Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

Socialize

Gambia Beer

By

gambia
Today in 1965, The Gambia gained their Independence from the United Kingdom.

The Gambia
gambia-color

Gambia Breweries

  • Banjul Breweries

Gambia Brewery Guides

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 0.00%

Gambia

  • Full Name: Republic of The Gambia
  • Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
  • Government Type: Republic
  • Language: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
  • Religion(s): Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
  • Capital: Banjul
  • Population: 1,840,454; 149th
  • Area: 11,295 sq km, 167th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
  • National Food: None Known
  • National Symbol: Gambia River
  • Affiliations: UN, Commonwealth, African Union
  • Independence: From the United Kingdom, February 18, 1965

gambia-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18 (Illegal for Muslims)
  • BAC: Zero%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 1

GambiaPNew-100Dalasis-(2006)-donatedfvt_f

  • How to Say “Beer”: beer
  • How to Order a Beer: One beer, please
  • How to Say “Cheers”: cheers
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

gambia-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 8%
  • Wine: 2%
  • Spirits: 2%
  • Other: 88%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 2.40
  • Unrecorded: 0.99
  • Total: 3.39
  • Beer: 0.19

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 2.4 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Increase
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Hours, Specific Events
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes

Patterns of Drinking Score: N/A

Prohibition: None

gambia-africa

Kosovo Beer

By

kosovo
Today in 2008, Kosovo gained their Independence from Serbia.

Kosovo
kosovo-color-1

Kosovo Breweries

Kosovo Brewery Guides

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 0.03%

Kosovo

  • Full Name: Republic of Kosovo
  • Location: Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
  • Government Type: Republic
  • Language: Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma
  • Religion(s): Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
  • Capital: Pristina
  • Population: 1,836,529; 150th
  • Area: 10,887 sq km, 169th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Delaware
  • National Food: None Known
  • National Symbol: Plain of Kosovo
  • Affiliations: Non-UN Country
  • Independence: From Serbia, February 17, 2008

coat-of-arms-of-kosovo

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • BAC: 0.03%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 2

KosovoPNL-10Dinars-1999-donatedmjd_f

  • How to Say “Beer”: birrë / пиво / 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

kosovo

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 44%
  • Wine: 22%
  • Spirits: 34%
  • Other: <1%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: Unknown
  • Unrecorded: Unknown
  • Total: Unknown
  • Beer: Unknown

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 10 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Petrol Stations, Density locations
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes

Patterns of Drinking Score: 3

Prohibition: None

kosovomap

Lithuania Beer

By

lithuania
Today in 1918, Lithuania declared their Independence from Russia and the German Empire.

Lithuania
lithuania-color

Lithuania Breweries

Lithuania Brewery Guides

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 0.04%

0.02% for drivers with less than 2 years of experience and 0.04% for those with more than 2 years of experience

lithuania

  • Full Name: Republic of Lithuania
  • Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
  • Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
  • Language: Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4%
  • Religion(s): Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5%
  • Capital: Vilnius
  • Population: 3,535,547; 131st
  • Area: 65,300 sq km, 123rd
  • Comparative Area: Slightly larger than West Virginia
  • National Food: Cepelinai
  • National Symbols: Rue; Vytis (Mounted knight), Patriarchal cross
  • Affiliations: UN, EU, NATO
  • Independence: From Russia and the German Empire, February 16, 1918 / Regained from the USSR, March 11, 1990

lithuania-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18

    In the Republic of Lithuania drinking in public is prohibited. Selling alcoholic beverages in stores is prohibited between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m and on 1st September of every year. Minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages or from having them.

