Breweries Announced for Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting

Asheville, N.C. – Organizers of the inaugural Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting have released a list of confirmed breweries for the May 31 event.

A total of 24 breweries will pour rare and exotic beers at the event. Brewers that have accepted invitations for the Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting include: Asheville Brewing Co., Asheville, N.C.; Against the Grain Brewery & Smokehouse, Louisville, Kentucky; Allagash Brewing, Portland, Maine; Bell’s Brewing, Kalamazoo, Mich.; Big Boss Brewing, Raleigh, N.C.; Boulder Brewing, Boulder, Co.; Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Boston Beer Co., Boston, Mass.; Blue Mountain Barrel House, Arrington, Va.; Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.; Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, Ill.; Haw River Farmhouse Ales, Saxapahaw, N.C.; Highland Brewing Co., Asheville, N.C.; Jester King Craft Brewery, Austin, Texas; Mother Earth Brewing, Kinston, N.C.; New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.; Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, N.Y.; Oskar Blues Brewery, Brevard, N.C.; Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, Calif.; Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif.; SweetWater Brewing, Atlanta, Ga.;Thirsty Monk Pub, Asheville, N.C.; and Weyerbacher Brewing, Easton, Pa.

All About Beer Magazine and the Thirsty Monk Pub will present the inaugural Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting during Asheville Beer Week to benefit Pints for Prostates, a nationwide campaign designed to raise awareness about the importance of early detection in fighting prostate cancer.

 “We have a great list of American craft brewers committed to appear at the Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting and each will be pouring rare and exotic beers,” said Daniel Bradford, publisher of All About Beer Magazine. “We want this to be one of the highlights of Asheville Beer Week and help raise awareness about an important men’s health issue by teaming up with Pints for Prostates.”

 The Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting  will be held at 66 Asheland Ave. in Asheville on May 31 from 6-9 p.m. Less than half of the 250 tickets for the Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting are still available. They can be purchased online at: http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/venueSearch.jsp?venue_id=9521. Tickets are $75 and include admission to the event, beer sampling, commemorative tasting glass, program and heavy hors d'oeuvres. More information about the event can be found at www.arwbt.com. Each brewery will pour unique beers. Some will be rare and others will be “wild” featuring barrel aged, sours, cask conditioned and vintage beers.

 “We reach men through the universal language of beer and an event like the Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting gives us a platform to get guys to focus on their health,” said Rick Lyke, a prostate cancer survivor, drinks journalist and founder of the Pints for Prostates campaign. “We really appreciate the support of the brewers, All About Beer Magazine and the Thirsty Monk.  This will be a great day to be a craft beer fan in Asheville.”

 
Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 charity. It raises awareness about prostate cancer at beer festivals and pub events. Funds raised by the group help support free men’s health screenings provided by the Prostate Conditions Education Council and Us TOO Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network, which operates support groups for men battling the disease. You can get more information about Pints for Prostates at www.pintsforprostates.org.

 “Pints for Prostates and All About Beer Magazine started the Denver Rare Beer Tasting in 2009 and it has become renowned as one of the best beer events in the country,” said Barry Bialik of Thirsty Monk Pub. “Asheville Beer Week is growing and attracting people who want to experience the growing beer culture in the region. The Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting is a great addition to the celebration. And we at Thirsty Monk are so proud to be a part of making this happen.”

 

About All About Beer Magazine

Now in its 34th year, All About Beer Magazine has been the essential source for the evolving beer culture. Winner of numerous awards and recognitions, All About Beer Magazine publishes the best on beer — its history and culture, beer travel, entertaining, brewing and collecting — six times a year with one additional bonus issue annually. The magazine promotes the positive attributes of the growing beer culture by hosting the World Beer Festivals where guests have the opportunity to taste samples from a wide range of beers and to discuss the beer with brewers and knowledgeable servers. For more information, please visit http://www.allaboutbeer.com, follow @allboutbeer on Twitter and like the magazine on Facebook athttp://facebook.com/allaboutbeermag.

 About Thirsty Monk

Thirsty Monk has received many awards and acknowledgements as being one of the best beer bars in the country and the world, including Craftbeer.com’s Best Bar in the South. They have also been featured in Garden & Gun Magazine and the Travel Channel. The Thirsty Monk has two Asheville locations- the flagship Thirsty Monk Belgian & Craft Beer Bar downtown at 92 Patton Ave., and Thirsty Monk South Pub & Nano-Brewery in South Asheville’s Gerber Village at 1836 Hendersonville Rd. All taps are constantly rotating, with more than 1,200 different beers tapped in 2012. www.monkpub.com.

