I’m a Craft Beer Enthusiast (CBE). That means indie (ugh, hate that word) all the way. Ownership matters! Down with Big Beer! “Dude, Heineken just bought 50% of Lagunitas!” Okay. Um, I’m fine with that. Just a partnership, right? Trying to open up some distribution channels, make some inroads into some new markets. That’s fine. They’re long since past the days … [Read more...] about Lagunitas Relationship Status — It’s Complicated
Breweries
Masters of The Beerverse: Don Barkley
I’m not one for hyperbole, but I’m a bit giddy these days because I just got to interview a craft brewing legend. Okay, he might think that a bit grandiose. How about pioneer? Trailblazer? Sherpa? Whatever, doesn’t matter. Don Barkley has been in the craft brewing game since before there was one, when he convinced Jack McAuliffe in the late 1970s he could use some help … [Read more...] about Masters of The Beerverse: Don Barkley
Masters of The Beerverse: Dave McLean
With the possible exception of Anchor Brewing, there probably isn’t a brewery more iconic to San Francisco than Magnolia. To wit: Dave McLean, the founder, got indoctrinated into the craft beer scene in the parking lots at Grateful Dead shows in the Boston area the late ’80s/early ‘90s, where many of the Dead’s followers brought brews with them from the West Coast … [Read more...] about Masters of The Beerverse: Dave McLean
Beer, There, Everywhere: SF Beer Week ’17
In the midst of this waterlogged winter, another San Francisco Beer Week has washed over us. Here’s where I dipped my toes into this year’s raging currents. I Need A Miracle DIPA Release, Pacific Standard Taproom, Berkeley With the ever-increasing supply of beers from an ever-increasing industry, the problem of where they’re going to sell this stuff is becoming more acute. … [Read more...] about Beer, There, Everywhere: SF Beer Week ’17
Another Birthday Road Trip
One of the (few) perks my day job offers is birthdays off. The last few years I've taken advantage of the free day by hopping on mass transit and heading to some new (to me) beer joints. As the pace of openings shows no signs of slowing, there's no shortage from which to choose. This year's stops -- Bartlet Hall and Local Brewing, both in the City. BARTLETT HALL To be … [Read more...] about Another Birthday Road Trip