December Beer Festivals December Homebrewing Competitions Doug & Bob's 12 Days of Christmas
New Belgium and Elysian breweries share recipes(November 30) - In what is believed to be the first such venture among craft brewers, Elysian and New Belgium, brewer of the popular Fat Tire ale, have agreed to share their breweries with each other. Complete Story
Harpoon Brewery has a thirst for doing good deeds(November 30) - Boston - The Harpoon Brewery is one of the most successful craft breweries in the country, and it uses that success to try to give something back through its Harpoon Helps program. Complete Story
Allentown Brew Works opens brewery for tours(November 30) - Pennsylvania - The Brew Works tour started this month and continues every Saturday, starting at noon, says Brew Works spokesman Michael Fegley, a co-owner of the family-run pub. Visitors 21 and older also will get a chance to sample brews made at the pub. Complete Story
Schlitz coming back to Indiana(November 30) - It was the beer that made Milwaukee famous in the 1950s and 60s. But sometime in the early 1970s, the makers of Schlitz beer began tinkering with the brewing process and the recipe, changing the flavor. Complete Story
Beer of the Week: Ayinger Celebrator(November 28) - Dark chocolate and coffee are very prominent in this beer. It has a nice, round, sweet, malty core, giving this beer a somewhat chewy character. For being as dark as it is, this beer has a soft velvety texture. Moderate carbonation is quick but firm, allowing the dark roasted coffee and chocolate flavors to linger in the finish. Complete Story
Winter Beer Festival Details and Chocolate Tastings(November 28) - Seattle - The Winter Beer Festival is proud to partner with Chocolate Box to present another delectable way to enjoy beer and enhance your tasting experience by pairing beer and chocolate. Complete Story
Iron Hill Brewery coming to the Shade, NJ(November 28) - New Jersey - In May 2009, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, will open its eighth location at 124 East Kings Highway, Maple Shade."We hope that beer and food lovers in New Jersey will enjoy our house-brewed beers and delicious cuisine as much as our fans in Pennsylvania and Delaware," says Iron Hill founding partner Kevin Finn. Complete Story
Samuel Adams makes a beer for chocolate lovers(November 26) - Chocolate is the ubiquitous indulgence during the Christmas holiday. But your list of chocolate fantasies may not include chocolate bock. Complete Story
Recession Thanksgiving Tip: Drink Beer Instead of Wine(November 26) - Most discerning food lovers are much happier drinking good beer than cheap wine anyway. And there are more great American beers to choose from the ever before. Complete Story
Shiner brewery reveals new beer for 100th anniversary(November 26) - Next year, the not-so-little brewery in Shiner will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and there has been a good bit of speculation about just what style the Spoetzl Brewery would go with for Shiner 100. For those well-versed in beer tradition, the name alone will give it away: Commemorator. Complete Story
Pike Brewery's Barrel-Aged, Stout-Hearted "Entire" (November 25) - Seattle - By the time you read this, alas, there will be virtually none left, at least not at the Pike Pub & Brewery where it originated. Not that the total production of 100 cases was all that much to begin with. Complete Story
Beer tourism on the rise in Czech Republic(November 25) - Not only in terms of beer consumption but also beer tourism, the Czech Republic is becoming a superpower. It is estimated that 380,000 will have visited Czech breweries by the end of this year, which is an 8.5 percent increase compared to 2007. Complete Story
Top Ten Pumpkin Beer(November 25) - After drinking way to many pumpkin beers, here are BeerInfo's top ten. Complete Story
Diamond Knot Brewery opens fourth location(November 24) - Washington - Owners said the new location, just down the road from Diamond Knot Brewery and Alehouse across from the Mukilteo/Clinton Ferry, will help diversify their customer base and give people looking to enjoy Diamond Knot’s famous pizza sauce and home-brewed beers and ales somewhere to go with their families. Complete Story
Flathead Lake Brewing: Great View, Great People, Great Beer(November 24) - Some Montana microbreweries are hard to find, tucked away in alleys or side streets or even up in the timber at the end of an unpaved road, but not Flathead Lake Brewing. Complete Story
