Don’t miss the opportunity tomorrow night to support two of your favorite local business’ and get a great deal and have a great time in the process. Please give the Franklin Cafe and book your tickets now. (978) 283-7888.

Details:
Where: Franklin Cafe, 118 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930
Price - $50.00 Per person (gratuity included)
Website: http://www.franklincafe.com/

Dinner Menu – 5 Course Food/Beer Pairing

First Course:
Oyster Two-ways: Baked Duxbury Oyster with Pancetta, creamy spinach and parm. Duxbury oysters on the half shell, Fishermans Brew Mignonette, Apple, served with Fisherman’s Brew.

Second Course:
Mini cape and lobster roll: Butter poached lobster, Old bay frites, Pea tendrils, paired with Fisherman’s Ale.

Third Course:
Tea Smoked Salmon: Smoked Atlantic Salmon, French green beans, Butter sauce, Almonds, served with Fisherman’s Tea Party.

Fourth Course:
House Made Bratwurst: German style sausage with mustard beans, Purple sauerkraut, Rye, served with Fisherman’s IPA.

Fifth Course:
Stout Cake: Stout cake with pumpkin creme brulee and creme Friache foam served with Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout.

Other Important Brewery Updates (as of 3/10/2010):
Next week’s Trivia Night will be paired up with Knitting night next Tuesday so bring your thinking caps and you knitting needles cuz you’ll need both.

This change is due to the fact that next Wednesday is of course St. Patricks Day and as such, there will be a crazy St. Patty’s day throw down at the pub. Come early for complimentary Corned Beef and Cabbage from Duckworth’s Beach Gourmet. Seriously, does it get any better than that???

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Kona Brewing to use lighter bottle in an effort to curb environmental impact

Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii, March 9, 2010 . . . In a move to minimize environmental impact, Kona Brewing Company has announced its award-winning beer will be produced in glass bottles that are 11% lighter than before. The company, Hawaii’s largest brewer, has reduced its bottle weight from 8 ounces to 7.3 ounces for all Kona brands. The new lightweight Longboard Island Lager bottles will begin hitting shelves of grocers and specialty beer stores in late February, and the new bottle will be virtually identical to current bottles in look and feel. The new weight Fire Rock Pale Ale and Wailua Wheat Ale bottles will be on shelves by late March, 2010.

The famous flavors of Kona brands will be completely unaffected, and no changes will be made to the brewing process, quality or recipes of the beers. Like many sustainability programs the brewer has implemented, such as its new solar energy generating system at the brewery in Hawaii, the savings on the new lightweight bottle will be great for both the company and the environment. The reduction in bottle weight will save 3,375 tons of CO2 emitted per year, which is the same as the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a car traveling 8 million miles and equates to taking 511 cars off the road for a year. Seen another way, the savings also equates to easing the workload of 154,688 trees, which would have been taxed with offsetting the CO2 emitted by production of bottles, shipping and fuel.

“I am absolutely thrilled this day has come,” said Kona Brewing Company’s president and CEO Mattson Davis. “As we have gained in popularity on the Mainland, sustainability is even more important in getting our beer out there responsibly, and I’m proud Kona has found ways to protect the flavor of our beers while reducing use of unnecessary materials.”

*************************************

Kona Brewing Company was started in the spring of 1994 by a father and son team that had a dream to create fresh, local island brews made with spirit, passion and quality. It is a Hawaii-born and Hawaii-based craft brewery that prides itself on brewing the freshest beer of exceptional quality, closest to market. This helps to minimize its carbon footprint by reducing shipping of raw materials, finished beer and wasteful packaging materials. Recently Kona announced the installation of a 229 kW solar energy generating system at its Kailua-Kona brewery and pub on Hawaii’s Big Island.

