July 2011
Now I Know I Need To Move Into Innovative White Space
Posted by on Sunday, July 31, 2011 in - 11 comments
Pete has written a great article on the abuse and misuse of English in beery PR-ish marketing circles: • I was reminded of this lesson earlier this month, when I went to the press launch of some new beers. We were told about the strong "head winds" in the market, and how this necessitated moving …
My Mother May Not Have Had This In the Plans In 1937
Posted by on Friday, July 29, 2011 in - 4 comments
I am not sure if she is disapproving but that is my mother having a bit of a scowl at the two halves of Saison Dupont on ice. She is sending that scowl forward from when Hitler had yet to rearrange the furniture in western Scotland. Circa 1937. But, as we like to say, Hitler lost and everything …
Does The Speaker, In Fact, Love A Cross Eyed Dog?
Posted by on Thursday, July 28, 2011 in - 13 comments
A great old thread is going on over at Tandleman's place where I may find myself stepping on British toes due to a combination of curiosity about the unknown, blindness to good manners and a bit of poking the bee hive with a stick. Nothing like making a res ipsa loquitor self-evidence comment and …
OK, But If We Call It A "Listing Fee" I Bet They'll Pay!!!
Posted by on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 in - 11 comments
You can hear the giggles in the accounts receivable department management meetings at Ontario's dynamically named "Beer Store," can't you. Imagine having someone pay you to make a profit off of their product. As Josh Rubin explains in the Toronto Star that is how things work when craft brewers … read more »
Oregon: LTD 5, Full Sail Brewing, Port Hood
Posted by on Monday, July 25, 2011 in - 10 comments
I bought this the other day over there but it does raise questions about whether I should have been able to buy it. All of a sudden, Full Sail's beers are in grocery stores and specialty shops in northern NY - tasty and at a good price. I've had this one, a six of pale ale as well as a bomber of …
Russia's Lawmakers Now Treat Beer As Booze
Posted by on Sunday, July 24, 2011 in - leave a comment
As I noted last summer, the Russian male's public drinking habits are something to behold. But the law classifying beer as booze and not a food passed into law this week and may bring an end to all that - for apparently good reason: • Since coming into office three years ago Medvedev has …
People At The Beer Festival Will Stick To The Familiar
Posted by on Friday, July 22, 2011 in - 8 comments
I am happy that this week's CAMRA and BrewDog discussion has given the opportunity for we who are not familiar with the workings of the organization some insights. This morning there have been a load of Twitter activity (oxymoron alert!!) about the Great British Beer Festival including more than a …
Hot... So Hot... That It's Haaaawt... Hotness... Hot...
Posted by on Thursday, July 21, 2011 in - 3 comments
Once, when traveling, I heard a couple speaking about the heat. They were from the southern US and, commenting on the heat, one said to the other "my Lawd, it's hawtah than haaahm." We were not quite sure whether than meant it was hotter than back home or hotter than a ham right out of the oven …
Speaking of Awards - Why Does Beer Only Mean Real Ale?
Posted by on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 in - 17 comments
I don't know why I thought about this but all the "boy who cried wolf" stuff with BrewDog and CAMRA this week must have triggered it. For those who have not seen the story, I can do absolutely no better than cite the world's best beer writers, Boak and Bailey, from their recent post "Can Everyone …
I Really Should Declare A Beer Drinker Of The Year
Posted by on Monday, July 18, 2011 in - 9 comments
I know it is tedious and self-serving for an organization to announce something like this but maybe it's time for there to be an annual A Good Beer Blog beer drinker of the year. Consider this announcement by the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group: • Michelin starred chef Sriram Aylur of …
A Stinking Hot Day in Sackets Harbor And Watertown
Posted by on Sunday, July 17, 2011 in - 5 comments
A great day in nearby northern New York as I hit both two recently opened good beer spots while also managing the Kingston St. Lawrence Vintage Base Ball Club to a double header victory in the Can-Am tournament. Lest I be charged with bigging myself up, be assured that it was a cheery and well …
Beer Cocktails: The Classic Red Eye Or "Two And Juice"
Posted by on Saturday, July 16, 2011 in - 10 comments
A long time ago when the Earth was green... there was a pub in Halifax called the Midtown Tavern and it had a gentle soul of a waiter named Jerry. It could have been Gerry but I am not sure. It was not Gary. The Midtown is gone after a long going but, I understand, lives on in another shared space …
When Government Shuts Does The Beer Stop?
