Gary Monterosso - Artisan Beer: A Complete Guide to Savoring the Worlds Finest Beers

I n this age of rapid information retrieval, folks love to gather as much knowledge on a subject as possible, assuming it comes from reliable sources. Worldwide, well over one billion people are using the Internet. In North America, 70 percent of the population draws on electronic media for various activities. As it applies to the subject of beer, Net research is flourishing with no sign of a letup.

So lets identify where you might go to get the essentials on this beverage. Needless to say, if you are interested in the most current information, then do access the Internet. One of the best sources is Beer Advocate (www.beeradvocate.com). There are sections dealing with festivals, news, styles, events, and a forum where members may exchange ideas. I find the reviews to be exceptional, including those by brothers Jason and Todd Alstrom, creators and moderators of the site, as well as by the many regulars who frequently post. Ive not identified any biases in terms of product favorites; the site seems to be quite impartial. Id make this my first choice for reference.

California-based Jay Brooks runs the Brookston Beer Bulletin (www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com), a particularly instructive site complete with reviews and candid opinions. You think Jay likes his beer? He has a son named Porter. Youll like the fact that Jay constantly updates his blog. Id bookmark this and check it on a daily basis.

Don Russell is an award-winning author and columnist known to many as Joe Sixpack. In fact, his website is www.joesixpack.net. Dont let his moniker fool you; hes craft-beer-savvy. His first book, Joe Sixpacks Philly Beer Guide, should be considered a must for anyone visiting the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia has some notable watering holes, and Russell identifies them for you, complete with a walking tour map. Maybe it should be called a stumbling tour.

Realbeer.com (www.realbeer.com) is another terrific source on an assortment of beer topics, including how to brew, beer and health, and much more. The site features columns by some of the top writers around the world, giving Realbeer.com a global focus.

I got to know Canadian Stephen Beaumont several years ago when we toured a few breweries. I consider him one of the most knowledgeable people around on the subject of beer and food pairings. Beaumont has written for many of the top newspapers and magazines in the world and has authored several books, including Premium Beer Drinkers Guide . Not too long ago, he opened beerbistro, a very beer-friendly dining establishment in Toronto. Check out its site at www.beerbistro.com for an understanding of Beaumonts philosophy.

Stephen publishes a website called World of Beer at www.worldofbeer.com with monthly tasting reviews and updates. Get on his mailing list to receive his latest announcements.

If you have an interest in homebrewing, Brew Your Own, a spin-off of the magazine of the same name, is an exceptional site. Actually, you dont have to be a homebrewer to get value from BYO. Visiting the website at www.byo.com will give you a greater understanding of the beer you are drinking. They profile beer styles and delve into related beverages, such as mead.

If you enjoy Brew Your Own, you should find value in Modern Brewery Age (www.breweryage.com). Though pitched to people working in the beverage trade, the site and magazine have kept pace with the times and emphasize the craft and imported beer segments, as well as upcoming trends.

The Beer Institute started in the 1980s to lobby Congress on behalf of beer industry. Members include a comprehensive cross section of the largest breweries in the United States, in addition to the smallest of micros. Adjunct businesses also are members. For the consumer, there are sections pertaining to beer history, and the links section is noteworthy.

The Brewers Association (www.beertown.org) was set up to advance US craft-brewing interests. There are informative links on the website to such topics as Beer and Health and Beer and Food. Information is informative and easy to read. The site is regularly updated, with facts and figures kept as timely as possible.

In the late 1980s, brewspapers, or beer-themed newspapers, entered the scene. Celebrator Beer News was the first to make a national impact; it still exists today, stronger than ever. The publication is a bimonthly and is available through subscription. There is a distinct West Coast focus to Celebrator, but recent years have seen the addition of writers from other locales. I especially like the fact that they employ top-notch journalists, including the aforementioned Jay Brooks and Steve Beaumont, Jack Curtin, Lisa Morrison, Carolyn Smagalksi, Christina Perozzi, and Fred Eckhardt.

Ale Street News started in 1992 in the northern part of New Jersey and quickly gained a loyal following. Whereas Celebrator had a West Coast feel, ASN garnered a market on the East Coast. That has changed in recent years to more of a national and international market, but the quality and relevance have not. Circulation is near the hundred-thousand mark, making it the most widely beeriodical in the United States.

Brewing News, like Celebrator and Ale Street, is a bi-monthly. Unlike the others, Brewing News is a series of regional newspapers, ensuring excellent local coverage. There currently are seven such periodicals under the company umbrella: Great Lakes Brewing News, Southwest Brewing News, Mid-Atlantic Brewing News, Yankee Brew News, Northwest Brewing News, Rocky Mountain Brewing News, and Southern Brew News. Certain featured articles may be repeated in all publications, but the individual writers live within the area they serve.

The Big Three newspapers of the industry can be had via subscription for approximately twenty dollars each per year, but you may also be able to obtain them for free. Many well-stocked purveyors of beer and most breweries and brewpubs offer them to their public just for visiting. You probably wont find Celebrator in Boston, nor will Yankee Brew News be available in San Francisco, but the odds of finding at least one of these publications are good. In my area, I regularly pick up Ale Street News and Mid-Atlantic Brewing News and havent paid for a copy in years.

As I stated, there is no place where youll find timelier information than online. Use your favorite browser to conduct a search and youll find scores of pertinent sites, offering anything you might want to know. Do recognize that this medium is volatile and that sites can and do change regularly. I have a high degree of confidence that those websites documented here will remain intact for some time.

The rise in online programming is supplanting that of more traditional means, such as commercial television. Sources such as YouTube, iTunes, Viddler, and many more allow visitors literally thousands of programming choices. Unfortunately, todays favorite could easily be gone tomorrow. Recommending specific programming is meaningless for exactly that reason. Still, Im relatively confident that original shows on the subject of beer will continue to be developed for the foreseeable future. They certainly are worth checking out, and most are totally free.

T he renaissance in beer making that started several decades ago had its roots in the brewing centers of the world, a factor noted by the new generation of craftsmen. Flavors and styles were adapted by this group of artisan brewers, often designed to please themselves and their colleagues. No longer would the mass-marketed varieties be adequate; it was time for a change. Beer makers opted to create their own take on how beer should taste and trusted that the public would approve.

These artisan brewers analyzed what was in the market, frequently using non-American beers as their guide. In my talks with brewers, especially those in the midst of building a new beverage, it would not be unusual to see bottles of various beers being sampled and dissected. What do I like about this? How can I accomplish what I want, yet remain true to the style? were questions asked.