Planet Of Beer

The Orkney Brewery has mounted a vigorous defence of its award winning Skull Splitter ale, which could be withdrawn from sale in the UK following a report claiming its Viking branded bottles had an “aggressive” theme.

The report, by management consultancy PIPC, was commissioned by controversial drinks marketing watchdog, the Portman Group, to investigate compliance with an industry code of practice on the naming, packaging and promotion of alcohol.

Skull Splitter, an 8.5% ale created over 20 years ago and sold internationally, was singled out in the PIPC report because “it’s name implies violence and also the impact the strength may have on the drinker”.
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Chico, CA (Sep 2008) - With hops, time is of the essence. From the minute the hop flower gets plucked from the bine, essential oils, resins and flavors begin to dry up. In the time that slips by between harvesting, drying, packaging and shipping, some of the bright and shiny boldness of the original flavor is lost forever.

That is why, with Harvest Ale, they skip the middleman. Sierra Nevada is a pioneer in using “wet-hops,” hops that are picked, shipped, and tossed right into the brew-kettle, same day. The brewers waste no time for drying, or packaging, straight from the fields in Yakima to our brew house in one continuous motion. Sierra Nevada works hard to bring the freshest hop flavor possible to one of their most sought-after beers. With Harvest Ale, the hops come alive. The big and bold tastes of the American Cascade and Centennial hop varieties highlighted in the beer have become signature flavors for Sierra Nevada, and for the American-style of brewing which they helped to develop.
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Hood River Oregon - “Over the last year, we have been working on a special beer to celebrate a special occasion - the brewery’s 21st birthday which is coming up in September. This means we are finally old enough to drink our own beer. They say your 21st birthday is a rite of passage - the milepost that marks your evolution from child to adult, with all the attendant privileges & responsibilities. We say it’s a great excuse to brew a killer doppelbock. Concocted by our brew crew in celebration of our epic and glorious 21st birthday, we bring you “21″ a deep amber colored lager brewed in the doppelbock style,” said Jamie Emmerson, Full Sail’s Executive Brewmaster.

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NEWPORT, OR, September 15, 2008 - Strap on your snow shoes and keep your eye out this winter for Rogue’s Yellow Snow IPA in a 5 Liter Can. The can uses a convenient “Pull and Turn” tapping system that makes this the perfect gift to share with friends at the mountain, the lodge, or the local motel. Yellow Snow is Rogue’s tribute to winter sports everywhere-downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country, ice hockey, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and even curling.

Yellow Snow IPA is Dedicated to Common Sense.

Yellow Snow will be available November 1 in select mountain communities across the country. In addition to the 5 Liter Can, Yellow Snow IPA is available in serigraphed 64oz jugs, 22oz bottles, and on draft.
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Denver, CO - September 9, 2008 - Flying Dog Brewery announces the Flying Dog, Brats and Gonzo, or “FBAG” Party to occur on October 10 at the Flying Dog Brewery Warehouse in Denver, Colorado from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The FBAG event will be the first opportunity for beer connoisseurs to sample some of Flying Dog’s latest releases including “Dog Schwarz,” a Smoked Double Lager. Flying Dog’s highly anticipated, new Canis Major Mixed 8-Pack of seven ounce bottles will also be unveiled. The event is open to the public and admission is FREE.

“Although the brewing operations for Flying Dog have moved to Maryland, our corporate offices are still in the heart of Denver and we see the Great American Beer Festival as a hometown event,” said Neal Stewart, director of marketing for Flying Dog. “To support the event and its attendees, we are inviting all of our friends and those interested in Flying Dog and craft beer to come by our warehouse and sample some of our new and experimental beers.”
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Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company has announced a September 15 release date for its Haystack Hefeweizen in 22 oz. bottles. Previously only available on draft, the brewery is releasing Haystack Hefeweizen as the initial offering featuring completely redesigned labels for all of their bottled products. According to brewery sales manager David Siegel, “Haystack Hefeweizen will be the only Washingtonmicro-brewed bottled hefeweizen available year-round.”

Named for the “Haystack,” the 300 foot summit of Mount Si, a Snoqualmie Valley icon, Haystack Hefeweizen is a classic unfiltered American-style wheat beer handcrafted from 60% malted wheat, two-row pale and Vienna malts, and finished with noble German hops. Haystack is fermented with an American ale yeast strain that imparts a spicy, citrus aroma and clean, mellow flavor with subtle yeast overtones. As an unfiltered hefeweizen contains live yeast in the bottle, it is important to gently re-suspend the yeast prior to serving.
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Hood River, Or - Full Sail Brewing is proud to announce the release of Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale as part of their Brewmaster Reserve series. Brewing a fresh hop ale to celebrate the hop harvest is an annual tradition at Full Sail. Every year, the Full Sail brewers travel to area hop fields and gather all the fresh hops they can carry to brew this special beer. This year’s Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale is brewed with three varieties of fresh hops straight from the harvest: Mt Rainier, Cascade and Nugget. According to Full Sail Brewmaster, John Harris, “Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale is a veritable hop lover’s delight. The beer is all about hops. It’s wet hopped, kettle hopped, hop back hopped, wet hopped in the fermenter, and dry hopped in the fermenter with 135 pounds of hops per 24 barrel batch. That’s 5.62 pounds of hops per barrel! Expect a bold hop aroma of citrus and spice and a nice caramel flavor with a pronounced citrus character.” Due to the limited availability of fresh hops, Lupulin is brewed in small batches, so Harris suggests that you enjoy this once a year tradition while you can. Harris goes on to explain that, “This beer is rightfully named Lupulin, as the lupulin glands are the sticky resins inside the hops that carry the bitterness and essential oils of the hops. They are what gives beer its wonderful flavor and aroma.” (5.8 ABV 70 IBU)
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ST. LOUIS (September 2008) — Since 1896, the Michelob name has captured what today’s adults appreciate most about their favorite beers - the best ingredients, high brewing standards and flavorful taste. Building off a foundation steeped in heritage, Michelob is proud to bring together never-before-released recipes and some familiar styles as part of the family.

Anheuser-Busch created Michelob Brewing Co. to give even more autonomy and creative license to its skilled brewmasters to brew their interpretations of classic styles to better meet the needs of adults who enjoy exploring different beers.
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BOSTON,MA (Sept. 16 2008) - It’s no secret that hops are the signature of good beer, adding to its aroma, character, and robust flavor. This September, Samuel Adams is once again celebrating great, Noble hops by offering beer lovers the distinct, full-flavored taste they crave in the latest release of Samuel Adams® Hallertau Imperial Pilsner. This one-of-a-kind beer uses enormous, almost reckless, quantities of the Hallertau Mittelfrueh hop, a rare Bavarian Noble hop variety prized for its distinct taste and aroma. The result is an innovative beer with unmatched flavor and complexity.

“Samuel Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner is brewed for the hungry-for-hops beer lover and the entire community of great beer connoisseurs who are always on the hunt for a brew that unabashedly pushes the boundaries of flavor,” said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams® beers. “Each fall, I travel to Bavaria and personally hand select the highest quality Noble hops used in the Hallertau Imperial Pilsner to ensure every bottle is bursting with the distinct bitter taste and floral aromas typical of Noble hops from this region, and necessary to support the bold, extreme flavor found in this beer,” Koch added.
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ST. LOUIS — Beer drinkers around the world have long appreciated Budweiser’s quality and heritage. Now fans of “The Great American Lager” are invited to discover the newest member of the Budweiser family - Budweiser American Ale.

Today Budweiser American Ale makes its nationwide debut on draught. On Sept. 29, it debuts in 12-ounce six-packs and 22-ounce singles at select on- and off-premise retail accounts.

Robust and well-rounded, Budweiser American Ale’s rich amber color and bright, hoppy finish is the ideal counterpart to Budweiser’s signature golden, crisp flavor. However, the quality and balance remain, making Budweiser American Ale - much like its well-known sibling - the perfect balance of malt and hop refreshment … in an ale.
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