Japanese Artisanship Meets Craft Beer

Even though it plays a leading role in cutting-edge technological developments, Japan is also a country that proudly preserves its traditional crafts and occupations, resulting in a wealth of artisanal heritage. It will come as no surprise, then, that when Japan was first introduced to the concept of beer by Dutch merchants in the 17^th century, the art of beer brewing was adopted and cultivated with the same level of care and pride used in all other forms of craftsmanship in the country. Inseparable from the cultivation of craft beer in Japan is the art of sake brewing, and just as this process requires intricate attention to detail, so do artisans of Japanese craft beer develop their creations with a singular devotion to precision and care.

An Archipelago of Flavors

It is not only skilled craftsmanship that makes Japanese craft beer stand out; the type of ingredients and flavors found in each new creation speak to the idiosyncratic geography of the country.

In this issue, we offer up a multitude of stories on a broad range of topics, kicking off with beers that might wet Santa’s whistle on Christmas Eve. Then, Jessica Zimmer continues her excellently researched work with an in-depth profile of Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

After that, Michael Maloney makes his debut in our pages with a continuation of our ongoing travel series by highlighting the Top 20 Places to Drink Beer in Brussels, which is not short on world-class beer establishments.

Kristen Kuchar dons her doctor’s smock (with a beer in pocket) to deliver the prognosis on the Best Foods to Promote Liver Health, so your body can stay healthy enough to keep on enjoying delicious brews for a long time.

Jessie O’Brien uncovers the secrets of past life regression therapy and how it is has impacted Barry Bialik of Thirsty Monk in Asheville, North Carolina with The Past Lives of Thirsty Monk’s Barry Bialik

Shirley Moskow also makes her debut in our magazine with A Beer Tour of San Antonio, Texas, which is made up of far more than just The Alamo and the Riverwalk. With plenty of terrific restaurants, breweries and bars, this Lone Star State city is a must-visit for beer lovers.

Our Fall 2019, Issue 44 features all the brew that’s fit to drink with a variety of stories on myriad topics that should wet your whistle, starting with Jessica Zimmer covering The World’s Strongest Beers.

Then, Kristen Kuchar explores the importance of facial hair to the brewing community with Big Beards in Beer, which features multiple interviews with some of the men behind the best beards in the brewing business.

Following that is the next entry in our series of “Top Places to Drink” in multiple landmark locations. In this issue, Chris Guest wrote about his recent trip to London, England – which led to a plethora of tremendous places to imbibe a brew.

After that, Owen Ogletree gives readers An Introduction to Mead, while Pat Evans sits down with 3 Impactful Beer Social Media Influencers to discuss what they do and how it affects the industry.

Then, Jonathan Ingram explores the possibility of another craft beer bubble forming under our very noses, while Jim Dykstra offers up the Editor’s Pick: European Beer Tour Companies.

Lastly, David Nilsen closes us out with a brewery tour of Urban Artifact, which is housed in the former St. Aloysius Catholic Church – a striking location that serves as a venerable spot to enjoy a finely crafted ale.

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In this, our Summer Issue #43, we bring you a variety of engaging topics, starting with Jessica Zimmer delving into the sticky-icky-icky topic of cannabis in beverages with Cannabis in Beverages: A Definitive Guide.

Then, we bring you a variety of best-of lists – leading off with The World’s 15 Rarest Beer for Collectors by KC Morgan. These extremely rare releases may have only been available once and are some of the most sought-after beers among traders and connoisseurs.

After that, Kristen Kuchar chimes in with the Top 20 Places to Drink Beer in Chicago featuring a plethora of brewpubs, breweries, bars, restaurants and festivals. After that, we explore our own list of the Top 30 Fruit Beers our judges have ever reviewed.

What’s an issue without some educational pieces? Nelson Crowle dissects ways in which brewers and homebrewers can measure sourness in beer in How to Measure Sourness in Beer, and Owen Ogletree gives us an in-depth definition of the ever-popular and omnipresent Pilsner style with Defining the Pilsner Style.

We close out the issue with two globe-trekking travel stories: First up is Bryan Cohen’s Bratislava Beer Tour, which delves into the varied and interesting beer scene in the capital of Slovakia, and finish up the issue with Jim Dykstra’s exploration of Nicaragua’s nascent craft beer scene in Nicaragua: The Land of Volcanoes, Surfing and Beer. 

