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Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #614: For Cooling Refreshment … Look Into Crystal

May 24, 2012 By Jay Brooks


Thursday’s ad is from the 1950s, for the Canadian brand Labatt’s Crystal Lager Beer. The crystal ball shows a male fantasy of how we should be rewarded after mowing the lawn on a warm summer day. Basically, it’s sitting in an easy chair, smoking a cigarette while watching baseball on television, as the missus serves his every whim with a smile on her face. I don’t need a crystal ball that’s not going to really happen.

Labatts-1950s-crystal

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Advertising, Canada, History

Eritrea Beer

May 24, 2012 By Jay Brooks

eritrea
Today in 1993, Eritrea gained their Independence from Ethiopia.

Eritrea
eritrea-color

Eritrea Breweries

  • Asmara Brewery
  • Asmara Brewery: Facebook
  • Asmara Brewery: Wikipedia

Eritrea Brewery Guides

  • Beer Advocate
  • Beer Me
  • Rate Beer

Other Guides

  • CIA World Factbook
  • Official Website
  • U.S. Embassy
  • Wikipedia

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.05%

Eritrea

  • Full Name: State of Eritrea
  • Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
  • Government Type: Transitional government
  • Language: Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
  • Religion(s): Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
  • Capital: Asmara
  • Population: 6,086,495; 108th
  • Area: 117,600 sq km, 101st
  • Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Pennsylvania
  • National Food: Zigini with injera
  • National Symbols: Camel; Olive wreath
  • Affiliations: UN
  • Independence: From Ethiopia, May 24, 1993

eritrea_coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • BAC: 0.05% (0.03% for professional drivers)
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 1

ERITREA6

  • How to Say “Beer”: beereh (biræ)
    جعة / شراب من الشعير / جعة / المزر شراب نوع من الجعة / بيرة
    beer
  • How to Order a Beer: Waheed beera, meen fadleek
  • How to Say “Cheers”: N/A
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

eritrea-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 68%
  • Wine: <1%
  • Spirits: 32%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 0.94
  • Unrecorded: 0.60
  • Total: 1.54
  • Beer: 0.56

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 0.9 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Time, places
  • Advertising Restrictions: No
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: No

Patterns of Drinking Score: 3

Prohibition: None

eritrea-africa

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Africa, Eritrea

Ecuador Beer

May 24, 2012 By Jay Brooks

ecuador
Today in 1822, Ecuador gained their Independence from Spain.

Ecuador
ecuador-color

Ecuador Breweries

  • Compañía De Cervezas Nacionales
  • Cervecería Andina

Ecuador Brewery Guides

  • Beer Advocate
  • Beer Me
  • Rate Beer

Other Guides

  • CIA World Factbook
  • Official Website; Tourism
  • U.S. Embassy
  • Wikipedia

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.08%

ecuador

  • Full Name: Republic of Ecuador
  • Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
  • Government Type: Republic
  • Language: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
  • Religion(s): Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
  • Capital: Quito
  • Population: 15,223,680; 66th
  • Area: 283,561 sq km, 74th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than Nevada
  • National Food: ceviche; Deep fried Guinea Pig
  • National Symbol: Andean Condor
  • Affiliations: UN, OAS
  • Independence: From Spain, May 24, 1822 / Proclaimed independence from Spain on August 10, 1809, but failed with the execution of all the conspirators of the movement on August 2, 1810. Independence finally occurred on May 24, 1822 at the Battle of Pichincha.

ecuador

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • BAC: 0.07%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 9

Ecuador-EC114

  • How to Say “Beer”: cerveza
  • How to Order a Beer: Una cerveza, por favor
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Salud
  • Toasting Etiquette: Toasts in Ecuador are usually impromptu. The person making the toast stands when proposing the toast and remains standing until all present have had a taste of wine. If the toast is directed to a visitor, the visitor will be expected to reciprocate.

ecuador-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 56%
  • Wine: 2%
  • Spirits: 42%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 4.01
  • Unrecorded: 5.37
  • Total: 9.38
  • Beer: 2.30

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 4 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Location, specific events
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Alcohol sponsorship

Patterns of Drinking Score: 4

Prohibition: None

ecuador-so-amer

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Ecuador, South America

Sierra Nevada Announces Asheville Head Brewer

May 23, 2012 By Jay Brooks

sierra-nevada
Sierra Nevada Brewing announced today that Scott Jennings has been named the head brewer for their new brewing facility near Asheville, North Carolina. Jennings has been brewing for Sierra Nevada since 2001, and in addition to his role as Research and Development Head Brewer, he also ran the brewing side of Beer Camp, which is where I first met Scott a few years ago.

