Yum... Ice Cream Makes Me Hoppy

Well, I don't think they've figured out how to create a 6.6% bowl of ice cream, but they seem to have wrangled some of our favorite mini keg flavors to be served with a spoon. Frozen Pints is taking the best of beer and serving it in a bowl. Yum.

I, for one, can't wait to explore the flavor infusion of a beers-cream float. One part Guinness, two scoops of Malted Milk Chocolate Stout... three cheers for deliciousness.

But this isn't the first exploration of beer on the freezer frontier. The Beer Bistro in Toronto has been experimenting with beer-flavored ice cream for a while. Maybe Frozen Pints will put this micro-category on the map... actually, forget the map, put that stuff in my deep freeze.

Check out some of their flavors. And don't forget to pick up a pint for that next 21st Birthday celebration.

Cheers!

Finally! An iPhone Accessory That Makes Sense ... for beer drinkers.

They've done it with paint can openers and sandals, necklaces and belt buckles. But now, a couple of Aussies have taken bottle opening to new, technological heights. Introducing, the Opena (pre-order now for only $39.99) for your iPhone 4! 

I'm pretty sure this has happened to all of us at some point: You've grabbed a beer out of the cooler, and you go to twist off the cap only to discover it needs a bottle opener. You frantically search your jean pockets, only to find a crinkled dollar bill, $.26 in change, a paperclip, some lint and your iPhone. How embarrassing?!! 

Don't ever let this happen to you again. Own one of the world's most expensive church keys, and put your iPhone to some really good use. Practicality has never tasted so good...

In Honor of My Future Baby

In Honor of My Wife

Ladies, I feel for you. Being pregnant, abstaining from beer and wine, growing a baby inside of you... it doesn't look easy.

And even though this image is promoting a non-acoholic brewski, it does look strange to me. Last week at a pool party, I had my prego-wife hold my beer while I ran to the bathroom. She said it was a strange feeling for her, holding the beer being pregnant, catching glances from others there, silently being judged. She felt like she had to explain, "I'm just holding it" to those around her. 

Of course, I just laughed and said, "if you want a beer, have one." Lucky for me (and my future baby-to-be), she's doing this pregnancy thing "by the book." Everything in moderation; that's my stance. One taste, one beer, one glass of wine... or whatever, it can't be that bad. Women have been drinking, smoking, doing crack (well, I've read about it anyway) and their babies have been adding to our population since the invention of alcohol, tobacco and crack. 

So I'm not advocating or denouncing a woman's choice one way or the other. Who am I to say you can't have a taste of the golden nectar we call beer? This is America. Worse decisions have been made in the past, and I think we're just fine. 

So, cheers to the ladies out there growing the next generation inside their bellies. Whether or not you imbibe, you deserve our appreciation and thanks. Salud!

It's a lifestyle, right?

Beer is Culture

Two things to say before I crack open a cold one...

First, kudos to Sixpoint Brewing (a Brooklyn, NY craft brewer who is embracing the art and culture their neighbors are creating) for establishing the annual "Beer is Culture" art & design exhibition. It's a fun way to have fun on facebook and in real life too, I would imagine. Check out their exhibition tab, here. No. Wait. First, see where you can buy a case of Sixpoint's finest, then check out their exhibition. It's always more fun to enjoy something a brewery is creating by enjoying something a brewery has created. Anyone following?

Second, I love the infographic design that Melissa Schmechel put together. And if I'm reading this correctly, which I think I am. It must be time for me to enjoy a beer now..

Beer Tastes Tasty

Damn right, it does! Cheers to Alex Perez for brewing this sweet art print. Buy it for $35.

If you can put beer in a can, why not put a sandwich in a can?

When I saw this new product, I immediately thought, "7-Pack Lunch."

What complements your six-pack, Natty Light lunch better than a PB&J? Well... a PB&J that comes in a can. The Candwich is absolutely brilliant. These prefabricated sandwich-kits-in-a-can are made to be dispensed from soda machines (or beer machines if you're lucky enough to come across one).

Perfect for the guy who's got better things to do than go to the store, buy peanut butter, jelly and bread, then find a knife to deploy that PB&J on said bread, and enjoy a homemade sandwich - the Candwich does all the heavy lifting for you. So, now all you have to do is drop by your local c-store and pick up your favorite sixer for a lunch special that would make any beer-collar brute jealous.

Add a mini can of... check that... a full-sized can of Jalapeno Pringles into the mix, and I might not be going back to work in the afternoon.

The only drawback is that a pack of four is $12 (but shipping is included!). So... maybe the price isn't a draw back. Spending $12 on peanut butter, jelly and bread at the store would get you like 17 PB&Js. And if you eat that many, you're not going to be able to finish off your brewskies.

So, check out the Candwich now... before this company goes out of business!

The Health Benefits (of moderate consumption) of BEER

Thanks to the Southern Californian creative agency Belancio, we can all now rest assured that our late night (or early afternoon) beer consumption is actually benefitting our health. I, for one, will be raising a toast to this wonderfully designed health chart later today... around lunch time. Cheers!

And did you know?!!!... drinking beer can reduce the risk of senile dementia. I'm not sure where they sourced that fact from. But I know that when I'm drinking beer, I can lose a grip on reality and find myself wondering where I am. So, maybe the practice in my younger age will help me deal with it better in my older age, thereby reducing the risk? Who knows?

(for a larger view, click here)

Russell Brew Co. Gets Bitter... Really Bitter.

There's been a lot of chatter about the design of the new Blood Alley Bitter by Russell Brewing. And I couldn't agree more. The bottle has a butcher's diagram of my favorite animal on it. That alone makes it worth seeking out. 


But if you enjoy a good bitterness in your beer, this could definitely be worth the trip to Vancouver... or wherever they're distributing this pork-adorned gem.  


The Vancouver Beer Blog describes an ESB's comparison to your traditional IPA as such: 


Time after time, when beer companies release an ESB after they’ve had success with an IPA, the ESB always seems to get looked at as the little brother.  I mean with such resemblance in the styles, it’s hard not to compare the two, and end up treating the ESB like the little brother sometimes.  With more hops and bitterness and higher IBUs, the IPA always ends up above, while the ESB doesn’t get the respect that it deserves, or recognized for its own individual style.  With the bolder, more pronounced flavor of an IPA in your mind while soaking your palette with an ESB, it will make the drink seem a little weak.


So, what did Russell Brewing do? They kicked the IBUs through the roof (IBU = International Bittering Units, which is a scale providing a measure of the bitterness of beer, which is provided by the hops used during brewing.) Apparently the Blood Alley Bitter scores a 50, making it more bitter than your average ESB. But as with all things beer, the true test is on the tongue (gross). 


In checking out Russell Brewing, I also discovered the rest of their Brewmaster Series. It looks like they're putting together a commendable fridge assault. I know if I can find any of these in a liquor store near me, I'll be making room for at least a sixer or two in my basement, beer treasure chest. 


Check 'em out: I think I like the IP'eh! the best. Those Canadians play into their own stereotypes beautifully. For that, I salute you.