Why Do Fruit Flies Love Beer?

Fruit flies love beer!

Actually, they love yeast aromas. That's why I sometimes find drowned fruit flies in my fermenter airlocks.

The fruit flies are attracted to the almost fruity aroma of yeast. Bioengineer Kevin Verstrepen published a paper in Cell Reports. In it, he demonstrated that if he turned off the yeast gene that produces the fruit smell, more fruit flies are attracted to the fruitier smelling yeast. They eat the yeast, and the yeast sticks to their legs. When the flies leave, they spread the yeast to other environments. After all, yeast don't have legs.

Coming Soon: City Acre Brewing in Houston

Well, soon  might be a relative term. City Acre Brewing won't be open until 2015. It will be at 3421 Folger Street, north of downtown off of U.S. Highway 59. They will serve their own beer, plus some other Texas craft beers, and serve food made from their garden.

Matt Schlabach and his wife Meredith Borders are the owners of City Acre Brewing. Mat has been brewing for over ten years, about as long as they've been dreaming of opening a brew pub.

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Hops Make You Smart! That's Why I'm a Supergenius!

Oregon State University scientists have published a study that says the hop flavonoids xanthohumol might increase the cognitive functions of young mammals.

According to Modern Farmer, flavonoids are present in a lot of plants. And plants with a lot of flavonoids tend to be darker, like blueberries. Flavonoids in celery and artichokes might fight pancreatic cancer. Evidence suggests that flavonoids could also have anti-inflammatory properties and could help reduce blood pressure.

Xanthohumol fight a process called palmitoylation, which impairs memory functions in mammals.

Xanthohumol, this research indicates, might be able to reduce the way palmitoylation breaks down the connections between synapses in the brain, hence increasing memory capabilities and also increasing cognitive flexibility (the ability to think about multiple things at once).

 Of course, it would require 2000 liters of beer a day for there to be any effect in humans. DON'T feed your kids that much beer. That would be a bad thing.

Kollaborationsbiermittschechischemhopfenundwilderbakterienhefekombination

Jester King Brewery and Live Oak Brewing company have joined forces to create Kollaborationsbiermittschechischemhopfenundwilderbakterienhefekombination, or Kollaborationsbier, for short.

Kollaborationsbiermittschechischemhopfenundwilderbakterienhefekombination literally means “collaboration beer with Czech hops, wild yeast, and bacteria” in German, according to the press

release. I will take their word for it and I'm sure there will be a pronunciation contest at some point.

The wort was produced at Live Oak Brewery in East Austin, and then trucked to the West Austin Jester King brewery, where that special Jester King blend of wild yeast and bacteria was added. It clocks in at 4.2% alcohol.

The beer will be available tonight at the tasting room, but not for long. There will only be 1000 bottles available.

Could I get someone to bring me one back to Paradise?  I have to work today and tomorrow.

Draught House 46th Anniversary - October 25

As if I needed to tell you, Draught House Pub and Brewery is at 4112 Medical Parkway in Austin.

Freetail Brewing Company's Production Brewery

Freetail Brewing Company's production brewery will be opening in a few weeks, and the San Antonio Current has teased us with information about the new brewery.

Located on South Presa, the brewery will produce three beers in cans (Bat Outta Helles, a German-style lager; Third Coast IPA; and a seasonal beer) and two in 22 ounce bottles (Witicus double witbier and Freetail Ale, which is a little stronger and hoppier than the version at the pub). There will be a tasting room, and it will be open Thursday and Friday, 4-9 p.m. and Saturday, 2-9 p.m.

Hops & Grain Brewery's Austin Craft Beer Weer Events.

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NATION’S SECOND-LARGEST CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL COMING TO HOUSTON, OCTOBER 20-26

Talk about a beer lover’s dream week – more than 1,000 featured craft beers, pub crawls, craft beer dinners, home brewing demonstrations, talks with the best and brightest brewers in the craft beer industry and more are in store during Houston’s inaugural Big Brew, a week-long celebration of all things craft beer.   Event organizers will also reveal who made the cut for the Big Brew Best Beard after a city-wide, month-long search at 10 area breweries.

