Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Tomme Shows What's Up

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Tomme Arthur of The Lost Abbey just had a letter published in the Worthington Daily Globe in response to some teetotalling comments by Rev. Jim Sickmeyer. Check it out.

Bud American Ale, or What is Craft Beer?

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

There has been alot of discussion recently on two posts on Beervana about Budweiser American Ale that has led to a discussion of the definition of craft beer.

The can was opened by Alison, in a comment on the first post, when she provided her own (via BeerAdvocate) definition of craft beer: “Beer brewed in limited quantities often using traditional methods”. She goes on to ask Jeff if he equates craft beer with microbrewed beer, but that seems exactly what the BA definition is doing!

To determine exactly where the line is, several people raised the question of Blue Moon. Jeff says it could be credibly judged against other white ales, but I think that’s a stretch. Maybe if the flight is only Mothership Wit. But I would agree that it qualifies as craft beer.

Regarding Fat Tire, Jeff says, “I find it so substandard, and so perniciously commercial, that I have a hard time thinking of it as craft beer. To me, it’s the economic engine that allows New Belgium to brew the more interesting, niche beers in its lineup.” This is a tough area to get into. Most (successful) microbreweries brew a compromise beer. Think of most amber ales or American wheat beers. Some places (Goose Island, New Belgium, etc.) brew two or three. It is these compromise beers that sell well that are the “economic engine” for the brewery but does that mean they are no longer craft beer? What about it isn’t craft? Is it simply the fact that they sell alot of it? Don’t get too white on me now.

Fundamentally I think it is dangerous to try to exclude certain products from your definition of craft beer simply because you don’t like them. This is especially true in a case like Fat Tire where most of the uninitiated would consider it craft beer. It is simply not productive. It reminds me of the efforts of the Bush administration to redefine all sorts of words.

I would agree, Bud American Ale is a craft beer. I would also say that Fat Tire and Blue Moon are both craft beer. I would argue that PBR is not necessarily so easily written off either, but that is a discussion for a later date.

One last thing. I would echo Ryan Hirscht’s comment that it is good to see them finally not trying to hide their affiliation with this beer. Respectable actions at long last. Take note SABMillerCoors, as you move into your new offices.

Eric Warner!

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

Flying Dog ‘Lead Dog’ Eric Warner, regarding the yeast swirl:
“Oh, shit man, let me have a try. Just a dose. Perfect.”

From this video.

Women and Beer

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

I just read through the October/November Ale Street News and was disappointed to discover that Ms. Mug (Lauren Clark) is moving on to “other pursuits”. I wish her well in them and hope they continue to involve beer.

Her final column attempts to answer the question, as posed by Lew Bryson, “Why is craft beer so male-dominated: brewers, retailers, consumers? Do women not get craft beer, do they get the impression that they shouldn’t get craft beer? What’s up?”

The explanation Clark arrives at is fourfold: a history of male dominance since the industrialization of brewing, that male alcohol consumption tends to be more socially acceptable, the “really geeky, insider-y” nature of craft beer, and differences in tastes between young women and everyone else.

For the most part this explains things, but I’m not sure it adequately shows why brewing is different from law, engineering, or other fields that have a history of male dominance.

Is male alcohol consumption more socially acceptable now? I could see this going either way.

Craft beer is most certainly geeky, but when has that ever stopped women? Some of the biggest geeks I know are women. The biggest beer geek I know is Jan the Beer Baroness at Steve’s in Madison!

Finally, her point regarding the tastes of young women: “Womens’ preference for ‘sugar and spice and everything nice’ seems to diminish as we get older and our palates become more sophisticated. I mean, who is drinking all the fruit- and vanilla-flavored martinis? Mostly people in their twenties, who haven’t developed a taste yet for spirits.”

I’m sorry Ms. Mug but I have to disagree. You are right that young women drink alot of fruity drinks. However, the biggest fans of craft beer, men and women, are in their twenties. Many middle-aged men appreciate good beer but they tend to buy classic imports rather than investigate new beers. Middle-aged women just tend to drink wine.