Why can’t witches have babies?
Their husbands have crystal balls and Hollow-weenies!
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 31, 2008
Posted in Editorial | Tagged: Halloween, Skilnik | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 30, 2008
Everytime there’s an economic bump or slump, a reporter gets the brilliant idea of talking to some beer marketing personnel about beer sales and how a downturn will affect beer sales. Usually the arguments contradict each other, with one view being that premium or super-premium beers will fall and we’ll all run out and start stocking up on 30-pack suitcases of Busch Ice…they other being that the super-premiums will keep selling, maybe not with the kind of “gusto” you might see in times of prosperity, but beer drinkers will still buy their favorite brands with no compromising. I always have the feeling, however, that at least one side is bloviating while trying to justify why he or she’s latest “brilliant” ad campaign isn’t working.
I received an e-mail from a brewer down in New Zealand, and while it’s the other side of the world as far as I’m concerned, living outside of Chicago, it takes the experiences of beer drinkers so many miles away to prove a point that I’ve always known; rich or poor, I’ll be drinking what I always drink. It’s not like I’m being forced to decide whether or not I should buy a Ford Taurus or a new and tricked-out 4-door Mercedes.
“While people may think twice about large purchases like cars and white goods, affordable luxuries like premium beer tend to remain popular,” notes a spokesman from Lion Nathan, proving my analogy above.
We’re talking about beer.
IF your shattered share portfolio has left you a little dispirited, here’s an investment opportunity almost guaranteed to produce solid returns in the bleak months ahead – beer.
A 30-year study of Australian beer sales tracked against the Westpac Consumer Confidence Survey has unearthed compelling evidence beer sales don’t merely survive recessions, they thrive on them.
The graph, which has been used by the industry for investor presentations in recent months, shows beer sales starting in January 1975 gliding effortlessly above the turbulence of wages decline in the late 1970s, the recession of the early 1990s and the Asian meltdown of 1998.
In fact, soon after the Black Monday share market collapse of October 1987, the beer graph gently rises, indicating an increase in consumption lasting about five years.
It’s only after the unpleasant business of the recession and Gulf War-inspired oil spikes is complete that the graph returns to its gentle, if slightly downward trajectory.
Foster’s brewers confirm sale figures from as late as September this year show beer drinkers appear blissfully unaware the globe is in the grasp of a once-in-a-100-year financial catastrophe.
And thanks to;
Paddy Sweeney
CEO Westcoast Brewing Ltd
who has also added nutritional information about his beers in my latest book, “Does My Butt Look Big In This Beer?” I have to also remark here that it’s a bit bewildering that I can get the cooperation of someone I don’t know who owns a brewery in New Zealand and who was so helpful in providing me with information for my upcoming book. In the meantime, some of the bigger micro and regional breweries refuse to even answer my e-mails or the form boxes on their own websites that say something like “Ask The Brewer!” but won’t answer my questions. Why put an “Ask The Brewer” section on your site if you refuse to answer a simple question or two.
On the other hand, some of the brewers who gave me a hard time a few years ago when I was writing “The Low Carb Bartender” have come around and have been wonderfully cooperative. To all of them, I tip my hat, but for rest of them, remember this; when the e-mails start coming in to me when the book comes online and readers ask why I don’t have the information about your brewery and its beers – their favorite beers – I’ll simply tell them that you apparently don’t care about what they’re looking for in a beer and that there are hundreds of other breweries who were wonderfully cooperative.
Why not try one of their beers? They care.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: beer, economy, lion Nathan, West Coast Brewing | 1 Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 29, 2008
Ben and Colonial Spirits
2-3:30pm, Sun., Nov. 2
Register
Bob Skilnik, Chicago’s beer historian, discusses the beers and ales favored by Franklin and the Founding Fathers even during their informal political discussions.
Columbus, Ohio Brewery Issues First T-Shirt Recall in The Nation
Elevator Brewing Company Owner Will Replace Historically Inaccurate Ben Franklin T-Shirts
Posted in Appearances, Beer & Food In The News, Beer History, Plugs | Tagged: Ben Franklin, Niles Library, November 2, Skilnik | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 27, 2008
A-B has Ira Glass hawking Budweiser American Ale. IRA GLASS.
A-B thinks that this NPR snob represents the typical Bud American Ale drinker?
A few years ago, A-B was trying to figure out who the market was for Bud Select, a low-calorie/low-carb beer that A-B went out of its way not to promote these attributes. The hired some “rap artist” for a $2 mil contract, dressed up like a blinged-up pimp while exciting some pimped-out car that was worth more money than every house on my block. 2 million freaking dollars. Now if someone can find me 2 black beer drinkers who drink (1) A Bud product and (2) A low calorie/carb A-B beer, you’ll be looking for the rest of your life.
