Clamps & Gaskets: News Roundup for Weeks 19/20, 2016.

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

Weeks 19/20
8 May - 21 May 2016

• 20 May 2016
  Congress to allow doctors at the Department of Veteran Affairs to prescribe medical marijuana, pending budget approval.
  —Via Stars and Stripes.




• 18 May 2016
  Beginning in late May and continuing through the American election season in November, Belgian-owned beverage conglomerate, Anheuser-Busch InBev, to re-brand "Budweiser," its flagship light lager beer, with the name..."America." Conservative political columnist George F. Will mocks the decision.

  Budweiser is the “king of beers” — we know it is because Budweiser says it is — but will not be saying so during this advertising campaign. The slogan will be replaced by “E Pluribus Unum.” This is Latin for “Perhaps a gusher of patriotic kitsch will stanch the leakage of our market share to pestilential craft breweries.”

  —Via Washington Post.


• 18 May 2016
  

  There are limitless opportunities for brewers to experiment, create excitement, and push the envelope rather than resorting to 'extreme ridiculousness. [...] Inserting highly alcoholic beers into dead squirrels is a gimmick that I don’t think is very clever at a time when, in many parts of the world, there are people who are only too willing to attack the alcohol industry. [...] I personally feel that you can push barriers in sensible ways and you can push barriers in not so sensible ways,

  —Via Professor Charlie Bamforth, at Australian Brew News.




• 16 May 2016
  The [U.S.] Brewers Association celebrates American Craft Beer Week, 16-22 May 2016.
  —Via YFGF.


• 15 May 2016
  Jane Little —the world’s longest-serving orchestra musician— 71 years a bassist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, dies at age 87, while performing ..."There's No Business Like Show Business."
  —Via Washington Post.


• 12 May 2016
  "Rotatation Nation": Millennials and the impermanence of 'craft' beer.

  This industry is not just being driven by Millennials. It’s now OWNED by Millennials. In other words, they’ve gone from being the main consumers to now dominating the ownership of breweries. [...] The many Millennials (and younger) that I know don’t see the value of permanence the way older generations do. They don’t build monuments to themselves — it’s all about the immediate cool experience and the story of the night. [...] THE HERE AND NOW. This is the mindset of these guys, and it’s reflective in the way they make and sell beer. They’re like, “Hey, let’s make something cool, and never make it again. Next week, we’ll make something else cool but totes different.” It’s all about the today, the moment, the right now. As such, rotation nation is probably here to stay for a while, despite the inefficiency it creates and lack of brand equity building.

  —Via Jack Curtain, at Liquid Diet.


• 11 May 2016
  One for the ages. Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer strikes out twenty in one nine-inning game; ties the Major League Baseball record held by only two other players in its history.
  —Via Washington Post.


• 10 May 2016
  When the city of Madison, Wisconsin, discovered tiny amounts of lead in some of its water pipes, it replaced all of the city's lead pipes. Contrast that with the terrible municipal water situation in Flint, Michigan.
  —Via Washington Post.


• 11 May 2016
  Inhumane conditions for chickens AND workers at U.S. chicken processing plants, Oxfam America reports.
  —Via Washington Post.




• 10 May 2016
  Dutch brewery, Bavaria, to acquire Belgian brewery, Palm (brewer of renowned Rodenbach).
  —Via Reuters.


• 10 May 2016
  Toward one huge global beverage conglomerate: SABMiller & Coca-Cola receive regulatory approval to merge their African continent bottling operations.
  —Via Bloomberg.


• 9 May 2016
  Beer blogger Bryan D. Roth asks: "Is the Brewers Association doing anything to further ethnicity or gender inclusivity?" A representative of the Association replies: "Organizationally, no, we don’t have a formal campaign in place, but we’re very aware of it."
  —Via This Is Why I'm Drunk.


• 8 May 2016
  Beer wars. MillerCoors says it will stop brewing beer for Pabst (which has no brewing plants). Pabst sues.
  —Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.


• 8 May 2016
  Officials fear Alberta, Canada, wildfire could double in size and reach a major oil sands mine.
  —Via ABC News.

  On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. On May 3, it swept through the community, destroying approximately 2,400 homes and buildings and forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Albertan history, 88,000 people. It continued to spread across northern Alberta and into Saskatchewan, consuming forested areas and impacting Athabasca oil sands operations. As of May 21, the fire was at a size of 1,246,510 acres. It may become the costliest disaster in Canadian history.

  —Via Wikipedia [accessed 27 May 2016].

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• Clamps and Gaskets is a bi-weekly wrap-up of stories  not posted at Yours For Good Fermentables.com. Most deal with beer (or wine, or whisky); some do not.
• The Clamps and Gaskets graphic was created by Mike Licht at NotionsCapital.


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