Category: Opinion

my humble and correct opinion

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Discounts for Raised Elbows

With on-off-kinda on tariffs and weird travel rules that discourage foreign travel, breweries in America cannot catch a break. 

But in Seattle, this is happening….

…. and maybe Los Angeles and San Diego breweries can form an alliance and pitch discounts for visitors? Or perhaps piggyback on Governor Newsom’s campaign for getting tourists to make the risky move of getting through US Customs without being detained.

Canadian tourism may bot be discussed much but when reports of people cancelling vacations at a financial loss and 90% downturn in travel here is not to be taken lightly. It will get ugly. And any incentives will help.

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Hop Day – MJF and Haas

I am all for hop blends with a purpose and with hop seller, Haas teaming up with the Michael James Jackson Foundation on “a new hop blend in support of the MJF’s mission to fund scholarship awards for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in brewing and distilling….” is a great idea because the money raised is going to create the future of craft beer makers.

Per the press release, “MJF board members evaluated 16 hop varieties and created several blends for consideration. The winning blend includes Elani®, El Dorado®, Citra® and Citra LupoMAX®. After sensory analysis and test brews at the Haas Innovations Brewery, the final hop blend was processed and is now available for purchase. The new MJF blend is perfect for hop-forward styles like pale ales and IPAs.”

Here’s hoping that we will all see some great IPAs with this blend.

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Hop Day – Irish History

Considering the legacy of hops from England, nearby Ireland doesn’t seem to have a history of hops. I find that quite odd which is why the Irish hop history listed HERE is great to read. Makes me hope that I can find an Irish craft beer with local hops.

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It’s Electrifying

One logistical beer issue that is not often thought about by the average craft beer buyer is how the beer got from the brewery to the store where it is bought from.

How to get it from point A to B with speed but also with at least a little regard for the environment as well.  Carlsberg has launched the new Electric Beer ( can’t say if it is good or not ) to highlight beer transport and to cement the partnership between the Swedish Brewery and electric vehicle maker Einride so that by the end of the year the EVs will be carrying 35-40% of Carlsberg Sweden’s freight operations in the southern and western parts of Sweden. 

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Merging

It is not surprising that in 2025, that craft beer is stuck in major turbulence. Customer choices have led to craft beer and other spirits being considered of the past. Not trendy to put it bluntly.

Economics and American business theory roar into play for both good and bad. So now you have Fort Point and HenHouse merging forces.

Is that good or an ominous sign? Will there be more?

Well, capitalism does not reward business that do things right all the time and often rewards those who are a net negative to the world. There is not an economic system that is neutral. But if two companies can co-exist while not losing their uniqueness then it can be a smart move and can always be unspun when situations improve.

With the brewing community be tight knit and collaborative, I would not doubt that more dual operations do come into being to ride out the storm of the last four years and the next as things get more grim in the world.

So, it is hopeless right? That would be easy. In this year, in our shitty U.S., I veer that way. But, what if we true beer fans buy from true beer people? What happens?

I think that the dollar ( as devalued as it is now) will speak. Maybe sotte vocce but still.

If you feel devalued. If you feel unheard. Buy Fort Point. Buy HenHouse. But from your local. I am one but craft beer, well as Musk might put it, is legion.

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Memo from the Miller Lite Marketing Team

Hear us out on this. We think we can confuse craft beer drinkers by putting our industrial lager into a 16oz can while also having a different label color, GOLD. I know that would be better during the Olympics but how does this look?….

…oh and we still refuse to spell light correctly. What do you think sirs?

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Irish Pub Wherever

Authentic.  You know it when you vibe it.  Some pubs, or breweries have a feel to them, none more than an Irish pub.  Which is odd, when you think about it, because most people, myself included have probably been in less than five or certainly less than ten actual in Ireland pubs and of those, how many were tourist spots?

Which makes this Smithsonian piece about Mel McNally such a good read.  McNally has found the sweet spot of Irish pub while also planting it in a community that is nowhere near Dublin or Galway.

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World Beer Cup!

courtesy of the Brewers Association

Getting the bad news out of the way first. Ireland did not medal in this year’s World Beer Cup. But closer to home the State of California brought home a total of 76 medals from Indianapolis and the Craft Brewers Conference.

Narrowing down to the large Los Angeles area breweries, here are the beers you should be looking for to see if you agree with the judges…

GOLD

San Fernando Brewing – Dr. Sleep Barrel-Age Beer

Arts District Brewing – Through the Roof International Pale Ale

Claremont Craft Ales – Pepper and Peaches Experimental IPA

SILVER

ISM Brewing – Hamburghini Italian Pilsner

Angel City Brewing – Big Trouble in Little Tokyo Experimental

ISM Brewing – Plough and Harrow Saison

Beachwood Brewing – Party Crush IPA

818 Brewing – Matador Red Ale

BRONZE

Far Field Krispy Kiwi Hoppy Lager

Santa Monica Brew Works – Basil Lemongrass Gose

Beachwood Raven’s Revenge British Imperial Stout

Beachwood Funk Yeah! and Funk Yeah! Peach Belgian Sour

Absolution Brewing Rector 2025 Belgian-Style Blonde

14 Cannons Home Run Jack American Lager

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The Firkin for April 2025

I fully understand and am aware that I have whinged on about events at brewery taprooms that seem divorced from what a brewery does but in the last week I have seen many emails and social media posts about speed puzzling in taprooms.

And, I guess, it is better than having tipsy patrons throwing axes but how many puzzle pieces are found the next day on the floor? I can barely muster the enthusiasm to do a puzzle when my mind has the latest software updates loaded, let alone after a couple 7% hazy IPAs.

Now compare that to this wonderful Pellicle Magazine piece by Anaïs Lecoq about a small pub in France where thought has been put into the brewery that is poured, where the owner has your pour ready when you cross the threshold and the ephemera on the wall is earned and meaningful.

This is not a slam on any modern day brewery trying to survive and expand their beer drinking base but I do worry that the lessons of pubs are not being learned.

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Memo from the Miller High Life Marketing Team

Hello Brewing Team!

Got a quick favor to ask. Can you send us a keg of what we call beer, because we need to get it to a new marketing partner so they can make these…

…because its cool right? Plus it saves people from actually drinking it.

Thanks in advance, the Marketing Team