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It's time to give this pint glass some Sweet Action! In today's Pint Break, we are going to explore the fine art of glass blowing by Working Man Hand Made. The company's passionate glassmakers and designers, Miranda Work and Skitch Manion, use traditional techniques inspired by modern aesthetic. As a small company located in Philadelphia, they strive to design without limitations and do whatever it takes to make those ideas happen.
Starr Hill Brewery has rolled out new label artwork and new packaging designs after its redsigned logo was introduced in March. Clean, bold logos and eye-catching artwork are a huge part of a beer's shelf appeal. This redesign helps Starr Hill modernize and update its venerable brand.
België. Belgique. Belgium.
By whichever name you call it, be it Dutch, French or English, Belgium is the world’s best beer country. A place the size of Maryland with more than 130 breweries and 600-plus superb beer bars, Belgium is indeed a beer lover’s nirvana. But with so much to choose from, even savvy beer drinkers can be a bit daunted visiting the country. Fear not beer fans, The Beer Connoisseur is here to help. What follows is a road map to Belgium’s beer offerings, an expert guide to the best of what the country has to offer. Put away the guidebook and pour yourself a brew. We have a lot of ground to cover.
Brussels
Let’s start in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the political center of the European Union. Among the many places worthy of your attention is Brasserie Cantillon, certainly one of the top beer destinations in the country, and for good reason. This historic brewery is one of the last 10 or so in Belgium that produces beers by the method of spontaneous fermentation. It is just a 5-minute walk from the city’s main train station, Midi, and is open for visits six days a week.
It’s no secret that the craft brewing industry uses a lot of water and a huge variety of agricultural products to make beer. Consequently it’s no surprise that a lot of breweries are passionate about reducing their waste, recycling, and implementing water and electricity-saving methods in the brewing process, an approach consistent with this week’s Earth Day.
Kona Brewing Company has announced it will invest $15 million to expand its brewing operations in Hawaii. This announcement rapidly follows fellow Craft Brew Alliance member Widmer Brother Brewing's expansion plans, announced in mid-April (Redhook Brewery is also in the CBA). The new 30,000 square-foot brewery will increase Kona's production to 100,000 barrels per year.
Simon and Garfunkel, wine and cheese – of all the great pairings in the history of the universe, none are as effortless as beer and pizza.
With soaring ceilings, 20 unique beers on tap, and a scandalously delicious dough recipe, Slab Sicilian Street Food is a temple dedicated to the enjoyment of this quintessential pairing. Co-Owner and General Manager Emily Kingsbury reigns as high priestess here, delivering sacramental 1-pound slabs of pizza and satisfying the demands of Portland, Maine's young, thirsty beer scene with an impressive, constantly rotating tap list.
Full disclosure: Since Slab opened last June (literally stumbling distance from my door), I've been a regular. As a customer, it's enough for me to appreciate the good beer and short trip home. As a writer, I'm driven to understand how the variables – the personality of the owners, the tap list, the food – interact to create an atmosphere so uniquely conducive to enjoying a beer.
The Woman Behind the Bar
Let's start with Emily – a young, energetic rising star in Portland's beer scene.
Ruby. The color of sequined slippers, deep desire, and Bloomington Brewing Company’s amber ale.
Ruby Bloom is all I could ask for in an amber ─ crisp, rich malt with a tidbit of chocolate perfectly curbed with a peppery hop flourish.
I’m hoping that if I click my heels three times I’ll be teleported to their Indiana brewery, because this beer can turn a gray day into a world of technicolor, full of upright lions and lollipop guilds.
Click-click-click. “There’s no place like Bloomington…”
The irrepressible BrewDog owners James Watt and Martin Dickie are back with a fourth Equity Punk offering in an effort to raise £25 million ($37.5 million). Given the success of the brand and the company’s dramatic jump in revenues after a recent increase in beer production and BrewDog bars, it will be interesting to see what kind of response the private equity offering gets. In its first three offerings, BrewDog has sold shares to over 14,500 investors.
Tropical flavors seem to be a beer theme this season, and we’ve got a peach (straight from Athens, GA) for today’s Pint Break.
Stone Brewing just updated the recipe for its original Ruination IPA by adding Citra, Simcoe and Azacca hops to create a breezy, tropical and very bitter taste profile, but our Pint Break features a much more balanced – yet equally invigorating – flavor palette.
The Beer Connoisseur® magazine has relaunched its website, which now features a one-of-a-kind online review for beer enthusiasts.
The print magazine has established a reputation for editorial excellence and what many regard as the most respected beer review in the independent media. The Popular Review is an opportunity for readers to participate in the review process through a unique online platform.
It's time to give this pint glass some Sweet Action! In today's Pint Break, we are going to explore the fine art of glass blowing by Working Man Hand Made. The company's passionate glassmakers and designers, Miranda Work and Skitch Manion, use traditional techniques inspired by modern aesthetic. As a small company located in Philadelphia, they strive to design without limitations and do whatever it takes to make those ideas happen.
Full disclosure: Since Slab opened last June (literally stumbling distance from my door), I've been a regular. As a customer, it's enough for me to appreciate the good beer and short trip home. As a writer, I'm driven to understand how the variables – the personality of the owners, the tap list, the food – interact to create an atmosphere so uniquely conducive to enjoying a beer.