P1020037
Scott (in the glowing red jacket) discussing what beer to brew at Beer Camp #41.

According to the press release:

“Scott is an incredible asset to Sierra Nevada,” said Brian Grossman, co-manager of the North Carolina brewery. “He’s had his hand in developing some of the brewery’s most popular beers, and has been instrumental in the creation and innovation that has stemmed from the beers in our Beer Camp program. His technical brewing skills are first-rate, as is his ample creativity. Under his brewing leadership, our North Carolina location will be in great hands.”

Scott joined Sierra Nevada in 2001 after visiting apprenticeships with Young & Co.’s Brewery Plc. “The Ram Brewery” in London. He holds a Certified Brewmaster certificate from the prestigious brewing institute VLB Berlin, and specializes in technical brewing and recipe development. Working under Steve Dresler, Sierra Nevada’s longtime Head Brewer, he did the primary recipe formulation for popular Sierra Nevada beers: Kellerweis, Ruthless Rye IPA, the Ovila Abbey Ales series and countless limited edition, Beer Camp, and small-batch beers. Steve Dresler will remain as Head Brewer in Chico, and Scott’s new position will oversee all of the brewing, fermentation, and filtration at the new Mills River facility and will be instrumental in commissioning the new brewhouse.

In January, Sierra Nevada announced that it was expanding its brewery with a second facility located in Mills River, North Carolina. Once online, this new facility will provide needed capacity for the brewery and will help facilitate distribution to customers across the eastern United States more quickly and with a smaller environmental footprint. The facility is expected to employ more than 100 people, and be operational by spring 2014.

Congratulations to Scott on his promotion.

P1020389
Scott Jennings tasting us on Ovila Dubbel from the tank, months before its offical release.

Filed Under: Breweries, News Tagged With: Announcements, California, North Carolina, Northern California, Sierra Nevada

Beer In Ads #611: The Up-To-Date Ale For Up-To-Date People

May 21, 2012 By Jay Brooks


Monday’s ad is for Dow Ale, the Canadian brewery from Quebec City. It was around for only a short time, from 1952 to 1966. But I love the slogan, “the up-to-date ale for up-to-date people.” These are folks, mind you, who are “where lively, fun-loving people are enjoying life.” And then there’s this gem at the bottom. “Only Dow is ‘Cool Control’ Brewed.”

dow

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Advertising, Canada, History

Montenegro Beer

May 21, 2012 By Jay Brooks

Montenegro-120-animated-flag
Today in 2006, Montenegro gained their Independence from Serbia by referendum.

Montenegro
montenegro-eu

Montenegro Breweries

  • Industrija Piva I Sokova Trebjesa
  • Trebjesa Brewery (InBev)
  • Trebjesa Brewery Wikipedia Page

Montenegro Brewery Guides

  • Beer Advocate
  • Beer Me
  • Rate Beer

Other Guides

  • CIA World Factbook
  • Official Website
  • U.S. Embassy
  • Wikipedia

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC N/A

Montenegro

  • Full Name: Montenegro
  • Location: Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
  • Government Type: Republic
  • Language: Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian 5.3%, unspecified (includes Croatian) 3.7%
  • Religion(s): Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 3%, atheist 1%
  • Capital: Podgorica
  • Population: 657,394; 167th
  • Area: 13,812 sq km, 162nd
  • Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than Connecticut
  • National Food: Kačamak, Raštan
  • National Symbols: Montenegrin Mountain Hound; Double-headed eagle
  • Affiliations: UN
  • Independence: From Serbia, May 21, 2006 / The status of the union between Montenegro and Serbia was decided by the referendum on Montenegrin independence on May 21, 2006 and Statehood Day is celebrated on July 13.

coat-of-arms-of-montenegro

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: None (to drink); 18 (to buy)
  • BAC: N/A
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 1

5euroS

  • How to Say “Beer”: pivo
  • How to Order a Beer: Yed-no pee-vo, mo-lim
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Ziveli (zjee-ve-lee, “let’s live long”) / Zivio Ziveli
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

montenegro-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: N/A
  • Wine: N/A
  • Spirits: N/A
  • Other: N/A

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: N/A
  • Unrecorded: N/A
  • Total: N/A
  • Beer: N/A

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: N/A
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: N/A
  • Excise Taxes: N/A
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: N/A
  • Advertising Restrictions: N/A
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: N/A

Patterns of Drinking Score: N/A

Prohibition: None

montenegro-color

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Europe, Montenegro

Cuba Beer

May 20, 2012 By Jay Brooks

cuba
Today in 1902, Cuba gained their Independence from Spain (and the U.S.).

