BrewDog Take Extreme ABV Brewing To Another Level

I haven't had a chance to open my bottle of Sink the Bismarck (41% ABV), and the folks at BrewDog have once again brewed the world's strongest beer. The End of History is a mind numbing 55% ABV! Yes, 55% ABV! Not only is the beer pretty strong, but it comes presented in a stuffed stoat or grey squirrel! That is ridiculous, but pretty cool at the same time.

This blond Belgian ale is infused with nettles from the Scottish Highlands and Fresh juniper berries. Only 12 bottles have been made and each comes with its own certificate and is presented in a stuffed stoat or grey squirrel. The striking packaging was created by a very talented taxidermist and all the animals used were road kill. This release is a limited run of 11 bottles, 7 stoats and 4 grey squirrels. Each ones comes with its own certificate of authenticity.

You can read more about The End of History here.

The End of History from BrewDog on Vimeo.

Top 5 Beers At Beer Hoptacular!

I had a great time at the first annual Beer Hoptacular! There was a lot of beer, but these were my top five. Cheers!

1. Wild Onion Brewing Company - Paddy Pale Ale
2. Destihl - Rasberry Wheat
3. Magic Hat - Odd Notion
4. Mickey Finn's Brewery - R.K.'s IPA
5. Stevens Point Brewery - Nude Beach
   

BrewDog Brewery Sinks The Bismark!

Sink the Bismarck! from BrewDog on Vimeo.

Chicago Beer Hoptacular!

Chicago Beer Hoptacular! will invade the Aragon Ballroom from June 4 - 5. I know the Aragon Ballroom is used for boxing matches, dances & concerts, but a beer event? That's what I'm talking about! The list of breweries is impressive and should be a very cool event. Tickets are available now and you can get them here. Cheers!

Beer Hoptacular, a celebration for all true beer enthusiasts, kicks off its first year with beer samplings, demonstrations and fun from craft brewers, beer experts, home brewers, and local artisans. Attendees will enjoy a select variety of more than two hundred small-batch beers, the best of the best from across the Midwest, other regions in the U.S. and abroad. Those in attendance can interact with the brewers themselves and cast their vote to select the “Beer Hoptacular Beer of the Year.” Scheduled for Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5 at Uptown’s Aragon Ballroom, Beer Hoptacular will serve as a gathering place and educational opportunity for a growing number of beer appreciators who see the fermented beverage less as a route to intoxication and more as a timeless artisanal pursuit to be appreciated.

Piece & 3 Floyds Collaboration = Marketing Ploy

The Craft Brewers Conference is in full swing here in Chicago, so I thought I would write a little something about beer. Piece Brewery & Pizzeria not only makes really good pizza, but they make damn good beer. The recently released Marketing Ploy is a collaboration between Three Floyds Brewery of Munster, IN and Piece. Three Floyds has really made a name for themselves in recent years and their Alpha King and Pride & Joy are two favorites of mine. Marketing Ploy isn't too hoppy and isn't very bitter. It has great balance and the citrus aroma is very pleasant making it very drinkable. It may just be a marketing ploy, but two great breweries have joined forces to make a really, really good beer.

Beer Alert: Half Acre & Three Floyds Collaboration

I love it when musicians collaborate to create something unique. But when two breweries get together, the sky is the limit. Chicago upstart Half Acre and the pride and joy of Munster, IN Three Floyd's have collaborated to brew a Helles Bock called "Invasion". No word on when the beer will be released, but it's currently fermenting. I can't wait to get my hands on this!

[via Chicagoist]

Wilco (The Beer)

Ever since I tried my first Lagunitas IPA, I was hooked on their delectable beers. It appears that they will name their spring seasonal brown ale "Wilco Tango Foxtrot Ale". How cool is that!

You can check the tweet out at @LagunitasSaid

Phish Festival 8: Soundcheck & More

Festival 8 is officially underway! The band had their first soundchecks on Thursday. The band had an acoustic run through in the afternoon followed by an electric soundcheck in the evening. Trey teased the beginning of "Kids" by MGMT during the evening soundcheck.

Soundcheck: Jam, Undermind > Devil With a Blue Dress Jam, Starship Trooper Jam, Gone, Liquid Time

Check back for updates, as there will be updates a plenty throughout the weekend.

Someone over on Green Board snagged a copy of the auds of the soundcheck. You can download it here.

Check out some images from Thursday.

Phish is is down to their Elite 8, as Michael Jackson's Thriller was killed off the list this morning.

1. David Bowie | Hunky Dory
2. Genesis | The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
3. Jimi Hendrix | Electric Ladyland
4. King Crimson | Larks’ Tongues In Aspic
5. MGMT | Oracular Spectacular
6. Prince | Purple Rain
7. Radiohead | Kid A
8. Rolling Stones | Exile on Main Street
   
   

A look at the lay of the land at Festival 8


Sierra Nevada brewed up some Foam Pilsner. It was brewed exclusively for Festival 8!



Check out the additional coverage of Festival 8:
Hidden Track Blog
Live Music Blog
YEMblog - Live from Festival 8

Talking Beer With Kyle Hollingsworth of SCI

I am not a big fan of The String Cheese Incident, but one thing that Kyle Hollingsworth and I share in common is an affinity for beer. Jambands.com sat down with Kyle and talked about beer, his new solo record, and the future of SCI.

Let’s start things out with a topic of mutual interest…beer. You worked with Mountain Sun Brewery to create Hoppingsworth IPA. How did that come about and what role did you play?

Right now I’m on the West Coast continuing the Rock and Brew tour. It was a vision I had for the entire tour. When we started, I wanted to get my local brewery involved and figure out a way we could create a special event for my CD release. I’ve been working a lot with Mountain Sun in the past through different shows in Denver and Boulder and I love their beer.

So I went to them and at first they said the fans could come out and do a brewery tour. Then they said, “Why don’t we just make a beer?” I was so down with that and it was pretty much my dream, I just didn’t know how to ask.

So I got together with the head brewer Hutch. He and I made recipes together and talked about what we wanted out of it and talked about our favorite beers. Then after I put my input in I thought, “Why don’t I let him do what he does best and let him make the final choices.”

I went in, we brewed it together and got it ready for the release of the CD. Then they sold out of like 15 kegs in 5 days. I didn’t get enough and when I went it again it was gone.

In terms of your home brewing, has there been a particular style or batch you’ve been most proud of?

Mine are all very okay, not the best beers ever. That’s why I’m glad I had Mountain Sun help me. There’s a Sosa Spice I do which is coming up really soon. I am going to start doing that when I get home. It’s more of a holiday cheer type beer, pretty hoppy with nutmeg.

I’ve been thinking about this lately but I do feel there’s a connection between the way I home brew and the way I play music. I feel like you kind of have your basics under your fingers whether its keyboards or home brewing and then there’s that moment when you take that leap of faith. When you’re brewing, it’s, “Okay I know how to make beer but what’s the x factor? How can I jump off the ledge like I do when I play music in a live performance situation?” So you just kind of go for it and that when you try sassafras or that random citrus. There’s a baseline and then you take a leap of faith.

To read the rest of the article click here.