July 2007
Brewery Focus: Bell's Best Brown Ale, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Posted by on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 in - leave a comment
The funny thing about brown beer is that beer is basically brown. All beer is brown. OK, almost all beer. Daniels and Parker say at the outset of Chapter 1 of their book Brown Beer: • “While exploring the history of brown ale, we wound up visiting nearly every other style of British ale. From …
Brewery Focus: Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Posted by on Monday, July 30, 2007 in - leave a comment
I don't know about this Brewery Focus idea. It's getting so unfocused. The other posts for Bells are here and here - but that was a couple of weeks ago. Have I pushed the limits of blogging? Could I get a life and just get on with the review? • The name of the beer along with the picture of the …
A Check For A Short Beer
Posted by on Sunday, July 29, 2007 in - 8 comments
As you know, we get emails around here with all sorts of inquiries about this and that. Recently someone suggested that the world would be better if I posted his opinion piece on something. No thanks. Plenty of days, mixed in with the Nigerian scams there are offers to promote someone else's web …
About Oaked Beer: Insanity, Weyerbacher, Easton, PA, USA
Posted by on Saturday, July 28, 2007 in - leave a comment
Actively carbonated bright red-chestnut ale under a tan foam and rim, this beer is sort of like a BBQ raisin. It matches big oak with a big ale and the result is impressive. The brewery tells us it's their Blithering Idiot Barleywine incarcerated in oak bourbon casks for a time. • Rich as … read more »
Kids And The Pub
Posted by on Friday, July 27, 2007 in - 7 comments
Just a question while the entries to the The Good Beer Blog Flying Dog Summer Gonzo-thon contest come in. What do you think of kids being in bars with their family? When I moved to Ontario from Atlantic Canada in the early 1990s, it was quite the thing to see kids in central Canadian bars at …
The Incredible Beer Blogging Explosion!
Posted by on Thursday, July 26, 2007 in - 8 comments
Being one of the oldest beer blogs going, having been around now for not quite all of less than three years, it has been amazing to watch how the hobby/habit has taken off in the last year or so. There are so many quality blogs out there posting on the brewing industry that it is hard to keep up …
Belgium: Reserve Speciale, Brasserie La Binchoise, Binche
Posted by on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 in - leave a comment
An amber ale from the makes of Brune Tradition, reviewed last year. I like these malty brews by La Binchoise but I was a little surprised how the cork blew out of my hand leaving a dent in the ceiling. Maybe that has something to do with the freshness date of C3-06. Maybe not. • The beer pours …
The Other Paul Visits A Brewfest in Syracuse
Posted by on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 in - leave a comment
I received correspondence yesterday from a local corresponent who comments here about frequently, Paul of Kingston, reporting on the fifth Empire State Brewing and Music Festival Held last Friday in Syracuse, NY. He reported on the fourth here. You know, I had thought that last year he had …
Book Review: Michigan Breweries by Ruschmann and Nasiatka
Posted by on Monday, July 23, 2007 in - leave a comment
I thought I knew nothing about Michigan Breweries. But one of the nice things about being in Ontario is that is practically stretches from Vermont to the Dakotas leaving lots of opportunity for me and my pals to zip across and then barter their bottles. That is what happened the other week when I …
Brewery Focus: Hebridean Gold, Isle of Skye Brewing, Scotland
Posted by on Sunday, July 22, 2007 in - leave a comment
The third of the trio from Isle of Skye Brewing, this one is a pale oat ale. I am looking forward to this. • This ale pours a bright burnished gold with a fine white froth and rim being sustained by very active carbonation. On the nose pale ale graininess as well as a fruity yeast tang. In the …
Sour Beer Studies: Gueuze Cuvée René, Lindemans, Belgium
Posted by on Saturday, July 21, 2007 in - leave a comment
I had great concerns about this beer given my whole Cantillon thing and my expectation of mouth puckering sourness. How wrong I was. While it is dry and even assertive in its acidity, this is no lemon. • On the nose there is fright fruit with some pear and berry. The beer pours a slightly cloudy …
Is Wisconsin The Continent's Beervana?
