Ladies of Craft Beer

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

Featured photograph courtesy of (ironically) a 1949 Miller High Life Advertisement

Things are looking up in the world of home brewing- laws are changing, craft beer is booming, and there are limitless possibilities in the realm of equipment and know-how. Resources are at your fingertips, and the results are delicious.

Do you know a homebrewer or someone who is itching to start? Do you know someone who has expressed an interest in brewing, no matter how small?

If so- you’ve come to the right spot to figure out a great holiday gift for your favorite homebrewing pal. From beginner to intermediate to the semi-professional, we’ve got ideas for educational resources, equipment and even software that will help keep those bottle caps popping!

Educational:

• Good friend and advocate of Ladies of Craft Beer Billy Broas has recently launched an online resource aptly called The HomeBrew Academy. Billy’s service currently includes write-ups, videos, a glossary and instructions on the process of becoming a homebrewer. As the site builds, he will add more advanced instructions and supplemental videos on interesting topics with special guests such as “Brewing Sour Beers” with Mike Tonsmeire of the Mad Fermentationist. The best thing about this complete and comprehensive online resource? It’s only $30. Word on the street is that the HomeBrew Academy will close tonight at 10PM Eastern Time so get in while you still can! (The HomeBrew Academy will open again for enrollment in 3 to 5 months.) Sign your homebrewer up here.
• There are TONS of homebrew based books available on the market today, but here are a few suggestions of our favorites: The Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian, Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anybody Can Brew by Jamil Zainasheff and John Palmer, Radical Brewing: Recipes, Tales and World-Altering Meditations in a Glass by Randy Mosher, and Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles by Ray Daniels. For more great books, just search “homebrew” on Amazon.com.

For the Beginner:

• Looking for a small kit to get someone who wants to try homebrewing before going all the way? Try the 1 gallon kits from Brooklyn Brewshop and from The Brewer’s Market. Both sites also sell larger beginner kits in 5 gallon batch sizes. I, for one, got the men in my family each a one gallon kit from the Brooklyn Brewshop- a convenient package that not only includes the specialty equipment needed for brewing but the ingredients for one of six different flavors of beer- Gingerbread Ale, Chestnut Brown Ale, Honey Sage Seasonal, Everyday IPA, A Well Made Tripel and Chocolate Maple Porter. Kits range from $40-$150 and ingredient mixes (to continue brewing) range from $15-$50.

For the Intermediate:

• Some of the most handy tools for the homebrewer are calculators for recipes, gravity, IBUs, priming sugar, etc. BeerSmith is a comprehensive software package that combines these calculators in a user friendly, easy to use way. BeerSmith also has a great printer interface where brewers can print out their (just made) recipes in a step-by-step format that is easy to read and works well with the brewing process. This software can even make equipment recommendations based on what you already have and help you schedule your brew dates. BeerSmith is available for a free 21 day trial and the full version of the software only costs $21.95.

For the Semi-Pro:

• This Cornelius kegging system from Midwest Brewing Supplies is a great starter kit for the homebrewer who wants to get into easier storage methods for their beer. Kegging is the process of inserting beer into one vessel for storage while simultaneously inserting carbon dioxide (carbonation) into the beer (this normally happens in the bottling process by adding priming sugar to the beer). Kits can range from this size (about $175) to multi-tap systems in the $300-$500 range.

Gifts for Everyone:

• Speaking of Midwest Brewing Supplies, those guys are your one stop shop source for beer, wine, cheese, coffee, soda, liquer, mead, cider and sake supplies. They also have these great lists of popular homebrewing gifts in the $1-$25 price range, $26-$50 price range, $51-$100 price range, and beyond. Check out their site for more details.
• If you want to get a homebrew centric gift but really aren’t sure what the equipment is and don’t want to get your homebrewer the wrong thing, check out this awesome (and searchable!) database by Brewer’s Roundtable for a listing of homebrew supply stores in your area. Most shops sell gift certificates or gift cards in different amounts- this way your homebrewer can buy what they need on their own terms.

