Beer Coasters World Tour Scandinavian Trifecta Part 1 Issue

So, Beer Coaster Chris heard that Crazy Dave was somehow stuck in Amsterdam.  So, after leaving Belgium, Chris headed to the Netherlands to find him.  Crazy Dave ended up finding Mike and Toby in Denmark, but Chris somehow got stuck in Amsterdam.  Hmmm.  Anyway.  This week, the Beer Coasters are reviewing craft beer from the cold, Northern end of Europe known as Scandinavia in this, our 140th Issue.

In Norway, Crazy Dave and Toby both hit up the Nøgne Brewery, Dave trying their Porter and Toby trying their Tiger Tripel.  Mike(along with Darth Sidious) feel the Dark Force flowing through them from Haan Bryggeriet. Over in Denmark, Crazy Dave gets a room at the Ice Hotel and tries the Nørrebro Bryghus Skarsgaards Porter.  Toby hits the dancefloor in an all white leisure suit with a bottle of Evil Twin's Disco Beer.  And finally, Mike has a smoke with Hr. Frederiksen from Amager.

Some great new Backwash this week as well as some fun times in Scandinavia.  See you next week where we drink for free in Sweden.  Skål!

Beer Coasters World Tour Scandinavian Trifecta Part 1 Issue

Beer Coasters World Tour Trappistine Dreams Issue

Belgium.  The Motherland.  Beer geeks from around the world rejoice in Her excellence.  We have been on our European Tour for the third week now and it has taken us to Belgium, the land of beer and waffles.  First off, Mike and Toby don some Trappist robes and sip the Grande Réserve(Blue Cap) from the goblet of Chimay.  Chris is still with us on our journey as he fights off a pink elephant with the Delirium Nocturnum from Brouwerij Huyghe.  Mike takes another vow of silence with a bottle of the St. Feuillien Triple, Toby grabs a chalice and pours some Noël from Affligem and Chris takes a sippy-sip from another Trappist beer, Trappistes Rochefort 8.  Thanks for joining us on our craft beer World Tour and send us some feedback(backwash@beercoasterspodcast.com).  A Votre Sante!

Beer Coasters Trappistine Dreams Issue

Beer Coasters World Tour Bavarian Wünderland Issue

Guten tag and willkommen to the Beer Coasters Podcast World Tour, Bavarian Wünderland!  It's week 2 of our European journey and we have made it across the English Channel, managed to completely avoid France and are now holed up in Germany.  Chris hasn't caught up with Mike and Toby yet, he got stuck in the UK, dealing with some tricky customs issues.

While in Scotland, Chris does an "oh no you di'int" finger snap with Brew Dog's Bitch Please.  Heading back down to England to catch his flight to the European mainland, Chris then experiences the Russian Imperial Stout from Courage.  Mike must've packed away Nessie from his time in Scotland and has to sneak it over the Austrian border for MacQueen's.  Now in Germany, Mike stuffs himself into some lederhosen and sips the Franziskaner Hefe-weiss Dunkel.  After stumbling his way out of the biergarten, Toby chugs the G. Schneider and Sohn Aventinus and then powers through the Aecht Schlenkerla Eich Oak Smoke.  When you're chanting your favorite German drinking song, remember: Nicht mit der stein!

Prost! 

Beer Coasters World Tour Bavarian Wünderland Issue

Beer Coasters World Tour UK Issue

It's 2012 and we're off to Europe on a month-long beer tour.  For the entire month of January we will be drinking beer from a plethora of European countries and probably getting yelled at by the locals.  In week 1, we stop in Heathrow (as many American tourists to Europe do) and swill a few English and Scottish brews - with Crazy Dave joining in on the debauchery.

First off, Toby rolls out a barrel of the Rum Cask from Innis & Gunn and tries not to get his kilt wet in the Loch.  Then, Crazy Dave spies a Hobgoblin in the Wychwood and shites his britches.  Mike has a go at the Yorkshire Stingo from Samuel Smith's whilst feeling a bit bugger all.  Toby uses his Eurail pass and heads back down to England to try the Bluebird Bitter from Coniston.  Crazy Dave hops Hadrian's Wall to get pissed on Brew Dog's Punk IPA.  And finally, Mike tosses a caber at Brew Dog's Paradox Macallan.

Thanks for all the Backwash and join us next week for more Griswald-like fun with the Beer Coasters in Europe.  Cheers!

Beer Coasters World Tour UK Issue

Beer Coasters Yule Be Drinkin' Issue

2011 has come to an end.  And what a great year it was for, not only craft beer, but for the Beer Coasters Podcast.  Craft beer saw growth in dollars as well as popularity.  We saw growth with a slough of new listeners and friends in the craft beer community - something we are very proud to be a part of.  New friends like Greg at the OC Beer Blog, Tony and Kaytee at Beer411, Malt Porter and the rest of the Swedish Beer Geek Clan, Rick From The Land Of Ice And Snow and Richie and Seasons over at the Gemini Lounge in Portland, OR(just to name a few).

For this week's show, we grab a few end-of-the-year / end-of-the-holiday-season craft beers and raise a toast and pop the cork of the Gift Of The Magi from Lost Abbey.  Mike heads to a black tie party with a bottle of Berkshire Brewing's Holidale 2011.  Toby hangs out with Old Man Time and sips the Auld Acquaintance from Pike Brewing.  Thanks for celebrating the holidays with us and make sure to be safe in 2012.  Cheers!

Beer Coasters Yule Be Drinkin' Issue