Sam's Steins.

In our travels we are always on the lookout for stops of interest for you, our faithful readers. We’ve brought you information as varied as movie reviews, notes on tegestology (the collection of beer coasters), book reviews, festival news, and interviews with the Beer Snob, the Bar Man, and noted urban sociologist/ author Dr. Ray Oldenburg, the tricky yet informative bar quiz, and some great new music. (That was a not very subtle suggestion to check out our Arts & Leisure section if you haven’t lately). Through it all, we do it with an eye to the best in pub life and culture.

Today, we bring you another entry in the increasingly popular world of collecting breweriana—or, to put it in layman’s terms, bar memorabilia. Sam’s Steins (www.samssteins.com) caught our eye as we traveled through Lancaster and the surrounding area. Stopping in one day, I had the good fortune to meet both owner Sam May and his daughter. They are open and friendly and the shop is a charming salute to bar collectibles and, in particular, beer steins. In fact, it’s the largest collection of steins we’ve encountered. Sam opened his shop in the late 1960’s and moved into full time business in the early 1970’s. He anticipated the craze in bar and beer collecting and now does a thriving business, including a mail order service. Sam stocks almost anything you could imagine from signs to flasks to apparel to coasters, but the stars of the shop are undoubtedly the steins. It’s perfectly appropriate that Sam should have opened shop in what was once known as the “Munich of the New World” because of all the quality breweries that once operated in the Lancaster area. It’s a tradition that is enjoying a resurgence. There are some exceptional beers coming out of this neck of the woods, and Sam’s Steins is right in the heart of it.

Beer steins have a fascinating history, having come into existence in the 14th century in Germany as a response to the bubonic plague and infestations of flies. Seriously.  Laws were passed requiring drinking vessels to have lids for sanitary reasons. Beer steins were the result. Collecting beer steins became popular in the 1800’s and has continued as a pastime ever since. Stein’s also became a widely used means of advertisement, in the U.S. often associated with Anheuser- Busch, but used widely around the world. More information on beer steins can be found at www.steincenter.com . Or better yet, make a stop at Sam’s Steins when you are in the Lancaster area or visit their website from wherever you may be. The quality of customer service is matched only by their impressive collection of breweriana. 

Interview: The Beer Snob.

All of you Brew Heads out there have undoubtedly heard of The Beer Snob ( http://www.mybeerquest.com ), an Internet Hero that we recently had the chance to catch up with.  Here’s all we were able to glean from this mysterious figure.  Enjoy.

Dear Mr. Beer Snob;

Who is the Beer Snob?  Is he/she a mythical character?  What is the story of this hero?

The Beer Snob is a nickname my friends came up with in the early 90's because when we went out for a beer after work, I wouldn't drink domestic beer. 

Does the Beer Snob possess fantastic powers of nose, palate, and writing ability, or is he more along the Bruce Wayne 'wealthy and dedicated' variety of hero? 

He strives to possess fantastic powers of nose, palate, and writing ability, but really he's just a guy that likes beer. He only becomes a Hero after a couple of beers, then he forgets after a couple more.

How did the Beer Snob get started?  (No 'I fell down a well and beers flew at me' stories, please.) 

My First post  explains it fairly well. http://www.mybeerquest.com/beerlog/?p=1   I guess It started when I was younger I thought I didn't like beer. Then one day I had an Anchor Steam and I thought, “Wow, maybe beer isn't so bad,” then I found Sierra Nevada & GUINNESS.  I started finding more and more every year.

What beers/breweries does the Beer Snob follow religiously?  Is 2008 a good year for beer in your opinion?

I think I answered part of that in the last question - Anchor &  Sierra Nevada are two of the most nostalgic beers for me, but most of the West Coast breweries like Stone have become my favorites. I could be a little biased towards West Coast Brews being that this is my home but I think some of the best beer in the world is coming from here right now. It seems like within the last ten years every year has been getting better and better, 2008 is no exception. I can walk around the corner now and not only get good beer but good beer on tap, and I used to have to search for places like that.  Now more and more of them are popping up every month. 

What's the coolest discovery the Beer Snob ever made? (for example, a beer or brewery no one ever heard of.)  Other brags? 

I have just discovered a new place; its a Bar and Grill that just opened in Southern California.  They have a very nice beer selection. It’s called The Office http://www.theofficeburbank.com/ .  That’s all I can think of right now. 

