A little breaking news: Evo is on tap at the newest (and by all accounts the best) bar in Princess Anne. I was covering the ribbon cutting for the Washington Inn in Princess Anne. I’ll get a story up this week on the social, cultural and epicurial implications but for right now I want to talk about how kooky people went over the Delmarva Pure Pils and why that’s important.
I was at a meeting recently where they were talking about having more special and daring beers at events (which I totally am for). Also, recently, some internet commentator was talking about being a beer geek (a term I totally can live without), but it was an important moment for me. Yes, it is important to have beers that “beer geeks”dig and come out to get. But no one is born a beer geek. I have yet to talk to a craft beer enthusiast who didn’t spend at least a little time bemoaning the dark days before they discovered the bitter crispness of a good IPA. And that is what is important to remember: No one is born a beer geek. If you haven’t discovered great beer by now, there’s a reason and the reason is you’ve been spooked by daring, complex, generously hopped, high ABV beers.
Watching the people in Princess Anne lose their minds over Delmarva Pure Pils (one of the most solid lagers you’ll ever have) was satisfying. People who never would have tried craft beer, tried several and wouldn’t stop talking about how good it was and how they didn’t think they ever could drink craft beer. It’s a critical lesson.
Plugs
Let’s talk about beer festivals and how important it is to have people who know what they’re talking about pouring. Hint: Very.
Sometimes you have to address the bubble
SCB writer Whitney Torrence takes a crack at parsing the arguments about a craft beer bubble, there’s plenty to say about it, so we may as well start here…
Continuing story on exporting American beer
As people continue to yammer on about the potential craft beer bubble, it is important to remember that, not only can’t craft brewers keep up with regional and national demand, but American craft beer is insanely popular abroad.
And Japan brewers might be the next acquirer of craft breweries as a way of protecting their turf (financially) at home.
We’ll call this the ‘Brew Dogs’ rule
The reality show brewers have a 55 percent ABV beer and a massive production facility in Ohio. The only surprise here is that it took so long.
In more money talks news…
Author: Tony Russo
Tony Russo has worked as a print and digital journalist for the better part of the 21st century, writing for and editing regional weeklies and dailies before joining the team that produces OceanCity.com and ShoreCraftBeer.com among other destination websites. In addition to having documented everything from zoning changes to art movements on the Delmarva Peninsula, Tony has written two books on beer for the History Press. Eastern Shore Beer was published in 2014 and Delaware Beer in 2016. He lives in Delmar, Md. with his wife Kelly and the only of his four daughters who hasn't moved out. Together they keep their two dogs comfortable.
