tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32000395277446582042012-02-14T23:28:30.717-05:00A blog written by a beer geek for anyone interested in good beer. I am not an expert, I am a beer drinker with an opinion. I am very interested in your opinion, so please share it.Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.comBlogger901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-65698295041788223442012-02-14T21:52:00.001-05:002012-02-14T21:52:46.185-05:00

Founders Brewing Co. Imperial Stout Pairing up a Founder's Brewing Company Imperial Stout with some Taza Stone Ground 70% Cacao Chipotle Chili chocolate. Happy Valentine's Day to me. Do you have anything special on the beer menu tonight? 10.5 % abv. 90 IBU's  Pours ridiculously dark black with one of the darkest heads I have ever seen on a beer. Smells like what I can best describe as dark

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-18360745320423382012-01-23T22:23:00.003-05:002012-01-23T22:23:56.927-05:00

Just got an email from some folks in Jackson, Mississippi that are looking to open up only the second production brewery in the state. They have some seriously strict laws that restrict beer production and distribution and they could use your help. I will let them speak for themselves, here is the email and be sure to click the link to learn more. Good luck down there! First, I want to say thank

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-40433126639463068282012-01-13T21:39:00.000-05:002012-01-13T21:59:21.493-05:00

7% abv. Brewed in my childhood hometown of Chelsea, MA. Pours dark brown almost black with a healhty four finger dark tan head. You can smell the molasses used in the brewing during the pour. After that it is all a beautiful Belgian yeast aroma with pepper, cloves, lemon -- maybe even a touch of dark chocolate. The beer is brewed with molasses, Belgian Renaud yeast, and American hops. Great

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-51878709534975198862012-01-06T23:01:00.002-05:002012-01-06T23:01:40.374-05:00

Colonial Ale Aged on Cedar 6.8% abv. Had this six months old. Pours to a crazy sudsy cauliflower head. Has a bit of a brettanomyces yeast funk. Interesting cedar notes give it a mild cask conditioned flavor. Insane Belgian lace. Just a touch of alcohol. Dark fruits, especially figs and a nice citrusy hop bite at finish. A decent beer, but probably not something I would go out of my way to

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-65290187633285701322011-12-22T22:21:00.002-05:002011-12-22T22:42:08.142-05:00

Thanks to Jeff, one of the handful of people that frequent this blog's comments section, I have a new favorite beer store. Ironically it is about a mile from my house, but I had not been there in years. It is called Redstone Liquors and the new owner Kamal knows his stuff and is genuinely friendly. It is great to see such a small place dedicate itself to quality products and great service. I am

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-66274079720693123182011-12-15T20:50:00.004-05:002011-12-15T20:55:51.877-05:00

Beer number 2001 in my database. 5.5% abv. Pours a rich ruby brown color. Milk chocolate, citrus, and juniper on the nose. First sip is totally balanced. Rich malt flavors with a piney sprucey hop flavor that just spells Christmas. Perhaps a touch drier than usual at finish, but this is a great seasonal session beer. Hop flavors dominate slightly, but dark dried cherries, some milk chocolate,

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-35125676961640963112011-11-25T22:05:00.001-05:002011-11-25T22:06:42.258-05:00

9% abv. Batch 363 10/19/10. Cellared for over a year. This one exploded out of the bottle. I lost half of it on the countertop...and that is so disappointing. Pours dark brown with a white head. Cherry, clove, citrus and oak on the nose. First sip tells me Flemish sour ale meets Belgian dubbel on oak. Very interesting flavors. Medium bodied mouthfeel. Excessive carbonation but great drinkability.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-40814274390575038452011-10-01T21:03:00.002-05:002011-10-01T21:06:53.768-05:00

Port Brewing Company, Santa's Little Helper 10% abv. I cellared this beer for almost 2 years. It pours pitch black with a dark tan head. Anise, chocolate, dark fruit , a touch coffee, and citrus on the nose. Nice carbonation, even after extended cellaring. Hop tingle all over the mouth, but hops are surely tamed a bit because of aging. Slight warming from abv, but alcohol esthers are well masked.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-14795870278674508502011-08-27T20:30:00.002-05:002011-08-27T20:33:49.230-05:00

Maine Beer Company - Lunch IPA This is the second beer by the Maine Beer Company that I have tried in the last few days and they are knocking it out of the park. Here is a review: 7% abv. Had this on the eve of Hurricane Irene. Pours to a big head that dissipates quickly. Rich piney and sweet orange hops aromas right from the pour. Lots of delicious yeast and sediment all over the glass make it

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-25734978610721267282011-08-25T20:39:00.003-05:002011-08-25T20:46:34.794-05:00

Here is a review of Maine Beer Company's Seeper Ale 5.5% abv. These guys started by making beer in their garage and wanted to share. I am glad they did. They still only brew in one barrel batches and that is what makes it so fantastic. This is a bottle conditioned small batch beer...a true nano brewery. It pours to a huge cauliflower head. Excellent piney fresh hop aroma. Wow, this has a truly

