Bet you (like myself) don’t know a heckuva lot about Oklahoma beer.
There is a solution to that, in time for Christmas…
Click HERE to order.
Beer is OK
Hip, Hip Hooray!
You know me and books have a thing but I have been really looking forward to the new book from Em Sauter. You may recognize her work from her website AND store Pints & Panels.
She has a great artistic look. I especially like her renditions of hops. But she sneaks in fun stuff with her recommended pairings that I think are a tad out there, which I jive with.
Her book comes out next year and please do buy it.
Beer Book Review – Dogfish Head – 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures
It is hard to imagine craft beer without Dogfish Head. They are the Ur and Urkontinent of many craft beer givens that breweries basically start with these days.
And this 26 year history (did you think they would be so prosaic as to do 25?) ticks all the trailblazing boxes. First thing you will notice is that the book is heavy in weight of both cover and pages, as well as photos. They put money into quality which they have done with all their beers.
Second, they spent many pages on employee profiles. What book does that but in craft beer? You are not going to read about Coors employees, but to DFH that is important, so it is in the book.
You also can’t turn more than a few pages without reading about local focus on ingredients as well as charity and collaboration. Remind you of your local brewery? It should.
Now, I have to say that my introvert self would probably never work there but they have created a workplace that many live for which is really cool. And they have grown it thoughtfully as Sam’s mid-life mobile will attest. Restaurants, distilling and an Inn are evidence if that. Time will tell on the Florida expansion.
For those jaded by the current beer scene. Those put off by seltzers. Those who aren’t into craft beer anymore might just be rejuvenated by the words of Emerson and Calagione.
You can order your copy HERE. You might want to pick up some 90 Minute as well.
Beer Book Review – Hawai’i Beer by Paul Kan
Island craft beer time, open your copy of Hawai’i Beer by Paul Kan and see if you agree with my review…
There are some books that you want more of and this book is one of them. It is part history, part inventory of breweries and part recollections from key people. Now that second part can’t be changed since the number of breweries was what is was.
The history section, especially the early part was quite fascinating. First beer brewed was out at sea and probably not very good. I wanted more about ingredient logistics and laws that helped or hindered the industry.
The last part where industry people were given the mic, could have been expanded in my view top because it is where some interesting stories and new to me news was at. It might have been good to compare Hawai’i to other islands that brew as well.
The addition of photos was good as well, but again, would have liked more.
All to say that, great job, fun read, gimme more.
Girly Drinks
Girly Drinks from Mallory O’Meara takes a term that is as dated as “throws like a girl” to cover the intersection of women and alcohol. Pair this with Tara Nurin’s A Women’s Place is in the Brewhouse and we are starting to cover these gaps in history.
Back in Print
Beer Paper LA has made a triumphant print return and I have a beer book review tucked inside…
Read up without adding more glare to your eyes! Lots of other good reads so grab a copy!
Beer Bible in L.A.
The second edition of the Beer Bible has been out fir a month or so and author Jeff Alworth has been doing a bit of promotional travel for it and landed in Los Angeles at Firestone Walker’s Propagator to talk about it with Prop brewer Sam Tierney.
I learned a few interesting brewing and beer history factoids such as in the early days of American brewing German hops were used for aroma and American hops for bittering, something that is completely reversed now.
Yeast was not an ingredient per the reinheitsgebot because they did not consider it as staying in the beer. It was though of as transient and not in the finished product.
Germans had to have a discussion to formalize that dry hopping was kosheraccording to committee for the reinheitsgebot. Spoiler alert, it was deemed OK.
Trends to watch when it comes to IPA. Czech styled takes on America IPAs might be a new trend. And there might be a slight course correction for IPAs going back to more dry and bitter but keep the fruit.
If you did not buy the first version, I highly recommend. That and the 1909 American Bock that Firestone just added to their taplist.
Brewers Book Pairings
My love of reading probably stems from being brought up with Powell’s Books as an icon of Portland.
And Powell’s has now connected with local brewers to get some book and beer pairings and I found a pair of books that I think look great and would be even better with the chosen beer.
Check it out right HERE.
Beer Book – 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures
Looking for a beer-y Christmas idea? Then read on…
“Dogfish Head Craft Brewery proudly announces the publication of The Dogfish Head Book: 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures, a celebratory chronology of the offbeat escapades that propelled Dogfish Head to become the beloved craft brewery, distillery, hotel and culinary hub it is today. Written by Dogfish HeadFounder & Brewer, Sam Calagione; Dogfish Head Co-Founder & Communitarian, Mariah Calagione; and longtime co-worker and Dogfish INNkeeper, Andrew C. Greeley, this heavily-illustrated, lovingly-told page-turner provides a detailed account of the brand’s history told through heartfelt stories from the authors, a timetable of Dogfish Head’s off-centered beverage releases AND a plethora of co-worker-told tales. The Dogfish Head Book: 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures hits shelves and web stores nationwide on Tuesday, October 19.“
I will get my hands on a copy and might even review it for Beer Paper LA.
More Best Beers
Coming in November for us in the U.S. is the latest beer book from noted British beer writer Melissa Cole. The Ultimate Book of Craft Beer follows up her previous book on lagers which you should also get.