BetterBeerBlog

I am having a chill evening at home with my wife. It is unseasonable cold here in San Jose, near freezing actually. Despite this, I am feeling all warm and cozy inside. Today is the day Beer Connoisseur magazine hits newsstands nationwide. This is personally significant for me because this inaugural issue contains my very first printed article. It’s a major piece to boot. You can find the magazine at Barnes & Noble or at Borders. Even though I received an advanced copy a couple of weeks ago, it doesn’t compare to seeing it on the shelves.

I have worked as a graphic designer for over ten years now. Even at my professional beginning, there were mumblings that print was dying. The Internet was coming into its own and would usher in a new age of information available by only a few clicks of the mouse. This promise has not gone unfulfilled but it still has a way to go. Print is indeed in decline. The cancellation of Gourmet magazine and the closure of many newspapers are a testiment to this.

Despite the current trends, or rather in spite of current trends, print refuses to die and in my opinion, it never will. Truth be told, print’s greatest advantage is that it is tangible. There is nothing quite like the feel of a printed piece in one’s hand. There’s the texture of the paper on one’s fingertips and the weight of a book in one’s hands. The way light dances across a page is unrivaled when compared to the irradiating glow of a computer screen while the often overlooked smell of a printed piece has no equivalent in the online world. Would a newspaper still be the same if it didn’t smell like one? It’s arguable that the internet may have the advantage in the sound department but in today’s crazy, overstimulated world, the simple sound of a turning page is like a breath of fresh air.

I find myself surrounded by exceptional company in this inaugural issue. Among the contributors, there are published authors (Stephen Beaumont, Charles D. Cook), magazine editors (Dennis Byron, Bob Townsend), award-winning writers (Carolyn Smagalski), former brewers (Rob Johnson) and consultants (Shawn Connelly). Then there’s me. I take a look at the accomplishments of these other people and I wonder how I managed to make it onto the same printed page as these people. I am not a professional writer by any means. I have no books to my name (well I do but it was on the design end), I homebrew but only extract, while the furthest I’ve traveled for beer has been Hawaii. Yet, there I am on page 10 with a 4-page, 2400+ word article. Go team Estaniel!

I hope this inaugural article will not be my last. As stressed out as I was, I found the entire experience to have been a positive one. I’ve learned so much in the weeks I spent writing for someone else than I ever have in the years writing for myself. Hopefully I’ll get asked back to contribute to future articles. In the meantime, check out the Beer Connoisseur website for my occasional contributions.

So if y’all can do me a favor, please head out to your local bookstore and check it out. Purchasing this first issue does more than just support me or the people who put in long hours making this a reality; on a larger level, you are supporting craft beer and craft beer culture. If you like it, become a subscriber, just make sure to use my promo code (FBC-0110), I’d really appreciate it. Hell, I’ll buy you a pint, it’s the least I can do (In all honesty, the money I’d get from you signing up wouldn’t even cover the pint but I’m appreciative nonetheless).

Addition: Beer Connoisseur just sent me their press release. I’ve copied & pasted it below.

The Beer Connoisseur™ Magazine’s Debut Issue Arrives

The Newest Voice in the Beer World on Sale Nationwide Next Week

ATLANTA, GA. (Dec. 1, 2009) – Beer lovers have a reason to celebrate early this season, as the inaugural issue of the highly anticipated new Beer Connoisseur™ Magazine hits newsstands nationwide on Dec. 8, 2009. The magazine, which is based in Atlanta, represents a new level of beer journalism, a guide for both novices and experts to the world’s most popular drink.

The first issue of the quarterly was mailed to subscribers in mid-November, and next week it will be available for purchase in major cities throughout the U.S. at bookstores such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million and others. It can also be found at the more than 120 Kroger grocery stores in the Atlanta metro area and at U.S. military bases around the world.

“We have produced a type of title that hasn’t existed for this segment,” says Lynn Davis, the magazine’s Founder and Publisher. Following the rise of the craft beer movement, which has attracted interest from legions of newcomers, The Beer Connoisseur™ stands apart from the pack as a sophisticated, upscale lifestyle magazine that treats beer, its producers and, of course, its admirers with the kind of respect they now demand. In the mold of popular magazines like Cigar Aficionado and Food & Wine, The Beer Connoisseur™ is poised to become the authority of the beer world.

“The response from both within the industry and among beer lovers has been nothing short of awe inspiring,” says Nick Kaye, the Managing Editor. “It seems that brewers and beer lovers alike have been waiting for a publication like The Beer Connoisseur™ to come along.”

The magazine will focus in-depthly on the marriage of beer and food, with articles in the first issue on the rise of the gastropub trend, beer and cheese pairing, and more, as well as travel, both within the U.S. and abroad. It will also include profiles of brewing icons, and there will be reviews of some of the most sought-after beers in the world conducted by master-level judges.

Readers will also find articles by some of the world’s most accomplished beer writers, as well as a wealth of educational resources, at The Beer Connoisseur™ Online (www.beerconnoisseur.com), which launched last summer. The thriving online community allows beer fans to exchange ideas and stay connected, and it keeps them up to date with the latest happenings in the brewing scene.

Look for the magazine on store shelves soon, or go online to subscribe.

The Beer Connoisseur™ – Beer Culture Defined.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 12:07 am and is filed under Beer Connoisseur. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.