From the Editor, Issue 71

It’s that time again! Welcome to the brand-new issue of The Beer Connoisseur Magazine! Issue 71 is chock-full of timely, engaging stories about the beverage you love the most: beer!

The issue begins with a story on Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers of all time. Did you know he now has his own brand of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC gummies? That’s right! Mike Bites are available online and at various retailers around the country (where legally possible), and these fun gummies are sure to provide the relaxation and chill vibes that come with Delta 8 consumption. Also, did we mention they’re shaped like ears?

We follow that up with an engaging piece about Pickle Beer, which is an intriguing beer style that shouldn’t really work, but it does. If you’ve never tried a gherkin-flavored beer, this story might convince you to do just that.

Then, it's our Beer Recommendations for Spring 2024 (aka What We’re Drinking Now). This rotating story features some of the best brews for the spring season, including a few that won GABF gold medals near the end of last year, as well as a few that scored highly in our Official Review.

After that, we're off for a detailed tour of Portland, Maine’s tremendous brewing scene, which is home to Allagash Brewing Co., Batson River Brewing and Distilling, Bissell Bros Brewing Co., Oxbow Brewing and Blending and many, many more! We explore the finest pints and pours in the city in this entertaining piece.

Another travel story follows with Tasting Greece: The Search for the Best Greek Beer, which dives into the pristine azure waters of the Mediterranean and explores some of the best beer and breweries available in Greece. The country is home to some of the best views in the world, so why not pair those views with some brews? Sounds like a good idea to me!

Our last travel story in the issue takes us to the Pacific Northwest for a tour of Great Notion Brewing, a terrific beer mecca for fans of IPAs, stouts, sours and much more in Portland, Oregon. Portland has long been home to one of the best craft beer scenes in the world, and Great Notion serves as one of the most notable establishments in the Rose City.

Yeast is one of the most important ingredients in beer, but it doesn’t quite get the shine that hops, malt and adjuncts tend to receive. Perhaps our story, The Role of Beer Yeast in Brewing, will change that. Owen Ogletree delves deep into the scintillating science behind this living organism that aids beer’s fermentation in myriad ways.

Lastly, it's time for an intriguing treatise on beer salt, which is an unusual beer additive that might appeal to some of you more adventurous drinkers. Beyond that, if you have a friend or family member that isn’t a big fan of beer’s flavor (I know, I don’t get it either), then beer salt might help alter the flavor enough for them to enjoy it.

Of course, the issue wouldn’t be complete without our collection of Industry News, Official Reviews and Brewer Q&As and this issue doesn’t disappoint on that front.

We hope you enjoy reading this, the 71st issue of The Beer Connoisseur Magazine!

Cheers,

Chris Guest
- Managing Editor