My goodness! My Guinness brewery almost blew up!(December 24) - The entire Guinness Brewery in Dublin came within moments of blowing up, it has been revealed. It took 17 fire crews four hours to put out the blaze at the giant Guinness complex in St. James Gate yesterday. Complete Story   
 
Brooks on Beer: Pairing beer with the holiday meal(December 23) - When most people think of holiday feasts, they tend to think of wine. But as a beer lover, you already know better. Beer is incredibly versatile and works well with a wide variety of dishes, including the most common holiday meals. Below, you'll find some suggestions to pair with your Christmas dinner, but a fun way to learn what works best for your individual palate is to sample several, and a 12-ounce bottle is the perfect size for sharing. And if you really want to mix things up, try pairing both beer and wine and judge for yourself which you think works best with the meal. Complete Story
 
Stone Brewing considers opening in Europe(December 23) - Stone Brewing Co. is seeking partners to build a brewery in Europe, but the creators of Arrogant Bastard Ale are doing so in their own persnickety way. No French need apply. Complete Story
 
Brewer understands magic of holiday beers(December 22) - No less than three recent Magic Hat seasonal releases show that the brewery really gets Christmas holiday beers. Does the brewery simply make one of its regular beers stronger or hoppier? No. Does it go nuts and throw a bunch of odd spices into a barley pop? No. All three of its winter beers seem to be well thought out in terms of originality and quality — just what an aficionado. Complete Story
             

   
Study Compares Hangovers From Whiskey, Vodka, Beer(December 21) - With the holiday season here, it is quite common for Americans to indulge in alcoholic beverages. With that said, a new study has compared hangovers from drinks such as whiskey, vodka, beer, and wine to see which leads to the weaker hangover. Complete Story    
 
Canada Buzzing Over Ads Saying to Leave Beer for Santa Instead of Milk(December 20) - Santa might knock back a cold one or two while making his way around Canada this Christmas Eve — and not everyone up north is happy about it.New advertisements for Labatt's Blue de-alcoholized beer have appeared in convenience stores across Canada with the slogan, "Leave one out for Santa. He's driving," The Toronto Sun reports. Complete Story
 
Christmas Tree Made from 1,000 Beer Bottles(December 19) - At the start of every Christmas season, environmentalists inevitably spark the real-versus-artificial tree debate. But this year, Chinese designers decided to take an entirely different approach to celebrate the holiday, crafting a huge tree from 1,000 Heineken bottles. The massive sculpture is currently providing some festive flair to Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China. Complete Story

     
Kona brewery introducing certified organic beer(December 18) - Kona Brewing Company is set to tap up Oceanic Organic Saison, Hawaii’s first certified organic beer. The brewery recently received organic certification for the beer from Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) and brewed it last month. Complete Story  
 
Southampton Publick House Holiday Cheer and Plenty of Beer(December 17) - For over a decade The Southampton Publick House has made Christmas ale, Southampton Biere de Garde, in honor of the holiday season. During that time, as craft and microbrew beer has found a cult like following among beer aficionados and hops hounds, Publick House owner Donald Sullivan has had to warn a lot less people that his Christmas ale is not the average Budweiser, packing flavor and a punch to match. Complete Story
 
What's on tap (or in a can): Butternuts Porkslap Ale(December 18) - This week’s selection comes from Garrattsville, N.Y., a whisper of a town about 20 miles west of Cooperstown. In a converted dairy barn, Butternuts Beer & Ale proprietor Chuck Williamson crafts beer that is balanced, accessible, and just a little bit offbeat. The names are strange (“Moo Thunder Stout,” “Heinnieweisse”), the label art goes heavy on barnyard animals, and Butternuts is one of a small number of microbreweries to package its beers in cans. Complete Story  
 
Man behind Red Oak Brewery follows a different drummer(December 17) -Stand near the door, just beyond the sign, “An Honest Brew Makes Its Own Friends,’’ and you hear the constant clink-clink-clink of bottles and a huge whoosh from the machine. It’s the sound of the Red Oak revolution, created by the tall, balding guy walking around the brewery in jeans and hiking boots. Complete Story
 
New Raleigh Beer Brewery Will Open In January(December 15) - The well-known Natty Greene's beer brewery in downtown Greensboro is expanding to open a new facility in at the site of the former South End Brewery located in downtown Raleigh. According to a worker on the site last week, the new brewery will open in January. The brewery is located on Jones Street near the intersection with Glenwood Avenue. Complete Story   
 
Big Beer Plans Brewing in Silverdale(December 15) - Mike Hale, president of Hale’s Ales Brewery of Seattle, told the Kitsap Sun on Monday he plans to open a pub and restaurant at the mall in July. Hale has been looking around for a Kitsap location since at least January. Just across the mall’s parking lot, owners of Silver City Restaurant & Brewery plan to expand their restaurant next fall, after they spin off their brewing operations from the Silverdale establishment into Bremerton. Complete Story  
 
Flying Dog Releases Raging Bitch(December 14) - Flying Dog Brewery proudly announces the launch of RAGING BITCH, a Belgian-style IPA, to celebrate its 20th Anniversary in 2010. Raging Bitch, both the beer and the art that graces its label, prove that even after 20 years Flying Dog is as edgy and provocative as ever. Complete Story
 
