The Gloriously Reduced Redacted And A Bit Recycled Thursday Beery News Notes For Mid-February

A plague upon ye, poor internet services. A plague I say! My Wednesday was rooon’d by bad internet service. Not something I usually suffer from. No, it’s usually a clear path for these my cranks. Not this week. I’ve had to set up antennae, hot spots and coaxial cables just to get this week’s beery news notes to you. It’s tragic. To be so modern yet soooo dependent. Thank God for my AM radio and old New Yorkers, I say, too. Anyway, if this week feels like less value for your hard earned dollars, write Mr. Internets of Internetsville. Ah, the critic’s life is full of troubles. (Update: RIP Mr 2017 Modem.)

But when it does work, this is why the internet was created: a photo that answers questions:

Repurposed malt kiln tiles at St Andrew’s, Foxton. Over time the air holes have ended up being filled in which has created a rather attractive pattern of tiny flowers.

Check out the deets. Tiny wee holes for the warm air to waft up and amongst not quite so tiny malt. And that’d be in a church not a pub, by the way. Tiles were made in the parish near the church as recently as 225 years ago.

Not quite so ancient of days but I also loved the book report submitted by Boak and Bailey this week, extracting lots of pubby goodness from Winter in England by Nicholas Wollaston, published in 1966. This is a sort of thoughtful post on both the book and the genre that makes it worth opening the laptop each week. Genre! Genre:

Wollaston’s idea was not especially original. We’ve got quite a collection of similar books in which a university-educated writer, academic or journalist hits the road to take the temperature of the nation. There’s sometimes an angle, such as a focus on a particular region, or on small towns, or social problems. More often than not, though, they feel quite random and organic – the record of a kind of purposeful drifting. And because they’re supposed to record reality, taking middle and upper class readers to places they perhaps wouldn’t go themselves, pubs feature more frequently than in other types of writing.

I might again recommend Ronald Blythe’s Akenfield for a less perfumed view of 1960s England, one where many farm workers remembered never having enough for the pub – or even shoes – even though they worked upon the land of the wealthy.

Speaking of tight times, Beth gave us the heads up on this story of the SoCal craft scene. Note: cyphers and code abound so please remove your rose coloured craft glasses first to read what is really being said:

Highland Park Brewery near Dodger Stadium emerged from the pandemic in relatively good shape. But Marketing Director James Sullivan says times are tough for a number of local craft brewers. “I think it’s going to be a difficult year,” he says. “I feel like we’re going to see a lot more closures. I feel like we’re going to see a lot more turnover.” Sullivan says the thirsty local market may not yet have hit peak craft. But that day is coming. “I think we’re getting there,” he told me. “I think, you know, starting this year, we’re going to see a lot of our locals unfortunately closing, and it’s tough to see.”

Lisa’s been out and about in Dublin and has set the scene in a very comfortable and not at all closed familiar spot:

The White Hag’s Little Fawn is another excellent go-to, and I had a wander around the entire space, eventually settling in one of the snugs, which now has not only a sofa and comfy chairs, but books of an especially eclectic thrift-shop selection – something I am very much here for. Some may find the upcycled church fittings in this part of the pub a little too ‘hipster’ for them, but I’ve always had a soft spot for that kind of thing, so I am a fan. They are now definitely ticking all the boxes for ‘great spot for solo pint and book’ and as they are mere steps from my door, I am not remotely mad about this.

Not sure – but also not remotely mad – but is a lager is a lager when it isn’t lagered even if the yeast is what it is:

As lager brewing became more popular, ale and porter brewers reacted to the new competition with beers such as cream ales—essentially, pale lagers made with ale yeast. That brings us to an example of where things got mixed up: Once this style became established with consumers, some brewers began making them by blending beers made with ale and lager yeast. Others who were used to brewing lagers also wanted in on this trendy style—so they simply brewed it with lager yeast.

Probably the better argument is that as Germanic immigrants, especially those who came to North America before that tragic rebellion, brought their yeast and continued to use it in all conditions, with or without cold storage. And it did the job, lingered and took on many names.