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-3273755134360089432011-07-29T20:20:00.002-05:002011-07-29T20:50:43.927-05:00

I just love Saison or Farmhouse Ales. They taste fresh and natural and well, they are just plain delicious. Victory Helios Ale weighs in at 7.5% abv. It pours gold with a thick white head. Cloves, banana, and mild citrus aromas. Nice spice flavors from the first sip. Generous hoping gives it a decent citrus bite. Black pepper and cloves dominate the flavor profile, but don't overwhelm you. Needs

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-20819022618023208972011-07-08T20:35:00.002-05:002011-07-08T20:41:15.141-05:00

6.% abv. Recipe first made on December 6th 1855 and revived by Ron Patterson. Pours a black-brown color with a huge whitish-tan head. Excellent fresh roasted coffee and leafy, earthy hops on the nose. First sip is all roasted malt initially, but floral hop flavors follow quickly. Incredible sticky lace even on the second pour. Awesome mouthfeel combines a heavy malt silkiness with an oily hop

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-743575981218190912011-07-03T20:46:00.003-05:002011-07-03T20:57:46.670-05:00

Here is a review of Anderson Valley Brewing Company Imperial IPA. This is a big beer. Not just big in your face hops, but a big balanced beer. That is a BBB in the world of TLA (three letter acronyms). Simply put, this beer is delicious. I would pair it up with some zesty cheese or spicy pulled pork or ribs. Anyway, here is the review:8.7% abv. First made for the 20th anniversary of the brewery.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-51369363271424121502011-06-25T21:51:00.010-05:002011-06-25T22:46:53.535-05:00

As you might imagine, I buy a lot of new beers. These are generally hit or miss. You find some real gems and some real crap. When I see a mixed 12 pack from a new brewery I generally jump on it simply because it is more cost effective to sample their wares that way. A few weeks ago I picked up a mixed 12 pack from Breckenridge Brewery in Denver, CO. Here's what I found:Lucky U IPA -This was by

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-50003847556533182392011-04-22T20:14:00.003-05:002011-04-22T20:17:58.803-05:00

My thanks to my good friend Jeff for giving me a couple of bottles of this hard to find brew. 8.3% abv 60 IBUs. Pours a dark black color with a thin tan head. Smells like fresh coffee grounds. More coffee aroma than just about any beer I have ever sniffed. First sip is black coffee, 85% plus cacao chocolate bar, and the slightest tinge of citrusy hops. No real alcohol esters to speak of. Hop

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-38846219693438644022011-04-20T20:14:00.003-05:002011-04-20T20:21:23.452-05:00

I am one of the few people on the planet who have never had a cup of coffee. I grew up in a tea drinking household and never really had an interest in coffee. I do know that if I did drink coffee, I would probably take it black and very strong. Now beers with coffee flavors on the other hand, I absolutely love. I picked up a Troegs Brewery 12 pack recently and tried the Java Head Stout.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-87749697792888895542011-04-15T19:53:00.003-05:002011-04-15T20:00:27.973-05:00

I have to thank my good friend Phil for hooking me up with this one. Pours dark brown with a thick creamy tan head. Sweet bready aroma with hints of cloves and fig. Nice natural carbonation creates a good mouthfeel. Dark fruit, lemony citrus, and mild black pepper flavors. Some warming in the belly, but alcohol presence is nicely masked. Decent lace throughout. More and more citrusy hops as I

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-53288015693047542732011-04-03T20:23:00.002-05:002011-04-03T20:29:39.567-05:00

This one weighs in at 11.5% abv, but you would never know it. I cellared this for 5 long years, resisting the urge to pull it out of the cellar at least a few times. I had this on my daughter's first birthday. It pours a murky, unfiltered brown color and has a peaty oak aroma. You know this beer is different on the first sip. I has an viscous mouthfeel and a sweet, but not quite cloying

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-12852602339377929552011-03-11T21:55:00.003-05:002011-03-11T22:00:54.562-05:00

Weihenstephan Hefe-weissbierThis is certainly one of the best beers in the world. It weighs in at a super sessionable 5.4% abv. This beer is gorgeous. It pours orangish yellow with a marshmallow head that takes forever to dissipate down to about one inch. It smells amazing--dominant cloves with a sweet lemony aroma with touches of coriander and banana. This beer is the standard for all

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-74456111098699913172011-03-04T22:39:00.002-05:002011-03-04T22:42:58.159-05:00

A brewery in my hometown...and it will specialize in Belgian beers. This is great news. Good luck to the folks at Mystic Brewery. I look forward to the first batch.http://www.chelsearecord.com/2011/03/03/new-brewery-on-its-way-to-chelsea/

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-75789935800330540522011-03-04T22:37:00.001-05:002011-03-04T22:39:26.835-05:00

I have gotten some good press lately:http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/news/x868514818/Wellesley-College-offers-crash-course-in-proper-beer-drinkinghttp://www.wellesleynewsonline.com/features/wellesley-beer-guru-hosts-the-epicurean-class-of-a-lifetime-1.1977035

