The Growler: Spring to it

New Century Beer

Already spring is breaking through in my corner of the world. The home brewed pilsner I’ve been lagering over the winter is almost ready to be bottled. It's always beer drinking season somewhere, and some time. In this case, warmer weather turns my craft beer thoughts away from the stouts and porters of winter and toward something lighter. A craft brewed light lager? As a craft beer enthusiast, you surely revel in the wide world of beer tastes and flavors made available by the growing number … [Read more...]

The Growler: Stout and stalwart

Bells-Hopslam-Lineup-300x224

Happy New Year craft beer enthusiasts! I hope those of you in northern climes are staying warm while we say a prayer for our friends on the summer side of the planet with that category 5 Cyclone Yasi beating up Australia. I'll nonetheless be northern hemisphere-centric in this column as we’ll be spending a lot of time on winter beers. The winter portion of the traditional beer calendar features darker, heartier and stronger beers designed to shake the cold from your bones. For the stout of … [Read more...]

Craft beer demystified

Learn beer language

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The Growler: Holiday drinkin’ guide

Arrogant Bastard Oaked

Hey, craft beer lovers! I don’t know about you but I can hardly believe 2010 is coming to an end. I find myself reflecting on what's been a rewarding but demanding year for me professionally and a bittersweet year personally. I look back at things lost and things gained, good-byes and hellos, and I realize I'm always a bit reflective at this time of year. This is of course enhanced by a mellow few brews, and drinking them with friends. And I'm thankful for the opportunity to share the world … [Read more...]

The Growler: Getting crafty

Growler

Season’s greetings beer enthusiasts!  This inaugural edition of The Growler comes at an auspicious time. The increasing popularity of seasonal beers within the American craft beer industry offers a new range of taste choices. I'm excited to tell you more about them at the bottom of the column. Craft beer is the primary focus of The Growler, so you may be wondering – what is craft beer? Brew thru The craft beer movement was in many ways a harbinger of the current trend favoring higher … [Read more...]