DRAFT Magazine

The Harvard Business Review is using beer as a learning tool. No, not bartending classes — although, spoiler alert, there’s an article about the increase of these at IVY schools in DRAFT’s Jan/Feb 2010 issues that will be online next week — but rather a lesson in economics.

For a mere $6.95 (plus $6.95 for every copy you make), you too can own the Beer Game. The lessons it teaches:

The beer game is an exercise that demonstrates supply channel dynamics. Simulates the flow of material and information in a simplified channel of beer production and distribution, focusing on the linkages among a beer manufacturer, its distributors, a wholesaler, and a retailer.

How do you like them apples?

(Thanks to our excellent Beer Runner for pointing this out.)

Okay, we’ll bite. (Ha!)

For just $28, you can get cupcakes made with beer. Options include Newcastle and Blue Moon, but we’ll go with the Guinness.

Chocolate (Guinness) Stout: My classic chocolate cake recipe spiked with a rich Stout (Guinness to be exact) to make the menliest of men swoon. Topped with rich and creamy chocolate frosting (ask for a cream cheese as another great option!).

What a way to kick off the weekend.

Remember that Seinfeld where George’s dad and Kramer went into business together selling “The Bro,” a bra for men? Well, they might have some competition.

Bodymax is producing a male corset, designed to give men a little support in the beer gut region.

”Our Bodymax range has been designed in response to this, giving men a quick fix solution for those lumps and bumps in the same way that shapewear does for women,” Dave Binns, head of buying for men’s underwear at M&S (really, this is his job), said. ”I predict that in a few years’ time, shapewear will be as much of an essential in men’s wardrobes as ties and socks.”

Well, our work here is done.

Some breweries turn waste products from making beer into fuel. Others, however, want a product that smells a bit better.

Enter “Eos,” a new perfume from Sweet Anthem Handmade Perfumes that’s made from leftover beer waste.

Chemists at Seattle-based Blue Marble Energy helped the boutique develop the perfume, which replaces petroleum with grain products to create a carbon-neutral product.

Hmm, if only there was some holiday coming up that required presents…

As journalists, we subscribe to the whole fair-and-balanced ethos. But today, we’ll break character and argue that COLORADO IS THE BEST. Because a state becomes “the best” when it starts giving away free beer. Let us explain.

We admit we haven’t patronized the Beer Drinker’s Guide to Colorado Web site as much as we should. After all, it’s a well-designed, comprehensive, seemingly unbiased resource for beer lovers in the Centennial State, offering a collection of statewide beer and brewery news, events, and video. But the site’s 3rd Edition Beer Map brings the URL into “awesome” territory.

The 27-by-40-inch guide is a Colorado encyclopedia for the beer drinker’s pocket. On one side’s a gargantuan map of the state highlighting the locations of all 121 breweries and brewpubs; on the other, detailed information on each location (like contact info and tour availability), a zoomed-in brewery map of Denver and Boulder, a list of beer-geek bars and historic pubs, explanations of beer styles, rundowns of Colorado’s state parks and 14’ers, and a briefing on the state’s consumption-related laws (like how state parks only permit beers with 3.2% ABVs or lower). The best part: The map comes with 20 coupons for free beers at Odell, Ska, Dry Dock, Phantom Canyon, Twisted Pine, and more. The guide’s only $13 (do the math: With $100 worth of coupons inside, it’s like you’re making $87).

Man, dogs are great, right? They are cute, fun, furry, and friendly. We totally want one.

Now, thanks to Bark4Beer, man’s best friend is getting a little bit more useful. The San Diego company created a dog collar beer opener that, well, does exactly what you’d expect it to do.

The device — $14.95 plus shipping — includes a retractable bottle opener so you’ll always know where you can go to open a beer. Assuming, of course, that you haven’t lost your dog.

Ever been wandering around aimlessly and realized you really, really wanted a Stella Artois? Well now there’s a solution.

The brewing company debuted its new iPhone app, Le Bar Guide, designed to help thirsty people worldwide locate bars serving Stella.

“Enjoying a perfectly poured Chalice of Stella Artois, served using the time-honored nine-step pouring ritual, is the ultimate Belgian beer experience,” Alexander Lambrecht, global marketing manager for Stella Artois, said in a release. “Le Bar Guide offers a fun, interactive way for beer connoisseurs to find, savor and share their ideal location for a Stella Artois anywhere in the world.”

The app, however, cannot ensure that your beer is perfectly poured.

Courtesy of Rad Collector, we have a new favorite shoe: The etnies collaboration with Colt 45.

The kicks, which are totally freaking amazing, were available at the etnies showroom in New York — we think? — but who knows if you can still find a pair. If you do manage to find a store that sells these babies, pick us up a pair too, will ya? Below are a couple more pictures we snagged from the Web showing just how sweet these babies really are.

Close up!

Less close!