Beer and Food

I sincerely regret to have to post the following -

From news services

Posted on Thu, Dec. 28, 2006

"Karl Strauss, a German brew master who worked for Milwaukee beer giant Pabst Brewing Co. for 44 years before helping craft microbrews for his six namesake brew pubs in Southern California, has died. He was 94."

"Strauss died Thursday at his Milwaukee home, Matt Rattner, president of San Diego-based Karl Strauss Brewing Co., said Tuesday. The cause of death was not reported."

Once Pabst realized it had a Bavarian brew master in its employ, Strauss was promoted. He oversaw production at various Pabst plants and was honored with the Master Brewers Association of the Americas' distinguished life service award.

"He really had beer in his blood," Rattner said.

More on Karl Strauss:

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/16331396.htm

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061228/LOCAL17/612280424/1012/LOCAL17

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/16332594.htm

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=112722&ntpid=3

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/16326535.htm

http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20061227-112326-3438r.htm

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/97363.php/Brewer-Karl-Strauss-dead-at-94

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/16162.html

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061227-112326-3438r

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-strauss27dec27,1,5313395.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/12/22/news/sandiego/23_18_5512_21_06.txt

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/97363.php/Brewer-Karl-Strauss-dead-at-94

And Blogs---

http://mysanantonio.com/specials/weblogs/beer

http://www.fruitsandvotes.com/

http://digg.com/celebrity/Karl_Strauss_legendary_brewmaster_dies_at_94

http://www.brookston.org/beer/karl-strauss-dies-at-94/

http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=354

http://www.arcamax.com/newsheadlines/s-147641-947892?source=1930

http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/894433

Interview with Maureen Ogle

Author of:

Ambitious Brew

The Story of American Beer.

What has surprised you most about the reaction to Ambitious Brew?

Two things... First I have been astounded by how positive the reviews have been. I really didn't quite expect that. But, I can't say that I was surprised by the animosity that has come my way. So it's been a mixed bag.

I am delighted by the great reviews... On the other hand, within the beer community there is a small group of people who are not at all happy about the book. They have not hesitated to let me know. And that's fine. As a writer you know that is part of the deal.

Which group are we talking about?

Beer fans, people who support craft-beer, as you know, can be very fanatical about their support of craft-beer. One thing I didn't realize is a lot of them have a skewed perception about the reality of brewing. I can't tell you the number of people who came up to me and told me that "Everybody drinks craft-beer these days. No one drinks Budweiser." This of course, statistically, is complete nonsense. I didn't say that to those people but their fanaticism has blinded them to the reality. It's those people who really are unhappy with the book and how the book challenges their perception of beer in America and the myth that the big brewers added corn and rice to their beer after World War Two. They don't want to hear this they don't want to know it, they think I'm an idiot; I have been called an idiot... It doesn't bother me but I didn't realize how fanatical these people could actually be.

For the rest of the interview go to - http://www.beerbasics.com/Ogle.htm 

Enjoy the Holidays!

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

(http://www.beerbasics.com/) 

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -

http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )

I'll start this week with a scan of the news wires and see what the brewpubs, microbreweries and mega-brewers have been up to since last Friday.

First for the "local" news (Brooklyn, NY - USA)...

Reuters uses the Brooklyn "hook and Steve Hindy as their source, to announce that there is still a lot of life in the "craft beer" segment of the United States beer market...

Brooklyn beer maker sees fizz in craft brewing
Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:04 AM ET

By Jonathan Oatis

"NEW YORK (Reuters) - For journalist-turned-brewer Steve Hindy, a renaissance in the popularity of niche beers is just one of several reasons to raise a glass."

            "Hindy's Brooklyn Brewery is expanding its sales into six more U.S. states, taking it into the Midwest and making its brews available in 18 states in all."

