Recently, Beernews.org, a leading craft beer blog, counted 80 craft beer companies that canned at least one of their beers, with another 16 companies developing canning operations.  Why the sudden surge?

For one, craft beer sales have been steadily increasing over the past decade as consumers demand more flavorful and more interesting options.  Market forces simply filled a void.  The same folks that enjoy bottled and draught craft refuse to settle for the alternative in cans.  The technology is there:  the idea of canning beer has been around for about a century, but successful commercial ventures took root post-Prohibition. (please follow the link for a brief history)

 Oskar Blues Brewing (OBB), sadly no longer locally distributed, is generally recognized as a canned craft beer pioneer.  With Dale’s Pale Ale and Old Chub Scotch Ale, OBB created a new paradigm in fall ‘02 – full-flavored, high-quality, handcrafted ales in cans.  Others have chosen to follow. 

Where glass is unwelcome, cans usually have access.  Here in Idaho, many outdoor recreationists frown on glass not only for its weight but also for its potential to break and cause damage.  Cans pack in and pack out well and cool quickly in snowbanks and mountain streams.  Many parks prohibit glass for the public safety, but these same parks have no problems with cans. 

Currently at the Co-op, we carry craft beer cans from Caldera Brewing, New Belgium Brewing, Big Sky Brewing, and Anderson Valley Brewing Company.  As summer is in full swing, our stock fluctuates and periodically we’re out of something.  Have no fear though, the next delivery is usually mere days away.  If you do plan a special adventure that requires a tasty, canned adult beverage, please contact Matt: beer@boisecoop.com  Cheers, ~m

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

So it went on Saturday, May 22nd, @ the Ram’s Stonehouse for the conclusion of the 3rd Annual Organic Homebrew Contest.  300+ brave souls endured lines and unseasonably cold weather to gather in support of our local brewing culture.  And a robust brewing culture it is.  Despite some setbacks and frustrations, winners emerged, strangers mingled, and locally-produced pints of flavorful ales found their purpose in the enjoyment and conviviality of the masses.  I applaud all who attended and proffer my congratulations to the winners and my gratitude to the sponsors, volunteers, and all those who made the event possible.  Cheers, ~m

Organic Amber:

 1st: Tom Figura – S’preme

2nd: Marvin Kinney – Jane Good”ale”

3rd: Derek Panzarello – Augustus Amber

Public Judging Organic Amber:

1st: Scott Carter

2nd: Rob Blenkinsop

3rd: (tie) Jeff Carter, Sam Davidson

Best-of-Show:

1st: Ander Sundell – Rye Saison

2nd: Scott Fuhrman – Idaho Pale Ale

3rd: Steve Dockter – Trippin’ Hippy Oatmeal Stout

Saison:

1st: Ander Sundell – Rye Saison

2nd: Scott Carter – Spicy Man Saison

3rd: Ryan Archabal – Sock Monkey Saison

Helles/Maibock:

1st: John Herbenson – Maybock

2nd: Rob Blenkinsop – Stella’s Helles

3rd: Jeff Hammel – My Oh Maibock

IPA:

1st: Scott Fuhrman – Idaho Pale Ale

2nd: Wes Getusky – IPA

3rd: Marvin Kinney – Gone Native

Blonde:

1st: Tom Figura – How many blondes?

2nd: Scott Fuhrman – Natural Blonde

3rd: Garrett Hirsch – Blonde

ESB:

1st: Nick Phillips – Let it Be ESB

2nd: Marvin Kinney – Evolutionary Simian Brew

3rd: Jeremy Wheeler – ESB

Oatmeal Stout:

1st: Steve Dockter – Trippin’ Hippy Oatmeal Stout

2nd: Eric Regner – Breakfast Stout

3rd: Corey Vaughn – Quakers Oat Stout

Sponsors:

