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The Newest (Old) Way Beer Brewers Are Working With Wood

Giant oak vats called foeders are making inroads into craft beer. Here’s how you pronounce it — and what they do
Foeders at the St. Louis-based Foeder Crafters of America.Photographer: Tim Bottchen
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Happy New Year, Top Shelfers! It’s your beer-drinking buddy Tony Rehagen, weighing in with a few extra post-Christmas pounds — plenty of them, no doubt, from brew shared with family and friends. I hope you also enjoyed your holiday libations of choice, because I’m here to give you a stern lecture on Dry January

Kidding! While I have nothing but respect for my fellow drinkers swearing off the stuff for a month (or longer), I’ve resolved merely to run a few extra miles each day to combat the added calories. Besides, I want to talk to you about a new word you might’ve seen at your local brewery. But first let’s look at the news in brews: