Beer is more than just a chaser. Bartenders are starting to use beer as an ingredient in mixed drinks, as it is a unique flavor. This may even class-up this alcohol’s reputation. Read more…
Business student Cary Silverman, after seeing students sneaking alcohol into the movies, has invented alcohol-flavored popcorn. There’s beer and pina colada - and the inventor swears they taste like the real thing. Read more…
The holidays are upon us, and that probably means you’re drinking more beer. Hey, I’m not judging. But you may have heard a few rumors about your favorite alcoholic beverage that you’d like dispelled. Here are some of the most popular myths about beer, none of which are true:
Like many foods beer changes seasonally, with different flavors making their way into different pints. Check out these suggestions for the best beers for each season:
Spring
The trees are budding. Birds are chirping. Life begins anew. Try Dogfish Head’s Aprihop, which is brewed with apricots. Or try a bock, a German beer originally brewed by monks for the spring. Strong and malty, bocks provided sustenance during Lenten fasts. Try Ayinger Maibock from Germany.Summer
It’s hot, you’re thirsty and beer quenches like nothing else. Try a wheat beer, perhaps a Blue Moon, or Sam Adams’ Summer Ale. From Germany, seek out Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier. From Belgium, try Hoegaarden’s Witbier, perhaps with an orange.Fall
Harvest time. Oktoberfest for sure. But what better way to mark the season than with perhaps its signature flavor, pumpkin? Try Michigan Brewing’s Screamin’ Pumpkin Spiced Ale. Or Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale. Pumpkin: It’s not just for pie.Winter
Get ready for serious choices. Anchor Steam’s Christmas Ale and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale are good bets. From across the pond, Samuel Smith’s Winter Warmer is a stellar example.From Belgium, try Corsendonk’s Christmas beer, one of Russell’s favorites. And if you can get it, Troeg’s the Mad Elf, Russell’s favorite Christmas beer, a potent offering brewed with cherries and balanced with spicy yeast.
Here is a list of the world’s most expensive beverages. The funny thing is, many of the items on this list are actually known for their cheapness. Coffee, water, beer - you could easily not spend much money on these drinks. But here’s how the marketing industry has appealed to thirsty people with too much money in their wallets:
Most Expensive Coffee: Kopi Luwak, a.k.a. Civet Coffee - made from coffee berries which have been eaten, digested, and then, well, pooped out by the Asian Palm Civet.
Price: About $50-100 per cup
Most Expensive Bottled Water: Bling H20 - the bottle is decorated with Swarovski crystals, and is marketed only to “hand-selected athletes and actors.”
Price: 750mL bottle = $40
Most Expensive Beer: Carlsberg Jacobsen Vintage No. 1 - only available at three Copenhagen restaurants, with only 600 bottles ever having been created.
Price: Almost $400 for a pint
Most Expensive Cocktail (based solely on the alcohol used): Trader Vic’s Original Mai Tai at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland - Made with Wray and Nephew rum. There are only six bottles of this rum left in the world.
Price: $1,400
Most Expensive Tea: Tieguanyin tea - a rare green tea from the Fujian province of China.
Price: About $1,500 per pound
Most Expensive Wine: 1997 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti from Burgundy, France
Price: $1,500 per bottle
In honor of the world’s largest beer festival (Oktoberfest - taking place now in a Munich near you!), here is a list of the top 20 beer-drinking countries in the world:
20. Portugal – Saude! | Tchim-tchim!
19. Canada – Cheers!
18. Poland - Na zdrowie!
17. Hungary – Egeszsegedre!
16. New Zealand – Kia Ora! | Cheers!
15. Netherlands – Gezondheid! | Prost!
14. Croatia – Zivjeli!
13. US – Cheers! | Bottoms up!
12. Spain – Salud! | Amor y!
11. Slovakia – Na zdravie!
10. Luxembourg - Prost! / A votre sante!
9. Finland – Kippis!
8. Denmark – Skaal! | Skal!
7. Belgium - Op uw gezondheid! | A votre sante!
6. UK – Cheers! / Cheerio!
5. Austria – Prosit! | Zum wohl!
4. Australia – Cheers! | Cheerio!
3. Germany - Prost!
2. Ireland – Slainte!
1. Czech Republic - Na zdravi!
The 175th edition of the world’s largest beer festival kicked off Sunday when the city’s mayor tapped the first keg. Munich’s Oktoberfest runs until 5 October, and is expecting a whopping 1 million visitors this year. Check out the multiple tents that serve Bavarian beer and fried chicken. In fact, there is tons of food at Oktoberfest. Roasted meats, potato dumplings, sausages (of course), as well as other traditional foods and even desserts are on the menu. And don’t forget the carnival rides (although you may want to do that before you eat and drink). Grab your lederhosen and get going! If you don’t know what lederhosen is, check out this glossary of terms you should know if you’re attending Oktoberfest… By the way, “prost!” is a toast used by Bavarians. And now you know.
Now, I don’t necessarily consider myself a wine drinker, but I’m definitely not a beer drinker. That’s why this guide is pretty handy. If you’re having a “Beer and cheese” party for your beer-connoisseur friends, check out these pairings - compiled by MSN Lifestyle - for a sure-fire hit:
Cheeses
Mild creamy cheeses – try a Wheat Beer
Mature cheddars – try an India Pale Ale
Roquefort or Stilton – go with an Imperial StoutSalads
With vinaigrettes – try a Belgian Brown Ale
With creamy dressings – try a Wheat BeerSpicy foods
Thai – try a Wheat Beer or an American Pale Ale
Noodle dishes – try a crisp refreshing LagerSeafood
Delicate fish – select pale beers such as Pilsners and Kolsch
Fish & Chips – nothing beats an English Pale AleRed meat
Beef and Game – select darker beers such as a full bodied Ales
Pizza or pasta – look for a malty, Amber AleDessert
Dark Chocolate – a Belgian framboise is a must
Check out the details about proper glassware and how to serve your beer…
A recent magazine survey, interviewed fifty bartenders and they were asked if they could identify a customer’s personality on what drinks they ordered?
Although interviewed separately, they concurred on almost all counts.
Here’s what your drink says about you:
If Women Drink …
Beer
Personality: Casual, low maintenance; down to earth.
Approach: Challenge her to a game of pool.
Cocktails or Blender drinks with umbrella
Personality: Flaky, annoying, dizzy, and a pain in the ass.
Approach: Avoid her, unless you want to be her cabin boy.
Mixed drinks - no umbrellas e.g.; Gin and tonic / Scotch and soda
Personality: Mature, has picky taste; knows what she wants
Approach: If she wants you, she’ll send YOU a drink.
Water
Personality: Pretentious and is looking for a serious relationship.
Approach: Don’t.
Wine - (bottled, not 4 litre cask)
Personality: Conservative and classy, sophisticated.
Approach: Try and weave Paris and clothing into the conversation.
Bacardi Breezer, Red Square, Archers Cooler, Smirnoff Ice, Mudshake etc.
Personality: Easy; thinks she is trendy and sophisticated actually has no clue.
Approach: Make her feel smarter than she is… and you’re in.
Cape Velvet
Personality: Annoying voice, bit of a tart.
Approach: Stand close and mention the alley next to the pub.
Shots and Slammers (Tequila, Vodka, Aftershock etc.)
Personality: Hangs around with male work pals or looking to get drunk…and naked.
Approach: Easiest hit in the pub, Nothing to do but wait…….
IF MEN DRINK…
Cider
He’s probably under-aged and wants to get laid.
Cheap Domestic Beer
He’s poor / student and wants to get laid.
Castle Lager Beer
He likes good beer and wants to get laid.
Imported Beer
He’s old; he likes good beer and wants to get laid.
Guinness
The man is rough and will get laid one way or another.
Water
He just threw up and is trying to wash the taste out of his mouth so that he can still get laid
Wine
He’s hoping that the wine thing will give him a sophisticated image and help him get laid.
Vodka or Brandy
Extremely horny hound, would shag a warm scarf. Desperate to get laid.
Port
Thinks he’s sophisticated, secretly likes men and wants to get laid.
Whisky
He doesn’t give two $hits about anything and will hit anyone who will get in his way of getting laid.
Jack Daniels
Not as masculine as the whisky drinker, knows all about feminine activities (knitting, crochet etc.) to weasel himself into getting laid.
Rum or Tequila
Likes fighting almost as much as getting laid.
Bacardi Breezer, Red Square, Archers Cooler, Smirnoff Ice, etc.
He’s gay (blatantly) - don’t turn your back or pick up any dropped change.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire - Feb. 19, 2008) - Russell Brewing Inc. Today, Russell Brewing Company, a producer of premium craft beer in British Columbia, began shipping cans of its award-winning beer to private liquor stores throughout the Province. This marks the Company’s first consumer take-home product after thirteen years of exclusively producing draught beer.
Products include Russell Cream Ale, Russell Pale Ale, Russell Honey Blonde Ale and Russell Extra Special Lager which are available in 6 x 355ml aluminum can packs.
“We are very excited about the launch of Russell in cans,” said Andrew Harris, President, Russell Breweries Inc. “Russell draught sales have well exceeded the overall draught category growth over the past three years and if this popularity is any indication of consumer acceptance, then we are very optimistic about the growth potential of retail distribution.”
Private liquor stores account for 41.9 percent of retail counter sales in British Columbia (source: BCLDB six-month period ending September, 2007). Nationwide, sales of canned beer are up 10 percent over last year while bottled beer sales are down 4 percent for the same period (source: Brewers Association of Canada).
Aluminum cans offer a highly stable environment to package, store and serve premium craft beer. Canning limits the possibility of exposing beer to potentially harmful elements such as oxygen and UV light. Plus today’s cans are also made with a thin plastic lining to protect the taste of the beer. Furthermore, cans are environmentally friendly costing a fraction of energy to produce, ship and to recycle compared to glass.
For a list of private liquor stores carrying Russell beer or for more information, please visit www.russellbeer.com.
Russell Brewing Company produces premium craft beer in British Columbia. In 2006, Russell was recognized as BC’s fastest growing brewery by the BCLDB. Using all natural ingredients and traditional beer making techniques, Russell beer is brewed for people who love “real” beer. Products include: Russell Cream Ale, Russell Pale Ale, Russell Honey Blonde Ale, Russell Extra Special Lager plus two seasonal brews, Russell Lemon Ale and Russell Winter Porter. Russell Brewing Company and Fort Garry Brewing Company are wholly owned subsidiaries of Russell Breweries Inc.
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