Today is the 38th birthday of Matt Bonney, co-owner of Brouwer’s and Bottleworks, both in Seattle, Washington. Bonney’s one of my favorite people in the industry. You’d be hard-pressed to find a person more passionate about good beer. He also knows how to throw a party and is always a gracious host. He does need some work on his Washoe playing, but I’ll let that slide. Join me in wishing Bonney a very happy birthday.
Matt with Chris Black, from Falling Rock Taphouse in Denver, pouring hops to create Publication at Russian River Brewing in May of 2008.
Matt (3rd from left) with the final judges at the 2009 Hard Liver Barleywine Festival at Brouwer’s.
Matt with Dave Keene, from the Toronado, at the A Night of Ales beer dinner during SF Beer Week.
Dr. Bill with Matt at Slow Food Nation 2008.
Thursday’s ad is another ad for healthy beer, somewhat similar to yesterday’s Budweiser ad. This one is just a few years later, from 1907, and was sent to me by fellow blogger Lisa Grimm from WeirdBeerGirl (thanks Lisa). The ad is for Rainier Pale Beer, from Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., and shows a group of children using a giant beer bottle as a Maypole. Mother can be seen in the background, arriving on the scene with a tray full of beer bottles and glasses. Again, can you just imagine that ad today? The copy is equally interesting.
Pure Air, Pure Food, Pure Drink are essential to healthy growth … for Pure Drink get Rainier Pale Beer
Another beautiful sentiment.
Today in 1889, Washington became the 42nd state.
Washington
Washington Breweries
Washington Brewery Guides
Guild: Washington Brewers Guild
State Agency: Washington State Liquor Control Board
- Capital: Olympia
- Largest Cities: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue
- Population: 5,894,121; 15th
- Area: 71303 sq.mi., 18th
- Nickname: The Evergreen State
- Statehood: 42nd, November 11, 1889
- Alcohol Legalized: December 5, 1933
- Number of Breweries: 123
- Rank: 2nd
- Beer Production: 4,403,963
- Production Rank: 16th
- Beer Per Capita: 20.8 Gallons
Package Mix:
- Bottles: 37.3%
- Cans: 50%
- Kegs: 12.4%
Beer Taxes:
- Per Gallon: $0.26
- Per Case: $0.59
- Tax Per Barrel (24/12 Case): $8.08
- Draught Tax Per Barrel (in Kegs): $8.08
- 7% surtax (included in figures shown) added to excise tax rate plus environmental tax of $150 per $1 million value at the producer, wholesaler and retailer levels.
Economic Impact (2010):
- From Brewing: $222,811,254
- Direct Impact: $1,297,535,641
- Supplier Impact: $935,595,943
- Induced Economic Impact: $1,830,518,353
- Total Impact: $4,063,649,937
Legal Restrictions:
- Control State: No
- 6 a.m.–2 a.m. A local government subdivision may fix later opening hours or earlier closing hours than those here specified
- Grocery Store Sales: Yes
- Notes: Beer and wine available in grocery stores and convenience stores every day (including federal holidays) from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Spirits for off-premise consumption are sold only in state-run or state-contracted liquor stores. All state-owned stores are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon-Thurs and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fri-Sat. Contract stores may still set their own hours, but liquor sales may not be rung up before 8 a.m. and may not be rung up after 11 p.m. A handful of state and contract stores are open Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. State stores are open on most federal holidays, excluding New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Contract stores have the option to remain open on any holiday at the discretion of the store manager.
Currently set to transition to a non-control state by June 2012.
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.
Here’s some surprising news. Jennifer Talley, the award-winning brewer from Squatter’s Pub Brewery in Salt Lake City, Utah, is moving to Washington to take over brewing for RedHook at their Woodinville brewery. Specifically, her title will be “brewing operations manager.” Talley had been with Squatters for at least 20 years. According to Pro Brewer, who broke the news yesterday, “Squatter’s produces about 1,250 barrels of beer a year. Redhook? About 170,000 barrels of beer annually.”
More from Pro Brewer:
When Squatters opened a microbrewery in 1994, Talley became head brewer when the previous head brewer moved over to Salt Lake Brewing’s sister company, Utah Brewers Cooperative, which makes Wasatch Beers.
Talley got her first award — a gold medal at Denver’s Great American Beer Festival for a Vienna lager — in 1997. She proceeded to name her daughter Vienna when she was born two years ago. Since then, she has won numerous awards at the GABF, including another gold last weekend for Squatters’ Fifth Element ale. Squatters will search nationally and locally for a new head brewer.
Congratulations to Jennifer on the new gig.
Jennifer Talley (2nd from the left) after a panel discussion at GABF on women in brewing in 2007. From left: Carol Stoudt (from Stoudts Brewing), Talley, Natalie Cilurzo (from Russian River) and Teri Fahrendorf.
Today is the 68th birthday of Charles Finkel, one of the pioneers of the better beer movement. He founded Merchant du Vin in 1978, the company responsible for importing a number of word-class beers to the U.S., including a a few favorites of mind: Traquair, Ayinger, Westmalle, Rochefort and Orval. He also started the Seattle brewpub, Pike Brewing , in 1989, where Fal Allen was head brewer there from 1990-96. I first met Charlie around 1996 during a visit to Seattle. The following year, the Finkels sold both Pike Brewing and Merchant du Vin. In 2006, they bought back Pike Brewing. In Chicago for CBC last year, I was fortunate enough to spend an evening out and about town with the Finkels. Charlie and his wife Rose Ann are some of my favorite people in the industry. Join me in wishing Charlie a very happy birthday.
Charlie at CBC in Chicago last year, with Mark Blasingame, owner of the Map Room.
Charlie at last year’s Rare Beer Tasting at Wynkoop during GABF.
Charlie and Rose Ann Finkel behind their Pike Brewing booth at last year’s GABF.
Today would have been Bert Grant’s 83rd birthday, and he is definitely missed. Bert opened the country’s first brewpub in 1982 in Yakima, Washington and was a fixture in the industry until his death in late July of 2001. Join me tonight in lifting a pint to Bert’s memory.
Bert Grant and me at OBF in the mid-1990s.
