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June 17, 2009
17:04
Pre NHC
» ‎ beer school

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1,100 home brewers are converging in Oakland to talk about beer, drink beer and recycle beer that they made and brought to share. the conference moves around from city to city so we feel lucky that it’s in our backyard. there are three BIG parties this week: the Brewing Networks 4th anniversary, Pro Night and Club Night. get to all of them by BART or BUS or DD.

Homework
find a Home Brew Club in your area and make plans to attend a session. look for a club in your area using this link. all clubs have regular meetings and often host special events.

Links:
Official National Homebrew Conference
that conical fermentor is from MoreBeer
the logo we talked about in the beginning.

Beer School everywhere:
[www.facebook.com]
[youtube.com]

Follow BeerSchool on Twitter.com

Good noon! Recorded in San Francisco on 06/16/2009.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
May 30, 2009
18:59
Rob Widmer at the Oregon Brewers Festival
» ‎ beer school

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Last year at the Oregon Brewers Festival we took over the Brewery Network for an hour to interview Rob Widmer from Widmer Brewing.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
April 07, 2009
17:56
thanks
» ‎ beer school

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thanks for you order!
and thank you very much for listening.

we really could not do this show without your support!

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
17:20
Homework Tasting Book
» ‎ beer school

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Homework is a book designed specifically for taking notes on beer. It’s a fun way to learn about what you are drinking. The page is full of places to collect information. From the glass the beer came in to the ABV & IBU.

features:
99 pages
wire bound
infographic layout
additional notes pages
de-bossed leather cover & durable back.

$15 plus $3 shipping (North America, Alaska and Hawaii).
international shipping coming soon.

disclaimer: book not impervious to beer. be sure to write your name on the inside front cover. carry a pencil or pen at all times. pages are removable. Homework book will make you look smarter and we are responsible for that.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
March 14, 2009
23:29
Seventy Two
» ‎ beer school

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there was a lot to talk about because we hadn’t recorded a show in a while. so while there is no theme we drank some leftover leftover beer from Closet Cleaner and talked about stuff. here’s the list.

Penn Brewing dodges a bullet.
Heinz it Up dot com.
Draft got it right. the list if Beer Bars that is.
Beer Advocate isn’t shiny anymore.
one day John will get a hair cut.
Happy B-DAY Jay Brookes!
Little people decompose
2008 Top Three Beer awards are here.
Phily Beer Week
Best Beer Board EVER!
Your Mom says “Hi!”
Motor’s River City Brewing list.
BFF
Grass Skirt Mustache
purple pen.
Tonga Room.

Homework: light strike some beer.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
February 24, 2009
1:07
Beers for Bill
» ‎ beer school

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this just in….

With the help of Gail and Steve from Beer by Bart, Mike Condie and The Trappist, a memorial for the beer community has been scheduled for this Sunday, March 1, at 1:00 p.m. at the Trappist in Oakland, specifically at at 460 8th Street in Oakland, near the 12th Street BART station.

I’m sure everyone will have a fun story to tell. we’ll try to capture what is appropriate. if you need more details Jay has them here.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
February 20, 2009
23:39
William Brand
» ‎ beer school

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Everyone is posting or twitter about Bill Brand the beer writer from the Oakland Tribune. He didn’t make it. February 8th after a dinner and beer event at the 21a he got crashed by a train. What sucks is that I walk by that intersection nearly every day and know from first hand experience that you can’t always hear what is rolling by. The train doesn’t make a lot of noise by design. It’s bell is suffering from the doppler effect. You just have to pay attention.

ShaunO has a picture from Friday the 6th during opening day pub crawl for SF Beer Week. it was taken at Magnolia. Bill on on the left.

links:
[www.ibabuzz.com]
[www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com]
[www.insidebayarea.com]

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
February 16, 2009
20:47
SF Beer Week
» ‎ beer school

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SF Beer Week

It started at Anchor Steam and ended at a big party in Oakland a week later. Every day there was some event some where in the Bay Area celebrating beer. Highlights include the Double IPA festival at the Bistro, Toronado’s Barley Wine Festival, the Celebrator anniversay party, and all kinds of things in between.

It’s going to take a bit to get all the stories and photos up.

Homework
Find a beer week and make plans to attend it.

Links:
[www.1234567890day.com]
[revision3.com]
[www.sfbeerweek.org]

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
February 12, 2009
15:39
Obama Toasts Beer
» ‎ beer school

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The Chicago Tribune reports that The president, knowing the importance of presidential beer liking, wisely replied that he’s “always up for a beer.” and why wouldn’t he be is the question? just because the guy is the leader of the free world doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a six pack of something awesome in his fridge to enjoy at the end of the day. Remember Roosevelt was delivered some of the first beer at the end of Prohibition where he declared “I believe this is a good time to have a beer.”

Link

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
0:24
Whisky vs Whiskey
» ‎ beer school

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I didn’t know there was a difference until I read this article in the NY Times. Evidently the “e” or lack of “e” before the “y” defines where on the planet the spirit came. Which seems like a really obscure thing to know but there is somebody out there keeping track.

From the article:

Graham Kent of London wrote: “I cannot pass over the unforgivable use by a serious writer on wines and spirits of ‘whiskey’ to refer to Scotch whisky.’’ He goes on to say: “I am afraid I found the constant misspelling of the product made your article quite unreadable. It is exactly the same as if you had called it ‘gin’ all the way through or were to describe Lafite as Burgundy. It is simply a basic error that a reputable writer should not make.’’

It’s nice to know that we are the only guys on the interweb that drop the wrong facts.

Link

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
February 08, 2009
1:09
SF Beer Week!
» ‎ beer school

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in a way, this is hell. there’s special beer being poured every single night all over the Bay Area. it’s simply impossible to participate in all these events. we are capturing audio and video from these events so everyone can see what is going on.

so far I’ve been to Anchor Steam for the kick off party.
the plans to attend the Double IPA festival got smashed.
there are two events at 21a on Sunday.
the dinner that Eddy is planning at Henry’s is taunting.
Tuesday is a shun fest.
etc.

seriously. I’m doomed.

SF Beer Week
follow SF Beer Week on the Twitter.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
January 31, 2009
19:06
Beer in Review 2008
» ‎ beer school

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We wrap up the year with Beer in Review. this is where we pick our top three beers, rap about festivals like beer week, chat about taxes and tell you about the upcoming trip to San Diego to open Toronado then back to San Francisco to close the same. That trips isn’t going to happen on the dates said in the show so stand by for the new plan.

Topics covering 2008
Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego

InBev buys AB
Miller and Coors merge
Big brewing down to two giants
Budwieser makes a new brand
American Ale

Old brands making a come back.

75 years of the repeal of prohibition
prohibitionist still very organized
increasing taxes
lowering the acceptable BAC
smear campaigns

Beer Festivals in no particular order
Bistro
Double IPA
Hop Rysom
IPA
Barrel Aged
Oregon Brewers Festival
Anderson Valley
Breast Fest
Firken Fest
no GABF again
FresYES!
Octoberfest

Cinco De Cember
my new holiday

Top Three Beers
Motor
Ruby - McMenamins
Repeal Ale - 21st Amendment
Sarah’s Ruby Mild - Magnolia

John
Black Butte XX - Deschutes
Effing Great - Valley Brewing
Harvest - Sierra Nevada

Notable
Myers Scotch Ale the first batch
Lagunitus Pale - the reformulated Kill Ugly Radio
Stone - XII
every IPA
other beer we talked about

for some reason my notes have the words chicken, sheep, cow on the notes page. and the number 55:07. also the URL bubbleocity.com.

Beers on the Show:
Sierra Nevada Celebration 2008. or maybe it was Coors Light.

Homework:
the year ahead is full of festivals. plan ahead to get good deals on travel. and post the dates of your local festivals on your fridge.

Related past:
[www.beerschool.com]

everywhere:
[www.facebook.com]
[youtube.com]
[twitter]

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
January 12, 2009
23:23
Closet Cleaning
» ‎ beer school

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There were a bunch of beers in boxes that we needed to drink to make more room for 2009. We hang out with Thomas and geek about beer, the difference engine, Apple IIs, 80’s pop and the local beer scene.

Mime School coming soon.

Olson’s Cherry orchard in Sunnyvale is in fact still there.

Thomas’s 808 drum machine video.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
November 30, 2008
23:55
Repeal Day
» ‎ beer school

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Prohibition was repealed earlier in 1933 but the change to the amendement did not come into affect until December the 5th. On this day beer was delivered to President RooseveltÂ Â who exclaimed “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”

2008 resembles 1933 in lots of different ways. Bank bailouts, financial ruin, people losing their homes and different groups trying to force their views onto the people. Prop 8 passing in California is a good example of this. Do a search for 1933 to see for yourself.

Homework
Enjoy a beer, wine or something mixed on December 5th. it’s your constitutional right.

Links:
[en.wikipedia.org]
[en.wikipedia.org]

http://www.albany.edu/~wm731882/21st_amendment_final.html

Repeal Day as a party
[www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com]

History of Prohibition
[www.prohibitionrepeal.com]

Jay Brooks on beer taxes
[www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com]

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
November 25, 2008
3:52
Holiday Beer Part 3
» ‎ beer school

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One of the best things about the coming seasonal tradition is that everyone makes beer especially for the occasion. You can love, hate, or just be indifferent about being forced to celebrate but you cannot ignore the beer.

There are so many that you can try. But we started with what we consider to be the grand father of this style.

Beers on the Show:
Two homebrew, Anchor Holiday, Siearra Nevada Celebration and 21st Amendment Holiday Spiced Ale.

Homework
Try something made for the holiday in a bottle or at your local.

Related past:
Holiday Beer Part 1
Holiday Beer Part 2

Hosts: John Foster and Motor
Guests: Susan, Steven ( and Honore).

Good noon! Recorded in San Francisco on 11/25/2008.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
October 26, 2008
16:35
One Beer One Hundred Days
» ‎ beer school

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The homework is what defined this show which was “buy two cases of something fresh then drink a beer every three days for 100 days.” You have to take notes as you go noting that “nothing changed” or “it’s changing” or “I like/don’t like it anymore.” It’s the freshness experiment.

Part of idea of doing this homework comes from us noting how beer changes over time at breweries that we visit. Sometimes beer changes for the better as it ages. We’ve also noticed that beer peaks. It gets really good at some point in it’s life but from then on it’s never as good.

There are many factors that make a beer change over time some of these things act in tandem. Heat, light, cold, varying temperature, and time.

Homework:
See above. Be sure to report back what you find at the end of your two cases!

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
October 20, 2008
2:17
Pumpkin
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You’re kidding right? Drinking a beer made with parts of pumpkin? Serious? Yessir. This time of year is when the pumpkin beers appear. And as weird as you might think that is the beer is actually pretty good. Okay, we admit that pumpkin isnâ€™t something that we’re going to seek out. It’s not going to become our go to beer any time soon. But it is an interesting thing to take to the football or costume party. While you might only have one you’ll be a braver person because of it.

Beers on the show:
Buffalo Bill’s Brewing Pumpkin Ale, Shipyard Brewing Pumpkin Head, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Brewery Ommegand Chocolate Indulgence and Calabaza Blanca from Jolly Pumpkin.

Homework:
Seek out a local pumpkin beer that might be at your brewery or from your bottle shop.

Hosts: John Foster and Motor.
Guests: Chris White (not the from White Labs) and Tom Mahady from the Beer and Salad show.

Be sure to visit Magnolia in San Francisco for the best pumpkin beer ever.

Good noon! Recorded in San Francisco on 10/19/2008.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
October 13, 2008
2:13
Five
» ‎ beer school

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We’ve talked about your Next Four Beers and Another Four beers. This time we’re asking you to try 5. These beers are off the beaten path and away from “normal” tasting beer. You don’t have to drink these specific beers because you might have trouble finding them. All we’re asking is that you go to your edge to try things you wouldn’t normally drink.

Beers on the show:
Arrogant Bastard from Stone, Triple Bock from Sam Adams, Oude Geuze, Negra Modelo, and random home brew that might have been made with a Mr. Beer kit.

Homework:
Try a home brew and go to the edge with other beers.

Good noon! Recorded in San Francisco on 10/12/2008.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
October 05, 2008
18:19
Octoberfest with MacorMcQue
» ‎ beer school

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Octoberfest

In the USofA Octoberfest is celebrated in October. Mostly because the people here would get confused if it started in September like it does in Munich. No matter because any excuse to drink beer and have great food is a good excuse.

Oh yeah, it should be spelled with a K.

MacorMcQue a brewer from Gordon Biersch joins us with samples of three different Octoberfest beers made from the same recipe.

Stats on 2008

History of the event.

Q. How come old photographs are always black and white? Didn’t they have color film back then?
A. Sure they did. In fact, those old photographs are in color. It’s just that the world was black and white then. The world didn’t turn color until sometime in the 1930s, and it was pretty grainy color for a while, too.
Q. But then why are old paintings in color?! If the world was black and white, wouldn’t artists have painted it that way?
A. Not necessarily. A lot of great artists were insane.
Q. But… But how could they have painted in color anyway? Wouldn’t their paints have been shades of gray back then?
A. Of course, but they turned colors like everything else did in the ’30s.
Q. So why didn’t old black and white photos turn color too?
A. Because they were color pictures of black and white, remember?

Patrick Stewart is a pervert.

1941

Beers on the show:
Gordon Biersch from three different breweries. All made from the same recipe.

Homework:
Experience Octoberfest in your local where ever that is. Or plan a trip to Munich for 2009.

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
September 04, 2008
0:27
the Beer Geek dot com
» ‎ beer school

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Dreaming is free, but actually doing it very expensive. Chris and Meredith are traveling the world experience festivals, breweries and pubs around the world. The declared that 2008 was the year in beer. They’ve gone to a beer event or destination each month.

links:
the beer geek dot com
beer drinker of the year
Oktoberfest
Flogging Molly

homework:
Travel to beer. Go to a festival. Take a train. Or find beer where ever you happen to go.

Beer on the show:
Firestone Walker Union Jack

the homework is beer but it takes your money to fund the research required to find the next topic.
August 28, 2008
0:28
Root Beer
» ‎ beer school

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Root Beer is the invention of Charles E. Hires. As legend has it he discovered, developed, stumbled upon or borrowed (aka stole) the recipe while on his honeymoon. Charles trained as a pharmacist so he was probably keen to tastes and smells. He also was aware of what people liked of didn’t like as they were sure to complain while picking up the stuff to end what ailed them. Hires become the tycoon of root beer overseeing it’s production until 1925 when his son’s took over the business. He died in 1937.

There is no right way to make root beer. Brewers from around the world are up to the task of developing their own take. Several things is consistent though: it should have bite, it should feel creamy, adn the head should be big for this sassy drink to be considered classic.

links:
High Fructose Corn Syrup is okay to eat “fact” site.
Barq’s podcast about root beer.

homework:
Get a bunch of different Root Beers from your market and have a tasting party. everyone, especially the kids, are welcome to join in. be sure to get some awesome ice cream to make floats.

Root Beer on the show:

Dad’s Old Fashioned
Sioux City Sarsaparilla
Boylan
Henry Weinhard’s
Rat Bastard
Sea Dog
Thomas Kemper
Virgil’s
Hansen (in a can)

Host: John Foster,
Guests: Tom, Kyle and Jordon

Be sure to visit 21st Amendment, Thirsty Bear or Magnolia in San Francisco, CA and enjoy the root beer they make.
August 18, 2008
0:27
Rock & Roll
» ‎ beer school

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Beer has always included music. For centuries in fact. Whether it was live music played by professionals in the club, sung by everyone sitting around the campfire or the locals at their local breaking out instruments and voice just because.Â

All the songs included on this show are there under Fair Use. However, if you want a particular song removed you must 1) invite yourself onto a future show. 2) explain why you really hate your fans, that you didn’t write it for the money in the first place, complain about not getting paid by your label, play the song for us live. 3) if you do all that and it’s still gone we won’t listen to you anymore. we promise!

played on the show:

Party at Ground Zero Fishbone
Cleveland Rocks Presidents of the United States of a America
Drunken Lullabies Flogging Molly
Working Man Rush
California Man (With Roy Wood) Cheap Trick
Ruby Soho Rancid
Land Down Under Men at Work
Beer Live! Reel Big Fish
Zoot Suit Riot LSJUMB
Zoot Suit Riot Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
All I Wanna Do Sheryl Crow
Piano Man Billy Joel
In A Little While U2

One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer Amos Milburn
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer George Thorogood
Take Your Whiskey Home Van Halen
Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers ZZ Top
Polkas on 45 Weird Al Yankovic
Hell or High Water Y & T
Titties and Beer unknown
American Pie Don McLean
Beer Beer Beer (YOB mix) Youth of Britain
Beer Beer Beer (Jonti mix) Rob Manuel
beer song Lloyd Knight and Devils Slide
Every Dog Has Its Day Flogging Molly
Are You Drinkin’ With Me Jesus The Beat Farmers
I Drink Alone George Thorogood
Margaritaville Lung Cookie
Titties `N’ Beer Frank Zappa

links:
Amos Milburn
Flogging Molly
the band that played Zoot Suit Riot

homework:
Tell us what beer songs we missed. tell us your beer song stories. andÂ go hear or play local music. Â

Beer on the show:
Green Lake (organic) Deschutes Brewery
We’re only in it for the Money Lagunitus
Lucky 13Â Lagunitus
Stone Vertical Epic 08-08-08

music used on the show under Fair Use in the categories of education, critique and news.

Recorded in San Francisco on 08/10/2008.

BeerSchool, BeerSchool.com, “the homework is beer” are a trademarks of Ayer Media, Inc.
Â© 2008 Ayer Media, Inc. other copyrights belong to whoever owns them and we lay no claim in any way.
August 11, 2008
19:51
OBF
» ‎ beer school

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The Oregon Brewers Festival is held on the last full weekend in July. This was the 21st year of the event. There are 75 beers to try over four days.

The audio on this program is wack. Sorry about that.

Beers on the show:
Comparing Watermelon Wheat out of the tap to Hell or High Watermelon in a can.

Homework: go to a festival and report in. make a beer butt chicken.
July 25, 2008
12:10
Live from the OBF
» ‎ beer school

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Okay, not really live, but we’re recording at show from the Oregon Brewers Festival from 3-4 PM on Friday July 25th. Find us at the Brewing Network booth which is next to the North Tent.
4:14
Not Belgium
» ‎ beer school

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Belgium beers are sought out because of they’ve been brewed the same way for centuries. But you don’t need to go all the way there to experience these styles of beer. Instead, look to your local brewery for great examples. Many of the breweries in the US (or anywhere else for that matter) see this style as the pinnacle of brewing. So there are lots of beers to try.

Beers on the show:
Lost Abbey Judgement Day, Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers, Allagash Curieux, Russian River Damnation, North Coast Brother Thelonious, Dog Fish Head Midas Touch, Avery Fifteen.

Homework:
Try a local “Belgium Style” beer. Get some random local beers with names like tripple, double, lambic, etc. Then invite your friends over for a tasting.
July 17, 2008
15:19
Can coming out party!
» ‎ beer school

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“Craft beer in a can? Quite CAN-didly, that’s the number one question we get around here,” says Chief Hop Head and Founder/Brewmaster Shaun O’Sullivan. “The can is actually a brilliant CAN-cept all around for craft beer”, adds Chief Watermelon Officer and Founder Nico Freccia. “Cans are simply better for the beer–they keep it fresher by protecting it from light, they are lined so they don’t affect the flavor of the beer and they fit the craft beer drinker’s lifestyle by going places where glass just doesn’t dare—like beaches, pools, boats, parks and golf courses”. And cans are better for the environment. They use less energy to produce and transport, and they are far more often recycled than glass.

To celebrate, the 21st Amendment Brewery is throwing a “Can Release Party” Tuesday July 22nd at 6 p.m. at the legendary Toronado bar, 547 Haight St. in San Francisco.

We’ll be there!
July 15, 2008
0:56
Fruit Beer
» ‎ beer school

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Lots of people have the impression that fruit beer is “girly beer.” That it tastes like sugared up soda pop. Fact is, fruit beer has been made for centuries. While some beers are made for a specific market and in fact do taste like sugar water some fruit beer can be more complex than wine. Exploring these wonderful beers can be lots of fun. We’ve chosen some of our favorites for the show.

Beers on the show:
Marin Brewing Blueberry
Pyrimid Apricot
Sam Adams “Long Shot” Grape Pale Ale
Leinenkugel Brewing Berry Weiss & Honey Weiss
Coconut Porter Maui Brewing
New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red
New Glarus Raspberry Tart
McMenamins Ruby
21st Amendment Watermelon Wheat aka Hell or High Watermelon

Homework: try some fruit beers with your friends. report about what you like and don’t like.

Beer School everywhere:
[www.facebook.com]
[youtube.com]

Follow JohnFoster on the twitter.

Host: John Foster and Motor
Guests: Melissa, Katherine, Stephan, Melissa (aka the rookie), Brandy, & Jaime

Thanks to everyone that got us the beer for this show. We could not have done it without you!

Good noon! Recorded in San Francisco on 07/13/2008 at 21st Amendment. Be sure to visit them if you’re in town.
July 14, 2008
14:54
InBev to buy Bud
» ‎ beer school

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Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc accepted a sweetened $52 billion takeover bid from Belgium-based InBev NV NV, creating the world’s largest beer maker and placing an iconic U.S. company into foreign hands.

Ending a month-long standoff, InBev, which makes Stella Artois and Beck’s, agreed to pay $70 per share in cash for the maker of Budweiser, up from its original unsolicited bid of $65 per share, both companies said on Monday. The
improved offer marked a 27 percent premium to Anheuser’s record-high stock price in October 2002.

The deal, which InBev and analysts expect to gain regulatory approval, would be the largest cash transaction in history, according to research firm Dealogic and the second- biggest ever foreign takeover of a U.S. company after Vodafone Group Plc’s $60.3 billion acquisition of AirTouch Communications in 1999, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The combined Anheuser-Busch InBev would have about $36.4 billion in annual net sales, with 40 percent coming from the United States, and would brew about a quarter of the world’s beer.

link
July 07, 2008
2:21
Safe!
» ‎ beer school

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[class picture goes here]

Beer that is “safe” to take to a party that your friends will actually think of as “good beer.” While it’s okay that your friends like the beer they like why not bring other beer to the party that will help them expand their taste horizons. We talk about four styles of beer that might make you the hit of evening.

Leftover Beers on the show:
Hamm’s, PBR, Widmer Hefeweizen, Trumer Pils, and Lagunitas Pale.

Homework: take beer to a party.
July 02, 2008
14:06
IPA in cans, that’s right cans!
» ‎ beer school

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first run of beer made by the 21st Amendment. it’s kinda stunning to see.

evidently ShaunO took down his video.
June 07, 2008
0:45
Two Guys Drinking at a Bar
» ‎ beer school

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Two Guys Drinking at a Bar is pretty funny. Check out all 14 episodes. Although you might want to wait a bit between watching them. I watched them all in a row and got annoyed. But it wouldn’t be soooo bad spread out over a week or 14.
May 29, 2008
19:18
Leftovers
» ‎ beer school

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[class photo goes here]

It was time to clear out all beer leftover from past shows. While we talk about the beer we covered all the stuff that’s been going on around our local. Like Russian Rivers new Brewery, Magnolia’s face life, Booneville and the marching band, Portland Brewers fest, the new front page and why you should tell your friends about the show.

The German restaurant we talked about is called Schroeder’s Restaurant located on 240 Front St.

other beer blogs that we didn’t meet up with at Booneville:
betterbeerblog
The Thirsty Hopster
Brookston Beer Bulletin
Hedonist Beer Jive

Stealth Ship

Leftover beers on the show:
Landshark, Spaten, Samual Adams Summer Ale, Radeberger, Bass, Trumer Pils, Sierra Nevada, Stout, Negra Modelo.

