The Spoils of Victory!
Another NFL season came to a close last night, with the Giants stealing another championship away from the Pats in the final minutes of the game. It was a capper to a pretty exciting playoff season, but it was nothing compared to the excitement in the Mr.Beer office! Through sheer determination and force of will, we finished and shipped the grand prize of our Mr.Beer Fantasy Football contest – a customized Mr.Beer kegerator!
Pictured: our 2011 Mr.Beer Fantasy Football Champion, Darrell Newell, enjoying our custom-made kegerator, along with one of our swanky Mr.Beer mousepads!
Congrats Roger Broeg!
I am a divorced 56 year old father of 2 adult girls. I have 7 grandkids between them.
I am a mechanical electrician for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad. I do electrical work on their locomotives.
I used to compete in powerlifting in the 148 lb division. Hence the nickname Gymrat. At my peak I did a 300 pound benchpress, 400 pound squat, and 445 pound deadlift. I was 49 at the time I accomplished those lifts. I have since retired from competitive lifting and just do enough to keep myself in shape. Now when I am not brewing I am spending my time dabbling in photography, watching movies, all while spoiling my dog Ralph.
I was introduced to craft beers in 2004 when a friend gave me a Fat Tire. Since then I have toured 3 craft breweries, done the Old Chicago World Beer tour, and always enjoy trying something new. I never have more than 2 when out and about, then come home and enjoy a few of mine over a good movie.
Congrats Stephen Crocco!
Wow - I'm flattered. My time has finally come, ha ha. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but I haven't checked my e-mail all weekend.
I live in Somers NY with the best wife in the world, Sue & 3 great kids, Erica, Louis & Stephanie. I've always been a fan of craft beers since they hit the scene in the early 80's, but things really got rolling once Captain Lawrence Brewery opened in Pleasantville NY (20 minutes from my house) & I met Scott Vaccaro. He taught me a lot about beer, the process, & encouraged me to home brew. Then, I received my first Mr.Beer kit from my brother Ron as a birthday gift 3 years ago & now I've made over 110 batches! I've been in the printing/labeling business all my life, so naturally I began to label all my brews, becoming "The Beer Label Man" on the borg & having a ton of fun with it. I always say, "A good label makes bad beer taste better & good beer becomes 5 star!" The people on the borg are the best. I've met a few & they're all great guys, very helpful, always with awesome advice. My family & friends love my brews so much I have an annual brew party & then a tasting party when the beer is done. This year, I had the ultimate beer experience as a server at the GABF & hope to meet more of you there this coming year!
Mixin' It Up With Beer Cocktails
Recently, I've noticed an intriguing and delicious trend developing: beer cocktails. They're certainly not a recent discovery; I don't mean that. After all, Black and Tans, Snakebites and others like them have long been on the beer-drinkers' menu. However, of late, I'm seeing outrageous and crazy beer cocktails and even beer cocktail events seeming to pop up all over the place.
It's an interesting proposition, taking a beverage that has already, arguably, been many different “cocktails” of ingredients along the way, and giving it yet again another opportunity to have new life breathed into it as a different drink altogether. The whole thing kinda smacks of the holidays, too – a time of year when we steep spices into booze-y cider and put back glass after glass of rum-soaked eggnog with cinnamon and nutmeg (I know I can't be the only one).
As you might expect, beer cocktails can use a lot of these same elements, especially during the holidays. Remember that special flavors and unique ingredients do an enticing cocktail make. What should you brew up that will stand tall and proud amongst another beer or even liquor?