• Bighorn Brewing/The Ram
• Boise Co-op
• Local BJCP judges
• Boise Bicycle Project
• Boise Community Radio
• Brew Connoisseurs
• Brewforia
• Beer Valley Brewing
• Flatbread Community Oven
• Bittercreek Ale House
• The Front Door
• Idaho Distributing
• Hayden Beverage Company
• Grand Teton Brewing
• Nampa Brewers Center
• Nikobrew.com
• Salmon River Brewing
• Brewer’s Haven
• Payette Brewing
• Craft Brewers Alliance
• Sierra Nevada Brewing
• Highlands Hollow
• Sockeye Grill and Brewery
• TableRock Brewpub
• Hop Union
• Wyeast
• Shepard Bros.
• Brewers Supply Group
• All of the volunteers
• All of the contestants

For the second consecutive year, Boise area brewpubs, alehouses, and beer-centric venues will take part in American Craft Beer Week.

This national celebration honors the small, local and regional craft brewers that have led a resurgence in brewing culture in this country.

Locally, the festivities unofficially start on Thursday, May 13th @ Sockeye Grill and Brewery from 6-9PM with the release of the Precocious Imperial Pale Ale.  Blues, Brews, and BBQ occupies Friday and Saturday, May 14th and 15th – the event takes place @ Boise Hawks’ Stadium and will feature the following ID breweries: Salmon River Brewing, Sun Valley Brewing, Grand Teton, Sockeye, TableRock, The Ram, and Highlands Hollow.

Also on Friday May 14th, starting @ 9AM, the Co-op will distribute maps and punchcards to the first 50 people (21+ with valid ID) to ask for them – the map shows the location of the four local brewpubs.  Throughout Craft Beer Week, each brewpub will feature a designated brew – stop in and have a pint @ each location during the week to have your card punched –

return your completed card to The Ram’s Stonehouse on Saturday, May 22nd after 5PM for a free T-shirt.

On Saturday, May 15th, from noon-4PM, the folks @ Solid Grill and Bar are christening the patio with brats, burgers, and specials on pints of ID craft beer – they have 11 draft handles that span the state.

American Craft Beer Week officially launches on Monday, May 17th @ Brewforia.  Join Rick from 6-9PM for an Extreme Beer and Cheese Pairing.

On Tuesday, May 18th, take your pick: Bittercreek Ale House will host a 5-course beer dinner, pairing locally sourced ingredients with locally made brews; Highlands Hollow will feature a 3-course brewer’s pairing menu as the Tuesday night special.

Wednesday, May 19th finds the action at The Ram on Parkcenter  - from 5-8PM, join brewers Kevin and Jake for tours of the brewery as they guide folks through the brewing process.  Check out special beer releases that evening, including: MaiBock, cask-conditioned Pale Ale, and oak-aged Dubbel Barrel Belgian-style Ale.

Thursday, May 20th, also provides options: The Front Door hosts Ninkasi for a Beer Dinner; or, join Josh and Lance @ Sockeye for a 5-course Beer Dinner; either way, both are sure to please.

On Friday, May 21st join the Rogue Nation @ The Melting Pot for a small plate pairing menu – fondue made with beer, accompanied by beer – yes, please.

Homebrewers unite on Saturday, May 22nd for the 3rd Annual All-Idaho HausBrau Challenge @ The Ram’s Stonehouse Banquet Center.  Starting @ 5PM, participate in a public judging of homebrewed Organic Amber Ales.  Following that, @ 6:30PM, enjoy BBQ fare, live music, a great raffle, and ales from around the state as we announce the winners of this year’s contest.

Craft Beer Week concludes on Sunday, May 23rd @ TableRock with a Brewing Basics Tour and Tasting.  Brewers Bob and Tim will guide groups through the brewing process, from grain to glass.  Additionally, throughout the week, enjoy special Happy Hours @ both Solid Bar and Grill and TableRock: Solid will feature $2 pints of ID brews; TableRock will release a different Pilot Batch Brew each day during Craft Beer Week.

