When your father was a young gentleman, he had two beer options: Bud or Bud Light. Today, a journey down the beer aisle(s) can induce indecision, frustration, and even paralysis of the brain. You could panic and default to that familiar light beer within arm’s reach. Stop. There is a better way. Admittedly, summer complicates beer selection. While a beer too light will leave you unfulfilled, a beer too dark may cause something reminiscent of the milk scene from Anchorman: bad choices all around. The right beer on a hot July day, however, is a glorious, glorious thing. With temps on the rise and grill smoke in the air; enter the Saison. Saison (sometimes called Farmhouse Ale) is French for "season." Farmers in French speaking areas of Belgium brewed this beer during colder months for summer consumption. So straight away,...
With InBev’s takeover of Anheuser-Busch, Boulevard Brewing Co. became Missouri’s largest American-owned brewery. Its promotion has not gone to Boulevard’s head or, more importantly, to its products. Boulevard makes fantastic beer, fact. From its top-selling Unfiltered Wheat to its adventurous Smokestack Series, beer snobs and everyday Joes can unite behind this Midwestern gem. And, you need not reside in the Midwest to enjoy a Boulevard. Its products are available in over 24 states from California to Massachusetts. (Click here). Last summer, Boulevard released its newest year-round beer: 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer. We at G@H lack the enlightened palates to jabber about citrusy notes and potential food pairings. But, we have tried (and retried and tried again) lots of beer, and we enjoy 80-Acre. If Boulevard’s Unfiltered Wheat and Pale Ale had an unplanned yet adored lovechild, 80-Acre is what it...
Ever stumble upon something and marvel, “How does such a thing exist without me knowing about it?” Get this: Krups, think coffee makers, and Heineken, think beer, make a mini kegerator, the B100 BeerTender. That contraption your college roommate fashioned out of a junk refrigerator has come a long way. Bravo to German ingenuity and Dutch imagination! The BeerTender uses 5L DraughtKegs of Heineken, Heineken Premium Light and Newcastle Brown Ale. It maintains the beer at 37°F and keeps it fresh for 30 days. At only $120, the BeerTender makes a manageable gift, so do not be surprised to unwrap one on your birthday, Christmas or Father’s Day (if applicable). We at G@H have not used this product and cannot speak to its quality or effectiveness