September 2007
Belgium: Guldenberg, De Ranke, Wevelgem
Posted by on Sunday, September 30, 2007 in - leave a comment
This weekend, I've decided to have people over and break out some of the gems of the stash in the cause of the International Branch of the National Toast. Last night there were fifteen in the house at one point, though eight were under nine. Mayhem. Hi-jinx even. Anyway, after opening the last …
Our Four Points Dinner With Best Brews
Posted by on Saturday, September 29, 2007 in - 2 comments
Remember Sheraton's Four Points hotel chain did that search for a Chief Beer Officer? Well, they picked one, Scott Kerkmans, and last night we were invited by friends to share the blowing of a gift certificate and, lo and behold, it was for our local Four Points and their Sizzles restaurant. And …
About Oaked Beer: Blasphemy, Weyerbacher, PA, USA
Posted by on Thursday, September 27, 2007 in - 2 comments
I think I should be pouring this one into a shot glass - an oaked version of the brewer's Quad which was happily reviewed in January 2006. 11.8%. Good Lord. The brewery notes that the aging was in bourbon barrel and was not extended to ensure much of the original ale's complexity was not lost …
Overly Sensitive Drunken Rats Only Acting Normally
Posted by on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 in - leave a comment
I usually look for these beer and health stories as a means to keep telling myself that the stash is good for me, the stash is good for me. Now, however, it appears that while moderate consumption may sharpen the brain it could also be that the mopey college roommate of a pal was probably only …
Porter Season: Deep Enders Dark Porter, Anderson Valley, USA
Posted by on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 in - leave a comment
Just because the night came earlier, it was still hot - not even getting too far below 20C tonight. Just because it is autumn, is it porter season? • This one pours very deep dark black with a fine mocha head and reeks of date, damson plum and bakers chocolate. Lighter body than you would expect …
Ontario Politician Wins Amazingly Poor Beer Policy Award
Posted by on Monday, September 24, 2007 in - 2 comments
The votes are in and the results have been tallied. And Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, in the middle of an election campaign, has won the prize for the dumbest statement about beer and law for at least this year: • “While Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory believes Ontarians should be …
Stonch's New Campaign: Don't Sell Out Beer Bloggers
Posted by on Sunday, September 23, 2007 in - 18 comments
Stonch has posted a post this morning which reaches across the seas and around the world like some fantasy of an Old Testament minor prophet, like a mad white bearded cloaked (and maybe a little smelly) wannabe Obadiah. Heed ye his warning, oh, beerbloggerati! So sayeth the man: • “...Having …
Porter Season: Black Irish Plain Porter, Scotch Irish, ONT, CAN
Posted by on Saturday, September 22, 2007 in - 1 comment
Greg beat me to this review but only because he is in the heart of LCBO-land, Toronto, and it takes some beers weeks to make the two hour trip east. The nuttiness of that is compounded by the fact that beer is brewed by Scotch Irish Brewing (now aka Heritage Brewing) of Carleton Place to the east …
Chinese Beer Brand Called Snow Now #2
Posted by on Friday, September 21, 2007 in - 6 comments
I have never tasted it, seen it or heard of it but apparently Snow brand beer may very well be the second most popular beer in the world, if a business news article in the Kansas City Star is to be believed: • “Snow, the Chinese beer brand partly owned by London-based brewer SABMiller, is set to …
Porter Season: Black Hole, Weyerbacher, PA, USA
Posted by on Thursday, September 20, 2007 in - 3 comments
If stinking hot July is the month for wheat beers and the end of summer is the time for sour fruit beers, then the end of September has to herald the slowing down of my sour beer studies and the beginning of the season of porters. Why? First, they go with stew and they go in stew and no one eats …
Will I Spend Christmas In Baltimore?
Posted by on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 in - 7 comments
Can it be? I never thought there was a chance I would spend some of my Christmas holidays In Baltimore but I got this email yesterday: • “Dear Contributors: • I'm delighted to tell you that our publisher, Wiley-Blackwell, will be hosting a launch party for Beer and Philosophy and the companion …
Sour Beer Studies: Vichtenaar, Verhaeghe, Belgium
Posted by on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 in - 5 comments
Sibling to the more popular Duchesse De Bourgogne, I got this one at Beers of the World in Rochester at the beginning of August. Frankly, I can't believe that it's lasted this long as one thing I am learning from these sour beer studies is that I could be a wee bit obsessed with these Flemish ones …
Being Drunk Under The Law of Australia
Posted by on Monday, September 17, 2007 in - leave a comment
Australian politics and law are a gold mine for most any topic you wish to compare and contrast. I have mentioned more than a few things antipodean hereabouts but today I came across a story with a number of new cultural points of difference: • “A total ban on takeaway alcohol in Fitzroy …
New York: Custom BrewCrafters Reviewed
Posted by on Sunday, September 16, 2007 in - 7 comments
There's a good article Custom BrewCrafters of Honeoye Falls, New York in Rochester's Democrat and Chronical today describing their unique path to business stability: • “Custom BrewCrafters produces less than 3,000 barrels a year — placing the Honeoye Falls beer maker well under the 15,000-barrel …
The Tribute To Michael On The High Seas With Pete Brown
Posted by on Friday, September 14, 2007 in - leave a comment
Pete Brown: Before and After Setting Sail • Plans for the international support the National Toast for Michael Jackson are taking off. Events so far are planned for across the US, London, Glasgow, Oslo and even my backyard. Getting the word out has been greatly encouraging for everyone but …
One Thousand Posts
Posted by on Friday, September 14, 2007 in - 7 comments
When I started writing these beer posts back in May 2003, I thought I would run out of things to post about in a couple of weeks, maybe a month. But over time I realized the truth of the blogger's creed: you don't necessarily have to have something to say to say something. But this sort of snuck …
Has A Glass Tipped Over? There's A Beer Story in Time!