Remember to celebrate Craft Beer Week responsibly, and I’d like to thank the Brewers Association for their support nationally of American Craft Beer Week, and Hayden Beverage Company for their support locally.  Cheers, ~m

I apologize for the delay in posting the labels – I recognize how necessary they are and how many days remain before the deadline.  A couple of reminders: please pay with cash or check @ your selected drop-off location – please make checks payable to: TVOHBC; also, please have your entries conditioned by the deadline as the entries will wait in a cooler (~38F) until certified judging.  Thank you for your patience and participation.

entry-labels

For those lacking printing capability, the Co-op has printed off a number of labels that reside @ Customer Service.  You’re invited to use them if you choose to drop-off your entries here.  Cheers, ~m

Get ready… the All Idaho Hausbrau battle is coming up, and we want your beer!

The mission of the All Idaho Hausbrau is twofold. For one, the contest helps put the hobby of homebrewing in a more public light. It is a hobby that is just as rewarding as it is fun. Being able to hold an event where the public gets to sample some of the best homebrew in the valley is a unique thing and we believe can serve help spread the hobby. The more homebrewers the better! (especially when the zombies come)
Secondly, our goal is to promote the use of organic ingredients in the hobby of homebrewing. We feel that as homebrewers, we have an intimate relationship with beer than most beer drinkers don’t get. We are just one step away from the grain in the field. When dealing with such primary ingredients we believe it is important to get the best possible ingredients. To us, this means using barley that has not been treated with industrial pesticides and herbicides. We follow this ideal and hope to make other homebrewers care about what chemicals have been used in the production of their barley.

Whether you are a homebrewer or simply a beer lover, we encourage you to partake in the Idaho Hausbrau public event, held at The Stonehouse this May. Sample great beer, eat great food, and voice your opinion about the beers you’ve sampled through an open public judging***

And for those homebrewers ready to undertake the challenge, here are the rules:

Eligibility

*Contest is open to all Idaho residents
*Beer must be brewed at home, commercially produced beer or “Brew on Premises” beers will not be eligible
*Contest is open to Contest staff, volunteers, judges (not allowed to judge a category they enter, safeguards taken), and contest stewards
*Each brewer may enter as many categories as they would like as many times as they wish

Entries

*Entry fee will be $6.00 for the first beer and $3.00 for beers thereafter
*Enter as many beers as you would like
*Entries into the non-organic categories must consist of three (3) 12 oz bottles
*Entries into the organic category must consist of eight (8) 22oz bottles, this large amount is what allows us to hold a public judging session (plus you get dinner and beers on the house!)
*To ensure anonymity during the public event all bottles must be capped with either silver or gold bottle caps, all markings must be blacked out
*Each beer must have a bottle ID label attached with a rubber band (no tape or glue)
*Swing top (Grolsh style) caps will not be accepted
*All labels MUST BE REMOVED to further help with anonymity

Entries are due before 5:00 PM on May 15 and can be dropped off at any of the following sponsor locations:

-Nampa Brewers Center
-Brewers Haven
-Brew Connoisseurs
-Boise Co-op
-The Ram (Boise location only)

All checks are payable to “Treasure Valley Organic Homebrew Contest” (TVOHBC to save ink!)

*All entries into the organic category MUST have an accompanying receipt proving the purchase of certified organic grain
*Organic entries MUST also include the recipe to ensure that at least 95% of the grain used was organic
*Entrants in the organic category MUST have current AHA membership for complete prize eligibility

Although hops do not need to be organic for a beer to be Organic (according to the FDA) 100% organic beers are encouraged

Categories

All beers will be judged according to their BJCP definitions, categories are:

*Non-Organic styles
*14B American IPA
*8C Extra Special Bitter/English Pale Ale
*13C Oatmeal Stout
*5A Maibock/Helles
*16C Saison
*6B Blonde Ale

*Organic Challenge (for the grand prize!)
*10B American Amber Ale

Organic grain availability

Organic grain are available quite a few locations around the valley, such as Boise Co-op, Nampa Brewer’s Center, Brew Connoisseurs and Brewer’s Haven . Boise Coop stocks the following (all organic):

