

Ale brined roasted chicken terrine with wild mushroom and black truffle

New Holland Brewing Co. "Dragon's Milk" Ale 2007
A complex ale with a soft, rich caramel-malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones; all dancing in an oak bath.

Slow cooked Lamb Shank, Caramelized Cauliflower Risotto, shaved raw sunchoke

New Holland Brewing Co. "Blue Sunday" Sour ale 2008
A blended barrel project to commemorate 11 years in beer. Presents crisp body, tart cherry like notes and a malty sweetness on the finish.

Honey-Poached Apricots with Gingerbread, Vanilla Ice Cream and Tart Cherry Reduction

New Holland Brewing Co. "Pilgrims Dole" 2005
Barley wine-style ale made with fifty percent wheat malt, or "wheatwine". Pilgrim's Dole blends warming and slightly sweet flavors with a unique caramelized character.

Epicurean Classic was founded in 2004 by Mark Dressler and Matt Sutherland. Since that time, they have perfected a recipe for assembling an incredibly talented roster of national and international artisans highlighting fresh trends in food and wine, coupled with a stunning venue on Grand Traverse Bay. In just five short years, they have gained an enviable reputation among the nation’s finest food and wine industry leaders for this premier culinary celebration.

SPONSORS

KitchenAid, Meijer, Saturn of Traverse City, Passageways Travel/American Express, Great Lakes Culinary Institute, Traverse Magazine, Cherry Republic, General Cigar

PUBLIC CONTACT INFO

Epicurean Classic
www.EpicureanClassic.com
231.932.0475

New Holland Brewing to Celebrate 25 Employees Earning National “Certified Beer Server” Status With Special Cicerone Seminars & Dinner

(HOLLAND, Mich) – Twenty employees at New Holland Brewing Company in Holland have recently been awarded “Certified Beer Server” status and the brewery is shooting for a total of 25 by Labor Day – a mark no other brewpub or microbrewery in the country can claim. This endorsement is the first in a the three-phase Cicerone Certification Program, operated by national beer master Ray Daniels. It is the brewing industry’s equivalent to a certified wine Sommelier.

“The Cicerone program is important because it recognizes and encourages expertise,” says New Holland Beervangalist, Fred Bueltmann. “Craft beer drinkers seek a complete quality experience along with their craft beer, and Cicerone will help them know where to find it.”

To help celebrate this accomplishment, the partners at New Holland have invited Daniels to host a day of Cicerone activities – including seminars and a beer dinner – on Wednesday, September 24.

The day kicks off at Noon with Brewhouse Tours of New Holland’s 23,000-square-foot production facility with brewmaster, John Haggerty.

An “Introduction to Cicerone” will be offered from 1-2pm. During this session, one will learn the basics of how to become a Certified Beer Server. The program includes a review of basic beer serving know-how, what it means to become certified and how to take the exam.

From 3-4pm, it’s “Preparing for the Certified Cicerone Exam,” where Ray discusses and reviews the topics included on the advanced exam. He will also present a sample-version of the blind-tasting portion included in the Certified Cicerone Exam.

“Too often, great beer is harmed by improper service practices,” Daniels says. “Our program offers independent assessment and certification so that industry professionals – as well as consumers – can be sure of the knowledge and skills possessed by current and prospective beer servers. The more beer professionals understand about the many aspects of beer culture and service, the better beer will be for consumers.”

There is no charge for the seminars, but reservations are required by logging onto http://signup.newhollandbrew.com or by calling 616-510-2259. Space is limited to 20 individuals.

“Anyone can call themselves an expert on beer,” says Daniels. “But when consumers want great beer, they need help from a server who really knows beer flavors, styles and brands. Those with the title of ‘Certified Cicerone’ or ‘Master Cicerone’ have demonstrated their expertise in selecting and serving fine beer.”

Later than evening, a New Holland Beer Cicerone Dinner will be held at the acclaimed Journeyman Café in Fennville. This specially prepared dinner accentuates the marriage of beer’s flavors with local, hand-made cuisine and is a celebration of the accomplishment of the brewery’s staff. An additional 25 seats are open to the public, at $65 each.

The evening – touted a hedonistic, culinary adventure – features pairings and discussions by Ray Daniels, restaurant owners Amy Cook & Chef Matt Millar, and several New Holland representatives including Brett VanderKamp, founder; John Haggerty, brewmaster; and Fred Bueltmann, beervangelist.

Menu offerings include a fine selection of mouth-watering delicacies. The evening kicks off with a reception featuring parmesan gourgeres with Kathy Halinsky chevre & chive and salt cod, garlic & Binje potato fritters, paired with Full Circle.

The main entrees include shellfish ragout with Boeve Farm leeks, lemon thyme and sweet cream, paired with Golden Cap; Pumpkin agnolotti in parmesan broth with pumpkin seeds, brown butter, sage & Styrian pumpkin seed oil, paired with Ichabod; and blackberry glazed breast of smoked magret duck with braised lacinato kale & caramelized shallots and duck liver & balsamic vinaigrette, paired with Blue Sunday.

