#EpicBeerWeekend on the #BrewRidgeTrail Review (Part 1)

Those of you who have been reading this gibberish for a while know that I am given to summarizing certain mantras of mine in the form of catch phrases - one of those being “Support your local brewers,” or something along those lines. The good thing about catch phrases is that they are repeated, which means eventually they sink in and are easily recalled, thus reinforcing the message behind them. Unfortunately, if you don’t practice what you preach, the reinforced idea becomes an easily recalled underpinning of how full of crap you are. It is for this reason that I always make an effort to practice whatever it is that I am over-professing in the form of a catch phrase.

Will Eddy Van Halen be at these breweries?

Another thing that you avid longtime readers may remember is a post I wrote about a year or so ago (July 7th, 2012) about the Brew Ridge Trail, and how I thought that taking a trip down to Shenandoah and knocking-out all of these breweries in one shot would make for a most-excellent adventure, to quote Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan. Well, it just so happens that earlier this summer, I did just that, taking a long weekend down in Charlottesville, VA and Shenandoah and going brewery to brewery. It is my intention to devote the next few weeks of blog posts to giving you my two cents (no actual value) on each of the breweries that I visited along the brew ridge so that you can a) live vicariously through me, and 2) be inspired to take a similar vacation yourselves. Good deal?

Mmmm...

First, a few words about the Brew Ridge Trail to catch everyone up (you can also read my previous post by clicking on this word, or check out their official website by clicking on this word). The phrase “Brew Ridge Trail” refers to a collection of breweries in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia, in and around the Charlottesville, VA area. The brewers, local chambers of commerce, and marketeers are celebrating the craft beer industry in Nelson and Albemarle Counties and claiming that there are more breweries than stop lights (which is actually true). The Brew Ridge Trail consists of the Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, VA, the Blue Mountain Barrel House in Arrington, VA, the Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company in Roseland, VA, the South Street Brewery in Charlottesville, VA, the Starr Hill Brewery in Crozet, VA, and the Wild Wolf Brewing Company in Nellysford, VA. They are all centrally located, easy to get to, and quite honestly, are too tempting not to patron given the majestic scenery of the area and the laid back atmosphere of the communities.

My quest into the Brew Ridge began in the city of Charlottesville, where I ate dinner on a Thursday night at the South Street Brewery brew pub. South Street is literally in downtown Charlottesville, at 106 W. South Street. Street parking on a Thursday night was non-existent, but there was a parking garage around the corner that was not too long of a walk. And no, they did not validate parking (does anybody do that anymore?).

The front of the building.

The pub had a turn-of-the-century industrial-warehouse look from the street, but it was rather homey inside with a giant fireplace and hearth to sit around, perhaps as a waiting area if there was a wait, or as alternative seating – I’m not sure. The majority of the pub had a lot of wood and brick, keeping in with the exterior turn-of-the-century factory feel, but there was also a section that was modern, with interesting art pieces and a more community-table like seating arrangement. The dining room was roomy, with large booths that could easily sit six people, and they had a large wooden bar with glass windows behind that looked into the brewery itself. The place seemed clean, and overall, the atmosphere was comfortable.

The food was good, though the menu was rather limited. I had their mini taco salads, which consisted of two flour taco bowls filled with black beans, marinated beef tips, sautéed green peppers & onions; served with a lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and a side of sour cream and salsa. It really was quite good, and was only $9.50, so needless to say, I was pleased with the food aspect.

The bar area... with windows behind that display the brewing rig

Our waiter wasn't overly professional looking, but he was knowledgeable about their beer and able to answer questions (because I always quiz them). The lady who was hostessing was very friendly, and seemed eager to welcome people, almost as though they know they’re getting a lot of out-of-towners.

Okay, okay, I know you are asking why I’m not address the most important part – it’s because if I don’t address things like food, atmosphere, and parking, you’re going to ask me about them, so I figured I’d get it out of the way so we can get down to business (plus it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want).

