In this episode we take advantage of our newfound remote recording skills to go international for the first time. Mark and I are joined by Nick Smith, founder and brewmaster of Steam Machine Brewing in County Durham. In the first of a two part episode we explore the history of the India Pale Ale from... Continue Reading →
Pat’s Pints Picks – Britain’s Best Breweries
At this time of year it’s customary to publish best of lists. In past years I have published a list of my favorite Central Ohio beers, but this year I’m going in a different direction. As many of you know I recently returned from an 11-month sabbatical in Northeast England. Many people have asked me... Continue Reading →
An Outsider’s Perspective on the Divided State of British Beer
As an American living in the UK it’s been interesting to observe the outcomes of recent votes by two organizations that exist to protect and promote beer in the UK. In March the Society for Independent Brewers (SIBA) voted against raising the maximum amount of beer a brewery could produce and still belong to the... Continue Reading →
Night of the Bygone Beers – An Exercise in Extreme Cellaring
Have you ever stumbled across a bottle of beer that has been forgotten for far too long? I’m not talking something that's just a few years old, but a beer that was bottled when you were just a kid or possibly before you were born. Your first instinct might be to toss it in the... Continue Reading →
Pat’s Pints Podcast Episode 8 – New Wave of British Heavy Metal Ales
After more than a year in hibernation the Pat's Pints Podcast returns with an episode devoted to British Ales with a focus on beers with heavy metal themes, including Camerons Motorhead-inspired Road Crew and Robinsons Iron Maiden themed beers. Mark and I are joined by longtime friend Hans Gorsuch for an extended discussion of bitters,... Continue Reading →
A Visit to Cloudwater Brew Co
When I first moved to the UK it didn’t take long to figure out that Cloudwater Brewing represented something very modern. The visuals—16 oz cans with wrap on labels, ingredients listed on the can for all to see, prodigious hop additions, premium pricing—were immediately familiar to someone from the USA. When I bought a can... Continue Reading →
Visiting one of England’s Smallest Breweries – Hill Island Brewing
As many of you know I’ve temporarily relocated to the north of England, where I’ll be spending the next eleven months on sabbatical at Durham University. Obviously, my ability to cover beer goings on in the Buckeye State are going to be limited during this period, and believe me I’m already missing the great beer... Continue Reading →