Charlie's Weblog

Nothing new this week. Here is what's on tap inside this week at Sweetwater Centreville:

In a repeat of last week, I got one Kokopelli IPA and one GAR Pale Ale growler to take home.

I read on the Post web site about Savor. Washington DC will be hosting a "craft beer experience" this May 16 & 17. I hope to attend a post a little about how it went.

The Crazy Jackass is the new addition this week at Sweetwater. It won a Gold Medal (defined as

"A world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance"

A. Subcategory: American Rye Ale or Lager with or without Yeast
This beer can be made using either ale or lager yeast. It should be brewed with at least 20 percent rye malt, and hop rates may be low to medium. A fruity estery aroma and flavor are typical but at low levels; however, phenolic, clove-like characteristics should not be perceived. Paler versions of this style may be straw to amber in color, and the body should be light to medium in character. Diacetyl should not be perceived. Darker versions of this style will be dark amber to dark brown, and the body should be light to medium in character. Roasted malts are optionally evident in aroma and flavor with a low level of roast malt astringency acceptable when appropriately balanced with malt sweetness. Roast malts may be evident as a cocoa/chocolate or caramel character. Aromatic toffee-like, caramel, or biscuit-like characters may be part of the overall flavor/aroma profile. As in the paler versions, diacetyl should not be perceived. If entries in this category are packaged and served without yeast, no yeast characters should be evident in mouthfeel, flavor, or aroma. If entries are intended to be served with yeast, the character should portray a full yeasty mouthfeel and appear hazy to very cloudy. Yeast flavor and aroma should be low to medium but not overpowering the balance and character of rye and barley malt and hops. Brewer may indicate on the bottle whether the yeast should be intentionally roused or if they prefer that the entry be poured as quietly as possible. When entering, brewer may choose to indicate if the beer is a rye version of a classic style - for example, rye pale ale, rye porter, etc.
Original Gravity (ºPlato): 1.030-1.056 (7.5-14 ºPlato)
Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (ºPlato): 1.004-1.020 (1-5 ºPlato)
Alcohol by Weight (Volume): 3-5.5% (3.8-6.9%)
Bitterness (IBU): 10-35
Color SRM (EBC): 2-25 (4-50 EBC)

B. Subcategory: German-Style Rye Ale (Roggenbier) with or without Yeast
This beer can be made using phenol producing ale yeast. It should be brewed with at least 30 percent rye malt, and hop rates will be low. A banana-like fruity-estery aroma and flavor are typical but at low levels; phenolic, clove-like characteristics should also be perceived. Paler versions of this style are straw to dark amber, and the body should be light to medium in character. Diacetyl should not be perceived. Darker versions of this style will be dark amber to dark brown, and the body should be light to medium in character. Roasted malts are optionally evident in aroma and flavor with a low level of roast malt astringency acceptable when appropriately balanced with malt sweetness. Roast malts may be evident as a cocoa/chocolate or light caramel character. Aromatic toffee-like, caramel, or biscuit-like characters may be part of the overall flavor/aroma profile. As in the paler versions, diacetyl should not be perceived. If entries in this style are packaged and served without yeast, no yeast characters should be evident in mouthfeel, flavor, or aroma. If entries are intended to be served with yeast, the character should portray a full yeasty mouthfeel and appear hazy to very cloudy. Yeast flavor and aroma should be low to medium but not overpowering the balance and character of rye and barley malt and hops. Brewer may indicate on the bottle whether the yeast should be intentionally roused or if they prefer that the entry be poured as quietly as possible.
Original Gravity (ºPlato): 1.047-1.056 (11.8-14 ºPlato)
Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (ºPlato): 1.008-1.016 (2-4 ºPlato)
Alcohol by Weight (Volume): 3.9-4.4% (4.9-5.5%)
Bitterness (IBU): 10-15
Color SRM (EBC): 4-12 (8-24 EBC)

at the 2007 GABF and replaces the Rusty Roadrunner Lager. The Crazy Jackass is more of a Roggenbier because of the pronouced banana flavor in the beer. Plus there is a new release of the Kokopelli IPA on tap. It's a little stronger than the last batch. AND... the Straight Shooter Stout replaces the High Desert Imperial Stout. Here is what's on tap inside this week at Sweetwater Centreville:

Got one Kokopelli IPA and one GAR Pale Ale growler to take home.

