I haven’t written anything on the site for a long time. At first, I was busy at work – I had to finish all the projects before my vacation. When I arrived, I couldn’t write anything until I published the story about the Japanese diplomat, as it affected me so much. Then I just didn’t have anything important to talk about. And now, finally, I decided to speak out, although I’m sure not everyone will like what I write.

Next week, Tel Aviv is hosting another beer festival, Hoppy Tel Aviv. Of course, I will definitely go. Apart from simple interest, the job obliges me. However, there is a small “But” – for some reason I don’t have the expectation of a festival like I have at other festivals. And this is not the first year. Perhaps it’s because this particular festival has been looking like a fashionable party for years.

Almost every participant offered “sour” brands of beer or fancy blends of beer and juice. Although more often it was the other way around: “not beer with juice”, but beer added to juice. In response to my grumbling, I am informed that I don’t know anything about beer.  This is the trend nowadays, the brewer “sees beer this way”. Almost like an abstractionist painter…

I have nothing against sour beers, I would give my soul for a bottle of good lambic! But none of the beers on show were even close to the Belgian classics! Perhaps because creating a good lambic is a real art? It’s much easier to oxidize the wort, ferment it and say it’s his vision of a sour! And the BJCP is none of their business, especially since lately they don’t want to fall behind fashion either….

I’m not even talking about juices with beer and other perversions, like Barley Wine with fruit flavor, which happened at the last festival. A friend of mine was quite harsh on this subject: “Such brewers should be tried and severely punished: for 5 years they must drink only non-alcoholic Miller!” Perhaps he is too strict… Or maybe that’s just the way it should be done…

I don’t want to end this post about last year’s festival on such a sad note. Last year I found among the “sours” a real Imperial stout and a light Czech beer that fascinated me. All this was at the last festival, and I really hope that this year brewing tradition will take over fashion. Especially since it’s a winter festival, and at this time of year you should be drinking a good porter, not fruit juice mixed with beer.

So, friends, meet you at the end of the week in Tel Aviv at the festival, with a glass of good beer and hope for a better future!