Beer Reviews @ Dethroner

Jason has been busy reviewing beers over at Dethroner. Here are the latest:

Spaten Oktoberfest
Sierra Nevada Southern Harvest Fresh Hop Ale
Coopers Vintage Ale 2008

… Read more

Thanksgiving 101

The nice folks at Wild Turkey have made a traditional thanksgiving meal out of Jimmy Russel’s creation, Wild Turkey 101. Yes, it is 101 proof, almost cask strength bourbon, and perfect for getting you through Thanksgiving with the Mother-in-law. It’s so easy to prepare, there’s no need to learn how to cook. Cranberries and rosemary make great traditional side-dishes, so you’ll have a well-rounded Thanksgiving meal.

For turkey that you can’t overcook:

Thanksgiving 101

Wild … Read more

(ri)1 Rye Whiskey Review

Beam just introduced (ri)¹ in the midst of rye whiskey’s comeback from more than 70 years in the shadows.

In the 19th and early 20th century, rye was the go-to liquor. Many traditional cocktails–like the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned–originated as rye cocktails.

But after Prohibition ended in 1933, American distillers turned all their attention to bourbon.

No one knows for sure why, but it could be because corn was cheaper than rye. It … Read more

BioBeer: Beer That’s Good For You

Students at Rice University are working on a beer that helps fight cancer and heart disease.

We’ve all heard that “red wine is good for you.” Well, the Rice students wondered if they could make a beer that had the same health benefits.

BioBeer — a more consumer-friendly name than the original Frankenbeer moniker — will be brewed using yeast genetically modified to produce resveratrol.

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring compound found in red wine and

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Get a Grip on Your Wine Glass

The always-enchanting Fred & Friends does it again. This time it’s the Get a Grip! snap-on wine glass holder.

Holding your glass by the stem (so as not to affect the temperature) can be slippery business.

Aside from helping you hang on to your glass, the color-coded holders also help you remember which one is yours.

Get a Grip @ Fred … Read more

Chocolate Velvet

The geniuses at the Food Network came up with this simple but intriguing beer cocktail. The recipe calls for a chocolate stout. I’d recommend one by Rogue Ales or Wells & Young’s Brewing Company. Photo courtesy of Food Network.… Read more

Recipes for Cooking With Booze

Alcohol and food are a great combination.

But it can be surprisingly tricky to cook with beer, wine, and liquor. (And no one wants to waste a drop of the good stuff)

Whether you’re looking for a gift or preparing to entertain for the holidays, these cookbooks are good for anyone looking to learn how to cook with booze:

Here’s to Good Food: Cooking With Beer, Wine, Liquor and Liqueurs
Cooking with Booze
Cooking with

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How to Make Clear Ice

When you make ice at home in your freezer, it’s cloudy. Want to make crystal-clear ice like the pros? You don’t need a special machine.

Here are the simple steps:

Use distilled water.
Boil the water, then let it cool.
Boil the water one more time.
Let it cool slightly, but pour in the tray when it’s still hot.
Freeze.

The smaller your cubes, the better they will look.

Pro Cocktail Mini Ice Cube Trays … Read more

Decanter Picks Inspired by Mad Men

Now that you have to wait patiently (or not-so-patiently) for the next season of “Mad Men,” why not bring a little bit of the Sterling Cooper booze scene into your life with a stylish decanter for your liquor?

Ranging from about $20 to nearly $2,000, there’s a decanter for every budget from switchboard operator to creative director.

I imagine that Joan Holloway would have the fun blue vodka decanter and glass set, while Don Draper … Read more

Election Day Drinking Game

This is a once-in-every-four-years event, so cocktails are in order.

Take a drink every time:

A state changes color on the TV news electoral map
The is a “breaking story”
News says this is the most important, symbolic, historic election in US history
We see how the candidates spent the day
Station touts it’s coverage as the best, the leader, etc…
There is a Pundit battle
News interviews Joe the Plumber or any of us

… Read more