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-84416764415999024902011-02-19T20:03:00.002-05:002011-02-19T20:06:28.144-05:00

6% abv. It comes in at 60 IBUs. Pours pretty dark black with a massive cream colored head. Piney and grapefruit hops on the nose with touches of sweet roasted malt. Good lace. Surprising hop bite with rich coffee flavors on first sip. Slick mouthfeel with solid carbonation. Again on the second sip grapefruit and then espresso roasted flavors kicks in right after. Some licorice flavors as well. I

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-80455637008574245432011-02-13T20:46:00.003-05:002011-02-13T20:52:57.180-05:00

I was very excited last night to crack open a bottle I had been cellaring for about 10 months, Great Divide Brewing Company Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout. Or GDBCCOAYIS as I like to call it. It measure in at 9.5% abv. and pours oil black with a dark tan head. The tiramisu aroma is tantalizing. Dark chocolate morsels, mocha, bourbon oak, vanilla, and spicy alcohol on the nose as well.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-50903381933849981762011-02-04T22:42:00.006-05:002011-02-04T23:01:06.243-05:00

I picked up a Magic Hat Spring Fever 12 pack the other day. It included the standard #9 and Circus Boy, as well as two new ones for me, Vinyl Lager and Demo IPA. My first thought was what happened to the days of Thumbsucker Russian Imperial Stout...that was Magic Hat at its pinnacle. Lately it seems that Magic Hat is either trying too hard or perhaps not enough. I am really not sure which it is.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-28803247352107977902011-01-29T23:29:00.002-05:002011-01-29T23:32:46.103-05:00

Here is the ultimate procrastination tool:http://www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de/zapfspiel/index_en.html?lang=en

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-56799045266486871802011-01-14T20:36:00.003-05:002011-01-14T20:44:15.726-05:00

7.6% abv. Made with somewhat rare Sorachi Ace hops and Brooklyn's Belgian yeast strain...then 100% champagne yeast re-fermentation. The corked and caged bottle opens with a big pop and pours yellow gold with a thick marshmallow head that is not going anywhere anytime soon. I poured it into a Chimay glass and the carbonation is clearly visible in the center of the glass 10 minutes after the first

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-15326258059838056182011-01-07T22:28:00.005-05:002011-01-07T22:42:10.430-05:00

Here is my updated list of the 99 beers I would hang on my wall...basically my top 100 beers tried and rated.This list is always changing, but that is what makes it so fun.1. Westvleteren 12, Abdij Sint-Sixtus, Westvleteren, Belgium2. Duvel, Brouwerij Duvel Mortgaat, Moortgat, Belgium3. Adam, Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, Portland, Oregon4. Shakespeare Stout, Rogue Brewery, Newport, Oregon5.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-52599527616581615392010-12-26T22:23:00.002-05:002010-12-26T22:48:37.345-05:00

I am back and my apologies, yet again. I seem to come crawling back to my neglected beer blog every year around this time. Same old story, busy with my Tufts Museum Studies class, but this year things were even busier with my old bones chasing a 9 month old around the house. I have had zero time to post to the blog, and really no time to try new beers. She is the best though and I am not just

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-7896013394591693832010-03-25T21:48:00.002-05:002010-03-25T21:54:42.752-05:00

That is the name of the beer I brewed at my local brew on premises in celebration of the birth of my daughter Karina Rose. She is perfect and the beer is pretty good. I mean really, it's not even close folks. Although I did celebrate her first day on the planet with a Westvleteren 12 that I brought back from Belgium about 5 years ago. It was fabulous. Anyway, back to the homebrew. It is the

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-38056709838689366852010-02-07T20:51:00.013-05:002010-02-14T00:59:18.745-05:00

Back in November I visited Portland, Oregon for the first time. I was only in town for a few days for a museum conference, but I was geared up to visit as many breweries as possible during my down time.I arrived on Wednesday night and my first order of business was to visit the Safeway a few blocks away from my hotel. Not an optimal choice for buying beer, but it was late, they were open, and it

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-37951609720872397592010-02-06T23:09:00.002-05:002010-02-06T23:59:56.752-05:00

So, where have I been?I owe the three of you that are reading this blog on a regular basis (hi Bob and Jeff and that other person) my apologies for my woeful absence over the last seven months. Things have been busy, that is for sure. I have not stopped drinking beer, although I have supplemented it with a nascent obsession with single malt whisky. I could never have imagined that I would become

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-26892097664830495972009-07-08T20:55:00.003-05:002009-07-08T21:06:42.737-05:00

For those of you in the Boston area, check out Downtown Wine and Spirits' new website and blog. Better yet, visit them the next time you are in Davis Square. It is a somewhat small and unassuming store, but they have a great selection and the prices are decent. I have found a number of Belgians there that I could not find elsewhere in the Boston area and they generally have a good selection of

