Chef Central - Paramus, NJ
@chefcentral - Saturday 5.12.12 | 1 pm
Mark your calendars, New Jersey beer enthusiasts - on May 12th, we're doing a free demo, discussion, and book signing at Chef Central in Paramus, New Jersey. Learn everything there is to know about brewing, and while you're at it, pick up a kit of [...]

This weekend, the beer world is revving up for warm weather. If you're in New York, you can bike over to Red Lantern Bicycles in Brooklyn, which happens to be the first and only bike shop in the state with a license to sell beer. If you're in Boston, don't miss the kick-off of the third annual Bacon and Beer Festival (and of course our demo in Copley Square today at 4).

If you're in Vermont, you'll want to celebrate the end of sugaring season with some good old fashioned sap beer. Sap beer is an age-old Vermont tradition most recently taken up by Matt Cohen of Fiddlehead Brewing Company in Shelburne, Vermont.

No matter where you are in the country, keep your eyes peeled for craft malt liquor (yes, you heard us), complete with 40-ounce bottles and paper bags. If malt liquor isn't your thing, you might want to instead check out these inventive whiskey and beer crossovers from Food Republic.

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Williams-Sonoma Copley Square (Boston)

@WilliamsSonoma - Friday 4.27.12 | 4:00 pm

If you're in Boston, don't miss us Friday afternoon (4/27) at the Copley Square Williams-Sonoma. We'll be giving a free demonstration, and there will be copies of our book to buy and have signed. Come say hello and pick up your next brewing kit!

Early birds take note: Brooklyn Brew Shop will be on Martha Stewart Living Radio tomorrow morning (4/25). The live show, Morning Living, features advice on cooking, home improvement, and gardening. Erica and Stephen will be joining host Brian Kelsey to chat about the beer making process and a few great summer beer recipes. Tune in to SiriusXM 110 Satellite Radio on Wednesday morning at 10:30. Be sure to let us know what you think of the show!

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Top Hops Beer Shop (NYC)
@TopHops - Wednesday 4.25.12 | 6 - 7:30 pm
We've had a great book tour so far, but it's sure good to be home again. This Wednesday, head across the East River to Top Hops in the Lower East Side. We'll be making some beer, signing books, and likely enjoying one of [...]

• Alabama finds Founder's Dirty Bastard a bit too dirty. [Fox News] /li>
• Dogfish Head introduces Randall Jr. beer infuser - Skittles infused beers abound [Gizmodo]
• Beer drought result of actual drought. [Times of India]
• Does this Cherry Blossom Beer have cherry blossoms in it? [The Hill is Home]
• Science says: Beer improves problem solving. [The Star]

Tomato sauce isn't just for spaghetti and meatballs. When you incorporate fresh tomatoes with just enough liquid, you can make a tasty blend that can be served on top of crostini or as an hors d'oeuvre served with sturdy, crunchy crackers.

We used brown ale (specifically, Ithaca Beer Co.'s Nut Brown Ale) because ale, when reduced, adds a nice caramelization that gives the sauce a great nutty flavor boost and thickness. This dish serves two.

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• Baby-faced 22-year-old tries to buy beer; gets arrested [ABC]
• Your summer dreams have come true: beer sorbet is invented [CNET]
• Man catches foul ball with his beer [Yahoo]
• James Bond swaps trademark martini for a brew [POP2it]
• Cool science lesson: how to instantly freeze a beer [Gizmodo]

There might not be much of anything going on this Sunday, but Easter weekend is not stopping the beer from flowing! If you celebrate the holiday, you can spend your >Good Friday and Saturday at one of the festivals listed below, and if you don't celebrate, you can spend this coming Sunday recuperating. It's a win-win situation!

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April is National Poetry Month, and since there's a very high chance you're not doing anything to celebrate it (or even knew it existed), we've decided to start you off with four brews that might not really have anything to do with poetry, but seem like something nice to sip before pouring out your favorite verses to that person you've been trying to impress all semester.

Wait, this isn't a bad college movie. Just drink these beers.

