Two of the great brewing countries of Europe -- Belgium and Germany - have very divergent philosophies about brewing. Any Belgian brewer would tell you that it takes an artist to brew a great batch of beer. At the opposite end of the spectrum, any German brewer would tell you that it takes a scientist to brew perfectly consistent beer from batch to batch. At Phwoods, we recognize that brewing is both an art and a science. We also respect the vast variety of beer styles that the world has to offer - from the delicate balance of German Kolsch to the robust intensity of Russian Imperial Stout. Our brewers don't pretend to be able to brew a masterpiece like the Trappist monks of Belgium or with perfect consistency like the brew masters of Bavaria. But we do strive toward one realistic and simple goal: to brew consistently good beer in a variety of ale and lager styles. That's really what Phwoods beer is all about.

The Perfect Brew

12:07 PM PST on Wednesday, December 22, 2004

By MARK PETIX / The Press-Enterprise

Gentlemen still prefer blondes, although a porter or a stout will certainly do in a pinch.

Some 30 years after it began, the microbrewery revolution is still going strong, providing refreshing alternatives to mass-produced beers that are, to put it politely, extremely consistent.  From the light and refreshing ales known as blondes to a hearty stout, they create the beers that sophisticated brew lovers can truly savor, "There is a huge difference," Scott Diehl said. The "big guys" such as Budweiser and Coors heavily filter their beer, which he said allows them to create a consistent-tasting beer batch after batch. Microbrews are created to have fuller flavor and a unique style, "We just put a little polish on our beer," he said. Diehl, who is a brew master at P.H. Woods Restaurant & Brewery in Moreno Valley, he chooses his five brews from more than 30 styles of beer. At contests, he said there are often more than 70 styles of beer from which to choose.