Alistair Reece
@velkyal.bsky.social
Scot living in the VA Piedmont. Corbynite, Mitteleuropaphile. Unbashed lager boy. Hiker, gardener, reader, writer, gourmand, all round fascinated by the world and life. Twin dad.
Author of "Virginia Cider: A Scrumptious History" - https://a.co/d/8fVpwcZ
Author of "Virginia Cider: A Scrumptious History" - https://a.co/d/8fVpwcZ
Pinned
Alistair Reece
@velkyal.bsky.social
· Nov 13
fuggled.net
Influx of new followers, so introductions...
VelkyAl, "Big Al", was a nickname when I lived in Prague & it stuck.
Blog at fuggled.net about #beer, #homebrewing, and #beerhistory. I write for @pelliclemag.bsky.social sometimes.
Oh, my book is "Virginia Cider: A Scrumptious History", link in bio.
VelkyAl, "Big Al", was a nickname when I lived in Prague & it stuck.
Blog at fuggled.net about #beer, #homebrewing, and #beerhistory. I write for @pelliclemag.bsky.social sometimes.
Oh, my book is "Virginia Cider: A Scrumptious History", link in bio.
My first piece for @ciderreview.bsky.social, where I do a tasting of ciders from around Virginia made with just our local apple, the Virginia Hewe's Crab.
New contributor Alistair Reece @velkyal.bsky.social explores the history and nuanced flavours of Virginia's Hewe’s Crab apple, showcasing how cidermakers across Virginia interpret and celebrate this iconic local variety.
Great to have you on board Al!
Great to have you on board Al!
Hewn from Virginia: How Virginian cidermakers express their native apple
New contributor Alistair Reece explores the history and nuanced flavours of Virginia’s Hewe’s Crab apple, showcasing how cidermakers across Virginia interpret and celebrate this iconic native…
cider-review.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:23 AM
My first piece for @ciderreview.bsky.social, where I do a tasting of ciders from around Virginia made with just our local apple, the Virginia Hewe's Crab.
My current #homebrew on tap is "Supercharged Bitter".
Pretty simple grist, just Murphy & Rude English Pale and Biscuit malts. Hopped with Fuggles for an estimated 38 IBUs, and fermented with good old S-04 to give me an abv of 5.3%.
Pretty simple grist, just Murphy & Rude English Pale and Biscuit malts. Hopped with Fuggles for an estimated 38 IBUs, and fermented with good old S-04 to give me an abv of 5.3%.
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
My current #homebrew on tap is "Supercharged Bitter".
Pretty simple grist, just Murphy & Rude English Pale and Biscuit malts. Hopped with Fuggles for an estimated 38 IBUs, and fermented with good old S-04 to give me an abv of 5.3%.
Pretty simple grist, just Murphy & Rude English Pale and Biscuit malts. Hopped with Fuggles for an estimated 38 IBUs, and fermented with good old S-04 to give me an abv of 5.3%.
New post on #Fuggled, in which I revisit Unibroue's La Fin du Monde...
www.fuggled.net/2025/11/old-...
www.fuggled.net/2025/11/old-...
Old Friends: Unibroue La Fin du Monde
a blog about beer, pubs and homebrewing. Based in Charlottesville but with a view of the world.
www.fuggled.net
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
New post on #Fuggled, in which I revisit Unibroue's La Fin du Monde...
www.fuggled.net/2025/11/old-...
www.fuggled.net/2025/11/old-...
Wondering if anyone noticed the reference to a Pixar movie in my Pellicle piece last week...
Meet Diane Flynt, the first lady of Virginia cider. It's been a while since we published a cider story, we hope you enjoy it!
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
Apple Tree Woman — Diane Flynt and Foggy Ridge Orchards in Dugspur, Virginia — Pellicle
“Before there is cider, there are apples,” is a common refrain during my time spent in the far southern marches of Virginia with Diane Flynt, founder of Foggy Ridge Orchards and a pioneer of the cider...
www.pelliclemag.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Wondering if anyone noticed the reference to a Pixar movie in my Pellicle piece last week...
Looking forward to tomorrow and a cessation of fecking political hatchet job ads on every conceivable platform. If it wasn't for the fact that it would get struck down as unconstitutional, I'd love to see a rule that candidates for office can only speak about themselves, their policies, their plans.
November 4, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Looking forward to tomorrow and a cessation of fecking political hatchet job ads on every conceivable platform. If it wasn't for the fact that it would get struck down as unconstitutional, I'd love to see a rule that candidates for office can only speak about themselves, their policies, their plans.
So....which hallow is everyone dressing up as tomorrow?
October 31, 2025 at 5:43 PM
So....which hallow is everyone dressing up as tomorrow?
Starting to think it would be seasonally appropriate for my Halloween costume (if I bothered with such shite) to be a Santa Claus suit.
October 30, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Starting to think it would be seasonally appropriate for my Halloween costume (if I bothered with such shite) to be a Santa Claus suit.
Diane Flynt is key not just to the renaissance in cider throughout the South, but also at the very heart of orcharding for apples, specifically cider apples.
