A six pack of Boston Beer Works' Fenway Ale

On one of my first trips up to Boston to visit my wife four years ago, I was introduced to Boston Beer Works, a microbrew pub with two locations in Boston. They are also home of the best chicken tenders in the city as well. Couple that with my love for craft beers and you have a very happy Jeff.

One of the things that always struck me about Beer Works was that their advertising was always bleh at best, but the locations always had people in them. Their Facebook group was also created by customers not the staff. Seasonally they have the Red Sox (across the street from Fenway Park), Bruins and Celtics (Canal Street location) to thank for putting fannies in the seats, while word of mouth and the previously mentioned lackluster ads take care of the rest of the year.

Being a fan of the restaurant, I was ecstatic for them when it was announced that they were expanding with two locations in Logan Airport. All signs pointed to business being good and that my belly would continue to be filled with chicken tenders. On Saturday afternoon, I made a purchase that made my weekend – a six-pack of their beer from the local liquor store. Granted you could have purchased the beer in Growlers or in a sixer at one of the pubs, but this meant that I could now pick it up on my time and without having to head into the restaurant. It goes to show you that reputation goes a long way. In the case of BBW it overcomes any marketing shortcomings.

So at that I will end my rant on how excited I am for the Boston Beer Works company and that I can get their beers without having to jump on a T. Cheers!

The Cherry-Hill based microbrewery’s new line will pay homage to the New Jersey Turnpike’s exits with this new series of beers.

There’s nothing inspirational about the clogged stretch of highway known as the New Jersey Turnpike. But don’t tell that to the Jersey natives at the Flying Fish Brewing Co. They’ve just embarked on a symbolic road trip to brew a unique beer for every exit on the turnpike.

Brewery founder Gene Muller says he was tired of going to beer conferences and having everyone make the same joke when they found out he was from Jersey: What exit are you from?

His response came in alcoholic form. Exit 4 is the location of the brewery and the first beer in the company’s exit series. The exit itself is a trash-strewn stretch of pavement populated with chain restaurants and cheap motels. Exit 4, the beer, is an American-style Belgian trippel with notes of banana and cloves and a nice bitter finish. Just like the turnpike itself.

It’s a good gimmick, but Flying Fish has vowed to come up with a different brew for each exit. It’s not easy.

“At first, we were going to have the alcohol level match the exit,” Muller says. “But Exit 1, 2 and 3 people really wouldn’t be interested in. And Exit 17 and 18, you’d probably start to get in trouble.”

- Robert Smith, NPR

While the beers sound tasty, they have some detractors at MADD and the NJ Turnpike Authority say they promote drinking and driving

Joe Orlando, a spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, said it’s a bad idea to associate a highway with alcohol. Flying Fish has answered the authority’s concerns with disclaimers that the beer isn’t endorsed by the authority.

“There’s been a brokered peace here,” Orlando said. “But don’t expect to see it in any of our rest areas.”

That doesn’t satisfy Mindy Lazar, executive director of New Jersey’s chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “The combination of a roadway and advertising for any kind of a beer doesn’t make any kind of sense,” she said. “This is almost a mockery.”

Full story

While I see the benefit of airing these concerns, they are just truly foolish. Does Rocky Mountain Waters imply that Coors is good rafting fuel or Bud sponsoring NASCAR good for drinking and driving? No, but both are not little companies either where these organizations can take swipes.

On my trip home this weekend, I will try to pick some up and let you know if it tastes as good as my other favorites from home.

And if for any stretch of the imagination you were wondering what my exit is:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oUWCLBKK3E]

Image Sam Adams

work – maybe not the eating contest.

However most contests really don’t offer something that is a true reward for winning where you get to show off your wares to the masses that is unless you are a home brewer. For the second year in a row, Sam Adams is offering one lucky brewer to have their liquid goodness poured at Gillette Stadium, home of the Patriots during the 2010 football season in their Patriot Home Brew Contest.

Now I may not like the Pats, or be the best brewer, but the contest is one hell of a way to hold bragging rights over your friends. Plus imagine toasting one of your brews at the opening kickoff or having it brewed over in Jamaica Plain and distributed to select liquor stores.

Sam Adams is the biggest micro-brewer in the US and may very well be the largest American brewer. I know you are thinking Bud, Coors and Miller, but all of them are now owned by foreign brewers. If you’re a brewer this might be your one chance to have your beer produced without having your house smell like a bakery and have the risk of exploding glass. Click here for the full contest rules.