Beer Bands

As I've mentioned in previous posts I am equally enthusiastic about music as I am about beer... so I have been excited to see more crossover between these realms.

Dogfish Head Has  several releases inspired by music legends including Miles Davis (Bitches Brew) and Robert Johnson (Hellhound). North Coast Brewing has a very popular beer honoring the legendary Thelonius Monk (Brother Thelonius)

While some releases are simply inspired by the musicians... others are in collaboration. Dogfish Head has worked with Pearl Jam to brew a release celebrating their 20 years anniversary as a band and New Belgium recently worked with the band Clutch as part of their Lips of Faith series of beers.

With songs such as "Beer Pressure" I would really love to see a brewery work with metal band Municipal Waste on a project. But don't assume just because they like to party that they don't like the good stuff. Check out this video of their drummer David Witte dropping some serious beer knowledge:

I volunteer my homebrewing skills to this idea so if MW is reading this  and is down lets make a German Rauchbier (Smoke Beer). The fans will get the reference and it would be great with some BBQ!

What other bands deserve their own beer?

Beer Judging / BJCP

You do it every time you drink a beer. You may not realize it but you are. You are judging.

Of course, a formal judging has specific parameters and requires a much more analytic method. Mouthfeel, volumes of Co2, yeast character, hop aroma, color in degrees SRM, etc.

If you think you might enjoy a formal education in analyzing your favorite beer and learning proper characteristics of dozens of classic styles, The Beer Judge Certification Program has all the resources you need to become a industry-accepted judge.

Consisting of a preliminary online test followed by a sit-down tasting, participants have the opportunity to achieve various levels of certification. Higher levels must not only score well on the exam but must also have a certain number of competitions judged and/or hosted.

Study hard if you plan to take the test... the exam is designed for serious beer enthusiast.

Kickstarter.com

Funding for any new business is always a challenge. But let's say you find the loans you are looking for... now comes the issue of debt.

At Kickstarter.com entrepreneurs have an opportunity to raise start-up capital totally free of any loan requirement and debt. Users host videos showing off their marketing skills and giving viewers an opportunity to get to know the details of their project. Each video allows people to donate various amounts and with each level comes a corresponding reward (anything ranging from a t-shirt to a private event in your honor).

One catch, however,  is if the goal each project is aiming for is not met... the project receives nothing.

Kickstarter has been increasingly popular with nano/micro breweries... some earning as much as $40,000.

This system is clearly designed to reward users who are great with networking and their ability to make a clever video as part of a greater marketing plan... regardless how good or bad their product is. What results from this is up for argument.

Kickstarter is a great potential tool for any start-up and for those who want to support independent businesses in their area and abroad.

Brewing TV

The brilliant minds at Northern Brewer (home brewing supplies) have a great series of videos for homebrewers covering various topics ranging from brewing big beers and sours at home to features on up-and-coming breweries.

Check out all the episodes at www.BrewingTV.com