Pay no attention to that elephant in the room. More long (and I dare I suggest passionate?<\/em>) screeds this past week related to AB InBev and buyouts in general. But there is a whole world of beer out there . . . <\/p>\n Burnt by the sun.<\/a><\/strong> The true import of South African hops.<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n Independents boot brewing giants from industry association.<\/a><\/strong> ‘High demand breeds creativity’: why Scotland\u2019s craft beer scene isn’t oversaturated yet.<\/a><\/strong> UK brewers must ‘look at home’ for inspiration.<\/a><\/strong> The 10 Most Influential French Craft Breweries.<\/a><\/strong> Galway Bay Head Brewer Preaches to the Choir, Gets the Chorus.<\/a><\/strong> Familiar Tastes in Foreign Lands \u2014 Discovering the Power of IPA in Iceland.<\/a><\/strong> Swiss beer drinkers protest Wicked Weed sale.<\/a><\/strong> 5 Sommelier-Approved Beers for Wine Enthusiasts.<\/a><\/strong> I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it. #slovenia<\/a> #slovenianhops<\/a> #styrianhops<\/a> #nature<\/a> #joy<\/a> #hops<\/a> #hopfarming<\/a> #spring<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MfzMMyWWrq<\/a><\/p>\n — HopSi_pureHops (@HopSi_Mihael) May 18, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nRUSSIA<\/h5>\n
\nThis is from last summer, but it just hit my radar. “Defying centuries of Christianisation, the Chuvash are still largely a pagan people with colourful rituals and a pantheon of gods that make ancient Greece look like a spiritual backwater.” And they grow hops. Not like in the 1980s, but there is a plan. [Via Calvert Journal]<\/strong><\/p>\nSOUTH AFRICA<\/h5>\n
\nYes, that is the elephant over there, but last week I suggested a conversation about South African hops should include South Africa and now somebody has. [Via All About Beer]<\/strong><\/p>\nAUSTRALIA<\/h5>\n
\nWhat was the Craft Beer Industry Association will be renamed as the Independent Brewers Association. Not surprisingly, the breweries tossed from the association talk about the importance of unity, being inclusive, and quality. All important, indeed, but so is transparency. [Via The Age]<\/strong><\/p>\nSCOTLAND<\/h5>\n
\nThat comes with an important qualifier. “Any industry where demand is so high that poor quality is not recognised is an industry that is doomed to stagnation.” Indeed. ENGLAND<\/h5>\n
\nGarrett. Oliver. Terroir. Got your attention? [Via Morning Advertiser]<\/strong><\/p>\nFRANCE<\/h5>\n
\nImpress your friedns with this fact: France has more than 1,000 microbreweries. [Via Brew Berlin] <\/strong><\/p>\nIRELAND<\/h5>\n
\nIs this newsworthy? Depends what you call news. But were I attempting to archive the exhausting conversations that swirl about the term “craft beer” — which, fortunately and in interest of my sanity, I figured out I should not do — then I’d be saving this and the Facebook thread it refers to. [Via Good Beer Hunting]<\/strong><\/p>\nICELAND<\/h5>\n
\nThink about this. “We made our own smoked malt with this method for a German-style Rauchbier and now most foreigners that Google us find stories about this malt. It wasn’t supposed to be a big thing, but when we go to festivals abroad, everyone wants a taste of it.” Will the result be more interesting beer or less interesting beer?[Via Good Beer Hunting] <\/strong><\/p>\nSWITZERLAND<\/h5>\n
\nBack to the elephant. But if the Swiss aren’t goingto be neutral who will be? [Via Mountain Express] <\/strong><\/p>\nWINE (& BEEN THERE, DONE THAT)<\/h5>\n
\nI was prepared to make fun of this, until I remembered this<\/a>. Oops. [Via TastingTable]<\/strong><\/p>\nFROM TWITTER (AND SLOVENIA)<\/h5>\n
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