Looking back over the year and there are many awards and occasions that do, I am going to add my six p’th worth.

I have always believed that people form beer, with infuence from many angles.   But, those that influence from the ground with their efforts, with their gifts, are few and far between.

Beer is a tough world, to find ones own niche and nail is a tough ask.  Many aspire to be brewers, some running their own establishments, a very odd few find bringing in and shipping beer all over Europe a pleasure, and then there are those that write about it.

Everyday I read of the demise of Print Media, doom and gloom in black and white. Then I turn on twitter discovering a beer blog.    Media, whilst not my chosen subject, Magnus, is a very fast changing platform, but wonderfully accessible now.     I see no difference between the merits or “weight” of a writer, be they in paper or e-media. Wake up and smell the hops.

Smelling the hops, now there is a subject close to my heart;  Everytime I head to California I am bombarded by the latest HopBomb, labeled “IPA”.     This is a British quality, India Pale Ale, the pale, amber and gold hues, born of Burton and shipped to our history, unfortunately oft discovered as a wet brown number from BStE.   This was a shame how we allowed something that was such a celebrated style of beer, such a marker within both British and Beer History to become the corner stone of an empire. But, one person has reinvigorated, instigated the rebirth or just plain old shined a light on the dark corner of our brewing and beer history, bringing vim and vigour to our iconic brew.   A full blown voyage of discovery, oceans, pirates and prostitutes all form part of a modern day grand tour, intertwined with the amazing historical reference.      This modern day renovation, I am sure, brought the opportunity for brewers beyond the realms of Burton to investigate the style themselves, Brewdog with their Atlantic,  Triple Rock/Saints&Sinners with their English IPA,  Thornbridge with their Seaforth and The Crown Brewery with their IPA.   This was all achieved through the book, “Hops and Glory” – a book that even inspired me to head back to Burton and go see what it was like… (you can read here).

My cherished signed copy is currently sitting in Oakland, California with a great friend and brewer. I know it will be thumbed through, stiring his mental juices toward this style of beer, it’s already prompted one of the IPA’s above and I hope more.    This is the measure of a great text, how far it influences, and on what levels.   He’s not given those that brew a recipe book, more a feeling, an indication as to what the mindset, the demands where upon the comercial and logistical aspects of the beer.

There are few that have maintained a quality feel about everything that they do.   This chap has an invigorating and visceral blog, written with rib pain humour, railing against the Daily Mail and  then gone on to write what what many people think is the beer book of the year.  I will even go as far as to say that it’s more than that, it’s probably one of the best beer books or travel books that has been written.

Awarded by the British Guild of Beer Writers for something,  for allowing beer lead him astray and have a good excuse for it and putting up with me stalking him all year, our beer person of the year…

Pete Brown.

Nice work Pete!

(it should be is Mrs Pete Brown for putting up with Mr Pete Brown.)

across the various websites, the many many blogs out there and even looking at local paper there was some sort of allusion toward a year in review and a mention of a new local brewery.  So, being really lazy, extending on a scratched out bunch of notes, here’s my year of beer in review.

IPA’s, sour ales, imperial stouts, even a touch of barrels normally feature in those beers that are celebrated today.   When I was starting to write this, I was looking back over  an old Michael Jackson text, it was notable that the festive ales, rich pruny, raisiny numbers featured on the brew schedule of the brewers calendar, have we moved on and we haven’t lost the celebration of beers that are released seasonally here.

All said, it’s been a crazy year in beer for me, both brewing and beers that I have had the priveledge of trying and sharing and great beers with friend and the moments then. 

Birrificio Italiano Scires

Sat with my Mum who really isn’t into beer at the brewpub, a few lovely glasses of their excellent Tipopils, served oh so well, we  decided to close out with a bottle of this, served in a big jug and a couple of stemmed iconic glasses. Big pink foam, lacto/pedio, sour kriek.  I drank it. It was lovely!

Bruery Melange #3

Sat drinking in Triple Rock’s Barrel Aged Fest, I met Brian Yaeger of the book, Red White and Brews.  I’d previously bought the book, probably the first book that I could recall chunks of when under pressure.  Unlike my education.

