Category: Opinion

my humble and correct opinion

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Weinhard RIP

Weinhard has been given the ax. You can read about it HERE.

These regional brands really suffered in the transition to where we are now which is a few big conglomerates and a ton of smaller breweries underneath. The Weinhard’s of the world were stuck in a nether realm of too small and uncool to the SABInBev’s of the world while also not being small and nimble or cool to the craft sector. So they got bounced around like an NBA player during free agency.

I wish people (like myself too) could have one more bottle of the beer from its heyday before it left.

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The Firkin for July 2021

France has recently passed quite the unpopular law that bars unvaccinated people from going inside cafes. Los Angeles has many bars that are requiring proof of vaccinated to enter.

At this point, I would require it to come into my home as well. The vaccine is free, it is available and you have no excuse. You buckle up to drive to a bar. You obey street signs on the way. A jab in the arm seems an easy one and done proposition to me.

But of course, it is not. Now bars and taprooms will have to have bouncers at the door and endure negative Yelp reviews based on not being allowed in.

This may be the only way though to get our vaccination numbers up. Keep denying entry to various fun activities until enough people finally give up this weird “hesitancy”.

Plant a pop-up vaccination center next to a brewery and see if the lure of beer will get more needles in arms.

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Apply Within

Kudos for creativity on this label from Bolton Landing Brewing Company.

But it makes me question the following paragraph from the NY Post…

““Like most businesses this year, we are looking for help in our taproom,” says the ad from the brewery, which is located less than a mile from Lake George and about a 20-minute drive from the popular summer resort’s main drag.”

My guess is that summer vacation tourists might be the bigger driver when it comes to jobs not being filled. You can read this NPR piece HERE where that comes through loud and clear.

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Safe Bars

I am not a fan of consultants imposing their procedures on a business. Why? They usually don’t know the business or employees working there.

But I am glad to see programs like Safe Bars out there that can be accessed by owners wanting to make their establishments, well, safer.

It is more of a DC area program but maybe variants can start in L.A. with letter grades?

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Brave Noise

OK. Two things for you beer fans to do and they are both simple.

One – Read THIS. Do not TL:DR it. Read it.

Two – Buy the beer(s) when they come out.

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Recycle Artistically

Wouldn’t it be cool to see a large recycling bin like this?

Of course, for breweries it would need to be a rendition of a 16oz can but I would love to see recycling and art to meet at each and every LA brewery.

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Eliqs

Small orders are not economically sound. Economies of scale is where it’s at. That is why you have to buy a certain amount of cans and bottles if you are a brewery.

But Eliqs (no idea what that name even means) wants to corner a market of small custom label orders. You can choose a template or go full creative and the price isn’t half bad.

The beer or seltzer is LA brewed but unknown as to which brewery is doing it so it is hard to tell if it would be beer nerd good or just passable with the hope that the label is funny enough.

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Beer City

One question has popped up a lot recently, what will be the first post-pandemic movie that you will sit in a movie theater and watch.

Well, I have an option for beer fans. Beer City San Diego. You can read more HERE about the documentary. You will get interviews with legends like Peter Zien of AleSmith among others.

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Needed or Not – 4th of July Edition

Things were really starting to look up out in the world, the…

Bud Light Seltzer Frozen Icicles appeared. Basically cheap boozy ice pops, where the “light” comes in is anyones’s guess. You do get super natural flavors such as Cherry Limeade, Blue Raspberry, and Summer Ice.

Look, a determined toddler could make a summer treat that tastes better than this. So, super NOT NEEDED.

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Best Beers of June 2021 + IPA Standings

Time to unveil MY best beers of the month…

Honorable Mention goes to all of the New Zealand hopped beers that I tried from Firestone Walker’s Propagator. All were quite unique and showcased each different hop well.

Runner Up was High Water Brewing and their Break Apart Cream Ale which was just so different than most of the other beers tasted. That creamsicle orange flavor was great.

The Grand Winner came from Radiant Brewing in Anaheim. Mind Gardens Pilsner was made with Riwaja hops and it was both hoppy without taking anything away from the pilsner aspects of the beer.

The IPA standings remain unchanged for the second straight month.

Third – Crooked Stave Idaho 7 IPA

Second – Indie Brewing Quintette IPA

First – Offshoot Beer Co. DDH Visions