Geistbear Brewing Blog
Thomas has posted a great resource for a subject that I run into quite often … Hop Farms! He published locations links and varieties grown at North Carolina hop farms. It’s an interesting subject that I will continue to follow. In fact I have put a request in at NC State to tour their fields that may be happening sooner than I thought!

Beer & Racing
Jon Odgers did another “Bike to Beer” tour and this time Durham was the spot! They hit Triangle and Fullsteam after a long ride on the American Tobacco Trail. Follow the above link to see some photos and to get involved in his next Bike To Beer tour!

Brewgasm
The Thirsty Monk in Asheville is having what they call Thirsty Fest…I mean check out the list of beers here. Easily the most exciting line up of beers in the state right now! Anyway, Brewgasm has the scoop and you can read about how she managed her kids and managed to make it through a high gravity flight that included Foothills Sexual Chocolate, Olde Hickory Barrel-Aged Scottish Ale, Highland Brewing Sour Seven Sisters and Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout! Ouch!

Bruisin Ales
They’re a craft beer store AND if you follow them on Facebook and Twitter they’re a solid source of beer news too! Check out the link for the amazing selection of fall seasonal brews that arriving at this world class beer retailer! Read the list and pray they stock this stuff wherever you live.

Top Fermented
Erik Myers just started his Mystery Brewing Company and uses this most recent blog post to talk about the rise of start up breweries and how his company will fit in or NOT fit in to the scene here. Plus he goes into the fact that the the industry is quite possibly “a facade of good will, warm-fuzzies, and glowing elf hugs”! Would love to chat with you about that Erik!

“no dark lighting, no loud music,no smoke, no drug deals, no hookers, just good beer, wine & friendly folk”

http://www.luckycity7.com/

My Carolina Today supported Raleigh Restaurant Week and posted the above video from the Raleigh Times. Host Sharon Delaney spoke with manager Katrina Jenkins and Executive Chef Corey Palakovich about the beer and food they offer.

http://www.hcbeerfest.com/

BREWGRASS FESTIVAL September 18th
Hand’s down the best fest that I’ve worked. Best crowd, mostly NC/SC/ TN breweries, great bluegrass / Americana music all in the heart of BEER CITY USA! It’s a long day (noon-7pm) but the crowd, for the most part, “maintains” and the music is usually world class. Not some unknown cover band playing “Brown Eyed Girl” like most beer fests. This year The Infamous Stringdusters are headlining! This one sells out way in advance. Start planning for next year!

http://brewgrassfestival.com/

CHARLOTTE OKTOBERFEST September 25th
This one is unique because it includes a HUGE representation of homebrew clubs from around the state. Why so many homebrews? Because this one is run by homebrewers! Specifically the Carolina BrewMasters. This years fest will raise money for The National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina and The Autism Society of North Carolina.

http://www.charlotteoktoberfest.com/brewers.aspx

Another beer fest in Fayetteville that takes place on September 18th. Oktoberfest Beer Tasting and Art Auction. That’s about all I know about it!

Plus there is the http://beerarmy.com/profile/JacktoberBrewTuneFest also on the 18th of September.

good pour

“There’s a huge misperception that bottles are better than cans,” said Miller, 38, who, along with fellow home brewer Rick Tufts, 36, three years ago decided to turn his home brewing hobby into a business. “I would argue that cans are more effective.”

Craft beers are a relatively small but vibrant segment of the beer industry. The $7 billion in craft beer sales rung up last year accounted for 6.9 percent of total beer sales in 2009, according to association data. During the first half of this year, sales of craft beers rose 9 percent by volume even as overall beer volume declined 2.7 percent.

Triangle Brewing’s expansion plans are being fueled by its impressive sales growth. The company, which has just three employees, sold 680 barrels last year, up from about 350 a year earlier, Miller said. The company projects sales will climb to 1,250 or 1,300 barrels this year – a projection that doesn’t account for cans, which are an unknown factor.

Recent story in the Durham Herald Sun

Comments on SlashFood.com

Another Belgian White in a can’s success story

Here is a link to all that is Foothills on eBay: http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=FOOTHILLS+sexual&_sacat=0&_odkw=FOOTHILLS+BALTIC&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313

MORE INFO ON THE RELEASE

Typical pint glass with 16 ounces of beer in it

“It’s our decision to use 14-ounce glasses to keep our prices at the lower end of the spectrum,” says co-owner Jerry Mahon. The menu doesn’t use the term “pint” anywhere, and the bartender knew that the glassware measures 14-ounces, so they’re not misrepresenting at the Mellow Shroom.

Please read the complete article at the link above.

While they may not be using the term “pint” this is still misleading in my opinion as the glasses they use look exactly like your typical pint glass. As good American Craft Beer drinkers, we’re way too familiar with the “shaker” style pint glass commonly served in tap rooms and taverns all across the nation. So to see it on the table you’d probably never notice. However if you pick up the empty 14 ounce impostor glass you’ll notice a thicker bottom, thinker side walls and a more concave slope on the inside of the container.

Still looks like a pint glass … but it’s not! Buyer beware. Be suspect of glassware options, pricing and do not be afraid to ask questions!

For more check out the Honest Pint Project

The Craft Beer Collective isn’t only a good source of NC beer news and event info, we enjoy celebrating the culture of beer in our fine state.

And that means we’re going to cover people who are creating bike trips to our favorite bars and people who create beer dispensing robots like BEER-2 D-2.

Today we bring you a craft beer creation from Raleigh, @Hop_Zilla’s Bottle Cap Table! Encased in thick acrylic are an assortment of great craft beer bottle caps, carefully arranged on a resurfaced and repainted side table … a side table for beer! This craft beer creation was made for Hop_Zilla neighbor and fellow beer drinker @hopheadho’s birthday. Lucky bastard!

[View with PicLens]

Science Of Beer in Durham

more info from the Museum website:
September 16, 2010 | 7–9 pm
Join us for an evening learning the Science behind Beer. Explore the Magic Wings Butterfly House* and outdoor garden while trying your hand at beer experiments and activities. Local breweries and even some home brew enthusiasts will be available to share their expertise.

Guests will also enjoy live music, beer tasting and light snacks. Find a beer you like? Glasses, bottles of beer and additional samples will be available for purchase during the night.

SCIENCE OF BEER
Members $12 per person / Non-members $15 per person
This event is for guests 21 years of age and older. IDs will be checked at the door. Pre-registration requested, please call 919-220-5429×313 to order tickets.

http://www.ncmls.org/visit/events/science-beer