Last night we ate in a restaurant in Florence that, like plenty others in Italy, boasts it serves “products of the region.” More than half the customers were American tourists — it’s Florence — but if you didn’t listen too carefully the place didn’t feel touristy. There were local meat dishes to choose from as [...]

Think you know where in the beer world this photo was taken? Leave your answer as a comment. Also feel free to add a comment simply because the picture inspires you. As I’ve written before this is not really a Jeopardy-type contest, where the first to answer wins something. However, after we’re back in the [...]

Holy rss feed, Batman, there are 500 to 800 wine blogs. Enough that more than 100 participants have gathered in Sonoma County for the first American Wine Bloggers Conference. Take a minute to check out their agenda. Alan, it might be time to get serious about an annual summer gathering.  

Think you know where in the beer world this photo was taken? For those who get the blog via and RSS feed, the answer to #13 (with an additional photo) has been posted. More chapters in this this non-contest are here. Meanwhile remember I’m interested in your comments even if you don’t have an answer [...]

This photo was taken relatively late in the afternoon Oct. 11, the day medals were handed out at the Great American Beer Festival. Late in the afternoon in Switzerland, that is. Still morning, eight hours earlier, in Denver. When I sat down on a bench, pulled out my camera and shot the photo was I [...]

When we first arrived in Europe I wrote I’d found gas cheaper that quality beer. Turns out that beer is less expensive in Germany than any other country we’ve been in (so far six beyond Germany) and German diesel gas is more expensive. It gets more confusing when you hit Liechenstein and Switzerland, because you [...]

Geez, could I make it harder? Is it really fair to ask you where in the beer world this photo was taken? I am anyway. Quite honestly, it won’t be a slam dunk when I post a second picture with the answer. But stick with me on this. There’s a lesson, or maybe two, to [...]

Just because you might have missed the announcements . . . Schafferhof Zoigl, the variety we liked best (as I wrote at the time, that’s really an aside) last week in Neuhaus, will be among the beers on offer today through Sunday (or when it runs out) in London for an event at Zeitgeist (49-51 [...]

Ray and Mel at the Bathtub Brewery have the roundup for The Session #20: Beer Memories. Lots of, no surprise, memories (old and new). Meanwhile, Matt has laid down a challenge for The Session #21 on Nov. 7. He wants you to pick your favorite beer, and expects more than just a name. He wants [...]

Where in the beer world was this photo taken? Think you know? Just want to be as clever as Matt? That’s why the Internet God created comments. If you just stumbled in, here’s more about this weekly feature.