Today’s infographic shows each of Major League Baseball’s teams with their prices for beer equalized so they be compared more easily. The chart was compiled and created by Benchwarmer Sports. I don’t know if this is a coincidence or not, but yesterday the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals began the 2013 World Series, and their two stadiums are the most-expensive one to buy a beer. Hmm.
First American Trappist Brewery
While it’s been a rumor for a number of years — I first learned about it at least four years back, but like a monk was sworn to silence — finally it’s out in the public. America is getting its first officially sanctioned Trappist brewery. St. Joseph’s Abbey of Spencer, Massachusetts will be adding brewing to its daily routine, and selling under the name Spencer Brewing Co.
The abbey was established in upstate New York in 1950, and is part of the Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.), better known as “Trappists.” Many reports have indicated there’s 180 of them worldwide, but I count 175 at the list on the order’s official website.
The abbey already sells preserves, and has done so for a long time, since around 1954. They also sell “liturgical vestments, and run a farm” to fund the abbey. Apparently the Scourmont Abbey, which makes Chimay, is helping the monks of St. Joseph’s in some capacity, whether through education, logistical support or just consultation I’m not sure. I also know that Dann Paquette from Pretty Things had been helping out, at least in the early stages, as he’d befriended a couple of the monks there as they gathered information and were considering the project of opening a brewery. Records indicate the building for brewing will be 50,000 square feet and their goal to brew 10,000 bbl per year. The first beer will be a Pater, a type of beer made by several Belgian breweries. Here’s how the back label describes the beer:
“Inspired by traditional refectory ales brewed by monks for the monks’ table, Spencer is a full-bodied, golden-hued Trappist ale with fruity accents, a dry finish and light hop bitterness.”
The brewery website is still empty, with just a Go Daddy holding page, and there’s no word on when the beer might be available. With the now Belgian-owned Anheuser-Busch InBev, Sierra Nevada working with Ovila, Moortgat buying Boulevard Brewing, and now this, there’s going to be a lot more Belgian-inspired, and Belgian-made, beer in the U.S. in coming years. But it’s hard not to be excited about this development.
And the hexagonal Trappist logo is on the back label.
Genetically Engineered Yeast
Mashable had an interesting piece about Genetically Engineered Yeast being done by at least two companines, Amyris and Evolva, and based in part on a New York Times article, What’s That Smell? Exotic Scents Made From Re-engineered Yeast. In the Times article Amyris co-founder Jay Keasling explained “that the process is ‘just like brewing beer, but rather than spit out alcohol, the yeast spits out these products.'” The relatively new discipline, dubbed synthetic biology, is only about a decade old. There are apparently issues about whether it would be considered natural. SOme say no, because the synthetic version “contains scores of components besides” what it’s being used as, while John B. Hallagan, from the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association believes “it conceivably could be called a natural ingredient since it is made in a living organism.”
Beer & Baseball
Today’s infographic, on the day the World Series begins, is entitled Beer & Baseball, and was created by Alpha Male of the Group.
Click here to see the infographic full size.
Fantastical Fictive Beer
Today’s infographic is a cool new poster from Pop Chart Labs. This one, entitled Fantastical Fictive Beer, shows 71 beers used in various fictional setting: movies, television, etc. I don’t know if they used a post I did a few years ago, Fictional Beer Brands in their research, but our lists are pretty similar. It’s a pretty cool poster.
Intoxication Nation Infographic
Today’s infographic is a second one from Blowfish, an over-the-counter hangover remedy. This one shows “how we are drinking and dealing with our hangovers,” which includes several data points about who, and what, Americans drink. The data was compiled for Blowfish by a third-party research firm.
22 Toastable Facts About Craft Beer
Today’s infographic, 22 Toastable Facts About Craft Beer, is from Let’s Pour, created for their blog.
Click here to see the infographic full size.
Beer Of Choice: State By State
Today’s infographic is a map of the United States, showing the beer that’s most popular in each of the states. One thing is clear, if you want to be popular, your label should be mostly blue. The map was compiled by Blowfish, an over-the-counter hangover remedy. When I look at California, I can only shake my head, slowly, and with sadness.
Beer & Food Pairing Cheat Sheet
Today’s infographic is entitled the Beer & Food Cheat Sheet, and was created by The Savory. It shows eight basic kinds of beer and makes some suggestions of three or four basic foods that they think pairs with each, along with some additional tips below the infographic.
Northwest Hops Infographic
Today’s infographic is a poster of NW Hops, by graphic designer Rex Carrillo of Loveland, Colorado.
Click here to see the hops poster full size.