I was sent a very nice package by the PR people at Miller Brewing a few days back, which consisted of two bottles of Pilsner Urquell and two "limited edition" Pilsner Urquell cigars and a cigar box. I'll have to find a home for those latter, but two bottles of the signature pilsner in the world seemed just the ticket last night. Before coming home, I'd stopped at one of my favorite places to pick up some fresh coffee beans and decided to grab a chunk of Queso Iberico, a Spanish cheese with which I was totally unfamiliar to try with the beers
It turned out to be a great match. Queso Iberico turned out to be a hard cheese, hare enough that it would be easily gratable of that were your inclination, and delightful on crisp thin crackers. It was surprisingly salty, but in a pleasant way which worked very well with the brew. I did some research online afterwards and found that Quest Iberico is made from a mixture of cow, sheep and goat's milk. The source I found recommended serving it with Spanish red wines, which would work, but I'd personally suggest a crisp, clean pilsner.
That "cheesy journalism?" reference in the headline? Just last night I read a posting Jay Brook's blog about the ethics of beer blogging, which was occasioned by a lengthy discussion going on at Stonch's Beer Blog, a very good and interesting blog out of England. The whole thing was stirred up by the Stella Artois web thing which I wrote about here last month.
I skimmed through everything on both Jay's and Stonch's sites and found it, while very intriguing from my perspective as a writer and a blogger, something of tempest in a teapot (to not coin a new phrase), especially in using the Stella campaign as a launching point. I got it, I went to site, saw that the video weren't my cuppa, as they say, and moved on.My mentioning it and linking to it, I nevr felt like I was somehow playing into some major campaign to sell Stella, much less any beer. I ever felt compromised, certainly never felt my readers were. To go on about that is silly.
Admittedly, I may regret saying even that much upon further and more intenstive reading of the controversy. And the bigger picture of blogging and ethics certainly deserves more thought. I'll hold off until I do that and then decide if I need, or want, to say more here.
Meanwhile, this is my credo:
I always try report and not distort and to put what I report into perspective when that is needed.
When I am reporting hard facts or news, I hold myself to the same standards I would for any publication, online or in print.
When I express my opionion, it is mine and you can take it or leave it, whether it be about beer or any other topic. My standards there are saying what I think.
When I am just having fun and rambling on, I'm just having fun and rambling on, there ain't no journalism involved and I trust that is evident. I figure you can tell the difference.
MOre probably, I try, and perhaps don't always manage or remember, to keep my relationships clear and upfront.
I inform you that this beer or that beer was given to me or sent to me, for example, when I write about it. That shouldn't matter, and it doesn't matter, but I make sure to tell you so those who care can have the information. Ditto, on beer dinners and beer events (albeit sometimes only indirectly and try to get better about that).
When I get to visit London or Prague as part of a trip sponsored and paid for by a brewery or an importer or both, I make that clear, not only here, but in the print press (in fact, look for one of those dastardly trips to be announced here on Friday).
When I quote or comment on other sources, whether I agree or disagree with them, I link to them if possible so you can go to the source.
The reason I make clear my website job with the Beer Yard (in fact, it is the that relationship by which I will be proudly identified on my press badge at GABF next week) and my work on the webite and occasional news releases for Sly Fox Brewing is so you can, if you wish, take what I write or say about either with the proverbial grain of salt (or send me any angry email that I would be so bold).
In short, I do the best I can to make sure you have the background necessary to draw your own conclusions.
And when I'm just have soming fun, when I make shit up, I work, as I said above, on the assumption that anyone choosing to read these ramblings is smart enough to figure it out.
Also, of course, even when I, telling lies, I might just be telling the truth in a different way.
That's the Irish way, as I have said in the past.
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[Posted 2:15pm edt]
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The complete September 2007 postings have been archived here.
Malt does more than Milton can
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--A. E. Houseman
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