The Coast to Coast Toast by Vanberg & DeWulf

Firkin Around...the beer world.

Calling all fans of Belgian ales! The Belgian Experts, Vanberg & DeWulf would like to call your attention to their upcoming Coast to Coast Toast. For three decades, Vanberg & DeWulf has been a trailblazer in quality Belgian imports.

Vanberg & DeWulf - Turns 30

The Coast to Coast Toast is both a celebration of Vanberg & DeWulf's 30th anniversary of bringing quality Belgian ales to America. It's also a tribute to their distributors, bars, restaurants and stores that have helped the company and their passion for fine ales to flourish. The celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Vanberg & DeWulf and their "Heroes of the Good Beer Movement" is set for November 15, 2011 (King's Day in Belgium) at favorite beer spots all across America.

If you are a distributor, restaurant, bar or store that wishes more information on how to participate, contact them by email at vanberg.and.dewulf@gmail.com. They will gladly get back to you with all the details; things such as the Coast to Coast Toast Toolkit full of goodies - official Coast to Coast Toast snacks, cocktails, Belgian trivial quizzes, official music, approved beer lists, company history, coasters, posters, etc....to make the party unique to your venue.

Firkin Belgian Beer Blast!


Vanberg & DeWulf

52 Pioneer Street

Cooperstown, NY 13326

(800)-656-1212
(607)-547-8374


www.belgianexperts.com

http://facebook.com/vanberganddewulf

http://twitter.com/#!/belgianexpert

The 2010 Great American Beer Festival

Firkin Around...Denver, Colorado.

And now, The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) !  This marks my second year in a row, in attendance.  I once commented about last year's event,"... it was like walking into a room of 15,000 strangers that really were friends."  That was never more evident than this year. Going in again, there was a moment of uncertainty that it would not meet the expectations of the previous year.  Last year had been so interesting and so much fun. I came to find out that because of my expanded use of Twitter and blogging, these people were truly friends that I just had not yet met. The two days spent at the event seem like a blur now, but the memories, the friends made and the beer sampled was phenomenal.  The place was full of some favorite breweries and some new.  Lots of different beer was here to sample; one thing the GABF never lacks, is variety.  Superstars of beer.  Up close and personal. So, what would be the attraction this year?  Surely all that new beer the breweries were issuing was an important part.  But, I found that the real "rock stars" of the business were in attendance and even more accessible than last year.  Note the pix here on this page of just a couple of the luminaries at large in the Denver Convention Center.  Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head was pouring libations for the crowd at the Dogfish tent. We stood in line for about 15 minutes and wouldn't you know it, just before we got to the table it was time for him to move on. Having already invested ourselves waiting on line, we toughed it out and got our beer.  Sam and his entourage hadn't gone too far and one of them spotted me with my camera and had Sam pose for the pic. A very friendly and approachable group from Dogfish Head put a smile on our faces and and exclamation point on the night. In another part of the convention hall, a dapper gentleman was pouring out samples for the audience.  You guessed it! It was none other than Garrett Oliver from Brooklyn Beer. Suprisingly, the line was incredibly short.  We must have just missed the throng walking away.  After pouring us a couple of ounces, he graciously posed for this picture. Shaking hands, Garrett went off in the crowd to his book signing. A busy man of great talents. A friend made at last year's GABF was Zak Davis, the west coast rep for Shmaltz.  They have two awesome lineups in HeBrew and Coney Island, featuring some high ABV ales and crazy craft lagers respectively. Zak is always the host with the most and this year was no different.  I was fortunate to catch up with him at a couple of the events in Denver. In the closer-to-home star power, Tampa beer makers, Cigar City had brewmaster Wayne Wambles  and Joe Redner pouring out some specialty beers.  We had the fortune to catch up with them after the flight home to Tampa on Sunday and we chatted a bit at the baggage area. To those are fans of good beer, I have to ask, "If you haven't gone to The Great American Beer Festival yet, what are you waiting for?"  It simply defies words and has to be experienced.

Firkin Biggest Beerfest in the USA!

The Great American Beer Festival
September 16, 17 & 18, 2010
The Denver Convention Center
700 14th Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 228-8000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (303) 228-8000      end_of_the_skype_highlighting


View Larger Map

Falling Rock Tap House

Firkin Around...Denver, Colorado.

Ah, Denver! Ah The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) !  Ah Falling Rock Tap House!  Just into town, I dropped my luggage at the hotel room, then grabbed an RTD bus ride up 16th Street.  A quick dash up Blake brought us to Falling Rock.  It's just about a block from Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. The Falling Rock has been a beer Mecca for over a decade, or as they like to exclaim, "...nearly 1/8th of a century".  Folks come here for a very good reason, as they have 75+ beers on tap and 130+ bottles at any given time.  The beer selections on the wall are mind boggling. The unused tap handles and empty bottle collection wraps its way around the upper part of the wall. Walking inside for the first time, you'll look like a tourist in New York staring up at skyscrapers. I met a veritable who's-who of bloggers, brewers, assistant brewers, bookwriters and Twitter tweeps as I wound through the throngs of craft beer lovers.  We ordered a couple of Shmaltz Luna Lagers from the Coney Island lineup and promptly headed downstairs to see Jeremy Cowen of Shmaltz. He was signing copies of his new book: Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah: How it took 13 years, Extreme Jewish Brewing, and Circus Sideshow Freaks to make Shmaltz Brewing Company an International Success.  Zak Davis, the West Coast regional representative and friend of the blog, was behind a bar pouring out samples of the Hebrew and Coney Island brews for the crowd. Also in the house, we spotted Erik, Eli, Brandon and Romey and the rest of the boys at BeerTapTV.com .  They had a portable video unit linked to the internet, streaming live signal to their Ustream channel.  After an impromptu interview with yours truly, they introduced me to Robin Goldstein, co-author of The Beer Trials. LA Craft Beer Examiner Chris Spradley, fellow Tweeter and recently of Master Chef fame was also in attendance.  Enough with the name dropping, the fun was underway! Beer and good times, upstairs and downstairs. The atmosphere was upbeat and "chill" all at the same time. When it was time for a refill, we sauntered back upstairs.  Making our way up to the bar, we must have looked like piglets to a mother pig; leaning through patrons seated at the crowded bar trying to get a bartender's attention. Reloaded with fresh Odell 5 Barrel Pale Ale, I turned around for the most pleasant surprise of the evening. The 'shock' of blonde hair was the first giveaway...it was indeed Ashley Routson, aka The Beer Wench !  Introducing myself, she immediately greeted me with a bear hug. Along with Erik Boles, the three of us shared great discussions about beer and blogs.  Throughout the evening, Ashley introduced me to many of her craft beer loving acquaintances. The night went along as we toasted one another.  Finally, fatigued from travel, I wandered back through LODO (Lower Downtown) and slunk into the hotel around 2 AM.  The bed caught my body like a  knuckle-ball in a catcher's mitt. Just as the sandman arrived, I realized this was going to be a special trip. A special trip, indeed.

Firkin Happening Joint!

Falling Rock Tap House
1919 Blake St.
Denver, Colorado
(303) 293 – 8338 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (303) 293 – 8338      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Hours of Operation
11am-2am Monday-Friday
11am-2am Saturday & Sunday

The Sarasota Beer Festival

Firkin Around...Sarasota, Florida.

The first (hopefully annual) Sarasota Beer Festival was held on Saturday, August 28th.  I can't remember a beer festival of this size ever, previously being hosted in Sarasota.  Of course, I don't get out much! Wink! Robarts Arena was the venue, on Ringling Blvd., just off Fruitville Road. Florida Beer Festivals was the promoter of this event.  They host many beer festivals in other Florida cities, some of which I have attended in the past. Beer, beer and more beer... A lot, make that a a whole lot of beer was available at this venue.  Over 110 different beers to sample. It would be way too long a list to write up, so I will leave it to your imagination.  It's enough to say that if you like hops, they were there and well represented.  Fancy a malty porter or stout?  Well there was enough to satisfy an Englishman.  Want an exotic or alternative brew?  Those were also well represented and in quantity.

Hungry?  Want some tunes, too?

There were many local food vendors serving up every manner of pizza and wings; the perfect food to go with beer!  One local eatery had deep fried hot dogs...oh, mama!  Served up with a mayo/mustard/horseradish sauce that was just - - - ooh la la!

Music was by the Paper Airplanes.  Great stuff!  Crowd engaging renditions of current and past favorites played for all.  The tunes kept everyone swaying through the hall all night.

You just can't go wrong with one of these local beer festivals.  Your entry price of $20/advance gets you plenty to eat, drink and otherwise enjoy.  Go to one the next time you get the chance.  Cheers!

Firkin Great Beerfest!

Robarts Sports Arena
3000 Ringling Boulevard
Sarasota, FL  34237




View Larger Map

Morton's Gourmet Market - Celebration of Brewing

Firkin Around...Sarasota, FL.

Morton's Gourmet Market is one of those "go-to" places for different, unusual, hard-to-get or just downright exotic eats.  A foodie's best friend, a purveyor of specialty soda pop all the way up to your favorite grape or grain beverage.  Basically, if you are "jones-ing" something good to eat or drink, chances are they can scratch your itch.

This fine Saturday evening was a three hour craft beer festival.  But wait.  It gets so much better.  The entry was a mere $15 far enough in advance.  Even at $25, at the door, a terrific bargain.  Morton's pulled out all the stops.  They had The Morton's chefs serving up wonderful grilled sandwich sliders and there were baskets of jalapeno bread scattered throughout.

The main portion of the event was outside, in the parking lot underneath a tent.  Over 40 beer vendors and distributors poured from many various craft beers into your real glass sampling vessel supplied courtesy of Budweiser.  The glass was a keeper.  Several vendors had tables set up in the cool, air conditioned bakery inside the store. The crowd was just right; no shoving or over-crowding. Just everyone learning, sampling, tasting and enjoying the great Florida sunshine, craft beer and gourmet cuisine.

This is another example of the fine food and beverage events they hold throughout the year.  Picture yourself at the next event...or if you can't wait, get down there now and pick something up to go!




Firkin Craft Beer and Gourmet Food!

Morton's Gourmet Market

 Not true? Show all edits Not true?

 Write a review -  -

Placement on map is approximate

1924 S Osprey Ave

Sarasota, FL 34239

941-955-9856 begin_of_the_skype_highlight              941-955-9856      end_of_the_skype_highlighti

 

St. Pete Craft Beer Expo

Firkin Around...St. Petersburg, Florida.

The St. Petersburg Coliseum The St. Petersburg Coliseum was this year's venue for the 3rd annual St. Pete Craft Beer Expo, held on July 31st, 2010. Easy to get to and centrally located on the west coast of Florida, a large turnout arrived to hail the ale. Historic, famous, quaint and beautiful. The building is a throwback to a simpler time of dance hall days. It was built in 1924 and the interior has the look of an aircraft hangar. Graceful metal arches are covered with diagonal slats of tongue and groove planking. Strings of small white lights are draped and drizzled from the rafter tops. With a beautifully polished hardwood floor and a full sized stage at the far end of the hall, you can imagine the scene in its heyday when The Coliseum was the place to be on a Saturday night. If only these walls could talk, oh the stories they could tell. Interesting footnote - The Coliseum was used as a set location for the film Cocoon.

Oh yeah, there was beer, too!

Beer and cheese pairings

Here for the beer? Big name micros to local nano's and brewpubs were in attendance. These brewers were represented at the event: Abita, Avery, Bell's, Boulder, Brewdog, Brooklyn, Chimay, Cigar City, Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, Fort Collins Brewery, Highland, Holy Mackerel, Hoppin' Frog, Lagunitas, Little Giant, Peg's, Rogue, Saint Somewhere, Shipyard, Sierra Nevada, Smuttynose, Stone, Swamphead, Tampa Bay Brewing Company, and Terrapin. Were there more? I'm sure I missed a few along the way.

Full sensory experience.

State Road 64

The mood was kept afloat not only by the beer, fine cheese and food, but also by State Road 64. This bluegrass band kept the great tunes wafting through the hall, most of the afternoon. Everyone shuffled along to the beat; cruising from one beer table to another.

Wayne Wambles and Bob Sylvester

Local Florida head brewers, Wayne Wambles (Cigar City) along with Bob Sylvester (Saint Somewhere), gave a "firkin tapping" teaching session in the upper balcony. This was followed up with some sampling of Cigar City's Hunahpu's Imperial Stout.

Hunahpu's Imperial Stout & Guava Grove

This year's event had over one hundred different craft beers and fifteen different types of artisan cheese to sample. Brooklyn, Saint Somewhere, Chimay, Unibroue, Holy Mackerel and Rogue had separate booths down the left flank of the building, paring some fine ale and cheese combination's, all included in the price of your entry fee.

Little Giant Brewery

For those with a larger appetite, delicious pulled pork slider sandwiches with several different sauces, were available for purchase. Reasonably priced.

The festive atmosphere was completed by Fraulein's dressed in traditional dirndl's. They worked through the crowd, making sure everyone had a smile to go with their beer. What else could you ask for?

Firkin Great Beerfest!

The St. Petersburg Coliseum
535 4th Avenue North
St Petersburg, FL 33701-2807

727.892.5202


View Larger Map

How to Travel With Beer

Firkin Around...Any Beer Town, USA.

Many of you may have traveled to another part of the country and discovered a beer that you have never tried before. It may be because that brewer does not ship into your state or in some cases, the brewer does not ship beyond the borders of their own state.  You may have fallen in love with that tasty brew and wished you could get some home. After you hung your head and silently weeped, you resigned yourself to the fact that unless you come to these parts again, it's not likely you'll sample this brew in the comfort of your own home.


The United States Postal Service bans the shipping of alcohol via their systems.  Don't think of trying it through USPS.  This statement is listed on their website concerning hazardous items:

• Other items, such as alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor), are not considered hazardous but are prohibited and boxes displaying such markings are also prohibited.

UPS website states:

• UPS provides service for other alcoholic beverages (beer and alcohol) on a contract basis only. For shipments containing beer or alcohol, shippers must enter into an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of beer or alcohol as applicable, must be licensed and authorized under applicable law to ship beer and alcohol, and may ship only to licensed consignees. UPS does not accept shipments of beer or alcohol for delivery to consumers. UPS accepts shipments of beer or alcohol only among and between selected states.

 And FedEx has this verbose and stout policy: 

Licensee-to-consumer in the U.S.¹

The shipper must be a licensed entity and the shipment must originate and terminate in one of the states listed in the Wine Shipping State Pairing Guide as a direct-ship, intrastate, off-site or on-site purchase state. When shipping via FedEx Express® and FedEx Ground® services, shippers are encouraged to obtain their customers’ business addresses, which typically makes it easier to obtain the required adult signature. For ground service to residential addresses, shippers are encouraged to use FedEx Home Delivery®. 1FedEx Express does not transport wine into, out of or within the state of Massachusetts.

Alas, wine wins out in the least. What's a beer lover to do? Take heart my friends.  With a little planning and some effort, you can enjoy that magnificent beer at your home, too. Fortunately we all have a friend in Southwest Airlines.  They allow for two items of checked baggage to 'fly free' so long as each is 50 pounds or less in weight.  And since they fly to great beer destinations like Colorado and the US Northwest, you can score some beer when you fly there, too. Click here for the skinny on Southwest's regulations concerning alcohol transport.