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When the weather starts to warm up, the beer festivals are abundant! Whether you live in sunny California or chilly Pittsburgh, the new season is sure to bring about a bunch of awesome outdoor beer activities for you and your friends.

While some festivals are pay-as-you-go, others are ticket-only, which means it's time to set your alarms and avoid being fashionably late for once. Doing something beer-y that we missed? Let us know in the comments.

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When you live in Brooklyn, one of the things you look forward to most each spring is the opening of the Coney Island boardwalk. While it's technically available all year round, warmer weather brings about the opening of food stands, carnival games, and the terrifying-yet-awesome Cyclone, the ancient roller coaster built in 1927 that rides like a roller coaster built in 1927. And while one should never visit Coney Island without a ride on the legendary coaster, some just weren't built out for adventure. Therefore, we designate you to be the Boardwalk Cooler Keeper, and we've tasted some brews by Shmaltz Brewing's Coney Island Craft Lagers to give you something to sip while you wait for everyone to head back to the sand.

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Baseball season's almost here again, and if you've spent your entire year waiting for this moment to happen, you can finally breathe easy. On a warm spring/summer day on the field, it's hard to resist those huge, cold cups of beer being sold through the stands. What better beverage to wash your hot dog down with? And since we're pretty sure "buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack and beer" are the original lyrics to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," here are some baseball-themed beers to help make the game just a little more exciting when watching at home, on a local field, or playing with friends.

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After a cool stint in the North Carolina Triangle, we're parking our car in the Harvard Yard for a few days for some New England fun!
Last night's dinner and class at Stir was a great time, we're spending today working off the delicious food and beer while getting ready for tomorrow's cooking demo at Whole [...]

• Iron Age Europe was all beer and eatathons [io9]
• How beer saved the world [Huffington Post]
• Can you stand the hottest beer ever made? [Bradenton Herald]
• Are beer cocktails the new martinis? [Vancouver Sun]
• Flat top beer cans: the new hipster trend? [Guyism]

For us when it comes to snacks, the only thing as good as cheese and crackers is cheese IN crackers! Because they never need the aid of a topping or creamy spread (although that has never stopped us from topping them as well), savory crackers make for great appetizers and to-go snacks.

The spent grain in these crackers lends a very pleasant nuttiness to compliment the sharp cheddar cheese, creating what can only be described as the love child of a Goldfish and a Cheez-It. Need we say more?

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Back in the 1990s, when organic foods were generally associated with hippies and bland versions of "the good stuff," brewer Jon Cadeaux set out to combine beer and sustainability without sacrificing flavor. Brewing with local, organic ingredients, Cadeaux found that not only did the beer taste better, but that the possibilities of brewing organic were virtually limitless.

Now based in Portland, Maine, Peak Organic still utilizes local and organic ingredients in each of their innovative brews and has even helped Maine farmers cultivate organic commercial hops, something that hasn't been done since 1880. How's that for community service? We've decided to take on the arduous task of tasting their beers for you. Thank us later.

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Happy first day of spring! We've been having unseasonably warm weather here in Brooklyn, and by the power of optimism, it can only go up from here! But before you break out the beachwear, we still have a ways to go before the weather gets super hot. So, in the meantime, crack a window and drink these springtime-friendly beers.

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We can't get enough of the South! Our panel discussion and tour of South by Southwest in Austin was a huge success, and we plan on having the same great luck in North Carolina starting on Wednesday!
Take a late lunch on Wednesday, March 21 and stop by Williams-Sonoma in Durham for a book signing and [...]

• Beer's too pricey in Africa; SABMiller finds a solution [Reuters]
• Gene Simmons to open rock-themed, craft brew-heavy restaurant in CA [boston.com]
• Coors launches iced tea-flavored beer with interesting acronym [laweekly.com]
• Guy buys wrong beer brand; fight ensues [The Morning Call]
• Beer truck driver arrested for DUI [FOX Cleveland]
• Tweet-A-Beer: The solution to world peace? [kypost.com]

We're sure it's no surprise to you that this weekend's events are filled with St. Patrick's Day celebrations, but not every spot is dead-set on celebrating the holiday all weekend! It looks like you just can't escape beer and whiskey festivals taking over your entire weekend.

Here are a few events that are sure to bring you Irish luck (or at least Irish beer), but if going out's not your thing, you can always skip the holiday happenings and drink some St. Patty's Day-worthy beers at home.

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Every St. Patrick's Day we crave a tall Black & Tan, and if you feel the same, we made a Black & Tan How-To video so that you can show up the guest of honor on St. Patty's Day.

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People mistake us for Brooklyn Brewery all the time, and while getting your company name confused with another may annoy some, we're flattered to be confused for a place with such good beer! So, since we're locals, we decided to kick off this week's 2 O'Clock Tasting with a nice local beer: Brooklyn Brewery's Brooklyn Locals 1 and 2. As most of the beers are now brewed in upstate New York due to demand, the brewery paid homage to locally-crafted beer with Local 1 and Local 2, both of which are made in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Their big bottle series features all beers re-fermented 100% in the bottle, adding dimensions to the finished product than what you'd find in many brews.

If you're just getting started to the stovetop brewing process (and therefore don't have anything currently on home-tap), you can drink some of Brooklyn Brewery's awesome varieties in the weeks it takes to complete your first Brooklyn Brew Shop batch. Everybody wins!

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Not many people know the history behind St. Patrick's Day, but if there's one thing that everyone can agree on, it's that St. Patty gives us all the excuse we need to wear green and drink excessive amounts of beer. Ironically, Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day more than the Irish, whose country the holiday actually originated in. But as anyone who lives in the United States knows, any proper excuse to drink is a good one.

However, if ridiculously wild partying has never really been your thing and won't be on St. Patty's Day, there are other ways you can celebrate this most alespicious day. Traditionally, one of the holiday's traditions is a one-day relief of Lenten food and alcohol restrictions; this means that any food or beverages on 40-day sacrifice are totally okay for 24 whole hours. Didn't give anything up? That's okay; just pretend you did by going crazy on traditional Irish meals and theme-friendly beers, and start your own riot within the confines of your home. We'll help you get started on the beverage side.

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• 16 Mile Brewery gets focused on community [Wisconsin Rapids Tribune]
• Beer: It's what's for work. [EE Times]
• "Shake-Shake" thick beer gains popularity in Africa [Bloomberg]
• Cheesesteak-flavored beer, you say? [Courier Post Online]
• Man invents the reusable beer pouch to stick it to beer can ban [WOAI.com]
• Fill your gas tank and your keg at the same station [USA Today]

Howdy, beer lovers! We're taking our Beer Making Book Tour to Texas, where we'll be splitting our time between hosting demos, chowing down on barbecue, and checking out all that South by Southwest has to offer after our panel. Whether you live in Austin or just happen to be visiting the lone star state for [...]

In ancient Europe, brewing was almost exclusively a woman's role. The medieval times, however, brought about the frequency of brewing in monasteries to accommodate travelers, and as time passed, the number of female brewers dwindled, brewing in the home became rare, and commercial taverns became a predominantly male domain. Today, while women have since shed the label of "alewives," they are continuing to infiltrate what has since become an XY-dominated scene by owning and running breweries, creating new flavors of craft beer and, in some cases, making innovative moves in the traditional art of craft brewing.

Today, we celebrate International Women's Day with a quick look at 6 female-owned breweries that are taking the beer scene by storm.

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We got into making beer because we liked making things from scratch. A pasta machine was an early present from Stephen to Erica and we were amazed that with a few ingredients we already had on hand and a little time we could make the most delicious pasta ever.

When we realized that same logic could be applied to making beer we were hooked and our pasta maker found it's way to the bottom shelf.

The idea of incorporating spent grain into the flour had us dusting off the pasta maker and creating delightfully nutty noodles. Which (of course) tastes all the better washed down with a glass of beer.

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Founded in 1997, Brewery Ommegang has been bringing Belgium to America with resounding applause. Designed with a traditional Belgian farmhouse in mind and built over a former hop farm in Cooperstown, New York, all of Ommegang's beers are brewed with traditional Belgian ales in mind, courtesy of Belgian beer exert Don Feinberg. The company has since been acquired by Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat (that's right, Duvel's founders), and has flourished over the past few years.

