Get ready to cast your ballot because Tuesday, November 8th is election day. No matter who you’re voting for, a vote for beer is always the right way to go. Once you’ve made the tough choices, crack open a beer of your choosing and unlock this year’s limited edition badge. This badge is only available through midnight on Tuesday, November 8th, so be sure to get out and vote, then unlock your badge!
Small Brewers Caucus member Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) recently stopped by the Short’s Brewing Company production facility. As a small business advocate, Senator Peters is a co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation that aims to reduce excise taxes for small craft breweries in Michigan and across the country—the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act. “Craft breweries like Short’s are helping to strengthen […]
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During a visit to Belgium to participate as a judge in the Brussels Beer Challange, Brewers Association (BA) Supply Chain Specialist Chris Swersey was honored by the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Paddle. This award is presented each year to individuals who have contributed to the brewing profession and the promotion of Belgian beer. Chris Swersey has served […]
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On Thursday November 3, Congressman Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Representative of Texas’s 8th Congressional District visited Southern Star Brewing in Conroe, Texas to discuss the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) and the Ways and Means Committee’s blueprint for tax reform in the 115th Congress. He was joined […]
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The 5th annual Portland Beer Week is kicking into full swing as celebrations of all things beer take place throughout the Greater Portland, Maine area. Taking place between November 6th - 12th Portland Beer Week will feature a wide variety of beer-based events throughout the city. From brewer to bar to pint glass, the beer scene in Portland, Maine is thriving, so be sure to check it out!
This year we’ve got a new badge your those you in the Portland, Maine area to unlock. Check-in any beer at two (2) different participating venues listed below between November 6th - 12th and earn the “Portland Beer Week (2016)” badge. Be sure to add the participating location to your check-in for it to count.
See a full line up of events at portlandbeerweek.org and be sure to check out all the action on Twitter and Instagram.
Participating locations:
What’s your current position at your brewery? I am head brewer at Free State Brewing Co. in Lawrence, Kansas. What’s new at Free State and what’s next on the horizon? Free State continues to grow and adapt to the same changes and challenges that I see reflected throughout our industry from my BA board of […]
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We’re nearing the end of election season, a time of year when we get to vote for president of the United States, members of Congress, governors, and, in some states, even dog catchers. Our elected officials on the state and federal levels are important to brewers and can greatly impact their day-to-day lives. It’s always […]
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Halloween is officially in the books, which means the holiday season is right around the corner! No matter what holidays you celebrate, the AHA wants to help you elevate your holiday meals by pairing homebrew or craft beer with your favorite seasonal dishes.
Before you can become an all-star beer and food pairing expert, an important lesson to learn is why beer is such a great food pairing experience. Understanding the beer industry as it relates to the culinary world, and having the right vocabulary to discuss your dish and your beer, is critical to breaking down how flavors interact the way they do. Knowing where to start is the first step.
The AHA is excited to invite you to our next Zymurgy Live webinar, Beer & Food Pairing for the Holidays with Julia Herz, Craft Beer Program Director at the Brewers Association, and Matt Bolling, Events & Membership Coordinator at the AHA.
I sat down with Julia to discuss the state of craft beer in the US and what we can expect to learn in her webinar.
Q: Before we cover food pairing in the webinar, we’re going to talk a little bit about the state of craft beer. Why is that so important to understand?
A: Understanding the state of craft beer as it relates to the entire beverage industry is critical. Where beer stands in the industry and how it’s viewed is closely tied to the culinary arts world, as well as the food that we have on the plates in our own homes. The future of craft beer is undeniably linked to our understanding—as homebrewers—of beer being a part of the food pairing experience.
Q: And what is the role of the Brewers Association in the state of craft beer today?
A: The BA is a powerhouse in the beer world. The work we do to promote and protect our small and independent craft brewers around the country, as well as the community of brewing enthusiasts, is unmatched. Not only do we have the AHA working to further grow the amazing homebrewing community around the world, but we publish books, we have a variety of educational websites and resources for all types of brewers, and we work to further educate and encourage the public to champion beer from their local breweries. We make the beverage of beer better.
Q: What do you do for the Brewers Association?
A: I am the Craft Beer Program Director at the BA. First and foremost, I am an educator and advocate. I represent craft brewers in all 50 states and publish our consumer-facing website CraftBeer.com as well as our professional brewer website, BrewersAssociation.org. I am also an author for the Beer & Food Course, which is available for AHA members to download at CraftBeer.com.
Q: If participants would like to learn more after watching our webinar, what tools are available for them to further expand their knowledge of beer and food pairing?
A: If you take the time to listen to the webinar and download the resources available to you at CraftBeer.com, then you will be further into your own journey of expanding beer knowledge than you would have ever thought possible. I will take your palate and your mind on a wild ride in this Zymurgy Live webinar, and you will have the tools you need to go even further. Go to http://ift.tt/1Ttcmi5 to download the Beer & Food course before (or after) this webinar. You’ll also find tremendous resources at that site that connect the sensory aspect of beer tasting to pairing.