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-66830200360236346322009-07-05T21:56:00.008-05:002009-07-05T23:19:19.613-05:00

On July 4th my brother Tom and his friend Phil stopped by for a couple of cold malted beverages and some BBQ. Both had home brews in hand and wanted me to give them a try...let's call this the battle of the knuckleheads.I could tell you many stories to support this name. They would include catapults, geese, their role as altar boys, Mark Messier, a bar called Rasputin's, and a side kick named

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-45039781475355456652009-06-12T20:40:00.003-05:002009-06-12T21:03:21.295-05:00

I have tried almost all of the St. Bernardus beers available in the United States and I have never been disappointed. For some strange reason I am just getting around to trying the Tripel. One word...fantastic. I am enjoying a nice 750 ml bottle of it right now and it is a solid 4.7 out of 5 in my ratings.It is a manageable 8% abv. This tripel pours bright orangish gold with a thick white head

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-8792588783789914482009-05-29T19:25:00.010-05:002009-06-12T21:08:23.493-05:00

I picked up Magic Hat's new summer 12 pack tonight fully expecting to extol the virtues of a brewery that almost always comes to the table with solid offerings. I am fond of the brewery for a number of reasons: I watched the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004 while sipping one of their beers in a Burlington, VT pub; my brother Tom majored in drinking at St. Michael's College in nearby Winooski

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-76695670970397760402009-04-16T22:20:00.002-05:002009-04-16T22:23:26.158-05:00

I am combining some of my passions today. I arrived in Indianapolis this morning for the 2009 Museums and the Web conference. I manage technology projects for a museum so this is my yearly opportunity to learn from a wide range of international museum technologists that are working on some really cutting edge stuff. But if you are reading this on my beer blog you probably don't care too much

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-76817659412099033412009-02-15T22:58:00.002-05:002009-02-15T23:17:04.915-05:00

I was walking through one of my local package stores (liquor store for those who have no idea what a "packie" is) the other day and I came across a couple of bottles of Shipyard Brewing Company's new Signature Series. About an hour ago I cracked open their Pugsley's Imperial Porter. Holy Shipyard this stuff is fantastic. Shipyard has always been a pretty good brewery , but I kind of lost track of

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-3611535564489830832009-02-14T22:03:00.003-05:002009-02-14T22:43:07.552-05:00

Are you drinking anything special for Valentine's Day? I had my favorite burrito today (Bueno y Sano in Amherst), some of my favorite pizza (BBQ chicken pizza from Antonio's), my favorite sundae (Moosetracks from Richardson's Dairy in Middleton), so now one of my favorite new beers...Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout. I have been cellaring this one for a while and figured why not break it out

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-73764948045632968152009-01-18T21:05:00.003-05:002009-01-18T21:28:32.452-05:00

We are approaching the third week of my Wellesley College Wintersession course, The Beer Necessities. The only homework assignment is for students to go out and try a new beer and to review it. Here is a place to share some of those reviews and to start some discussion about them. Feel free to just tell me what you tried and whether you liked it or not, or give us a couple of lines about it. So,

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-18328927636933486152008-11-02T21:34:00.002-05:002008-11-02T21:57:14.491-05:00

I am generally not a fan of hard cider. I had a friend that worked for Woodchuck a while back and it was pretty good, but I couldn't drink it too often. It always tasted too sweet to me. Obviously beer is my thing and just about always my drink of choice.Well I made a recent visit to one of my favorite places, King Eider's Pub in Damariscotta, ME. Jed does a great job with the beer selection--

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-25844793652895632272008-10-31T17:30:00.003-05:002008-10-31T17:52:05.430-05:00

I rarely rejoice in anything dying, but MillerCoors has announced that Zima will no longer be produced. I am pretty sure that Zima was the first malternative to hit the big time market. I so remember making fun of anyone in college drinking this stuff. It was schilled as a clear, light, and refreshing alternative to beer. In reality it was an alcoholic soda pop. I remember trying it once,

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-41770549947651318012008-10-12T20:16:00.003-05:002008-10-12T21:10:26.691-05:00

I have never really been a huge fan of pumpkin beers. I spend most of my fall absorbing as many Oktoberfests beers and autumn ales as possible. I love the rich malty smoothness of Oktoberfest beers...Hacker Pschorr, Sam Adams, Brooklyn, Geary's Autumn Ale and of course der Konig of them all, Ayinger Oktoberfest.However, over the last couple of years I have dabbled in pumpkin ales and I have to

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-86636325007770466392008-08-01T21:14:00.002-05:002008-08-01T21:17:04.905-05:00

I am posting this important press release for a great cause. Please attend or just send a check.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Doug Fleming friendsofdarryl@gmail.com 206.571.2243 RAISE A GLASS TO DARRYL GOSS A FUNDRAISER TO CELEBRATE GOOD MUSIC, GOOD BEER, AND DARRYL! Fact: ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has no boundaries‑anyone can get it

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-54246183523294266602008-06-25T21:48:00.003-05:002008-06-28T21:42:54.564-05:00