Bob Townsend’s beer pick - Sweetwater Festive Ale 2008(November 24) - Festive Ale, Sweetwater’s October-December seasonal offering, has become an Atlanta holiday tradition. Call it a winter warmer or a spiced porter, this hefty 8.6 percent alcohol by volume brew is loaded with roasted malts and spiked with cinnamon and nutmeg. Complete Story
Penn Brewery plans to move(November 23) - Len Caric, president and CEO of the Penn Brewery, said today the brewery and restaurant needs to move by the end of February when its lease expires because the landlord has increased rent by 360 percent. Complete Story
Leinenkugel’s to Serve Up Fireside Nut Brown as Seasonal Brew(November 22) - Leinenkugel will add Fireside Nut Brown to its portfolio of specialty craft beers. The new seasonal beer “harkens to a time when multiple generations of the Leinenkugel family would gather with friends and enjoy a special brew crafted especially for the holiday time of year.” Complete Story
Bell's Brewery to debut beer in unlikely town(November 22) - Bell's Brewery Inc. of Comstock is producing, bottling and distributing a new seasonal brew called Christmas Ale and has set an unveiling is set for 8 p.m. Friday at the Shepherd Bar. Complete Story
Highland's Cold Mountain winter ale now flowing(November 21) - This is it, that once-a-year brew rush that so many beer lovers have been waiting for. Highland Brewing Co. has released its annual Cold Mountain Winter Ale, and if history repeats itself (as it does year after year), the stuff won't be around for long. Complete Story
Bud Light loses position as the world's best-selling beer(November 21) - The ascension of Snow, which is expected to outsell world leader Bud Light this year, is due to the growing thirst of Chinese drinkers for beer. Complete Story
Soft’ opening set for Devil’s Backbone Brewery(November 21) - Nelson County’s second brewery will have a “soft” opening on Friday, with five beers on tap ranging from pale ales to stouts, and the brewery’s operators are planning a grand opening for a later date. Complete Story
Dogfish Head's Flurry Of November Beer Releases(November 20) - The 2008 batch of Olde School Barleywine started trickling out to wholesalers last week... should be hitting your stores soon. On Monday 11/17/08, we started sending both 120 Minute IPA and WorldWide Stout to our distibutor partners. Find both and enjoy a killer Black-n-Tan. Complete Story
New Belgium’s First-Ever Sustainability Report!(November 20) - This is our first attempt at summing up all of the environmentally and socially responsible activities at New Belgium and making them available in 20 short pages. Complete Story
Pizza Port's Strong Ale Festival(November 19) - Friday and Saturday Dec. 5th & 6th, 2008! Starting at 4pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday to 11pm both days! Complete Story
Red Cock Doppel Bock Scores Again!(November 19) - Maui Brewing is proud to announce a bronze medal win for their Red Cock Doppel Bock at this year’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF). This entry won in Category 37, German-Style Strong Bock. Complete Story
BEER RESTAURANTS: Taco Mac ahead of time(November 18) - Georgia - Taco Mac tries to have about 100 taps when it opens a new restaurant. The Midtown location has the most taps at 140. Complete Story
Lagunitas Brewing's Cappuccino Stout Review(November 18) - Starts out with a nice smooth and balanced hit of coffee, toffee, and dark baking chocolate, with a nice amount of dry hopiness in the palette to balance it all out. The finish has some earthy hops on top of the coffee. Complete Reviews
Pyramid's Snow Cap on Tap(November 18) - Just in time for holidays. A rich, full-bodied winter warmer crafted in the British tradition of holiday beers. This deep mahogany colored brew balances complex fruit flavors with a refreshingly smooth texture, making Snow Cap a highly drinkable and desirable cold weather companion. Complete Story
Seasonal Beer and Food for the Holidays -- A Perfect Pairing(November 18) - Colorado - The web site, SeasonalBeerAndFood.org, is for beverage and food lovers interested in trying different beers at different occasions and seeing what food these beers pair with. Complete Story
Boulder's newest brewery(November 17)Dany Pages, head brewer at the Upslope Brewing Company, dashed through the door that separates the tasting room from the brewing area as he shouted to his co-worker, "wait 30 seconds more!" Complete Story
Little Big Brands Helps Lion Brewery "Restore the Roar" (November 17) The Lion Brewery, one of the oldest remaining breweries in Pennsylvania, is poised for growth after tapping Little Big Brands to overhaul their signature Lionshead and Stegmaier brands, as well as the brewery identity. Complete Story
