Welcome everyone to the final issue of The Beer Guy this year. Thank you all for the questions, praise, and encouragement along the way. I've really enjoyed the opportunity to share with you a subject that I know and love. I know that some of you have already put my recommendations to good use, and I hope others continue to do the same.

Q: What's a firkin and why does Ashley's keep e-mailing me about them?

Traditionally, the term "firkin" referred to a small wooden cask for storing and serving beer in the UK. Over time, the wood was replaced by aluminum, and the word came to refer to any 9-gallon beer cask. (For reference, a typical keg is 15½ gallons.) The real significance of firkins to beer fans is the not cask itself but what's inside: firkins, unlike kegs, contain "cask" ale, also known as "real" ale.

Hi! I'm Ben "Papa Junk" McJunkin, and I drink a lot of beer. I also make a lot of beer. I'm not sure that qualifies me as a beer expert, but I definitely have a beer passion. The goal of this column is to extend that passion to you. I want help law students expand their understanding of beer beyond just yellow fizzy stuff, and learn to appreciate the subtleties and complexity of beer. Right now, the format of the column is whatever the hell I feel like, so if you have thoughts or suggestions, feel free to let me know.