Some things in life are too short. Three day weekends for one and this charming history of beer in Portland.
Though only 29 minutes, this is an excellent primer on how Oregon got to where it is today beer-wise.
Hop harvest video
If you don’t follow the posse of writers over at the the RateBeer HopPress, well then you are missing an interesting viewpoint on the world of beer.
Things like this video …..
from the Beer Goddess, Lisa Morrison
Cheers: A History of Beer in Canada
Here is what the press release has to say…“The author of Notes on a Beermat: Drinking and Why It’s Necessary is back. Nick Pashley brings his wit to bear on beer’s illustrious history in Canada, from Prohibition (and who thought that was a good idea?) to the beer that turned Quebec City drinkers blue and actually killed sixteen of them in 1966. Where else this season will you find a book that includes Prince Charles, Paris Hilton, Ron Keefe, and Rocco Perri, the great Hamilton bootlegger of the 1920s (you may be able to find him today encased in cement at the bottom of Burlington Bay)?”
From that description, it looks to be a fun book. I have recently read two history books. Both great topics. One was as dry as day old toast. The other is bright and lively. I certainly hope this book is more of the latter. You can find this at Amazon. (And to digress, shouldn’t Amazon ship beer?)
Museum quality beer
Thanks to the Celebrator magazine, I saw a great to expand anyone’s beer horizons.
A museum exhibit on BEER!
Here is what the City of Fullerton (in the OC) has to say about it:
“Kegged, Casked, Bottled or Canned: 10,000 Years of Beer
Open to the public through October 10, 2010
This exhibition tells the story of beer with with advertising material, tap handles, metal signs, prints, beer steins, and fixtures from the home brewing industry.
Bottle Cap Treasures: Art Workshop for Adults!
Tuesday, September 14
7:00-9:00pm
Turn old beer bottle caps into fun magnets and jewelry! Bring your own bottle caps or use some of ours for no additional charge.”
$12 general/ $8 museum members
back to the beer bookshelf
I am still working through my Beer a Day book from Jeff Evans and now another book shows up to chronicle breweries and offer practical advice. How am I supposed to stay caught up?
“Great American Craft Beer takes readers on a passionate and informative journey through the most palate pleasing ales and lagers produced in America today. Built on the inalienable truth that there is a beer out there for everyone, the book directs readers to focus on the flavors they already enjoy tasting, such as sweet fruits, roasted coffee, or bitter hops. More than 80 styles and 340 beer profiles are accompanied by full-color photographs and illustrations of the beers and beer labels. This unconventional approach allows drinkers of all experience levels to step right up to the bar and order their next pint with confidence.
If you like the taste of . . .
fresh oranges
tangy lemons
ripe raspberries
creamy pumpkin
toasted caramel
rich espresso
bananas
dark chocolate
smoked meats
Try . . .
Address Unknown IPA by Willimantic Brewing
312 Urban Wheat Ale by Goose Island Brewing
Raspberry Tart by New Glarus Brewing
Punkin Ale by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Anchor Bock by Anchor Brewing
Speedway Stout by Alesmith Brewing
Hefeweizen by Live Oak Brewing
Black Chocolate Stout by Brooklyn Brewery
Smokestack Heritage Porter by East End Brewing
Both a personal guide and companion to the exciting world of American craft beer, this unique book touches upon several subject areas, including not only beer, but food, travel, history, and the stories and personalities of those who brew America’s best beers. It includes 25 perfect pairing recipes and profiles of some of the best brewpubs in the country.”
Beer (actually) on TV?
During a recent stay in a home outfitted with this newfangled invention called “cable tv”, I watched a lot of both American Pickers and The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Those were the good shows.
Why you ask?
Because the people doing the shows or being interviewed CARED about what they were talking about passionately. Forget the shows with people yelling at each other. Or the shows that purport to be “real”. Take your competition shows and stick them… OK you get my point.
So I was cautiously optimistic about the Discovery Network show which was to have Sam Calagione hosting. Unfortunately, just as the show was announced another announcement came out which lowered my expectations. Who knows how the show will look or if it will even make it to air.
Now there are supposedly two more beer shows in the works. One a quasi competition/historical brew show on the History Network..
And another tuned to the travel edge on the Food Network…
Which will succeed? I will be able to tell you after five minutes. The one with passion.
Stone Saturday
I will be at the Stone Brewing 14th Anniversary bash today and in honor of that, today’s posts are Stone-centric. First up, let’s do the numbers…
Gypsy Brewing – the next big thing?
NPR is one of the few news outlets that covers beer in an interesting way and regularly. And HERE is a cool beer trend story that starts out with Brian Strumke of Stillwater Artisanal Ales and then morphs into a beer/food pairing promo for Greg Engert of D.C.’s Birch & Barley.
I know America is built on finding “the next big thing” and if NPR has caught a whiff of it then other outlets will smell the blood in the water. But let’s just embrace Gypsy Brewing as an integral part of craft beer just as we should assume that beer and food pair together well.
It reminds me of a coaching anecdote. I don’t remember which sport so substitute your favorite into this; “When you score, act like you do it all the time otherwise people will think this is the first time.” Remember that. Beer DOES pair with food. Gypsy brewing IS part of the scene.
In today’s paper
from the print edition of the Los Angeles Times comes this little gem of an article. I love the last line.
Velvet Merk- check that, Merlin
When Solace runs its course over the summer, it will be replaced by a sixer of Velvet Merlin. No, this isn’t an offshoot of the Velvet Merkin. It is he same thing just changed to avoid any “imperial entanglements” so to speak.
Either way, I am looking forward to it.