So I admit that the title is a tad lengthy, but the book, like the delicious chili sauce, is just right.  Fifty recipes that utilize something so complexly spicy, tangy, and (you guessed it) fermentedly magical seems very much apropos.  It is no easy feat to create an arsenal of recipes that use such a [...]

A couple recent posts from Nate have dealt with the nature of consistency in brewing.  The first article addressed the need for consistency in the brewing process if one is to become a good brewery.  More recently, another post stressed how inconsistency can make for a better beer experience. Both articles make great points, and [...]

Ahhh the library…shrine of knowledge and source of free erudition whether it be in book or video form.  A few nights ago my lovely wife checked out “The American Brew” from our local library.  I have come to discover that not all books and films/videos are created equally.  In fact, like a few ill made [...]

In a recent article I espoused the view that a good brewery is consistent in their brewing process; that is, from one batch to the next, I’d expect a brewery’s flagship porter to taste EXACLTY the same.  But inconsistancy (intentional) is also necessary…at times. My thunder for this post was a bit stolen in the [...]

I hate being sick.  You may be thinking, “Well, who likes it?”  That happens to be a very good hypothetical rebuttal. Perhaps you won’t begrudge me the aphorism in this case.  I really hate being sick.  Worse than the actual sickness is the crepuscular feeling of normal health slipping away into the darkness of a [...]

I’ve come to terms with it and duly admit that in terms of depth, variety, and creativity, American beer is possibly the best in the world.  You can have whatever you want.  However, I do believe that most American breweries do have a deficiency is classic styles, which seems to be why our categorical distinctions [...]

However rare, and contrary to the song, it’s been raining (and will continue to) in Southern California.  I’m not used to it and now consider myself spoiled on account of the fact that I’m from Indiana, a place that gets plenty of rain.  But it was too late, and I was too committed about my [...]

It’s that time of year.  All of us state, without equivocation, that the year flew by.  Sure, there were minor moments of existential crisis throughout the year, which made time seem to drip like honey in that moment.  By-in-large, however, the year raced like a car in the red. My year was a strange one. [...]

Mike’s recent articles chronicling his adventures in drinking through some of his cellared beer led me down the contemplative path that considers what makes a brewery good at what they do. Mike noted that the beers that did not stand the test of time were flawed from the beginning, as time in the bottle allowed [...]

From the onset, let’s establish that unwanted lactobacillus can leave a bad tastes in one’s mouth.  The unexpected sour and pucker of an accidentally infected beer is a real punch in the mouth, especially when the style is not particularly conducive to the beer.  That being said, let’s address the merit of the organism itself [...]