Beer

Advertising Age takes a look at promotions Diageo's Captain Morgan spiced rum and MillerCoors' Miller High Life are running that play off this year's presidential election. "Crown Imports is, for the first time in its history (even when it was Barton), having to deal with flat to down sales for its flagship brand, Corona, going into year two of its slump," writes Beer Business Daily (subscription required). "For the 52 weeks ending August 10, IRI supermarket volumes for Crown are down 1% while arch rival HUSA is up 6% (driven by its Mexican brands). Of the beer suppliers, only Pabst and…

Femsa brands grow. Heineken NV today reported that Heineken USA’s shipments and sales to retailers slipped during the first half of the year. The declines reflected weakness in Dutch portfolio. The Femsa family of Mexican beer brands grew, with Dos Equis and Tecate leading the way. From the release: Sales volume at Heineken USA was 2.4% lower. Beer sales volume (excluding the FEMSA brands) was 5.8% lower, partly due to strong sales in 2007, when the Heineken Premium Light can and the DraughtKeg were rolled out nationally, and reduction of inventories at distributors level in 2008.

Other imports growing even as Corona struggles. The import segment lost 0.2 points of volume share during the four weeks ended August 16 -- the 11th straight period of a year-over-year share decline, according to beer sales statistics from Nielsen. Peel back the numbers, though, and it’s clear the reason that imports are slipping is largely because of weakness in the Corona franchise, particularly with lead brand Corona Extra. Corona lost 0.3 points of volume share during the 4- and 12-week period ended August 16. The much smaller Corona Light brand was down 0.1 points during the four-week…

Beer volume in supermarkets slipped 0.1 point below year-earlier levels during the four weeks ended August 16, according to beer market analysis by Nielsen. National weighted average prices were up 2.2 percent. MillerCoors volume share was down 0.3 points and dollar share was down 0.5 point during the period, according to Nielsen. Anheuser-Busch volume share was up 0.6 points with dollar share up 1.1 points. Import volume share was down 0.2 points and dollar share was down 0.7 points. Craft volume share was up 0.3 points and dollar share was up 0.6 points. BusinessWeek has an interesting look…

Beer Business Daily (subscription required) has an informative and interesting interview with Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company patriarch Bill Leinenkugel. InBev CEO Carlos Brito says he's confident regulators will clear InBev's acquisition of Anheuser-Busch by the end of the year. Brandweek takes a look at how A-B is playing up its environmental credentials.

Topic Origin: Beer News & Opinions

Topic Origin: Boston

Topic Origin: Beer News & Opinions

Topic Origin: US - Mountain

Topic Origin: Beer News & Opinions

It's a growing trend all over the country. Thieves are "tapping" in to a new way to make quick cash. In Columbia, the victims are local bars. At least one watering hole in Columbia's Vista has fallen prey to what we'll call "keg crooks".

Mead, otherwise known as honey wine, has a niche in the brewing world. Wine is typically described as being fermented with fruit, so substituting honey technically removes it from that category.

With a glass in one hand and a tap in another, bartenders from 34 countries will fight to pour the perfect beer in the 12th annual Stella Artois World Draught Masters competition in Perth tomorrow.

Heineken shares have fallen by almost a third this year as investors punish the Dutch brewer for its heavy exposure to mature Western markets, but analysts see the weakness as overdone given good long-term ...

Foster's Group , Australia's largest brewer, posted a 9.4% decline in second-half profit, pressured by disappointing sales from its Californian wine business.

Moline man jailed after sending hostages for beerQuad City Times, IA - 2 hours agoAccording to police, Slagel got thirsty and sent two of his hostages out for beer. After the hostages left, they called police, and Slagel was arrested Dateline Iowa DesMoinesRegister.comall 2 news articles

Thieves targeting beer kegsLawrence Journal World, KS - 2 hours agoEnlarge video As the price of stainless steel rises, thieves are focusing on beer kegs for supplemental income. And that has affected breweries and

It was one big beer break in PolkOrlando Sentinel, FL - 3 hours agoWho stole the beer? Officials with the Polk County Sheriff's Office released security video Wednesday showing a man running out of a Lakeland convenience Thirsty thief on the run ABC Action Newsall 5 news articles

Beer provider charged in triple-fatal crashInland Empire News, CA - 12 hours agoDaniel Ebert allegedly bought and furnished beer to Daniel Perkioniemi, a 19-year-old motorist who was driving drunk the wrong-way on the Riverside Freeway. Friend of Hwy. 91 wrong-way driver faces charges for furnishing Press-Enterpriseall 2 news articles

Heineken says 2008 a challenging year for beer sectorIrish Times, Ireland - 12 hours agoLOWER ALCOHOL consumption levels mean 2008 will prove to be “another challenging year” for the beer industry, Heineken Ireland said yesterday as it Fizz goes out of sales for Heineken Ireland Irish Independentall 2 news articles

(Anchorage, AK) - Midnight Sun Brewing released a list of its upcoming beers recently. Here is the dish straight from the fingers of Brewery VP, Barb Miller (you can receive these newsletters as well by signing up at the website - linked above): Pluto Belgian-style Golden Strong Ale Aged in French oak Chardonnay barrels with Brettanomyces, will be released on FRI 8/29 [...] [more info on the Planet Beer Series] FRI 9/12 - The Viking Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale Brewed with dark malts, star anise and sweet-ripened raisins, this is a very special commemorative beer created for our dear beer…

(Pre-approved label photo courtesy of BeerMapping.com forums!) (Flossmoor, IL) - Former Small Brewpub champs, Flossmoor Station Brewery, let out some more details on its blog yesterday about the collaborative effort with Fifty Fifty and Lucky Bucket Brewing. The result will be a beer called Collaborative Evil, a “Belgian Dark Strong Ale made with Raisins, local honey, Mexican and Indian sugars, orange peel and black cardamom.” The release will be in late September or early October though a Saturday, October 4, date is currently the target. Here is the original press release from a…

(Any picture in this article may be expanded by clicking on it) You’re looking at the first known record of RateBeer with a logo still visible, courtesy of The Internet Archive. This page is from July 21, 2001, and showcases the site a little more than a year after it began. However, the earliest known record is actually from August 19, 2000, when there were a whopping 3,143 ratings in the database. Not to mention that at that time, the beer with the most ratings was… Budweiser…with 34. Eight years later, the number of ratings has skyrocketed to 1,790,546. Come take a…

