Cicero’s Italian Restaurant continues their Winter Beer School semester this Wednesday from 5:30-6:30PM. Cicero’s Beer School provides background about beers and beer styles usually directly from people directly in the beer industry. It’s perfect opportunity to learn more about a style you’re unfamiliar with or to just brush up on a style you haven’t enjoyed in a while.

This week’s school is being hosted by George Reisch, director of Brewmaster Outreach for Anheuser-Busch. George will be on hand to discuss and sample some Hop Hound, Leffe, and Staropramen. Go out and take advantage of one of the few places where you can drink and learn!

If you can’t make it out to the Beer School, you can check out all of the classes via podcast at Cicerosbeerschool.com.

So, I’m pleased to announce that the winner for the two tickets to tonight’s Anheuser-Busch Beer Dinner at Pujols 5 is Vance Gray! Congrats to Vance (aka Vancer) and thank you everyone for entering. Once again, if you didn’t win, don’t be too upset, I’m going to have a few more things to give away in the next few weeks.

I once again want to thank David Berkbigler from Grey Eagle Distributors for providing the tickets to this event.

You want to attend the Anheuser-Busch Beer Dinner at Pujols 5? Well today is your lucky day, STL Hops is giving away two passes to one of this beer dinner featuring the rare opportunity to hear Anheuser brewmaster George Reisch speak about beer and brewing.

All you need to do is email contest@stlhops.com with the subject of “Go Cardinals!”.

I want to thank David Berkbigler from Grey Eagle Distributors for providing the tickets to this event. This contest will end on October 12th at 9AM CDT when I will pick a winner at random. A couple of quick notes:

• If you’ve won something from STL Hops in the past 6 months, please be cool and let someone else enter.
• You much be 21 or older to enter.
• No multiple entries.

If you don’t win this one, don’t worry I will be holding more contests like this in the future, so you’ll have another chance then. Good luck!

Grey Eagle and Anheuser-Busch will be hosting a Gourmet Beer Dinner at Pujols 5 on Monday, October 12 at 6:30PM.  This will be a five course dinner featuring Anheuser brewmaster George Reisch.  Tickets will be $35 and are available by calling 314-878-6767.  See the image below for more details about the dinner.

I try and stay out of petty business squabbles, but the ironing was too delicious to pass up.  Apparently St. Louis behemoth Emerson Electric has given the heave-ho to other St. Louis behemoth Anheuser- Busch because, and I quote, “With the InBev acquisition of Anheuser-Busch we have seen negative things happening in the St. Louis community and in regard to Emerson doing business with InBev.”

So, Emerson will not be purchasing any AB products for “its world headquarters, Winfield Conference Center, company aircraft, or its suites at Busch Stadium, Scottrade Center or Edward Jones Dome.”

Ok, fine.  You’re unhappy with how InBev is treating the St. Louis community.  I’m sure you’re not the only ones that feel this way and a boycott is certainly a good way of showing your disapproval.  But, this is the part that gets me:

“We suggest you use Coors, Miller, Modelo (Corona, etc.) or Heineken products.”

Using the parlance of our time, “LOLZ, wut?“  You’re upset about the fact InBev isn’t supporting the local St. Louis community, all while suggesting that people enjoy beers from brewers that aren’t local?  C’mon guys.  You want to prove that you really care about the local community, how about supporting local brewers?  I’m sure Schlafly or O’Fallon would be more than happy to provide you with some delicious beer in your luxury suites.

While the news surrounding Anheuser-Busch has been entirely pleasant as of recent, sometimes all it takes it a nice meal and a good beer to ease the pain.  Grey Eagle Distributor is looking to provide both by putting on a beer dinner at Molly Darcy’s restaurant in Clayton on February 2 at 6PM featuring a selection of AB’s craft line.

The cost is $50 per person and the meal will be conducted by AB Brewmaster George Reisch.  The meal will have five courses featuring recipes cooked some of the AB craft beers.  Reservations can be made by calling (314) 863-8400.

I don’t know why, but of all of the things that InBev has done with Anheuser-Busch since purchasing the company back in November, this one seems to have stuck in my craw:

Busch Entertainment Corp. told employees this morning that free samples of Busch’s premier product no longer will be provided to theme park patrons.

Visitors of legal age will be able to buy beer at hospitality centers that will be converted into new facilities beginning this month, Busch Entertainment says in an e-mail response to questions about the new policy.

Really?  Charging for what account as nothing more than samples? What’s next, charging for the samples at the end of the brewery tour?  Don’t get me wrong, I know nothing in life is free and that it will probably keep down on drunk jagoffs at what are supposed to be family friendly locations, but this just seems like a big “screw you” to AB-InBev’s customers.