Beer, beer, beer. We've got plenty of it this weekend. Whether you are looking to plant yourself at a beer festival or be bussed to your favorite bars, we've got something for you. We've even got a Belgian beer bracket for all you hoop (or hop) heads out there.
Made with two ripe bananas and a healthy amount of Spent Grain Flour, our banana bread is hearty and delicious and couldn't be easier to make. The optional addition of pecans or walnuts makes for an extra nutty crunch or you could even throw a handful of chocolate chips into the batter for a bonus sweet treat.
We whiled away our first afternoon in Asheville on Wedge Brewing Company's outdoor patio, but torrential downpours on day two sent us scrambling for the welcome shelter of Highland Brewing Company's tasting room atop a hill outside of town. We were drenched, so Dirk—the irrepressibly affable brewery expert—led us on a tour of the facility until we had dried off enough to sit down for a flight of Highland's staples and seasonals.
Our Highland visit had actually started the night before when we stopped by Barley's Taproom, the downtown beer bar that loaned its basement to Oscar Wong's fledgling brewery in the early 90's. Since then, Highland has become one of the South's flagship craft breweries, and its iconic bagpiper graces store shelves from Florida to Virginia. New York, sadly, has so far eluded its reach, so once we were safely ensconced in the tasting room, we couldn't leave until we'd tried every style on offer.
The beer scene in Asheville, North Carolina is booming. It all started in 1994 when Highland Brewing Co. was the first brewery to open its doors in the city. Wedge Brewing and Green Man Brewery, among others, soon followed and all have been churning out fantastic beers for over 10 years. With Oskar Blues setting up shop in nearby Brevard, and Sierra Nevada and New Belgium moving in soon, Asheville is poised to become even more of a beer lover's destination in the future.
From the East Coast to the West Coast, there are tons of opportunities to drink some great beer this weekend. Sip on some suds at the Gilmore Car Museum in Michigan, get your fill of BBQ, beer and bourbon in Atlanta, and have some brews at the zoo in California.
There are certain recipes that lend themselves so well to beer that when you finally think to add it you can't imagine why you hadn't been cooking it that way forever. For us, risotto was one of those recipes. For this meal we paired our nutty Chestnut Brown Ale with shitake and crimini mushrooms, the result is a gloriously creamy risotto with a deep, rich flavor that belies its sub thirty minute cook time.
And while we're eager to repeat this recipe as is, we also look forward to the citrus zing our Grapefruit Honey Ale would bring to a seafood risotto or what Smoked Wheat would bring to a hearty kielbasa version. So we will be making this again and again, and if you try it, we think you will be too.
Art Larrance was no stranger to the Oregon craft beer scene when he established Cascade Brewing in 1998. He partnered with Brewmaster Ron Gansberg, who oversaw the design and installation of the brewhouse. Together, they took their over 40 years of combined brewing experience to create fantastic sour beers inspired by an abundance of local fruit. Each of their beers are then aged on wine barrels from the Northwestern Oregon region.
In this tasting we sampled Apricot and Kriek, made with local apricots and cherries, and further aged in the bottle since 2011.
NYC Craft Beer Week is upon us! There are hundreds of happenings all over the city throughout the week, so finding a bar to celebrate New York City's fantastic beer scene shouldn't be too difficult. The extensive list of events can be a little overwhelming, we've gone through and selected our top pick for each night.
If you can think of something better than a beer fest, chances are we can probably find a way to disprove you. So dive right into this weekend's picks for beer events across the nation. You'll have the opportunity to savor dark beers and play video games in Illinois, kick off NYC Beer Week in DUMBO, and imbibe in a 19th-century mansion in Philadelphia.
We melt down two types of chocolate (with a fair amount of butter) to give these brownies a rich, nearly fudge-like consistency. Then amp up the nuttiness of the spent grain flour with a handful of chopped walnuts (but you brownie purists can certainly omit the nuts).
The resulting brownie is delightfully decadent: a nutty crisp top gives way to a rich, creamy (and oh-so chocolatey) center. Think of it as your new brew day reward.
Even coming from New York City, we were amazed by how much was happening in such a small space at the Wedge Brewing Company. A micro-brewery amongst other artistic endeavors, the brewery is committed to making good beer with quality ingredients. Walking by studios and past gardens of eclectic sculptures, the motto, 'Beer is Art' came to life.