Firestone Walker Twelve, the twelfth special release beer to celebrate the brewery’s anniversary, got label approval earlier this week. According to Marketing Director, Jamie Smith, production was bumped up from last year’s 500 case mark to 600 cases this year. The release party will take place at the Paso Robles brewery on Saturday, November 8, at noon, with bottles hitting the retail market the following week. Firestone Walker is widely recognized for its use of oak barrel-aging, its program being code-named, “Quercus Alba” or “White Oak.” What is…

[ed: Pardon the light posting for today as a result of my working overtime on tomorrow's Firestone Walker Twelve story!] Troegs Brewing has started distributing its fall seasonal, Dead Reckoning Porter, which should be in some stores now. The American Porter has received respectable ratings on Beer Advocate earning close to a 4 average. According to the newsletter sent out this week, “at 5.8% abv and 53 IBU’s, it features Pilsner, Caramel, Chocolate and Roasted malts along with Chinook and Vanguard hops” In addition to Dead Reckoning Porter, Troegs is releasing the latest in its…

A small but growing number of brewers, beer experts and importers are turning toward well-made low-alcohol beers.

What do you get when you mix Champagne and ale?

Residents of St. Louis, home to Anheuser-Busch, reeled after the surprise sale of the American brewery to Belgian beer giant InBev.

Residents of Breezy Point, where local lore has it that Budweiser is the drink of choice, met the news with bitterness and resignation.

For a pool hall, a liquor license is not a trivial matter. When people can have a beer while they play, they stay longer.

Part 2 of a 3 Part Series In honor of New Belgium’s brews now being available in Tennessee, I thought I would do a New Belgium series of reviews. There are currently only three of their brews available here that I’ve seen, so it will be a short series, but I hope you enjoy it! Part I: [...]

Sad news from the Flying Dog Brewery… I don’t know if you have heard, but our longest standing employee and brewery manager, Mike Freeman, was recently diagnosed with a very serious brain tumor and the most aggressive of its kind! Due to Mike not being able to work and to offset some medical expenses, Mike’s [...]

Part 1 of a 3 Part Series In honor of New Belgium’s brews now being available in Tennessee, I thought I would do a New Belgium series of reviews. There are currently only three of their brews available here that I’ve seen, so it will be a short series, but I hope you enjoy it!Part I: [...]

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale 7% abv - Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a chilled pint glass. Appearance This brown ale has hints of rust and orange colors throughout. Semi transparent with moderate off-white head that sits an inch on top. Aroma Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, it smells of sweet fall pumpkins but is balanced with cinnamon, nutmeg, [...]

COME CELEBRATE THE FALL SEASON WITH THE FIRST ANNUAL DAS BEST OKTOBERFEST Washington, DC Moorea Marketing is proudly presenting the 1st Annual Das Best Oktoberfest at the National Harbor on The Potomac in Metro Washington, D.C. on Saturday, September 27th from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The outdoor festival will include beer gardens celebrating [...]

Deschutes Brewery’s HOP TRIP 2008 Now with Salmon-Safe Certified Fresh Hops (August 26, 2008 – Bend, OR) Deschutes Brewery’s fresh hop pale ale, Hop Trip, returns to the Bond Street Series line-up this October for its fourth season. This is a much-awaited return for the Deschutes team, as the arrival of the just-picked fresh hops brings [...]

From Deschutes Brewing: Deschutes Brewery’s summer Bond Street Series edition offers yet another refreshing, hot weather quencher to complement Twilight Ale. This unique Belgian-style wheat beer was brewed with zested Curacao orange peel and just enough spices to keep your taste buds guessing. The Deschutes brewers tinkered with the recipe for months at the original [...]

Avery Brewing creates larger than life beers, and this one lives up to their reputation! Here is the description from the bottle: We the Brewers of Avery Brewing Company, in order to form a more perfect ale, require a new leadership that can liberate us from our quagmires in foreign lands; embrace environmentally sound energy alternatives to [...]

There is only a slight hint of floral hop aroma to this beer. The color is a light brown and very clear. The head pours light with low retention.This beer has a lot of sweet malt flavor, with caramel notes. The hop flavor is very light, just a hint of floral hops and some bitterness. The malt flavor is more akin to a amber ale than an IPA. The mouthfeel is medium with some carbonation. The finish is sweet with some tannins.There is not near enough hops in this beer for it to be an IPA, the hops would not be high for an amber ale. As an Amber Ale this isn't bad, nothing wonderful, but Amber…

This beer has a classic lager aroma, light malt and no hops. The color is straw and very clear with plenty of bubbles coming up from the bottom. The head is medium with medium retention.There is a strange sweet taste to this beer, a slightly off fruit taste. The strange taste is kind of earthy and sweet and not right. There is a normally light malt taste and sweetness, and a hint of hops for bitterness. The mouthfeel is light and refreshing. The finish also has the stange flavor.I do not like this strange taste, it is unexpected in this beer, and I do not know what it is. It does not taste…

This beer has a light malty aroma mixed with the sour. The color is a muddy brown without any light passing through. The head is low with poor retention.This beer tastes earthy with hints of malt. The sour flavor is less pronounced that the Cuvée Du 7ème, but sour is still the main flavor. There is some hints of fruit blending with the wild yeast sour flavor. The mouthfeel is thin with low carbonation. The finish is a little malty sweet with a light sour taste.I like this beer more than the Cuvée Du 7ème, but I am still not a fan. I just don't care much for sour beer.

There is a malty, slightly aged raisin aroma to this beer. The color is a light brown with some light shining through. The head pours medium with little retention.This beer has a malty aged beer flavor. The malt is sweet with a molasses quality, and some grain flavors. There is also a clear aged beer oxidization and raisin flavor, maybe a little too much aged flavor. There is no clear hop taste. The mouthfeel is smooth with low carbonation. The finish is sweet with some molasses hints.This is an ok beer, little too sweet and maybe too much oxidization for my taste. A good example of a strong…

There is a pronounced sour lemon aroma to this beer. The color a medium brown and very hazy, looks almost muddy. The head pours thick with has moderate retention.This is a very sour beer, clearly soured with wild yeast. The only clear flavor is a lemon like sour taste, and a little earthiness. This beer is very dry, no sweet tastes. The mouthfeel is thin, with little carbonation. The finish is sour and lemony.I am not a fan of sour beers and this is a perfect example of what I don't like. The only taste is sour, and nothing else.