Posted by on Friday, July 20, 2007 in - 3 comments
Slumming around the internet, I came across this article about beer and Wisconsin which made me wonder whether it is the beer friendliest jurisdiction in North America. • “From handing out free samples at grocery stores to shunning a proposed tax increase, Wisconsin lawmakers love their beer … read more »
Good News For A Good Beer Blog!
Posted by on Thursday, July 19, 2007 in - 3 comments
We have had some great news this week with the decision of the Ontario Craft Brewers to officially join the supporters A Good Beer Blog. This support will allow us to continue the good work we try to do in the cause of good beer while also supporting the craft brewers of Ontario and getting the …
Health Minister Maybe Says Promoting Health Wrong Message
Posted by on Thursday, July 19, 2007 in - 1 comment
Help me with the logic. In Canada's eastern province of Nova Scotia, my old homeland, the Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, Barry Barnet, has told people just say no to attempts to use realty as a tool in assisting in health protection: • “...since the group most at risk …
Brewery Focus: Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Posted by on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 in - leave a comment
Pesky things these Bell's labels. Hard to photograph. A little like taking a photo of a paper grocery bag and making it look dynamic. Don't get me wrong - it is a very fine thing and not utilitarian at all. Pesky, though. • Bell's Kalamazoo is another stout in a range that includes ten or eleven …
News Flash: A Stash Has Been Destroyed - Consider Helping Out
Posted by on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 in - leave a comment
One of the founders of Canada's National Beer Policy has suffered a disasterous blow as shelves in his house, put in by the previous owners, revealed themselves to be traitors to the cause, screwed only into the drywall and not into the studs. As a result, he faces a beery Humpty Dumpty of the …
Brewery Focus: Bell's Expedition Stout, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Posted by on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 in - 7 comments
I like this Brewery Focus thing. The last one, Scotland's Isle of Skye Brewing, isn't done and yet I can start another. Why? Because a pal went to Michigan for work [Ed.: (later) he has revealed himself in the comments.] and all of a sudden, realizing the implications, we made calls to his cell …
Beer And Food: Beer Jelly From Cologne, Germany
Posted by on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 in - 9 comments
While writing my guide to Czech beers, I tried to include as many strange details as I could — the kind of stuff that would hopefully make the book fun to read, maybe even more than once. Like the date when a small Bohemian town under siege paid off the occupying Swedish army with barrels of lager …
Contest: The Good Beer Blog Flying Dog Summer Gonzo-thon
Posted by on Monday, July 16, 2007 in - 6 comments
Excellent news last week with the email from Neal Stewart, Director of Marketing with Flying Dog Brewery of Denver Colorado that they are putting up the prize for the next contest here at A Good Beer Blog. You will be pleased to learn that I bartered for swag on behalf of the winner and can report …
Book Review: <i>The US Brewing Industry</i> by Tremblay and Tremblay
Posted by on Sunday, July 15, 2007 in - 1 comment
Like any member of the bar, I think a lot of myself. I think there are not too many documents I cannot wade through and conquer. I think I have met my match, not because it is too complex or on a topic that I cannot grasp but that it is in a language I have never come across before - economic …
Massachusetts: Country Ale, Wachusett Brewing, Westminster
Posted by on Saturday, July 14, 2007 in - leave a comment
I have liked the ales I have had from Wachusett Brewing out of Westminster in central Massachusetts: the winter, their IPA , the summer seasonal and the brown - I like that picture of the brown. • When I last tried this, there was a malty note that I knew I knew from somewhere but I could not … read more »
Sour Beer Studies: Rose de Gambrinus, Cantillon, Belgium
Posted by on Friday, July 13, 2007 in - 2 comments
The famous nude lady sketch beer that outraged Maine or at least some officious Mainers. I never thought such a human condition was possible. Just to make a statement, I bought this 2005 375 ml bottling in Maine at the ever excellent Tully's at York for $8.50 USD. However will I hide the empty … read more »
Martyn Cornell Is Beer Blogging Now
Posted by on Thursday, July 12, 2007 in - 4 comments
So who is this William Blogg anyway? • This is excellent news: • “Alan, you might wish, when you have an idle moment, to take a look at my • new beer blog at http://zythophile.wordpress.com.” • Martyn Cornell, you will recall is the author of the wonderful book on the English brewing trade …
