Clamps & Gaskets: News Roundup for Weeks 25/26, 2017.

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

Weeks 25/26
18 June- 1 July 2017

At the halfway point of year 2017...

• 30 June 2017
  After eight years atop the Zymurgy poll, Russian River Brewing lost its position as brewing America's best beer (Pliny the Elder) to Bell's Brewing (Two-Hearted) ... and you won't believe what they did next! [Headline ha-ha!]
  —Via CraftBeer.com.


• 28 June 2017
  

  Can't help but be amused that any IPA with a hint of bitterness is now being referred to as "old school".

  —Via Chris Clough, on Twitter.



• 27 June 2017
  Canada celebrates its sesquicentennial.
  —Via Wikipedia.


• 27 June 2017
  One of America's great pianists, Geri Allen —who "reconciled far-flung elements of the jazz tradition"— has died at 60.
  —Via New York Times.



• 27 June 2017
  [U.S.] Brewers Association launches new seal to designate independent beers.

  In an effort to educate beer lovers about which beers are independently produced, the Brewers Association—the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers—launched a new seal touting independent craft brewers. ¶ Featuring an iconic beer bottle shape flipped upside down, the seal captures the spirit with which craft brewers have upended beer, while informing beer lovers they are choosing a beer from a brewery that is independently owned. These breweries run their businesses free of influence from other alcohol beverage companies which are not themselves craft brewers.

  —Via [U.S.] Brewers Association.


• 26 June 2017
  The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily reinstated segments of Donald Trump's Muslim-travel-to-America ban; will hear arguments on the consitutionality of the executive order in October.

  In practical terms, this means that [the executive order] may not be enforced against foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.

  —Via New York Times.


• 22 June 2017
  The unbearable freshness of beer-ing. Why 'craft' breweries make it so difficult to determine if their beers are fresh or not.
  —Via Fritz Hahn, at Washington Post.


• 21 June 2017
  "Craft has become [a] commodity and it’s going to be OK."

  It’s a commodity in the standardization of international styles such as IPA and murk as well as in single brands like Goose Island. You can find pretty much the same beer everywhere. And if you can’t you are still seeing the internationalization of the fib of “craft” pretty much everywhere. We cling on to outdated ideas about craft and the value of any beer at our peril. We miss the actual in favour of the hype. We chase the marketed (whether from the PR consultants or the semi-pro enthusiasts) in favour of the quieter, local and lovely. The experience? Yes, it is still about the experience but that includes learning from our experience.

  —Via Alan McLeod, at A Better Beer Blog.


• 21 June 2017
  The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the 3-tier beer distribution system in California, in part to protect small breweries (and small beer wholesalers). In a 10-1 decision, the court upheld California’s Tied-House law which prohibits beverage alcohol manufacturers and wholesalers from providing anything of value, directly or indirectly, to retailers in exchange for advertising their alcoholic beverages.

  This case had enormous implications for our members as well as for craft brewers across the country. If the courts had ruled in favor of the plaintiff, it would have struck down, as unconstitutional, code section 25503(f)-(h), which prohibits alcohol beverage suppliers from giving anything of value to retailers in exchange for advertising their products. Striking down this tied-house provision would have allowed retailers to charge suppliers for such things as a sign and other POS placement, in-store displays, listing of a brand on beer menus, tap handle placement and other forms of advertising. It is clear who would win in that scenario — big alcohol companies who have tremendous resources and who could easily out-spend small craft brewers, giving big alcohol further dominance in the craft beer space.
  —Tom McCormick, California Craft Brewers Association Director.

  —Via Craft Brewing Business.


• 20 June 2017
  The new irrelevance of pleasure. Neilsen/Harris/Brewbound poll finds 'Independent/Independently Owned' most important consideration for 'craft' beer drinkers. ("Enjoyable," "refreshing," "delicious," or, even, "local" not considered.)

  A total of 2,000 people (adults 21+), including 773 self-identified regular craft beer drinkers, were surveyed on 29 buzzwords. [...] The most intriguing news to share is that when asked, 'How familiar are you with each of the following terms as they relate to beer,' 81% of craft beer appreciators indicated 'independent' and 'independently owned' as the most recognized. The second-most recognized buzzword was 'traditional.'

  —Via [U.S.] Brewers Association.


• 18 June 2017
  Americans use and dispose of half a billion straws every day, contributing to five trillion pieces of plastic waste, including over 250,000 tons afloat at sea, estimated to currently be on the planet. Advocacy group The Last Plastic Straw has been founded to fight this waste.
  —Via Saveur.


• 16 June 2017
  At "Industry Leaders Discuss State of Craft" discussion hosted by website Brewbound, Hugh Sisson, founder of Heavy Seas Beer (in Baltimore, Maryland), noted that the 'craft' beer segment has matured and evolved from being a group of companies ...

  that defined themselves as the polar opposite of big beer to one that includes thousands of players competing within the confines of the beer industry. [...] We’re having growing pains. Typically when you’re having growing pains, shit happens. And we’re in that shit happens moment now. I’m still pretty bullish, but now it’s time to up your game. [...] My customer base has a loyalty to me of one six-pack. And the day that I forget that, I’m toast.

  —Via Brewbound.



You'd think if you put "#beergarden" in your name, you'd at least water the few plants in your 'garden.' pic.twitter.com/gfQNhIGfF8

— YFGF (@Cizauskas) July 10, 2017

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• Clamps and Gaskets is a bi-weekly wrap-up of stories about beer (or wine, or whisky) and other things.
• The Clamps and Gaskets graphic was created for YFGF by Mike Licht at NotionsCapital.


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