#TheSession #103: Difficult conversations

Warning: what follows is little more than a stream of thought outline rather than a cogent post, I may get a chance to cajole it into some semblance of logical thought, then again I'm off to Belgium next week; so I might not!

The session this month asks us to look at the difficult topics that aren't touched upon by beer . Part of me wants to point out that rather than be writing about what needs to be written about (blogging about blogging?), people should just get along and do it! Aside from finding the impetus to write something compelling instead of procrastinating^  there are certainly some topics that don't get touched upon by beer bloggers...either by dint of the topic being too difficult or controversial to write about or otherwise just plain boring.

There is of course a tendency for any stories about beer to be spun in a positive light, to the extent where facts are misrepresented and negative issues to be buried to the extent people even forgot they existed. This is certainly true in reviewing, perhaps doubly so if the beer/bar visit/insert item here is free.

There are myriad reasons for this. The more cynical amongst us would suggest that the writing of a bad review would lead to the cutting off of the lifeblood of some blogs which survive on free beer alone. The whole #BloggerBlackmail story has shed some light on the murky practice of promising a good review in return for freebies but this must surely be only  the odd bad-egg rather than something that is rife. I'd hope that people were able to be fair when reviewing a beer/pub/ whatever regardless of whether they got a freebie or not and whilst its nice to receive the occasional care package* the majority of beer writers and bloggers fork out their own readies on the beers they write about.

More likely is that most beers aren't astoundingly good or spectacularly bad, just so-so, meh, comme ci comme ca and provoke a feeling of indifference in the writer which doesn't really lead to compelling reading; resulting in only the interesting beers getting through. Believe me for every good beer I write about there are five that are so-so and another few total drain pours.

Others will be loathe to write off a brewery on the back of a single bad experience, being keen to remind everyone that brewers are just doing a day job, often heavily self-funded and a bad review could cause harm to their business. Whilst this may be true for a small handful of writers, the majority of us just don't have the clout to make that much of an impact.

Finally taste is subjective, therefore enjoyment of beer is objective. Aside from obvious flaws and off-notes (which sadly are all to prevalent in our resurgent beer scene)¬ who's to say what you're tasting and not enjoying won't float someone else's boat.

All that said I really enjoy reading well written critiques of beers, especially those which take apart the status quo on "whale" beers and other highly hyped beers. A plea for more of these please!

^a topic for a whole other blog post

*Fully declared of course...

¬ability to objectively determine such flaws is few and far between in the pool of all beer bloggers, not excluding myself either

+Another potential blog topic...

Pushing boundaries

Its a heady time for beer up here in the North, 15 breweries and counting now. Some of the newer ones are even producing beers I'd happily drink regularly and the old guard are continually upping their game. I may even be able to recommend a few NI brews in my next top beers post!

Despite the quality and variation in beer styles improving we still lag a way behind the mainland, and indeed the rest of Ireland, with a lot of brewers sticking to the tried and true holy trinity of Red, Blonde and Stout. A new start-up on the scene is looking to change this launching with an IPA, session pale ale and export stout. But that's not the only thing they're doing differently...

I first met Matthew at Hilden Beer Festival in 2011 where he kindly smuggled me in a few bottles of home-brew in his Son's pram. I was pretty impressed with them, all influenced by Belgian style and could sense the passion in him to go on to bigger things. Fast forward a few years and a sizeable length of bear later and he's finally ready to take the plunge with a full size kit after working for Brewbot for the last few years as well as running the hugely successful Beer Clubs in Belfast's Hudson Bar. Watch this space for a probable contribution from yours truly next year.

Answering the phone pretty hoarsely and apologising about coming down with a cold (he's been working too hard I told him!) we chat for an hour or so about his motivations and future plans.  Matthew decided about 18 months ago that the time was right to break out from brewing for just himself and a few friends to supplying the whole of the North and likely down South too. The question was how to go about doing it? He'd liked what Brewdog did with Equity for Punks and wanted something similar but in a truly equitable way but wasn't quite sure of the best way forward. Meeting Matt through a mutual acquaintance and getting chatting about beer (as you do) the suggestion of a co-operative came up. After Googling it to find out what the hell a co-operative was Matthew knew this was the way forward and a plan was hatched by the two of them (Matthew as secretary and Matt as CEO).

