The label you see pictured here represents the NUMBER ONE beer in the Beer Advocate’s Top 100. You get one point if you’ve ever heard of it, ten points if you’ve actually tasted it. But Trappist apparently makes some really, really tasty brew, because they’ve got 4 of the top 100 spots.

I’ll go further: I’ve never heard of the vast majority of the beers on this list. Let me add this, however: based on what I know of the Beer Advocate (read: they know their shit cold), I’m inclined to trust the list like gospel. Each beer is given a pretty particular score, and there are more detailed comments for each, as well. It’s unlikely that many of these brews are going to be available at your neighborhood Applebee’s, so know-how on how to get them is going to huge.

Does anyone have any first-hand impressions of the beers on this list?

If there’s one thing I’m constantly saying, it’s that there isn’t enough bartering going on these days. Well, maybe this is the first time I’ve ever said it, but dammit, I mean it. We all did it as kids, right? Baseball cards, video games, I’ll show you, you show me. That kind of stuff. Well, Crumpler Bags is getting in on some of that action in a really cool way.

From June 9th - June 17th at it’s two Manhattan locations: 45 Spring St. and 49 8th Ave, Crumpler will be holding its second annual US Beer for Bags exchange-fest.

From a press release, details emerge:

A selection of the company’s messenger, laptop and photo bags will be offered in exchange for specific varieties and quantities of ale representing a saving of over 30%. One case of Coopers and four Fosters Oil Cans can be traded for a Barney Rustle Messenger bag (retail $95). A Moderate Embarrassment laptop satchel (retail $80) can be procured for two cases of Asahi and a packet of ramen noodles.

But that ain’t all. Follow THIS LINK for a spinning wheel exchange chart. Give it a read to know ahead of time what you’ll need to bring. And what will Crumpler do with the ale from the sale? Participants will be invited to a party afterwards to sample and appreciate the amber brew. The remainder will be donated to art, charity and sporting events. “It’s in our own interests to support others by spreading the beer love, otherwise Crumpler staff will end up with enormous beer bellies” quipped Crumpler spokesman John Thursday.

In addition to beer’s many, many uses, it’s now currency. Take advantage, one and all.

If there are two things that I know for sure, it’s 1) I’m no longer in college; and 2) sometimes I wish I was still in college. Ah, the days of zero responsibility. Thing is, I was a guitar player in a band with fairly steady gigs, so cash was plentiful, expenses were next to zero (thanks, Dad), and I had nothing but time. My, how times have changed.

So how do I recapture that feeling? Beer Sudz has a suggestion: the Jellyfish Beer Bong. How else to recreate the happiest moments of youth than to cram beer down your gullet as quickly as humanly possible?

I had the opportunity to test the Jellyfish at a neighborhood Cinco de Mayo party this past weekend. It was a hit, for sure, probably most of all for its novelty. Bottom line, the Jellyfish is a lot of fun. It’s light, portable, a good gag. But it’s by no means perfect. The biggest problem is that the tube tends to get twisted, making drinking difficult. The tried and true clear hose from our college days was far more effective.

So I’m not going to wax poetic on this product much longer, but I will say this: grab one for a laugh. It will liven up any party, even if it won’t teleport you back in time to the frat house.

Noreasters and record setting blizzards aside, it’s spring, which means cookouts. Which means beer.

Take a few minutes to learn a couple things by watching this video. Learning doesn’t have to hurt, gentlemen.

Via Men’s Health

If the posters, the billboards, the TV commercials, common sense or the legacies of dead friends-of-friends are still not enough to stop you from driving home drunk, the State of New Mexico is going to speak to you in a language you can understand – urinal cakes.

Using motion-sensor technology, the Wizmark Interactive Urinal Communicator (we’re not kidding) detects the approaching, uh, client, and delivers a short, calm, sweet message encouraging well-lubricated patrons to consider getting home by means other than their own.

