As my title indicates, this post is geared toward my fellow beer bloggers. I love the beer blog world.  I really do.  There are occasional skirmishes, sibling banter, profuse writing, a myriad of opinions and a whole host of other particulars that I love about you guys and gals.  No doubt, it's a tightly packed and fairly crowded world of activity...that's just fine with me.  Of course, there are those who know a whole lot and those who know only a little.  There are those who think they know more than they do and those who think less of themselves than what they deserve.  Personally (and minus a couple people out there), I try to take most of it in stride. Fledglings are my favorite, but mature beer writers are also a hoot.  However, there is one thing I really don't like. I think my least favorite type of beer blogger is one that doesn't really blog at all.  No, I'm not talking about our recent hiatus from consistent writing.  I'm talking about the regurgitater, the plagiarizer, the flat out thief and "the let me just post the posts of everyone else and never actually write anything."  Now I'll be the first ...

After defending BrewDog achievements of making a 32% and a 41% beer, I have to defend the creation of a  55% beer called The End of History, a reference to Democracy as the high human political achievement (the implication that the human political struggle reaches its terminus in democratic ideals). This is another notable achievement and landmark in the making of a massive beer.  Imagine, 55% ABV.  Wow!  Read about it here.  But the accomplishment of making a 55% beer is where I have to end my applause for BrewDog.  Here's the deal: We live in a time where all of us are more and more sensitive, more and more concerned about political correctness, and more and more readily offended at things like, say, a stuffed, dead animal with a beer running through its body.  I for one am not actually that discomfited with the idea, especially since these animals were already dead.  I've hunted for several years and am not at all uncomfortable with an animal hide.  Let me say, though, that I can see how someone might be bothered about it. Sausage jokes don't bother me either.  Rhetoric can be a fun and absolutely funny vehicle for making a point or, ...

There is absolutely nothing like coming home and finding a parcel waiting for you from UPS...especially when it contains beer...especially especially when you weren't expecting it!  Thanks for the surprise Buckbean Brewery!  Without having even tasted their beer, they made my day.  Besides the fact that Buckbean makes great beer, I like them for their humility.  I've never seen a self aggrandizing or "grovel at my ivory tower because I'm a brewer!" statement come from their twitter or Facebook feed.  Rather, they exude humility and a willingness to interact with their customers. That being said, what did I find when I ripped open the box from Reno, NV? Heck if I knew.  Buckbean really embraced stark minimalism on this one.  Two, shiny silver cans with nary a jot of text glimmered from within.  Coors has got nothing on these silver bullets!  I emailed the brewery prior to drinking to inquire as to what exactly was contained in the cans.  Maibock.  Maibock can be a great brew this time of year, but I've had a few craft versions of this German style brew that were utterly disgusting.   The point:  It's an easy style to screw up. But in all objectivity (yes the beer ...

This week's Sip With Us Saturday beer is unlike any other SWUS brew we've drank together, in that there is a rather strange addition to the brew:  Seaweed.  The beer, Kelpie, that hales from Scotland's Williams Brothers Brewing Company follows the pattern of a very historical approach to their brews.  Williams may be best know for their Gruit ales, a style that forgoes hops in favor of different herbs and flowers.  You may recall some time ago I reviewed their Fraoch Heather Ale. I have been wanting to try Kelpie for some time...the idea of seaweed in a brew is intriguing.  Unfortunately, Williams Brothers' brews are very hard to come by around here.  Fortunately, my dad snagged some from a friend was recently up north in Michigan.  Here is what the brewery says about this ale: Prior to the 1850's there were many Scottish coastal alehouses, which brewed their own ales, these ales were made from local malted barley, which was grown on fields fertilised with seaweed. This environment gave the barley a very specific flavour which we have recreated by the inclusion of fresh seaweed in the mash tun. Seaweed (bladder rack) taken fresh from the water on the Argyll coast is ...

