Not anymore.

Oskar Blues Brewery, proponents of canned brews worldwide, are releasing GUBNA Imperial IPA in convenient four-packs. The brewery hosted a launch party on March 4th, and we’ve been told they didn’t drink the entire run. Pick up some of the beer wherever you find other Oskar Blues products.

According to a release, “The GUBNA Imperial IPA will greet beer drinkers with a pungent citrus blast, provide a spicy, yet round middle, and finish with a brisk, clean bitterness.” Yeah it will. And here’s a video that explains the thought process behind the beer. There is a method to Oskar’s madness.

Counts, Tracy, and Arnold are giving travelers another good reason to come to Tucson. They’re forming the foundation for a craft brewing resurgence. As recently as the late 1990s, the city had as many as 10 craft brewers, most of whom Arnold characterizes as homebrewers who took advantage of all the investor dollars being thrown around then. “They loved brewing beer, but they failed to recognize that they were in the bar and restaurant business,” says Arnold. No one was surprised that when the Internet bubble burst, so did Tucson’s craft brewing scene.

Last call for baseball

What’s a person to do? Sit back with a beer, obviously. But what’s the correct choice? Do you want to go with something light in case you need to run for your life? Or are you trying to drown yourself in alcohol before the water invades your living room? So many choices, so little time.

Tweet at us, email, or leave your thoughts in the comments. The best answer gets a shout-out on Friday. There’s no better way to impress your friends.

Firestone Walker Brewing Co.’s dealing up the perfect beer to sip alongside your sense of satisfaction. Solace, the first seasonal release ever bottled by the Paso Robles, CA company, is a combination Hefeweizen and Belgian Saison. Brewmaster Matt Brynildson jokingly said, “I call it a Summertime Belgo-Bavarian Zwickle Saison.”

Regardless of the style, the beer features hints of banana and clove while finishing with a tang that will surprise you. You may even be inspired to get up out of your seat and complete another task just so you can find Solace once again.

Today: Oklahoma.

James E. McNellie’s Public House
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Modeled after the public houses of Dublin, McNellie’s offers neighborhood friendliness alongside a world-class selection of beer and scotch. Browse the more than 300-strong beer menu to discover your next favorite U.K. brew (Thwaites Lancaster Bomber, anyone?) as well as beer from any number of former English colonies, and beyond. Come on Wednesday nights for $3 Burger Night, and stick around to see live music upstairs. This may not be the land of Joyce, but there’s no shortage of inspiration inside these walls.
409 E. 1st St.

Tapwerks Ale House & CAFE
Oklahoma City
More than 100 bottles and 212 taps give Tapwerks the largest selection of beer in the state of Oklahoma (as well as cred for its name). With this many labels, it’s really impossible to disappoint. Erdinger Kristall Klar, Westmalle Dubbel, and Left Hand Sawtooth Ale are just a few of the varied draft choices, while the bottle selection pretty much rounds off any of the loose ends. Check out live music from up-and-coming OKC bands upstairs, or just hang out and play trivia at the bar (tip: don’t miss out on the Guitar Hero tournies).
121 E. Sheridan Ave.

Boonville, California Tuesday March 16, 2010

HMB Holdings and the Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville, CA today announced a definitive purchase agreement by which HMB Holdings, LLC will acquire the Anderson Valley Brewery. Terms of the transaction are undisclosed. Pending appropriate regulatory approvals, the deal will close in April, 2010.

Under the leadership of respected industry pioneer Ken Allen, Anderson Valley Brewery has been creating award winning craft beers in Boonville, CA since 1987.

HMB Holdings LLC is owned and managed by Trey White, a fifteen year veteran of the alcoholic beverage industry. Through his role as executive vice-president at United States Beverage, Mr. White worked with a variety of fast growing successful American craft beers including Goose Island, Rogue, Ipswich and SLO as well as selected imports including Grolsch from Holland. HMB will retain the current brewing and production facilities at Anderson Valley Brewery while expanding the sales and marketing capabilities.

“Ken Allen is a true leader within the American craft beer industry,” says Mr. White “The beers created by Anderson Valley are amongst the premier craft beers available in the world. Ken’s high-quality craftsmanship combined with his respect for the environment is a legacy we will respect and uphold. HMB is thrilled with the opportunity to grow consumer awareness and expand the distribution of the Anderson Valley family of world class award winning craft beers.”

Ken Allen says: “I have enjoyed immensely growing the Anderson Valley Brewery from a start-up operating a modest brew pub in Boonville into a world class regional craft brewery. The people and friends I have made in the industry will last a lifetime. I want to thank the many customers and brewery fans who have become key parts of the Anderson Valley Brewery family.

I have looked long and hard for the right person to whom to entrust our legacy and I could not have found a better partner in Trey White. His passion and knowledge of the craft beer industry, coupled with his respect for the brands we have developed, will make him the ideal person to take the Anderson Valley Brewery to the next level within the growing craft beer industry.“

Located in the bucolic Anderson Valley region, the environmentally friendly, solar powered brewery produces Boont Amber Ale and Hop Ottin’ IPA in addition to many other highly respected craft beers. Ken Allen was awarded the craft industry’s prestigious Small Brewer Association Recognition award last year for his decades of service to the craft beer industry.

HMB Holdings, LLC is a new company devoted to bringing hand-crafted, small batch produced beer to as many American consumers as possible.

Both Advertising Age and The Big Money skewer the brand for its “Drinkability” campaign. The former publication says it can be “considered a major factor in Bud Light posting the first full-year sales decline in its history.” Ouch.

The publications focus on the use of marketers and consulting firms to help advertising agencies figure out what consumers want. The upshot? These so-called experts have no idea, but will happily take your money pretending they do. Small brewers take note: Stick to your guns, trust your gut, and go for it. You know your brand better than they do.

That said, we honestly didn’t hate the Drinkability campaign, but what do we know? An example spot is below. Yeah, it could be better.

Boston Beer Co. announced its fourth-quarter results after trading Monday and although the makers of Samuel Adams announced profits of 52 cents per share and a three percent revenue growth, the stock still fell sharply in after hours trading. Why? Because analysts predicted a 58-cents-per-share profit and higher revenue as well. D’oh.

Still, would you rather own a piece of Boston Beer or some soul-sucking corporation like Wal-Mart?

The paper put together a panel of experts — Dr. Dan Rutherford, Sarah Stanner, and Tony Gallagher (trust us, they are experts) — who offer up their thoughts on shrinking the ole gut. The suggestions are quite extensive, more an entire life redo than simply a plan for losing some weight, but we could all stand to get in better shape, right?

Thumbs up indeed!

It’s the last class before the final for Columbia University’s bartending students, and the teachers have one final lesson: how to take a blowjob shot.

Clickthrough to read the rest of her report from the frontlines of college bartending classes across this great land.

Ivy League Cocktails