Ten-Penny: Another Maritime Canadian Beer Disappears
Posted by on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 in - 26 comments
When I was in undergrad in the early 1980's, just before New Brunswick's Hans Haus sorta failed at lift-off and Nova Scotia's Granite Brewery took off, I mainly drank beer made by two breweries that made beers that were pretty much like beers in the rest of Canada, • except they were made by …
About Oaked Beer: Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone, USA
Posted by on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 in - leave a comment
Look at it sitting there in the stash, taunting me, telling me I am not worthy. Even though today was a big day here abouts - maybe landing a new sponsor, maybe landing a contest prize with a great western craft brewer and even getting a mention in the July 2007 issue of Beer Advocate - still it …
Ontario: Sgt. Major, IPA, Scotch Irish Brewing
Posted by on Monday, July 9, 2007 in - 10 comments
Nothing like a six of stubbies if you're over 40 and a Canuck. I wrote about this beer in March 2005 and again in March 2006 when it compared very nicely in a side-by-side with Victory's HopDevil. Careful sifters of clues will note however, that the address on the six-pack box above shows a …
Imperial Showdown For Independence Day
Posted by on Sunday, July 8, 2007 in - 3 comments
It was an imperial 4th for me here in the United States. It was pirate versus druid as two 8% Imperial Stouts went head to head. • The first, Peg Leg Imperial, one of the Heavy Seas special offerings from Clipper City Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland poured black with just a hint of red tint …
The Perfect Beer Blog Post
Posted by on Saturday, July 7, 2007 in - leave a comment
I think that Ron has posted the greatest beer blog post ever - knowledgeable, funny, in-jokey, posturing, informative, self-effacing yet also genially abusive of others in the hobby. • Brilliant.
Session 5: Atmosphere
Posted by on Friday, July 6, 2007 in - leave a comment
Today is the day of The Session, the international beer blogging chatfest that is held the first Friday of every month. This always takes some thinking. We have had stouts, dubbels, milds and your local brew and today we have atmosphere, as chosen and hosted by Al and Ron at Hop Talk: • “Beer is …
See The Brewmaster... Be The Brewmaster...
Posted by on Thursday, July 5, 2007 in - 1 comment
Julia wrote to let me know that the good folks at Ontario Craft Brewers have come up with an interesting context that appears to have 42 first prizes: • “Looking for the ultimate beer lover experience? Be an OCB Brewer for a day! The "Be an OCB Brewer for a Day" contest features 21 exciting … read more »
Brewery Focus: Black Cuillin, Isle of Skye Brewing, Scotland
Posted by on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 in - leave a comment
After an evening of bottling hefeweizen, time for something without notes of pineapple, banana, cloves and white pepper. The second in the series on the beers of the Isle of Skye Brewing Company, this 4.5% brew is described by the brewer simply as "the dark one, brewed with rolled roast oatmeal … read more »
Brewery Focus: Red Cuillin, Isle of Skye Brewing, Uig, Scotland
Posted by on Tuesday, July 3, 2007 in - leave a comment
In an effort to bring a bit more organization to things around here, I am adding another series called Brewery Focus - until I think of a better name. The first three posts in the series are going to be about three brews from the Isle of Skye Brewing Company from the bit of the Old Country my … read more »
Colonial Dutch Beer
Posted by on Monday, July 2, 2007 in - 2 comments
Last week, a reader named Bob posed a very good question in the comments about: "Did the Dutch traders ship beer as a commodity in trade for Asian goods? If yes, what years, what style? Were hops used in any manner then?". I thought it was such a good question that I posed it to Richard Unger …
One Way For Good Beer To Get A Bad Name
Posted by on Sunday, July 1, 2007 - 7 comments
Another odd statement about beer from The Globe and Mail's drinks columnist, Beppi Crosariol, whose first beer column raised eyebrows in May: • “I quibble with wine, and not beer or spirits, for good reason. Beer and spirits are made from crops whose flavour is much less weather-sensitive, such …
Grill, Shed, Steak, Rain, Bieres de Garde And Saisons
Posted by on Sunday, July 1, 2007 in - 4 comments
The trouble with charcoal grilling is that when the rain comes you can't turn it off. Propane, on the other hand, has a nice dial that has a "0" setting. But there is the garden shed and, when it rains and you have visitors, it can turn out to be a delightful place to while away a late afternoon …