• There are lots of great beer-centric magazines available nowadays, but the favorite of homebrewers here at Ladies of Craft Beer is Brew Your Own. Full of informational articles on brewing issues, procedures, equipment, and recipes for new beers as well as clone recipes for your favorite commercial brews, this gift is the gift that keeps on giving year-round. Brew Your Own is currently running a special of 8 issues (1 year) for $28 including the first issue as a free trial. This means that if for some reason, after the first issue, you aren’t satisfied, you cancel your subscription and pay nothing. I’ve been getting Brew Your Own for almost a year now, and I still wait by my mailbox for the next issue! Click here to subscribe.

• Last, but of course, not least, remember that your Ladies of Craft Beer have calendars and tee-shirts available at our merch store. Our official tees (see picture above) are a relaxed fit tee perfect for brew days. Our calendar can be used to schedule out days for brewing or to remind you when to bottle (or even your favorite upcoming beer events!) We also have men’s tees, more women’s tees, long sleeve tees, hoodies, and baby and pet apparel available on our Spreadshirt shop. Check it out here.

Whew! With so many choices available, (and this isn’t even the half of it!) how can you pick just one? Hopefully this guide has helped you out, but if you have any questions or need help finding something, feel free to contact me below.

Cheers, and have a happy, healthy and safe holiday!

Have a question? Email me here:[contact-form 6 "Untitled"]

Related Posts:

• Women in Beer Series – Audra Marotta
• Homebrews & Craft Beer — The Gifts That Keep on Giving
• Philly Beer Tour #1
• Women in Beer Series – Melissa Ward
• Women in Beer Series – Mariah Calagione

Originally posted 2010-12-13 12:49:23.

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

This past weekend, Lee Williams of Hoptopia and I took a day trip to Philadelphia in order to (belatedly) celebrate his birthday. Lee used to live in Philly and wanted to show me the places that really encouraged his love of craft beer. I hadn’t been to Philly since I was little, so I was excited to experience the great craft beer scene I have heard so much about there.

We took the Bolt Bus to and from Philly (which, by the way, only costs $20 a person and includes power outlets and wi-fi). After a quick stop at Reading Terminal market, we headed to Nodding Head for lunch, where I had a beautiful hoppy black ale on cask called Marauder.

The highlight of our day was when we headed to Yards Brewing Company. Lee had actually never been before, so it was a new experience for both of us. Yards has a great industrial space right near the river. While it was a cold walk there from the subway, it was totally worth it. The front room of the brewery is a space with both an open and homey feel. It houses a beautiful bar made from refurbished bowling lanes, a pool table made decades ago from a local business, and a tabletop shuffleboard game, which is one of my favorite bar activities. The walls are full of either large and colorful chalkboards showing what’s on the menu (food, beer and merch) or with enlarged bottle labels. The servers were friendly and knowledgeable- even when the place got packed. The food looked amazing (although we were full from Nodding Head, so we didn’t get to sample it) and the flights were $5- Five Dollars!

Yards offers brewery tours on Saturdays from 1-4 PM. Tours are about 30 – 45 minutes long, and are a pretty fun ride. Our tour guide works as a packager in the brewery and told us lots of fun anecdotes along the way. Here are some pictures of our tour:

With the free tour came tastes of two separate brews (for us it was the IPA and the Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale) and if you bought beer from the bar when the tour was starting, the bartender would give it to you in a plastic glass so that you could carry it on the tour. It was a great experience that I recommend for anyone visiting the Philly area.

After Yards we moved on to the South Philadelphia Tap Room. Wow- what a place. The food was amazing (and I only had the Chips and Dips starter) and the beer list- don’t even get me started. They had Lost Abbey Deliverance on their bottle list. I believe SP Tap Room is fairly new. The atmosphere was just the right amount of relaxed and busy. The only downside was that SP Tap Room was off the beaten path, but it was definitely worth the visit.