My surname might be Cizauskas, but my Lithuanian language skills are sorely lacking.So, when I recently came across a Lithuanian language "bloguose" (blog) devoted to "alus" (beer) that lists Yours For Good Fermentables.com as one of only six "Uzsienyje" beer blog links (that's "English-language"), I enlisted a family "drogas" (friend) for assistance with translation.Tikras alus - geras alus is the name of the blog. That's "Real Ale - Good Ale".And the masthead reads: "Alus ne vanduo, kunigs ne piemuo". That's a bit of student doggerel that roughly translates as "Beer is not water; the monks…

Coastal Brewing was formed last year, when Fordham Brewing of Annapolis, Md. partnered with Anheuser-Busch to purchase the Old Dominion Brewing Company of Ashburn, Va. Now, as reported at Musings Over A Pint, Coastal's devolution of Dominion continues apace.Old Dominion Brewpub Closed Permanently And here's Coastal comment about the shuttering of the pub (not the brewery) posted on Dominion's website:This decision will have no impact on other operations of Coastal Brewing Company. Brands under both the Old Dominion and Fordham names will continue to be distributed and marketed along the east…

Hops grown outside a Wheaton, Md. restaurant.Organic hops has taken a foothold as a nascent new industry in Colorado. Years of state wide interest and research by Colorado State University culminated last weekend in the first “Sustainable Hops Growing Workshop” held in Hotchkiss, Colorado. Put on by Dr. Ed Page of CSU Extension and Ron Godin of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Rogers Mesa, the workshop saw over 70 attendeesLead by Dr. Ron Godin, Researcher at the Rogers Mesa Experiment Station, and Ali Hamm, Masters Student at the Fort Collins campus, CSU has shown that hops grow…

Chef/owner Ian Morrison of The Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton, Md. produced his second-ever beer-breakfast this morning. It was a six course meal --breakfast and brunch fare-- prepared with beer, and served with beer. And served at 10am!Among his comments after the breakfast was concluded, Chef Morrison observed that when he had been preparing his menu, he had found North American versions of the beers to be, if not better than imports, at least fresher, and thus better tasting. Drink fresh, drink local!Several breakfast-ers, including this one, also thanked Morrison for readily substituting…

When I was asked recently —by a wine guy— if anybody could actually like beer, I replied that I assumed the question was merely rhetorical.But if I had been Michael Jackson, I might have replied as he wrote:"Do you ever drink wine?" people ask me, as though beer were a poison rather than a playground. A day may pass when I do not drink wine, but never a week. Whatever is argued about other pleasures, it is not necessary to be monogamous in the choice of drink. Beer is by far the more extensively consumed, but less adequately honored. In a small way, I want to help put right that…

What's the difference between Belgian candi and table sugar?5 Vote(s)

This is a great introduction and is the first part in an exhaustive series of yeast and its home brewing applications. Future topics include yeast re-use, storing yeast, and yeast starters.6 Vote(s)

A review of Ray Daniel's classic brewing book "Designing Great Beers"7 Vote(s)

this post talks aboue dispensing corny kegs with a portable co2 dispenser.6 Vote(s)

First article in a series about how good beer can go bad (off-flavors) and what causes it.5 Vote(s)

Seems like a logical next step.  I’m not familiar with this group, but we’ve discussed this prohibition related issue a couple of times on the blog [With that Free the Hops movement in Alabama]. Sean 2Beerguys.com Beer lobbyist group disbands Founder Sean Wilson has built network of brewers, will open his own brewery By Sue Stock After 5 1/2 years heading a beer industry advocacy group called Pop the Cap, Sean Wilson of Chapel Hill is disbanding the nonprofit group and moving on to a new beer-related venture. Wilson started Pop the Cap in February 2003 to lobby the state…

2beerguys.com Gets National Attention! Colin Cowherd plugs 2beerguys.com on his nationally syndicated ESPN Radio talk show “The Herd” MEDIA CONTACT: Ian Cowpar ian@2beerguys.com 978-609-0336 (BYFIELD, MA August 26, 2008) This morning on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on ESPN Radio, Colin read an email that I sent him answering his question about when the good beer movement started, and told his listeners to visit our site. Since that aired, we’ve had over 500 visitors to the site and over 3,000 page views! A HUGE shout-out to Colin for the mention, and I…

Redhook Late Harvest Autumn Ale Warms Up the West Redhook Fall Seasonal Beer Now Available Nationwide, Debuts New Packaging WOODINVILLE, Wash. – August 25, 2008 – Looking ahead to cooler weather and falling leaves, Redhook Ale Brewery will soon release its Late Harvest Autumn Ale, set to be on store shelves across the country August through October. With new packaging this year that continues to feature classic fall iconography including an owl and a full moon, Late Harvest will be available for the first time throughout the West Coast. “Redhook seasonal craft beers are carefully…

This is quite depressing. I’d like to thanks Susan, Ben, John and Don for bringing this to our attention. I apologize for the delay in posting this message, but we were trying to wait for the official word.  I felt like Princess Leah trying to save the Federation (you should have seen my cinnamon bun hair doo). The following Article was recently posted in the Lowell Sun (thanks Don for sharing): Rib ‘n’ Brews Festival canceled By Kathleen Pierce LOWELL — After seven years on the barbie, the Rib ‘n’ Brews Festival in Lowell has gone up in smoke. Scheduled…

Please join me in welcoming Ella Aurora Bilapka-Cowpar. She was born on August 18th at 4:16 am, weighing in at 6 lbs 11 oz and 19 inches long. Mother and baby are doing very well. Ella was born with a full set of hair — with highlights.   A full exam was perform and there are 10 fingers and 10 toes.  Ian is giddy at the moment, but we’ll see how things are going in a week after no sleep. A special brew is on tap at the Bilapka-Cowpar residence: Ella Aurora’s C’ella Weizen Alcohol 6.4% | Ibu 9 | O.G. 1.054 sg A German-style Hefeweizen brewed to celebrate the birth of our…

I received my free cans of Buckbean's Orange Blossom Ale and Black Noddy Lager (2 of each) on Monday. I was so excited, you would think that I would have tried them that night, right? No. I left them in my office overnight. Du'oh! I took them home yesterday & refrigerated them for a bit. The Husband & I both sampled each type of beer last night, and I am saving the last 2 for tonight. Unfortunately, I left my camera with beer pics at home today. (Why yes, there is a theme to this post, and it is forgetfulness. I also drop stuff often, if it makes you feel better to know that too.

