Here are the latest articles from the Beer and Brewing site at
BellaOnline.com.

Extreme Brewing at Home
Deep down, you know that you need to understand the basics, but you were never one for slowing down and reading the directions, especially for a complex project.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55317.asp

Pattaya Stir Fry Recipe
Beer Fox says, “This delectable dish is light on the tongue and dressed with a creamy sauce. Touched with lemon and orange, it is in the character of Thai cooking, using a wok to seal in juices and food flavors, and to crisp up vegetables.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55172.asp

Beer For Billionaires
Beer has leaped into the world of the wealthy. Amsterdam brewer Carlsberg has announced the release of the most expensive beer in the world..
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55149.asp

From the Beer Fox Archives

Articles you may also enjoy:

Beer and Food and ... Massage Oil ?
The real meaning of enduring love may be found in something as simple as a beer made memorable. Create a superb beer and food combination, add warming massage oil, and let the romance begin!
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49276.asp

Beer Fox Tip of the Week:

German weissbier, or wheat beer is commonly called hefeweizen. In German, Hefe means "yeast" and Weizen" means wheat. They are typically made up of more than 50% wheat malt, with the balance comprised of malted barley. They display a pouffy, voluminous head because they are protein rich. The wheat lends an acidic profile, while hops are light, but add a brisk bite. Weissbier yeast is a top-fermenting ale yeast. Flavor characteristics of weissbier showcase citrusy fruit flavors, with greater and lesser layers of clove, banana, bubblegum, and green apples; and possibly smoke and vanilla.

Weissbier Recommendations from the Beer Fox:

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier - Brauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
Sunrise Weiss - Victory Brewing Comany, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, USA
Erdinger Weissbier - Erdinger Weissbrau, Erding, Germany
Stoudt's Weizen - Stoudt's Brewing Company, Adamstown, Pennsylvania, USA
Live Oak HefeWeizen - Live Oak Brewing Company, Austin, Texas, USA
Dancing Man Wheat - New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, Wisconsin, USA
Royal Weisse - Sly Fox Brewing Company, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA
Hefeweizen - Gordon Biersch, San Diego, California, USA
Plank Bavarian Hefeweizen - Brauerei Michael Plank, Laaber, Germany
Hefeweizen - Cambridge Brewing Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Shiner Hefe-Weizen - Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, Texas, USA

Beer Fox Laugh of the Week:

A redneck was stopped by a game warden in Central Mississippi recently with two ice chests full of fish. He was leavin' a cove well-known for its fishing.

The game warden asked the man, "Do you have a license to catch those fish"
'Naw, sir', replied the redneck. "I ain't got no fishin' license. But you gotta understand something: these fish here are my pet fish."

"Pet fish?"

"Yeah. Every night, I takes these fish down to the lake and let 'em swim 'round for awhile. Then, when I whistle, they jumps right back into the ice chests here and I takes 'em home."

"That's a bunch of baloney! Fish can't do that."

The redneck looked at the game warden intently for a moment and then said, "I swear it's the truth, Mr. Gove rnment Man. I'll show ya. It really works."

"O.K." said the warden. "I've got to see this!"

The redneck poured the fish into the lake and stood and waited.

After several minutes, the warden said, "Well?"

"Well, what?" asked the redneck.

The warden asked, "When are you going to call them back?"

"Call who back?"
"The FISH!" yelled the warden!

"What fish?" asked the redneck.

Moral of the story: We may not all be as smart as some city slickers, but we ain't all as dumb as some government employees.

You can say what you want to about the South, but you ain't never heard of anyone retiring and moving up North.

BeerNews:

Firestone Walker is releasing their first India Pale Ale under the name Union Jack. It is a double IPA, dry hopped, and has been released to the market February 8, 2008 in bottles and on draft. It will be available throughout California and in parts of Nevada.