Posted by on Thursday, September 13, 2007 in - 2 comments
If there are two concepts I hate they are tipping point and paradigm shift. Two pretty much overlapping ideas that boil down to over simplification. Real change, even when it appears sudden, develops over time and is based on a lot of factors. Well, I saw something today, while trolling Google for …
Adding A Global Dimension To The National Toast For Michael
Posted by on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 in - 1 comment
As has been mentioned at Lew's, the BeerAdvocate and elsewhere, it has been announced at The Beer Hunter that a national toast will be held in the US at then end of the month in honour of the late Michael Jackson. The event is being held as a fund raiser for the US National Parkinson Foundation, a …
Paul Goes To Brasserie La Saint Pierre, Alsace, France
Posted by on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 in - leave a comment
The village of Saint-Pierre is a stones throw from Barr. They are on the crease where the mountains meet the plain on the west bank of the Rhine in Alsace. Barr is at an angle while Saint-Pierre is horizontal. Horizontal, but not totally laid back, as an enterprising soul has established a modern …
Vermont: Jinx, Magic Hat, South Burlington
Posted by on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 in - leave a comment
Another from Magic Hat's autumnal Night of the Living Dead '07 mixed pack. This time they let us know what to expect as the label says "peat smoked offering" and "an ale inspired by the doctrines of medieval chemists". OK, they give us a hint. I'd link to more detail on the site but it is a 2002 …
Vermont: Autumn Mystery Beer '07, Magic Hat
Posted by on Monday, September 10, 2007 in - 3 comments
I like Magic Hat and I like the way they do not really follow the pack. No beers called "imperial double IPA ESB pale ale" and not really that many claims to making "raspberry cherry vanilla hefeweizen-porter" crosses. Sure they make them - but they just give them batch numbers for names instead …
So Is There A New Organization In Ghana Called MABBF?
Posted by on Monday, September 10, 2007 in - leave a comment
Mothers Against Beer as Brake Fluid, that is: • “The forum was conducted on the theme of "Maximising the benefits of your motor policy". It attracted members from the various transport unions and insurance companies in the country. Mr. Asaam said drivers are the most important in the motor …
Sour Beer Studies: Why Did Sour Arise In The First Place?
Posted by on Sunday, September 9, 2007 in - 14 comments
Writing about what is on other people's beer blogs is a quick way to fill a day's obligation to fill up one's own sheet. But seeing as I have been trying to lead Ron Pattinson and his excellent library of brewing records into figuring out stuff that has piqued my idle sort of curiosity, I think it …
Paul Goes To Alsace
Posted by on Saturday, September 8, 2007 in - 2 comments
We've recently been on holiday to the Alsace, a very fine part of France. Having decided not to rush to get to our destination we took the over-night ferry to Holland, followed by a planned stop in Liege, Belgium the next night. When looking for a place to stop on our journey we ignored the advice …
The Session: The Brew Zoo
Posted by on Friday, September 7, 2007 in - 2 comments
It is the first Friday of the month and that means it is the day of The Session. Rick Lyke named it this time and chose "The Brew Zoo" demanding we all drink beers with animals on the labels. I forgot this earlier in the week when I popped a Struis with an ostrich on the front. That would have …
Thanks To Each Of You
Posted by on Thursday, September 6, 2007 in - 5 comments
I know I should not fret or boast about such things, but I was quite happily shocked to check out google.com today and see that this little blog was #17 for the global search for the one word "beer"...not "beer blog" but just beer placing we happy few one notch above Guinness if only for a time …
Holland: Struis, Brouwerij 't IJ, Amsterdam
Posted by on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 in - 14 comments
I have a sticker on my hand that says "$6.20" and on my desk I have a 330 ml bottle of Struis. In the US, that price gets the best part of a decent six pack of craft beer. In Ontario, it gets you half a six of Unibroue's Trois Pistoles or a large Chimay Premiere. So, for my dollar, this beer from …
Beer Sales Collapse In UK For Now
Posted by on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 in - 2 comments
It is difficult to pick the right verb sometimes. Have UK beer sales truly collapsed? Do they merely reflect short term forces of nature? Or are this year's beer sales in the UK merely a blip in a bigger picture? • “The beer market is in decline in the UK as Britons turn their back on what is …
Knut Goes To Scotland
Posted by on Monday, September 3, 2007 in - 3 comments
The trend of splitting up European nations into smaller units seems to be over for the time being. There is Kosovo, of course. And then, possibly, a part of a union that has lasted for centuries, and where nationalism seemed to us outsiders to be mostly a joke. Scotland. I've been in Scotland …
