Agave Could Help Fight Colon Disorders

Scientists at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico say the Weber blue agave, used to make Tequila, may produce compounds leading to better treatments of the colon diseases.

The researchers say the agave fruit may aid in delivering drugs to the colon, which could help doctors fight ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer and Crohn's disease. Compounds in agave, a class of polysaccharides known as fructans, keep stomach acids from breaking down the drugs, so they can reach the colon and fight the disease.

The research was presented at the American Chemical Society.

Beer Run: A Voyage to Key West, Cozumel and Nassau

Good fortune struck recently when I won a cruise aboard the Regent Navigator for doing nothing more than shopping my local Harris Teeter grocery store. At first I thought it had to be some kind of scam, but it turns out that I was automatically entered for shopping the store and using my Harris Teeter VIC Card to get the weekly discounts.

I had been trying to get my wife, Sandy, on a cruise for 24 years, and after the bumpy ride on the ship thanks to some choppy seas, it might be another 24 years. But, that's another story. The folks at Harris Teeter rewarded shoppers from each of its stores, plus employee incentive winners, with a first class 5 night cruise that left from Fort Lauderdale, sailed to Key West, then to Cozumel, Mexico, and onto Nassau, in the Bahamas. Harris Teeter treated the winners extremely well and made sure everyone had a great time.

At the stops along the way we made sure to find some local beers to enjoy in the tropical settings. The next Tuesday Tasting will recap three brews from the voyage.

One of the interesting things from the trip was being reminded about visual selling and its impact the drinks business. If one person ordered a pina colada at the pool bar, the next moment there would be 10 pina coladas being poured from the blender. I experienced this when I found they had Grolsch at that bar. Most of the customers were ordering Bud Light and Corona. As soon as my swing top bottle of Grolsch arrived, the next five beer orders were for Grolsch. I don't think the bartender was thrilled with me since he had to chase into the kitchen area behind the bar to fetch each bottle.

We were also reminded that a number of "famous" watering holes, from the Hog's Breath Saloon to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville to Senor Frog's are really more t-shirt shops for tourists than legitimate bars. I bet much of their profits come from the gift shops, rather than across the bar.

My advice to anyone taking a cruise: when you get off the ship hire a taxi or rent a car to get as far away from the port area as your time ashore will allow. We did this in Cozumel and had the best time of our trip driving the road along the coast of the island and stopping at Mr. Sancho's Beach for some fresh fish and a couple bottles of Sol. It beat the heck out of sitting with the other tourists near the pier.

SABMiller on International Building Blitz

SABMiller, the world's second largest brewing concern, has announced plans to bulk up on production capacity in a global way. Among the projects the company is involved with are:

-- A joint venture with Vietnamese dairy firm Vinamilk on a $45 million brewery in Binh Duong Province. The partners celebrated the opening of the plant this week, which has rolled out a new brew: Zorok.

-- A plan to invest $170 million in a new brewery in Ulyanovsk, Russia. The brewery will have a 3 million hectolitres capacity and should start production in 2009.

-- A $1.8 billion investment over five years in South America to boost capacity in Columbia, Peru and other countries.

-- SABMiller is considering a major investment in Sudan to strengthen its production capacity in Africa.

Meech Photo Exhibit Opens in London: "The World of Beer: A Universal Language"

London's Proud Galleries opened an exhibit today called "The World of Beer: A Universal Language," by photographer Phil Meech and art director Ed Robinson.

The pair traveled the world documenting the brewing, drinking and beer culture. Brewer SABMiller sponsored the trip, which included stops at breweries and bars.

The exhibit is at Proud Galleries Camden, Chalk Farm Road, London, from March 29 to April 29. Information is available at http://www.proud.co.uk.

Ladybug Taint Impacting The Flavor of Some Wines

Making great wine requires skill and more than a little luck. Winemakers have many challenges in the quest to make a great vintage. Add ladybugs to the list.

According to an Iowa State University study presented recently to the American Chemical Society, a growing number of wines suffer from what is being called Ladybug Taint. Ladybugs are a natural control for aphids and other pests. But Iowa State researchers also found they excrete a foul-smelling liquid that is damaging some wines with a green pepper or roasted peanut odor.

It turns out that ladybugs produce methoxypyrazines, a natural defense mechanism. Certain species of ladybugs release more of these odors than others, which the researchers found could have as many as 28 different odors. Ladybugs are often present in vineyards and the researchers say only a small amount of methoxypyrazines mixing with grapes can impact a wine's flavor.

