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 enjoying your weekend.
Big Brew on The Ropes? (Washington, DC) – Have you heard about the “BREW Act”? Well, it’s an interesting little bill that would reduce the federal excise tax on beer from small producers from $7 a barrel to $3.50 a barrel for the first 60,000 barrels, and from $18 per barrel to $16 per barrel beyond 60,000. This is a great deal for small craft breweries, but it is really pissing off the big boys. We have already seen how Anheuser-Busch InBev spent out the nose during the Super Bowl for a beer no one will drink, and now they are being told that the upstarts will pay less in tax? Small businesses unite!
Texas Just Keeps getting Bigger (Washington, DC) – At last week’s Craft Brewer’s Conference, the Brewers Association released some data that you may find interesting (or not, but that’s your own deal): it turns out that with the addition of 25 new breweries in 2012, the state of Texas was the third fastest-growing! That may come to a surprise to many, but not to the residents, as they are planning another 1,000 new breweries in 2013 and 2014. It must be true what they say: everything is bigger in Texas!
One Stop Shopping in Philly? (Harrisburg, PA) – There is some legislation being tossed around in Pennsylvania that would make it easier for beer distributors to buy licenses to sell wine and liquor, grocery stores to sell wine and host a “bar-style” area with food and beer, and may mean the end to state-run liquor stores. While this may be a good or bad thing in the long run, it is scaring local breweries. As Bloomberg put it: “Pennsylvania’s breweries and beer distributors are worrying about how state lawmakers may liberalize the Depression-era system of selling beer and wine and whether they will be forced to compete for sales at a disadvantage with bigger, better-prepared rivals.” That’s not good for anyone.
Alabama is Fighting the Good Fight (Montgomery, AL) – Did you know that there is only one state left in this here United States of America that still considers homebrewing illegal? That’s right, Alabama still has a law in place from 1911 banning moonshine – and since legally, homebrewers are considered identical…However, on Tuesday the 2nd, the House of Representatives will vote on it, and hopefully clear up this misunderstanding.
Nothing is Good Enough For Red Sox Fans (Boston, MA) – As a way to say think you to the fans for all of their loyal support, the Boston Red Sox have lowered their beer prices by almost $3.00, AND they have even offered some free food for kids. But what was the fan’s response? Well, as a comment on Boston.com put it: “Hey Sox brass, you guys are deplorable. It costs a family of four approx. $240 to go to a game at Fenway, so now you’re going to be ‘generous’ – for April ONLY, how thoughtful! – and it will only cost the family of four $225.” Eesh. Hope the patchwork team led by Jared Saltalamacchia and Will Middlebrooks can take fans minds off of the cost to watch.