A year or so later, they have a premises lined up with keys almost in hand, brew kit sourced from the Isle of Man's Hooded Ram brewery (via a tip off by Marble's Matt) and deposit paid. A 2600 square foot there's more than sufficient space for expansion and indeed their plans are ambitious. Most importantly that all important co-operative registration has been obtained. For those of you who don't know about them, co-operatives are mutual organisations, where every member has an equal vote regardless of the number of shares ). They aim to be a part of their local community (their site is in the middle of a new "East Belfast Partnership" which will eventually have craft Butchers, Bakers (not sure about candlestick makers), cheese makers and a bar and events space: ideal then for a new brewery.

So What's the story behind the name? "I was inspired by a quote from Gustave Flaubert [French author of Madame Bovary], 'Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work'.'" Matthew liked the idea of creating a definitive boundary between home life and the brewery, so he can concentrate all of his creative energies on innovations in beer. His wife is looking forward to gaining some space back in the house!

The logo designed by Ali Sisk

Matthew will start off going it alone, brewing 2 or three times a week with a hand from other board members for bottling but its likely they'll have at least one paid employee by the end of next year. Beer wise his plans are pretty big. They'll be hitting the market in 330ml bottles aiming for that shelf space in bar and off licences which is finally becoming available. Alongside the core range which Matthew reckons will be 2:1:1 Session:IPA:stout there will be regular seasonals and specials, member collaborations and of course collaborations with other brewers from across the UK, Ireland* and the world. Taking inspiration from Belgian and American brewing leaves Matthew plenty to play with and there has been talk of a barrel ageing program (a potential source of wine barrels in France...) and as a fellow sour head he also hopes to make sour and wild beers (especially after an epiphany moment via LoverBeer at IndyManBeerCon) but that's all stuff for the future...

*The first of these has been announced with Chris of Galway bay, brewing a southern sour and a northern Fruit infused IPA - can't wait!

For now then, what about those all important core beers? The malt is coming via Simpsons which Matthew is really chuffed about "we're  a pretty small account for them but they actually rang me and they're among the best in the business. I asked about the yeast: "its the one thing I haven't quite settled on yet, the simplest thing would be to use [Safale, dried yeast] US-05, but this can give an apricot flavour leading to all beers having a similar flavour". Ideally of course Boundary would have  house strain but all of the associated equipment for maintaining one doesn't come cheap, so that's something for further down the line.

Matthew loves American C-hops (especially Columbus and centennial) and they'll take centre stage in the session pale, coming in at a truly sessionable 3.5%. "Light, refreshing, sessionable and absolutely packed with hops"

The IPA is actually a scaled back double IPA which Matthew describes as "cakey but still hopped up the wazzoo". Think a Pliny malt bill minus the sugar and you're just about there. At 7% it will certainly be the strongest regularly produced beer in Northern Ireland. Matthew's hoping for Simcoe but its hard to get hold of due to a certain big Scottish brewery buying most of it!

The Export Stout is based on a historic Truman's recipe via Ron Pattinson's blog, with a bit of input via Kernel. 100% Fuggles hopped with pale, brown and black malt and a modern tweak of some crystal and pale chocolate the export stout should be a properly decadent cocoa and coffee affair, also weighing in at 7%, perfect for the depth of winter when Boundary are hoping to launch.

Labels designed by John Robinson

And that's where you guys come in. As a co-operative membership is open to everyone who agrees to abide by the constitution and are happy with the by-laws. Shares are sold at a nominal £1 with a minimum investment of £100. Those who have a bit more to invest and can afford more than £250 will achieve supporter status and be able to run for the board of directors at the first AGM (which has to be held before August!). Share value cannot go up in a co-operative (it can go down!) but after year 3 if the membership agrees dividends and interest could be paid. Check out the website (a professional and accomplished design from Jonny Campbell) for more details. As of writing they're well over halfway at £40,000 £50,000 to their goal of £70,000 taking in 10,000 a day in the first four days with over 150 members already on board, with the maximum they can raise pegged at £100,000 you need to act fast if you want to get involved!

So if you want to support a local business run and owned by local people for local people then invest. If you enjoy flavourful craft beer and want to be able to buy it where you are then get involved- I know I certainly am!*

If you have any questions then drop Matthew an email or Tweet @Boundarybrewing. Find more details on Facebook. Please do help to spread the word about this exciting new Brewery!

Thanks to Matthew for taking the time out of his hectic schedule to chat to me, I hope to come to visit in the New Year!

*I'm contributing this post towards this month's #TheSession about how you contribute to your local beer scene. This along with writing a blog and buying local beers are a few examples!

