I didn't like Third Shift Amber Lager, but I didn't mind drinking it

An excerpt from this past Thursday's Beerman column:

At the BiLo on 38th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, I spent $6.79 on a six-pack of Third Shift Amber Lager.

I saw the same display – and the same six-packs of 12-ounce bottles – at the Rite Aid at Kings Highway and 29th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. The sign there said $11.99 for a six-pack.

These two radically different pricings render the underlying confusion about Third Shift Amber Lager. It’s supposed to be a working-man’s microbrew, but behind Band of Brewers Co. of Fort Worth, Texas, and Trenton, Ohio, is just the Coors Brewing Co.

And Third Shift Amber Lager is just not that good. The advertised “sweet maltiness” and “lightly toasted character” and “subtle hops” are like three cats with their tails tied together chasing three different mice. This beer doesn’t know what it wants to be.

Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/02/18/3336800/beerman-for-feb-21-2013.html#storylink=cpy

Big announcement in my next Beerman column -- a summer beer fest in Myrtle Beach

That's right, folks. You'll hear it first on the Weekly Surge's Beerman page. It's not the Atlanta-brewed beer story, so if you see that, the new column hasn't been posted yet.

A beautiful June 2 in Myrtle Beach

Check out the cans for New South Brewing's Nut Brown Ale



New, empty cans for New South Nut Brown Ale at New South Brewing Co. in Myrtle Beach last night. New South has made Nut Brown and distributed it in kegs for many years, but this will be the microbrewery's second canned six-pack, the first being its famous White Ale. Distribution should begin in mid-June!

Tomorrow: $2 Red Solo Cup Party at Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery

Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, $2 brews during the Red Solo Cup Party, featuring live music, from 6-9 p.m. at Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

From Myrtle Beach's Gordon Biersch

FIND MYRTLE BEACH'S GORDON BIERSCH HERE.

I accidentally became a judge for Battle of the Bands at Abuelo's on Cinco de Mayo

I was walking about of Coastal Grand Mall around 5 p.m. after a quick visit to GNC when I got a call from Hunter Jordan, who was at Abuelo's for a fundraiser for the youth at Trinity.

Hunter said Chris Mowder of Listen Up Myrtle Beach needed another judge for Battle of the Bands at Abuelo's -- could I do it?

As a matter of fact, my wife and kids are still out of town.

So of course I went over.

Tonight I heard from these bands, all of which made for a great party:

Bitterseed

Coman Sproles & Celtic Bluze

Treehouse

Eddie Ate Dynamite

Prowler

Below the Bassline

And the winners were:

3rd place: Coman Sproles & Celtic Bluze

2nd place: Prowler

1st place: Eddie Ate Dynamite

Hey -- each of these bands deserves a listen! Check out their music by clicking their names above. Cheers!

Saturday: Beer dinner with Highland Brewing at For What It's Worth

Shae Dannemiller, recently of Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach, has moved to For What It's Worth, where he will be hosting a dinner paired Highland Brewing Co.'s beers. For What It's Worth is located at 7710 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, SC. The cost is $40 per person. Call 843-497-5000 for more information.

The Stump Jump Shiraz

An outstanding Australian red with a 90 rating (from one of those big wine mags) at the Myrtle Beach Costco for $7.99. Yummy. Buy it.

So what's your favorite Grand Strand brewpub?

Vote at the box on the top right of this blog!

Tonight (Feb. 8) at Crafty Rooster: tapping New Belgium's Lips of Faith

Mike Wildt of Better Brands emailed to say The Crafty Rooster in Conway tonight will tap New Belgium's Lips of Faith Dunkelweisse, a potent 9-percent brew.

Oh crap -- S.C. alcohol law gets screwed up

Eva Moore, writing in the Free Times of Columbia:

Lawmakers are scrambling to figure out how a state law passed this year ended up barring businesses and individuals from serving beer and wine at special events.


Because of that law, starting in January, the Department of Revenue will only grant special-event permits to serve beer and wine to nonprofit organizations and political parties. They will stop issuing permits to businesses and individuals — promoters, caterers and other event organizers, for example — who must obtain licenses every time they want to serve beer and wine in a location without a permanent beer and wine license.


“Somebody screwed up,” says Tom Sponseller, head of the South Carolina Hospitality Association.


According to Rep. Mike Pitts (R-Laurens), the bill’s sole sponsor, the law was just supposed to make it easier for nonprofits that frequently hold events to apply for multiple licenses at once.

Read the entire article here.

Price check: Sierra Nevada Celebration

The Lowes on S.C. 544, the Piggly Wiggly at The Market Common, and the Food Lion on Forestbrook Road each were selling Sierra Nevada Celebration for $8.99 per six-pack of bottles. So it's a buck-fifty per bottle. Not the most affordable beer around, to be sure, but less expensive than Avery Brewing Co.'s Old Jubilation Ale. Just how much is Old Jubilation? Find out here.