It is always a joy to speak with her about not just cider apples, but growing apples for cider - an important distinction.
#craftcider
It is always a joy to speak with her about not just cider apples, but growing apples for cider - an important distinction.
#craftcider
Meet Diane Flynt, the first lady of Virginia cider. It's been a while since we published a cider story, we hope you enjoy it!
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
Apple Tree Woman — Diane Flynt and Foggy Ridge Orchards in Dugspur, Virginia — Pellicle
“Before there is cider, there are apples,” is a common refrain during my time spent in the far southern marches of Virginia with Diane Flynt, founder of Foggy Ridge Orchards and a pioneer of the cider...
www.pelliclemag.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Diane Flynt is key not just to the renaissance in cider throughout the South, but also at the very heart of orcharding for apples, specifically cider apples.
It is always a joy to speak with her about not just cider apples, but growing apples for cider - an important distinction.
#craftcider
It is always a joy to speak with her about not just cider apples, but growing apples for cider - an important distinction.
#craftcider
My youngest just said...
"Daddy, who is Satan? The God of music?"
Hell, yeah!!!
"Daddy, who is Satan? The God of music?"
Hell, yeah!!!
a man wearing sunglasses and a black shirt is saying rock and roll
ALT: a man wearing sunglasses and a black shirt is saying rock and roll
media.tenor.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
My youngest just said...
"Daddy, who is Satan? The God of music?"
Hell, yeah!!!
"Daddy, who is Satan? The God of music?"
Hell, yeah!!!
What a great week of learning about brewers ploughing their own furrow.
After the wonderful piece on @pelliclemag.com yesterday, @craftbeerchannel.bsky.social bring this utter, utter delight:
youtu.be/xmJo-tCM-0A?...
After the wonderful piece on @pelliclemag.com yesterday, @craftbeerchannel.bsky.social bring this utter, utter delight:
youtu.be/xmJo-tCM-0A?...
No one makes beer like St Mars of the Desert.
YouTube video by The Craft Beer Channel
youtu.be
October 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
What a great week of learning about brewers ploughing their own furrow.
After the wonderful piece on @pelliclemag.com yesterday, @craftbeerchannel.bsky.social bring this utter, utter delight:
youtu.be/xmJo-tCM-0A?...
After the wonderful piece on @pelliclemag.com yesterday, @craftbeerchannel.bsky.social bring this utter, utter delight:
youtu.be/xmJo-tCM-0A?...
A brilliant read from @lilywaite.bsky.social for this week's @pelliclemag.com feature!!
Sounds so much like my kind of place, and trying to blag a business trip to London to the list...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
Sounds so much like my kind of place, and trying to blag a business trip to London to the list...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
What’s Worth Keeping — Macintosh Ales in Stoke Newington, London — Pellicle
There’s a small yard a moment away from Stoke Newington Church Street in North East London. At its entrance an entirely perfunctory and heavily battered railing protects the square of overgrown cobble...
www.pelliclemag.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
A brilliant read from @lilywaite.bsky.social for this week's @pelliclemag.com feature!!
Sounds so much like my kind of place, and trying to blag a business trip to London to the list...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
Sounds so much like my kind of place, and trying to blag a business trip to London to the list...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/10...
An honorable mention from @nagbw.bsky.social for "Virginia Cider: A Scrumptious History"!!
Look at the folks that placed though...I am thrilled beyond words!
Look at the folks that placed though...I am thrilled beyond words!
October 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
An honorable mention from @nagbw.bsky.social for "Virginia Cider: A Scrumptious History"!!
Look at the folks that placed though...I am thrilled beyond words!
Look at the folks that placed though...I am thrilled beyond words!
As usual, the doctrinally pure of VA's craft beer community are pointedly ignoring the fact that Devils Backbone won multiple medals at #GABF, just as they did with this year's World Beer Cup results, just as they did with last year's GABF...you get the picture.
October 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
As usual, the doctrinally pure of VA's craft beer community are pointedly ignoring the fact that Devils Backbone won multiple medals at #GABF, just as they did with this year's World Beer Cup results, just as they did with last year's GABF...you get the picture.
Glorious from @craftbeerchannel.bsky.social about @teamutopian.bsky.social - wish they were available in VA.
Love the bit showing the difference decoction makes, staggering there are still folks that believe it is unnecessary, dafties all of them.
Go watch, get thirsty.
youtu.be/H1HRhgPf5lw?...
Love the bit showing the difference decoction makes, staggering there are still folks that believe it is unnecessary, dafties all of them.
Go watch, get thirsty.
youtu.be/H1HRhgPf5lw?...
Utopian Brewery changed how we think about British ingredients.
YouTube video by The Craft Beer Channel
youtu.be
October 2, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Glorious from @craftbeerchannel.bsky.social about @teamutopian.bsky.social - wish they were available in VA.
Love the bit showing the difference decoction makes, staggering there are still folks that believe it is unnecessary, dafties all of them.
Go watch, get thirsty.
youtu.be/H1HRhgPf5lw?...
Love the bit showing the difference decoction makes, staggering there are still folks that believe it is unnecessary, dafties all of them.
Go watch, get thirsty.
youtu.be/H1HRhgPf5lw?...
New post on #Fuggled, no, really.
Another Old Friends post, this time revisiting the height of 90s beery cool, Boddingtons.
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
#beer
Another Old Friends post, this time revisiting the height of 90s beery cool, Boddingtons.
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
#beer
Old Friends: Boddingtons Pub Ale
a blog about beer, pubs and homebrewing. Based in Charlottesville but with a view of the world.
www.fuggled.net
September 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
New post on #Fuggled, no, really.
Another Old Friends post, this time revisiting the height of 90s beery cool, Boddingtons.
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
#beer
Another Old Friends post, this time revisiting the height of 90s beery cool, Boddingtons.
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
#beer
Reposted by Alistair Reece
All-foam mlíko pours got trendy in craft beer circles. But now feels like the right time for řezané pivo, the Czech special pour layering dark and pale lagers. It’s perfect for fall.
(Illustration: 3 mugs of striped řezané pivo.)
vinepair.com/articles/rez...
(Illustration: 3 mugs of striped řezané pivo.)
vinepair.com/articles/rez...
After Mlíko, Could This Traditional Czech Beer Pour Be the Next Big Thing?
First came mlíko, which gave us “milk tubes,” “mlíko bombs,” and other variations on the all-foam beer serve. With bars and taprooms looking for new ways to attract customers, will the two-beer mix kn...
vinepair.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
All-foam mlíko pours got trendy in craft beer circles. But now feels like the right time for řezané pivo, the Czech special pour layering dark and pale lagers. It’s perfect for fall.
(Illustration: 3 mugs of striped řezané pivo.)
vinepair.com/articles/rez...
(Illustration: 3 mugs of striped řezané pivo.)
vinepair.com/articles/rez...
New post on Fuggled (no, honestly)...in which I take a trip down a Belgian memory lane, with some horse racing thrown in too.
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
Old Friends: Leffe Blonde
a blog about beer, pubs and homebrewing. Based in Charlottesville but with a view of the world.
www.fuggled.net
September 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
New post on Fuggled (no, honestly)...in which I take a trip down a Belgian memory lane, with some horse racing thrown in too.
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
www.fuggled.net/2025/09/old-...
Aldi without German stuff is lame.
September 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Aldi without German stuff is lame.
Tettnang grown Mittelfrüher is a cracking hop.
August 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Tettnang grown Mittelfrüher is a cracking hop.
And now I am homesick, thirsty, and plotting a homebrew version.
Kudos to @pelliclemag.com for such a great piece about an iconic beer.
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/8/...
Kudos to @pelliclemag.com for such a great piece about an iconic beer.
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/8/...
The Vertigo of Bliss — Scotland’s Inseparable Relationship with Tennent’s Lager — Pellicle
It’s a Sunday, nearly midnight, and I’m in 8 Ball–a dilapidated yet bustling pool hall above the Scotia, an out-of-the-way folk bar in Glasgow city centre. Occasionally a buzzer sounds, signalling som...
www.pelliclemag.com
August 28, 2025 at 12:34 AM
And now I am homesick, thirsty, and plotting a homebrew version.
Kudos to @pelliclemag.com for such a great piece about an iconic beer.
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/8/...
Kudos to @pelliclemag.com for such a great piece about an iconic beer.
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/8/...
Very interesting...
Since search is dead, how soon do you think Google Scholar is headed for the Google Graveyard? I'm betting it's soon, and academia is NOT prepared
Google Scholar Is Doomed
Academia built entire careers on a free Google service with zero guarantees. What could go wrong?
hannahshelley.neocities.org
August 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Very interesting...
15 Pub Dinners from the ’60s and ’70s That Brits Forgot
YouTube video by Dear Old Britain
youtu.be
August 11, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Brewing my house best bitter recipe today, should be ready just in time for the leaves to start turning...
Endeavour hops have quickly become a favourite and now I feel like exploring more of the new British hops, any suggestions?
#homebrew
Endeavour hops have quickly become a favourite and now I feel like exploring more of the new British hops, any suggestions?
#homebrew
August 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Brewing my house best bitter recipe today, should be ready just in time for the leaves to start turning...
Endeavour hops have quickly become a favourite and now I feel like exploring more of the new British hops, any suggestions?
#homebrew
Endeavour hops have quickly become a favourite and now I feel like exploring more of the new British hops, any suggestions?
#homebrew
Come join the BeerSky Football League for this season:
fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto...
#fantasyfootball #PremierLeague
fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto...
#fantasyfootball #PremierLeague
Fantasy Premier League, Official Fantasy Football Game of the Premier League
Official Fantasy Premier League 2025/26. Free to play fantasy football game, set up your fantasy football team at the Official Premier League site.
fantasy.premierleague.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Come join the BeerSky Football League for this season:
fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto...
#fantasyfootball #PremierLeague
fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto...
#fantasyfootball #PremierLeague