I'll begin by noting the tragic loss of a legend.  Sunday morning the world lost blues man Eddie Kirkland in a terrible automobile accident.  I had just watched him play the night before at the Dunedin Brewery.  An amazing talent with a brilliant career.  R.I.P Eddie.

I am also saddened to hear of the passing of a true Hollywood legend and icon in the truest sense of the world.  Jane Russell was the epitome of the Hollywood bombshell, and exuded something that the industry has so sorely lacked in recent decades: the ability to be sexy as well as classy.

On the up side of things, the annual Stogies & Stout event at the Dunedin Brewery on Saturday night was fantastic.  A great crowd of beer lovers without being cramped, top notch music by Eddie Kirkland, and an excellent selection of beers.  I love beer events that allow you to talk with others about the beer.  Plenty of open space to move around, good-size pours that allow you to really get a good mouthful, and snack strategically placed about the venue.  I want to give big-time recognition to Mike Bryant for organizing one of the best events of the year.  It was said repeatedly throughout the night how much people were enjoying the atmosphere.  More than one person said "I think I know everyone here..."  It certainly felt that way.  Even though I met several new friends, at no point did I feel intimidated or unwelcome or like I could not just walk up to anyone and say hello.  It was a very welcome and friendly feel.

Some great news on the national craft beer scene as well: the number of American craft breweries has now surpassed 1700!  That is amazing growth in a very short time.  Much of the credit has to be given to the Brewers Association for the tireless work in promoting craft beer and educating people.  And a healthy share must also be heaped upon those who have championed craft beer since before it was cool.  The brewers, their business partners, the distributors, the bars and restaurants... these are the people that make it possible for us to enjoy craft beer in so many different ways.

Much more craft beer excitement coming our way in the near future!

Beer People Are Good People

I have been deeply engaged and writing about the world of craft beer for about nine months now.  I knew when I decided to focus my efforts on this culture and industry that there was a lot I didn't know and that I needed to learn.  I soon found myself surrounded (virtually and otherwise) with other beer lovers, writers, brewers, and so on, all eager to pass on information and answer any question I had.  And there was no common theme other than beer people helping other beer people.  No one asked "are you a Democrat or Republican".  No one cared how much money I made, if I was married, had kids, owned a home, had a good credit rating, or where I went to school.  The single factor was that I liked craft beer and wanted to learn more.

Everyone I have met has a different background, comes from a different place, and has their own personal tastes and preferences when it comes to beer.  Hop-heads and malt-heads, sour-lovers and "extreme" beer hunters alike love to talk about beer and their experiences... and actually listen to yours!

Recently a hashtag of #beerpeopleRgoodpeople has been circulating on Twitter, and I have to smile every time I see it.  As I have gotten to know more people I am uplifted by how something as basic and seemingly simple as craft beer can bring so many people together from so many different walks of life.  of course there is some healthy competition.  West Coast and East Coast, Yankees and Red Sox, NorCal and SoCal, Portland and Asheville... But I have met someone great from each of those.  And with each new person i meet, be it online or in person, my own knowledge and appreciation of craft beer grows.  I am not only introduced to new beers, but new books, new blogs, new cities, even.  I can go just about anywhere in the country at this point and probably be within a couple hours at most from a #beerpeopleRgoodpeople connection.  There is something fundamentally comforting about this to me.

So my goal - long term, anyway - is to share a craft beer in person with as many of these great beer people as possible.  As spread out as they all are, it is a lofty goal, but a worthy one, I think.