According to the Brewers Association, there are 2,416 breweries in the US as of March 2013. An impressive 2,347 are craft breweries alone. Beer lovers have many choices these days and the list continues to grow. There really is something for everyone when it comes to craft beer.

I’m not saying that May 20th you go back to drinking the standard beer 94% of the US population drinks daily. My guess is that if you’re reading The Thirsty Muse, you already enjoy great craft beer. American Craft Beer Week is about celebrating American craft beer…I say celebrate it 52 weeks a year but make an effort to really enjoy it this week. Go out and buy some American craft beer, share it with friends, send an email of appreciation to your favorite craft beer maker, send them a letter, whatever. Just celebrate the fact that prohibition is a long gone nightmare, nasty beer is not the only choice anymore, and American craft breweries are making some good stuff!

© Michael Warth

I would love to know what you are drinking lately, what are you really enjoying? The fun I have with so many choices, is that there are so many new discoveries waiting to happen. If Willy Wonka was a brewmaster, he would be living in the moment, these are great times for beer lovers.

If you don’t like craft beer, and you like the regular stuff, I guess that is OK too…but I would rather you give a craft beer a chance. This might sound like I’m picking a fight, but I am not…let me ask, why don’t you like craft beer?

The weekend is almost here, and you don’t have any excuses to drink one of those mass produced, yellow-fizzy beers. Support local, support great taste, support craft beer. Leave me a comment and let’s get this discussion started…share with us what you are having for American Craft Beer Week 2013.

My top 5 favorite brands (in no particular order):

• Stone Brewing Co
• Fat Head’s
• Jackie O’s
• Sierra Nevada
• Dogfish Head

]]> http://www.thethirstymuse.com/2013/05/17/american-craft-beer-week/feed/ 0 http://www.thethirstymuse.com/2013/05/16/devils-cut-a-quick-trip-to-the-liquor-store/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=devils-cut-a-quick-trip-to-the-liquor-store http://www.thethirstymuse.com/2013/05/16/devils-cut-a-quick-trip-to-the-liquor-store/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 15:24:24 +0000 Mike http://www.thethirstymuse.com/?p=345 Continue reading →]]>

Jack Daniels on the Rocks – © Michael Warth

Saturday night I had plans to make pictures of Jack Daniels and discovered the quantity on hand in my liquor cabinet was not what I expected. Someone in my house got to my stash and I needed another bottle quick. It was 9:30 PM and the local state liquor store closes at 10. Luckily, it all worked out and the planned photo shoot started on schedule at 10:30 (yes, I like shooting late…I’m not a morning person).

In a perfect world, my par limit would be three bottles of each of the brands and type I enjoy most (vodka, tequila, bourbon, scotch, light rum, dark rum, gin, Irish whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, triple sec, and a selection of mixers, and things like Irish cream, schnapps and other liqueurs). The wine cabinet would have a nice selection of reds and whites, and of course the beer ‘fridge would be an eclectic collection of great craft beer.

Unfortunately, it is not a perfect world, and I’m terrible about keeping the inventory up to date and I routinely need to rush off to the store every time I want to make something. Terrible I know, but most of us are in the same boat here (admit it). Furthermore, when I have friends and family over it’s nice to offer a great selection and have the ability to make a cocktail.

Nonetheless, I do enjoy going to the liquor store to see what is new, or simply to browse the aisles. During my rushed visit, I was reminded that I have been wanting to try Devil’s Cut (Jim Beam). For those not familiar with Devil’s Cut, or bourbon for that matter, the basic concept is this. Kentucky bourbon is aged in charred American Oak barrels for a period of years and during this process there is evaporation (aka the angel’s share), maturation (the expansion and contraction of the wooden barrel adds color and flavor to the whiskey), and absorption. Absorption is the part that was wasted according to tradition…until now. The folks at Jim Beam discovered a process to release the trapped whiskey that was absorbed into the wood and aptly named it, “Devil’s Cut”.

