The Session #96 roundup posted

The SessionJoan Villar-i-Martí at birraire has posted the roundup for The Session #96: “Festivals: Geek Gathering or Beer Dissemination?”

It was an interesting peak into different cultures, at least beer cultures. I remain intrigued by the idea that John Duffy introduced: “I’ve found them to be a great way of learning about any particular country’s brewing… . Even smaller ones like Borefts or Quartiere In Fermento, in my experience, really help with understanding what’s happening with beer in other places.”

I think you could replace the word country with region and apply it to the United States. It’s a big country.

Session #97 announced: Beer scenes on the rise

The SessionBrett Domue of Our Tasty Travels has announced the topic for The Session #97: Up-and-Coming Beer Locations.

Here’s the plan: “I’m asking you all to share which locations you see as the beer destinations that everyone will be talking about in the next few years. Where are the beer scenes just emerging, or coming into their own? Some may be brand new locations. While others may be old-world destinations seeing a renaissance into the world of new craft beer styles. Some may even be locations where familiar names from around the world are planning on setting up shop to bring new styles to old palates.”

I’ve got an old palate, so I’m looking forward to March 6 and reading the spots everybody suggests.

Brewery shopping. Not just for the big guys.

MONDAY BEER LINKS, MUSING 02.16.15

Announcing my next beer book: “What are you drinking?” No really, do you know?
Writer Pete Brown announced his next book — called “What Are You Drinking” — will be published by Unbound, which combines crowdfunding and traditional publishing. That’s if enough people step up with pledges, which should be a slam dunk. I already have, even though reading his book might leave readers with the silly idea they know all they need to about hops. He’s a known quantity. Maybe that sounds simple, but that’s the same reason I’ll download Steve Earle’s latest when it is released tomorrow and James McMurtry’s a week from tomorrow. If you need convincing, there’s an excerpt here — or you can just pledge here (they take PayPal). [Via Pete Brown]

December, 1919 – Chapter 3.
I have already mentioned Oliver Gray’s serialized novel once and promise not to do this every week or even every month. However, a year ago he and his wife braved a long, snowy drive to attend the Craft Writing conference in Lexington, Ky. During preparations for my presentation I exchanged emails with several writers about the future of beer writing, specifically narrative in nature. Pete was one of them, in fact. Interesting to have “What Are You Drinking” and “December, 1919” arrive this quickly. [Via Literature & Libation]

Why We Need More Professional Beer Criticism.
Brewery owner Jesse Friedman, who for obvious reasons would like for beer to get all the attention it can, asks the question “Why don’t major food publications have full time beer critics?” I’m pretty sure “critic” is not actually what he means. [Via Eater]

Advice for young winewriters.
Jamie Goode follows up his amusing takedown on wine writing — which rather easily extrapolates into other drink writing — with some serious advice, which also is relative to all drink writing. [Via jamie goode’s wine blog]

In Which I Apply to be a Beer Writer at Thrillist.
AB InBev didn’t buy another smaller American brewery last week or roll out a new commercial about brewing beer the hard way, so Thrillist filled the void, generating plenty of fussing. To the writer’s credit, he went out of his way to point out how to pronounce gose. [Via This Is Why I Am Drunk]

Finally, actual writing about beer rather than writing about writing:

Oskar Blues looking at purchasing smaller breweries.
This flips takeover talk on its head. It is also related to a Twitter exchange I was part of last week. [Via The Denver Post}