Wisconsin Legislature to Consider Bill to Allow Retailers to Pour Beer Samples

Wisconsin state Sen. Pat Kreitlow thinks that a state better known for its beer than its wine should allow retailers to offer beer samples to customer.

Currently, state law allows retailers to offer 3-ounce wine samples to customers, but not beer. Sen. Kreitlow's bill would allow retailers to offer customers two 3-ounce samples of beer between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The bill could come up for a vote in early May.

Scottish Health Official: Disney Driving Kids to Drink

Could the folks at Disney be hatching a plan to get kids hooked of Champagne? A Scottish health official believes so and has asked the company to stop marketing a sparkling fruit juice.

Alcohol Focus Scotland Executive Jack Law says Disney Partyfizz, a non-alcoholic juice drink, too closely resembles Champagne. Laws says Scotland has a major adolescent drinking problem and the gold foil-wrapped packaging is teaching kids that drinking is acceptable.

Disney has not issued a statement on the matter.

Four Points by Sheraton Names Kerkmans Chief Beer Officer

Scott Kerkmans, a 27-year-old Phoenix resident, former head brewer,
certified beer judge and the founder of DRAFT magazine, has been named
as Four Points by Sheraton’s new Chief Beer Officer.

The chain has launched a program of offer craft beer at each of it locations and wants to be know as the Beer Hotel. Kerkmans' first duty will be to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. He will also lead tours of breweries and be responsible for selecting new beers to be added to the company's beer list.

Kerkmans beat out 7,500 applicants for the non-paying position. He was the winner of a run off against four other finalists.

"It is an honor to be Four Points first-ever CBO,” said Kerkmans.
“I look forward to sharing my love for beer with the thirsty public and
introducing this fun beverage to those who have yet to discover the joy
that can be found in a perfectly poured cold one. Being named the Four
PointsCBO and working with the brand on its outstanding Best Brews Program is the job of a lifetime.”

Is Carbon Dioxide Against God's Law?

In South Africa a group of Islamic jurists is trying to decide if beer gas is evil.

A division of SABMiller plans to use excess carbon dioxide from beer production to put the fizz in soft drinks bottled by subsidiary ABI. The problem is that Muslim law prohibits the consumption of alcohol and now the National Independent Halaal Trust is investigating the situation.

There have been carbon dioxide shortages recently in South African, so SABMiller came up with the plan to harvest and purify the gas. ABI bottles Coke, Fanta and Sprite.

Anheuser-Busch Wins Budweiser Battle in Italy

America's largest brewer has won the latest round in the on-going international Budweiser trademark dispute. The Anheuser-Busch Cos. won a court ruling in Italy against Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar.

The court said A-B has rights to the Budweiser brand name in Italy. The company has owned rights to the Budweiser name in the country since 1990. Budejovicky Budvar had recently attempted to register the Budweiser Budbrau and Budweiser Budvar names.

To Your Health: Drinking Wine Cuts Healthcare Bill

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a study to examine if Medicare should fund an effort aimed at discouraging alcohol use. The hypothesis was that reducing drinking would save the program money. One little problem: the study found that drinking wine reduces health care expenditures.

Using data gathered over a five-year period on more than 4,000 healthy adults in Forsyth County, N.C., Sacramento County, Calif., Washington County, Md., and Allegheny County, Pa., the study found that light to moderate wine drinkers each save Medicare about $400 annually.

The study looked at the rate of medical care, hospital stays and costs of each stay. People consuming six to 13 glasses of wine per week had the lowest Medicare costs, when compared to nondrinkers or heavy drinkers. Non-drinkers and heavy drinkers cost Medicare about the same amount of money.

Student Group Pushing to Raise North Dakota Beer Tax

A group of North Dakota students is working to gather 15,000 signatures on petitions to get an initiative on a statewide ballot to raise North Dakota's beer tax.

Students Against Destructive Decisions says the $1.3 million in new tax revenue would finance a state commission that would work to prevent alcohol and drug abuse. The student's plan calls for raising the tax of draught beer from 8 cents a gallon to 16 cents and the tax on beer in cans and bottles from 16 cents per gallon to 24 cents. That would cause the price of a case of beer to go up 18 cents.

The students claim that studies show North Dakota youth have the highest rate of binge drinking in the nation.

A $38,165 Stop at the Duty Free

If you travel at all internationally, you will find yourself in a duty free shop or two. Chances are you might even grab a bottle of spirits or wine that is remarkably affordable because the taxes are stripped away. However, few of us will ever have the desire or the means to match the prowess of a Chinese tourist who passed through the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on Tuesday.

