Spirited Magazine Information

Welcome to the debut issue of Spirited magazine. The idea for this publication came from the simple observation that, in recent years, the beer, spirits, cider and wine industries have blended. Theres crossover and interest between all these sectors and, often, beverage producers are the most curious consumers. We want to share stories, techniques, trends and research in a way that entertains and informs, advancing the conversation and giving those in the adult beverage community a way to connect and learn from one another. Today, its about collaboration, not competition. Spirited is based in Sonoma County, Calif., a place well known for its contributions to the wine industry. What may be less apparent is its role in the burgeoning craft beer, hard cider and distilled spirits arenas. Check our destination piece, The Crawl: Sonoma County, to find out where to go next time youre here for fabulous artisan cocktails, craft beer and cider, and elegant, thoughtful wine lists. Going forward, well spotlight Maker Districts and beverage hotspots across the county, issue-by-issue. Our stories this time focus on production. We have information about tracking software and microbiome DNA mapping for vineyards and wineries, but we dont stop there. Whether its hearing from a family of bourbon still makers, uncovering what the inspiration is to barrel age beer or learning what goes into becoming a master distiller, I hope youll enjoy reading these stories as much as we did planning, researching and writing them. To sweeten the pot, were including a few pages of Tasting Notes, based on some of this issues articles. Check out our suggestions for barrel-aged beer on page 69, and learn more about Sonoma Countys cocktail culture with a few belly warmers on page 94. As part of our regular coverage, we have columnists, industry news, competition results and a calendar of upcoming events and trade shows. If youd like to submit an event or news item for consideration, send it to info@spiritedbiz.com. Personally, Im already on a ...