Not sure what bona-fide Belgian ale tastes like? Head to Cooperstown this summer for Ommegang's annual "Belgium Comes to Cooperstown" event, a July blowout featuring hours of unlimited Belgian and Belgian-style beer sampling, food, music, a bonfire and more. Until then, however, pick up a few bottles of Ommegang and read up on our favorites.

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As ski season comes to a close, there are still a number of die-hard winter sporters that will ski and snowboard until the last snowflake melts (or until the machines are turned off, depending on where you go). Just as nothing compares to the rush of speeding down a snowy mountain in crisp winter air, there is no greater feeling than cozying up to a roaring fire in your warmest apres-ski gear with a bunch of friends.

Here, we give you seven apres-ski beers to make your day complete.

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• Alabama pushes for bigger craft beer containers [CSNews]
• New mobile app helps track the cheapest beer anywhere. Seriously. [Chron.com]
• Discover your beer's history with Track Your Bud [sacbee.com]
• Obvious news: the beer diet's not that great. [MSNBC]
• Dalai Lama beer ad ticks off local Tibetans in Minnesota [StarTribune]

While we love drinking beer and eating good food for the heck of it, we also love any and every opportunity to learn about what we're consuming - where it's sourced, how it's made, and how it impacts our society, if at all.

This weekend, a number of events across the country are combining these forces by offering tastings along with Q&A sessions, history lessons, and delicious food pairings to whet your palate for... well, more beer. There's nothing like showing off your new beer knowledge for friends and dates, though they'd probably prefer that you just finish your pint and shut up. Cheers!

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Chocolate has the ability to satisfy a sweet tooth and almost instantly cure a bad day. And while Valentine's Day may be over, there's always room for dessert.

These sandwich cookies lie somewhere in between the whoopie pie and the Oreo - soft like a whoopie pie, but with the sweet cream filling of an Oreo. The perfect combination, if you ask us. However, if you prefer more of a marshmallowy filling, just swap out the bourbon buttercream for a fluff-based frosting. They're also pretty tasty with a sweet peanut butter-based filling. We used double chocolate stout for the batter, but any stout will do.

This recipe makes about 40 cookies.

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When your beer is being made out of a brewing facility that's been around for over 350 years, the likelihood of a quality product is considerably high. That said, we didn't expect anything short of greatness when we sat down with a few Delirium Tremens beers for this week's 2 O'Clock Tasting.

Produced by Huyghe Brewery in Melle, Belgium, Delirium Tremens was founded in 1989, and can be distinguished among other types of beer in a number of different ways. The distinct flavor is the result of the beer being brewed with three different types of yeast, and the bottles are designed to resemble traditional ceramics of Cologne, Germany. While it has since been established that most delirium tremens sufferers don't actually hallucinate pink elephants, the brand Delirium Tremens uses the familiar symbol as their mascot of sorts. Besides, with such a high ABV in each of their brews, we don't think it'll take withdrawal to start seeing technicolor wildlife.

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Leap day comes around every four years, and in case you didn't already know, this Wednesday is February 29. It's the kind of day that usually goes by unnoticed - it's not like you get a day off of work - but to the super-superstitious and those born on this rare day, February 29 is a cause for both awareness and celebration. Besides, who doesn't like having any old reason to party?

Whether you're celebrating, proposing, or doing things that you'll forget about in the morning (since nothing that happens on leap day counts, right?), give one of these leap year-friendly beers a whirl.

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• Busch sponsors Major League Fishing [Bradenton Herald]
• Man profits off of beer can hoarding [Wicked Local]
• Beer and chip diet stresses out parrot, causes feather loss [The Sun]
• Your one-stop shop for tools and beer: genius, yet terrifying. [WMCTV.com]
• Why drink beer when you can bathe in it? [Terminal U]

We hope you ate lightly this week, because this weekend marks a food extravaganza all across the country. From Maryland to California, beer and food lovers have ample opportunity to stuff their faces and drink as much beer as they can possibly handle. Now that's our kind of party.

