Anyway, I did my best, and if you think I got something wrong, tell me. I've already had one reader point out what he believed was an omission in the early history of hop use. After checking his source I don't think the claim holds up.

I had to tell him that writing the full history of beer from A-Z based on original sources was just not feasible. I did use *some* original sources, but mostly not, which is actually one thing that made me nervous about publishing this. I hadn't been able to touch bottom on every single issue.

Then on Thursday Amund P. Arnesen (Norway's first beer sommelier) told me he'd been hoping I'd write a book on the history of beer, because so much of what's already out there is unreliable. And he said he knew I'd use original sources and get it right.

On Monday Mika Laitinen told me he'd been hoping I would write a book about the history of beer "because your view of beer history is different." I was quietly stunned by that, because that's exactly, precisely the reason I wrote the book (as stated in the preface).

Brian Aldiss wrote that short story, about a cockroach that wakes up one day as a man. It *hates* people having names, and loves to scuttle around in the dirt in the cellar.

Thank you, Walter! That kind of praise makes an author's heart beat faster. :)

Andreas Krennmair is doing some amazing historical research about Central European beer, and his latest book Bavarian White Beer is a must-read. It corrects many historical errors and adds much detail to the story of this venerable ale.

Guess we have to wait for the paper. I wrote to them to ask when they think it will be out, but haven't heard anything.

A grain of grain, perhaps?

Excellent presentation last night by Matthias Trum of Schlenkerla. And a real fanboy moment for me — one of my absolute favorite breweries.

Yes, indeed 😀

In Voss the kjenge is not a museum piece

Getting the brewers set up. This is the owner of kveik #18, who always serves his beers from an orange plastic can

The sheep are at work as usual.

The usual morning walk to the festival to set things up.