We tasted the seven brews that they had on tap, while enjoying the local wild life (pigeons just look different outside of the city) and counting train cars going by. If only every tasting could be on a porch with a light jacket, surrounded by creativity and community. Thanks for a great start to our Asheville tour, Wedge Brewing Company!
Beer events this weekend seem to fall into two categories: Strong beers and beer weeks (not to be confused with weak beers.) Omaha and Phoenix are both playing host to beer weeks filled with some fantastic events. Phoenix is staring its beer week off with a bang, serving up tons of high alcohol beers. You can also get your hands on more than a few beers that exceed 10% ABV in Tacoma on Saturday.
If regular ol' beer fests are more your speed, we'll see you in an old armory in either Rochester, NY or Morristown, NJ. Because drinking unlimited beer in a castle trumps pretty much anything else you are considering this weekend.
Nothing says Valentine's Day like chocolate. This year, skip the heart-shaped cardboard box and make your own chocolates, but show that you really care by making them with beer.
While this truffle recipe is wildly easy, it does take some time. If you are patient, they should rest in the fridge overnight, but if you can't wait (we couldn't), they should sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours to form their shape before serving. We make our truffles with Chocolate Maple Porter, enhancing the rich chocolate flavor. Any stout or porter will do the trick, but using a chocolate-y beer lends a rich creaminess that you'll be happy you had.
In 1987, Full Sail Brewing founders Irene Firmat and Jamie Emmerson set up shop in an old Diamond Fruit cannery in scenic Hood River, Oregon. Just two years later they won gold for their flagship Full Sail Amber at the Great American Beer Fest in 1989.
Nearly 20 years and many delicious beers later, the Brewer’s Share series began in 2008. This series gives the individual brewers at Full Sail a chance to shine. Originally only available on tap at the brew pub, bottles of the Brewer's Share series are now released seasonally. Each brewer also selects a charity and proceeds from the sale of their beer goes to the charity of their choice. For this tasting we were able to get our hands on two Brewer's Share beers and two from Full Sail's regular line up.
Have you made plans to watch the Oscars yet? Whether you decide to get dressed up and go to a viewing, or let the actors do the dressing up and curl up on your couch in your pajamas instead, we've got some beers that will put you in the award-winning spirit.
We know that the Academy has decided to hearken back to the earlier days and nominate up to a dozen films, but we are creating our list circa 1944 (to 2008), when five films fought for the title of Best Picture.
Beer events this weekend range from the extreme in Boston to the decadent in Missouri. In California, San Francisco kicks off a beer week and Carlsbad raises money for a good cause. No matter where you are this weekend, there are plenty of places to experience great times and great beers!
If you are still looking for a (somewhat) last minute Valentine's Day gift, we are hosting a Valentine's Beer Making Class in DUMBO on Tuesday. We'll teach you all about how to make some beer and then you can take your Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit home and try out what you learned in your own kitchen!
Made with Spent Grain Flour and Dried Spent Grain, our version of focaccia is a bit heartier than the traditional version. After rising twice, the dough is coated with olive oil and placed on a layer of dried spent grain before baking for an added crunch.
This bread tastes great on its own or dipped in olive oil, but also makes for a fantastic sandwich stuffed with your favorite Italian meats and cheeses.
Søren Eriksen was studying sea urchins at the University of Auckland when he discovered that there is only one thing cooler than studying sea urchins...making beer. After brewing beer from a kit he received from his wife, Eriksen began working at Renaissance Brewing Company, which later became the start of 8 Wired.
Describing himself as a nomadic Danish brewer, Eriksen named his company after No. 8 wire, the duct tape of New Zealand. The image is also incorporated into the logo, and is a symbol of Kiwi ingenuity. 8 Wired brews show new and innovative takes on an age old tradition. Despite the distance they traveled to get to us, we were impressed with the four distinct styles we tasted.
Originating over 150 years ago as a wild cultivar in England, Fuggle has a long history. Originally used as a bittering and aroma hop, it is more recently used as primarily an aroma hop. Fuggle is also used in breeding and is parent to Willamette, Cascade, and Glacier hops.
The earthy and woody characteristics of Fuggle makes a great addition in English style ales, milds, bitters, and porters. We love using it in our Chocolate Maple Porter.
From a beer-filled train ride through scenic Colorado to a craft beer-inspired art show in California, we've got a beer event for all tastes this weekend. There is even an opportunity to drink in an old armory in upstate New York.
And don't worry, we won't forget to celebrate the holiday that inspired one of the best Bill Murray movies of all time. Grey Lodge honors Punxsutawney Phil in a pretty untraditional manner - with a beer breakfast and a Hawaiian shirt contest.
