Category: Uncategorized
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First Day of Oktoberfest
Today, 17 September, marks the beginning of Oktoberfest. This folk festival originated in Munich, Germany but has spread to across the world. Japan is no exception and years ago when we lived near Yokohama we enjoyed the festival at the Red Brick Warehouse. At the Munich Oktoberfest there are strict rules about what can be…
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Sake Post: Three Sakes from Niigata Prefecture Japan.
There are some great benefits to living in Japan. One of these is the being able to subscribe to a Sake Post a sake sample box. The website www.sakepost.jp is in Japanese, but with the help of Google Translate I was able to navigate and sign up. For just over $16.00 a month I received…
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Wet Hop Beer
Right now (September-October) on hop farms around the world, farmers are picking this years crop of hops. The hummulous lupus is a bine where hops grow on the female plants. Hops grow best between the 38º and 51º parallel. The shortening days combined with the cooler evenings cause the hop cones to develop and ripen.…
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Lessons Learned: Check your math.
The childhood question has been answered of “when will I ever use math?”. There is a surprising amount of math involved in brewing. From conversion of gallons to barrels, to changing units of measurement for heat, energy, and pressure. All of these involve mathematical equations and require a high level of attention to ensure the…
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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…
Luke Pernotto 