 About Pints for Prostates

Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men of the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

# ## #

Tuesday Tasting: Mira 2011 Admiration White

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample a wine from a relatively new Napa Valley vineyard.

Mira Winery of Napa, Calif., is a 2009 startup winery that buys fruit from vineyards in the region. The winery makes three whites, a chardonnay, a sauvignon blanc – both made with 100 percent grapes of those styles – and Admiration White, a blend of 80 percent sauvignon blanc and 20 percent chardonnay. Mira recently made news by announcing it was testing the impact of aging wine in the ocean by sinking some cases in Charleston habor.

“Perceptions are changing about white wine in America. It’s not just for the cocktail hour anymore,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, winemaker at Mira. “More white wines are being made and they’re not all being made in a chardonnay style that had become so innocuous.” 

Mira 2011 Admiration White is a blend of 80 percent sauvignon blanc and 20 percent chardonnay. Clean fruit aroma that opens to a combination of honeysuckle and citrus flavors. Clean and bright, a good wine to go with light meals.

Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV Beer List Announced

Denver, Colo. – The fourth edition of the Denver Rare Beer Tasting benefiting the Pints for Prostates campaign will feature 34 rare, exotic and vintage beers from of 32 of America’s leading craft breweries.

“We are excited by the exceptional beers that will be presented at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV. It is an exciting group of a rare, limited release and vintage brews from some of America’s great craft brewers,” said Rick Lyke, a prostate cancer survivor, drinks journalist and founder of the Pints for Prostates campaign. “This will be a special day for true beer fanatics and it will help us reach men through the universal language of beer.”


The Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV will feature 34 rare and exotic brews, including:

• Alaskan Perseverance Ale from Alaskan Brewing, Juneau, Alaska;

• Allagash Avancé from Allagash Brewing, Portland, Maine;

• Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout, Avery Oud Floris and Avery Odio Equum from Avery Brewing, Boulder, Colo.;

• Bear Republic Barrel 32 from Bear Republic Brewing, Healdsburg, Calif.;

• Big Sky Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout from Big Sky Brewing, Missoula, Mont.;

 • Chatoe Rogue Wet Hop Ale from Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore.;

• Dogfish Head 2007 Raison D’Extra from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.;

• Elevation Prostator Smoked Doppelbock from Elevation Beer, Poncha Springs, Colo.;

• Elysian Maelstrom Blood Orange Ale from Elysian Brewing, Seattle, Wash.;

• Epic Imperial Red One Off Cask from Epic Brewing, Salt Lake City, Utah;

• Firestone Walker Lil Opal from Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, Calif.;

• Founders 15th Anniversary Bolt Cutter Barley Wine from Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, Mich.;

• Full Sail 2010 Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter from Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, Ore.;

• Great Divide Brett, Meet Colette Farmhouse Ale from Great Divide Brewing, Denver, Colo.;

• Jester King Gotlandsdricka from Jester King Craft Brewery, Austin, Texas;

• Laughing Dog 2009 Barrel Aged Dogfather Imperial Stout from Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay, Idaho;

• Laurelwood Cardinal Sin from Laurelwood Brewing, Portland, Ore.;

• Left Hand 2009 Oak Aged Imperial Stout from Left Hand Brewery, Longmont, Colo.;

• The Lost Abbey Track # 8 from The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, Calif.;

• New Belgium Biere de Mars and Back from New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.;

• Odell Deconstruction and Odell Funky Wooden Myrcenary from Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.;

• Perennial Barrel Aged Fantastic Voyage from Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis, Mo.;

• Portsmouth Kate the Great from Portsmouth Brewing, Portsmouth, N.H.;

• Samuel Adams Utopias 10th Anniversary Edition from Boston Beer, Boston, Mass.;

• Sierra Nevada Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Smoked Porter from Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, Calif.;

• Short's Aww Jeah to the Face from Short's Brewing, Bellaire, Mich.;

• Stone Suitable for Cave Aging Imperial Smoked Porter Tribute to Danny Williams from Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif.;

• Stoudt’s 5025 from Stoudt’s Brewing, Adamstown, Pa.;

• Surly SŸX from Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, Minn.;

• Tröegs Splinter Black from Tröegs Brewing, Hershey, Pa,.;

• Uinta Oak Jacked from Uinta Brewing, Salt Lake City, Utah;

• Wynkoop Brewjolais Nouveau from Wynkoop Brewing, Denver, Colo.

• New Albion Ale, a special guest beer at the event being brewed by Boston Beer, Boston, Mass., to honor craft brewing pioneer Jack McAuliffe using original New Albion yeast that has been preserved at the University of California since 1977.

