tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240934302024-03-13T19:08:16.333-05:00I Love BeerA place for the unrepentant beer snob.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.comBlogger905125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-77444189001270639162018-02-01T14:02:00.004-06:002018-02-01T14:02:53.030-06:00I don't always cite the Texas Public Policy Foundation, but when I do, it's because they're correct about the craft beer industry. <a href="http://www.mystatesman.com/news/opinion/commentary-why-texas-laws-have-breweries-shedding-tears-their-beer/AvBofVylpJ095ds5LgB7FM/" target="_blank">Give this op-ed a read</a>.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-41083392639327825842018-01-14T14:18:00.001-06:002018-01-14T14:31:35.622-06:00I Love Beer Blog returns from the dead, sort of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZ7AxVyHGlTrjn-puwZ1Feu3BRByahRGKWbTbJJAx55ZcPf3z-0ulgmJGN8_39bocsvpjkj2t6B_Zu7Y-bzMxfzyNB712YqBnveHxN-1OHfp2ucJsIgF1UIZFUE3fHV0cfjXx/s1600/brewery+tour+snip.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="774" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZ7AxVyHGlTrjn-puwZ1Feu3BRByahRGKWbTbJJAx55ZcPf3z-0ulgmJGN8_39bocsvpjkj2t6B_Zu7Y-bzMxfzyNB712YqBnveHxN-1OHfp2ucJsIgF1UIZFUE3fHV0cfjXx/s320/brewery+tour+snip.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So I never really made an official announcement that this blog was dead, but obviously, it has been, since I haven't posted in a million years (four, actually).<br />
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But <i>ILB</i> is risen from the grave! Well, sort of. It's unlikely I'll post much original material here in the future, as I'm at a point in my life where I just don't have time for writing unless it comes with a paycheck.<br />
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However, I'll use <i>ILB </i>to alert folks to my paid beer-writing endeavors. I have been hired as the freelance beer writer for <i>Rock & Vine </i>magazine, a guide to "Good life in the Texas Hill Country." My first beer article for them came out this past fall - a round-up of several Hill Country breweries. It is an admittedly incomplete guide - so many keep springing up that it's nearly impossible to keep track, and a comprehensive one would have taken up the entire magazine. This is a golden age for Texas craft beer lovers!<br />
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You may read the article in full at <a href="http://www.rockandvinemag.com/">www.rockandvinemag.com</a> - click on the Fall 2017 issue link, and my article spans pages 20-23. You can also go directly to the issue at <a href="https://issuu.com/digitalpublish/docs/rock___vine">issuu.com/digitalpublish/docs/rock___vine</a>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-86733504271250713352014-02-26T21:38:00.000-06:002014-02-26T21:38:43.352-06:00New 'Current' Column: Big Hops Gastropub<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGTQRRCmB1Zf-Ru7dWb2a6ndQv64-iX5GLGljIMQe3XrcGwTaZYtmYTGpXN2qLrs97agJf9Bj2ZcdX0ikRRoYQV60jSs-vLPTMmN8Szq1XgW2zoZgtG2k3jSa9whB6F_kHhNR0w/s1600/image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGTQRRCmB1Zf-Ru7dWb2a6ndQv64-iX5GLGljIMQe3XrcGwTaZYtmYTGpXN2qLrs97agJf9Bj2ZcdX0ikRRoYQV60jSs-vLPTMmN8Szq1XgW2zoZgtG2k3jSa9whB6F_kHhNR0w/s1600/image-1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another edition of my "Bottle & Tap" column is in the new <i>Current</i>. I heartily recommend Big Hops Gastropub in north San Antonio: <a href="http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-tap-cask-beer-s-the-real-real-ale-1.1640821">http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-tap-cask-beer-s-the-real-real-ale-1.1640821</a></span>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-62829480121263067662014-02-07T21:19:00.000-06:002014-02-07T21:25:25.425-06:00A Historic Day for Texas Brewpubs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWamXsiAeII5ywRVpZCUskMBqvkD7aIjbLWxAYit4qAWPXpi3WgZgoHjuY9PY40Ny69ceQbuLWgr70laBQqtYF_yliYGLyr_r-p_MUpdhOqkC4yMfxucMskT222NfPnoi9bBEKuA/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWamXsiAeII5ywRVpZCUskMBqvkD7aIjbLWxAYit4qAWPXpi3WgZgoHjuY9PY40Ny69ceQbuLWgr70laBQqtYF_yliYGLyr_r-p_MUpdhOqkC4yMfxucMskT222NfPnoi9bBEKuA/s1600/logo.png" height="22" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today was a historic day in Texas. A brewpub loaded some of its beer onto a truck and delivered it to another bar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That beer delivery might not seem like a big deal to those of y'all reading this from a state like California or Oregon, but it's a new thing for us Texans. Brewpubs were legalized in Texas in 1993, but they were forbidden from selling their products anywhere but the brewpub itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This created a really maddening situation where we Texas craft beer lovers would walk into our local stores and see brewpub beers from other states — like, say, California's Bear Republic — but not from the brewpub that was mere blocks away. It almost felt insulting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Multiple attempts to change this law met failure until last year, during the 83rd Texas Legislature. I'm very proud that my boss, state Senator <b>Leticia Van de Putte</b> of San Antonio, was one of the key players in getting this law changed. (She's <a href="http://www.leticiavandeputte.com/" target="_blank">running for Lieutenant Governor</a> this year — if you're a Texas beer lover, she's definitely the candidate for whom you should vote. Also deserving a huge tip of the hat is Senator <b>Kevin Eltife</b>, the lead author on the bill.)</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Texas Tribune</b> </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">has an article about today's historic beer delivery, and of the great economic boon that the package of brewery laws passed last session could bring to our state. Give it a read </span><a href="http://www.texastribune.org/2014/02/07/craft-brewers-celebrate-new-beer-laws/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-35356096631309250582014-02-05T21:52:00.001-06:002014-02-07T21:21:19.484-06:00Jeff Young Leaving Black Star Co-op<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvPi4zkT5AS-f7-U9Js9yAnO7gKBs8VjyYXdbzzozK2W57A_wUyjEZoQHvp2Zuq6t56rs-L3j23IvKdHP9DHe8V6poOFrHHQrE_obJmezsQwEp_F6yGhD-onui1CIxP0ICNQeSw/s1600/xBlack-Star-Co-op2.png.pagespeed.ic.O9sN31TY9C.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvPi4zkT5AS-f7-U9Js9yAnO7gKBs8VjyYXdbzzozK2W57A_wUyjEZoQHvp2Zuq6t56rs-L3j23IvKdHP9DHe8V6poOFrHHQrE_obJmezsQwEp_F6yGhD-onui1CIxP0ICNQeSw/s1600/xBlack-Star-Co-op2.png.pagespeed.ic.O9sN31TY9C.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Jeff Young</b>, head brewer at <b>Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery</b> ever since it transformed from <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/food/2010-01-22/from-beer-to-infinity/" target="_blank">crazy idea to brick-and-mortar reality</a>, will be stepping down. And if you've had his beer, you know his departure certainly is not due to failure to create a quality product — he does fantastic work, and Black Star's <a href="https://untappd.com/b/black-star-co-op-recalcitrant-dockhand/23332" target="_blank">Recalcitrant Dockhand</a> (and its many variations, such as Cantankerous Dockhand) is absolutely one of my favorite beers, local or otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Indeed, in his <a href="http://www.blackstar.coop/blogs/workers-assembly/brew-blog/goodbye-is-not-the-end/" target="_blank">farewell letter</a> to the membership of America's only cooperatively run brewpub (I think that's still true), he says he'll be moving on to start a new brewery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm gonna trust him when he says his successors will do a great job. They have big shoes to fill. The day Black Star announced it was setting up shop in my neighborhood was one of the better days of my life. It's been a fantastic asset to my part of town, and I've really enjoyed having such fine food and drink walking ... er, stumbling distance from my house.</span>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-50660689952652679002014-01-30T21:22:00.001-06:002014-02-07T21:21:47.510-06:00My Latest TWO 'Current' beer columns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaepsRnvaPHV8PqiyDjs78RpFmAnZyVbV0wChtkHSevySLDJYLubeT0GRbQ9gHPgj6uQTPApBB7f3gZT7FjByAKaLpHdGpdrJ9_8VVTJz6mGuxjRo-NVuRbzLQ5o3mfRYvxfteQ/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaepsRnvaPHV8PqiyDjs78RpFmAnZyVbV0wChtkHSevySLDJYLubeT0GRbQ9gHPgj6uQTPApBB7f3gZT7FjByAKaLpHdGpdrJ9_8VVTJz6mGuxjRo-NVuRbzLQ5o3mfRYvxfteQ/s1600/image.jpg" height="200" width="116" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dammit, I'm falling behind. I forgot to post my San Antonio <i>Current</i> column from last month, and now they've already published my column for this month. Please, take a few minutes to read both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">December: My year-end list of my favorite places to down a beer in San Antonio, and a plea to help me find more:</span><br />