Weyermann malting
-pils malt
-wheat malt
-rye malt

Briess malting
-2-row
-munich
-chocolate
-crystal 120
-crystal 20
-organic LME

In addition to these locations, there are plenty of on-line grain sources as well. Here’s a few to get you started:
www.breworganic.com
www.northernbrewer.com
www.morebeer.com

***Public event details

As mentioned above, the Idaho Hausbrau public event will be held at The Stonehouse in Boise, Id. 709 E Park Blvd, on May 22 2010. The event will consist of an open, public judging session of beers entered into the organic category. Following the public judging session, an awards ceremony will be held announcing winners in all categories. Food and Beer will be provided for those who pay the full entry fee.

*Admission to the event (includes Beer and Dinner) will be $10
*To participate in the public judging event, judging cards will be available for $5 and will entitle you
to 10-15 samples (depending on total number of entries submitted)
*Attendees are allowed to share a judging card
*Brewers who enter into the organic category will receive free admission to the event but will not be able to get friends and/or family in for free
*Doors will open at 5:00 and the open public judging session will continue until ~6:30
*Attendees who purchase both an entry fee and a judging card ($15 total) will receive one free raffle ticket, additional tickets will be available for purchase (proceeds donated to charity)

Judging

*Judging will take two forms, open public judging and closed door BJCP sanctioned judging
*Closed door BJCP judging will consist of all categories.
*First place (and maybe second, judge’s discretion) finishing beer in all non-organic categories will proceed to the Best of Show (BOS) round
*Judges will pick the top three finishers in the BOS
*All beers will be judged together, establishing a first second and third place finisher
*Open public judging will consist only of beers entered into the organic category
*All entrants will receive their judging evaluations by mail
*All decisions made by the contest organizer are final

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for the following finishing places:
*First, second, and third in all non-organic categories
*First, second, and third in the BOS round (non-organic beers)
*First, second, and third in the BJCP sanctioned round of judging entries into the organic category
*First, second, and third in the open public judging
Grand prize will, among other things, include a chance to brew your winning recipe on the brew system at the Ram with the brew master, be available on various taps around town, and be entered into the GABF Pro-Am contest in Denver CO!

Shipped entries

Shipped entries can be shipped to:
Boise Co-op, attn: Ander Sundell
888 W. Fort St.
Boise, ID 83702

Make sure you do a bit of research on how to mail beer and be sure to pack it well!

Further information

For further information that is not included here feel free to contact Ander at andersundell@gmail.com

Thank you for your participation and good luck!!!

Cheers, ~m

Welcome, readers, to 2010 – a Year of Beer! Each month we will explore a classic beer style, beginning in January with American Pale Ale (APA).

If you’ve enjoyed a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or a pint of Deschutes Mirror Pond, you’re likely familiar with this style. The American Pale Ale distinguishes itself from its British counterpart in both its use of indigenous ingredients and the overall purpose/effect that these ingredients have on the finished ale. Simply put, an APA employs Pale Malt (American two-row) and a cleaner fermenting yeast (California or Northwest Ale) to highlight the more assertive, oftentimes citrusy, American hop varieties (including but not limited to: Cascades, Centennials, Chinooks, Columbus). Late hop additions and dry-hopping accentuate the hop aroma and character.

Certain measures of specialty malts may be used not only for flavor but also for color, and a typical APA falls somewhere between a pale golden hue and a deep amber.

Medium-bodied and moderately boozy, an APA offers a thirst-quenching and approachable complexity. This versatile style pairs well with a variety of dishes and cuisines, from nicely aged cheddars to spicy Cajun fare, fried chicken, pizza, and burgers.

Commercial examples of American Pale Ale that are available at the Co-op include Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Anderson Valley Poleeko Gold Pale Ale, Full Sail Pale Ale and many more. Subtle differences in hop rate and variety allow each brewery to craft a truly unique APA. Try one today, or mix and match and test your palate.

Cheers, ~m