Bottle Conditioned

Mollie and I were talking about this last night, as we have a few other times in the past: does beer need a new name?

Being a beer lover - strike that, a craft beer lover - can be incredibly frustrating. Attempting to change the public perception of what beer is proves to be an uphill battle much of the time. The accepted definition of beer as a light, watery, alcohol delivery system in a can is so entrenched in our society that it’s going to take a lot of work to pull it out the other side and redefine beer as a beverage that is rich in history, taste, variety and culture. As of now, people just don’t get it.

So - should we rename beer and start from scratch? I don’t know what we’d rename it, but sometimes I feel like we should. It’s amazing how heavy of a word “beer” is, and the amount of negative connotation attached to it. “What will you have with your steak dinner, Sir, a bottle of our finest Cabernet?” “Nope, bring me your beer list” “Oh. Right”.

What is it going to take to change this perception? Currently, many people are working hard to help beer out and give it a makeover. The craft brewers in this country and around the world are at the forefront, paving new ground and expanding the portfolio of beer worldwide. Beer writers and educators are gaining steam and wedging their (our) way into mainstream media. The cult following of craft beer is slowly peaking its head above the surface and making small waves in communities across the world. All are working hard to redefine what people think of when they hear the word “beer”. But is it going to work?

Jay Brooks has a great blog post that profiles an article written likening craft beer to wine, going as far as to call craft beers “winey beers”. Why does wine have to be the standard to which we hold beer? As long as that is in place, we’ll be fighting with the wine folks over the rightful place at the table. It simply exemplifies the notion that beer, as a concept, simply doesn’t command the respect that other beverages do, and disassociating that perception from the name is going to be one hell of a battle.

As I said, I have no idea what we’d call it. Honestly, I don’t want to rename it, but will we ever be able to change the reaction to it? Will beer one day fade away as the frat boy drink of choice and find its place at four star tables across the globe? Hopefully so - we’ve just got to keep talking about it.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (1)

To a lover of great beer, it doesn’t come as a surprise to hear that beer and cheese go together. This pairing surely beats anything that wine can do with cheese.

One of the greatest (if not the greatest) spokespersons for beer and food pairing is the head brewer at Brooklyn Brewery, Garrett Oliver. Garrett has written a great book called “The Brewmaster’s Table”, which I highly recommend. It never leaves my coffee table, and it’s marked up, dogearred, bookmarked, tattered and torn. This book is truly a reference book for food and beer.

This past week, Garrett delivered a presentation on food and cheese pairing at the American Cheese Society’s conference in Vermont. Garrett does these types of demonstrations often, and it’s great to see him being so active about bringing knowledge of the value of beer and food pairing to so many people, so often.

If you haven’t already seen it, check out the clip below from the documentary American Brew. This shows Garrett in action at one of these demonstrations, and it’s pretty damn cool to see him in action.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (0)

Jay Brooks posted quite an interesting blog post yesterday on his blog, the Brookston Beer Bulletin. In his post, “Penny Wise and Pint Foolish“, Jay comments on an article written by New York Times travel writer Seth Kugel. The article is called “For Beer Tastes, On Beer Budgets”.

This the second part of the one-two punch that beer has gotten from the press in past couple days. First, the article on beer being the “binge drinkers beverage of choice”, and now this, an ode to the cheapest beer you can possibly find.

Jay sums this up so eloquently when he writes:

Beer has been struggling mightily for over 25 years to gain some respect. Given the strides made by the craft beer industry in that time it certainly deserves its place among the other fine gourmet beverages of the world. Once the laughingstock of the world, American beer today is known throughout the world to be of the finest quality. There are now more different beer styles brewed in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world. That’s an unbelievable swing in a little over two short decades. It’s a shame that something like 95% of all Americans didn’t get the news.

Bingo. Nail on the head there.

This just irritates me to no end. It’s another perfect example of the ignorance and the odd sense of pride that a large piece of our nation gets from drinking junk to get drunk. Why are so many people in this country proud of the sad heritage that beer has had in this country? It totally confounds me.

Wine drinkers - do you go out looking for the cheapest wine you can possibly find, in order to drink as large a quantity for as little money as possible? (I realize that posing this question to the readers of this blog is rhetorical, but it’s for effect).

