In my previous post, I tried to convey the difficulty I’ve had evaluating hazy IPAs. But in case there’s any confusion, this isn’t a criticism. I love IPAs of all hues and opacities. IPAs are awesome.
Read More
Hazy IPAs are the most polarizing of beers—some people think they’re unique works of genius, and others spit them out with contempt. The problem is, we haven’t yet found mutual agreement about how to evaluate them. Also, a couple of inarguably excellent non-hazy IPAs from New England.
Read More
The Wiener has landed! Just before Thanksgiving, pFriem debuted their version of a 19th-century Vienna lager like Anton Dreher would have made. It was a tremendous beer, and I’m delighted to say I was a collaborator. This is the story.
Read More
I spent more than a month on the road, passing through several regions in the US, including stops at something like 44 breweries. Here are some notes on what I found in common in the US, and how regions differed.
Read More
In the latest Sightglass post, we hear from biochemistry professor Colleen Doherty about research she’s been conducting on plants and the changes warmer nights are having on them.
Read More
A note on my upcoming New England stops, plus a couple of ways you can find signed editions of The Beer Bible no matter where you live.
Read More
International giants like AB InBev and Molson Coors have made no secret of their strategy to pursue seltzers and FMBs—even if it hurts their beer business. So why is Kirin doubling down on beer, and especially, craft beer?
Read More
When we talk about great beer cities, the name Atlanta rarely comes up. After a visit to five excellent breweries in town—New Realm, Bold Monk, Monday Night, Halfway Crooks, and Elsewhere—I was convinced it should.
Read More
Larry Bell announced that he was selling his 36-year-old brewery, Michigan’s Bell’s, today. The language was weird and somewhat concealed the actual details. Yet unlike so many bloodless M&A announcements, the reason may have everything to do with the difficulty of this sale.
Read More
Are Citra/Mosaic-hopped IPAs becoming codified as the classic combo brewers must use to attract customers? My rambles around the country over the past month suggest that may be the case.
Read More
During my book tour, I’ve been spending time in city downtowns across the country, and what I’ve discovered has been alarming. In terms of bustle, they range from sort-of normal to eerily post-apocalyptic. Has Covid permanently remade American cities?
Read More
I carved out three days in San Diego to catch up on a city I’ve neglected too long. I saw old classics and fascinating new upstarts. Here’s a report.
Read More
What happens when a company does something they admit was wrong and damaging? For customers and industry partners, it means a time out in the penalty box until they clean up their act.
Read More
The last stop on my swing through the Midwest took me to Chicago, where I visited Half Acre, Middle Brow, and Dovetail. I managed to finagle a tour of Dovetail, and witnessed the old-world processes seemingly transplanted from Franconia to North Chicago.
Read More
When the discussion on national leaders arises, a few predictable states elbow their way to the front of the line: Colorado, Vermont, Oregon. Fans from Midwestern states, the heart of the last great brewing boom, sit humbly on the sidelines.
Read More
My recent rambles have taken me from Metuchen, NJ to NYC to Baltimore--and I've discovered interesting breweries and beers along the way. And had a few adventures to boot. Here's a report.
Read More
The North American Guild of Beer Writers announced awards in 14 categories this afternoon for excellence in writing. Who won? Well, let’s just say it was a good day for Irish expats living in Belgium. A round-up, plus a little horn-blowing.
Read More
I am midway through the first leg of my book tour and I have some reports. Unexpectedly, cask ales have been the early stars of the show.
Read More
On Friday, I visited pFriem in Hood River. It was brew day for a project on which we’ve been collaborating: a full-flavored Vienna lager like Anton Dreher made in the 19th century.
Read More