Check this video out. Kenyans are renaming their local brew.

Is this enough to sway your vote?

The Rusty Road Runner Lager is the new addition this week at Sweetwater. It replaces the Barking Frog Ale. Here is what's on tap inside this week at Sweetwater Centreville:

Got one Kokopelli IPA growler to take home. I love this stuff!

The Kokopelli IPA is new addition this week at Sweetwater. It replaces the Sidewinder Holiday Bock. The Kokopelli IPA is one of my favorites. Here is what's on tap inside this week at Sweetwater Centreville:

No Kokopelli IPA available in growlers yet so I got one GAR Pale Ale growler instead.

Got the following email in my inbox today....

Fin's Up! The refreshing, drinkable island lager is now available not only in coastal resorts and Margaritaville Restaurants, but also at a local watering hole near you.

Leveraging the true meaning of Margaritaville, Land Shark Lager instantly transforms you to an island lifestyle where good friends, good times, good food and great beer are a way of life.

Put yourself in an island state of mind and visit www.landsharklager.com to find a retailer near you!

Let the Fin begin!
AVAILABLE ALSO AT ALL MARGARITAVILLE RESTAURANTS

So I went to the web site and typed in my zip code... Closest places to get it are in Fredricksburg and Charlottesville, VA. What up with that?

The Imperial Stout is new addition this week at Sweetwater. It replaces the Iron Horse Lager. It surprised me to learn that the Iron Horse won a Bronze medal at the 2006 GABF. Here is what's on tap inside this week at Sweetwater Centreville:

Got one Great American Pale Ale and an Imperial Stout growler to take home.

On the sidebar. I'll post pictures of labels of all the beer I have tried recently.

Who would have thunk it? Will it make you change the places you dine out? Not me... I'll stick with Sweetwater Tavern and their on site brewpub.

I read a Time Magazine article about the benefits of a little exercise with moderate alcohol consumption. If I could only get myself to exercise just a little. Here's my favorite quote from the article:

"You shouldn't even think about doing it until age 45 or 50. There's absolutely no proof of a preventative and protective effect before age 45."

Ah... The benefits of old age!

While looking at the Great American Restaurants (the parent company of Sweetwater Tavern) web site this morning, I noticed a news announcement regarding a new restaurant they are opening this fall.

We are thrilled to announce Jackson's Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge is opening Fall 2008 in the expansion phase of Reston Town Center. Named after Bill Jackson, our favorite chef, Jackson's will feature outstanding quality without pretense...just like Bill. Our 10th restaurant will be comfortably upbeat in a 1940's casual dinner house style. Our outdoor bar's name, the Lucky Lounge, says all that needs to be said. Our menu will include the best from Coastal Flats with new twists like sushi, fresh hand cut fries, prime rib, macaroni & cheese and deviled eggs.

Bill Jackson is the Executive Chef at Great American Restaurants and also suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). I would bet that has something to do with the name of the outdoor bar. I'll work to get myself invited to the mock service that happens a couple days before the restaurant officially opens.

Fooled you! I read this article about Sweetwater Brewing Company on the Beer Advocate. Too bad the article is about the wrong Sweetwater establishment.

I have moved back inside now. The weather here is cold enough now that they have closed the outdoor bar until Spring. Here is what's on tap inside this week at Sweetwater Centreville:

Got one Great American Pale Ale and a Barking Frog growler to take home.

Then head to this site to maintain your list of financial obligations.

http://foamee.com/

Ever wonder what happens when you don't Respect Beer. This (you may have to suffer through a Yahoo commercial first - sorry). And just between you and me, that clerk kinda scares me.

