Well I’m back, and getting ready to write. I really got to explore the Danish craft beer scene, and came away surprised at how closely it mirrored that of the US beer scene, how on-board and pivotal Denmark’s biggest mainstream brewer is, and how enthusiastically craft beer was received by the Danish people in a country where even the cheap stuff goes for close to $10 a pop. Look for the big, photographically rich update later today or tomorrow.

-Mark

Good news. Rochester area beer lovers can get their suds on tonight at Lovin’ Cup’s Brew-ha-ha tasting, in Park Point adjacent to the RIT campus. $10 gets you te full tasting, and the featured brewery tonight is Ithaca Brewing.

Lovin’ Cup’s tastings are totally worth it. The proprietors really care about good beer, and go out of their way to ensure a great tap selection.Their Brew-ha-ha series is monthly, and draws a large, diverse crowd.

Beer School is tomorrow at Monty’s Korner. Join Tom and myself as we welcome a classic American craft brewery upon its return to the Rochester market: Goose Island, from Chicago. Tasting is $5 and starts at 7:30. Or so.

-Mark

Beginning next week, beer from Chicago’s Goose Island Brewery will be generally available in the Rochester area. This is a good thing for a couple of reasons.

Let’s start with the fact that it’s damn good beer from a renowned brewery. Goose Island beers consistently rank in the “A” range among reviewers on beeradvocate.com, and a lot of those drinkers are picky bastards. We poor residents of the ROC have gained a worthwhile option for our beer-buying dollar.

The other thing is that Goose Island marks a further westward expansion of Rochester’s beer horizon. It isn’t that we’re not spoiled for choice here in the Pearl of Lake Ontario, or that we don’t have access to excellent beers (such as Victory, Sly Fox, Ommegang etc.), But we miss out on many of the nation’s legendary breweries. Try to buy Russian River, Three Floyds, or New Belgium without a ticket on the jetBlue.

Great LakesBrewing (Cleveland) and Arcadia (Michigan) were the first steps in westward expansion, or more accurately, appearing on brewers’ radar screens (big props to some of our local distributors for that). Goose Island is probably the most significant coup to date. Let’s hope the beers from our nation’s breadbasket aren’t far behind.

-Mark