Make Your Beer and Drink It, Too

The New York Times just printed a story on Feb. 28 about breweries in America that are offering educational and “hands on” classes on brewing. Here is a list  of breweries that offer packages where you can stay and brew.

Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery (135 Main Street North, Woodstock, N.H.; 800-321-3985; woodstockinnnh.com). Brewery Weekends are offered in April and May; $118 per person, not including lodging. The weekend package includes a Friday reception, meals on Saturday and the chance to brew with professionals.

Samuel Adams/Copley Plaza package (138 St. James Avenue, Boston; 800-441-1414; fairmont.com/copleyplaza). The brewery experience package is offered January to May and September to December, subject to availability. Doubles start at $429.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales has a weekend package through the Inn at Canal Square (122 Market Street, Lewes, Del.; 888-644-1911; www.theinnatcanalsquare.com) that includes a brewery tour and a $50 dinner certificate for the Dogfish Head brewpub. Packages start at $480, double occupancy, depending on the season.

Rogue Ales (Chatoe Rogue Micro Hopyard, 3590 Wigrich Road, Independence, Ore.; 503-347-8288; www.rogue.com). Double rooms at the house on this hops farm start at $90 per night.

Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Budweiser Brewery Tours (12th and Lynch Streets, St. Louis, Mo.; 314-577-2626; www.budweisertours.com). General tours are free. Beermaster tours are $25 for those 21 and older and $10 for ages 13 to 20.

Read the full story here.

Beer Recipe Cook-off in WA

I just learned about an awesome cook-off taking place in Washington.  On Sunday, February 28, Backcountry Essentials in Bellingham will host a Beer Recipe Cook-off.

Participants may cook an entrée, appetizer or dessert that will be taste-tested and judged by local beer experts. All recipes must include beer as an ingredient. The experts, whose names have not been released, include local bar owners and people who work in the beer business.

Prizes will be awarded to the best entrée, appetizer and dessert. Additional prizes will also be offered including gift cards to Backcountry Essentials.

The event starts at 5 p.m. For more information, visit their website at www.backcountryessentials.net.

New Report Shows Beer is Good for Bones

Fox News released a report last week stating that beer may be good for your health after all. A new analysis of 100 commercial beers shows the beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for bone health.

The take-home message for the casual drinker: “Choose the beer you enjoy. Drink it in moderation,” lead researcher Charles Bamforth of the University of California, Davis, told LiveScience. “It is contributing silicon (and more) to your good health.”

Read the full story here.

Super Bowl Sunday Poll

Vote for your favorite beer commercial here!

Super Bowl Sunday Beer Commercials

When I think of Super Bowl Sunday, I think  of parties, awesome appetizers, beer, and the hilarious commercials. If you’ve missed some of the beer commercials while running to the bathroom or filling up on chili, here they are – all eight of them.

Take the poll! After watching these commercials, vote for your favorite here.

Bud Light – “House”

Bud Light – “Asteroid“

Bud Light – “Autotune”

Budweiser – “Bridge”

Bud Light – “Lost”

Budweiser Select 55 – “Down”

Budweiser – “Friends“

Michelob Ultra – “Lance Armstrong“