Beer Fests:

15th Annual McMenamins' Hillsdale Brewfest "Battle of the Belt" - February 16, 2008 - 11:00 a.m. to midnight at Hillsdale Brewery and Public House, 1505 SW Sunset Blvd, Portland, Oregon, USA - A battle to win the coveted "BELT." With sixteen ales from Oregon and four from Washington, these beers cover the spectrum of brew styles - from IPAs to stouts, goldens to porters and everything in-between. Guests order trays of beer samples, order some food and begin comparing the entrants. Then, each taster casts one ballot for his or her top three choices.
The victorious brewer will represent McMenamins at the 21st Annual Oregon Brewers Festival, July 24-27, 2008.
For Info: http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=20

Toronado Barley Wine Festival - February 16-22, 2008 -11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily - 547 Haight, San Francisco, California, USA - The main event is Saturday, February 16th, when the Toronado opens the back room. Huge offering of barley wine - More than 55 on tap, with others kicking in as time allows... there may be up to 100 to sample. Judging event, too! Part of Beerapalooza 2008! Info: http://www.toronado.com

A "MUST DO" BEERAPALOOZA EVENT for beer lovers! Celebrator Beer News 20th Anniversary Brewers' Mardi Gras Party - February 17, 2008 - 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Oakland Convention Center / Mariott Hotel, Oakland, California, USA - More than 35 breweries pouring 200+ beers! Cajun/Creole food catered by the Marriott Hotel, music from Dixieland Jazz and Zydeco bands and beer are included along with a souvenir Belgian-style glass! Silent auction, prizes for best Mardi-Gras costumes, special VIP session one hour before the festival, and more. Tickets are $55 for regular session, $80 for VIP session. For tickets and information on the Party and Beerapalooza 2008:
http://celebrator.com

Zythos Bier Festival 2008 - March 1, 2008 - Noon to Midnight and March 2, 2008 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Stadsfeestzaal venue, St.-Niklaas, Belgium
Sixty Breweries present 200 beers at this 2 day event. Free entry, 3-euro refundable deposit for 15-cl tasting glass, beer tokens for 1.20 euros each - each beer costs one token.

First Annual Philly Beer Week - March 7-16, 2008 - Philadelphia's beer culture stretches back to the days when William Penn opened his first brewery in town, through the decades when Philadelphia was the brewing capital of America and into the 21st century, an era when Philadelphia is rightly lauded as an exciting, diverse beer-drinking town. Join us in a toast of our city's unique beer culture with an unprecedented 9 straight days of festivals, dinners, special events, tours and “meet-and-greets” at dozens of area restaurants, taverns and other venues.
For information on events: http://www.phillybeerweek.org/

1st Annual Philly Beer Geek Finals Competition - Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. to midnight - Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - A Philly Beer Week Event - Winners of Qualifying Preliminary Rounds from Philadelphia Metro and Suburban area Philly Beer Geek Sponsors will compete on Finals night for a Grand Prize of more than $1,000 in gift certificates, cash, and prizes. Seven judges from Philly, California, and DC will challenge participants. Music by Tom Dalldorf and the Rolling Boil Blues Band http://www.celebrator.com/rb3
For info on Philly Beer Geek: http://www.phillybeergeek.com

Savor - May 16-17, 2008 - Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC, USA
The Brewers Association, producers of the Great American Beer Festival, is bringing the quintessential craft beer and food event to Washington D.C. in celebration of American Craft Beer Week. Tickets are $85 and go on sale February 4, 2008 and include:
-Samples from of a wide variety of small dishes and appetizers crafted to match the taste profiles of craft beers
-Commemorative tasting glass
-2-ounce samples of specially selected craft beers
-Souvenir program
-Craft Beer Tasters Journal
For information:
http://www.beertown.org/events/SAVOR/

Craft Beer of the Week Award

The Lost Abbey The Angel's Share - Port Brewing Company / The Lost Abbey, California USA

Style: American Strong Ale - 11% ABV

The deep dark, opaque molasses body glistens with red highlights around the edges while supporting a creamy, one-finger head that settles like a blanket. Aromas of alcohol mix with the oaky fragrance of vanilla, as dark fruits and chocolate linger, rich and full, in the air. On the palate, cherries, figs and raisins merge with caramel malts, chalky dark cocoa, black bread, and brandy. Warmth rises up with prominence. As a sipper, desire will make you settle in with this for the night.

Cheers!

Please visit Beer.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Beer and Brewing.

To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Beer and Brewing located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=322

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Carolyn Smagalski, Beer and Brewing Editor
http://Beer.bellaonline.com

One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com