Ryan (pictured on the left with Jim Koch of Boston Beer Co.) is a good friend of mine who shares some of the same passion for beer that I do. We attended college together (we met my senior year) and have been friends since, drinking a lot of beer. I mean A LOT of beer. It all started at a bar called the Café in Macomb, Illinois, where we went to school at Western Illinois University. Both of us hadn't really had good beer like microbrews and some of the better imports such as Guinness or Pilsner Urquell until we got together at the Café. It was there we laid the foundation of a great deal of beer knowledge. Fresh issues of All About Beer magazine helped our beer education, too. This informal education was the start of a pastime that would eventually give birth to the Marcobrau Beer Pages. A sample of Ryan's adventures are listed below.

Ryan visits Philadelphia again and hangs out with Jim Koch in Boston. A report back that there's more than wine in Italy. Ryan reports back from Philadelphia. A report from a trip to the Amana Colonies and Millstream Brewing Company. Review of Harrison's Brewpub in Orland Park, Ill. A special report from San Francisco, including stops at the Toronado and Magnolia Brewpub. Ryan files a beer-y interesting report from the Sunshine State. A review of Poor Phil's in Oak Park, Ill. Beer reviews by Ryan incude: Anchor Our Special Ale (2001 vintage), Dogfish Head 90-minute IPA and Asam Bock.

Send Ryan an e-mail.

Send comments and suggestions to: marc@marcobrau.com