Edmonton International BeerFest
There is no doubt that home brewing is becoming more popular. Beginner kits are easier to find and tempt beer lovers everywhere with the dream of making a flavorful home brew that will let their inner brewmaster out.
Even though you are going to have a fun time using your kit there are few techniques and tips that your kit may not mention. The following tips will help your first and future brews be a success.
Keep it Simple, Keep it Clean
Kits normally come with a beginner’s recipe. Use it. Don’t worry about adding additional ingredients to make your beer more exotic. If you don’t know what your doing there is a chance of ruining the batch. Learn a good form and routine first.
Unfortunately the best conditions for yeast to grow and ferment the wort are also the best conditions for bacteria to grow. Clean and sanitize everything the wort will come in contact with including thermometers, buckets, tubing…EVERYTHING. Also remember to clean what the final product will be stored in. Acid-based sanitizers and iodine-based sanitizer are recommended.
Chill Fast After Boil
There are various methods to chill your wort. For beginners a simple ice bath will do. Bacteria can infect your wort at temperatures above 80 degrees so you need to drop the temperature quickly. This will also reduce the haziness in the finished beer by causing proteins to coagulate and drop out.
Aerate the Wort
Boiling causes the wort to loose oxygen, which is important for proper yeast production. If the yeast doesn’t get the oxygen back it can lead to strange flavors. A good simple method to aerate the wort is shake it after it is placed in a sealed sanitized carboy or bucket. Place the container on the ground and rock it back and forth until it is frothy.
Pitching the Yeast and Controlling Temperature
Healthy yeast is crucial to a good brew. Pitching rate calculators can help determine the amount of yeast you need in your batch. Liquid yeast is a good way to achieve the appropriate amount, but is expensive. Other options include creating a yeast starter or using dry yeast. All three methods have their pros and cons so it is a good idea to research and figure out which method is best for you.
After pitching you’ll need to control the fermentation temperature. This is what helps the yeast turn the sugar in to alcohol. Each strain of yeast will vary slightly in the fermentation temperature so it is a good idea to check with the manufacturer for the proper temperature.
Take notes throughout the home brew process. They can come in handy next time and may give insight on how to improve your next batch.
Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our
Facebook page.
Canada’s stoic brewing history can be traced back to one year: 1982. It took the dream of three Canadian bar hoppers who grew sick of the lack of variety when it came to their beer choices. Three years later, after the rise and fall of their pub, the Horseshoe Bay Brewpub, something else rose from its ashes: micro brewing.
In 1984 the first micro brewery was opened and several months later there were breweries shooting up all over the country, marking a renaissance in micro brewing. These breweries would give birth to the start of craft movement in Canada. Although it wasn’t universally loved at first, the crafts would slowly gain a following, culminating with many of these micro breweries merging with the big name brewers in the country.
It wasn’t until the 90s that crafts would gain its second wind. One after another, new breweries were opening their doors, and what made them different from their 80s counterparts was the addition of pale ales, IPAS, and porters. These choices were completely foreign to the traditional beer drinker in Canada.
Currently the craft scene seems to be going for the hat trick. Recently Canada has seen the opening of more breweries. What they will put on the table that their previous incarnations didn’t is anyone’s guess, but judging by their past experiences, the next few years are going to be great for any Canadian craft fan ready to get a taste of what micro brewing has in store.
Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our Facebook page.
In the last decade the craft beer industry has boomed. Today, this industry makes up about 22 percent of all beer sales. The most popular of the craft beers, the Indian Pale Ale, have evolved from their traditional aggressive bitter flavours. In an interview with legendary brewer, Josh Bernstein, the writer of the Complete IPA: The Guide to your favourite Craft Beer, he discusses the surge in the craft beer industry and the evolution of the IPA. Bernstein explained, brewers have begun to utilise new hop varieties like Mosiac and Citra hops that emphasize tropical, fruity, and citrusy flavours.
Experimentation with new hop strains, brewers have spun IPAs in many different directions transforming the beer. With all these emerging new beers, it leaves one to wonder, where the industry is heading. Quick changes in trends, and the rise of the international economy, beer styles are adapting. New pale ales are adapting to geographical areas and using new creative, crazy, flavorful breeds of hops.
With brewer intellect, we may only be in the infancy of what is possible. The IPA has been the dominant player in the craft industry for quite some time and that shows little evidence of changing. The biggest challenge for a brewer is staying current in an innovative market, one that has over 5000 craft breweries in the United States alone.
Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our Facebook page.
Photo by CKGolf 
Most people prefer to drink their beer, at BeerFest we agree, but we all know there are times when some is leftover. However, we can’t bear to see it just poured down the sink when the party is over or when that batch of home brew goes wrong. So, we took some time to have some fun and experiment with more than one unusual use for leftover brew.
1. Make Incredible Bread
Cooking with beer is not new whether you have it in your hand or in the recipe. Since it is basically liquid bread it doesn’t take much to make actual bread out of it. Just add some flour and salt and you can make wonderfully crispy flat bread. Recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/crispy-beer-flat-bread-154024
2. Roast A Moist Wonderful Chicken
Even when the lager has gone flat it can still perk up your chicken. Take that half-full can of lager and place the large cavity of the chicken over it. You can throw it in the oven or on the barbecue and the lager will evaporate as it cooks. This will leave you with a delicious, flavorful, lager infused bird.
3. Move Over Pledge.
Next time your favorite klutz comes over and spills his drink on your pristine finished wooden coffee you don’t have to fret. Just take out some of that leftover flat ale and apply it to the wood using a soft cloth. This will leave a nice sheen on your furniture and it will smell a little like ale. Just make sure to test an inconspicuous spot first.
4. Polish That Pot.
Beer is slightly acidic so it helps break down tarnish on brass and copper pots. Put a little on a clean cloth and buff. That and a little elbow grease will make those pots shine.
5. Keep Insects Away!
Humans aren’t the only ale drinkers out there. Forget the citronella candles, keep the bugs away by placing bowls of suds away from the party. The insects are attracted to the sugars in the liquid. Just remember to keep uncle Bill away from them.
Buy Your Tickets Today
Edmonton’s International Beerfest offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Tickets for the 2018 Beerfest are on sale now! Buy tickets today before the event sells out!
Beer has become an integral part of Canada’s national identity. For decades, large brand names such as Labatt Blue and Molson Canadian have been at the forefront of this national image. However, there has been a shift within the brew culture of Canada. In recent years, there has been a rising popularity in the micro brewing industry. In fact, there were a reported 640 micro-breweries in the country in 2015.
The renaissance that Canada is experiencing now with the micro brewery parallels the transition that smaller brewers experienced in the 19th century. With an ever-growing population and more means of transportation, small companies needed to modernize in order to meet a growing demand. Decades ago, there were only a small number of breweries in Canada that had a monopoly over the system. With no competition, these breweries only focused on cutting costs. The inevitable result was a small selection of beers.
Some people theorize that the recent boom in the craft beer culture in Canada is in part a response to this monopoly and lack of choices. It is more appealing to see a small, local brewer with passion than it is to see a money-mongering corporation. Furthermore, craft beer brewery is not subject to the limitations and expectations that are forced upon major businesses. Instead, micro brewing has the freedom to produce a wide range of interesting flavors and concoctions.
Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Tickets for the 2018 International Beerfest are on sale now!
Buy tickets today before the event sells out!
Is it your first time attending a beer festival? Perhaps it is not your first time. Maybe you have been to a beer festival but feel like there wasn’t enough time to enjoy every vendor. Use this guide to get the most out of your beer festival experience!
Slow and Steady. Keep in mind that a beer festival lasts for several hours. Don’t be hasty, take your time, enjoy. To really take your time, get a weekend pass. That way you won’t miss out on any great beer.
Pack Some Snacks. Hard pretzels are perfect snacks for the beer fest because they cleanse the palate for beer tasting.
Get Some Sleep. Beer festivals are an all day thing, get plenty of rest so you are able to enjoy yourself.
Get Your Ticket. The last thing you want is for the beer fest to sell out before you get your ticket. Find out the dates and details of the event. Try to order your ticket in advance to avoid the heartbreak. Get your tickets here.
Write down the beer that you like. When you fall in love with multiple beers at the fest, you’ll want to remember the name, what it pairs well with, and where to purchase. Take notes.
Stay Hydrated. Drink lots of water. All alcoholic beverages dehydrate the body so it’s best to drink up! Dehydration causes headache, fatigue and lots of sweating. Three ways to ruin your fun!
Keep Cash on Hand. There will be lots of vendors with awesome things you’ll want to buy. Be sure to have some money on hand. It’s possible that many vendors accept cash payment only.
Come with cool people. You’re there to have fun and enjoy yourself. Go with people that are like-minded and you’ll be sure to have a good time.
For more information about Edmonton’s International Beerfest, click here. We’ll see you there!
Today is one of the most celebrated of all special days for beer lovers around the world. Dressing up in green and pretending to be Irish will be expected, even if that’s not your style. You might instead be the kind of person who signed up for an excuse to sample wonderful Irish brews. So tonight while you down pints of Guinness or green beer say a quick thank you to the man who started it all… St Patrick. And be sure to shout: Erin go Bragh!
Who was St Patrick?
Believe it or not, he had nothing to do with leprechauns or pots of gold or any other ridiculous thing you’ve seen in St Paddy’s Day celebrations. His true name is believed to be Maewyn Succat and only later became Patrick after rising to Bishop in the church. His story as it’s told really starts when he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland to work as a herdsman. Six years of hard labor drove him to escape and flee back home. It was there that he became a Christian priest and eventually returned to Ireland as a missionary around 430 AD.
St Patrick spent the next 30 years being an all around great guy. He built churches and schools all over Ireland while travelling and spreading Christianity. Details are scarce during this time but he was recognized by the Church and even appointed as the second Bishop of Ireland.
So Why March 17?
As is the way of most holidays we celebrate St Patrick’s memory on the day he is believed to have died, March 17 461. The difference with St Patrick is that we choose to honor his memory with lots and lots of beer! Bars and pubs actually used to be closed on March 17 in Ireland but in recent years as the celebrations have become more festive and beer focused that has changed!
Here are some of the most popular myths about St Patrick:
- St Patrick single-handedly converted the Irish people to Christianity.
- The truth: Historians believe that there were already Christian believers in Ireland by the time Patrick arrived. Ireland also had strong trading links with the Roman empire, and the religion is likely to have been spread.
- St Patrick defeated the pagan druids.
- The truth: This story is now believed to have been invented by a cleric, who lived two centuries later.
- St Patrick droves the snakes from Ireland.
- The truth: Well, there are no snakes in Ireland now (apart from those kept in zoos and as pets), but this may be because there never were any. Another theory is that the last Ice Age was too cold for snakes to survive and then the Irish Sea stopped them from breeding in Ireland.
- St Patrick explained the Holy Trinity using the shamrock.
