Category: Beer in the news

Great articles that you should read.

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Rules and Regulations

I promise to get back to happy beer news with the next post today but it seems the State Government of Oregon has reinterpreted ORS 471.403 so as to ban home brew competitions!

IN OREGON! IN 2010!

Now I think the Tea Party (aside from choosing an ironic name, since they are represented by chosen politicians before being taxed) is too “me” first and community second but when government does stupid crap like this, you can see why the anger has arisen.

Enough vitriol by me. Check out this well written post by Lisa Morrison, one of the leading lights in the Oregon beer scene. After reading, please write to the Oregon government and let them know as a purchaser of beer from Oregon, you think they have misread the law.

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Beer Camp

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In the past, Beer Camp at Sierra Nevada has been by invitation only.

Now it is being opened up as a contest for anyone who would like to experience beer the Chico way.

As I write this, I am thinking of what kind of entry that I could send their way.

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Snuggie

snug

Finally, you can have a beer and stay warm. You will have to visit the 5th Quadrant in Portland to get one and it’s only in “proletariat” red but finally we beer geeks can be snuggie geeks too.

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Growth?

The Wall Street Journal interviewed Jim Koch of Sam Adams recently and this one question and answer really struck a chord.

WSJ: Could craft beer ever represent the biggest segment of the industry?

Mr. Koch: No. I hope not. Because that would mean we dumbed the beer down for volume, and I don’t ever want to see that. I used to say I make beer for 5% of beer drinkers. The reality has always been that 95% of beer drinkers don’t like my beer. Now, that number has probably gone down to 90%. Because most people drink beer for refreshment, and that’s fine. And that’s the domain of the big brewers and they’re great at that.

This is something that I have thought about occasionally. The less good beer other people drink the more there is for me. But if demand isn’t there then the beer isn’t. So I need craft beer to grow. But how much. If we are 5% of the overall market, is that enough? Is 10% too much?

I, unlike others, do not hate big companies just because they are big. Stone is large now as is Sierra Nevada and Boston Brewing. The beer can still be flavorful or not depending on how it is made.

What I think the industry needs are enough large micros that are on solid footing, financially, who can mentor younger start-ups but also distribute to and educate the non craft consumer.

I don’t think there is a magic number but we should keep pushing. The enlightened few shouldn’t hoard the good stuff.

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Hot Knives – Greatest Sips

Have you ever wondered what cheese and what song go with Russian River Pliny the Elder?

Then you had better get this wicked cool book….
hot knives

It really has a DIY vibe to it. From the manilla folder recycled cover to the photos on the inside. But looking past that, you get some awesome ideas for beer and cheese pairings. You can see their blog and buy the book HERE