Next is Show 56: Liquid Christmas 2008: Vrolijk Kerstfeest!, in which we enjoy a little Dilerium Noel, as well as some Gouden Carolus Noel, two top-shelf Belgian holiday beers.

And somewhere in there will be the Beer Safari Holiday Beer Exchange Video Special (or whatever it’s called) to which I’ve contributed a short and theoretically humorous segment like I did last year.

And by a strange confluence of unrelated events, much of the above content features significant contributions by Friend of SoB Evo Terra. No, he’s not taking over the show, that’s just how the hop-smeared chips fell. I mean, the bastard’s got his own damn podcast, he doesn’t need mine. Anyway, strap in and enjoy my gift to y’all: actual honest-to-Ninkasi content! w00t!

Nøgne Ø India Pale Ale [alternatives: Stone IPA, Sierra Nevada Celebrationa Ale, Victory Hop Devil Ale]

and

Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse (Schneider version)[alternatives: sorry, dude...OK, maybe Aventinus Weizenbock, if you sprinke some fresh hops on top...]

The show will mark the return of a certain Friend of SoB, but I won’t say who it is, to maintain some semblance of suspense. Even though you probably guessed it already.

Next up is a Beer As Folk show in which we find out all about the Shmaltz Brewing Company, most familiar as the crafters of the He’Brew line of beers. They brew tons of great beers and any one of them would accompany the show in tremendous fashion. However, in honor of the coming autumn season, as well as for reasons that will be apparent upon hearing the interview, I’m going to recommend you try and scare up (so to speak) Freaktoberfest, from the Coney Island Lager line of Schmaltz beers.

L’Chaim!

Helloooo…Is this thing on? Just how do you work one of these “post” gizmos again? Yeah, sorry, things have gone a little fallow around here lately. I am, however, still recording and have lots of good sudsy content in the “tap line” (am I pushing this too far?). It’s just (sadly and by necessity) paced a little more on the “glacial” side. SoB’s still alive, promise. To prove my point, go out–I challenge you–and scrape together the following four beers:

AleSmith’s Decadence Anniversary Imperial Porter [alternative: Flying Dog's Gonzo Imperial Porter]
Deschutes’ The Abyss [completely viable and more realistic alternative: Deschutes' Black Butte XX]
Port’s Old Viscosity [alternative: Oskar Blues' Ten Fidy]

and

Victory Brewing Company’s Storm King Imperial Stout [alternative: Stone Imperial Russian Stout]

Show 52 will be big, black, and bloated (I’ll pass on making a joke…), just like they were in the good ol’ days.

That being said, I have gotten so much good stuff out of SoB, and treasure my experiences participating in this whole “new media” deal. The people I’ve met, both face-to-face and in more electronic ways, have uniformly been fantastic, and I count many of them among my closest friends. The opportunities the podcast has given me to speak with passionate brewers from all over the world, as well as the often unsung folks in the Beerniverse who support them, are more than I probably deserve, and I am very grateful indeed. And of course, the mind-blowingly good beer I’ve uncovered in my explorations has enriched my life, and hopefully enhanced yours as well.

So…I can’t really do the show, but don’t want to give it up. After a long (and I do mean long) stint on the horns of this dilemma, vacillating wildly between bagging the whole thing and sucking it up and grinding on, I’ve come up with a compromise that just might work. To wit: the old format is gone. Episodes will focus on a single segment: an interview, a homebrewing experience, side-by-side sampling of a couple of beers, etc. I’ll record as opportunity presents itself, and can thus make no promises as to release schedule. Just stay subscribed, and good stuff will come down the pike when it happens. I think in this way I can keep my passion burning sufficiently hot, keep the shows varied and interesting, and continue flying the flag for great beer. And it doesn’t mean that a “full blown” show is out of the realm of possibility, it’s just that when it does happen it’ll be something I want to do rather than something I have to do. I believe strongly that podcasting, and new media in general, is about keeping love alive and spontaneous, not grinding it up in a media machine. If I wanted that, I’d go into traditional broadcasting. And, just to be crystal clear, I don’t want that.