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=inDepthNews&storyID=2006-12-18T085740Z_01_N12328086_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-BREWING-BROOKLYN.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-inDepthNews-3

Even the South Africans cover this one:

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=22&art_id=qw1166425922587B221

And Brooklyn Brewery makes local news in that it is moving from hallowed ground in Williamsburg to more spacious quarters...

THIS AP-PIERS TO SINK CONDOS

By RICH CALDER  rich.calder@nypost.com

"December 15, 2006 -- The city's latest plan for reviving southwest Brooklyn's gritty waterfront includes filling it with breweries, a marina, a second cruise-ship terminal and ferry service to Governors Island - but no luxury condos. "

""The community made it clear this is something they don't want, so we it pulled it," Ascher told The Post after updating a City Council subcommittee on the pier revival project."

"Beer importer Phoenix Beverages is expected to relocate from Long Island City to Pier 7, joining its partner, Brooklyn Brewery, which would move its operations from Williamsburg."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12152006/news/regionalnews/this_ap_piers_to_sink_condos_regionalnews_rich_calder.htm

For the view of the folks at the rival Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/480183p-404019c.html

Now for some "good news/bad news"...

Demolition to begin at the Pabst site

Published December 14, 2006 - BizTimes Daily

"The $13 million first phase of the redevelopment of the Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee will begin Jan. 2."

"The property on the city's near west side will be transformed into "The Brewery" by real estate developer Joseph Zilber, chairman and founder of Milwaukee-based Zilber Ltd."

However...

"Cincinnati Restaurant Group Inc. plans to open a Hofbrauhaus microbrewery in a portion of the Pabst brewery site at 901-917 W. Juneau Ave. owned by Haertel's company."

For the full story: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=79649

Now for the really important stuff...

Stuck with no idea of what to give for Christmas presents?

I offer the following for your consideration:

Six pack from Santa

Winter brews provide an assortment of gift-giving opportunities.

By Jim Witmer

"It's always been said that giving is better than receiving. Unless, of course, you're on the receiving end of a beer gift pack."

"Last year's family gift exchange was one of the best ever - I received an assortment of really good craft beer, with cheese, from a brother-in-law."

"I sure hope he liked that soap-on-a-rope I gave him."

Find this article at:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/l/content/oh/story/living/holiday/2006/12/18/ddn121806lifebeergifts.html

Finally, the Toronto Star reports that Bon Appetit publisher Barbara Fairchild sees brewpubs as a "new trend" in food...   (Look who just caught up... redux...)

Bon Appetit editor proud of tradition

Dec. 16, 2006. 01:00 AM

MARION KANE  mkane@thestar.ca

"Barbara Fairchild is a mover and shaker in the culinary world whose attitude to food is downright down-to-earth."

"I ask about trends."Believe it or not, the biggest one in L.A. right now is steakhouses," she notes, then lists brewpubs, platters made with homemade sausages and salami, and dessert. "There are a lot of unusual pairings like caramel with salt, thyme with honey and so on.""

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1166050211254&call_pageid=991479973472&col=991929131147

Over the next few days I will endeavor to widen my search and include food and beer events in Canada, the United Kingdom and France. If you know of any let me know.

Until tomorrow...

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

(http://www.beerbasics.com/ ) 

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -  http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )

The Beverage Testing Institute

15 December 2006

http://www.tastings.com/beer/beer_and_food.html

Food Philosophy

09 September 2006

(Very interesting iPod podcast...)

http://www.gildedfork.com/foodphilosophy/2006/09/food-philosophy-21-beer-and-food.html

The Good Beer and Food Show 2006

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th October 2006
Yorkshire Event Centre,
Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate

http://www.goodbeerandfood.co.uk/

All About Beer Magazine • Volume 24 Number 3 • July 2003

"Matching Beer & Food at the Brewmaster's Table by G. Oliver

July 2003

http://www.allaboutbeer.com/features/243beerandfood.html

Brewtopia Events by Owen Ogletree

Beer and Food Notes on a speech by G. Oliver

2002

http://www.classiccitybrew.com/garrettoliver.html

The Splendid Table

Pairing Beer With Food -

31 March 2001

http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/souptonuts/wine_beerpairing.html