               Big Brew, the nation’s second-largest craft beer festival, kicks off October 20, 2014 with events all over Houston followed by larger events, October 23-25, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. 

               Highlights of the week-long beer fest include “The Great Match” where Houston’s top culinary talents present cuisine paired with perfectly paired featured brews Thursday October 23 from 6 – 9 p.m. 36 restaurants including Cordua, The Grove, Liberty Kitchen, Radical Eats, Hubbell & Hudson, BRC Gastropub, Carmelo’s and more have paired up with brewers to craft delicious fare.  Chef Randy Evans is presenting roasted Lamb Street Tacos paired with a Rogue Ale.  Matt Marcus of Eatsie Boys toys with the sweet-tooth serving an ice cream cookie cake paired with 8th Wonder Rocket Fuel Vietnamese Coffee Porter.  Chris Spradley, a Finalist in 2010 on Master Chef with Gordon Ramsay and the Host of Destination Beer, a new travel, food and beer show, will also be in attendance at The Great Match and will be teaching attendees the basics of beer and food pairing.

               Feeling Texas proud? And who wouldn’t be with all the brew-ha-ha surrounding the industry’s craft beer growth, then be sure to check out Texas Brewed—a Texas Brewery Showcase taking place Friday night October 24 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the George R. Brown Convention Center.  40 Texas breweries will show why the nation looks to Texas for innovation.  Rather chill with friends at the local pub?  Hop on one of the Greenlink buses and join friends for “Suds in the City” pub crawl from 8 p.m. – 12 midnight with four pub stops.

               Rest up for not one, but two Big Brew Grand Tasting sessions, featuring more than 1,000 craft beers, brews brains and 5 educational stages.  Kevin Floyd, owner of Hay Merchant is featured on the Big Brew Spec’s University Seminar Stage October 25 at 1:30 p.m. providing a guided tasting of craft beer, progressing historically through malt, hops and yeast.  He’ll lead an interactive discussion to help attendees identify the

particular flavor components in different styles of beer.   A host of other speakers and seminar topics ranging from “The History of Beer,” “Home Brewing,” “State of Affairs”—crafting legislation, and “What’s your Type?” will give guests a chance to broaden their craft beer knowledge with some of the industry’s most well respected beer geeks, nerds and beer aficionados like Saint Arnold’s Brock Wagner; Southern Star’s President, Dave Fougeron; 8^th Wonder head brewer and U of H Beer Professor, Aaron Corsi; Revolver Brewing’s Brewer and Cicerone, Grant Wood and more.

               Plenty of new brews like Southern Star Hopped & Screwed, Shipyard The Gingerbreadhead and limited releases of New Belgium La Folie and Le Terroir, Southern Star Black Crack and fan favorites Franconia Kolsch, Wheat, Dunkel, and Fallen Bock as well as Goliad Golden Ale, Redfish IPA; Presidio La Bahia Black Hefeweizen and Revolver Blood & Honey, Bock, and High Brass just to name a few will all be on tap.  For a complete list of the more than 200 breweries and beers visit www.bigbrewhouston.com/breweries.

               Fans of the Big Brew Best Beard contest will finally see who makes the cut as the 10 area Best Beard finalists from Saint Arnold, No Label, Fort Bend Brewing, Karbach Brewing, Beerfoot Brewery, Brazos Valley Brewing, 8^thWonder, Buffalo Bayou, Lone Pint and Southern Star Brewing vie for the Big Brew Best Beard.  The winner will be announced during the first Grand Tasting session.  A photo gallery of the Best Beards can be viewed on Facebook. (Big Brew Houston)

               For the ultimate Grand Tasting experience, the Big Brew Beer Snobs VIP Zone secures guests early entry into the George R. Brown Convention Center, as well as access to surprise tastings and samplings from the industry’s top brewers.

               Hotels near the Big Brew activities include downtown’s Hyatt Regency Houston, just minutes from the George R. Brown Convention Center, where its popular LobbiBar will feature Texas craft beers throughout the week.   October 26 it’s Good Morning Brewston - wake up to a 3-course brunch with beers from 8^th Wonder including French Toast, Rocket Fuel and Mimosa.  Reserve brunch tickets by calling 713 375-4709. Hotel rates for Big Brew week start at $139.  For reservations, go to www.hyattregencyhouston.com or call 713-654-1234.