- The truth: According to St Patrick’s Day lore, Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Christian holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
There you have it, now that you are fully versed in the origins of his story you should go and celebrate his memory! Be sure to have a pint for us and don’t forget that next weekend is Edmonton’s International BeerFest 2017! We are expecting record numbers of beer lovers on March 24 & 25 at the Shaw Conference Centre, so make sure to Get Your Tickets Today!
All things beer! Edmonton’s Beer Fest 2017 presents Beer School, a compilation of classes all about beer. They’ll be in session all through out the day. Please read below for the schedule. Don’t miss out!
Friday, March 24, 2017
4:20 pm – 4:50 pm – Beer Tasting 101 with Sarah Kutryk
Learn to appreciate great spring/summer beers from a selection of local greats.
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – Beer Tasting 101 with Sarah Kutryk
Learn to appreciate great spring/summer beers from a selection of local greats.
6:35 pm – 7:05 pm – Craft Beer Geography with AB Craft Beer Guide
Get the lay of the land on AB craft breweries and where you can find them.
8:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Beer Art Class with Angela Skaley, owner of Arty Party
Once again Beer School is proud to offer the “Make your own Beer Coaster” class hosted by Arty Party. You will create your very own coasters and sample some of the great beers we have to offer here at Beerfest.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm – Beerducation 201 with Cicerone Devyn Jones
Ale VS Lagers.
4:30 pm – 5:15 pm – Brewing Chemistry with Mill Street Brewery
Meet Mill Street Brew Master! Learn the tips, and get some sips!
6:20 pm – 6:50 pm – Craft Social Studies with Master Cicerone Michelle Tham
Learn about the history, the present, and the future of Goose Island with Michelle Tham.
7:50 pm – 8:20 pm – Craft Beer Geography with AB Craft Guide
Get the lay of the land on AB craft breweries and where you can find them.
We are looking forward to seeing you there. Get your tickets here.
This year’s highly anticipated event is quickly approaching us. You can expect nothing less than an unforgettable weekend not only full of great beer to taste, but we will be featuring specially selected and talented musicians for 2017. Read below for the scheduled lineup for this year’s event music entertainment. Also, get to know more about the musicians who will be taking the stage.
Friday, March 24
5:45–6:30 pm – Lucas Chaisson
https://lucaschaisson.com/ Click here for video
An honest and confident songwriter, Lucas Chaisson isn’t afraid to tread familiar ground with new eyes. Lucas’ latest release, Telling Time—produced by Grammy winner Colin Linden—made its debut at #2 on the CKUA Charts and remained in the Top 30 for over a month. Lucas was pleased to recently receive a 2015 WCMA nomination for “Roots Solo Recording of the Year” as well as a place on the Edmonton Music Prize Short-List.
Both of Lucas’ previous full-length recordings Growing Pains, and No Loitering, received Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for “Young Performer of the Year”. And, in November 2012, Lucas became one of only seven Alberta artists to win a Canadian Folk Music Award.
The strong songwriting showcased on his recordings, and his ability to make an emotional connection with his audience has garnered him the opportunity to play high profile venues such as the Edmonton, Calgary, Canmore, Vancouver Island and Winnipeg Folk Festivals. These strong showings have also led to performances at The Epcor Center for the Performing Arts, the Arden Theatre and numerous Folk Clubs and soft seat venues across Western Canada.
7:10–7:55 pm – Jay Gilday 
http://jaygilday.com/ Click here for video
As a songwriter, Jay threads together the colours of his own ancestral traditions: Dene spirituals, Irish ballads, Canadian folk and rock. He was raised in a family of accomplished musicians on the tundra of Yellowknife, where his music electrifies its never-ending days and nights.
Whether on the main stage of a summer festival or headlining a shadowy cabaret, Jay captivates. He is equally arresting as a solo performer, crooning over acoustic guitar and piano, as the front-man of an eight-piece rock band, baiting dance floors with infectious hooks and boundless energy.
What sets Jay apart is the unfailing authenticity that accompanies his rare talents. His craft is unfettered by pageantry or put-on, and the intensity of his delivery is a product of conviction, rather than coaching. Jay Gilday has a rare convergence of skills in the world of singer-songwriters.
His neatly trimmed and powerful turns of phrase, an ability to pull the listener into a particularly vivid experience, and a warm vocal instrument coupled with a dynamic instrumental foundation, make for a formidable and complete skill set.
8:35–9:20 pm – Miss Rae & Jimmy Guiboche 
http://missraemusic.com/ Click here for video
A woman of wanderlust, Miss Rae has taken a blues journey in her early twenties travelling throughout the southern states, following in the footsteps of Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf, and singing on porches and in venues under the Mississippi heat. She’s also lived and performed in Winnipeg, assembling the formidable Midnight Ramblers, and has crossed the waters to France, living in Paris for nearly two years. While in Paris, she performed at the 2015 Festival Jazz Sur Seine, among other notable shows. Now, at 25 years old, she returns to Canada, presently based in Edmonton, and is working on writing her sophomore album to be released in 2018.
Miss Rae is joined by veteran blues guitarist Jimmy Guiboche, who has spent over two decades earning his solid reputation as one of Alberta’s premier blues figures. He is known not only as a dependable sideman for prominent blues artists such as James Harman, Lazy Lester, Mojo Buford and the Prime Minister of the Blues, Dutch Mason, but also as bandleader for his own group, Jimmy and the Sleepers. His raw style is a throwback to another time, and has earned him solid respect as a mainstay on the Alberta blues scene.
