2009 Lager Review
All the World’s a Stage

It never ceases to amaze me how pervasive lager style beers are.  And as I was enjoying a spicy sushi roll last night that paired brilliantly with a Korean pale lager that I hadn’t had in a long time, I could see why. While often criticized or mocked as either boring, insipid, industrial, etc., the ubiquitous pale lager and pilsner styles are clearly the world’s choices if you are looking at sheer sales volumes and numbers of brands.   more >>

2009 Specialty Beers
Exploring the Foamy Fringe of Beer

Every year in the World Wine Championships, we dedicate one session to specialty styles of beer that include fruit flavored beers, beers made with unusual fermentables, barrel aged beers, and some Belgian specialty styles like lambic. When you open the door to brewers to send it their unusual creations you can be sure that you will get things that you’ve never seen before both good and bad.   more >>

To Quench and to Savor
Doing the Continentals

Eariler this year BTI’s World Beer Championships held their annual tasting of Continental European Ale styles.  Maibocks were also included as they are in season this time of year.  A few tasty sessions of an eclectic assortment of brews turned out some excellent results.  Thanks again to all of the participating breweries and to our panel of judges.

Let’s start off with the Kolsch entries.  A great beer to introduce to your industrial lager-consuming friends as it is quite approachable.  Also, a great way to reward your self after the yard work is complete.  A unique beer that is top fermented and then lagered.  The result is a clean refreshing ale with a slightly bitter finish, but not as much as say a German pils.  One good Kolsch deserves another, but if you need to pair it with something a bit more substantial, try mild cheeses.  A little cured meat wouldn’t hurt here either.  A few notable entries included Goose Island Brewing Co.’s Summertime (92 points), Alltech Lexington Brewing Kentucky Light (85 points), and at the tie of (84 points), Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.   more >>