The dessert flight features dulche de leche custard with muscavado caramel, paired with Pilgrim’s Dole; tobacco chocolate truffle, paired with Dragon’s Milk; black walnut & olive oil cake with fall berries and maple crème fraiche, paired with Black Tulip; and goredawnzola blue cheese with Hasselman’s honeycomb, paired with Existential.

Ray Daniels is an author, editor and publisher of more than a dozen books on brewing and beer. He is graduate and senior faculty member at the Siebel Institute of Technology, is an internationally-known beer judge and organizer of scores of beer tasting events, including Chicago’s Real Ale Festival. Daniels is also past director of the Brewers Association Craft Beer Marketing Program.

New Holland Brewing is located at 66 E. 8th Street, Holland. Find them online at www.newhollandbrew.com.

TIMBER RIDGE RESORT COMBINES COLOR TOURING WITH MICROBREWS

The Microbrew “Color Tour” Package Is a New Way to Enjoy Autumn Up North

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH---When Timber Ridge Resort first introduced its event Suds & Snow, which pairs the beauty of northern Michigan’s scenic outdoors with handcrafted beers from some of Michigan’s finest microbreweries, it was never expected to take off so quickly. The inaugural year, 2007, welcomed over 200 guests and this past winter’s event saw over 700 participants celebrating brews and snowshoes. Timber Ridge is riding this wave of success to incorporate another microbrew tasting event this autumn: the Microbrew Color Tour, scheduled for September 26-28. (Check-in is either on September 26 or 27 with late check-out on September 28).

“With so many guests in town for the autumn color tours,” begins resort co-owner Kristin Levesque, “we thought that we would welcome them to enjoy a campsite or cabin in the woods with a microbrew in hand.” The package presents a distinctive way to encourage visitors to enjoy the fiery colors of the turning trees all while relishing the reds, golds, and browns of the featured Michigan microbrews.

The private, park-guest-only package includes two days of unlimited beer sampling, starting with a Friday, September 26, welcome reception at 5:00 p.m. (till supplies last) featuring New Holland Brewing Company and continues to Saturday at the Microbrew Color Tour Tent from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Four Michigan breweries will be offering samples of their specialty brews: Right Brain Brewery of Traverse City, Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, Founder’s Brewing Company of Grand Rapids, and Arbor Brewing Company from Ann Arbor.

“Think of this packaged event as ‘Suds and Snow Light’,” says Marketing and Events Director Sara Klebba. “The concept of pairing the outdoors with beer tasting is attractive to both outdoor and microbrew aficionados. These groups seem to have quite a bit in common.”

For outdoor enthusiasts, incorporating a color tour through the resort’s miles of trails or on the road exploring northern Michigan’s many scenic drives is a must in the autumn. With the Microbrew Color Tour Tent open from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, guests will have plenty of time to plan these types of activities and return to Timber Ridge to enjoy the festivities. For those who want to add some recreation to the event, volleyball and dodge ball will be just a stone’s throw from the tasting. A variety of food will also be available for purchase.

Packages begin at just $59 for one night on a water/electric campsite. A variety of sites are available as well as cabins and cottages. Package price includes the welcome reception and Microbrew Color Tour Tent tickets for two people. Additional guests will be charged $20 each to participate in the tastings. This event is for Timber Ridge guests only. For more details and package pricing, visit www.TimberRidgeResort.net or call (800) 909-2327.

Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, located at 4050 Hammond Rd. East in Traverse City, is an all-season recreation resort featuring RV and tent camping; overnight cabin and cottage rentals; family oriented activities; a banquet facility and tents for weddings, events, reunions, family gatherings, and meetings; access to the popular VASA trail system; park model sales; and renowned events like the North American VASA, Iceman Cometh Challenge mountain bike race, and Timber Ridge’s own Suds & Snow. Visit www.TimberRidgeResort.net or call (231) 947-2770 for more information.

Tall Sails and Ales – B.C.’s First Craft Beer and Culinary Tour by Sail This October

What do cheddar and ale soup, 2,500 square feet of sail, and the Gulf Islands have in common? They’re all featured on British Columbia’s craft beer tour by sail: the Tall Sails and Ales Tour, Oct. 23-29 on Canada’s west coast.

This tasting and culinary tour aboard the classic Canadian schooner Maple Leaf includes sampling 50 of the province’s top brews while cruising out-of-the-way places in the popular Gulf Islands. B.C. is one of the hotbeds in Canada for excellent craft beer, with many award-winning breweries.

The 6-night tour is totally customized and includes a packed itinerary not available to the general public. Highlights:

• A hilarious social history of B.C. brewing by historian Greg Evans


• Exclusive brewery tours and tasting meals with brew masters


• Cuisine paired to beer


• Visiting locations as diverse as a luxe new brewpub and a bucolic Gulf Islands brewery housed in a barn next to a field of cows


• Kick off the tour with a behind-the-scenes tour of Victoria

Under the sails of the 92-foot schooner Maple Leaf, guests will also:

• Cruise the Gulf Islands National Park


• Visit off-the-beaten-track wildlife hotspots (think porpoises, sea lions, seabirds)


• Receive a real culinary education


• Participate in frequent shore excursions and walks.