Nurtured by crackling vinyl, living room jams and music festivals, Miss Rae bares her soul on stage. Fiery lyrics channel tales of former lives, while unveiling hushed histories riddled with hardships, valour and desire. She also explores her Métis / African heritage through song. Miss Rae has been compared to the bold voices of Big Mama Thornton, Etta James, Brittany Howard, and Amy Winehouse.
Saturday, March 25
photo by J McLaughlin
5:30–6:15 pm – John Guliak
https://johnguliak.com/ Click here for video
John Guliak is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has been performing original and traditional roots music for over 20 years. He’s been a part of the prairie folk scene for most of his musical career, and though he’s resided in many Canadian locales, Edmonton is where he is currently creating his richly compelling cracked-leather country. His live shows have been praised for their honesty and intensity, and there are very few Canadian Roots acts he hasn’t shared the stage with.
John’s music comes from a unique place, both physical and psychological. His songs reflect the poetic and political observations John has made while pursuing his musical journey. These experiences are portrayed through songs that lament the displacement of our rural populations to the inner cities of our major metropolitan areas while celebrating the cultures that persevere.
The songs that result have been compared to those of other uniquely Canadian voices such as Gordon Lightfoot and Leonard Cohen. His whiskey and cigarettes baritone, described in Nerve Magazine as, “one of those character voices that should almost be trademarked,” places him in the company of such singers as Merle Haggard, The Handsome Family’s Brent Sparks and Rufus Wainwright.
7:00–7:45 pm – Kimberley MacGregor 
https://kimberleymacgregor.com/ Click here for video
Kimberley MacGregor is a powerful performer and roots musician who writes music for humans. She unapologetically exposes universal emotions that people tend to conceal. “I especially want young women to hear my music—and be filled with strength and dignity—instead of the messages that are all too prevalent in the media,” says Kimberley.
In 2013, she launched her original songs into the world and took centre stage. She has since released two full-length albums and was awarded Female Artist of the Year at both the 2015 and 2016 Edmonton Music Awards. She lovingly crafts and passionately performs songs that will move your heart, change your mind and stomp your feet. Weaving seamlessly between blues, folk and rock, her common threads are strength, vulnerability and badassery, always sizzling with soul. Kimberley is working on a new album due out in 2017 with tours across Canada and Europe planned.
8:25–9:10 pm – The Fronts 
http://thefronts.ca/ Click here for video
With over 6 decades of combined musical experience, the Fronts journey into independent music is the sum total of 3 lifetimes worth of musical ideas, concepts, and collaboration that need to get out before it’s too late.
Based in Edmonton, the band consists of David Forster on Vocals and bass, Dominic Lacroix on Vocals & guitars, and Troy Hrushka on drums. Atmospheric, melodic, and driven by two powerhouse vocalists, this 3-piece delivers a near impossible depth of sonic delivery and song writing. Each member brings their own different influences to the band, which creates their unique sound—a cross of 80s and 90s moody shoe gazer rock, with a modern undertone.
We can’t wait to see you at this year’s Beerfest. Remember to purchase your tickets in advance. Edmonton’s International Beerfest has sold out consecutively for the past six years. Get your ticket today! Click here for tickets.
There’s good news for you in days to come, residents of Ontario. A new set of grocery retailers selling beer and cider for your convenience.
The LCBO has just announced that they will be opening the next wave for selling beer and cider in grocery stores around Ontario, Canada. Eighty licences will be available for bidding. Thus begins new competition for selecting which retailers will be able to obtain these licences.
This is meant to be an open, fair and transparent proceeding in turn. All grocery retail sellers, who are eligible, will get to bid on the specific terms of finance, through which they may then purchase beer directly from the LCBO. All bidders with success will later be re-screened and given the opportunity to apply to the AGCO, which stands for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
Applications will go toward the authority to sell beer and cider in the area. Ontario’s grocery stores have sold plenty of alcohol thus far, a process which began in 2015 of December in over 60 unique locations that have been licenced to sell. This rising number has now grown to 130 unique outlet stores. Plenty of cider sales were added in the last year alone.
Don’t forget to get your tickets for the Edmonton International Beerfest. Don’t wait until they sell out! Purchase your tickets here.
Manage the health of your hair, with a beer.
If you find that your hair is in need of an affordable, healthy enhancement, it may be that you need to visit a brewery instead of the salon. The essential ingredients that beer contains, namely hops and malt are known to be high in protein which is essential for maintaining the health of your hair’s cuticles.
Hair goes through a lot of stress, from consistent atmospheric contaminates to the shampoos that we use. Dry, frizzy, broken hair strands may actually be avoidable from a regular, topical application of beer from your local brewery. As an added benefit, your hair will better reflect the visible light spectrum, causing your hair to appear shinier and healthier.
Using equal parts of water to beer, combine at room temperature with an additional couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to assist with the removal of the alcohol scent. Then, follow through with your normal shampoo and conditioning routine, but rinse the conditioner out by using the recipe. Allow the concoction to soak into your hair for around 5 minutes, before rinsing with water.
Be consistent, apply this recipe once a month for regular results and it saves you money by avoiding clarifying shampoos. To create your own leave-in conditioner, place the mix into a spray bottle and apply as needed.
For a quick shampoo alternative, heat one cup of the mix over medium heat, reducing the amount to one-quarter cup by slowly boiling off the alcohol. When the mix has cooled down, preferably to room temperature, you have a high protein shampoo, ready to use.
