Have We Been Here Before?

“…young brewers around the world will do as young US brewers once did: Make it their own.”

And that is the answer right there! If a brewer wants to brew like their dad or grandpop then so be it. If you want to explore new styles or change things up a bit, go for it.

Each brewer should follow their own zeitgeist!

Cheers!

 

I'm okay with this idea as long as it doesn't mean that the old world traditions die out. I'd hate to lose decades or even centuries old traditions because "people are really digging that coconut cinnamon stout this year."
I look to Geisinger in Munich as a model example of what I'd like to see more of. A helles and weissbier that can keep up with Spaten and Paulaner on the same menu as a barleywine and a lemondrop tripel.
As boldly interesting as American beer can be, it's too fickle. The stuff we loved 5-10 years ago is old hat and being phased out already. Not because we've improved upon them, but simply because we have already tried those beers.

 

SO much this. ^^^

Hopefully the explosion of new craft drinkers sticks around long enough to mature to the point that they realize the beauty in well made traditional beer.

 

As the world grows smaller, the experiences grow more similar. Americans will feel at ease in many countries today, able to shop at the same stores and eat at the same restaurants as back in the States. They can even order many of their favorite American beers in bars throughout Europe and Asia. This, of course, largely defeats the purpose of travel, which by most definitions is to experience a world different than your own. To immerse yourself in a different culture. To engage with diverse tastes, sights, sounds, and flavors.

And to understand that although people live in different places, speak different languages, worship different gods, eat different foods, and drink different beer, that they are still people. They are still the same at their core. It is both important to understand and embrace people's similarities AND their differences.

Hopefully this generation puts down their iPhones long enough to experience that.

 

"Caught a few years behind American trends, it’ll be exciting to watch winds of innovative styles and energy blow west again, creating a new wave of influence on our shores."

I read this as, "Dear Europe, please save us and refine old styles that will hopefully replace the current American beer fads."

Of course I respect beer history and traditional styles, and sure I hope Europe builds on them, but for American beer consumers it's an exciting time to be alive.

 

Sort of. I just read it as, "The next US craft beer fad might not come from the US."

Absolutely.

 

I like being able to go downtown the first of every month for First Friday, walk around, grab any kind of food we would like, go to our favorite Gibb's 100 Brewery for a Blind Man's Holiday (Greensboro Pale Ale) or two, or the new Little Brother Brewing across the street from the long standing Natty Greene's. On the other end of Elm is Preyer Brewing and Joymongers Brewing. I certainly could never have imagined that these very different type breweries would ever be so good. And they are embraced by a delighted public. These breweries each have their specialties, are very different, but that Gibb's 100 Blind Man's Holiday (Greensboro Pale Ale) is like some of my favorite ales while traveling around England 40 years ago. These are inventive young brewers that work in very traditional methods. It's great to witness. We're going the day after tomorrow!

 

I'm just not sure what this article was really trying to convey. Loss of local brewing culture? Globalization leading to less adventure?

I guess I didn't see it as such after recent trips to France/England and more recently South Germany/Austria/Czech Repub. Granted these were not dedicated beercations but was very much in tune to the places I went. I enjoyed the beer experience as part of the overall trip.

I felt like it was all win/win. Seemed like in France, previously a beer wasteland in the 80s/90s had some great things and not all American wannabes. Still found great Belgian stuff everywhere. Local pub culture in London--outside of the fact that most were owned by conglomerates--was there and when you did find that independent place, it was still an experience that we haven't touched on any scale. Also the beer--cask ale--hard to find here outside of some hotspots in a few markets. I am jealous. A Franconian monastery with it's own brewery--what's not to like about that?

The article implies (to me) that folks traveling want to (should?) apply the American online/Instagram/Facebook experience to Europe. Too bad>> their loss. A little uncertainty, a place with no wifi and a local beer experience is still very alive......

....if you can handle it.

 

I'm a little unsure, myself.

And hopefully those places will stay like that.

 

Amen! We're still working on some plan to move around in England, visiting and truly a bit touristy for Martha's first UK experience. We'll just get a car and drive.

