The majority of hops used in the brewing industry are pelletized, meaning the hops have been processed and squished down into little, green, rabbit-food-lookin pellets. This compressed version of hops is much easier to store and use than hops in their natural whole cone form. But who said easier was better? One season a year, […]
Spalter Bier – The Only Beer In The World!
As they say in Spalt, Germany… “In Spalt, in Spalt, dou wern di Leit gor alt; sie kenna nix dafier, dös macht ös goute Bier”** Roughly translated: The people in Spalt grow old because of the good beer, meaning they owe their good health and ability to age well to this nutritious beverage. I wouldn’t expect […]
Utah Haze Warz
The national epidemic widely known as the “Haze Craze” has finally infiltrated our state. More local brewers have succumbed to the trend and are now in the throes of a friendly battle, striving to create outstanding versions of the New England/Northeast IPA (or NEIPA), each one better than the last. Haze-heads are rejoicing as they […]
The Hops of Hallertau
The sun was high above as we exited the coach and our feet found the gravel driveway of a historic hop farm in the Hallertau region of Germany. The warm greeting received from our hosts, the Stanglmair family, was rivaled only by the balm of a cloudless afternoon. My skin hardly had a minute’s time […]
Alley Hops
“They say whoever is scratched by the hops cannot escape them.” — Alexander Feiner, Hop Farmer — For the Love of Hops by Stan Hieronymus In these warm summer evenings, as the sun peeks through the clouds and city haze before melting into the horizon, I relish the thought of walking my dog through the neighborhood […]
The Forecast Is Hazy
With any fad, you’ll have those who embrace it, and those who shake their heads in mocking disgust. The latest trend in beer, the hazy IPA, is no different. For some, this popular style represents a departure from what beer is supposed to be, but for others, it’s a gateway to exciting new flavors and […]