Clamps & Gaskets: News Roundup for Weeks 8/9, 2012.

A non-comprehensive roundup
of news of beer and other things.

Weeks 8/9
19 February- 3 March 2012

• 2012.03.03
  A Sacramento, California, pub backtracks from charging its cusotmers $45 for 12-ounce draft pour of Russian River Brewery's Pliny the Younger IPA (and a burger). Via ranSACkedmedia.
  
  
• 2012.03.03
  "On Payola and Libertarianism, On Beer and the End User." An essay on why government can be a necessary and good thing. Via BeerBrarian.
  
  
• 2012.03.02
  Birthday in Beer: Jay Brooks, long-time writer & promoter of good beer. Creator of Brookston Beer Bulletin, a standard of beer blogging in the U.S.
  
  
• 2012.03.03
  Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossom festival celebrates its centennial this month ... and the cherry trees are blooming earlier than usual. Via WAMU.org.
  
  
• 2012.02.29
  "I'm a [sad] believer." Davy Jones of the Monkees has died at 66 ... in Florida. Via YahooMusic.
  
  
• 2012.02.29
  Virginia legislature approves direct purchases by contract breweries. Begins approval process to permit on-site beer sales and sampling at breweries. Via YFGF.
  
  
• 2012.02.29
  Today is Leap Day. More, via Wikipedia.
  
  
• 2012.02.28
  Man that fasted on beer and water for 46 days named "Beerdrinker of the Year," in annual contest by Wynkoop Brewery. Via BeerPulse.com.
  
  
• 2012.02.28
  An update on the (stalled) push to allow to beer growler refills in Washington, D.C. Via DCBeer.com.
  
  
  
• 2012.02.28
  The pilot episode of beer writer Lew Bryson's American Beer Blogger to air 8 March 2012 on Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, PBS affiliate. Via Seen Through A Glass.
  
  
• 2012.02.27
  This year's Washington Post Beer Madness panel of judges includes a Congressman. Publication of judging results to begin 7 March. Via All We Can Eat.
  
  
• 2012.02.25
  Maryland legislature considers bills to allow brewery sampling & direct distribution, and diners to bring their own wine into restaurants (referred to as "corkage"). Via Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws.
  
  
• 2012.02.24
  The Yards Brewpub to be open in southeast Washington, D.C., near to Nationals Stadium, by May 2013. Not affiliated with Yards Brewing of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Via YFGF.
  
  
  
• 2012.02.23
  Brewers Association announces 2012 American CraftBeer Week for 14-20 May. Via CraftBeer.com
  
  
• 2012.02.23
  There are only four Master Beer Cicerones. Of those, Nicole Erny is the first female Master Cicerone. Via Brookston Beer Bulletin.
  
  
  
• 2012.02.23
  Baltimore, Maryland, contract brewer, Stillwater Artisinal Ales announces that it will offer cans of its Premium , a "farmhouse session beer," later this year. Via DCBeer.com.
  
  
• 2012.02.22
  Cabinet Artisanal Brewhouse in Alexandria, Virginia, brews only sour beers, in small batches. Via Washington Post.
  
  
  
• 2012.02.21
  By sales, the top 20 US 'craft' breweries. Via Huffington Post.
  
  
• 2012.02.20
  John Glenn became 1st American to orbit Earth, 50 years ago, today. Via The Atlantic.
  
  

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• Clamps and Gaskets is a weekly wrap-up of stories  not posted at Yours For Good Fermentables.com. Most deal with beer (or wine, or whisky); some do not. But all are brief, and many are re-posts from twitter.com/cizauskas.
• The Clamps and Gaskets graphic was created by Mike Licht at NotionsCapital.