So the 75th St. Brewery is turning 15 years old this week. And there are specials galore. The little blurb below should give you plans for the week. I'd especially like to point out the Home Brew contest on Saturday and 2 for $15 growlers all week long!

It has been all over the papers this month, especially in the Mid-West. This snippet is ripped from an Associated Press article from August 1. Leaning heavily on nostalgia in packaging and marketing messages, I think this could make a splash.It's the beer that made Milwaukee famous. Now Schlitz is making the city nostalgic.That beer with the old-time mystique is back on shelves in bottles of its original formula in the city where it was first brewed more than a century and a half ago.Schlitz was the top-selling beer for much of the first half of the 20th century. But recipe changes and a…

I ripped everything below from Home Brew Beer, who received an email from Flying Dog directly."I just got this message from Steph at Flying Dog...Hey, I don't know if you have heard, but our longest standing employee and brewery manager, Mike Freeman, was recently diagnosed with a very serious brain tumor and the most aggressive of its kind! Due to Mike not being able to work and to offset some medical expenses, Mike’s friends and family are hosting a fundraiser. The fundraiser, Rock the Mike: The Freeman Brainefit, is on Saturday, August 23rd at the old Flying Dog warehouse (24th and…

MillerCoors is bringing back the classic “Great Taste, Less Filling” advertising tagline for Miller Lite. “Research has shown the two factors that matter the most to mainstream light beer drinkers are taste and refreshment,” MillerCoors said on Tuesday in a message to distributors.-- ripped directly from MillerCoors' BrewBlogThe quiz question for you, dear readers, is this. If Miller Lite = Great Taste, then Coors Light = ___________?

I doubt not that moderate Drinking has been improv'd for the Diffusion of Knowledge among the ingenious Part of Mankind...drinking does not improve our Faculties, but it enables us to use them.Benjamin Franklin, Silence Dogood, No. 12, 1722.Franklin was 16 or 17 when he wrote that under a pseudonym. Smart kid. You know, quoting Franklin on beer can be dangerous stuff but, in this case, you know that is it true because you can read it for yourself on the internet. When I read that passage above in the introduction of Salinger's book, I thought not about Franklin or his sayings but beer…

While in Maine, I headed out one night with pals who lived there to find a new Belgian beer bar that I had heard plenty about - Novare Res. We had a bit of trouble finding the place at night as it sits in a mid block courtyard near the corner of Exchange and Middle Streets in the old port part of town but once we found the right alley we were in for a treat. Set up with two main sections, a beer celler as well as a courtyard beer garden, Novare Res provides a layout that will work on a stinking hot Saturday afternoon or a stormy winter night. Inside, it's brick with new Ikea-esque pale pine…

I really shouldn't call this a book review when I have only read the introduction. Has anyone else seen this book by Sharon V. Salinger of UC Irvine? I found it at the Fort Stanwix gift shop in Rome, NY yesterday as we were driving back from Maine. From the first bit I have read, it appears to be a strong academic text with an interesting point of view - the antecedents for American patterns of drinking. So far I have learned that the Dutch in the 1600's were raging alcoholics in the eyes of contemporary commentators but we have to be mindful of the fact that the Dutch and English were then…

We stopped in at Allagash to pick up some supplies yesterday, three hours early for the tour but that was fine. I was really looking just to shop on the one rainy morning during our week in southern Maine. I plan to be on the beach most days at 3 pm. Not that I usually mention landscaping but Allagash sits in what must be one of the nicest industrial parks going, nestled amongst mature pines. Not that that makes the beer different but driving into the place with the malty sweet brewery smell mixing with evergreen forest as the grain truck unloaded was good.The staff person who helped us was…

One of the many great things about Maine is you can buy beer at a grocery store - and wine and what they call "haaaard liqaaaah" around here. So far I have only hit two stores in South Portland, Shaw's and Hannaford, but it is interesting to note the different treatment. At clean and bright and helpful Shaw's, the beer is in the chip and soda aisle. There are a few locals but it is treated as largely a commodity beverage with no focus on craft or even Maine. This is odd because at the other side of the store they have a dandy and quite large fine wine area with phoney rich wood panelling as…

When beer enthusiasts ponder great American craft breweries, their minds often wander to the coasts. West Coast brewers are deservedly renowned for their experimentation, especially in all areas hoppy. On the East Coast, craft brewers boast big reputations for their extreme acts and style defining efforts. But when it comes to dishing out respect, Midwestern breweries get very little for their impressive efforts. I have a public confession to make. I think Midwestern breweries make the best beer available in the United States today. That’s a bold statement to be sure, but let’s take a…

I know that things have been pretty quiet, what with no posts this almost finished month. I’ve been traveling quite a bit, including several weeks in Seattle and Alaska (including interviews with Geoff Larson and Dick Cantwell). And my return has been filled with legal catch-up. And so it was the news today that Old Dominion Brewing has closed its on-site pub that punctures the silence. I’ve written quite a bit about Old Dominion and its pub over the years as I’ve long enjoyed the place. I had one of my first tripels here about a decade ago and can remember the experience.