Don’t miss Edmonton’s Beer Festival this year!
https://edmontonbeerfest.com/edmonton-beerfest/entertainment-edmonton-beerfest/music/
Is it your first time attending a beer festival? Perhaps it is not your first time. Maybe you have been to a beer festival but feel like there wasn’t enough time to enjoy every vendor. Use this guide to get the most out of your beer festival experience!
Slow and Steady
Keep in mind that a beer festival lasts for several hours. Don’t be hasty, take your time, enjoy. To really take your time, get a weekend pass. That way you won’t miss out on any great beer.
Pack Some Snacks
We all know what happens when you drink on an empty stomach. Pack some snacks or grab a bite at the festival. Hard pretzels are perfect snacks for BeerFest because they cleanse the palate for beer tasting.
Get Some Sleep
Beer festivals are an all day thing, get plenty of rest so you are able to enjoy yourself.
Get Your Ticket
The last thing you want is for the beer fest to sell out before you get your ticket. Find out the dates and details of the event. Try to order your ticket in advance to avoid the heartbreak. Buy your tickets here.
Write down the beers that you like
When you fall in love with multiple beers at the fest you’ll want to remember the name, what it pairs well with, and where to purchase. Take notes.
Stay Hydrated
Drink lots of water. All alcoholic beverages dehydrate the body so it’s best to drink up! Dehydration causes headache, fatigue and lots of sweating. Three ways to ruin your fun!
Keep Cash on Hand
There will be lots of vendors with awesome things you’ll want to buy. Be sure to have some money on hand. It’s possible that many vendors accept cash payment only. You don’t want to spend precious time standing in line for the ATM.
Come with cool people
You’re there to have fun and enjoy yourself. Go with people that are like-minded and you’ll be sure to have a good time.
Learn more about this year’s Beerfest here. We hope to see you there!
Perhaps, you are in a quandary concerning the appropriate beer gift for a special friend or a family member. The fact is that brew drinkers are a very diverse group. Some like a good old fashioned brew, while others prefer one of the newer craft brews. Hopefully, the gift ideas here should inspire you.
Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit
Satisfy your friend or family member with their very own kit. Make the brew at home, using the same techniques used by master brewers for years. This kit includes easy to follow recipes. Next game night, perhaps your friend will invite you over to sample their homemade drinks.
Making Brew IPA Style
How about a book on making the best IPA style brew around. Mitch Steele has composed a great book on the old tradition. The book includes the history, practice, and recipes. The book has received top ratings by readers and others in the industry.
Glassware
Gone are the days, when the average Joe or Jane gulped down their brew in a can. Today’s generation would prefer customized glasses to drink their brew. Those on a budget might prefer a few generic editions at a local retailer.
Getting Crafty
Just about every city has their own special craft brand. Research around and discover those hidden local craft brews. These ideas are really hot. Ask the staff at a local craft beer shop to select just the right blend for your friend or family member.
Magazines
There are several magazines that discuss beers and brew making. Why not give gift that keeps on giving all year long. A magazine.
Photo by alles (Pixabay)
Today breweries with many locations have the ability to create consistent beer brands and taste. A-B has 12 locations in the United States and Budweiser has 50 breweries located around the world. Red Hook Ale opened two breweries one in Seattle Washington in 1981 and later in Portsmouth New Hampshire. All these breweries have consistent taste in their brands.
Many companies open more than one brewery because of customer demand and the ability to ship ale more economically. Many municipalities offer significant financial incentives to attract breweries. Karl Ockert, director of brewing operations at Deschutes Brewery, says that as craft brewers it all about flavor.
A company will develop a recipe for a beer and when they open in another location give the recipe to the new staff. Some owners will let the staff make the brew their way or on the other extreme supervise them and make sure it is exactly the same. Green Flash Brewing Company has duplicated its San Diego location in Virginia. It has the same layout, brew house, and production tanks.
Some breweries have batches of beer brewed at one location than shipped to the new one. They owner wants to know how the batch tastes. Many breweries use the same supplier for base malts, specialty malts, and hop lot blends for their brands. Sensory and analytic programs in breweries leads to brew consistency in multiple locations.
Photo by Alexas_Fotos (Pixabay)
As the craft beer phenomenon increases in popularity, the terminology gets stranger and more complicated. But, it doesn’t have to be. We want everyone to have a better handle on all the brew-specific words in the intoxicating world of craft beer, so here are a few:
1. Adjunct= Grain that is not malted barley, like rice, oats, wheat or corn.
2. Bottle Conditioning= Carbonation via the addition of sugar and yeast prior to capping.
3. Dry Hopped= Additional hops added for flavor at the end of brewing.
4. Esters= A flavor compound occurring mostly in ale.
5. Gravity= A measurement used to determine ABV.
6. Imperial= A style that’s intensified by increasing malt and hops.
7. IBU= International Bittering Units, a scale for the amount of bitterness.
8. Macro Lager= Typically mass-produced beers like Miller and Budweiser.
9. Malty= Any brew with apparent malt characteristics.
10. Noble Hops= Aromatic hops used in European lagers.
11. Piney= Hoppy beers with predominantly pine notes.
12. Single Hopped= Beers with only one type of hops for a specific flavor profile.
13. Brettanomyces= Wild yeast used in fermentation.
14. Clean= Not much complex texture or flavor.
15. Session Beer= Low alcohol, about three to four percent.
16. Skunked= Exposed to sunlight and having a skunky flavor and smell.
17. Fresh or Wet Hopped= Fresh-cut hops dumped in for a delicate green hop flavor.
18. Yeasty= Intentional yeast flavor.
19. Cask Beers= Unfiltered, hand-pumped, and unpasteurized with a little yeast added, giving them gentler carbonation.
20. Phenols= A fermentation product much like esters.
Photo by alles (Pixabay)
December is when thousands of fans will flock to movie theaters around the globe. That’s because the latest installment in Star Wars comes out. The film is already seeing success when it comes to pre-ticket sales. While many people are waiting patiently, they are wondering what they can do in the meantime to pass the time and celebrate that much-anticipated release. A few companies have come up with an answer! They’ve marketed Star Wars beer for all of those who are anxiously awaiting.
