Book & ‘Zine Review Day – Final Gravity # 06

Just after wrapping up judging some beer writing, more on that later this month, I received Issue # 06 of Final Gravity, the October edition.

An in that judgmental state of mind, I dove in and was pleasantly surprised overall. There were a few that seemed more like good starts but could use more detail. Which is better than the other way around.

My standouts were both female tilted with Ruvani de Silva, a writer I like the more I read, had a smart piece on perimenopause and Cat Wiest had me wanting more stories about her fishing days and brewing days.

Behind that, as honorable mentions, were ‘zine co-founder Melinda Guerra’s piece on the beers she has picked as malty eulogies for friends which was pitched just right for spooky season. And Lucy Corne’s evocative writing on Charlie’s Garage in South Africa which made me want to try the beers and hang with the locals even though I am an introvert.

Head to the link above to get your copy.

Magazine Day – Final Gravity # 03

Previously on Beer Search Party, I reviewed issue # 01 of the beer ‘zine, Final Gravity. That memory made me pass on # 02 but the list of articles intrigued me for # 03 so I ordered it up and here are my thoughts.

Will I be back for # 04? The answer is yes. I found the stories in this issue landed with me better from the opener about Ola Brew and their ingredient buying, to going gluten free or Ayurvedic and especially the Spanish local beer from Cooperativa Cervesera Cadaques were all fun little peeks into locales that made me want to go there. I still don’t understand the art interludes all that much because they don’t tie into beer. A beer comic would fit in my opinion, a lot better. Strangely, the weakest piece was from one of the editors David Nilsen and the most emotional was from the other editor Melinda Guerra.

Review of Final Gravity ‘zine

Maybe I am just not a ‘Zine type of guy.  Keep that in mind for this review, mileage may vary.

The first ever Final Gravity is a nice amount of pieces, ten all told.  And the variety of writers and angles on craft beer is commendable too.  But aside from Lauren Mack’s writing on re-creating Seipp Brewing, nothing really dazzled.  And worse, there were two pieces, one about an artist and one about a touring musician that were barely tangential to beer.  

The piece written by brewery owner Betty Bollas read more like a to-do calendar than a diary.  There was just no spark to it.

I am hoping that issue 2 will have more interesting writing or I should amend to writing that maybe goes a little deeper and finds more of a rhythm to it. 

Beer ‘Zine

If you are here, you are into beer culture. Sorry to break it to you. And if you want more beer stories then there is a new, not read on a screen outlet coming – Final Gravity.

Order up Issue # 1 which will arrive in time for summer beer drinking season.