Yesterday I jotted notes about “the beer blogger – beer retailer connection.” A continuation…

Since I started meditating on “how beer bloggers and beer retailers network,” I’ve been taking notice of the beer blogs I visit, how often I visit the blog, whether I share their beer post(s) — plus, to whom I share, and where I share.

The blog I read and refer to most:

The Washington Beer Blog

I’ve had the opportunity to share a beer with Kendall, Kim and North Seattle Sarah at beer Festivals in Seattle and the East side. A few weeks ago, I popped into Trade Route Brewing for a beer and to see Kendall’s band. They’re good. Classic rock. They draw a nice crowd. The beer, also good.

When I arrived at the Washington Beer Fest Sunday morning, Kendall was sitting alone, stringing pretzel necklaces.

His brainstorm: Maybe next festival he’ll have us all stringing our own? I think that’d be fun — it’ll be a String & Sip! Kendall is a beer & travel writer and has a background in broadcast, so there’s always something to talk about. I’m a quiet person, a bit of a wallflower. I like to blend in, yet still participate. I can get a little anxious about just walking up for a spot of conversation…

Kendall is a good conversationalist, and before long, there’s a whole group of folks sipping on beer, visiting under his canopy. I like to linger a little; to hear what people are saying and thinking about the beer; their beer lifestyle. I get to meet new people — each has interesting little stories, thoughtful questions. The conversation, company, and beer – all good.

So there’s a little info about the man behind the blog.

I visit the Washington Beer Blog for all kinds of Washington Beer stuff.

I believe it is the blog I share most. Placing links to @BeerBlog posts on the store’s facebook page, twitter feed, and newsletter. The posts shared answer and inform my customers. Some even entertain.

Recent shares

• Dottie – A Long, Cool Lady and Also a Tall Boy– news about a new mobile canning line, with reference to two beers we carry; between the article and the video, our customers get their questions answered about how small breweries can afford to can their beers and why they chose cans.
• Celebrating 3 Years of 7 Seas Beers– we talk to a lot of 7 Seas fans at the store and carry their Ballz Deep Double IPA and British Pale Ale (…in cans! Though I didn’t intend to hit a can theme, here it is.) so I can’t help but share info about their anniversary bash and brewery expansion with our customers.
• More Canned Beer Coming to the Northwest– (At time of sharing, I didn’t know those other stories were coming.) With more local small and nano brewers working with Northwest Canning LLC, it’s likely our customers will see new beers coming into the store.

One blog gives me three links on canned beer. From a retailer standpoint, this is awesome!

With just these three blogs, all within the last 30 days, they answer many of my customers’ questions.

Kendall has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on around in the Washington beer industry. He’s a good listener, a good observer. Most importantly, he’s a good writer. He gives you enough insight in his blog, while keeping it short.

…I’m a wordy writer! Are you still reading? LOL…

So, why did I share these three blogs with my customers?

Every day I’m on the floor making recommendations to customers. And every day someone says, “I don’t drink canned beer.”

I’m talking, feet set firmly, arms crossed against the chest, full stance against canned beer.

And there are some really delicious beers in cans. It’s sad and disappointing that someone won’t even try what could be their next-favorite beer, simply because they’re afraid it’s gonna taste like tin.

Silly customer! There’s good beer in them there cans! If you pour your beer in a glass, you won’t taste the can. Still afraid of the can? Do you drink draft beer when out at a restaurant/pub? You do?! That beer in your glass was pumped out of a giant can!

So there’s my #1 beer blog read. And share.

The Washington Beer Blog informs, educates, and entertains my customers. Regularly.

The primary contender: BeerPulse

BeerPulse is #1 in beer news. Yes, I’d agree with that tagline. This has been my primary source of beer news since it’s inception as “beernews.org” in 2008.

The site’s become a mix of aggregate news, with beer label approvals (I screen and sometimes re-share these once the beers have arrived in-store — the ones I share most include video of/from the brewery), dynamic industry news, small and big breweries, brief news-bits and surveys, and more. The blog is overseen by its creator, Adam Nason.

More beer blogs I read. And share.

These are beer blogs that I regularly visit a couple times a month and share on occasion:
Ales from the Crypt
Appellation Beer
Beer Blotter
Beer Examiner: Charlie Papazion
The Beer Goddess
Beer47
Beer Monger
Beer Street Journal
Beer Search Party
BillyBrew
Blog About Beer
Best Craft Beer
BrewDad.com
Brewpublic
Brookston Beer Bulletin
Chef Rich Coffey
CraftBeer.com — Another top contender!
Drink with the Wench
Firkin Around
The Full Pint
Homebrew Chef
Inside Beer
Legal Libations
Martyn Cornell’s Zythophile
Mutineer
The Not So Professional Beer Blog
Seattle Beer News
Stephen Beaumont’s Blogging at the World of Beer
Wine & Beer of Washington State

If you’re a beer blogger and aren’t on the reading radar of a beer retailer, why not? Are you focused on hyper-local content, not relevant to their customers? (Unless they’re traveling to your locale; in that case, keep doing what you’re doing!) Is your blog review-focused, but overly harsh and critical?

If you’ve got a blog and I’ve shared your posts with my customers, and I’m too forgetful to list you here, speak up. Share your blogURL.

You don’t blog, you podcast. Well, that’s another blog post from me. Stay tuned.