Devil’s Cut – © Michael Warth

(Photographer’s note: As you can see, the setup for the Devil’s Cut is exactly like the Jack Daniels shot. Since I had the lights set up, and everything out and ready, I decided to get a shot of the Devil’s Cut before I ran out and needed to make a run to the store again. The bottles in the background are there to give the illusion that this was shot at a bar…the bottles are part of my inventory that I do manage to have on hand)

Keep in mind, Devil’s Cut is still bourbon, real Kentucky bourbon (not a whiskey made like bourbon and called bourbon…it is real bourbon). I could go on about why bourbon is only made in Kentucky, but that is a whole new post and the discussion fuels many tempered opinions, so, I’ll just move on. I mean, can you imagine what would happen if someone made whiskey in Alabama and called it “scotch” — that would be bad to say the least.

Devil’s Cut, as one might expect, is a bourbon with a much more pronounced oak and earthy taste with a nice spicy heat that lingers on the tongue. I love it, but I also love great bourbon so I am a bit biased. Jim Beam is also my preferred brand, but I must say this new Devil’s Cut is my current favorite. I might add, Knob Creek, Single Barrel Reserve (also a Jim Beam brand), has been my long standing bourbon of choice and has a similar flavor to Devil’s Cut. I should taste them side by side to compare, but that would mean I need to adjust my inventory and as I mentioned earlier, my inventory habits are not ideal.

If you are a real Kentucky bourbon fan, you owe it to yourself to try Devil’s Cut. I think Jim Beam’s master distiller and the folks in research and development got it right with this one. It has the trademark Jim Beam flavor with the added intense, robust nature that only something with the name Devil’s Cut could pull off. Neat, on the rocks, as a shot, or mixed with cola, this bourbon is unique and well worth a place in your cabinet. Even if you race to the liquor store to buy the next bottle like I do.

On the rocks – © Michael Warth

Cheer’s to all the great moms today…may your day be filled with laughter, love, and great memories.

Elijah Craig – © Michael Warth

I love a great bourbon, and many of you do too. But nothing is better than sharing that drink with a friend. Happy Tuesday from TheThirsty Muse…today means nothing to me at the moment, I don’t know of any reason to celebrate. What I do know, is that today can be great, with a glass of bourbon and a friend.

Lately I have been incredibly busy making photos of corporate clients, musicians, beer, whiskey, and even a thing called a rave! I made a quick road trip to Athens to grab a beer and eat some lunch, worked with Ozzy; well that one is not entirely true, and essentially enjoyed the last few weeks…read more for the details and to see some of the highlights from my 30 days of alcohol fueled musings.

“…Wine is Fine but Whiskey’s Quicker…”

Ultimate Ozzy Tribute Band – © Michael Warth

Jack Daniels – © Michael Warth

A great line in a classic Ozzy tune, but even better when the Ozzy tribute band (Ultimate Ozzy) drops by for a promotional photo-session. I had a blast with the guys making photos and drinking a bit of Jack Daniels. As I write this, I still have a lot of work to do finishing up the photos for them to use for their promotional needs. We did the standard band photos for venue posters, but also did some for their own branding. I love working with musicians, the shoots are always fun and creative.

Unfortunately, I have had nasty emails, and seen some harsh comments/opinions posted by others regarding the photo of the band with the dove. I must say, the dove was well taken care of and great concern for his well being was paramount during the shoot. He was in his cage for the majority of the shoot, taken out for a few shots and put back into his cage. We didn’t want him stressed, hurt, or anything that would harm him – he is a family pet, and loved by his owners.

In the light of the recent news regarding the real Ozzy and his battles with alcohol abuse and in his words, “being an asshole to those he loves” I am not even going to try to comprehend the struggles Ozzy has had with substance abuse. However, I will say this, I hope he can go to war with the demon and prevail over his addiction and I am very happy he has been sober for 45 days since he started fighting this battle again.

“Ohio Beer Drinkers Association”

Ohio Beer Drinkers Association – © Michael Warth

When I planned the shoot for the Ohio Beer Drinkers Association I had no idea how hard it would be to get a few friends over to share in the drinking of the “props”. I texted, I called, I private messaged on Facebook, etc etc…but to no avail, I had no help with my shoot. Sad too, because sharing great beer with friends is at the heart of why I started this site and I can’t believe free beer wasn’t enough to get friends over to the shoot. It was a Saturday night, and I gave them all short notice, but c’mon…free beer, photo shoot, relaxed atmosphere…what’s not to love?

