| There are so many locations claiming to be "beer | | | | Belgium some 15 miles outside Brussels. The town has |
| capitals" they can't all be right. Can they? In this piece | | | | been the home of "Stella Artios" brand since 1366. Of |
| I take a look at just a few of the "beer capitals" of | | | | course they have their own beer festival, but just |
| the world. | | | | once every five years. The last was in 2008 so we |
| Let's start with Milwaukee, Wisconsin right here in the | | | | will need to wait until 2013 for the next one. |
| USA. In it's history, Milwaukee has been home to | | | | Back here at home Portland, Oregon also claims the |
| some legendary brands; Pabst, Schlitz, Miller and Blatz. | | | | title. There are several microbreweries in the general |
| In itself this is a pretty good reason to claim the | | | | area of Portland, almost all of which are less than 30 |
| prize, at least in years gone by. | | | | years old making them upstarts in comparison with |
| Similarly, Munich, Germany also has a claim based on | | | | other brands. But, they have a dedicated local |
| its long history as a center for beer brewing and, of | | | | following to sing their praise and lay claim to the title. |
| course, world famous Oktoberfest. This 16 day | | | | Another US location you might not equate with |
| celebration of fun and life began in 1810 to celebrate | | | | having a widespread beer culture is San Diego, |
| a royal marriage. Oktoberfest begins on the next to | | | | California but they do. Would you believe that San |
| last Saturday in September and ends on the first | | | | Diego County has more than 30 microbreweries all |
| Sunday of October. Today there are no less than | | | | proudly selling their product to an appreciative public? |
| fourteen breweries located in Munich who set up a | | | | And, of course there is a "festival of beer" as well. |
| tent and proudly serve their product. Also helping | | | | Compared to Oktoberfest, this one is pretty tame; |
| Munich's claim is "drinktec" an international trade show | | | | lasting from 6-11PM on a single evening but it has |
| held once every four years in Munich, coinciding with | | | | been going on for fifteen years now so the locals |
| Oktoberfest, | | | | must like it. This year there is a new festival, San |
| Staying in Europe, the Czech Republic also has a beer | | | | Diego Beer Week to be held between November 6 |
| festival, in Prague. Beer has been brewed in the | | | | and 15. |
| region forever and their claim that the best hops in | | | | There are even more cities that have reason to claim |
| the world come from the Czech Republic has some | | | | the title; New York and Philadelphia come to mind as |
| merit. The best know Czech beer is "Budvar" which | | | | does Austin Texas. Regardless, the point is that beer |
| translates in English to "Budweiser". Despite the name, | | | | is popular all over the world and continues to be a |
| the two breweries are not connected. In addition to | | | | source of local pride to a large number of locations. |
| "Budvar" the Czechs also brew the original "Pilsner" | | | | If you are a beer lover, and I'll bet you are, you don't |
| brewed in the town of Plzen. Other brands include | | | | have to go too far or spend a lot to taste some of |
| Velvet, Kelt, Staropramen and Branik. | | | | the best beer in the world, no matter where you are! |
| Another European town claiming the title is Leuvan, in | | | | |