 

Man I need to visit Greensboro and soon. My brother drove me past these repurposed buildings with such a great history and now new life. I think Greensboro has done a better job than Charlotte of fostering this in the downtown. Much of our downtown (or uptown as the snooty like to say) is so so cost prohibitive that our breweries-which I like--are a bit scattered in little pockets but the pockets themselves are doing well. North Davidson, Plaza/Midwood, South End and the South End corridor are doing well.

We have OMB recreating the German experience locally with NO IPAs and in my opinion, a pilsner/alt/fest that are amazing>>counter that with Resident Culture who is our new addition and very "Veil like" plus the nicest new brewery I have been to. I still need to visit @herrburgess in SC whose Bierkeller in SC has an outstanding reputation for truly authentic Bamberg styles.

 

Red Oak was just around the corner near me, and the entire family would have a blast every time-required to go when snowing! These have always been German inspired brews. Now they're over in Whitsett and they do seem to be thriving. The beers were always better than the snobs allowed. I give credit to BS for his vision and longevity. Just tell Brawley hello!

 

The premise of the article was easy for me to agree with. I have noticed subtle changes in the experiences, and so has the wife.

Take Bamberg for example. Our first trip there was in 1998. We left the train station and found Spezial. Went in and found the room to be smokey, got two seats, and ordered a beer. The locals determined we were Americans, and asked why we were there and not Munich, Heidelberg, or Rothenburg ob der Tauber (the must go places back then). After talking in our halting German, we realized no one was making the switch to German. We managed to find our way to Schlenkerla somehow, had the Rauchbier, and a Bamberger Zweibel. Managed to get back to the train station in time.

What has changed? No smoking in Bavaria, I like it. With the smart phone you can find your way easily, a plus but those off the direct way finds are eliminated. English is much more common among the locals. There are also many English speaking tourists. The cruise ships stop, maybe they always did, and send the passengers to Schlenkerla. Had a nice chat with retired couples from Iowa last time. The Bamberg Zweibel is not what we remember, just bacon on top, and they always have it and don’t run out.

Going out into the countryside has more of the feel of that original trip. Except cell phones still help.

Maybe @herrburgess will give his take on things? Hope this doesn’t come off as get off my lawn.

 

Honestly the last time I was in Bamberg I didn't see a single sign of any US "craft" style beer. I know it's there, of course, but while I neither sought it out this time (like I did with Weyermann the previous trip) nor did I actively try to avoid it, I found things pretty similar to when I last lived there: new beers appearing from the traditional places and the classics still the most popular and most consumed. And what I am seeing more and more of now is a sort of nostalgia among German drinkers for "old" styles...both in terms of the way they are brewed (Kellerbiere) as well as the way they are marketed (retro-feeling labels etc.). Yes, the tourist hoards have definitely increased. And the country places remain the most unchanged. But I think Bamberg has by and large escaped the "revolution."

 

The only Craft type beers were at die Bierothek bottle shop.

 

Was in Munich in 1999. We had no issues. I was also 23 at the time, so everyone that was my age spoke English very well. Didn't hurt that my buddy spoke decent conversational German, but he told me that everyone in Munich had an attitude with him because he was speaking what he could only describe as "Country" or "Low German" while everyone in Munich spoke "High German". He said it sounded like they were yodeling when they spoke. That made me laugh.

 

We were somewhat surprised that not many spoke English in parts of Niederbayern a couple of years ago. Even younger people. There are still places where some German comes in handy.

 

Jeff, have you ever visited Café Abseits in Bamberg?

@Seacoastbrewer in a past thread in the Germany forum posted:

“You can usually find several fairly local IPAs and PAs at Abseits. Even now I see one hopped with Galaxy out of Nuernberg.

http://www.abseits-bamberg.de/

NBG Hopburst Interstellar IPA, 0,33 l..............4,50
Intensiv gehopft mit Galaxy. 5,6% vol. alc.”

Cheers!

 

We were there maybe 5 years ago. OK, another place to find an IPA.