CSU’s Brewing Science Class Partners with Odell Brewing on Third Brew(November 17)Thursday, November 13, students from Colorado State University’s Brewing Science and Technology course gathered at Odell Brewing Company’s Tap Room to celebrate the release of their class beer, Hoppy Days IPA. Website
Boundary Bay Brewery's Recycled Art Show Nov 28th(November 17) Boundary Bay is curating a RECYCLED art show from November 28th through December 5th. The show, “2nd CHANCES,” will exclusively feature works of art that contain recycled elements and will showcase 16 local artists as well as a number of international artists brought to us by Ten Thousand Villages. Complete Story
Hibernation Ale Comes Out of the Cellar(November 16) - We cellar Hibernation until late October, when it reaches the peak of perfection. This lengthy aging process gives Hibernation its revered malty richness, complex hop profile and hearty warming character, which is perfect right out of the bottle or cellared for longer periods of time. Hibernation is a lively treat that really beats the winter chill. Complete Story
Fight the battles of winter with Spruce Goose Ale(November 15) - Spruce beer was also drunk before battle as it was thought to bring out one’s animal instincts. Spruce Goose, our modern-day version of the Viking’s beer, is a darker brew with complex earthy flavors throughout. Complete Story
Terrapin Beer Company on CNN(November 14) - Georgia - CNN profiles the Terrapin Brewing as being one of the most successfull new breweries in the country. Complete Story
Terrapin turns out new brews(November 14) - This sure has been a busy year for Terrapin Beer Co. About 10 months ago, Terrapin moved into its new brewery in the Classic City of Athens, Ga. And since then, it's been cranking out the brews, some of them year-round and some seasonal specialties. Compelte Story
Santa's Private Reserve is back on the shelves(November 14) - Oregon - A double hopped Red Ale brewed with 10 ingredients: Harrington, Klages, Munich, Carastan 30-37, Carastan 13-17, and Crystal malts, Chinook and Centennial hops, Free Range Coastal water and proprietary top fermenting Pacman yeast. Complete Story
Barley and Hops Grill & Microbrewery wins eight medals at Governor's Cup(November 14) - Maryland - Gary Brooks, operations manager of Barley and Hops, credits Will Golden, head brewer, for the eight medals -- two gold, three silver and three bronze -- which was the most that Barley and Hops has received in the four-year history of the tasting. Complete Story
Bud Bought Out By InBev(Its Official)(November 13) - InBev says it expects the $52bn (£34.7bn) deal to be complete by the end of the year - although it is still awaiting regulatory approval in Britain, China and the US. Complete Story
Howe Sound Brewery toasts tough times by launching 'Bailout Bitter' beer(November 13) - Howe Sound Brewery says it is now making "Bailout Bitter," its most bitter-tasting brew named in honour of the government bailouts of the financial sector that have taken place globally, underscoring the severity of current economic crisis. Complete Story
Bob Townsend’s beer pick - Red Brick Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter(November 13) - The name is a mouthful. But a blend of roasted malts gives Red Brick Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter a rich dark chocolate aroma and flavor. And the addition of oatmeal helps smooth the mouthfeel and finish of this brew bold enough to be considered a stout. Complete Story
Get ready for Clipper City's Below Decks(November 13) - Created to celebrate Clipper City’s 10th Anniversary extremely limited and vintage dated this extravagantly malty barley wine will show well upon release but continue to evolve for years. Complete Story
"Brrr Ale", Widmer's first new winter ale in four years(November 12) - Available now through the first week of January, Brrr is a moderately strong dark red ale that embodies the notable "Pacific Northwest style" citrus hop aroma and flavor. The new brew provides a tangible flavor that ultimately transitions into a candy-like malty sweetness and quick finish. Complete Story
Cape Cod Beer Wins 2 Gold Medals at 12th Annual Great International Beer Competition(November 12) - Cape Cod Beer is excited to announce that over the weekend it was awarded two gold medals at the Great International Beer Festival in Providence, RI. Cape Cod Beer won a gold medal in the American Amber Ale category for its Cape Cod Red ale and a gold medal in the Wheat Beer category for its Dunkel Weizen.
