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7 German Beer Styles You Need To Know Before Oktoberfest

Jacob Uitti
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7 German Beer Styles You Need To Know Before Oktoberfest

It’s October, which means get ready to see taps of Oktoberfest on the handles of your favorite local pubs and Oktoberfest posters for Oktoberfest parties at bars across the land. But what, exactly, is an Oktoberfest beer?  Is it heavy and dark or light and bright? And, for that matter, why is it spelled with that weird ‘k’? Oh, it’s German? Okay. Well, what other German beers are there? Good questions, curious beer quaffer! Get ready to learn about these 7 very important styles of suds from the country that gave the world bratwursts, bleached blond hair and sides of sauerkraut.

Octoberfest

A light lager with an effervescent flavor that hits the tip of the nose. Think: a bright, yeasty, harvest-y brew, often made with a touch of spice. The beer typically clocks in between five and 5.9 percent ABV and its original name is “Märzen,” because its brewing process begins in March and is completed in October. Example? Sam Adams Octoberfest.

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Weisse

Anything with this word, or variation of this word, in it – like Hefeweizen – means the beer is made with wheat.

These ales, which can taste a little like clove or banana, often aren’t high in alcohol and don’t offer that IPA bitterness. They’re light, fluffy and fresh (but Dunkelweiens are dark). Try with a lemon or orange slice. Example? Hacker-Pschorr Hefeweizen.

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Gose

These often drink like a summery sour beer. Made with 50-60 percent wheat, soured with Lactobacillus and unfiltered, there can be a cloudy appearance to these concoctions. Goses, especially during the summer months, can be made with tart berry flavors for an added punch. Example? Northwest Peaks Gose.

Pilsner

The lightest of all beer styles, a Pilsner is type of lager, which, unlike an ale, means the beer is brewed with bottom-fermenting yeasts at colder temperatures. Pilsners originated with the Czech Republic using pilsen malts, which makes the beer taste thin and crisp. Example? Chuckanut Pilsner.

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Bock

There are several versions of Bock beers, like Doppelbocks and Maibocks, but generally, these beers are maltier (i.e. sweeter) and can be lighter in color or darker and heavier.

They’re regularly made to drink in springtime and often have a stronger ABV compared to other German brews. Example? Shiner Bock.

Helles

A lager, this style is full-bodied but light. This is as classic a German beer as you can get. Want to feel like you’re running through the fields with a mug of authentic stuff? Grab a Helles Lager. Example? Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Helles.

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Kolsch

Mellow body with a touch of spice, this celebratory brew is cold brewed with a mildly fruity flavor.

After you’ve tried all the other beers on the list, get a pint of this one and cheers your fellow bar mate because you did it! You’re ready for your first real Oktoberfest. Example? Rogue Farms Honey Kolsch.

Dream Melts For Cannabis Chocolatier Hoping To Open In S.F. Mall

Terry Hacienda
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Dream Melts For Cannabis Chocolatier Hoping To Open In S.F. Mall

A sweet dream turned bitter for a San Francisco gourmet cannabis chocolatier on Friday when a swank shopping mall in the heart of the city’s downtown retail corridor rejected its application to move in.

Défoncé Chocolatier, whose high-end chocolate bars are popular in Bay Area cannabis dispensaries, submitted a planning application to open a retail outlet in the Westfield San Francisco Centre, hoping to become the first marijuana shop to be located in an America class-A mall. And on Thursday, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the deal looked good.

But nine hours later, the chocolate-covered dream melted from the threat of federal interference. The Chronicle published an updated story reporting that the mall owners denied the proposal.

Westfield, anchored by Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, is also the home of such tony brands as Penhaligon’s London, Rolex and Tiffany & Co. In a statement issued late Friday, the mall’s owner said it was no longer considering the new tenant:

“Unless federal law permits the sale of cannabis products, Westfield will not lease to this type of tenant at any center it operates.”

Défoncé CEO Eric Eslao, a former executive at Apple, said he will pursue other locations within the city limits. “While we’re disappointed not to be moving forward with our proposed Westfield location, we are actively exploring alternative locations in San Francisco and look forward to continuing discussions with the city,” Eslao told the Chronicle.

