Category: Uncategorized
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Dry Hopped Zwickl, Collaboration between Bitburger (Germany) and Deschutes (US) Breweries, Kellerbier, 4.9%ABV.
A collaboration beer is the result of two breweries working together to produce a single beer. This is seen as an opportunity for breweries to expand their fan base by tapping into the customers of the partnered brewery. This beer is one of those collaborations. Bitburger from Germany and Deschutes from Bend Oregon, USA. This…
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Lessons Re-learned: Mt. Fuji Edition.
This past weekend I hiked Mt Fuji in pouring rain, heavy cloud cover and temperatures between 45-50ºF. Touring the misery of that hike I re-learned several important life lessons. None of these are earth shattering or new to me. Like brain synapses being reinforced when you remember people places and things I feel the same…
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Lessons Learned: Yeast and the people involved in its rise of importance.
When I was younger every night at the dinner table each kid had to tell our parents what we learned in school that day. Looking back it was not something I particularly enjoyed, but now as a parent I understand that they were just reinforcing what we were learning in school. As I am going…
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Mead Day
Mead Day is celebrated on the first Saturday of August every year. It’s a day to celebrate this fermented beverage made of honey. Historians believe that mead, or fermented honey, first appeared around 8000 BC. Although mead is referenced in old tales and is commonly depicted in medieval depictions mead would not have been that…
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International Beer Day
Today is International Beer Day. The holiday does not celebrate a specific style, nationality, or festival just beer and its international appeal. I want to take this broad scope to talk about why I enjoy writing about beer. The varieties of style, manufacturing process, history, vessels and cultural events tied to beer make this a…
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National Scotch Day
Several nations have beverages that are directly associated with their country. The French have wine, Italians have grappa, American have bourbon and Russians have vodka. But only the Scotland has a spirit where their nationality is written right into the name of the spirit. Scotch whiskey is uniquely Scottish and cannot be produced anywhere else…
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The Arnolds/Arnufs of Beer: St Arnold of Metz, Soissons, and Oudenaarde.
Beer and saints have long associated history.
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Bourbon, America’s Freedom with America’s Spirit
As we celebrate America’s independence I think it is best to enjoy the day with a uniquely American Drink. Most beers and spirits can be created anywhere in the world and still be called the same thing. Gin is gin regardless of where it is distilled and even what botanicals are used. Pale ale can…
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National Bourbon Day, 14 June 2022: Blanton’s, Blanton’s Black Special Reserve, Blanton’s Japan
By definition all Bourbons are whiskey but not all whiskies are bourbon. This is because of the definition of Bourbon from Title 27 of the US Code of Federal Regulations. Title 27 states that Bourbon must be made with at least 51% corn, made in America, placed in new charred oak container, distilled at 160º…
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Gora Brewery and Grill, Hakone, Japan
When traveling across Japan I normally make it a point to stop at the local breweries. My trip to Hakone was no different and I found myself at Gora Brewing Co. This little brewery is tucked into this mountain community about four hours south-east of Tokyo. Although quite small it boast four awards from the…
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Fred Eckhardt’s Birthday
If you have read my previous post or have read much on beer and brewing you have probably already heard of Michale Jackson the beer writer. Before I read this book I thought that Mr. Jackson was the only major beer writer in the nineteen eighty’s and early ninety’s. While Jackson focused on writing about…
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Star Wars Day; Kirishima Beer, Stout, Kirishima Shuzo Co.
This week is Golden Week in Japan. This is a series of holidays that all fall within a weeks time. They are Showa Day, Constitutional Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children’s Day. Because of the close proximity of these holidays this is the big travel and holiday time for many in the country. Today, May…
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Asahi, The Rich, Asahi Brewery
It’s been over a week since the last post. The family took a last second staycation to a resort to the north end of Okinawa. While up there we found a beer that we have not seen elsewhere in Japan. Asahi is one of the largest breweries in Japan but is normally recognized as the…
Luke Pernotto 