Tragic news, just tragic I say

[Zhanig]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/03/hops.fire.ap/

Beer drinkers beware: 4 percent of U.S. hops crop burns

YAKIMA, Washington (AP) -- Federal investigators were set Tuesday to begin an investigation into a fire that ruined about 4 percent of America's yield of hops, used as flavoring in the brewing of beer and ale.

The fire started shortly before noon Monday in a 40,000-square-foot (3,600-square-meter) warehouse operated by S.S. Steiner Inc., one of the four largest hop buyers in the Yakima Valley of central Washington. By mid-afternoon flames engulfed most of the building, sending up plumes of smoke and a pungent aroma.

Municipal fire crews, aided by regional firefighters, ripped away metal siding to shoot water directly onto the hops.

Based on an industry official's estimate of the quantity of hops in the warehouse, the loss could amount to $3.5 million to $4 million. The impact on brewers and beer prices was unclear early Tuesday.

Company President Paul Signorotti would not comment.

The United States produces 24 percent of the world's hops, and about three-fourths of the U.S. crop comes from the Yakima Valley. Hops were a $77 million crop in Washington state in 2004. More than 40 families grow hops in the valley, which is dotted with orchards, vineyards and farms.

Fires have long been an expensive danger at hop warehouses, largely because of the potential for spontaneous combustion from heat buildup in bales of resin-loaded varieties.

"That's just a possibility that we'll look at," East Valley Deputy Chief Mike Riel told the Yakima Herald-Republic, "but it is very high on the list."

No one was in the warehouse when the fire started, Riel said.

With the fire under control Monday night, authorities told the newspaper an investigation into the cause would be led by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Steiner is part of the Steiner Group of Germany, one of the largest international hop growing, trading and processing companies in the world. The Yakima branch manages Steiner's North American buying and processing, according to the company Web site.

Besides being one of the largest growers in the valley, Steiner is one of three large merchants that buy from other growers in the area. The others are John I. Haas Inc., the grower-owned cooperative Yakima Chief and Hop Union, which specializes in sales to craft brewers.

The fire destroyed or ruined about 10,000 bales, each weighing about 200 pounds (90 kilograms) and likely worth $1.75 to $2 a pound, Ann George, administrator of the Washington Hops Commission in nearby Moxee, told the Herald-Republic.

Seventeen varieties of hops are grown in the United States, including aroma varieties which are added for flavor or fragrance and the bitter alpha varieties.

[Stromnar]

What a coincidence, this was the How-To (http://www.wikihow.com/Stack-Hay) on anybody's google home page yesterday.

"If the bale feels particularly heavy with moisture, set it aside. Spontaneous combustion is a reality when it comes to hay, and one bale can burn down an entire barn. Consider getting a moisture probe to test your bales and make sure they won't threaten your harvest."

[MrGnome101]

Haha, i dont care. We all know Canadian and German beers are the best.. and cant forget Corona ;)

[SithMaster]

[ QUOTE ]
Haha, i dont care. We all know Canadian and German beers are the best.. and cant forget Corona ;)

[/ QUOTE ]

Life is too short to drink cheap beer.

[Madders]

Lucky I'm from the UK then :p

[Zhanig]

[ QUOTE ]
Haha, i dont care. We all know Canadian and German beers are the best.. and cant forget Corona ;)

[/ QUOTE ]

WTF, Corona! Never...
Canadian beers, average at best. German, well they did so much for Beer. Now Belgium beers, oh to die for. And I would venture to say any craft brewer in the USA can compete globally with any other beer out there.

I just can't believe anyone would use the word Corona to describe beer. That is like saying Miller and Budwiser is really beer - NOT!

[Orvieta]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Haha, i dont care. We all know Canadian and German beers are the best.. and cant forget Corona ;)

[/ QUOTE ]

WTF, Corona! Never...
Canadian beers, average at best. German, well they did so much for Beer. Now Belgium beers, oh to die for. And I would venture to say any craft brewer in the USA can compete globally with any other beer out there.

I just can't believe anyone would use the word Corona to describe beer. That is like saying Miller and Budwiser is really beer - NOT!

[/ QUOTE ]

Belgium FTW!

Sorry I just happen to be born and living there :)

[Elrohir]

I'm partial to a particular Irish beer, ******ss. It's a meal in a glass!

[wringlin]

im a Sam adams man personaly....i prefer the summer ale :)

[Madders]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm partial to a particular Irish beer, ******ss. It's a meal in a glass!

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently (probably Old Wifes Tale) good for you if you're pregnant too!

[Elrohir]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm partial to a particular Irish beer, ******ss. It's a meal in a glass!

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently (probably Old Wifes Tale) good for you if you're pregnant too!

[/ QUOTE ]
They say a glass of wine is good for pregnant women. I've heard several can help them get to that state.

Since I'm not pregnant, I drink ******ss for the taste.

[Madders]

[ QUOTE ]
Since I'm not pregnant

[/ QUOTE ]

I am very relieved to hear that, I would have been concerned had you been, but also very jealous because of the HUGE amounts of cash you would be about to make :p

[Elrohir]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Since I'm not pregnant

[/ QUOTE ]

I am very relieved to hear that, I would have been concerned had you been, but also very jealous because of the HUGE amounts of cash you would be about to make :p

[/ QUOTE ]
How much cash? Maybe I should get started.

[Madders]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Since I'm not pregnant

[/ QUOTE ]

I am very relieved to hear that, I would have been concerned had you been, but also very jealous because of the HUGE amounts of cash you would be about to make :p

[/ QUOTE ]
How much cash? Maybe I should get started.