Cuba
cuba-color

Cuba Breweries

  • Cerveceria Bucanero
  • Cervecería Tínima
  • Modelo Brewery (Hatuey)

Cuba Brewery Guides

  • Beer Advocate
  • Beer Me
  • Rate Beer

Other Guides

  • CIA World Factbook
  • Official Website
  • No Embassy, but U.S. Interests Section
  • Wikipedia

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.01% or None

cuba

  • Full Name: Republic of Cuba
  • Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
  • Government Type: Communist state
  • Language: Spanish (official)
  • Religion(s): Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jewish, Santeria (prior to Castro assuming power)
  • Capital: Havana
  • Population: 11,075,244; 74th
  • Area: 110,860 sq km, 106th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
  • National Food: Platillo Moros y Cristianos; Ropa vieja; Puerco asado; Yuca con mojo
  • National Symbols: Cuban Crocodile; White Ginger Lily — Mariposa; Palma Real
  • Affiliations: UN, OAS
  • Independence: From Spain, May 20, 1902 (from Spain, 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902; not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence) / Triumph of the Revolution, January 1, 1959

Coat_of_Arms_of_Cuba

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: None (to drink); 18 (to buy)
  • BAC: 0.01% or None
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 6

cuba-money

  • How to Say “Beer”: cerveza
  • How to Order a Beer: Una cerveza, por favor
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Salud
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

cuba-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 33%
  • Wine: 1%
  • Spirits: 66%
  • Other: <1%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 4.41
  • Unrecorded: 1.10
  • Total: 5.51
  • Beer: 1.48

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 4 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Increase
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Time, location
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: N/A

Patterns of Drinking Score: 2

Prohibition: None

cuba-carib

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Caribbean, Cuba

The Lagunitas Beer Circus Is Coming To Town Again

May 15, 2012 By Jay Brooks

lagunitas-circle
This weekend — Sunday May 20 to be exact — the circus is once again coming to the town of Petaluma as the fourth annual Lagunitas Beer Circus will be held on the grounds of the Lagunitas Brewery. If you haven’t been to the beer circus before, it’s one of the most amazing events of the beer festival season. As their press release promises; “Come One, Come All to Petaluma! Witness death-defying aerialists acts, be amazed by human marvels, laugh at outrageous clowns, get thrilled by exotic burlesque dancers, head-spinning sideshows and so much more to dazzle your mind.”

Lagunitas Beer Circus Girl IPA closeup

Tickets are a reasonable $40, which includes gets you a commemorative glass and 3 tokens good for three 16oz. beers, but you can always buy additional beers. Tickets can be be purchased at either online, by phone at 707.769.4495 or at the Lagunitas Brewery Schwag Shop, located on the same spot as where the circus will take place: 1280 N. McDowell in Petaluma. The event is for adults only, goes from 1:00-6:00 p.m., and will benefit the Petaluma Music Festival and Music In Schools.

The circus acts and musical groups performing on Sunday include the Vau de Vire Society, the Extra Action Marching Band, The Moral Minority, The Ferocious Few, the Sour Mash Hug Band, Wanderlust Circus, Kehoe Nation, Cyclecide, artist Neal Barbosa painting live, “Bed of Nails, Roller Girls, Sword Swallowers, Snake Dancers, Burlesque Dancers, Contortionists … and so much more!”

But wait, there’s more, here’s the food and beer listing from the press release:

Great food! Beyond the Glory (wings, pork sliders, pork shanks), Extreme Pizza, Hog Island Oysters, Bros BBQ (bbq & paella), Sift (cupcakes), Roy’s @ the Yard (hot dogs), Tres Hombres (burritos, tacos), Toad in the Hole (bangers on a bun) Cotton Candy, and Those Fabulous Frickle Brothers… and much more!

Great Beer! Lagunitas, Moylan’s, Marin, Russian River, 3rd St. Aleworks, Stumptown, 21st Amendment, Moonlight, Dempsey’s, Anchor Brewing, North Coast, Iron Springs, Napa Smith, Henhouse Brewing, Palo Alto Brewing, Sonoma Springs, and Ace Cider.

LagunitasBeerCircus2012_poster

Filed Under: Breweries, Events, Just For Fun, News Tagged With: Announcements, Bay Area, California

Paraguay Beer

May 14, 2012 By Jay Brooks

paraguay
Today in 1811, Paraguay gained their Independence from Spain.