It’s that time again! We have all the brew that’s fit to drink in Issue 42, including our headlining story: Our Top 104 Beers of All Time. This list spans the history of our publication and features a whopping tally of 104 beers that were bestowed with a “World Class” rating of 96 or above by our judges.

Then, Jim Dykstra delves into the wonderful world of beer in sports stadiums in the United States – providing the list of the best stadiums for beer across all professional sports leagues. Then, Jay Brooks speaks with the inventor of the Brut IPA style to provide a definition of the burgeoning IPA spin-off in What is Brut IPA?

Furthermore, Seth Levy elucidates The Difference Between Saison and Farmhouse Ale, Jessie O’Brien explores The Rise of Rosé Beers and Malika Bowling offers up some Tips for Aging Beer for those looking to start cellaring their brews or expanding their existing collection.

Lastly, Jonathan Ingram looks at the statistics and future of the Top 50 Breweries in the U.S., and Ryan Newhouse finishes up the issue with a deliciously smoky story regarding pairing the delightful flavors of barbecue with smoked beers in Pairing Barbecue with Smoked Beer.

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The holidays will soon be upon us, which means it's time for a new issue of The Beer Connoisseur.

A sumptuous beer feast awaits you in our Holiday Issue #39, starting with Owen Ogletree, an expert on the subject of cask ale and real ale, who gives readers a sterling definition of one of the U.K.’s most important beer exports in What is Real Ale?

After that Jessica Zimmer, making her writing debut for The Beer Connoisseur, provides the definition of the wondrous world of gypsy and contract brewing in Gypsy Brewing and Contract Brewing Defined.

Then Jim Dykstra straps on the lupulin goggles and outlines the most interesting and popular hops to look out for in 2019 with The Hop Report: Trending Hops in 2019.

No holiday issue would be complete without a food story, and we have a terrific take on a holiday spread with Sherry Dryja’s Vegan Holiday Beer Feast – featuring delectable recipes as well as sterling beer pairings for the season.

We round out the issue with some best-of lists, including the Top US Skiing Destinations for Craft Beer Lovers by Kristen Kuchar, who provides some glistening snow-capped peaks that are in a craft beer-saturated city or have breweries on-site, as well as a lengthy list of the Top 91 Belgian-Style Beers that The Beer Connoisseur has ever reviewed.

It's an exciting time of year for the beer drinker -- some would argue it's the most justifiable, and therefore most guilt free season to imbibe. We're certainly not complaining.

For The Beer Connoisseur, the Holidays signal a shift to gift giving (not always beer-related), delicious food and drink, and a reason to get together over a pint with those who matter most.

Sherry Dryja returns with the recipe for a perfect Christmas Morning Breakfast With Beer, Ryan Newhouse elucidates Everything You Need to Know About Growlers (they make great gifts!), and we track the Hop Harvest in the Willamette Valley -- the easiest way for a drinker to know that winter is coming. 

We'll track the seasonal shifts in the beer world -- from Jonathan Ingram's take on Beer Marketing vs. Beer Quality, a top German brewer's outspoken stance on the hotly contested Reinheitsgebot, and much more, including reviews of great -- and less great beers, a Top 20 list of Christmas and Holiday Beers, and Five Top European Breweries to Visit in 2018.

Mark your calendars and unleash your beer suitcases, grab a pint and enjoy Holiday 2017, Issue #33 of The Beer Connoisseur!

Read Issue 32

In the wake of recent natural disasters, a couple things have become apparent. For one, these trials are a chance for everyone to set aside certain differences and squabbles and come together. Second, beyond the essentials – food, water, shelter, electricity – beer is one of the most important things required to ride out a storm. Reading material helps too.

Luckily, we combine them both. We hope that The Beer Connoisseur's Fall Issue, #32 helps you look on the bright side while you enjoy one or more beers and face whatever nature throws your way.

We've seen breweries big and small doing their part to send aid to affected areas, and it serves as a great reminder that beer is about community, more than anything.

In this issue, you'll find everything from case studies on how breweries make their products, a look at a community-driven brewer that also happens to make great beer, features on those classic Fall beers – Pumpkin beer and Oktoberfest, and the history behind the largest beer event in the world.

You'll learn about an up-and-coming brewery, MadTree, which is taking an unorthodox approach to growth, dive in to an in-depth look at Original Gravity from one of our BJCP-certified judges, along with all the classic reviews, news and more that you expect from The Beer Connoisseur.