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From Horse Races to Beer Steins: Oktoberfest Since 1810

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Written by Franz Hofer for A Tempest in a Tankard

On 17 October 1810, 40,000 people converged on a field beyond Munich’s Sedlinger Gate to watch a horse race staged by the Citizens’ Militia (Bürgermilitär) in honour of Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The numbers were impressive, given that the population of Munich at the time was only 40,338 inhabitants. It seems no one complained when the next edition of the festival rolled around the following year on the Theresienwiese, ushering in what rapidly became a hallowed annual autumn tradition.

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FUCK Budweiser: Your Basic Early Morning, Fed-Up Rant

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I’m getting mightily SICK of our ongoing glorification of this industrially produced, foreign-owned, cheesy example of the American dumbing-down of a great beer style – the Czech Pilsner – that became, for 100 years, ALL we had to drink in this country under the term “beer”. I read a repost on Facebook, titled “ The Girl who drinks Coors Light is the one that’s right“? Forwhom, exactly? One of those swaggering, posturing, cowboy wannabe throwbacks who live in the ‘burbs and drive pick-ups so they can pose as “country”, when they’re actually about as “country” as Woody Allen? This prefabricated grain-water is what we came to equate with “manhood”. For a century, we were told that drinking watered-down, sweet, piss-beer was somehow, inexplicably, linked to both manliness AND patriotism…and, until that day in 2008, when Anheuser Busch was sold to a huge Belgian beer conglomerate, and then bought out both Miller and Coors last year, the patriotism argument had SOME merit. Now, NONE of those largest-selling beers is American-owned. NONE…OF…THEM.

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O’ zafpt is! Oktoberfest 2016

Written by Franz Hofer for A Tempest in a Tankard

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Most every beer enthusiast I know has his or her mythical geography of the beer world, a mental landscape dotted with legendary breweries and drink-before-you-die beers. This topography might also consist of wild yeasts residing in the rafters of old farmhouses, or historic hop kilns concealed along country back roads. Cities themselves stand out like beacons: Munich, Portland, Bamberg, Brussels. A large part of what sustains this mental geography is the excitement of the quest. Sometimes we manage to satisfy of our desires relatively quickly; sometimes the quest may take years.

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A Beer Judge’s Diary: BRAINSTORM!

By Ken Carman
By Ken Carman
 I was about to head off to help judge the first year of the Syracuse Homebrew Competition; my last “gig” had been Plattsburgh’s competition, when a brainstorm arrived on my mental doorstep like a craft beer fanatic at a new brewery occuring in a former dry county. Or “parish.” No need in leaving out my Cajun friends, eh? PARISH… the thought!
 Over the years I’ve noted occasional low entry levels at some competitions. This year’s Plattsburgh (first year) comp had 27, Salt City’s slightly over 100, Music City has been down a little from time to time. I thought my own competition in Old Forge, NY; which predictably was on the upswing, was severely down at one drop off point due, at least in part, to a Facebook snafu. Also a site problem where the entry limit was reached when it really hadn’t been clogged the filter screen on my entry “mash tun.” And then we have the inability to contact the manager at one drop off point so fermentation couldn’t even start there. All these things can happen, especially when trying to help manage a competition long distance.
 What to do, what to do? Continue reading “A Beer Judge’s Diary: BRAINSTORM!”

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A Beer Judge’s Diary: Salt City Home Brew Competition

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By Ken Carman
By Ken Carman
 Like an out of balance beer, I admit I’m more than a tad unbalanced when it comes to remembering names. Faces? Yup. Names? I have a bottomless pit of forgetfulness. I judged at the NYS State Fair Competition when Salt City ran it. Been to a few meetings. But living in Nashville, and even though I’m in the Adirondacks 2½ months out of the year, it’s a bit embarrassing when so many say “Hi, Ken!” and I have to fudge my way through the conversations.
 So last Saturday, September 17th, I arrived at the Polish Home on Park Ave, ready for the inevitable forgetfulness. It was still fun, and a well run competition. Having seen how Salt City ran the Fair competition; despite snafus they had no control over, I knew they’d do an incredible job.
 Of course, my friend Brent Blanchard running it, along with Peter Woodworth, always helps. Upon entering I joked, “What, we’re only judging POLISH beers?” (Ironic, my first experience judging the new, 2015, BJCP style: Piwo Grodziskie, a traditional; Polish brew, was with Salt City at the Fair. Continue reading “A Beer Judge’s Diary: Salt City Home Brew Competition”

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Jesus and beer: Some religious groups finding way to combine both

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Image courtesy Huffington Post

 

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Angela Caddell started struggling with her Christianity 14 years ago when she came out as gay. But a gathering at a bar to talk faith over a cold beer once a month is helping her feel more connected to her religion.

“If you’re an atheist you are welcome. …. I’m a lesbian, I’m totally welcome,” said the 32-year-old from nearby Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, at a recent gathering.

“Tonight we’re talking about scapegoating. There is no scapegoating that happens here.”

This event is called “Jesus & Beer” and it’s part of an effort by some Christian groups throughout the country to recruit parishioners, connect with people struggling with faith or provide a relaxed outlet to talk religion.

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Beer Profile: Bare Bear Sahti

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Profiled by Maria Devan

pgaprofileCheers everyone. This is my first sahti. Sahti is an old Finnish style of beer that is traditionally made with juniper berries and no hops to boil. It can range form 7 to 11 percent and the word farmhouse is used in descriptions. However, it is far from the saison or what you think of as a farmhouse ale in flavor although it was brewed in two strengths the weaker of which was given to the village workers. Also served at harvest or festival time I thought this would be a nice beer to try now.

It’s a gusher. It’s clear copper colored, like a dark honey brown with no head and a few surviving bubbles to rise. Nose is spicy and has an undertone of caramel or nuts. Juniper smells sharp and there is a touch of sour quality. Malt is rich and 14332952_1898303257064012_9159599855204295384_nspicy with rye. The nose has a delicate balance between earth and sky. The perfume from the juniper is not at all hop like and the malt shows hints of nectar like honey.

The drink has a woody quality from the juniper that is very light and almost nutty. The drink is pleasant and very hearty. Lots of spice and the sharp flavor of the juniper made soft by malt. Rye is crisp and the little touch of sour quality to the mouthfeel is welcome in the finish against these richer flavors. Mine has lost much carbonation and would have been much lighter with a few more bubbles. It finishes a bit heavy and with some syrupy sweetness. It’s a sipper because of the abv which is 7% but also because of the flavors which are earthy and mellow.

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Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”

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mdMaria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is a great beer writer. That’s Maria in the middle. The other two are not, but they are lucky to have her as a friend.