21st Amendment Brewery Releases Monk's Blood(December 14) - The 21st Amendment Brewery today announced the release of its first ever, limited release, specialty beer in a can. Monk's Blood is an 8.3% alcohol, dark Belgian-style ale brewed with eight malts, Belgian candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, dried local black mission figs and aged on oak for a flavor unlike anything you've ever had from a can. Complete Story  
 
CANCER PREVENTION: Beer, coffee & more(December 11) - An ingredient of beer may someday help ward off prostate cancer, new animal experiments suggest. The compound in question, xanthohumol, is found in hops — the bitter flavoring agent in beer — and is known to block the male hormone testosterone, which plays a role in the development of prostate cancer. Complete Story
  
George Wendt lifts his glass to celebrate beer(December 11) - George Wendt, best known as Norm Peterson on Cheers, took time out from his busy schedule to talk with the Star about beer, his book Drinking with George (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, $24.99) and his relationship with Norm. Complete Story 
 
Karl Strauss Celebrates 2009 To the Nines(December 10) - To celebrate the memorable year that was 2009, Karl Strauss Brewing Company is releasing its first ever bottled holiday ale, To the 9’s. This beer commemorates the accomplishments of the past year, including the company’s 20th Anniversary, a brewery expansion, and the addition of a brand new bottling line. “2009 was a good year for Karl Strauss Brewing Company and we wanted to have a little fun with this beer by making it all about the 9’s—9% ABV, 99 IBUS, 9 SRM, and 9 types of hops,” says Paul Segura, Brewmaster. Complete Story
 
21st Amendment Brewery Releases Monk's Blood (December 9) - The 21st Amendment Brewery today announced the release of its first ever, limited release, specialty beer in a can. Monk's Blood is an 8.3% alcohol, dark Belgian-style ale brewed with eight malts, Belgian candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, dried local black mission figs and aged on oak for a flavor unlike anything you've ever had from a can. Complete Story
 
"World's Largest Beers", Three 35,862,784 Ounce Tanks Will Look Like Genesee Beer Cans(December 9) - In just a few days, three 35,862,784 ounce tanks that stand about three stories high will carry the look of The Genesee Brewery's flagship beers: Genesee, Genny Light and Genesee Cream Ale. Vinyl graphics that stretch 55 feet wide by 43 feet high will cover the tanks, making them look like oversized cans of beer. Located outside of the brewery, the tanks store the equivalent of approximately 124,523 cases of beer. People can clearly view them from the St. Paul Street side of the brewery. Complete Story
   
Battle Ground Brewery Open in Franklin, TN(December 9) - Two brewers have launched phase one of their campaign for a piece of the microbrewery market. They’ve seized control of 108 Bridge Street, a 6,000-square-foot building that served as a jail in the early 1900s. On Sunday they opened as Battle Ground Brewery and this week began serving four of their new brews. Fred Mindermann and his partner Fred Scheer said things have moved rather quickly since they come up with the idea for a microbrewery and pub.   Complete Story   
 
Beer review – St. Bernardus Christmas Ale(December 9) - St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is a spicy, fruity winter brew that is guaranteed to warm you up after an evening clearing snow. Brewed by Brouwerji St. Bernardus in Watou, Belgium, this ale pours a cloudy, medium amber with a tall, puffy tan head that collapsed to a ring around the glass. Its aroma is of spice and mildly sweet malt with notes of pear. Complete Story
           
Schell's Brewery announces its 150th Anniversary Beer(December 7) - The August Schell Brewing Co. announcedtoday that Hopfenmalz has been chosen as the commemorative beer for its150th Anniversary. Hopfenmalz was part of the Anniversary Draft Series,which asked people to vote online for their favorite beer from the limitedrelease, eight-brew Draft Series. The winner was then chosen as thecommemorative beer for the sesquicentennial year. Complete Story
 
Wynkoop Brewing to sell Rail Yard in cans(December 7) - Wynkoop Brewing has released its flagship beer, Rail Yard Ale, in cans at about 50 area liquor stores and bars, the company announced Thursday. The cans have been available at five restaurants allied with the brewpub for about two months but have reached wide retail distribution only in the past few weeks. Complete Story
 
Viking Brewing Has Hot Chocolate(December 7) - Wow! An Awesome Beer! Hot Chocolate is a Chocolate Stout brewed with lots of Fair Trade organic cocoa & cayenne pepper. A real soft beer with light roasty flavors with good dark chocolate, & coffee notes and a nice, spicy, peppery finish. Vikings Beers  
 
Enjoy Pike's Old Bawdy for the Holidays(December 6) - Named to commemorate the La Salle Hotel, once a Seattle bawdy house and the original home of the Pike Brewing Company. Old Bawdy is a vintage-dated, high-gravity beer brewed with peated Scotch malt. It has a deep golden bronze color, a fruity rich taste, and an aggressive and dominating hop character with smoky undertones that are reminiscent of Scotch whiskey. Complete Story
 