Evans is an astounding – and entertaining – well of information and social history. For example, by the end of the trip you’ll know which 19th century Victoria saloon featured rat-killing competitions for entertainment, how the Canadians took advantage of American prohibition, and which BC beers go best with dessert.

The tour is suitable for both beer aficionados and the traveler interested in island cruising and educational tours.

And guess what? It’s not the exclusive domain of men. The tour operator, Maple Leaf Adventures, has found that over the past three years, 40% of the trip’s guests have been women.

Maple Leaf Adventures is an award-winning B.C. eco-cruise company with a 22-year track record of offering “Trips of a Lifetime”. They’re listed as a Frommer’s “Best Travel Experience” and as one of the top 5 guided trips in Canada by Explore magazine.

Hand-crafted beer, the fastest growing segment of the alcoholic beverage industry in the US for three years in a row, offers the same complexity and range of flavor as wine. This tour’s flavours run the gamut, from Swans’ crisp, cold Arctic Ale to the chocolate creaminess of Gulf Islands Brewery’s Saturna Island Extra Stout. This will be the Tall Sails and Ales tour’s third year of operation.

Oct. 23-29, 6 nights, 7 days, C $2550 all inclusive except airfare. For those more interested in the Gulf Islands than beer, the company also runs an eco-cruise through the new Gulf Islands National Park Oct. 17-22 for C $1950.

Information: www.MapleLeafAdventures.com or 250.386.7245 or toll free 1.888.599.5323

Pre-and post-trip discounts are available for Maple Leaf Adventures guests at the Sidney Waterfront Inn and Spa in Sidney, B.C.

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About Maple Leaf Adventures

Maple Leaf Adventures has been offering natural and cultural history cruises aboard a classic tall ship since 1986. We have a reputation as one of Canada’s finest tour operators. A trip on Maple Leaf has been named by Frommer’s travel guide as one of Canada's 6 "Best Travel Experiences". Our multi-day excursions offer guests the opportunity to experience intimately the most beautiful places on the B.C. and Alaska coast, in the company of expert naturalists or historians, crew and chef. As a longtime practitioner of ecotourism, Maple Leaf pioneered travel in the Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island, and has made significant contributions to conservation on the coast.

Beer is Again America's Alcohol Beverage of Choice

New Gallup Poll Shows Beer’s Lead Over Wine, Spirits is Back to Double-Digits; Shift Most Evident Among Adults Ages 30-49, Back to Beer After Trying Wine

ST. LOUIS (July 29, 2008) – According to a new Gallup poll, beer’s lead over wine and spirits has returned to double-digits for the first time since 2002, particularly among adults between the ages of 30 and 49 who tried wine for a few years then shifted back to beer.

The annual Consumption Habits poll, released Friday through Gallup’s Web site, shows that in combined data from Gallup’s 2004 and 2005 Consumption surveys, drinkers between the ages of 30 and 49 were about as likely to prefer wine as beer. Now, drinkers in this age bracket have shifted back to beer, with an average of 47 percent in the combined 2007-2008 data saying they most often drink beer. Drinking preferences among adults ages 21-29 have remained stable in recent years, with the majority showing a wide preference for beer.

“This poll shows what we’ve always known – that trends will come and go but beer is here to stay,” said Bob Lachky, executive vice president, Global Industry and Creative Development for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. and leader of “Here’s To Beer,” a two-year-old campaign that toasts Americans’ appreciation for beer. “More Americans are learning – or re‑learning – how to appreciate the wide variety of beer styles available and how easy it is to pair beer with all types of food, which is also attracting new adult consumers to the beer category.”

Beer continues to represent the largest segment in the alcohol beverage category in volume and dollar sales, accounting for 56 percent of all alcohol beverage servings. The Anheuser-Busch-led “Here’s To Beer” campaign was launched to help consumers develop a deeper appreciation for beer while providing tools for retailers and distributors to grow their beer business.

The campaign re-launched its Web site – www.herestobeer.com– in April 2008 with enhanced interactive tools to help consumers learn about beer’s ingredients, styles, the brewing process, the importance of proper pouring and glassware, and how to pair beer with food. The Web site also offers expert tips for food-pairing with videos featuring Food Network personality and cookbook author Dave Lieberman.

HTBMarketing.com, the “members only” site for beer wholesalers, provides downloadable sign making and point-of-sale templates to create attractive in-store materials to elevate and enhance the beer aisle. Beyond the more than 600 wholesalers in the Anheuser‑Busch network, an additional 350 members from the ranks of competitive brewers and non A-B wholesalers are also registered members.

“Here’s To Beer” also sponsors the annual St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival in Forest Park. The festival is quickly becoming a must-attend event for beer industry leaders and enthusiasts, where more than 70 styles of beers were sampled from Anheuser-Busch and local craft brewers. The festival drew 15,000 people at its inaugural event in 2007 and this year drew 20,000 people from across the country.