Clamps & Gaskets: News Roundup for Week 52, 2013 & Week 1, 2014.

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

Weeks 50/51
22 December 2013 - 4 January 2014

• 2014.01.04
  The three-thousand year old tomb of the head of beer production for Pharaoh Amenhotep III is unearthed in Luxor, Egypt. Via BBC.



• 2014.01.04
  The future of American wine: "Wine of place, proud of where it comes from, proud of its diversity." Via Dave McIntyre (of the Washington Post).






• 2014.01.01
  British microbrew pioneer Peter Austin has died at 92. Important influence on early U.S. 'craft' breweries. Via Boak & Bailey's Beer Blog.



• 2014.01.01
  British beer historian Ron Pattinson authors book on re-creating beers originally brewed during the years 1800 to 1965. Ingredients, brewing techniques, and descriptions of the history and development of each style. Via Shut Up About Barclay Perkins (Pattinson's blog).




• 2014.01.01
  The 2013 winners of the annual Yuletide Beer Photo Contest announced. Via Alan McLeod (A Good Beer Blog).



• 2014.01.01
  The current science on why excessive alcohol consumption causes veisalgia —i.e., hangover— and suggested palliatives. Via Smithsonian Magazine.



• 2013.12.31
  British ex-pat, Nick Funnell —the longest-tenured brewer in the Washington D.C. area— hangs up his boots. Via YFGF.



• 2014.12.30
  Sierra Nevada Brewing releases the first beer to be brewed at both its Chico, California, location, and at its new second location, in Mills River, North Carolina: Nooner 'Session IPA'. Via My Beer Buzz.



• 2014.12.30
  Julia Herz —Craft Beer Program Director for the Brewers Association— assesses 'craft' beer's development in 2013. "Craft beer is finally and fully being recognized in every subset of the beverage and culinary worlds."



• 2014.12.27
  Richmond, Virginia-area had a big year for new 'craft' beer in 2013. Via Richmond.com.



• 2014.12.24
  Reports of the demise of Belgium's Orval Trappist Brewery were greatly exaggerated. "Fermentation continues in tranquility and peace" at Trappist Orval. Via Belgian Beer Specialist.



• 2014.12.24
  Why it's okay to indulge in some alcoholic excess over the Christmas holidays. An essay by British beer author Pete Brown.



• 2014.12.23
  EU brewers claim trade discrimination. Demand same excise tax breaks as small U.S. breweries. Via EurActiv.



• 2014.12.23
  Yusef Lateef has died, age 93. Multi-instrumentalist, world musician, jazz master. Via Washington Post.



• 2014.12.22
  "Ancient man developed agriculture to brew alcohol [i.e., beer], NOT to bake bread." Via Daily Mail.

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• Clamps and Gaskets is a (usually) bi-weekly wrap-up of stories on beer (or wine, or whisky); although some are 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.