#TheSession #93 Why we travel

This month the session is hosted by the Roaming Pint. Brian asks:

"why is it important for us to visit the place the where our beers are made? Why does drinking from source always seem like a better and more valuable experience? Is it simply a matter of getting the beer at it’s freshest or is it more akin to pilgrimage to pay respect and understand the circumstances of the beer better?"

Its a great topic for session, like most people I enjoy travelling. In fact I think I enjoy travelling even more than trying new beers. Of course since getting into beer on a more active level, most trips inevitably have a beer involvement to a greater or lesser degree, as Daisy would be quick to point out! I don't tend to arrange trips solely for beer* but whilst I'm in the area - it would be a shame to miss out wouldn't it?!

Great Leap Brewing - Beijing

Drinking gueuze in Lembeek after a tour of the Boon brewery and fresh tmavé at U Flekku should be on everyone's beer bucket list. There's still plenty of places for me to visit (Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bamberg next perhaps?) but with beer now becoming big all over the globe I know I'll find somewhere decent to drink wherever I'm visiting.

I love to see the bar culture in other countries (even if I do feel awkward not being able to order in the lingua Franca) and also the inevitable "craftbeerisation" of beer scenes all over the world (think stripped back walls, keg taps stuck into the wall, moody lighting etc). Even better its great to get a feel for how beers are brewed all around the world: whilst most breweries are similar its the odd balls that perhaps make regional styles that are often most informative. As always, any chance to chat with the brewer about how they make their beer (and why) is always seized upon.

Pipework at St James Gate

And yes of course, you can't beat fresh beer at source. Beer served as intended, unhampered by being

transported half way around the world and (usually) much more keenly priced. Until you have the opportunity to try a beer served as intended you may not fully be able to appreciate it (bottled vs draught koelsch and alt being good examples). You also often come across beers that are draught only or not exported; so you need to go to source to try them. These days there are plenty of sources to  help out in finding the places, but before the advent of the Internet books such as the CAMRA guides were a godsend.

So if you haven't travelled to where your favourite beers are made, where your favourite styles originated, then why not?!

*Except to beer festivals and the beer bloggers conference of course!

#session91 Diving into Belgophilia

 I'm sat at East Midlands airport with very little to do; so it's high time I give myself a kick up the arse and start blogging again. There's no better place to start than with the current session topic, hosted this month by Breandán at Belgian Smaak. He asks us to talk about our first Belgian beer. I unfortunately have no recollection of which it was, sampled in my hazy student days almost 9 years ago. It is guaranteed to have been something good however as it was sourced from the ever excellent bitter virtue in Southampton. It was probably Chris, perhaps Ann who led me around the groaning shelves tempting me to part with my student loan in exchange for beery libations to sup at the local punk house whilst watching awesome acoustic bands and sometimes full blown drum laden metal bands with beach dinghy crowd surfing...

Anyway I digress, the point is it could have been any number of excellent beers for which Belgium is rightly famed (though I have a sneaky suspicion it was the fruity balsamic punchy duchesse de Bourgogne). Instead I'll have to dredge through the ancient (3years old) rate beer reviews to settle on my first rated Belgian... De Struisse Pannepot. Not a bad first rate eh?!

Pannepot is a 10% Belgian strong ale which cunningly hides its strength away until you stand up at which point you promptly fall over. I may have made that last part up but it sure wears its strength well. Even in my early rating days I appreciated this scoring the beer a massive 4.5, sitting comfortably in the top 1% of my beers to date.

Here's what I thought:

A richly dark reddish brown beer which pours with a thin head that disappears almost immediately. Molasses and orange peel on the nose. First taste gives a lot of sweetness and some umami with a heavy alcohol presence and quite an abrupt finish, neither malty nor hoppy. Not unlike a bourbon in that it hints at vanilla. Very easy to drink which belies its 10%ABV. (2009 vintage 33cl)

That beer was 2 years old, I've since tried other vintages but 2 years has yet to be surpassed or perhaps 2009 was just an excellent year...more rigorous research is required.

 Struisse certainly make some excellent beers with the black Albert beers being particular stand outs,though for me pannepot is the pinnacle of a distinguished line up and should be on your beer bucket list to be dispatched in short shrift.

Breandán has been speedy with the write up, you can find it here, cheers for hosting! Next month's Session is being hosted by Jeremy short and is all about home brewing...find the topic here.

Session #83 - Are some beers over-rated?

Yes, without a doubt.