Realbeer.com

When You Want More Than a Beer

25 October 2001

http://www.realbeer.com/library/beerbreak/archives/beerbreak20011025.php

That's the Spirit.com

Beer

Beer & Food

http://www.thatsthespirit.com/en/beer/beer_and_food.asp

Pyramid Brewing Company

Matching Beers and Food

http://www.pyramidbrew.com/beer/beer_food/pairings.php

Greetings,

This morning I took a quick look for "Beer Dinner" menus scheduled for the next few weeks here in the United States.

Over the next few days I will endeavor to widen my search and include events in Canada, the United Kingdom and France. If you know of any let me know.

And so it begins....

HOLIDAY MENUS

(WITH BEERS)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Old Toad

277 Alexander Street

Rochester, NY

585-232-2626

New Year's Eve Beer Dinner 2006

Appetizers

Crab Cake with Red Pepper Rouille
Premium jumbo lump crab meat
Ayinger Ur Weisse

Caprese Salad
Vine ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and balsamic vinaigrette
Veltins Pilsner
~
Melon Trio
~
Entrees

Venison Roast
Peppered venison, Young's Old Nick barley wine gravy, and roasted winter vegetables
Coniston Old Man Ale

Salmon Encroute with Dill Butter and Watercress and Pea Puree
Atlantic salmon fillet wrapped in filo pastry, potato rosti and root vegetables
Blanche de Chambly

Feathered Fowl Pie
Chicken, duck, and pheasant in a guezue and tarragon sauce, lemon roasted potatoes and asparagus
Casked Coniston Bluebird Bitter

Goat Cheese, Pine Nut and Sun Dried Tomato Brûlée
With parmesan twists and spinach, cranberry salad
Hennepin Saison

~
Desserts

Warm Chocolate Tart with Pink Peppercorn Ice Cream
Casked Double Dark Cream Porter

Chai Spiced Honey and Pear Cake with Crème Anglaise
Chaucer's Mead

Cheese Plate
Triple cream, aged cheddar, and French Bleu
Koningshoeven Quadrupel

CONTACT: http://www.theoldtoad.com/newyears06.html

      +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Green Leafe Café!

765 Scotland Street

Williamsburg, VA

757-220-3405

Christmas Beer Tasting Menu
The menu for this year's Annual Christmas Beer Tasting will include:

Appetizer
Pacific Northwest Adler Smoked Salmon, Lemon-Chive Cream Cheese on Fresh Crostini

Soup
D.B.'s Legend Brown Ale and Cheddar Chowder

Salad
Arugula, Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes, Slivered Almonds with White Balsamic Rosemary Vinaigrette and Walnut Crusted Goat Cheese Medallion

Entree
Cornish Game Hen Brushed with Spiced Herb Glaze, Cranberry Stuffing, Asparagus Braised with White Wine and Garlic

Dessert
Kim's Rich Chocolate Espresso Tart with Fresh Cranberries

The Beers
Legend Belgian Tripel
Corsendonk Christmas Ale
Poperings Hommel Ale
Smuttynose Winter Ale
Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot Barleywine

CONTACT: SOLD OUT

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats

320 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19973
302-226-2739

For Dogfish Head's December Fancy Brew Dinner... we're grabbing an accent and heading to France....

Le Chien de Mer Brewings
principal et mange

Le Diner Francais de Biere
(The French Beer Dinner)

Le 17e decembre de dimanche 2006 at 6:30
(Sunday December 17, 2006, 6:30pm)

Just $39 per person!

Menu

Soupe
Bisque de Homard
Lobster Bisque, with hints of cognac and Madeira and garnished with salmon roe.