I understand beer’s history in this country. I understand that for decades, beer was a “laborer’s” drink, while wine was the drink of the upper class. The thing is, it’s not that way anymore, and it hasn’t been for some time. Since at least the early 80s, when the craft beer revolution really started to crank up, beer has been working hard to redefine itself and up its stature in the marketplace as a beverage that can, at least, stand on the same ground with wine. Why then, is our society so reluctant to adopt this great new image of beer?

Take for example a fine restaurant. Upon sitting down at your table, you’re handed the menu and wine list. Where’s the beer list? In many places, if you even ask about beer, you either get “Well, we’ve got pretty much everything you need…Bud, Miller, Coors”, or you get looked at as if you’re suddenly undeserving of your reservation. The fact that beer pairs better with food than wine on many occasions is completely lost among many of the top chefs and sommeliers across this country. We’re known for some of the best food in the world, but we can’t even offer a good selection of beverages to go with it.

I know it’s ignorance. I know it requires education. Perhaps I’m just too damn picky. Whatever the case, articles such as Seth’s and the one from the AP yesterday regarding binge drinking aren’t helping.

Now, I’m sure that there are people out there who are saying “Who cares? We know what great beer is, if everyone else doesn’t, that’s their own damn problem”. Yeah, it’s easy to take that stance. The truth is, however, that beer’s image across this country (and the world for that matter) does affect us. It prevents great beer from making its way to our tables at restaurants. It causes lawmakers and neo-prohibitionists to enact ridiculous legislation aimed at “solving the problem of beer”. It limits our selection of great beer available locally. And, it limits many craft brewers from expanding and thriving. Simply put, beer’s bad name affects all of us, whether you like it or not, and whether you care or not.

So, as I tend to say often, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record…again…do your part! As craft beer lovers, we’ve got a great chance to change beer’s image. All you have to do is convert one person at a time, changing their mind about what beer is, and they’ll do the same. When you love something like craft beer, it’s hard not to be infectious about your passion.

Go ahead, spread it around.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (0)

Yesterday’s article about binging still has me going. As I was ranting about it to my wife last night, she noted that it might also be construed that other things I do in my life could also be considered “acts of binging”. So, with the definition of completing an act more than 5 times in a given occasion, here are my current binges, unabashedly revealed for the world to see:

• Work binge - I work more than 5 hours a day. Because my job is repetitive and some tasks I might do way more than 5 times in one occasion, I’d consider this a serious binging issue.
• Driving binge - To and from work, I drive about a total of 15 miles, each way. That’s three times the standard definition of a binge.
• Email binge - ’nuff said.
• Cheese binge - I love cheese, and often will have some when I get home from work. After more than five pieces, however, it’s time to set it down and walk away.
• Podcast binge - As a podcaster, I love listening to podcasts. Generally, more than 5 in one sitting.
• Blogging binge - see above
• Website binge - perhaps one of my most dangerous. I’ll surpass the standard 5 site binge definition within minutes. I’m currently considering seeking help on this one.
• Sleeping binge - on a good night, I’m going for about 8.5 hours. If we consider each hour a “sleep increment” (as most people do: ‘How much sleep did you get?’ ‘Oh, about 4, 5 hours’), then I’m 170% over the socially acceptable limit.
• Walking binge - if I could get everywhere in less than 5 steps, I’d be happy. Until then, I’m stuck with another vice.
• Word binge - this takes a couple forms: verbal and written. You can get the drift here
• Sex binge - yeah, right. I could only be so lucky.

So there you go. My binges. Obviously, I’m a man of many vices. Got some binges you’re not afraid to admit? Leave them in the comments!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (1)

I don’t drink to get drunk. Perhaps I did at one point in early college, but it’s never been my style. Especially now. I consider myself someone who appreciates beer regardless of alcohol content (with exception to alcohol that determines flavor). Thusly, this article, published by MSNBC.com today really pisses me off.

In short, the article talks about binge drinking among teens and adults, and what those groups prefer in terms of beverage selection. The article notes that teen binge drinkers prefer liquor, while adult binge drinkers ‘overwhelmingly’ prefer beer.

So, why does this make me so mad? Behold, the definition of a “binge drinker”:

A binge drinker was defined as someone who had five or more alcoholic drinks on at least one occasion in the last 30 days.