Many experts in the cannabis, retail and real estate industries were not surprised by the rejection. In fact, most wondered how the situation got as far as it did.

A cannabis retailer in a shopping mall would have been “precedent-setting,” said Amanda Ostrowitz, a Denver regulatory attorney specializing in marijuana regulations and banking law. But she suggests that, eventually, the tide may turn.

“The growth of online retail has created a situation where the commercial real estate industry has to get more creative. If this works out, it could be a boon for the retail real estate industry. There are precious few sectors that are demanding storefront space at the moment,” Ostrowitz told the Chronicle.

In D.C., A Basic T-Shirt Costs $45, But The Marijuana Is Free

Terry Hacienda
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In D.C., A Basic T-Shirt Costs $45, But The Marijuana Is Free

A perfect law is like a leprechaun or a unicorn or comfortable stilettos: You can look all you want but you will never find one. A perfect marijuana law would be akin to a leprechaun wearing comfortable stilettos while riding a unicorn. Good luck with that.

To demonstrate just how absurd marijuana regulations can be, just take a look at what is going on in our nation’s capital. In 2014, Washington D.C. residents voted overwhelmingly to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana. But, in what can be described as a 420 Catch 22, it is illegal to buy or sell it. This could only happen in a city filled with politicians.

But some creative cannabis entrepreneurs have found a loophole in the law. Here is how the Associated Press described the solution in recent report:

It’s hard to justify $45 for an ordinary black cotton T-shirt, but the customer at a store in Washington D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood does so without question. The clerk grabs a clear plastic box containing about one gram of marijuana and drops it into the bag, reciting a practiced line: “Thank you and here’s a gift for you to have as a souvenir.”

It’s another satisfied customer in the so-called District of Cannabis, the unique legal and commercial space spawned by the District of Columbia’s unusual approach to marijuana legalization.

That’s right: The retailer is not selling marijuana. The customer is not buying marijuana. It’s FREE WEED! All you need to do is buy a drastically overpriced undershirt. Locals are calling it the “gift economy” and it has everyone buzzing.

“It’s definitely unique. The DC city council and the city government don’t want to be busting people for weed. They want this to work and work smoothly,” Morgan Fox of the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project told AP.

One resourceful retailer, Gregory Moorer, is using the loophole to make a buck. “Seven days a week, you can find [a cannabis-friendly] event going on,” Moorer, told the AP. His company, Laid Back Lords, gives away weed at these venues if the customer forks over $50 for a ball caps or $80 for a sweatshirt.

But some politicians refuse to acknowledge how crazy this law is. Republican Maryland Congressman Andy Harris is the lawmaker who authored the regulation banning the District of Columbia government from spending resources to develop a reasonable retail policy.

“I think the District of Columbia made a bad decision [in legalizing cannabis],” Harris, an avid drug warrior, told the AP. “I would hope the District comes to its senses and realizes the dangers.”

Police tell AP that the ridiculous legal loophole isn’t fooling anyone. “In our estimation, that’s still illegal,” said Lt. Andrew Struhar of the Narcotics and Special Operations division of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department. But Struhar also made it clear that local law enforcement officers will look the other way as long as neighbors don’t complain and those involved remain low-key.

The last word goes to City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who told the AP: “I don’t think it’s sustainable. We have legal marijuana but we can’t regulate it. It’s stupid, it’s just stupid.”

Gossip: Scott Disick No Longer Drinking Thanks To Sofia Richie; Prince Harry Asking Meghan Markle’s Mother For Her Hand In Marriage

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Scott Disick No Longer Drinking Thanks To Sofia Richie; Prince Harry Asking Meghan Markle’s Mother For Her Hand In Marriage

Things continue to heat up between Scott Disick and Sofia Richie.The 34-year-old “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star and his 19-year old girlfriend enjoyed a steamy kiss amid the twosome’s vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Monday, October 2.

