RIP, Beermapping Project Great American Beer Festival Fantasy Draught. Jonathan Surratt has come to his senses and let the crazy-to-administrate beast ride into the sunset after four fun-filled years. But a new game has arrived to fill the void, the FBAG 2011 Brewery Pick’em Contest. So put down that beer judging glass, Jay Brooks, and [...]

When maps merge . . . Good analysis may follow. Now, just on the basis of this — ignoring all the other evidence, ignoring that the industrial revolution started in Scotland, ignoring that many of these breweries are nearer to sources of coal than sources of peat, ignoring that we know for a fact that [...]

The lead story in the latest issue of All About Beer magazine is titled “Hop Forward: Breeding Tomorrow’s Hops Today.” The current Brew Your Own magazine has an article on “Aroma Hop Breeding.” Earlier this year, Beer Advocate magazine put “The Future of Hops” on its cover. And yesterday, Tony Magee at Lagunitas tweeted: “Who [...]

The fifth edition of The Cask Report is out today. As author Pete Brown explains, “It’s primarily aimed at publicans who may (or may not) be interested in stocking cask ale, but some of it may be of interest to others who write about beer, or are interested in it.” He also provides a quick [...]

Think you know where in the beer world this photo was taken? Please leave your answer as a comment. A hint: Those are pumpkins in the foreground, untrellised hops behind them and hop trellises in the background.

These are all fine discussions: – Last time I looked “Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?*” had drawn 82 comments. – Jeff Alworth posts the question “Is this craft beer?” – And Alan McLeod follows up with “It’s The End Of Craft Beer As We Know It…” Interesting ideas. But right now I’m thinking “beer” is a [...]

This sign hangs (on several walls) at the Segal Hop Ranch in Grandview, Washington (Yakima Valley).

Think you know where in the beer world this photo was taken? Please leave your answer as a comment.

Just how much longer until Hibiscus Wit is declared an official World Beer Style? MateVeza Morpho Herbal Ale is the latest yerba mate beer from MateVeza and pours a distinct shade of pink. I’m wondering if Hamburger Mary’s in Chicago will bring its Hibiscus Wit to the Great American Beer Festival next week. There are [...]

Notice a trend here? In 1911, exactly one hundred years ago, world consumption of hops was 0.63 pounds per hectoliter (0.54 per barrel), amounting to 12.6 grams of alpha per hectoliter. The best comparison going forward is grams of alpha per hectoliter, rather than bulk, because of the advent of high alpha hops and the [...]