Today is also the 38th birthday of Jeff O’Neil, who I first met when he was brewing at Drake’s here in sunny California. He’s since gone on to make a name for himself at Ithaca Beer Co. before recently leaving that gig to become the brewmaster at the Peekskill Brewery, both of which are in upstate New York, which is where Jeff originally hails from. Jeff’s a terrific brewer and an equally wonderful guy. Join me in wishing Jeff a very happy birthday.
Jeff at GABF in 2007.
Jeff O’Neil, from Ithaca Brewing, wearing his automatic-get-on-the-bulletin shirt, with Rodger Davis, from Drake’s, not wearing his, at the Craft Brewers Conference in 2008.
Jeff O’Neil, a mild-mannered brewer was underneath wearing the Bulletin supporter costume that turns him into a superhero, coming into Deep Ellum in Boson for an event during the Craft Brewers Conference a few years ago.
Tuesday’s ad is for an old Bronx brewery, the J&M Haffen Brewing Co. The brewery was only in existence from 1856 until 1917. As far as I can tell, this was used for a 1906 calendar for the brewery. Is it just me, or is one of the mermaids showing a bit more cheek than is usual?
Monday’s ad is a 19th century ad for a New York brewery, the Geo. Winter Brewing Co. According to the ad itself, the brewery was located on 55th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. It’s from around 1900, plus or minus. The ad shows “Columbia raising a glass of beer, posed with a keg and a billy goat, the symbol of bock beer.”
Wednesday’s ad is for New York City’s Knickerbocker Beer, from 1955. Showing a towering Knickerbocker above the skyscrapers, wearing colonial garb, and handing a pilsner glass of beer. I’d be afraid not to take it. And how about that slogan, “less filling … more delicious, too!” That sounds awfully similar to another slogan for a lighter beer, doesn’t it?
Today is Garrett Oliver’s 49th birthday. Garrett is the head brewer at Brooklyn Brewery and has done more for the craft beer industry to promote pairing food and beer than just about any other person alive. If you haven’t picked up a copy of his book, The Brewmaster’s Table, you should do so as soon as possible. He’s also the best-dressed brewer in the world and a great person. Join me in wishing Garrett a very happy birthday.
Garrett and Bruce Joseph, from Anchor Brewery, at the Brewer’s Dinner before GABF a few years ago.
Tom Dalldorf, published of the Celebrator, Garrett and me share a beer at d.b.a.
Giving a cooking demonstration with beer chef Bruce Paton at GABF in 2005.
A happy Garrett with Randy Mosher at the World Beer Cup dinner at last year’s CBC in Chicago.
Largest Cities: New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse
Population: 18,976,457; 3rd
Area: 54475 sq.mi., 27th
Nickname: Empire State
Statehood: 11th, July 26, 1788
Alcohol Legalized: December 5, 1933
Number of Breweries: 76
Rank: 8th
Beer Production: 10,620,762
Production Rank: 4th
Beer Per Capita: 16.9 Gallons
Package Mix:
Bottles: 49.6%
Cans: 40.3%
Kegs: 9.9%
Beer Taxes:
Per Gallon: $0.14
Per Case: $0.32
Tax Per Barrel (24/12 Case): $4.34
Draught Tax Per Barrel (in Kegs): $4.34
In addition, New York City assesses a tax of $3.72 per barrel
Economic Impact (2010):
From Brewing: $1,540,520,106
Direct Impact: $5,343,831,895
Supplier Impact: $3,224,460,192
Induced Economic Impact: $4,660,828,233
Total Impact: $13,229,120,321
Legal Restrictions:
Control State: No
Sale Hours:On Premises: 8 am–4 am. Some counties have more restrictive hours. Off Premises: Beer: Per state law, 24 hours/day.
Wine & spirits: 9 am–midnight Mon–Sat, Noon–9 pm Sunday.
Many counties have more restrictive hours, such as bans on beer sales overnight (hours vary).