I normally hang out at the message boards of the http://thefullpint.com and http://www.thebeerinme.com/ Stop by some time.  Cheers, Enjoy your Beer. We will, Mr. Beer Snob.  You can bet that we will.

Take care, everyone.  As always, more good stuff comin!

Fear no Beer. Or anything else.

Okay. 

A quick story.  As you all know, THHGs is out here in Vegas these days and soon will be pulling stakes for the Great Colorado Beer Tour and other places east.  We’ve spent a lot of time seeking out new things here, and have happened upon a chain restaurant / bar whose big hook is the loud Classic Rock (yeah!) and many beers on tap.  At any one time, they have 130 - 160 different offerings On The Line, as it were.  (Know what chain I’m talking about?  See pic above for name. Get it right? You win another tour of the THHGs website!)

They also have 2 Happy Hours per day, one during afternoon hours, and another that starts at 11PM, with half price on most pints and most (very large, very tasty) appetizers.  Now, you know that we’re not big on chains here at The Happy Hour Guys, but there is definitely a deal to be had here.  Can you stand Very Loud Music?  A somewhat Fratty atmosphere?  Okay then - after 11, the beer is affordable, so is the food, and both taste extremely good.

But the substance of this entry is not about the place itself, but what I witnessed there the other night.  As I stood there, mouth watering, trying to decide between a Deschutes Black Butte Porter and a Rogue Shakespeare Stout, a person sauntered up to the bar, glanced briefly at the huge menu of different well-crafted beers, looked at the bartender, and ordered a Bud Lite.

(Deep breath.  Count to ten.  Neither one working.)

WTF? Would you go to Baskin Robbins and order Vanilla Ice Cream?

 Now we understand that a huge list of beers you may never have heard of can be incredibly daunting.  But it can also be (try this one out, folks) incredibly exciting!

Variety is the spice of life:  There is a reason that hackneyed phrase holds up over the years.  But variety in booze always seems to be something that people are scared of.  We find over and over in the booze industry that once one selects a particular brand as being “theirs”, they stay with it... for life.  And that’s just sad.  With all these people out there creating incredible beers, wines, and distilled products one after another, why not walk a new path for a moment? There’s nothing scary or distasteful here - if you don’t like it, turn around and go back to the old familiar way; but trust us, these new tastes are not to be missed.  

 Become a Declaimer of Drink.  A Singer of Sauce.  A Poet of Pub Culture.  Build your repertoire of tastes, stories, and phrases.  It is truly an honorable path to walk, easy to start upon, and as in any great philosophy, it is all about the journey.

To that person who ordered the Macro-macro Brew:  We here at THHGs forgive you, just this once.  But it is so easy to amend your ways:  Try something new!  You will not, will not, will not regret it.  Cheers!

Enter the Haggis!

www.enterthehaggis.com

Any band that proudly declares from the stage that, because they are a Celtic rock band,  many of their songs are about beautiful women or drinking will probably find its way onto our playlist. That’s exactly what Enter the Haggis proclaimed on March 21 from the stage of the Fairfield Theatre Company (www.fairfieldtheatre.org). Not surprisingly, though, they’ve been on our playlist for a long time already.

Toronto-based Enter the Haggis has been around since the late nineties and has consistently been garnering positive reactions to the brand of Celtic influenced rock/folk/traditional mélange they offer up. Honestly, they defy classification as their music incorporates also calypso, zydeco, jazz, blues…but the one label that does fit them is quality.

Having listened to them for a while, we were prepared for the catchy hooks and tight harmonies. What caught us by surprise was the energy and humor they bring to their live show. Five minutes into the first set, they’ve successfully gotten any stragglers off their hands and onto their feet. As musicians ourselves, we appreciate talent when we see and hear it. These guys are the real deal. Craig Downie is on bagpipes, tin whistle, harmonica, acoustic guitar and vocals…Brian Buchanan takes fiddle, keyboards, acoustic guitar and vocals…Trevor Lewington is on electric and acoustic guitars and vocals…Mark Abraham plays bass and takes vocals…James Campbell covers drums and percussion. Getting the picture here? They can flat-out play and are able to lay down some smart four part harmonies. They’re infectious and exciting.

But if you’ve been paying attention (and we know you have), we always look for a little more. Whether it’s a bar, a book, or a band we appreciate a look at the bigger picture. Whether it’s taking on pharmaceutical companies or voter apathy, ETH tackles issues in the best tradition of rock and roll. In fact, 2006’s SOAPBOX HEROES was titled as a challenge to people to get off the soapbox and get to work making a difference. It’s impossible for us not to like this band.

