Carolina Rumors: Fat Tire In The House

Discovered in the downtown Denver Holiday Inn Bar when I, being uneducated in the ways of Colorado beer, asked the barkeep for one of "those beers Colorado is famous for". I was thinking of Adolf's watery version but the kind brewista delivered a New Belgium Fat Tire ale to my coaster. Rumor in the Charlotte, NC area suggests that I will not have to wait until next year's FFR Show Patagonia reception to enjoy a frosty tire. Charlotte is abuzz about this so let's hope that the local importer has an ample supply.

Gear: Because Warm Beverages Are No Fun...

You can never have enough can coozies. The folks behind Flying Fisherman Sunglasses and Sportswear are branching out and selling can coolers with fish on them. Obviously they have determined that drinking, and more importantly drinking properly chilled beverages, is of interest to anglers. They have also managed to come up with an innovative new marketing idea - the coozie six pack.

They're also offered in a somewhat unique package idea -- assorted 6-packs. The blister packs have 6 assorted fresh water or salt water designs. The 6- packs are a hit. You buy beer or soda in a 6 pack...why not coolie cups to go with them, said Pat Sheldon, company president. The packaging is an eye catcher on the shelf, not something you see every day, and it's a practical purchase.

Life skills: 32 Handy Uses for Beer

We were pleased when we found this article on the Monroenews.com site that tells us there are at least 32 different uses for beer. One of them is of benefit to the fly tiers in the group:

"Mix beer, chimney soot, walnut leaves and a little powdered alum in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then chill. Dipping any natural materials you're using in this solution prior to tying is supposed to make a tighter, more attractive fly.I guess you could call this "tying one on.''

We were even more pleased when we found the above video. Now there is a skill no fly fisher worth his hops should ever be without.

There's a fish in my beer

From Wikipedia:

Isinglass is a substance obtained from the swimbladders of fish (especially Beluga sturgeon), used mainly for the clarification of wine and beer. It is a form of collagen. Prior to inexpensive gelatin production and other competitive products, isinglass was used in confectionery and desserts such as Fruit Jelly and blancmange. Isinglass was originally made exclusively from sturgeon until the 1795 invention of a cheap substitute using cod by William Murdoch. This was extensively used in Britain in place of Russian isinglass. The bladders, once removed from the fish and processed, are formed into various shapes for use.

Although very little isinglass remains in the beer which is drunk, many vegetarians consider beers which are processed with these finings to be unsuitable for vegetarian diets (although it is suitable for pescetarians).

(Editor's note: the bottle cap picture comes from the web site of Laura Beamer. Laura is an artist and designer who makes jewelery (including cuff links) from bottle caps. )