No, not that Michael Jackson. But the King of Beer. Here is a link to the article announcing his death. His books inspired me to start making my own beer and stinking up my house 20 years ago. Back then, brew pubs had not yet started. I need to add a link to his Beer Hunter web site. His last article about beer was posted on the All About Beer page.

What will they think of next?

Check out this article from the Beer Advocate. Just don't attempt to try this at home. I just wish someone would tell me why they are using a flower vase to hold the beer supply?

See this link. Those Aussies have weird priorities...

I read about this book in the Washington Post last month, then again on the Beer Activist Blog.

Wonder if it's available as an audiobook?

Sorry, but I have been too busy to update the Beer site lately. But today, Tyler and I went to Sweetwater to refill my growlers. My problem is that they have opened an outdoor patio at Sweetwater and I don't go in to get the vital statistics each week any more. Please beer with me as I sort out a new process for gathering information for this entry. In any case, here is what's on tap this week:

Got one Straight Shooter Stout, one Last Chance Lager, and one Great American Pale Ale.

There is a new sobriety test being administered. Be careful. Also, my favorite DUI test of all time is posted. I am TOTALLY amazed at the way he went through the alphabet backwards.

Snow on the ground this weekend. What up with that?? Well, Sweetwater added one of my favorites to the lineup this week. The Kokopelli India Pale Ale. Here is what's on tap this week:

Went home with a growler of the Kokopelli.

A new beer is on tap this week at Sweetwater; the Boot Hill Brown Ale. Here is what's on tap:

Went home with a growler each of Great American Pale Ale and a Boot Hill Brown Ale.

On the advice of a co-worker, I tried a bottle of Expedition Stout from Bell's Brewery. The Beer Adovcate says this is a Imperial Stout. These beers were not brewed in Russia but were brewed to be exported to Russia. These beers were brewed with higher hop and alcohol content in order to survive the arduous shipment to Russia.

Stats:
ABV: 10.5% (Wow!)
Beer Advocate Score: 92 (Outstanding)
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Born on: Unknown

WOW! What a beer! It pours noticeable thicker than any of the other beers I have tried. It started with a pretty quarter inch head with tiny bubbles. It has a very black color. it is a bit sweet (10.5% ABV according to the bottle - beeradvocate has it at 11.5% ABV), but has incredible mouth feel. It's like drinking a whole meal with one glass. One could probably survive just off a couple of these each day. These will be hard to buy during the Spring and Summer. I'll try another one come Thanksgiving.

No change to the lineup this week at Sweetwater Tavern - Centreville. Here is what's on tap:

Went home with two growler of Great American Pale Ale and a new growler coosie. It's a coosie that fits around the whole growler to help keep it cool during the summer. It was my idea but somebody stole it.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper."

According to Men's Journal that is. This is actually a very good list. How many have you had on this list? As for me, I have tasted the following:

2 - Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
6 - Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale
10 - Bell's Expedition Stout
15 - Ommegang Hennepin

I'll try these from the list next:

3 - Stoudt's Pils
9 - Rogue Brutal Bitter
12 - Smuttynose Big A IPA
16 - Samuel Adams Black Lager

No change to the lineup this week at Sweetwater Tavern - Centreville. Here is what's on tap:

Went home with a growler of Great American Pale Ale.

"Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer."

- Henry Lawson

New lineup this week at Sweetwater Tavern - Centreville. The GiddyUp Coffee Stout replaced the High Desert Imperial Stout. Here is what's on tap:

Went home with a growler of GiddyUp and Rusty Roadrunner.

"He who drinks ale sleeps well. He who sleeps well cannot sin. He who does not sin goes to heaven. Amen."

New lineup this week at Sweetwater Tavern - Centreville. Here is what's on tap:

Only finished one growler last week and went home with a Pale Ale growler.