Homework: put the foam of the beer on different parts of your tongue.
May 20, 2008
12:10
new front page!
» ‎ beer school

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the new front page is just the beginning of what is to come. the big clear type, the white open space, and a very easy to figure out how interface is all on the boards. but somethings won’t change. none of the old content is going away. we’re still doing shows, planning trips and drinking beer.

if you have suggestions, comments or beer send them our way. all that info is on the contact page.
May 01, 2008
22:44
Love Beer
» ‎ beer school

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John reports on going to the Craft Brewers Festival held in San Diego. The CBC is held in different places around the country once a year. Brewers from all of the world attend. During the week there are talks about beer, sessions about beer, judging beer and of course drinking beer. As there are lots of great breweries in San Diego we got to tour such as Stone Brewery, Port Brewing, Green Flash, Karl Strauss and San Deigo Brewing Company and others.

Along side the CBC was the World Beer Cup. It lands in the US either other year. One of the brewers at the table was Mike from Iron Springs. His stout won a Gold medal. Thrill of victory to be sure. For a complete list of Cup winners click here.

Who is Richard Guidelines?

Pink Boots Society

Beers on the show:
Coors Lite

Homework:
Drink the freshest beer you can find at your local, brew pub or brewery.
April 21, 2008
0:41
Boonville
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Twelfth Annual Legendary Boonville Beer Festival

Date: May 10, 2008
Times: Taps open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Music until 6:00 p.m.

Place:
Mendocino County Fairgrounds
14400 Hwy 128; Boonville, CA

get tickets online and save.
April 07, 2008
0:41
75 years of Beer
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show notes go here.
March 31, 2008
22:27
Hop Crisis
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A “perfect storm” has caused the price of hops to sky rocket. Many things factor into to making this happen: bad crop yields, increased consumption in other countries, and hop farms going away. It doesn’t help that just a few years ago hop prices were so low that there wasn’t incentive to keep growing them when growing corn to be used for ethanol production will command a higher price. The beer that we know and love may go away or may become more expensive to drink.

the Homework
Grow some hops! Or enjoy a big hoppy beer at your local.

the Beer list
Repeal Rye from 21st Amendment

Guests: Stu Stuart and Shaun O’Sullivan
March 23, 2008
17:58
Weird
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Beer can be made from all kinds of different things like Lemons, Tomatoes, Oysters, Apples, Myrrh, Ginger, and Chili Peppers. Think of it as hanging out with your odd cousin. Sometimes weird is nothing more than an interesting label.

Links:
The Guerneville video.

Burrito Tunnel doesn’t go south or north.

Motor’s favorite rockstar.

America the Beautiful by Moon Unit.

Homework: Gather your friends around weird beers. Tell us how many inches of Zappa you have.

Beers on the show: Floris Apple, Stiegl with Lemon Soda, Monty Python’s Holy Ail, Budweiser Chelada, Nora.
March 16, 2008
15:29
Hop Rhizome Festival
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The beginning of the year means the arrival of hop rhizomes. These are the beginning roots of a hop plant which grows as a vine up to 25 feet during the season. A rhizome is genetically identical to the plant it came from. At the end of the season the plant will die but the rhizome will live on. If you make it to the Bistro you can buy your own rhizomes to grow.

Saturday, April 12, 2008
11:00 AM

The Bistro
1001 B Street
Hayward, California 94541
15:17
Bay Area’s 5th Annual Firkin Gravity Festival
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Bay Area’s 5th Annual Firkin Gravity Festival begins Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 11am, and is presented by Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse in Berkeley, CA.

Admission price is $20.00 which includes a logo glass and 5 tasting tickets; plus a wooden token for a full pour. There will be additional tasting tickets for a nominal fee of $1.00 per taste or $5.00 for six tasting tickets. Most of the styles run out before the end of the afternoon. Get there when the doors open at 11a.m for the best selection. The festival shuts down by 6ish when the beer is gone.

Festival proceeds will be donated to the Alisa Anne Rusch Burn Foundation which supports burn victims and their families in the Bay Area. Their website is: [www.aarbf.org]
March 09, 2008
17:14
Stout
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Imperial Irish Coffee Chocolate Milk Oatmeal Oyster Stout

Stout is a very old style of beer. It’s been around since 1700’s at least. The style has always been loved but it’s not always been popular. The running joke is “want a knife and fork to go with your beer” is unfounded. Stout, while thick and creamy, is often lighter, smoother and more flavorful then some icky American lagers. There are many different recipes for Stout including: Irish, Imperial, Milk, Oatmeal, Chocolate, Coffee and Oyster. Some consider the Porter style to be a Stout as well as the Stout style grew out of Porter beer. Today most breweries consider the styles to be distinct.

Beers on the show:
Almost every kind of stout. See the class photo above.

Links:
The origin of the regeneration on Doctor Who busted.

The plans to bulldoze the parking lot next to our HQ.

Anyone have other idea about the gap in the Wall and how long it should be?

Netflix cue the Roger Waters “the Wall” in Berlin.

All about the Hang Town Fry aka Omelette.

James Bond comic. And Mr. Bond, we expect you to die.

Kurt Vonngegut didn’t give this speech. Ever.

Martians in the inbox.

Guinness is lobbying for a holiday.

Homework
Tell us what Kangaroo tastes like. Or send us Kangaroo.

Actually the homework is stouts. Try random stouts but skip Guiness. Try different styles of stout.. Or try Guiness vs Guiness vs Guiness (the bottle that has no widget, bottle with a widget, and the can with a widget).

Motor will propose to any of the Village Lions.
February 28, 2008
17:49
Microbrewery segment grew 21% in 2007
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While it looks like a big win, there is actually some bad news here. That is brewpubs and micros closing for whatever reason. Comparing 2007 with 2006 there were 12 less brewpub and micro breweries closures which is 40 versus 52. Added up that means that 90 places closed in the last two years. On the positive side during the same time frame 94 new places opened in 2006 along with 82 openings in 2007. Added together 176 places opened. An overall growth of 86 new pubs to haunt or hold court.

In other news some things stay the same. Between 2006 and 2007 there were 20 large brewers and 23 other non craft brewers. Which we believe to be the same as the year before and the year before that.

Get all raw the stats right here.
February 20, 2008
18:47
Touring Belgium
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Instead of a vacation to the surfing safari or snow riding in the mountains consider something different: a vacation to beer. Not just any beer but Belgium beer right from the country itself. Think the ultimate beer run. There are 500 different varieties of beer made by 100 different breweries.

Stu Stuart from Belgium Beer Me! was our guest on the show.

[class photo goes here after the battery recharges]
February 19, 2008
19:42
Belgian Beer Appreciation Class in SF
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Belgian Beer Appreciation Class Comes to LaTrappe Trappist Lounge in San Francisco March 22 at 3 p.m.

Belgian beer enthusiast, beer tour guide and stand-up comedian Stuart leads this special event. Learn about some of the many different styles of Belgian beer, Dubbels, Trippels, Trappist, Farmhouse and more.

Meet some like-minded folks in one fun, informative evening, and experience and appreciate the pleasures of some beers that may change your life! The cost is $65 per person, and includes beer, snacks, course materials and an authentic Belgian beer glass. Sign up now, space is limited: stu@belgianbeerme.com, or call (231) 215-0173.

Visit BelgianBeerMe.com for information on tours on beer tours of Belgium.

LaTrappe is located at 800 Greenwich, near Columbus & Mason, in San Francisco. Take the cable car. “Where little cable cars, go half way to the bars…”
February 18, 2008
17:50
Sam Adams helps the Hop Crisis
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The Hop Crisis! Gads. Whatayamean no IPA?!? Huh… These guys are kidding right? Nope. They aren’t. It’s a full on problem caused in part by other countries buying hops of any kind to brew “canoe beer” for their masses. This leaves craft brewers that didn’t have a contract for the hops they used in an empty kettle. For the unfortunate that weren’t able to plan ahead or didn’t actually believe there was a problem Boston Beer Company, the brewers of Sam Adams are offering brewers the chance to buy hops from them.

“For a couple of months now, we’ve all been facing the unprecedented hops shortage and it’s affected all craft brewers in various ways. The impact is even worse on the small craft brewers–openings delayed, recipes changed, astronomical hops prices being paid and brewers who couldn’t make beer.
So we looked at our own hops supplies at Boston Beer and decided we could share some of our hops with other craft brewers who are struggling to get hops this year. We’re offering 20,000 pounds at our cost to brewers who need them. Specifically, we are able to spare 10,000 pounds of East Kent Goldings from Tony Redsell, a top English grower featured by Michael Jackson in Michael Jackson’s Beer Companion (page 75 has a picture) and 10,000 pounds of the German Noble hop Tettnang Tettnanger from small farms in the Tettnang region in Germany. “

Thanks guys! Now, get on the hunt for enough Simcoe to make Mike McDole’s Long Shot entry…

Link
February 15, 2008
14:42
Organic
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Organic is not a new thing. It’s not a marketing buzz word. It turns out it’s a really strict thing to use the word. It’s regulated by governments that have set up rules about what a product can’t have, must have and it can’t cheat. It’s a long road to get a product labeled as organic and once it’s labeled this way it’s inspected to make sure it actually really is what it’s supposed to be.

The show is really long as there is lots of information to introduce and talk about. Officially the show is over around the 2 hour mark. After that the talk kept going because we had lots of beer.

Here’s the shows outline with links:

What is Organic?

Is Organic a new thing?
buzz word
turns out it’s a really strict thing to use the word
can’t have
must have
can’t cheat

Whole Foods
270 stores
started in 1978 in Austin Texas
41,500 employees
5.6 billion per year

Organic Market Size
2005 $13.8 billion in sales last year,
$11.9 billion in 2004
$3.6 billion in 1997,
according to market-research firm Nutrition Business Journal. The firm estimated organics would reach $15.5 billion in 2006.

Organic Foods Production Act of 1990

Loop holes in Organic make some growers see red.

Organic Farming

IFOAM is an organization dedicated to teaching organic farming methods.

The Real Dirt on Farmer John documents a farmer who is organic. Movie available soon.

the Future of Food movie.

Farmers Markets

Do patents on seeds make Monsanto evil?

Michael Pollan’s talk at a library. Here are his books we talked about The Omnivore’s Dilema and In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto
February 05, 2008
16:31
I don’t feel Absinthe
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It’s been a year since we first sat in front of a mic and started talking about beer. Instead of a big fun party with a band we decided to break out of format so we could drink Absinthe. Absinthe has not been available in the US or A legally since 1912 when it was banned by the FDA. We try Absinthe from the St George Distillery in Alameda located about 3 miles from the Beer School studio. It got poured in traditional ways: French, Chec, Frappé (with ice) and Cowboy.

Saint George Distillery

Article about Absinthe in the Cron

Absinthe returns to the shelves article.

Beers on the show: no beer on the show.

Check out the FaceBook page and the YouTube channel.
January 22, 2008
18:24
SB / 08
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Strong Beer month is upon us. We have the whole month of February to drink all 12 big beers.

Join the brewers on Thursday, January 31st at 6PM at the Toronado for a kick-off event for the 6th Annual Strong Beer Month between the 21st Amendment Brewery and Magnolia Pub and Brewery. Each brewery will be pouring one of their strong beers including a special cuvee blend strong beer made between the 21st Amendment and Magnolia.
January 19, 2008
2:59
Class Reunion
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Rosie the Intern returns with glasses and presents.
January 14, 2008
2:57
Nothing
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Robot love, one beer, the award we didn’t win, a wrong turn at Absinth and nothing else.
January 08, 2008
19:55
Beer in the Movies
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Strange Brew, Beer Fest, Animal House, Van Wilder, The Sure Thing, Apocalypse Now, Smokey and the Bandit, MASH, Caddy Shack, The Bad News Bears, Cheers (the movie) never made. why not? Arthur, 1941, One Froggy Evening, Killer Clowns from Outer Space, Porky’s, Young Einstein, Beer League, So I Married an Axe Murderer, Side Ways, Moulin Rouge!, Repo Man (there is no need for beer here.) Beavis and Butthead Do America (hey baby, I gotta beer.) Very Bad Things, One Crazy Summer, 16 Candles, The Incredibles, Roger Rabbit, Super Troopers, Rabbit of Seville, What’s Opera Doc, Old School, Delta House, Green Apricot.

Three Little Beers
Part 1 and Part 2

Fatal Glass of Beer
Part 1 and Part 2

Electric Apricot sings their hit about going to Burning Man!

The Homework:
Watch a beer movie and tell your review to the robot. The number 206-666-5338. Or post it here.
January 06, 2008
15:17
College
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Drinking beer at college comes with surprises, statistics and lies. Honore, our college guest, talks about the beer that she and her friends like. The surprise is what they are drinking. Statistics came from collegedrinkingprevention.gov and cspinet.org.

Nouvelle Vague is the spelling of that band that covered the Dead Kennedy’s song.

Beers on the show:
Wittekerke, Shiner Bohemian Black Lager, Lindemen’s Posse and Green Flash Nut Brown Ale.

Listen to: ksdt.ucsd.edu

Check out the FaceBook page here.

Homework:
Redo your favorite homework from last year. For example….
Send us a coaster
Write about BeerSchool on your blog
Send us presents
Post a review.
Make a list of all your local beers.

Host: John Foster and Motor
Guest: Honore

Email us at info@beerschool.com
January 03, 2008
13:46
Cheers…
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December 24, 2007
16:09
Beer in Review
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Top three beers from the three of us. Sorry that we forgot to compare our lists. Next time maybe.

Motor
Radeberger
30 to Life from Moonlight Brewing
Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse from Nodding Head

John
Turmer Pils
Kill Ugly Radio from Lagunitas
Bitter American from 21st Amendment

Best Show
Rock Star Bartender

“You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.”
Frank Zappa

Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe was a fun game.

Secret Agent Moss Sour ID cards coming soon.

Books mentioned on the show:
Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan.

Video of Michael Pollan reading his stuff.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
by Michael Pollan

Options by Fake Steve Jobs

Ambitious Brew by Maureen Vogle

The picture of bunnies eating the cousin.

Annie’s Mac and Cheese

John got the weight of Jet fuel wrong by a pound.

10 bucks off starter brewing gear.

Homework: Plan all the festivals and events that you want to attend to in 2008.
December 22, 2007
21:48
10 Off Starter Kits
» ‎ beer school

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If you’ve ever thought about brewing your own beer now is the time to start. To entice you to get going Beer School worked out a deal with More Beer to get you $10 off a starter kit that is shipped for free! You have a choice of three kits: Good, Better and Even Better. All the kits come with instructions, sanitizer, caps, capper and hyrdometer.

Good and Better kits assume that you have some parts like a 5 gallon kettle. Any kettle will do like one that you use to make pasta or fry a turkey. It’s also to you to collect or buy your own bottles. Which is fun because it’s an excuse to drink beer in non-screw top bottles. Caps and capper are included. You get to choose what beer you want to make (not included, sorry).

Better and Even Better kits use a glass carboy for the fermenter. Although plastic is easier to carry glass will last longer and is easier to clean and sanitize. Clean is just the start with making beer. The vessels that you ferment beer in has to sterile otherwise you’ll have things growing in your beer that will make it bad. Plastic can more easily scratch and once scratched you cannot use it. That being said, from a starting out point of view, there’s nothing wrong with plastic.

The Even Better kit comes with a kettle, bottles and a beer ingredient kit that brews Light Ale. You read that right, it comes with bottles. Impressive 22 ouncers!

You have to start somewhere. And you might as well start today. Use this coupon at check out: BeerSchool08

Note: $10 off offer subject to change without notice. Beer School and More Beer is not responsible for spills, bottle bombs, infections, bad beer or the fun you have from making your own beer. Beer is good for you. Drink responsibly. YMMV.
December 21, 2007
0:13
Holiday Beer Part 2
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Bake more cookies, relight the fire and chill more Holiday beers.

Beers on the show:
Samual Adams Winter Lager
Alaskan Winter Ale
Kona Brewing Company Pipeline
Gordon Biercsh WinterBock
Allagash Grand Cru
Scaldis Noel
Cropton Rudolph’s Revenge Winter Ale
Bridgeport Ebenezer

Mentioned but not picture:
Heartland Brewery Old Red Nose Holiday Ale
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence
21st Amendment Holiday Spiced Ale
December 03, 2007
18:40
Brew a Career
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[class photo goes here]

Some people spend lots of money on brewing school to learn the craft of brewing. Melissa learned beer the other way: by brewing beer every day for the last decade. She started brewing part time then eventually quit her day job.

Homework: Visit and tour a brewery. During the tour volunteer to clean the mash tun.

Beer: Modelo in a can and mini Reeses Peanut Butter cups.

Special guests: Melissa the Brewer and Catherine.
Host: John Foster and Motor
November 27, 2007
15:39
1,934 People Learn About Homebrewing
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From that AHA…

November 3, 2007 was the American Homebrewers Association’s (AHA) Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day; on this day more than 1,900 participants brewed 1,970 gallons of beer at 152 sites worldwide. Over 550 new homebrewers learned to brew this year on Teach A Friend to Homebrew Day. The AHA celebrates brewing and encourages new brewers to enjoy the hobby of homebrewing through Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day every year on the first Saturday in November.

In its ninth installment, Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day is even bigger than last year with 14% more participants.

Homebrewing is a hobby that is increasing in popularity again and something that almost anyone 21 years and older can enjoy. The AHA estimates that there are more than 500,000 homebrewers nationwide. Homebrewing requires a stove and simple ingredients and supplies that can be purchased at your local homebrew supply store. The equipment to get started homebrewing costs about $80. The ingredients to make 5 gallons of beer cost $25 to $35 and result in about 2 cases of beer when bottled. The process of brewing takes a few hours, fermenting takes a week, bottling takes about an hour, bottle conditioning takes two weeks… then the beer is ready to chill and enjoy.

Gary Glass, the director for AHA says, “One of the great things about homebrewers is that they are happy to share their knowledge and to pass on the joy that they find in homebrewing to others–that’s really what Teach A Friend To Homebrew Day is all about.”

Homebrewers gather for this event at different locations worldwide. This year (2007) we had sites in the US, Canada, UK, and Denmark. For information on this year’s event go to: http://www.beertown.org/events/teach/
0:24
Holiday Beer Part 1
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Break out the cookies, light the fire and chill the Holiday beers. Anchor Holiday, Full Sail Wassail, New Belgium 2 Below and Sierra Nevada Celebration were on the bill.

Homework:
Try this years Holiday beers at your local or take home a six pack to share with your friends.
November 19, 2007
17:54
Holiday Beer School
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Brewers and guests from all around be bay area will be on hand to talk about holiday beers. You know, those over the top spiced out beers that we get once a year.

$40. Reservation required. Call the 21st Amendment today to make a reservation today. It always sells out.
November 18, 2007
18:41
Now on Facebook
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For why, we don’t know. Lots of people wrote in saying they wanted to see Beer School there. Thus the new page. All of you Facebook, umm, bookers(?) can add us as a Fan.

How fun is it going to be to superpoke beers to everyone. Way cheaper then sending all ya’ all beers for reals.

Link to Facebook.
November 14, 2007
1:56
Beer is Good for You
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[class photo is at the lab]

Beer is good for you in all kinds of ways. More notes to follow.

Homework:
Find a six pack of a beer that you haven’t had for a while and enjoy it with a friend.

Watch out for the lions.

Beer: Racer 5 from Bear Republic.
November 09, 2007
17:56
Barrel Aged Beer Fest
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Is this Saturday November 10th at the Bistro in downtown Hayward. Take BART. See you there.

Link
November 05, 2007
20:25
Those Fall Colors
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We talk about wet hops, GABF, Long Shot, Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day, pumpkin beer, 10 years of Magnolia, Beer Bus and Twin Peeks. Plus a lot more.

TheBN covers brewing with wet hops.

Simpsons avatar generator. South Park avatar generator. Here’s John and John.

D’oh.

Here’s the words to sing along:
DO-RE-MIBEER, by Homer J. Simpson.

DOUGH… the stuff… that buys me beer…
RAY …. the guy that sells me beer…
ME…… the guy…who drinks the beer,
FAR….. a long, long way for beer.
SO…… I think I’ll have a beer.
LA…… La, la la la la beer
TEA….. no thanks, I’m drinking beer…
That will bring us back to…
(Looks into an empty glass)
D’OH!

The making of the Elizebeth Street Brewing video.

Teach your friend to home brew day.

Magnolia is 10 years old.

Sam Adams Long Shot.

Vote for and see the May Fire play for free. Just select “The May Fire” and click “Vote”. Easy.

The May Fire has also been picked to play at the big show where they announce the winner, at Mezzanine in SF on Saturday Nov 10. You can go to that show for free if you RSVP here.

The Beer School on the Bus video from last year.

Homework:
Find and try a Pumkin beer. If you don’t like it tell the brewer why you don’t.

Try a Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale or any wet hop beer.

Start looking for Christmas beer. Email us what you like and don’t like.

Try one of the GABF award winning beers. Find the list here.

The May Fire Rocks.

Note: The “winner” of the Wet Hop Fest at the Bistro was “Lagunitas Absolutely Wet” not “Sierra Nevada Harvest” as reported.
November 03, 2007
15:11
Live from ESB
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Watch homebrewers brewing from 1PM until 5PM Pacific time. This is part of National Teach a Friend to Brew day.
November 02, 2007
17:04
Magnolia turns 10
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Magnolia Pub & Brewery is celebrating it’s 10th year on Monday, November 5 at the Great American Music Hall! Doors open at 7:30PM.

Tickets are $20 each.

More information is here.
October 30, 2007
22:46
Prohibition 2.0?
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Read this article called Prohibition Returns! Teetotaling do-gooders attack your right to drink…

Amazing that people think they have the right to imprint their views on me. See, I happen to be an adult. I choose what I eat and drink, the people that I hang out with, what music is playing and when it’s time to go home. As far as I know there are no laws limiting me in anyway as long as I play by just a few rules. The most important is how to get home without needing a car. In San Francisco that is pretty simple: cab, train, bus, BART. But in other parts of the country it’s not so simple. The car centric world of mega malls and cookie cutter eateries leaves you little choice but to get behind a wheel at the end of the evening. Of course just a little bit of planning gets you home without the need to drive if you rock, paper, scissors for the DD spot.

I know that people like to throw numbers about like how many innocents die. But here’s an alarming statistic: 16,885 died in 2005 from alcohol related fatalities but 300,000 die annually from obesity.

Do a walk through of your grocery store and read the ingredients on packaged food. It’s chemicals, partial hydrogenated oils and sugar. It’s in everything with few exceptions (beer is one of those). Scary stuff this food. Why isn’t a group of mad mothers fighting corporate food manufacturing to stop this? Where is the outrage?

The challenge to everyone is to see the greater problems and find solutions to them. Making laws, lowering limits and increasing punishments are not solutions. Those things only make the legal system crowded and lawyers rich. Want a solution? How about this. The MADD fundraiser of $38 million dollars for 1994 could have bought 1,900,000 cab rides home for anyone that needed a ride. Now that’s a solution.
October 29, 2007
15:00
Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day
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November 3, 2007 is the American Homebrewers Association’s (AHA) 9th Annual Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day and the Elizabeth Street Brewery are participating in this year’s celebration.

Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day is an international event celebrated each year on the first Saturday in November with the goal of introducing people to the homebrewing hobby and establishing relationships with local homebrew supply shops and homebrew clubs. Elizabeth Street Brewery is to inviting anyone who is interested in learning how to homebrew to stop by from 11:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, November 3.

If you aren’t in San Francisco listen to BeerSchool.com. We’ll be broadcasting the event live from Elizabeth Street Brewery. But don’t sit by your computer all day, find a brewer and brew your own beer!

Live feed begins at 1PM! Click here to tune in.
October 24, 2007
17:43
AHA Rallies sound like fun
» ‎ beer school

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An AHA Rally is where America’s professional and amateur craft brewers get together to talk beer and brewing. “The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is really trying to create an experience for the AHA member by pairing up homebrewers with craft brewers. It gives them the opportunity to share their passion for beer. Rallies allow our members to have a day to enjoy a local brewery, some beers, snacks, good conversations and meet some new friends,” according to Kathryn Porter, Membership Coordinator for the AHA. “Last year 1,300 Beer Enthusiasts turned out for AHA Rallies around the Nation.”

A rally often includes a VIP brewery tour, beer samples, door prizes, appetizers and a chance to meet the owners and brewers. Rallies are free for AHA members to attend. Non-members have to join the AHA at the door to participate in all the fun.

Upcoming AHA Rallies include: Boulder Beer Co. (Boulder, CO), Badaboomz Ale House & Grill (Indianapolis, IN), and Raccoon River Brewing Co. (Des Moines, IA). Totaling 23 rallies by the end of the year, January 2008 will be the beginning of the third year of AHA Rallies with several rallies already scheduled

Visit www.AHArally.org for more details.
October 23, 2007
18:59
Contact
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Us here…

email:
info@beerschool.com

send letters, coasters, beer and t-shirts to:
Beer School / John Foster
401 Terry Francois Ste 212
San Francisco, CA 94158

drunk dialing the Beer School office is always funny:
206 - 666 - 5338

physical location:
you will find us at the craft breweries and bars all around San Francisco / Bay Area. Such as the 21st Amendment, Magnolia, Toronado, Thirsty Bar, Marin Brewing Company, Triple Rock, Russian River, Bear Republic and City Beer Store. See you there sometime.
October 22, 2007
13:59
Brewing with a Pumpkin
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It’s that time of year again when the brewers go mad making us drink beer made with pumpkin. Personally I find the pumpkin beer fun to try but tough to finish. It’s either too much spice or not enough pumpkin.

Usually the pumpkin is cut up and added to mash or the boil. But here’s an brewer that actually used a big pumpkin for all parts of making his beer. Not cut up. The hollowed out pumpkin!

Because most of us don’t have time to brew a beer for the groovy goulies we’ll have to resort to getting a six pack of pumpkin beer for your Halloween party. That way when your guests arrive shouting TRICK OR TREAT you can hand over the weird beer. Trick indeed.

Click to see “brewing beer in a pumpkin” pictures.
October 17, 2007
22:11
Motor phones in from the GABF
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Motor got to spend time at the Great American Beer Festival held in Denver Colorado. By calling into the ‘robot’ he was able to record some impression of the show from the floor. A link to some pictures will be up later.
October 13, 2007
21:44
GABF 2007 Winners
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More than 100 judges labored for three days to evaluate 2,793 beers and pick the best entries and top breweries for this year’s Great American Beer Festival. A total of 222 medals were awarded in 75 beer style categories and top breweries and brewers were designated based on the total number of medals won. The five top awards recognize small, medium and large breweries and small and large brewpubs.

Go to Great American Beer Festival.com for a complete list of winners.
October 05, 2007
20:06
pre GABF
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The Great American Beer Festival is just a week away. Be sure to listen to the GABF preview from the Brewing Network.

Gold, silver and bronze medals in 75 beer-style categories will be awarded October 13 at the 1:30 p.m. awards ceremony held during the Members Only Tasting Session.

408 Breweries on the festival floor
 1884 Beers on the festival floor
 474 Breweries in the competition
 2832 Beers in the competition
 75 Style Categories being judged
107 judges from 7 countries
 
 Avg number of competition beers in each category: 37 (2 more beers than last year)

Homework: Go the the GABF
Extra Credit: Sign up for the Beer Bus.
Other Credit: Go to the Wet Hop Fest at the Bistro.
Beer: at 10AM we were drinking coffee.
October 03, 2007
18:29
GABF 2007 Preview on theBN
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The Brewing Network has posted a Preview of what you can expect from the Great American Beer Festival that is just around the corner. The Preview MP3 contains interviews with the founders, talks about event happenings, and has words from brewers and other event attendees. This is a “must listen” segment for anyone heading to Denver.

Link to the GABF Preview. Be sure to listen to Beer School’s take on attending beer fest called Surviving a Beer Festival.
October 01, 2007
19:07
Join us on the Beer Bus!
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The 21st Amendment is sponsoring a Beer Bus to the south bay breweries that we normally never get to. The cost for the entire trip is $120 which includes beer, food, and the bus for the entire day. Once you get on the bus you won’t have any other expenses. That is unless you buy a t-shirt at every stop! But who would do such a thing?

To get on the bus just stop by or call the 21A for a resevation. The number is 415-369-0900. Don’t wait because it will fill up.

If you’d like to get an idea of what the day might be like check out this video that the Brewing Network made during last years trip.
September 23, 2007
22:59
Beer School at GABF
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The Beer School crew is attending the Great American Beer Festival. We’re there for the whole thing so if you want to find for pictures, autographs or chatting about beer there’s plenty of time to find us. Watch this article for all the details of how, when and where to find Motor and John plus past guests such as Gabby, Steve, Justine (not yet on the show), ShaunO.

If you are going to be at the GABF put a comment below.
September 19, 2007
22:46
Belgium to split?
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We joked about this on the Belgium 101 show. It turns out our poke in fun wasn’t far from the truth. From the article:

“Belgium?” he splutters. “That’s something that doesn’t exist. The national anthem? Nobody knows it. Nobody can sing it. The king? A parvenu. A dysfunctional family. We’re not going to take it any more.”

“Many Flemish disparage the Walloons as lazy spongers who are too stupid to learn Dutch.”

Link to the article.
22:42
A Brewer’s Perspective of Brewing
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A perspective (actually maybe this should be retrospetive instead) of brewing and beer culture going back to 1983. Shaun O’Sullivan from the 21st Amendement Brewery in San Francisco, CA joins the discussion. We talk about the beginnings of the micro brewery revolution, what worked, what failed and the future of craft beer.

[group photo posted soon.]
September 17, 2007
22:01
John on the JO
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This would have been two years ago. Photo by Gabby.
21:57
news is a new section
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all the news fit to drink.
21:56
trips is a new section
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The fall sends us traveling. Look for stories and commentary about our travels here.
September 16, 2007
23:27
Belgium 101
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[class photo goes here]

Belgium is a wonderful place for beer. There are many styles from that country. Many of which are not always accessible to the American style beer drinker from a palette point of view. Belgium beers don’t follow marketing trends that “large beer factories” making labels that look uninviting.

Homework: Find a Lambic of some sort like a lindemans Pêche, Pomme, or Framboise. Notice the sour quality. Don’t forget a trippel. Or find a Belgium beer of some sort.
September 04, 2007
16:13
Zappa and the Three Beers
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[class photo goes here]

In the tradition of the show “Your Next Four Beers” we talk about the beer that you should try next. This time we pick beers that push you further from the beer that you might be drinking now.

Homework: While you might have trouble finding Russian River Redemtion finding Orval and Chimay should be easier. However we’re sorry that you won’t find Lagunitas ‘Kill Ugly Radio’ which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the second Zappa album at your local unless your local is around the Bay Area. It’s a “angry pale” that’s worthy of the Zappa heritage.

Other homework: Send us bootleg Zappa recordings.
16:11
Dad’s Beer
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[class photo goes here]

The brands that my father and his friends used to drink were Hamm’s, Schlitz, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Olympia and Old Milwaukee. There were great marketing campaigns that went with these beers making them memorable even today. However these beers are little more then a brand names made in somewhere in America (like Irwindale, CA). We couldn’t verify that the original recipes were being used.
August 30, 2007
15:28
Michael Jackson…
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Guess we can finally digitize his VHS tapes to convert them to more usable DVD without feeling bad. Bummer just the same. [raises glass]
August 14, 2007
16:20
Syllabus
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It has been six month since we started Beer School. It’s time to restate the goals of the class. The entire text of the syllabus can be found here. We talk about how some things have to be reassuringly expensive.

Be sure to read fakesteve.blogspot.com everyday.

The burrito tunnel!

BJCP study guide and BJCP off flavor and style flash cards.

Three Sheets to the Wind by Pete Brown is a great read.

Homework:
Tell us what beer is in your local neighbor hood store.

Beer: Sierra Nevada Pale, Anchor Liberty Ale, Anchor Steam, Lagunitas IPA.
August 09, 2007
1:17
Dr. Bill in the School!
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Devotion to beer means that you travel the world going to festivals or breweries, making friends with everyone, and converting your house to keep beer preserved. Dr. Bill has toured beer for the last 30 years. We talk about collecting beer, storing beer and attending BIG festivals like the GABF (the Great American Beer Festicval). If you happen to have an airplane be sure to join us at the 20 year Anniversary of San Francisco’s Toronado.

Can’t find something? Try http://www.hitimewine.net/

Beer:
Full Sail - Session
Lost Abby - Devotion
Victor - Allagash
Toronado 20th Anniversary

Homework:
Start a beer collection.
August 01, 2007
13:46
Road Trip!
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No matter which way you go there is a micro brewery or a beer factory. Once there you might enjoy a tour, tell stories with the locals and drink a tasty pint. Afterwards you can ask “where’s next!”

Be sure to drink water, eat food, don’t over indulge and have a plan to get home.
July 22, 2007
18:11
Home Brewing Part 2
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If you can boil water you can make your own beer. There are lots of different ways to get started. You can start with a Mr Beer kit for about $40 which will make about 2 gallons of beer. If you spend just a little bit more money you can get a kit that will make even better beer.

Justin Crossley from The Brewing Network joins us in the discussion. Link to the Brewing on the Cheap show.

Homework:
Brew some beer! Get a Mr Beer kit which is a cheap way to try out brewing. Or invest a little more money in a Starter Kit from your local home brew shop. If you don’t have a local store Beer, Beer and More Beer is a great online resource.

Beer Kits and Beer Ingredients.

Bonus home work!
Send us the beer that you make. Be sure to send stories and pictures.
July 19, 2007
0:38
Lawn Mower Beers
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There is nothing worse then a big hoppy IPA on a hot summer day. Especially after you finish mowing the lawn. What you want it is a nearly frozen, very good, insanely refreashing beer. What are we looking for? It turns out that these are the most popular beer in the world. Yup. You read that right. We taste Miller Lite, Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors, Coors Light, Rainier Ale and Wittekreke. The results of the side-by-side-by-side-by-side-by-side-by-side-by-side-by-side will surprise you.

Make sure that these beers are served ice cold. Colder then cold. Nearly frozen cold. Brrr.
July 14, 2007
1:52
Motor reports in from LA
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Motor occasionally calls in when he’s traveling to report on his surroundings. Hard to tell if he’s being sarcastic or if he really truly is having a good time. Listen for yourself and leave a comment.

[this is not going out on the feed btw]
1:36
just two days to vote
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As you can see on the left, nominations are now closed, the votes counted and the jury is in. Thanks to everyone that wrote us in.

And the envelope please… RATS! The words win.

Before everyone goes reading into my “rats!”

I knew that we didn’t stand a chance against that Grammar Grrl (the grrr is an intentional rib). I could quote a bunch of specs of that show as “proof of why it won” but instead I’m going to say this instead. I’m proud that Beer School got nominated. In a category that it possibly should not have in the first place. But a chance for metal is a always just that. We’ll take it.

I’ve learned so much in the last 6 months from doing the show. How to be a host for example. I wasn’t very good at it in the beginning. At one point I wanted to quit because I didn’t think I was progressing fast enough. Whatever. I’ve told countless artists that if we practice our craft there’s a payoff. I did. I got better. We got better. The stories got better. We just had fun.

The numbers of listeners have grown from 4 people downloading directly to a two digit number ending with a capital K. Which are some of the TWiT listeners, brewers from the BN Army and random people searching for beer on iTunes. Someday you actually will be able to download a beer from there but until then I suggest your around the corner local.

I wouldn’t do the show if it wasn’t for the people writing in telling us that they discovered a new place or a new beer that we ought to try. Like the time some guy posted to the blog in Germany sitting at a bar enjoying a Anchor Steam using the free wifi. Saying he tried it because he’d heard about the beer on the show. Zowie! It took me a moment. Now I hear stories like that every day. And I share those stories back when I can or when people come to town on vacation / business who want to meet up at some place for a cold one served with stories just like it.

Do I care that I didn’t win? No. [pause] (okay I’m lying…) But, umm, I’ve, err, we’ve already won in so many other ways. I can’t tell you how proud it makes me that I can make something like this where people all around the world can tune in. For free. It’s frick’n cool beyond words.

[Raises glass.]

I couldn’t or wouldn’t have done it without all of you! To my side kick Motor. Rosie the intern. All of our guests. Everyone that tuned in. Thank you!

[drinks!]

ps… possibly this is a thread hijack but I’m not hoisting this toast just for me. To Grammar Girl!

It’s her shout (that means she’s buying the next round in Australia)! She won!
July 09, 2007
1:10
Surviving a Beer Festival
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Beer festivals are a fun way to learn about different beers. A fest can be a lot of fun but it takes some preparation on your part to get the most out of them. Before you show up do a quick internet search so you know the details of the event.

Be sure to drink water, eat food, wear sun screen and have a plan to get home.

You feel obligated to drink the beer that you don’t like.
Don’t follow the crowd.
Taste to remember.
Take notes about the beers you are drinking.
Get the shirt if it’s cool.
Leave glassware behind.
Take lots of pictures.
Hi Gene.

Homework:
Find a festival and go to it.

Bonus home work!
Volunteer to help pour beer at your local festival.

Even more homework:
Throw your own beer festival in your back yard.
July 02, 2007
0:06
The 21st Amendment at the 21st Amendment
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The 21st Amendment repealed the “grand experiment” known as the 18th Amendment. The amendment passed on February 20th 1933 and was ratified on January 5th 1933. 75 years later there are thousands of crazy laws concerning alcohol sales, distribution, transportation and use.

[Link to show pictures goes here]

Special Guests: Nico Freccia, Nils, Terry and Jill.
July 01, 2007
3:11
Live Feed Fiasco
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The live feed may or may not have worked. I was not able to verify that it was working prior to the show. But I know that it worked days before. If you tried to tune in and it didn’t work my apologies to you. When it’s show time at some point you have to go with what you have. Working or not.

John
June 28, 2007
18:28
Brewing a Sustainable Community
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Bob Coleman a craft beer advocate, writer, politician and attorney and Dave McLean publican of the Magnolia and Alembic join us in a discussion about how breweries affect the surrounding community.

Homework:
Watch hops grow? Try three kinds of chickens frozen, local frozen and from the case? Make two choices that help your community. Figure out where things come from.

Special Guests: Bob Coleman and Dave McLean
Host: John Foster and Motor
Beer: 21st Amendment IPA
June 27, 2007
17:06
Live from the 21a: talking about the 21st Amendment.
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This Saturday June 30, 2007 we’re broadcasting live from the 21st Amendment in San Francisco from 12-2PM (PST). Join us at 563 2nd Street on the Mezzanine or by pointing your web browser to:

www.beerschool.com/live
June 21, 2007
1:33
Home Brewing Part 1
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[class picture goes here]

Prohibition forced brewing back into the home enabled by parts available from the location five and dime. While Motor and I are not officially brewing, we’ve brewed before. We tackle the tough questions about getting starting in the craft of brewing.

Homework:
There is no official homework this week. But if you are so inclined you might consider brewing some beer. There are many beer kits but the Mr. Beer is the simplest, cheapest and comes with everything you need. Order one up and brew a batch. Or just download the step-by-step instructions and read about the process of this stove top compatible experiment.

[www.mrbeer.com]
June 18, 2007
14:33
The Eighteenth Amendment
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[class photo goes here]

It took activists 75 years to get alcohol products banned from consumer use. Starting after the civil war groups made their way from state to state. A decade after the turn of the century much of the nation was “dry” and it was only a matter of time before government was swayed to put the final nail in the coffin. But it wasn’t just one of these forces at work. It took money, politics, religion, big business, public opinion and a world war to make this happen.

Be sure to check out Ambitious Brew by Maureen Ogle for even more stories of beer and politics.