Beer Selection ~ Pangea

Premier Cours
Escargots au Fort
Snails in Fort with a garlic-hazelnut butter.

Beer selection ~ Fort

Intermezzo
Cidre etincelant Granite
A palate cleansing frozen cider. Garnished with lime.

Les Plats de Resistance
Bourre Poussin Roti
A roasted game hen stuffed with a beer bread stuffing of
roasted cashews, dried cranberries and foie gras. Served with a white truffle risotto and tourne baby vegetables.

Beer Selection ~ Dans Saison

Les Desserts
Le Caramel noir de Creme de Cerise
A traditional French dessert.

Drink selection ~ Caramel Cherry Martini

Chefs: Frank LaRocca et Marcel Lavallee

All this for just $39 per person... reserve your seat today, call 302.226.BREW!

CONTACT: http://www.dogfish.com/news/Dogfish_Fancy_Brew_Dinner_Goes_French!/576/index.htm

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Until tomorrow...

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

( http://www.beerbasics.com/ )

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -  http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )

Greetings,

It is time to feature some food, beer and food, food and beer eh?

As a blog newbie, and someone who can say that they wrote on a typewriter, I am still not as adept at using this medium as others. This is very obvious as I surf the blog net using the key word "beer." The "food" web was so massive I quickly took shelter in the less crowded corners of the www.

One of the most interesting sites I stumbled across is

Check it out...

http://www.beerpairing.com/

Chef Frank has quite an interesting archive that I have just begun to explore.

Stay in touch for more gems gleaned from more surfing adventures.

Found on a Wine site...

It was a pleasant surprise to find a number of beer entries on the

http://www.avenuevine.com/movabletype/archives/002175.html site.

Of special interest is the Easy Guinness Cracked Wheat Beer Bread. It is not a made from scratch recipe but I plan to try it.

The CAMRA organization is taking their cause to the Holiday Table.

"The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is calling on anyone serving up a Christmas dinner to consider offering one of the 800 bottled real ales available with their food."

For more on a festive beer (real beer) and food menu see the flowing:

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=25123

Belly up to the bar?

Finally I would like to draw your attention to a topic that is sure to push some "buttons" among the more conservative folks; the topic of the effect of beer and wine on the expecting mother and her unborn.

The following, as published in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel should be read and discussed:

Belly up to the bar?

To drink or not to drink when pregnant is a complicated question.

By Julia Moskin
the New York Times
December 14, 2006

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/food/sfl-drinkpregnancydec14,0,4146462.story?coll=sfla-features-food

Look who just caught up!

I found the following news, first published almost a week ago, this morning - Anheuser Rolls out Festive Seasonal Ale...

First at the site of the folks at Avenue Vine - http://www.avenuevine.com/

Who led me to: http://www.just-drinks.com/article.aspx?ID=88673&lk=dm

To say I am surprised would be a lie. Many years ago, on an A-B sponsored trip to Idaho, I had the chance to taste what their brewers could do and left the event impressed. However, I will hold judgment on their latest efforts until I taste them. Watch for the results in the next few postings.

Until tomorrow...

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

( http://www.beerbasics.com )

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -  http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )

Offered for your consideration...

A twelve ounce, 341 ml, brown glass "stubby" style bottle that contained Labatt Pilsner Lager Beer/Biere.

It was consumed at a party in The Bronx, NY, in June of 1976... I think.

If you can remember the last time you drank a Labatt beer/biere from a bottle like that... I'd like to hear about it.

Until tomorrow...

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

(http://www.beerbasics.com/ )

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -  http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )

This morning there is a telephone interview to be done, a new beer-bar to visit and a selection of "seasonal" beers to taste. All in a days work for a journalist covering the beer beat.

First of all I would like to draw your attention to the following piece from the Missoulian by Tristan Scott:

Tapping into art

"... tap handles have become a compelling way to entice beer drinkers into sampling a specific brand."

"In some cases, an eye-catching tap handle constitutes a small brewery's central method for advertising."