Taking Ratebeer as an example, here is the current top 10:

Westvleteren 12 (XII)
Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout (Bourbon Barrel Aged)
Russian River Pliny the Younger
AleSmith Speedway Stout (Barrel Aged)
Toppling Goliath Kentucky Brunch
Bells Black Note Stout
Rochefort Trappistes 10
AleSmith Speedway Stout
Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout (Bourbon Vanilla Bean)
Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

It consists of 7 Imperial Stouts (2 of which are variations on a third), two "quads" and an imperial IPA. One only has 39 ratings...

Personally I don't like the top rated beer in the world (I much prefer the sint bernardus version) but then everyone is different...

There are the breweries that are the darlings of the craft beer world....hill farmstead, cigar city, lost abbey. Fanboys rating these beers can send them in to the top scores. The freshness of a beer impacts on its score, and as the freshest beer the majority of rate beer users can get is local to them, American beers are given a premium over beers from elsewhere.

When beers are limited more people want to try them for fear of missing out, and if they cost more pepole are perhaps more likely to view them through rose tinted specs (as they don't want to admit they've wasted money on a duff beer when they could have bought multiples of something decent for the same price).

The England list is a bit better - I've been lucky enough to try them all and generally agree, though the presence of Fullers and Sam smith's an only be attributed to the availability of these in America.Though even taking those out the beers are all strong, mostly dark and limited release.

Old Chimneys Good King Henry Special Reserve  
Thornbridge Bracia  
Fuller’s London Porter (Bottle/Keg)  
The Kernel India Pale Ale Double Citra  
The Kernel Imperial Brown Stout London 1856  
Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout  
Thornbridge Hall Courage Russian Imperial Stout  
Magic Rock Bourbon Barrel Bearded Lady  
The Kernel Export Stout London 1890  
Arbor / Moor Double Dark Alliance 

Outside of Ratebeer and in the general beer enthusiasts sphere, beers from he usual suspects can create a Twitter storm in advance of/ around the date of release meaning more people hear about the beer than otherwise would have. This is of course great for the breweries concerned, but I'm sure for every Kernel, Magic Rock and Thornbrideg there are other breweries in an area of low beer geek density (BGD) just quietly getting on with it producing beers which are just as good. Its our job as beer bloggers to seek out these brews and get the word out there!

So I'll finish by following my own philosophy and letting you know about Wiper & True based in Bristol. I've had 6 of theirs so far and not been disappointed by any. Fantastic fresh pale ales and IPAs packed full of hop flavour brewed in various locations around the South West. Yet to try their darker offerings but the consensus seems to say they're good too. Check them out. In fact just head to Bristol for a few days and see everything this great city has to offer!

This post was brought to you courtesy of TheSession, this month brought to you by Rebecca of the Bake and Brew. Cheers!

Beery Yarns: A precis

Morning all, its time for the post you've all been waiting for...the summary of all of the contributions to this month's session. We had a good number of contributions (25 I think)* though I'd hoped for more but December is a busy month for people. I've decided to give out a prize for the best contribution (not including my own of course!) the winner of which I'll divulge at the end of this round-up (no skipping to the end!).

Quick out of the blocks was Paul over at Sockster's brewhouse with these two recollections of his old stomping ground, certainly plan to visit that pub if ever in the area!

Pierre Van Klomp participated in his first session and by way of 10 tweets regaled us with the tale of how he seceded from his uncle in the great Brouwerij Van Klomp . "My uncle laughs. “So, boy, YOU believe yourself a brewmaster now?” Then, on his gantry, he performs a so very mocking dance."

Ding dug up an old yarn about a trip to Hook Norton but links it in with how beers have the power to remind us of place and time.

Alan treated us to an excerpt of his new book with Max. About the tendency of people to get stuck on definitions sometimes. I like lagerer but more lagery fits better perhaps?

The Beer Nut posted about beers that have their own yarns associated with them - highly fabricated of course and i can attest they're all talk and no trousers.

Nate at booze beats and bites recounts a beery mission to London from earlier this year.

Pints and pubs gave us a few tales from the history books. Particularly like the highwayman story. Plus his own tale of a search for his holy gr-ale.

Beer is your friend can't have a log fire because he's too hot (so how about a beery yarn for around a beach BBQ?).

Boak & Bailey also recounted a tale  of a pal "Aidan"'s lucky escape and the one-upmanship often present in pub banter. Later in the day they posted this tale of how beer got one general through the Delhi Mutiny which I take to be a second entry and you should read because its an interesting insight.

James at Beer Bar Band managed a tale about drinking in Wellington, NZ just in time for the deadline. Makes me wish I was back there again.

