I just received the inaugural issue of BeerAdvocate Magazine. I bought my subscription at the end of April, and I have been patiently waiting ever since for it to show up. All I can say is, finally!

I wanted the appropriate setting to see if the web site’s focus on “beer style, culture, and respect” would translate to a print medium … so I put it by the crapper. I’ll skip the details of my analysis.

I’m very happy to say that, despite the massive amounts of advertising apparently necessary to float this venture, the magazine has some good writing. Stories on canning in craft beer, Belgium, a nice profile on Tomme Arthur, pairing food with beer, and beer reviews (this is a BeerAdvocate venture after all) make for an enjoyable read. It is distinct enough from the other beer-iodicals (I know … boo) I subscribe to that are more focused on brewing than a generalist entry such as this.

We’ll have to wait and see if the guys can keep this good head of steam up on putting out quality content. I raise a glass to what looks promising.

Thanks Alstroms & company for another great offering that supports the beer culture we all love!