Our host for this month's Fermentation Friday is lootcorp and they write

"In the spirit of the New Year, your assignment is to give us your ‘brew year’s resolutions’ for 2009 (sorry for the horrible wordplay). Was 2008 a good brewing year for you? What can you improve on or change that will make 2009 even better? Any promises to yourself, like brewing a certain style for the first time, going all-grain, or upgrading your system?"

2008 was not what I expected in my brewing, I had hoped to make the move to all grain but with the move it didn't happen. I did do a lot more extract and steeping grain kits than I have in years. That was a function of helping at a new shop and kick-starting the homebrew kits. I don't regret it though because it made me simplify my recipes to the basics. I got to also work in a production brewery for a day, it taught me how much hard work goes into the beer we buy. So it was a year of surprises.

As for the coming year I would like to get in brewing all grain for sure. I would like to try other more style based brews like a local based Lambic or perhaps some form of scuppernong-beer hybrid. As I have been increasing my commitments to some side projects I hope to be able to keep up on my brewing hobby. Lastly I'd like for it to remain fun, because otherwise what is really the point?

I have spent a big part of my life living in Arizona, but I never have managed to become an Arizona Cardinal's fan. That said I wish them success this weekend at the Super Bowl. If you are looking for Arizona beers for the big game here is what I would suggest.

First off ignore Cave Creek Chili Beer, it's a gimic beer not intended for the serious craft beer enthusiast and I only ever use the beer to flavor my chili. It may be the only beer that consistently makes it out of Arizona and I think it's because the locals don't drink it.

The AZ Brewing Guild is a great source to find out about craft brewing and they recently updated their website. If you find yourself going to Arizona this site would be my go guide for the state, after my site of course.

Four Peaks is probably the largest brewery in the state. Every time I hear about them they are finding ways to expand in a confided space. Kiltlifter is probably their flagship beer. It's a Scottish style ale and if you can find any of their beers it's probably this one. My favorite of theirs though would be the 8th Street Ale, their take on an English Best Bitter.

Nimbus Brewing, based in Tucson, is another large brewery in the state. Their Brown ale is the only one I have had with any regularity and it's tasty. Old Monkey Shine is an Old English ale that friends from Tucson always rave about but I haven't tried it.

Mudshark in Lake Havasu is another brewery you might see on the market. They make a Hefeweizen and Belgian Wit, which don't sound too unusual until you find out they serve them in cans. I don't recommend you drink them that way, pour it into a glass then enjoy, but their Wit is a very solid beer.

Oak Creek Brewing is an old favorite but frankly people outside of Arizona only see it at GABF. They are one of the most award winning brewers in the state for good reason. Inspired by German traditions that have fueled into more experimental brewing in recent years. Frankly I think their best offerings only make it to their pub or festival booths. That said their Nut Brown, Amber, and Pale ale are great beers and their traditional Hefeweizen recently was started to be bottled. Seek them out and you won't be disappointed.

Any of the above beers, except the Chili, would be a great offering for your party this weekend.

Big Boss's Tavern ale is an old time favorite to the Horniblows regulars. Now that I have had the chance to sample I can see why it's loved. While David told me it was a hoppy ESB, I was leaning more towards a West Coast Pale ale. Regardless of what you call it this hop filled ale delivered on flavor. It had a cloudy, haze coppery hue that David said was due to it's unfiltered nature. For the 6.4% alcohol level it was very smooth and drinkable.

I doubt you'll find anywhere else in Raleigh, they tend to keep the good stuff for Horniblows. But never fear they have many other interesting beers along the road. They have some barrel aged special offerings on the way, some will make the Raleigh Times but most will be reserved for the tavern so stop by it will be worth your effort.

One of my Christmas presents was a gift card for a restaurant called The Keg. I visited one of their Arizona locations over the holidays. It is a steakhouse chain that started in Canada. The food was indeed excellent, none of the four of us who ate there that day had a complaint about the food.

The beer was another matter.

You might expect a place with a name like The Keg to carry an extensive beer selection, but you would be disappointed. I noticed the wine list when we sat down and looked for beers but no list was to be found. I asked the waiter about it, he said he has asked the managers for one but they don't think it's important.

Then my waiter assured me that they had a good selection and would have anything I requested. Everyone else at the table told him I could name a beer they wouldn't have, very easily.

