Big Beers & Beyond

In most circles, the terms beer and sophistication are at polar opposites. As modern-day humans, we're expected to merely consume suds, not carry on hour-long conversations about a beer's characteristics, history and creator. Such dialog is supposed to be the sole domain of wine and spirits.

Yet the groundswell cannot be denied, and the beer geek cannot hide. Brews of all shapes, sizes and origin are fast regaining credibility, and the art of craft brewing is once again viable. You can thank the independents and even some of the big-name craft brewers for breathing new life into the industry, but more on that in a minute.

It would seem we've learned quite a bit from the '90s, a time when fleeting fandome and transient homebrewers set the stage for eventual collapse. We had it all wrong. In the rush to keep up with instant, insatiable demand, the breweries did what any self-respecting capitalistic business would do -- churn out product. The industry stayed conservative, and micro and craft brewers alike stuck with a tried-and-true collection of standards (pale ales, ambers, wheats and stouts). It was a time where the only thing of certainty was that a seasonal beer would be something of fruit origin.

The eventual collapse of this market produced two positive byproducts:

1. Brewers had the opportunity to reset and remind themselves why they got in the game in the first place. Hence, big beers moved out of the lab and into consumer hands, albeit on a limited basis.
2. Fans who were at least somewhat sincere about their interest in craft brews would be the audience these breweries would target, and it's clear these fans are back ... again, albeit on a limited basis.

The evolution, from my perspective, has been nothing short of impressive, and I absolutely love the community aspect this turn of events has produced. Brewers are relating to their consumers on an entirely new level, while said consumers are finding themselves refreshed and even more enthusiastic, now that there's more than just the concept of craft brew to occupy their interests. It's not an elitist thing by any stretch, but there's most definitely a punk rock element to it -- the notion that beer can be relevant without being prententious and that in any given state, one can usually find a DIY brewer who's passionate about the ageless tradition.

Sure, I like cracking open a PBR with my friends at the local dive bar, and I'll mix some Coors Light in with my tomato juice the next morning. But nothing beats trying new creations ... recipes that spawn imagination and not just visions of bottom-line profits. And we're just scratching the surface here; we haven't even begun to discuss different styles, regions and the brewers themselves.

So, in tribute to this modern renaissance, we've created the beer geek's haven "Big Beers & Beyond." The purpose is simple -- to share our experiences with the less-heralded brews, what we like and don't like, food pairings (although I'm no expert), characteristics, etc. We'll touch on the various styles and the brewers behind them. And while we're not going to split hairs over what's a big beer and what isn't, we won't devote much 'ink' to nationally distributed, six-pack craft brews, although we may conduct the occasional roundup since these beers are generally nationally distributed. We welcome entries/reviews from you, the populus, since our small group only has so much time in the day to drink, so feel free to send them over to 'sean DOT hawk AT gmail DOT com' and we'll post the best of the bunch.

Currently enjoying: Breckenridge Christmas Ale, Leffe, Brother David's Triple Abbey (Anderson Valley)

Desperately seeking: Left Hand's Smokejumper Porter, Sam Adams' Utopias (why not?)