There is something special about a big barley wine or an imposing Russian Imperial Stout. They are beer you just have to respect, not just for their heft, but for their complexity and subtlety. As a homebrewer my respect is… Continue Reading →
Long-time readers will know that I am fascinated by the flavour and aroma effects of beer packaging. Does beer taste differently in a keg vs. a bottle vs. a can? I have explored this issue a couple of times here… Continue Reading →
My latest Beer 101 came out, like, a month ago (in fact the next one is due in a few days). How is it I keep forgetting to post about it? I need some kind of alarm cl0ck for beer… Continue Reading →
On my CBC column last Friday, I did something a bit out of the ordinary for me. It is something I have been contemplating for a while, and have done in little bits and snippets while discussing other topics. I… Continue Reading →
It seems apt that a book delving into the history of beer in the United States would be titled Ambitious Brew. A few years ago historian Maureen Ogle penned what is likely the most complete historical examination of brewing in… Continue Reading →
My latest column in Planet S is out this week. and in it a take a step or two back. I decided to write up a quick column on the difference between lager and ale and how it affects the… Continue Reading →
My latest Beer 101 has been out for a bit (I always seem to neglect checking when it goes up). This month I take a look at how we get bubbles into our beer and what they do to it… Continue Reading →
Last week Edmonton’s Vue Weekly offered its first ever Beer Issue – an extensive look at the state of Edmonton’s beer scene. (I suspect most Edmontonians have seen it already – I have been out of town and hadn’t got… Continue Reading →
In my job I get asked an awful lot “what is your favourite beer?” And while I have perfected the non-answer, every time it leaves me wondering about peoples’ need to have “the best”. Usually the asker is a moderate… Continue Reading →
Most of the time, it is pretty easy to feel discouraged about the continuing sad state of the North American beer industry. If they are not buying each other out or cascading the public with ads linking watery beer with… Continue Reading →