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We love tacos. And are prone to stuffing them with everything from chilli to short ribs to leftovers. But when we have people over we don't necessarily want to hand them Monday's night takeout container with a pile of tortillas. So we quick boil shrimp in beer which is nearly as easy, absolutely delicious and impresses your friends just a bit more than leftover moo shu pork.

For this round we paired the shrimp with wasabi spiked yogurt, Asian slaw and lime zested peanuts - but you can top with whatever you like.

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Sometimes the path you think is best isn't the one that makes you happy. Cue Glenn and Chris from River Horse Brewing Company in Lambertville, NJ. This was no Office Space-esque situation. In fact, the guys were doing quite well in their finance jobs, yet still feeling like they were going nowhere.

So, what's nature's remedy for capping off a long day, regardless of profession? A nice, cold beer. One day, the two businessmen decided to capitalize on their favorite thing and their chosen profession by taking over the River Horse brewery in 2007, and they haven't looked back. Who says you can't combine the thing you love with the thing you're good at? Plus, it's some pretty good beer.

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When's the last time you actually celebrated Presidents' Day? It's usually marked by that three-day weekend you don't know is coming, followed by praising its arrival, then shopping crazy sales or hanging out on a friend's couch for one too many hours that Sunday night. But there is one thing that we've always had in common with almost every president who's ever been in office: a love of beer. From the end of prohibition to beer summits, there is one thing that every party can agree on, and that is that beer is totally awesome.

Since all you'll really be doing this long weekend is chilling out anyway, why not drink some patriotic beers to make yourself feel like you're really celebrating our country the way it's meant to be celebrated? In honor of this Presidents' Day, here are our top 5 patriotic beers.

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• Beer brewed to appease mermaids in Zimbabwe [Global Post]
• Beer pong? No, Pong Beer. [MSF]
• Beer is actually good for you, says Dr. Manny [Fox News]
• Brewer develops maltless beer [The Green Optimistic]
• Did Budweiser stiff commercial members? [Yahoo Sports]

There's nothing like drinking for a good cause, and Friday's Ales for Autism Black & White Beer Ball in Windsor, CA is a great way to start the weekend. As usual, this weekend is full of craft brew festivals and food pairings, because while some things remain seasonal, one's love for food and beer remains constant all year round. Luckily this is a nationwide epidemic, so you'll never have to travel too far for good brews and bites!

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As the San Francisco leg of our book tour comes to a close, we have loads of free time to take in the very best parts of SF Beer Week. Need some ideas? Here are our picks for Wednesday and Thursday, February 15 and 16.
We'll do just about anything for cheese, and Lucky Hand's Adam [...]

Happy Valentine's Day! As this saccharine-sweet holiday (or Singles Appreciation Day, if you prefer) rears its head, couples are clamoring for romantic plans while singles and casual daters are simply trying to let the day pass without a hitch. Why stress? It's just a day. So to give you a little peace of mind on this hectic day of love, we offer a few V-Day dating scenarios and their perfect beer remedies.

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San Francisco Beer Week went off without a hitch on Friday, and we're here to join the party!

Tonight we'll be hosting our beer making and cooking class with the fine folks at Hands On Gourmet, and we hope you've already booked your tickets! The next day, play hooky with your loved one and spend the day showing off your beer and food pairing skills at Magnolia Brewery's Oyster Extravaganza. Starting at 11am, the Haight St. pub will be shucking oysters like crazy, preparing them in a variety of ways, and providing plenty of beer to wash them down with. If oyster aphrodesia hasn't hit you by now, David Walker from Firestone Brewing Company is posting up at City Beer for a sipping session and treat tasting (treats courtesy of Pinkie's Bakery) from 6 to 9pm. No Valentine? No problem! Lagunitas Brewing Company's Tony Magee is heading to McTeague's Saloon on Polk St. at 7pm for a night of Blues and Beers. Drown your sorrows in Lagunitas brew while listening to Magee's acoustic blues, or use this night as an opportunity to strike up a convo with other singles and find a date for next year's Valentine's Day.