Did you get to the American Craft Beer Fest at the World Trade Center in Boston last weekend? I was pretty impressed with the size of the crowd and the well-planned logistics of getting everyone in the building. I was less impressed with the huge set-up given to "Michelob Brewing Company" and Here's to Beer as you entered the festival. Why not throw up a huge neon sign that said Anheuser Busch

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-15082843751126933932008-05-31T21:30:00.002-05:002008-05-31T22:23:13.294-05:00

Ok, so you would have to have seen There Will Be Blood to understand why we called our last homebrew such a mouthful of a name. Well, it really isn't a homebrew, we created it at Barleycorn's Craftbrew On Premises facility. For all you Massachusetts locals, Barleycorn's is in Natick and you really have to make a visit--Dan Eng has a great facility and really knows his stuff. I go with my buddies

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-45007455277787170832008-05-22T21:47:00.003-05:002008-05-22T22:01:20.807-05:00

Ok, I have held back as long as I could. These Coors Light ads are killing me so I want some good answers for what all or one of these inane phrases mean. I know you can come up with some funny responses."Tastes as cold as the Rockies""The World's Most Refreshing Beer""Cold. Down. Easy."And what is the deal with those absolutely ridiculous labels that turn blue when they are the right temperature

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-8456655564854468162008-05-17T22:28:00.002-05:002008-12-13T00:02:47.827-05:00

What is your favorite local beer? I am talking about something that is made pretty close to where you live that you drink on a regular basis. No need to wax poetic on it (but feel free to do so if you'd like).I absolutely love Smuttynose IPA and Ipswich IPA. Post a quick comment and share your favorites.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-20604980240397568142008-05-07T21:16:00.003-05:002008-12-13T00:02:48.029-05:00

There is just about nothing better than a great pint of real ale. Pair that up with some good friends, Redbones pulled pork, and an Anna's burrito as a nightcap and you have the recipe for a fantastic Wednesday night. Yes a Wednesday night--when you love good beer you make these kinds of sacrifices!I am describing my first visit to the New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX), sponsored by the

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-50282273736628235772008-04-13T21:25:00.002-05:002008-04-13T21:29:32.798-05:00

You have to love the Onion. Check out this link and insert a picture of yourself in place of the second guy. Ok, so maybe you don't make your own beer that often, but are you the neighbor that doesn't stop talking about. I am guilty as charged.http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/beer_production_threatened_by?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-51084172971165958762008-03-29T20:22:00.002-05:002008-03-29T21:02:40.297-05:00

Have you tried any of the beers in the Southern Tier Brewing Company's Imperial series? Why not? For me it all started with the Unearthly Imperial IPA. Extreme does not always mean good, however Southern Tier does a great job with these beers.Unearthly is an insane 11% with 153 IBUs. I give this beer a whopping 4.7 out of 5. It is loaded with floral, citrus and spicy hop flavors and is remarkably

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-83396619237538077982008-03-15T16:49:00.003-05:002008-12-13T00:02:53.611-05:00

Last week I traveled to Miami Beach for a few days to attend a museum conference. My expectations for finding new beers were not high, but it ended up being worse than I thought. Whenever I travel in the US, I generally look for a local brew or something that is not distributed in the Northeast. Unfortunately the best beer I could find during two meals was Sam Adams Lager (a good beer, but I kind

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-7012082873491702462008-02-13T22:47:00.002-05:002008-02-13T23:00:01.487-05:00

I am not sure if this is a bad dream or a sign of the coming apocalypse. A-B has unveiled two new beers recently. Chelada is a lovely melding of those two timeless classics, Budweiser and Clamato Juice (yes clam and tomato juice - repulsive enough without the Bud). The latest offering is Bud Light Lime -- look out Corona, you don't even have to buy real citrus fruit with these bad boys. Keep your

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-42037694326608547652008-02-08T23:05:00.000-05:002008-02-08T23:25:41.721-05:00

You really have to give them credit, Jason and Todd Alström are the Kings of Beer in Boston. I was very excited to see the press release for the upcoming American Craft Beer Fest at the Seaport World Trade Center. These guys have done a shitload for craft beer in Boston, but this is over the top. The numbers 75 - 300 - 15,000 bring a tear to my beer. The thought of 75 brewers, 300 beers and 15,

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-58928007099398634032008-02-02T16:02:00.000-05:002008-02-02T16:32:16.498-05:00

What will you be drinking this Superbowl Sunday? If you could afford a ticket to the game, perhaps you can afford the ridiculously priced new beer from Carlsberg. For a meager $398 you can pick-up a just under 12oz bottle of their Jacobsen Vintage 1. Hell, with Superbowl tickets selling as high as $77,000 why not pick up a six-pack or two for the tailgate.We will undoubtedly be bombarded with ads

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-55191394062427103872008-02-01T21:01:00.000-05:002008-02-01T21:12:58.254-05:00