The unidentified man dropped $38,165 on brandy and wine during a 15-minute whirlwind shopping spree and then boarded a plane for Beijing. Among his take was an 1806 bottle of Cognac, a 1900 bottle of Armagnac and a 1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

The Paris duty free shop has recently added personal shoppers to assist wealthy travelers wishing to avoid the tax man.

Crushpad is a Launching Pad for Wannabe Wineries

Anyone who likes wine and has ever visited a winery has thought to themselves, "I'd love to do this for a living." There is a company in San Francisco that is helping dreamers with cash go from the idea to reality, without the hassle of planting vines, harvesting grapes or bothering with building an actual winery.

Crushpad, which calls itself "the urban winery that is democratizing winemaking," is holding a wine branding and sales workshop on April 21st for more than 50 clients who are set to launch wine labels.

Crushpad has a new 30,000 square foot winery in San Francisco that can handle production runs starting as small as 50 cases. Crushpad has more than 2,000 clients that range from wine enthusiasts who want their own label to impress friends to wine bars looking to create a signature offering.

While private labeling has been around in the wine business for years, the difference in this case is that Crushpad works with wannabe winemakers to create small-lot custom wines from grapes the company sources. The interesting thing will be to look back in 10 years to see if any of the 50 new brands represented at the workshop breaks through commercially and forges ahead to build its own winery.

Arkansas Renewing Part of Beer Tax

Arkansas is the latest state considering legislation that hits beer drinkers, but in this case taxes might actually drop. The Arkansas Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee is recommending a 1 percent retail tax on beer sold in the state to provide funding for abused and neglected children in the state

However, a current 3 percent tax on beer is due to expire this year. If the Legislature does not act to renew the this tax, beer drinkers could actual see a 2 percent decline in the levy on suds.

Certified Women Love It! Wines Named in Judging

An panel of women judges has awarded medals to 816 wines from 30 states in the first-ever National Women’s Wine Competition. Winning wines can now claim to be Certified Women Love It! wines.

The competition was held to recognize the fact that women make the majority of the wine buying decisions in the U.S. and have a growing presence in the industry, but most judging panels and wine journalists are men.

Top award winners of the competition are as follows:

Judges’ Choice Awards

General (Open) Competition:

Palmeri Wines 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah, Stagecoach Vineyard, Calif.

Women Winemaker’s Challenge

Veritas Winery 2005 Kenmar Traminette, Monticello AVA, Va.

Sweepstakes Winners, General (Open) Competition

Red Wines: Palmeri Wines 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah, Stagecoach Vineyard, Calif.

White Wines: Windsor Vineyards 2005 Johannisberg Riesling, Windsor, Calif.

Sparkling: Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Gloria Ferrer NV Blanc de Noirs, Sonoma, Calif.

Dessert: Veritas Winery 2005 Kenmar Traminette, Monticello AVA, Va.

Sweepstakes Winners, Women Winemaker’s Challenge

Red Wines: Carol Shelton Wines, 2004 Wild Thing Zinfandel, Mendocino County, Calif.

White Wines: Snoqualmie Winery/Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2005 Snoqualmie Naked Riesling, Columbia Valley, Wash.

Sparkling: Domaine Carneros, NV Brut Rose Cuvee de la Pompadour, Carneros, Calif.

Dessert: Veritas Winery 2005 Kenmar Traminette, Monticello AVA, Va.

Top winery in number of total medals:

Hahn Estates, Napa, Calif. -- 18

Beer Returns to the Bleachers at Dodger Stadium

In recent seasons you have not been able to enjoy a cold beer in the bleachers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. That's set to change this year for at least part of the cheap seats.

Bleacher seats have long been a place for fans who want to spend under $10 and still get to see a Major League Baseball game. I've done it a couple of times in Yankee Stadium and at Coors Field in Denver, and found it a pretty good place to watch a game. In a number of stadiums beer sales in the bleachers have been banned in recent years. All it takes is some fool dumping their $7 plastic cup of suds on a $7 million outfielder and you get demands for a ban on beer in the bleachers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are marketing an all you can eat ticket for the Right Field Pavilion at Dodger Stadium. For $35 in advance or $40 on game day you can get a tacket and all of the hotdogs, nachos, peanuts and soft drinks you can handle. You are also allowed to buy beer.