Entering its fifth year, the Beer Journalism Awards is a program sponsored by the Brewers Association trade group that seeks to recognize “outstanding media coverage that increases beer enthusiasts’ understanding of the diversity and flavor of American craft beer.” Originally started by Ray Daniels, the original Director of Craft Beer Marketing for the former Association of Brewers, the program has proven a popular conduit between the association, which represent small American craft brewers, and the writers who cover the trade. According to the Brewers Association, the program has…

A few months back I wrote about a gang of revolutionary brewers who knowingly disregard style guidelines in favor of less restrictive pastures. These “free-form” radicals, as I called them, challenge tradition and history in order to expand the way people think about beer. As a lover and defender of brewing history, I somewhat disdainfully shook my head at the whole, disorganized practice. Countless breweries around the world tout their allegiance to strict style guidelines and traditional ingredients as the basis for their claims of quality and character. In doing so, They…

When I was giving talks and doing press interviews in support of The Good Beer Guide To New England, I would inevitably get asked about my favorite New England beers, breweries, and brewpubs. A less frequent question that I spent little time pondering was what city is the best for beer drinking in New England. As with my selections of Great Beer Bars, a few ground rules are necessary in this intellectual exercise. Of beer bar greatness I have written, These places excelled in several crucial respects, including “extraordinary selection of craft beers, respect their clients in terms of…

We’ll be in Brussels (still thinking about this) on Sept. 15, the day Budweiser American Ale officially debuts on draft. We’ll be in Stuttgart at Germany’s second largest beer festival on Sept. 29, the day the first bottles of American Ale go on sale. Will the American beer world have been transformed by the time we return in December? I think not, but you might disagree based on the amount of words already generated in beer blogs and at the beer rating/discussion sites (one example). Anheuser-Busch has done a great job of creating interest in American Ale ahead of its…

We’re wrapping up the summer phase of our Grand Adventure with an American history field trip and packing for Part II-Europe, so a few links to posts you should read and think about: - On Locale, and Maeib writes, “Whilst supporting this initiative as I like to see local businesses flourishing, and will support them wherever possible, I don’t want to hear the words ‘beer miles.’” Be sure to read the comments. I can tell you that three months into paying attention to all things local, not just beer, it’s possible to spend too much time thinking about…

Could this be the stumper? This photo was snapped during our current adventure. That narrows it down to 24 states, eight provinces and one territory. I’ll rule out Alaska and the Yukon for you. Anway, this isn’t really a hit-the-buzzer-first-Jeopardy-type contest (Daria would kick your butt), so feel free to comment even if you don’t know where this barn resides. Heck, I bet we’d all like to know if you can tell us what Koehler beer used to taste like. (Here’s how this feature started, in case you forgot.)

“I think I was the first person ever to use the phrase, ‘beer style.’ The next thing was to try to define what they were, which lots of people have done since, but I think I was the first person. But then my focus became really to talk about, to try to describe the flavors of beer. When I was first writing on beer, nobody else was describing the flavors in beer. It’s very frustrating when you read old books on beer.”          - Michael Jackson, interviewed in All About Beer magazine in 1997. I went looking for this…

My take on Pabst’s efforts to make Schlitz the next . . . well, Pabst (in other words, popular with the young and hip)? Lawnmower beer.

Cameron's Brewing have announced the details of their next cask night event. Here are the full details taken from their latest newsletter: Following last month’s very popular Lagerita-ville by Cameron's brewer Jason, this month’s Cameron’s ‘Let’s Drink the Cask Night’...

According to a story in today's Toronto Star, rabble-rouser Derek Forward is moving his battle to break-up the Beer Store monopoly to the next level with an official Beer Store Protest Day this coming Saturday, August 30th. Here are the...

On Saturday night at a gala event at beerbistro in Toronto, the 2008 Golden Tap Awards winners were announced. The winners were as follows: Best microbrewery in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) - Mill Street, Toronto Best microbrewery in Ontario...

The beer list for the Ontario Beer Festival at this weekend's Golden Tap Awards has been finalized. The following beers will be available for sampling at the party: DRAUGHT and BOTTLE Beau's Festivale Plus Nickel Brook Organic Lager, Uniek Kriek,...

On Wednesday, August 20th, beerbistro (18 King St. E.) will be hosting a beer dinner to mark the official launch of Pilsner Urquell on draught in Canada. The evening will start at 5:30 PM with a reception featuring passed hors...

First thank Pivnízub for pointing this out. Then mark your calendar with the following: on Friday, October 3, you can taste all of the Zoigl beers in Neuhaus. That’s Neuhaus in Bavaria, just over the border from the Czech Republic, and that’s Zoigl, the legendary-by-way-of-being-unheard-of beer produced in just five villages in Germany’s Oberpfalz, sometimes called the Upper Palatinate. Usually cloudy, malty and deep gold in color, Zoigl is brewed in community brewhouses by the village families with brewing rights, then brought back to each family’s home for…

Q: Is there any supermarket in town with a good selection of rare beers, especially rare and unusual Czech beers? A: Yes and no. In terms of good foreign beers, we seem to be doing worse than before. Before Tesco bought Carrefour, the latter occasionally had gems like Saison Dupont, and when we used to have Delvita, you could sometimes find Cantillon (though if I understood correctly, Jean-Pierre Van Roy said that Delvita parent Delhaize stopped carrying his beers). With the narrowing of the supermarket market, the beer selections seem to have narrowed as well. But there are still some good…

Prague’s Klášterní pivovar Strahov has an outsize reputation among Czech beer fans. On Ratebeer’s list of the country’s top brews, three of Strahov’s Svatý Norbert beers earned places in the top 10. A fourth Svatý Norbert model is rated #16. In the past few years, these beers have been excellent, much better at this point than the ratings I gave them in Good Beer Guide Prague and the Czech Republic. (Either my tastes have improved or the beer has. Perhaps it’s a mix of both.) That said, the Strahov brewpub itself is a tough sell. First, the service has never…

There was a big storm the other night with a lot of wind; in the other room we heard something crash and fall. When I got up the next day I found a box in the office had overturned. Nothing was damaged but a chunk of brewer’s pitch I used for show-and-tell at our last beer tasting, which had been a dark, inscrutable lump. Now, on the floor, it was a pile of bright shards and a fine dust coating the parquets like ground glass. I got a broom and swept up the mess. Back in the days of making beer in oak, pitch was used to coat the barrels, both as a sealant and to keep the beer from…

I’d love to write a more complete review of Martyn Cornell’s delicious new book, Amber Gold & Black, but I haven’t finished it yet. That’s a way of saying that it is quite a substantial text — 232 pages of rich history, fascinating trivia and exquisitely diverse detail about the development of beer in Britain. That’s also a way of saying that this is a book to linger over. O is there great stuff here! My most recent “I had no idea” moment came in the chapter on barley wine, when the book quotes Elizabeth I, complaining in 1560 that London…

Through the pub window A dog plays mischievously Though he might get bit Written by Captain Hops. Thing of the Day: The Pocket Guide to Mischief Sponsor: Beer Haiku Daily merchandise.Get the official T-Shirts here. They make great gifts!