Bruery Hotenroth Berliner Weisse

Served at the Sour Fest at Triple Rock, watching people puckering up to all manner of sour’d ales, gueuze, flemish reds, brett’d ales.   I think I went off to the Brewing Network that night, or it could have been the Barrel Aged fest.  Meh, who cares. Two great festivals.

Mikkeller BG Kopi Luak

Mikkel went to some lengths to bring the coffee together to get this great beer to everyone.  Borne of a smaller batch, then evolving to many many opportunities for people around the world to sample the delights of coffee infused imperial stouts.   Shared with @gabriolet on the beach by where I live.

DeCam Lambic

Sat with Kim from Rateon.net and @Terry_Tibbs. Gooik, sounds like an odd place and to be honest I haven’t really spent much more time in the place, other than at the volkscafe.   The Lambic served in the little ceramic mugs, with a brewers plate  is a great time.

Southern Tier Iniquity

Shared with Justin from Moor Beer and James from the Queens Arms.   We were all fighting over the bottle.  Between this and Back in Black from the 21st Amendment for the best black IPA that I have ever had.

Zinnebier Zwarte Piet

Blend of Stouterik and Cantillon Gueuze.  Really nice, crazy sourish stout.   From Joe in Uccle, Joe Stange,  of The Thirsty Pilgrim

Dubisson Bush De Nuits

Barrel aged Bush, but in Nuits St. George casks.  Berry fruit barley wine.  This, the syrah barrel barley wine from the Bruery and the Reserved Barely Wine, from Gadds made a trio of wine barrelled barley wines to really celebrate with!

Cantillon Crianza

If the above were to celebrate with,  this was the pinicle.  A blend of selected lambic aged in three different casks, to produce an amazing layered and textured gueuze.   Born to mark the birth of an amazing couples first Child.  Get to the Heeren.

RR Concecration, draft and bottle #1

The out of the box stunner from Vinnie Cilurzo at Russian River.

Triple Rock Imaxx

Rodgers slice of magic with a new hop.  More memorable as the first and last beer that I shared a moment over with the dear and incredible Bill Brand.  RIP Bill.

De Dolle CNDP reserva Oerbier

Again, sat with Rodger and Claudia at De Dolle, with Kris.  Awesome, to the point of an early night. woah.

De Dolle Kosmos

With Paxton and Freccia at De Dolle.  Sour, funk fest, but with the most incredible spread of fish, cheese and bits and bobs, with two great beer peopls.   Aromatised with

Toccalmatto Surfin’ Hop & Jadis

Opening a bottle out of the blue, the real gem the Surfin’ Hop.   Then the Jadis, a complex yet drinkable exciting brew – clearly italian in it’s crazy makeup.

Del Ducato Winterlude

yes it’s sweet, yes it’s yeasty, but my god is it different.   Shared with Rodger from Triple Rock brewery

Thornbridge Seaforth

Sat with Kelly and Mark from DarkStar.   A beer that I could have quite easily ruined myself on.   One of the best UK IPA’s, share with two of UK brewing’s hero’s.   This beer is a true star and one that I hope many more people will get the chance to experience in 2010.

3Fonteinen Vintage ’05

Aroma to die for.  First shared with Steve from Gadds and Saints and Sinner, and later with Colin from Cavedirect.  It’s become a marker gueuze.   truely incredible aroma.

Kook’s Dark Funk.

A homebrew.  one of those BOOM moments.    Sincerley one of the best beers that I have had this year, well deserving being part of this list – shared with many at the Chris_O bash, pre GBBF, or the night that Greg came  to town.  one of a few homebrews that I have had the sincerest pleasure of trying this year; from Tasty McDole, Mike Mraz, Chad Moshier, a young chap who came to the Ratebeer Gathering in San Francisco. 