No change to the beer lineup for a second week at Sweetwater Tavern - Centreville. Here is what's on tap:

I went home with two Pale Ale growlers.

The Beer Advocate has an interesting forum discussion on this topic. The bottom line for a ceramic topped flip lid growler...

Sweetwater leaves about an inch of air in the neck of their growlers. Less would be better. But in my experience, you may keep these in the beer fridge for up to a month without any degradation.

Once open though, plan to drink it all within about 24 hours. For those of you that sip your beer, that means you can drink about half the first night, and finish it off the second night. Or share one with a buddy during an evening of watching March Madness.

Opened a 750mL bottle of Westmalle Trappist Tripel Ale tonight from the Trappist Monastary of Westmalle. The monastary has a tower that reminds one of a California winery or the Tillman Tower at Clemson.

Stats:
ABV: 9.5%
Beer Advocate Score: 91 (Recommended)
Style: Tripel
Born on: Unknown

Has a deep lacy head when poured which dissipates to a thin layer and sticks nicely to the sides of the glass. Has a nice deep golden / straw color. You can almost smell a hint of orange. High alcohol content means you better be careful with this one. It has a sweet taste helps hide the taste the alcohol. An excellent example of the Tripel style.

Unlike this guy...

Mike Seate wrote an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review on 17 January 2007 and is quoted below. The best part is at the end when he states "I'll be doing my drinking at home, on the cheap, from a Styrofoam cup." Good for him. But for me, a nice Trappist Rochefort 8 in a glass chalis is what I will be drinking. Or better yet, a Boddington's Pub Ale with a little bee on the can...

During the weekend, I stopped by the Sharp Edge bar in East Liberty for a few beers. Nothing spectacular about that, except for one small problem: It's one of those so-called beer emporiums, trendy little places that specialize in styles and brands of beer so obscure, you need a Frommer's travel guide just to pronounce them. These sorts of places are a relatively new in our area. Back in the early-1990s, few local bars served anything more esoteric than, say, Old Frothingslosh, and the concept of drinking a Guinness stout from a tap just like Europeans do was something of a beer-lover's revelation.

Fifteen years later, dozens of local bars offer exotic beers, and as these unusual malted beverages have grown in popularity, the prices charged for a glass have risen faster than a gallon of unleaded during an election year.

When I stopped at a popular beer and hot dog joint in Regent Square, for example, my wallet choked at the thought of forking over $4.25 for a single take-out can of Boddingtons Pub Ale. The thick, creamy British brew can be had just down the block for about $40 per case, which makes the idea of buying a six-pack for nearly half that much a real pain in the pint glass.

To be fair, these places are usually dense with bearded guys in tattered wool sweaters who can rattle off the complex brewing methods of odd brands the way Star Trek enthusiasts can speak fluent Klingon. Likewise, some of our city's beer emporiums have elevated the formerly simple act of purchasing a pint to something akin to a haute wine tasting; elaborate back stories are offered about strange orders of Trappist Belgian monks who craft their beers in dank basements using recipes as closely guarded as the holy grail.

In exchange for the satisfaction of knowing your beer has a provenance and back story that would make a great Orlando Bloom/Johnny Depp film, customers are charged anywhere between $5 and $10 for a glass of beer. Worse yet, some bars have taken to serving these beverages in tiny brandy snifters and elegant, hand-blown glass goblets.

Is it just me, or has somebody forgotten that beer is supposed to be a workingman's drink, as free from pretensions and airs as a kielbasa smothered in sauerkraut?

Apparently so. And until local bar owners remember this, I'll be doing my drinking at home, on the cheap, from a Styrofoam cup.

Had another Rochefort 8 11.2 oz bottle this evening from the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy.

Stats:
9.2% ABV
Beer Advocate score: 91 (outstanding)
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Born on: Aug 11

Great head this time. About an inch thick at the start and dissipated slowly to a thin head all across the top. Perhaps because I poured it a little more carefully this time. You need to be careful pouring this one as there is sediment at the bottom of the bottle that you don't want in the glass. It has a nice deep orange color and a GREAT malty taste. If you store your beer in a fridge, be sure to let it warm up for about 5-10 minutes before drinking. It tastes much better after it warms a bit.