Q: You instructed attendees to be ready with a pickle and a sour beer, as well as some domestic blue cheese and an American IPA. Can you give us a preview of what we’re going to be doing with those pairings?
A: I’ve picked two strategic beers and two strategic food styles for Zymurgy Live. I chose a sour-centric beer to harmonize with something sour-centric such as a pickle, which is often brined in vinegar—so you’ll get sour and sour. That could be a sweet pickle or a dill pickle. I would advise attendees to go with a low-garlic variety since you want that pickle to be as simple as possible. The sour beer could be a gose, an American sour, or anything lactic with a tart acidity that will help you understand the reaction I’m hoping to display on your palate.
Our other pairing will be an American IPA with blue cheese, which is a very popular combo because it works so differently with different hop profiles. Depending on the IPA you bring to the webinar—whether a homebrew or your favorite from a locally owned and independent brewery—we’re going to explore the different ways that blue cheese can pair with different IPAs. Just as chefs pair their culinary creations with herbs & spices to match the flavor of that blue cheese, we’re going to discuss how homebrewers can use hop varieties, carbonation levels, alcohol levels, and other aspects of the beer to create amazing flavor harmonies with the dairy fat in the cheese.
Space is limited! Reserve your seat now for Thursday’s webinar with Julia & Matt, Beer & Food Pairing for the Holidays.
The post CraftBeer.com Director Julia Herz Discusses Upcoming Zymurgy Live Session appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.
In an effort to continue “putting Florida breweries on the map,” the Florida Brewers Guild (FBG) worked with the Florida Department of Transportation during the 2016 legislative session to draft and pass a statute authorizing the placement of directional signs for Florida breweries. Rather than opting for a limited highway exit sign, the new law […]
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The football season brings out one of the best parts of fall – tailgating. To help celebrate this tradition of bringing people together, grilling, and icing down beers, we’re bringing you the Blue Point “Tailgate with Toasted” badge.
Get ready for the game and unlock the “Tailgate with Toasted” badge, by checking-in one (1) Blue Point Toasted Lager between 11/3/16 – 12/3/16.
For more information about Blue Point, you can find them online at BluePointBrewing.com. Be sure to keep in touch with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest!
Are you ready to #PourHard? Our friends a Left Hand Brewing sure are. This November, Left Hand Brewing is celebrating “Nirtovember,” a month dedicated to their deep, rich, and smooth nitro line up. This November is the perfect time as Left Hand’s nitro-style stouts are the perfect companion Stout Day on November 3rd, Nitro Fest on November 12th, and of course Thanksgiving. Just be sure, for the best drinking experience possible, to #PourHard.
Join in the “Nitrovember” celebration and unlock a brand new badge! Check-in to one Milk Stout Nitro, Wake Up Dead Nitro, Sawtooth Nitro or Bittersweet Nitro between November 3rd and December 3rd and you’ll earn the “NITROvember (2016)” badge. Be sure to capture your nitro goodness in all it’s glory and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #PourHard for a chance to win a Left Hand Brewing Stout Glass!
Learn more about “Nitrovember” at http://ift.tt/2fj4i3d and be sure to follow Left Hand Brewing on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
By Bob Pease When I read this week that Anheuser Busch-InBev’s Carlos Brito thinks “consumers are a bit tired of choice,” I had to ask myself what he’s been drinking. After all, we are only a few weeks out from last month’s Great American Beer Festival, where a sold-out crowd of 60,000 beer lovers sampled 3,800+ […]
The post Big Beer Doesn’t Think Choice Matters. They’re Wrong. appeared first on Brewers Association.
Another year, another record number of entries for the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition. Once again, all 50 states entered the competition with 19 states sending more than 100 entries—up from 18 states in 2015. In addition to already being the largest beer competition in the world, this makes GABF the most geographically diverse professional beer […]
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It’s here: November is Caramel Cream Month, where we will be highlighting our classic and best-selling beer. If you haven’t tried a Caramel Cream Ale lately, you should. It’s a beer that was developed to showcase the wonderful caramel notes in dark crystal malts. In addition to the malt complexity and creamy mouthfeel, this beer finishes with a hint of vanilla from the use of fresh vanilla beans.
There are no substitutes for this very special American Ale.
To celebrate, we will be having special tasting events at select retailers throughout the month, check below for details. In addition, for the entire month of November we will be holding a ‘Caramel Cream Happy Hour’ where you can get a pint of Caramel Cream for $4 in our taproom — all day, every day.
Ale House, Palm Beach Gardens
Friday, November 5
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Palm Beach Gardens Ale House
Join us for a Caramel Cream sampling event with pint glass giveaways.