“These beers are true works of art and the brewers turn out so beer fans get the chance for an afternoon to remember of tasting rare beers with the people who made them,” said Daniel Bradford, publisher of All About Beer Magazine, which presents the event. “The Denver Rare Beer Tasting is beer passion in its purest form.”

All of the tickets for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV have been sold. The event takes place at Wynkoop Brewing on 18th Street in Denver on Oct. 12 from 1-4 p.m., during a relatively quiet period while the Brewers Association Great American Beer Festival is taking place in the city. Only 500 tickets were sold for the event.

About All About Beer Magazine

Now in its 33rd year, All About Beer Magazine has been the essential source for the evolving beer culture. Winner of numerous awards and recognitions, All About Beer Magazine publishes the best on beer — its history and culture, beer travel, entertaining, brewing and collecting — six times a year with one additional bonus issue annually. The magazine promotes the positive attributes of the growing beer culture by hosting the World Beer Festivals where guests have the opportunity to taste samples from a wide range of beers and to discuss the beer with brewers and knowledgeable servers. For more information, please visit http://www.allaboutbeer.com, follow @allboutbeer on Twitter and like the magazine on Facebook at http://facebook.com/allaboutbeermag.

About Pints for Prostates

Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men of the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

Tuesday Tasting: Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample a wheated Bourbon that is part of the Old Fitzgerald franchise.

Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a 92 proof that pays homage to a U.S. Treasury agent who had the taste for the good stuff. An early bit of lore said that John E. Fitzgerald had founded a distillery in Frankfort , Kentucky. shortly after the Civil War. But in her 1999 book "But Always Fine Bourbon -- Pappy Van Winkle and the Story of Old Fitzgerald," Sally Van Winkle Campbell revealed John E. Campbell was not a distiller at all. He was actually a U.S. Treasury agent who had keys to distillery warehouses. He would pilfer whiskey from the best barrels and those soon became known as "the Fitzgerald barrels" around the distillery. Heaven Hill Distilleries released the whiskey to mark "a taste made famous by an infamous act."

Larceny has a tarnished copper color and a mellow nose. It is made from barrels that have aged between 6 and 12 years. The wheat is clear in this one, giving soft edges to the Bourbon. There is a good amount of hearty grain that has bits of oak, that lead nicely to a long finish.

Pints for Prostates European Beer Adventure Scheduled for Sept. 12-22, 2013

BeerTrips.com and Pints for Prostates are teaming up for a special ABCDs of beer adventure in Europe from Sept. 12-22, 2013, that will benefit the fight against prostate cancer.


The nine night dream trip to Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne and Dusseldorf covers parts of three countries and visits four of Europe’s classic beer destinations. The trip includes beer tastings, escorted pub crawls, guided city tours, brewery visits, special meals and more in Holland, Belgium and Germany. The trip will include visits to famous breweries such as La Trappe, Cantillon, Uerige and Fruh.

BeerTrips.com has been providing unique beer travel experiences to destinations around the world since 1998. BeerTrips.com is offering this special Pints for Prostates group tour to Belgium on a limited basis. A total of 14 slots will be sold for this tour at $2,995 double occupancy ($635 single supplement), plus air. The trip includes nine nights lodging in centrally located hotels; breakfast daily, 4 beer dinners and 3 beer lunches; and train and coach transportation. Details on this trip can be found at www.BeerTrips.com.

The tour will be hosted by Pints for Prostates founder and beer journalist Rick Lyke. Lyke has been writing about beer, wine and spirits for more than 30 years and has traveled extensively in Europe. Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 charity that reaches men through the universal language of beer with an important health message.

“BeerTrips.com has put together a fantastic trip to four amazing beer cities,” said Lyke. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership to help us raise funds and spread the word to men about the importance of regular prostate health screenings and early detection.”

“This is one of the favorite BeerTrips.com itineraries because it covers such a range of classic beer styles,” said Mike Saxton, founder of BeerTrips.com. “We offer small groups an intimate experience with the chance for insider tours of some of the most famous breweries in the world. If you love beer and love to travel, this gives you the chance to experience a great visit to Europe, enjoying history, culture, food and beer along the way.”

As part of the BeerTrips.com and Pints for Prostates partnership, Pints for Prostates will raffle a trip for two for the special trip. For a $10 donation for a single ticket, $25 donation for three tickets or $50 for seven tickets, donors will be entered to win the trip that includes:

• The BeerTrips.com ABCDs of Beer trip for two Sept. 12-22, 2013

• Roundtrip Airfare for Two from the Continental United States

• Nine Nights in Fine Centrally Located Hotels

• Brewery Tours

• Escorted Pub Crawls

• Guided City Tours

• Breakfasts Daily/4 Beer Dinners/3 Beer Lunches

• Train & Private Coach Transportation


The total value of the trip for two is estimated at $8,500. The drawing will be held on July 28, 2013. The prize is non-transferable. No cash substitute will be offered. The winner and their guest are responsible for obtaining passports and all trip related costs not outlined above. You must be 21 years old to enter.