I love teaching The Beer Necessities, my wintersession beer appreciation course at Wellesley College. However, it is just that, a non-credit wintersession beer appreciation course where we have a lot of fun talking about beer and tasting some excellent brews. But check out this for credit course at University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia called Brewing Science: The History, Culture

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-58725749926798550492008-01-08T22:12:00.000-05:002008-01-08T22:16:57.580-05:00

Sadly, Grolsch, which is exclusively distributed in the US by Anheuser Busch, is in the process of being purchased by SAB Miller. You really have to read more than beer labels these days to figure out who you are paying for your beer.http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/01/07/daily12.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-89122641800311744892008-01-05T00:31:00.000-05:002008-01-05T00:49:58.254-05:00

For those of you new to this blog, this post is part of the monthly session series -- beer geeks from all over post on the same topic on the first Friday of each month. This week we are focusing on dopplebocks. My thanks to Brewvana for hosting this month.I had my first dopplebock at age 17. It was really all downhill from there, my first was an Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock -- they just don't

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-2755936331222061662008-01-03T22:21:00.000-05:002008-01-03T22:52:09.064-05:00

Each year I try to reserve a special brew for New Year's Eve. This year I put aside a bottle of AleSmith Speedway Stout. I have been very impressed by every beer I have tried by this San Diego brewery and I was really looking forward to tasting it. This beer did not let me down.Speedway Stout is brewed with pounds of Ryan Bros. coffee beans and weighs in at 12% abv. I should tell you all that I

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-74669521561477930152007-12-27T00:30:00.000-05:002007-12-27T01:07:03.495-05:00

Most of the Saranac (Matt Brewing Co, Utica, NY) beers that I have tried are about average. None are every really bad, but none are ever really top notch. One of my favorite beer stories has always been the $1 drafts of Saranac Black and Tan at the now defunct local Ground Round restaurant one night with a good friend that was driving. I asked what they had on tap and they had their usual

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-46706695472458477482007-12-23T00:29:00.000-05:002007-12-23T12:10:07.650-05:00

My mother-in-law often says that bad things and deaths often happen in threes. Well, here is a good example. Looks like the folks over at soon to be MillerCoors are coming out with three new styles of Miller Lite ("never watered down, so you can raise it up" - whatever the hell that means). They will be releasing an amber, a blonde and a wheat beer. I can't imagine that these "craft-light beers"

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-8920912326987102222007-10-30T22:34:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:02:54.020-05:00

Here is the first of my Bostonbeerman podcasts - check it out in iTunes, it is enhanced with images.I hope to have a new one in a couple of weeks.If you don't have iTunes, you can also check it out and subscribe here.Cheers,Jim

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-23206766167587191722007-09-15T22:39:00.000-05:002007-09-15T22:44:46.115-05:00

My apologies for the sad lack of posts over the summer and now into the fall. I have been swamped with work and a new, non-beer related teaching gig. I promise to get back on the blogging horse as soon as I can. I did manage to try 30 new beers on a 10 day trip to Scandinavia -- more when I return.Prost!Bostonbeerman

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-61148625066473857352007-07-05T23:16:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:02:54.746-05:00

Session Five is all about great atmosphere when drinking beer. The guys over at Hop Talk suggested that we blog about our favorite beer experience--that is, great places to drink beer and our favorite people to drink it with.My wife and I try to book one European trip each year and as a result, I have had some incredibly memorable beer experiences. The most recent was in Brugge, Belgium. I

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-13476216200249885252007-06-22T20:39:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:02:54.891-05:00

Smuttynose Old Brown Ale is a fantastic American Brown Ale that was inspired by Olive, the dog that graces the label. Unfortunately, Olive died on March 15, 2007, just a month after the release of Really Old Brown Dog Ale. If you are a dog person, the label image will just about bring you to tears.Really Old Brown Dog Ale is part of Smuttynose Brewing Company’s impressive Big Beer Series. It is

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-28550993265556191932007-06-01T21:50:00.001-05:002008-12-13T00:02:58.544-05:00

Snekse over at Gastronomic Fight Club is hosting the beer blogger session this month. We were asked to review a local beer made within 150 miles of home. This was a tough call for me. My first thought was to choose one of the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series sitting in my cellar--I have been very impressed with most of these beers. My next thought was Mercury Brewing Company. Their Ipswich Stout is

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-15923062772543128952007-05-09T21:27:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:02:58.904-05:00

When is comes to beer, one of my mantras is "quality, not quantity." Numbers are usually not that important to me, unless I am on the golf course or picking my fantasy baseball team, but I am reaching a pretty big milestone.No, not 40 years old, I have a few more to go before that. I am approaching my 1,500th beer tasted and rated. I have 35 more to go and I figure I will get there by late June.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-73618412015944392062007-04-16T15:56:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:02:59.661-05:00

I just came back from a business trip to San Francisco and as usual I tried to squeeze in a little beer research. Before leaving I made a reservation for the free tour at Anchor Brewing Company, a must for all beer lovers (call a few weeks in advance to make your reservation). It was a fantastic tour--stepping inside their 1937 building (they have occupied it since 1979) and seeing their

