There is almost no limit to the tinkering mind of a homebrewer. Among the flavored, classic or hybridized brews, there is yet another subset: historical beers. Until now, homebrewers had little guidance at the ready to produce some of these antique brews.
Guido Deboeck advises international institutions such as the World Bank about technology, but it’s clear his passion in life is rooted in the region of Belgium southwest of Brussels, where his great-grandfather founded the Girardin Brewery 120 years ago. In Un“Beer”ably Delicious, Deboeck has written a far-reaching account of beer culture. In it, he conveys... View Article
In the 1990s, Roger Protz attended a dinner where English hop farmers celebrated a successful harvest. When he asked the group about organic hops, his hosts responded with “pop-eyed dismay,” insisting that the demand for organic beer was insignificant, and that organically grown brewing ingredients were of low quality.
Homebrewing as a mainstream hobby has been poked and prodded so much that there would seem to be little left to explore. Books on the subject range from the comprehensive to the esoteric. A new take on the former is How to Brew by John Palmer.
“Today they say of Alexander Keith’s beer, ‘those who like it, like it a lot.’ Well, it would seem that to have known the Honorable Alexander Keith, was to like HIM a lot.”
The midwestern United States has always been known as a great beer-producing area, thanks to a major influx a century ago of immigrants who just wouldn’t be without their favorite homeland brews. Today, many great brewpubs and microbreweries carry on the tradition.
Canada was built on brawn, beaver and beer, according to veteran beer marketer Allen Sneath in his ground-breaking chronicle, Brewed in Canada.
Most homebrewers get into the hobby as a means to produce their favorite styles or brands of beer. They yearn to produce world class beer right at home. But many variables ultimately determine whether or not a brewer can actually achieve his or her goal. Skill level, commitment, technical accouterments, and that certain “knack” all... View Article
Sometimes it seems that sports and beer are inseparable. Television inundates us with commercials showing spectators flagging down beer vendors. Placards advertising national beer brands festoon the outfield walls of ballparks. What would the Beer Belly Softball Leagues be without a keg of brew handy? Beach volleyball? It can’t be played without a cooler of... View Article