After the Tap Room, we ventured a twenty minute walk to Monk’s Cafe, but it was so packed that we couldn’t even fit in the door. Instead, we went back to Nodding Head and finished out the day exactly the way we started, which was a much better choice in my book.

Because of the vast amount of things related to craft beer to do in Philly, we’re taking another trip there in March. With the way this first visit went, I can’t wait to get back there and see some more sites!

Related Posts:

• He Said / She Said #1 – Panil Barriquee and Three French Hens
• Beer 2 Garden Presented by Brew York
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• Holiday Gifts for Home Brewers (Or Those Who Want to Start)

Have a question? Email me here:[contact-form 6 "Untitled"]

Originally posted 2011-01-17 12:02:27.

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

[Editor's Note: This is the first of three previous postings on my old blog called BasicallyRead - To Be Read, Basically. These posts were part of a "Cellar Cleaning" series that I will be continuing here on Ladiesocb.com. Hence, my re-posting of them here. If you have read them before, I hope you enjoy the recap- if you haven't read them before, check out the awesomeness that is "Cellar Cleaning". Cheers!]

What happens when you’re an avid beer reviewer and own a generous, rare, and delicious selection of beer but live in a city apartment with the heat of summer setting in and a head cold that just won’t let you get to those reviews?

The real question is… what happens when you’re ^THAT^ man’s girlfriend?

This weekend Hoptopia and I did what any normal couple does on a long, holiday weekend… we cleaned out a closet to become a “beer cellar”. Some call these types of projects “Spring Cleaning.” I call it “the Jackpot.” See, Lee had a lovely little bug (and we ladies always know how men act when they’re sick, amiright? High five!) So, sad panda for him, he couldn’t taste beer- like, literally, his taste buds had gone on strike. I, on the other hand, was simply suffering from a moderate case of allergies and a half chewed off arm (long story). This fortunate turn of events brought about the need for someone to taste and write about twenty (that’s right, folks, TWENTY!) of Lee’s strange and illusive brews in an attempt to clear out room in the refrigerator to save the more fragile brews, such as pale ales and saisons, from a skunky fate.

It was a dirty, terrifying job, but somebody had to do it…

And that somebody was me. Armed with six tumblers at a time, the know how on what order to taste the brews in to save my palate, and a spit bucket for my sanity, I set to work.

Brews Number 1, 2 & 3

1. Fruli Strawberry Beer / Brouwerij Huyghe, Belgium /Fruit Beer / 4.1% ABV

Pouring an opaque amber-red with no head but a white layer of lacing, The Fruli beer smelled of a strawberry sugar lollipop. It reminded me of the flat, circular sugar pops the bank used to give me when my mom would make a transaction at the drive through- the receipt would always come back with a lollipop on top. Taste-wise, the brew was more like the liquid center of a strawberry flavored Halls with a slight medicinal menthol-like bitterness. Fruli Strawberry Beer surprised me on how much I actually enjoyed the brew- the fruit taste was not overwhelming nor horribly off-kilter or artificial. While it wasn’t my favorite, I wouldn’t say no.

2. Siamese Twin Ale / Uncommon Brewers, California, US / Dubbel / 8.5%

“Uncommon beer for uncommon people,” boasts this brew’s can. The Siamese Twin Ale is brewed with coriander (not so uncommon), lemongrass, (getting weirder) and kaffir lime leaves (ding ding ding ding ding!). The fizzy golden copper brew smells like ginger ale with a hint of fresh rain. It tastes earthen- like sandy dirt and dust, clay and Playdoh. There was also a slight menthol taste on this brew which left my mouth feeling a bit numb. While I’m normally a fan of experimental beers, this one was not my flavor.

3. Frambozen Raspberry Brown Ale / New Belgium Brewing, Inc., Denver, US / Fruit Beer / 6.5%

Frambozen is derived from the Flemish word for Raspberry, a flavor which, on this brew, New Belgium did not disappoint. The cherry wood colored liquid immediately gave off a raspberry tang to the tongue while it smelled of compost and peat. It is surprisingly sweet with a slight sour twist- too tiny for that of a Flemish Brown. The Frambozen is very drinkable for the fruity drinker.