After a long, well-fought football season, the Super Bowl is finally approaching. The Ravens will be facing off with the 49ers at the Superdome on Sunday, but no matter what team you are rooting for, we can all agree that there is no reason to pit beer against snacks. Instead, we've put together a list of five tasty treats perfect for game day that are made with beer or Spent Grain. Grap a few beers and whip up any of these treats this weekend and the real winner on Sunday will be your tastebuds.
When Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986, it was the the first company in over 25 years to obtain a permit to brew beer in Massachusetts. Now, over 25 years later, Harpoon is still brewing some fantastic beers.
They started their 100 Barrel Series in 2003 to experiment with different styles in small batches and have been releasing new beers quarterly ever since. In this tasting we sampled the lastest offerings from the 100 Barrel Series - Ginger Wheat, White IPA, and El Triunfo Coffee Porter.
Super Bowl XLVII (as with all Super Bowls) will be one for the record books. On Sunday, for the first time ever, two brothers will be facing off against each other as head coaches. This should add an extra layer of rivalry and excitement to the match up (especially for the Harbaugh family).
Whether you'll be watching for the game itself or just for the commercials, odds are you'll have a few beers around either way. So no matter which team you are rooting for, we hope you can enjoy all of the beers on this list (even if a few might have been brewed in enemy territory).
When it comes to beer, there is always something to learn. So step outside your comfort zone and learn something new this weekend. Head to Jupiter with your friends and family. Learn about Brettanomyces yeast and enjoy wild ales paired with cheese. Learn how to make your own sausage while sipping rare releases from some of your favorite breweries.
Whatever you do, make it beer-related and have a good time.
If there's a dip bowl at a party, Erica is guaranteed to be within an arms-reach radius of it all night (while reminding herself what an appropriate shared dip-to-chip ratio is). When she recently discovered the Southern favorite, pimento cheese - she immediately felt the need to make up for all her years without it by creating a beer-fueled version of her own.
The structure of pimento cheese is pretty simple: shredded cheese (usually a combination of cheddar), mayo, and a jar of chopped sweet pimento peppers - but from there it seems everyone has a twist on spices and additions to make it their own. Our version employs the fresh pepper taste (and light heat) of our Jalapeño Saison (but any light, flavorful beer will work) melted into a cheese sauce then mixed into the traditional base for a pleasant beery kick. And if you can manage to resist eating the entire bowl in pure dip form - it also makes for an amazing grilled cheese.
Based in the small French island of Corsica in the Mediterranean, Brasserie Pietra was founded in 1996. Brewing with local ingredients, Pietra's beers are distinctly Corsican.
The island is known for their chestnuts, so it is no wonder that Pietra uses Chestnuts as an ingredient in many of their beers. The chestnuts used in Pietra's flagship amber ale are hand picked from some of the highest growing chestnuts in the world at Castagniccia. Their white ale, Colombo, is seasoned with a collection of locally grown herbs and plants, making for a distinct and delicious local flavor.
Coming from eastern Europe, Styrian Golding hops provided a solution to diseased hops in the 1930s. A descendant of English Fuggles, it is often used in English brews as well as some Belgian ales. Because of its relation to Fuggles hops, Styrian Golding enriches the nose with pleasant earthy aromas, but adds its own hint of spiciness.
As everyone gets into the groove of 2013, beer events are popping up all over the place. From Kalamazoo to Cambridge, we've got beer-related fun for you this weekend. Whether it's health, history, or food, we like to see what interests people pair with their beer drinking.
This weekend we have the conclusion of a beer week, a 7th anniversary celebration, a beer festival with a pretty fantastic mascot, and much more.
Crunchy and cheesy, these Spent Grain Parmesan Cheese Straws are a quick and easy to make treat perfect for any everyday snack. The dough is super simple to make in the food processor and doesn't need time to rise. After just under 15 minutes in the oven you will have an impressive appetizer to bring to your next dinner party or put out before the game.
As soon as we saw the label on this beer, we couldn't resist picking it up for one more Mikkeller tasting. In the past we have sampled from their Yeast Series, and their Single Hop Series not once, but twice, so it's no secret that we like what Mikkeller has to offer.
This time around, we sampled their holiday ale From To (Fra Til in the original Danish). Though the label encourages gift-giving, in this particular instance this beer was given Fra us Til us. But considering that it's after the holidays, we don't feel too guilty drinking these ourselves.
