February 2007
The Session Is Coming
Posted by on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 in - 4 comments
Stan had an idea: hold a monthly beer love-in. Stan then decided what would be the first beer would be: stouts. • What does this all mean? Well for one thing, a lot of beer bloggy nerds are planning. They are determining which stout to have. Others are doing other things. Jay made the logo for … read more »
Introducing Evan Rail In Prague
Posted by on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 in - 6 comments
What do you know! I got an email the other day from Evan Rail in Prague, shown right with a brew: • “Hey Alan and everyone! • I really enjoy the Good Beer Blog! It's a fantastic source of information about what's brewing in the world. I live in the Czech Republic, which is (ahem!) a pretty …
A Beer For A Bag Of Toads
Posted by on Monday, February 26, 2007 in - 1 comment
The English language is a wonderful thing. It can be used to convey highly specific instructions to teach brain surgeons or to assemble a nuclear reactor. It can be used to create art or express love. And it can be used to explain how the beer for a bag of toads program works: • “Latest … read more »
Book Review: Beer School by Hindy and Potter
Posted by on Sunday, February 25, 2007 in - 1 comment
I recently received a number of copies of this book now in its paperback release. The extra copies are for the current beer blog contest (winners soon to be announced) and have to admit that I enjoyed it even though it covered very similar ground as another previously reviewed book - and a book …
The Week Of Eight Flavoured Beers
Posted by on Saturday, February 24, 2007 in - leave a comment
This week may not last that long. These beers have sort of collected on the stash shelf over time. Usually, I do not go out of my way to find a beer that has been flavoured. The worst thing, in fact, I have been asked in a pub by a bar tender after I said that I would have a beer was "what flavour …
Do We Love The Beer Or Brewer?
Posted by on Saturday, February 24, 2007 in - 11 comments
Lew has written another segment of his unfolding manifesto on his relationship to craft beer and the craft beer industry and triggered a long discussion. I take this as his key point: • I have to tell you, this kind of "let's treat craft beer with kid gloves" stuff has been bugging me for years …
Bier Markt, Toronto, Ontario
Posted by on Friday, February 23, 2007 in - 2 comments
Just a short note. Last night, I visited Bier Markt in the Big Smoke for the second time, the first being a short stop waiting to jump on a train at nearby Union Station with nothing but a Rochefort 6 to keep me company. The gathering was a small bloggy get together hanging out with these three …
Smoking Bans And Beer
Posted by on Thursday, February 22, 2007 in - 10 comments
Scottish & Newcastle, the UK's biggest brewer, is reporting that it will suffer because of the ban on smoking in pubs - but is that really the case? • “The ban on smoking in public places in England this summer will contribute to falling beer sales across the country, with the number of pints of …
Our First Beer Blog Contest 2007 Is Almost Closed
Posted by on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 in - leave a comment
Don't miss out being part of the fun when all your cooler beer bloggy pals are bragging about their neato haiku and sonnets. More here.
Vermont: Harvest Ale, Long Trail Brewing, Bridgewater Corners
Posted by on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 in - leave a comment
I have reviewed one or two Long Trail beers here before, and the company should hire me I love them so much. • This bottle of Harvest Ale has sat in the beer stash here for a little bit, waiting for the right moment. My wife is out and about this evening, so I didn't have to share, making this a …
The Bloggy Habits Of Flossmoor Station
Posted by on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 in - 2 comments
I am pleased to say that the current issue of the Great Lake Brewing News has an article starting on its front page that I wrote. It's about the internet and beer. My biggest surprise since that link-fest came out and got into the hands of this regional brewing nerds is some of the feedback I have …
My Wee Experimental Brewery
Posted by on Monday, February 19, 2007 in - 3 comments
Not quite this much yeast... • I was going to call this another project but I think that might be a wee bit too much so "My Experimental Brewery" (or MEB) will have to do. I have home brewed in two periods of my life. In 1987 I visited the Pitfield Beer Shop that Knut visited in 2005 but which …
Good Beer Blog Contest Update: What - No Beer Haiku?
