Meet the uKeg pressurized growler.

These growler innovators are scoring early and often on Kickstarter. I support innovation, although at the same time, I can't help feeling that if one uses the conventional growler as intended -- by transporting it to a safe spot for draining in one joyful sitting -- home draft systems are a bit superfluous.

But the market will decide. Kudos to the inventors, and thanks to BC for the link.

The uKeg Pressurized Growler for Fresh Beer, by GrowlerWerks

Our mission at GrowlerWerks is to make a growler that works. One that doesn’t let air into your beer, maintains perfect carbonation from the first pour to the last, and keeps beer cold for hours – all in a product you’ll love showing off at your friend’s next BBQ. GrowlerWerks was created by local Portlanders who love craft beer. We've drawn on a combined 47 years of engineering and product-design experience to make a better way to store beer, so it always taste exactly how the brewmaster intended.

Great news: "The Beervangelist's Guide to the Galaxy" has been funded at Kickstarter.

Word has come via e-mail that along with 159 other backers, my pledge at Kickstarter has successfully funded Fred "New Holland" Bueltmann's book.

Your chance to support Fred Bueltmann and his book, "Beervangelist's Guide to the Galaxy."

This is wonderful, and I suppose it means that it is time for me to begin writing my memoirs: "Beer, Bile & Bolsheviks: A Fermentable Life."

Your chance to support Fred Bueltmann and his book, "Beervangelist's Guide to the Galaxy."

Way back in the youthful daze of the Public House, Fred Bueltmann used to stop in for chats and refreshing libations while he crisscrossed the Midwest for his job as beer rep for Bells. Later New Holland joined him, and I’ve quite enjoyably made it to Holland twice since then to check things out.

Unlike Holland, New Albany has no Dutch-styled windmill, but NABC had a stylish and quickly depleted contingent of New Holland specialties, handpicked by Fred and his team, when Gravity Head 2012 got underway last year.

These days, Fred has been busy with his book, entitled "Beervangelist's Guide to the Galaxy." The e-mail reprinted here tells you all about it, with a link to Kickstarter. I've pitched in, and I encourage you to do so, too. The campaign has less than two weeks to run. All the best to Fred, and he can take it from here.

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"Beervangelist's Guide to the Galaxy." 

The main purpose of this first email is to let you all know about the Kickstarter campaign for the book. I am raising funds to cover the production and publishing costs of "Beervangelist's Guide to the Galaxy", slated to be released in Spring of 2013.  While many years of experience have gone into the content of the book, I've been working specifically on this project for a little over two years, and the time has come to get this baby in print, and into the hands of readers. 

“Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy” shares a lifestyle of quality and flavor. It will quench your thirst for information about craft beer, pairing and cooking, by teaching from a “flavor first” perspective. Whether you are a novice or an expert, “Beervangelist’s Guide” will engage and inform. It is useful and approachable for the novice, expert and professional. It will cover beer in your home, as well as out and about.  From casual, informative tastings like beer & cheese or beer & chocolate, to multi-coursed beer-dinners, it will bring comfort and knowledge to the interested drinker in any setting. The reader will come into the kitchen as well, with numerous recipes and tips including cooking with beer; the home-chef's next secret ingredient.  

Black River Press has signed on to publish the book, and working with an "Indie Label" offers some opportunities unavailable from the bigger houses.  I have an existing and productive relationship with their talented team, and by working locally, I'll have outstanding access to mentoring, editing and good 'ole fashioned brainstorms over a beer or two.  

With two weeks left, we've raised 32% towards the funding goal of $10,000, established to cover the upfront costs of publishing, design and photography.  Once this goal is met, we will be able to deliver a finished book to the distribution channels.  If we pass the project minimum, which I hope to do, additional funds will go towards the task of promoting and selling the book.   Publishing independently with Black River & funding the initial production costs will also allow me to maintain ownership of my publishing rights.

If you plan on buying the book - the best time to order is right now.  If you know someone that's interested, please share these links with them.   If you want your email removed from this list, there's an easy to use unsubscribe option at the bottom of this email.  If you know anyone that should be on the iist, send them to www.beervangelist.net which has a quick subscribe option.

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TheBeervangelist

Kickstarter:  http://tiny.cc/beervangelist

Cheers & thanks!

Ian and his Exchange pub + kitchen, on Kickstarter.

From Ian Hall, owner of Exchange pub + kitchen, comes this message:

"Here is a link to our kickstarter page to generate some additional funding for our downtown project. Click to see how you can be a part."

All the way back in 2005, the decrepit Shrader Stables building was the subject of hope. With Feast BBQ already occupying the smaller, attached tavern building to the east, the dream is fast coming to fruition, and I'm very happy for everyone involved.