Whew! All that being said, the next episode will be an interview, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drink along. Scare up some

Gulden Draak [alternatives/additional beers: Piraat, Augustijn, Bruegel, Bornem Dubbel Bornem Tripel]

I think it will accompany the show quite well.

Please feel free to let me know what you think of all this. I do this for you guys. OK, and for the beer….

Red Rocket Ale [alternatives: Lagunitas Censored, Fat Tire, anything containing the word "amber" or "red']

and

Racer 5 India Pale Ale [alternatives: Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Stone IPA, any number of IPA's characterized by the word "aggressive"]

Get yours in time for the next show and the new Wachowski Brothers movie.

Cauim Pilsner [alternatives: Lagunitas Pils, Pilsner Urquell]

and

Appia Weiss [alternatives: Pyramid Hefeweizen, Three Floyds Gumballhead, Samuel Adams' Summer Ale]

Both brews are from the Cervejaria Colorado, Brazil’s first craft brewer in the modern age. Prepare for some good beer and very, very poor pronunciation.

Gordon. (from Oskar Blues Brewing Company) [alternatives: Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, and that's about it]

and

Ten Fidy (from…er…Oskar Blues Brewing Company…) [alternatives: Port Brewing Co.'s Old Viscosity, and that's about it]

So, there you have it. Scare up the brews, fire up your beer-can-launching fridge, and let’s get serious…

Hitachino Nest Sweet Stout (Lacto) [alternatives: Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Sam Adam's Cream Stout]

and

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout [alternatives: Three Floyds' Dark Lord Imperial Stout, Stone Imperial Russian Stout, Deschutes Brewery's The Abyss]

If you like your beer black and/or big, this will be a show for you!

Wild Hop Lager [alternatives: Yuengling Traditional Lager, JW Dundee's Original Honey Brown]

and

Stone Mill Organic Pale Ale [alternatives: Bass Ale, Saranac Pale Ale, Samuel Smith's Organically Produced Ale]

Both beers are USDA Certified Orgainc, and no, that’s not the theme. Let’s just say that scratching the surface of their brewer, the “Green Valley Brewing Company” reveals something almost sinister…

AleSmith’s Old Numbskull [alternatives: Dogfish Head's Olde School Barleywine, Rogue's Old Crustacean Barleywine, Hair of the Dog's Fred]

and

Stone’s Double Bastard Ale [alternatives: Dogfish Head's Immort Ale, The Lost Abbey's Old Viscosity]

It’s not entirely clear what impact the festive holiday season will have on the release date for this show…I’m guessing it’ll come out sometime shortly after the first of the new year, but I might be able to eek it out a little before that. In any case, have a good one (holiday season, that is)!

For show 42 please acquire:

Santa’s Private Reserve Ale: [alternative: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale]

and

Samichlaus Bier [alternatives: a toughie...technically it's a doppelbock, but at 14 % ABV find the strongest doppelbock you can get!]

Sorry again for the herky-jerky release schedule. Then again, maybe I should relax and have a beer…

Spaten Optimator [alternatives: Paulaner Salvator, Ayinger Celebrator]

and

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse [alternatives: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier]

And if you have one, pick up a bottle of your favorite beer as well. You know, the one you like no matter what anyone says. Yeah…THAT one…

Try to find, if you can,

Ringnes Pilsener, Lysholmer Double Ice, and Ringnes SkjÆrsgårds Pils [alternatives: really, if you can't find these, just get a nice light "import"--a.k.a "green bottle"--pilsner that you enjoy]

This show caters to those north of the 50th parallel, and those who love them (or were, like me, descended from them), but it’s a lot of fun for everyone else too (promise).

