Beer & Food – Respect At Last

With the coming national event – SAVOR – it is my hope that the world will begin to understand what beer lovers have always known – that beer is JUST as worthy a companion with food as wine! Indeed, there are many foods for which wine is inappropriate (BBQ anyone?), so any event that helps folks understand the myriad of enjoyable possibilities matching good food with great beer is just fine in my book.

If you can’t get to SAVOR, go to a beer dinner. These are becoming increasingly popular and it is very encouraging to see more and more higher end restaurants getting involved. In some instances we are even seeing the development of beer sommeliers! So go forth and spread the good word – and challenge the perspective that beer is just …well… beer! And demonstrate to your well meaning but misinformed wine loving friend that your classic pale ale actually does go better with that 7 year old sharp cheddar than his $50 cabernet. Life can be fun, can’t it!

Hugh Sisson, Managing Partner for Clipper City Brewing Co, LP

Brewery Tour Dates:
Saturdays, May 10, 17, 24 (no tour on 5/31) and June 7, 14, 21, and 28 – at 1 and 2:30 PM. Featuring “Loose Cannon” and a selection of other beers .on tap. The tour is free but for beer samples you purchase a take home souvenir glass ($5) which includes tickets for samples after the tour.

New Tour Policies:
We are extremely grateful for the large response we are receiving from folks who want to tour the brewery. To better serve you, we now have an online reservation system and will be limiting the number of folks attending each session! Please make your reservations by clicking here

Thank you for your continued support!

Travel Opportunities
BEER TRIP – ONLY 6 SEATS LEFT! Join Clipper City’s Hugh Sisson as we take the pubs eye view of the northern half of Ireland and visit a couple of distilleries, breweries – enjoying the history and culture of the beautiful island as well. October 3-12, 2008. Interested? For details click here! Should be a grand and glorious way to welcome fall!

WINE TRIP – For those of you who are wine buffs, we have recently developed a relationship with FroggyTravel.com for exclusive trips to the spectacular wine regions of France. For a complete schedule click here or call (410)889-6200. Hugh Sisson will be leading the April 2009 trip to Bordeaux and the Loire. Magnifique!

Beer News
Coming soon – distribution in Delaware, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Michigan! For contact info on all of our distributors click here

2007 Winter Storm Wins Gold at World Beer Cup! We are very pleased that Winter Storm was selected the World’s Best International Pale Ale at the competition just completed. Look for it to return in early October 2008!

Now AVAILABLE – Oxford goes ORGANIC! Our Oxford line is now organic. There are two products to start – Oxford Class Organic Amber Ale, and Oxford Organic Raspberry Wheat Beer.

Almost Gone – 2008 “Red Sky at Night” Our annual tribute to Belgian farm house ale, this Saison style beer comes in around 7.5% and has a light spicy character!

Special Announcement –
Last June, we initiated a program to support our returning troops by donating a portion of proceeds from every six pack we sell For further information click here. To date we have raised $20,047 in this program. Thank you for supporting our returning troops.

On the Beer Blog – “Diary of a Brewer”
On the value of the 3 tier system click here

Special Events – MD, DC, VA, PA, DE, NJ
May 13, 20, & 27 – Clipper City tasting on the Schooner Woodwind, Annapolis, MD – details or call (410) 263-7837

May 17 – SAVOR, Wash DC – Clipper City’s Hugh Sisson will be presenting a salon on beer pairings with Chesapeake food specialities

May 17 – VA Beer Festival, Norfolk, VA details

May 22 – Magnolias Mill Beer Dinner, Purcellville, VA – these guys always do a fantastic job! Featuring a before dinner reception with our brewers, the VA introduction of our new organic amber, and a book signing with Chris O’Brien, author of How to Drink Beer and Save The World! details

May 24 – Brew at the Zoo, Maryland Zoo at Baltimore details

May 29 (rescheduled) – Beer Dinner at Kooper’s Tavern in Fells Point, MD. 6:30 PM, featuring 5 courses and 6 beers. Call (410)563-5423 for details and reservations or click here

May 31 – Brewers’ Association of MD Springfest, Frederick, MD – our annual spring event to celebrate local beers details

Thank you for your interest in our extrAARGHdinary beers. Any questions or comments, send them directly to me.

Hugh Sisson – Clipper City Brewing Co., LP