Jeff (when not thinking about AI aka “Eh? Why?”) has explained a very odd mirrored arrangement by Pacific shores:

The US Department of Justice decided that the deal would create too much consolidation in Hawaii, and demanded that ABI spin off the Kona brewery before they’d approve the CBA acquisition. ABI complied, and the result is a very weird situation in which there are two separate businesses selling the same beer. They use the same branding. Google one and you might find yourself on the webpage of the other. Yet the beer they make is sequestered—with help from the Pacific Ocean—one brewery serving just Hawaii, the other everywhere else.

Speaking of AI, interesting to see that it has now also relieved beer writers from personally participating directly in the standardized but still quite hyperventilated circle of praise.

Breaking and conversely: GBH has added to its random ramblings of reshaping press releases mixed with fan fiction beer travelogues seemingly funded by a shadowy global backwater tourist bureau association** by branching out into an orphaned essay on sports journalism. The word “beer” appears twice so…

Finally, I do hope this is the end of this part of the story. I fear that this sort of salvation might have sidetracked folk from available recourse, maybe made things worse or unnecessarily muddled. The lack of much interest* in the finale was neatly in contrast to the conclusion’s self-assessment:

Our work with the platform has highlighted the shortcomings and systematic failures of labour law in Scotland, the UK and internationally, leaving many affected workers with no legal protection or recourse. These learnings have informed our positive action petition and campaign, called “Retaliation Legislation Reform” which stands as a positive legacy.

That’s it! Now… what to do… with these lists… They are getting to be almost 600 words each week and I am not sure how useful they are. Still… Stan joined Mastodon this week so it must be useful. I mini-ized the list for greater dynamism. Sweet move, right? So what song this week? What would I play if this were a movie and these were the scrolling credits? Could it be this? I’m reading the startlingly excellent autobiography of Nile Rodgers so that works just fine…

You still need to check out Mastodon. It’s so nice. You need to take the time and have the patience as regular posting attracts the audience as per usual. While you are at it, check the blogs, podcasts and newsletters for more weekly recommendations from Boak and Bailey every Saturday and sometimes from Stan at his spot on those Mondays, you know, when he can. And, yes, also gather ye all the podcasts and newsletters. Check to see the highly recommended Beer Ladies Podcast. We appreciate that the OCBG Podcast is on a very quiet schedule these days – but it’s been there now and again. See also sometimes, on a Friday, posts at The Fizz as well (Ed.: we are told ‘tis gone to 404 bloggy podcast heaven… gone to the 404 bloggy podcast farm to play with other puppies.) And the long standing Beervana podcast but it might be on a month off (Ed.: which I have missed from this list for some unknown reason.) There is the Boys Are From Märzen podcast too and check out the travel vids at Ontario’s own A Quick Beer. There is a monthly sort of round up at The Glass. (Ed.: that seems to be dead now… nope, there was a post on July 25th… in 2022 even.) There is more from DaftAboutCraft‘s podcast, too. And sign up for Katie’s (Ed.: now very much less) irregular newsletter, The Gulp, too. And check out the Atlantic Canada Beer Blog‘s weekly roundup. Still gearing up, the recently revived All About Beer has introduced a podcast, too. (Ed.: still giving it a few more weeks to settle in and not be as agreeable…) Plus follow the venerable Full Pint podcast. And the Craft Beer Channel this week on Youtube. Plus Fermentation Radio with Emma Inch. The AfroBeerChick podcast as well! And also look at Brewsround and Cabin Fever. And Ben has had his own podcast, Beer and Badword (Ed.: …notice of revival of which has been given… still not on the radio dial…) And remember BeerEdge, too, and The Moon Under Water. There was also the Beer O’clock Show but that’s now gone after a ten year run… no, it is back and here is the link! The Fingers Podcast has fully packed it in citing, umm, lack of success… as might have been anticipated, honestly.

*A single person really shouldn’t be an “it” should they?
**It’s still a thing – even if the glory days of Catalonian sausages are no longer with us!!!

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