Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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If You Happen to Be in Belgium …

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If you happen to be in Belgium next week, you should do whatever you have to to do to get to Essen for the 12th annual Kerstbierfestival. They’ll be tasting over 100 holiday and winter beers over the two-day festival.

And please note they use a cartoon on the poster. You know what would happen here in the U.S. if they did that, right? Neo-prohibitionists and state agencies would be falling over themselves to stop them from “appealing to kids.”

 

12.16-17

Kerstbierfestival (12th annual)
Heuvelhal, Kapelstraat 7, B-2910 Essen, Belgium
[ website ] [ in English ] [ Directions ]

Anchor Christmas Party

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Earlier tonight Anchor Brewery held their annual invitation only Christmas party. As usual, it was a great time with good friends, good food and, of course, great beer. While the potato wedges were the most welcome addition to the evening’s food, the best combination was an all-meat chili made with Anchor Steam beer to which I added crumbled Maytag Blue Cheese and paired with Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale.

The leading lights at Anchor: Fritz Maytag, John Dannerbeck and Mark Carpenter.

Guests at Anchor’s annual Christmas party.

A self-portrait with my good friend Bruce Joseph, who does the distilling at Anchor Distilling.

Former Publican Judy Ashworth and Christian Kazakoff, head brewer from Triple Rock.

Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf and beer writer Angie Wagner.

Staff and writers of the Celebrator Beer News.

My beautiful, supportive and tolerant wife Sarah and me.

The lovely Jen Garris looking even more lovely than usual.

The gleaming copper kettles.

Caught enjoying the yummy frittes.

R.J. Trent, former brewer, who just opened the newest BevMo on Van Ness Boulevard and Jeremy Cowan of He’Brew, whose newest beers lately have been wonderful, especially the 10 Monumental Jewbelation and Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. (a rye-based Imperial IPA).

Pacific Coast Brewing’s Holiday Tasting Announced

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Pacific Coast Brewing’s 18th annual holiday beer tasting will be held at the brewery in downtown Oakland on December 9, from Noon until 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $40. Call 510.836.2739 for reservations. If you’re planning on going, make your reservations to be there now, because it will sell out quickly.

12.9

Pacific Coast Brewing’s Taste of Holiday Beers (18th annual)

Pacific Coast Brewing, 906 Washington Street, Oakland, California
510.836.2739 [ website ]