For all you fans of Startroopers, there is a stout available for you! The Imperial Stout Trooper is brewed by New England Brewing Company. It’s been said to have chocolate and coffee flavors infused together. A sweet malty flavor finishes off this stout as well.
The Empire Brewing Company has crafted a Strikes Bock lager, it’s a play on the popular title from the series. Strikes Bock is a traditional German style Mai-Bock. The characteristics of this lager are a malt forward, a medium body, and an overall dry peppery flavor.
Gilgamesh Brewing has come out with a Vader coffee Cascadian dark ale for all of those who are feeling a little dark. This is a black IPA that is mixed with coffee. It’s a delicious brew that will awaken and delight the taste buds. Vader may be a villain in the movies but this dark ale is not. It’s complimentary to almost anyone.
Overall, it’s never too early to start celebrating the release of Star Wars with one of these beers. The beer will help you pass the time and commemorate the movie until its release.
Photo by Artiee
Photo by Stacey Huggins
Beer bottles. A subject that has had graphic designer Harvey Shepard fascinated since early childhood, and has inspired him to accumulate quite a collection over the years. The start of his lifelong obsession began on a trip to the grocery store, where he saw a Coors bottle in the shape of a baseball bat. Completely awed, he convinced his mother that he would never open it. She wasn’t thrilled with the idea of a child having a bottle containing alcohol, but bought it for him anyway. From that fateful day, he was hooked. To date, that same bottle sits on his shelf unopened, true to his word.
His now vast collection boasts some of the most unusual bottles known to man, which are so unique, it’s hard to imagine that at one time, they contained actual beer! Having such a love for the rare finds, he built his life around it. Seeking jobs in world re-known craft beer destinations, he and his wife traveled the US, attending numerous beerfests, and visiting 160 breweries, in twenty states. Eventually they settled in Seattle, and now live in an area surrounded by breweries. Nine to be exact, all a short jaunt from their new home, which makes the Shepards very happy.
If you have an adventurous palette, beerfest events are a great place to make new friends, while sampling different beers from around the world, as well as locally brewed craft beers. And who knows… one of the people you befriend at a beerfest could very well be Harvey Shepard himself!
Photo by david.nikonvscanon
David Nutt, a neuro-scientist from Great Britain, is introducing alcosynth, a synthetic beverage which he says is 100 times safer than alcohol. His product promises to give users the experience of drinking beer without having to suffer the negative effects the morning after. Alcosynth is currently undergoing testing for public consumption, and its long-term effects are not yet known.
Because alcosynth is free from a compound called acetaldehyde, Nutt explains that it will not produce a hangover after a night of drinking. Acetaldehyde is a toxin produced by the body while drinking that causes hangovers and that can accumulate in the body faster than it can be gotten rid of. The unpleasant side effects of nausea, headache, and dry mouth can be then exacerbated by dehydration.
Alcosynth has a calming on the body in a similar way to alcohol without hurting organs like the liver and kidneys. David Nutt has expressed caution over interfering overly much with the neurotransmitter GABA that is responsible for lowering anxiety in people. He states that products like his affect the system which is responsible for pleasure, and that when taken in excess, it can have unintended consequences. Moderation, even with synthetic beer, is key.
Nutt is also concerned with reducing the problems related to alcohol abuse, such as missed work and lowered job performance. Cited as a concern, is also the fact that users will often drink again in order to alleviate the symptoms of a hangover. Alcosynth has been found to be virtually calorie-free, however it is not yet known whether it is habit-forming or if a person can overdose. More testing is needed.
Photo by alles (Pixabay)
From beer to donating money to charity, the Canada Oktoberfest brought a lot of cheer and fine spirits this past month. Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade for the Onkel Hans Food Drive was a success, generating around $11,500 and about 10,000 pounds of food, displaying the kindness of Waterloo’s citizens.
Starting at King and Cedar in Kitchener the parade made its way to Bridgeport Road in Waterloo, having various marching bands, jugglers, and even a maypole. Bringing food to families in need and celebrating Oktoberfest is something they take pride in. It’s no wonder the festival has lasted for over 40 years time.
It’s hard to deny the claim that they are the best Bavarian festival in Canada, from car shows, great beer, and family and culture events. These range from music, vendors, and information booths that liven the festival up overall, creating a great atmosphere for everyone that attends.
On top of donating meals to those in need, the festival also promotes local breweries and business, allowing them to reach a broader market. Tasting a new flavor of beer during these events is almost traditional for those in attendance.
The success of 2016’s parade goes to show you that good deeds and spirits can make a difference in a real positive way. Will next year’s event surpass this one? Only time will tell.
Photo by GoToVan
Patrons no longer walk into a bar and order a bottle of lager. Beer drinkers have evolved into connoisseurs of craft beers and specialty brews. If you’ve ever attended the Edmonton Beerfest, you know that the flavor possibilities are endless. We’ve compiled a list of the weird and wonderful ingredients used to create some of these crazy concoctions.