About BeerTrips.com

Beer Trips.com was founded in 1998 to offer serious beer people the opportunity to travel to the world’s best beer destinations with other people who love great beer. Beer and travel, travel and beer — these are two of our favorite things. Both, in our estimation, are worth a fair amount of life’s energy. Our goal, and our very reason for existing, is to take our travelers the best beer destinations, drink, taste and enjoy the best beers, meet the beer-loving people of the countries we visit, and explore the history, culture, art and architecture of the interesting places where beer “grew up”. To do this we stay in nice, well-located hotels, eat at great restaurants that emphasize beer in their fare, and visit breweries, brew pubs, cafes, and museums that enhance our understanding and appreciation of beer and its rich history and culture


About Pints for Prostates

Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 240,890 new prostate cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2011. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

Tuesday Tasting: Martin Miller’s Gin

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample an English gin.

In the 11th Century Italian monks are said to have been the first to distill spirits using juniper berries, gin’s base flavoring agent. A German-born physician and scientist who spent most of his life in the Netherlands, Franciscus Sylvius, is given credit for developing the first modern day gin during the 1600s. During the Eighty Years War (1568-1648) British troops fighting in Holland against the Spanish nicknamed gin “Dutch Courage” because it could calm the nerves before battle. William of Orange helped make gin popular in England, but it was heavy taxes imposed on imported spirits and the permitting of unregulated distilling – much of it taking place in private homes -- in the U.K. that caused an explosion in gin production. Thousands of “Gin Mills” popped up. When Parliament tried to get things under control in 1736 by passing the Gin Act there were riots in the streets.

But gin also has a classy side best articulated by James Bond, the British 007 secret agent created by novelist Ian Fleming. In “Casino Royale,” Bond orders a Vesper Martini and is quite specific in the recipes, telling a barkeeper: “Three measures of Gordon’s (gin), one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large slice of lemon-peel.” When it comes to gin, most of us don't think of Italy or Holland. We think of England.

Martin Miller, a publisher, concert promoter and hotelier, got in the gin business in 1999 with two friends after being served a lackluster gin and tonic in a pint beer glass at a London pub.


“I was looking at it and thinking, ‘This is our national drink? What’s happened to gin? Where’s our pride?’” Miller recalls. “We talked a bit and decided we should make a great gin for ourselves. The worse thing that could happen is we’d have a lifetime supply of gin.”

Martin Miller’s Gin is made using a pot still and macerated the botanicals to release the oils. The process took two years to find the right combination of ingredients. “We actually do two separate distillations, one that is earthy and the other that has a citrus character. Then we marry them,” Miller says. “It gives you clarity of flavor. There is a distinctive citrus note without being overpowering.”

The distillate for Martin Miller’s Gin is made in England and then shipped to Iceland where pure water is used to finish the product. There is a nice lively nose to the gin and the orange zest peaks through in a balanced flavor profile. This is a nice cocktail gin with plenty of body.

Tuesday Tasting: Parker's Heritage Collection Master Distiller's Blend of Mashbills

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample the 2012 release of a great Bourbon series.

Heaven Hill Distilleries has sent me a sample of the annual release of Parker's Heritage Collection of American Whiskey Series and this one has the makings of an instant classic. The collection pays tribute to Parker Beam, a sixth generation master distiller. The Parker's Heritage Collection Master Distiller's Blend of Mashbills features 11 year old rye-based Bourbons the distillery uses for brands like Elijah Craig and Evan Williams, mixed with Old Fitzgerald wheated mashbill whiskey. The release will be from three different dumps, each with slightly different barrel proofs. The bottle I sampled was from the first batch and has a proof of 131.6.

Parker's Heritage Collection Master Distiller's Blend of Mashbills is the sixth in the annual series. It has a warm wood color and a friendly caramelized nose. Even uncut, this barrel strength whiskey is smooth. A small splash of water allows the Bourbon to open. The rye is clear and rich, but it is softened around the edges by the wheat. Nice levels of baking spice and a finish that has plenty of nut and sweet praline character.

The 750 milliliter bottle has a suggest price of $80. About 7,500 will be distributed.

TTB Rejects "Prostator Smoked Doppelbock" Label

Pints for Prostates is working with the newly launched Elevation Beer Co. of Poncha Springs, Colo., and The Rare Beer of the Month Club™, which ships unique craft beers nationwide, on a special limited release beer to raise awareness about men's health.