[/ QUOTE ]

Enough to never work again for at least 6 lifetimes. I suggest you start to practice your breathing technique now and get a baby name book ;)

[GildranTheMighty]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Since I'm not pregnant

[/ QUOTE ]

I am very relieved to hear that, I would have been concerned had you been, but also very jealous because of the HUGE amounts of cash you would be about to make :p

[/ QUOTE ]
How much cash? Maybe I should get started.

[/ QUOTE ]

My momma always told me babies cost more money than they're worth. Such a positive influence my mother is.

[Elrohir]

I cost $5 from the hospital. My mother showed me the bill once. Yes, it was a military hospital.

I am assuming that $5 is 1964 could buy a car.

[Spudnik]

[ QUOTE ]
I cost $5 from the hospital. My mother showed me the bill once. Yes, it was a military hospital.

I am assuming that $5 is 1964 could buy a car.

[/ QUOTE ]

two, if you got the old beater kind.

[Dreadhelm]

Hefeweizen home brew ftw! Nothing like brewing your own beer and upping the alcohol %. You should try some Ozzie beer and I dont mean fosters. Coopers Pale ale hmmmmm.

[Elrohir]

I love this beer (http://www.arrogantbastard.com) as well. I about spit it back up reading the bottle, however!

From their site:
[i]Arrogant Bastard Ale FAQ's
(Frequently Asked Questions, numbskull)

Is the Arrogant Bastard a contract brew?
No, this ain't no cheese-*** sell-out beer like some contract brews, this is the real thing.

Is the Arrogant Bastard more about style or substance.
We'll be the first to admit that we don't have much style, which only leaves substance. And this beer has plenty

How do I find out about special releases like the Arrogant Bastard Ale 3Litre bottles and the Double Bastard Ale?
Sign up on our email list and you'll be the first to know. Don't sign up and wallow in ignorance. It's your call.

Is "Bastard" a bad word?
No, numbskull. There are many ******** in this world, both literal and figurative. There is no shame in being a Bastard. To learn more about Literal ********, click here.

Can I ask other questions?
It's OK to email further questions to us, just try not to make 'em too stupid, 'cuz stupid ones won't be answered.

[Populater]

Arrogant Bastard Ale is definately an aquired taste. Those who say they like it either really do like it, or they don't want to be a wimp and ridiculed for all existance.

My brother brews his own beer and I must say I prefer a good homebrew to any marketed and mass produced junk. The best part is each batch is way different, and each home brewer has their own style(s) so if you have one, it is guaranteed you have never tried it before. I like to think of it as a surprise in a bottle. So far I haven't been too disappointed.

[Elrohir]

They even say on their website that you probably won't like it. I thought it was awesome.

Favorites:
******ss
Black Butte Porter
Moose Drool
etc...

[Kez]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm partial to a particular Irish beer, ******ss. It's a meal in a glass!

[/ QUOTE ]

You sir are a Prince amoung forumers. well for me good ol Aussie Fosters for me.

[Dreadhelm]

LMAO Homebrew = surprise in a bottle. Yeah yeah I guess it can be that way sometimes. The best surprise I got after my old man taught me how to brew beer was my first batch. The percentage was right at 9%. Had two beers and I was done (22 oz bottles :) )

My beer list other than homebrew:
Coopers Pale Ale
Pyramid Apricot Ale
Pyramid Hefeweizen
Rogue Hafeweizen
and of course Guiness

p.s. Did you know that Tiger Beer Brewery in Singapore has rights to brew Guiness? Thats right fellow dirty Sailors fresh brewed Guniess is available in Singapore. However try the Tiger beer it will put hair on your chest, cure halitosis, and many others that you wont remember the next day unless you wake up in jail.

p.p.s. Dont suggest waking up in jail in Singapore. They cane you there! Wish we did it here in the US!

[Madders]

My choice for (beer?) lager is Carling or XXXX.

My prefred choice is Vodka and Tonic but as it's not of the above I'll go with those.

[SithMaster]

Brewing is a lot of fun...especially with the instrumentation to really understand how to improve your beer.

Choice beers?

http://www.yuengling.com/beers.htm

[DrakkosIV]

Are these the same folks who make "Double Bastard" ale?

Same sort of hilarious label....
'not intended for the weak' etc.

10% abv.
LOOOOVE it!

[Jokque]

ye, tiger beer was excellent
i just returned from a month trip to malaysia, and we had almost nothing but tiger beer (and occationally food and sleep)

other good beers include

******s
dahls (local trondheimian beer)
some english beer with yellow cans, similar density to ******ss (ie meal-beer)
some beer i drank ALOT of in edinburgh, it was scottish but not necessarily local

yay for remembering beer names !

[Varaya]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm partial to a particular Irish beer, ******ss. It's a meal in a glass!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hehe yes, it really "gives you strength" :)

******ss is one of my favorite beers, too. Sadly the one you get in Ireland or Scotland tastes very different from the one you get here in Germany.

Apart from that, of course our German stuff here. I particularly like any kind of Dunkles Hefeweizen. But also a nice Pils sometimes (www.rothaus.de). Sometimes, to the horror of all of my friends, I even enjoy a Bananenweizen (1/4 banana juice, 3/4 Hefeweizen). Either you love it or you hate it, nothing in between :)

[Madders]

[ QUOTE ]
some english beer with yellow cans, similar density to ******ss (ie meal-beer)

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it Tennents Larger?