American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
We blame the industry for this… It used to be that when we wrapped up our Weekend Picks on Friday, we could coast through the weekend. There was little need to check in for updates – things were pretty much done. But clearly all that’s changed.
So here’s some of what’s happened in the world of craft beer while you were off enjoying your long Thanksgiving holiday…
Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project Closes (Somerville, MA) – Last Tuesday, as things were slowing down and everyone was preparing for a long holiday weekend, Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project founders Dann Paquette and Martha Holley-Paquette announced that they were bringing their project to a close. From their full range approach to craft brewing to their playful imaging and ambience, Pretty Things was a defining and they will be missed.
What’s Behind the Pretty Things Closure? (Somerville, MA) – Speculation grew rampant as word spread that Pretty Things was closing and the statement on their website offered no reasons. Last October, Paquette stirred up a controversy, indicting unnamed local distributors for “pay-to-play” practices. This eventually led to a state investigation that eventually “found fault with Pretty Things’ own distributor, Craft Beer Guild LLC” according to the Boston Globe. And we can’t help but feel that this unfortunate finding must have been extremely awkward (you think?) and may have been one of the factors that led to the couple’s decision to end things.
Words To Drink By (Princeton, NJ) – “The most beautiful emotion we can experience is the mysterious. It is the power of all true art and science.”
Albert Einstein / Theoretical Physicist
Faster Please! (Waterbury, VT) – The Alchemist, home to the super-hot Heady Topper IPA is in the midst of a $10 million expansion, that can’t happen fast enough as far as we’re concerned. According to the Boston Globe, the build-out will allow the brewery to double its current production of 9,000 barrels and to sell directly to customers in a new visitor’s center.”
Scuba Diver Who Found A Beer Bottle That Is Older Than Canada, Might Be Insane (Halifax) – A diver who was exploring a Nova Scotia harbor in October unearthed an ancient beer bottle (with half of it is contents still intact) – and he may be donating his finding to museum officials for analysis. We suggest that he subject himself to analysis at the same time. After all, anyone who would choose to dive for fun, in a cold water far north harbor in the depths of October, is clearly troubled, or possibly worse!
