So for Christmas I got an equipment kit, and I've set off brewing an Irish stout.

Came to check on it the other day, and there was some beer on the top of my fermenting bucket and the water in the airlock looks a bit gross. It looks like the airlock is still functioning correctly (the fluid level inside is still high enough) but is there anything I need to be concerned about with this kind of blow off?

When Southampton issued their press release last month for their Biere de Garde, I inquired about receiving a bottle for review. They were kind enough to ship one out to me shortly after. A few of weeks later, I'm able to (finally!) post the review.

Their Biere de Garde is part of their "750 Series"—that is, 750ml champagne-style bottles with corks and cages rather than caps. ("Belgian-style" is probably more accurate than "champagne-style", now that I think about it.) It's 7.2% alcohol by volume, and (as the press release notes) it "may be cellared for up to 5-10 years" before drinking. They also go with authentic French flavor with imported French Strisslespalt hops.  read more »

I'm a complete brew newbie and just started my first batch. Me and my wife always thought it would be fun to try brewing our own beer so for Christmas she surprised me with a Williams brew kit. We proceeded with the making of a German ale yesterday and we are hoping that if all goes well and we managed to stay sterile during the whole process we will be rewarded in the end.

Beer Bar
Date and time added: 2008-01-02 19:16:10

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza - Raleigh
8511 Briercreek Parkway
Raleigh , NC 27617
United States
phone: 919-246-0640

brixxpizza.com/dir_raleigh.shtml

longitude: -78.785851
latitude: 35.905955

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Beer Store
Date and time added: 2008-01-02 19:17:24

Stillwater's Wines and Spirits
7058 West Q Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
United States
phone: 269-375-3662

longitude: -85.688060
latitude: 42.201065

Find this location and many others at beermapping.com!

I'm preparing to brew a Witbier but I'm having trouble tracking down the Chamomile and ground Coriander. Does anyone know where the best place to get these. I have tried online shops, whole food stores, and others in my area with no luck. Everyone just has Chamomile Tea and Coriander seeds only.

…is not me. No surprise there. Congrats to the winners and especially to the Minnesotans. For those of you playing along at home, I’m at about 216th place in that list. Of course that’s for one 3rd place at the Upper Mississippi Mash-Out.

Now, all you geeks who hate Ringwood beers passionately, know 'em as soon as you smell 'em, and have no time for Ringwood, I want to make sure you don't go to the Red Brick Station brewpub in White Marsh outside of Baltimore.

Because it gets really crowded, and I'd like to make it easier for me and the family to get a seat. We stopped in for a meal -- as we often do -- while passing through last Friday on the way to spending a long holiday weekend with my brother-in-law's family. I immediately grabbed a pint of Spooner's Stout, the not-so-bone-dry Irish stout they have, and it was familiar in its soothing smoothness. Spooner's is lighter on the burnt bitterness, but has a hint of graham cracker to it that keeps things interesting. What really kept things interesting was the Three Pint Pasta I had, a creamy curry sauce on pasta, peas, chicken, shrimp, and andouille that is some of my favorite brewpub food anywhere. It's satisfying, it's spicy, it's comfort food I've never had in my younger days -- go figure that one -- and it's great with a cool pint of Spooner's. We were all quite happy, which was a good thing, because once again, the drive to Richmond was a horror show. Really made me laugh all the way on the longer but painless drive home up I-81.  read more »

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