Recently, my diet has hit rock bottom. Sixteen cheeseburgers a week low.

On the plus side, gluttony leads to discovery. Foxon Park, established in 1922 and located in East Haven, CT, makes all the flavors required for any ice cream soda imaginable. They use real sugar, which in their estimation has helped them stand the test of time. Being the regular drinks pairing with some of the United States’ best pizza doesn’t hurt matters either.

Order from Foxon Park.

Labeled Boston, made in Fall River, AJ Stephans makes one hell of a ginger beer. It is one of roughly nine flavors the firm produces… to be honest, the only one we’ve tasted… and enough to suggest their claim of “New England’s Best Tonic” might worry some of the family owned soda brands in Connecticut.

While Dark n’ Stormy season might be ending for some, we recommend a last hurrah and a tango with AJ Stephans.

Launching today (in about an hour), Sixpoint Crisp Lagers offers a new dimension to the output of Brooklyn’s best brewery. Sixpoint will kick-off the new line of beers with the “Sehr Crisp” Pilsner-style beer. “The formal, stated intention of the Crisp Lagers division is to create delicious, unique, bold and crisp lager beers by harnessing the natural qualities of the four classic beer ingredients – malt, hops, water and yeast. The name “Sixpoint” is already synonymous with well-crafted beers. The Crisp Lager line, in tandem with the Craft Ales portfolio, creates a wider and more dynamic range of Sixpoint beers to better serve the discerning palate and myriad of social situations.”

This will hopefully help uplift the lowly lager over time and begin to rid our nation of things like Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Abita’s SOS aims to save Lousiana’s shores by supporting a good cause and delivering a delicious and charitable pilsner  -

Working with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board (LSPMB), Abita Beer announced that it has established ‘SOS – A Charitable Fund’ that will assist with the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive this disastrous oil spill.

The fund has pledged that 100% of all money raised will go to charity. In addition, the Louisiana Seafood Marketing Board will play an important role in advising where the money can do the most good. An advisory committee is being established as the donation process and grant procedures are finalized.

The centerpiece of the fundraising effort is a new charitable beer created by Abita. The brew, called SOS – A Charitable Pilsner, will generate 75¢ for every bottle sold. This Abita Beer is a message in a bottle…a distress signal for the troubled waters of our Gulf Coast. For every bottle sold Abita will donate 75¢ to the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive this disastrous oil spill. This unfiltered Weizen Pils is made with Pilsner and Wheat malts. It is hopped and dry hopped with Sterling and German Perle hops. It has a brilliant gold color, a sweet malt flavor, and a pleasant bitterness and aroma.

The brewery has launched a dedicated site, which is quite fun.

Popcorn being my favored snack, I’ve taken the time to investigate home appropriate options beyond the microwave.

To date, the best I’ve found is John Cope’s Gourmet White Popping Corn. Not surprisingly, Cope’s is a brand full of heritage – founded in 1900, rich in Pennsylvania Dutch history, and allegedly popular with President Eisenhower. Those things are not particularly important here, instead the quality of the texture and the flavor of the popping corn are key. Additionally, the corn is free of additives and or artificial chemicals.

I season mine with cayenne and cracked pepper. You can do whatever you want with yours… assuming you buy some from Farm Stand Foods.

Continuing our infrequent breakdown of summer brews, today we highlight Cerise from Founders Brewing Company. Coming from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cerise comes in at 6.5%abv and is “kind of a Shirley Temple for adults” (see the video below), a distinction that comes from the use of locally sourced cherries throughout the brewing process. The result is a tart and sweet warm weather tipple.

Learn more about Cerise through the entertaining video (made by the awesome guys at Beer America) found after the jump.

Yanko Design reports (and raves) about a new espresso machine by designer Shmuel Linkski. Espresso Solo finds Linkski housing the active devices of the machine in a two-part molded concrete body. The design is no fuss – incorporating only the necessaries for making long and short espresso – bean chamber, water outlet, etc.

Full looks after the jump.