I decided to be nice and asked what locally produced beer they had, anything from Arizona would be fine, in essence a softball. They had none.

The waiter offered and went through the list of taps all mass produced lagers. He didn't know what bottles they had. I told him any Brown ale that wasn't Newcastle was fine. I got a Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It's a fine beer but it isn't even an ale. I drank the Sam Adams.

Charlie the Beer Guy mentioned he went to a Keg location recently and his opinion was "The beer menu is the very definition of 'tame'".

They have a beer serving container in their name but they don't give it the respect it deserves. It doesn't have to be that way. If I were to make a recommendation it would be the following

1 - Have a list informing customers what choices are available.
2 - Considering bringing in local beer products i.e. in Arizona Four Peaks, Oak Creek, or the new Old World brewery. You could even have a large beer list that incorporates the vast diversity of beer styles, but for now start simple.
3 - Educate the staff, they ought to know the basic beer styles and the differences between the styles. You might even educate them on food beer pairing options.

It's not difficult, but if you need help let me know I'd be happy to consult. But The Keg needs to give beer the respect it deserves.

Lone Rider's tour was the hot ticket Friday night in Raleigh. I knew word had gotten out about Lone Rider because the road was lined with cars a block before I even got to the brewery. Sure enough the line for the tour extended out the door and well into the parking lot. There was a bit of excitement since people hadn't had the beers yet so they were pretty patient with the long line.

The only problem with the crowd was it made a proper tour of the brewery near impossibility but noone seemed to complain. The crowd ranged from a hasher group to local RTP workers to the local beer geek crowd. Sumit said he was pleasantly surprised by the initial popularity of the tour and that they may considering a change in the tour schedule to give the curious more opportunities to stop in and check them out.

If Friday night was any indicator there is plenty of thirst for craft beer in the Triangle and all the new breweries will have customers reaching for their beer.

News
Natty Greene's, the brewpub based in Greensboro, is going to open another location in downtown Raleigh. According to this report they take over of the property next month and hope to have the doors open by Fall.

Greenshields declares bankruptcy. While I haven't lived here long, the brewery and it's owner made an impact on the Triangle brewing scene. Everyone seems to have an opinion or a story to share about them so I am sure his legacy will continue for years to come.

Daniel Bradford, of locally produced All About Beer, is on a path to sharpen his beer tasting skills and share his adventure on the way. It sounds like it will be fun path to follow along so check it out.

Calendar
Tavern Ale Release
January 27th - 5pm
Horniblows Tavern at Big Boss Brewery
Raleigh, NC
The Tavern Ale is a hopped English Strong Ale that used to be very popular at the pub and it's back. Not sure for how long so stop in and give it a sample.

Lone Rider Rollout Party
January 27th - 6pm
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Chapel Hill, NC
Rescheduled after last week's snow, Lone Rider's official kickoff party so stop in and grab a pint or two and say hello to the new brewery in town.

First Taste - Aviator Brewing Company
January 29th 6pm
Aviator Brewing
Fuquay Varina, NC
Tri-Beer Meetup is sponsor this visit to the Aviator Brewing, so if you haven't made the trek this may be the opportunity you have been waiting for. The following beers should be available that night HotRod Irish Ale, Old BullDog ESB, and a Pale Ale.

Sexual Chocolate Release Party
February 6th 6pm
Foothills Brewing
Winston-Salem, NC
Foothills will host a party for the unveil of this beer. It will be available only on site Friday, but with to go sales at 11am the next morning.

14th Anniversary Celebration
February 13th
Carolina Brewery
Just a brief mention in a recent newsletter, but no indication as to which of the locations will host the party. They will have collectable anniversary pint glasses, a special Anniversary Ale on tap and live music that evening.

East Meets West - Terrapin & Stone Brewery Dinner
March 4th 6:30pm
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Chapel Hill, NC
I try on calendar posts to keep to events in the next month but with it a quarter of the way sold out you may want to get your tickets soon. It looks like a great dinner.

A friend of mine has asked me for a beer list. Now he is not a novice, he doesn't drink mass produced lagers, but he does want to expand his palette. So here are a few guidelines for him and anyone who like to expand their beer choices, but are unsure where to get started.

My first two points and my last one are direct steals from Gary Vaynerchuk and his approach to wine, but frankly they are just as relevant for beer.