We’re confident you’ll feel the same way, which is why we’ve made Enter the Haggis our first music piece in the Arts and Leisure section.  From the driving “Gasoline” (pun only partially intended) to a fresh take on the familiar “Wild Colonial Boy” to the scathingly catchy “New Monthly Flavor”, we’re sure you’ll find yourself as addicted as we are. We can’t stop playing the calypso-influenced celebratory Irish wake drinking song “One Last Drink”.

Do yourself a favor and get to know them now so you can tell your friends you beat them to it. And make sure your favorite bar has them on the jukebox.

Slainte!

THHG Book Club: Haunting and Diving.

We’ve all heard of eco-tourism by now: Vacation travel that visits places of natural beauty in a way that helps preserve the environment. Great idea, right? Well, the Happy Hour Guys have coined a new term in the same spirit: bev-tourism. Simply put, bev-tourism includes visiting pubs, taverns, saloons, breweries, wineries and distilleries of some significance. Surprisingly, these spots will often share parallel philosophies with eco-tourism destinations; many of the favorite beverage dispensaries we’ve visited practice business in an environmentally responsible way and contribute to the well-being of their communities. In addition, these properties are some of the most historic, quirky, creative, flat-out enjoyable places around, making it easy to be champions of bev-tourism. There are an increasing number of books being written about these places: Here are two more of our favorites.

First up, we have Wendy Mitchell’s 2003 guide, NEW YORK CITY’S BEST DIVE BARS “Drinking and Diving in the Five Boroughs”. Ms. Mitchell’s writing style is direct and to the point, like most of the bars she visits. We’re on the record as being avid dive bar fans, and Ms. Mitchell has been kind enough to do some leg work for those of you who feel the same. Alphabetically arranged with the criteria for a dive bar clearly laid out, Ms. Mitchell takes her readers on a crawl through the Big Apple’s most famous and infamous dives. She’d give Greg Louganis a run for his money. Best of all, she seems to really enjoy it. These are places she visits herself and her personal stories make each entry even richer. I’m not sureMcSorley’s Old Ale House should qualify as a “dive”, but quibbles like that aside, Ms. Mitchell has written a love letter to the smoky, seedy, sticky NYC that is disappearing under a crush of shiny condos and $12 pomegranate martinis. It’s a sad realization that since its publication in 2003, her list of dives has diminished significantly as developers continue their march through the city. Thus, a sad tip of the hat to Siberia, and many others no longer with us.

Next we move to Roxie J. Zwicker’s HAUNTED PUBS OF NEW ENGLAND: Raising Spirits of the Past.  That’s right; pack the kids in the Previa because we’re going on a tour of the creepiest watering holes to serve grog since Our Founding Fathers. Zwicker does a nice job of painting the local picture for her readers, both currently and in an historical context. She hits her stride, though, when she shares the stories of the actual pubs and their ghostly inhabitants. It should be of little surprise that inns and taverns that saw the high drama of the creation of our country should be home to spirits who long to remain at the scene of their greatest moments of fame or infamy. These pubs have given rise to stories of both the famous and the obscure appearing to strangers. Privateers, patriots, rebels and spies as well as more commonplace murderers and victims can be encountered if the stories are to be believed. History, a good fright, and no shortage of adult beverages. Perfect for the whole family.

Both of these books are a great jumping off point, but neither can explore every possibility. There are dive bars around every corner in NYC and mysteries down many back roads throughout New England. Ideally, they will serve to pique your interest and let your curiosity lead you away. Both are available atwww.amazon.com . 

What are you waiting for? Bev-Tour!

THHG Book Club: Double Feature.

The Beer Revolution is in full swing. From brewing innovation, to record sales, to an informed public, beer is finally getting the attention it deserves. What better to indulge your love of the brewer’s art than a double feature of films that will get you ready to head out into the January chill in search of a bottle of brewed bliss? (Of course you could order it on tap, but that didn’t work for my alliteration.)