When I do a beer shoot, I typically go through a lot of beer. There are test images, planned layouts, and then the final set-up shots. With four beers being shot at once, I knew I needed at least 24 ounces of each beer (96 ounces total) just to get the shot. I expected to go through at least twice that amount just trying to “get it right”. Since I was alone, and I hate wasting beer, I didn’t want to use much more than the initial 96 ounces if I could. Fortunately, the first pour provided me with the best images. I didn’t need to wash the glasses in the middle of the session, do a re-pour, or change the lighting. I was lucky, these were high ABV beers, great tasting, and something I really wanted to enjoy after the shoot.

The beer: (left to right)  Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Claymore Scotch Ale, and North Coast Brewing’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout.

Lunch at Jackie O’s

Jackie O’s Mystic Mama IPA – © Michael Warth

I have so much I want to share about Jackie O’s in Athens. Jackie O’s will definitely become a regular theme for posts here on the site but I wanted to mention this here since it was a quick visit and part of my 30 days of alcohol fueled musings.

I made the 1 hour-15 minute drive to the brewpub in Athens, ordered the daily special (Chili-Mac-N-Cheese), and a great brown ale called Chomo-lung-ma. The trip was well worth it, and the Chili-Mac was way more than I expected. I purchased a growler of Mystic Mama IPA for making photos at the studio and of course, drinking.

Jackie O’s Brewery is rolling out cans of their beer mid-May this year and I am really hoping to get distribution near my home. However, if not, I can always take my growler(s) back for refills and maybe some more of that great pub food.

See brewmaster Brad Clark in this video…

I could go on, and on, and on…but I simply wanted to share what I’ve been up to lately. Have a great ‘hump day’ and have a drink on me!

Cheers

Jackie O’s, Mystic Mama IPA – © Michael Warth

Enjoy responsibly.

Why is this a big deal? If you are a craft beer lover, and you like to support local breweries, then this is a no-brainer event. Furthermore, it was a gathering of great Cincinnati area craft beer all in one place. The convenience alone is worth the visit. If, like me, you missed this event, you can always check out the beer another time…and you can bet I will visit Cincinnati for the beer I missed!

Information about the festival…

Hosted by Listermann Brewing Company from 9 AM – 11 PM (Saturday, March 23rd)

Beer from:

• 50 West
• Blank Slate
• Cellar Dweller
• Christian Moerlein
• Great Crescent
• Listermann
• Madtree
• Mt Carmel
• Quaff Bros.
• Rivertown
• Rock Bottom
• Triple Digit
• Weidemann’s

Go ‘Like’ the StarkBier Fest FaceBook page, and make plans to sample the beer from these great breweries. I hope to share my “discoveries” with you soon.

Me with friends – © Michael Warth, All Rights Reserved

Have you really laughed out loud lately. I hope you have. Last week I got to spend some quality time with new and old friends at my local watering hole, The Bank. Fortunately, many of these friends were performing their comedy acts as part of the three year celebration of Lori Graves’ Comedy Night. 

Tyler Stewart, singing in the voice of Eddie Vedder – © Michael Warth, All Rights Reserved.

As with most live entertainment venues, the alcohol was flowing and folks were having a great time. The comedians shared stories ranging from interpretations of Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), to something about Johnny Cash’s washing machine loads (that’s as far as I’m going with that one) and so many other things I won’t even try to share here on the site.

Why share this on The Thirsty Muse? Because, comedy and all live performance we call entertainment is an art form better experienced with friends and booze. The comedy never stopped that night. We had good times before and after the show, and I really enjoyed having a few beers with these “Funny People”. Anytime I get to laugh, drink, make photos, and gather writing material I’m a happy camper.

Say what you will, but comedians have it rough. They are often over-worked and under-paid. They have to be able to hang like rock stars, but still pull it all together even with the local drunk hecklers who just want to be, or think they are funny. Some of my best friends are comedians, I love them…I know life is not always funny, and it’s sometimes hard to smile, let alone laugh.

Lori & Jonathan – © Michael Warth, All Rights Reserved.

