I am swimming in pint glasses. How did this happen? Just about every Wednesday, the Columbia Pint Night crew meets at Frisco Tap House. There, the featured brewery offers a free pint glass if you buy their beer. After years of Pint Nights, the glasses have really piled up, now overflowing throughout my house. When my street suggested holding a yard sale, I pounced on the chance to distribute some of my vast collection to fellow beer lovers. After the successful yard sale, I am still swimming in pint glasses; before the pint glasses could fill the neighborhood pool, now just a wading pool in the backyard.

On this beautiful Saturday, I suggest you take a break from enjoying the outdoors, find a comfortable corner, grab a beer and catch up on the craft beer world. What follows are a few nuggets of craft beer wisdom.

Did you know that throughout history, most brewers were women? Only recently has brewing become more of a male occupation. In For Centuries, Alewives Dominated the Brewing Industry, we learn about the role of brewing, women, the church, and witches in this fascinating article. A related article, In England, Brewing Beer Was Women’s Work Until It Became Big Business, also discusses the changing role of women in brewing.

I have railed against big beer’s attack on craft beer. In Aaron Goldfarb’s Craft Beer Was Built on an Us-Versus-Them Ethos. Now It’s Tearing Us Apart, he challenges the craft versus big beer notion. He makes a good point.

Speaking of craft beer fanatics, Leap of Faith: Is Craft Beer the New Church? describes some churches that embrace craft beer. Even the Royal Navy has added a pub to their newest carrier.

Cheers!

Warren