I was in Stockholm, Sweden a few weeks ago. I wrote about my visit in my last entry. It was a great trip that allowed me to sample some fine Swedish craft beers. The Swedish craft beer industry is growing steadily. New breweries are opening up every year and one in particular had peaked my interest – Nya Carnegie Bryggeriet (New Carnegie Brewery). The brewery is a joint venture between New York’s Brooklyn Brewery and Danish brewing giant Carlsberg. Continue reading Nya Carnegie Bryggeriet
Category Archives: History
School Days
Beer and college tend to go together. Those of us who attended an institution of higher learning, in all likelihood, consumed huge volumes of beer while pursuing our studies. I know I did. But then again I was in college for ten years straight while amassing an undergraduate and two graduate degrees. So between 1981 and 1991 I had plenty of time to drink beer. And like most college students on a tight budget it was Continue reading School Days
1873 and all that
November 2015 was an auspicious month for the American beer industry. According to data provided by the Brewers Association the number of breweries in the United States reached 4,144. At no other time in our country’s history has America had so many breweries. The previous high was 4,131 in 1873. The current number of breweries in the Continue reading 1873 and all that
A Tale of Two Budweisers: The King of Beers and the Sport of Kings
In early 1900, on a farm near St. Louis, a rather ordinary looking Thoroughbred bay colt was born to a mare with the geographically appropriate name, Missouri. The foal’s bloodlines were sprinkled with royalty and throughout his life Continue reading A Tale of Two Budweisers: The King of Beers and the Sport of Kings
Lisbon’s Museu da Cerveja
I was in Lisbon, Portugal last week. I was attending the 55th Congress of the European Regional Science Association where I was making a presentation of the factors behind the emergence and growth of the American craft beer industry. As always, before Continue reading Lisbon’s Museu da Cerveja
The Guinness Storehouse
One could hardly come to Dublin without visiting the Guinness Storehouse. So that is what my wife and I did during our recent trip to that fair city. Guinness and I go back a long way. Of all the beers that I currently drink with any regularity Guinness is the one with which I have the longest association. My Guinness drinking days go back over 30 years to when I was undergraduate student at the University of Continue reading The Guinness Storehouse
Scotland’s Lager Lovelies
I was born and raised in Scotland. I lived there (with the exception of an 18 month hiatus in London, England) from my birth in 1963 until emigrating to the United States in 1985. I grew up in the small Highland village of Tarbet. Continue reading Scotland’s Lager Lovelies
Back to the Future in Louisville, Kentucky
Last week my wife and I spent three days in Louisville, Kentucky. An old friend was getting married and so we decided to stay for a couple of days after the nuptials. When one thinks of Kentucky it is bourbon, not beer, that first comes to mind. The state produces 95% of the nation’s Continue reading Back to the Future in Louisville, Kentucky
Designed in Toledo
Toledo, Ohio is known as the Glass City. Reminders of this can be found everywhere around town. You can watch the University of Toledo Rockets play football in the Glass Bowl, open a bank account at the Glass City Federal Credit Union, run in the Glass City Marathon, or go to Continue reading Designed in Toledo
Steel Town and Iron City
Last week I spent a few days in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. What I found there was a city on the rise, a city in the middle of an economic renaissance, a city where good things (lots of them) are happening. The steel industry has gone of course and the city is re-configuring its Continue reading Steel Town and Iron City