Apples, Pumpkins, and Stouts — Oh My!

I’m a big fan of Halloween. As a kid, I loved getting dressed up in a costume. Coming up with an idea, pulling together the various pieces and accouterments, occasionally teaming up with another fanatic — it was all great fun. And I not only relished what I looked like on the outside, but I also enjoyed playing the… Continue reading Apples, Pumpkins, and Stouts — Oh My!

When It Comes to Easter Beers, Don’t You Want Some Bunny to Love?

Pondering which beers to serve with the upcoming Easter meal got me thinking about the celebration itself. And you know, I gotta say, as holidays go, Easter is a bit silly. At least on the surface, in the way we Americans do it. (Of course, to a devout agnostic, all Americanized, religiously affiliated holidays seem… Continue reading When It Comes to Easter Beers, Don’t You Want Some Bunny to Love?

A Triple Trifecta of Trivial Treats

Scribbleskiff is sitting in dry-dock for a spell. We’re taking some time away from the business of busyness to rest and clear out the scuppers, so to speak, to restock our supplies, chart new courses, and ready ourselves for the next adventure. For instance, we’re keeping our weather eye trained on the approaching, unusually large waves… Continue reading A Triple Trifecta of Trivial Treats

A Flurry of Seasonal Beers to Warm Up Any Winter Wonderland

Snow. Snow, what? So, snow. Snow. Snow, snow. Snow! Snowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnow. Unless you were living under a rock, or hiding under your bed covers, you have probably heard by now that the normally temperate middle Atlantic region got snowballed over the weekend. It snowed so hard and so quickly, in fact, that it felt like we… Continue reading A Flurry of Seasonal Beers to Warm Up Any Winter Wonderland

New Adventures in Homebrewing, or Lessons in How to Waste a Lifetime?

Here’s a funny quote that I have occasionally seen on T-shirts and posters and that recently came to mind again: “Give a man a beer, and he wastes an hour, but teach a man how to brew a beer, and he wastes a lifetime.” Well, I tried brewing my own beer once, about 15 years… Continue reading New Adventures in Homebrewing, or Lessons in How to Waste a Lifetime?

Craft Beers Made by Italians? That's Not a Mistake — That's Amore!

Sometimes the least likely combination of ingredients can produce the most interesting results. This is often the case with rock music — think Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, for example — or rocket fuel — a mixture of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter. Kept separate, these are all fairly benign materials; combined, however, they can yield… Continue reading Craft Beers Made by Italians? That's Not a Mistake — That's Amore!

Wines for Beer Drinkers

Normally, when someone asks me what kind of wine would I like with my meal, I answer, “beer!” Of course, just to show that I know it’s proper etiquette to leave my loincloth and club at the cave door, when in good company, I always ask for a glass. But recently I was introduced to several… Continue reading Wines for Beer Drinkers

Perfect Pours for the Porch

Ever want the perfect pour for a summer Sunday evening on the porch? That’s what I was looking for the other day, when in need of some distinctive beers to enhance the post-season discussion among youth league lacrosse coaches. So I visited my favorite beer vendor, The Wine Source, and the experts suggested several quaffs to quench… Continue reading Perfect Pours for the Porch