Seven months ago, I wrote a post entitled "And Quiet Flows the OCBeerCommentary Wiki" about the sensibly slow pace of its review of The Oxford Companion to Beer. But the flow more than slowed. Pace became somewhat geological over the winter. I have to admit that I wasn't very focused myself and the number of OCB entries receiving comment stalled around the 134 entries - or 12.2% of the total of 1,100 - noted as of 11 January 2012.

Things have started to move, however. Perhaps an ice jam has broken wherever the wiki is housed. Maybe there have been spring rains leading to swollen creeks. Whatever it is, Martyn has been adding comments in letters H, R, S and P. Yes, even P. If you go have a look at the page for P, you will find some quite interesting content under the entry for "porter". When you read above it the earlier corrections about "pale ale" and "Pilsner Urquell" it adds up to a fairly strong indication of the need for the wiki. Over at the letter S, there is more new content for "Samuel Allsopp & Sons", "Scottish & Newcastle Brewery", "spices", "St Gallen", "stock ale" and "stouts". Now, 151 entries have received comment.

Good stuff. And there is a fairly recent review out there as well as - at Ireland's Beoir.com by the Beer Nut himself. Still at an affordable price at Amazon.com, the book is clearly worth getting into even if it is also worth questioning. Time and likely further editions shall tell how authoritative it can be considered but for now keep an eye on the wiki, too, as it seems to be waking after a long winter's sleep.