Stan gives us a tale of monks and brewing (from his Brew like a monk book).

David recalls a trip to Hill Farmstead.

Simon talks about beers for keeping.

Bill, Pittsburgh beer snob recalls a favourite beer 

Reuben reminisces about his first taste of booze at Christmas, manages to squeeze in a review and has even festivised #TheSession logo (see above)!

Douglas of Baltimore Bistro regaled us with a tale of a trip to Erdinger in Germany and how beer people are generally good people.

Phil posted an excellent reminiscence about drinking with biker mates in Cornwall along with some rather fetching photographs. I for one had no clue what HSD meant; so good on Boak and Bailey for filling us in.

Miguel (from Mexico no less!) posted his first ever session contribution, telling us how beer can taste different depending on who you drink it with (Google Translate will be your friend for this one - unless you can read Spanish)

Nitch (who hosted the session last month) comes up with a rather depressing tale of subterranean drinking which is the perfect length for the accompanying Tom Waits video.

Chris from DRAFT mag shares his tale of woe and regret after an afternoon of drinking in Phoenix.

Jon at 10th day Brewing went for fiction -a medieval meets currents days tale of caution, with a twist at the end. Nice one Jon.

Rebecca remembers a beery dream, I've had plenty of them myself but none in such a pristine location!

Oliver told us about finally getting to share a beer with his father in a medieval fayre of all places, nice one!

On a similar (but different) theme, an 11th hour submission from Wayne about partying with his parentals.

And of course my own tale about discovering decent beer whilst at university (which I was tardy in posting but that's my prerogative as host!)

So now for the winner! My favourite tale of the bunch was Nate's, well done sir! See me to claim your prize ;).

So now that's done I pass the baton to Rebecca at the Bake and Brew who is hosting next month with the intriguing punning topic of "Against The Grain". Cheers everyone that took part, see you all again soon.

*Apologies if I missed any, feel free to chastise me as you see fit.

TheSession: my beer transition, or one man's quest for a decent drink in Southampton

The year was twenty-nought-six. I'd spent the last ten months drinking in some of the grottiest student establishments known to man. Although I had sampled the delights of real ale I was yet to be fully converted from the ease of drinking provided by Worthington creamflow and other related nitrogenated horrors. 

Summer came and we moved wholesale from our halls of residence (replete with handy subterranean passageway to the nearest hall of libations) and  in to a grotty 4-up 2-down terraced house we'd call home for the next two years. I opted to remain in Southampton over the summer to "get my money's worth" given we had to pay rent from July (ever the stingy bastard).

Finding myself at a loss for things to do I took it upon myself to explore the immediate environs. I had previously been in the Gordon Arms, where a shot of lurid flavoured gunk was usually the order of the day (the ales not being up to much) but I had never been in its opposite neighbour The Richmond Inn. This was a Greene King establishment but to me somewhere completely different to other pubs I'd thus far had the (mis)fortune to frequent.

For a start the average age of the assembled throng was a good forty years my senior. This was well and truly a pub for the locals and myself in a students hoody stuck out like a sore thumb. The well coiffured gentleman barman proffered me a glass of beer, which I accepted (Brains Reverend James) if I recall correctly and took to a comfortable bench to drink in my surroundings.

A local took it upon himself to strike up a conversation with me. We discussed many things that day but eventually the conversation shifted on to the topic of decent beer and the location whereof. It was then that I was to make the discovery that would throw me headlong into the world of beer (though of course I didn't know it at the time).

I was asked if I had ever heard tell of the Guide Dog, with  a sharp intake of breath echoing around the pub as if a hallowed secret was about to be divulged to one not worthy. I offered that I did not and the friendly old codger kindly described its whereabouts. With that I thanked him an bade him farewell, finished my pint and went about my merry way.

It was a good few weeks later that I decided to act upon his advice. Bouncing down the hill with a spring in my step and a twinkle in my eye I veer off to the right far too early and discover somewhere called the Honest Lawyer which I certainly wasn't about to venture into but finally stumble upon my final destination...

...Only to do a double take upon entering, finding myself (it appeared) in someone's living room. But yes, there was the name "the Guide Dog" over the door and a bar against one side of the room, which was filled with Saints supporters (being as this was a Tuesday eve and a home game to boot). I ordered a pint of something familiar (Fullers ESB perhaps) and the rest as they say is history.

Over the following years it became my local, helped no end by my the fact that my place of employ happened to be just around the corner. I fell in with the wrong crowd (a bunch of miscreants calling themselves CAMRA) and beer became an integral part of my life.

Years later when I return to whence I once abided I like to retrace my steps to that ale Mecca.The Dolphin would come first, South West Arms would usually follow, then the Junction & Guide Dog...zzzzzzzzzz

This post was brought to you courtesy of The Session, hosted this month by yours truly. For more apocryphal or otherwise beery tales look out for my Session round up post tomorrow!

82nd #TheSession Announcement: Beery Yarns

I last hosted communal beer blogging event #TheSession back in November 2011. 24 Sessions on and I've volunteered again. I can reveal the topic now that Nitch is done with hers, cheers for hosting! Date for your diaries is Friday 6th December (though expect plenty of reminders nearer the time!). That's two weeks guys and gals.

Image from Kent Online's article on real ale and real fires

The nights are drawing in, there may even be snow, what better way to enjoy a beer than in front of a log fire. Turn that TV off and talk to your drinking compatriots. Maybe you're just at home with some friends or maybe in a decent local boozer chatting to complete strangers. This month I'm going to give you plenty of scope for originality by setting a wide-open theme. I want to hear your beery tall tales, yarns, recollections (in a Grandpa Simpson stylee) or otherwise, delivered in the manner that you befits sitting around a log fire, favourite beer in hand. Only proviso is that it has to involve beer in some way, whether that be a particular beer jogging your memory of a previous event or beer taking a bigger role in the recollected tale. Its up to you. Interjections, corrections, addendums can all be contributed the assembled masses in your comments section.

A suitable December topic I think (though of course there are some bloggers for whom it is now summer; so imagine that you're sharing beers on the beach around a camp-fire.)

As per usual, please let me know when you've done a post, either by leaving a link in the box below or tweeting me @beersiveknown. Or both if you're that way inclined. And if you don't have a blog of your own but still wish to contribute then fear not; I can post your thoughts for you, just drop me an email beersiveknown AT gmail DOT com. I'll post a round up the week following.

I look forward to reading everyone's tall tales!

#TheSession #78: My Elevator Pitch for beer

First Friday of the month means the session is here again; this month hosted by James of Beer Bar Band. We're asked this month to argue for beer in 250-words or less in the style of an "elevator pitch" (or lift spiel if you will). Ignoring the practicality that most people don't talk to each other in lifts (and that you shouldn't really criticise people for their own drinking choices anyway) here is what I'd say.

"Hiya, I see you're enjoying a beer, great to see that you're drinking something that Britain is famous for. There's been a lot of breweries opening in recent years; with all manner of interesting beery flavours. Here try this...*tosses can of Brewdog punk IPA*. You can pick these up pretty cheaply in the supermarket its a good reflection of what is good in UK brewing at the moment and you're supporting a British company whereas a lot of other widely available beers are owned overseas. Plus the beer is unpasteurised which means the flavour is fresher. Besides the cans are smaller so can fit in your fridge more easily and you can pretend its a soft drink so get away with drinking it in places where beer isn't allowed*"

Person leaves lift pleased to have received free alcohol.

I believe the best way to convince people to think about new beer is to get them to try it, no amount of talking is going to persuade them. If you offer them a free sample then they don't even have to part with their money.


*Busses for instance..ahem

#TheSession #72

This month  Ryan at Monatana Beer Finder has asked us to talk about how we love beer. In what way do we show our love for beer.

First and foremost of course is actually drinking and blogging about the stuff. I let people know about the beers I've enjoyed to share the joy of a good pint. This progresses to the next logical level by letting people try my beer when I'm out and about or even buying people a drink. I like to pass on the tips that I've been given myself.

Whilst in Auckland I gave a sample of the Epic Coffee & Fig Stout (not a cheap beer!) to a couple of Americans sat on the table next to us. It opened their eyes to a different style of imperial stout, being barrelheads. Sharing beer is a great way to show your love.

Aside from that I'm writing a cheese and beer book to showcase my dual loves of UK cheese and UK beer. I help to run beer tasting at beer festivals and stand behind the bar to proselytise about good beers the rest of the time.

This year I plan to deepen my love of beer by starting to homebrew. Taking a beer from inception to the end will give me a deeper appreciation of how beer loves me and increase my love for it in return (I hope!).

Session #69: Beery Pipe Dreams

This month's session requires a bit of thought. What would I change to make the beer world a better place and how would I bring it about?

The obvious answer would be for beer to be free; therefore cost not having to factor into people's decisions whether they should have a beer or not. And a method of delivery...how about the health benefits are recognised and its available as a free prescription on the NHS (yes I know that we pay taxes that pay for the NHS, which means it wouldn't actually be free but it would seem like it...). 