Sierra Nevada Introduces Glissade as Newest Seasonal Beer(December 3) - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is proud to announce the release of Glissade Golden Bock as its newest seasonal beer. Glissade celebrates the slow slide of winter into spring with a full-bodied beer that is delicately balanced, yet bold enough to brace against the last cold nights in the foothills of the Sierras. Complete Story  
 
"Hopsecutioner...You Can Run But You Can't Hide!"(December 3) - The Hopsecutioner is a beautifully bitter west coast styled IPA with enough of a malty backbone to keep the body full and a rich creamy head that just goes on and on. Warrior, Chinook, Centennial and Simcoe hops combine to produce 78 BU's of bittering bliss, while dry hopping with Cascades pushes the hop experience over the top. Complete Story  
   
Banned! The UK's Strongest Beer Goes Flat(December 3) - A beer with 18.2% alcohol content has been banned from sale in the UK after a watchdog said it promoted binge drinking. The controversial Tokyo* beer was launched in the summer but has been heavily criticised for its marketing message. Complete Story
  
Lakefront unveils new brew(December 3) - Lakefront Brewery will release Local Acre, a beer that it claims is the first brew made entirely with Wisconsin ingredients since the Prohibition era. The Milwaukee microbrewer worked with grain farmers in Wisconsin to supply six-row organic malted barley and cascade hops to make the hazy, unfiltered lager. Complete Story  
 
Pint-sized pour: Mission Amber Ale(December 3) - In fact, this “amber ale” is a Dusseldorf-style alt beer. That means it has all the qualities of your ordinary amber — the coppery hue; the body floating midway between a Pilsner’s airiness and a stout’s chewiness; the malty sweetness — and more. Complete Story
      
BEER OF THE MONTH: Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout 2009(December 2) - Port Brewing in San Marcos makes its Christmas beer in the style of an imperial stout. It's opaque, nearly black, with a tan head and a nose of espresso with a bit of caramel; think coffee candy in overdrive. There's more caramel and coffee on the palate, and a little bit of dark chocolate as well, though relatively little sweetness. Complete Story
 
Asheville is Beertopia(December 2) - The opening of two more breweries in Asheville is shining more light on the city's nationally known craft brewing community. Buncombe County is now home to 10 professional breweries, counting Asheville Brewing's two locations. But some are wondering how many more breweries the city can support. Complete Story         
 
Brooks on Beer: Holiday brews(December 2) - Turns out, seasonal beer is king. For several years, holiday-inspired or seasonal craft brews have been the fastest growing, best-selling category in the beer world. Not only are they usually big, rich and flavorful, they're also some of the most artistic beers. That's because no specific style is associated with the season, so brewers are free to be as creative as they want. The results are often as varied as they are spectacular. That's great news if you're looking for something a little different this holiday season. Complete Story    
 
Beer Buzz: Hibernation Ale by Great Divide Brewing(December 2) - This is a lovely, full-flavored beer with a sweet, malty richness that's beautifully balanced by floral hops. Flavors are complex, with toffee, chocolate, dark dried fruits and spices backed by a pleasant, earthy bitterness. The alcohol (8.10 percent alcohol by volume) is hardly noticeable, making it a very easy-drinking ale – but sip it slowly, so you can appreciate the complex flavors. Complete Story   
 
Extreme Beer: Samuel Adams Utopias Pushing New Limits(December 1) - Jim Koch, founder and owner of the Boston Beer Company, the maker of Sam Adams beer has managed to earn the title of making the strongest beer on the market. The brewery has released an updated version of their biennial beer, Utopias. The beer has a 27% alcohol by volume content, 5-times stronger than a Budweiser. Complete Story
  
Vermont's Long Trail beer to buy Otter Creek(December 1) - Long Trail CEO Brian Walsh says the Bridgewater Corners-based Long Trail and Middlebury-based Otter Creek have the same proud Vermont traditions. Long Trail produces about 76,000 barrels of beer a year, about three times as much as Otter Creek. Complete Story
  
Something is Brewing in New Hampshire - Official New Hampshire Brewery Map Released(December 1) - The Brewery trail explores the wide range of award-winning breweries, microbreweries and brew pubs located throughout the state and the fresh, handcrafted, New Hampshire-made beer found along the way. Complete Story
 
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale: An Impressively Sane Entry By America's Best Crazy Brewery(December 1) - Over the past decade, Dogfish Head has become perhaps the most prominent microbrewery on the East Coast, and almost certainly the most notorious. Their founder and brewmaster, Sam Calagione, is pretty clearly cracked. They favor sweet high-alcohol barleywines, from riffs on Belgian styles, to reconstructions of ancient recipes from China (Chateau Jiahu), the Aztec Empire (Theobroma), and Finland (Sah'tea, rating: 69), to whatever Sam thinks might be cool. Complete Story
 
Brewer makes 'world's strongest beer'(November 28) - A small Scottish brewery has produced what it claims to be the strongest beer in the world. BrewDog, based in Fraserburgh, north-east Scotland, is selling a limited run of 500 bottles of the 32% imperial stout named Tactical Nuclear Penguin for £30 each, The Guardian reports. Complete Story