I have just seen a saying by Thomas Carlyle that was new to me but which I felt is just so, so true.

"I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance"

Isn't that wonderful?

Even though a majority might spell "its" with an apostrophe; spell "it's" without an apostrophe; believe the A-B Budweiser is beer - Thomas Carlyle reminds us that we don't have to believe in them!

Regarding A-B quasi-beer, I'll not aruge the point, but I wish to call your attention to the fact that Bridgeport India Pale Ale, a product brewed here in Portland, Oregon, was awarded two gold medals at the International Brewers Awards in your very own London in 2000. Thus do I aver that not all products of the USA are akiin to fermented horse piss.

Quote "...Thus do I aver that not all products of the USA are akiin to fermented horse piss...."

And I agree.

It is one of the undoubted aspects of any communication that recipients often infer far more than the communication's originator says, or even implies.

I have never suggested that all US beers are rubbish and you will see on the RPB pages that I have been fulsome in my praise of some of the better US beers. On my recent trip to Chicago I spent much time seeking out hostelries that sold good US beer.

The person who suggested that the term "American Beer" was oxymoronic was not me.

UK beer festivals and competitions judge beers from all over the world fairly and dispassionately and I am not surprised that US beers did well. Indeed, in the latest event, held this year and with the results to be announced on 25 May, there are several US brewers in the finalists, including Bridgeport IPA again.

Even though a majority might spell "its" with an apostrophe;
I realize that's just an example. However, I very rarely see an apostrophe with the possessive form of "its."

If I recall, there was a comment on the realbeer.com forum that a Brit, who had been to every single beer festival in the world, found that his favorite was the one in Chicago. So, Asa, I do think that we in the U.S. are finally becoming known for good beer...instead of Budweiser or Miller's.

I have to say that, on the beer board, the possessive form of it is spelt with an apostrophe more often than not!

And that man who thought the Chicago beer festival was the best he had attended - wasn't he the same man that claimed (quite wrongly) that at the GBBF it wasn't possible to buy halves or to get tasters?

Kalleh writes: However, I very rarely see an apostrophe with the possessive form of "its."

I agree with Richard on this one. I see possessive its spelled "it's" more often than not online. Also, "their" for "they're" ...