That Olde English 800 3.2 tops the list of the world’s worst beers at Rate Beer got a little press this past week, but that Olde English 800 sucks hardly ranks as news. Even if it does have its own Facebook page. Back in 1978 James Robertson gave Old English (note the difference in spelling) [...]

So last week when we gathered around the campfire to sing Kumbaya and drink beer made by “gypsy brewers” was that Joe Stange singing out of tune? He suggested we might might ask these guys who’ve been getting some pretty sweet press, “So, um, since your beer’s so good . . . when are you [...]

How much does this tell you? The quote appears on Page 95 of Dethroning the King: The Hostile Takeover of Anheuser-Busch and comes for Charlie Claggett, an advertising guy. That’s the context. “I think he (August Busch III) genuinely wanted to pass it down to his son, but I think his son wasn’t up to [...]

In 1977, the same year Michael Jackson wrote The World Guide to Beer, Fred Eckhardt and Itsuo Takita published a somewhat smaller tome. Beer Tasting and Evaluation for the Amateur wrapped everything up in a modest 16 pages. As you can see, it was printed at a local copy shop. In the preface they wrote [...]

Do you have a vested interest in whether a beer is a porter or a stout? Do I? Two words, but for me a two-part question. * First, I drink beer. And I have an affection for imperial stouts. So if a beer is called “imperial porter” should I trifle with it? You answered no? [...]

My favorite paragraph of the week, and I think you can connect the dots to beer: “Robert Parker is no dictator. He is a storyteller. The magnetism of his prose is that of J.K. Rowling’s, too: you’re first presented with a set of familiar facts and situations, and then, slowly, you’re seduced into suspending reason [...]

When do you know you’ve had at least one too many? When you quit even trying to pronounce convivial and admit you should have stuck to session beers. Today the Wall Street Journal examines “The Future of Beer in Europe.” Which isn’t looking all that great. Interesting timing for me since I just started reading [...]

A brewery is under construction. The first hops crop is in. An update on Monks’ Ale. Just make sure your muffler is in good repair before tackling the last 13 miles of road on the way to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert northwest of Abiquiu, New Mexico.

The Beer Wench has posted her recap of The Session #44: Frankenstein Beers. And BeerTaster.ca has picked the topic for #45: Wheat Beers. Before I use the opportunity to delivery a plug you had to know is coming, here are the details: “We wanted to get back closer to the roots of the Session and [...]