First of all, I have to thank Erik who sent me a book that says it costs $80 on the back cover.  He had an extra copy, which I just received in the mail.  Furthermore, he did not want a dime for the shipping.  Erik, Nate and I think that you are maybe the most kindred spirit that we’ve come across.  This is especially true in my case.  I mean, we both have a wife who is doing a Ph.D.  We both want to start a brewery.  We share a similar perspective on a lot of things.  Readers, please check out Erik’s wonderful site:  http://www.topfermented.com/ This is permanent link on our site.  He has great content.  I mean, who else is willing to look like “a wet blanket,” to use his words?  Or write about what can be done with potatoes in the beer making process?  Thank you, Erik.

Manland is another site that, although not exclusively about beer, has had a positive effect for our site.  In fact, when you see a video pour on our site, it is Scott from that site who provided it.  On a personal correspondence level, Scott has really helped me to balance some of the zealotry that I’ve had at times.  It’s nice to have a reality check if you need one.  We all need honest criticism at times (a fact that we should all seek out…even if it can be painful).  Hell!  I have an invite to the guy’s house if I want to come, which will happen at some point.  Scott put us up as a link on our site and constantly promotes us.  What is Manland all about?  Well, maybe the ladies wouldn’t be there a lot…but look at the name, I think it’s pretty obvious who the intended audience is.  Anyway, I know that they are always growing.  The site is beautifully done, and I enjoy the content, which is always fresh and well conceived.  Thank you, Scott.

Here is our other Scott.  Many of you are already familiar with the Brew Club.  Scott has done a lot to promote our site.  He links to us often, comments regularly, and enjoys our content.  He never has a problem telling people about it, either.  In addition, I’ve especially enjoyed that Scott focuses on beer where he lives, especially other Jersey beer bloggers.  He has no problem letting others provide some of the content on the site, which shows he’s not insecure about himself and believes others might have something useful to add.  People who selflessly promote good beer should be recognized…and I’m doing that now.  Thanks, Scott.

Beer and Whiskey Bros (a.k.a., Jim and Don) are a recent addition to our site.  But let me tell you now that I think their site will continue to grow.  They are posting machines.  But they simply don’t just put stuff up to have it there; they write good stuff.  I really appreciate good whiskey (especially bourbon), so it’s nice to have a good resource in that regard.  They are both very knowledgeable and personable.  These are some other fellows who promote our site.  Also, I plan on hanging with one of the fellows when I get to Idaho next.  In addition, any Van Gogh fan is all right by me…especially when Van Gogh’s work is used as a metaphor for describing a whiskey or beer.  And if Rochefort 8 is your favorite of the three, then we will get along just fine.  As you can see, I read and enjoy their content often, possibly when I ought to be writing. Thanks, Jim and Don.  Keep your beer out of the microwave.

Indiana Beer Blog constantly links to our site.  I really appreciate people who can simply find something they enjoy and shamelessly promote it–especially when it is produced by someone else.  Believe me…it’s harder than it looks.  I always appreciate the shout-outs that he gives.  This is a small way of repaying a debt that I’m defaulting on.  I want to add that I’m also an Indiana boy, so it’s not hard for me to like this site. However, Indiana Beer Blog is not exclusively an interest for Indiana people, so pay him a visit.

Dave from the Drunken Polack is another person who I’ve had some very good interaction with recently.  I told him awhile back that I would try to get him a bottle of Black Tuesday, and luckily, I made it.  We have arranged a beer trade to take place.  Here is where Dave comes in: he is forever reviewing interesting and hard to find beers.  You are hard pressed to find people who pursue more zealously than does he.  At any rate, check out his reviews and trading page…there is always something for the beer lover.  I’m expecting some good beer to come in from this chap.  Thanks, Dave.

Mike from Mike Loves Beer is one of our more consistent readers, despite having a site of his own.  He has helped to restore a sliver of my faith in Lagunitas by prodding me to try Hop Stoopid.  A huge enthusiast of IPA, his zeal can be a bit contagious.  I normally don’t go after the style that much, but thanks to Mike, I find a good one once in a while.  One more note that I’d like to add is that he will occasionally put something up about beer and cooking, which is always a treat.  We like Mike.  Thanks, Mike.

