March 30, 2009

Improvement on the Corner

Took a trip to Corner Pub last night and was pleasantly surprised the beer offering had greatly improved. On the table was a small card listing 'March Beers of the Month' which featured seven unlikely craft beers to choose from.

The new beers:

Bell's Amber
Bell's Best Brown
Bell's Two-Hearted IPA

Rogue Dead Guy
Rogue Mocha Porter

Lefthand Polestar Pilsener

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

I don't know who we have to thank for this blessing but the responsible party has our gratitude. These are excellent beers, all of them, and cover quite a range for beer lovers. (Those whose tastes currently hover with Bud, Miller or Coors might start with the Lefthande Polestar Pilsener.

I just wonder if there will be new beers each month given the 'beers of the month' title. Either way I am a happy camper.

March 27, 2009

Beer Wars Live! April 16th.

Beer Wars is a new movie that looks to highlight the struggles of American microbreweries. Here is a synopsis from their web page.

In America, size matters. The bigger you are, the more power you have, especially in the business world.

Director Anat Baron takes you on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of your favorite beer. Told from an insider’s perspective, the film goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favorite industries.

Beer Wars begins as the corporate behemoths are being challenged by small, independent brewers who are shunning the status quo and creating innovative new beers. The story is told through 2 of these entrepreneurs - Sam and Rhonda - battling the might and tactics of Corporate America. We witness their struggle to achieve their American Dream in an industry dominated by powerful corporations unwilling to cede an inch.

This contemporary David and Goliath story is ultimately about keeping your integrity (and your family’s home) in the face of temptation. Beer Wars is a revealing and entertaining journey that provides unexpected and surprising turns and promises to change the world’s opinion on those infamous 99 bottles of beer on the wall.


The Beer Wars Live event will feature a screening of the movie plus a live discussion event, broadcast immediately following, of Ben Stein and leading American brewers. In Springfield, this will be hosted at Showplace 12 on Wabash.

More information on the live event and tickets can be found here: Fathom Events

Movie information can be found here: Beer Wars

It should be an interesting iinsight into the industry for beer enthusiasts.

March 26, 2009

Prairie Schooners Homebrew Club website

Welcome readers!

If you have an interest in finding out more about the Prairie Schooners Homebrew Club, please direct your browsers to our club site.

prairie-schooners.ning.com

Our main page is open to public viewing but, if you wish to participate,feel free to sign up and apply for membership.

Meetings are open to newcomers and you need not feel like you must request permission to show up. Just bring some enthusiasm and a friendly attitude.

March 17, 2009

March 6, 2009

2nd Homebrew Club meeting

I reviewed our first meeting and I gave us an 'excellent' and 'not creepy' rating. That, in and of itself, should entice you to come to our next meeting. Did I mention it is at The Brewhaus? Swing by, have some good commercial beers, have some good homebrews. Learn how easy it is to homebrew and how easy it is to produce some quality beer. Did I mention how easy it is? It is.

But it is a hobby that can and will grow with your own knowledge of making beer. You may wish to invest your time in learning such exciting topics as pH control, yeast propagation, neutron star emissions (oops, wrong hobby). You don't have to have a degree in chemistry or microbiology but at the upper echelons of homebrewing it helps. Did I mention how easy it is though?

Some people think it might even save you money. The Simple Dollar had a nice rundown on startup costs compared to purchasing commercial microbrews. Once you get into a regular brew schedule, you will save money brewing your own beer.

Soon you too will dream and scheme on how you might open your own brew pub in an old abandoned ice house near 9th street.

Next meeting! March 12th @ 7:00 pm. The Brewhaus.