Dark Beer: Good News For Us...and Dogs!

John D. Folts, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the coronary thrombosis research laboratory at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, reports that dark beer is rich in flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants. Ie. good for the heart! "It's about color. The rich flavonoid content makes red wine more heart friendly than white wine and purple grape juice a better choice for toddlers than white grape juice," he says. Folts presented his dark beer-light beer study at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2003. Folts and his colleagues fed dark and light beer to dogs that had narrowed arteries in their hearts, similar to the narrowing observed in people with heart disease. Only dogs fed dark beer had less stickiness of their blood clotting cells, says Folts. This was true even though the blood alcohol level in the dogs was the same. Thankfully, he is currently conducting similar tests in humans. In that study, volunteers drink two bottles of either light or dark beer a day. Early indications are that dark beer again is more active at fighting blood clots than light beer, he says

The Beer-Can House, Houston

In 1968, John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, decided he "got sick of mowing the grass," at his Houston home. So he laid marble, rock and wood into landscaping features. Not wanting to stop there, Milkovisch then covered his house with aluminum siding made entirely of flattened beer cans. Over 18 years, he attached an estimated 50,000 beer cans, including beer-can garlands that hang from the roof and sing in the wind. Why? We're not entirely sure, but Milkovisch said on the house's website, "I guess I just thought it was a good idea. And it's easier than painting." He said he's tickled with people who drive around the block a few times, then return with a carload of friends. Take a group to Houston and pay him a visit.
Read more: http://www.beercanhouse.org/about.php




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★ ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? ★

It’s been 365 days since VCBW 2011 shook the core of British Columbia’s craft beer scene with our second annual nine-day celebration of fermentation. For year three we’re turning up the volume to 11 by bringing you 9 Headliner events, 6 Opening Acts, 36 Neighbourhood Gigs, and 12+ week-long specials dedicated to all things craft beer. Ticket sales and full details for all these rockstar worthy gatherings can be found in the Events and Specials pages on this very website. Make sure to check out our 60+ participating Breweries, and show a little love to the Sponsors who help make this whole thing possible. As always please drink responsibly, serving-it-right rules apply, and whatever you do, Do NOT drink and drive!

Beer, Dogs and Charities

Looking for something to do on the weekend with your 4 legged friend ? 

A great annual event happens each year in Oregon. The Brewers Memorial Ale Fest which benefits Dog charities of Oregon, will take place May 18-20,  2012. A $10 admission fee gets you a Festival Mug and 3 taster tickets. Approximately 3500 people are expected and close to 1,000 of their doggy friends.

The festival was created in memory of Rogue Brewmaster John Maier’s faithful companion Brewer, who passed away May 2006. Brewer grew up in the brewery and eventually rose to the rank of CEO of Rogue Ales. The dog-friendly brew festival is held inside the Rogue Ales Brewery and includes 50+ Microbreweries, Live Music, Doggy Musical Chairs, Dog Wash, Dog Dancing and Celebrity dog look-alikes (Rin-Tin-Tin, Lassie, Benjy and of course, Brewer).

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Wold Beer Cup

Now in its 9^th year, the World Beer Cup winners were announced early on Sunday morning (just about the time the hangovers where setting in??

The event was hosted by the 2012 Craft Brewers Conference which included submissions from 799 breweries across 54 countries and 45 US states. All in all, the 211 lucky adjudicators got to judge 3921 beers in 95 style categories. 5 Breweries and Brewmasters were named champions in Various size categories:

Small Brewing Company Category: Brauerei Michael Plank, Michael Plank

Mid-Size Brewing Company Category: Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Matthew Brynildson

Large Brewing Company Category: AB InBev, Claudio Ferro

Small Brewpub Category: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Iron Hill Brewery Team

Large Brewpub Category: Pelican Pub & Brewery, Darron R S Welch

Of the BC winners:

Central City Oaked Porter, from the Central City Brewing Co., Surrey, BC won Bronze in the Wood and Barrel Aged Beer category.

 IP’Eh!, from the Russell Brewing Co., Surrey, BC. Won Silver for their English-Style India Pale Ale and

Red Racer ESB, also from the Central City Brewing Co., Surrey, BC won Gold for their Extra Special Bitter

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Top Selling American Craft Breweries in 2011

The Brewers Association released its annual list of the top 50 craft beers last month.

The Brewers Association came up with the rankings using beer sales volume numbers from 2011. In the last 15 years, craft brewing has gone from 1% of the overall beer market to almost 6% in 2011, a slow increase but getting stronger each year.

Here are some of our favourites, by taste, name or just a sexy label !

1   Boston Beer Co. Boston MA

5   Deschutes Brewery Bend OR

7   Bell's Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI

9   Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA

12 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE

18 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH

26 Flying Dog Brewery Frederick MD

34 Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue NY

47 Smuttynose Brewing Co. Portsmouth NH

49 Left Hand Brewing Co. Longmont CO

50 Four Peaks Brewing Co. Tempe AZ


For a full listing of the 50 Craft Brewing Companies: http://bit.ly/HO88IE





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Check out what's on tap at St. Augustine's in East Vancouver!