A Sunday morning drive around the Beer 'sphere&trade

The blogroll has been updated to include sites that have come to my attention lately, as well as (hopefully) all the beer blogs that link here. However, if you have a beer blog that links here, and you don't see it on the right, please let me know.

Some highlights from the new additions:

--Bridger talks about magical Mayan orange juice, enemas, and doing toad (aka lilly-padding, frenching the prince, and doing Kermit)--only tangentally beer-related, but worth reading nonetheless.

--Rob at Pfiff! writes about a damn good reason to care about deforrestation in northern Europe.

--Chris Gillis' Biere de Table is just a fantastic site from top to bottom. I'm still working my way through the archives.

An endorsement

I try to keep beer reviews critical, though I tend to be very positive because I gravitate towards stuff I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy. (Duh, right?)

What I do try to avoid is actually promoting anybody's products. I'm just not in the advertising business and I don't intend to be.

But today I'll make an exception. If you can, go buy anything from Lagunitas.

Now.

Beer Blogger Meetup at the OBF (cont'd)

We've settled on a time and place (see the big message at the top of the page.) We hope to see you all there.

Beer Blogger Meetup at Oregon Brewer's Festival

Jon at The Brew Site saw my post about going to the OBF and wrote:

It got me thinking... this may be a year that I can actually go to the Oregon BrewFest, and if so, perhaps we should have a beer blogger meetup? Or even just meet up with anyone who reads this and other beer blogs?

I think this is a fine idea. So I'll put it out there:

1) Any PDX-based (or otherwise familiar with Portland) folks have any suggestions as to a good place to have an informal meetup for beer bloggers and beer blog readers? I'm thinking it might be good to do it outside of the actual festival, as I know I am going to be rather busily tasting my way around the place and I imagine other bloggers/readers will be, as well.

I think the ideal would be a pub that is not completely slammed, and that would lend itself to a meet-and-mingle-freely kind of gathering (i.e., not a restaurant where you get seated, necessarily). I seem to recall the Lucky Labrador having that kind of setup, but that's just off the top of my head.

2) If you'd be interested in doing this, speak up! Not just bloggers, but readers, too. Personally, I'd be thrilled to share a beer with anyone who takes time to read this silly little blog, and I bet most bloggers would feel the same way.

3) If you are a beer blogger--please, help spread the word!

Keep watching this site for details as they come together.

Cheers!
B

Just in time for the World Cup...

My English boss pointed out that Spitfire Ale (AKA "The Bottle of Britian") now has a web page devoted to their, (ahem), somewhat provacative ads riffing on the defeat of Germany in WWII (the beer having been named for the plane that played a key role in that battle).

As it was explained to me:

"The English get much more jingoistic when football is involved".

Cooking with Beer

A friend sent this to me, which doesn't seem so strange after trying chocolate stout ice cream floats.

Bon Appedrink!

Hittin' the Oregon Trail

If you'd like to meet your favorite beer blogger live and in person--or if you'd like to meet me--head on out to the Oregon Brewer's Festival this July. Lisa and Ken have graciously offered to host M and I, and I have just booked our flights.

Leaving Tucson for Portland in July is exciting enough on its own...add a beer festival on to that, and even more so. Then I look at the entries so far, and see that going on half of them are Belgian and farmhouse styles, and I think I may need to take a cold shower. Seriously.

A quick homebrewing update...

How the time does fly...

Since someone was so kind to ask, the chocolate cardamom ale ("Lune de Miel", see here and here) has aged fairly well. The chocolate flavor hasn't really come through, though I think it gives the beer a slightly thicker body and just a hint of non-hop bitterness in the background. The cardamom has become a bit more assertive, creating a mildly astringent sensation on the pallet (not unlike what can happen with chamomille, which is something I've also brewed with).

Personally, I think it's just a bit too sweet--or rather, it lacks the necessary depth of flavor to make the sweetness less overpowering. (Think, for example, about Ommegang, which is very sweet but sufficiently complex that you aren't overwhelmed by the sweetness.) However, it is still very refreshing, with a nice mild estery presence. A good warm-weather alternative to lagers and blondes.

I think if I revisit this ale, I will probably add some orange peel and maybe look at making the grain bill a bit "meatier". Any suggestions from folks with some experience in Belgian styles in particular (Ben, I'm looking in your general direction) would be welcome and much appreciated.

Hope all's well with everyone around the Beer 'Sphere...I've been busy looking for another job, and I think I have finally found one. More on that later...