Author: Jeff Alworth
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Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web Only -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlyBrands Under New Ownership
January 27, 2015 - Jeff Alworth Not just a few observers have pointed out that the fans of beer and music have a lot in common. In both worlds, there’s a tension between the small and quirky and the large and mainstream. Certain bands and breweries derive cachet from being so outré that only a small cadre of fans can appreciate... View Article -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlyWhy Brands Matter
January 26, 2015 - Jeff Alworth Let’s try a thought experiment. I’ll offer the name of a brewery and you notice the first few things that spring to mind. Ready? Sierra Nevada. Unless you’re really not into beer—and then, why are you reading this?—something should have popped into your head. OK, here’s another: Dogfish Head. Or here, try this juicy one:... View Article -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlyWhy Beer Experts Matter
January 13, 2015 - Jeff Alworth Those of us who have attained a certain—well, let’s call it maturity—recall early days in the American craft era when we were confronted by bizarre “beer” that came by names like Kölsch and ESB. We were desperate to learn what all these oddities were, so we turned to experts like Michael Jackson. “Kölsch seems to... View Article -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlySpotting Beer Trends in 2014 and Beyond
December 31, 2014 - Jeff Alworth Most years, when looked at closely, yield only small, soon-forgotten trends. The economy usually rises or falls a bit, but not dramatically. The stock market fluctuates. Various industries trend up or down. But infrequently, big changes do happen: tech stocks around the turn of the century; the economy in 2008. Many people, looking at the... View Article -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlyThe Most Wonderful Time of the Year
December 23, 2014 - Jeff Alworth It was not so long ago that winter was the source of major anxiety. The season was interminable and dark, and if the summer bore poor crops, filled with hunger. And it was cold. I recently pulled out Oliver Twist, and Charles Dickens wields winter like he does Bill Sikes. A presence throughout, bleak and... View Article -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlyAre You Ready for Lifestyle Beer?
December 18, 2014 - Jeff Alworth The splash page for Saint Archer Brewing Co., a San Diego company founded last year, is curious. On a recent visit to the page, there was nothing but a six-and-a-half minute video that began in grainy black and white and looked something like the early French new wave. It turned out to be a short promo... View Article -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlyIs Maine Brewing the Country’s Best Beer?
December 10, 2014 - Jeff Alworth Just before Thanksgiving, a Nor’easter blew into New England. It blanketed Maine under four or five inches of snow, followed by a cold snap that kept the countryside looking Rockwell-picturesque. Maine is almost entirely rural, and though it has many (many!) delights, few consider trend-setting to be among them. And yet, when I set out... View Article -
Blogs - The Beer Bible Blog - Web OnlyWhy Is My Beer Stale? (Part II)
November 20, 2014 - Jeff Alworth I began last week’s post with the story of a minor tragedy: a customer being forced to dump an IPA because it was so stale. That post discusses both what happens to beer as it ages and degrades, and how hard breweries work to slow the process. Nevertheless, we’ve all had the experience of buying... View Article