This post has become a little wordy, so I’m stopping here and part II will be coming soon.  I’m going to talk about/or give Nate the chance to talk about some other people before to long.  In some cases, he knows people better than I.  Sites like Simply Beer, which is also a very good site, will make an appearance, as will others.  Stay tuned.

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The Lowlander specializes in Belgian Ales.  Many of the better/more unique beers that I tasted in London were at this location.  I drank some sours, lambics, and some triples.  Unlike the lower alcohol beers that dotted the landscape, the Lowlander had some fairly big beers.  Of course, you are going to pay for them. This is not only due to the fact that more ingredients and time went into the beers but also because many places in Europe base taxation of beers on their alcohol content.

The Museum Pub: It seems to me that this was the name.  Some of the more familiar brands can be found there: Old Speckled Hen, Hobgoblin, and Old Peculiar.  These are beers that defy many of the normal bitters in the surrounding area.  Either way, it is right across the street from the National History Museum in London…you can’t miss it.  Don’t forget to buy a sausage with onions from a street vender before or after a pint or two.

Samuel Smith’s Pubs: There are several Samuel Smith’s pubs in the London area.  The nice thing about these is that you can get a Sam Smith’s Extra Stout, which is a lovely respite from the ubiquitous Guinness (otherwise you might not be able to find another stout).  There is a particular Samuel Smith’s pub location (obviously, it wasn’t a Samuel Smith’s pub then) that Charles Dickens used to visit (it is singularly odd to walk into pubs, with all their tight quarters and old architecture, that are older than the United States as a country.  I think this is one of the great charms about drinking beer in London).  This pub is called The Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.  They also carry many of Samuel Smith’s other products, including lagers, pale ales, and ciders…but, sadly, they didn’t have the Taddy Porter.

The Rake: If you are missing the United States, find The Rake.  They specialize in carrying American craft beers.  You can find selections by Left Hand, Hebrew/Schmaltz, and plenty of Stone.  In fact, the only place I’ve had Stone’s Russian Imperial Stout on tap was at the Rake.  It’s worth checking out because of all the interesting choices and the novelty of seeing an “American” watering hole in London.

I hope this will help interested beer drinkers on their way to London.  Two points are worth reiterating: one, explore the beer in London.  Two, don’t simply explore the beer in London.  I hope to write about my experiences elsewhere in Europe before too long.

***One more good tip I can offer is to order half-pints of beer.  If you want to try as many as possible, this is a good way to do it.***

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Having learned of this book through a notable beer blogger, Simply Beer, I knew I had to have it.  Having casually mentioned to my wife that it was on my radar, she somehow remembered this book with a brutally long title and made my day this past Monday.  Aren’t I a lucky guy?

The Essential Reference of Domestic Brewers and Their Bottled Brands is the brain child of Micheal S. Kuderka, whose purpose in creating this reference book was “to be the industry recognized resource for information on all domestic beer and brands…”  And let me tell you, he is is doing a great job.

This book is exceedingly exhaustive, easy to navigate, full of helpful charts and figure, and just what it aims to be:  a great resource.  The book walks the beer business man and the simple beer geek, like myself, through the domestic beer world starting with and alphabetical listing of breweries, followed by pages of color and bitterness charts, beer style index, state availability, geographic brewery index, commentary, supply charts, and full brewery portfolios.  I do feel that in further editions, the book will add to the content, but already it is brimming with necessary information.

There are a few things immediately found appealing:

-Layout:  The book is easy to navigate, unlike some beer resource websites
-Overall look:  Not cheesy.  Dignified and classy, like beer itself
-Internet Companion:  With purchase comes access to the online companion, updated monthly.
-Accuracy:  Do you know how many errors I have found on a couple of online beer resources?

Perhaps the biggest selling point of this book is the fact that it is a book.  As a society, we have been dumbed down to the point of dependence on technology.  We used to memorize important phone numbers, now we rely on the address book in our phone.  We used to go to the library for research, now we rely on google, which is quite often incorrect.  In order to pass publishing, a book must withstand scrutiny that Wikipedia does not.  And besides, the experience of flipping the paper page far surpases clicking the “next” button at the bottom of the webpage.

I do not see how the more developed conniseur of beer can escape purchasing this book, and I encourage any read to purcahse the book, which can be found at the company’s website. The company’s mission is not dissimilar from many of ours, “To help more people discover great beer!”  Either way, I do think in the near future, this resource will enhance my beer reviews.

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