Features
Letter from Washington
“Victory for Interstate Shippers,” proclaimed the Washington Post headline. Judging from this and other reports in the mainstream press, you’d think that last spring’s Supreme Court ruling on direct shipping unleashed a deluge of alcohol across state borders. Nothing could be further from the truth.
When Beer Runs in the Family
It’s the middle of the nineteenth century, give or take a decade or two. You are an ambitious young man. James Watt’s steam engine and other inventions have already revolutionized the textile and ceramics industries. Industrialization has opened the door for ambitious young men like you to advance in the world without the traditional leverage […]
Where Pilsner is King
Prague is a beautiful city. One of the most beautiful in Europe. The architecture spans the history of the continent with magnificent buildings ranging in style from the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque to the most contemporary European designs. Cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes dominate the vista when viewed from the hill on the eastern […]
How Much Should You Pay For Beer?
When New Yorker magazine publishes cartoons about the price of beer and the Wall Street Journal runs front-page stories about high-priced beers, beer drinkers in America’s heartland should start to get nervous. Trend spotters guaranteed higher prices at the moment they labeled beer an “affordable luxury.”
Why Do Some Beers Cost More?
By looking at specific beers- some more expensive than others- you should get a feel for why one beer may cost more than another.
Getting your money’s worth
Merchant du Vin marketing manager Craig Hartinger starts any discussion of beer prices by pointing out that given his job he’s naturally biased. “I’m cheap when it comes to every other thing, but I think paying more for beer is worth it,” he said.
Hauling Ales
A number of columns back I described a license plate advertising Genesee beers. The plate said “Don’t worry Dad we’re drinking Genesee!”
Columns
Tapped Up or Tapped Out
The first multiple tap bars had to be found in Europe. Perhaps it all started early in 18th century East London’s Shoreditch area where publicans came to serve a mixture from three different casks. “Three threads,” as it was called originally, consisted of equal parts pale ale, new (actively fermenting) brown ale, and aged brown […]
Rounds and Reciprocity
Let’s call him Dave (that was, after all, his name). Years ago, when my friends and I were on the cusp of legal drinking age, we’d go to the pub every Friday and Saturday night, simply because we could. Standing there self-consciously holding our pints, trying to grow wispy moustaches, we were a bunch of […]
Departments
International Pale Lagers
No matter where one is in the world, a quenching pale lager is seldom far away. Nearly every country that has a brewery has one, which in many cases is considered the national beer. The far-reaching consequences of these German- and Bohemian-inspired brews is significant not only as a satiating provision, but often as a […]
On the Trail of Ontario Beer
Recently, a group of Ontario brewers put themselves on the map by creating an Ale Trail. It wasn’t a physical trail, but a one-weekend-a-month open house. For a couple of dollars, one bought a “passport” good for entry into the breweries, a few samples, and conversation with other beer lovers. Hospitable staff were on hand, […]
Beer Talk
Mortality Stout
Reaper Ale Vista, CA Available: CA, AZ, PA, VA ReaperAle microbrews were founded in 2000. Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): 7.5 Color: black Bitterness: 30 Original Gravity: 17.5 p Final gravity: n/a Malts used: n/a Hops used: n/a
Tremont IPA
Available: MA Tremont IPA is a true British-style India Pale Ale,which is a light copper color assertively hopped with English and American hops and balanced by a big malt profile. It pours rich, hoppy and delicious. Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): 5.75 Color: n/a Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: 1060 Final gravity: n/a Malts used: Pale, […]
Nosferatu
Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland, OH Available: OH, MI, PA, NY, KY, IN, IL, WI Great Lakes Brewing Co. is housed in part in buildings which originally served as horse stables and kegging facilities for the Schlather Brewing Co. an operation that was built in 1878 and once brewed up to 90,000 barrels a year. […]
Secret Ale
Southhampton Publick House Available: NY, NJ, CT, PA, MA, RI Secret Ale is a special version of the classic Düsseldorf-style alt beer. A few times a year, Düsseldorf brewpubs make a stronger version of alt known as “sticke”—or secret—hence the name of Secret Ale. Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): 5.0 Color: n/a Bitterness: n/a Original […]
Tapetto Volante Golden Lager
Birra Menabrea Biella, Italy Imported by The Arsenal San Antonio, TX Available: NJ, DE, PA, RI, CT Biella is located in the Italian region of Piemont. Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): 4.9 Color: n/a Bitterness: 21 Original Gravity: 11.81% by volume Final gravity: n/a Malts used: n/a Hops used: n/a
Anglers Pale Ale
Uinta Brewing Co. Salt Lake City, UT Available: UT, VA, MN, ID Uinta (pronounced “you-in-tah”) Brewing Co. is named for a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains. The brewery has a strong environmental commitment: among other things, it is 100% wind-powered, and 6-pack carriers can be redeemed for Uinta merchandise. Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): […]
La Roja
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Dexter, MI Available: MI, FL, IL Jolly Pumpkin’s “country brewery” uses open fermentation, oak aging and bottle conditioning in creating their beers. La Roja is in the biére de garde style, aged two to three months in bourbon barrels. Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): 7.2 Color: 22 Bitterness: 22 Original Gravity: […]
Rochfort 8
Abbaye St. Remy Rochfort, Belgium Imported by Merchant du Vin Tukwila, WA Available: WV, SC, AL, AR, MS The Abbey of St. Remy was founded in 1230 and was brewing beer by 1595. The beer has been available to the public since about 1830. Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): 9.2 Color: 31 Bitterness: 30 Original […]
De Troch Framboise
Brouwerij De Troch Ternat, Belgium Imported by Noble Union Trading Ltd. Co. Houston, TX Available: CA, CO, TX, IL, IA, MN, WI, MI, OH, IN, LA, AL, GA, FL, SC, MA, NJ, VA, DE, MD, NY, PA, DC Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): n/a Color: 28 EBC Bitterness: 14 Original Gravity: 14.5 P Final gravity: […]
Organic IPA
Fish Brewing Co. Olympia, WA Available: WA, OR, ID, AK, CA The recipe for this IPA has been revamped recently to suit organic ingredients. Alcohol (wt.): 4.6 Alcohol (vol.): 6 Color: 8.5 Bitterness: 50 Original Gravity: 16 p Final gravity: n/a Malts used: n/a Hops used: Pacific Gem from New Zealand
Holy Smoke Scotch Ale
Church Key Brewing Co. Campbellford, ON Available: ON Holy Smoke is a strong Scotch ale flavoured with peat-smoked whiskey malt. The brewery opened in 2000 in the town of Campbellford, ON, halfway between Toronto and Ottawa. The brewery is located in an 1878 Methodist Church. Church-Key ales won 3 gold medals at the 2004 Canadian […]
Landbier
Imported by Wein-Bauer, Inc. Chicago, IL Available: nationwide Alcohol (wt.): n/a Alcohol (vol.): 5.3 Color: 6.00 EBC Bitterness: 27.00 EBC Original Gravity: n/a Final gravity: 12,80 % Malts used: Pilsen malt/wheat malt/caramel malt Hops used: Saazer hop/regional muehlviertler malt