Changing times

Some of the interesting Norwegian stuff this autumn. And that is excluding the whisky cask beers from Nøgne ø. And now the Christmas beers are coming…

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Beer guide to Berlin

Sure, there is the CAMRA Good Beer Guide to Germany, but it’s a few year’s old, and it’s not too handy when you’re visiting just one city. The Berlin information at ratebeer is helpful as well. But for anyone reading Scandinavian, the new book just out by Danish beer writer Carsten Berthelsen is well worth the investment. [...]

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Great expectations

According to the newsletter from Oppigårds Bryggeri, next year is worth looking forwards to. Systembolaget will launch more beers from Swedish micros during spring and summer 2010 than they have ever done. They predict that 2010 will be the most interesting year for Swedish beers at Systembolaget ever. And that’s good news for those of us [...]

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A remarkable lineup

Well, not the participants, being the usual graying suspects, most of us. But the beers.. Some of us beer geeks were invited back to Haandbryggeriet in Drammen recently, as thye had a few new beers as well as some adjustements to old ones they wanted feedback on. We were probably a bit too polite the [...]

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Zlý Časy once more

Shortly before five, a text message told me Max had arrived at my hotel. I handed over the beers from the Norwegian micros, and we set off for Zlý Časy. Half an hour and two tram rides later, we arrived. The first time I visited, last year, this pub has some sort of festival going [...]

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Back to Prague

To Prague for a meeting this week, and I, obviously, used the opportunity to do some beery things as well. I had an appointment with Max, the Beer Philosopher, and I even brought along quite a few beers to him from Nøgne ø and Haandbryggeriet. He is considering importing some of their beers. While they [...]

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Pig’s Ear 2009

  If you want a broad range of English cask ales, festival specials, hand picked imports, friendly natives and participatory observation among the tickers, this is the one for you. Pork scratchings, too. 1-5 December. Hackney, East London. Expect to see me there!

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Coal to Newcastle

Well, almost. Craft beer to Prague. If anyone had told me this ten years ago…

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Express de Lyon

Another recommendation from Simon at Cave á Bulles.  This was actually five minutes from my hotel, and I had actually walked past it without giving it a second glass glance. As location is everything in a city like Paris, the street right in front of the Gare de Lyon is filled with brasseries serving food [...]

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Oslo Mikrobryggeri

I don’t often sing the praises of the only brewpub in town, it has had its ups and downs. But they have two new beers on, both very drinkable. One is a Märzen, quite true to style, the other is their 20th anniversary beer, an American Pale Ale. My tasting notes: Hazy golden beer. Lovely [...]

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