Here it is, a few year laters. Right now, they’re still trying to figure out the beer’s market. The last commercial I saw was a bunch of WASP with their sweaters tied around their necks, and I think they were playing golf. This time we were told that the beer had a rich, bold taste. That commercial too was buried about a month later. I imagine the next attempt at this beer being promoted again before they simply dump the rest of it in their buffalo wing sauce, will be a group of starving North Koreans huddling by the only working light bulb in their village. Perhaps they’ll sing songs about the “Great Leader” while commenting on the rich, bold tatste of such a low-calorie/carb beer.
Please A-B, call me. I’ll do a focus group for you for thousands less and I’ll tell you this: Black and overpaid hip-hop artist exiting a million dollar car and dressed up like a walking South African diamond mine will not make this middle-aged white guy go out and buy a beer that is so poorly positioned.
If you want to sell Bud American Ale, send me a case and $10,000 and I’ll sell more beer in a week than Ira Glass will sell during the High Holy Days. Ira Glass? This guy suckles from the PBS teats of the American taxpayer but he represents the demographic that A-B wants to drink Budweiser American Ale? Ira Glass? Oh wait…Wally Cox is dead.
Fire these PR people. They’re laughable. Or simply spray some cold water on the blouses of non-bra wearing and well-endowed blondes while swigging down Select. I could save A-B millions and ready some dry towels for the girls…or maybe not.
Posted in Beer & Food In The News, Editorial | Tagged: A-B, beer, Select | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 24, 2008
I know that I’m the first one to scream about politcs interjected into beer sites, and if you want to throw this into my face…go ahead, but for me, this video goes well beyond politics; this isn’t politics people, my God, it’s who I am and what I believe. How could you as a human being think otherwise?
I find this video moving beyond belief.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 23, 2008
Coming Soon!
Does My BUTT Look BIG In This BEER?
Tooheys New oz carbs calories abv
White Stag 12 03.20 179 04.60
Posted in Beer And Carbohydrates, Beer Nutritional Info | Tagged: Australia, Beer And Carbohydrates, Skilnik | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 22, 2008
430 Old Jackson Hole Highway Victor, ID 83455
208.787.9000 (phone) • 208.787.4114 (fax)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chuck Nowicki, National Sales Manager
(208) 787-9000 ChuckNowicki@GrandTetonBrewing.com
October 17, 2008
BITCH CREEK ESB WINS AGAIN AT THE GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL!
VICTOR, ID – In its 20th year, Grand Teton Brewing Company, known throughout the West for their exceptional microbrews, has won another medal with their legendary Bitch Creek ESB. At this year’s prestigious Great American Beer Festival, Bitch Creek found itself in familiar territory, once again standing on the podium, this time with a silver medal in the American Brown Ale category.
Over the last few years, Bitch Creek ESB has become dominant at the highest level of beer competitions. This spring it won a medal at the World Beer Cup in only its 2nd appearance. During this summer’s North American Beer Awards, it repeated last year’s Gold Medal performance. This makes for five medals in five years at the NABA. At the Great American Beer Festival, this year’s win represents four medals in five years, including two Gold Medals. To win consistently at this level requires a truly superior brew.
Bitch Creek ESB perfectly balances big malt sweetness and robust hop flavor for a full-bodied, satisfying mahogany ale. Like the creek for which it’s named, Bitch Creek ESB is complex, full of character and not for the timid.
The success of Bitch Creek has not gone unnoticed. Record numbers of beer drinkers have been calling, visiting and emailing the brewery wanting more distribution. Many have gotten their wish fulfilled this year! This summer alone Grand Teton Brewing Co. has added distributors in New York, Idaho, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Missouri and Kansas. Grand Teton Brewing has even released a Double Bitch Creek in its renowned Cellar Reserve Series of beers.
Celebrating 20 years this year, Grand Teton Brewing Company was founded in 1988 as the first modern “micro” brewery in the state of Wyoming. Today, founder Charlie Otto and his company are in the top 100 craft breweries in North America. Premium microbrews include the award-winning Bitch Creek ESB, Sweetgrass IPA, Workhorse Wheat and the favorites of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Old Faithful Ale (pale golden), Au Naturale (organic blonde ale) and Teton Ale (amber). From their production facility in Victor, Idaho, Grand Teton Brewing Company beers are hand-crafted from only the finest ingredients, including locally-grown grains and pure Teton mountain spring water. GTBC is a green company utilizing bio-diesel and feeding local farmer’s cattle with spent grain from the brew kettle. Discriminating beer drinkers can find their favorite GTBC brews on tap and in bottles throughout Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Washington and Oregon, with limited distribution in New York and Minnesota!
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Posted in Beer & Food In The News, Plugs | Tagged: beer, Bitch Creek, GABF, Skilnik | 2 Comments »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 15, 2008
Oktoberfest 12 oz 22.20 carbs 185 calories 05.10 abv
COMING THIS FALL:
Does My Butt Look Big In This Beer?
