As most know, May 16 – 22 is American Craft Beer Week. Seven days dedicated to the celebration of the thing we love the most: Craft Beer. There are many celebrations going on all over the country, and no shortage of events right here in Tampa Bay. One of the bigger local events is the Brews with [...]
If someone was to take away only one thing from Saturday’s Hunahpu release extravaganza at Cigar City Brewing, it would be that Florida’s growing craft beer culture is alive and kicking. Over 1000 strong showed up for the chocolatey-spicy brew release, and were treated to an incredible lineup of beers. Most impressive to me, however, [...]
No beer culture, you say? Tell that to the craft beer lovers in Florida now that the latest Ratebeer.com Best 2011 Awards have been released. From breweries to beer bars, brewpubs to restaurants, Florida has onace again made a showing in this reviewer-driven recognition. Although anchored by the ongoing success and popularity of Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, [...]
I have a near-pathological need to make lists in my life. Apparently I inherited it from my grandmother who was known to actually keep lists of the lists she had. I kid you not. So I really am at the mercy of my neuroses when a new year rolls around and everyone starts talk of “resolutions.” They [...]
How many times have you heard that phrase? How many times have you said it yourself? It seems like everyone in the craft-beer loving community wants to be involved “professionally”. But what does that mean? For some, they want to be in the trenches and on the front lines. They want [...]
It is either a testament to my growing older and more jaded and cynical, or an affirmation of my good taste, but I had the revelation today that I am hopelessly out of touch with what is “in”, as least as far as our mainstream media goes. On the eve before my thirty-ninth birthday, [...]
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, its that time of year again. The day of lovers. The day of romance. The oft-derided Hallmark holiday of Valentines Day. Time where many expect and receive sweets and flowers, champagne and lingerie, and other intimate gifts. It can also be a time for significant others to cringe and guess and [...]
Not surprisingly, many craft beer lovers are also homebrewers, and I am no exception. Conversely, nearly every home brewer is a craft beer lover… or else why would they do it? The logical progression is to go from being a lover of beer to being a brewer of beer as well. After all, why would [...]
Every day on the road I see the same billboard. “The World’s Lightest Beer”. As if that is something to be proud of. Joe McPhee discussed the one-upsmanship going on in the beer world (lightest beer notwithstanding) such as highest ABV (which has now reached ridiculous levels), most expensive (for the record, I [...]
2009 is approaching with ridiculous speed, and many people are putting together their dreams and hopes and predictions for the new year. 2010 will bring with it new surprises and gifts as well as obstacles and trials, both in the world of craft beer as well as the planet at large. The happenings around the [...]
