"Beers of the world, unite!"
The UNOB slogan
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READER REVIEW! Ethan Keller claims that New Glarus Spotted Cow is Wisconsin's answer to the likes of Fat Tire or Magic Hat #9
READER REVIEW! Doctress Julia recommends Lakefront Riverwest Stein as a brew that any real fan of beer will find hard to resist
Jason Pinkowski believes Lakefront Riverwest Stein beer can cross the great divide between Joe Six Pack and Jasper Beer Snob
Jason suggests drinkers with an adventurous palate should give Furthermore Knot Stock a whirl, but only if you like mint and pepper
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL! Lucia 'Nosferatu' Novara pits squash against squash in a deadly Pumpkin beer deathmatch
Jason Pinkowski expected more of a, well, rocket from Hop Rocket Amber ale, but he thinks you'll like it all the more for it being well-balanced
Viking Whole Stein porter, described as a 'breakfast beer', leaves Jason Pinkowski a little flat
Jason Pinkowski barks like a hound while reviewing Lazy Mutt Farmhouse ale. Is it any good? Bow wow!
Finally able to appreciate Hopalicious when he's not carrying a skinful, Jason Pinkowski is able to give it two thumbs up
READER REVIEW! Mark Sumner fell in love with Sprecher Russian Imperial stout at first taste and says you could, too
Jason says Romans' Pub in Milwaukee is a must-see stop on a beer tour of Wisconsin
Jason Pinkowski visits a mid-West beer Mecca in the shape of Sugar Maple bar and its 60 taps

Jason Pinkowski has vowed to show you the best of Wisconsin's beer scene. He's a homebrew supremo too, so you're always assured of a warm welcome at his place...

...while Ethan Keller is lucky enough to travel the country as a musician and taste beers from all over. Jealous, us?!
I don't know a huge amount about anything. Especially Wisconsin.
But even a research-shy slacker like myself knows that the state is rich in brewing history.
For instance, it's home to the world's largest six pack, in LaCrosse. (See, I CAN do research when I feel like it...)
It's also home to Jason Pinkowski, our first Wisconsin beer guide.
As well as being remarkably photogenic, Jason loves to meet new beer friends and talk endlessly about brews, while he lets them sample his latest batch of tasty homebrew. Which makes him a beer ambassador of sorts in our book.
We're happy to announce that Jason now has a colleague in WI. Our second Wisconsin beer guide is Ethan Keller.
Ethan is a bit of a bard, travelling from place to place and singing for his supper -- not to mention tons of free beer. (Free, if he's any good, that is.)
Make a point of checking out Ethan's website and going to see him when he's next in your town. We recommend buying him a beer if you want to get on his good side!
Here's their great proposal speeches.
I was born in raised in the greater Milwaukee area and still live here today. My interest in beer started at a young age, not for drinking it but for breweriana. My father worked for three of the four major breweries (Schlitz, Pabst and Miller) here in Milwaukee, and over the years he had accumulated quite a hoard of collectibles from the breweries.
I had always liked beers that were not quite your BMC (Bud, Miller, Coors) type drinks, but really didn't develop a good feel as to what really made that beer a beer. I think it was around 1999 when I had a beer that really changed my thoughts on what beer should be. On a trip to visit a friend living in Boulder, CO, we went to visit Mountain Sun Brewpub. At the first sip of their Colorado Kind I knew that I could not go home and enjoy BMC on a regular basis.
This
is what
got me started in homebrewing and the love for beers with flavor.
Through
homebrewing I have met a great number of people who have taken me to
many a
great event. I have been to the Great
American Beer Fest several times,
the
Great Taste of the Midwest
and the
Great Lakes Brew Fest
to
name a few and each trip has helped me to appreciate better beers.
When a link was posted on a homebrewing message board about the United Nations of Beer needing a Wisconsin delegate, I thought, "How can Brewtown not be represented?" With that I vowed to become the UNOB Wisconsin beer guide and wrote my first review of one the finest pubs in the Milwaukee area. I am very excited to blather on about some of Milwaukee and Wisconsin's finest brews and drinking establishments.
I was born and schooled at home, in a suburb of Milwaukee. I
can actually
say I had my first beer around age 5. It was a warm Blatz that I found
around the kitchen somewhere. I seriously remember the fat bottle and
signature label. I asked my mom if I could have it while she was on the
phone chatting to someone. It was dark and she must have been
distracted,
because she agreed. I always assumed she mistook it for a soda. I
remember drinking it down, and feeling a funny giddiness and dizziness.
So
began my love for beer, which fermented into a mature one by the time I
was
old enough to drink legally.
Išve traveled the country as a musician and have gotten to taste many
different brews. This has been a great blessing. I love trying new
beers and
consider myself an aficionado. I have actually only been to three beer
tastings my whole life (Poconos, PA, Milwaukee, WI, and Oshkosh, WI)
however, I can still remember my favorite beers at each: Pfungstadter, Duvel
and Bells Oberon.
I have yet to find another Pfungstadter in the US, so if
anyone knows where to get one, please wire a telegram to my desk in
Milwaukee marked: "Super-Fricken Urgent."
I look forward to serving the United Nations of Beer with a faithful and
sensitive palate. You can count on me for an honest opinion from not
just a
man trained in the art of words, and born and raised in Brew City, USA,
but
also a bloke genuinely schooled in the college of cross-country ale
gulping.
Take my word for it: you
gotta train hard and put the time in. Perhaps
someone could give me an honorary Olympic MedalŠ or maybe a PhD. If you
are
ever in Milwaukee and see me on the street, feel free to address me as
Dr.
Hops.
Fancy yourself as a UNOB Beer Delegate for your country, province or state? Great! Come to our Beer Delegates page for details and an application form. You can even join the Wisconsin beer guide if you live in the state, to help Jason with his mammoth task!

"Where does he get all those wonderful toys?"
ThinkGeek: launch rockets from your PC, send digital insults to drivers and own a REAL light sabre!
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