01.14.19
I put together a new bookcase last week, which led to a certain amount of moving books around, a dangerous process because I have plenty of new books to read, yet here I was with Tom Wicker’s On Press from 1978 in my hands, and already thinking about journalism in general when Alan McLeod referred to beer journalism as a rare bird.
I don’t seek out journalism in the support of beer when I choose what to post here on Monday (FYI, my arbitrary rules). As McLeod wrote, writing about beer may fall into many different categories. It is not always clear which intersect with journalism, so not to belabor the point here I’ll suggest NiemanLab’s “Predictions for Journalism 2019” if you don’t have a copy of On Press. And I offer three examples of stories that may or may not accomplish something that is essential, that is making the important interesting rather than simply searching for purely interesting.
The Male Gueuze — Cantillon, Cabaret, and Context.
Beer is only part of this story. The male gaze and the associated objectification of women are evident in much of our culture. From the difference in marketing campaigns directed towards the two most common genders to the representation of women and the female form across advertising and pop culture, there’s plenty of evidence to support (John) Berger’s theory.
The Quiet American: Brüpond and the birth of modern London beer.
Back in 2013, this would have been an interesting tale of how an enthusiastic young American got out of his depth in London. Now, just five-and-a-half-years on, it feels like a time capsule, a reminder of an era that is gone for ever (even if there are plenty of evergreen lessons here for anyone planning to start a business, brewing or otherwise. Will Hawkes provides perspective in the first post at his new site (to find the RSS feed, go to /blog).
Government Shutdown Closes Tap on New Brews.
Now being held hostage by the shutdown.
New Bottled Brews Delayed By Government Shutdown.
Can’t sell it? Give it away.
Take your pick. The first link is to the Wall Street Journal (so behind a pay wall, sorry), the second to the New York Times, the third to NPR, and the fourth to The Kansas City Star.
MORE BEER
– A New #FlagshipFebruary Campaign Aims To Save Core Beer Brands Before They Disappear.
– A Guide To Maxing Out Your Upcoming #FlagFeb Experience.
– Very common.
This certainly will give bloggers, journalists, whoever something to write about beyond Brut and pastry stouts. Let’s hope they are as to the point as John Duffy’s post about Anchor Brewing riffing on its own beer. As I post this, the #FlagshipFebruary website is Coming Soon.
– IPA means nothing anymore.
There is every chance you had this thought five years ago, and the story does appear in Evil Empire propaganda rag October. Nonetheless, consider that this story serves those who were not paying as much attention to beer five years ago. Of course, the author might also have considered that those three letters do mean something to some people who are trying to get a flavor they’ve identified they like in their glass.
– Coors Brewery hosts 101-year-old whose secret to longevity is a daily Coors Light.
It was very nice of Coors to provide royal treatment for Andrew E. Slavonic, but I’m going to require more proof that a daily dose of Coors was the secret to him living to be 101 years old.
THERE IS A BEER CONNECTION, TRUST ME
– Venture capital. Not for everybody. Fact is, venture capitalists wouldn’t give more than 90 percent of the breweries in the United States a second look. But my thought while I was compiling these links was: Do venture capitalists expect a brewery to have a flagship beer?
SENSORY, TERROIR, AUTHENTIC
– Tannins.
– The fight to save the traditional tortilla.
– Whiskey and terroir (Shouldn’t this have already been obvious?)
– Spicy tomatoes and gene splicing. (Hmmm.)
FROM TWITTER
Don’t ya just love it when you find beers packaged 4 months apart in the same variety pack? All of them are old, mind you, and although the can labels were visible the codes on bottom were not. pic.twitter.com/aAgDw3EcVI
— Brian Reed (@BrianIsBeering) January 9, 2019
MORE LINKS
ReadBeer, every day.
Alan McLeod, most Thursdays.
Good Beer Hunting’s Read Look Drink, most Fridays.
Boak & Bailey, most Saturdays.