The war is won. There is quite a bit of brewing that makes the job worth it. And then there is bottling. If anything could turn someone off of home brewing, bottling can be it. The work involved can be quite a bit of drudgery, although the rewards at the end are very worth the…
Around here there are a few signs that warn you of the approaching holidays. Just before Thanksgiving is the first; the Kalamazoo Holiday Parade. This year was a great parade thought a bit different. The usual balloons were not floaters as has been the norm for many years. Instead they passed the spectators on…
Not too long ago I began a couple of experimental beers for Hop Head Farms, using their Colombus hops. The experiment involves looking for differences within the brewing process and finished product based on how the hops were processed. The controls for the experiment included the exact same ingredients and the exact same brewing process,…
Here we are, escaping Thanksgiving. This week we are looking at something a bit lighter, a reprieve from the hard core eats of the holiday. As always with foods like this it is fairly simple to turn it into a vegetarian or even vegan dish. For the most part with this one, the only animal…
If you are planning to do Cicerone ceritfication and possibly even work on the BJCP certification there are a few good books out there to help you on your way. In my last book tour we talked about Beer for Dummies. Continuing along the same line, the next book to pick up for study is…
This is basically a quick note because even with all that is happening I need to write at least a bit today. Today is my 20th wedding anniversary and tomorrow is Thanksgiving. So I am off for a day or two to do a bit of familyish time (it’s almost like vacation). I want to…
Earlier this year Serafino’s in Richland Michigan held a tasting for Mt. Pleasant Brewing Co. It was great to spend a bit of time with a representative of the brewery and taste some new beers. They have hosted a few more tasting events with other breweries and wineries there since that time (though I have…
The interview this week is with someone who is practically a landmark in the beer world. For starters, Lew Bryson has been writing about beer since 1995. Add to that, since 1996 he has been the managing editor of Whisky Advocate. He has four books to his name and three blogs (Seen Through a Glass, The…
At the risk of sounding like I think a bit much of myself, you would think that I don’t need to read a book like Beer for Dummies. But here’s the thing, you never really know where you might get that next bit of knowledge, that next morsel that unlocks a bit of your brain. …
In a recent interview with Jim Koch of Sam Adams (Boston Beer Co.) fame, he was quoted in reference to a craft beer bubble that is soon to burst. His view that we are currently in a bubble that will soon burst reminded me of another interview I read recently from another big name in…