Collagen
Collagen is the protein that holds the human body together. Precious, a light lager beer crafted by Suntory Holdings Limited, is infused with collagen. The intoxicant allows you imbibe while getting a beauty boost.
Pizza
Who doesn’t love pizza? There’s no denying that pizza and beer taste great together. The Seefurth family decided to wrap a cooked margarita pizza in cheesecloth and soak it in mash, like a tea bag. Mamma Mia’s pizza beer was born.
Animal Testicles
Rocky Mountain oysters is a more polite way to say animal testicles. It may seem like a weird ingredient to add to beer, but Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing Company created Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout, a savory beer that pairs well with red meat.
Goat Brains
Walking Dead fans visiting the Edmonton Beerfest may be seeking brains. Luckily, goat brains are an ingredient in Dock Street Brewing Company’s Walker beer.
Feces
Mikkeller, a Denmark Microbrewery, has created an oatmeal stout called Beer Geek Brunch Weasel. The brew gets its coffee flavor from the excrement of weasel-like civets.
Photo by Bernt Rostad
Big News About Beer
Patrons will enjoy the annual Edmonton International BeerFest a lot more now. The head of Clinical Pharmacology at the University Hospital of Basel, Professor Matthias Liechti, completed scientific studies on the effects of beer. The study relied on 30 men and 30 women who drank the brew and a non-alcoholic brew to formulate the after-effects. Professor Liechti noted that there have been few studies in the past regarding the effects of this beverage.
However, the study showed conclusively that beer makes people feel happier, a little sexier and more relaxed. The study allowed for .4 grams per liter which didn’t make participants drunk.
Good for Business
The Annual Edmonton International BeerFest draws thousands of patrons and exhibitors each year to this capital of the province of Alberta. Canada is known around the world for its production of a variety of brews.
The beerfest allows the major brewers the opportunity to display their signature products to crowds of avid lovers of Canadian brew. Brewers throughout Canada participate in this event to further their international recognition within the brewery industry.
Science and a Cold, Canadian Brew – Good for You
It is well known to lovers of Canadian brew that the beverages are highest quality due to the purity of the water used in the process and excellent quality grains that are homegrown in several provinces. These factors account for the scientific results found by Professor Liechti in his study. The best way to really prove the results is to enjoy Canada’s finest brews at the Edmonton annual event.
Photo by Christine Rondeau
With football season approaching, you all know what that means: lots of parties and get togethers and the guys enjoying an ice cold brewski. In a recent article it discussed how beer can be such a great pairing with different varieties of food. What types of lager taste best with certain types of foods? Well, here’s your answers so you can plan your football bashes accordingly.
The first food to pair beer with is the inevitable sandwiches/ pizza combo. Any type will go with these types of foods as they just so happen to taste great with cheese. When it comes to pairing with sushi, always go for a 100% malt, as this is what will taste best with raw fish. As for chicken, pasta and seafood, light beer always goes best. Whichever lager you choose, it’s good to have guidelines to point you in the right direction of which type will go best.
When you pair a lager with snacks or meals, you want it to taste great with the food you are serving. You can pair the right type of beverage to your meal to ensure your guests are happiest and enjoying heir meal or snacks. Just like wine, lagers of all kinds have matching pairs as well!
Are you a fan of beer in Canada? Well, there are many festivals across Canada that might interest you. Here is a list of some of the upcoming and well-known celebrations all around Canada. Do not miss them out!
Toronto beer week
The event hosts a series of events dedicated to celebrating the advancement of beer crafting. The TBK showcases drinks that has been authentically brewed and flavored, the licenses that support brewers and the brewers that brew them. If you are looking for great cocktails and the best place to drink it then TBK is the place to be.
Whistler village festival
Imagine enjoying your drinks in the mountains. Join others during this year’s celebration that will be held in the mountains for five days starting September 14th to September 18th, 2016. You will enjoy drinks from more than 60 breweries, food pairing, great parties, unique cask nights, and interesting seminars. You will sample over 120 cocktails.
The famous Canadian run and festival
Do not miss this event that will take place on the 18th of September 2016. The Toronto’s 5k fun run will be going down in a few days. Walk or run along the lakeside Ontario Place course then cross into a celebration featuring live entertainment after crossing the finish line.
Sour days of summer
Grab your ticket today for the celebration of sour cocktails from the best favorite breweries. Celebrate the end of summer in style. It will be held on 22nd September 2016. Enjoy drinks from breweries like Philips, Fuggles, Parallel 49, warlock, and Driftwood.
Hopscotch Celebration
Tickets for the 23rd September celebration are now on sale. You will enjoy spirits and whiskey among other drinks from McClelland premium imports. The event is going down in Kelowna.
Photo by Jon Åslund
Beer has been immensely popular since the establishment of civilization, so it only makes sense that inventors would take it upon themselves to craft some stellar products that make the consumption of this hoppy beverage that much greater. Though plenty of these inventions enhance the general flavor, most of them pay homage to the art of making this age-old drink. So, what were the best inventions in 2015?
The uKeg Pressurized Growler
Imagine having a mini keg that you are able to keep in your own fridge. What makes this item far better than just that, though, is that it is very portable and the alcohol comes out perfectly at the right temperature, consistency, and flavor.
The Slip Cup
Beer pong has been popular for decades among drinkers, but few have paid thought to just how unsanitary the game actually is. Essentially, a dirty ping pong ball falls in a cup and the losing opponent must then consume that tainted liquid. The slip cup acts as a trap for this ball, however, and is easily removed when one is ready to take a sip.