Don't Listen to Me or any self stylized expert about what beer you should drink, explore your own palette and find what works for you.

Try Different Things you don't like Stouts you have had Guinness, Murphy's, and a few others but now you are in this new brewpub and they have sample glasses, give their Stout a taste. Unless of course it's Hefeweizens and you are the small percentage of folk who get the stomach troubles from that style, then you are given a pass.

On to the real advice Drink Local start your search right next door. I can't cite the source, but the AHA estimates that there is a brewery within 10 minutes of the average American. So there is probably a brewery near you. Sites like Beer Mapping can help you find a brewery near you, seek them out, they need and will appreciate your support. Examples Big Boss Brewery for me and for my friend perhaps Seven Bridges Grille And Brewery

Beer Festivals are a great way to try unique and different beers. Approach the festivals with wisdom, while they are great opportunities, act responsibly and have a designated driver if you sample a lot. Consult experts like those at Beer School if you are a festival novice. The World Beer Festival is a great example.

Seasonals offer a range of tastes and variety so they are a great way to expand your understanding of beer. But until you know if you like a particular seasonal offering stick with a single bottle or sampler at your local brewery.

Belgians have more styles of beer than the US had breweries at end of the 1970s. Many books have been written on the subject I may write another entire post on this subject alone. Try American brewer Ommegang beers as a place to start exploring this unique part of the beer world.

Go Big try the Barleywines, Russian Imperial Stouts, heck anything with Imperial in the name. Bigger is better often is heard in the world, these beer try to prove it. I won't deny their power, but they sometimes get overrated. Give them a chance but don't get sucked in too much.

Milds the counterpoint to my last one, these are the session beers, something you can drink all day long and not lose control. While still rare in the US they are becoming more popular, give them a try while mild in strength you may just enjoy the flavors.

Look for the Unusual. We are starting into advance territory now. Look for odd local ingredients, fruits, or things that challenge brewing convention. Dogfish Head Midas Touch is a national available option, but check out what your local brewery is brewing up.

Wood Aged Beer is becoming increasingly popular and frankly may be the next over done beer niche. That said when it is done right, it can be amazing. Firestone Walker mixes some wood-aged beer into everything they make and do it perhaps better than anyone.

Bret and the other Bugs sour, funky, horse-blanket these are the flavors I am talking about. You may well hate these beers, they can be a kick in your face sourness, but fans of it come back asking for more. Approach with caution.

Cask Ale is the forgotten secret. They know it in Cologne with Kolsch and some dark cellars of the UK, but slowly this secret is becoming revealed. One of the best beers I have had in years was a cask tap dry hopped cream ale in Phoenix at Sonoran brewhouse. Lew Bryson spoke of a potential cask pub in Philadelphia, to the best of my knowledge it would be a first in the modern age of America. I hope it happens, but until such a bar hits your corner pub, seek out cask ales and give them a chance, you won't be disappointed.

Lastly Trust Yourself again stealing from Gary, but you are the only one who knows your taste. I have been working at homebrew shops for four years and a beer judge for a bit trust me, everyone tastes differently. Only you know what you will like, I ultimately can't and shouldn't get you there.

Enjoy the adventure.

Postscript - In response to some comments I have seen, I was asked for a beer list but I took the question a bit differently and provided guidelines. I did this because availability can vary on beers sold in different parts of the country. I could have suggested a set list, but most of them likely wouldn't have been available, so this seemed a more practical way to approach the question.

Bassetbeer asks "is there, or do you know of, some central place or some set of central places that tracks the beer dinners that are coming up in the Triangle (or nationally?)?"

For those who don't know a Beer Dinner is when a restaurant teams up with a brewery or breweries to host a private dinner. They will work together to show off beer food pairings. Generally there is multiple courses of the meal with a different beer for each course. Often a representative of the brewery will be there to talk about the beers and their characteristics. These dinners have been common place in the wine arena for a long time and have become increasing popular with beer as well.

Flying Dog Brewery hosts the website BeerDinners.com and does post other companies dinners when they are submitted. I think it's a great idea but it hasn't gotten many other beer dinner listings as of yet.

I list Triangle area beer dinners in my 'Triangle and Beyond' posts as I hear about them, but being new to the area I suspect I miss many. If you are the host of a Raleigh-Durham beer dinner please email me the details at geistbear[at]gmail[dot]com and I'll try to help get the word out about them.

