Got 35,680 empty beer cans?

If so, you might want to try beating the Guinness World Record for "largest aluminium can sculpture." This record was set in early September by three groups from Takatori-cho, Nara Prefecture. They created a replica of Takatori Castle with 35,679 empty cans donated by 380 households as well as by local companies.

For a video news report, look HERE.

Of course, the record is for the "largest" sculpture, so perhaps you can do it with fewer cans.

Making Bad Beer Better: Part 2

Nearly two years ago, a friend told me of his technique for making bad beer taste better. I posted a brief description of it HERE (it involved beef jerky).

Recently he sent me a link to a hilarious article on the Gizmodo site, in which a half-crazed beer lover tries to improve the flavor of Coors Light. Not once, not twice, but in the spirit of science and beer love -- six different ways. Have a look at it HERE. Note: he doesn't call it "bad beer," but uses a much harsher phrase, one you are more likely to hear from craft beer geeks.

Frozen Foam Beer

In yet another move to attract discerning (?) beer drinkers, Kirin has announced a new beer, Ichiban Shibori Frozen Nama (一番搾りフローズン生). Actually, it's not a new beer per se but rather a new way of serving it.

A serving machine adds a layer of frozen (-5C) foam at the end of the pour. Just the thing, I suppose, for the hot summer months. The claim is made that this will allow the beer to stay cold for half an hour. From the photos, the foam looks very much like a "soft cream,"which could also add to its attraction.

However, if you have observed beer drinkers in Japan, you know that most people tend to slam beer down very quickly. It's hard to imagine anyone taking 30 minutes to finish a glass or even a large mug of beer. You know, I'm kind of wondering if it could be dangerous to deposit a load of alcoholic ice into one's stomach....  Also, it seems as if it would make a fairly taste-less beer even more innocuous. Anyway, it is apparently now available in Tokyo and will spread to the rest of Japan in May.

USO Beer / 嘘ビール

During the hot summer months in Japan, company co-workers often head out to beer gardens after work. But all too frequently, heavy-drinking bosses try to refill glasses and keep everyone on the same page, in terms of drinks consumed.

Here's a product designed to foil such antics. It's a plastic beer mug that looks like it's full of beer. A special ink inside the plastic becomes yellow when the mug is filled with ice water, making it appear that the mug is full of beer. 

The product is called “USO Beer” (fake beer). Cocktail glass and wine glass models are also available.

HERE is a video demonstration

To be honest, the color does not entirely resemble the pale yellow tints of lager beer. But perhaps the busy boss will not even notice.

Cheesy beer boosts sexual performance

Well, just reporting the news. A new beer made by Brauerei Egg.

Read all about it HERE

Space Beer

Testing for a new space beer will begin in November on board Zero Gravity Corporation's Boeing aircraft. 

Read about it here:

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/space-beer-being-tested-supplement-space-tourism

And the Australian brewery that made the beer here:

http://www.4pinesbeer.com.au/blog-board/blog-board-new-1

How to make bad beer better

A friend has recently informed me of his method of drinking lackluster brews, such as Corona.

To wit: “The pleasure of drinking a Corona can be significantly improved by adding a stick of beef jerky. You bite off a piece of jerky, take a swig of Corona, and then chew. Do this until said jerky is finished, Corona is finished, or your speech begins to slur.”

 My first thought was, “What a waste of good jerky!” However, I have a can of third-category beer (第3のビール) at home, and perhaps I’ll try it out soon. I seriously doubt that I'll be able to get through enough of it to meg maiii sppeechh bugin tuh sllrrrrr.