Curated reads #2

It was one week ago that we ended May, a month that will be especially remembered for the news -made public through a message in Beer Advocate- of the merger between two pioneering companies, symbols of American independent craft brewing: Boston Beer Company and Dogfish Head. With the large brewing multinationals unleashed, it is undoubtedly a defensive movement that, without knowing any details of the operation, seems to be beneficial for both parties: image for some, channeling for the others.

The conversation around this piece of news was mostly focused on social networks, and little outstanding content was published in blogs and other specialised media. Hence, and with a little delay, let me share with you four reads that were attractive to me during this past month that deal with topics different from the industry's outstanding novelty.

• Edge of Heaven — Shucking Oysters and Sipping Stouts on the Irish West Coast. Many of us were very much expecting the release of the new Pellicle magazine, and Matt Curtis' first article did not disappoint. Very descriptive, and accompanied by good photography, as you read it you discover a new need: to immediately go to the Irish coast to eat oysters with Stout.
• Why Brewers Should Be Going To Hop Harvests. Published in April, this article by Adam Callaghan lists a catalogue of compelling reasons why brewers should go to harvest hops: from the relationship with suppliers, to quality control or influence on the product.
• How To Make Hop Water – The New Non-Alcoholic Zero-Calorie Drink That Tastes Delicious. If time, laziness or both factors prevent you from brewing at home, Steve Thanos shares a less demanding alternative in the Homebrew Academy: with an appropriate context, this practical entry gives us the keys to produce our own hop water.
• Novedades cerveceras: ¿realmente son novedades? As if we had agreed upon it this month, Laura Cabanillas on her blog Adicta al Lúpulo -Addicted to Hops- looks at beer releases and reflects on them, taking the testimony of some industry voices.

And so far the selection of this fifth month of 2019, which as usual I hope you find interesting. Happy reading!

Salut i birra!