Stone Cold Winner

I'm a winner! There is nothing like a little gloating. You have to expect that from someone whose biggest win is 5 bucks from a lottery scratch off ticket. The recent win came from this year's A Good Beer Blog Yuletide Photo Contest. The photo battle allows anyone with a camera and a love for beer the opportunity to put their best shots up for a chance at some unique beer prizes. In this 4th year of the contest a total of 45 participants entered 185 photos for judging. The above shot from a Stone event at Firewaters in Glen Mills came up big for me. Of course mine was just one of several smaller winners chosen along with the grand prize winner.

A huge thanks goes to Lee Marren, Stone Brewing rep extraordinaire and the tattooed guy (sorry I don't have your name) for making my little win possible. Without the big smile, wicked tat and scary-as-hell snarl, the photo would of been nothing. I now take my place along side past Philly winners and far better photographers Dr. Joel and Bryan Kolsar (2008). For the photo victory I net a year subscription to All About Beer Magazine. Not bad for a hack photographer who typically points the lens at a glass of beer, shoots and calls it art.

Meet the Brewer: Allagash & Pretty Things

Get the weekend started early and meet the people who put the good stuff in the bottle. Tonight there are a couple opportunities to rub elbows with the brewers and it's possible to hit both events, no problem. First up is Rob Allagash founder of Allagash Brewing (duh!). He'll be talking beer at Tria (Rittenhouse Sq.) before his beer school class (Allagash Gotta Have That Funk/ sold out). Taps open at 4pm and meet Rob 4:30-6:00pm. PAYG

Hang with rock star Rob Tod, founder of Allagash Brewing Company in Maine and hear stories from his latest trip to Belgium. Enjoy the awesome Allagash Curieux, Interlude and White on draft plus tasting portions of Allagash Four.

Next up, head down to the Devil's Den for some Pretty Things. Dann Paquette and Martha Holley from Pretty Things Brewing are meeting and greeting. 7pm start. PAYG

Meet the brewers. Food specials paired up & made with Pretty Things beers. On Draft: Jack D'Or, saison & St Botolph's Town, rustic brown ale. Bottles: Baby Tree, quadruple, American Darling, lager & their new seasonal Babayaga, stout

Holy Shittelload of Dogfish

Six sixtels

Six sixtels

Six sixtels

Saying it 3 times fast is no simple task but finding six rare sixtels of Dogfish Head comes easy if you're at The Grey Lodge tomorow night (Dec 16). Shittelload of Sixtels with Founder/Prez of Dogfish Head Sam Caligione in the house along with six of his, "cool and rarely found in draft", creations. 5-7pm, PAYG.

Palo Santo Marron

Black and Blue

Midas Touch

Pangaea

Burton Baton

plus a Rehobeth Beach brewpub exclusive

More Blackness: Back in Black Stout Fest @ Union Jack's on the Manatawny

As the winter season rolls in so comes the focus on dark beers. This is one of the few times of the year I am not all about the biggy hoppy IPAs. For those of you who also dive into the blackness of the winter months Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny is the destination of the day. Starting at 9:00 am (12/12) it's the second annual Back in Black Stout Fest. 15 dark beers to satisfy your roasty, toasty, coffee, chewy, chocolaty, high abv. side. Also look for a certain vision impaired pig and poisonous fish to keep hop fans happy. PAYG

Draft List
Stone Vertical Epic 9-9-09

Southern Tier Mokah

Terrapin Wake n Bake

Stone I.R.S. 06'

Terrapin/Left Hand Depth Charge

Troegs Java Head

Founders Breakfast Stout

Pennichuck Pozharnik 07'

Dogfish Head World Wide Stout

Dark Horse Fore!

Smoked Stout 08'

Eel River Ravens Eye Imperial Stout

New Holland Dragons Milk

Le Saint Bock Brasserie Malediction (Super rare in U.S.)

Port Santas Little Helper

A pin of Left Hand Fade to Black

For the hopheads: Russian River Blind PigBallast Point Sculpin

Sweet and Sour @ Capone's

So are you feeling sweet or sour? Today at Capone's it doesn't matter it's the best of both worlds. Starting at 11:30 6 sweet and 12 sours will pour. Fast math tells you that's 18 taps for the event but remember Matt now has 30 lines at his disposal so expect some other great offerings. More reason to sneak off to Capone's for a liquid lunch. Like you weren't already considering it

Sweet:

Southern Tier Cuvee Series #2

Southern Tier Mokah

Founders Cerise

DFH Midas Touch

Fruli Strawberry

08 Mad Elf

Sour:

Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi 07

Allagash Victor 07

Allagash Interlude 08

DFH Red and White 08

Cantillon Fou Foune 06

Cantillon St. Lamvinus!

Ithaca Brute

Russian River Temptation

Russian River Consecration

Ommegang Rouge

Bockor Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge

Rodenbach Grand Cru

Prohibition's 76th

If history can repeat itself so can I. I did a post last year on Prohibition and other than adjusting the anniversary number from 75th to 76th it's the same. Who am I to rewrite history?

Happy Repeal of Prohibition Day!!! Today is the 76th Anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Called the "nobel experiment" by President Herbert Hoover Prohibition was proposed by the U.S. Senate in 1917, certified and ratified in 1919 and went into effect January 16, 1920.

Amendment XVIII

[The Prohibition Amendment] Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by Congress.