Nutritional Values of 1,800 Worldwide Beers
— Bob Skilnik —
aka, The Low-Carb Bartender
Posted in Beer & Health, Beer And Calories, Beer And Carbohydrates, Beer Nutritional Info, calories in beer, carbohydrates in beer, Malt Beverage Nutritional Info | Tagged: abv of beer, beer nutrition, calories in beer, carbohydrates in beer, nutritional values of beer, Skilnik | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 14, 2008
From the Double Down Saloon in Vegas …
Posted in Booze Recipes | Tagged: ass juice, bacon, bacon martini, Skilnik | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 14, 2008
I’m a gravy kind of guy and cold weather means gravy…lots of gravy!
Ingredients
4 loin pork chops
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup beef stock
1 cup apple cider
1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
1 bay leaf
pepper and salt to taste
Directions
Posted in Cooking With Cider | Tagged: Beer In Food, cider gravy, cider in food, pork chops and cider gravy, Skilnik | 1 Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 7, 2008
MAKES FOUR DRINKS
|
|
Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cream, sugar and cinnamon until blended. Scoop the ice cream into 4 highball glasses and add half a bottle of beer to each glass. Top with the whipped cream and gingersnaps.
From Every Day with Rachael Ray
November 2006
************************
Cutting Calories?
Switch no-fat half & half for heavy cream
Use frozen yogurt or low-fat ice cream
Substitute Splenda for sugar
Check here for Calories In Dogfish Head Punkin Ale.
Posted in Cooking With Beer | Tagged: float, Halloween, Punkin Ale | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 7, 2008
Posted in Beer Nutritional Info | Tagged: calories in beer, Dogfish Head, Skilnik | 1 Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 7, 2008
*Need an article for your business, maybe something to pass on to a trade magazine with your
name on the byline?
*Have a copywriting request that needs to be “keyword” rich?
*Looking for the kind of news release that will get you calls from local and national media
outlets?
*Own a restaurant and need an advertising/restaurant review that will give it a needed shot in
the financial arm?
*Have a manuscript that needs the unbiased eye of an editor?
*Can’t quite get your book proposal in order?
*Have a book idea and have done the groundwork research but don’t have the time to write it?
Consider my ghostwriting services.
*Considering writing a book but don’t understand the publishing process or all your options?
E-mail Bob with questions. bob@beerinfood.com
Bob Skilnik is an alumnus of Chicago’s Siebel Institute of Technology, the oldest brewing school in the U.S.; a former associate editor for the American Breweriana Journal; a contributor to trade journals, magazines, and newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune’s “Good Eating” section. He has appeared on ABC’s The View, the Fox News Channel’s Fox News Live, ESPN2’s Cold Pizza and WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.
Posted in Plugs | Tagged: article writing, book proposals, ghost writer, news releases, paid writing services, press releases, publishing consultations | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 3, 2008
Posted in Beer In Food, Cooking With Beer, Food That Demands To Be Paired With Beer | Tagged: Beer In Food, food, Oktoberfest beer | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 3, 2008
Europe’s going through another melamine scare, this time in bakery goods, Lotte Koala biscuits. Two weeks ago it was Cadbury Chocolates made and sold in Europe. Before that it was baby formula. Before that it was dog food.
The chemical melamine appears to be a cheap way of working around required protein content in foods. Add some, save on the use of the higher cost of protein additives, make a buck, sit back and watch people and pets die.
It’s amazing…and it’s coming from China.
Now I’ve consumed my fair share of Tsingtao beer, a venerable Chinese brew and the number one branded consumer product exported from China. It’s been in the States since 1972.
But no longer. There’s plenty of beers out there to choose from. In my opinion, why take a chance? I’ve thrown out every food product made in China; I won’t buy fish or shrimp from China. I carefully check all my dogs’ foods and treats. If they say “Distributed in the U.S. by the XYZ Company,” I look a little further to see where it was made. More often than not, dog treats, and even toys, are made in China.
Do what you want, but don’t make mine A Melamine.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: baby formula, beer, China, dead pets, melamine, recalls | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 2, 2008
Here’s a review of some popular Oktoberfest beers including Paulaner, Harpoon, Samuel Adams, Brooklyn Brewing and Spaten.
Posted in Beer & Food In The News | Tagged: Brooklyn, Harpoon, Oktoberfest beer, Paulaner, Samuel Adams, Spaten | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Bob Skilnik on October 1, 2008
Business has never been so good at the Brulotte Hop Farms,
where 60,000 pounds of hops a day are plucked from the fields.
It’s the best harvest ever for the Brulottes.
“We’ve added about 200 acres this year as well as 200 acres last year, which has almost doubled our production,” said Reggie Brulotte.
Posted in Beer & Food In The News | Tagged: harvest, hops | Leave a Comment »
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