the homework isn’t always beer. if you have any kind of a green thumb you owe it to yourself to plant a vine or two of hops. that’s right, you to can grow one of the four ingredients of beer in your own back yard (or anyone elses backyard just be sure to ask first). hops is a vining plant so you will need either a wall, trestle, or trellis for it to climb around. or you can make something less permanent with a two poles and some wire or thick twine. another way to grow is to have a single rope go up the side of your house.

it’s a good idea to grow a few different kinds of hops. that way if one doesn’t make it you’ll have something at the end of the season.

hops needs sunlight and water. it grows fast so it’s fun to see change over the summer. sometime in August or September your hops will be ready to harvest. usually the best thing to do is put them in a kettle of beer. otherwise you have to go to through the trouble of drying them. if you don’t dry your hops they will mold turning brown or black.

just so you know, brewing your own beer with hops that you grew is as rewarding as it gets.

you can get hop rhizomes for a limited time from your local homebrew store or order them TODAY as in RIGHT now from Morebeer Hop Rhizomes.

also check out Grow Hops Yourself for complete details on what it takes to make them grow.

just so everyone knows, yeah, we know these aren’t the full in-living color versions. those are coming next. let’s just say it’s a QA issue. before we release that version we need to make sure they are awesome. because anything less is like a misspeeling.

link

here’s a really fun way to see the size of things. it goes all the way down to a Carbon atom.

link

To celebrate, the 21st Amendment Brewery is throwing a “Can Release Party” Tuesday July 22nd at 6 p.m. at the legendary Toronado bar, 547 Haight St. in San Francisco.

We’ll be there!

Two Guys Drinking at a Bar is pretty funny. Check out all 14 episodes. Although you might want to wait a bit between watching them. I watched them all in a row and got annoyed. But it wouldn’t be soooo bad spread out over a week or 14.

Date: May 10, 2008
Times: Taps open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Music until 6:00 p.m.

Place:
Mendocino County Fairgrounds
14400 Hwy 128; Boonville, CA

get tickets online and save.

Saturday, April 12, 2008
11:00 AM

The Bistro
1001 B Street
Hayward, California 94541

Admission price is $20.00 which includes a logo glass and 5 tasting tickets; plus a wooden token for a full pour. There will be additional tasting tickets for a nominal fee of $1.00 per taste or $5.00 for six tasting tickets. Most of the styles run out before the end of the afternoon. Get there when the doors open at 11a.m for the best selection. The festival shuts down by 6ish when the beer is gone.

Festival proceeds will be donated to the Alisa Anne Rusch Burn Foundation which supports burn victims and their families in the Bay Area. Their website is: http://www.aarbf.org

Belgian beer enthusiast, beer tour guide and stand-up comedian Stuart leads this special event. Learn about some of the many different styles of Belgian beer, Dubbels, Trippels, Trappist, Farmhouse and more.

Meet some like-minded folks in one fun, informative evening, and experience and appreciate the pleasures of some beers that may change your life! The cost is $65 per person, and includes beer, snacks, course materials and an authentic Belgian beer glass. Sign up now, space is limited: stu@belgianbeerme.com, or call (231) 215-0173.

Visit BelgianBeerMe.com for information on tours on beer tours of Belgium.

LaTrappe is located at 800 Greenwich, near Columbus & Mason, in San Francisco. Take the cable car. “Where little cable cars, go half way to the bars…”

Strong Beer month is upon us. We have the whole month of February to drink all 12 big beers.

Join the brewers on Thursday, January 31st at 6PM at the Toronado for a kick-off event for the 6th Annual Strong Beer Month between the 21st Amendment Brewery and Magnolia Pub and Brewery. Each brewery will be pouring one of their strong beers including a special cuvee blend strong beer made between the 21st Amendment and Magnolia.