You usually see the “three-tier system”, created after Prohibition, described as “Brewer, Distributor, Retailer”. However, that first tier also includes Importers, which is how foreign producers get their beer into the country. Importers face many of the same logistical challenges that Distributors do, but exacerbated by geography and border customs. B. United International is a […]
Betting on Small Pack
I’m not a large person. I don’t eat a lot (even when I want to). And yes, I’m in my thirties (slower metabolism, blah blah blah). I recently stopped in a yogurt shop and was chastised by the owner about how little I got from the self-serve machine. “Are you on a diet?” she asked. […]
December Style of the Month – High Gravity Beers
“High-gravity” refers to brewing a beer with high original gravity (OG).Typically, above 1.075 OG is considered high. OG is a measure of the fermentable and un-fermentable sugars in the wort before fermentation. A gravity reading taken just prior to yeast being added, is referred to as the original gravity (OG). The OG will provide the brewer with a […]
A Means, Not An End: Pilsner Urquell
In the United States, the term “pilsner” is used to describe an array of beers. But, in the Czech Republic, “pilsner” is reserved for one beer – Pilsner Urquell, the original pale lager. Since 1842, the brewery in Plzeň has maintained the same recipe, the same triple decoction method, and the same wooden barrel aging […]
The Pacific NW Brew Tour
The Pacific Northwest may be known for green scenery and an increasingly liberal social climate, but more than either of those, the wide array of fresh seafood and the thriving craft beer scene drive thousands to the west coast each year for premium imbibement. Pike Brewing Co. is located in downtown Seattle on 1st Avenue […]
November Style of the Month – Trappist & Abbey
To quote Garrett Oliver, the term “abbey ales” is “specific enough to be vaguely useful, but broad enough to be frustrating.” The term doesn’t actually denote an actual style of beer, but a family of traditional monastic styles that can range from pale to dark, sweet to dry, and a variety of alcohol levels. But what they do have […]
Interview with Danii Oliver – Owner of Island to Island Brewery
It’s not out of the norm to walk into a taproom and have options other than beer. A lot of local taprooms will also stock wine, kombucha, and even soda for those who may not have the palate for a pint, but have you ever experienced a taproom with smoothies? Danii Oliver, owner of Island […]
Smuttynose Is Still Here. And They’re Making More Than Just Your Dad’s Beer.
2018 began with somewhat of a rough start for the craft beer world. Just two weeks after we rang in the new year, on January 15th, Green Flash announced that they would be pulling out of 32 states after building a distribution footprint that covered the entire country. Three days later, we were hit with […]
The Beer Snob Told Me So
It was a cool, chill day and with the weather not as humid as it normally is here in Florida I decided to hop on my bike and take a ride to the bar. Walking into the bar I spotted a group of individuals gathered at a table in the corner with multiple bottles popped […]
October Style of the Month – Porters & Stouts
Porters and Stouts are both are dark, moderate in alcohol, and have aromas and flavors of coffee, chocolate, and toasty malt. Much like Pale Ale and IPA, Porters and Stouts can also confusingly overlap. Porter is a style rich in history, dating back to early-1700s England. There are many versions of the story of […]