The plan has been to release a beer called Prostator Smoked Doppelbock at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV on Oct. 12, but the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, has rejected the label for the beer. The TTB believes the name violates prohibitions about making health claims. German breweries started a tradition long ago of adding the suffix "ator" to doppelbocks. Brands such as Optimator, Salvator, Maximator, Kulminator, Triumphator and Celebrator are just a few examples. Elevation is appealing the TTB ruling, but it looks doubtful that the Prostator name will be approved.

Facing a tight deadline, The Rare Beer of the Month club has created a contest to name the beer. The person submitting the winning name will receive a six month club subscription -- two 750 milliliter bottles of truly rare beer delivered to your door each month. Pints for Prostates will also send the winner a limited edition t-shirt and poster. Click this link to enter. The deadline to submit your suggested name is Monday, Aug. 13 at noon (PST).

The 7 percent alcohol by volume Bamberg-style smoked dopplebock is not only slated to be poured at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting, it will be will be featured as part of the Rare Beer of the Month Club and served at Elevation Beer’s tasting room on Oct. 27 when they host a Pints for Prostates awareness event. Elevation is brewing the beer to create awareness and raise funds to support the mission of Pints for Prostates, which reaches men through the universal language with an important health message.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium Teams Up With Pints for Prostates for Belgian Beer Month

The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium is teaming up with Pints for Prostates during a four week “Belgian Beer Month” promotion designed to reach men through the universal language of beer. The 15-location family of beer pubs will generate prostate cancer awareness from June 27 to July 21as part of a salute to Belgian beer that will culminate in a drawing for a trip for two to Belgium.


Flying Saucer will raise funds during the event to support the Pints for Prostates awareness mission. Each Wednesday as part of its popular “Brewery Night,” the Flying Saucer will feature a different Belgian-style beer with the brand’s signature logo glassware. The first 144 people at each location will be able to get the glass of the week and a pour of the featured beer for a great price, with the price of the glass going to support Pints for Prostates. Each glass will come with a raffle ticket for a drawing for a special beer trip for two to Belgium from Sept. 7-15, 2012.

“We have hosted Pints for Prostates events at several of our locations in the past and we are excited to be working with them on this chain-wide awareness celebration,” said Keith Schlabs of the Flying Saucer. “Our ‘Beerknurds’ are big fans of Belgian ales. This opportunity to support a great cause and giveaway a beer adventure of a lifetime to Belgium will be a huge hit with our customers.”

The special Pints for Prostates Belgian Beer Tour is organized by BeerTrips.com. The raffle includes round trip airfare for two from the continental U.S.; seven nights lodging in Brussels, Brugge and Gent; tours of famous breweries, including Chimay, Cantillon and Moortgat; escorted café crawls; guide city tours; breakfast daily, three beer dinners and two beer lunches; train and private coach transportation. For a $10 donation for a single ticket, $25 donation for three tickets or $50 for seven tickets, Flying Saucer patrons can obtain additional entries in the drawing. The total value of the trip for two is estimated at $6,500. The drawing will be held on July 21, at the Flying Saucer’s Charlotte location. The prize is non-transferable and no cash substitute will be offered. The winner and their guest are responsible for obtaining passports and all trip related costs not outlined above. You must be 21 years old to enter. No purchase is necessary.

Visit Flanders and Delta Air Lines are donating round trip tickets for the trip. Beer brands supporting the promotion at The Flying Saucer include Chimay, Blanche de Bruxelles, Timmermans and Maredsous.

“It is great to be working with The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium because they will help us reach thousands of men with a lifesaving message about the importance of early detection,” said Rick Lyke, a beer journalist who had successful prostate cancer surgery in 2008. “BeerTrips.com has put together a fantastic trip to Beer Heaven – Belgium – which we will appropriately award on July 21, Belgian Independence Day.”

BeerTrips.com has been providing unique beer travel experiences to destinations around the world since 1998. This special Pints for Prostates group tour to Belgium is limited to a total of 16 slots and is already sold out. The tour will be hosted by Lyke, the Pints for Prostates founder and a drinks journalist who has been writing about beer, wine and spirits for 30 years. He has visited Belgium several times and considers it one of the world’s top beer destinations. Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 charity that reaches men through the universal language of beer with an important health message.

“Men are 33 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than women are to have breast cancer, yet few men know about the critical importance of early detection,” Lyke said. “The support of the Flying Saucer, Visit Flanders, Delta, Chimay, Blanche de Bruxelles, Timmermans and Maredsous will help us reach an audience that needs to hear our message.”