This is our fourth attempt to do the uncouth: intentionally stereotype, our first attempt was a tad fun as was the last (and my favorite, "Partying Dudes"). You see, in a past post we discussed stereotypes a bit in a nonjudgmental and humorous attitude. It occurred to those who participated in the discussion that it might be fun to take to higher, beer level, since for the most part, the posts on this blog lean toward the rote information. So occasionally, we will post a picture of an individual(s) and as our readers to do that which are politically-correct-obsessed society detests...stereotype the face(s) associated with the post. What do they drink? Why do they drink it? Where do they drink it? Where do they buy their clothes?...the sky is the limit. Just try to be nice. We here at Thank Heaven For Beer don't mean to offend...in fact, our own mugshots have faced the ridicule of Stereotype Me. We applaud diversity (as long is it walks, talks, looks, and smells like us) just as we do sarcastic humor. With out further ado...stereotype this tower of baldness:

Besides the fact that true Lambics are intensely complex, flavorful, and delicious beers, they can serve a higher purpose.  The Lambic could have been designed to prove to the wine guy/gal that beer can be good.  (1) Let's start with the name of the Lambic, in this case the Framboise that I drank this past Saturday:  Framboise. It is not pronounced as one might expect.  It is foreign.  Fancy.  Enlightened.  It screams of sophistication.  (2) This beverage is not contained in some low brow brown bottle or can.  No, the Lambic chooses a much fancier vessel.  The champagne bottle.  Certainly only a dignified beverage would dare to occupy such a distinguished bottle. (3) Upon opening, the bottle avoids a disgraceful fizz and pops into the air.  (4) The flavor.  This can't be beer...can it? Joking aside, if you ever meet a wine guy/gal who thinks beer is for the birds, give them a Lambic and they just might end up discovering the vast world of beer. I chose to drink Lindemans Framboise out of necessity...it was the only Lambic my local beer store had in stock, and I was not in the mood to drive out of the way for a larger ...

Amongst beer blogs and the craft beer world here in the United States, it seems that the focus is overwhelmingly on American craft beers.  Understandably so...I'd like to think cultural pride isn't dead, and our craft industry is burgeoning so to speak.  Often, I think we miss out on some fabulous beers that lie outside or domain. This really hit me at Dark Lord 2010.  As I looked out over the vast seas of beer that had arrived at the event via. coolers from across the country, there was nary a foreign bottle to be found.  Sure, they were there somewhere, but I sure couldn't find them.  I thought of this as I read the Brew Clubs review of Lomza Polish Beer, the first review I'd ever seen of the beer. So for this weeks SWUS beer, I propose we choose any beer that is not of Northern American origin.  In fact, the more obscure location you can find the better.  Who knows...perhaps the beer will stink so bad you find yourself spewing it into the sink, or maybe it will just hit the spot.  Just make sure the foreign beer you do buy has the proper papers to be in the ...

Why is it that the purchase of one's first home is such a huge deal? While the library is just down the street, why do we display our literary collections in obvious places in our homes? Why does a person brew beer at home or bake an apple pie in the oven when the product is readily available just down the street at the local grocery store? Ownership. It seems to be hardwired into our DNA to cherish things and strive to obtain them in our name.  Perhaps it's selfish, or perhaps just part and parcel of survival.  After all, if you own something, you can pass it down to your offspring, helping to ensure their survival.  Perhaps we do so to enjoy the freedoms of ownership.  I could paint a mural of the Dalai Lama on the outer wall of my home if I wanted to because I own it...not so with the house I used to rent.  Who knows...it just makes us feel good. When it comes to making beer, there is  an indescribable joy that comes to the brewer when he/she takes more ownership of the process.  Both Mike and I have experienced this at many levels, whether it be the transition ...

Hi all.  Yes, I'm still here.  Since we started the website, this is definitely the longest I've ever taken between posts.  The second I got on the plane to go to Dark Lord Day until now has been non-stop.  In fact, I drove 1000 miles on Friday and moved on Saturday, so you could say it's been a bit busy.  I'm working on getting my internet switched which is why this is the first time I've been on the computer in a while.  All that said, I'm glad to be back and have geniunely missed our interactions together. I've got some catching up to do.  I have read and know intimately of Nate's Day Lord experience and I'll be writing about mine.  I've also written a bit more for our how to brew series and am going to be posting some reviews.  At any rate, I need to make up for some lost time and plan to do so...it's good to be back.

As many of you know, Nate is on a beer hiatis right now.  I'm off to camp this week and plan on drinking plenty of homebrew while there.  However, I've not picked a Saturday beer this week.  Let's call this sip with us sabbath day because Nate and I are taking a rest from the normal schedule.  I will have some stuff to report back but I'd to what you had this weekend.