About
The Hop Press is a collection of beer writers around the world sharing their views on the beer world as seen through their eyes. Each region perceives beer in a different way and we want to make sure all of those perspectives are included. Continue checking back with The Hop Press for all of your beer news and opnions as well as for all of the great tools RateBeer has to offer.
2 Comments to “About”
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Hello,
First, I’ll just say that ratebeer and the hop press are great tools for beer lovers from all around, so thank you!
Secondly, I’m embarking on quite the adventure beginning August of 2010. I will be traveling extensively throughout twelve countries in Europe and Asia, discovering each country’s many regions that are holding on to their historical and unique brewing traditions. As a serious home brewer myself for the past three years, I know the ins and outs of brewing, which is how, during my trip, I have acquired three apprenticeships at top breweries, where I will be learning from the absolute best in the business. Apart from my internships, my trip will consist of me cycling extensively throughout each country visiting hop farms, barley fields, malt houses–the list goes on to brew clubs, bottle shops and hundreds of breweries and pubs, all while conducting interviews with the wonderful people that I will meet.
I have acquired apprenticeships at the following breweries:
Fullers Brewery: London, England – (August 2010 – October 2010)
Kiuchi Brewery: Ibaraki, Japan – (November 2010 – January 2011)
Nørrebro Brewery: Copenhagen, Denmark – (February 2011 – April 2011)
The final three months of my trip, May through July, will be spent bicycling through Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. For this final period of my project, I will focus more on visiting smaller towns and their local breweries/brew pubs, where I will be able to grasp a better understanding of each region’s old and new brewing traditions.
When the time comes to return to the United States, my journey will not be over. Once back, I will be traveling around the country to many colleges and universities speaking about my travels and encouraging students to want to learn, themselves, more about where their beer, or alcohol of any kind, comes from. To respect something, one has to be educated about it. By knowing who made a beer, when and where the style originated, or discovering the kind of care that was put into the product, people will be much more likely to practice the old saying, “Quality over Quantity. Moderation is truly the name of the game in life, not just in drinking, so it’s time to stop drinking senselessly and time to start drinking something you can be proud of, something that stands for more than just a beer.
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Right now, I have a monthly column for the Scene Newspaper in Menasha, WI and am working out a contract with the Appleton Post Crescent, also in Wisconsin. I’m writing an article for Zymurgy Magazine as well as Brew Your Own. I will be blogging about my discoveries, interviews, etc… throughout my trip and was wondering if I could get something onto ratebeer, where I could either write articles, or direct people to my blog.
Please, let me know if you have any ideas as to how we may be able to promote my travels. I am looking for additional sponsors, and I have the ability to advertise for anyone that helps fund me. Otherwise, I hope all is well, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Skål!
-Ilan Klages-Mundt
Email sent.
For those looking for quicker responses (I just noticed this post!) regarding site issues, contact Mario Rubio or Joe Tucker directly.
Those interested in contributing occasional articles to Hop Press should contact me. Details here.
cheers!
-Ken