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-8918474264032560662007-04-06T22:18:00.000-05:002007-04-06T22:35:26.056-05:00

Here is my contribution to the 2nd Beer Blog Friday--my thanks to Alan at A Good Beer Blog for hosting the event this time around.I decided to stay traditional and go with Westmalle Dubbel. This beer pours to a thick, marshmallow head that dissipates pretty quickly. The first scent is a crusty bread aroma with touches of peppery spicyness and dried fruit. Pretty well-balanced with sweetish raisin

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-32433231540624441572007-03-31T22:33:00.000-05:002007-03-31T22:56:14.869-05:00

Ipswich Oatmeal Stout is on of my favorite local beers. I haven't had it in a while, but I picked up one of their mixed 12 packs a few weeks ago. You really can't go wrong with any beer in the bunch, the IPA and Dark Ale are very good and the Oatmeal Stout and Ale are exceptional.This beer pours a rich black with a solid dark tan head that slowly dissipates. It starts with coffee and fresh

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-2027897297594765562007-03-30T21:48:00.000-05:002007-03-30T22:40:28.081-05:00

I just spent about 5 minutes on the Here's to Beer site (notice no link). I discovered the site in an add on the back cover of the March issue of BeerAdvocate Magazine. Upon first glance of the ad, I had a sinking suspicion that the site was created by one of the all powerful macro breweries. After a little investigating, it turns out that Here's to Beer, Washington, D.C. is none other than my

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-52329622747777130222007-03-23T21:52:00.000-05:002007-03-23T22:11:08.084-05:00

It is bad enough that Coors Light infiltrates just about every sporting event on television (especially now that baseball season is approaching), but how about having a Silver Bullet train stream across your computer screen every day at 4:53pm. The company is trying a brilliant new ad campaign on websites popular with men in the 18-34 bracket. Thankfully I moved out of that bracket last year and

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-12358235499894013792007-03-19T21:56:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:05:08.537-05:00

I am deeply saddened to share that Olive, the "Old Brown Dog" featured on the Smuttynose label died on March 15th, just a few days short of her 16th birthday. My sympathies to her parents and her family at the brewery, she was such a beautiful dog. The shot on the label is stunning (one of my favorite labels). Any of you who know me realize that dogs are one of the few things that I love more

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-37657797364862757822007-03-17T23:45:00.000-05:002007-03-18T00:06:58.576-05:00

I try a lot of new beers each year. The first thing I do at a bar or a package store (New England lingo for beer store) is to check to see if they have anything that I have not tried in the past. As I have mentioned in other posts, this can sometimes be hit or miss. However, since I try so many new beers I often neglect some of my all time favorites.Tonight I visited an old friend, Ayinger

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-64720004867733852402007-03-09T21:01:00.001-05:002007-03-09T22:15:41.242-05:00

Don't get nervous, this isn't an SAT question: If a 30 pack of Budweiser, Coors Light, or Miller Lite costs around $20 and a 24 bottle case of Ipswich Ale or for you non-locals (any good microbrew) costs about $22, then what the hell are the jackasses that buy those 30 packs thinking. That's 67 cents for a Bud in a can and 92 cents for an excellent hand crafted beer in a bottle. For starters, I

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-17604408127902600142007-03-02T20:45:00.000-05:002007-03-02T21:36:13.127-05:00

Today is the first Beer Blogger Friday--a day when beer bloggers from around the world unite! In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we will be reviewing stouts. The only rule is that it cannot be "your father's Irish stout." My thanks to Stan at Appellation Beer for setting up the event. It looks like Al over at A Good Beer Blog will be hosting the next event.I decided to review one of my all time

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-12150256061851033772007-02-26T22:34:00.001-05:002007-02-26T22:40:52.068-05:00

Stan over at Appellation Beer came up with the great idea of making Friday beer blogging day. It gives us beer geeks a chance to collaborate on beer tasting. This Friday, March 2nd, a bunch of beer bloggers from around the world will join together to taste and rate a stout of their choice. I have narrowed it down to three beers - please help me decide which one to rate - maybe I will just rate

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-55441999668284522642007-02-21T22:36:00.000-05:002007-02-21T22:39:27.435-05:00

A warm welcome to my students from the beer tasting course at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Feel free to post a comment to this post about your favorite beer from week one of our first class. Anything in particular that you liked about this beer?Just click comments and let me know what you think.