Lost Abbey CDT 2009

Sat with Steve, messing about, sometimes we just open stuff at completely the wrong moment, but what the hell.  This was awesome.   Fruit, barrels, vanilla, oak, mellow belgian yeast notes, sweet and sour.  Truely complex and amazing.  this is one beer that exemplifies the idea of post fermentation blending, creating a truely incredible experience in beer.

Norrebrau Seven Barrel Niewport

There is one person that I look out to meet around the world, Jesper K.  Jesper a seasoned travelling beer lover, has the ear of many a scandinavian brewery.  Such was his luck, he was able to bring a bottle of this to the Ratebeer Summer Gathering, in San Francisco, well, San Leandro.    Jesper was really excited to bring this beer, as I was to try it.

Harvey’s Imperial Stout, this years release in the crown cap.

I have tried a few different vintages of this amazing beer, some great, some overly soy sauced.   This year I had the pleasure of a 2000 bottle and the most recent.    We were invited down to the Harveys brewery, to share the excellent company of Ian, the senior brewer and most excellent person.    He was delighted to meet a bunch of beer lovers, and shared his insights and opened his brewery log - a feat many a brewery wouldn’t.     Later, at the British Guild of Beer writers, at some bar on the Thames, we those beer writers had the pleasure of this beer in it’s finished article.     I took the liberty, *cough*, of stuffing a glass of this 2009 release in Roger Protz’s hand, but that sport wasn’t as much as hanging with the excellent Dave, aka, WoolpackDave and Jeff Pickthall.    Then digesting this beer with Mitch Steele of Stone, one of the most charming interesting and keen brewing minds that I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Schooners IPA

There are few things that take you to Antioch, California.  This is top of the list.   A bright shining light from, a true gem of a much produced style of beer, but this effort from on of the best brewers in the US, is one to be celebrated.   Shared with many good people, at the Schooners Valley event.

Valley Brewing Decadence.

Barrel aged triple. truely awesome, fruity belgian funk.   shared with Steve Cummins, a chap who brings wine culture and beer culture to the table, respecting both, celebrating them and most importantly Sharing them!

De Molen and De Struise Black Damnation

Hanging at the PreZythos fest with Terry Tibbs and Steve from Gadds and S&S, this, with the Keralensis (a blend of Struiselensis and Kerasus) were the stars of a coming together of two of europes most celebrated breweries.

’95 Magnum of Liefmans Kriek,

Shared with @ Terry_tibbs and Steve from Saints and Sinners/Gadds of Ramsgate and Rodger.  This beer was awesome. Fruity, sour, warming, spicy, and all that this beer…

Wishing you a merry chistmas, we hope the snow comes as a joy for you!

We’ve been enjoying the delights of the weather here in Kent and still we’re all systems go. We’re taking orders for Pre-Christmas until the 20th, then we’re shipping again from the 4th of January. We’ve had a couple of late arrivals, a few people have been asking when they are arriving…

GIMME SOME MOOR!

There are a couple of treats that have made it to us, a big selection of one of the most popular breweries that’ve we brought in, in 2009, Moor. As is ou r way, we’ve put together a mixed case, knocked 15% off, and there is special in with it too, the Fusion for 2009. Fusion is a Cider Brandy barrel aged version of Old Freddy Walker, their rich rasiny Porter. Sure to be a winters treat.

CANTILLON, we’ve had a little bit of Cantillon Gueuze in 37.5cl bottles arrive. We shall be getting more in 2010. Gueuze lovers watch that space! here

BUSH TRIPLE BLONDE – we have a new big blonde brew in house, scaling 10.5%, this is no little beer. Big beer, big food = spicy, asian and a seat. here

ITALIAN STYLE - those of you that read our blog, might have noticed my excitement at the arrival of this brewery – Toccalmatto. This newish brewery, is fast becoming reknowned for it’s diverse portfolio and high quality brews. Yes, they aren’t cheap, but this is the price for quality artisanship, incredible ingredients and that headonism that great beer can provide.

All this talk of beer is making me thirsty, so all I can do is close this quick email with our sincerest best wishes for the season, an amazing 2010 and a huge thanks for being massive part of Beermerchants.com over 2009, making it what it’s becoming… onwards!