Oversized booths and a very roomy dining room = very enjoyable dining experience

The beer (yeah, he’s finally talking about beer) was pretty good – not amazing – but consistently pretty good. I had the South Street Porter’s Porter, the BelgoPale, the Maibock, the Hefeweizen, the Liberation Lager, the Satan’s Pony Amber Ale, and the JP Ale. There were three shining stars of the seven beers that I had:

1) The BelgoPale Belgian pale ale was really wonderful! There was a sweetness from the yeast that balanced perfectly with the citrusy hops, and the light pale malts and Belgian yeast created a light, summery, almost cloud like mouth feel that was very excellent. I enjoyed it enough that I went ahead and had a full pint of it, in addition to the 4 oz sample on the flight. I give this brew 4.8 stars out of 5, and not in an Untappd kind-of way – I mean an ACTUAL 4.8/5. I highly recommend this one.

2) The Satan’s Pony Amber Ale came in a close second, and was only slightly less really wonderful than the BelgoPale. For whatever reason, amber ales often come across as after-thoughts in the beer world – not sure why. It’s gotten to where many brewers make them to appeal to the nubes, but don’t take the time to make them shine, because most craft beer drinkers are looking for more complex flavor profiles than what an amber ale can be. All of that being said, this amber ale tasted like what an amber ale should taste like. It was sweet, crisp and refreshing, unassuming yet elegant. This one easily gets 4.6 stars, and again, a glowing recommendation from me.

3) The final standout was the South Street Porter’s Porter. Dark, smoky, and sweet. Their porter was not the best porter I've ever had, but it was exactly what it was designed to be… an enjoyable everyday kind-of porter. I give it 4.4/5 of my star chart, and once again, can recommend it to you without fear of tarnishing my reputation.

A look at their flight... pretty delicious

The rest of the beers in their flight were good as well, some better than others, and would all receive between 3.4 and 4.2 stars, if I were taking the time to rate them individually, which I’m not. Again, my blog, my rules. Seriously though, the beers are all quality, and definitely made the right way, so can any of them actually be considered bad? I don’t think so.

Nice place... go give them money

All in all, I was pleased with my trip to the South Street Brewery brew pub in downtown Charlottesville. I recommend it to you whether you’re taking on the Brew Ridge Trail, or just in the neighborhood and want good food and quality beer. I’d tell you to visit their website, but I can’t get it to work – here’s a link to their non-working website, just in case they ever do fix it, or you can check them out on yelp, beer advocate, or other places where know-it-alls like me try to effect the overall performance of a hospitality business by convincing you to either go there or not. Seriously… what is wrong with this world of ours?

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness (and the Brew Ridge)… Cheers!

What's In A Glass (Other Than Beer)?

Most of you have heard me rail on for hours regarding glassware, and most of you have written it off as typical sous-brewer snobbery. For many uninformed folks out there, beer glassware is an exercise in who cares, or at the very least, a matter of something to put my beer in. For the extremely unenlightened, the simple act of drinking beer out of a glass as opposed to the bottle/can it came in is a complete waste of time. The truth is that there are a lot of dumb reasons to obsess over glassware, but there are also some very important ones that vastly outweigh the dumb ones, and hopefully after reading this, you’ll be convinced once and for all.

Proper glassware equals happy beer.

The majority of beer drinkers on the planet think of the different types of beer glasses as a marketing ploy, or as something the beer snobs do to distance themselves from the beer plebes. Obviously, when a company emblazons their logo onto a glass, that is marketing, but that’s really where the marketing stops. The fact is that the proper beer glass will completely change how you experience a beer. As soon as beer leaves the can, bottle, or tap, everything about it begins to change. What you pour that beer into affects how it changes, both when you drink it and when it is waiting to be drank. The glass can change the smell, look, and overall impression of the beer.

Picture perfect.

The shape of the glass directly affects how “good” the head is, and since the styles of beer are different, they all have different properties that effect the way their head behaves after being poured, and therefor require different glasses to ensure the best head possible. If you don’t already know, head in beer is a good thing, as it traps the volatiles, or the things in beer that evaporate to give it it’s smell, in the beer until you’re ready to drink it. In other words, head keeps the good stuff in the glass until you’re ready to enjoy it. This is called head development and retention.

Some breweries, like Sam Adams, Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada, and many Belgian breweries, make their own custom glasses to serve their beer in. It is always a good idea to use a brewery-created glass that corresponds to one or more of their beers, but that’s not always an option. Most bars, for example, don’t carry the brewery created glassware to accompany the beer they’re serving. Below is a list of the more common glasses available and what styles of beer they are used best with.