Another cold beer As I watch the spectacle Who’s in it for me? Written by Captain Hops. Thing of the Day: The All-American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing: Common Sense Rantings from a Raging Moderate Sponsor: Beer Haiku Daily Store powered by AmazonGifts for Beer and Haiku lovers handpicked by Captain Hops.

Afternoon drinkers Laugh from the streetside tables As masses trudge by Written by Captain Hops. Thing of the Day: The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York

The glory of my Architectural genius: Beer can pyramid Written by Captain Hops. Thing of the Day: America Bizarro: A Guide to Freaky Festivals, Groovy Gatherings, Kooky Contests, and Other Strange Happenings Across the USA

What would you do if I ran out of beer? Would you Stand up and walk out…. Written by Dave Undis. Author’s Note: With apologies to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Joe Cocker Thing of the Day: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

The Oregon Brewers Festival is held on the last full weekend in July. This was the 21st year of the event. There are 75 beers to try over four days. The audio on this program is wack. Sorry about that. Beers on the show: Comparing Watermelon Wheat out of the tap to Hell or High Watermelon in a can. Homework: go to a festival and report in. make a beer butt chicken.

Okay, not really live, but we’re recording at show from the Oregon Brewers Festival from 3-4 PM on Friday July 25th. Find us at the Brewing Network booth which is next to the North Tent.

Belgium beers are sought out because of they’ve been brewed the same way for centuries. But you don’t need to go all the way there to experience these styles of beer. Instead, look to your local brewery for great examples. Many of the breweries in the US (or anywhere else for that matter) see this style as the pinnacle of brewing. So there are lots of beers to try.   Beers on the show: Lost Abbey Judgement Day, Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers, Allagash Curieux, Russian River Damnation, North Coast Brother Thelonious, Dog Fish Head Midas Touch, Avery Fifteen. Homework: Try a…

“Craft beer in a can? Quite CAN-didly, that’s the number one question we get around here,” says Chief Hop Head and Founder/Brewmaster Shaun O’Sullivan. “The can is actually a brilliant CAN-cept all around for craft beer”, adds Chief Watermelon Officer and Founder Nico Freccia. “Cans are simply better for the beer–they keep it fresher by protecting it from light, they are lined so they don’t affect the flavor of the beer and they fit the craft beer drinker’s lifestyle by going places where glass just doesn’t dare—like beaches, pools, boats, parks and golf…

Lots of people have the impression that fruit beer is “girly beer.” That it tastes like sugared up soda pop. Fact is, fruit beer has been made for centuries. While some beers are made for a specific market and in fact do taste like sugar water some fruit beer can be more complex than wine. Exploring these wonderful beers can be lots of fun. We’ve chosen some of our favorites for the show. Beers on the show: Marin Brewing Blueberry Pyrimid Apricot Sam Adams “Long Shot” Grape Pale Ale Leinenkugel Brewing Berry Weiss & Honey Weiss Coconut Porter Maui Brewing…

Libertine in Dallas, Texas is having a beer dinner on August 26, so you Texans should try it out! Any time you can have doughnut holes paired with Belgian Dark Ale from French Canada, you must take full advantage of that opportunity. From the restaurant: Greetings! It’s that time again for the Libertine Bar monthly beer dinner. This month’s menu is amazing and we really went all out on the beer pairings, trying to bring out some good craft brews that may fly under a lot of people’s radar. Tuesday August 26, 7 PM The Libertine Bar 2101 Greenville Ave Dallas, TX 214-824-7900…

There’s an upcoming Flying Dog beer dinner on July 24th at the Columbia location of The Flying Saucer. It looks like a pretty cool craft beer restaurant, and I think the dessert course (cinnamon gelato paired with Horn Dog) sounds muy interesante. Flying Saucer 931 Senate St. Columbia, SC 29209 803-933-9997 July 24th at 7:00 $35 GA and $30 if you’re a Beerknurd 1st Course – Pork Two Ways paired with Tire Bite Golden Ale – Braised Pork Belly and Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Cole Slaw and a spicy BBQ Sauce. 2nd Course – Farfalle Salad paired with Woody Creek White – Farfalle…

It’s hot in Chicago in the summer. Excessive heat and humidity make for a climate where cooling down is a necessity. Based on the need to chill, the Chicago tribune tells us how to make Beer Sorbet with chocolate-covered pretzels. With all those great summer wheat beers out there (such as Bell’s Oberon and Flying Dog’s Woody Creek White), I could see some great applications for the craft beers we all enjoy. (via About.com)

Our buddies at Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg, VA are having a beer dinner with California brewer Lagunitas on July 30th. —– Tuscarora Mill Presents a beer dinner with Lagunitas Brewing Co. July 30th 2008 7PM Greeter Czech Pils Grilled Mahi Mahi basted with Papaya Chili Sauce Jicama Salad, Censored Barbecued Shrimp Wrapped with Peppered Bacon, Grilled Buttered Corn IPA/ Maximus Baby Bell Peppers stuffed with Smoked Duck Sausage, Chipotle Cream Lucky 13 Pulled BBQ Short Rib Slider with Hill House Coleslaw Hairy Eyeball Sichuan BBQ Baby Back Ribs Pickled Daikon and Carrot Salad Brown…

If you’re interested in beer dinners, then I think there’s a good probability that you’re interested in cooking. I’m always looking for better ways to make food at home, and I found a good blog entry about 10 ways to cook better. (via Kottke) Do you guys have any tips for other beerdinners.com readers about increasing the quality of what you’re making at home?

Gorilla Warfare Porter is a silky smooth porter made with 40 lbs of Park Slope's Gorilla Coffee Ethiopian Yergacheffe blend, a Fair Trade and Organic Certified coffee roasted in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The coffee has winey, spicy notes with hints of baker's chocolate. Combined with patent malt, the signature of many great English-style porters, this is one silky smooth, coffee-rich porter.

In keeping with the Illinois senator's unifying theme, the "Hop Obama" is an indefinable ale that doesn't adhere to traditional style guidelines. The 5.2% ABV creation contains five different kinds of European crystal malt and three different kinds of Pacific Northwest Hops. Combined with a Scottish yeast strain for fermentation, the result is a highly drinkable beer with a big malt background and an "Obama" of hops that imparts floral and citrus notes with just a hint of spiciness.

