Enkidu Brew

No one knows how he will do in office.  One thing is for sure, the man is wise when it comes to the tools of a negotiation.

President Barack Obama has invited Republican and Democratic lawmakers for drinks at the White House as they consider his economic recovery bill that still faces opposition.

White House aides say about two dozen key members of Congress were invited to the Executive Mansion Wednesday evening. The guest list includes six House Democrats, six House Republicans and five senators from each party.

The event is expected to start after the House considers Obama’s $825 billion economic recovery bill that he has championed virtually daily in his young presidency.

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Via International Herald Tribune:

German beer sales dipped by 1.1 percent in 2008, continuing a gradual longterm decline in a year that saw restrictions on smoking in bars and restaurants take effect, official figures showed Thursday.

Germany’s brewers sold 21.75 billion pints, or 10.29 billion liters, of beer last year, the Federal Statistical Office said. It did not offer a reason for the decline.

Beer consumption in Germany has been falling steadily for more than a decade, a trend that experts have attributed to an increasingly health-conscious public.

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Via Edmonton Sun:

A man who was stabbed at the York Hotel Saturday night opted to return to the bar to finish his beer rather than seek medical attention.

Police responded to 10401 96 St. hotel just after 9 p.m. with reports that a man had been stabbed.

When they arrived, they found the victim at his table drinking beer.

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Via App Shopper:

It’s always 5 O’Clock somewhere, right? Everyone says so, but now you can actually back it up.

Beer O’Clock shows you a countdown to 5pm in your local timezone as well as a world map with an indicator of where in the world the 5pm drinking session is just getting underway. One click away is a list of countries in the timezone currently celebrating 5pm. So count the minutes until the start of your local happy hour or call it quits early and have a beer at lunch, like they’re doing right now 1/4 world away.

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Is the party really over?  If there is one thing that usually holds it’s own during a recession, it’s beer.  People drink because they are happy, and drink because they are sad.  Maybe we have finally hit that wall where beer is put in it’s place on the priority list, when before it was naturally set apart from life’s decisions on it’s golden platform to remain out of harm’s reach.

SABMiller PLC, the London-based brewer of Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni Nastro Azzurro lagers, said on Thursday its beer shipments fell unexpectedly in the third quarter as consumers pulled back on their demand.

Carlsberg A/S, the Copenhagen-based maker of Carlsberg beer, said it was cutting 274 jobs to save on costs due to a future “where we face more uncertainties and risks,” the company said in a statement.

SABMiller said lager volumes fell 1 percent in the three-month period that ended Dec. 31, compared with the same period a year earlier, because of the economy.

“Consumer demand has been affected by the current global economic slowdown, and has continued to weaken in many of the group’s markets,” the company said in releasing its quarterly trading update, which does not provide financials.

The big boys aren’t the only ones checking their registry.  Restaurants are feeling the bite as well as more and more customers are squeezing in their visit during happy hour, where drinks are usually half price.

“You start watching your pennies a bit more,” Romero said as he sipped a $3.75 pint of Honey Blond Ale one recent afternoon in the Yard House restaurant in downtown Long Beach. Just a few hours later, the same beer would sell for $6.

Chicago-based Goose Island beer is following Chicago-based Obama to DC.

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Ahh fresh starts.  New ventures are a beautiful thing.  This blog was really created in my head over a year ago.  It’s nice to see it come to fruition.  If you are like me, you take every chance you can get to steer conversations over to beer talk.  Why not create an avenue for it?  In comes this place.

No better way to kick off the new year than by making resolutions.  I won’t bore you or myself with promises about booting trans fat and high fructose corn syrup out of my life.  We just met.  I can’t lie to you already.  This year I’m setting goals that are actually worth shooting for.

Things to conquer in ‘09:

1. Brew a killer Coffee Porter.
2. Have another go at making a proper Leffe Blonde. The first attempt in late 2007 was fairly close to a total disaster.  A good 60% of the batch was ruined in the bottle condition due to factors unknown (possible sanitation issue).  Anywho, I don’t think the Belgian’s intended for their ale to taste like a grease cleaning chemical.
3. Visit the Foothills  Brewing Company. They are only a city away and have left me satisfied with the two brews I’ve tested so far (ESB and Pale Ale).  It’s time I checked out their spot.
4. Make 2009 the year of the Flemish Sour.  This combination of Flanders Ale (Red and Brown) has taken my tongue by the buds and created a new desire to try the next.  By the time the next new year’s ball drops I would like to have 10 new sours under my belt.
5. Finally get that Barley Wine put in a carboy.  Every homebrewer has that one style of beer that they always talk about brewing, and never turn talk into action.  For me, it’s Barley Wine.  2009 would be year three of talking.  I think I’m ready to get off the pot and set a carboy aside in the corner, housing a sweet and high volume wine to crack and celebrate circa 2010.

A few of these depends heavily on the help from a loving wife and two hopefully-reading-this-especially-numbers-one-and-five brewing partners.

Cheers to much brewing success and new tastings in 2009!

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