Denver Or Portland? Hippies Or Not? You Be the Judge

Well, I could see this coming: people rising to defend Portland as America's "beer central."

A few days ago, my globally ethical (ethically global??) pal Matthew alerted me to an article in the current issue of Time magazine, touting Denver as the best place to tour breweries and drink beer.

"Hmmm," I thought. "Someone's bound to challenge that claim -- because surely Portland, Oregon, wins the prize with no contest at all."

Sure enough -- the Portland defenders are on the job. See Stan's blog, which also references a blog I didn't know, Beervana.

But the Time article got my attention for something entirely different: Its characterization of "artisanal" brewers as hippies and Grateful Dead addicts...

Huh? I don't think so. (Well, okay, maybe craft brewing contains a disproportionate number of people who like the music of the Grateful Dead. But people stopped equating fondness for the Dead with being a hippie, oh, I dunno, maybe thirty years ago?) Laid-back hippie-tude doesn't cut it in craft brewing. The work's too hard and the industry is too brutal. That's a lesson learned that, historically (and what is my perspective except historical?), every homebrewer who tries to turn pro learns reaaaaaaaaaaaaal fast.

Besides which -- long hair and a beard do not a hippie make. I'm so old that I was there the first time around and I oughta know.

Italian Beer At Russian River

Man, those people out in California are having way more fun than I am -- mainly because they spend a whole lotta time consuming fabulous food and drink. Now it's the always enjoyable Natalie and Vinnie Cilurzo at Russian River -- brewing up a flower-based Italian beer. You can read about and see photos of the proceedings at Jay's blog. It's his entry for April 12 titled "Italian Brew At Russian River."

Come to think of it, it's all Jay's fault. HE's the one having too much fun -- and he keeps telling the rest of us about it! No, maybe it's my fault. I keep reading his damn blog.............

So -- Where Was I?

For those of you who are now totally confused by the media's coverage of yesterday's events: no, April 7 was NOT the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. Please -- take my word for it. I know what I'm talking about. I may not know much, but I am dead certain of that one thing.

Anyway, where was I before I started all this countdown stuff?

Well, here's one thing I missed: My pal Jay Brooks issued a call for a new national "day": You know: like Boss's Day, Mother's Day, Kiss Your Therapist Day. Jay suggests designating July 18 as "International Brewer's Day." You can read the details at his blog. It's at the end of that entry. I second the motion.

And picking up on the more general topic of that blog entry by Jay: "Beer People": What's not to love about beer people? I've yet to meet one I didn't like. In no particular order, here are links to just a few of the websites run by people who love beer -- and who, in my opinion, exemplify all that's good not just about "beer people" but about people in general:

Jay's blog of course. You just won't meet a nicer guy.

There's Stan's blog -- currently running "slow" because he and his family are traveling more-or-less around the world. TRULY a swell guy, James Spencer In it for the love of the beer, my favorite brothers Groucho and CHUD Mr. Cool himself, Rick Lyke The fabulous Carolyn Smagalski One of the nicest guys on the planet, Bryce Eddings Historian, food guy, and beer guy Bob Skilnik.

Everybody at the Brewers Association The inimitable Lew Bryson Stephen Beaumont. I don't know him, but god he's good-looking.... Alan from Ontario. I don't know him either, but he's very smart and so he's also probably good-looking. (Smart = sexy.) (You knew that, right?) Russ from Maine -- who boggles my mind because he manages to keep up such a great blog.

Hmmmm....... I just realized that this list could go on and on and on. And I've got a book to write (I've only cranked out 7,000 words. That means I've got about 100,000 to go. Must. Get. Busy.) To be continued.

About That Bock Beer Article

In a previous blog entry, I included a link to an article about bock beer from the March 26. 1933 New York Times. But according to An Astute Reader (and I love the Astute Readers), it's only free if you subscribe to the newspaper (the paper version) or the online "Reader's Service."

So apparently I subscribe to the "Reader's Service" -- which, frankly, I had forgotten. (What can I say? I'm over forty. My memory is not my strong point.) Anyway, apologies for unintentionally misleading all of you. It's a terrific article and if I could do so legally, I'd just cut-and-paste the whole thing as a blog entry.

But of course I can't do that. It's the property of the New York Times. So if you're dessssssssssperate to read it, you have two options.

One, spend $4.00 to buy an online copy. (Again, I'd happily do that for all of you, but I still wouldn't be able to copy here.) Two, find a library that subscribes to the ProQuest electronic version of the Times Archives, or owns the microfilm version of the newspaper. Any university library will have them, as will any big city library. Finally, the Times archive IS free back to 1981.

Seventy-Five Years Ago: The Beer Bill Heads to the White House

Counting Down to April 7, the Anniversary of the Return of Legal Beer

March 21, 1933:

On this day, the House of Representatives approved the final version of the beer bill.

Members of the House and Senate had hoped to get it on the president's desk that day, but a clerical snafu stalled the proceedings. The Speaker of the House signed his copy and asked a clerk to run it back over to the Senate. There, the vice-president would sign it in the presence of the assembled Senate.

One small problem: The clerk missed the v-p and the Senators by nine minutes; they'd already adjourned for the day.

Not to worry. Tomorrow was soon enough. One more day. One more signature.

Seventy-Five Years Ago: Beer = "Wholesome Food"

Counting Down to April 7, the Anniversary of the Return of Legal Beer

March 20, 1933:

The Senate spent much of the day debating its version of the beer bill, which called for legalizing beer with 4 percent alcohol content. The subcommittee that presented the bill had relied on advice from "doctors and scientists," who argued that "such high dilutions would not intoxicate." Indeed, it "would serve as a healthful stimulant and a wholesome food."

Better yet, said one Senator, it would bring "young people" back to beer and away from "dangerous, habit-forming hard liquor."

Liquor schmiquor, said Representative Thomas Cullen, author of the beer bill that originated in House. Just get on with it.

"I sincerely hope," he said,

that before another week goes by the beer bill will be finally passed by both houses of Congress" and on its way to the President. "I feel that this is the beginning of the end of an era of fanaticism, intolerance, and lawlessness in our country.

He didn't have to wait a week. By day's end the Senate had approved its version and sent it back to the House. Beer was just one signature away. ____________________________ Source: New York Times, March 20, 1933: "Cullen Predicts 300,000 Beer Jobs," p. 3 and "Text of the Report of the Committee Advocating 4 Per Cent Beer," p. 19.