<a href="http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/five-places-i-did-most-of-my-drinking-in-2013-1.1608572"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/five-places-i-did-most-of-my-drinking-in-2013-1.1608572</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">January: We're number two! Texas' craft beer scene is really beginning to assert itself financially:</span><br />
<a href="http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-tap-texas-2-3-billion-dollar-craft-brew-market-1.1624057"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-tap-texas-2-3-billion-dollar-craft-brew-market-1.1624057</span></a>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-76958185997944714242013-11-13T20:26:00.000-06:002014-02-07T16:25:46.449-06:00My 'Current' Column on Winter Beers<span style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 18.90625px;">My latest "Bottle and Tap" column in the San Antonio </span><i style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 18.90625px;">Current</i><span style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 18.90625px;"> is now available. The subject: Christmas/Holiday/Winter beers. Enjoy: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18.899999618530273px;"><a href="http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-tap-stocking-up-on-holiday-beers-1.1583744">http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-tap-stocking-up-on-holiday-beers-1.1583744</a></span></span>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-73805582043426560912013-10-17T20:39:00.002-05:002013-10-17T20:39:59.907-05:00New S.A. Current column: beer fests<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPiSDmAIjZqIlS7eFK3rFl3gI4bVMAYaz6xq3UUq15NkhNd2FGo5PQzPLdfmozckswwig8lF3giX0oi-tT2xPUKgBQLxmthxgZPRaUngYfjrhlKbueBC8CkI0rCQhv9YkobsDaw/s1600/image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPiSDmAIjZqIlS7eFK3rFl3gI4bVMAYaz6xq3UUq15NkhNd2FGo5PQzPLdfmozckswwig8lF3giX0oi-tT2xPUKgBQLxmthxgZPRaUngYfjrhlKbueBC8CkI0rCQhv9YkobsDaw/s320/image-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My latest "Bottle and Tap" column in the San Antonio <i>Current</i> is now available. The subject: Fall beer festivals! I'll let you give it a read by clicking <a href="http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-tap-time-to-get-hoppy-for-local-beer-fests-1.1568515" target="_blank">here</a> while I sit here and savor this Divine Reserve 13. (Photo courtesy of <a href="http://texascraftbrewersfestival.org/" target="_blank">Texas Craft Brewers Festival</a>)Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-52403509299738631512013-09-18T19:32:00.000-05:002014-02-07T21:22:05.943-06:00Ranger Creek Releases New Whiskey Born From Belgian Beer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz8kxcTHqZJZgYj3sddnuFmj1T0omjvLNvUwoZBazf4aLAqBwBOjvkE8_rQ-FGU0VGtOESaxdvoX5AhvaoP3JujITYqwhqT1d4txrP7lVi-epg6wMMcWy7_IdiT_yIcd-YTpI7Q/s1600/Ranger+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz8kxcTHqZJZgYj3sddnuFmj1T0omjvLNvUwoZBazf4aLAqBwBOjvkE8_rQ-FGU0VGtOESaxdvoX5AhvaoP3JujITYqwhqT1d4txrP7lVi-epg6wMMcWy7_IdiT_yIcd-YTpI7Q/s200/Ranger+Creek.jpg" height="200" width="174" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I try to revive this blog I'm hoping to move away from simple cutting-and-pasting of press releases, but this is just too interesting not to share. Gotta get me some of this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SAN ANTONIO, TX, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_57730177" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">September 19, 2013</span></span> – In the fall of 2010 the guys at Ranger Creek were installing the equipment at their brewstillery and anxiously waiting to sell their first keg of beer. They had brewed a batch of Belgian beer that couldn’t be sold because they were waiting for government paperwork. On the distillery side, they needed to run something through their still in order to test it. So they looked at the beer and decided to distill it. The end result surprised them by how interesting and unique it was. Three years later they are releasing this happy accident to the public.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a combined brewery/distillery, Ranger Creek is fascinated by the relationship between beer and whiskey. They are also committed to finding answers to crazy questions like “How does a Belgian beer taste when distilled into a whiskey?“ The resulting spirit is something that could only be created at a brewstillery, and it’s so unique that Ranger Creek had to create a new term to accurately describe it: Belgian White Whiskey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The new whiskey is the evil twin of the beer. While the beer is named <b><i>La Bestia Aimable</i></b> (The Friendly Beast), the whiskey is called <b><i>La Bestia Defavorable</i></b> (The Unfriendly Beast). The packaging showcases the relationship. The whiskey was put in a 750 ml amber glass beer bottle with a beer crown finish and a swing top to reseal it. When placed next to its twin brother the relationship is apparent. Pictures of both bottles are available here:<a href="http://www.drinkrangercreek.com/community/press-media/ranger-creek-la-bestia-defavorable" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"> http://www.drinkrangercreek.<wbr></wbr>com/community/press-media/<wbr></wbr>ranger-creek-la-bestia-<wbr></wbr>defavorable</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>La Bestia Defavorable</i></b> will be available in Texas only. The recommended retail price is $32.99/750 ml bottle at Spec’s and other fine spirits retailers across the state. Bottles are available for purchase for $25.00 when visiting Ranger Creek’s brewstillery in San Antonio. Less than 500 cases of Ranger Creek La Bestia Defavorable will be released, so whiskey enthusiasts are encouraged to buy bottles while they last. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Release events will commence in Ranger Creek’s hometown of San Antonio on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_57730178" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday, September 19</span></span> with a release party at The Brooklynite, featuring two special cocktails prepared with the new whiskey. Bottles will be available on retail shelves starting on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_57730179" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday, September 20</span></span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">EDIT: Details on that Brooklynite party:</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Brooklynite is Hosting a Ranger Creek Whiskey Release Party<u></u><u></u></span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ranger Creek Introduces La Bestia Defavorable at The Brooklynite</span><u></u><u></u></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">WHAT:</span></b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"> <b>The Brooklynite</b> is hosting a <b>Ranger Creek </b>Whiskey Release Party!<b> Ranger Creek</b> will be introducing a brand new whiskey named <b>La Bestia Defavorable</b> this Thursday, September 19<sup>th</sup>, at <b>The Brooklynite. </b>No Cover and free samples of the new whiskey all night. Come out and try <b>Ranger Creek</b>’s new white whiskey that was born from a Belgian Beer! Cocktails and beer also will be available for purchase. Food will be available for purchase via food trucks outside of <b>The Brooklynite</b>.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">WHEN: Thursday, September 19<sup>th</sup><u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_57730194" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8 p.m. – 11 p.m.</span></span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">WHERE: The Brooklynite<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">516 Brooklyn Ave<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"> San Antonio, TX 78215<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">PRICE: No Cover and Free Samples<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">ABOUT THE<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">BROOKLYN-<u></u><u></u></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">ITE: </span><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal;">Showcasing premium spirits alongside house-made cordials, bitters and juices in craft cocktails, The Brooklynite Team prides themselves on being supremely balanced, unapologetically playful, totally unique and always providing top-notch service.</span><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></h3>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">ABOUT<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">RANGER<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">CREEK: </span></b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">Ranger Creek is a combined brewery/distillery proudly located in San Antonio, TX. We make beer and whiskey in our “brewstillery”, and we make it by hand one batch at a time with lots of love and attention. We like to focus on the relationship between beer and whiskey. As a combined operation, we can do things to highlight this relationship that no one else can, like age our own beer in our own bourbon barrels and distill our beers into whiskeys. We also use much of the same equipment to make both our beer and our whiskey, and we can do this because there are a lot of similarities between the two processes. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">MORE: Website – </span></b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.thebrooklynitesa.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.thebrooklynitesa.com</a><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.drinkrangercreek.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">www.drinkrangercreek.com</span></a><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"> <wbr></wbr> </span></b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;">Facebook - </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TreTrattoriaDowntown" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>TheBrooklynite</span></a><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TreTrattoriaDowntown" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">https://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/RangerCreek</span></a><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-22197262997895582132013-09-12T20:07:00.000-05:002013-09-12T20:08:44.410-05:00Back in the writing game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello loyal readers (the few of you that are left). As you may remember, I was for about three years the beer writer for <i>The Austin Chronicle</i>, the alt-weekly in beautiful Austin, Texas. Today I'm happy to announce that I'm back in the beer-writing game, again for an alt-weekly: On Wednesday, I took over as the beer columnist for the San Antonio <i>Current</i>. It may seem odd for an Austin-based writer to be covering brew for a San Antonio paper, but since I work for a state senator from San Antonio, I'm down there quite a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In fact, my first column is about my boss, and some really great beer-friendly laws she helped pass in the recently ended legislative session. Read about it <a href="http://sacurrent.com/dining/food/bottle-amp-tap-beer-laws-signed-into-effect-now-what-1.1549224" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-73030717179737088372013-08-25T15:32:00.001-05:002013-08-25T15:38:31.403-05:00Big Bend Brewing a Quick Success Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last year, one of the pioneering icons of the Austin brewing scene surprised Central Texas beer lovers by picking up and leaving town. As <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/food/2012-05-11/beer-flights-news-on-austin-brews-from-alpine-to-munich/" target="_blank">I documented in the <i>Austin Chronicle</i></a>, Live Oak Brewing's (and before that, Waterloo brewpub's) <b>Steve Anderson</b> announced he was moving out to the wide open spaces of West Texas to open up <a href="http://www.bigbendbrewing.com/" target="_blank"><b>Big Bend Brewing</b></a> in Alpine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I happy to announce his venture into the Davis Mountains has been a success, and the news comes from my good friend Bret, normally a sports writer for the <i>El Paso Times</i> but today taking a turn at beer journalism. Apparently, Bret says, they're drinking up Steve's beer faster than Steve can brew it. Read Bret's great write-up <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/business/ci_23934392/alpine-brewery-making-waves-across-texas" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-44261693393148206372013-08-22T12:00:00.000-05:002013-08-22T12:00:07.916-05:00Win a Trip to GABF!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd08q6XssDtgJTX29eUUThDBziqZ9pi-VOU20I_0IYCofKV3RohHDI7SnAa7g1JKrWl9V5tYoekNirFPHQp8i7Z-U5TFWVljXabcgmWFkJlGznNg5XaFP5VkDd5bPtUSyZy8zxQ/s1600/GABF_sm_CreditRichGrantVISITDENVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd08q6XssDtgJTX29eUUThDBziqZ9pi-VOU20I_0IYCofKV3RohHDI7SnAa7g1JKrWl9V5tYoekNirFPHQp8i7Z-U5TFWVljXabcgmWFkJlGznNg5XaFP5VkDd5bPtUSyZy8zxQ/s320/GABF_sm_CreditRichGrantVISITDENVER.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Press release from the Denver Convention and Visitor's Bureau. I think you're gonna want to read it.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 22pt;">Denver’s Ultimate Beer-cation Giveaway<br />Offers a Trip To The Center of the “Brewniverse”</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) Sold Out In Minutes – Giveaway Includes Roundtrip Airfare, Accommodations and Tickets to GABF</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 22pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">DENVER, CO – <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529851" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">August 21, 2013</span></span> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">– <a href="http://greatamericanbeerfestival.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Great American Beer Festival (GABF)</a> – to be held <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529852" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Oct. 10-12</span></span> at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver – sold out in a matter of minutes, leaving thousands of brew lovers crying in their beers. But a trip to craft beer paradise is still within reach! <a href="http://denv.co/gabf-beercation" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Denver’s Ultimate Beer-Cation Giveaway</a>, running on<a href="http://facebook.com/VISITDENVER" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Facebook.com/VISITDENVER</a> through <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529853" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">September 2</span></span>, will bring one winner and a friend to The Mile High City for a truly brew-tastic weekend.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The randomly selected winner will receive:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Round-trip airfare for two to Denver on <a href="http://www.flyfrontier.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Frontier Airlines</a> (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529854" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">October 11-13</span></span>)<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two nights at <a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Denver/Default.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Ritz-Carlton, Denver</a> (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529855" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">October 11-13</span></span>)<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two tickets to the <a href="http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Great American Beer Festival</a> (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529856" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">October 12</span></span>)<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two ‘Hops N’ Honey’ pedicures at <a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Denver/Spa/Default.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Denver</a> (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529857" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">October 12</span></span>)<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dinner for two at <a href="http://www.alehousedenver.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Ale House at Amato’s</a> (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529858" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">October 11</span></span>)<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two Denver Beer Trail guides<u></u><u></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Entering is as easy as cracking open a cold one.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Go to Denver Rocks Giveaway page: <a href="http://denv.co/gabf-beercation" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">denv.co/gabf-beercation</a><u></u><u></u></span><br />