There seems to be a real social media theme going on in the world of blogaboutbeer.com this week - first all of the new beer-related iPhone applications, then the “crowdfunding”-based brewery BeerBankRoll. And today, to cap it off, a buddy of mine pointed out the (relatively) new BrewSocial (part of the LivingSocial network, which also includes TuneSocial, ReelSocail, and DiningSocial, among others) network. From what I’ve been able to gather, BrewSocial focuses on 5 specific functions - organize, discover, link, share & talk. Organize: A utility first and foremost,…

Ever wanted to own your very own brewery but just didn’t have the start-up capital? Well now, thanks to the help of BeerBankRoll (and tens of thousands of other members) for an investment of just $50 you can own a piece of a brewery. Chicago-based BeerBankRoll is founded on a “crowdfunding” concept where its members are hoping to raise $100,000 to open a brewing company and pub. The paying members can start voting on the company name, beer recipes, marketing plan, advertising strategy, and everything else that’s needed to start a brewery. Company profits (when the time…

Today, August 2th, marks the one year anniversary of BlogAboutBeer.com. When I got into blogging a year ago, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. The site was a mess, my stories were a mess and I didn’t think I would (or should) stick with it. Now a year later, it’s grown into a full-fledged obsession. I’ve met and talked with a lot of great people – especially those in the local Portland beer scene – from all across the brewing industry and gotten to do a lot of great things and taste a lot of great beer I’m sure I wouldn’t have done otherwise. But the best part has been,…

You may remember way back in November of ‘07 when a study was released which claimed that natives of Central America were drinking alcoholic beverages — or beer — made from cacao (the seeds which chocolate comes from) even before 1000 BC, 500 years earlier than previously thought. Well now it looks like label-pushing brewer Dogfish Head is going to recreate that recipe. As I’m sure you know, over the past few years, Sam Calagione — owner, founder and brewer of Dogfish — and the rest of his brewing team have been working with the University of…

Popular online Social Networking blog Mashable.com today had a post describing 18 different iPhone applications all centered around drinking. Most of them were lame “guess your BAC level” and “R U Drunk” tests and shouldn’t get a second mention. But one of the applications, however, does seem really neat (neat enough that I may download it onto my girlfriend’s iPhone when she’s not paying attention). The application, which is called BeerPad, is reportedly for, the beer aficionado, this app works as a beer journal to record your thoughts on the beers…

The Griffin Inn, Dale, Pembrokeshire, Wales The Pembrokeshire coast path, in South Wales, features 186 miles of gorgeous cliffs, hidden bays — and the occasional wonderful pub. I don’t mean that there are lots of pubs and only some of them are wonderful — more that pubs are spaced quite far apart in this part of the world, possibly something to do with widespread Nonconformism and therefore teetotalism. There are exceptions, for example Little Haven has three pubs, and I’ve already written about Solva. They must have been very sinful places. Anyway, the pubs. The ones…

The Three Mariners pub in the docklands gloom The Three Mariner’s sits in a maze of dark cobbled alleyways not far from the Thames. The smell of fish, tar and sea-water is powerful, and you can hear the shouts of Thames boatmen, the clattering of masts and the clatter of cargo being unloaded on the dockside. The pub looks inviting, candlelit and cosy, promising shelter from the gloomy and rather intimidating wharfside rat runs. It’s small — there’s only one table and two chairs — but there’s plenty of leaning space at the bar. Behind the bar, there are…

Anti-mead abuse written in marker on a vending machine at Hackney Downs station -- click for a bigger version

A few weeks back, we went for a riverside walk in the East End and blogged about various pubs there. This time, we went Surrey side, starting at Tower Bridge. While the tourists were busy snapping the bridge, we were photographing the remains of the Anchor brewery. Or rather, one of the Anchor breweries. There were (at least) two on the south side of the Thames. The arguably more famous one was further upstream, on Bankside, and was home to Barclay Perkins. The Anchor Brewery at Tower Bridge The Anchor brewery at Tower Bridge (or at Horsleydown, as it’s also known) was set up by John…

Versión en español Delirium, over at “De Cervezas y otras cosas”, has set a very interesting topic for this month’s “round” (the Session for Spanish-speaking beer-bloggers). It was so thought-provoking that we thought we’d post it in English as well. The challenge was to come up with a “virtual” tasting session aimed at people who are not beer lovers. We had to pick between five and eight beers that we would put forward, avoiding obscure microbreweries, and explain why we’d selected them. We like to beervangelise from time to time, so it’s a question…

When you head to work, you don’t always know what the day might have in store for you. Take for instance, today, when I set out to work riding my bike . The ride to work was fine, a little cool, but nothing out of the ordinary. It was the afternoon I had to fear.  I rode home today in 95 degree heat and not a cool breeze to be found. Needless to say, when I got home, I needed something to drink. Sure, water would make the most sense, but thanks to my computing abilities, a neighbor felt like thanking me for my assistance with a couple of Coronas. “It’s better than Bud,…

I’ve had friends over for beer tastings and encourage basic note taking.  I usually get the question of “How do I taste beer?”  My response is to just go with it, taste what you taste, don’t get outside of yourself and just enjoy yourself.  It’s not a test, there’s no wrong answer, but some times people want more.  Thankfully, there are people smarter than I (quite a few in fact) to help out with this sort of thing.  Charlie Papazian posted this today and I think it’s a great resource for anyone looking to give beer tasting a serious try.  He…

Back in college there was an unofficial tradition a few of us had.  When it was going to be a party, there always seemed to be a 6-pack of Mendocino Brewing’s Eye of the Hawk in the back of the fridge.  Like clockwork, when the party was winding down, we’d finally get into the 6-pack.  This is where the stories would fizzle out, the night would become a blur and the party would end.  In honor of this not-so-noble tradition, I decided the Hawk deserved the proper respect and sat down with a bottle over the weekend.  After years of drinking this brew straight out of the bottle…

Slowly, Dogfish Head brews are trickling into the Bay Area. While I’ve written about the 90 Minute IPA, one of their more interesting beers would be Midas Touch. The recipe came from the remnant found inside a vessel buried inside of King Midas’ tomb. So it’s time for a little history lesson, as we drink like a king from times past.  Midas Touch pours a light amber with a thin head. The aroma is more like wine than beer. The flavor is similar to a oaky California Chardonnay with a little froth. There’s a flavor reminiscent of mead mixed in that’s rather dry and…