Paraguay
paraguay-color

Paraguay Breweries

  • Cervecería Asunción

Paraguay Brewery Guides

  • Beer Advocate
  • Beer Me
  • Rate Beer

Other Guides

  • CIA World Factbook
  • Official Website
  • U.S. Embassy
  • Wikipedia

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.08%

Paraguay

  • Full Name: Republic of Paraguay
  • Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
  • Government Type: Constitutional republic
  • Language: Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
  • Religion(s): Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1%
  • Capital: Asunción
  • Population: 6,541,591; 104th
  • Area: 406,752 sq km, 60th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than California
  • National Food: Sopa paraguaya
  • National Symbol: Lion; Lapacho (Tabebuia impetiginosa)
  • Affiliations: UN, OAS
  • Independence: From Spain, May 14, 1811 (sometimes observed 15 May)

Paraguay-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 20
  • BAC: 0.08%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 5

paraguay-money

  • How to Say “Beer”: cerveza
  • How to Order a Beer: Una cerveza, por favor
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Salud
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

paraguay-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 54%
  • Wine: 15%
  • Spirits: 28%
  • Other: 3%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 6.38
  • Unrecorded: 1.50
  • Total: 7.88
  • Beer: 3.48

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 6.4 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: N/A
  • Minimum Age: 20
  • Sales Restrictions: Specific events
  • Advertising Restrictions: No
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Sponsorship

Patterns of Drinking Score: 3

Prohibition: None

paraguay-sa

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Paraguay, South America

Israel Beer

May 14, 2012 By Jay Brooks

israel
Today in 1948, Israel declared their Independence from the British Mandate.

Israel
israel-color

Israel Breweries

  • Asif Beer
  • Butterfly Brewery
  • Canaan Breweryl
  • Dancing Camel Brewing
  • Golan Brewery
  • Hadag Halavan (Weissfish) Brewery
  • Israel Beer Breweries: Ashqelon, Giv’at Shemu’el
  • Jem’s Beer Factory
  • Malka Brewery
  • Negev Brewery
  • Tel Aviv Brewhouse
  • Tempo Beer Industries
  • Teybah Brewing

Israel Brewery Guides

  • Beer Advocate
  • Beer Me
  • Rate Beer

Other Guides

  • CIA World Factbook
  • Official Website
  • U.S. Embassy
  • Wikipedia
  • Wikipedia’s Beer and Breweries in Israel

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.05%

Israel

  • Full Name: State of Israel
  • Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
  • Government Type: Parliamentary democracy
  • Language: Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority), English (most commonly used foreign language)
  • Religion(s): Jewish 75.6%, Muslim 16.9%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.7%, other 3.8%
  • Capital: Jerusalem
  • Population: 7,590,758; 97th
  • Area: 20,770 sq km, 154th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly larger than New Jersey
  • National Food: Hummus, Falafel, Israeli salad
  • National Symbol: Star of David; Hoopoe; Olive; Cyclamen; Menorah
  • Affiliations: UN
  • Independence: Declared unilaterally, while awaiting a United Nations decision, from the British Mandate, May 14, 1948 [(Yom Ha’atzmaut) Independence from the British Mandate for Palestine, which took place on May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar 5708 in the Hebrew calendar). Yom Ha’atzmaut is celebrated on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nearest to 5 Iyar, so it occurs between 3 and 6 Iyar each year; this means that the holiday can fall any time between and including April 15 and May 15, according to the Gregorian calendar.]

Israel_Coat_of_Arms

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18 [It is illegal to sell alcohol between 11:00 p.m and 6:00 a.m, outside of pubs and restaurants. It is also illegal to drink outdoors after 9:00 p.m.]
  • BAC: 0.05%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 15

israel-money

  • How to Say “Beer”: beera / באר / שכר / בירה
  • How to Order a Beer: A beer, zeit a-zoy goot (Yiddish)
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Le’chayim (“to life”) / Mazel Tov (“congratulations”)
  • Toasting Etiquette: The toast “le’chaim” (to life) is said whenever alcohol is served. Toasts are only made at formal occasions or sometimes when a contract is signed. It is acceptable to just touch the glass to your lips if you don’t wish to swallow the contents.

israel-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 39%
  • Wine: 7%
  • Spirits: 52%
  • Other: 2%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 2.39
  • Unrecorded: 0.50
  • Total: 2.89
  • Beer: 0.97

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 2.4 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Petrol Stations
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: N/A

Patterns of Drinking Score: 2

Prohibition: None

israel-mideast

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Israel, Middle East

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