Remember the old adage that everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it? It would seem that for most people in the country, this past winter was one we wish we could have changed. Bitter cold and snowfall records, followed by more bitter cold. All we could do was wait for spring.
So it was with great happiness that I found myself in early April sitting outside in Denver, of all places, where the mercury was pushing 70 and a pint of refreshing pale ale was in my hand. For just a moment I took it all in, the warmth, the beer, the atmosphere and couldn’t help but exhale with satisfaction.
Drinking alfresco is one of the great pleasures of the warmer months, and when the setting matches the excellent flavors in the glass, the whole experience bumps up a few more notches. Jon Page, the magazine’s managing editor, spent the previous cold months working with our writers to compile a diverse list of outdoor drinking spots that offer great atmosphere and beer. We’re also asking for your suggestions and invite you to join the conversation.
I was in Denver because every two years the global brewing community gathers together for the World Beer Cup awards. The competition is held in conjunction with the Craft Brewers Conference and the Brew Expo America, a trade show for the brewing industry. It’s a raucous affair filled with passionate and fun-loving people who have chosen the brewing industry as their profession. Seeing so many in the same place strikes home the diversity and far reach that beer has in our world. It’s not just about what is in the glass, but the people responsible for the product itself.
That extends beyond the brewer to the hop farmers, maltsters, scientists working with yeast and then the manufacturers of everything from stainless steel fermenters to bottles and bottle caps.
This issue seems to be chock-full of some of those passionate and necessary people, like the award-winning homebrewer who doesn’t like to drink beer, or the computer programmer who helped revive one of the world’s great styles—Berliner Weisse. We look at a dedicated—and deep-pocketed—group of beer collectors who recently held a tasting that will cause many to turn green with envy. We also feature an essay from British beer writer Melissa Cole on the importance and beauty of memory through scents.
Our deep dive into the flavor of beer continues with Randy Mosher in his “The Taster” column, and brewer Tomme Arthur gives his take on one of the more unpleasant—but sometimes necessary—aspects of running a business.
There is a lot to explore with this issue, so my suggestion is to get a beer and head into the yard, onto the stoop, down to the dock, or wherever you can commune with nature on a nice day and toast yourself and all the like-minded beer people.
This editorial appears in the July issue of All About Beer Magazine. Click here for a free trial.
John Holl
John is the editor of All About Beer Magazine and the author of three books, including The American Craft Beer Cookbook. Find him on Twitter @John_Holl.