Your Comments, Criticisms and Contributions - Jan. 2000
Stephen:
Can you recommend a good, informative book on North American craft brews for me. Have you written one?
Thanks,
James Wall.
I have not written a book on North American craft beers per se, although my Taste for Beer does cover a lot of the domestic ground. My favourite book on U.S. brews, now a little out of date, is America's Best Brews by Steve Johnson (Gulf Publishing, 1997). Or you can try the more recent Best American Beers by Ben Myers, and contributed to by yours truly (CLB International, 1999).
Hey!
I love the beer site!
Do I have a couple of songs for you! "Hats Off to Beer" and "Let the Boys Have More Beer" by a group called the Black Velvet Band (specializing in traditional Irish folk music). You can download the mp3 for free!! Go to: www.mp3.com/bvb
I love beer,
Jim Nelson
Thanks for the tip. I'll check them out when I have a chance.
Greetings Beer Men,
This is such an odd email for me to be writing, as I don't really drink beer.... or write emails to strangers........however I was reminiscing on the days of drinking beer and remembered how our local tavern here in Orange County, California, used to carry this fabulous beer from Texas called "Celis White" (the only beer I have ever liked). With a wedge of fresh lemon, it was as refreshing a beverage on a hot summer day as any. I just happened to search the net to see if Celis was still around (it's very very hard to find on tap - I know of only one liquor store about 40 minutes away that even carries it) and I was pleased with your review. I certainly (this summer) will sample your recommendation of Hoegaarden to see if something new is in order.
As a wine drinker, may I recommend to you the Kunde Viognier or even Kunde's Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc for a summer day. Best of all, Thornton Pastiche (Temecula, CA) - a nice fruity sampling of French blending grapes (grenache, rousanne, viognier, etc.).
Cheers,
Jennifer
Thanks for the reply, and the wine recommendations. Unfortunately, California wines are in very short supply in this neck of the woods (Toronto). We do much better with French, Italian and Australasia labels. Perhaps when I'm next in San Francisco, though.
As far as the Celis White goes, may I suggest trying it next time sans lemon? Much better not to befuddle its orange flavour (from the peel used to season it) with another piece of citrus.
First, I would like to commend you on an above average amount of Canadian content... Can you recommend other online sources of Canadian info?
Also, I am writing a paper for my politics class and I want to do something about the beer laws in Canada. Any recommendations, tips?
Thanks in advance, and keep up the good work.
Jeremy
I think that one interesting approach to a view of Canadian beer laws would be to look at the different ways in which the provinces have reacted to the emergence of brewpubs. I'd suggest that you speak with Paul Hadfield (Spinnakers in Victoria), the Lanigans (Brewsters chain in Alberta and Saskatchewan), Bev Robertson (Bushwakkers in Regina), Ron Keefe (Granite in Toronto) and Kevin Keefe (Granite in Halifax, and Ron's older brother). All the contact info can be found in the Canadian Beer Index located at http://www.realbeer.com/canada.
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