A NIGHT WITH THE HOPS

Sure I would like to have the first beer news post of the year include about thirty links and have many really interesting things, but not all that much caught my eye this week.  We all know that the Christmas to New Year holiday season is a black hole of productivity, so I am not all that surprised that not many big things happened.

Regardless there are a few interesting items . . .

• Getting the more negative stuff out of the way at the top, it is interesting to read through the thread to see what people thought was the worst beer they tasted in the last year.  I am kind of bummed that one beer doesn’t stand out for me.
• Of course after looking at some of the releases for this year the one that I want the most is the beer that will only be available at the source.
• The reason that I will not be watching this show when it airs is not because of the sponsor, but rather because I think it looks to be simply awful.
• I very much like reading the stuff that Jay puts out there and I have to agree that it is a good idea to get beyond the most common of the craft beer styles.  Some of them are more difficult to find, but the good ones are worth it.
• It is nice when a plan comes together and I guess especially so when it means that the brewery that you worked so hard at will remain in the city in which it started for many, many years to come.
• Speaking of keeping the brewery in the area that it started in seems to be part of the issue in allowing for a large scale expansion.  Sure I don’t expect them to ever sell off and leave, but I understand why the people who live there would be concerned about it.
• Even though my entire experience in Idaho consisted of driving through, spending a night in a hotel, and stopping for gas at least once I continue to tell people that the beer scene there (especially Boise) is supposed to be really good.  That is why I had to include this new brewpub news today.
• Having a good friend more than willing to sample a few beers with me living in D.C. is more than enough reason for me to get back there for a visit.  Of course the news of a new brewery opening does not hurt the cause either.
• Maybe all of this good news will mean that soon I can answer yes when asked if we carry any of their beers in Central Florida.
• Continued growth is of course good, but growing your business at “about four times the industry average in 2011” is amazing.  I like to think that I contributed to that is only by the amount of Dale’s Pale Ale I drank over the last year.

via http://www.timescall.com