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Goblet (aka Chalice): Grandiose pieces of glassware, ranging from delicate and long stemmed (Goblet) to heavy and thick walled (Chalice). The more delicate ones may also have their rims laced with silver or gold, while the heavy boast sculpture-like stems. Some are designed to maintain a two centimeter head. This is achieved by scoring the inside bottom of the glass, which creates a CO2 nucleation point, and a stream of eternal bubbles and perfect head retention as a result. They’re also nice to look at and have a wide-mouth for deep sips.

Goblets are used with Belgian IPA, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Berliner Weissbier, Dubbel, Quadrupel (Quad), and Tripel.

Mug (aka Stein; Seidel): Sturdy, large, with a handle; the mug is a fun and serious piece of glassware that comes in many sizes and shapes. The best part of using a mug is that you can clink them together with more confidence than other types of glassware, and they hold loads of beer. Think German Oktoberfest. Seidel is a German mug, while a Stein is the stone equivalent that traditionally features a flip-top metal lid, the use of which dates back to the Black Plague to prevent flies from falling in between drinks.

Mugs are used with Amber/Red Ale, Black Ale, Blonde Ale, Brown Ale, IPA, American Pale Ale (APA), Porter, Stout, Strong Ale, Baltic Porter, Bock, Cream Ale, Czech Pilsener, Doppelbock, English Bitter, Euro Dark Lager, Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB), German Pilsener, Irish Dry Stout, Irish Red Ale, Keller Bier/Zwickel Bier, Maibock/Helles Bock, Märzen/Oktoberfest, Milk Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Scottish Ale, Vienna Lager, and Witbier.

Pint Glass (aka Shaker, Tumbler): The Pint Glass is the quintessential beer drinker’s glass. This is by far the most common glass you will find in a bar because it is cheap to make, easy to store, and easy to drink out of. Generally the Shaker style is found most, also called the poor man’s pint glass. I do not personally endorse shaker pints as they do absolutely nothing for head retention. The glass pictured to the left is technically called a 20 oz. Imperial. This type has extra room for the head to collect in a 1 pint pour. Notice the ridge near the top.

Pint Glasses are used with Adjunct Lager, Amber/Red Ale, Amber/Red Lager, Black Ale, Blonde Ale, Brown Ale, Dark Wheat Ale, Double/Imperial Stout, IPA, American Pale Ale (APA), Porter, Stout, Strong Ale, Baltic Porter, Black & Tan, California Common/Steam Beer, Cream Ale, English Bitter, English India Pale Ale (IPA), English Pale Ale, Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB), Irish Dry Stout, Irish Red Ale, Milk Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Old Ale, Pumpkin Ale, Russian Imperial Stout, Rye Beer, Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, Winter Warmer, and Witbier.

Weizen Glass: The best possible way to drink a true Weizenbier (Wheat Beer) is in an authentic and traditional Bavarian Weizen Glass. These tall, unique glasses have a thin wall that, along with their height, help to show off the beautiful color of the Weizenbier. The large opening that is flared at the top helps to contain the foamy head on most wheat beers. They are specifically produced to take on volume and head, while locking in the aromas associated with the wheat style. Don’t listen to what the bartender tells you and forgo the lemon or orange slice in this, as it will destroy the head.

Weizen Glasses are used with American Dark Wheat Ale, American Pale Wheat Ale, Dunkelweizen, Gose, Hefeweizen, Kristalweizen, and Weizenbock.

Pilsner Glass (aka Pokul): Typically a tall, slender and tapered 12-ounce glass, possibly shaped like a trumpet, that captures the sparkling bubbles and colors of a Pils while retaining the head. A Pokal is a European Pilsner glass that has a stem.

Pilsner Glasses are used with American Lager, Amber/Red Lager, Double/Imperial Pilsner, American Pale Lager, Doppelbock, Dortmunder/Export Lager, Dark Lager, Pale Lager, German Pilsener, Happoshu, Japanese Rice Lager, Light Lager, Maibock/Helles Bock, Munich Dunkel Lager, Munich Helles Lager, and Vienna Lager.