Brews Number 4, 5 & 6

4. Monk in the Trunk / Jupiter Brewing Co, Florida, US / American Amber / Red Ale / 5.5%

This Florida native came to me direct from my buddy down in Tampa, DosBeerigos. With sporadic carbonation and no head, I was worried that the brew might not have traveled as well as planned (although it was exquisitely packed). The nose gave off a slightly bready, earthy and weedy malt flavor. A surprising hoppy bitterness met my tongue; very refreshing but with a sour bite that was, luckily, offset by some great fizz.

5. Oberon / Bells Brewery, Inc., Michigan, US / American Pale Wheat Ale / 5.8%

Bells is a brewery that has not failed me yet, and Oberon is a great example of that. With a nose like the beach in the bright summer sunshine (sandy organic seaweed smell), this brew walks the delicate line of balance between hops and malts. The sweet caramel malt undertones support this tiny, bright, fizzy hop beer- great for any summer day.

6. Porterhouse Red / The Porterhouse Brewing Co., Ireland / English Pale Ale / 4.4%

Sadly, this beautiful looking dark amber brew smelled and tasted more than a bit off, forcing me to the conclusion that, somewhere along the line from Ireland to Lee’s hallway, this brew had skunked. Let’s have a moment of silence for my fellow Red…

Brews Number 7, 8 & 9

7. Dr. Klankenstein / Sixpoint Craft Ales, New York, US / Stein Beer / ABV Unknown

To illustrate how lucky I am that I got to try this specialized, one-off production brew, there was no label to be found on this bottle. A true stein beer, this was made by heating rocks to insanely high temperatures to heat the beer for fermentation purposes. The clear, caramel colored beautiful brew boasts a large head that subsides to a milky layer of lacing. On it, I smelt lemon peel, fresh baguette, and a slight grass and pine. These were all reflected in the taste- sweet and hoppy with sweet peanuts and lemon iced tea. This flavor pairing made me want to drink this brew at the local baseball game.

8. Black Raspberry Reserve / Sly Fox Brewing Company, Pennsylvania, US / Fruit Beer / 8%

One of the more beautifully colored brews of the night, the Raspberry Reserve poured maroonish and clear, the color of R39 gel (for all my fellow lighting nerds out there, that’s my favorite gel color- Exotic Skelton Sangria). The delightful “pop” of the cork on this brew gave me the idea that the carbonation would be ever present. After the head subsided, the top of the liquid housed pretty little bubbles that I could have stared at for hours- slowly conjoining with their fellow peers. Otherwise, the beer was exactly what it said it would be- black raspberry preserves on the nose and taste.

9. Wrassler’s XXXX Stout / The Porterhouse Brewing Co, Ireland / Irish Dry Stout / 5%

The first in my line of stouts for the night, I had high hopes for XXXX (while also baring in mind that this was the brother of the skunked Red Ale). Smelling more like a rauchbier (no complaints here!) than a stout, I smelled burnt earth where the rain washes out a fire pit after cooking hot dogs. Wrassler’s tasted very salty and dry, like carbon charcoal without the ashy-ness. As a stout lover and rauchbier enthusiast, this beer gets a thumbs up in my book!

At this point I needed a Tostitos break to recharge my palate. On here I will do the same. Take a hot second, chew on what I’ve given you, dip it in some salsa; make it your own. Stay tuned for brews 10-20! Cheers!

Have a question? Email me here:[contact-form 6 "Untitled"]

Originally posted 2010-10-15 10:31:25.

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

Image courtesy of http://www.bruisin-ales.com

Attention all gluten-free friends (and non-GF friends as well!) We’re looking to do a master write-up on the current Gluten Free beer choices available to you, but we need your help. Let us know what beer in the market is gluten free, and we’ll try to include it in our write-up!

Please let us know names of gluten free beers by emailing us, commenting below, posting on our Facebook page, or @-ing us on Twitter.

Thanks for your help, and cheers!

