Friday November 27, 2009
It started when Lord Tebbit discovered some beer bottles left in front of his house. Knowing that he didn't put them there, Tebbit concluded that patrons of the nearby Queen's Head pub, only a few paces from his front door, must've left them there.
I have a neighbor who likes to flick cigarette butts into my front yard so I can understand Tebbit's frustration.
He decided to confront Joel Shepperd, the pub's manager, about the bottles. Apparently, he was rather forceful in his allegation because he felt compelled to write a letter of apology after it was proved the bottles didn't come from the pub. They were likely bought at a local supermarket that carries that particular brand of beer.
In order to smooth everything over, Shepperd offered Lord Tebbit a free pint.
Friday November 27, 2009
Scotland's favorite little brewery that can - and does - is at it again.
BrewDog announced the release of the world strongest beer. At 32% alcohol that's not hard to believe. With numbers closer to whisky than the typical beer, Tactical Nuclear Penguin is meant to be enjoyed more like a fine spirit.
I always have mixed feelings about these kinds of things. On one hand, I love to see brewers using their skills and imagination to push the boundaries of what beer can be. The other hand just doesn't think that this sounds like good beer. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to taste, it just doesn't strike me as an enjoyable drink - challenging and interesting perhaps but not all that enjoyable.
Friday November 27, 2009
Britain's national brewing museum will live again.
First it was the Bass Museum - a straightforward sort of name that plainly explains what it was. Then, sometime after Molson Coors bought Bass, it became the Coors Visitors Centre. And somehow, this Burton-based brewing museum couldn't make it. Visitor numbers kept tumbling despite the Centre's having tried everything "including a revamp last year and free entry to Burton residents, etc." In March of 2008, the Coors Centre closed.
Now, after some protest and activism, it's been announced that the brewing museum will be given life one more time. This go around it will be called The National Brewery Centre. While still largely funded by the Molson Coors corp., it will be run by Planning Solutions. Plans are to reopen it in 2010, perhaps as early as spring.
Friday November 20, 2009
With Thanksgiving here in the US just a week away and Christmas a little over a month away we are just about ready to enter the holiday season. This time of year brings lots of reasons to eat and drink well with friends and family and so it is time, once again, for me to admonish you to serve beer with your feasts. You know you want to and with a wider selection of beers available today than ever before, not to mention the great holiday seasonals that are hitting the beer store shelves, you simply don't have an excuse not to. Make it beer this year!
