I really like beer. It's as varied and nuanced as wine. It comes, in one form or another, from pretty much every corner of the globe. It varies from sweet to bone dry, malty to hoppy, very light to very dark, light to full bodied. It is brewed with grains and hops, fruit, spices, and herbs. It is the worlds oldest alcoholic beverage, dating back some 9,000 years before the birth of Christ, and yet the guy chose to turn his blood to wine. What gives?
The fact is, there is really no reason that beer shouldn't enjoy the same respect, adoration and prestige as fine wine. Yet for some reason the most popular beers by far are the ones comparable to the wine that comes in a jug or a box.
So here's what I'm going to do: Each day in 2011, I'll try a beer that I've never tried before. I'll post tasting notes and what I thought of the beer, and maybe some pictures.
And it may be a difficult task. You see, as I said before, I really like beer. I've been doing my damnedest to try every new beer I find for the past few years, so finding new ones may be harder than it sounds. I have certainly been seeking out the MicroBrews from here in the western USA and leaving much of the rest of the world unexplored. So the reality is that the Eastern USA, Germany, Belgium, Asia etc. will be well represented here. And those local MicroBrews that I do feature here will be those harder to find, less well known and seasonal or special brews.
And I encourage recommendations. Know a great beer or a great beer bar or bottle shop? I want to hear about it.
So what the hell? Here we go...