The company is headquartered where it began, in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. It has grown into Hawaii’s largest brewery, has three restaurant sites in Hawaii and beer distribution reaching 28 states and Japan. The brewery was named the fastest growing top-50 craft brewing company in the country based on 2008 sales figures. It posted 19.8 percent year over year growth in 2009. For more information call 808-334-BREW or visit www.KonaBrewingCo.com.

Right Hook Red is

“An American Amber Ale. This brilliant deep red colored ale is assertively hopped and has a rich malty body. Extremely high quality English small batch “floor malted” caramel malt gives this beer a deep red color and a complex malt backbone dominated by sweet, earthy flavors. American Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops are used 7 different times in the brewing process (Mash hop, First Wort Hop, 3 times in Kettle, Whirlpool Hop, Dry Hop) to create bold citrus and spicy, piney hop flavors. It is dry hopped with Centennial hops to give it a wonderful floral and citrus hop aroma. This is an assertive brew! Boldly balanced with deep malt flavor and prominent hop character.”

Quick Description:

An assertively hopped American Amber Ale with a rich malty flavor.
Beer Style: American Amber Ale

O.G – 13.6°P IBU – 59.5 ABV – 5.22%

Get yourself up to the Cataqua Brewpub and try it today!

Our friends at the Cherry Grove Farms, in Lawrenceville, NJ have started washing the rind of their Farmstead cheese (made with milk from organic grass fed cows) with Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel. The result is a rich tasting semi-soft cheese that pairs perfectly–get this–with Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel.

We’re giving folks an opportunity to try it this Thursday evening here at the brewery.

This is a bit different from a regular open house in that we’re limiting the tasting to the Dubbel and cheese. So grab a friend and stop on by.

Here’s the scoop:

• Day: Thursday, February 18, 2010
• Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
• Location: Flying Fish Brewing, 1940 Olney Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ

No need to RSVP–just show up.
****SPECIAL NOTE: You and your guest must be 21 or over to attend (we’ll card)*****

Directions to Flying Fish Brewing
From the NJ TPK:

Exit 4 (Maple Shade) to Rt. 73 N. As soon as you get on Rt. 73, move into the left hand lane and make a left at the first light (Fellowship Rd).Make a left at the next light (Church Rd.) Make a right at the next light (Springdale Rd). After you pass the third light on Springdale (by the Getty station), make a right at the next street–Pin Oak. When you reach the stop sign, you’ll be at a t-intersection facing Olney Avenue. Flying Fish is straight ahead and slightly to the left (note: all the traffic lights are fairly close together).

From Philadelphia:

Take the Ben Franklin Bridge and bear left to Rt 70 East. After about 8 miles, I-295 crosses over Rt. 70. At that point move over to the far right lane. Make a right at the next traffic light (Marlkress/Greentree Rd.) by the Exxon station. Then make the next possible left (you’re on a very large jug handle). You will then cross over Rt. 70. Go to the second street and make a left on Olney Avenue. Flying Fish is about 1/4 mile down on the left.

From I-295:

Exit 34A (rt. 70 East). Make a right at the next traffic light (Marlkress/Greentree Rd.) by the Exxon station. Then make the next possible left (you’re on a very large jug handle). You will then cross over Rt. 70. Go to the second street and make a left on Olney Avenue. Flying Fish is about 1/4 mile down on the left.

For more information and directions, go to flyingfish.com

Flying Fish Brewing Company, 1940 Olney Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Resources
Exit 4 Series announced by Flying Fish

Here are some of the New England Breweries getting into the action:

• Harpoon Brewing Company – Harpoon IPA (going up against – Pike IPA, Pike Brewing)
• Haverhill Brewery – Leatherlips IPA (going up against – Diamond Knot IPA, Diamond Knot Brewing)
• Smuttynose Brewing – Finest Kind IPA (going up against 30th Street Pale Ale, Green Flash Brewing)
• Boston Beer Company – Latitude 48 Pale Ale (going up against White Hawk IPA, Mendocino Brewing)
• Redhook Brewery – Long Hammer IPA (going up against HeadHunter IPA, Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon)
• Willimantic Brewing – Pushing The Envelope IPA (going up against Hop-Ocalypse IPA, Clay Pipe Brewing)
• Otter Creek/Wolaver’s Organic – Wolaver’s Organic India Pale Ale (going up against, Sky High Rye, Arcadia Brewing Co)
• Watch City Brewing – Hops Explosion IPA (going up against Sockeye Red IPA, Midnight Sun Brewing)

If you’ve signed up, please come back here and let us know who you picked to be int he finals. If you can pick all of the winners, this might be the easiest case of beer that you’ve ever earned.

Sean
2Beerguys.com

Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned It!!

Just TWO days left to make your National IPA Challenge predictions! Don’t miss the deadline!

Go to http://www.brewingnews.com/nipac today, visit the locker room and make your picks!

Deadline to make picks is Sunday, 2/14/2010 at Noon EST.

(If you have already made your picks, pardon the intrusion. If you are not planning to make picks, our advice is to change your plans…the winner receives a case of the winning IPA and huge bragging rights. It’s easy…the web form guides you through your picks for each of the rounds. With 128 competitors, it takes a few minutes…but the time spent will be well worth the effort should your favorite go all the way!)

The previous National IPA Champions are:

• 2008 Green Flash’s West Coast IPA (from a field of 32 competitors)
• 2009 Laurelwood’s Workhorse IPA (from a field of 64 competitors).

This year’s champion will have to best 127 other entries to assume the crown. Enjoy the weeks of speculation as the field battles it out for the crown!

This is your final reminder, so please get your picks done.

Cheers and good luck.

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It all started back in the early aughts, when Vinnie Cilurzo, of Russian River Brewing, and Adam Avery, of Avery Brewing, met at the Great American Beer Festival. After becoming friends the two soon realized that each brewed a beer called Salvation; Avery’s a Belgian Golden Ale and Cilurzo’s a Belgian Strong Ale.

Preferring a creative solution to their naming conflict, the two brewers chose to blend their respective brews together–and continue with brewing the brews individually, we should add–to create a new and increasingly complex libation that captured the unique qualities of each beer.

After a collaborative brew session in late 2006, Batch #1 of Collaboration Not Litigation Ale was born and bottled at Avery Brewing in February of 2007.

Separate brews of our respective Salvations–each brewed and fermented in strict accordance with the brewers original recipe–were blended and bottled earlier this week as Collaboration Not Litigation Ale.

Look for Collaboration Not Litigation Ale in 22oz bottles and on tap throughout CO and across the nation beginning in February 2010. Suggested retail price is $8 per bottle.

Fat Tuesday Beer Dinner
Gritty McDuff’s Auburn, Tuesday, February 16th!
An amazing 5 course dinner and each course is paired with your favorite Gritty’s beers.  Call 367-BREW to book your reservations.

Where: Auburn, Maine.

How Much: $30.00 per person.

Start time: 6:00 p.m.

Menu:

• HOT CAJUN CRAB DIP, Served with house made beer bread. Paired with our Brown Ale
• SMOKED CHICKEN & SAUSAGE GUMBO, A Cajun classic with a few pub twists.  Paired with our Best Bitter
• CRISPY SWEET & SOUR SALAD,  Tart apples & sweet potato paired with crispy fried okra. Paired with our IPA
• CRAWFISH MAC & CHEESE, Served with a roasted tomato pepper relish. Paired with our Black Fly Stout
• KINGS CAKE, The cake of king’s with lots of surprises! Paired with Chocolate Porter

Address:

Lewiston/Auburn
68 Main Street
Auburn, Maine 04210
phone – 207.376.BREW

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What’s new at Gritty McDuff’s? (Maine)

Beer Profile: Gritty McDuffs Christmas Ale

Ft. Collins, Colorado, February 4, 2010 – New Belgium Brewing announced that the “dog days of spring” have begun as Mighty Arrow Pale Ale returns for its second year as the brewery’s spring seasonal. Created as a tribute to the beloved pet of New Belgium Brewing’s CEO Kim Jordan, Arrow was an Aussie/Border Collie mix that literally “ran” New Belgium for 12 years.

Mighty Arrow cuts its own course through heightened hop aroma and flavor. It provides pleasurable aromas from Cascade and Amarillo hops with a honey malt base. Staying true to the American style of pale ale, Mighty Arrow has a clear golden color, six percent alcohol by volume and 35 IBU’s.

“Mighty Arrow did well last year and we’re pleased to bring it back,” says Assistant Brewmaster Grady Hull. “It offers citrus and floral tones, both of which are appreciated during the spring warm-up months.”

Mighty Arrow retails for approximately $7.99 and will be available in most New Belgium markets. To learn more about the New Belgium Brewing portfolio, visit the website at http://www.newbelgium.com.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces eight year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

GRITTY MCDUFF’S 2009 GROWTH IN DRAFT SALES, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, AND NATIONAL INTEREST BODE WELL FOR 2010 PROSPECTS

Portland, Maine – Gritty McDuff’s (www.grittys.com) has kicked off the new year with attention from Imbibe magazine, a leading, national trade publication for drink professionals, and noteworthy growth reports for 2009.

The company’s strategic alliances and local regional and national coverage earned in 2009 are just one indicator of continued business success in 2010. Thomas Wilson, Gritty’s director of marketing, reports that sales of Gritty’s draft beers, sold in the company’s three Maine pubs and in restaurants and bars throughout New England, were up 15 percent in 2009, and the company plans to focus on increasing exposure and sales in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire this year. In addition, Gritty’s Red Claws Ale, introduced in 2009 in honor of the Maine Red Claws NBA Development League team, is the number one seller during Red Claws games at the Portland Expo.

The January issue of Imbibe calls Portland one of America’s “emerging beer meccas,” and names local bars, pubs, breweries and stores that have put the city on the beverage map. Gritty’s was named one of six breweries and brewpubs to earn a spot on the magazine’s guide to Portland, called “an up-and-coming beer city,” alongside other Portland favorites including Novare Res Bier Cafe and Shipyard Brewing Company.

“We already know that Portland is an important beer city and produces some fantastic beer selections,” said Thomas Wilson, Gritty McDuff’s director of marketing. “It’s really satisfying for the national beverage publications to be increasingly giving the city the spotlight it deserves. We’re proud to be a part of bringing attention to our ‘corner of the beer world.’”

The Imbibe coverage caps off a year of local, regional and national attention for Gritty’s. In April, Forbes.com writer Zack O’Malley Greenburg singled out the small-batch ales and ambiance offered at Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company as just one of the many good reasons Portland was selected as America’s Most Livable City. In addition, Gritty’s was among seven beers selected by Santé magazine for inclusion in the New England Beer section of its Spirits Review.

Gritty’s also made headlines in business outlets when it entered into a groundbreaking sponsorship agreement with The Maine Red Claws (www.maineredclaws.com), the NBA Development League’s team for the Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Bobcats. Gritty’s is producing the team’s official beer, “Red Claws Ale,” for sale throughout Maine – and proving to be a sell-out item at Maine Red Claws games.

Most recently, New England Cable News covered the Maine Red Claws-Gritty McDuff’s teaming (“Red Claws Brand Proves to Be a Slam Dunk”; http://tinyurl.com/ydjh5n8). Additionally, CNBC recently aired a story about the growing popularity of D-League NBA teams (“NBA D-League on the Rise”; http://tinyurl.com/yb4xg9j), and Darren Rovell, CNBC sports business reporter, praised the team for connecting with its target audience by strategically finding the right home city and generating one of its most creative team sponsorship deals with Gritty McDuff’s. The brewing company’s sponsorship success also was picked up by Yahoo! Sports, DRAFT magazine, and Beverage
Industry News.

It was also a year of cycling and community involvement for Gritty’s. Gritty’s was named the official beer of The Dempsey Challenge (www.dempseychallenge.org), an event that benefited The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. According to Wilson, Gritty’s plans to continue its support of the Dempsey Challenge and is planning increased involvement with the event in 2010. The Gritty’s Cycling Team also pedaled in the 25th anniversary “Trek Across Maine” in 2009, and raised and donated more than $18,000 to the American Lung Association of Maine. In addition, Gritty’s three Maine pubs hosted numerous fundraising and social events for important charitable and professional organizations, including the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine, Young Professionals Organization, the Good Shepherd Food Bank and many more organizations.

About Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company
Since its founding in 1988, Gritty McDuff’s, Maine’s first brew pub since Prohibition, has brewed creative, quality beers that have earned awards ranging from repeat First Place wins at the annual Real Ale Festival in Chicago, to its most recent award: a silver medal at the prestigious 2007 Great British Beer Festival for Gritty’s cask-conditioned version of the 21 IPA. Gritty’s Brew Pubs also have frequently won in statewide polls the titles of “Maine’s Best Brew Pub,” “Best Maine Microbrew,” and “Best Bar.”

In addition to brewing, Gritty McDuff’s operates three popular brew pubs in Maine. Located in Portland, Freeport and Lewiston/Auburn, the locations draw crowds of all ages. Known for their four seasonal ales and five year-round ales, tempting pub fare and welcoming atmosphere, Gritty’s pubs have been named an Editor’s Pick by Condé Nast Traveler, highlighted as “a legend among New England brewpubs” by The Boston Globe, and cited by Playboy.com as one of the best bars in America. Gritty’s has earned numerous accolades from a wide variety of beer blogs and industry press outlets, as well, including Every Day with Rachael Ray, Forbes.com, DRAFT magazine, Cosmopolitan, Imbibe and Santé.

From Allagash: “In October of 2004, we released the first beer in our series of Barrel Aged beers, Allagash Curieux. To make the Curieux (French for “curious”), we age our Tripel Ale in Jim Beam barrels for 8 weeks in our cellar. During the aging process in bourbon barrels, the beer is totally transformed, and many new flavors and aromas develop. Most notably, the beer picks up soft coconut and vanilla characteristics…and also a hint of bourbon flavor!”

The Curieux pours with a light amber hue with brilliant clarity crowned by a healthy white frothy head with decent retention. Head subsides leaving a very nice rich ring of lacing behind with excellent retention. Body remains a light amber with almost no activity. A secondary pour reveals a hazy body from the sediment remaining in the bottle.

The aroma immediately gives a swift hit of doughy lemony yeast that caught our attention. Beyond the dough, a light woody oak aroma started to take over. Following that, the alcohol quickly became dominant creating a slight burn to the nose. The aroma was inviting, but not over-powering.

The initial taste has a mellow sweetness that resonates with subtle vanilla. The alcohol presence of a tripel has been stripped away by the barrel-aging, leaving a very smooth finish in its place. There is a slight bit of bitterness at the end, almost sour.

The Curieux drinks very smoothly leaving an oily film on our mouths. It was so smooth and well-balanced. We knew that there was alcohol (from the bourbon-barrel presence), but it was well masked with the malt-rich body. After it settled, a drying but sticky wood-like presence was left on our tongues.

Overall, this was a very delicious beer. The bourbon presence is noticeable but not overwhelming. The smoothness and drinkability makes this beer very scary – because it will sneak up on you. If you are expecting a fruity, banana-esque Belgian triple, then you might be sad, but take a moment and appreciate the smooth, sweet Curieux.

Score:
Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 3/5
Taste: 7/10
Finish: 4/5
Overall: 22/30