Beer Cocktails?

Beer cocktails, more popular in Europe than here, fall into three categories:  beer blends; beer mixed with something juice, spirits or other ingredients; or beer used as a flavoring ingredient in a cocktail.   For example, a Green Devil is 1/4 ounce absinthe, 1 ounce of gin and a bottle of Duvel.  Hmm.

Lone Star Collectibles Wanted

I recently received an email from a representative of BRZoom, a promotional agency that does work for Lone Star beer. Lone Star is looking to build up their collection of pieces, especially some big pieces for their offices. They want items before 1980.

If you have anything you would like to offer, call Chantel at (225) 755-5788.

BEER MONEY by Matthew Freeman

I recently received an email from Matthew Freeman. Matt is an Australian author and has written a mystery novel, Beer Money, with a beer background. So what's it about? According to the website, about 178 pages. {Rimshot} Here's Matt's description: "An Australian brewery executive has gone missing. Or has he? Joe Abbott is paid by the man's wife with a beer-sodden cheque to find out the truth. In doing so he locks horns with dodgy nightclub owners, a toupeed beer baron, and endless eccentrics - plus, of course, a wild pig - all in the twisted pursuit of a stash of missing money. And he has time for a beer or ten along the way.

I applaud anyone who has written a book and is marketing it themselves. And I have a few posts to fill before I start the series "Road to Cincinnati: NHC 2008." So head on over to the Beer Money website and buy a couple dozen copies.

The BN Theme and Christmas Lights

This is the Brewing Network's theme song timed to Christmas lights. The lyrics are explicit and funny.

Tonight is their last show of the year, and the inauguration of their new stripper pole! See you in the chatroom!

Colorado Largest Beer Producer

According to a story in the Denver Post, Colorado passed New York and, unbelievably, Texas to become the nation's biggest beer producer. Texas, in case you are wondering, has a Anheuser-Busch brewery in Houston and a Miller brewery in Fort Worth.

The Colorado brewing industry produced over 700 million gallons of beer.

A recent study commissioned by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) also found that the beer industry, made up of brewers, beer importers, beer distributors, brewer suppliers, and retailers, directly and indirectly contributes $12.4 billion annually to Colorado's economy. The industry's economic impact includes 67,918 jobs - paying $3 billion in wages - as well as $1.6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

We could have that kind of economic benefit in Texas. If we would get off our butts and remind the Legislature who is supposed to actually run Texas. But they would rather impose civil fines on traffic tickets to increase revenues than support job creating businesses.

After the New Year, I will publish my letter to the candidates for the Legislature. I hope all of my Texas readers will write their candidates and let them know that we would like a vibrant beer culture here in Texas.