Pliny the Elder 18.12 Monday’s post presented a passage from Pliny the Elder describing an ancient Gallic and Spanish practice using krausen, the yeast-y foam that forms on top of fermenting wort, as a leavener for bread. Pliny claims that it was this ingredient that contributed to the light and fluffy quality of those regions’…
Pliny the Elder 18.12.68: Beer for Bread
Galliae et hispaniae frumento in potum resoluto quibus diximus generibus spuma ita concreta pro fermento utuntur, qua de causa levior illis quam ceteris panis. When the grain of Gaul and Spain – the types of which we spoke about earlier – is made into a drink, they use the foam that forms during fermentation [for…
Classical Beer Review: Omnipollo Agamemnon
After a long hiatus, the BCS team returns to review a beer that we have been looking forward to drinking for quite some time – not because of the beer per se (though, we do love the Imperial Stouts!), but because of its name: Agamemnon – the Homeric king of men, ruler of Mycenae ‘rich…
Classical Beer Review: Pinkus Demeter Müller’s Lagerbier
#travelbeer, #Germanbeer Back in May, Kyle and I found ourselves on a beer-laden trip to Münster, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Bonn. Now, anyone who knows German beer, knows that there is somewhat of a beer war waging between the cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne. On the one side of the ‘conflict’ is Düsseldorf with its Altbier….
Classical Beer Review: Bios 5
After the busy months before the summer, team BCS is back with another Classical Beer Review, straight outta ancient Corinth! We were there on a research trip and after a hard days’ work, we decided to quench our thirst with a beer appropriate for the blog. Bios 5 is marketed by the Athenian Brewery as…
A CeltIberian-NEIPA
To help kick off a new season of blogs, we offer a lighthearted mash-up and a Classics-themed take on today’s trendiest beer style: the New England (or Northeast) IPA (herafter: “NEIPA”). The NEIPA is defined by a pronounced hop flavor and aroma with juicy and fruit notes predominating and low bitterness. These beers are typically…
Classical Beer Review: North Carolina Rare & Vintage Beer Tasting
On January 27th, 2018 team BCS went to the North Carolina Rare & Vintage Beer Tasting. A blog post on this event has been long overdue, but what can I say? Life, including my PhD defense, got in the way! The North Carolina Rare & Vintage Beer Tasting is an event organized by Pints for…
Part 2: Cellars, Cross-contamination, and Fermentation (Pliny the Elder 14.49[27])
Picari oportere protinus a canis ortu, postea perfundi marina aqua aut salsa, dein cinere e sarmentis aspergi vel argilla, abstersa murra suffiri ipsasque saepius cellas. inbecilla vina demissis in terram doliis servanda, valida expositis. numquam inplenda [. . .] aperiri vetant nisi sereno die, vetant austro flante lunave plena. flos vini candidus probatur; rubens triste…
Cellars, Cross-contamination, and Fermentation Vessels! (Pliny the Elder 14.49[27])
Magna et collecto iam vino differentia in caelo. circa alpes ligneis vasis condunt tectisque cingunt atque etiam hieme gelida ignibus rigorem arcent. rarum dictu, sed aliquando visum, ruptis vasis stetere glaciatae moles, prodigii modo, quoniam vini natura non gelascit; alias ad frigus stupet tantum. mitiores plagae doliis condunt infodiuntque terrae tota aut ad portionem situs….
Classical Beer Review: Pliny the Younger
This guest review comes from Chris and Laurissa (Kyle’s siblings) who had the opportunity to attend the release of Pliny the Younger for the second straight year. On February 8, 2018, we went to Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California to try the annual Pliny the Younger release. This is our second year…
Bog Myrtle Beer Tasting
Another in our series of SMASH herbal beers (see Meadowsweet and Heather): Bog Myrtle! Please follow the links below for the archaeological and literary evidence for bog myrtle beers during the Greco-Roman era (and elsewhere): Bog Myrtle in Archaeology Bog Myrtle Pt. 2 Bog Myrtle SMASH(erb) Brew Day The bog myrtle beer had a fantastic fermentation and reach…
Bog Myrtle Brew Day
Another in our series of SMASH Herbal beers (see Meadowsweet and Heather): Bog Myrtle! Please follow the links below for the archaeological and literary evidence for bog myrtle beers during the Greco-Roman era (and elsewhere): Bog Myrtle in Archaeology Bog Myrtle Pt. 2 Our brewday largely followed that of the previous SMASH beers. This allows…
BREWING CLASSICAL STYLES 