The can craze...

Craft brewing seems to be once again embracing the canning of beer.

I just had 2 of the above 3 beers the other weekend and they were delicious. (highly recommend Summer Solstice for it's pronounced malt character) They were enjoyed during a round of golf. I could not detect any negative effects on the flavor of the beer and it seems to be a much greener choice over glass bottles if nothing else than for the fact that aluminum is lighter than glass and therefore requires less fuel to transport. Not to mention the fact that you can fit many more empties in the recycling bin. Now on the other side of that coin, the manufacturing process of aluminum can be more harmful to the environment than bottles so there is no definitive winner in that category. Regardless of the reason, craft brewers are utilizing the can more and more everyday. There are entire websites dedicated to the canning of beer and I had no idea the extent of brewers that are canning. I know one thing that is for certain, I am headed to the beach this weekend with some friends, and when I grab some beer, I'll be hunting for beer in cans.

My latest infatuation...

It took me a long time to finally delve into the world of beer drinking as far as most of my friends are concerned. When they were picking up six-packs of anything from Budweiser to Newcastle, I was following in the footsteps of my Dad and his brother. Bourbon, whiskey, and scotch either on the rocks or mixed with cola or ginger-ale were always their go-to beverage of choice when my little taste buds were forming. When I was going for a sip, as kids sometimes do, I was tasting Jim Beam or J&B rather than a more typical beer. Naturally when I become of age, that is what I gravitated towards.

Now that I have fully delved into the world of top notch beer, I have discovered the joys of barrel aged stouts and porters. More specifically the bourbon or whiskey barrel aged variety's. My favorite incarnation of these is Founder's Brewing Co. Kentucky Breakfast Stout. It is, in my opinion, the standard by which I judge all other beers of this style. A close second has to be Brooklyn Brewery Black Ops with Oak Aged Yeti by Great Divide right there with them. I am currently enjoying a case of Weyerbacher Heresy which also seems to be a good version, albeit not quite on the same tier with the previous three in my opinion.

This style seems to be synonymous with winter and colder months because all of these beers are special editions or seasonals only released in the winter, but I could drink they year round. That's why I am currently working with Judge Brews (a home brewing collaborator) developing a recipe for Big Dan Stout. Version 1.0 is currently being dry hopped with Jack Daniels infused wood chips and will be ready in a few months. A complete review is forthcoming. Variations to the recipe for future versions will include modifications to the hops included and changing the volume of wood chips as well as the duration of dry hopping. Till then, eat, drink, and be merry.

Welcome...

Hello all, I am Dan. I am finding myself more and more interested (more of an obsession if you ask me) in good beer. I am getting into home brewing. I have brewed a few beers with my brewing collaborator, Steve. He is teaching me techniques and recipe design and is my go to when I have questions. I pick the brains of anyone in the industry that will let me. From the owners of breweries to sales managers at distributors to home brew shop owners, there is no end to the knowledge one could gain. I could go on and on about what makes me tick, but that will get boring quick.

To preview some of my upcoming ideas, I am building my own mask/lauter tun from a cooler and plumbing parts, building my own copper wort chiller, and will be reporting on my adventures at the Harrisburg Brewers Fest hosted by Troegs Brewing Co. I will also be reviewing my own home brew recipes as they come to fruition. Until then, eat, drink and be merry.