I don’t pretend the beer I’ve chosen for 2020 is the “best”—that kind of designation is a fool’s errand. But this year’s selection is a perfect example of where American brewing is at this moment, and it’s an amazing beer.
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Everyone is dying to leave 2020 behind, to forget its traumas and tragedies, and allow themselves to look forward with a glimmer of hope. Despite the pain, however, much about the year should be remembered. We may be too near events to extract their lessons, but the mere act of remembrance reminds us of what we’ve seen.
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Each year I do a wrap-up of the photos that characterized my year. In 2020, beer was less a focus than any year of my lifetime.
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In the big relief bill passed yesterday, Congress made a temporary beer tax cut permanent. It’s being hailed as a big win for little breweries, but guess who gets the bulk of the savings?
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Very little makes me want to sit outside in an icy drizzle drinking beer. At Portland’s Threshold Brewing, however, Jarek Szymanski is offering warm, sweet mugs of Polish grzaniec—and they miraculously make the experience a joy.
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Thanks to the pandemic, home delivery has become an important way people receive their beer. A new business built around home delivery suggests a new way of doing things that may last well after we’re back to “normal.”
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A collaboration between Level Beer and Old Town Brewing becomes a primer on the differences between hazy and traditional IPAs.
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This holiday season, give your family and friends something to soothe their anxious nerves—a good book or three. Here are a few to consider.
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In almost 15 years and over the course of roughly 4,000 posts, I’ve covered the world of beer in all its delights here on this blog. My archives have never been organized or easy to access, but that’s finally changing.
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Barrel-aged and specialty beers used to drive excitement and interest in craft beer. Lately, however, retailers and distributors are reporting that they’re not moving like they once did. Are specialty beers in trouble?
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December 2020 is turning out to be a bleak affair. Take a break from the news and enjoy something that offers a bit of warmth and hope.
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In his new book, Eoghan Walsh offers what looks like a history of lost Brussels breweries but evolves into a biography of a city.
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Three items in today’s news roundup—one disturbing (US, Germany), one unexpected but not surprising (Hood River), and one illuminating (San Francisco).
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Not every classic sells millions of barrels. Some merely keep alive the flame of tradition that has been burning for centuries.
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Although it only survived six years, New Albion Brewing earned its place in American history by ushering in the era of craft brewing. One of the founders, Jack McAuliffe, has been celebrated for his groundbreaking venture. But it wouldn’t have been possible with his brewing and business partner, Suzy Denison. Here’s her story.
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Communities thrive when members trust one another and the group as a whole. Trust begins with specific rules about inclusion and behavior, and here’s a note to make those explicit.
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An update on the recently-launched Beervana Community project.
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A specialty of Halle, Belgium in the Zenne Valley, “devil’s beer” exists only liminally in the 21st century. Once, this dark, diabolical beer had the capacity to render drinkers entranced. Struck by the story, Corvallis, Oregon’s Block 15 has revived it to impressive effect.
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Since 2006, Deschutes has packaged their Reserve Series line of beers in 22-ounce bombers. This week, they changed course, releasing The Abyss in a four-pack of 12-ounce bottles. Here’s what they were thinking.
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