Pico
This is an appliance that is relatively the same size as a microwave. Designed to brew craft beer that is of the utmost quality, this invention has helped people develop more acquired tastes easily and in the comfort of their own homes.
Mount Hood Glass
This is anything but a simple mug and is accented with a 3D image of Mount Hood. It is sturdy, striking, and perfect for a cold brew.
Oak Bottle
Much like the concept of aging wine or whiskey, this oak bottle will age whatever is placed inside of it while concurrently enhancing its flavor.
MiniBrew
Much like a Keurig, this makes a multitude of beers right on the kitchen counter. Equipped with recipes and concise instructions, the MiniBrew is the best for those wishing to expand their horizons and save money.
Photo by rightee
There are times throughout the day that a person really deserves a beer, and Canada has made that a lot easier for Canadians. Last year the beer company, Molson launched a commercial about having basically a container on the sidewalk, that you can just open a grab a nice cold one.
Just recently, the commercial actually became a reality. Located in the official Canada House in the Olympic Village sits a fridge, that can be opened and anyone can grab a beer. So if you are having a rough day, all you have to do is go up to the fridge and have your Canadian passport scan, and there you have it, the fridge will unlock.
This story involving the Canadian refrigerator has been one of the utmost popularity because Molson is rewarding well-deserved Canadians with a cold one on a hot day. The Olympics has been taking over the media recently; however, this story managed to make headlines as well, and it is clear why.
A little insight into the Molson beers brewing company, they were actually established in Montreal Canada in 1786, so they have been around a very long time. In 2005, Molson merged with US-based company Coors and formed Molson Coors Brewing Company whose products are sold in the United States as well as Canada. The merger of Coors and Molson made the company the world’s seventh-largest brewing industry, so maybe they thought it was time to give back to their loyal customers? This is certainly one way to do just that!
Photo by onacadan (Pixabay)
Craft beers have established themselves in a large way, they are beers made in a traditional or non-mechanized way by a small brewery. These drinks have a tendency to have more love put into them because they are made by small breweries rather than huge manufacturing plants. With breweries establishing themselves more, there have been new flavors of craft beer hitting the shelves and taps. With the Edmonton BeerFest coming up it is important to be up to date on the best ones to ever have hit the shelves!
Avery Brewing Liliko’i Kepolo
Not only is the can of Avery Brewing Liliko’i Kepolo creative in engaging, the complexity and flavor of this light cold one make it a hot seller. This beer is brewed in Boulder, Colorado and gives the essence of an earthy and pungent taste that can be sipped.
Sierra Nevada Nooner Pils
Sierra Nevada Nooner Pils is brewed specifically in Chico, California/Mills River, N.C. This beer is a German-style golden lager and can send the person drinking it straight back to Germany with its floral German hops essence.
Weyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout
Weyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout tops the charts with an 11% ABV and is dense with roasted flavors. This Sunday Morning Stout throws in notes of vanilla and spice to offer a unique flavor that a drinker can only find in the Sunday Morning Stout.
So if a cold one is up your alley it is time to start reading up on the best craft beers around! Edmonton BeerFest will be an excellent opportunity for a person to taste and get to know all the different options from around the country.
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If you are like me then you have trouble deciding between a mixed drink and a beer. Well look no further because the beer cocktail may be just what the doctor ordered. This combination mixes beer with liquor to make a smooth but potent punch.
Some of the most popular choices are the Brass Monkey, Coronarita, Sake Bomb, and the Flaming Doctor Pepper. The Brass Monkey is a combination of ale with Brandy. Margarita lovers can relish in the Margarita and Corona combination of the Coronarita. The Sake Bomb features a shot of Sake dropped into a glass of ale while the Flaming Doctor Pepper tastes like its namesake and consists of a shot of Bacardi 151 dropped into a glass of one’s favorite pilsner. If you are looking for something a little strong then try a Boilermaker. The Boilermaker is a stout drink highlighting pilsner with a shot of whiskey.
This twist on some old traditions is an excellent choice for the undecided and most of the recipes have a smooth taste. However, this a strong drink so even though in this case its okay to mix liquor with ale start out slow and remember if this drink proves to be too much you can always begin the next morning with a choice from Canada. The Breakfast Cocktail is a favorite in Canada and with ingredients such as bourbon, coffee, and pale ale it is sure to kick start your day.
Photo by niseag03
A local brewery of Chilliwack River Valley, British Columbia has launched a new brew. The company, Old Yale Brewing is known for their quality beer that captures the outdoor vibes of BC. It was founded in 1999, and has been working since to come up with innovative new beers that have a local flavor. Old Yale Brewing just launched a new year-round brand called Old Paddle Pilsner, which is named after the equipment that is used at the brewery. The beer has a clean malt profile with a hopped finish. This golden lager has a 5% above and 20 IBU, and is best served with with a nice round of appetizers. Old Yale Brewing will be found all over stores across British Columbia in 650 ml bottles and 335 ml cans. Currently, the beer is sold at the Old Yale retail store. Old Yale is known for their creativity and innovation when it comes to creating new brands, and Old Paddle Pilsner is no exception. Their trailblazing efforts to establish fresh, new brew has been noted with many brewing awards over the years, and the brand is becoming a household name. Be sure to check your local store today to taste Old Paddle Pilsner today, and be a part of the brewing revolution.
Photo by Pretty/Ugly Design