  • BAC: 0.04%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 86

LithuaniaPNew-10Litu-2001-donatedsrb_f

  • How to Say “Beer”: alus
  • How to Order a Beer: Pra-shau vie-na, al-lows
  • How to Say “Cheers”: i sveikata
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

lithuania-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 45%
  • Wine: 14%
  • Spirits: 36%
  • Other: 5%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 12.03
  • Unrecorded: 3.00
  • Total: 15.03
  • Beer: 5.60

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 12 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Increase
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Time (hours), location
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes

Patterns of Drinking Score: 3

Prohibition: None.

lithuania-eu

Serbia Beer

By

serbia
Today in 1804, Serbia gained their Independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Serbia
serbia-color

Serbia Breweries

Serbia Brewery Guides

Other Guides

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.03% for all, zero for professional drivers, public service drivers, commercial transport and drivers beginners.

serbia

  • Full Name: Republic of Serbia
  • Location: Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary
  • Government Type: Republic
  • Language: Serbian (official) 88.3%, Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census)
  • Religion(s): Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6%
  • Capital: Belgrade
  • Population: 7,310,555; 98th
  • Area: 77,474 sq km, 117th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than South Carolina
  • National Food: Ćevapčići, Pljeskavica
  • National Symbols: Serbian Eagle, Wolf; Plum; Oak and Serbian Spruce; Serbian Cross
  • Affiliations: UN
  • Independence: From the Ottoman Empire, February 15, 1804

serbia-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • BAC: 0.05%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 17

SerbiaPNew-1000Dinara-2006-donatedfvt_f

  • How to Say “Beer”: пиво / 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

serbia-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 44%
  • Wine: 22%
  • Spirits: 34%
  • Other: <1%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 9.97
  • Unrecorded: 1.12
  • Total: 11.09
  • Beer: 4.40

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 10 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: Petrol Stations, Density locations
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes

Patterns of Drinking Score: 3

Prohibition: None.

serbia-eu

The 8th Trappist Brewery?

By

trappist-brewery
Currently there are seven Trappist monastery breweries authorized to use the “Authentic Trappist Product” label by the International Trappist Association. Six are in Belgium, one is in the Netherlands. It looks like an 8th monastery is applying for authorization to brew beer under the official designation. The monastery of Engelszell Stift has filed an application and expects to be notified of the ITAs decision in 4-5 weeks.

According to Trappist-Beers.com, the Engelszell Stift monastery was “founded in 1293 and needs financial input to recover the old paintings, fresco’s and paintings” and has decided to start a small brewery to raise the necessary funds. It is located a little over 120 miles from Munich in Austria. According to Wikipedia, it’s the only one in Austria and is located in the northwest part of the country known as the Innviertel.

Engelszell

From what I could figure out using Google Translate, they’ve already installed the brewery and have started brewing, making two beers, one light and one dark, from 7-10% a.b.v. Much of the package production will be aimed at the U.S. market, so we should be able to find it once it’s ready.

Engelszell-brewery

Vatican Beer

By

vatican
Today in 1929, Vatican City signed the Lateran Treat with Italy, establishing it as an independent State.

Vatican City
vatican-color

Vatican City Breweries

Vatican City Brewery Guides

Other Guides

Guild: None

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: Unknown

vatican

  • Full Name: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
  • Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome, Italy
  • Government Type: Ecclesiastical
  • Language: Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
  • Religion(s): Roman Catholic
  • Capital: Vatican City
  • Population: 832; 236th
  • Area: 0.44 sq km, 250th
  • Comparative Area: About 0.7 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, DC
  • National Food: None Known
  • National Symbol: Cross
  • Nickname: Vatican City, Papal City
  • Affiliations: UN
  • Independence: Signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, February 11, 1929

vatican-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • BAC: Unknown
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 0

vatican

  • How to Say “Beer”: birra / Latin: cerevisia, cervisia, fermentum
  • How to Order a Beer: Una birra, per favore / Latin: Cervisiam, sodes
  • How to Say “Cheers”: A la salute / Cin cin / Salute
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

vatican-map

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.

vatican-eu

Traquair House Switches To 500ml Bottles

By

Traquair
One of my favorite breweries, Traquair House in Scotland, announced today through their importer — Merchant Du Vin — that they’re switching to 500 ml bottles for all of their beers.

That might not seem like big news, and perhaps it’s not, but Traquair House is one of favorite places so I never miss a chance to talk about it. If you’ve never been to the brewery, it should definitely be on your beer bucket list. It’s not easy to get to, but it is worth it. Oh, and the beer is terrific, too. If you haven’t had their beer, you should correct that … immediately.

Traquair-500ml

Traquair House Ale shows a deep reddish-amber color and full, velvet-like body. The aroma offers a hint of rich oak; the flavor is opulently malty, complex, and deep but subtle. OG 1.070; IBU 26; ABV 7.2%.

Traquair Jacobite Ale, first brewed in 1995, is spiced with hops as well as another traditional seasoning: coriander. Deep brown; spice and leather aroma; full body; exotic, engaging character and finish. OG 1.075; IBU 23; ABV: 8.0%.

From the press release:

In 1566, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, visited Traquair House on the banks of Scotland’s Tweed River with her infant son James, who would later become King James I of England. During that visit, she drank good ale brewed at Traquair.

Descendants of the same family have lived at Traquair since 1491. Beer was brewed there from the earliest times until some time after 1800; in 1965 the 20th Laird of Traquair, Peter Maxwell Stuart — following his heart and his family heritage — brought the tiny brewery back to life, brewing traditional ales in a 1738 copper brewkettle and fermenting them in wooden vessels.

Traquair House Brewery is known today for excellent ales — traditional, historical, masterpieces of rich, full, engaging flavor: a taste of Scotland.

It’s a cool place, with a cool history, making cool beers. What more do you need to know?

traquair-vats
I took this photo of the brewery when I visited Traquair House around 1994.

Anchor Releases California Lager

By

anchor-new
Although SF Beer Week doesn’t officially launch until later tonight, there’s already been one event that took place at Anchor Brewing on Wednesday. Three weeks ago, they announced their new Zymaster Series and later revealed that the first beer in the series would be a pre-prohibition California Lager. Wednesday night, Anchor held an event to launch the new beer.

zymaster-cup
The new Anchor Zymaster Series No. 1: California Lager

DSC_0977
Anchor co-owner Keith Gregor, Barb Condie, Steve Shapiro and me at Anchor Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Mike Condie.)

zy-sign-4
As I wrote before, Anchor based the beer on a lager from Boca Brewing, who is believed to have made the first one in the state, around 1875. The town of Boca was located in northeast California, roughy 6.5 miles from Truckee. In 1880 it had a population of around 200 people, though today it’s literally a ghost town. The brewery was founded in 1875 and closed in 1892, four years before the Anchor Brewery opened.

DSC_0993
Me, Brenden Dobbel (from Thirsty Bear) and Shaun O’Sullivan (from 21st Amendment). (Photo courtesy of Mike Condie.)

zy-sign-3
An old ad featuring the Boca Lager, the inspiration for Anchor’s California Lager.

P1020497
In addition to the California Lager, Anchor was also serving the latest batch of O.B.A. (Our Barrel Ale) which this time used a different blend and also the recent Brekle’s Brown.

P1020516
There were plenty of other local brewers in attendance to try out the new beer. Here, from the left, is John Tucci (from the San Francisco Gordon Biersch), Aron Deorsey (from Beach Chalet) and Zambo (from 21st Amendment).

So how’d the beer taste? Consensus was that it was pretty good, an interesting beer. Having had several other pre-prohibition lagers, it tasted better than most of the others. In fact, I can’t think of one I enjoyed more. A lot of the others used corn, which was common then, but I believe Anchor’s is all-malt, and the taste seems to reflect that. It’s only slightly sweet, but smooth, and the Cluster hops are fairly muted and restrained. They never overpower the flavor of the beer, they’re just there for balance. The overall flavors are similarly mild, making the beer very sessionable.