What better pairing for “the Scottish play,” Shakespeare’s Macbeth, than a classic example of a Scottish Strong Ale, McEwan’s wee heavy? ‘Tis the season for dark days, dark plays, and dark ales.
The Scarlet Letter and Red Bear's 51st State
A New England IPA for a classic story of the founders of New England.
"The Prairie-Grass Dividing" and Bell's Leaves of Grass II
The second beer in Bell’s Leaves of Grass series, a plum gose for a poem about rural America.
"Song of Myself" and Bell's Song of Myself
More Whitman-inspired beers! This time, a “German-style American IPA” called Song of Myself, the first entry in Bell’s Leaves of Grass series.
How to Prepare for the Certified Cicerone Exam: Tasting Portion
After failing the tasting portion the first time around, I studied tasting much more effectively than I had previously. Here are some tips on how I improved my tasting.
How the Certified Cicerone Exam Is Graded
Going into the Certified Cicerone exam, I didn’t totally understand how it was assessed. Here’s some clarification on that.
American Gods and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
American Gods personifies gods that were “brought” to America by immigrants, gods whom have since been forgotten. It makes a beer geek think about the forgotten pioneers of American craft beer, especially Ken Grossman and his classic Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
Coming Right Up
New posts to come in June.
Stand Strong DIPA: A Women's Day Collaboration
Last month, I visited Combustion Brewing for a brew day with women from breweries across central Ohio. On March 8, to celebrate International Women’s Day, we tapped that beer at BrewDog.
Pnin and Jackie O's Dark Apparition
Jackie O’s Russian Imperial Stout, Dark Apparition, provides some sweetness to cut through the very sad Pnin, Nabokov’s story of a Russian emigre.
Back From Studying for the Cicerone Exam
I’ve been away studying for my Cicerone Exam, which I sat for on February 12. I’m going to take a break from studying for a while and catch up on writing about beer.
Little Fires Everywhere and Great Lakes' Burning River Pale Ale
Little Fires Everywhere is set in Cleveland, home of the Great Lakes Brewing Company. Great Lakes’ classic pale ale, Burning River, echoes Ng’s “little fires” well.
"Song of Myself" and Walt Wit
In “Song of Myself,” Whitman broke with tradition; so does the Philadelphia Brewing Company’s “Walt Wit.”
BrewDog's Cicerone Workbook and Juggernaut DIPA
I’m getting serious about studying for my Cicerone exam, with the help of a few BrewDog DIPAs and their in-house study guide.
In the Woods and BrewDog's Jet Black Heart
On my new commute, I’ve listened to Tana French’s In the Woods, a dark crime procedural that goes well with the aptly named Jet Black Heart.
Brussels, Belgium: Moeder Lambic - Fontainas
I kicked off my time in Brussels with a trip to Moeder Lambic’s Fontainas bar.