               Tickets to Big Brew events start at $45.  To purchase tickets and view a complete schedule of events, go to www.bigbrewhouston.com. Big Brew benefits the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, a leader in hospitality education.  Big Brew is sponsored by Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods, presented by Silver Eagle Distributing and produced by Food & Vine Time Productions, Inc. in conjunction with Houston First Corporation and the George R. Brown Convention Center.  Next Level Urgent Care is the first-aid sponsor.

Flowchart: What Should You Drink

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Beer Fests Everywhere!

I live so far from El Paso that I don't pay to close attention to the goings on there, but I have known that El Paso has long been a craft beer city. I didn't know how much of a craft beer city, until I ran across an article about their Craft Beer Festival last weekend.  Founded by Nahum Avila, the Sun City Beer Festival drew 7,000 people, 500 more than last year.

A smaller crowd showed up for Abilene's 3rd Beer Summit, but still drew enthusiastic beer fans the weekend before.

Here in Paradise, the local Oktoberfest broke attendance and beer sales records.

Southern Star Brewing Building a New Brewery

Southern Star Brewing Company owner David Fougeron recently broke ground for a new brewery in Conroe. The new brewery will replace the brewery they lease, which is at maximum production of 13,000 barrels. The 20,000 square foot new brewery will have a 60 barrel brew house and larger fermentation tanks, an air conditioned tasting room and an event space. A two story house on the property will eventually become a bed and breakfast. The new brewery is scheduled to open in late 2015.

Texas GABF Winners

I was working at Oktoberfest here in Paradise over the weekend, and missed the GABF awards ceremony. One of the volunteers was an investor at Pedernales Brewing Company and he told me that they won a Silver Medal in the German-Style Schwarzbier category. When I got home, I tried to find a list of Texas winners on the Brewers Association site, the search for Texas winners only yielded Oasis Brewing Company.  ????

Thankfully, the fine ladies at BitchBeer.org were able to get a screen capture of the winners.

Hops & Grain Celebrates Its Third Anniversary October 12

Three years ago, the world was made a better place when Hops & Grain opened its doors at 507 Calles Street in Austin, Texas, and the beer started flowing. Now it’s time to celebrate the brewery’s third anniversary with a good, old-fashioned anniversary shindig that will feature live music and food from Slab BBQ, Sunday October 12 from noon to 6 pm. Tickets are $25. Partygoers will get the first chance to taste Hops & Grain’s fifth can in its permanent lineup, a Baltic Porter, aptly named PorterCulture. Attendees will receive a souvenir glass with ticket purchase that will allow them to sample over nineteen different beers the H&G crew have been experimenting with in the Greenhouse, including:
• O-Fest Lager
• Kolsch
• Pils Party
• Concentrated Dark Matter
• The One They Call Zoe
• Greenhouse IPA
• Rum barrel aged Barleywine
• Volumes of Funk
• Oak fermented IPA
• Wet Hop IPA
• 2 X Dry-hop IPA
• Hop Dog
• English Strong Ale
• Pale Dog
• ALTeration
• Brandy barrel aged Alteration
• Red River Whiskey barrel aged Red
• Imperial Bond

Horny Toad Brewing Open House this Weekend

I got this email from Mike, over at Horny Toad Brewing Company:

We just wanted to let everybody know that our next Open House is scheduled for Saturday the 4th of October from 2-8pm. There will be six delicious hand-crafted ales on-tap to include the Mesquite Bean Brown Ale, and an Oktoberfest beer brewed by my freind and associate, Dave.  Also, Darren Morrison of San Angelo will be entertaining the crowd with live music on the patio, so come on down and celebrate Oktoberfest Rowena-style!

Naturally, I can't go because I have volunteered at Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg this weekend. Next month is out because I am working at Pedernales Brewing Company's tasting room. May I can save the first weekend in December...

(For the record, Mike has the coolest looking t-shirt!)