Granville Island Brewing’s Whitecaps IPA [alternatives: Victory Hop Devil Ale, Redhook's Longhammer IPA, Flying Dog's Snake Dog IPA]

and

Breckenridge Brewing’s 471 Series Double-Hopped Double IPA [alternatives: Bell's HopSlam, Bear Republic's Racer X, Three's Floyd's Dreadnaught IPA]

Please do avail yourself of one of the alternabeers, or any combo of American IPA and double IPA you can find. Even without the exact brews, there’s still good listening afoot. Let’s just say my returning co-drinker’s identity should be obvious from the emphasis on Humulus Lupulus…

Ommegang Abbey Ale [alternatives: Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue), Unibroue's Trois Pistoles]

and

Gouden Carolus Carolus D’Or–Grand Cru of the Emperor (a.k.a Gouden Carolus Carolus D’Or – Cuvée Van De Keizer) [alternatives: What, are you kidding?]

Both of these beers are completely worth the hassle of locating. If you can’t find them in your local area, check out the beer trading at BeerAdvocate.com. Serioulsy, you want to find these beers.

North Coast Brewing’s Scrimshaw Pilsner [alternatives: Victory Prima Pils, Paulaner Premium Pils]

and

New Belgium’s Plue Paddle Pilsner [alternatives: Bitburger Premiium Pils, New Glarus' Home Town Blonde]

To further prepare for the show, look deep within yourself for any beer-style-related prejudice and try mightily to expunge it.

Sam Adams Boston Lager [alternatives: Leinenkugel's Red, Sprecher Special Amber, Bohemia]

and

Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter [alternatives: Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter, Ska Brewing's Nefarious Ten Pin Imperial Porter, Black Boss Porter]

In addition, you might want to scare up some glassware beyond the standard pint. A tulip-style piece of stemware would be good, or (if you have some discretionary cash burning a hole in your pocket) order yourself some special glasses here.

Coronado Brewing Company’s Belchin’ Brown [alternatives: your local brewpub's belgian brown or abbey beer, Leffe Brown, Unibroue's Chambly Noire]

and

Stone’s Imperial Russian Stout [alternatives: your local brewpub's Imperial Stout, Old Rasputin, Avery's The Czar]

Yes, I realize that makes three Stone brews in the past two shows. So it goes.

Oh, and ideally you should try to get these at the breweries, and take them home in a growler. If you’re unclear as to what a growler is and how it can improve YOUR life, well….just tune in next time!

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

AND

Stone IPA

AND

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

AND

Stone Ruination IPA

Sorry, no alternatives. It just wouldn’t make sense, conceptually (again)…

Due to a technical glitch, the original Show 32 has gone pfffffffft! into the world of ones and zeros* .

Bummer. But keep those show beers chilled, as it will come back, in the not-too-distant-future.

During the meanwilst, the new and completely different show 32 is about to land on the shores of the podosphere. To drink along you should acquire: a dunkelweizen, such as Prescott Brewing Company’s Funkendunkel (or Ayinger Ur-weisse or Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel or Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel or Hacker-Pschorr Dunkle Weisse)

and

Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock (no significant alternatives)

Also, SoB is going to have a little hiccup in the schedule (beyond the usual) as I enjoy a little summer vacation with my family. Look for the next show in about three weeks, and cross your fingers (like I am) that much beery good content will come out of this little hiatus.

I’ll be back in a flash, and until then, drink well!

*my deepest apologies to Mark A., CMAAAAAAAAAR!, Thomas from Flagstaff, Yooper, Doug Kress, Enormous from Australia, Kris Mayo, Brain Brown, Tim Adamec, Alec/clichekiller, Rhettro, and Rhettro’s lovely air-guitar goddess of a wife

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

AND

Stone IPA

AND

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

AND

Stone Ruination IPA

Sorry, no alternatives. It just wouldn’t make sense, conceptually…

Cave Creek Chili Beer [alternatives: Cinco De Mayo from Rock Bottom brewery, Chili Beer from Dillon Dam Brewery. Or, grab a Corona and stick a fresh serrano chile in it]

and

Rogue Chipotle Ale [alternatives: Mexicali Smoke from Rocky River Brewing, Ring Of Fire Pepper Ale from Pacific Rim Brewing Co.]

Click on the beer name to go to Rate Beer’s distribution list and see if it’s in your area. Oh, and let me know if this feature is at all helpful in tracking down these beers!