Snifter: This style of glass is used primarily for brandy and cognac. These wide-bowled and stemmed glasses with their tapered mouths are perfect for capturing the aromas of strong ales. The snifter lends itself to beers that are high in alcohol, as these generally have the most volatiles to smell, and the glass allows for the beer to be warmed by the hand, as most higher alcohol beers are served colder than they should be. The snifter gets a bad rep for being the “beer snob” glass, but used with the right beer it will enhance that expensive beverage you just purchased.

Snifters are used with American Barleywine, Double/Imperial IPA, Double/Imperial Stout, Strong Ale, Belgian Dark Ale, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Barleywine, Red Ale, Gueuze, Lambic – Fruit, Old Ale, Quadrupel (Quad), Russian Imperial Stout, Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, Tripel, and Wheatwine.

Tulip: A stemmed glass, with a…you guessed it… tulip-shape, where the top of the glass flares out to form a lip in order to capture the head, with the body being bulbous. This glass captures and enhances volatiles, while it induces and supports large foamy heads.

Tulips are used with Double/Imperial IPA, Wild Ale, Belgian Dark Ale, Belgian IPA, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Bière de Garde, Flanders Oud Bruin, Flanders Red Ale, Gueuze, Lambic – Fruit, Belgian Quad, Saison, Farmhouse Ale, and Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy.

Stange Glass: A traditional German style glass, the word stange literally means “stick” and these tall, slender cylinders create a tighter concentration of volatiles and are used to serve more delicate beers, amplifying malt and hop nuances.

Stange Glasses are used with Altbier, Bock, Czech Pilsener, Gose, Gueuze, Kölsch, and Lambic.

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Not recommended behavior. 

So now you have a glimpse into the world of glassware, the science behind it, and the importance of serving your beer in the correct vessel. It’s not just marketing, and it certainly isn't snobbery. If you’re taking the time to be picky with beer, and paying for the better flavor, why wouldn't you want the flavor and aroma to be as enhanced as possible? I honestly can’t think of a single reason. I recommend printing this blog post out and taking it with you to a bar… wait, no… on second thought… memorize these words of wisdom, or go all 21st century and just bookmark this page so you can quickly access on your smartie phone – yeah, that’s the ticket. Either way, take pride, and take care of your beer. It deserves it; so do you.

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!

Declare Your Independence

Today is Independence Day, a day in which we Americans celebrate our brave forefathers who stood up to British oppression and the tyranny of the king, and fought to create a new nation where they would be free to live their lives the way they wanted. Just in case you didn't already know that.

Murica!

Two hundred and thirty seven years after they signed the declaration, a war for independence is still raging in America. No, I’m talking about all of that political nonsense that the 24 hour news coverage drive-by media hawks… I’m talking about the Great War for Beer Liberation – Independent vs. Industrial - Craft vs. Crap!!! And even though the craft beer segment of the beer industry has grown exponentially in the last five years, and we are finally seeing good beer being made and distributed all over the country the way it should be, there is still a very steep mountain to climb.

So this Independence Day, I’m encouraging you all to cast off the shackles of Big Beer and join the rebels. If you’re already with us, use these words to convert the masses, and if you haven’t joined the revolution yet, consider what you are about to read carefully and appeal to your senses. The industrial corn/rice-based, yellow, fizzy, swill producers have dominated the beer landscape too long – it’s time to take a stand and declare once and for all that America means freedom! Freedom from bad beer!

First, an explanation: Craft Beer is a beer made by a craft brewery.  According to the Brewers Association, an American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional, which is further defined as...

·        Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.

·        Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.

·        Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

Mmmm... delicious...

Now that you understand the distinction, here are 12 reasons to make the switch to good beer today, without wasting any more time drinking garbage.

1) CRAFT BEER TASTES BETTER!  The number one reason why you should drink craft beer is because craft beer tastes much better than the “beerish liquid” that is mass produced and mass marketed by the big beer companies.  Craft beer tastes much better because craft brewers spend their time focusing on the quality of their beer rather than focusing on their marketing campaigns and stock prices.   Craft brewers put their heart and soul, as well as lots of amazing ingredients into every beer they brew and don’t cut any corners.  The big beer companies, on the other hand, are on a mission to take ingredients out of their beer in order to make their beer as “watery” as possible.   Why would anyone want to drink beer that is purposely being watered down by leaving out important ingredients?  Would you buy a car from a car manufacturer that was stripping vital parts off of its cars in order to cut costs?  No, you wouldn't!  Beer shouldn't be treated any different. Choose taste. Choose craft beer!

