These days there is a realty TV show for just about everything: dancers, daters, mechanics, celebrity C-listers, comedians, businesspeople, fishermen, etc. So why not make a realty TV show about homebrewers? Better yet, make it a competition and the winner becomes the Head Bewmaster for a new brewery.

That’s the concept behind Red White & Brewed.

We’re going to do something that has never been done before; by building a brand from the ground up via television, and perhaps more importantly, by offering the opportunity of a lifetime to one special amateur/homebrewer. The American Dream, personified. Red White & Brewed will provide a platform for the cast members to show the world that they’re the most talented at their craft, and also that they possess the experience, temperament, and judgment necessary to be the face of our brand.

At the site you can vote on audition videos and submit your own. The producers are currently looking for a network and are in “active discussions with some of the most watched network and cable television players in the industry.” I hope a network picks them up. This is actually a reality TV show I would watch.

A 33 year old programmer tries to bring the monastic brewing tradition to Washington.

The 33-year-old computer programmer is neither a monk nor Catholic, but as he surveys this emerald-green oasis in the midst of the city, he talks excitedly about his “American abbey project”: an attempt to bring the monastic brewing tradition to Washington.

In bygone centuries, beer was safer to drink than water, and monks brewed it for their own consumption as well as to supply thirsty wayfarers. As early as the ninth century, the Abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland had three breweries in full operation. Today, there are perhaps 18 monastery breweries throughout Europe that earn their keep by selling beer, most famously the Belgian Trappist breweries such as Chimay and Orval.(full article via The Washington Post)

I have tried to tell every one a good craft beer is heavenly. Maybe I should talk to our local monks at Subiaco Abby and see it they have any beer brewing tips?

Cheers to Oklahoma! Relax and have a home-brew.

Despite a lawmaker’s worries it could lead to legalizing marijuana, a measure that would allow Oklahomans to legally brew beer for their own use won easy passage Wednesday in the House of Representatives.
House Bill 2348 would allow Oklahomans to brew up to 200 gallons, or about 80 cases, a year for their personal use. Full Story at newsok.com

A bill pending in the Louisiana legislature could have major consequences on Bayou State homebrewers.

House Bill 503, which proposes the Louisiana Homemade Beer Law, would make the brewing of homemade beer for personal, family, domestic or household use exempt from any restraints covered in the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. The bill also proposes limits on how much beer can be produced per household each year and how much can be transported outside a household to local and national beer-tasting festivals and competitions. In addition, the bill proposes making the sale of homemade beer illegal. The bill was drafted by Rep. Michael Danahay, D-Sulphur.

Danahay seems to be on the side of homebrewers, wanting to clarify LA’s somewhat ambiguous  homebrewing laws:

“It will give them some guidelines on the amounts of what they can produce and transport,” Danahay said. “We don’t want to get into a situation where they are stopped by law enforcement and get in trouble. We don’t want them to get caught in a quagmire. This gives them some protection.”

It’s always a little scary when politicians, even well-meaning ones, start writing laws that directly affect your hobbies. There are parts of this bill which worry some homebrewers.

The bill also places a limit on how much beer a person can transport from his or her home to local and national exhibitions, festivals, fairs and competitions that are recognized by the commissioner of alcohol and tobacco control. If passed, the law would allow five gallons to be transported to local events and twenty gallons to national events. Two gallons could be transported to events not recognized by the alcohol commissioner, according to the bill.

The American Homebrewers Association calls this “fairly restrictive” which seems understated to me. Hopefully this portion of the bill will be rewritten before (if) it becomes law.

Want to learn more about beer? Go to school. Great article from philly2philly.com talks about how one can learn home brewing at The Beer School. Full article here

The class has a cozy setting inside the storefront space, about five tables with four stools at each are set up for the students. Two wine glasses,coasters and what you might call the course curriculum for the two-hour lesson are laid out on the table at each seat. The classes are intimate, with no more than 15 in the one we attended. And whether you just want to learn more about how beer is made, or you actually want to start doing it yourself, the class is for everyone.

Gee makes homework sound fun!

Here is a video of some local news coverage of a small brewer who started as a homebrewer. I think this is every homebrewer’s dream. I know it’s mine!

via http://twitter.com/HomeBrewTalk/status/8384230785

Over at Lifehacker, a tutorial from Make shows how to make your own jockey box for chilling beer. For those unfamiliar with the term, jockey boxes are basically ice chests which sit between the keg and the tap. The beer flows through tubing, which is in ice or ice water, chilling the beer to a drinkable temperature.

They call this a “convertible” jockey box because you can remove the tubing and drop a mini-keg in. That sounds cool but I’ve never seen craft beer in a mini-keg so I doubt I would ever do that. As someone noted in the comments, you could also use this as a wort chiller for homebrew, which is something I would do. You would need some kind of pump, though.