Magic Hat's Black As Night Winter Lager is now in Myrtle Beach

I found it at the Forest Brook Food Lion -- a six-pack of bottles for $7.49.

Winter seasonal beers to look for along the Grand Strand

This afternoon, I found Avery's Old Jubilation Ale available in six-packs of bottles at the Piggly Wiggly (The Market Common) for $11.99. I also found a single bottle in the mix-and-match section. Thank God. A bottle at $1.99 is easier to buy.

Check out this recent column to see some of the winter seasonal beers available, or soon to be available, on the Grand Strand.

Must try: Honey Wheat at Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery

Last week, Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery in Myrtle Beach tapped a Honey Wheat. This beer was brewed with 55 pounds of local honey. It might be the best Honey Wheat I've tried: I could definitely taste the honey, but the beer was not sweet, and I thought belonged in the light-to-medium weight class. I'll be writing about it in my next column in the Weekly Surge.

Oktoberfest has begun! Runs through Sunday!

If you live in the Myrtle Beach area, ease on down to Oktoberfest. Click here for details.

Blog exclusive: New South's sales of canned White Ale

Here's something that didn't fit into my new column on New South Brewing's upcoming brewery tours:

New South now sells six packs of its canned White Ale in 50 places around the Grand Strand, owner Dave Epstein said.

The brewery is pushing out 60 to 70 cases per week of the White Ale, which was already New South's most popular beer before they started canning it last year.

For now, White Ale is the brewery's only canned beer. Their other beers are sold in kegs to bars and restaurants.

Did you know New South uses a canning machine that was once used to package Dale's Pale Ale?

Visit New South online.

Dunkin' Donuts on U.S. 501: If you ask for the combo, be very specific about the temperature of the coffee

After waiting at least 5 minutes that feel like 15 in a three-person line at the Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins on U.S. 501, where four people are behind the counter, I ask for the Turkey, Cheddar, & Bacon flat bread combo with coffee.

The sign says, Anytime Combos, with small iced tea or iced coffee, $5.39.

I asked for the combo with coffee. I didn't say "iced." She doesn't ask me for clarification.

She says she needs to check if they have any Turkey, Cheddar, & Bacon

About three minutes later, she returns to say they have Ham & Swiss or Three Cheese ("Grilled" on the sign, actually) flat bread available.

She doesn't say they are out of Turkey, Cheddar, & Bacon. She says they have Ham & Swiss or Three Cheese ("Grilled" on the sign).

I say Ham & Swiss.

She gets my coffee, a hot coffee.

I still think I'm getting the combo for $5.39.

Another three minutes. My food is brought to the counter and placed in a brown paper bag.

She rings me up for $3.99 plus $1.69 for the coffee: $5.68, plus 60 cents for our politicians to play with, bringing the total to $6.28.

I look confused. The combo price is $5.39. I point out that the combo says it comes with a small iced tea or iced coffee. She says the coffee doesn't equal an iced tea.

She doesn't mention, as the sign does, iced coffee, which might stand a chance of being equal to a hot coffee. She just mentions iced tea.

Had she told me that hot coffee costs more when I order the combo? No.

I point out that I ordered the combo. She gives me the receipt and tells me I can look at how the price is broken down.

I ignore the tip jar.

Croissants' GM & executive chef do 'Fat-Off 2010'

Press release:

Croissants Bistro & Bakery announced this week that their General Manager, Will Gravely and their Executive Chef, Bradley Daniels will be competing in what they have named the “Fat-Off 2010”.  In an attempt to better their personal health while bringing the staff together, they created the 18 week contest.  

The “Fat-Off 2010” began July 26th and will end November 29th.  To begin the challenge, the men each weighed in and then set a goal weight to be reached by the end of the contest. There will also be weekly goals, including “Push It Week” where the boys must do as many push-ups as possible and “Customer’s Week” where the customers will set that week’s goal via email. Suggestions should be sent to Lyndsay@Croissants.net. At the end of the 18 weeks, the winner will be determined by total pounds lost (measured in a percentage), the number of bonus points achieved by reaching each weekly goal, and by whoever is closest to reaching their goal weight. Says Executive Chef, Bradley Daniels, “I am excited to participate in this contest and am thrilled to have the support of our amazing staff. I am looking forward to continuing this healthy lifestyle and reaching my goal.” For more information on Croissants Bistro and Bakery’s “Fat-Off 2010” call 843.448.2253 or visit www.Croissants.net.

About Croissants Bistro & Bakery

Croissants Bistro & Bakery began fifteen years ago as a life-long dream of owner, Heidi Vukov.  Throughout the years, the restaurant has continued to grow. A SC Certified, Fresh on the Menu restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, Croissants is proud to be Myrtle Beach’s only low-country bistro.

Contact Information:

Croissants Bistro & Bakery

3751 Robert Grissom Pkwy.

Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

843.448.2253