In the 1960s, Heineken toyed with the idea of making square bottles.  This “brick that held a beer” was envisioned as a way to repurpose bottles after consumption as building material in impoverished parts of the Netherlands.  Full article here.

New research shows that early humans may have discovered how to make beer before they learned to make bread.  And that’s a good thing.  Evidence shows it helped create civil society.  NYTimes article “How Beer Gave Us Civilization” linked from image.

Visit a store with a good craft beer selection and you’ll notice more 22 ounce “bombers,” 750-milliliter wine bottles, even three-liter jeroboams.  The trend toward large bottles is part of what is being called the “wine-ification” of beer, the push by many brewers to make their product as respectable to pair with braised short ribs as is a nice Chateauneuf-du-Pape and at a price to match.  But consumers aren’t always happy.  Interesting read here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/dining/craft-beers-trend-toward-larger-bottles-causes-a-stir.html?_r=0

The German glassmaker Spiegelau, in partnership with Sam Calagione, the founder of Dogfish Head, and Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada brewery, has introduced an I.P.A.-specific beer glass, perhaps the world’s first, surely the most obsessively considered.

The thinness of the glass provides cold retention; the tapered opening delivers beer to the palate’s sweet middle; the bowed bowl acts as a “rocket ship,” Mr. Calagione said, pushing aromatic components into the nose as liquid hits lip. The triple-ridged bottom refoams and aerates, so the last gulp is as pleasing as the first.

In a taste test, Dogfish Head 60 Minute India Pale Ale was poured into a pint glass and the Spiegelau glass; results were startling. The beer in the pint glass tasted flat and quickly became warm, while the Spiegelau glass stayed frosty and tingled the nose. If you actually like beer, it must be even better. About $25 for a pair.

Deschutes Brewing can do no wrong in my opinion, so it was great to see the article linked above.  The craft brewing company has helped transform Bend, Oregon… creating 15% of Oregon’s brewing jobs into a city with no interstate, no university and where the nearest city is over 160 miles away.

Craft Beer + Gallery for Emerging Artists = Winning. Hidden among the slender streets of NYC’s Lower East Side, Culturefix stands as a haven for beer snobs, foodies, art aficionados and really just anyone looking for a good time. The slightly labyrinthine multipurpose space splits its talents among three floors, starting with an impressive selection of nearly impossible-to-find beers and curious dishes at the bar downstairs. A ramp at the back of the bar leads you to the ground floor, which is home to their event space and gallery. Work your way upstairs from there and you’ll come across the Recession Art at Culturefix storefront, which peddles a discerning range of original works by an array of emerging artists.

Currently obsessed with Odell Brewing’s IPA, which is just about as perfect as an India Pale Ale can get (my favorite beer style).  Odell is famous for its small-batch brewing, the more indie sister of Fort Collins, Colorado’s juggernaut brewery, New Belgium.  The IPA is Honey color on pouring with a thick khaki head that retains nice lacing, tastes like it was wet hopped with hints of grapefruit and pine.  Currently not available in most of Texas, but luckily I can swing by New Mexico to get my fix on way home from work.  

Man paradise wrapped up in one convenient unit. Your favorite childhood activity, arcade games has been combined with your favorite adult activity, beer. Pre-loaded with 69 titles including arguably the greatest of all time, Mortal Kombat II and a slim-keg with 55 brewski capability, the fellas at Arkeg have priced the priceless for you.

Designed for beer geeks by beer geeks, 33 Beers is a beer journal that provides an easy way to record tasting notes in a small, convenient notebook format that fits in your pocket.  Link to buy above! 

As a major IPA fan, I was excited to get my hands on some Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA.  Pours amber, with a nice thick head that leaves a bit of lace. Overall pine and citrus notes hit you first with plenty of malt sweetness. It can sneak up on you, due to its 10% ABV.  10% also means a defined alcohol taste but without too much bitterness.  Overall, pretty impressive brew. 

Just picked up a 6er of Harpoon Brewing’s Grateful Ale and still on fence.  A cranberry ale, it pours an orange-hued amber color with a fast-fading off-white, pink-tinted head.  Tasting like a brown ale with cranberry notes, the overall experience is almost sour—like a lambic.  For every 6-pack purchased, Harpoon donates $1 to your local food bank, grateful for that indeed.

This summer, Scottish brewery BrewDog reclaimed the world record for the strongest beer in history with a 55% alcohol brew which it has named “The End of History.” Only 11 bottles will be available, and each bottle comes inside a taxidermied animal. 

The recent vogue for beer cocktails has left me on the fence.  But Brooklyn’s Prime Meats new cocktail the Sidewalker may help me decide.  Recipe linked above.