Total Wine, PGA
Wednesday, November 9
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sampling of Due South beers, featuring Caramel Cream Ale.
Crafty Crust, Tequesta
Thursday, November 10
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The Crafty Crust – Tequesta Shoppes, 131 US-1, Tequesta, FL 33469
The Crafty Crust will be featuring both Caramel Cream Ale and Maple Orange Imperial Caramel Cream. Buy Caramel Cream and get a Due South glass, while supplies last.
Total Wine, Wellington
Wednesday, November 16
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sampling of Due South beers, featuring Caramel Cream Ale.
Total Wine, Coral Springs
Tuesday, November 22
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sampling of Due South beers, featuring Caramel Cream Ale.
Total Wine, Boynton Beach
Wednesday, November 23
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sampling of Due South beers, featuring Caramel Cream Ale.
Whole Foods, Wellington
Tuesday, November 29
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Whole Foods Wellington
Shop and enjoy a Due South tap spotlight at Whole Foods in Wellington, featuring Caramel Cream Ale.
from Due South Brewing Co. http://ift.tt/2f1RDAT
via IFTTT
It may be Fall, but it’s never too late for some sunshine and awesome West Coast brews, especially in the land of the endless Summer. Home to some of the California’s best and most well known breweries, San Diego is ready to let loose the flood gates as San Diego Beer Week begins. Taking place November 4th through 13th, SDBW will feature everything you’ve come to expect from a great beer week — tap take overs, food pairings, rare beer tastings, and more.
We’re excited to be celebrating this year with an all new badge. Check-in to any beer within the greater San Diego area (75 mile radius) between November 4th – 13th and the “San Diego Beer Week (2016)” badge is all yours!
For a full line up of events, including the Guild Fest (November 4th), head over to https://www.sdbw.org and be sure to follow all the action on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
With more than 1,600 homebrew clubs registered with the American Homebrewers Association worldwide, the AHA is reinstituting our Club Connection e-newsletter. This newsletter will hit your club’s executive officer’s inbox once per month with content focused on subjects for your next club meeting, growing membership, and improving participation in your clubs events. You can expect to find articles catered to clubs of all sizes—from starting a brand new club to re-invigorating your members’ passion for homebrewing.
We’re always looking for new ways to engage our club community around the country and around the world, so if you’re interested in writing an article on a successful club initiative, we encourage you to send a message to the AHA Clubs Sub-Committee with more information!
Club Connection will focus on two main areas for your club: executive officer resources and meeting topics.
Officer Resources
The Club Connection newsletter will be written by club execs for club execs. Though we highly encourage homebrewers from all walks of life to read the articles and let us know how their clubs have found success, this content will be focused on ways that your club’s officers can engage their members. Among other types of content, these resources will include website articles, AHA forum discussions, club-focused Zymurgy Live webinars, and much more.
Meeting Topics
Each month, the newsletter will point you to a suggested topic that you can use to motivate your club meeting. You can email the links out in your own club’s newsletter or utilize these resources in any way you see fit. We will occasionally unlock members-only content for all of your club members to enjoy—including Zymurgy articles and Homebrew Con seminar recordings.
Though we are thrilled to be bringing Club Connection back, we need your help to make it successful! Many clubs in the AHA database have incorrect email addresses associated with them. If you are a club officer or are on your club’s exec committee, please help us stay in touch by updating your club’s contact information.
The post Introducing the Club Connection Newsletter appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.
This month, celebrate the history and heritage of the British Pub with Fuller’s British Pub Month. Without Britain’s famous pubs, iconic beer styles like Pale Ale, ESB, and Porter wouldn’t exist. So this month, no matter where you live in the world, find your local British pub and raise a pint of Fuller’s in celebration.
By celebrating British Pub Month with Fuller’s, you can unlock a brand new badge. Check-in to any beer from Fuller’s during the month of November and the “Fuller’s British Pub Month” badge is all yours. Though you don’t have to be at a British pub to earn your badge, we recommend you find one nearby and experience a pint of Fuller’s in its native environment.
If a badge wasn’t enough, check-in to any two (2) beers from Fuller’s and earn a free Fuller’s imperial pint glass. Once you check-in to your second beer, you’ll receive a unique promotion code that can be entered to receive your pint glass (Open to US residents only).
Thanks for celebrating British Pub Month with Fuller’s! Find British pubs throughout the US at BritishPubMonth.com.
Rules & Restrictions: No purchase necessary. Visit http://ift.tt/2fdLQHq for Terms. Program open to residents of the US who are 21 years of age or older. Program begins on 11/01/16 and ends on 11/30/16, or while supplies last, whichever is earlier. © 2016 Paulaner HP USA, Littleton, CO. All Rights Reserved. Void where prohibited.
