making HEADlines: Happy IPA Day!

August 2, 2018: The words of the Day:
Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Amarillo, Columbus, Simcoe (and more).
Citrus, Piney, Grassy, Floral, Fruity, Tropical, Woodsy, Dank, Resiny.
American. New England. West Coast, East Coast, Midwest. English. Hazy.

What are you thinking of right now? Of course it's the IPA! Happy IPA Day, Thursday, August 2.

Whether you like yours hazy or super hoppy, there's an IPA for you.

making HEADlines: Brewers Association Releases 2018 Beer Style Guidelines

making HEADlines: Brewers Association Releases 2018 Beer Style Guidelines; Adds New Categories, Including Juicy/Hazy Ales

 Boulder, CO, March 20, 2018:   The Brewers Association has issued its revised Beer Style Guidelines for 2018. Updated annually, the Guidelines are used as a "model resource" for brewers and competitions, and these revisions will be in effect for this year's Great American Beer Festival (GABF). 

The new Guidelines include "hundreds of revisions, edits, format changes and additions," according to a statement issued by the Brewers Association today. In addition, several new categories have been created to respond to current trends. Most notable is perhaps the formal recognition of Juicy or Hazy Ale Styles, generally known as New England IPAs or West Coast Hazy IPAs. The three official styles are identified as "Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale," "Juicy or Hazy IPA," and "Juicy or Hazy Double IPA" in the new Guidelines.

Other modifications include the addition of "Contemporary American-Style Pilsener," a category which reflects commercial sessionable lager beers with higher hop aroma than found in pre-Prohibition style beers; and a restructuring of the Australian Pale Ale category into separate styles of "Classic Australian-Style Pale Ale" and "Australian-Style Pale Ale," which generally address the differences in color and hop aroma- and flavor-forward characteristics. The Guidelines also edit the Gose and Contemporary Gose categories. 

The Brewers Association points out that factors in revising the Guidelines include historical significance, authenticity or a "high profile in the current commercial beer market." Major changes, such as style additions, are the result of "research, analysis, consultation and consideration of market actualities." Further, current commercial products may not fit within the historical parameters, but rather represent a modern version of a style, explains the statement. 

Cheers,
Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

What Kind of IPA Are You, Anyway? Say Cheers to IPA Day!

American. West Coast, East Coast, Midwest. English. 

Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe. 

Citrus, Piney, Floral, Fruity, Tropical. 

Double, Imperial, Session, Black, Red, or just "plain" ol'. 

From Palate Wrecker to Heady Topper to Sculpin. 

Pliny the Elder to Florida Man.

Talk about some of our favorite things. We could be talking about a certain holiday in December, or we could be talking about ... Yeah, you guessed it: we're talkin' IPA!

Beer vs. Wine ThrowDown: A Chocolate Pairing at Alewife Bottleshop; Oh, Sweetheart .... Love a Glass of Beer with that Chocolate

Indulgence. Decadence. Cupid. Love. Hearts. Flowers. Sensuality. Chocolates. Wine. Beer.  

Beer?  At first blush, one might not immediately include beer in such a list of provocative elements often reserved at this time of year for Valentine's Day and the extravagance of the holiday of love. It's probably not every day that your taste buds experience the (over)indulgence of delectable and almost sinful flavor combinations. Like chocolates with wine, right?  Hold that thought....

We Got Funky: Maple Bacon Coffee Porter Day 2016 at Funky Buddha Brewery

I didn't attend the prior two Maple Bacon Coffee Porter Day festivals hosted by Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park.  Last year (2015), the event fell about a week before an already-scheduled weekend trip for a concert in Fort Lauderdale. I had tracked the release dates of the prized MBCP around Lauderdale, and I was thrilled to find it on tap at American Social.  By the way, if you haven't figured it out yet, not only does this beer have its own Day, it has its own acronym (MBCP; it IS a mouthful). 

It Was Cookin' at Brewz n Dawgz' First Beer Dinner with Cigar City Brewing

When I first found out a couple of months ago about the first Beer Dinner being planned at Brewz n Dawgz in St. Augustine (December 22), I was intrigued.  After all, how does a menu featuring brats/hot dogs offer the culinary variety and flair usually associated with these pairings?  As I saw the food menu come together, my interest was further piqued (not to mention that it really sounded good). And, then I got the lowdown from owner Roger Lim on the beer menu (exclusive, I might add).  Nothing like a new place hosting its first beer dinner with some creative brews from the most recognizable craft brewery in the state of Florida, Cigar City Brewing.  

Confessions of a GABF Virgin

Cover of 2015 GABF Program

Brew Bus Brewing and Aardwolf Brewing (Florida) Win Medals at GABF

If you saw my social media feed over this past weekend, you know that I headed west to the Great American Beer Festival ("GABF") presented by the Brewers Association ("BA") at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. In its 29th year, the festival consisted of four sessions from Thursday to Saturday, and I attended two: Thursday opening night and Saturday afternoon members session.  But, first things first.  In addition to the beer tasting, there was also a behind-the-scenes beer competition going on.  In fact, 6,647 beers from 1,552 breweries in all 50 states and D.C. were judged!  The winners were announced Saturday morning, and the event was broadcast live via internet stream. All said, the judging panel of 242 beer experts from 15 countries, including the U.S.and 155 volunteers awarded 275 medals in 92 beer categories, including 145 styles. 

Do You Know Your Boot from Your Maß ("mass")? It's Oktoberfest time!

There's probably no more festive time of year in the beer world than OKTOBERFEST! The original German Oktoberfest happens each year in Munich during the last two weeks of September through the first weekend of October, and is host to approximately 6 million fest-goers each year.  If you aren't one of those attending the "Wiesn" (German for "meadow") this year, don't get your shorts all in a bunch.  We also celebrate it here in the U.S. So, grab your lederhosen and dirndls because everyone's German during Oktoberfest!