2014 hops update

The Barth-Haas Group has released the 2013-2014 Barth Report, which provides both perspective and new data relative to the recent chatter about hop shortages (you might also read this). However, so far we don’t really know much more than in February. What’s important is not if the price for some varieties, even one like Cascade, … Read more

10,000 cicerones; sounds like a Tom Paxton song*

Ray Daniels predicts that his Cicerone program will 10,000th certification in a matter of weeks. And it seems like only yesterday, as opposed to 79 AD in Pompeii (which is where this photo was taken; in 2008 rather than before Mount Vesuvius erupted). Here are the basics from a little press release: It may seem … Read more

Monday morning musing: Predictions and more

Go away a few days and links worth pointing to and/or commenting on sure pile up. Some have sparked ideas for longer posts in the next few days. Even so the list got long too fast so I’ve tried to minimize my musing: – As you’d expect, lots of recaps on 2007 and predictions for … Read more

Oops, wrong glass

Eric Asimov of the New York Times writes occasionally about beer, though mostly about wine. In his new wine blog he drops in at Cafe D’Alsace, the NYC spot touting its beer sommelier. His description indicates that this could just be a sommelier (remember, wine sommelier is redundant) well versed in beer. In any event, … Read more

So do winemakers ever become soms?

Ray Daniels announced this morning that Patrick Rue and James Watt passed two rigorous days of testing to become Master Cicerones. They are both brewers by trade — Rue is founder of The Bruery in California and Watt co-founder of Brew Dog in Scotland. This led to to wonder if winemakers seek similar certification — … Read more