Elle, Author at Beer Now Conference

The Thirsty Brewmaster is Back at EBBC12

May 11, 2012 by Elle

Václav Berka, Senior Brewmaster at Pilsner Urquell, is set to return to the European Beer Bloggers Conference in Leeds next weekend.

To celebrate their return to EBBC this year in addition to their 170th anniversary, Pilsner Urquell has arranged a grand Czech feast for dinner on Saturday evening at Anthony’s Restaurant in Leeds. EBBC attendees can also look forward to wooden barrels of unfiltered, unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell to enjoy as well as an opportunity to learn about the rich history of Pilsen’s famous brewery. Dinner will be followed by a late-night reception at a local pub.

Pilsner Urquell is hosting two contests via Twitter for EBBC bloggers: The blogger who tweets the most using #happy170PU from now until EBBC will win Pilsner Urquell glassware, and the best pictures posted on Twitter or Facebook will take home Pilsner Urquell merchandise from the conference.

Na zdraví!

Limited Quantity of Shepherd Neame’s Generation Ale Available at EBBC

May 7, 2012 by Elle

Shepherd Neame has announced they will be giving away a limited number of their newest aged beer, Generation Ale, at the European Beer Bloggers Conference next weekend. Only 3000 bottles total are being released of this limited edition hand-crafted ale. Below is the description offered up by the brewery:

“To signify the five generations of the Neame family that have run the brewery, this burnished gold ale combines five classic roasted malts with five of the choicest varieties of traditional Kentish hops. The ingredients are combined with natural chalk-filtered mineral water, drawn from the artesian well deep beneath the Shepherd Neame brew-house, and then brewed in the UK’s last remaining wooden mash tuns. Finally, the beer is aged in a deep maturation process lasting 12 months. As one of the few ales in the UK to undergo this lengthy ageing process, Generation Ale boasts a rich character, impeccably balanced flavour and a long warming finish.”

Britain’s oldest brewer is also the first in the UK to be brewing a US craft beer under license. Shepherd Neame has been the exclusive importer of Samuel Adams Boston Lager for over a decade, but they will now be brewing up the lager fresh right there in the UK.

Since their participation at EBBC last year, Shepherd Neame has been stepping up their online presence. Their new website, set to launch next month, is said to be a reflection of this shift. Please join us in welcoming them back to the 2012 European Beer Bloggers Conference!

#EBBC12 Twitter Chat Recap: Better Beer Blogging

April 26, 2012 by Elle

For those of you who missed out on yesterday’s Twitter chat with UK beer writers Adrian Tierney-Jones and Simon Jenkins, here is a recap of some of the conversation. We will be continuing this conversation in Leeds in just a few short weeks. If you’ve not already registered to attend the European Beer Bloggers Conference, there are still scholarships available.

Better Beer Blogging: #EBBC12 Twitter Chat this Wednesday

April 23, 2012 by Elle

The European Beer Bloggers Conference is just weeks away and we are putting the finishing touches on months of preparation that has led up to this event. This week we have organized an #EBBC12 Twitter chat (Wed 4/25, 7pm BST/2pm EST) as a precursor to one of the topics on this year’s agenda; “Blogging: Improving Your Beer Writing.” Joining in on this chat will be accomplished beer writers Adrian Tierney-Jones and Simon Jenkins, who are also presenting on the topic in Leeds next month.

Adrian Tierney-Jones shared a few points of thought in regards to becoming a stronger writer:

Keys to better beer blogging

Keep posts short and succinct, for me 500 words or thereabouts is the ideal length, you can make plenty of good points without waffling on and losing the reader

Think about the readership — for myself I want all manner of people interested in beer to read my posts.

Try and have a unique voice — with blogging there is limitless freedom in the way you can write, so don’t feel you have to write like other bloggers. For instance, if you are doing tasting notes try and discover new ways of describing the beer in your glass — if it reminds you of Scarlett Johansson then say so. When I write about beer or pubs for a magazine or newspaper I always have the style of the publication in mind. With blogging I have greater freedom — you need to use that freedom.

Beer writing is as valid a form of journalism as film or TV writing — remember that.

Always try to challenge preconceived notions.

Do remember to check your posts for spelling and sense prior to publication.

Join us this Wednesday at 7pm BST, 2pm EST. Follow #EBBC12 and include it in your Tweets to be a part of the conversation. Be sure you are following Adrian (@atjbeer) and Simon (@jenkolovesbeer) to ask them questions and hear their thoughts, and @beerbloggers for conversation starters.

#BBC12 Twitter Chat Recap

April 13, 2012 by Elle

Thanks to all the beer bloggers who joined us last night for the #BBC12 chat on Twitter! It was, of course, great conversation, with seasoned writers, brand new bloggers and brewery representatives joining in on the conversation.

Here is a recap of just some of the conversation. Stay tuned here and on Twitter for details on the next chat!