All aboard the Time Travel Machine, when civilized discussions occurred in blogs. We all learned something, and perhaps contributed to the conversation (in the comments).
– We don’t want Belgian beer to change – and that’s our problem
– They don’t want Belgian beer to change – and that’s their problem*
– I want Belgian beer to change – because it is a problem*
(From Facebook, scroll down for English version)
Multiple voices. Multiple views.
This is tangentially related: one of the joys of travel to me is finding something you don’t expect — an Irish pub by the Duomo in Florence, say, or a Belgian beer bar by Madrid’s cathedral. I certainly enjoyed Tuscan food and wines, but having a pint of Murphy’s after a couple of weeks of that was awesome. In Madrid, I was so entranced by the tap list at a Belgian-focused beer bar that I missed the chance to try Westvleteren. Whatever I had was plenty good enough! I’d be going to Belgium for what Americans think Belgian beer is… but would probably be entranced by what B and B found if i stumbled across that place. Well, not if it was truly nothing but hazies and pastry stouts, but…
Thanks, Bill. The proper thing for me to do would be to take the time for a post of my own. But GABF starts tomorrow, and I have a lot of people to talk to for other things I am working on.
I’ll simply add that I thought of when Greg Noonan told me this: “When the homebrewers stop entering the profession, and the backyard breweries are squeezed out, then it will become stagnant. You gotta keep getting the guys who say, ‘Cool, I can sell the beer I make. I can do it.’ ”
There should be no limitations on where those brewers look to for inspiration.