From the Editor (Issue 78)
Story by:
Chris Guest
Howdy folks, and welcome back to another issue of The Beer Connoisseur magazine. In our Early Summer 2025, Issue 78, we’ve got a number of scintillating stories for you; so, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
First up, it’s a travel story from new contributor Heide Brandes about Botswana’s Okavango Craft Brewery. This brewery has made efforts to make its beer brewing practices safe for elephants. Just what does that mean? Read the story to find out!
Following that, longtime contributor Martyn Cornell is back with a rebuttal to the longtime notion that the fabled “Hymn to Ninkasi” is a detailed recipe on how to make ancient Sumerian beer. There are numerous problems with that assumption, and Martyn lays them all out calmly and with aplomb.
Then, Brett Cortelletti is back with a story focused on an oft-forgotten – but delightful – dark beer style: Rauchbier! This smoked style is not for everyone, but one of Brett’s interview subjects believes that the time for Rauchbier’s revival is nigh.
Mary Beth Skylis joins us for an interesting Irish excursion to explore two claims: “Guinness tastes better in Ireland” and “the flavor of Guinness varies from pub to bar to restaurant.” Her findings? You think I’d reveal them here?! Delve into her story to discover the truth!
Alexander Robino makes his BC debut with a story detailing a spirited debate between two Washington brewers about the merits and pitfalls of AI usage in beer and business. One thinks it’s highly helpful, the other portends an apocalyptic downturn in creativity and assertiveness. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. A fascinating and forward-looking piece.
After that, we have a viewpoint from Gina Strouse Stanton that explores her story from a bartender to a major brewer at Sunken Silo Brew Works. Find out how the Pink Boots Society helped her feel more at ease in the male-dominated world of beer and brewing.
Last but not least, it’s a detailed scientific story on how spectroscopy (specifically UV-Vis Spectrophotometry) – aka a technique that measures how materials interact with light at different wavelengths – is the brewmaster’s secret weapon. Highly scientific but delivered in a digestible and easy-to-read format by first-time BC collaborator Ivan Farkas.
And there you have it! We believe this issue has something for everyone, and we hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Thanks for joining us, and we’ll see you next issue!
Cheers!
Chris Guest
-Managing Editor
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