I see lots of clone requests in the recipe forum. Not to come down too hard on people - I have a number of commercial beer favorites and I understand the thought (I think) - but do you really want to try and copy someone else's work? It's rare that clones really come out indistinguishable from the real for one thing, but more importantly, wouldn't you much rather identify the "sorts" of things you like about that beer and make your very own beer that embodies those qualities in their own way? I really like NBB's Bier de Mars, e.g., but so much about it is simply the light and refreshing quality, the subtle spiciness and big Brett character. I don't need their recipe to get that. And their recipe would probably only get me as close to their beer as me making up what I thought their recipe was.  read more »

With so many podcasts about Craft Beer that are better than CBR we decided to change up the format and to take the show a different direction. Hope you enjoy the new format, we put tons of work into market research which says this will be our ticket to stardom.

Posted: by OldStyleCubFan (11 hours ago)

Opening Day of the major league baseball season usually provides a good excuse to sip beer in the great outdoors.However, as soon as I arrived at Camden Yards Monday to watch the Orioles opening the season against the Tampa Bay (Don't Call them Devil) Rays, I took cover in...Rob Kasper

Posted: by Jason (12 hours ago)

It is spring time, not really the ideal season for a pumpkin ale. This beer was on sale at Trade Joe's probably because the season has passed, but I am always looking for cheap unique beers.

This beer has a bubblegum and pumpkin pie spice aroma. The color is straw and very clear. The head is little to none, but there are tons of bubbles flowing up from the bottom of the glass.  read more »

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 8:29:18 EDT

Overall Score: 81.7
Selection: 4.5 | Service: 3.75 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 4.25

Reviewer: de-brew

was in almamogordo, and decided to hop over and see some of the sights in las cruces, including the brewery.

decent selection of beers on tap, all served a little too cold for my tastes. my favorite was the barleywine, which you couldn't get in a sampler or a pint, but only in an 8oz glass.

the wife got a plate of vegetables, which had a nice array of fresh veggies, pita, and hummus. other people in the bar section were ordering nice looking hamburgers and other pub food.  read more »

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 8:39:14 EDT

Overall Score: 90.0
Selection: 4.5 | Service: 4.5 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: de-brew

stopped at the wellhead early one saturday, before they were open. had to mark time around artesia until they did, and found a restaurant called "chaos" that's worth visiting for the food...ask around and you can get directions.

do not eat at "la fonda"

anyway, about the brewery....

very clean, well kept interior of the restaurant. the brewer (i think her name is diane) was very nice, and accommodating when i asked for a tour. small-scale brewing area and tanks, but the brews she created are very nice.  read more »

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 8:46:24 EDT

Overall Score: 88.3
Selection: 4.5 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: de-brew

this brewery was the kind of place that's a restaurant first, and then a brewery.

nice building, although the parking lot was weird. one way in off the main road, one way out to a little road behind the brewery that took a minute or so to get my bearings so i could get out of town.

the bar area was very nice, with treacherously high stools at the bar. a nice view of the brewing room, storage tanks, and bags of malt.

the beers on tap were good, though expensive. not all beers on their list were available at the time that i went.  read more »