Ninety-three years ago, on January 16, 1920, nation wide prohibition went into effect in the United States. With alcohol banned, people had to find creative ways to drink good beer. While it was difficult to preserve brewing traditions throughout Prohibition, our beer list is here to remind us of how great it is to be back in a time when craft brewing is on the rise. We are even lucky enough to make delicious beer in our own kitchens, one gallon at a time.
Breweries and bars across the country sport Prohibition names or speakeasy atmospheres. One of the newest additions is Molly Pitcher Brewery in Atascadero, California. Way to represent women who were opposed to Prohibition!
From trying newly released beers in North Carolina to giving your opinion on which IPA should be on tap at a Williamsburg bar, this weekend has plenty of great beer drinking opportunities. Beer paired with good company and music (as it should be) is in no short supply--this should set the tone for a wonderful beer-filled weekend.
Alaska is starting the year off right with Alaska Beer Week, so follow their lead check out some great beer events that are happening all over the country this weekend.
The only thing better than filling your kitchen with the smell of beer is filling it with the scent of freshly cooked bacon. Just in case beer brittle wasn't enticing enough on its own, we've added pecans and bacon for an extra burst of flavor. We also include some cayenne pepper for an added kick.
Temperature control is very important to get the texture of the brittle just right, so have your candy thermometer handy when making this treat!
Unibroue founders, André Dion and Serge Racine took beer brewing techniques used by the Trappist Monks and brought them to North America. After acquiring La Brasserie Massawippi brewery in Lennoxville, Quebec in 1990, the Quebec team brewed their first abbey ale. A few years later, they were shipping their beer internationally.
Even after Unibroue was purchased by Sleeman in 2004, and subsequently by Sapporo in 2006, it has maintained the culture and flavor of a craft brewery. This is much thanks to their brew master, Jerry Vietz, a self-proclaimed "fanatic of fermentation." Native to Quebec, with German, British, and Haitian heritage, you're exposed to more than just malt accents when you talk to this guy. Just watch his video on the art of brewing.
What's better than a list of lists? We've put together our five favorite Beer Lists from 2012 into one big Beer List to End All Beer Lists. 2012 saw three separate Friday the 13ths (the first in January, then again in April and July), National Poetry Month in April, and the Summer Olympics in August and we have beer lists for each of these events. We didn't forget about Halloween or late night entertainment - we have beer lists for them, too!
Where you spend the first weekend of 2013 drinking will set the tone for the rest of the year--so choose wisely!
We've put together a list of beer events this weekend featuring brewery bus tours in Connecticut and California, tap take overs from Lagunitas and Founder's, and even a Feast of the Epiphany featuring gift and king themed beers paired with Puerto Rican food. So wherever you decide to drink this weekend, make sure you are sharing a few pints and good times with friends to get you in the right drinking mood for the rest of the year.
Made with orange liqueur, sliced almonds and bittersweet chocolate, these cookies have a little something for everyone. Perfect for dipping in your coffee or eating on their own as a snack, we make our Biscotti with Spent Grain Flour, giving them just the right amount of extra crunch.
It's time to celebrate! 2012 has come to an end and we're still here (nice try, Mayans) and ready to take on 2013. No matter where you are, there is a beer that is meant to be in your glass for this special occasion. If you're ringing in the New Year outside, Goose Island's Bourbon Stout will warm you up; if you are hot from dancing like it's about to be 2013, Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale will give you a taste of white Christmas.
We all want to start off the new year on the right foot--you've probably made a list of things to do to prepare for a new start, like how to stock your fridge to appropriately commemorate the past year. Check one thing off, because we have come up with some suggestions of beers for a bold start to 2013.
Whatever you do on New Year's Eve, it's likely to involve beer. We've found you some great places to drink and ring in the new year this weekend. Ending the year at the home of the first pilsner, or the site of a new brewery, you're sure to be aware of both the great things that happened the past year and the hopes you have for 2013.
Take the weekend to relax, and reflect, then end the year in a way you won't forget. Drink. Dance. Run. Travel. Do what makes you happy, because you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Happy New Year, beer lovers.
Odds are you'll have a few beers at the ready to toast in the new year, so we put together a list of beer-based appetizers to help you ring in 2013. Because let's face it, Monday is the last night you have to indulge in some rich and savory food before your "I'm Really Doing it This Year, I'm Staying on My Diet--No Really, I Swear" resolution starts on January 1st.