My snifters are in for my Winter Stout Tasting. This is my second order from Discount Mugs, they threw in an extra 40% shipment of glasses which was pretty cool. I had ordered from them this summer and the quality of some of the glasses was not what I had expected, they refunded me completely for them. In both cases the art dept did a great job, and the print quality was excellent. I intend to use them for all my future glass orders. They have the best prices, offer a quality product, and accurately predict your arrival date.

Tickets went on sale, get yours while they last!

I have heard of carboys blowing up, but this is a new one. Otter Creek had a fermenter blow according to the Burlington Free Press. The last I sampled their brews was during my 2002 East Coast Beer Tour, at the time I was less than impressed. But they're still around, so perhaps they have improved.

Well I suppose for a website that calls itself the "Home of the Homebrew" no excuse is good enough not to brew on Learn to Homebrew Day. I made tea, I don't suppose that counts, even if I did buy it at the homebrew shop. I hope everyone had fun today and we won over a few new homebrewers.

My BottleMark custom bottle caps arrived today. BottleMark is a small business that does small, or large batch, custom bottle caps for crafters, homebrewers, and anyone else who doesn't want to order a million custom caps. It is not some oversized evil corporation who doesn't give a rip. It's just what America needs, and it's just what you need if you want to spice up those homebrews. Their customer service is great, and you can do everything online. I am pretty impressed with the quality. Now to bottle some homebrews.

Founder's Canadian Breakfast Stout was just released this Tuesday, and there are already dozens of greedy bastards on Craigslist and Ebay popping up, asking a $100.00 a bottle. Let this be a warning to those who do this. Beer Karma is a bitch. If the overpaid and underworked (or vice versa, I don't really have my facts together on that one) Michigan liquor control commission shows up at your door, I have no sorrow for you. Beer trading is one thing, some stuff may be impossible to get in your state, and a fair trade is an honest endeavor, especially if you drop in a freebie, or two, for your trading partner. But turning around and scalping a $15.00 bottle of ale for $100.00 cash is just greed. You took that bottle off the shelf from someone who would have appreciated it, in an attempt to rob them. If you hoard a couple of bottles, or three, or four, your pushing your luck. But as long as you share it in the end, it's all good. I am not alone on this one either. If you are young and stupid and new to drinking good beer, wake up before the real beer world blacklists you. If you are just a greedy beer thief, well take it from this Atheist, you are going straight to BEER HELL where beer demons force you to drink trub from Bush fermentation tanks (well that's the rumor).

Today I picked up a case of Brooklyn Brewery, Black Chocolate Stout. With an unmistakable nose, and sweet chocolate malt flavor, Black Chocolate Stout has remained one of my favorite brews for years. Despite everyone who makes a stout slapping a five dollar price tag on it, Brooklyn Brews remain under two dollars a bottle. This year's is excellent, while not the best year ever, it's close. Given a year or two in the bottle this is a brew that becomes perfect. Currently I have three years of Black Chocolate Stout cellaring.

Black Chocolate Stout is a rich malty stout with a robust roasted malt profile. The thing about Garrett Oliver, he is not a big beer guy. All of his brews are very balanced. This caused me disappointment when I tried Black Ops, unlike Nate Walser and Jeremy Kosmicki he is just not an over the top 'lets add more bourbon and maple syrup' guy. So while I won't be seeking out any Bourbon Barrel offerings from Brooklyn Brewery, Black Chocolate Stout continues to hold it's own on top of my Russian Imperial stout world. Catherine the Great just doesn't know what's she's missing.

Update as of today September 8th, 2011. Voting is now open to choose your favorite kegerator!
Voting closes Friday, September 16, at 12pm.

In addition to the two new breweries that are supposed to pop up in Hudsonville, three more are in the works according to the Grand Rapids Press.

Grand Rapids bar owner Mark Sellers has purchased the assets of the recently closed Grand Rapids Brewing Co. with plans to reboot the brand again in a new location downtown ... read more