eric.mckay's blog

We're currently smack in the middle of two fantastic beer weeks, the third annual Syracuse Beer Week and the inaugural Richmond Beer Week. While event listings are available on the website for each festival in table view, grid view, map view, or as a downloadable PDF, these options may not be ideal for review while on the go.

All 94 events have been posted to RichmondBeerWeek.com. Check them out in table, grid, or map view.

Holly Prestidge of Richmond Times Dispatch wrote a terrific article today on the use of beer as an ingredient in making delicious meals.

Read the article: Beer can be destined for more than your glass

Featured brewer: Brooklyn Brewery

The L. Knife & Son Companies are extremely honored to be recognized as the 2010 Beverage World Beverage Wholesaler of the Year.

At noon today, after three days of intensive sampling, critiquing, and sometimes excruciatingly difficult decision making with a great team of judges, I finished my first tenure as a GABF judge. It was a really incredible experience, and I really hope to be able to return again next year.

One thing I found really impressive about the judging was how well the stewardship was handled. Everything was extremely well organized. The 125 stewards who volunteered their assistance at the competition average an astounding 15 years of service. That's pretty remarkable.

Less than an hour from now, I will officially become a judge of the 2010 Great American Beer Festival. For any who are wondering about the road that leads up to judging, it's been a pretty intensive one, and for good reason. There's an extensive application process that includes a beer industry resume, with a minimum of about 7 years of industry experience, and letters of reference from various parties, including at least one Brewers Association member brewery.

After kicking off the second Milwaukee Beer Week tomorrow, I'll be heading to Denver and will have the distinct honor of joining some of the most distinguished members of the craft beer industry (with some highly discerning palates) as a judge at the Great American Beer Festival.

Here's a great article from BeerNews.org on an upcoming beer from Terrapin, which should be coming to the Virginia market sometime soon. We'll keep you posted.

All of you Left Hand fans out there, check out the killer new label design for their "Wake Up Dead" Imperial Stouts. Keep an eye out for a hopeful release in Virginia sometime soon.

Visit the Great Brewers page for Left Hand Brewing.
See the full coverage from BeerNews.org below:

Check out The Full Pint's coverage of Session Lager's recognition below. To find the closest bars, restaurants, and stores where you can buy Session Lager throughout Virginia, visit the Full Sail Session Lager page and click "Find This Beer"!