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier [alternatives: Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Ayinger Bräu Weisse, Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Natürtrub]

and

Ayinger Ur-Weisse [alternatives: Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel, Hacker-Pschorr Dunkle Weisse]

These should be widely available in any store that has a decent import selection, or, for you German listeners, a decent domestic selection. So grab them and drink along, but, uh, hold the lemon, will you?

Bard’s Tale Beer’s Dragon’s Gold [alternatives: Lakefront Brewing's New Grist Beer]

and

Redbridge Beer (from Anheuser-Busch!) [alternatives: Lakefront Brewing's New Grist Beer]

I’m guessing the AB product will be easier to find than the other; I found both at Whole Foods as well as BevMo. If you find them, I’m sure you’ll be able divine this show’s theme.

Breckenridge Brewery’s Vanilla Porter
[alternatives: Emperean Brewing Vanilla Porter, and other "vanilla porter" you can find]

and

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
[alternatives: Mackeson XXX Stout, Bell's Special Double Cream Stout, Sam Adam's Cream Stout]

Stock up on the whipped cream, and phone up your beer-avoidant friends. This one should be way user friendly!

Sapporo Imported Premium
[alternatives: Kirin Ichiban, Asahi Super Dry, Sapporo "non-Imported" Premium]

and

Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale
[alternatives: You frickin' got me on this one. I found mine at Whole Foods, so hopefully it's widely available, in the States at least.]

Also on the show, The Build-A-Beer Workshop kicks into brew mode. How does our little batch of loveliness come together? You’ll just have to listen!

Chimay Grand Resèrve (Blue) [alternatives: Trappistes Rochefort 8, Gulden Draak, Unibroue's Maudite]

and

Pauwel Kwak [alternatives: Delerium Tremens, North Coast Brewing's Panqster, Duvel]

Dig up the most snifter-like glasses you can find, (or, for the Kwak, the strangest-looking glass you can find), and let’s drink some of the good stuff!

Green Flash Extra Pale Ale

and

Mad River Brewing’s Steelhead Extra Pale Ale

Each beer is an alternative for the other, quite frankly. To have a similar drink-along, you can sub either or both with the following: Three Floyds’ Extra Pale Ale, Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, Bridgeport Blue Heron, Anchor Liberty Ale, Shipyard Export Ale, or any American Pale Ale that’s not hopped out the wahzoo.

Three Floyds’ Robert the Bruce Scottish Style Ale [alternatives: Four Peaks Kiltlifter, Oskar Blues' Old Chub, Odell 90 Shilling Ale]

and

Traquair House Ale [alternatives: AleSmith Wee Heavy, Moylan's Kilt Lifter, Orkney Brewery's SkullSplitter, McEwan's Scotch Ale]

Iron that utili-kilt and start boiling the haggis…we’re drinking Braveheart-style!

If you’d like to join me in an experimental slosh-fest, procure the following:

Your favorite stout, your favorite amber, your favorite “light lager”, your favorite cider, your favorite champagne, some amaretto, some irish creme liquer, some strawberry daquiri mix, some fresh mint, some half-n-half, and some simple syrup. If you have a cocktail shaker, break it out, otherwise locate a stirrer.

If you don’t already have most of this stuff lying around, it’s probably not worth it to go out and buy from scratch. If you can cobble it together among friends, you might be able to inject some Speaking of Beer into your New Year’s Eve soirée.

Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome 2006 – 2007 [alternatives: a malty "winter warmer" like Red Hook's Winter Hook or Young's Winter Warmer]

and

Anchor Christmas Ale (AKA “Our Special Ale”) 2006 [alternatives: a spicy dark beer like....Full Sail Wassail, maybe? This one's tough...]

‘Tis the season to watch animatronic caribou look from side-to-side in your neighbor’s yard. Let’s drink like it!

