If Ron Pattinson (@patto1ro), beer historian behind “Shut up about Barclay Perkins,” started a religion, I may very well join it. His uses actual brewery logs from the last couple of hundred years to detail what was actually happening in breweries and dispels many of the beer myths that have been floating around for practically ever. Ron’s latest venture is a video series on YouTube where he interviews brewers with ties to the past, I’ve enjoyed all of the videos I’ve watched so far and would recommend that anyone interested in beer history to also check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@patto1ro
For anyone new to Ron's work, I also recommend checking his published work in BeerAdvocate magazine (RIP)... https://www.beeradvocate.com/articles/author/ron-pattinson/
Wow, I didn't realize this many articles had appeared in the magazine over the years! I'm certain that I would have read them when they first appeared, but I see a marathon reading session occurring today while I also watch the snow fall.
Thanks for posting this, I started to watch the interview with the Pretty Things couple. Made me miss their beer and want to take a flight over to their new place. Sounds like a really cool space and I know the beers will be great. Looking forward to finishing the interview and watching more interviews. Enjoy
I agree, that was an interesting interview with the couple from Pretty Things, I never had any of their beers, but will definitely make it to their current brewery in Sheffield if I ever get over to the UK. Something else that I learned from Ron is how much more beer is taxed in other countries. Both SMOTD and Chris Flaskamp of Tübinger brewery in Chile mentioned the need for alcohol tax reform in their respective countries, I think we’re pretty fortunate in the US.
I'm lining up more interviews with a wide range of people from the beer world. I aim to release around one a week. I'm open to suggestions for people to interview.
Agreed, but we had to adhere to page and word counts back then to ensure mag costs stayed within budget.
Regarding taxes on beer outside the US, When I was visiting Scotland in summer of 2024, I got to talking to the bartender at the Ferry Pub in Queensferry. It was the end of my trip touring Scotland and asked why I can’t find any higher ABV beers at the pubs, I was hoping to try various Wee Heavy’s on cask but didn’t find any. All low ABV beers. She noted that in Scotland pubs, they heavily tax higher ABV beers, so most pubs just opt not to serve them at all. I believe it’s a passive/aggressive way for the Govt to deter DUI’s and public intoxication. I was really looking to try some Skullsplitter on cask but that didn’t happen. Still a great trip with lots of great pubs and UK beers though.
Martha from SMOTD mentions in the interview with Ron that while their customers like strong beers, they need to keep the ABV below 8.4%, because above that, the taxes become “punitive.“
Fritz Maytag from Anchor has been publicly silent about all of the issues that faced the brewery the last few years, but he would be a good subject if available. I think you blogged about meeting Miles Jenner with Harvey’s years back, a video interview would be interesting. I’d also definitely watch you interview BeerAdvocate’s own @jesskidden , the preeminent US beer historian!
The first part of my interview with Mitch Steele, former brewer at Anheuser Busch. This covers his time studying at UC Davis, working at a winery, his first brewing job at the San Andreas brewpub and his move to Anheuser Busch.
This is partially true. The tax on beer is proportionate to its ABV, so e.g. a 8% beer pays twice as much as a 4% beer. Over and above that, there is a higher rate again on very strong beer (over 8.4%), and a lower rate on very low gravity beer (under 3.5%). So you can see the tax regime very much favours the production of weaker beers. But the main reason strong beers are not seen much in pubs is that most beer drinkers don't want them. We like drinking large quantities of weaker beer, it's what suits our drinking culture. Belhaven still make a very nice bottled Wee Heavy, but frustratingly refuse to sell it in their ~100 pubs around Scotland. Wee Heavy is a rare style nowadays, and even when it was more common it was usually bottled. Your best hope of finding one on cask is to time your visit to coincide with a beer festival.
I've just published part two of my interview with Mitch Steele. Where he discusses his move to Stone and the fun he had there.