“Scott has stopped drinking. He is sober and he can thank his new girlfriend,” sources tell Naughty Gossip. “Sofia hates drunk sloppy people and Scott wants to impress her. She has never seen him as a mess and he wants to make sure that she never does. She is the best thing that has ever happened to him. He is older and now he is working out and eating right – he wants to keep up with his hot, younger lady. Scott is now hanging with a new crowd and he is doing much better.”

Prince Harry Asking Meghan Markle’s Mother For Her Hand In Marriage

“Harry got to spend a little time with Meghan and her mom, Doria Ragland. Harry asked her mother for her daughters hand in marriage,” sources tell Naughty Gossip. “This is not Harry’s first time meeting Doria. But Doria flew in just for this, to see her future son-in-law and she said yes.”

When a young man seems to be getting along famously with his prospective mother-in-law, it is said, it’s a sign that things are getting mighty serious. It certainly seemed that way at the weekend, when Prince Harry was captured deep in conversation with Doria Ragland, the mum of his girlfriend (and, some say, soon-to-be fiancee) Meghan Markle.

Looking much younger than her 60 years, and enviably trim, in a lilac chiffon top and jeans, with her hair stylishly braided, Miss Ragland had made the five-hour flight from her home in Los Angeles to Toronto, to join the couple at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games. Harry was evidently delighted to see her, and from their smiles it was clear that the pair already get along famously. They appear to be on such good terms that, at one point, she cupped her hand over her mouth conspiratorially as she whispered something to him.

Royal watchers eagerly awaiting the announcement of an engagement should regard this public show of affection as a highly significant development.

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

Atlanta Votes Unanimously To Lessen Marijuana Penalties

Mary Schumacher
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Atlanta Votes Unanimously To Lessen Marijuana Penalties

On Monday, the Atlanta City Council passed legislation unanimously, 15-0, to reduce possession penalties for less than one ounce of cannabis. The announcement was met with a rain of applause from constituents who had been hopefully waiting for the outcome.

Currently, if one’s caught in Atlanta with under an ounce, a fine of up to $1,000 is applicable as well as up to six months in jail. This new ordinance would squash the fines and jail time to a $75 ticket and no jail. This is a major accomplishment in pot politics and politics in general.

City councilperson Kwanza Hall is attempting to follow Kasim Reed as the next mayor. He’s also been working on getting these penalties lowered since spring. He says that the legislation is necessary to combat the disparate numbers of black individuals being arrested for cannabis possession.

The numbers paint the picture. Though white and black Americans use cannabis at the same rate, in Atlanta alone, between 2014 and 2016, 92 percent of those arrested for cannabis were black and 85 percent male, according to the Racial Justice Action Center in East Point.

“Today we stand with every parent of Atlanta who is fearful of or has seen their children’s lives destroyed, or careers ruined because of a racist policy that unjustly incarcerated minorities by more than ninety percent,” Hall said. “Reforming the racist marijuana laws on the book in Atlanta has been just one in many reforms that I have fought for.”

Council members are now primarily concerned with people knowing and understanding the new law and getting the word out to the entire Atlanta community.

“In fact, what I’ve said is I don’t want blood on my hands. I don’t want some college kid to think they are within their rights to possess marijuana in Atlanta, get arrested, resist arrest and, God forbid, the worst happens,” Councilperson Keisha Lance-Bottoms said.

The Atlanta City Council tweeted on Monday, “To everyone who came out in support of the legislation to reduce the penalties for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, we heard you. Motion passed unanimously 15-0.”

Cannabis’ CBD Could Be An Important Asset In Treating NFL CTE

Maria Loreto
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Cannabis’ CBD Could Be An Important Asset In Treating NFL CTE

NFL’s issues with head trauma have been a widely discussed topic, with studies that date back to 1997 linking professional football players with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). 

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association proved that the problem is extremely pervasive, finding evidence of CTE in 110 out of 111 football players that were analyzed. Currently, it seems like playing football comes with a side of head trauma and concussions. 

Negative press and media coverage have forced the NFL to look for an answer and to find a fast way to protect their players, and it seems like cannabis might be one of the resources their planning on exploiting. 