No change to the beer lineup this week at Sweetwater Tavern - Centreville. Here is what's on tap:

I went home with a Pale Ale and a Springbock.

Discovered a Sweetwater (No! Not the Great American Restaurant Sweetwater Tavern) beer commercial on YouTube. Its from the Sweetwater Brewing Co in Atlanta GA. I need to send this to my friends at Sweetwater Tavern!

The latest lineup at Sweetwater Tavern - Centreville includes the following selections:

I went home with two Pale Ale's and a Springbock. Drank one of the Pale Ale growlers at a Super Bowl XLI party in the neighboorhood. Tasted great!

Tried a 750mL bottle of Ommegang Abbey Ale this evening from the Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY.

Stats:
8.5% ABV
Beer Advocate Score: 90
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Pours with a HUGE head with medium bubbles even when I tried a light pour. The head dissipated very slowly into a thin head all across the glass. It adheres nicely to the side of the glass. Make sure to follow the pouring directions givien in the video on the web site. Of course, I don't have the right kind of chalis and I didn't see the video till after I poured. It has a deep red color and the aroma and taste are excellent. Lots of different aromas and tastes are evident. It has a nice carbonation on the tongue. Almost a meal in itself. Its a decent reproduction of a Belgian Ale like a Chimay Red or Rochefort. The Rochefort 8 is still my favorite.

Tried an 11.2 oz bottle of Orval Trappist Ale from the Brasserie d'Orval tonight. The web site states:

The monastery was born of an act of gratitude: Mathilda was a widow and her wedding ring had accidentally fallen into the fountain. She prayed to the Lord and at once a trout rose to the surface with the precious ring in its mouth. Mathilda exclaimed : 'Truly this place is a Val d'Or'! " In gratitude, she decided to establish a monastery on the site.

The bottle label even has a fish with a ring in its mouth.

Stats:
6.90% ABV
Beer Advocate Score: 89 (Recommended)
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
Born on: 6 July 2006

Great two inch head with tiny bubbles when poured. Dissipates very slowly and sticks to the glass. Has a very hoppy aroma and has a nice light amber pale ale color. Very drinkable. I could have several of these. Very nice taste with a hint of berry.

Sampled a 33cL Chimay Red this evening. Brewed at the Scourmont Abbey in near Chimay Belgium. No "born on"" date.

Stats:
7.0% ABV
Beer Advocate Score: 88 (Recommended)
Style: Dubbel

Be careful pouring this. There was a fair amount of yeast sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Small head did not last long. Murky amber color. I had kept the bottle in the refrigerator, and had to let it warm a bit before the taste began to pop. Creamy feel in the mouth with a bit of alcohol bite. Has a fruity nose. I used a standard pint glass. The bottle says not to use one of these and instead use more of a stemmed chalice. I need to upgrade my glass selection. Until then, I like the Rochefort 8 better.

Bill Verley gave me a 750mL Nostradamus from Brasserie Caracole in Falmignoul, Belgium for Christmas. Its got a great label. Not sure what the snail motif is all about though.

Stats:
9.5% ABV (Wow!)
Beer Advocate Score: 88 (Recommended)
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Great head when poured. Then dissipates into a nice lacing. Deep mahogany color, a bit cloudy. Has a fruity nose and good mouth feel. A bit of liquorice taste. Let it warm to proper temperature before tasting. A strong beer... Be careful.

Had some Winter Hook from the Red Hook Brewery. But from the label I am unable to tell whether it was bottled at the Woodinville, WA or the Portsmouth, NH brewery. Did you know Paul Shipman who co-founded Red Hook Brewery got his MBA in 1978 (a very good year for UVa graduates) from the Darden School at the University of Virginia?

