Ruminations on the European Beer Bloggers Conference (why long train journeys can be good)
 |
| Did you have an Alien Workshop Dino Jr Tee? |
A four hour train journey is definitely good for one
thing.....focusing your mind on the writing you probably should have done, but
got carried away with just enjoying yourself instead. It seems like a funny
sentence to write but in my novice head the Beer Blogging Conference was about
meeting people and discovering Scottish beers. I kind of go through different
stages on the page evolution, I spend a lot of time thinking and making
connections in my head before a blog comes out. I’ll be honest I struggle with ‘in
the moment’ writing; unless it’s a simple line in a Vic and Bob stylee from
that blue bird social media platform.
 |
| The beer's over there |
As I reminisce over the last few days beerconnaisance, the Northumberland
coastal line stretches out along my train window with its shimmering blue and
deep greens of luminous beauty. An inspiring scene can really be the deal breaker
in this writing activity. One of the connections I made over the last few days
and maybe a question I should have raised to the conference crew (but I get too
coy to go near mics) was the link with fanzines and the small
independent press culture in the UK to blogging. I love blogging much in
the same way I used to love writing a music fanzine with my sister when we were
teenagers in the mid 90s. I experience the same heady mix of excitement and awe
meeting master brewers such as Vaclav Berka from Pilsner Urquell and Garrett
Oliver from Brooklyn Brewery
that I did when I came face to face with J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr one rainy Thursday night
at the Riverside
music venue in Newcastle. I then have an overbearing urge to share that
conversation, those stories from source, that experience with all and sundry to
mark that moment in an everlasting photocopied print on my memory. Life is for
living, words are for sharing, beer is for drinking and music is to soundtrack
your life.
The British Library outlines zines as:
Zines or
fanzines are magazines written by enthusiasts, "fans". They have
various forms but are typically self-published, designed, written or edited by
a single person. They tend to use inexpensive production techniques such as
photocopying, and are distributed through local and personal networks and
specialised distributors ("distros"). Although zines usually have
more than one issue, some are one-offs. Some have a highly visual quality and
use the conventions of cartoon strips and film animation for more adult themes.
These are also known as alternative comics, adult comics, or comix, and, when
telling a complete story in one volume, they are known as graphic novels.
Is blogging an extension, is it the digital ‘zine?
Self-published via free platforms such as Blogger and Wordpress enabling individuals to express and
enthuse about their chosen passion. I've
met some great people and found a unity in this beer blogging community, a
group of individuals with a shared love of beer. I've relished reading fellow devotees’
writing and viewing their
photographs of beers and pubs in Edinburgh. Allowing me to see bars I missed (though
the pub
crawl on the Thursday night helped me to find more than I would have on my
own!) and beers I didn't manage to try (though I gave it a good go). The
Hanging Bat reminded me of how a beer focused pub draws a crowd that stay all
night chatting as they work through the numerous beer taps (or numbers on the
beer board). I appreciated local beer Fyne
Ales’ golden ale Freya which provided a refreshing tipple after a scorcher
of a day and thought the Bat's beer map was rousing (I may even print it and start
ticking breweries off on my travels!).
 |
| #BatBeerMap |
The conference may have been held in Edinburgh but digitally
and through attendance the sentiment was worldwide. I met bloggers from Norway, Sweden, Poland and America. I revelled in hearing
about their breweries and the beers they liked. I met Kim Bergersen – winner of
Pilsner Urquell’s International Bartender Competition and a proud bar owner
himself. I know Kim spends as much time perfecting his beer pouring skills
behind the bar as he does educating his palate on the other side of the bar
(what is the equivalent word for barfly in Norwegian?). It’s to Kim I thank for pouring me my first
ever Milka; a Czech foam beer drink. As he manipulated the impressive Pilsner font
in the Edinburgh City Chambers to deliver me a glass of milky sweet foam, I
dived straight into the drinkable white cloud with astonishment. What was less
impressive was the fact I couldn't drink all the foam before it started to transform
back into beer.
To borrow a phrase ‘food for thought’ and shoe horn one of
my favourite words into it; Saturday’s session really did provide some ‘beer
for thought’. I know I know that’s a cheesy wotsits statement to coin but
hearing from award winning journalist Susanna Forbes from DrinkBritain.com on writing
hints and tips then later from Sophie Atherton on becoming a beer sommelier
really did twitch my synapses (in a good way). I'm going to leave the beer and food talking
to my fellow attendees as I'm sure they’ll do a far better job than I ever
could (check Leigh Linley’s
blog).
To top it off I was pleasantly surprised to hear BrewDog
Sarah in her social media role talk genuinely about humility and how to engage
people (I don’t really need to go into detail but my friend @FeastandGlory will be happy to
hear this). BrewDog listened and made changes on their homepage regarding their
Sheffield new bar announcement. I look forward to a visit.
I think I just cried a little bit with happiness (funny
looks from the person sitting opposite me in carriage D, aisle seat
number 10).
As my train approaches Sheffield and I can see the Tap
calling me, I’ll add more photos later tonight!
Comments