What? Surely they’re kidding. So, all 5,000 people attending the brewer’s festival last weekend here in Nashville are binge drinkers. In addition, if I get up on Saturday and have a framboise with brunch, a Saison mid-afternoon with a light lunch, a nice pale ale as an apertif, a brown or amber ale with dinner and an imperial stout as a digestif, I’m now a binge drinker.

That is complete bullshit. For those of us who enjoy beer for the taste and experience, and who drink responsibly throughout a day, we’re now considered binge drinkers for our passion for the craft of great beer. In their eyes, we’re in the same group as those who buy a 12-pack of PBR and slam it within a few hours on a Saturday night. I don’t think so.

So, we’re now binge drinkers. Furthering that, here is their assumption about people who might have 5 or more beers in one occasion (and yes, I consider a Saturday at home an occasion):

“This is behavior that is common,” said the CDC’s Dr. Timothy Naimi, lead author of a study of 14,000 adult binge drinkers. “It boils down to drinking to get drunk.”

So, if I enjoy a selection of high quality Belgian and American craft beers, either at home throughout the day, at a brewer’s festival, at a homebrew meeting, a vertical or horizontal tasting, or judging a competition - i’m doing it just to get drunk.

It doesn’t stop there. This is the rumblings of the ‘pleasure police’ (thanks to Cigar Dave for that excellent nickname). Once these people can sufficiently pigeonhole beer into being a tool of binge drinkers and a threat to society, the legal action and government control over beer will begin. Don’t believe me? Here’s another part of the same article:

That perception may help explain why beer is No. 1, Naimi said. Because of a governmental focus on the dangers of liquor, beer is generally less expensive and easier to get.

The volume of beer advertising on television is also a factor, said Gail DiSabatino, vice president for student affairs at Clemson University.

So, now that they’ve discovered that beer is the most popular, more focus will be placed on passing pointless laws that attempt at controlling beer and “saving” the population. With all the progress we’ve made in beer legislation up to this point, we can’t let any of it get undone because of a gross misunderstanding of beer.

Keep fighting the fight!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (1)

I’m reading an article in this month’s issue of “Beers of the World”, an English beer journal that seems to focus mainly on beer culture overseas. Although the majority of the beer I drink comes from the states in the form of craft beer (save a few Belgian beers), it’s interesting to read about the culture over there and get an idea of the whole world beer stage.

One article in particular that struck my attention was called “Colder than Cold” (pg. 30 in the August issue, if you’re playing along at home).

The article talks about the ‘cold beer’ fad, and the fact that this phenomenon is moving over to Britain. Great, look what we started.

Throughout the article, there is much talk about how popular “extra cold” beer is becoming throughout pubs across Britain, replacing some of the classic cask ales that have for so long existed in these pubs.

It amazes me that this is happening.

Just when I think that the US is starting to get its act together, with more craft beer becoming popular and supermarket sales of “big beer” plateauing out or declining, it seems that there’s still a lot of work to do. The very place that has for so long been thought of as the classic beer region, it seems, is succumbing to the same fate that American beer suffered years ago (and is still trying to recover from).

Anyway, I don’t have much of a point except to say that it really struck me as odd, to think of British pubs serving “extra cold” beer and making a point to do so. It seems a shame to see such great beer tradition pushed aside to accommodate big beer marketing budgets.

So, do your part. Drink your beer at the right temp (45-55 degrees for most beers, even warmer for high grav) and tell your friends to do the same. Maybe we can still save the beer world yet.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (0)

I’m writing this post as I sit on a brown leather couch, situated in a dark cigar bar, smoking a Rocky Patel Edge. Almost perfect. Two things are missing: my wife (who’s still at home in Nashville), and a good beer. This seems to be an ongoing battle in the hotel.

Luckily, the short selection is limited to the hotel. I visited a great beer and cigar/pipe shop called The Pipe and Pint over here in Greensboro. Firstly, I’ve got to say, the owner is top notch. Incredibly helpful and very, very nice. The beer selection was also top notch. Unfortunately, as I sit here, the names of the beers I purchased there are escaping me, but I’ll post with a full list soon.

Meanwhile, back to the hotel selection. Although sparse, there are a few notables that I haven’t had the pleasure of trying until now. Two of these that I want to make sure I mention are both from the Oskar Blues brewery: Oskar Dale’s Pale Ale and Oskar Old Chub Scottish Style Ale. I don’t have detailed tasting notes, but suffice to say that both get my approval, despite an interesting delivery - they’re both canned beers.