<u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Like” <a href="http://facebook.com/visitdenver" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">VISIT DENVER</a> (if you haven’t already!)<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fill out the easy entry form and submit<u></u><u></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sharing is caring – and pays off! Entrants who share this contest with Facebook friends increase their chances of winning. Every time a friend enters through the post on your wall, your name will receive five more entries into the contest.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">GABF is considered to be the most prestigious and coveted beer competition in America. It is certainly the world’s largest beer celebration, with a Guinness World Record for the most beers ever made available for tasting at a single event, and this year officials estimate that during the 2013 GABF, an astonishing 3,000 different beers will be available from 600 breweries.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But GABF is just the tip of the beer iceberg that month in Denver – a city that brews more beer than any other. From <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529859" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">October 4-12</span></span>, the citywide suds celebration known as <a href="http://www.denverbeerfest.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Denver Beer Fest</a>, returns for its fifth year with more than 150 events, including Meet the Brewer Nights, an Oktoberfest celebration in lower downtown, beer-paired dinners, firkin nights, brewer versus brewer competitions and a whole lot more. If you love – or even just like – beer, Denver is the place to be this October. All events are listed at <a href="http://www.denverbeerfest.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">DenverBeerFest.com</a>.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Were you one of the lucky ones, and already have your GABF tickets but still need a place to stay? Go to <a href="http://www.denverbeerfest.com/hoteldeals" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">denverbeerfest.com/hoteldeals</a> to find special rates and packages timed to the Denver Beer Fest. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-49982547933276000782013-08-21T21:57:00.000-05:002013-08-21T21:57:31.153-05:00Volunteer for Texas Craft Brewers Festival<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGzqhN97Eh0eKrCzfz_HouCmprExYclbP4V52B24ZdQPps-F334EK_-iDtXyPkppf2zQKwfHGzGUiuDlD_ZVwBoMJGjMD-Otrxi_YMgl91A4WkX3AEKsofYAeZFPj4teUJJ1qWw/s1600/tcbf-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGzqhN97Eh0eKrCzfz_HouCmprExYclbP4V52B24ZdQPps-F334EK_-iDtXyPkppf2zQKwfHGzGUiuDlD_ZVwBoMJGjMD-Otrxi_YMgl91A4WkX3AEKsofYAeZFPj4teUJJ1qWw/s200/tcbf-logo.png" width="200" /></a>The <b>Texas Craft Brewers Festival</b> (which I heartily endorse) is coming up next month. <a href="http://openthetaps.org/" target="_blank">Open the Taps</a> (the political arm of the Texas craft beer community) passes along this message from the Festival:<br />
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Hello Open The Taps Supporter!<br />
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The Young Men's Business League and the Texas Craft Brewers Guild are reaching out to you as supporters of Texas Craft Beer. The 2013 Texas Craft Brewers Festival will be held on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1353529833" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday, September 28th</span></span> at Fiesta Gardens in downtown Austin. This is the original Texas-only craft beer festival and we will feature 40 Texas breweries this year. We are looking for many volunteers for our event and know you will be a huge help with this task. We need everything from beer pourers to merchandise sales to volunteer check in and more. Please consider volunteering for the Festival and visit the Texas Craft Brewers Festival volunteer page. <a href="http://openthetaps.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=8adb971e4868e2c35e262b02e&id=c29db11c3c&e=769377f38e" style="color: #fefdd7;" target="_blank"><strong>The sign-up form can be found here:</strong></a></div>
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<a href="http://openthetaps.us5.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=8adb971e4868e2c35e262b02e&id=eea51954db&e=769377f38e" style="color: #fefdd7;" target="_blank"><strong>http://<wbr></wbr>texascraftbrewersfestival.org/<wbr></wbr>volunteer</strong></a></div>
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As a volunteer, you will receive entry into the Festival as well as a Festival t-shirt. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. <a href="mailto:volunteer@TexasCraftBrewersFestival.org" style="color: #fefdd7;" target="_blank"><strong>Please email volunteer@<wbr></wbr>TexasCraftBrewersFestival.org.</strong></a></div>
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Thanks for your support of Texas Craft Beer.</div>
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Kristin Jacobson</div>
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Texas Craft Brewers Festival Volunteer Coordinator</div>
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Charles Vallhonrat</div>
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Executive Director, Texas Craft Brewers Guild</div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-29340830574718593262013-07-21T12:31:00.001-05:002013-07-21T12:34:23.623-05:00Real Ale Brewing Co. Announces Local Food Drive Benefitting Capital Area Food Bank of Texas<b><span style="font-size: large;">Real Ale Brewing Co. Announces Local Food Drive Benefitting Capital Area Food Bank of Texas:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">“Cans for Cans” Food Drive features Local Beer, Music & Food</span></b><br />
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Austin, TX – July 15th, 2013 -- The 1st annual Austin “Cans for Cans” Food Drive will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 24th, 2013 at The Browning Hangar at Mueller located at 4550 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX 78723.<br />
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This unique event will benefit the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas by allowing guests to exchange cans of nonperishable food items for cans of local craft beer donated by Real Ale Brewing Co. The event is FREE and open to the public of all ages. Food donations are encouraged but not mandatory for admission. Once guests have shown their ID for age verification, they will receive (1) beer ticket for every (2) cans of food donated (limit (3) beers per person). The Food Drive will feature local music from 2 Fer 1 featuring Graham Wilkinson & Shawn Nelson, The Preservation, and Bobby Jealousy and local food trucks, which will include: Short Bus, Mmmpanadas, Whole Foods Food Truck, Fresh Off The Truck, Elixer Coffee solutions and Bud’s PoBoys. Beer will include Real Ale’s Hans’ Pils, Four Squared DryHopped Ale and Firemans #4 Blonde Ale.<br />
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*Most Needed Food Items include: 100% Peanut Butter, Chili, Canned meats, Canned tuna, Canned stews, Canned soups, Canned vegetables, Canned pasta sauce (low-sodium, no added sugar), Dry Beans, Canned fruit (in its own juice), Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta), Healthy cereals, Low-fat Shelf Stable Milk, Full meals in a can/box, “Pop top” food items<br />
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ABOUT THE FOOD BANK: The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB) provides food and grocery products to more than 300 Partner Agencies in 21 Central Texas counties. In Fiscal Year 2011-12, CAFB provided more than 22 million pounds of food. The CAFB service area covers 19,064 square miles in Central Texas. The mission of the Capital Area Food Bank is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger.<br />
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ABOUT THE BREWERY: Welcome to the Texas Hill Country - the home of Real Ale Brewing Company, where a dedicated team of brewers produces quality handcrafted ales. Utilizing a 60-barrel stainless steel brewing system, we incorporate 100% malted grain, domestic and imported hops, and crystal clear water into our unique recipes. We've been brewing since 1996, and now you can find Real Ale all over the Lone Star State. If you don't see us at your favorite stores, bars, and restaurants, make sure to ask for us by name! Cheers and thanks for your support!<br />
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Realalebrewing.com<br />
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WHAT: 1st Annual Austin “Cans for Cans” Food Drive<br />
WHEN: Saturday, August 24th, 2013 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm<br />
WHERE: 4550 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX 78723<br />
BENEFICIARY: Capital Area Food Bank of Texas<br />
SPONSORS: Real Ale Brewing Co., The Browning Hangar at Mueller<br />
FEATURING: Local Music, Local Food Trucks, Real Ale Giveaways & Other Activities<br />
COST: The event is FREE and open to the public of all ages (with an encouraged canned food item donation)Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-60879622778302337422013-06-23T21:29:00.000-05:002013-06-23T21:29:25.287-05:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Press release from Hops & Grain below. When I find time, I'll make a little additional comment about the new Texas laws that the press release refers to. Now that I work for the Texas Legislature, I got an inside view of these laws moving through the legislative process. My boss, State Senator Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio played a key role in making this happen, and I'm very proud of her.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Great Things to Come for Hops & Grain Brewery</span><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">New Craft Beer Laws Pave Way for Expansion </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Austin, TX) – In response to Texas’ new craft brew laws, Austin-based brewery Hops & Grain has successfully applied for a Brewpub license and proudly announces an enhanced experience and expanded set of hours in its tap room beginning the first week of July. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <br />Governor Rick Perry graciously signed the bills into law last week, which went into effect immediately. Hops & Grain, among other breweries in the area, will officially become a brewpub, which owner Josh Hare applied for this past April.<br /> <br />With a brewpub license, Hops & Grain will be able to sell its beer on-premise, which will begin this weekend, giving customers the chance to drink and buy beer from the source. That means that visitors to the tap room can now purchase a beer or two from the tap wall, plus cans and growler fills to take home. Starting the first week of July, tap room hours will also be expanded to Thursday and Friday from 2 - 8PM and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 6PM. However, the first Thursday, July 4, Hops & Grain will be closed in observation of the holiday and will open its first Thursday tap room day on July 11. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <br />This means great things for Hops & Grain, as well as for the consumer. Allowing the brewery to provide reasonably priced beer directly to the consumer from the brewery as well as allowing direct distribution to local retail establishments, these new laws open the door for Hops & Grain to grow to its full potential and to give the people what they want – great craft beer! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <br />“We are stoked to be able to continue to offer the experience that our customers have come to expect with the added benefit of being able to purchase beer from our tap room to take home with you,” says Hare. “It’s a better, more sustainable experience for everyone.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <br />About Hops & Grain: Specializing in craft beer and sustainability, Hops & Grain Brewery is located in East Austin (literally at the end of East Sixth Street) at 507 Calles, Austin, TX 78702. Hops & Grain Tap Room is currently open every Friday from 2 – 6PM, and every Saturday from Noon – 4PM with tours of the brewery given on Saturdays at 1 and 3PM. Tours are approximately 45 minutes and include special samples not available in the tap room. Beginning July 1 the Tap Room will expand its hours to Thursday and Friday from 2 - 8PM and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 6PM. For further information please visit <a href="http://www.barleyswine.com/">www.hopsandgrain.com</a> or call 512.914.2467. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at Facebook.com/hopsandgrain and follow us on Twitter @HopsandGrain.</span></div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-41904495021088318162013-03-05T20:31:00.000-06:002013-04-03T20:01:23.488-05:00Founders Brewing Coming to Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>UPDATE TO THIS POST: Here's where you can get delicious Founders Brewing products on tap when they launch in Texas next week: <a href="http://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2013/founders-texas-launch-locations/?av-submitted=true">http://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2013/founders-texas-launch-locations/?av-submitted=true</a></i><br />
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I get press releases all the time announcing the introduction of this or that brewery into the Texas market, and I usually ignore them, because I just don't think yet another out-of-state brewery squeezing onto our store shelves is that big a deal, even if they make decent beer.<br />
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But I'm making an exception for this one. I think Michigan's Founders Brewing makes <i>excellent</i> beer. Heretofore, I've only been able to taste their magnificent work when I travel to Kansas City to visit my in-laws. I've mostly had their heavier beers during my Christmas visits, and I especially loved the Porter and the Breakfast Stout. Seriously, the crappiest beer I've ever had by them was great. I'm really looking forward to this.</div>
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<b>FOUNDERS BREWING CO. EXPANDS DISTRIBUTION INTO TEXAS </b></div>
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<i>Founders’ Beers Will Be Available in the Lone Star State in April 2013</i></div>
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<b>GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Mar. 5, 2012</b> - Founders Brewing Co. has partnered with Ben E. Keith Beverage Distributors to offer their unique beers across the Lone Star State beginning April 2013. Founders Brewing Co., established in 1997, has evolved into one of the highest recognized breweries in the United States. Texans will now have the opportunity to enjoy their products without having to leave the state. </div>
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“Texas is an up-and-coming market, and we’re impressed with what we’re seeing there,” said Co-Founder & CEO Mike Stevens. “We’ve been getting more and more inquiries<span style="color: #ff1f17;"> </span>from Founders fans in Texas over the past couple of years. The Ben E. Keith team is dedicated to the craft beer market and is helping introduce complex brands like ours to eager consumers who are hungry for them. Besides, we’ve always wanted to get Founders beer to Willie Nelson’s home state. Now the time is right.”</div>
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"We are delighted to partner with Founders,” said Specialty Division Manager at Ben E. Keith Kevin Nettleton, “and are eager to distribute their esteemed beers in Texas."</div>
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Founders plans to include all of its year-round and seasonal ales as draft product in the first shipment for an April 8 release. Bottled beers will be released in May, and specialty releases will be available following the release schedule from there.</div>
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For a list of all the states in which Founders is available, as well as information on their new 2013 lineup and release calendar, visit <a href="http://www.foundersbrewing.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.foundersbrewing.com</a>. </div>
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<b>About Founders Brewing Co.</b></div>
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Established in 1997 by two craft beer enthusiasts with day jobs and a dream, Founders Brewing Co. has made a distinctive mark on the craft beer community by brewing complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics and tons of flavor. Founders is one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in the nation, currently ranking among the top 50 largest craft breweries in the U.S. The brewery has received numerous awards from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, and its beers are often rated among the best in the world by RateBeer and BeerAdvocate users. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, Founders is a proud member of the <a href="http://www.michiganbrewersguild.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1c39f6;">Michigan Brewers Guild</span></a> and the <a href="http://www.brewersassociation.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1c39f6;">Brewers Association</span></a>. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.foundersbrewing.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1c39f6;">www.foundersbrewing.com</span></a>.<wbr></wbr> </div>
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<b>About Ben E. Keith Beverages</b></div>
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Ben E. Keith Company, established in 1906, began selling Anheuser-Busch products in 1933. Today, Ben E. Keith Company’s Beverage division is the third largest independent beer wholesaler in the country. The company also distributes import beers, craft beers, wine products and nonalcoholic beverages. With fourteen Sales & Distribution Centers in Texas including Abilene, Austin, Brownwood, Commerce, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ft. Worth, Houston, Kerrville, Llano, Palestine, San Antonio, and Waco, the company operates throughout the state of Texas. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.benekeith.com/beverage" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1c39f6;">www.BenEKeith.com/<wbr></wbr>beverage</span></a>.</div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-32092832484034032212013-03-05T08:10:00.003-06:002013-03-05T08:10:59.429-06:00Texas Craft Brewing Legislation Being Discussed RIGHT NOWAs I post this, the Texas craft brewing legislation is being discussed right now in the Senate Business & Commerce Committee. (8am, March 5). If you want to watch, go to <a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/Os4na8IVWN" target="_blank" title="http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php"><span class="invisible">http://www.</span><span class="js-display-url">senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php</span></a> and click on the Business and Commerce channel.Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-84485675203686451652013-02-13T21:50:00.000-06:002013-02-13T21:50:37.124-06:00Beer Bills at the Texas Legislature<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TZ-WoqqeefFZlKiNxsQIKEIoSOvsNq3VtGdrnfkBnZwfpVjuHLGVDk_csgVDxFMcwzqnfZdwP5d0cHXysTgfq1Z_vX81PAXyR0Tytvz30XJpHpfXC4f0gGCNs1jqbN1lPe-QAg/s1600/capitol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TZ-WoqqeefFZlKiNxsQIKEIoSOvsNq3VtGdrnfkBnZwfpVjuHLGVDk_csgVDxFMcwzqnfZdwP5d0cHXysTgfq1Z_vX81PAXyR0Tytvz30XJpHpfXC4f0gGCNs1jqbN1lPe-QAg/s200/capitol.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hey, remember me? I used to write a beer blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I used to be a reporter for <i>The Austin Chronicle</i>. And 2011 really kicked butt, because I kind of became the go-to guy in Texas for reporting on beer-related legislation, because I was the only beer writer in the state who just happened to also be a Capitol reporter and could live-blog directly from committee meetings in Austin. My blog traffic went nuts every time I broke news on the bills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That was fun, but I can't be that guy anymore, because now I'm working inside the legislature, rather than reporting on it. And because my boss, state Senator Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, is one of the coauthors of this year's beer legislation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I'll just step aside and offer you, without commentary, links to the reporting of others. Here's what happened yesterday: After months of discussions between various stakeholders, bills were filed that would benefit craft brewers in Texas. Here's a sampling of the reporting:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Small-brewers-drawing-support-4273049.php?t=022fb2078a97c6371e" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Houston Chro</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>nicle</i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/cityofate/2013/02/craft_beer_legislation.php" target="_blank">Dallas Observer</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/craft-beer-bills-back-in-business" target="_blank">KXAN-TV</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://blog.freetailbrewing.com/2013/02/12/2013-tx-craft-beer-bills-introduced/" target="_blank"><i>Brewed and Never Battered </i>(Freetail Brewing)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/food/2013-02-13/breaking-news-beer-bills-introduced/" target="_blank">Austin Chronicle</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you'd like to keep track of these bills yourself (and read the text, and get other details), go to these links and set up e-mail alerts that will notify you whenever the bills advance through the legislative process:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB515" target="_blank">Senate Bill 515</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB516" target="_blank">SB 516</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB517" target="_blank">SB 517</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB518" target="_blank">SB 518</a></span></div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-5071220129682168112012-12-20T11:10:00.001-06:002012-12-20T11:10:10.390-06:00PRESS RELEASE: Austin Beer Guide Winter 2012 Release Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A1HKcxVtIQAW-C1P4sHm1w5iHE6EtuqGcwVXOemyp2Pv__ha6sBCxCFdCYr-_8eB54S0CVQVPeqyAuntZJVlO4camTYHGNv62eOuvx0afy1jPTNt78u8T3tULLKUeJCz7wxCjg/s1600/Cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A1HKcxVtIQAW-C1P4sHm1w5iHE6EtuqGcwVXOemyp2Pv__ha6sBCxCFdCYr-_8eB54S0CVQVPeqyAuntZJVlO4camTYHGNv62eOuvx0afy1jPTNt78u8T3tULLKUeJCz7wxCjg/s200/Cover1.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">AUSTIN, TX DECEMBER 20, 2012 - </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Austin Beer Guide </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">are more than appropriately excited to announce the release of their eighth issue, Winter 2012, AKA the "Business as Usual" issue. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">This bout the boys venture to Colorado to "cover" the Great American Beer Festival and live to tell about it, pick the brain of Real Ale head brewer Erik Ogershok, explore the relatively new winter beer style "the Beer Jacket", share a pint and conversation with former Uncle Billy's on the Lake brewer Spencer Tielkemeier, and spill the beans on the Best of 2012 Readers' and Editors' picks. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Yup, business as usual.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">And speaking of business, an issue this grand deserves a party of equal grandness. Come join the <i>Austin Beer Guide</i> at Draught House on Thursday, December 20 at 6pm for their </span><b>Winter Release/Best of 2012 Readers’ Poll Awards/Too Many Beers/Apocalypse Eve/Die Hard/Holiday Party!</b></div>
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<b>The short list: </b></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">First look at the Winter 2012 <i>Austin Beer Guide </i></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Awarding the <b>Best of 2012 Readers’ and Editors’ picks</b> </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">17 + rare, one-off, hard to get, blah blah blah beers from Austin and beyond </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Free <b>Foreign & Domestic Bake Sale</b> Fruit Cakes </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Family Christmas photo booth </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Draught House’s own <b>DJ JBL </b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Special <b>Seedling truck</b> “End of the World” menu </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Buy the beer keep the ABG glass </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">ABG Stocking stuffers for the first 100 guests </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Best <b>Santa/John McClane</b> costume contest </li>
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Go <a href="http://www.austinbeerguide.com/events-2/winter-releasebest-of-2012-readers-poll-awardstoo-many-beersapocalypse-evedie-hardholiday-party-at-draught-house/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a> for more details and see the attached flyer. </div>
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Cheers! </div>
Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-3746906064741225152012-12-19T10:30:00.000-06:002012-12-19T10:30:16.229-06:00PRESS RELEASE: Ranger Creek Releases First Beer Aged in Their Own Bourbon Barrels as Small Batch Series No. 4<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">SAN ANTONIO, TX, December 18, 2012 – As a combined brewery/distillery, Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling can make products that no one else can.</span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">They have just released their most exciting beer to date – the first one to be aged in their own bourbon barrels - and they intend to brag about it pretty loudly.</span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">The beer is the 4</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">release in the brewery’s Small Batch series – a line of seasonal, single batch brews designed to be unique, interesting, and often experimental. </span></div>
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Small Batch Series No. 4 is an Imperial Mesquite Smoked Porter aged in Ranger Creek Bourbon Barrels. The brewery took one of their year-round releases, their Mesquite Smoked Porter, and brewed it to 10% ABV. It was then aged for 10 months in their own Texas bourbon barrels,</div>
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Rob Landerman, head brewer at Ranger Creek, describes Small Batch Series No. 4 as “carrying a sumptuous nose of sweet oak, mesquite smoke, dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow and vanilla, along with flavors of dark bittersweet cocoa laced with sea salt, smoke, vanilla, and caramel. Its a warming winter release that is heavenly to sip now, but it will also age and mellow nicely for up to 10 years if stored carefully.”</div>
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Beer aged in bourbon barrels is nothing new to the craft industry. However, Ranger Creek is the first brewery to use their own bourbon barrels instead of purchasing used barrels from a bourbon distillery. The barrels were first used by the brewstillery to age their Ranger Creek .36 Texas Bourbon, then kept in-house to age their beer. Small Batch Series No. 4 allows Ranger Creek to focus on their goal of showcasing the relationship between beer and whiskey. </div>
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Small Batch Series No. 4 is available now at fine Texas craft beer retailers in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas/Ft. Worth. The Small Batch series has received critical acclaim since its release in April. Small Batch Series No. 2 was recognized by DRAFT Magazine as a top 25 beer of 2012.</div>
Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-18234653742320266952012-11-22T10:54:00.000-06:002012-11-22T10:54:01.539-06:00What's Brewing in San AntonioToday's <i>San Antonio Express-News</i> has a good round-up of what's happening and what's about to happen in that city's brewery scene. Give it a read: <a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Small-breweries-being-crafted-to-quench-beer-4058202.php">http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Small-breweries-being-crafted-to-quench-beer-4058202.php</a>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-36509659969597989272012-10-02T12:00:00.001-05:002012-10-02T12:00:00.731-05:00Tour de Fat Austin, 2012: October 20<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZyCF6XqM59lc6gGDGNL5Qh2nauiZXrZji9hAvGgwN5E0va2UlzNxFDFSUPFMSFlv9Ad9xGgqKW_0c-9uYjYt0dIlEGqS3sr2oa9Sq5JMJQQkuFR8m2N7i5zCrwhnxDw7dMM6wQ/s1600/tour_de_fat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZyCF6XqM59lc6gGDGNL5Qh2nauiZXrZji9hAvGgwN5E0va2UlzNxFDFSUPFMSFlv9Ad9xGgqKW_0c-9uYjYt0dIlEGqS3sr2oa9Sq5JMJQQkuFR8m2N7i5zCrwhnxDw7dMM6wQ/s200/tour_de_fat.jpeg" width="159" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Ft. Collins, CO, September 28, 2012</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – Hold on tight, Austin, we’re headed back to finish up another fantastic season in your backyard! New Belgium Brewing’s cycling circus, Tour de Fat, is returning to town for one day on <b>Saturday, October 20</b> at <b>the West End of Fiesta Garden</b>. Tour de Fat rookies and veterans alike are encouraged to grab a bike and join us for a whimsical day of entertainment and two-wheeled revelry, all while raising money for Austin Cycling Association and Austin Ridge Riders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">For those who haven’t experienced Tour de Fat, it is a thrilling rite of passage that includes an unparalleled costumed bicycle parade, New Belgium beer, eccentric entertainment, local food, unusual bike contests and much more.<br /><br />The free event, which raises money for local nonprofits through beer and merchandise purchases, has exceeded the $2 million mark for total funds raised since its inception 13 years ago. Last year’s Austin Tour de Fat festival raised nearly $13,400 and had about 2,000 attendees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The pinnacle of Tour de Fat is the ceremonious car-for-bike swap. In each of the 15 cities, one person will become the center of the show as he or she gets up on stage, hands over their car keys, and pledges to live one year car-free. <b>Tour de Fat is now seeking volunteers in the Austin area to accept the swapper challenge.</b> Each car-for-bike swapper will choose a local bike shop to help turn a $2,250 budget into an ultimate car-replacement commuter bike. Vehicles for Charity will auction the car, with proceeds benefitting local cycling organizations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">To submit a swapper application, go to the New Belgium Tour de Fat Facebook page (<a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/67805476a2" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>TourDeFat</a>), click on events and your city of choice, and upload a video. Applicants may also submit letters about why New Belgium should select them by emailing: <a href="mailto:trademycarforabike@newbelgium.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">trademycarforabike@newbelgium.<wbr></wbr>com</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">“As if riding in the most colorful bike parade known to mankind isn’t enough, our entertainment this year will make your heads pop off like dandelions,” said Matt Kowal, Tour De Fat Impresario. “So put together a snazzy costume, hop on your bike and enjoy a day in the park. You won’t be disappointed!”<br /> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Saturday, October 20<br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Parade Registration:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <br />9:00 a.m.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Ride Times:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <br />10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Entertainment: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <br />West End of Fiesta Garden</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Benefitting: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Austin Cycling Association – <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/57b1f9d9a4" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.austincycling.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Austin Ridge Riders – <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/ad978e3f97" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.austinridgeriders.<wbr></wbr>com</a><br /> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Sustainability Support By:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Ecology Action of Texas – <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/bd44694216" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.ecology-action.org</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Performances By:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/4102fea199" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://karldenson.us</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Sean Hayes – <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/8ccc83d937" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.seanhayesmusic.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Yo-Yo People – <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/045b411594" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.yoyoshow.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Sssnakenstein – <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/0df28bce44" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.snakenstein.com</a> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Price:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Admission – Free</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Parade – Suggested donation of $5 or more</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Beer – $5 for a 16 oz. pour<br />In celebration of Austin Craft Beer week, special tappings will also be available for $5 for a 12 oz. pour at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., to highlight New Belgium’s Lips of Faith series. <br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">A few tidbits about Tour de Fat:</span></b></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Start sewing, collecting and dreaming up something to wear as Tour de Fat encourages embracing your inner costume-loving self. Come dressed up to help put on the most colorful, respectful and creative bike parade ever witnessed.</span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste. Bring only what you need and watch for proper receptacles. We’ll do the rest!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">All performers grab your attention from alternatively empowered stages decked out in recycled materials; trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils; and all vendors operate off the grid.<br /></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally. Non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">In 2011, Tour de Fat traveled to 13 cities, attracting a total of 69,550 festival attendees and 41,150 parade cyclists. It also raised </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">$401,563 and boasted an </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">impressive 90 percent diversion of waste from landfills. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">See <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/d02bb61cd1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>TourDeFat</a> for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit your entry to swap your gas guzzler for a fancy new bike. </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">About New Belgium Brewing Company</span></strong><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Shift Pale Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CommunicationsStrate/fc1f3c6883/fc26195038/136b7c2157" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.newbelgium.com</a>.</span></div>
Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-5661121432083006172012-10-01T12:00:00.000-05:002012-10-01T12:00:02.492-05:00Hops & Grain One-Year Anniversary Oct. 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwfvC9e7wf8-n46WCAeLrY68ude02SrmHVrCeQkiCOFpOwQ_DyFq_ZkvHEfPc5QwD_wPUxgHsrim_8cMh_lza2QZygvk-QdaIV6XHKw5GGfqJ6EDJmyHNvYNaXR7f-iWLc1S6Zg/s1600/21logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwfvC9e7wf8-n46WCAeLrY68ude02SrmHVrCeQkiCOFpOwQ_DyFq_ZkvHEfPc5QwD_wPUxgHsrim_8cMh_lza2QZygvk-QdaIV6XHKw5GGfqJ6EDJmyHNvYNaXR7f-iWLc1S6Zg/s200/21logo.png" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Need something to help you get over your hangover from the Texas Craft Brewers Festival? On October 7 (the day after the TCBF), Hops & Grain will celebrate its one-year anniversary. Press release from H&G:</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">HOPS &
GRAIN BREWERY TURNS ONE</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">A Celebration
