Category: Opinion

my humble and correct opinion

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Let the Best(s) Begin

I ran across the first Best of 2019 list a week ago…

Craft Beer & Brewing, one of the few remaining beer magazines around now published their Top 19. I was heartened to see Beachwood Blendery on the list, Russian River nabbed a spot and one of my favorites from the year, the Crooked Stave Sour Rose was there which validated my taste buds. I just can’t believe that with 2 months left in an industry tilted towards spur of the moment tap room only releases that you can leave 2+ months of the year un-examined.

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Beer Thug

I have to admit that I have never heard of BeerThugLife until I saw this PIECE in the L.A. Times. As I read the article, I was torn about it. I bet I would like Edgar Preciado as many people say they do and I like that the paper is highlighting people that don’t fit the stereotypical independent beer fan (i.e. me).

But man I am not a fan of the whole “chug it” mindset even for humor, or to make a point. Granted it is probably better than turning the can into trades across the country but I see it as such a waste of both time (waiting in line and later filming and uploading) as well as just not appreciating the beer. And how is one chug any different from the other? Not my type of entertainment and it is telling that that type of video is what gets a response on social media.

On the other hand, if it gets a new crowd into craft beer then I an easily live with it and if Preciado can leverage this into being able to bring a brewery to an area of L.A. that is under-served, then more power to him. I will certainly write about his brewery, I just won’t chug. His beers and all beers deserve more than that.

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Bank Withdrawl

This story was recently in the L.A. Times….

It is rare that a government body is even a tiny bit pro-active but San Diego has seen the power of both biotech and beer and have created a new bank.  One that will be filled with water and (hopefully) won’t increase taxes.

The city wants to take “stranded”, unused water from business ventures willing to part with it and offer it to water dependent companies willing to pay for extra.  It is a clever idea and one that could conceivably work with other finite resources. It will be interesting if this project takes off and can be a model for other water districts.

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Cellar No More

I was vigilantly checking my credit card statement when I saw a strange name on a purchase. I looked at my calendar and saw that I was at the Eagle Rock branch of Craft Beer Cellar that night and not at some place called Talon. I dug a little more and found out that the Talon is now the new name of the bottle shop.

The only news that I can find was on Facebook saying that Tom & Nicki have taken over. Leads me to think that the franchising through Craft Beer Cellar is having problems over on the West Coast too or maybe some other answer is at the root of the sign change.

I made a quick stop and did not see any of the regular staff on hand but the shelves were stocked so let’s hope that the beer choices stay strong.

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For the 1st Responders

What you see is an old fire truck transformed into a second life as beer delivery system. Not only does it make you wonder what other cool vehicles could become taps but I also wonder if something like this could be combined with Jose Andres and his food for disaster victims (World Central Kitchen) to create a charitable beer truck. Maybe for the California fire fighters working in super hazardous conditions as celebration when a fire is contained.

Read the back story on this rolling Ohio tap truck right HERE.

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Gold Standard

This Tweet came across my view (via the Appelation Beer Blog) and it is part of why I wanted to review Saison Dupont and compare/contrast to current US examples…

Follow the link to see the replies. Amazingly courteous for Twitter and will make you want to buy some classic beers or make travel plans.

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Restrictor

Until we get to the full (and safe) self-driving car, safety technology in cars will be big sells, in my opinion and one of the biggies is stopping those impaired by alcohol / marijuana from operating a vehicle.

Currently the tech is pushed from the state from the courts. You get a drunk driving ticket and you will have your car set to test you and pass before the engine comes on. But if the tech can actually and passively collect and analyze the breath correctly, then it could be phased into cars.

Right now though, we are not there yet as this NPR article points out. I do think the time will come when it is standard and when that time comes, I also hope that having a bajillion devices lit up in the drivers view will also have a fix. The other DD (distracted driving) is a big problem too.

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Whither Lagunitas?

In late October, the news broke that Lagunitas (or was it Heineken) had closed a Community Room charitable space in Portland. It was PR claimed that it was a hard decision to make but I am pretty sure that the big brewery could have stopped taking reservations and then easily found the spare change in the marketing department couch to keep the place afloat through all the booked events or called it quits on January 2nd.

This led me back to a conversation I had recently where the massive Lagunitas complex off the 210 freeway was brought up and how it had completely fallen off the map in the Los Angeles beer universe. Back in time when I was invited there on media day and saw all the space for trucks to be loaded with easy access to move out onto the freeway to send Lagunitas beer to the large SoCal market and presumably to Mexico. Space for brewing and taprooms and food. But years have passed and no rooftop garden bar as spoken of. Nothing but a temporary taproom that had the look of thrown together over a weekend which I don’t even know is open or not anymore. And there ha been nary an update about the whole project since.

If two states are affected, in two widely disparate areas like Portland and SoCal, there is something afoot. This feels like a re-trenchment from above and not something guided by Petaluma HQ. I expected this to happen to one of the “High End” breweries or Constellation with the inflated Ballast Point sale but maybe Heineken hit a financial wall first. A self-imposed wall to be sure.

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Novellas

I have come to realize that I will never catch up on all the reading that I want (need) to accomplish which is why I like smaller chunks of reading like the short story and novella.

The same goes with beer which is why I am a booster of the stubbie bottle, of flights and sharing. And I am also a fan of smaller packaging….

…I don’t know a thing about Workhorse Brewing but I love the 8oz packaging and the branding as “Flights”.

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FOOD: Transforming the American Table

For those heading to DC, the Smithsonian is going to show a little more of a beer side, ” “FOOD: Transforming the American Table” is an existing, permanent exhibition that explores the history of food and eating in the United States since 1950. The exhibition’s fall update will highlight new stories about changes in food itself and how Americans produce, prepare and consume food and drink. One of four major new sections is “Brewing a Revolution.”“

Per the Brewers Association press release, “Visitors will see artifacts, archival materials and photographs that originated in the homebrewing and microbrewing movements of California and Colorado in the 1960s through 1980s—the beginning of the craft beer “revolution.” “

Check out more about this exhibit HERE.