Realbeer.com in the Wall Street Journal!

[Kalleh1]

I suppose this post belongs elsewhere, but I like the people who post here so I will keep it here. Ken Wells has published a delightful new book entitled "Travels with Barley." (sound familiar?) It describes the beer culture across America, and there were some excerpts in yesterday's Wall Street Journal.

Realbeer.com not only was cited, but in a very favorable way. He had been looking on Web forums and Sites, asking about the kind of beer Elvis Presley drank (why he would care is beyond me!). The one place that gave him specifics was this Site! He said there was a piece on a pub crawl by a writer for Realbeer.com that included references to a Washington DC bar (now out of business) that had on tap what the bar called "Elvis' Favorite Beer -- Schlitz." Was that you, Chaz?

Oh, and Richard will love this! It says that Portland ("Beervana") "can stake a strong claim of being not just the contemporary Beer Capital of America but even the Beer Capital of the World." Apparently microbrews account for about 3.4% of all beer consumed in America -- while in Portland, craft beers represent 40% to 50% of the beer purchases made! That is amazing.

Of course, he didn't mention how the midwesterners here on Realbeer.com have significantly more posts here than any other U.S. regions or countries!;)

[fretlessman71]

Very cool! We're getting recognition! I wonder how many people will find us and join up because they saw us in this publication.

And Kalleh1... does the Front Range of Colorado count as the Midwest, or the West? I always thought I was in the Rockies myself.... and between me, Beaver, Fast Eddy, paul48083, and b3s, there's almost 7600 posts! HMMMMM...... that's gotta count for SOMETHING, doesn't it? :)

[Kalleh1]

Well, Fret, I am sorry to say, but no. I only consider the countries or U.S. regions in my contest, and the Mountains and Plains fails miserably (with 103 posts). We in the Midwest have 971, followed by the mid-Atlantic with 589, the UK at 554, and the West at 466.

However, I am getting a little annoyed with Chicago's beer as I travel to other cities for my job. I thought SF was an oddity because I found it to be much like London in that within walking distance I could go to pubs with 10 different cask beers! Yet, here I am tonight in little old St. Paul, Minnesota, and lo and behold...I find a pub 2 blocks from my hotel that has 4 beers on cask! What in the world is wrong with Chicago? They had an excellent Anchorhead IPA and a so-so Martin's Bitters. They also had a Pot Hole Porter and Cherry Stout, both of which I didn't have the capacity to try.

Come on Chicago! Get with the program!

[fretlessman71]

Oh, I get it... you're talking about the Beer & Travel section! I was counting my individual posts all over the site. I suppose I could have upped my numbers by posting the info I received regarding the H C Berger Chocolate Stout in said forum, but I guess I wanted to join a party already in progress.... :D

There's even a few places here in li'l ol' Ft. Collins that serve cask brew.... what is WITH Chitown, anyway?

[b3s]

what fret said...i look at the top 10 posters and see 2 midwesterners, a brit, 2 from CO alone, let alone 3 total from mountain states, 2 from CA, 1 from the east coast, and a texan...dunno about that midwest representation :p

[wortchillergoal]

I don't know how you guys find the time to make all those posts and then go on to do the research into the numbers. I would have more posts if it I did not play hockey, do model railroad things with my boys and spend time fishing beer out of my fridge.

It is cool that the Wall Street Journal commented on this site. I would guess the research took the writer to other sites but this is the one that impressed and made the cut.

[danno]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
Yet, here I am tonight in little old St. Paul, Minnesota, and lo and behold...I find a pub 2 blocks from my hotel that has 4 beers on cask! What in the world is wrong with Chicago? They had an excellent Anchorhead IPA and a so-so Martin's Bitters. They also had a Pot Hole Porter and Cherry Stout, both of which I didn't have the capacity to try.

Come on Chicago! Get with the program! So Kalleh, did you like Great Waters? (And did you stay at the lovely St. Paul Hotel, or one of those corporate places that are also close by?) That part of St. Paul is wonderful, looking out of Great Waters windows you gaze at the Landmark Center, St. Paul's old courthouse (inhabited by the ghost of the last hangman, actually...), past that, Rice Park, across the Park, the St. Paul Library, which was built and donated by James J Hill, one of the great 19th century robber barons...