Dr. William Korinek believes that a pill for treating concussions could appear on the market by 2025. According to Green Rush Daily, Dr. Korinek is trying to create a medication that’ll treat concussions that occurred within the half hour. Other researchers aren’t as optimistic, and believe that it’ll take at least a decade to produce a viable medication. 

For the cannabis side of things, The University of Miami was given a $16 million grant to conduct research on CBD and to see how it could treat head injuries and concussions. They’re also looking into the development of goggles that could rapidly diagnose concussions, something that’s still very hard to do. These researchers believe that the development of the goggles and the medication are equally important, both needing each other for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of the disease.  

The study is planned to last five years, where doctors will be studying the combined effects of CBD and an NMDA antagonist. This combination is expected to reduce headaches, brain cell inflammation, pain, and other symptoms related to concussions.

Study: Medical Marijuana Has Serious Anti-Arthritic Capabilities

Brea Mosley
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Study: Medical Marijuana Has Serious Anti-Arthritic Capabilities

Arthritis, the inflammation of joints, causes stiffness and pain for the three million Americans suffering from it. While there isn’t a designated cure, many steps can be taken for treating it and making the symptoms less severe. The good news is that researchers have been examining the effects of cannabis’ anti-arthritic capabilities and the studies have been quite promising.

Since osteoarthritis (OA) pain is linked to central sensitization (a part of the nervous system that aids in the development and maintenance of the chronic pain) researchers sought to find the connection between OA and the way the brain processes pain.

In their study they noted that CB2 controls joint pain and targeting CB2 receptors can provide relief. When researchers administered a CB2 agonist on a spine with arthritis symptoms, the symptoms were weakened.

In another study, researchers exposed mice to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) to explore the therapeutic possibilities of CBD (the non psychoactive component of cannabis).

CIA is condition used to study rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks healthy and normal joint tissues. This painful condition results in the inflammation of the joint lining and results in pain, stiffness and swelling.

The mice were made immune to collagen 11 (C11, a human type of collagen), resulting in acute or chronic CIA. Once these symptoms started to show, the mice were administered CBD and in both of the mice sets (the ones experiencing acute or chronic), the cannabis compound intercepted the progression of arthritis.

The study also showed that CBD was just as effective for the mice when ingested orally.

This study proves that CBD has “potent” anti-inflammatory abilities in mice, which is very positive news for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, specifically.

Kirsten Dunst Accidentally Got High While Shooting Her New Movie ‘Woodshock’

Maria Loreto
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Kirsten Dunst Accidentally Got High While Shooting Her New Movie ‘Woodshock’

Kirsten Dunst’s Woodshock looks like a pretty trippy movie but we would hesitate to refer to it as a “stoner” movie, since no one in that film looks relaxed, like they’re having any sort of fun or, you know, like they’re getting high for the usual reasons people get high in movies.

While the effects of marijuana in Woodshock look vastly different than the effects of marijuana in a Seth Rogen movie, the pot is still there, being smoked right in front of your eyes. These movies make everyone think of a really important question: What are actors really smoking on movie sets?

Luckily, Kirsten Dunst made an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show and explained that actors smoke “movie weed”, which is basically a mixture of tobacco and some “herbs” that are not weed. Don’t ask. Dunst also took a moment to tell the story of how she ended up getting accidentally super stoned on set because someone thought it’d be fun to sneak in a real joint in the midst of all the fake movie joints.

Her tale of accidental highness includes smoking an entire joint by herself, crying, laughing, eating peanut butter sandwiches, and finally going home because she was super overwhelmed and thought she was going to end up in a mental institution. Like we said, this is not the type of weed Seth Rogen smokes in his movies.

Woodshock is directed by Kate and Laura Mulleavy, two sisters that are known for their costume designs and for Rodarte, their brand of clothing and accessories. The film was released on September 22nd.

Perfectly Blissful Decaf Chai Tea For The Cannabis Lover

Danielle Guercio
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Perfectly Blissful Decaf Chai Tea For The Cannabis Lover

You don’t need a store bought brand or a multinational chain cafe to tell you how to drink your chai tea. The name itself reflects its ignorance of origin, as it’s just plain chai on the Indian subcontinent. But until you can experience a chaiwalla in person, your best bet is to make your own blend. It’s cheaper, better for the environment, and allows you to have control over the final flavor.

