Today is the birthday of Steve Parkes. Steve owns and runs the American Brewers Guild, which trains brewers. I’ve known Steve for a number of years now and he’s one of my favorite Brits in the industry. I had the pleasure of writing a profile of him for Beer Advocate magazine a couple of years ago, from which I learned the following. Steve studied brewing sciences at Heriot-Wyatt University in Edinburgh and worked at several small UK breweries before moving to Maryland to open British Brewing (later known as Oxford Brewing). He then moved to California and created Red Nectar for Humboldt Brewing, which is also where he caught the teaching bug. Eventually buying the ABG school in 1999, two years ago finally making the leap to running the school full-time. In 2009, Steve was awarded the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Brewing by the Brewers Association at CBC in Boston. Steve said at the time. “It’s gratifying when someone notices what you’re been doing every day. It just feels tremendous, like standing on the shoulder of giants. The willingness to share is the best part of this industry. I love being part of a working community that thinks like that. It makes you a better person.” Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.
Steve at Cantillon in Brussels.
Enjoying a Rodenbach.
Words fail me. Happy birthday Steve.
P.S. – Photos Purloined from Facebook.
Today in 1791, Vermont became the 14th state.
Vermont
Vermont Breweries
Vermont Brewery Guides
Guild: Vermont Brewers Association
State Agency: Vermont Department of Liquor Control
- Capital: Montpelier
- Largest Cities: Burlington, Essex, Rutland, Colchester, South Burlington
- Population: 608,827; 49th
- Area: 9615 sq.mi., 45th
- Nickname: Green Mountain State
- Statehood: 14th, March 4, 1791
- Alcohol Legalized: January 1, 1934
- Number of Breweries: 20
- Rank: 26th
- Beer Production: 479,810
- Production Rank: 48th
- Beer Per Capita: 23.9 Gallons
Package Mix:
- Bottles: 41.5%
- Cans: 49.2%
- Kegs: 9.3%
Beer Taxes 6% and below:
- Per Gallon: $0.27
- Per Case: $0.60
- Tax Per Barrel (24/12 Case): $8.22
- Draught Tax Per Barrel (in Kegs): $8.22
Beer Taxes above 6%:
- Per Gallon: $0.55
- Per Case: $1.24
- Tax Per Barrel (24/12 Case): $17.05
- Draught Tax Per Barrel (in Kegs): $17.05
Economic Impact (2010):
- From Brewing: $96,367,211
- Direct Impact: $229,529,964
- Supplier Impact: $140,810,643
- Induced Economic Impact: $92,151,994
- Total Impact: $462,492,601
Legal Restrictions:
- Control State: No
- Sale Hours: On Premises: 8 a.m.–2 a.m.
Off Premises: 6 a.m.–midnight
- Grocery Store Sales: Yes
- Notes: Licensed supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas stations may sell beer and wine. ABV >14% wine and spirits sold in state stores. Off-premises sales no later than 12 a.m. Numerous dry counties exist.
Data complied, in part, from the Beer Institute’s Brewer’s Almanac 2010, Beer Serves America, the Brewers Association, Wikipedia and my World Factbook. If you see I’m missing a brewery link, please be so kind as to drop me a note or simply comment on this post. Thanks.
For the remaining states, see Brewing Links: United States.
In case you missed it, yesterday my friend and colleague Andy Crouch dropped the bombshell that Long Trail Brewing of Bridgewater Corners, Vermont was in the early stages of purchasing Otter Creek / Wolaver’s Brewing, also located in Vermont. Not that I doubted him, but I was able to confirm the news through a well-placed anonymous source. Apparently it’s too soon for an official announcement and the story leaked (not by Andy, I should stress) so I was unable to get any additional details. I tried to reach owner Morgan Wolaver, but so far I haven’t heard back from him. I’ll update the story when I can. For now, you can read the full story at Andy’s Beer Scribe.
Greg Noonan, the craft beer pioneer who founded the Vermont Pub & Brewery in 1988 passed away October 11. He died in his sleep Sunday night. He was only 58 years old. His brewery was one of the first on the east coast, New England and, naturally, Burlington, Vermont. He’s not as well known for his contributions to the industry as he probably should be.
There’s a nice obituary by Guillermo Woolfolk, who’s the Birmingham Craft Beer Examiner.
He will be missed. Raise a toast to his memory.