2) MORE ALCOHOL!  Craft beers come in many shapes and sizes, but one thing remains the same; they all pack a punch!  Most craft beers range from 5-10% abv (alcohol by volume), but some craft beers can reach 20%, 30%, and even 40% abv!  Compare this to the 2.5% abv in Budweiser Select 55 and Miller Genuine Draft Light 64 that the big beer companies mass produce and you will see that there is no comparison!  The big beer companies are selling you “beer water.” This leads us to the third reason to drink craft beer.

These little doosies weigh in at 65% ABV... tread carefully.

3) FEWER TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM!  When you drink craft beer you won’t have to pee every 10 minutes because you won’t drink as many beers.   For example, let’s say you are going out for some drinks with friends.  Your “beer” of choice for the night is either Budweiser Select 55 or a Miller Genuine Draft 64.  Each of these beers has less than 2.5% abv which is EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY weak and watered down.  Honestly, they shouldn't even be considered beer anymore.  You will have to drink 4-6 of these beers in order to get the same effect as two (or maybe even one) craft beers.  Thus, your bladder will be overflowing with watery beer and you will be spending the majority of your night walking back and forth from the bathroom.  Who wants to do that?  Nobody!

If, however, you were drinking stronger, full-flavored craft beers with 5-8% abv there is no need to drink beer after beer after beer.   If you drink only one or two delicious craft beers you will get the effect of 4-6 “loser beers” and you won’t have to worry about your bladder exploding every 10 minutes.

4) HEALTH BENEFITS!  You read that right!  Craft beer has health benefits.  Research has shown that craft beer has more health benefits than red wine!  Craft beer contains more nutrients than does wine.  Craft beer also contains some soluble fiber, some B vitamins (notably folate), a range of antioxidants and it is also the richest source of silicon; silicon in the diet may help in countering osteoporosis. Wine contains more antioxidants than beer but there are doubts as to whether they actually get into the body and reach the parts where they are needed to work. It has been shown, however, that the antioxidant ferulic acid is taken up from beer into the body (more efficiently than from the tomato).

5) MORE CHOICES!  YES PEOPLE… YOU HAVE MORE CHOICES THAN BUD, MILLER, AND COORS!  There are almost 1,600 craft breweries throughout the United States brewing THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of delicious, flavorful craft beers.  And they aren't making the same old beers, either.  Every single craft brewery makes its beer in its own special way with its own special ingredients.   Did you know that you probably live within 10 miles of a craft brewery?  Do some research on the interwebs to find a craft brewery in your back yard and start supporting your local breweries!

So many to choose from...

6) LESS EXPENSIVE!  Believe it or not, over time, the cost per drinking session can be much lower if you drink craft beer.  Let’s use our example from before.  So you’re going out with your friends for some drinks and you’re drinking “beer water” again.  Most likely you are going to drink 4-6 “beer waters” in one drinking session.  Sadly, many people will drink even more “beer water” than that.  Most likely, the bar is charging you $3.00-$5.00 per bottle of “beer water.”  So at the end of your drinking session you have been charged anywhere from $12-$30 for your “beer waters” and that doesn't include tip.  If you include a tip, you could be paying over $30 for a six-pack of weak, flavorless beer!!!  That’s ridiculous!!!

Now, if you were to be drinking delicious craft beer, the story is quite different.  Here is an example of a drinking session at a local brewery.   Say you visit a local craft brewery to watch a sporting event and the brewery is charging $1.99 for pints of its beer.  And these were not normal sized pints.  These pints were huge.  And there were about eight different beers available.  Say you had three pints that night (One Pale Ale, one IPA, and one Porter) and all were delicious.  So at the end of this drinking session, your total bill was $6.00!  That’s it!  SIX BUCKS!  You were so happy, you felt generous after three huge beers and left a $4.00 tip, so your total for the night was $10.00.  And there are even cheaper ways to drink your craft beer.

That same brewery offers $5.00 growlers (64 ounce glass containers) on certain days of the week.  Let’s break that down into price per beer.  There are 64 ounces in a growler.  Divide 64 by the standard 12 ounce beer and there are 5 beers in a growler.  By purchasing your craft beer in a growler, you only paid $1.00 per beer.  And remember these beers are probably twice as strong as your typical “beer water” so the cost is even cheaper.  As you can see, the cost of drinking quality craft beer is, in many cases, much cheaper than drinking the tasteless “pseudo-beer.”  So why would you waste your time and hard-earned money on flavorless crap?