Support Your Local Brewery has sent out an “Action Alert” asking all craft beer enthusiasts (that’s you!) to contact your representative in the US House and ask that he or she join the Small Brewers Caucus. The purpose of the caucus is “gain a better understanding of all aspects of small, amateur and professional craft brewing, from business and regulatory issues to the brewing process and history of the small brewing community.” In other words, it’s a group of reps in the House that are willing to help small brewers and homebrewers.

Below is the entire letter that was sent out which includes a link to find your representative and a suggested message to send. I strongly encourage you to take 2 minutes, copy the suggested letter and paste it in your representative’s website contact form. The more craft beer advocates there are on Capitol Hill, the better it is for us. While you’re at it, sign up and support Support Your Local Brewery (it’s free).

Dear Beer Enthusiasts and Homebrewers,

We’re asking you to contact your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to join the House Small Brewers Caucus. What is the House Small Brewers Caucus?

The U.S. House of Representatives Small Brewers Caucus was formed in 2007 by interested Members of Congress. Their mission is to gain a better understanding of all aspects of small, amateur and professional craft brewing, from business and regulatory issues to the brewing process and history of the small brewing community. The members of the Caucus are passionate about small brewers and craft beer. Co-chairs Representative Peter DeFazio (OR) and Representative Denny Rehberg (MT) have themselves been homebrewers and are avid beer enthusiasts.

Currently, only 49 Representatives belong to the Caucus. To put that in some perspective, 344 Congressional districts are home to at least one small brewery and we assume every one of the 435 districts is home to homebrewers and beer enthusiasts.

You can help by asking your U.S. Representative to join the Caucus. Help assure that you have the strongest voice possible speaking on your beer behalf in Congress.

You’ve come to appreciate the flavor, diversity and quality of your homebrew or locally brewed beers from America’s small breweries. In these uncertain economic and legislative times you can imagine how important it is to educate Congress about the community of homebrewers, beer enthusiasts and small brewers.

Ask your Representative to join the Caucus. Following are resource materials to assist you, including a brief message you can use to make your contact, either sending it “as is” or modifying it to add your personal message.

Thanks for all you do in support of America’s small brewing community.

Charlie Papazian

President, Brewers Association

Gary Glass

Director, American Homebrewers Association

_________________________________________________________

Below is a list of the 49 U.S. Representatives who are currently Small Brewers Caucus members. If your Representative DOES NOT appear on this list, please take a moment and email your Member of Congress about joining the Caucus.

If your Representative is already a member, please email him/her a brief thank you for their support of both small brewers and you, the craft beer drinker and enthusiast.

Please visit the official U.S. House of Representatives web site http://www.house.gov/ to access your Representative’s personal web page and contact information – just enter your zip code in the “Find Your Representative” search box in the upper left-hand corner and then click on your Representative’s name on the page that displays to enter his/her personal web page.

House Small Brewers Caucus Roster (as of July 28, 2009)

Suggested letter for your U.S. Representative

Dear Representative _____________,

As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to join the House Small Brewers Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Peter DeFazio and Denny Rehberg.

The purpose of the Small Brewers Caucus is to provide Members of Congress and their staff an opportunity to learn about activities of the American craft brewing community, which includes over 1,500 small and independent American brewery businesses, and beer and homebrewing enthusiasts that participate in and contribute to local community activities and economies. The Small Brewers Caucus also offers opportunities to learn about the science and art of beer and brewing, the dynamics of running a small business as a brewery, the associated regulatory and societal issues and the value of craft beers and small brewing activities.

As a beer enthusiast and ardent supporter of America’s small professional and amateur brewers, I appreciate the many contributions their small, independent businesses make to their local communities. From their flavorful and distinctive locally brewed beers to their community involvement, small breweries are important economic and social hubs in their local communities.

Please contact the Washington office of either Representative DeFazio (202-225-6416) or Representative Rehberg (202-225-3211) to learn more about the Small Brewers Caucus and to join. Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

If you brew and bottle your own beer, you should check out this tutorial on making custom labels and 6-pack cartons. It’s geared towards a Fathers Day gift but you could make any design you want.

via Make

Tomorrow, May 2, 2009, is Big Brew Day.

In 1988, May 7 was announced before Congress as National Homebrew Day. The American Homebrewers Association created Big Brew as an annual event to celebrate National Homebrew Day not only in the United States, but around the world. Big Brew is held each year on the first Saturday in May.

Homebrewing has been practiced in America since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Today there are an estimated 750,000 homebrewers in the United States. Homebrewers are passionate about brewing beer and love to share that passion with others.  That’s what Big Brew is all about: homebrewers getting together all over the world to share their love for the hobby.

Even if you are not a home brewer, you are encouraged to find a Big Brew Day gathering in your area and attend. You’ll learn what brewing is all about and why we love it so much. At the very least, you’ll get some tasty, free beer and meet some interesting people!