We need more of this in our lives. Good friends, funny people, laughter, and of course…good booze. The Thirsty Muse is a busy muse, and she has a healthy appetite for the arts and libations. Thank you to all the comedians who came out and gave their best at The Bank last Wednesday.

Jay Snyder – © Michael Warth, All Rights Reserved.

Portsmouth Brewing Co. was established in 1843 (!), and through a series of ownership changes, Ohio Rose Laws (Women’s Temperance Movement), the 1913 flood, and national prohibition, the brewery closed in 1920. Thankfully, avid home brewer, Steve Mault purchased the building in 1995 and began brewing beer commercially there in 1997. Located on 2nd Street, just a few blocks west of the Shawnee State University, the brewpub is easily accessible and within walking distance to many downtown shops.

Portsmouth Brewing Co. – Red Bird Ale, © Michael Warth, All Rights Reserved.

One does not need to be a “beer snob” or “beer geek” to enjoy the beer at Portsmouth Brewing Co. The ‘Portsmouth Pilsner’ is a great alternative to the mass produced beer we typically find in the beer aisle. However, if you do prefer the more rich flavored and colorful brews, they have plenty of those too. I sampled several beers there and liked pretty much all of them. But, I like beer, and it’s hard to review beer when I didn’t go there to judge it. I did pick a favorite though…Red Bird Ale.

After sampling the flight of Peerless Pale Ale, Vulcan Dark, Babe’s Brown Porter, Heffeweisbier, Portsmouth Pilsner, and the Red Bird Ale, I decided to purchase a 64 ounce growler of the Red Bird Ale to bring home. For those of you not familiar with the growler concept; a growler is a large bottle (typically 64 ounces) filled at the brewery for patrons to take home. The practice pre-dates bottled beer, and is how most people got their beer in the days before beer aisles, and home delivery. The clean growler can be refilled the next time you go back to the pub.

Learn more about Portsmouth Brewing Company on their website, and be sure to ‘Like’ them on Facebook. I plan on making many more visits to Portsmouth, Ohio to fill my gullet and growler.

Thankfully for Norwegians (and the rest of us), Nøgne Ø has been able to carve out a market for themselves despite the massive market share enjoyed by the Carlsberg-Ringnes and Hansa-Borg breweries. Like most places around the world, the most common beer may be the worst beer. Pale lagers have a place, and can be quite good, but yellow fizzy crap is yellow fizzy crap. Nøgne Ø has taken the craft beer movement to Norway, and in my humble opinion, created the best export since the Vikings. I mean, c’mon…when I finally got my hands on the Imperial Stout I thought I had died and Odin personally handed me a beer in Valhalla.

Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout in a snifter – © Michael Warth

Interestingly enough, Nøgne Ø uses American hops such as Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, and Columbus to craft their beers. I can’t help but think the water has a lot to do with the great taste as well. The ales produced by Nøgne Ø are made from the highest quality ingredients, and one can definitely taste the quality. Personally, I find the Imperial Stout has an amazing drinkability and mild aftertaste considering the 9% ABV and 75 IBU. I’ve had comparable Imperial Stouts leave a boozy and somewhat sour licorice aftertaste.

1 Pint, 0.9 ounce bottle of Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout – © Michael Warth

The growth of Nøgne Ø since 2003 is astonishing. Production rose from 300 hl (7,900 gallons) in 2003 to an amazing 3500 hl (92,400 gallons) in 2010, with about 20 styles for the beer geeks to sample. For the nerds amongst us, that’s nearly 700,000 – 1 Pint, 0.9 ounce bottles of Nøgne Ø beer!

Now, I’m sure you are wondering how to pronounce the name. For starters, it’s not “Nog-knee-Oh” as many here in the states would suggest. The best way to describe it is to say it like you would say, “know-gnuh ew-uh”. If that doesn’t make sense, or help you, then watch this video and hear how co-founder Kjetil Jikiun pronounces it.

Now, grab a glass of Nøgne Ø, some friends, and pillage and plunder like a raiding Norwegian on holiday in a far-from-home-land…own it, be a man, drink a real beer, and do a proper cheers.   –  Skål

Visit Nøgne Ø online at http://www.nogne-o.com