The realist in me knows this is never going to happen, perhaps a more achievable goal, one that would benefit everyone would be to convince more people to try beer, either for the first time or something more flavourful than the mass produced convenience beers*. How should we go about doing this? Blogging is a part of it but for the most part that's only preaching to the converted (to use a well worn cliché). What you have to do is "step-out" of your comfort zone, get out into the real world and share beers with the unconverted. Leigh has done a great round-up on his blog.

So your challenge for the end of 2012 (or 2013 if you think that's more realistic) is to get out into those pubs and bars and get talking to people about beer. It doesn't have to be a specially organised, ticketed event but just do something, other than sticking to your usual group of friends or sitting at home blogging. If you already do something to step-out of your comfort zone then let us know in the comments below.

The session this month was brought to you by Jorge from Brew Beer and Drink it

*Thanks World Beer Atlas

Session #65: All Alone

This month's Session is hosted by Nate at Booze, Beats and Bites and asks to post about drinking alone and if so why. Nate's pretty much covered the various reasons why one might drink alone in his introductory post and I heartily concur.

My current situation sees me drinking alone frequently, not necessarily through choice but because there is noone here to share the beers with, nor do the local boozers have anything to draw me out of the house.

But even before I lived here I enjoyed going to pubs by myself. I enjoy sitting down with a book and a pint of beer without having to think about being sociable. If I want to be sociable there are people in the pub to share with in any case. A lot of my friends have been met through going to the pub by myself and chatting to the locals.

No pressure to drink in rounds or finish up to move on to another pub, you can go at your own pace. If you fancy some food you don't have to wait for others to finish up.

The one proviso to drinking alone is you shouldn't do it when already in a bad mood as the beer will probably just make you feel worse. Its these occasions you need a friend to cheer you up.

#TheSession #63: Time for Beer

After being unable to meet his hosting commitment in November, Pete's taking up the session mantle this month and a right corker of a topic it is too: the beer moment. When is the right time for beer?

I'd posit that there isn't a right or wrong time for beer. The beer moment comes whenever the need arises.

As much as it may be romantic to evoke notion of solidarity with fellow drinkers, the beer moment doesn't have to be shared. Or it can be shared after the fact.

Its not just about the beer, though that can often be a contributing or causative factor.

Its not just about the location, though that can serve to enhance or downgrade the experience.

Nor is it about the weather, method of dispense, glassware used, background sounds or any number of tangible or identifiable features.

It's about the satisfaction of a primal urge.

Beer is what brought about civilisation but our first taste of it came as heathens.

In the beer moment we are transported back to that time, a time before any of the cares of the modern world and allow ourselves to relax.

The beer moment is that fleeting connection to nature with every first gulp.

Session #62: Why I Blog

The session this month is hosted by Alan at Brewpublic. He wants to know what drives us as bloggers, what made us want to blog. I don't really have any more to say than what's in my introductory post. to summarise:

*I like talking about beer.
*I like being involved in the blogging community.
*I like being able to support Northern Ireland Brewers/ other businesses

That's pretty much it.

Some thoughts on local beer (#TheSession 61b)

I've already posted my contribution to the session, but some others' thoughts and more musing on my own means I've got some more to say on the subject whilst the platform is provided by the session.

Beer is a local product. It is made local to somewhere, often in only one location, with local employees.

Beer style can be influenced by local traditions and climate. Think lambic in lembeek, Sahti in Finland and Weisse beer in Germany

Yeast adapts to local conditions to give local taste to beer

Different locales interpret the same beer style differently often giving rise to interesting variations as discussed re. Brown Ale by Boak & Bailey  this variation can even give rise to a new style of beer...think hop-forward IPAs from the American West Coast in comparison to those brewed in the UK.

Local beer is often fresher. It is well known that some beers are said "not to travel well". Whether this is lack of freshness, conditions of carriage or simply an inability to perform quality control so far from the brewery local is best. Before the advent of cheap distribution people would travel to other areas of the country to sample the local beers. We're somewhat spoilt now as the beer is brought to us and we perhaps lose something in the process. 

Shorter distribution miles generally means the beer is fresher and hence better. Why else would American brewers be looking to set up shop in the UK?

Breweries get involved in local events and in turn local people buy local beer in turn improving the local economy and general well-being of the local area.