Related Posts:

• A Review of 5 Gluten-Free Beers (Guest Post by Amanda Tradwick)
• Interview with Randy Mosher about Women and Beer (Guest post by Ingrid Calderoni)
• Beer Apps for Techno Geeks
• How Do You Judge a Good Beer Bar?
• How Do You Want Your Beer Organized on a Menu?

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

LadiesOCB President Stevie Caldarola as a clown on Halloween, age 3

We here at Ladies of Craft Beer want to wish you a safe and Hoppy Halloween! To celebrate, we’re trying to get the hashtag #HoppyHalloween trending on Twitter- help us out! Here are the Halloween related topics we’re talking about:

Costumes:

We’re looking for the best of the best- beer related Halloween costumes! Send us pictures of your costumes via email, on Facebook, on LinkedIn or on Twitter (be sure to include #HoppyHalloween!) To see some example costumes and ideas, click here.

Parties:

We did a round up of some fantastic looking Halloween parties, as well as an overview of the Night of the Living Ales. Did you attend any of these parties? If so, or if you attended any other great Halloween gatherings complete with craft beer, we’d love to hear about it. Email us or post to us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter (be sure to include #HoppyHalloween!)

BEER! (and food):

What craft beer will you be drinking on this fine Halloween night? What food will you be pairing it with? Anybody out there make any recipes tonight that include beer as an ingredient? Homebrewers- what beer are you brewing tonight? What beer pairs best with a scary movie?

Write to us via email, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter (be sure to include #HoppyHalloween!) and make sure to check in to Untappd with the word Halloween in your check in to receive your Halloween badge!

Cheers and Hoppy Halloween!

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• Obligatory Pumpkin Post Turned Best Idea EVER!
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Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

BIG thanks to all who came out and supported the National Breast Cancer Foundation by attending our Beer for Boobs Brunch this year! Not only was the event a blast, but we raised a total of $2,409 to donate for breast cancer awareness. How awesome is that?! It’s all due to you- so again, thank you, for supporting women and craft beer.

Cheers!

Do you have a story/pictures/video that you would like to share with us about your experience at the Beer for Boobs Brunch? Please email me and we’ll put together a post sharing all of your experiences!

Related Posts:

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• ANNOUNCEMENT: Beer for Boobs Brunch 2011

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

If you love the “ladies who love craft beer“,  then you probably love our sponsors as well. These companies really appreciate the value of educating about and discussing craft beer. We at Ladies of Craft Beer wanted to take a quick moment to thank our sponsors for their dedication to helping spread the word about our favorite drink!

Brew Your Own: THE Magazine for homebrewers

Freshcraft: Fresh food, craft beer, right in the heart of downtown Denver

Northern Brewer: supplier of home winemaking and beer brewing supplies and equipment (plus you can get 10% off a starter brewing kit with the code “LOCB11″ when checking out!)

The HopMan: Custom brewery apparel (and makers of the official LadiesOCB tee!)

Narragansett Beer: Narragansett’s family of classic American lagers and ales are brewed by guys in Rochester, New York who take pride in the beers they make and joy in the beers they drink.

Bruisin Ales: specialty store that sells only beer and beer-related merchandise which is rated #4 beer retailer in the world… that’s right, the entire world!

Yeldah Goods: Family owned Baltimore, MD company focused on screen printed tee’s who offer “Real Women Drink Beer” and “It’s Always Beer:30 Somewhere” options.

Tapped Craft Beer Events: Tapped Craft Beer Events is the first and only independent firm in New York City devoted to craft beer tastings for corporate and private events.

Homebrew Soap: Homebrewer turned soap maker, who makes beer soaps, beer shampoo, and recycled beer bottle candles in lots of different styles, scents and sizes!

American Homebrewers Association: The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is dedicated to promoting the community of homebrewers and empowering homebrewers to make the best beer in the world.

If you are interested in supporting Ladies of Craft Beer, please email me for more information.

Cheers!

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• Thank You to LadiesOCB’s Sponsors!
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