Cheers!

From all of us, at Cavedirect and Beermerchants.com

from Colin, Louise, Don, James, Alex, James, Julie, Anthony, Noel, Ronnie, Laurence, Nick, Simon, Barry, Darren, Matt and Phil.

sat in the kitchen, mulling over a cuppa joe, looking out over deepening inches of white fluffy powdery chaos causing, snow.

Having many friends in the US, especially those in the MidWest, Wisconsin and Michigan spring to mind, where they get some of the deepest coldest snow flurries known to man.  Life carries on there!

A recent conversation with Jeff from Lovibonds, a Wisconsin native, we were joking about the chaos that is caused with in his words, “a little flurry”.   I have travelled, I spent a long time in Switzerland and northern Italy.   I have seen snow.    This is fun here, good enough to make a nice snowball, but hell it brings the damn country to a standstill.

Just this morning, I wake up, look out, to 5-6″ of snow, and two cars stuck in the whitestuff.    I got stuck on the M2 coming back from London on Thursday night, you might have seen my late night tweets, not because of excessive snow but people paniced.  Then the delights of heading to Maidstone up the M20 to find FOUR jackknifed lorries between Ashford and my destination, simply because no one had scraped and salted the motorway.

So, what has this got to do with Beer, not a lot really, just I have just been down to the beach for a stroll to see what’s happening, and let me bring a report, there isn’t a lot happening out there in the world.    The snow is laying right up to the shoreline.   So, I am looking at a big bottle of Lost Abbey Serpents Stout, a sofa, a fire, a stack of DVD’s and some R&R.

It’s rare that I will just dump a press release straight on the blog, but hell, good people, doing good things and having a screaming laugh at it too is fine by me…  read on.. this is one party that I really want to be at!

The Brewing Network hosts first annual Winter Brews Festival,

January 30, at Linden Street Brewery-Oakland

While Bay Area residents commiserate in a collective shiver at current winter temperatures, the East Bay based craft beer radio  company, the Brewing Network, is finalizing plans for its first annual Winter Brews Festival to revive listeners, locals, and brewers from their wintery slumber to enjoy seasonal brews from more than 30 world class breweries.

The Brewing Network Winter Brews Festival will be held at the newly opened Linden St. Brewery in Oakland on Saturday, January 30, 2010, and will feature a wide variety of winter warmers and unique innovations from some of the best brewers in the Bay Area and beyond.

Partnering with Linden St. Brewery in Oakland , this festival combines the love of seasonal beers with the enthusiasm of the local craft beer scene. With barrels from breweries such as Russian River , Firestone Walker, the 21^st Amendment, Speakeasy, Linden St. , Moonlight Brewing, Magnolia, and many more, this Winter Brews Fest promises to provide big, malty beers to ignite the taste buds of beer lovers, new and experienced.

Hot food and live music will round out the festival, which will run from 1pm to 8pm. For more information on the event, please visit www.brewingnetwork.com/ontap. Tickets will be sold at the door.

When I am driving along the roads and motorways 0f the UK and Europe, my brain trips over many a subject; beer, fishing or what ever BBC worldservice talking about.  Frequently I am writing some amazing content, ehh, again in my mind, arguing with the politician or opinion maker of the moment.   Most time, there is fat chance of actually remembering these amazing words, getting it down on paper, or on to the blog in way that I hoped.     I read many of the blogs out there, that @allbeernews twitter feed keeping me uptodate as much as my brain will handle, as well as many other resources for keep up to date with beer news, some of which inspires me, intimidates me, or just guaranteed to put me to sleep.

I have done a lot of shouting about the qualities that a number of British brewers we have here, for lack of a better term, the premier league, who’d sit along side top Belgian, Danish, Italian, French or the ubiquitous example of US craft beer.    People have mentioned to me, there is one I haven’t written much about, why? possibly because everyone else has or is, whether the love or hate, or when the homework has been done, what’s left to write about. They are exciting active people, where as me? lol..

