16 Oct 2011, Posted by admin in EAT + DRINK, 2 Comments
Warning: Craft Beer Reflections (Time For A Stiff Drink?)
My how far American craft beer has come in the past few years. Locally, nationally, and even globally, cask-conditioned ales are no longer cult sightings, women brewers are taking back their historical “brewster” (female brewers in Medieval England) roots, and even rice is making a valiant effort to be taken seriously as a craft beer ingredient again (And why not?). Even globally, the changes have been astounding for such a brief period of time. With the first American craft brewery abroad in the works this year, and the surge of the black market — A black market! There is perhaps no better compliment, from a popularity standpoint — craft beer has clearly gone big time. No wonder corporate breweries are now marketing a line of pseudo “craft” beers as well.
I have covered each of those topics for the Los Angeles Times over the past few years. And to be honest, I’ve largely forgotten about most of those stories.