About Pints for Prostates
Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 240,890 new prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2011. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

About Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium is committed to bringing good beer to good people. The first location opened in Fort Worth, Texas, in June 1995 and the same group of beer lovers are in charge today. Currently the Saucer has 15 locations in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. www.beerknurd.com.

About Visit Flanders
Flanders is the region in the North of Belgium. It includes the cities of Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven and Mechelen. Whether you are interested in art, architecture, biking, gastronomy or are looking for a romantic stay, Flanders is the perfect bite size region to explore in three to four days. And with more than 680 different types of beer, it’s no surprise the Flemish people are a friendly and good natured lot, so hop over for a pint, or two. www.visitflanders.us or www.facebook.com/visitflanders.us.

About BeerTrips.com
Beer Trips.com was founded in 1998 to offer serious beer people the opportunity to travel to the world’s best beer destinations with other people who love great beer. Beer and travel, travel and beer — these are two of our favorite things. Both, in our estimation, are worth a fair amount of life’s energy. Our goal, and our very reason for existing, is to take our travelers the best beer destinations, drink, taste and enjoy the best beers, meet the beer-loving people of the countries we visit, and explore the history, culture, art and architecture of the interesting places where beer “grew up”. To do this we stay in nice, well-located hotels, eat at great restaurants that emphasize beer in their fare, and visit breweries, brew pubs, cafes, and museums that enhance our understanding and appreciation of beer and its rich history and culture. www.beertrips.com.

Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV Tickets Go On Sale June 17

DENVER, CO — The Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV, an awareness event and fundraiser for the Pints for Prostates campaign, will be held on Oct. 12 from 1-4 p.m. at the Wynkoop Brewery in Denver.


Tickets for the event go on sale on Father’s Day, June 17, at Noon (ET) and are $100 each. They include the chance to sample rare, exotic and vintage beers from 32 of America’s top craft breweries and meet the men and women who made them. Each attendee receives a commemorative tasting glass, t-shirt, program and pen. Guests also receive a three issue trial subscription to the award-winning All About Beer Magazine. A buffet lunch is included in the ticket price and guests will have the chance to bid in an exciting silent auction that includes a variety of unique beer experiences and collectibles.

Presented by All About Beer Magazine, tickets for the event are among the most sought after of any beer tasting. The event is held while the Great American Beer Festival is taking place in Denver. The first three Denver Rare Beer Tastings each sold out several weeks in advance.

“The Denver Rare Beer Tasting brings together America’s best craft breweries in a relaxed format where brewers and beer lovers get the chance to talk and taste a unique collection of beers,” said Daniel Bradford, publisher of All About Beer Magazine. “This is the quintessential rare beer tasting and gives people in Denver for the GABF the chance to experience a true boutique-style tasting.”

Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity founded by beer writer and prostate cancer survivor Rick Lyke. All net proceeds from Denver Rare Beer Tasting go towards the awareness mission of Pints for Prostates and help to fund the education and support programs of the Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network and free prostates cancer screening programs provided by the Prostate Conditions Education Council.

“The Denver Rare Beer Tasting is an annual celebration that offers beer lovers a truly special experience. They get to taste a collection of beers that most people never get the chance to enjoy while rubbing elbows with brewers,” said Lyke. “It is a fun afternoon and a great atmosphere, with a serious mission: raising awareness about prostate cancer.”

The link to purchase tickets will be posted at http://www.allaboutbeer.com/ and http://www.pintsforprostates.org/ prior to the start of sales.

About Pints for Prostates
Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 240,890 new prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2011. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

About All About Beer Magazine
Now in its 33rd year, All About Beer Magazine has been the essential source for the evolving beer culture. Winner of numerous awards and recognitions, All About Beer Magazine publishes the best on beer—-its history and culture, beer travel, entertaining, brewing and collecting—-six times a year with one additional bonus issue annually. The magazine promotes the positive attributes of the growing beer culture by hosting the World Beer Festivals where guests have the opportunity to taste samples from a wide range of beers and to discuss the beer with brewers and knowledgeable servers. For more information, please visit http://www.allaboutbeer.com, http://facebook.com/allaboutbeermag and http://twitter.com/allaboutbeer.

Elevation Prostator Smoked Doppelbock to be Released by Rare Beer of the Month Club™ to Support Pints for Prostates

Poncha Springs, Colo. – The newly launched Elevation Beer Co. of Poncha Springs, Colo., and The Rare Beer of the Month Club™, which ships unique craft beers nationwide, are teaming up on a special limited release beer to benefit the Pints for Prostates campaign.

Elevation’s Prostator Smoked Doppelbock is being brewed exclusively to create awareness and raise funds to support the mission of Pints for Prostates, which uses the universal language of beer to reach men with an important health message.