Stats:
6.11% ABV
Beer Advocate Score: 82 (good call)
Style: Winter Warmer
Born on: 27 Sep 2006

Color is a clear deep copper. Hoppy taste and nose. I would rate an average beer. I think Red Hook's "affiliation" with Anheuser-Busch has moved this beer into the macro category. But still a decent beer.

Tried the Allagash Dubbel Ale this evening whilst watching the NFL playoffs. It's brewed by the Allagash Brewing Co, Portland ME.

Stats:
7.6% ABV
10.64 OG
Beer Advocate score: 83 (good call)
Style: Dubbel

Color is a deep amber and looks unfiltered. Very little head but tingly in the throat. Not as good as the Rochefort 8.

From today's Washington Post...

Old Dominion Brewing, whose pub is a favorite of the high-tech crowd near Dulles International Airport and whose microbrews are sold throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, is close to being sold -- and the buyers may be connected to the most macro brewery of all.

Old Dominion President Jerry Bailey said the sale could happen any day. He declined to identify the buyers, but people close to the microbrewery said the sale would involve Ram's Head Tavern, a Baltimore-based brewery chain, and beer giant Anheuser-Busch.

Regulars are already getting nervous. "The concern is growing over whether they will continue to sell those same beers," said Jack Chungo, 54, a salesman who is a frequent customer. "The majority of people I know have a particular favorite."

Kyle Muehlhauser, a principal at Ram's Head Tavern, did not return phone calls and messages left for him. A spokesman for Anheuser-Busch said the company had no comment.

Bailey said he thought it was unlikely the new owners would change the beers.

"I can't imagine anybody buying a place like this and not keeping the only thing we got," Bailey said. "The brand is the most valuable thing we own."

"We have signed a letter of intent with someone, but we are not confirming or denying any of the other stuff," said Bailey, adding that he was selling the company in order to liquidate his equity.

Customers who had heard the rumors last week said that they are worried that new ownership would bring in new brands of beer, replacing Old Dominion's house brands, including Dominion Ale, Dominion Lager, Tuppers' Hop Pocket Pils, Old Dubliner and Aviator brews, as well as special beers for each season of the year. Nearly 20 brands, all of which are brewed on site, are sold on tap at the pub. The brewery is in an office park in Ashburn, near the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, and is a favorite stop for runners and bike riders.

Old Dominion also brews special recipes for local restaurants including the Dubliner, J. Paul's and the Hard Times Cafe. Murphy's Grand Irish Pub in Alexandria sells Old Dominion beer under house brands Murphy's Ale and Murphy's Blonde.

Bailey owns 22 percent of the company, which includes the pub as well as the brewery operation. The next biggest partner owns 10 percent, and there are 82 investors, he said.

Bailey, 67, a former employee of the Agency for International Development, founded Old Dominion in 1989. The company started brewing in 1990 and in 2006 sold the equivalent of 27,000 barrels of beer and 6,000 barrels of soft drink, making Old Dominion the 50th-largest brewery in the country, Bailey said. Each barrel is equal to 13.78 cases of 24 bottles each. About half of Old Dominion's beer is sold on tap and the other half in bottles.

"We have done quite well," Bailey said. He estimated that the company is worth $4 million to $6 million, but declined to name the sale price. He said one consultant had estimated the Old Dominion brand alone to be worth $2 million.

A former employee of Old Dominion is scheduled to go on trial this spring on charges of embezzling more than $100,000 from the firm. Bailey said the sale was not related to the incident.

Old Dominion announced last March that it was being sold to one of its managers, but the sale did not go through. Sources familiar with the current deal spoke on the condition of anonymity because the sale has not been completed.

I haven't been to the Ram's Head yet, but have had pints at Dubliner and Murphy's many years ago. I need to get back for another sample.

Another microbrewery gone...

