Friday, December 28, 2012

December in review: a brewtiful guide to the internets


Dear December,

How glad I am to see you go. So glad, I give you this recap four whole days early. Behold! Also, I planned to wait until the first to bestow this list of life altering internet linkage upon you, but I'm anticipating a bit of a morning after fog January first and thought it prudent to plan ahead. Wait, what's that? You missed last month's riveting recap of the interwebs. All right then. 

As we know all too well, the internets have been a dark place this December, but there is a light around the corner called New Years Eve and I shall be amenable to her midnight fires and starry-eyed imbibing. So there.

No plans for your own toasty libations? You could try Red Brick for starters. Or Moondog (also Growler Nation, Smyrna Beer Market, Ale Yeah, Gremlin Growlers). Also, no adolescent drinking, please. Get some serious beer, and be a seriously safe driver. M'kay?

Cheers everyone!
hb

Four beers I had that do not even remotely suck:

Some things I find mildly amusing:

Some things I'd like to eat immediately (or yesterday):

Other things in existence that are also beer related:

Beer writing worth reading with a drink in your hand:
CRAFT VS. CRAFTY (a throwdown or sorts)
OTHER INTERESTING BEER READING (if you're into that sort of thing)

Monday, December 24, 2012

Poseur, Prancer, Donner, and Ditzy?



Before Santa comes along, Rudolph is pretty much an outcast and a freak with little to no direction or purpose in life besides being mocked. In this way, the little reindeer that could is a fairly good analogy for how Big Beer must view the craft beer market, which owes it's origins to the legalization of home brewing. Or so the story goes.
“While America’s small and independent craft brewers have reached a record 6 percent market share, they lack the economies of scale and the huge marketing resources of the big brewers. They’ve relied on grassroots efforts, an appreciation for local, and authentic and delicious products to attract their consumer base. 
Beer enthusiasts have responded by embracing these breweries and their unique, innovative and flavorful beers, brewed locally by neighbors and friends who are very visibly involved in their communities. They have chosen to support small-business entrepreneurs, who are the embodiment of the American dream. These entrepreneurs are the underdogs bent on reviving a sense of independent craftsmanship.” (emphasis mine; source#)

But, if an interview with Big Beer's Graham Mackay is any indication, it seems Big Beer wants Rudolph to light the way to bigger profits for everyone already involved.



The great pretenders. It's a story being told all across corporate America. People are waking up to the sad state of mediocrity of which standardization is the greedy, soulless culprit. In short, people are bored, and home brew (and by extension, craft breweries) is bridging the gap.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Goose Island's Matilda (a review)

Most of the time, I don't need to be persuaded to have a drink. My inner hedonist usually does the work for me. And my two year old. But some beers I will gladly never have again.

Goose Island's Matilda is one of those beers. I know some people who like it just fine, but personally, my palate sent out a resounding "no thanks" from beginning to end. For those of you who stay awake at night concerned about the world's wasted beer, you can go to bed with a clear conscience. I found some thirsty chums to finish it off for me. There's no shortage of those round these parts, it seems. Especially on Fridays.



What a funky, fetid beer. Like moldy lemon peel, pine trees, and wet cork. Reminded me of an awful coriandor flavored beer I had once and then promptly blocked out (fortunately for you all my husband has the memory of a trivia champion). The smell of wet socks roasting in the mid-august heat of suburban metro atlanta asserted itself at the get go and held on tight.

The foamy head was generous, but dissipated quickly. A orangey golden color, and mild malty aftertaste. Beneath the aforementioned funk, a combo of fruity, floral notes (which appealed to my husband, although he admitted he might only want one glass of it before moving on to something else) rose through the fog, making it tolerable at least until the bottom of the glass. As a card carrying member of the Clean Plate Club, I find it somewhat morally compromising to leave my glass half empty. I'm an ace. I know.

I picked up this little gem sight unseen from The Stout Brothers who described it thusly via their online menu:

source#













If "intriguing" is the nom de guerre for any future beers on their menu, my plan of action is avoidance at all costs. I'll take the dinner (Did you say goat cheese and roast chicken? Um, yum.) and skip the "real nice" beer, thanks.

Have you had Matilda? Did you take her home? Did she treat you real nice? Tell me, oh people with taste buds and access to the internets. Would you introduce her to your parents?

Thanks for joining me for my second ever HB beer review. For a beer blog, reviews have been notably absent for reasons I will divulge in more detail as we move along, but for now let it suffice to say that I am usually too enthralled with the brief intermissions from my responsible life to wax poetic about my recreational drinking.

Want to know what I'm up to in the imbibing department, follow me on untappd. Or at least keep your panties on. More reviews are in the works. As for me, it's getting cold outside so I'm off to finish my whiskey.

Cheers,
hb


Caveat 'A': The fragile boys down at SB are not responsible for my poor beer selection and would like you to know that they'll be glad to choose a beer for you if you're into that sort of thing.



Monday, December 10, 2012

Congrats to our happy imbibers!

Announcing our three lucky winners of The Stout Brothers growler giveaway! If I haven't already contacted you through Facebook, contact me to claim your prize. Congratulations!


Lucky Imbiber #1

Alyson’s Day Dream


Lucky Imbiber #2

Matthew LeMaire


Lucky Imbiber #3

Grapes and Hops ATL


Winners were selected from qualifying participants using the True Random Number Generator at random.org.


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Did you say giveaway?

Yes. Yes I did.

What's better than a growler full of freshly poured beer? A FREE growler full of beer that doesn't suck, especially if it's a Burnt Hickory brew (is the Eerie Von still on tap? You better hope).

The Stout Brothers are sponsoring a giveaway of THREE (yes, I said three) 64 oz. growlers at their Smyrna Beer Market (free beer not included). Leave a comment on this post before Friday at midnight (entries from local residents only, please) letting everyone know which beer you plan to put in your free growler. Check out their beer list.

To enter THE STOUT BROTHERS GROWLER GIVEAWAY leave a comment (one entry per person please) on this post before Friday at midnight, Standard Eastern Time (rules and restrictions apply*). Check out their evolving list of beers on tap, or make a suggestion for your brew of choice (if it's not already on the list).

Three winners will be randomly selected and awarded one growler each. Winners will be announced on Monday, December 10th. Check back to see if you've won one of THREE 64 oz. growlers primed for your brew of choice.

Bonus points awarded to winners who send along a pic of themselves with their winnings (to feature in a post-giveaway recap).


Rules and Restrictions*
  • One entry per person, legal drinking age (21 and up only) with a valid Georgia State ID (must present ID at pickup).
  • Winnings must be redeemed no later than Jan. 15, 2013.
  • Beer not included.

Cheers!
hb

Saturday, December 1, 2012

November on the interwebs (a beer related recap)

Happy December 1st everyone! November is finally over so we can stop giving thanks and start complaining again. Oh, and wear ugly sweaters. And hats. Hats are nice. Oh, and I'm sure you've all been on the edge of your seat about a beer-related recap for the month of November, so because I'm feeling especially giving this morning I suppose you can have one.

You don't deserve it though. Just like that hand-knitted Christmas sweater Auntie Margery made for you in the third grade. The green one with a pompom reindeer and googly eyes. You probably won't appreciate this either. Oh, and by the way, Auntie Margery and I have been hanging out. She told me all about that one Thanksgiving where you had a little too much sparkling wine and set the cat on fire by accident. You're on my naughty list.

Merry Christmas.


Some things I find mildly amusing:


Some things I'd like more if someone else made them for me:


Stuff I read in November that didn't bore me to tears (but almost):

Cheers!
hb

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