As online news manager for WCTI-TV, I had the pleasure recently of talking with Dustin Canestorp about the new Beer Army Outpost, and his vision for the future of craft beer in New Bern and the rest of ENC. That same day, I also had to pleasure of trying Lafferty's Hop Grenade IPA for my side gig. Read and enjoy!

Beer Army on WCTI: http://j.mp/IcyKGR

Hop Grenade on The Man FAQ:…

Never judge a book by its cover…the old saying that I repeat to myself whenever I see something that has the “ooh shiny” or “whoa-wow” appeal. As much as I try to remain neutral about appearances, sometimes I can’t resist getting googly eyes. When something visually enticing makes me feel nostalgic…I’m a goner. Ready? I’m setting you up for a flashback.

It was the winter of 200?—well I can’t remember which New Year’s weekend but it was sometime when I dated what’s-his-face.…

Bake Bottle and Brew received our first order of white labs liquid yeasts to better serve your homebrew needs. WLP001 California Ale yeast, WLP 002 Engish Ale yeast, WLP029 German Kolsch yeast, WLP060 American Ale Yeast, WLP568 Belgian Stlye Saison yeast, WLP575 Beligian Stlye Ale Yeast.

As Americans, we are known for our love of beer and food, so much that it is arguably as much of a movement as it is an epidemic, apparently. In fact, as I’m sitting here writing this piece, I have an apple and a Reece’s candy bar sitting on my desk in front of me. So which one should I go for? What can I say; I got a sweet tooth bigger than my eyes which are bigger than my stomach. As much as I love food, I can’t help but wonder, “What kind of beer would pair well with this nutty,…

There is drinking beer, and there is taming a beer beast. Here’s my list of five beers that will punch you right back in the mouth should your dare to tame them. Be careful, they could knock you out.

Pliny the Younger, Russian River: It’s only available for one week out of the year, and when I was there back in 2010 the brewery sold out on the day of release. The massive IPA was…

The experts of beer brewing might like some of these combinations every bit as much as the beginners who have just brewed their first lager or ale. Of course, the great taste of all natural beer cannot be matched. But, we like to impress each other every once in awhile. Also, we like to try new things. Who doesn’t?

Brewers have already come up with honey, raspberry, pumpkin and chili. Yes, chili! One recipe for brewing chili beer at home calls for adding roasted green chili peppers to…

1.  Working on the yard during the sun season is a great excuse to get outside and moisten the brow plowing one’s own refinanced plot of land.  Its these sizzlingly humid and gritty days of glorious silt digging to come that I look forward too the most – to enjoy the first crisp soul satisfying sip of cold brew after watching someone else doing all that sweaty mucky nonsense while I lay in my hammock re-reading The Hunger Games trilogy.  Nothing spells a satisfyingly smooth summer as…

For this session of Chow Hall I thought we’d talk about a very easy way to pair great food and great beer. This is probably one of the simplest and best forms of pairing and yet it’s also the one pairing that’s most commonly overlooked. No matter the situation you can find a way to make this pairing work time and time again. Have you guessed what kind of pairing method I’m talking about? Are you dying to know? I’m talking about pairing food and beer from the same regions of the…

“Hey, when are you guys opening?” Our response “should be next week.” The following week we are asked, “Are you guys opening this week?” Our response “should be next week.” The week after that we are asked… You see where this is going?

Bill Murray is an extremely funny guy. The movie Groundhog Day should be on everybody’s list of all time favorites. You definitely need to check it out if you haven’t viewed it. Without spoiling the movie for those who haven’t seen it, basically Bill…