Daily Beer Digest -- 08.04.2011

Today is International IPA Day.

Stillwater is releasing an oak wine barrel-aged version of Cellar Door. This is part of its barrel-aged series; the brewery previously got label approval for a bourbon barrel-aged version of Existent.

Miller Lite has a problem with sales. Vortex bottle and triple hops brewed no longer effective selling points? That's too bad. Granted, this is from an advertising periodical, but I love how the article points out that the solution isn't making a better beer, but "to find marketing solutions" to the problem. Miller is on top of the problem, though, assuming "record rainfall" doesn't "limit beer occasions" in future quarters.

The Bruery has been active on Twitter lately, posting a photo of their raspberry sour blending session, as well as a photo of the groundbreaking for their new warehouse, which will hold a whole bunch of new barrels. The barrel-room expansion was discussed previously here.

Hair of the Dog's Adam from the Wood debuts on the Beer Advocate Top 100 at #94 with 21 reviews and a 4.63 average.

Daily Beer Digest -- 06.29.2011

Flying Dog now has a partial victory in its battle with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Yesterday, the Commission reversed its earlier decision banning Flying Dog's signature Raging Bitch Belgian IPA because of the name and supposedly graphic artwork. Flying Dog previously filed a lawsuit in federal court in Michigan, alleging violation of its First Amendment rights. The brewery's blog indicates that the lawsuit will still go forward as the brewery seeks to vindicate the rights of breweries to engage in free speech, and also seeks damages for lost sales during the period in which the beer was banned.

Top 100 News: Funky Buddha's "No Crust" debuts on Beer Advocate's Top 100 list at #97 with a 4.79 average (14 reviews).

The Wall Street Journal has an article on session beer, recommending Troegs Sunshine Pils, Full Sail Session Black Lager, Great Divide Samurai, Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale, and Sixpoint Sweet Action.

Short's and Dogfish Head have a new collaboration coming out -- a Baltic Porter base that includes Delaware beach plums, horehound from Michigan, and some red popcorn sent in by Nick Floyd at Three Floyds.

The Bruery makes beer geeks everywhere salivate with a photo of their barrel room.

Link to the Top 100 Retired Beers on BA

http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddvfwmpt_31chj2mdd6