I have tried many if not all their beers. Hell, some I have  actually disliked, but that’s just a non-love of Islay malts, but then I have never fallen in love with one of their beers either then again, I’ve struggled to dislike any of of their beers.  Some brews have transended, carving a niche of their own, only possible from a level of innovation that we aren’t seeing from hte majority of brewers here, save for a few here in the UK. They have a go to flavour. Few brewers have struck international relationships  like they have, and few breweries from outside the US have been invited to be on the Brewing Network.

Being genuinely creative in this day and age, considering the speed that life moves, and more over maintaining the pace of creativity that they set themselves is a tough challenge.    It’s a wonderful thing, being confronted with a big stainless vessel, a ton of grain and a lot of hops.  Creating big flavoured beer is great, the challenge and selling them is a whole ‘nuther problem.    The efforts they have gone to create such big beers, challenge the um, “tastes” of the UK.     What I find most remarkable is the awareness that people have for them out side of the country.

There are few breweries, beyond the old classics, that have real presence in the US, they are really to be applauded for that.  Shit, everytime I head abroad all I get asked “it’s great you have a decent brewery in the UK”… Ok, I do have to sit them down quietly, shine a very bright light in their face, dampen a towel and explain that there are a number of other breweries doing their own thing, slightly under the global radar, but it’s great to hear people discussing a UK brewer.

As brewers, what goes on in the meetings, “I know let’s brew a 3.5% mega hoppy thing“, “wouldn’t it be fun to brew a bunch of barrel aged beers” and the list goes on…  right down to 1.1% even, I am sure it’s not a conventional moment?  I think sometimes it’s forgotten that they really only kicked off in 2004!  In a time before Beermerchants.com the efforts of a friend, Tom Cadden shouting about them on Ratebeer, really brought them to mine and many more people’s attention.    Their efforts with the barrel ageing in various distillery whisky casks, brought a big slice of indigenous flavour to their edgy brand stylings.

Those who know the back grounds of the partners in, um, pursuits, one wanted to be a distiller,  perhaps we’re seeing something of an in carnation of his aspirations, or just interests.    The creation, creating a sort of new style, eis-ing a barrel aged imperial stout, rather than the Eis’d Bock, a niche brew from Germany, is a real effort, and investment.   There are a few brewers on the lips of many craft beer fans that have approached this, Mikkeller and Struise off the top of my head.  Their efforts very limited in production, really only seen at tiny festivals, or specialist tasting events.   Where as, you, dear reader with credit card in hand, could just pop on their website, grab yourself a bottle, wait a few days, find a good moment, open a bottle… and relax into a very comfy space, on a sofa.  Round of applause for bringing this to the beer scene, it’s a challenge, mad cap stupid idea, but thank god they have done it.   Maybe I would have liked it in a Dave style bottle, (see HoTD Dave),  with a screw cap, or small whisky bottle for a laugh… but, hell, lamb is best dressed as lamb.    A few have baulked at it’s strength, gimme a break, who cares.   I want to see how this beer performs on the dinner table, a fresh opened bottle, finishing a meal with some really good truffles, a good coffee… I could see a nice dinner closed out with that brew.

They bring it, they have caused debate, they answer their critics, invigorated “the scene”, built a brand,  seemingly had great fun doing it… congratulations.   They are the most exciting brewery in the UK.

Oh, they are called BrewDog.

UPDATE: This and Tokyo* are in stock, (for the moment!)

If you’re into these sort of things, we have been uploading a few videos to our “youtube channel”

I will admit that the idea of a channel is more oft the wet stuff that occupies my view between my feet and that there France.

I expect with the modern world, and technology you might see a few more additions, just please, ignore the language.

Suggestions are always welcome.

The miles that I travel, the beers that I bump into, the beers that I know are out there.  Some celebrated,  some that fly completely under the radar.

Then something completely out of the blue happens.   I have known for some time that Italian craft beer is coming on strong, hell it better, I was getting sick of going to see the family and being stuck with the Doppio Malto’s, or a limited range of Belgians.

