Death by Peroni

.. soon you’ll be sliding down the razor blade of life, sang Tom Lehrer, but that’s not the way it happens with good pubs. Some remarkably hang on for decades. Some move upmarket, some downmarket. Some take pride in their knowledge and range of beer and food. Some have a genuine feeling of neighbourhood, even [...]

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Copenhagen Beer Festival – the haul

I had to return home again on Saturday evening. 17 May is when we celebrate out independence day in Norway, with lots of activities for children – in short a time for being with your family. I left Valby at seven for my plane shortly before nine. The airport was almost empty, though the plane was full. [...]

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Border trade again

Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten tries a new angle – this time it is not Norwegians stocking up on beer, wine and stronger stuff in Sweden. It’s Swedes doing the same in Germany. Expensive toll bridges, petrol and ferries means they have to buy quite a lot for this to be profitable. But they do. Legally. The [...]

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The bubbles in my beer

I am not a Luddite, and I have no strong views on sticking to traditional methods when brewing or serving beers. Sure, I know the difference between cask and keg, but sometimes, and in some countries, you have to settle for the second best. But innovation takes place in fields far removed the craft beer [...]

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Social media at its best

Swedish beer blogger dempabeerwrote about a new batch of High Five! beer from Dugges some days ago, as he was did not feel that the quality was up to previous batches. A number of his readers added their comments, and then brewer Dugge himself entered the discussion, giving his point of view. (In short, the quality of [...]

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On novelty beer and good beer

I have written recently about attempts to pass off standard (or subpremium) lagers as premium. One newspaper, which has been outstanding in its quality coverage of beer over the last couple of years, has slipped into the same trap. The New York Times, no less. Instead of praising the virtues of American craft beers, Czech [...]

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Copenhagen Beer Festival- some additonal notes

Following my enthusiastic reports over the last few days, you’ll know that I was generally very impressed. Lots of volunteers making this possible, friendly brewers and importers, old and new acquaintances. I have only myself to blame for not being present for the launching of special beers like the Mikkeller/BrewDog collaboration Divine Rebel. But better [...]

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Copenhagen Beer Festival – some highlights

Spending one day at a three day beer festival and trying to cover it,does not do it much justice. But, briefly, some highlights from my very personal point of view. At least I can make my Irish readers a bit jealous… Hornbeer had a high profile at last year’s festival , at a time when they had [...]

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Hops and Glory

Pete Brown’s new book is out on 5 June, chronicling his epic journey from Burton to India. Hops & Glory – One Man’s Search for the Beer That Built the British Empire. You can pre-order it at half price through amazon in the UK, no dates for any US edition. More information on his blog, [...]

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The subpremiums are coming!

It is interesting to get a glimpse of the thinking of the men in suits once in a while. Those who think that Bud and Heineken are high quality beers just because they charge premium prices for them. Dave Peacock, president of the US operations of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV boldly proclaims in the Wall Street [...]

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