Congress through the Volsteed Act put the maximum alcohol content of beverages at 0.005 percent. Law enforcement officials across the country were then in charge of stopping the manufacture, transportation, import/export and sale of all alcoholic beverages. The result was a rise in organized crime, underground speakeasies, experimental bathtub gin and unstable drinking habits. Not all outcomes of the Amendment were negative. The rise in popularity of jazz happened during those dry years. However, Prohibition was seen as largely ineffective and deemed a failure. What started as a way to increase health, decrease crime and strengthen moral fiber had an almost opposite effect on society. The passage of the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933 re-legalized alcohol an brought an end to the "noble experiment".

The post was from last year but the ideas for the day are new.

Head to Memphis Taproom for cheap drinks.

Celebrate Repeal Day December 5 :: Noon-3pm
December 5th is the 76th Anniversary of Repeal Day! On December 5, 1933 the Volstead Act was repealed and the 21st Ammendment to the US Constituion was ratified, re-legalizing alcohol and ending Prohibition. Make plans to be at Memphis Taproom to celebrate this momentus occasion as we roll back prices and pour all beer on draft for just ONE BUCK from Noon-3pm! Join us in raising a glass in celebration of our inalienable rights!

Check out the Prohibition Taproom

No better day than today for obvious reasons.

If your lucky enough to be in San Fran the 21st Amendment Brewery is the spot.

Wherever you spend the day raise a glass and toast to your right to legally toss a few back. Cheers!

BIG #6 for TJ's

Happy Anniversary to all over at TJ's. They have been doing it for 6 years and it is only getting better. As you may have figured there are a few good beers pouring today for the celebration. The festivities start at noon.

(Noon Tapping)

Lost Abbey 10 Commandments

Oskar Blues Ten FidyPort

Brewing Hop 15

Rogue I2PA

Russian River Pliny the Elder

Russian River Blind Pig

Stone Sublimely Self Righteous

Ballast Point Barrel Aged Sea Monster

BrewDog Bashah (Stone Collaboration)

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Dogfish Head 120 Minute

Duck Rabbit Rabid Duck

Great Divide 15th Anniversary

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon (Firkin)

Meantime London Stout

Moylan's Double Kiltlifter

Terrapin Gamma Ray

(5pm Tapping)

Ballast Point Sculpin

Cigar City Jai Alai IPA

Ithaca Brute

Limb & Life

Russian River Temptation

The Bruery Two Turtle Doves (Firkin)

BLACKENED by BROOKLYN

Wow what a week it has been. Sorry for the little hiatus from my, so called beer life but work and family life took over the drivers seat. I'm sure all of you happily survived the turkey holiday and the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping madness. I survived by stuffing my fat face and not going anywhere near a store or shopping website. If history is a guide I probably won't start knocking people off my shopping list until the weekend before Christmas. Call me Mr. Procrastination.

While sugar plum fairies invade the sweet, cheerful dreams of many my thought are on things roasty, malty and bold. With a chill in the air tis' the season to go dark (even black). Put down the IPAs and wheat beers and pick up the Stouts, Porters, Barleywines and seasonal ales. Even a hop head like me can't resist. Two beers I look forward this time of year are Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and Black Ops. While we all have to wait until Dec 10th (or so) for Black Ops, Mr. Oliver promisses the same recipe as last year and a slightly higher abv (11.7%). I've already experienced my first bottle of Black Chocolate Stout.

Years ago Black Chocolate Stout was my introduction to Brooklyn Brewery. This year's version of the Imperial Stout as expected offers a good flavor combination of roasted malt, coffee and bitter chocolate. The look is black, black, black in the glass with a thick mocha head. It seemed a little sweeter than in past years and was best once it hit room temperature. If you have never had this 10% + abv black delight don't expect a smooth chocolate milk shake effect, e.g., Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Mr. Oliver has harmed no chocolate pieces to make his beer. The chocolate refers to the specially roasted malts. Now all I have to do is happily sit back in my big leather chair, sip on a few more of these and patiently wait for the Ops to arrive.

A GREAT BLACKENED PERFORMANCE

Penn Brewing Comeback

The comeback is officially on for Pittsburgh's Penn Brewing. Tom Pasturious who founded Penn in 1986, and later sold all but a small share, has lead a group of investors to purchase the brewery. The full story is on Penn's website and the video is from a KDKA TV report.

Giant Beer News for those in the 'Burgh

The PLCB said it's a go for 5 more Giant Eagle stores in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and one near Erie to sell beer. That's now a total of 8 G.E. grocery stores in PA given the power of the brew. Of course just like here in Philly the folks in western PA have to play by the rules. A restaurant setup is required, along with dedicated check-out lines for beer purchases and limits on how much you can walk out with at one time. Sure it's not perfect and other states have it better but it is a step forward. I hope my fellow Pittsburghers are lucky enough to have a store with a selection as good as the Wegmans in Collegeville. Heck I just love the fact that when I head back home I have yet another great place to grab beer. If this keeps up my parents are going to see me far more often.

Currently selling beer

-Robinson Township (Settlers Ridge) 6511 Steubenville Pike

-South Strabane, 331 Washington Road, Washington County(as of Nov 20th)

Scheduled six pack sales starting Dec 18th
-Homestead, 420 East Waterfront Drive, The Waterfront
-Monroeville, 4010 Monroeville Blvd
-Pine, 155 Towne Centre Drive
-West Mifflin, 9901 Mountain View Drive, Century Plaza

-West View, 1029 West View Park Drive

Erie, PA

-Harborcreek, Erie County, 4500 Buffalo Road

More on beer sales at Giant Eagle from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette