God Bless the USA!!!

THE owners of one of Scotland's largest independent breweries were yesterday lambasted by health campaigners and politicians for creating Britain's most potentbeer ever – with a staggering 12 per cent alcohol content.
Earlier this year BrewDog, the award-winning microbrewery, faced being blacklisted by advertising industry watchdogs for allegedly encouraging antisocial behaviour in its marketing and promotions.

And James Watt and Martin Dickie, the two former ADVERTISEMENT
students who formed the company last year, have now been accused of irresponsibly promoting Tokyo, a brew with potentially "devastating" consequences for health.

Dr Bruce Ritson, the chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, declared there was no place for such a high-strength beer on the market.

He said: "It is the last thing we need. It is absolutely the wrong direction to be going as far as Scotland's health problems are concerned. If it became popular it would have devastating consequences for health as well as social order and violence on the streets."

Jack Law, the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, also condemned the beer. He said: "What justification can there possibly be to bring an extra strong beer on to the market?

"Super-strength drinks are often favoured by young people and problem drinkers – is this really who the brewery wants to target?"

Dr Richard Simpson, Labour's public health spokesman, said: "Since a huge proportion of alcohol in Scotland is consumed in the form of beer, this product is hugely irresponsible."

And Jamie Stone, the Scottish Liberal Democrat public health spokesman, commented: "Focusing on it being the UK's strongest beer jars with the current campaign to tackle Scotland's stormy relationship with alcohol. We need socially responsible advertising campaigns from the alcohol industry to support Scots to change their attitude to booze."

But Mr Watt remained unrepentant about his Fraserburgh-based company's decision to brew what they are describing as an "intergalactic fantastic oak aged stout" which has been made with specialist malts, jasmine and cranberries before being aged on French toasted oak chips.

He told The Scotsman: "I completely agree with the aim to encourage responsible drinking, and that is fundamental to what we stand for. Our beers are targeted at and drunk by connoisseurs, and we strive to educate our customers that full-flavour beer can be enjoyed in moderation as opposed to heavily drinking cheaper, bland beers.

"The beers that we make are to be savoured and enjoyed. The (£4 per 330ml bottle) price takes it away from the market that are just drinking beer to get drunk. We in fact are the cure and not the problem."

The brewery has made 2,000 bottles of the initial brew.

BACKGROUND

THE Scottish Government is considering proposals to impose price rises of up to 75 per cent on some alcoholic drinks as part of plans to tackle the country's booze culture.

The proposals include setting minimum prices for drink in supermarkets and off-licences, and raising the minimum age at which they can be bought in them to 21.

A spokeswoman said: "One of Scotland's biggest challenges is alcohol misuse.

Following the consultation, the Scottish Government envisages legislating in time for many of the measures coming into force on 1 September, 2009."

Speaking of Sierra Nevada ruling with fresh hops....

Chico, CA (July 2009) - Fresh from the field to the glass with no stops along the way. With the third installment of Sierra Nevada's Harvest Ale Series, they introduce a beer that is close to the brewery's heart. Chico Estate Harvest Ale is a beer made with hops grown just feet from the brew house. They grow the hops themselves, pick them, and put them directly into the beer, still bursting with the signature flavors that have put Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. on the map. Hops this fresh can be found nowhere else.

By stealing a page from the winemaker's playbook, Chico Estate Harvest Ale will use all of the hops grown in the brewery fields for one big full-flavored Sierra Nevada beer. Typically, hops are collected and dried for use throughout the year, but as they dry, the precious oils and resins break down and some of the big flavors become muted. With Sierra Nevada's Harvest Ale series, the brewery takes care to use the freshest hops possible, and in the case of Chico Estate and fall Harvest Ales, they use only "wet" or undried hops to add not only bitterness, but the full range of character and flavors that the small but mighty hop has to offer.

Sierra Nevada is one of only a handful of breweries anywhere in the world with the space and the dedication to produce an estate harvest ale, and they remain committed to the versatility of the hop. Previously only available on draft as "20th Street Ale," Chico Estate Harvest Ale will be bottled for the first time and available in limited quantity at the end of August.

As the pioneers of using fresh-harvested, wet-hopped beers, Sierra Nevada adds Chico Estate Harvest Ale to the trinity of their beloved harvest ales.

Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of America's first microbreweries and remains highly regarded for using only whole-cone hops and ingredients of the highest quality. Sierra Nevada has set the standard for artisan brewers worldwide as a winner of numerous awards for a line of beers and ales, including the flagship Pale Ale, Wheat, Porter, Stout, five seasonal beers and a host of draft-only specialties.

http://beeradvocate.com/news/1458942

Pretty Lucky

In finding out through the Green's website that Weyerbacher and Stone are on the way to GA i started thinking...we're getting A LOT of good beer here in Atlanta. If the Micro trend that is flooding our marketplace with all these beers continues we're in pretty good shape. let's run this down and appreciate what great stuff we can get.

Oskar Blues
Dogfish Head
Lagunitas (new Zappa beer released)
Sweetwater
Stoudts
Great Divide
Avery (Avery 15 available)
Clipper City
Terrapin (India Brown in Bottles)
Highland (Just released a new session Lager....uhh...Thanks? Guys?)
Allagash (Has a strange new big bottle out every other day, at a low low 14.99)
Lakefront (new IPA is stellar)
Left Hand (I hate these guys, for personal reasons)
Rogue
North Coast
Breckenridge
Victory (Scotty K lives by the Wallop, dies by the Wallop)
Boulder Beer
Schmaltz (Jew-ruselem in GA, i love it!)
Harpoon (Every other pumpkin spiced beer can bow down to the Winter Warmer)
Sierra Nevada (callem' old school, the fresh hop beers rule me)

Cottonwood (newly available) Has a Hazelnut stout that is amazing
Weyerbacher (in stores next week) Double Simcoe on Tap @ Brick Store as I Type
Stone (coming soon) Enough Said.