"With so many craft beers available, breweries are focusing on their tap handle designs as a way to distinguish their beers from others..."

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/12/09/news/local/news02.txt

My favorites come from Magic Hat in Vermont. Let me know if you have a favorite that might be worth looking at.

Next up is news that the Dogfish Head folks are opening another place:

New Dogfish brewpub to open in Va.

"Rehohoth Beach, Del. - A third Dogfish Head brewpub will soon open, this time in Falls Church, Va., owner Sam Calagione said."

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061211/NEWS01/61211011/-1/DW

Next we get to another case (pun intended) of "Silly Beer Laws."

Popular beer pulled from Illinois market

By Scott Miller
scottmiller@pantagraph.com

"Bloomington -- Twin City beer drinkers must raise their glasses for a fallen comrade."

"A tiff between Bell's Brewery Inc. and its distributor ousted the microbrew from the Illinois market. Bell's kegs throughout the state are drying up: Oberon Ale, Java Stout, Two Hearted Ale and other seasonal stouts, porters and ales."

"The loss stems from the state's Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act of 1982 that limits brewers to one distributor. Under the law, distributors purchase the rights to certain beers."

It seems that the distributor for Bell's sold the distribution rights to a distributor that handles mass quantities of mega-brewery products. Not confident that their beers would continue to be handled the same way as in the past, the decision was to loose the market rather than have it gradually dry up.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/12/11/money/doc457cf8f62af1f662151971.txt

Sorry fellows!

Love the headline... I am including the following because I found the headline too good to pass up...

Summer Wine ale at winter beer festival!

Dec 4 2006

By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/printable_version.cfm?objectid=18206145&siteid=50060

Finally I am posting another "seasonal beer" piece. Why? Because I liked it...

Winter ales hop up the holidays
December 10, 2006

By ED MURRIETA Tacoma News Tribune

"TACOMA, Wash. - No matter how big of a Scrooge you might feel around the holidays, winter beers will warm you up."

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061210/FEATURES07/612100339/1016/FEATURES07

Until tomorrow...

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

(http://www.beerbasics.com/ )

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -  http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )

This morning I was pleased to see a couple of items that feature news from Canada. The first is a piece on the pairing of beer and chocolate at Spinnakers, a fixture of Victoria, British Columbia. Here in the United States the beer and chocolate campaign has been waged by Pete Schlosberg, who founded Pete's Wicked Ales and is now, surprise, in the chocolate business. His beer-dinners, featuring chocolate in every dish on the menu is something I have yet to experience. If you are reading this Pete, let me know when you plan on treating New York City to one of your events.

For now, here is the news from British Columbia:

Beer, chocolate make a tasty twosome

By John Korobanik   jkorobanik@thejournal.canwest.com  

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Crystal Duck spends much of her working days with her black shirt splattered white with flour and her nose resisting the wonderfully tempting odours of the variety of chocolates and truffles she prepares each day at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub and Guesthouses in Victoria.

Duck is the chocolatier at Spinnakers and she's responsible for creating the chocolates and truffles to be matched with brewmaster Lon Ladell's beer creations for Bitters and Chocolates, owner Paul Hadfield's challenge to the myth that wine and chocolate is the perfect match.

For more information go to http://www.spinnakers.com/

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/travel/story.html?id=1a72f752-b705-41bb-baaa-e936200a3730

Also from Canada, also from British Columbia, comes news that the town of Duncan has awarded Liz and Lance Steward, owners of the Craig Street Brewing Company, the Commercial Development Award of Excellence.

Developments praised for adding to Duncan

From the Cowichan News Leader

By Aaron Bichard
Dec 09 2006

"Liz and Lance Steward, owners of the Craig Street Brewing Company, were also given a pat on the back in the form of the Commercial Development Award of Excellence."