7) FEWER CALORIES!  Worried about calories in your beer?  Craft beers DO have more calories per beer than “beer water,” but you will consume fewer calories per beer drinking session.  Let me show you how.  Let’s assume you are like most “beer” drinkers out there and you only drink “industrial swill” (Miller Lite, Bud Light, Coors Light, etc).   Nearly all of these have 100 to 110 calories per 12-ounce serving.  So if you go out to the bar and have six “garbage beers,” you will consume about 650 calories in that drinking session, or 25% of your recommended daily caloric intake.

If, on the other hand, you are drinking delicious craft beers, you will drink fewer beers because they taste better and are much stronger.  Beer is meant to be enjoyed, not chugged.  So slow down and enjoy your beer.  Let’s assume you are drinking a craft beer with 7% abv.  A beer of this strength will usually have less than 200 calories.  If you are like me, you probably don’t need to drink more than three of these beers in one drinking session (although sometimes I do).  In this particular drinking session example, you will have consumed fewer than 600 calories, PLUS you didn't spend as much time going to the bathroom, PLUS you didn't spend as much of your hard-earned money.

Are the benefits of drinking craft beer becoming clear to you yet?  Let me give you a few more.

8)  GREAT BEER MAKES FOR GREAT TIMES!  While drinking craft beer you will have some great times with your friends and family who are drinking craft beer with you.  Try it out!  I dare you!  Go out for with friends and family and make it a point that everyone has to try a new craft beer.  Have everyone talk about their beer.  Smells, tastes, likes, dislikes, etc.  Pay attention to the discussions that arise due to the different beers that you taste.  It’s amazing!  In most cases, everyone will pass their beer around for others to try, so you can decide which beer to order next.  Imagine doing this with your friends and/or family on a regular basis at different breweries and/or pubs in your area.  It could turn into a bonding event that you and your beer drinking buddies look forward to every weekend!

9)  MEET THE PEOPLE MAKING THE BEER!  One of the coolest benefits of drinking craft beer is that you can visit a local craft brewery where your favorite craft beer is made and actually meet the people that make the beer.  People that make craft beer, whether they are home brewers or brew masters, are some of the nicest, funniest people you will ever meet AND, as I stated before, the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a craft brewery.  So go to Craftbeer.com and find a craft brewery in your back yard and start hanging out with your local craft brewers!  Most craft breweries offer daily brewery tours during which you get to sample all of their beers!

The malt goes into the mash tun.

10)  CRAFT BEER AND GOOD FOOD GO HAND IN HAND!  Pairing craft beer with fine cuisine is become a hugely popular trend in the food industry.  One could even argue that craft beer is becoming more popular than wine as the drink of choice while fine dining.  Ever heard of a beer and cheese party?  Most people haven’t…yet.  They are becoming extremely popular, though, and I highly recommend you attend one soon.

11)  DIFFERENT BEERS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS/SEASONS!  Certain craft beers are better suited for different seasons and/or drinking situations.  Why would anyone want to drink the same flavorless “garbage beer” at every drinking occasion all year round?  It’s a trick question.  You wouldn't!  With craft beer you can drink something different at every party, night out, meal, season of the year, etc.  Actually, that’s the coolest part.  I don’t know a single craft beer drinker that drinks the same beer every time he/she drinks.  Part of the fun is trying different craft beers from different breweries, regions, countries, etc.  I drink something different nearly every time I purchase a craft beer.  Sure, I have my favorites, but there are so many beers and so little time.   I want to try ALL OF THEM!

12)  JOIN THE MOVEMENT!  Join the millions of beer drinkers who have decided to STOP drinking tasteless “beer water” and START drinking delicious, flavorful craft beers.

Fires me up.

With an air-tight argument like that, why would anyone continue to deprive themselves of quality beer? Spread the word folks… and shout from the mountain top so that all can hear it. Big beer’s era of swill beer dominance is coming to an end. Americans have the right to choose, and be free from tyranny in all forms. Today we celebrate our Independence Day!

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!