Think of it as 'gluggage'!  Here's how to get started: Get yourself a cooler with wheels and a travel handle.  Coleman's 50 quart cooler fits the bill quite nicely. Your local shipping store or office supply should have the single bottle bubble wrap pouches available for purchase. If not, buy yourself a small roll of bubble wrap and some packaging tape. You will need a small box of the quart sized zipper lock sealing plastic storage bags. Finally, get a good quality luggage strap to use around the cooler to ensure the lid stays closed during transport. I have found that a 12 fluid oz.bottle of beer weighs about 1.5 pounds, thus a six-pack will weigh around 9 pounds.  You will be able to bubble wrap and bag 18 bottles bringing your total to 27 pounds. Those 'bomber' sized bottles are around 2.5 pounds each, so you should be able to wrap and bag three of them for a total weight of 7.5 pounds.  The beer/glass/packaging weight will be around 34.5 pounds.  Since the cooler is 15 pounds, you'll be right at the 50 pound limit for a free bag.  A Few Do's and Don'ts  DO line the inside of the cooler with some large bubbled, bubble wrap for extra cushioning. DO keep the bottles upright in the cooler. Saves room and no worries of cap contamination. DO use a permanent marker to write your address and contact info on the inside of the lid. DO use a luggage tag on the outside of the cooler. DO Bring the coolers to the check in area inside the terminal where an official can inspect. DO have the coolers transported to the plane by a baggage handler, rather than having the attendant place them on the conveyor. This will keep them from any overturning or violent shaking. DON'T put ice in the coolers. It's not like you're going to have one when they come off the baggage carousel. DON'T fret over extreme cold or pressures.  Remember, the cargo hold is pressurized and relatively cool. Fido travels down there too!  You will find that the travel coolers will consume some weight that could have been a few extra bottles, as opposed to using cardboard boxes.  Fear not.  It will insure that your suds will be further protected through your travels.  In addition, the wheeled coolers with their telescoping handles will breeze you through the airport with your beer.  So if you choose to go with two coolers, then pack your one carry-on lightly, don't forget your toothbrush and a change of underwear!  If you're like me, the next time you cry over beer, it will be tears of joy when you see those coolers at your destination, on the luggage carousel, knowing that they are yours to enjoy		!

Firkin Flying 1st Class! 

Cajun Cafe on the Bayou's 5th Craft Beer Festival

Firkin Around...Pinellas Park, Florida.

Bonjou! Koman sa va?  We are doing just fine, merci, down at the Cajun Cafe Bayou's 5th Beer Festival.

This started with a 'tweet' on Twitter and the word spread across the state, calling all the #FLAbrew tweeps to descend upon this Cajun restaurant and craft beer pub.  There were dozens upon dozens of beers and ales to sample.  Some great, zingy Cajun cooking was available with everything from sausage to jambalaya and cornbread with bits of craw fish baked right in! Mmmm mmmm! That's some good eating. Beer reps from Bluepoint, St. Somewhere, Cigar City, Unibroue, Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues, Bell's, Dogfish Head, Dupont, Shipyard, Brooklyn, Dunedin, Victory, Left Hand, Boulder, Saranac, Lindeman's and on and on were available.  The Dunedin Brewers Guild were also in attendance.  You couldn't swing an alligator by the tail without hitting something good to eat or drink.  All for your entry price of $30.  What a deal.  And they even throw in a cool souvenir beer sampling cup.

Cajun through and through.

There are so many little things for the eye to take in.  You have to admire the old neon sign out front that gives top billing of 'beer' over 'lunch'.  This crazy quilt building of boards, corrugated metal and other assorted lumber was decorated so well you would have mistaken it for the real Louisiana deal.  It is no mistake though, cause it's as real as it gets.  It's cool and breezy throughout the outdoor seating and stage area, all the way to the back deck that overlooks the river. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy the sunshine, food and the beer. 


Bobby Tess and his live jazz band were on hand to really get everyone in the mood.  They were swinging through sets all afternoon.  The stage was in the grand outdoor room where a raffle was being held to benefit a doggie rescue center.  Many great beer related items were handed out to the winners, from glassware to posters and flags, and some mighty fine bottles of craft brew.  Mardi Gras beads were randomly flung into the crowd between the calling of raffle numbers just to see who was paying attention!

That's not a blender, it's a hops infuser! 

   

Priorities!  

 

Beer and Lunch! 

Who iz de jester in dizz fo-to?

 #FLAbrew Crew
Slowly but surely, the #FLAbrew folks began tweeting each other out.  Eventually, we all got together and exchanged names and business cards along with our choices of beer and ale we had spotted throughout the building and tents. 
@roadtrips4beer
@fmajowich 
@DosBeerigos 
@TheCervezaChica
@AmieMize
@alesfrmthecrypt

These are just some of the #FLAbrew crew.  If I missed your name, sorry.  I was drinking fine beer at the time!

  
Firkin Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler!