This is just my first impression based on the beers I have tasted the last few weeks and not indepth looks at specific breweries but I'll get there in due time. The beer scene is pretty decent, while there aren't a large number of breweries, as many as Flagstaff by my count, they are making some good quality beers.

Furthermore the local beer stores and grocery stores offer a good range of options and while Belgian and hop bombs seem to be in short supply otherwise there are plentiful options to sample. I have seen such names as Dogfish Head, Magic Hat, Saranac, Brooklyn, Bells, and even Laganitas on the shelves here. The Bells was of particular surprise and delight to me. No offerings from Stone as of yet, but as Asheville Beer blog mentioned they should be in the area in short order.

Last and should be noted there is a definite difference between the hop level of East Coast and West Coast beers. Pale ales aren't nearly as hoppy as their West Coast cousins, they are more malt based flavored ales. While I have seen some highly hopped ales the number of hop bombs lags behind the Western US. I don't think that there is anything wrong with that. Tastes vary to region and it gets reflected in the locally popular brewing styles.

More to come on the particular beers and breweries of the area.

It looks like I am not the only one who is noticing the Italian beer scene. While Charlie Papazian is looking to hop enhanced brews for the future I suspect beers like the ones mentioned in the article are more likely the future. Local unique ingredients and tradition remixed in the modern era seem to be a more likely path.

Alan's post on Beer Advocate magazine reminds me that David was kind enough to send me some copies of it. I never saw the magazine in Arizona and frankly was unwilling to subscribe to any magazine that doesn't offer me a trial copy for free before subscription. Because of the Big Move(TM) but I really didn't have the time to write what I thought at the time. Now seems the time.

Labeling
First off the number system is confusing includes no publish date so you can only vaguely know from the content what time of year the magazine was issued. Also with no year is this a copy from Spring or a year ago Spring that has been kept in great condition, I don't know.

Content
I liked the content within the magazine but as Alan noted it's a bit heavy on food. But as a bit of a foodie I didn't really mind. One would think that for a magazine with such a strong online presence they could highlight a best of the web those sites with great information who have a unique angle on beer. This would have two benefits, educate their readership and participate in the larger web community. I like there Innovation column but it doesn't quite always cover the same turf.

Tastings
They are very meticulous in telling you how they judge the beer except who actually does the work. Zymergy who does similar tastings each issue does that right. By telling us who each judge and what their experience level it provides background on the ratings. I know beer geeks who actually very closely watch specific judges recommendations because they have noticed they have similar tastes. The other problem I was the Black Demon Stout reviewed in Volume II Issue II. The BA Overall scored the beer a B they scored the beer F. It was obviously a bad bottle based on reading the review they wrote, why didn't they get another bottle from another source? I have also noticed beers miscategorized from what there brewers consider them as a still occasionally. So while I am glad to have the reviews I am left to wonder about their quality.

So overall while I'd be happy to pick up a free copy from a local brewpub, I don't think I would be willing to buy a subscription at this time.

(I read Volume II Issues II and III I got from David and Volume II Issue V I found on a trip.)

I am in Jackson, TN and with any luck we will make it to Raleigh tonight, which means if I post to this month's Session topic “Drinking anti-seasonally” it will be later this weekend. That said go read Rob's site for what will surely be some great reading.