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Very cool! We're getting recognition! I wonder how many people will find us and join up because they saw us in this publication.

And Kalleh1... does the Front Range of Colorado count as the Midwest, or the West? I always thought I was in the Rockies myself.... and between me, Beaver, Fast Eddy, paul48083, and b3s, there's almost 7600 posts! HMMMMM...... that's gotta count for SOMETHING, doesn't it? :)

So what am I? Chopped liver?

[fretlessman71]

Yes.... Midwestern Chopped Liver, to be precise. ;)

I fully reject the notion that the Rockies and the Plains should be considered to be the same land area.... we're almost 2000 feet higher than you are! And we're not even in the Foothills here.... ya know?

[unkle bik]

Beleive it or not, Elvis Presley did not drink.
Dr. Nick kept him on pills enough for him to forget about beer.

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Yes.... Midwestern Chopped Liver, to be precise. ;)

I fully reject the notion that the Rockies and the Plains should be considered to be the same land area.... we're almost 2000 feet higher than you are! And we're not even in the Foothills here.... ya know?

I don't live in the plains, I live in the foothills of the Ozark mountains. In fact less then 20 minutes from my house is a ski resort. While it may not be on par with those in CO it none the less exists and even has a black diamond run. The plains of Kansas do not really start until about 3 hours West of me.

If you are going to look at the midwest then Kansas is certainly fitting the bill. Kansas is also home to the geographic center of the US, states like IL, OH, IN & MO should not be called the mid west because they are East of the geogrphic center.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by b3s
what fret said...i look at the top 10 posters and see 2 midwesterners, a brit, 2 from CO alone, let alone 3 total from mountain states, 2 from CA, 1 from the east coast, and a texan...dunno about that midwest representation :p

Well I Guess I'm the East Coaster . I'm doing my share.

I am impressed thet we made it into the Wall Street Journal.
Maybe it will bring new members.

Anyone here because they saw us in WSJ?

[Kalleh1]

I suppose I could have upped my numbers by posting the info I received regarding the H C Berger Chocolate Stout in said forum,

Now, why do you think that I only post in this section? Notice how many interlopers this thread has brought in. I am trying to get us to 1,000!

So Kalleh, did you like Great Waters? (And did you stay at the lovely St. Paul Hotel, or one of those corporate places that are also close by?)

Oh, my gosh, danno, with my measly 80 some posts, I didn't know you were here! Yes, I am at the St. Paul Hotel (wonderful!), and I have already been to the Great Waters 3 times. Their IPA is excellent. And, the weather here has been dreamy! I do hear that your weather is in for a big change, though.

Ahh, Unkle bik, I don't know what I think of your signature! :rolleyes: Is it true that Elvis didn't drink beer? If so, was that post that was quoted from here wrong?

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Very cool! We're getting recognition! I wonder how many people will find us and join up because they saw us in this publication.

Well, I wore a very nice RB.com shirt at the Quivey's Grove festival over the past weekend - schmoozing with brewmasters and beer-lovers alike. Not one comment or question. I was a little disappointed.

Kalleh - AFA cask brews in Chi goes, it's all a matter of demographics. If you lived in Bucktown, like my friend, you could easily walk 2 blocks for a nice cask ale (and 2 blocks in any direction for other great micro-brews). I, myself, can travel less than a few miles for cask brews - at 2 different establishments, no less. You just need to get out of that beer stagnant suburb! ;)

San Francisco has been on the edge of the beer revolution for quite some time now, in proximity to the boom of home-brewers and brew-pubs up and down the coast. The Midwest really is still catching up - in both availability and general knowledge of what's better than Old Style or Stella Artois. And we're getting there - after all, is Chicago not home to the biggest cask beer festival outside of London?

S.