Took home a Flying Armadillo Porter growler tonight. Didn't taste one in the restaurant but I took home a growler. Will let you know how it tastes once I tap the growler. According to Sweetwater, it's a

dark chocolatey ale

Other stats:
4.3% ABV
11.1OG/2.9AE
Beer Advocate Score: N/A (only 4 reviews... need 10)
American Porter

Had a Rochefort 8 this evening from the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy.

Stats:
9.1% ABV
Beer Advocate score: 91 (outstanding)
Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Too bad I only had one. A little too much head for my tastes when poured. Deep copper color. But an excellent malty taste and good mouth feel.

I need to get back to the store and collect one each of the 6, 8, and 10. Perhaps drink all three in one sitting. I'll let you know how it goes.

Had a few Boont Amber Ale's this evening. Brewed by the Anderson Valley Brewing Co in Booneville CA.

Stats:
5.8 % ABV
Beer Advocate Score: 86 (recommended)
American Amber / Red Ale

The web site says...

Boont Amber Ale is a medium bodied pale ale with a beatiful copper color, a robust head, and the rich flavor of caramel malt. This very smooth and exceptionally drinkable beer is excellent with steaks, chicken, pasta, and other flavorful meals.

From the 03 January 2007 Washington Post Editorial page. For those of you who have an account, click Fumeless. For those who don't, here is a copy of the article.

NIGHTS OUT in Washington just got a whole lot healthier: The District's long-awaited smoking ban in bars and clubs finally took effect on Tuesday.

Predictably, not everyone is happy about it. As in other localities that have considered smoking bans, jittery bar and club owners fought the restrictions when the D.C. Council debated them a year ago. They continue to complain that the ban will hurt the city's hospitality industry as smokers take their business to Virginia, which does not enforce a smoking ban. Former mayor Anthony A. Williams considered vetoing the ban last year on those grounds. But other cities' experiences with bans even more restrictive than the District's suggest a different outcome.

In New York City, bars and restaurants have flourished since smoking was banned. Surveys in the city have shown that residents are now more likely to go out. Tax revenue from the hospitality sector there has increased, as has demand for new liquor licenses. Studies in other localities confirm that smoking bans have little effect on, or even increase, bar and restaurant revenue.

The health benefits of smoking bans, meanwhile, are enormous. The American Heart Association published a study late last year on Pueblo, Colo., which found that emergency room visits for heart attacks dropped 27 percent in the first 18 months of that city's smoking ban. No such drop occurred in adjoining jurisdictions. Across the country and around the world, the weight of public health research has shown that smoking bans save the lives of both customers and hospitality employees.

So here's an invitation to Northern Virginia's beer nursers, clubbers, nighthawks and other assorted bar patrons. If you'd prefer a night out that won't leave your hair and clothes smelling like ash -- and your lungs and blood vessels filled with toxins -- take a trip across the Potomac. Until, that is, Virginia's politicians come around to approving a smoking ban of their own.

I endorse the opinion of the writer. My only question is...

What the hell is a "beer nurser"??

On the last day of 2006, took home two growlers from Sweetwater Centreville. A Great American Pale Ale and a Wild West Lager. Happy New Year to all!

From MSNBC. Not much new here for us veterans. But posted for completeness (if that's even a word). Click here. My only problem with the post is the following:

The surest way to avoid a hangover, obviously, is to not drink. Abstinence is the only guaranteed way to avoid that splitting headache the next day.

Who was the rocket scientist that figured that out? Anyway...
Happy New Year!

There are about six of these showing Dick Vermeil and Joe Walsh. My favorite one of these is Dick Vermeil in the following ad...
Coors Light Dick Vermeil Press Conference Ad 2
Brilliant!

A little help for all of us at this time of year...

http://www.fox28.com/News/index.php?ID=10386

but they don't talk about my favorite...
McD's hamburger and fries for lunch. Then to Sweetwater for a little hair of the dog!

New to the taps on Christmas Eve was Wild West Ale. An "assertive, pale, unfiltered...amber Octoberfest style lager". Went home with three Wild West Ale growlers.