Lager lovers may want to investigate these beer sites that offer everything from beer news to beer haikus:
Confessionsofabeergeek.blogspot.com: Some might say Eli the Mad Beer Man (pictured), whose life seems to revolve around beer and video games, is living the dream. In his blog, Eli Shayotovich, who is the associate PC editor for AOL GameDaily (Gamedaily.com), covers topics ranging from the hops shortage to beer activists. This site has great links for beerheads, including podcasts, online craft-beer shows, beer blogs, home-brewing stores, beer magazines and information on the "rock stars of the beer world." Shayotovich invites readers to post beer factoids, trivia questions, photos and musings. Sometimes, the beer news surprises, including a link to the "drunkest cities" survey published this past December by Men's Health magazine. The survey found
Beerhaikudaily.com: This site, which has posted more than 1,000 haikus since June 2005, is still going strong with works such as "A Long Lunch Break," which goes like this: "By the fourth lager/I was starting to wonder/Was work missing me?"
Beercook.com: In addition to recipes for dishes such as beer-battered apple fritters, drunken cabbage and beer-bean burgers, Wisconsin chef and writer Lucy Saunders offers profiles of beer-centric chefs and details about everything from grilling with beer to the latest in beer cookbooks. She also provides advice on beer-and-cheese pairings and the wonders of beer ice cream, which Saunders suggests is not nearly as unappetizing as it sounds.
— Colleen Dougher
Blogged: The BeerTender
This month, Krups and
Livemanly.com: "I have two issues with this otherwise beerific device. … I could buy a mini-fridge (about $150) and enough beer to fill it for a month and still have $100 left over. … Heineken kind of sucks. Why couldn't they have partnered with
Dig-b.blogspot.com: "I like the concept because few people have the space for a full-on kegerator, and even fewer people probably have the inclination to drink an entire keg of beer at home. (I think I'd hate even my favorite beer after working through a whole keg of it!) Not to mention you've got to have a significant other willing to allow such a thing into their home. BeerTender, on the other hand, is cool, small and sleek-looking — a much easier sell. And using mini kegs, you could change out the beer style much more frequently. … Of course, there's another big downside: the price on this thing is outrageous. … At $200, I bet they'd do solid business. Bring it down to $100 and it would fly off the shelves. … Think of all the different bottled beer you could enjoy for $300!"
BoingBoing.net: "I'm all for draft beer at home. In fact, I'm planning on building a kegerator this year. But it pains me to think of how much good American craft beer could be purchased for $300. Even poured from bottles instead of a sleek counter-top unit, it'd be better than a cold mug of tasteless Heineken."
Coolestgadgets.com: "The BeerTender is simple to set up and operate, and you have a choice of chill temperature settings depending on your preference. It also has a display that tells you how much you have left and how long you have before you need to restock. It's the perfect thing to have when you're having a summer barbecue or a bit of a gathering."
— Colleen Dougher
On the tube
Search for the following phrases on YouTube (and see the first video listed) for some of the finest beer-related offerings:
"Granny wazzup." This hysterical video about a bunch of old ladies wazzuping one another as they drink beer while watching the game is a spoof on the old Wazzup Budweiser commercials.
"Lego beer song." This adorable musical depicts what happens when a town full of Lego men, including a few pirates, a manly stud and some belchers get shit-faced.
"20-yr-old granny." A young woman dons a floral dress, pearls and a hair bun as she heads into the Friendly Mart to buy beer while her giggling friends capture it on video from the car.
"Hilarious beer song." Rob Manuel and Daniele Davoli's two-minute video about a bunch of beer glasses out for a night on the town provides a new perspective on empty glasses. It's impossible to watch this film and not want a cold brew.
"Beer and swearing." The swear jar fills up quickly in this one-minute film about beer and swearing in the workplace.
— Colleen Dougher