If you can't commit to a certain day, there are plenty of activities going on all week long that you can drop into once or thrice. Delarosa's Rare Beer and Food Pairing event melds the minds of Chef Ruggero Gadaldi and Master Cicerone Rich Higgins for eight days of half plate/half beer options and special beer-based cocktails. Three of Pizza Antica's locations have also joined in the fun by teaming up with Russian River Brewing Company to offer craft brews to be paired with an assortment of Antica's crispy Roman-style pizza. You can never go wrong with pizza and beer. Finally, Humphry Slocombe is offering a rotating selection of local beer ice cream between now and February 19, with beer sundae specials going all week. Perfect for that undying sweet tooth!

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• Beer pong champ tries to sue bar for getting him drunk [Gothamist]
• Tribe sues beer companies for their alcohol problems [AP]
• Guy stabs man for making fun of his beer vessel [Sun Times]
• Beer helps ultra-marathon runner complete journey [Herald Sun]
• Brazil embraces the microbrew [MSNBC]

Los Angeles, we just can't get enough of you! We've added another leg to our Southern California book tour, and your presence would only make it greater.

On Saturday, February 11, head over to the Whole Foods Market Torrance at 2pm to sample the store's vast (and awesome) beer selection, then hang around for a 3pm demo and book signing with yours truly. We'll be teaching you all about small batch brewing and answering all of those pressing questions you've been waiting to ask. We'll also be selling and signing copies of our Beer Making Book, which makes a great Valentine's Day gift. Just saying.

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The west coast is a long one, and we couldn't visit LA without making a trip up to the Bay Area for some foggy-weather fun. In  between adventures in excessive eating, we have a few great things planned out for our beer-loving friends.

Join us at the Williams-Sonoma in Union Square on Sunday, February 12 at 2pm for a special book signing and brewing demonstration. We'll be teaching you the ins and outs of small batch brewing while answering your questions and, of course, signing books. Admission is free, with books available for purchase.

Too busy sleeping off your hangover to make it to the 2pm demo? Never fear - we're back at 6! Swing over to the Walnut Creek BevMo! on North Main at 6pm to pick up your preferred hair of the dog and, while you're there, check out a demo for our Everyday IPA. Admission is free, and signed books will be available for purchase. Why not pick up a kit while you're there and save yourself the trouble of having to make a beer run every weekend?

Think the only suitable meal for beer is pizza? Think again. On Monday, February 13 at 7pm, we're teaming up with Hands On Gourmet for a delicious evening of making, pairing, and cooking with beer. While we brew up a selection of beers, the fine folks at Hands On are going to show you how to create beer-inspired dishes. Come hungry, because there will be plenty of beer and food to fill you up! Admission is $50 and includes  copy of our book. To purchase tickets, click here.

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With Valentine's Day on the horizon, this is the time of year that better halves everywhere rack their brains for the perfect gifts. However, Valentine's Day is often that holiday where the gifts consist of stuffed animals that double as dust collectors and huge boxes of chocolate that end up half-eaten and eventually discarded.

Know what won't end up in the trash? Beer. This year, skip the mystery bonbons and get your significant other something worth the cash: beers reminiscent of your favorite holiday candies and desserts that are sure to spark the requisite evening workout a little early. Pair with your favorite salty snack or eat a light dinner and save these brews for dessert.

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When brewer Toshiyuki Ishii randomly ordered a beer in the States some years ago, he never expected to find a flavor unlike most beers sold in his native Japan. However, instead of going back home and fondly reminiscing over a beer that once was, Ishii did the next best thing: he decided to brew his own.

After three years carefully studying brewing techniques at San Diego's Stone Brewing Company, Ishii started his own brewing company, Yoho Brewing, and developed an American Pale Ale that quickly gained popularity among locals. Sensing a good thing in the works, he went on to introduce an American IPA and rich porter that have become all the rage in Japan.

We guess you can say there's a lesson in all of this: if you like something enough, just make your own! We can help start you off. Besides, Ishii probably saved a ton in import costs.

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