The basics of the real thing depend greatly on family traditions and region, but a consensus of spices in Masala Chai are cardamom, clove, black pepper, cinnamon, anise, and ginger. Sweetened or unsweetened, caffeinated or decaf, medicated or not, it’s all up to you! Make this tea to sip while you work, read, or are getting over an afternoon slump.

DIY​ ​Chai Tea

Adapted from The Hathi Cooks
Makes 2 cups, 7mg THC per cup estimated

  • Water
  • 6-7 Cardamom pods
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • 3-4 Cloves
  • 3-4 Black peppercorns
  • 5-6 caraway seeds
  • 1 star anise pod
  • 1 spent Vanilla bean (use the filling for something else!)
  • 1 tsp Ginger powder or a few slices of fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
  • 1 tsp Cannabis glycerin tincture*
Photos by Maria Penaloza

In a dry saucepan, toast up the spices lightly until they become fragrant. You can either lightly crush them with a wooden muddler, or leave whole for less intense flavors. Pour over 2 cups of water and add the powdered spices and vanilla pod. Boil for 5-10 minutes.

To show all of the beautiful spices, you can use a French press to serve it table-side, and its screen will help you filter out the solids so you can have the tea. Regardless of pressing or just serving direct from the saucepan, strain before adding the glycerin tincture so none of it sticks to the solids.

If you want to caffeinate your mix, try adding some strong black tea to the boiling phase or even in the French press before serving. To make it creamy, swap out the water for milk and simmer more carefully. Then you can add some hot water to dilute if you like. Vegan milks work great here too.

Photos by Maria Penaloza

*Cannabis​ ​Glycerin​ ​Tincture

Decarboxylate 3.5g of finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees for 20 minutes in a tightly sealed, oven safe container. Put cannabis in lidded mason jar or vacuum sealed bag with cannabis and ½ cup vegetable glycerin. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least 1 hour. Strain and chill to use in recipes.

As easy to whip up as it is to throw back, chai tea with cannabis allows you to taste the spices that drove trade in the “old world” in the way they are consumed in one of the world’s most ancient societies, where it’s rumored that cannabis was also born. Having Masala Chai with a snack or as its own hit of freshness is the wow factor you were missing in your beverage rotation.

Photos: Maria Penaloza

Millennials Don’t Take Time Off Work And Here’s Why

Amy Hansen
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Millennials Don’t Take Time Off Work And Here’s Why

Summer is over, leaving behind nothing but fond memories of fun in the sun lingering in our thoughts. Unless you’re a millennial. They don’t seem too comfortable with the word “leave” when it comes to work.

In 2015, a whopping 662 million days of vacation were discarded like last season’s athleisure. And at the top of that list? Our young workforce. According to Project: Time Off, millennials aren’t lazy and entitled as the stereotype would have us think—they’re afraid of losing their jobs.

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This epidemic, pegged “work martyrdom,” is primarily seen in those who believe not taking a break is something to be prized.

Workers who meet the work martyr definition tend to be slightly more female (52 percent) and slightly less likely to be married (55 percent are married, compared to 62 percent overall), but they are overwhelmingly Millennials. More than four in ten (43 percent) work martyrs are millennials, compared to just 29 percent of overall respondents.

Furthermore, nearly half (48 percent) of millennials think it’s a good thing to be seen as a work martyr by the boss.

Some even go so far as to “vacation shame” (yep, that’s a thing now) co-workers who do take a vacation. The thing is, a good portion of these millennials have zilch tenure—43 percent having been with their company for a maximum of two years.

What does this all mean? Basically, these work martyrs have the power to “poison” the landscape of the workforce by settling “for higher stress levels and worker unhappiness, a damaging combination that will hinder any company’s success. ”

The good news in all of this is that millennial managers (28 percent) acknowledge that when their employees take time off, they’re less stressed, more productive and more willing to put in extra hours at work when necessary. Vacation: it’s not just for old people anymore.

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