Category: Beer Gear

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BeerStream

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There appears to be a vast market of beverages that are ready in seconds and can be consumed by the cup. Be it Keurig with both hot and cold settings or insta-soda’s, American’s need their caffeine and sugar and they need it fast and with maximum un-recyclability.

But where it is easy to add the concentrate of soda to sparkling water to make a decent soda trying to craft a beer that way sounds really ill-conceived. The company Sodastream wants to put a device on your counter to “concoct crafted beer in seconds” by adding alcoholic concentrate to sparkling water.

The first “beer” (concentrate) available through their German online store is “Blondie,” is a light beer coming in at 4.5% ABV.

This just sounds bad and I have so many questions. Sparkling water is not an ingredient in beer, so how does that work? Who is making the concentrate? Has anyone rated it on RateBeer or Untappd? When can I get Worst Beer Blog to sample it?

Some things in life you wait for or you go to the store and buy it ready made.

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BeerPic

I don’t use a lot of beer apps. Untappd is my go-to 90% of the time. I have test driven a few but they either don’t add much more or are too glitchy. I also don’t trust the wisdom of crowds. (See Yelp as a prime example) But there are times when I am stuck choosing between beers and it would be helpful to see further information.
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The BeerPic app though has something going for it, they are using the vast data storehouse of the RateBeer website. That is a major plus. The other plus is that you can add to the app like you can do in Untappd. That is essential when there are so many one off and special beers out there. The downside is that the app wants to be used primarily with a smart phone camera which partially negates the tap only beers out there. You scan a beer bottle or can and let the image recognition software ID the label and presto you get the RateBeer info plus further data like color, flavor, and beers that are similar.

Maybe later I will test the label recognition of BeerPic vs. NextGlass/Untappd and see who gets me better information faster. In the meantime though,I would like to see are bottled on/ canned on information added to these apps or at least a freshness window. Cellaring info and preferred glassware choice would be nice too.
The BeerPic app is currently available for free in the iTunes store; an Android version is in the works.

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Mazers

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It might take you longer to fill up the latest “33” book since it is Mazers of Mead but since most people are novices in the world of honeyed alcohol, it will still be a good purchase to help navigate this niche.

Plus you get on “the inside front cover of the journal contains a mini glossary that’ll help you decipher the language of honey wine (mead) as you explore its mysteries. If you’re wondering, melomel is any mead to which fruit has been added (except grapes – that’d be pyment – or apples – that’s cyber). Metheglin is honey wine to which herbs and/or spices have been added.”

Second plus is that a tiny amount of actual mead was added to the ink!

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Beer Stat App

In reviewing the craft beer apps on my iPad and checking around to see if there were any to talk about for my weekly Food GPS post, I saw one that piqued my interest. That was soon dashed by the fact that it is either dead or unavailable here.

It is called Beer Stat and instead of being one of the multitudes of apps that are either A) rating apps B) taplist apps or C) recommendation apps, this one helps you track your daily, weekly and monthly consumption statistics. And not just in calories but also in dollars.
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I hope this app will become available because I think it would add an important check and balance aspect to our drinking habits.

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need home brew supplies?

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Fresh Hop that Car?

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Currently, Sasquatch is the air freshener in the family car. Though I never really got a scent off of the hairy guy, good or bad.

If you want that hop smell to permeate your driving experience, you can get HopNose. Shaped like a hop cone and sure to make you smell like an IPA and make the daily commute more bitter, but in a good way.

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A Stylin’ Glass

Yes, I have a serious glassware problem. Way too many little tasters from various anniversaries and events and to many branded shaker glasses. I thought I was clumsy but not enough to break enough to keep the collection at bay.

Still, I almost bought this glass. I love the diagram design and color choice. Plus it could put a spin on beer glass photography by allowing you to find and center the beer style that you are currently drinking into the frame.
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You can get yours from Pop Chart Lab.

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Collapsible Cooler

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With summer approaching and with craft cans being more plentiful, a way to cool-y transport your beer may be needed and Coleman Coolers may have the product for you.

Their 72 Can Collapsible Chest Cooler can hold Bell’s, Indie, Anchor and others and then when your camping or tailgating is done collapses flat when you’re ready to put it away. Plus it has a reach-in hatch to quickly grab a can plus side mesh pockets. The kicker is that it goes from 15 inches tall to 3 when fully collapsed in on itself.

No need to make any tough buying choices at the store.

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Brew Bracket

Blind tastings are fun (and for me, humbling) and to tie into next month’s March Madness, you can do a beer version with Brew Bracket.  Not with 64 beers though.  That would be way too much.

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Up to 8 people can participate and the beers are hidden from view.  Each person sips a pair of beers and votes for their favorite until they work through all the beers and declare a winner.  You get to choose the style, the breweries and can add in ringers or bad beers or whatever.