Posted by on Monday, February 19, 2007 in - 1 comment
Still a few days left in the first contest for 2007. We have had some good entries but not yet as many as in the photo contest from last fall. I think the fact that the photos were out of our archives as opposed to having to think up something new may have something to do with that. We do have a …
PGP 1.0: The Pub Games Project
Posted by on Sunday, February 18, 2007 in - 7 comments
What - another theme? As if having contests and starting to think about beer and music is not enough, I have been obsessing a bit (inspired no doubt by Stonch) about old games a bit lately at my other blog, the general purpose Gen X at 40, the web site that spawned this here place. • Plenty of …
New World Pre-historic Beer
Posted by on Saturday, February 17, 2007 in - 5 comments
The lack of universal beeriness - outside of Europe, the Middle East and Africa - has sometimes got me wondering about whether it has more to do with the lack of universal anthropolgical awareness of New World beer than its historic presence. Interesting, then, to note this reference to the habits …
Paul Goes to Two Cambridge Pubs
Posted by on Friday, February 16, 2007 in - 1 comment
“[Alan here. Before we get into this post, the third of Paul's series this week, I just have to point out my gratitude for these contributions as well as all those of all those who get to post here - Knut, Gary, Donavan and the rest. And I have to say that I had a hard time cropping Paul's …
Quick Note: Suffolk Strong. Greeene King, England
Posted by on Thursday, February 15, 2007 in - 1 comment
This has been kicking around the stash since it was on the LCBO's seasonal release for, I think, winter. Thick frothy lace-leaving tan head over deep chestnut ale. In the snoot, a bit of a tang like a Belgian dubbel - a comparison not dispelled in the mouth....minus the burlap. Very nice. I am …
Paul Goes To The Cambridge Winter Ale Festival
Posted by on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 in - leave a comment
The 11th Cambridge Winter Ale Festival took place 25th – 27th January 2007 in the three rooms of the University Sports and Social Club in Mill Lane, Cambridge. Me and John arrived at noon on the Saturday, just as the doors were about to open. It was obvious that the good burghers of Cambridge had …
Review: Beer Pong Tables
Posted by on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 in - 9 comments
This is another review for the people at ReviewMe who provide enough for a good 24 or more of craft ale in return for me turning my mind to the products of their clients. Past reviews have been about websites for the most part but this one is different - it is a website selling portable beer pong …
Paul Goes To The Laxfield Low House, Suffolk, England
Posted by on Monday, February 12, 2007 in - 9 comments
I’ve never been to a pub quite like the Laxfield Low House. First up that’s not its proper name, but it’s what the locals call it. Its official name is The Kings Head, an Adnams pub now, but it is the stuff of legend. I’ve known of it for a number of years but have never managed to get to it … read more »
My Best Session Keg
Posted by on Sunday, February 11, 2007 in - 1 comment
Adam of the Brew Lounge recently asked me for a session beer recipe of mine. I was only a part mash brewer back then and haven't brewed in four years. This one was what I came up with on 5 January 2002 and was inspiringly named Batch #29: • “1/4 lb flaked barley • 1/4 lb Vienna malt • 3/4 lb …
BMP 1.0: My Beer In Music Project And Jughead
Posted by on Sunday, February 11, 2007 in - 3 comments
Lew Bryson has started his Session Beer Project (the "SBP") which has generated much interest and acclaim. OK, interest. In discussing what a session beer is, Lew commented on an earlier beer blog thread: • “...I don't live in the UK or Ontario where sub-4.5% ABV beers are readily available …
Another Great Contest Entry
Posted by on Saturday, February 10, 2007 in - leave a comment
I thought I was under some sort of email spam attack today - then I realized it was just the flood of entries for the first Good Beer Blog contest of 2007. So far we have Stan asking many questions and entries like Boston Bob's and this a poem. • Now Jon of The Brew Site blog has forwarded his …
197 Out Of Hundreds Of Thousands Can't Be Wrong
Posted by on Friday, February 9, 2007 in - 9 comments
Being a good Scots minister's kid, this sort of stuff drive me nuts - especially when it is not only against the obvious bits written down in the text but it also makes no sense as mathematics: • “ChristiaNet.com (http://www.christianet.com), the world's largest Christian portal with twelve …
Some Short Beery Bullet Points
Posted by on Thursday, February 8, 2007 in - 6 comments
Here are some notes from things that have been around the blogs, the internet and in the email: • Pause for a moment for the good people at C's Farm Market in Oswego whose co-owner, Maria, sends out regular email updates about what is going on. If you haven't heard, Oswego is in a state of …
Quick Note: Monkman's Slaughter, Cropton Brewery, England
Posted by on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 in - 2 comments
From the Cropton Brewery - whose website has an e-commerce basket system offering free delivery throughout the UK. It would be interesting to know what their web sales are like as I am just hittig the part in Beer School where the Brooklyn Brewery guys make a wrong turn on to a ramp heading to the …
<i>Breaking News</i>: Lew Blogs
Posted by on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 in - leave a comment
Just when I was going to pronounce blogging dead for the 17th time, Stan points me in a direction that I was unaware of - Lew Bryson has started a beer blog. Another great addition to the smallish world of beer blogging from one of my favorite writers on brew.
My Good Beer Blog Contest Picks
Posted by on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 in - leave a comment
Ok, the first contest of 2007 is upon us and, while Stan is mulling his options, let me think a bit about my own picks. If I win I am giving the book to my dentist's office: • The keg that never drains: When I was a home brewer with an acre vegetable garden, I used to brew super-low beers like a …
The First Good Beer Blog Contest Of 2007
Posted by on Monday, February 5, 2007 in - 30 comments
OK. We have the prize established - three paperback copies of the book Beer School which is about the founding of The Brooklyn Brewery. Fab. I am reading it now and like it plenty. • Now for the contest. Paul of Kingston, who missed the CNY Brewfest for the most non-injurious yet catastrophic of …
CNY Brewfest 2007 Is History
Posted by on Sunday, February 4, 2007 in - leave a comment
To say I had anything other than a blast would be something of a understatement. Being, I have to admit, my first US style beer fest with hundreds and hundreds of people in a large barn at the NY state fair with 52 beer vendors giving it away for free it was quite a lesson in craft beer culture … read more »
What Makes a Good Local?
Posted by on Saturday, February 3, 2007 in - 5 comments
I was recently down in Baltimore revisiting the beer scene that I covered last year during Saint Patrick's Day or actually Saint Patrick's week. I discovered a bar or taproom called Max's. As a certified beer nerd I took one look at Max's beer selection and was suitably impressed. They have 70 …
Two Organic Beers From California
Posted by on Friday, February 2, 2007 in - 2 comments
The two in question are Wild Hop Lager from Green Valley Brewing and Butte Creek IPA. Two pretty good brews which, after I compared them, caused me to discover one BIG SURPRISE. • First, though, the question is this - do I need organic beer in my life? Well, I know this: I need good beer in my …
Just Thirteen Posts Old
Posted by on Thursday, February 1, 2007 in - 1 comment
Knut, our man in Norway, clearly has his finger on the pulse of beer blogging in Europe as he has found a newly minted blog with a very good writer from London Engerland entitled Stonch's Beer Blog. Welcome Stonch and the rest of you go read.
