Author: John Holl
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Behind the Bar -
CultureSelf-Driven Beer Trucks
March 1, 2017 - John Holl Despite a few extra pieces of hardware strapped to the outside, little about the tractor-trailer barreling down Interstate 25 in Colorado on a mostly sunny morning last October would draw attention. Well, except for the statement along the trailer: Proudly brewed. Self-driven. Budweiser partnered with Otto, a transportation company owned by Uber, to deliver a... View Article -
Home BrewingTesting the Pico: An Automated Homebrew System
March 1, 2017 - John Holl The voice of Ron Popeil came into my head as I hit the button on the Pico. “Set it and forget it!” The familiar refrain from the kitchen appliance TV pitchman is apt for this steam-generating homebrewing machine from PicoBrew that is user-friendly if not a little impersonal. I’m not a homebrewer, although I have... View Article -
Book ReviewsThe Belgian Beer Book
February 24, 2017 - John Holl The Belgian Beer Book By Erik Verdonck and Luc De Raedemaeker $59.95, Lannoo The word “tome” is thrown around a lot when people are looking for a fancy word to describe a book. In the case of this 702-page, 7.7-pound, wonderfully photographed, comprehensive drink, food and travel guide, the word is apt. A country with... View Article -
Book ReviewsThe Apple Orchard: The Story of our Most English Fruit
February 24, 2017 - John Holl The Apple Orchard: The Story of our Most English Fruit By Pete Brown $35.99, Particular Books If you’re not already aware of the apple’s cultural and agricultural significance to mankind, that’s OK. If you thought you were knowledgeable on the subject, that’s OK, too. In his latest book, the masterful Pete Brown tackles the apple... View Article -
Book ReviewsThe Secrets of Master Brewers: Techniques, Traditions, and Homebrew Recipes for 26 of the World’s Classic Beer Styles
February 24, 2017 - John Holl The Secrets of Master Brewers: Techniques, Traditions, and Homebrew Recipes for 26 of the World’s Classic Beer Styles By Jeff Alworth $24.95, Storey Publishing Styles no longer exist, so says the editor of this magazine, but they should. Too often professional brewers are all too eager to color outside the lines without first seeking discipline.... View Article -
Book ReviewsBeer, In So Many Words: The Best Writing On The Greatest Drink
February 24, 2017 - John Holl Beer, In So Many Words: The Best Writing On The Greatest Drink Edited by Adrian Tierney-Jones £14.99, Safe Haven Books Even for those who don’t write on the subject, beer is a muse. But in this collection of works from writers including Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Dylan Thomas and more contemporary folks like Roger Protz,... View Article -
Behind the BarTaking a Stand Against Sexist Beers
February 20, 2017 - John Holl Panty Peeler. Phat Bottom. And all the unfortunate beers that use the color of a woman’s hair that also coordinate with a beer style—Blonde, Amber—and take a large bra size to create a name. As equality fights are raging on a number of different fronts, there are still breweries and beers that are well behind... View Article -
FlightsFLIGHTS: Grace Ridge Brewing in Homer, Alaska
January 24, 2017 - John Holl HOMER, Alaska—Bald eagles and sea hawks circle and land throughout this city, and fresh halibut and salmon arrive on the shores daily. Salt is in the air and the weather can change by the minute. If it feels like a frontier city, that’s because it is. Thankfully, there’s fresh beer. While the Homer Brewing Co.... View Article