It would appear that someone in the Dodgers organization believes that fans paying $35 for a ticket would never dump a brew on an opponent's head. The fans in the $8 seats, however, cannot be trusted.

Wineries Lobby in Washington for Appellation Protection

Would you buy a wine labeled "Napa" from China? How about a "Champagne" from California? Wineries from the United States, Europe and Australia are meeting with officials in Washington this week to try to get tougher labeling standards for wine that protects specific geographic designations.

The wine world has long given significance to appellations. The belief is that the climate, soil and other growing conditions influence the grapes and that consumers come to expect a certain level of quality from a Bordeaux or a Sonoma wine. The problem is that with fame comes imitators.

In some cases the battle has been going on for generations. Champagne has become a universal word for sparkling wine, while Port is generic for a sweet fortified wine. The makers of the original versions of these wines believe they could boost sales if consumers were not misled by labels of producers not from their regions.

The U.S. and Europe did sign a deal last year to keep wineries from launching new wines using names such as port, sherry or burgundy on the label. Existing brands were grandfathered in under the law and do not have to change their labels.

Tuesday Tasting: Four Faces of Fritz

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we head to San Francisco to check up on the multi-tasking Fritz Maytag and try a little bit of all three.

Fritz Maytag is one of the founding fathers of the American craft brewing movement. If he had done nothing more than save a failing San Francisco brewery in 1965, and with it the Steam Beer (California Common) style, we would all owe him a debt of gratitude. But Maytag has done much, much more. Anchor Brewing is a success story. Anchor Liberty Ale, Porter, Old Foghorn Barleywine, Christmas Ale and other products should be on every beer lover's "to drink" list. In 1968, Maytag started to operate a Napa Valley vineyard, selling grapes to wineries. It was not until 2000 that the company opened a winery in Spring Mountain. In 1993, Anchor quietly began distilling, releasing a whiskey in 1996 and a gin in 1998.

"Over the last 40 years we've proven the small guy could provide variety to the beer business," Maytag says. "Now we've changed the American whiskey business by what we've done. Quantitatively, we're nothing. But qualitatively what Anchor Distilling has done is everything."

Lyke2Drink had the chance to sample a range of four Maytag inspired beverages recently and found each offers consumers a great taste experience.

Anchor Steam Beer: This is a beer that has been around since 1896, but gave many of today's Americans their first craft beer experience. It is 4.9 percent alcohol by volume and is a light amber color. The beer has a crisp, fresh malt flavor that makes it a classic among American lagers. While I enjoy this brew from a bottle, it is a treat when you can find it on draught in the eastern U.S.

Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey: A barrel strength 123.2 proof whiskey usually is not this smooth. The 100 percent rye whiskey is pot distilled and aged in slightly toasted oak barrels for between 18-30 months. The whiskey is amber gold, with a nice fresh wood nose and flavor profile. There are attractive hints of almond and nice bits of subtle spice throughout.

York Creek Vineyards 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon: Deep black cherry red, this is a smooth wine with plenty of plum and berry flavors. It has a velvety and dry finish. The wine is 14.8 percent alcohol by volume and is a blend of 80 percent cabernet sauvignon, 5 percent cabernet franc, 12 percent merlot and 3 percent petit verdot. This is an extremely drinkable wine.

York Creek Vineyards 2003 Port: Made with 75 percent Sonoma and 25 percent Napa grapes, this port combines five different varietals in its blend. At 20 percent alcohol by volume you do get a nice warming sensation from a glass of this port. York Creek Port is a rich deep burgundy color and appears thick in your glass. There is plenty of fig and plump raisin flavors throughout.

A Computer Age Cure for Bad Wait Staff

I remember a couple of restaurants when I was growing up in Syracuse, N.Y., that had door bell-like buttons in each booth on the walls where patrons could literally "buzz" their waitresses if they needed another drink or were ready for the check. Most of the places had disconnected these devices, probably because of kids like me that just could not resist constantly pressing the button throughout dinner.

Enter the age of the computer, with microchips, sensors and wireless connectivity.

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) in Cambridge, Mass., has developed iGlassware. The new glasses are equipped with sensors that send a signal to a restaurant's wait station when a glass is nearly empty, prompting the server to stop by and ask if anyone would like another round.

While patrons may like the glassware as a remedy for bad service, restaurant owners may also find it beneficial. Research suggests that customers are 40 percent more likely to order another drink if a waiter asks about a refill before the current drink is finished.

MERL is in the process of trying to find customers who want to install the system.