Author: Ben Keene

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  Culture

  Band of Brewers

  November 1, 2013 - Ben Keene Across the country, soldiers, sailors, and pilots continue to return from two, three, or four tours of duty in dangerous combat zones. For those who have been away from home for such long time stretches of time, finding work and a sense of purpose in their communities brings a whole new set of challenges. For... View Article
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  Brewing Features

  Rise of the Micro-Maltsters

  July 1, 2013 - Ben Keene Spend enough time in a tavern or a taproom and you’ll almost certainly hear it. Hophead: a beer lover with a bad case of the bitters. From extra-pale ales to imperial stouts, nothing makes them happier than a pint exploding with hop flavor and aroma. You know who you are. Plenty of brewers put themselves... View Article
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  Book Reviews - Full Pints

  Beer Cocktails: 50 superbly crafted cocktails that liven up your lagers and ales

  November 1, 2012 - Ben Keene The first copies of How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon Vivant’s Companion, appeared under the Dick & Fitzgerald imprint in 1862 for the price of $1.50. In it, Jerry P. Thomas, the former principal bartender at New York’s Metropolitan Hotel, describes a handful of beer cocktails including an “Ale Sangaree,” made with simple syrup... View Article
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  Culture - Full Pints

  Old World Revived

  September 1, 2012 - Ben Keene Is it accurate to call gose, a salty, 1,000-year-old German wheat ale, mainstream? The answer from Brewmaster Brian Edmunds at Breakside Brewing in Portland, OR, is decidedly yes. “We actually do—or have done—a number of different ‘Old World’ styles at different points,” he says.
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  Book Reviews - Full Pints

  The Great American Ale Trail

  January 1, 2012 - Ben Keene Curating is not an easy job. And whether it’s art, music or beer, only the best curators can make the task of selecting and organizing look effortless. Fortunately for drinkers adrift in a sea of craft beer choices, Christian DeBenedetti proves himself to be an adept guide in his first book, The Great American Ale... View Article