Is Your Beer Too Cold?

We have all seen the commercials for Coors Light. When the illustration of mountains on the label turns blue, your beer is cold enough to drink.

Perhaps it’s desirable for that particular brew. There is very little richness or complexity to the flavor of light beer. The temperature might be the only noticeable characteristic about it. A refreshment after a five-mile run in the sun? I can see that; or maybe a deep draught of cooling tonic after a mouthful of three alarm chili, sure. But if you, at the moment, are craving a savory sip of delightful, hoppy bitterness balanced with the fresh, baked bread finish of malted barley, Coors Light might not be the elixir you’re seeking, so cold it’s almost frozen . . . or otherwise.

No, we beer aficionados are all about sippin’ and not slammin’. We marvel at the cascade of effervescence as it’s poured into the glass. We praise the creamy, white head of microscopic bubbles which crests into a convex, foamy meniscus above the rim. We lose ourselves in the deep ambers, golds and browns of the liquid and we transcend into a nirvana where live the spirits of grain as we trickle the magic potion across our taste buds. And if the beer is too cold, the whole experience is ruined.

Enter Weyerbacher Brewery. 

 They have come up with a brilliant reverse take on modern graphics technology. Well not really reverse, but the effect is designed to be the opposite of Coors. The labels on Weyerbacher craft beer bottles now inform as to when the concoction within is too cold for maximum enjoyment. Beer right out of the fridge or cooler needs a warm up period for the deliciousness to develop. And tell your bartender to keep the frosted glass and give you one from the shelf.

Check out the video as Weyerbacher Cellarman Colin Presby demonstrates their new label.

 And check out American Public House Review as well, the online journal of everything to do with pub culture and enjoyment.

http://www.americanpublichouse.com/ 

Cheers,

Edward F. Petersen, Creative Director, American Public House Review

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Hurling a Harpoon at the recession

Harpoon Brewery, one of the many great Massachusetts beer makers, are expanding their brewing capacity by about 20% this week as they install two new fermenting tanks.  According to the Boston Globe, these are some ridiculously big tanks!

The Harpoon Brewery plans to install two new 500-barrel unitank fermenters at its South Boston facility tomorrow, weather permitting.

The tanks, which stand 38 feet high and weigh 28,000 pounds, are the largest tanks to be installed in the brewery’s history, twice the size of the largest tank at Harpoon now, the company said in a press release.

So why am I reporting this to you?  Because it can only be seen as good news.  During this sharp economic downturn, you would think breweries like Harpoon, not a major producer but certainly not a small one either, would be feeling the pain.  But instead they are expanding. 

And for anyone who may not have tried Harpoon’s beers, they make a really solid product.  Like many of New England’s breweries, they produce great and consistent ales.  And what makes a better cure for an economic downturn than buying delicious American ale?  Now, there is even more on the way.  It’s a win-win all around.

by Dave McBride

A one-stop site for Canada’s great pubs and brew

Over the last few days I have been searching the internet to find whatever kindred spirits in the world of bars, beer, and the like that may be out there in the great cyber world.  When I find a site worth reading, we’ll introduce it to you as best we can and place it in the blogroll for future reference.

Our first entry is an terrific blog called “Great Canadian Pubs and Beer“.  Here is how it is described on homepage…

A place for like-minded folks who enjoy the social aspects that every pub offers and the fine craft beer they serve. From coast to coast Canada has thousands of unique pubs full of hospitality and warmth; you just need to search them out. My goal with this blog is to bring attention to these places and along the way share some thoughts on the great craft beer being brewed here in Canada.

For anyone who loves a good bar and a great pint, this sounds like something of interest, whether you have been to Canada or not.  But for those of you who, like myself, have experienced the wonder that is the pubs and brewing tradition of our northern neighbors this is a must read.

Our thanks to Troy the creator of Great Canadian Pubs and Beers.  I can’t wait to try some of his suggestions.  I don;t know about you, but I ready for a road trip!!