The Archaeology of Beer

Where was this on career day?

Read more about how they recreate ancient beer recipes at The Atlantic.

Is the German beer purity law worth putting on the UNESCO list?

While many hail the Reinheitsgebot as the be all and end all of brewing some view it as limiting the creativity of brewers in a market that is declining. There is certainly a valid argument for both camps: tradition vs creativity. There are ways to stay creative while sticking to the law but it certainly is limiting.

Now a group of German brewers are trying to get the Reinheitsgebot placed on the same list as the Great Wall of China and the Great Barrier Reef. Hear the NPR report here and let us know what you think.

When Craft Beer Goes Global: A Kansas City Brewery's Tale

The deal to buy Boulevard Brewing says a lot about the transformation of the American craft beer industry — and just how much the world now values a product with a firm sense of place.

O'Hara is a little leery about Duvel taking over her brand. "These people came from the outside, and took something that's native to us, and it's kind of a bummer," she says. "It makes the future uncertain."

But John McDonald, Boulevard Brewing's founder, sees things differently. "I think a lot of people were kind of shocked at the news, and I kind of knew that would happen."

Read more or listen here.

The Craft Beer Market Has Exploded, And Now Brewers Are Worried About A Collapse

Business Insider looks at the current state of the craft beer market. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/alchemist-craft-beer-market-boom-bubble-outlook-2013-12#ixzz2nZZ6hVEE

How will you celebrate?

December 5 marks the 80th anniversary of the repeal of "the great experiment" the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. If you haven't seen the Ken Burns documentary or read the book it's based on, you really should. It's very eye opening as to how the 18th amendment was passed, it's effects and how it was eventually repealed.

Home wine making and home brewing can trace their roots back to prohibition where bricks of grape concentrate were sold with the specific instructions: "After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine." 

So how will you celebrate? I recommend a craft cocktail.