Sensible Beer Talk
is Back
A bitter Englishman records his beer journey of 40+ years, the last 22 of which have been in the USA
Ding’s Rants
Blog Posts
Fortlandia
- a true nano production
When five blokes get together to brew and drink beer, sometimes things don’t exactly go to plan. There’s quite a lot of potential for nonsense to be talked, and for fanciful plans … Read More
Birdboy Brewing Co.
- Phoenix Rising
If you’re wondering what’s been happening at Birdboy Brewing Co. of late, and you’re a tad confused by some recent comings and goings, then you’re not the only one … Read More
Never meet your heroes.
The death of elite beer bars?
‘Never meet your heroes’ is a phrase that is probably best used by kids. They are the group that are perhaps most susceptible to thinking that people, … Read More
Beer Promotes Community
In Goshen, IN
If you happen to feel an enhanced sense of community the next time that you visit the Goshen Brewing Co. (GBCo.) in Goshen, Indiana, it’s not by accident. … Read More
A conversation with Tom Carpenter of 2Toms Brewing Co.
The resurrection of Ding’s Beer Blog is going to be characterized by (at least at first) a focus on the local beer scene. That means Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana are in the cross … Read More
An Englishman and a Scotsman walk into an American bar
There’s an unusual beast prowling just to the east of the Wells Corridor, north of downtown Fort Wayne. He’s a brewer working in a relatively small brewery, in a relatively obscure part of the United States, with … Read More
Come Into My Parlor. A chat with Chris Bryant of Parlor City Brewing
When Parlor City Brewing opened in June of 2020, it wasn’t exactly the ideal time to be launching a service business of any kind, let alone one in the food and … Read More
Beeradvocate more than a decade removed. Still banning!
On 3/31/22 the official Beeradvocate Twitter account manned by Todd Alström, blocked the newly minted dingsbeerblog Twitter account. Yep, it’s true. Quick, to the DeLorean! …
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Ding’s Six Pack
The 6 Most Recent Reviews
Asam Bock
Dunkler Doppelbock
Purchased on a whim from Kahn's in Indianapolis. Wasn't seeking bocks or even Germans at the time, but didn't recognize this so gave it a whirl. Standard 16.9 oz presentation. Pour is as expected. Dark chocolate body, mocha head. Pitted head, lace...
Angel’s Paw
(French Oak Edition)
Well, the French oak spirals certainly changed the original beer! First out, the original beer has taken on a much darker hue here. In the mouth this is much rounder, and the oak is surprisingly rich. It really changes the beer from the clean edges...
Labrassbanda
Love Beer
500 mL bottle. Incredibly attractive color on the pour, a real, deep golden. Not necessarily all that typical of many a Hefewieizen, which often come with a somewhat lighter, yellow hue rather than the deep golden color we get here. Head is solid...
Monk’s Cafe Grand Cru
(Flemish Sour Ale)
11.2 oz "stubby" bottle as part of the Van Steenberge mixed, six pack. Beautiful, dark garnet pour, especially as the light catches it. Head is great, nice retention and lace. The nose and initial tastes are that of intense ethanoic acid, BUT after...
Hofbräu
Hefe Weizen
11.2 oz (330 mL) single. Straw colored pour with a head that fades quickly. A little chill-haze, a few floaties. Limited lace, not a great deal of retention. Grainy nose, a little bubblegum -not much. Medium body with a light yeasty, bubblegum and...
St. Feuillien
Five
Here we go with a new beer, and one that has obviously been specifically marketed as a lower ABV, "refreshing" thirst-quencher. They are NOT shying away from the marketing on this one! Pretty, bright, light lemon yellow color and a good head on...
The Past. The Present. The Future.
Here’s the complete blog archive with all of the posts from 2011 to 2015. In addition, you’ll see posts broken down into more specific categories in the Blog Topic Archive menu at the top of this page, but what kind of content can you expect here at Ding’s Beer Blog going forward? What’s the newer content likely to look like? What kind of opinions and writing can you reasonably expect? Here’s a heads-up …
Past
No BS please, frankly I’ve seen it all before
I am not a kid either in terms of my chronological age or my beer experience. There’s a lot of movers and shakers in beer these days that were not born when I was drinking Bass from the wood with my dad, that were in elementary school when I was traveling to Belgium twice a year for beer, and that were only just starting puberty when I was critiquing the fledgling US craft beer scene two decades ago. (Don’t worry, I know that most of you don’t care). So what? Just don’t bother me with your BS.
Present
I’ll drink (almost) any beer at least once, but …
Drinking something that you know that you probably won’t like just because it’s there, or just because it’s the current flavor of the month is frankly, dumb. What does that mean for me and DBB? Well, likely that I’m going to come down hard against hazy ‘IPAs’, that I’ll be ultra-critical of the non-descript, lazy ‘fruited sours’, that I’ll be hating on milkshake ‘IPAs’, and more often than not pissing all over pastry stouts. I’m a traditionalist, a defender of classic styles, and not a fickle, Johnny-come-lately.
Future
Fort Wayne/NE-IN beer scene critiqued
With the re-launch of the website you’ll likely find an emphasis on the beer scene in and around Fort Wayne and north-east Indiana, as I get back to reviewing and commenting on the beer (and the beer scene) that’s close to me. Expect to read my opinions about what’s going on here, but don’t expect blanket praise. If you’re a local brewery or brewer you’ll need to earn the kudos. Local beer is most definitely not necessarily good beer, and expect no punches to be pulled; no beer given a pass.