“This is an exciting project for our new brewery and we are proud to be partnering with Pints for Prostates,” said Christian Koch, Head Brewer and Co-founder at Elevation Beer Co. “Elevation Beer is located high in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Our plan is to build a reputation for brewing rare artisan beers. We are going to focus on adventurous specialty beers and barrel-aged seasonals that will appeal to craft beer fans like us.”

The limited edition beer features the Pints for Prostates logo on its label, which includes the blue ribbon to remind people of the ongoing search for a cure to prostate cancer, a leading cause of death among American men. A donation from every 750 milliliter bottle of Elevation’s Prostator Smoked Doppelbock sold will be made to Pints for Prostates.

“This is a rare beer that will help us deliver an important message. Pints for Prostates is all about getting men to take charge of their health and get screened for prostate cancer,” said Rick Lyke, a prostate cancer survivor who founded Pints for Prostates after successful prostate cancer surgery in April 2008. “Elevation Beer Co. and The Rare Beer Club™ teaming up for this project will catch the attention of men needing to hear our message. Plus, I’m a big fan of Bamberg-style smoked beers, so this is a real treat.”

When this very limited batch of Elevation’s Prostator is gone, it is gone. There are only three ways for beer lovers to try the unique beer:

· Join The Rare Beer Club online or call 800-625-8238 and be sure to start your membership in October or earlier. The ordering deadline for October is 10-15-12.

· Attend the Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV in Colorado on Oct. 12, where Elevation Beer Co. will be pouring samples of the brew alongside more than two dozen other great craft brewers offering extremely rare and exotic beers;

· Visit Elevation Beer’s tasting room at 115 Pahlone Parkway in Poncha Springs, Colo., on Oct. 27 when they will host a Pints for Prostates awareness event.

“This is the third year The Rare Beer Club™ has partnered with Pints for Prostates and each featured beer has been extremely well received by our members. I’m personally really excited about this unique style and being able to feature a smoked dopplebock in the club. This will be a highly anticipated release from a new brewery, so it’s sure to sell out quickly,” said President Kris Calef. “We’ll donate $1 for every bottle sold and include a Pints for Prostates coaster in each October shipment to remind our members to get tested. A little education and early detection goes a long way to save lives.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer claimed the lives of 33,700 men in the U.S. during 2011. Prostates cancer is 33 percent more common in men than breast cancer is in women, yet few men know they should start with regular prostate health screenings at age 40. Elevation’s Prostator Smoked Doppelbock release is part of the Pints for Prostates Oktoberfest for a Cure observance that is taking place from June 26 to Oct. 27 at venues across the U.S.

About Elevation Beer Co.
Elevation Beer Co. is an artisan microbrewery located in Poncha Springs, Colorado, just outside of Salida. Located just minutes from Monarch Ski Area, the Arkansas Headwaters, and more than 15 peaks above 14,000-foot, Elevation specializes in brewing adventurous specialty and barrel-aged beers for the craft beer fanatic. For more information, interviews or photos contact their Marketing Director Sheila Bustamante at 719-539-5258 or at Sheila@elevationbeerco.com.

About The Rare Beer Club™
The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club™ offers four different options for consumers. From the very inception of our original domestic beer of the month club in 1994, we’ve focused on consistently providing three primary product characteristics: Quality, Variety & Freshness. And in that spirit, we now offer you four outstanding beer club options, each dedicated to those same principles. Our owner’s favorite club features the finest the world of beer has to offer in limited-release, celebratory, artisanal beers from some of Michael Jackson’s favorite breweries. Two different selections are presented each month in 750 ml bottles, often cork finished, and some individually tissue wrapped. Members experience bold U.S. and imported interpretations of Farmhouse Ales, Russian Imperial Stouts, Barley Wines, Belgian Abbey Ales, varied Imperial, Extreme, Strong Ale and Grand Cru offerings, oak-aged ales imparting bourbon and vanilla notes, and much more. Many selections are pushing the envelope of creativity, are not yet distributed in the U.S., and brewed such that they can be cellared and aged.

About Pints for Prostates
Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 240,890 new prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2011. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

Pints for Prostates Portland Pale Ale Invitational Beer List Released

PORTLAND, OREGON – The beer lineup for the inaugural Pints for Prostates Portland Pale Ale Invitational has been released. The event will be held on July 25 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore.

“Our goal was to create an event to celebrate the allure, complexity and flavors of pale ale, while raising awareness about an important men’s health issue,” said Rick Lyke, a drinks journalist and prostate cancer survivor. Lyke founded Pints for Prostates in 2008 after successful prostate cancer surgery. “Thanks to the help of 24 great breweries we have been able to put together a very special beer tasting.”