[danno]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
Oh, my gosh, danno, with my measly 80 some posts, I didn't know you were here! Yes, I am at the St. Paul Hotel (wonderful!), and I have already been to the Great Waters 3 times. Their IPA is excellent. And, the weather here has been dreamy! I do hear that your weather is in for a big change, though. yeah, I'd get out of town soon, if you're not already. It was 50ºF this morning, and that's going to be the high for the next week... they're even talking about seeing some snowflakes... and I'm going canoeing this weekend... :(

[fretlessman71]

Oh to be in MN, now that winter's there....

Played a few shows last November in Minneapolis. Never got warmer than 15 degrees the whole time. Thank goodness for the skyways during the day!

At night they were a little dangerous - wish they patrolled them a little more.

Did get to visit Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery - REALLY good stuff!

[davesarman]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
I have already been to the Great Waters 3 times. Their IPA is excellent.

Too bad you weren't here in February. The weather is cold as a witch's thorax, but on the second floor in the building that Great Waters is in (the histroic Hamms Building), Minnesota Craft Brewers Association holds the annual Winter Beer Fest. Went last year and had some outstanding big winter beers from breweries/brewpubs from around the region. Plus a nice meal at Great Waters before and a nightcap after. Some great beers, Imperial Stouts, Strong Belgians, Barleywines, etc. If you happen to be in the area in mid February, I highly recommend it.

[Kalleh1]

I am back in Chicago now, danno, but I wish I would have known you were there because we could have had a beer together. You have a lovely city, much better than I had ever expected. That Summit Avenue is fantastic. Is that where you live?;)

If you lived in Bucktown, like my friend, you could easily walk 2 blocks for a nice cask ale (and 2 blocks in any direction for other great micro-brews).

Oh, yes, Steve, I do know that Chicago has some good places. You have shown me that! What impressed me about SF, though, was that, similar to London, it had pubs with up to 5 beers on cask. Now, I don't think you can find that in Chicago. Since stouts and Porters aren't my favorites, sometimes I am disappointed when I go to bars here for cask beer because it is one or both of those, only, on cask. But, you are right. Chicago is up and coming with cask beers so I shouldn't complain.

[Kalleh1]

BTW, this is post # 999 here in the Midwest. Who is going to get number 1,000? Steve? Richard? Chaz? Who?

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
BTW, this is post # 999 here in the Midwest. Who is going to get number 1,000? Steve? Richard? Chaz? Who?

I win!

S.

Sorry Fret, had to jump on a one-line answer!

[fretlessman71]

Apology accepted. It gave me a chance to bolster my personal lead over you. :D

[Kalleh1]

Congratulations, Steve! Secretly I had hoped it would be you because, after all, you are from the midwest. ;)

[chazwicke]

I saw it earlier. I thought it best to leave it to the midwesterners.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I saw it earlier. I thought it best to leave it to the midwesterners.

Suuure, you say that now! ;)

Kalleh, you'll let me slide? Even though my team is 3 games away from the 'Series? :-D

S.

[chazwicke]

OK then, no more Mr. Nice Guy in the future! :D

[steveh]

Oh, okay - Mr. 3227/King of Too Much Time on My Hands. ;)

S.

Fret would be Prince, I guess - making me the Sheriff of Nottingham - or something.

[Kalleh1]

While, I may be "Peon 94" here, I am Princess 5953 on wordcraft!

Now, Steve, remember I don't read this board as much as I should...so I don't know which team you mean.

YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT A CUBS FAN???:mad:

[fretlessman71]

Wordcraft? Enlighten us, please....

[Kalleh1]

P.S. Wouldn't you think Belgium, with all their good beer, would rate more than a paltry 21 posts here? Sheesh!

Fret, wordcraft is a board where we talk about words and language. It is not nearly as boring as it sounds! We have lots of fun with puns and limericks and the like. Richard and I post there, and during some very spirited discussions about beer (yes, we talk a lot about beer; there are several Brits who post there and keep us grounded in good beer), Richard told me about this fine board. To be honest, I didn't think the people here would be my so nice. I have been very impressed with everyone here, though I stay mostly in Travel so that the midwest remains the beer capital of the world! (Richard?? That should bring you here!);)

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT A CUBS FAN???:mad:

We've had this discussion many times before Kalleh - I haven't been a Cubs fan since 1969! That was a terrible trauma to put a nine-year-old through. There are "die-hard Cubs fans," and "died-hard Cubs fans!"