Local brewers can often use local ingredients. This can help local farmers and often a symbiotic relationship can be formed. Although you should perhaps be wary of brewers claiming use of local malt is inherently more environmentally friendly. Often this malt must be shipped to a maltings and back to the brewer, in effect doubling the transportation miles. (Breweries when taken over often have production of beers shifted to other outlets; so also not necessarily local).

95% of beer's volume is water..another local factor of beer though with liquor treatment this is perhaps now provided for. Countless scores of brewers look to produce the local water of Burton-on-Trent in the process of Burtonisation.

All of these factors ensure that beer is a local product; so its not so much that local beer is best, more so that beer is best.

Session #59: Not Beer, but its brother

This month's session is hosted by Mario at Brewed for thought. He's keen to know what we beer bloggers drink when not on the beer. The obvious one for me to write about would be cider, as hailing from somerset its in the blood, so to speak. But I've reviewed the Northern Ireland ciders; so will think of something else. I drink a lot of coffee but am not really a coffee buff; so my post would be as bland as some freeze-dried pap found in a discount store. Something I do enjoy drinking and linking in well with beer because its basically distilled beer without the hops is whisky.

As I said last month, whisky was my first taste of alcohol and I have a good collection of bottles (though nowhere near as large as some beer bloggers (Ghostdrinker, I'm looking at you!)). I've been to a fair few distilleries in my time too; though as I was under 18 for a lot of them I had to make do with getting high on the fumes whilst drinking lemonade.

Flavour map for some of the more widely available distilleries.
(They're owned by Diageo) You can get free entry here.

My favourite whisky is perhaps the Talisker 10, though as with beer, its a voyage of discovery with the potential for better whisky to be out there that I haven't come across yet. I'd love to visit Skye to tour the distillery and will perhaps combine it with a visit to Islay (eye-luh) and other West Coast spots as its an aresa of Scotland I've not yet been to. Speaking of Islay whiskys, I've only recently come to appreciate them, finding them far too phenolic previously, smokey is fine, Talisker has it in spades but I could just not get on with the peaty flavour. However like blue cheese, olives and more recently red peppers my palate has become trained to the flavour and I'm just beginning on my journey of discovery here.

Aside from visiting distilleries I'm partial to a dram or two at home; so thought I'd use the opportunity to review a couple here. Both are Scotch whiskys and not Irish Whiskeys (note spelling difference) as I find Irish ones to be a bit harsher and less enjoyable. I've never thought about whisky whilst tasting it, outside of thinking I like this, I don't like that; so its interesting for me too.

I like a small splash of tap water with my single malts, it helps to draw out the flavours I think. Proper whisky bars (like the Blue Blazer) have a tap on the counter for this purpose.

Talisker 10 y/o pours a burnished gold with plenty of smoke on the nose and just the slightest hint of TCP. Buried underneath are vanilla woody notes and a hint of pith. Fairly mellow in the mouth, with a rounded sweetness, the smoke and alcohol come in the finish.

Dalwhinnie 12 y/o is of the palest blonde with parma violets, almonds and vanilla nose. Very smooth flavours, with grass and a sweet yet fiery finish that lingers and burns the lips.







After drinking both of these before 6pm I'm now feeling warm and ready for bed, not sure how people manage to drink these all day!

Session #58: A Dickens of a Christmas

Session host this month is Beersay Phil (@Filrd) who stepped up to the plate after I hosted last month's session. The topic this time is "a Christmas Carol", the premise being to pick a drink from Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas future to talk about to get us in the festive mood.

It would be remiss of me to not mention my first ever taste of alcohol, boxing day 1986, when I was but 46 days old. I expect it was glenfiddich 12 y/o or even a blend like Red Grouse. Apparently the look on my face was such that it seemed I may be set to be teetotal for the rest of my life...that didn't happen!

Christmas present sees a garage full of tasty winter beers (see: high ABV stouts and porters) amassed over the year. I am very much looking forward to bottles of Moor Fusion and Old Freddy Walker plus Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. Look out for tweets around the time i expect. Bristol beer factory's fantastic 12 stouts should be arriving with me any day soon too; so I expect they will form the backbone of my festive drinking.

Which brings me on to Christmas future. I don't like to predict what will happen in future years, feeling that I might somehow become bound by my proclamations, but I'd really like to spend a Christmas abroad somewhen, in an exotic and distant location and stumble across a hidden gem of a brewpub like schwalbenbrau in Schladming with some tasty treats. I don't have a preference for style or strength, just something unique for that time and place.

So that's it for The Session for 2011. I look forward to Mario's "not beer" topic in the new year!