Tom Cizauskas' Twelve Books of Christmas

One of the few blogs I check regularly (no, I'm not a snob; I'm just busy to the point of being overwhelmed) is Yours for Good Fermentables, owned and operated by Tom Cizauskas.

I've been enjoying the heck out of a series he's running right now: "Twelve Books of Christmas," a collection of books he recommends for gift-giving. Unlike most lists, his is annotated, and that alone makes it worth a trip to his blog. You can see the entries so far here.

Anyway --- damn! I made the list. For that honor --- and I do consider it an honor --- I thank him. So if you're still wondering what to get for people on your list, head on over to Tom's blog and pick up some ideas.

2009 Yule Photo Contest Winners

Over at A Good Beer Blog, Alan McLeod has rolled out the winners of this year's photo contest. The "grand prize" winner (and, ahem, loser) are here. The other winners are here and here and here. Round of applause and a cup o' cheer, please, for Alan, who gets nothing out of this except the pleasure of sharing the photos with all of us.

Year-End/New-Year/Random Roundup/Wrap-up

How's that for use of slash marks?

The lovely Bryan Kolesar at BrewLounge is once again running a brew-round-up, in which he asks various beer types to opine about the current and future years. His own take is here. Part One of "others'" views is here.

Elsewhere in the net-o-sphere, the equally lovely Stan Hieronymus has added more thoughts on his views about "lists." Leave it to him to be, well, thoughtful. Lew is up to his usual, so you should take a gander. Why? Because I like him. (Not, mind you, that I know the guy. I just like his smarts, talent, and wit.)

The folks at All About Beer finally (as in finally) have their new website up and running, so that's another place to visit.

Jay Brooks, a guy whose interests range far, wide, and in between, has a marvelous post about Gregg Hinlicky's portraits of brewers. The image of Fritz Maytag is a marvel. (Full disclosure: Fritz and I are friends, and the portrait captures the man's spirit and intelligence.)

Reminder: only a few days left to submit your beer photos to the 2009 contest. Tim Beauchamp has a number of posts worth reading (he's a ranter after my own heart).

And if you've ever wondered "What ARE the dimensions of a stainless steel firkin?" --- wonder no more. Tom has the answer.

Catching Up On Some Beer-Related Matters

This got right by me --- but this past week Pete Brown was named Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers. To which I say: Congratulations, Mr. Brown!

Pete is an immensely gifted writer (note that I did not describe him as a "beer writer"; he transcends the genre). He's also an extraordinarily nice and generous human being. So --- Pete: here's to you.

Another matter that I lost track of (because right now I'm losing track of things right and left. If it doesn't involve the history of meat in America, my brain's not connecting ). Anyway: Alan McLeod is taking submissions for this year's Yule Beer Photo competition. You have one week to send your photos to him. Do it!

Jeremiah McWilliams Looks Back At The First Year of A-BInBev

The always entertaining (smart, funny, etc.) Jeremiah McWilliams and his colleagues at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch are looking back at the first year of the "new" Anheuser-Busch (ABIB to you).

For the coverage so far, see the links at this Lager Heads entry. There will be more tomorrow and the rest of the week, so follow along.

More Nitwittery: Please, May I Just Have a Plain Ol' Beer?

I'm not a beer aficionada (I'm a historian, folks; not a gourmet). The whole beer-as-object-of-devotion-and-adulation thing is annoying as hell. Don't ge me wrong: I appreciate well-made beer, but as a fetish, well . . . Anyway, this today from Alan at the Good Beer Blog. Now Alan is something I can see as an object of devotion/adulation, me being a serious fan of contrarianism.