The Lessons of Merseburger Beer

A beer in 18th-century Saxony was so sharp, from hops, bitter orange and gentian root (“bitterwort”), that it was described as “bitter as the death in the gallows.” Yet it was wildly popular. How do we account for this?

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Jeff Alworth
Vignette 34: Valter Loverier (LoverBeer)

Valter Loverier is an understated brewer from Marentino, Italy, in the rolling wine country of Piedmont. He is one of the most interesting brewers I've encountered in my travels, and was the first to introduce me to the idea of "inoculation via fruit" (he uses wine grapes, of course).

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VignetteJeff Alworth
Where the Big Breweries Are

Rogue’s Brett Joyce has decided to step down as president from the brewery his father founded. It suggests a pivot happening in Newport, and that caused me to wonder. There are five top-50 breweries in Oregon right now. What are they doing in this tightening market?

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Jeff Alworth Comments
When a Little Nibble Becomes a Full Bite

Craft Brew Alliance announced today that it was acquiring three smaller breweries with which it already had relationships. This is an example of the gravitational pull small connections between breweries can have. And CBA’s history is rife with them.

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Jeff Alworth