Maybe it’s time to give the good old chestnut a chance. I have walked right by the roasted chestnut vendors of Manhattan on innumerable occasions. Halfbakery explains the allure:

I live in NYC and I love roasted chestnuts. In fact, many people love roasted chestnuts in NYC. There’s nothing better than walking along the crowded streets on a cold, wintery day holding a hot bag of chestnuts and plunging your teeth into naturally sweetened and soft chestnuts. The only problem is they’re sold only in midtown Manhattan by those street vendors who sell hot dogs too. More specifically, on 5th avenue and 53rd street. That’s the only place in Manhattan you can get these goodies. It’s a shame more New Yorkers can’t enjoy roasted chestnuts more frequently. … My point is is roasted chestnuts are a blessing and should be shared. That’s it.

B. United International seems to be well aware of these charms, and has a good handle on malt beverages loaded with chestnut. Palanfrina is Ale Brewed with Chestnut Flower, Dried Chestnuts, Chestnut Honey and Chestnut Jam. It’s made by Birrificio Troll in northwest Italy. The back label has a more detailed ingredient list. Similarly, Birolla Malthus is Italian Chestnut Ale Brewed with Chestnut Meal and Honey. It’s made 186 miles north,...

BusinessWeek recently reported that SABMiller is looking at several low-cost alternatives to barley. Cassava is one of the most promising. Cassava is the third largest source of carbohydrates for human food in the world. This woody shrub yields more food energy per acre per day, compared to almost any crop other than sugarcane. SABMiller is also looking at sorghum as a much lower-cost alternative to corn and barley, at least in poor countries. The Hooligan label is way ahead of the trend here, using both cassava and sorghum. It is likely that this Widmer product was too early. Under this 2008 TTB Ruling it is unlikely TTB would re-approve the product, and this may explain why the current status of this label is “surrendered.” TTB requires “beer” to be made with malted barley and hops.

There are several pig-themed wine (and beer) labels this year. Maybe they are around every year, but we never quite noticed them until all the swine-induced hysteria. It so happens that the SWINE Festival is coming up next month, smack dab in the center of Iowa. The label says SWINE is nothing less than “Iowa’s premier pork and wine event.” No word yet on whether the flu situation is hurting or not hurting this event. Both the orange label, and the green label, are Iowa rosé made by Madison County Winery of Saint Charles, Iowa.

If you’re getting a little weary of “Toasted Whole Wheat Flakes” it might be time to consider Lancaster Milt Stout. It’s made with lactose and without preservatives according to the label. Wki explains:

Milk stout (also called sweet stout or cream stout) is a stout containing lactose, a sugar derived from milk. Because lactose is unfermentable by beer yeast, it adds sweetness, body, and calories to the finished beer. Milk stout was claimed to be nutritious, and was given to nursing mothers, along with other stouts, such as Guinness. The classic surviving example of milk stout is Mackeson Stout, for which the original brewers claimed that “each pint contains the energising carbohydrates of 10 ounces of pure dairy milk”. In the period just after the Second World War when rationing was in place, the British government required brewers to remove the word “milk” from labels and adverts, and any imagery associated with milk.

Another choice, and not necessarily a good one, is Jersey Summer Breakfast Ale. It’s made by Cricket Hill Brewing of Fairfield, NJ. Their blog describes it as:

A breakfast ale as fresh and full with flavor as a day down by the shore. … Pairs as well with bacon and eggs as it does with a back...

It must be bowling season because these two beers went to TTB one day apart, in January of 2009. We liked the graphics on the the Nefarious Ten Pin Porter. It is made by Ska Brewing Company of Durango, Colorado. Ska has a good looking website but it doesn’t explain the brand name here. The Icehouse Beer is made by MillerCoors at breweries around the US.