Grocery Store Sales: Yes
Notes: Off-premises sale of wine and spirits is only at liquor stores, and beer is not sold at liquor stores; it must be sold at supermarkets and convenience stores. Exchanges for returned items are permitted (at store owners’ discretion).
Some counties may retain the Sunday morning beer prohibition which the state discontinued as of July 30, 2006. Twelve dry towns, mostly in western region of state. All liquor stores must be owned by a single owner, who owns that store and lives within a certain distance of it — effectually banning chain liquor stores from the state. New York City law does not allow open containers of alcohol in public. Thus, having a beer on the stoop of a building may draw a citation. However, practically, bagged containers of alcohol are consumed in violation of the rule, since opaque bags conceal evidence necessary to prosecute a citation and it is difficult to warrant a search of the bag without other evidence (evidence discovered due to an improper search is inadmissible in court).
I received an update on d.b.a. bar owner Ray Deter’s condition, after being in a bicycle accident earlier this week. I desperately had hoped the news would be better, but Ray’s wife, Catherine Lepp, posted the following on d.b.a.’s Facebook page earlier today: Thanks so much for everyone’s kind words and support for me and [...]
I learned this morning that Ray Deter, the owner of the d.b.a. beer bars in New York City and New Orleans, was critically injured in a bicycle accident last night in New York. That information comes from Tom Peters of Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia. Although not mentioning Deter by name, DNAinfo, a local news website [...]
Tuesday’s ad is a 1898 ad for a New York brewery, Geo. Ringler & Co. It’s actually a calendar poster, which was common for beer advertising during the time period. But since it’s Flag Day, and she’s wrapped in a flag, it seemed an appropriate one for today.
Today is also Jeremy Cowan’s 42nd birthday. Jeremy owns Shmaltz Brewing, makers of He’Brew. Jeremy is a good friend and we’ve known one another since he first pitched He’Brew to me at BevMo over thirteen years ago (which is detailed in Jeremy’s memoir Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah). Though Jeremy splits his time between San Francisco [...]
Sixpoint Craft Ales in Brooklyn, New York is having an art and beer contest called “Beer Is Culture” as we speak, and you can see the entries at their Facebook page. One in particular I thought was pretty funny, a flowchart by Melissa Schmechel where all the choices lead one to beer. But beyond the [...]
This week’s works of art are by Brooklyn illustrator Anthony Picone, whose art can be found on his blog Ant Stuff. This first one is called “Red Beer.” This second one was created for Houston Beer Week. And I like the Beer Turtle, similar to the Iroquois creation myth where the world rode on the [...]
This week’s work of art is by New York artist Frank Waller, a founding member of the Art Students’ League in 1875. The painting, Harvesting Hops Near Cooperstown, New York, was completed in 1884 and today hangs in the Fenimore Art Museum. The Fenimore also has a short biography of Waller: A nineteenth century American [...]
This week’s work of art is by the Canadian-born artist Ralston Crawford. He spent his childhood in Buffalo, and most of the rest of his life traveling and in America, which is reflected in his oeuvre. Today’s painting, Buffalo Grain Elevators, was completed in 1937 and today is part of the Smithsonian Institute’s American Art [...]
Our 46th Session is hosted by Mike R. Lynch of Burgers and Brews. For his topic, he chose “An Unexpected Discovery: Finding Great Beer in the Last Place You’d Look,” or as he describes it: I recently drove out to Colorado for a concert, and realized this was a perfect opportunity to stop at as [...]
Today’s art is a beautiful painting by American artist Tompkins H. Matteson. The title of the painting is Harvesting Hops and the original is at the Museum of Art for the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York. Matteson was born about thirty miles from Utica, in Peterboro, New York in 1813. This painting was [...]
I was one of 42 beer writers who contributed to this big 960-page book telling the stories of 1,001 world-famous beers. The book is now available at Amazon.com and other fine booksellers.