If you’ve listened to the podcast for any amount of time, you may have heard me talk about beers in cans. Although some people note the advantages (better seal and protection from air, no light striking), I’ve never been convinced of the validity of cans. As the brewer for Kelly’s Carribean Bar and Grill pointed out (check out our brewery spotlight from Key West for this conversation), cans are made of metal, and metal conducts heat very well. As a result, beer in cans is more susceptable to temperature swings as the metal on the can changes temperature.

Regardless of my thoughts, these were both great beers and may change my mind on cans - a little. I still think that cans have a greater risk of being mistreated by careless distributors, but in good hands, they may just be OK.

So, I recommened the Oskar Blues stuff. Make sure to check it out if you can. Another beer that I had, and also really liked was Highland’s Kashmir IPA. Great beer if you can get it. I think I’ve had it before, but this reaffirmed my position.

So, if you care (and if you’re reading this blog, you must care a little), the beer in Greensboro is looking good so far. No doubt, whenever you can go out of state, it’s nice to get your hands on some stuff you can’t get at home.

More on the other beer later…I’ve got a cigar waiting on me.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (0)

I was reminded again today why I spend a good deal of time every week producing a podcast and blog about craft beer.

This afternoon, as I meandered my way toward lunch, I dropped by the bank to deposit a check. The check was from a sponsor on our podcast, and I was depositing it into the bank account dedicated to the show. As I handed the bank teller the deposit slip and check, she noted the name and inquired about it: “Davis On Draft? Does that have something to do with drafting?” I paused for a moment, wondering if I ought to delve into explaining what a podcast is, and why it’s about craft beer, but I went ahead. “Actually, it has to do with craft beer”. Instead of being puzzled, she seemed satisfied and said that she was going to guess that next. I went on to explain podcasting and what we do, which launched us into a fairly in depth discussion about craft beer. This mildly shocked me as the otherwise monotone middle-aged woman sprang to life in the context of this conversation.

After a few minutes of conversing about craft beer, microbreweries, and The Great American Beer Tour, I left in pursuit of my lunch. As I walked toward my car, I starting thinking about our conversation and how interesting it was that the subject of craft beer had sparked such an interaction.

It turns out, this isn’t all that uncommon. Mollie and I attend monthly networking meetings for entrepreneurs here in Nashville, and I’ve seen the same thing happen here. As we walk around and talk to people at these meetings, everyone is business-focused and serious, trying desperately to make contacts and generate leads. However, as soon as we mention what we do, a different side of people pops up and a relaxed and fun conversation about craft beer ensues.

Talking about great beer excites people. It brings out the relaxed, fun side of people, and can bridge the gap between two people who otherwise would never come together. Not only that, but people want to learn about craft beer. They want to tell you about great beer they’ve had and learn about the beer you’ve had. They want to ask questions about different styles, where to buy it, and how to drink it.

People simply want to know more about beer - and they’re everywhere. From bank tellers to CEOs, there is a common need and desire to learn more about the better beer out there. Find someone this week and strike up a conversation about great beer. Chances are, they’ll tell you about a beer they had while they were traveling, or a beer that one of their relatives or friends love. They may even tell you that they brew their own beer - or that they host a podcast about it. Either way, there’s a little bit of beer lover - craft beer lover - in almost everyone.

And that’s why we do this.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (0)

Short post here on Sunday night before I get some much needed rest. Mollie and I just rolled in the door from South Carolina where we spent a couple days doing the beach and golf thing.

Exciting stuff coming up this week. First off, this week’s podcast is the long awaited Bell’s Brewery spotlight. We’ve had a ton of emails in about Bell’s stuff, so we know how much people love it. For good reasons - it’s great beer. Make sure to download the show and give it a listen!

Also, I’ve got a couple other things swimming around in my head to talk about this week, ranging from random tasting notes to rants about beer and alcohol culture in this country.

Also, a final note. Be sure to subscribe to this blog by hitting the RSS button over there on the right hand side (the orange speaker/soundwave/radio symbol looking thing). You can use various blog readers (such as the Google Reader) to get new posts to this blog delivered to you automatically, for free. Can’t beat that with a stick.

Time to put this week’s show on the web and hit the bed. Talk to ya’ll this week.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to get automatic updates of new posts!

• Comments (0)