The tasting event features pale ales from a dozen Oregon breweries and a dozen breweries from around the globe. Presented by Beer West magazine in conjunction with the Oregon Brewers Festival, the event benefits the Pints for Prostates campaign, which reaches men through the universal language of beer with a message about the importance of early detection.

Tickets for the Portland Pale Ale Invitational are $30 and are available online at http://www.pintsforprostates.org . All net proceeds support the mission of the Pints for Prostates campaign. Only 500 tickets for this special event will be sold.

“We are excited about the brewers that have agreed to take part and the world class pale ales they will be pouring. Beer fans will get the chance to try a wide variety of pale ale styles in a single session,” said Megan Flynn, publisher and editor-in-chief of Beer West magazine. “Pale ales have become America’s favorite type of craft beer. This event salutes the passion brewers and beer drinkers have for pale ale.”

Beers that are scheduled to be poured at the event include:

■Dark Rain Black Pale Ale from BridgePort Brewing, Portland, Ore.;

■Caldera IPA from Caldera Brewing, Ashland, Ore.;

■Portland Ale from Cascade Brewing, Portland, Ore.;

■Armory XPA from Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.;

■Bogart NW IPA from Fire Mountain Brew House, Carlton, Ore.;

■Pale 31 from Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, Calif.;

■Full Sail IPA from Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, Ore.;

■Kick Axe Dry Hopped Pale Ale from Lompoc Brewing, Portland, Ore.;

■MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale from MacTarnahan’s Brewing, Portland, Ore.;

■Moa Pale Ale from Moa Brewing, Marlborough, New Zealand;

■White Hatter, Black Hatter, Oaked Hatter, Farmhouse Hatter & Rye Hatter from New Holland Brewing, Holland, Mich.;

■Radiant Summer Ale from Ninkasi Brewing, Eugene, Ore.;

■Ghost Hop White IPA from NoDa Brewing, Charlotte, N.C.;

■Wooden Elephant Barrel Aged IPA from Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.;

■Protector Pale Ale for Oregon Brew Crew (homebrewers)/Portland U-Brew from Portland, Ore.;

■Chatoe Rogue Single Malt Ale from Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore.;

■Flipside Double IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, Calif.;

■Clear Creek Pale Ale from Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, Wash.;

■Snake River Pale Ale and Pako’s IPA from Snake River Brewery, Jackson Hole, Wyo.;

■Barley Legal Pale Ale from Southern Oregon Brewing, Medford, Ore.;

■Stone Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif.;

■Hophead Double IPA from Tree Brewing, Kelowna, British Columbia;

■5-South Pale Ale from 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, Calif.;

■Wells Bombardier Ale from Wells & Young’s, Bedford, United Kingdom.

“This year marks the 25th annual Oregon Brewers Festival so we are proud to be able to help support Pints for Prostates by making our venue available for the Portland Pale Ale Invitational on the eve of our silver anniversary,” said Art Larrance, one of the founders of the Oregon Brewers Festival. “The Oregon Brewers Festival is already one of the world’s biggest beer events and the Portland Pale Ale Invitational is another reason for people to visit and enjoy great craft beer.”

Judges at the Great American Beer Festival award medals in seven different pale ale categories. Pale ale categories attract the most entries and are the hottest contested.

“Men are 33 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than women are to have breast cancer, yet few men know about the critical importance of early detection,” Lyke said. “The support of Beer West magazine, the Oregon Brewers Festival and the two dozen great craft brewers donating beer for the event will help us reach an audience that needs to hear our message.”

About Pints for Prostates
Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 240,890 new prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2011. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

About Beer West Magazine
Founded in 2007, Beer Northwest has grown to become the leading beer culture and lifestyle magazine in the Northwest. In January 2011, the magazine expanded into California and became Beer West. The magazine covers the thriving West Coast beer market and is the only regional publication of its kind. Beer West has more than doubled its circulation and visibility in the past year, with a focused readership of 80,000 beer and food enthusiasts. Beer West is a celebration of the unique Western beer-loving life.

About the Oregon Brewers Festival
The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the nation’s longest running and best loved craft beer festivals. Situated on the west bank of the Willamette River, with towering Mt. Hood as a backdrop, it is the ideal venue for anyone who loves craft beer. With a laid back attitude and scores of award-winning beers, the festival reflects the essence of the city of Portland, and is the crowning jewel of Oregon Craft Beer Month. The OBF was at the forefront of exposing craft beers to the public. A total of 84 craft breweries from all parts of the nation will serve more than 30 beer styles to nearly 80,000 beer lovers from around the world. Another 50 specialty beers will be available for tastes in the Buzz Tent.