Metaboston

The Great International Beer Festival in Providence (11/10/2007)

The Great International Beer Festival is back in Providence  on November 10 and this appreciation will encourage you to attend:  "For $35, attendees - who must show proof of legal age at the door, of course - are given a plastic cup just a bit bigger than a shot glass.  Then they can walk the vendor booths - mini-bars, with everything on tap, if you will - and ask for a sample.  The kick is that you can visit each booth as many times as you want. . . . This weekend there will be about 200 breweries at the Convention Center, hailing from Providence to the Virgin Islands."

Celebrate: Doyle's Cafe's 125th Anniversary

“All the Irish who landed in Jamaica Plain were told to go to Doyle’s to find out about employment and find a place to stay,” says the owner and you celebrate the anniversary at the atmospheric and historic pub (photo JP Historical Society).

The Trial of Grendel's Den

The Harvard Square bar is probably unique among local taverns for being the subject of a Supreme Court case.  In 1982 the case went to the high court when Grendel's Den appealed the legitimacy of a Massachusetts law that gave "schools and churches the power to prevent issuance of liquor licenses for premises within a 500-foot radius of the church or school by objecting to the license applications."  Grendel's Den at that time was right next door to the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Parish and GD's application for a liquor license was denied.  After several appeals, the Supreme Court decided that the church power breached the separation between church and state under the Establishment Clause of the Constitution and you can currently enjoy a wide range of alcoholic beverages at Grendel's to this day.

After-Work Drinks

Gridskipper's selection of "Boston's Best Happy Hours" seems a bit arbitrary (the Pour House?) but it does have a few good suggestions like Grendel's Den.  It depends on what you want from your after-work drinking but Grendel's Den draws a crowd but it's not oppressively crowded and it has a pleasant relaxed atmosphere that can get you ready for whatever comes next.  The food isn't so great but it's cheap.

The Barking Crab is a very pleasant spot for a drink on the water but keep in mind that in a few more weeks (June 21) the Boston Harbor Hotel starts putting on free concerts on the harbor during the week (Tues: Soul, Wed: Swing, Thurs: Blues) as well as movies on Fridays.  It's a nice setting to relax after work with the boats, scenery and music.

Belgian Beer in MA

Growing interest in Belgian beers in Massachusetts where the brews are still relatively unknown, with insight from David Ciccolo, the owner of local beer oasis The Publick House, and Dan Shelton of Belchertown-based Shelton Brothers the prime Massachusetts importer of Belgian beers.  Like the author of the article Philadelphia was a great source of Belgian beer knowledge--hopefully we'll get the same enthusiasm here. (via Brew Like a Monk)

Here's an encyclopedic guide to Belgian beers in all their glory and variety.

Sam Adams' Brewmaster

A profile of Wayland resident and Boston Beer Company brewmaster Grant Wood.  What does a brewmaster do?  Wood "oversees the production at several facilities, including Rochester, N.Y., Latrobe, Pa., and in North Carolina" and is "also part of the recipe development team in Boston, where most of the beer is developed, if not brewed, for sale."  Wood also enjoys home brewing beer.

Somerville Theatre No Longer Dry

The Somerville Theatre in Davis Square will now serve beer and wine alongside the Raisinets and popcorn.  It's a smart move that will help to keep the theatre competitive with the option of sitting at home watching a DVD.  Movie theatres are going to have to offer something different to attract customers away from increasingly elaborate home theatres.  However, fairly strict conditions will apply to drinkers according to the Somerville News:  "Much like Fenway Park, the Theatre limits how many drinks customers can buy at a time, and those who wish to drink must wear wristbands. Ushers patrol the various theatres, ensuring that no one without a wristband is drinking alcohol their friend bought for them." 

Beer Geeks: Beer Advocate of Brookline

Lengthy and very interesting article by the NY Times' wine guy Eric Asimov on Beer Advocate, the website and now magazine devoted to the appreciation of fine beer in the land of Bud Light, and its founders brothers Jason and Todd Alstrom.

Asimov suggests at one point that beer fans are still an outsider group: 

Without the pastoral mystique that has been appropriated by wine producers or the suave, sophisticated imagery of the wine drinker, beer lovers have largely retreated to the antistyle precincts associated with such proverbial social outcasts as computer nerds and science fiction fanatics. Bizarre facial hair, unflattering T-shirts and strange headgear are standard equipment among beer geeks.

But Todd Alstrom points out that beek geeks may be more avant garde than outsider:  "Before the Internet, computer nerds felt on the outside but now they’re accepted,” Todd said. “I think beer geeks are the same way. We’ll look back 10 years from now and remember what it was like.”

Cambridge Brewing Company; Boston Oktoberfest

The Man Room's gives some high reviews to Cambridge Brewing Company's Hefeweizen (9.00) and YouEnjoyMyStout Russian Imperial Stout.  We've been enjoying

If you beg to differ you can start planning for the Sam Adams-sponsored Boston Oktoberfest on Sept. 16th at the Park Plaza castle.