Samuel Adams Winter Lager is back(November 11) - Samuel Adams® Winter Lager is brewed in the tradition of celebrating winter. Made with winter spices that include orange zest, cinnamon, and fresh ginger to add a note of spicy complexity, this rich and hearty dark brew is one of the finer pleasures of winter. More Reviews
Beer of the Week - Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout(November 9) - BeerAdvocate - The flavor is nicely balanced with the roasted malts, bitter dark baker's chocolate, dark seedy fruits and mild and slightly acidic gourmet coffee. The fruitiness really keeps you guessing as to where the coffee flavor is. The coffee flavor IS there, but it's more towards the back. Complete Reviews
The Return of Sawyer’s Triple(November 8) - San Diego - Some of you may recall a special beer that we brewed back in 2003 under the name “Sawyer’s Triple,” a golden, Belgian style ale quite unlike anything else we’d ever done before. Complete Story
Deschutes Brewery Debuts New Improved Website(November 7) - Oregon - Highlights from the new website include a complete listing of Deschutes Brewery beers with pairing recommendations, an interactive blog featuring posts from the brewery staff as well as guest bloggers, newsletter and Twitter sign-up pages and an online press room. Website
Sierra Nevada's New Glass Promises To Improve Beer Drinking(November 6) - California - Officials with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico say they have a new way to enhance your beer drinking experience. They say a new glass can enhance the flavor of beer. It's called the Hop Tulip Pint, a unique glass designed by the owner of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Ken Grossman. Complete Story
Pumpkin-flavored beers a hot seller(November 6) - Courier News - Louis Glunz Beer Inc., Chicago's oldest and largest premier beer distributor, expects to double last year's sales of its Dogfish Head Punkin Ale and Arcadia Jaw-Jacker Ale, two of the five pumpkin beers the distributor is offering this season. Glunz is fast approaching a sell-out of its entire pumpkin portfolio. Complete Story
Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Choice Winner: Blackberry Witbier(November 5) - Boston - Over 52,569 beer lovers in 36 states across America tasted and cast their vote for the newest edition to the Samuel Adams family of beers. Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier took the title with 31,267 votes to Samuel Adams Coffee Stout's 21,302 votes. Complete Story
George Washington's Beer Recipe(November 4) – Election Day - George Washington was a devout beer lover. In particular, he was fond of the dark, English-style brew known as porter, and always demanded that an ample supply of it be kept on hand at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate. Recipe
Tommyknocker's Prospector Porter Wins Medal(November 4) – Colorado - Tommyknocker Brewery recently claimed Bronze medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival Competition, the largest national beer competition recognizing the most outstanding beers produced in the United States today. Complete Story
Brooklyn Brewery Pulls Bottle Design(November 4) – New York - Brooklyn Brewery found themselves in an unlikely battle recently against the Trappist monks of Belgium. Who, apparently, you do NOT mess with. Complete Story
Boundary Bay Brewery Art Show(November 4) - Washington - “DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB!” EMPLOYEE ART SHOW, NOV. 1ST – NOV. 28TH. Complete Story
A beer for every season: Seasonal beers rolled out by large and small breweries(November 4) – Pittsburgh - The advent of autumn and the holidays that follow brings a flood of seasonal beers to market, from pumpkin spice ales to Oktoberfest and yuletide brews. This, of course, follows a long hot season of wheat, blueberry and other summer beers. Complete Story
James Squire Introduces Limited Release Sundown Lager(November 4) – Australia - Featuring a unique blend of local and English hop varieties, the innovative brewing team at James Squire have created an easy to drink brew perfect for a hot summer day. The 100% malt beer uses a combination of malts without being too full on the palate. Complete Story
Bullfrog Brewery ‘Beekeeper’ wins Gold Medal (November 2) - The Bullfrog Brewery, a brewpub located in Williamsport, PA, has been awarded a Gold Medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival® in Denver, CO. for their beer Beekeeper. This award, achieved in the category of Wood and Barrel Aged Sours Beers. Complete Story
South Shore Living Chooses Rock Bottom Brewery as 2008 Best Brewmaster(November 2) - PRWeb - Rock Bottom brews their beer in on onsite brewery. They believe that two things influence the beer in their breweries: "local water and local tastes." Because each of the 29 locations have differences in both of these influences, the beer served is tended to each specific location's needs and expectations. Complete Story