is in Order for H&G’s One Year Anniversary</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b>WHO: </b>The crew at Hops & Grain.<br /><b> </b><o:p></o:p><b> </b><b>WHAT: </b>Taking place one year to the
day from when the first batch of Hops & Grain beer was brewed, is the
anniversary fiesta at the East Austin brewery with flowing beer, food via the
Backstage Grill and live music. Twelve beers will be featured, eight of which
have never been available before and were brewed exclusively for the
anniversary, including several Volumes of Oak selections, and the debut of the
O-Fest, a crisp, timely Oktoberfest lager. The Hops & Grain team will also
host a beer mile competition at 3PM (a drinking game combining running and
speed drinking—oh yes!) with H&G founders, Josh and Meg Hare facing off in
the final race. It has been quite the first year for the brewery—bringing home
gold from the Great American Beer Festival last October, developing over 25
styles of beer and tripling production for next year—and the crew at Hops &
Grain can’t wait to celebrate with all of their loyal fans.<br /> <b><o:p></o:p></b><b> </b><b>WHEN: </b>Sunday, October 7<br /><o:p></o:p><b> </b>12 – 5PM<br /><o:p></o:p><b> </b><b>WHERE: </b>Hops & Grain Brewery<br /><o:p></o:p> 507
Calles, Suite 101<br /> Austin,
TX 78702<br /><b> <br /> </b><b>WHY: </b>Because everything (including
breweries) deserves a one-year birthday party thrown in their honor that they
quite possibly will forget.<br /><b> <o:p></o:p></b><b> </b><b> </b><b>TICKETS: $35 </b>(Includes
a limited edition anniversary pint glass, free food, live music and access to
the brewery. All attendees over 21 will be able to enjoy free samples of all of
the H&G beers.)<br /><o:p></o:p><b> </b>*Tickets can be purchased in
the H&G tap room, <a href="http://www.hopsandgrain.com/tours-taproom/">http://www.hopsandgrain.com/tours-taproom/</a>,
as well as online at <a href="http://hopsandgrain.eventbrite.com/">http://hopsandgrain.eventbrite.com</a>
<o:p></o:p><br /><b>ABOUT: </b>Specializing in craft beer and
sustainability, Hops & Grain Brewery is located in East Austin (literally
at the end of Sixth Street) at 507 Calles, Austin, TX 78702. Hops & Grain
Tap Room is open every Friday from 2 – 6PM, and every Saturday from 12 – 4PM
with tours of the brewery given on Saturdays at 1 and 3PM. Tours are
approximately 45 minutes and include special samples not available in the tap
room. For further information please visit <a href="http://www.barleyswine.com/">www.hopsandgrain.com</a> or call 512.914.2467. ‘Like’
us on Facebook at Facebook.com/hopsandgrain and follow us on Twitter @HopsandGrain.</span><span style="font-family: Brandon Grotesque Regular;"><o:p></o:p></span></blockquote>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-31063138824487207512012-09-28T21:48:00.000-05:002012-09-28T21:48:38.507-05:00The Future of This Blog<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(Warning: This is being written while consuming a 1 pint 6 oz bottle of Divine Reserve #12 all by myself, a severe miscalculation. I thought #12 was just a double IPA, and not a 10% ABV old ale. Yeesh. Sorry for any typos or rambling.)</i></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you may have noticed, this blog has become a bit derelict over the past couple of years. While I once strove for some interesting writing, <i>I Love Beer </i>has devolved mostly into cut-and-paste press release reprints.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's a reason for that, and no, I don't think it's laziness on my part. The real culprit is just life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First off, I got pretty crazy busy as a staff writer for <i>The Austin Chronicle</i>, majoring in political journalism and minoring in beer writing. Then I got laid off from the <i>Chronicle </i>in late August 2011, a victim of the imploding print journalism industry. Which was actually pretty good for the beer writing/blogging: I notice, looking back in my archives, that I suddenly became a very prolific blogger in September and October of last year, and I had some good beer features in the <i>Chron</i> (I continued as their beer writer on a freelance basis).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But then I became employed again, landing a good job as communications director for Leticia Van de Putte, a great (and beer-friendly) state senator from San Antonio, back in December. I love the job, but it keeps me pretty busy. And when I get home from the Capitol, I really don't feel like writing about beer, just drinking it. I'm getting up at 5:30am to get my kids to school and squeeze in a workout (gotta work off that beer gut), and after work I'm often coaching my kids in soccer or doing something else with my family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it's only going to get worse. The Texas Legislature meets for regular sessions only on odd-numbered years, for 140 days beginning in mid-January. For a big giant state like Texas with a lot of needs, that's not very much. So the regular sessions are really, really hectic. I know from covering them as a reporter that they are intense, and I realize that as an actual Lege staffer, I will have pretty much <i>zero</i> time for extracurricular activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, there are two things I'm getting at here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1) Don't expect much in the way of interesting blogging, if any blogging at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2) I am no longer the beer writer for the <i>Chronicle</i>. I told them that, unless they were willing to go all the way from winter to summer of 2013 with no beer articles, they would need to find another beer writer. Of course, that's not something that a great publication like the <i>Chron </i>would be willing to do, so I've relinquished those duties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, that doesn't mean I'm giving up the blog. Because really, there's no reason to. This was started in 2006 on a lark, not as a business enterprise, and I'll continue to run it as such. I don't really owe anyone anything, this is just my hobby, so I'll post when I can and I won't when I can't. I still appreciate any freebies thrown my way, but I can't guarantee I'll follow up with reviews or posts. Send me a press release and I may post it, or I may not, depending on how busy my life is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My passion for craft beer has not diminished, just my ability to write about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One thing that will definitely disappear: Posts about craft-beer legislation here in Texas. While I took great pride in becoming a go-to source of reporting on the beer bills in the 2009 and 2011 Lege sessions, obviously my current job as a legislative insider compromises my ability to objectively cover such bills going forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, what is the future of this blog? I don't really know. For now, I guess it will drift along, sometimes good, sometimes lame. In any case, I hope you'll keep me in your feed reader and enjoy it during the good periods. And when it is good, please raise your glass in a toast to it.</span></div>
Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093430.post-46244604643237729592012-09-28T12:00:00.001-05:002012-09-28T20:15:45.967-05:00Oktoberfest Dinner at League Kitchen with Live Oak.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Never heard of this place. Apparently it's out at <strike>Avery Ranch </strike>(correction: Lakeway). But glad to see them working with a local brewer:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On Tuesday, October 2nd at 7pm, The League Kitchen & Tavern is hosting a four-course chef-inspired beer dinner featuring pairings with Austin's Live Oak Brewing. In true Oktoberfest fashion, The League is bringing beer maids and a polka band as part of the festivities. It's $65 per person. Reservations are required. Tickets are also sold at: <a href="http://theleaguekitchenandtavern.eventbrite.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>theleaguekitchenandtavern.<wbr></wbr>eventbrite.com/</a>.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chip McElroy, Founder of Live Oak, and Executive Chef Devan Gernert, will be walking dinner guests through each course and the beer pairing. <u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Menu and pairings below:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1st Course<br />Soft Pretzels and Bacon Wrapped Bratwurst Bites<br />Guinness Beer Cheese . Stone Ground Mustard . Sauerkraut<br />Live Oak Pilz<br /><br />2nd Course<br />Creamy Roasted Parsnip Soup<br />Jumbo Lump Crab . Crispy Parsnips . Vanilla Bean Crema<br />Live Oak's Hefeweizen<br /><br />3rd Course<br />Beer Braised and Grilled Rabbit Sausage<br />Brown Butter Spatzel . Currant Jelly . Red Wine Gravy . Apple Slaw<br />Live Oak's Ale<br /><br />4th Course<br />Crispy Slow Orange-Beer Braised Pork Shoulder<br />Potato Apple Cakes . Braised Red Cabbage . Blood Orange Sweet and Sour<br />Live Oak's Oaktoberfest</span></div>
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Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10588251769024959566noreply@blogger.com0