"The pub, which is beside the Steward's highly successful Just Jake's restaurant, became the Valley's only brewpub, offering a variety of ales made onsite."

http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=9&cat=43&id=789686&more=

Leaving the "Great White North" we wing our way, with the rest of the Canadian "Snow Birds" to the sand and sun of Florida.

When I was last there, a few years ago, it was my pleasure to sample some of the brews being offered at the Rock Bottom brewpub at the Boardwalk Resort at Walt Disney World. While I was there, I was regaled with stories of what the good folks of Florida had to suffer through under that states somewhat archaic "beer laws".

Things may be changing...

Local beer makers want Floridians to develop a taste for microbreweries

By EVE SAMPLES

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, December 11, 2006

"Other than a couple of microbrewery restaurants, Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast had slim pickings when it came to regional beer, or even unusual imports."

But now for the good news...

"• A new brewpub in Stuart, Monkey King Brewery & Floribbean Grill, opened in October, and its owners plan to open two more restaurants, in Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens. Wolff spent his 40th birthday at the Stuart restaurant, enjoying the restaurant's porter while he dined with his family."

"• Brewzzi, a microbrewery and restaurant that opened 10 years ago in Boca Raton and added a West Palm Beach location in 2003, is planning to open two more restaurants in South Florida during the next year, one in Aventura and one in Fort Lauderdale."

"• Jupiter Brewing Co. just started brewing its first beer, an organic Belgian-style ale called Monk in the Trunk. It went on tap in six local restaurants last week, and the new company plans to start bottling and distributing in three to four months.

And the first Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival, a 100-beer event, is planned for Jan. 27 at Abacoa."

For the rest of the good news:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2006/12/11/a1bz_microbrew_1211.html

And finally...

A tussle for suds and glory at Wynkoop

"The Wynkoop Brewing Co. is seeking "beer résumés" that include the entrant's beer-drinking philosophy and details highlighting a passion for brew."

"The prize is free beer for life at Wynkoop Brewing Co. and $250 of beer at a local brewpub or beer bar. The winner's name also is engraved on the Wynkoop's beer drinker of the year trophy."

"The 2007 Beer drinker of the Year will be the 11th to win the title. For complete contest details and a look at the résumés of previous Beer drinker of the Year winners visit     ----- http://www.wynkoop.com/ ."

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4809149

And that's all for today....

Until tomorrow...

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

(http://www.beerbasics.com )

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -  http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )

Today the wires are humming, well whispering, with a few stories of interest to the world of brewing, beer and imbibing.

The first:

Brewers plan for hoppy holidays

by Camper English,

Special to The Chronicle
Friday, December 8, 2006

Takes us on an armchair tour of San Francisco and environs with stops at most of the major breweries, brewpubs and beer-bars. As I have yet to visit the area I can only join you in savoring the few brews that make it to Brooklyn, USA.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/08/WIG82MQ18A1.DTL

Next, Mendocino country, in California, is well known for its fine wines. Ben Brown, of the Ukiah Daily Journal discovers that there are a few breweries nestled amongst the wineries. Wineries and breweries, side by side? What's next?

Read on...

Brew masters - Beer making a craft that's part science and part art

By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal
Ukiah Daily Journal

Article Last Updated:12/06/2006 08:50:12 AM PST

"In the last few years, Mendocino County has become famous for its wines, but among the vintners and winegrowers are two brewmasters, making beer with every bit as much care as any winemaker."

Ben Brown can be reached at udjbb@pacific.net

http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/local/ci_4789104

And finally...

Billings, Montana and Angry Hank's are getting along just fine thank you. For the latest on the saga read -

Angry Hank's Microbrewery settles downtown

By Olivia Koernig.

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/12/03/news/business/35-hanks.txt

And that's all for today....

Until tomorrow...

Cheers,

Peter LaFrance

(http://www.beerbasics.com )

(Author of Cooking & Eating with Beer -  http://www.beerbasics.com/The_Books.htm )