Ok, so, I come from Italian stock, my mum is Italian.  She’s been living in the northern city of Parma ever since we sold our family pub.    In the meantime, Italian brewing has come on leaps and bounds.    Local to Parma, of course known for its incredible cheeses and salami, has a great wine heritage, beyond the much maligned Lambrusco and Guturnios styles, just where was the beer? Over these last few years, breweries such as Panil with their crazy barrel aged Barrique of which ever label you got be that Sour, Medium Sour or non sour, styled in the Flemish red with all manner of bugs and critters. The Setembre, a hybrid grape and beer beverage.  The completely spontaneous Divina, a lambic-esque sour hazy gold brew.   These beers not only grabbed my attention, but many beer lovers around the world.  Perhaps Italy, along with the likes of Baladin, the most known of Italian breweries with the crazy Theo Musso at the helm, were really making waves.

Here I was heading down to Italy somewhat often, as the dutiful son does, with more and more beers popping up on my horizons.   Heading into Parma with cousins, to the very beer centric bar, the Highlander, I saw their range transition from Belgian and Germans, to many more exciting albeit Belgianesque brews. Having no hard brewing heritage, I believe not only given them a platform of experimentation with no interference from the style guru’s, but a chance to learn, find their feet and I now see, their running shoes.

A recent trip in to see my mother, I arrived at the house, a plate of pasta was rustled up, a nice looking 75cl was presented at the table.   Ok, this’ll be fun, rolling the bottle around reading the label in my now broken italian.   Ok, this sounds more than a little fun.  Prying the crown cork of the champagne bottle, a big waft of brassy hops followed the genies tail from the bottle.    Wait, what?   “Mum, where did you get this?!”, “oh, down in the town…” she said nonchalantly.

how I chose.

A glass filled, brought to nose, was a delight, this bad boy was called Rude Boy.

This was a solid beer, bright, honest, and clean.    My bed was fast coming that night. Something about being so high about sea level that after being down here by the sea all the time, just makes you sleep so heavy.

The following morning, back into the car, down the mountain side, there I was at the brewery.   In time, the full range of beers were opened, with the Sibilia, a french Style Saison really cleaning up.

Here I was, with a brewer who not only could brew sound English style ale, turns out he’s a big fan, Belgian and French style brews that just rock, but the crown that day was the Surfin Hop.

The second time I opened a bottle was with friends from California, and @terry_tibbs. Said friends and Angelo were blown away.  Big bright brassy citrus notes.   It’s a great beer!  Certainly my new European beer of the year, albeit of a completely west coast style.

On a closing note, It’s rare, genuinely rare that I bump into a brewery brave enough to brew a diversity of national styles, who does them well, and is also willing to have a go at something different, adding this and that to some of their brews.  The Elderflower Wit was a summer dream, the Jadis is delightful, the skitzoid, crazy bright american hops.  This is one of the best breweries in the world, right now.

Here you are dear reader with the best brewery that I had never heard of.

Thanks mum.

There is an excellent book out there, called “grape vs, grain” by one of my favourite people Charlie Bamforth. I suggest easing a cork from it’s rest, relieve a bottle of it’s top and chill out and listen…

In something of a justified plug for a chain of restaurants that have done a lot to bring quality beer for over 20 years, served with food, to many diners tables in the greater london area.  The first meeting  with Belgian Beer and food has often been at one of the distinctive Belgo restaurants.

The one that I tend to frequent is the Noord, with its cellar-like interior is wildly atmospheric, reminiscent of a couple of bars that I frequent when in Brussels.   This one,  split into two areas with curved walls and high glass ceilings. Round the walls the names of medieval fish are engraved, with an open plan kitchen, and a variety of the famous Belgo dishes served by waiters in traditional monks’ habits.

The food for me stops at Mussels, served with frites.  (drool. Easily pleased)   Where as the beer, the newbie to the knowledgeable, there is something to get your palate into.

Friends do tell me, keep an eye out for their special deals, such as the famous ‘Beat the Clock’, where you pay the price at the time shown on your food order when ordering from that menu.

For information on reservations, parties and private hire, or just to learn more about Belgo Restaurants, try their website – here