Samuel Smith’s Organically Produced Ale. [alternatives: Butte Creek Organic Ale, Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale, Bass Pale Ale]

Beer #2 is actually TWO beers:

North Coast Brewing’s Old Plowshare Stout (available through Whole Foods) and/or Old No. 38 stout. Ideally, both stouts are the way to go, though the Old Old Plowshare is the “official” beer #2.[alternatives: Three Floyds Black Sun Stout, Shipyard's Blue Fin Stout, and--if you insist--Guinness]

I won’t be coy, the theme is organic beers. So if a local brewery does an organic pale ale and/or an organic stout, that’s plan A.

Xingu Black Beer [alternatives: Sam Adam's Black Lager, Saranac Black Forest, New Belgium's 1554]

and

The Czar, from Avery Brewing Company. [alternatives: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, Victory Storm King Stout, Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout]

Fans of black beers, rejoice! The rest of you…well what the heck’s wrong with you?

Enough apologizing, here are the beers:

Fraoch Heather Ale from the Williams Brothers Brewing Company [alternatives: if any local brewery produces a "heather ale", and you can't find Fraoch, go for it!]

Adam from the Hair of the Dog brewing company [alternatives: maybe a good doppelbock like Ayinger's Celebrator, or a nice barleywine like Young's Old Nick or Flying Dog's Horn Dog]

If you’re playing “guess the theme”, I’ll give you one hint: I’m a big fan of zombie movies.

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest [alternatives: Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Marzen, Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen, Paulaner Oktoberfest]

and

Widmer’s OktÃ…? Festival Ale [alternatives: Red Rocket Ale, Bell's Amber Ale, Full Sail Amber]

Warm up the oompah band and start pounding the schnitzel. If I haven’t offended you yet, you’ve probably gotten the theme…

Unibroue’s Éphémère (Apple) [alternatives: New Glarus Apple Ale, ...maybe Lienenkugel's Apple Spice. I suppose in pinch a hard apple cider will do, though you should really look for an apple beer]

and

Lindeman’s Framboise [alternatives: Celis Raspberry, Liefman's Frambozenbier, any "raspberry" or "framboise"]

Guess the theme? (I should hope so…)

Shipyard IPA [alternatives: Samuel Smith's India Ale, Fuller's India Pale Ale, Summit India Pale Ale]

and

Lagunitas IPA [alternatives: Stone IPA, AleSmith IPA, Bell's Two Hearted Ale]

The theme is probably apparent, but hey, it’s a good one!

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale [alternatives: Anchor Liberty Ale, Stone Pale Ale, Alpha King Pale Ale, Bell's Pale Ale]

Bridgeport IPA [alternatives: Victory Hop Devil Ale, Snake Dog IPA, Saranac India Pale Ale, Samuel Smith's India Pale Ale]

Hopheads out there, this is a good week for you!

Redhook ESB [alternatives: Fuller's ESB, Victory ESB, Bridgeport ESB, or any other "ESB"]

and

Red Tail Ale from the Mendocino Brewing Co. [alternatives: Full Sail Amber, Bell's Amber, Fat Tire, or anything called "amber"]

Both beers are generally “ambers,” but the Redhook alternate should be a little less full-bodied than the Red Tail.

Not that anybody is fretting, but if you are, stop. This is a temporary shake-up, and we’ll settle back into the old format with Show #11.

Hoegaarden White Beer [alternatives: Celis White, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blanche de Chambly, Samuel Adams White Ale]

Alaskan Summer Ale [alternatives: Pyramid Curveball Ale, Shiner Kölsch, Reissdorf Kölsch, Flying Dog Tire Bite Ale, any beer calling itself "kölsch" or "kölsch style"]

Yuengling Traditional Lager [alternatives: Shiner Bock, JW Dundee's Original Honey Brown, Henry Weinhard's Classic Dark Lager, Warsteiner Premium Dunkel]

Victory Hop Devil Ale [alternatives: Stone IPA, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, AleSmith IPA, Fuller's India Pale Ale]

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner (2005 Noble Hop Harvest) [alternatives: Morimoto Imperial Pilsner, Dogfish Head Golden Shower, any beer calling itself an "imperial pilsner"]

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA [alternatives: ...uh...sorry folks, nothing else even comes close]

Seriously, good luck on these…Oh, and FYI, they’re both about as far from gateway beers as you can get.