Posted by on Thursday, July 14, 2011 in - 10 comments
Throughout the reporting on the economic crisis in Greece, I keep hearing reports of the ending of social cohesion, the end of that pact we have with each other, the beginning of the guy with the ammo is king. I expect it will pass because at the end of the day, you can always have a beer... right …
NCPR On Hop Farming In Ferrisburgh, Vermont
Posted by on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 in - 2 comments
My local public radio station, North Country Public Radio, had a great story today as part of it's series on Faming Under 40 that runs all this week. Today's installment is called "New Direction for an Old Farm" and described how the next generation on a 210 year family mixed farm is trying out …
Canucks In Afghanistan Get US Brew For UK Wedding
Posted by on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 in - 3 comments
When I were a lad, the idea of shipping Bud to Canadian forces in the field would be somewhere between an insult and an joke that didn't make all that much sense. So much for the prejudices of my youth. Apparently, the Canadian troops in Afghanistan needed flats of the iconic American light lager …
PGP 9.0: Britain's PM Has A Post Ale Go At Aunt Sally
Posted by on Sunday, July 10, 2011 in - 1 comment
I love it. I have always thought the pub game called "Aunt Sally" was the least identified and most offensive continuing recreational tradition amongst the English-speaking peoples and, but except for maybe the Queen having a go, Mr. Cameron's attack on a defenseless image of an elderly lady …
New York: Prototype PA, Community Beer Works, Buffalo
Posted by on Saturday, July 9, 2011 in - 3 comments
Minimalism. That's what this evening's photograph is conveying. Note the texture of the cinder block. The play of pine wood and beer bottle brown. • Anyway, Ethan Cox of Buffalo's next brewery Community Beer Works, they of the logo I want as a jeans jacket patch, was passing through about ten …
#IPADay: When Good People Try Out New Good Things
Posted by on Friday, July 8, 2011 in - 8 comments
I am a bit of a dork sometimes. I saw these tweets floating around with the hashtag #IPADay and made some smart ass remarks on Twitter. Pure junior high. Or junior B, more like it. Well, some of them were not all that bad, now that I think of it: • Hugely uninterested in #IPADay. Waiting for …
Collecting And Drinking Extreme Beers... Extremely Old
Posted by on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 in - 12 comments
I cleaned out the stash tonight, replaced the cardboard boxes that had gotten a bit damp and musty, set new slates down to keep the air moving. I do it once in a while to keep things from going off in there. It was looking a bit rough. I wonder if these guys would care: • "I hope this tastes as …
One Shed And Two Stitches
Posted by on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 in - 5 comments
I am thrilled to tell you that Craig took on the challenge of the "Beer In The Shed 2011" Festival. Craig gets the tie for his post "Fourth of July Eve Eve and a shed (Okay, it's a garage)". You know, I once held a contest and no one entered. Not that the other contest was worse or anything but …
Dear Mr. Customs Man - Thank You For Not Asking.
Posted by on Monday, July 4, 2011 in - 2 comments
It is always a bit of a crap shoot crossing the border with a load of good beer. I declare all and pay what is asked of me every time. I figure there is more harm in the hassle of being found out - and there are plenty of lessons to be learned from observing the misfortunes of others when your …
The Guy In Rochester Said "Good Call" And It Was
Posted by on Saturday, July 2, 2011 in - 7 comments
It's not that hard. Getting the word about good beer is simple. It's not about so many of the things people who like good beer fret about, talk about. It is about putting good honest beer in the hands of people in a simple way at an honest price. I reached for the Brooklyn 1 and placed it next to …
Session 53: Beer Redemption
Posted by on Friday, July 1, 2011 in - leave a comment
I am not really sure what to make of this month's topic for The Session: • One thing about drinking a lot of beer is that occasionally you’re going to have a bad one. Perhaps it was infected or spoiled by light. Perhaps the brewer or brewery was new and still working out the kinks on a … read more »