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-49179642525331764872007-02-19T21:18:00.000-05:002007-02-19T22:05:44.859-05:00

Free beer...um, well I mean open source beer. Check out Harry Lanman's article from the February 18, 2007 Boston Globe about a group of students and artists that are producing and marketing the first open source beer.They got the idea from discussions about open source software. Open source software producers maintain that customers live with software and use it regularly, so they should be able

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-53981638173742280822007-02-14T22:29:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:03:00.415-05:00

The Boston Beer Company, aka Sam Adams unveiled their newly designed "ultimate" beer glass. I like good glassware as much as any other beer geek. I have my Pavel Kwak rounded bottom glass, authentic glasses from most of the Trappist brewers, nonic British pints, etc. To put it simply, all beer should be served in the proper glass.When I first read the title of the article, I thought it was some

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-59952878266251553282007-02-11T12:12:00.001-05:002008-12-13T00:03:00.719-05:00

Ok, it is that time of the year. I just picked up a six pack of Sam Adams Double Bock--arguably their best beer--and that means spring is on the way. I know, I know, winter in New England extends well into April, but hope springs eternal this year. I can't help but think about sipping a nice cold one after a round of golf.Golf and good beer, these are two things that you would expect to be

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-11056671158755064512007-02-08T22:24:00.000-05:002007-02-07T16:44:08.296-05:00

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that generally has three lines. The first is 5 on (roughly translated as syllables), then 7, then 5. Most true haiku makes a reference to a season, but I am using my poetic license in these beer haiku. Give it a try, post your beer haiku...all the kids are doing it these days. Here are four to get you started:Westvleteren 12Fine ale brewed by monks with loveThe

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-88487905888911272342007-02-04T22:59:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:03:01.237-05:00

Searching for new beers is my favorite hobby...well, ok it is an obsession. I will drive 35 minutes and pay tolls to get to my favorite packie (liquor store) because the selection is incredible. Family, friends, and co-workers, who know how much I enjoy finding new beers, bring back beer for me when they travel.I am the guy at your party who looks into the deepest, darkest corner of your

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-86267525735236050332007-01-29T21:20:00.000-05:002007-01-29T21:28:40.681-05:00

The question that accompanied this old trivia answer is "name the three most famous things from Latrobe, PA." Rolling Rock was synonymous with Latrobe, PA -- ask your dad or your grandfather. However, in May 2006 the brewery was sold and the good old "33" will no longer be brewed in Latrobe. Take a guess at which brewing powerhouse flexed its muscles and shut down the brewery. Good guess,

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-26573570787855590282007-01-26T23:24:00.001-05:002007-01-28T11:23:46.988-05:00

I just had a wonderful beer. YuleSmith Holiday Ale is the first beer I have tried from AleSmith Brewing Company in San Diego, CA. This beer was truly amazing. It is a Double India Pale Ale that looks, smells, and tastes absolutely fantastic. I gave it a whopping 4.7 out of 5 and if I had another bottle of this stuff, the rating might get higher. In fact, I think I will make a trip out to Julio's

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-55095604499846216262007-01-24T22:48:00.000-05:002007-01-24T23:12:56.736-05:00

SAB Miller has temporarily pulled its popular "Man law" commercials. Despite creating a buzz with the humorous ads that parody some of the ridiculous things "men" worry about, such as "is it ok to leave a sporting event early to beat the traffic" or "should the high-five be retired."I have to admit, the commercials are pretty funny, especially those featuring Eddie Griffin. Although humorous, it

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-54016055959294520812007-01-22T18:46:00.000-05:002008-12-13T00:03:01.549-05:00

Elena beat me to it in her recent comment. I had intended on posting this hilarious and true link today. A brewery in The Netherlands has developed a non-alcoholic beer for dogs! Leave it to the Dutch, they love their beer and their dogs.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6288107.stmhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16752671/

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-36299276645685298622007-01-19T21:04:00.000-05:002007-01-19T21:59:31.328-05:00

Ok, I know that this may be a somewhat generational post, since some of you younger folks won't have any idea what I am talking about -- let's see how many of the following beer jingles you can match to the beers. I will include a couple of current ones so everyone can have a crack at it:"Darling when will you be mine, cuando, cuando, cuando, cuando...""Here's to good friends, tonight is kind of

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-18253837776160424022007-01-14T16:06:00.000-05:002007-01-14T16:10:48.471-05:00

It looks like Budvar will be partnering with Budweiser in distributing the original "Budweiser Budvar" in the United States. However, as I read it, Budvar will still be labeled "Czechvar" in the US. Both sides agreed that this arrangement could not be used as leverage in their century old trademark dispute over the rights to the name Budweiser.http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/08/business/

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-66936214046655217202007-01-12T17:09:00.000-05:002007-01-18T15:54:08.185-05:00

Sometimes I can be a bit of a beer snob. What can I say, give me the choice between a hand-crafted beer and crappy mass-produced swill and I opt for the former. I like to say that "I have never met a beer that I didn't like." What I mean by that is I would choose beer over just about any other beverage. So, when given the choice between Milwaukee's Best Light in a 16oz can or soda or water, I

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200039527744658204.post-35181218754718691662007-01-11T16:30:00.000-05:002007-01-11T16:34:48.167-05:00

Feel free to use this site to ask me any questions about beer or the class.Simple question to get things started! Of the 8 beers we have tried so far, which one is your favorite and why?

Jim Olsonhttps://profiles.google.com/111934473412018096704noreply@blogger.com11