How We Lived to Tell the Tale of Woodshop 5.0

Perhaps you’ve already heard about Woodshop 5.0. Perhaps you’ve overheard a friend waxing philosophically about the event: wide-eyed, fidgeting, looking over your shoulder at something distant. Perhaps you’ve even perused the various online threads and thought, “It sounds cool… but I’m not really into carpentry.” [...]

Socially Responsible Beer

It is fairly common these days for all sorts of businesses to maintain that they include a “socially responsible mission” as a part of doing business with the rest of the world. Beer brewing businesses, of course, are among those which participate in this and some provide outstanding examples of companies altering their business [...]

Canvolution

Quick, answer this question: When was the last time you had a beer from a can?

There’s a large percentage of you right now cringing and imagining an ice-cold can of [insert American Macro Industrial Lager here] and thinking, “No way.” A smaller (but hopefully growing!) percentage of you are nodding and thinking of that can of Oskar Blues Gordon, or Maui Coconut Porter, or 21st Amendment Monk’s Blood you enjoyed recently. You know.

Good beer can come in a can.

Storing Beer

Drink faster.
That’s what one friend told me once, when I was researching different ways to store beer, or “cellar” beer. Let’s look at some alternatives.
First off, not all beer is meant to be stored long-term. Beers with “fresh” ingredients, such as a super fresh hopped IPA, generally aren’t as tasty two years down the road. [...]

Pairing with steak

I apologize in advance for making you hungry.

Vancouver, 2 years later

A friend asked me what I thought of the Vancouver beer scene these days. It has been two years since the last time I was here but I’ve been keeping track and the signs have been optimistic.
I can safely report that the optimistic signs have panned out, in my opinion. It’s not a [...]

In Memory: William Brand

In my opinion, William Brand was the beer writer in the Bay Area. He was everywhere. He knew everyone. Most importantly, everyone knew and liked him. One year ago today we lost our friend. Bill, this is for you.

Stone Old Guardian Vertical Tasting

Greg Koch, miracle worker. He can
turn grain into beer and levitate.

This is a special week for craft beer in South Carolina. Greg Koch from Stone Brewing Company left his refuge in Southern California to come out to abnormally chilly South Carolina for a whirlwind tour, culminating with the Brewvival Festival in Charleston on Saturday.
We don’t [...]

HaterAde and Calls to Action

Objectivity vs. subjectivity, my tastes vs. yours, and keeping craft beer under a big tent.

SF BEER WEEK: 2010 RECAP (ROUND 2)

Where were we? Ah yes, I last left off on Wednesday.
Thursday — February 11th

1. OYSTER FEST — Magnolia Brewpub — San Francisco, CA

About The Event: Magnolia’s menu featured 5-6 west coast varieties of freshly shucked oysters plus oysters prepared in other various ways including: marinated, BBQ’d, Rockefeller, in chowder and a Hangtown Fry, frisee salad [...]