A Pint Sized Blog

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On Thursday April 14th, I went to my first ever beer tasting. Bowling Green State University Associate Professor of Higher Education Dr. Michael Coomes has been hosting beer tasting events at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union since the new student union opened in 2002. All the beer tasting events have taken place at the university’s Black Swamp Pub.

This was Coomes’s last beer tasting event of the semester and Coomes had Bell’s Brewing Company from Kalamazoo, Michigan as the highlight of the tasting. Bell’s is best know for their Oberon Ale, but that sadly wasn’t one of the beers being tested by the crowd of of over 40 students, faculty, and community members. For $13 I got to try 6 different kinds of beer that Bell’s produced.

There was a good variety from Amber Ale to Third Coast Beer that offered different tastes of what the 25-year old brewery had to offer. Now I’m not of a big coffee drinker, let alone in my beer. But I tried to keep an open mind, but I hate to say I wasn’t a big fan of the Java Stout. But on the other hand, I really enjoyed their Best Brown Ale. A mix of Caramel and cocoa, the Best Brown Ale was my favorite beer that Bell’s had at the tasting. The beer had an excellent balance in its flavor, and balance is one of Bell’s Brewery’s keys to making a good beer.

I did two audio interviews with two professors who are very involved with the beer tastings at the Black Swamp Pub. You already know a little bit about Dr. Coomes, who is the first interview, but in the second interview we hear from Dr. Rebecca Mancuso, an Associate Professor in History and Canadian Studies. Dr. Mancuso has been working with Dr. Coomes at these beer tasting events for the past couple of years. I hope you enjoy both of the interviews, and if you’re going to be back in BG next fall, and are 21, check out the beer tasting events. They are a lot of fun and I met a few new people in the process of tasting a few new beers. Cheers.

Michael Coomes Interview by bpackert

Rebecca Mancuso Interview by bpackert