Alastair Bland
San Jose Mercury News
San Francisco, CA, United States
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Past articles by Alastair:
This reservoir on the Sacramento River has been planned for decades. What’s taking so long?
The Sites Reservoir, a $4.4 billion project to add dams and store more water that will be sent south, is still years away from completion. The final environmental report is expected this year, befo… → Read More
This reservoir on the Sacramento River has been planned for decades. What’s taking so long?
The Sites Reservoir, a $4.4 billion project to add dams and store more water that will be sent south, is still years away from completion. The final environmental report is expected this year, befo… → Read More
Cannabis beer, all the buzz without the caloric baggage.
Ethanol contains 7 calories per gram. That’s almost two times the calories of carbohydrates and nearly as many of fat. So, if you want to drink beer without the calories, sorry — it’s not going to … → Read More
Cannabis beer, all the buzz without the caloric baggage.
Ethanol contains 7 calories per gram. That’s almost two times the calories of carbohydrates and nearly as many of fat. So, if you want to drink beer without the calories, sorry — it’s not going to … → Read More
As restrictions shut down brewpubs, California brewers sue Gov. Newsom
While small breweries struggle, a Sacramento trade association that represents them filed a lawsuit against the state for unfairly impacting breweries with safety restrictions meant to fight the pa… → Read More
As restrictions shut down brewpubs, California brewers sue Gov. Newsom
While small breweries struggle, a Sacramento trade association that represents them filed a lawsuit against the state for unfairly impacting breweries with safety restrictions meant to fight the pa… → Read More
Brewers, it’s time to get political
A sour ale called Im-PEACH-ment. A Russian imperial stout bittered with American hops called Collusion. An IPA, recently canned for its second release, called Dump the Trump. These beers come from … → Read More
Good grief, it’s the great divider — pumpkin beers
Few, if any, other beer styles have so divided beer fans into lovers and haters than pumpkin beers. → Read More
Celebrating Oktoberfest without the fest but with some seasonal beers
Were you eager to don German lederhosen, dance in wooden shoes and eat sausage and pretzels this fall? Me neither, but I would have attended an Oktoberfest celebration in street clothes just to try… → Read More
Aluminum can shortage may stifle beer production
Local brewers are hustling to find enough cans to package and sell their beer, thanks to yet another economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. “We’ve been in scramble mode since May,” says Rob L… → Read More
America’s ‘best beers’ also happen to be strong – Marin Independent Journal
People love strong beers, and a running industry joke suggests that imperial stouts are suitable as a breakfast stand-in. Those are two of my impressions from reviewing the current best beers in th… → Read More
IPAs are turning sour, and not always by accident
The first sour IPA was almost certainly made by accident when bacteria fouled a fermenting batch of hoppy beer. Now, though, the style — the latest, if not greatest, formulation of the India pale a… → Read More
Will climate change affect the way beer tastes?
The heatwave that broiled California for two weeks nearly killed my lone Cascade hopvine. While I hustled to keep up with the rest of my garden, watering the greens, tomatoes, zucchinis and fig tre… → Read More
Do pale ales pale in the shadows of trendier brews?
Remember the pale ale? Of course you do. It hasn’t gone away, after all, and it remains a classic style that helped launch the craft beer boom 30 years ago. Heck, you probably used to drink them. I… → Read More
Brewers shaking it up with cocktail-inspired beers
When I first heard that Adobe Creek Brewing had a painkiller-inspired IPA, I wondered for a moment if the brewer had dosed the beer with Ibuprofen or Motrin. I guess I don’t drink enough cocktails.… → Read More
New California rule requires meals with beers but not wine. Why?
Want to go out for a beer? If so, you’ll have to order a meal with your drink, thanks to a state order issued last month. The rule is intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus by encouraging b… → Read More
New California rule requires meals with beers but not wine. Why?
Want to go out for a beer? If so, you’ll have to order a meal with your drink, thanks to a state order issued last month. The rule is intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus by encouraging b… → Read More
New rule requires meals with beers but not wine. Why?
Want to go out for a beer? If so, you’ll have to order a meal with your drink, thanks to a state order issued last month. The rule is intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus by encouraging b… → Read More
7 Marin County beers to drink right now
Many breweries have slowed their pace of production as the pandemic disrupts consumer patterns and supply chains. Still, many of our favorite breweries are getting creative and innovative, or just … → Read More
Marin breweries do their best to keep afloat during pandemic
As COVID-19 cases surge, the governor has ordered another economic shutdown — salt in the wounds of small business owners who made it through the last shutdown, which ran roughly April through June… → Read More