Although the really drunk will probably run away screaming the second they hear a talking urinal cake, perhaps the less-drunk-but-still-too-drunk-to-drive, having so far ignored everyone else’s advice, will heed the warning of their small, drenched friend.

We’ll leave the last word to the Wizmark itself: “Remember, your future is in your hand.”

DWI message finds home in urinal [Free New Mexican via Crunch Gear]

There is no surer way to shorten your night (and potentially your life) than tricking a drunk out of his money in a bar.

This video shows you one of the oldest tricks in the book.

Watch it and ask the same question we’ve been asking – how fast can you run after five quick beers?

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

Irritating Bar Bet Video [Liquor Snob]

Homebrewing beer is one of those great hobbies that not only lets you indulge your ‘DIY genius’ fantasy, but also allows you to drink a lot of beer.

But being that the world’s best beer is brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium, rather than by you in your garage, perhaps its time to stop focusing on your process and instead look at your soul.

Well, maybe not, but Brew Like A Monk by Stan Hieronymus could be a good start. Starting with the history of beer in Belgium and moving onto how its brewed, the book then tells you how you can attempt to emulate theirs techniques in your own home.

Gown and shaved crown not included.

Book Review: Brew Like A Monk by Stan Hieronymus [A Good Beer Blog]

We’d like to think that this story is a favor to our female readers. You know, the thousands of girls who read TSL…

Okay, well, regardless of the existence of our female readership or otherwise, we couldn’t really ignore the tale of Bulgaria’s latest tourist attraction – Boza, the beer with hidden, uh, breast-enhancing properties.

Romanian Constantin Barbu, who crossed the Danube in search of Boza in the Bulgarian town of Ruse, said: “I’ve bought a case for my wife to try out. I really hope I see an improvement.”

If the beer really actually does have these properties, what does this mean for the beer-swilling men of Bulgaria? Are they in the grip of a moob epidemic? We’ll keep you posted.

EU goes mad for Bulgarian breast-boosting beer [The Register]

Despite many of the things we love around here being directly related to gold and oil, we rarely pay much attention to commodities prices. That’s all set to change, however, after the emergence of a new primary production crisis. Disturbing reports are emerging that price increases for many materials common to brewing may begin to drive up the cost of beer.

Falling barley production, skyrocketing transport and energy costs and increases in the price of other materials such as aluminum and glass bottles are identified as the main culprits in this financial disaster:

Barley prices have steadily inched up each month, ending 2006 averaging $3.19 per bushel in December — an increase of about 24 percent from December’s average price of $2.57 in 2005. Meanwhile, production has fallen 15 percent to 180 million bushels, down from 211.9 million in 2005, mainly due to droughts in Australia and the Midwest and more farmers choosing to grow different crops like corn and soybeans.

Bernstein Research analyst Robert van Brugge forecast that this year’s barley price increases will impact brewers’ cost of goods sold — or the cost of the raw materials used in production — by 1 to 2 percent in 2007.

The analyst said he believes brewers will be forced to pass along some of that increase this year to consumers.

After the great hops blaze of last October, this couldn’t come at a worse time. For the first time since the dark ages, are we looking towards a world where beer is a luxury, rather than a staple?

Barley prices may push cost of a beer up [Business Week via A Good Beer Blog]

We apologise if we seem obsessed with Japanese beer gadgets, but the story of the roaring Godzilla drink dispenser was too good to ignore.

And that’s about all there is to this story. The Japanese have made a minature Godzilla with space for a beverage can which, when tipped forward, roars and pours.

The only Japanese beer we can think of that’s readily available in a can is Sapporo Premium Draft, and we wonder whether Godzilla has a delicate enough touch to handle it’s tall, curvy, stylized 22-ounce form. If not, the trauma of dropping one of those expensive silver tins on the ground could be enough to have you stomping down the streets of Tokyo, kicking down every damn building you see.

Spotted in Shibuya: Godzilla Drink Dispenser [Tokyo Mango via Gizmodo]