Back in February, I bought an extra bottle of The Abyss by Deschutes. Originally, this bottle was meant for another. Unfortunately for them, our plans for the exchange fell through repeatedly and we gave up. It was then going to be shared with Wes when he was in town. This one fell through the cracks on a rather busy weekend of drinking. So I was determined to find someone to share this bottle with. I didn’t just find someone, I found many.  Let me introduce the group: Bill the bartender, Dean the restaurateur, Chris from Agilent and 3 others at the bar, who I didn’t get a chance…

Our recent trip to Madison allowed us to score a good many beers that were new to us, whether at breweries, brewpubs, bars or at the festival itself. In addition, we brought home lotsa goodies to try over the next few weeks. Since our return, we’ve tucked into beers from Lake Louie, New Glarus,  Founders and Ale Asylum, with a variety from Goose Island, New Holland and Capital on the horizon. But last night was just a little special, as I’d been gifted something not available in the beer store aisles. Matt and Andrew, from Flossmoor Station, graciously brought me an unlabeled…

Or maybe it’s just a one-track mind… Evidence that Beer-Centricism could be hereditary. I don’t like small talk. I don’t really talk about the weather. I don’t like talking about work. I don’t enjoy family dinners where I have to recap what I’ve been up to over and over again. Generally, I concentrate my time and energy into a few good friendships, and a few close familial relationships. I hang around people who are like me. I like beer, the outdoors, music, reading and my family–not necessarily in that order. Those are the subjects I tend to…

For the longest time, Millstream Brewing Company has been the only bottled option for Iowa beer. Narrow choices: bad for beer folk. And then there was Olde Main. Wider choices: good for beer folk. Several weeks back, I ran across Off KILT er Scottish Ale from Olde Maine Brewing Company, from Ames, Iowa. “Yipee!” I cried. I’m not an impulse buyer, but I bought some on the spot. You see, I’d been subliminally planning to buy beer from an Iowa brewery the moment I saw it. So it really was a well thought out purchase. Since according to Thoreau, “A man is rich in…

With real world obligations taking over, it’s time to wrap up the Great Taste of the Midwest. Long story short, we had a great time. We love our boys, but it was good to drag ourselves away for a weekend. And aside from the incentive of our anniversary, what better excuse than the Great Taste? This really was a terrific fest. It met all expectations. Great beer in a great setting, with tons of friendly folks around. I’d recommend you check it out, but then it might make it even more difficult to get tickets. Don’t go. Stay away. It ain’t no fun. The beers are troubled.

In an effort to show my priorities, I very specifically did not chill a special beer yesterday. I didn’t want Michelle to think I thought beer was better than her. That she was just another excuse to open something spectacular. Because sometimes I chill something cool just because it’s Tuesday. You see, it was our 14th anniversary. I was just going to have a glass of water. Wilson and Penton catching up over better beer. But then, out of the clear, blue sky, walks in my best friend since elementary school, Penton. I hadn’t seen this guy since the day Michelle and I got…

When I was in Washington DC a few weeks ago I did some pre-flight homework on beer outlets from which I could purchase alcohol beverages to store in my suitcase, and as it so happened, there was a good retailer near my hotel (the name already escapes me). Just that week I’d been reading about some SOUTHERN TIER BREWING beers online, and I decided to make their 22-oz. beers my grail for the trip – if I could find those, I’d call the whole hunt a success. You may recall I tasted me first Southern Tier beer (the HEAVY WEIZEN) here and absolutely fell for it. Seems like the east coast is…

(Note: I totally messed up, and have since corrected, this post when it was first published. I plum forgot my #1 favorite of the macro micros – BLUE MOON BELGIAN WHITE, made by none other than the Adolph Coors Corporation. I’ve tried to belittle and knock down this beer, and every time I’ve had it, especially the two most recent times, I’ve found it to be fantastic. Correction noted on 8/27/08).More often than not, beer dorks like me find themselves in situations that call for a beer to be purchased or chosen, yet, for whatever reason, there are no Trappist ales nor double IPAs nor…

Here’s the best Norwegian beer I’ve not only ever tried, but ever imagined. I’ve been reading about the Scandanavian brewing revolution that’s well underway, turning a region packed with light lagers and light ales into a taste-expanding, experimental hotbed of beer production. I often don’t believe the hype on this sorta thing. On the evidence of one lone beer, HAANDBRYGGERIET’s NORWEGIAN WOOD, I’m a firm believer! This beer is outstanding. Think of a dark orange/brown smoked ale with a smokiness that never overwhelms and yet is ever-present. Rich, roasted malts coat the…

All three blogs that I pen are now available on your mobile phone. I’m serious. Open up that WAP browser and triple-tap these bad boys in there:http://firstprinciples.mofuse.mobihttp://hedonistbeerjive.mofuse.mobihttp://detailedtwang.mofuse.mobi

Ever since I read about this SIAMESE TWIN ALE from Santa Cruz, CA’s UNCOMMON BREWERS on William Brand’s beer blog, I’d been itching to try it. I guess I was – and continue to be – excited by this new push toward introducing exotic ingredients, fruits and spices in beer, and the notion of an Asian-themed ale sounded at least worth trying. There’s this other brewer up in Seattle called LAUGHING BUDDHA, who appear to be doing similar things – in fact that’s their entire shtick: high-quality, craft-brewed Asian-inspired ales (as opposed to lagers like SINGHA and whatnot). I’m…

This is so typical "me" if it can go wrong it will go wrong. In case you missed yesterday's post, I accidentally plunged my bug into the murky depths of my secondary. I actually did something... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

I'm having problems with my bung hole... I figured this post title would get your attention, but really, I had some trouble with my bung hole today... Has this ever happened to you? Note the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

I have a confession to make... I've never used a secondary. Yep, I'm that much of a hack newbie home brewing weenie. I've always been hesitant out of fear that I may contaminate the beer during... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

I just got this message from Steph at Flying Dog... Hey, I don't know if you have heard, but our longest standing employee and brewery manager, Mike Freeman, was recently diagnosed with a very... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

At 3:30 AM I checked the airlock, whi