If you are interested in Beer Dinners and you are headed to California be sure to check out Bruce Paton and Sean Paxton sites and see what they are doing, they are both experts in the subject.

News
New Belgium Update
Steve Kruger, of Tri-Beer Meetups, spoke with territory managers for Long Distributing last week and he was told they will be launching New Belgium in March. They will begin with it only available on tap in selected restaurants for a couple of weeks, then you can expect to find it in bottles.

Calendar
Big Boss Brings Back Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale
January 19th - 5pm
Horniblows Tavern at Big Boss Brewery
Raleigh, NC
The popular Pumpkin ale will be back at the taproom. If past history serves as an example, you will want to get there early otherwise it may be gone before you can enjoy a sample.

Lone Rider Rollout Party
January 20th Update Postponed due to weather until January 27th - 6pm
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Chapel Hill, NC
Lone Rider's official kickoff party so stop in and grab a pint or two and say hello to the new brewery in town.

Lone Rider Tour
January 23rd 6-8pm
Lone Rider Brewery
Raleigh, NC
Try the beer on the 20th, then stop by to see how it's made on the 23rd. Their Friday night tours will take you through the process of making their beers.

World Beer Festival
January 24th
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
Columbia, SC
Everyone in the Southeast knows about the Raleigh and Durham festivals, but All About Beer is expanding the festival to include other host cities, first on tap Columbia. A bit of a drive but it will be in the convention center so at least you won't be cold while you sample all the beers.

First Taste - Aviator Brewing Company
January 29th 6pm
Aviator Brewing
Fuquay Varina, NC
Tri-Beer Meetup is sponsor this visit to the Aviator Brewing, so if you haven't made the trek this may be the opportunity you have been waiting for. The following beers should be available that night HotRod Irish Ale, Old BullDog ESB, and a Pale Ale.

Sexual Chocolate Release Party
February 6th 6pm
Foothills Brewing
Winston-Salem, NC
Foothills will host a party for the unveil of this beer. It will be available only on site Friday, but with to go sales at 11am the next morning.

14th Anniversary Celebration
February 13th
Carolina Brewery
Just a brief mention in their most recent newsletter, but no indication as to which of the locations will host the party. They will have collectable anniversary pint glasses, a special Anniversary Ale on tap and live music that evening.

East Meets West - Terrapin & Stone Brewery Dinner
March 4th 6:30pm
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Chapel Hill, NC
I try on calendar posts to keep to events in the next month but with it a quarter of the way sold out you may want to get your tickets soon. It looks like a great dinner.

Now this is performance art I can support, I'll have to have an exhibit here at the house soon.

I had the opportunity to meet Brian Yaeger as his book tour hit the Triangle back in October and just finished his book Red, White and Brew. It is a look at beer and the families that brew them. Brian shares with us this story as he crosses the country in trip that shares as much his travel as beer experiences.

The book is not directed at beergeeks, but it's a story that they can enjoy. The story is enjoyable equally to a favorite traveler or beer lover. The heart of his story isn't the beer really, but the families that have make them. Questions range from passing along family businesses to surviving difficult times throughout the text.

Red, White and Brew reminded me of an early Bill Bryson book, perhaps he will find a career in translating the beer world to a wider audience. If that is the case this book is a great first start. Ultimately the book is by a beer fan for the beer fan, travel lover, and stories of families and hits the sweet spot for a unique view of the brewing culture.

For a sample of Brian's story check out his appearance on a recent Brewing Network Session.

A couple of quick Arizona beer updates for while I certainly don't live there anymore, I still care and hear the occasional interesting bit of news.

Four Peaks Beer Dinner
Thursday, December January 22th - 6pm
Pesto Brothers Piazza
Flagstaff, AZ
Four Peaks hosts a beer dinner in my favorite mountain town. The menu has not been settled yet, but based on friends' opinions who have dined at Pesto Brothers I am sure the food will be great and worth the price. For more details call (928) 774-3020 or email ted@fourpeaks.com.

My spies, ahem, informants tell me Old World brewery will have a kickoff party Saturday, January 24th at 2pm. It will be great for Arizona to have another craft brewery in the mix so look for them in the Phoenix area soon. I'll have to work on Anonymous Mike or someone else out there to stop by and perhaps write me up a review of the event.