1) Upcoming Promotions! 2) Beer In A Box ? ? 3) News In the World of Beer 4) Need Additions to your Brew Library? 5) What To Expect from Spice Beers 6) Happy New Year! *********************************************************** Coming Promotions: Snellville - Fri, Jan 15th, Dogwood Stout Cask 7:00 - 9:00 pm Very limited quantities... come early Fri, Jan 22nd, Grolsch Glass Night 7:00 - 9:00 pm While supplies last Sandy Springs - Thurs, Jan 14th, Dogwood Stout Cask 7:00 - 9:00 pm Very limited quantities... come early Thurs, Jan 21st, Grolsch Glass Night 7:00 - 9:00 pm While supplies last *********************************************************** Beer In A Box ? ? British developers, Scientific Generics of Cambridge, have come up with cardboard boxes they say could replace aluminum cans for beer and soft drinks. Spokesman Richard Freeman said: "Still drinks already come in cartons, while wine boxes, which initially it was felt in the industry would never take off, have not been popular for many years. But carbonated beverages put extra pressure on containers. Our new design uses four layers of cardboard with the seams-the weak point in past designs- now capable of holding any carbonated drink and able to withstand five-times the normal air pressure." The new containers are not only cheaper to produce but much easier to recycle. *********************************************************** News In the World of Beer After a five year gap, Norway's Aass Brewery beers have reuturned to the U.S. The brewery's line includes a classic, bock and pilsner, as well as the seasonal Juleol (pronounced yool-ul) Yes, these beers are available in bottles at Taco Mac. One of the most popular nitrogenated ales in the U.K., Caffrey's Irish Ale, was introduced to the U.S. on draft with the "widget" cans to follow in the spring. This beer is described as have the "smoothness of a stout, and the drinkability of a lager". Thomas Caffrey founded the century old Caffrey brewery in Antrim, Ireland. Anheuser Busch Inc. is blending margarita flavors with beer. Tequiza combines lager beer with blue agave nectar and a flavor containing lime and imported tequila. For the second year, the Yakima Brewing & Malting Co has brought out Bert Grant's Fresh Hop Ale. The fall entrant in Bert's line of four single hop seasonal ales, Fresh Hop features the West Coast's favorite hop variety, Cascade. Also available at Taco Mac on draught. The Mendocino Brewing Co. was named the 1998 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) winner. WRAP is an organization sponsored by the California Environmental Protection Agency and Integrated Waste Management Board. Mendocino is committed to conserving energy and recycling whenever possible. *********************************************************** Need Additions to your Brew Library? Look for these in stores... Ultimate Beer by Michael Jackson DK Publishing Co. Clone Brews: Homebrew Recipes for 150 Commercial Beers by Tess and Mark Szamatulski Storey Books *********************************************************** What To Expect from Spice Beers Many of the Winter seasonals are "spiced". These are lagers or ales to which herbs, spices, or fruits have been added in order to impart flavor or color. Depending on whether or not the seasonings have been used in the fermentation or as an addition of juice or extract, the beer will have more or less of the desired character. These beers are highly individualistic and allow the brewers great creativity in their formulations. They will range from mild aromatic overtones to intense and puntgently flavored concoctions. We have many spiced beers available at Taco Mac... come taste one before the taps run dry! *********************************************************** (the above information was taken from All About Beer Magazine, Jan '99 edition) Reminder: Taco Mac is open on New Year's Eve... come out and toast the new year with your favorite beers (and "beer-tenders" )! Have a safe, happy, healthy New Year celebration.