Hugh Sisson
Host, Cellar NotesAs General Partner of Clipper City Brewing Company, L.P., Hugh J. Sisson is among Baltimore's premier authorities on craft brewing and a former manager of the state's first pub brewery, Sissons, located in Federal Hill. A fifth generation Baltimorean, Hugh has been involved in all aspects of craft brewing.
In the mid-eighties, Hugh Sisson saw the potential for a small brewery in Baltimore, an historically "big beer" town. After researching the industry at its heart - in Germany, England, and the U.S. west coast - Hugh, with the help of Senator George W. Della, Jr., successfully lobbied the Maryland General Assembly to pass legislation required to open a brew pub in Maryland.
After the inception of craft brew in Baltimore, Hugh immersed himself in the development and market recognition of both Sisson's and its beers. He is a member of the Master Brewers Association of America, the Institute for Fermentation and Brewing Studies, and sits on the Executive Committee for the Brewers Association of Maryland. He has served as President of the Cross Street Irregulars Home Brew Club and along with Al Spoler, he has been co-hosting Cellar Notes since 1992.
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The Thanksgiving table is a maze of flavors and sensations, and picking a good red wine is a bit of a puzzle.Hugh offers some suggestions that will surely satisfy. -
If affordable wines made from high quality grapes from first class California vineyards appeal to you, then listen up as Hugh showcases selections from an operation called “The Paring” -
Available in a wide range of styles, Sherry deserves a place at your table during this season of celebration.Al looks at one of the best Sherry makers. -
Like it or hate it, there’s no denying that chardonnay is the world’s most important white grape. While some can break the bank price-wise, others are remarkable affordable. -
It’s one of those transitional times of the year, and the white grape viognier makes a perfect wine for the season. Here’s three to contemplate. -
One of Sonoma’s older wineries, Marietta has been putting great wine in bottles at a very fair price for decades now.Hugh looks at some recent offerings. -
Once a source of cheap jug wine, Lodi is now gaining respect for the quality of its zinfandels, a long-time favorite of Al. -
Beaujolais the classic easy going, easy drinking wine, and quite easy to understand. -
There are times when big heavy reds just don’t seem quite right, so that’s when you turn to lighter red wines for refreshment and pleasure. Al takes a look at several. -
Oregon continues to make solid strides in wine quality as it sends more and more labels into the market.This week we take a look at Pinot Gris, that very popular white wine that offers a great alternative to Chardonnay.