S.

Pujols for MVP!!

[Kalleh1]

Oh, yes, Steve, I forgot.

To tell you the truth, I am thinking of forgetting them, too, though I have been a big baseball fan since I was 8. In fact, when I was in 4th grade I wrote a letter to the manager telling them that our school had raised money to take our class to the baseball game, and that it was stolen. They sent us free tickets for our team.

But, this year was different. The fans were awful. They booed Sammy Sosa and all the team. That is not classy and not what I expect from Chicago fans. However, the team was no better. They complained all year about the umpires, and on the game where they could have gone to the playoffs, what did they do? They had a meeting with the Chicago media saying how unfair they are! I was in Orlando at the time, and the media there made fun of the Cubs for that. Lastly, the management also failed us. They criticize Steve Stone because he tells it like it is? Sheesh!

So, Steve, while I could NEVER be a Cardinals fan, I may leave the Cubs too. I don't really like another team, so I may leave baseball altogether, after all these years.

Since this really isn't a beer post.... I will end with Go Old Style!

[danno]

maybe it's just Chicago baseball players in general. The Twins have been the White Sox's daddies (to borrow Pedro's phrase...) for several years now, but for some reason, the Sox have this weird superiority complex that doesn't go away, no matter how much we beat the crap out of them... :D

(and we'll just all pretend that "Old Style" comment never really happened... lol)

[steveh]

Originally posted by danno
maybe it's just Chicago baseball players in general.

There's no comparrison between North and South Side ball in Chicago at all -- no matter what the records are at years' end.

Uh, yeah - I'm a Sox fan too!

(and we'll just all pretend that "Old Style" comment never really happened... lol)

But that I'll agree with!

Kalleh, Kalleh, Kalleh...shee. ;)

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
They criticize Steve Stone because he tells it like it is?

Don't you think that's what the fans were doing too? I mean, here's a supposedly professional team - and highly paid at that - and they're bumbling around like a bunch of minor leaguers, I'd boo 'em too if they were my team...kind of like I'm doing the Packers right now. :/

For some reason, the Cubs turned into real prima donnas this year, and the only ones they have to blame for their dismal finish is themselves.

S.

[Kalleh1]

I couldn't agree more, Steve...though, let's face it, the Sox were not much better.

And, the Twins, danno? Well, I was in St. Paul when I saw their miserable flop of a final game. In fact, I was sipping a cask conditioned beer in that nice pub you have! I wouldn't get too arrogant about your team, were I you! They reminded me of the Cubs!

Perhaps the Cubs would do better were they to have cask conditioned beer at all their games. ;) The Old Style comment was just a joke. However, I know several people who drink it only because it reminds them of the Cubs. In reality, they hate the taste!

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
let's face it, the Sox were not much better.

Quite true, it was a sad demise.

Perhaps the Cubs would do better were they to have cask conditioned beer at all their games. ;)

Well, there's usually some a mere half-block south on Clark!

The Old Style comment was just a joke. However, I know several people who drink it only because it reminds them of the Cubs. In reality, they hate the taste!

Oh, they need serious help!

S.

[fretlessman71]

So if Old Style reminds people of the Cubs, why is it that I CLEARLY remember seeing a billboard about 10 years ago with Harry Caray's picture on it with the caption, "Cub Fan; Bud Man"? Sounds like a conflict of interest if you ask me - sorta like selling Miller beer at Coors Field!

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
So if Old Style reminds people of the Cubs, why is it that I CLEARLY remember seeing a billboard about 10 years ago with Harry Caray's picture on it with the caption, "Cub Fan; Bud Man"?

'Cause he'd sold out to Bud many years before he joined the Cubs - even though it was Augie (I think that was the one) Busch who ran him out of St. Louis. Money's money, I guess.

Yeah, Old Style was Chicago's choice of brew for many years, the Miller marketing steamroller fixed that - and probably caused G.Heilleman brewing in La Crosse, WI to close down, in a round about way.

S.