First up, we suggest “The American Brew”, a 50 minute walk through The United States’ long and rocky history with beer which aired on A&E and is now available on DVD. From the earliest English settlers (who found beer essential as it was healthier than the contaminated water), to the disastrous experiment with Prohibition, to the post-World War II resurgence of beer, the story is uniquely American. The contributions of immigrants and politicizing of the industry are featured, as are the rise and fall of titans of industry. With humor and insight from many of brewing’s most famous and successful families and breweries, the film takes us to the early 21stcentury, which saw the number of breweries skyrocket from 48 in 1980 to over 1500 in 2005. Discover the contributions of Louis Pasteur to brewing. Get a glimpse of how beer is judged at the World Beer Cup. It is 50 minutes very well spent. Baseball and apple pie have got nothing on beer! Be sure to watch the extras, also, which include information on the collection of breweriana, an interview with the sorely missed Michael Jackson, and much more. For a limited time, the DVD is included free with orders from www.beerbooks.com  and also for sale at www.amazon.com .

For a …quirkier…look at the world of craft beer and the devotion it inspires, we recommend “American Brew”, a road trip/beer hunt that follows five friends as they decide to visit 38 breweries in 40 days. (One of the pilgrims is Jeremy Goldberg, our friend from Cape Ann Brewing, who was so inspired by the experience that it led him to become a brewer!) Inevitably, wrong turns, overindulgence and nearly six weeks in a van with 4 friends and a camera take their toll, but there’s no denying the sheer joy and passion for the object of their quest: getting to know America’s craft brew community. Some of the finest small breweries are featured and as we learn about the brewing process we get glimpses into Dogfish Head, Ommegang, Anchor, Victory, Magic Hat, Brooklyn and many more. Ultimately, though, it’s about the journey and about finding the next great unknown. Obviously, that speaks loudly to us. And in the end, we see that even the craziest of ideas can make a change for the better. (Seriously, did you TASTE Jeremy’s Pumpkin Stout?!) Available at www.amazon.com .

Explore! Bev-tour!

Have you seen a Tegestologist lately?

 It’s quite likely that you have seen a tegestologist lately, but just don’t know it. A tegestologist is someone who collects beer coasters or beer mats. I am a tegestologist. I never meant to become one and until recently I didn’t know that I was. I thought there was no name for my affliction. Tegestology comes from the Latin word ”teg” which is a small reed mat. That’s where the name for my affliction originated.

It turns out that tegestology is very popular throughout the world and particularly so in Germany and the U.K. which makes perfect sense. There is a thriving eBay community and social clubs built devoted to this hobby around the world. It’s actually a fantastic, unobtrusive habit which is historically based and is a nice way to preserve personal memories. There are some who take it much more seriously than that, using mat collections to chart historical and social changes throughout the years. It’s surprising how much you can learn about a time and place by looking at what they sell or endorse or depict on their beer coasters. Of course, there are proper ways to care for and store your coasters, all of which I have been breaking for years as I was ignorant of them.

Beer coasters first appeared in Germany in the late 19th century and appearing in the U.K in the early 20th century. Wealthier patrons used tankards which had a hinged top to keep insects and other debris from falling into the drink. Less prosperous drinkers began to employ a small mat, first made of felt then later of pressed fiber and paper. Over time, the mats became employed under the glasses to absorb moisture. Today they’ve progressed to the point that there are mats which sense the weight of the drink they hold and signal the bar with a light when it’s time for a new drink. Seriously, there are. It was only a matter of time before advertisers began to view this as a means to reach a new audience and breweries began to employ the mats to their advantage. Guinness alone has over 1,000 different designs produced throughout the years. 

My personal journey into tegestology began on my first visit to Ireland. On the wild coast of Connemara in the town of Cleggan, I found myself spending an evening listening to local musicians and storytellers in Newman’s Bar long after the door had been locked and the closed sign posted. With the winds howling outside I hit it off with Jimmy Newman, the owner, and he told me of his plan to cover the ceiling (and walls?) with bar mats from around the world. I enlisted to help and for years I gathered the mats and prepared packages to send back to Jimmy. Over the years, the mailings decreased. I’m not even sure the bar is still there, although I’ll make a point of finding out on my next visit. However, my habit of picking up the mats never stopped. Today I have an impressive collection and a dram…I mean dream… of opening my own bar and somehow making use of all my tegestological specimens. Word is that the Guinness Book of World Record holder has over 150,000 of them. I can beat that. Someday.

Next time you’re in a bar, make note of the beer coasters. They could be someone’s treasure.

Websites for further information:

www.calvert-beermats.com

www.britishbeermats.org.uk 

www.beermatmania.com