Comments on: Today Alcopops, Tomorrow Beer http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/today-alcopops-tomorrow-beer/ Jay R. Brooks on Beer Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:48:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://beerzine.com/?v=3.3.1 By: Colin http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/today-alcopops-tomorrow-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-983 Colin Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:24:24 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/today-alcopops-tomorrow-beer/#comment-983 Short follow up (and another reason why we should be scared): Ever wonder why there are few UK IPAs? According the BJCP guide "the IPA described in the style guidelines originated in the UK, but is now rarely brewed due to the high taxes imposed on beers of this strength." Short follow up (and another reason why we should be scared): Ever wonder why there are few UK IPAs? According the BJCP guide “the IPA described in the style guidelines originated in the UK, but is now rarely brewed due to the high taxes imposed on beers of this strength.”

]]> By: Joe Sixpack http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/today-alcopops-tomorrow-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-982 Joe Sixpack Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:27:53 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/today-alcopops-tomorrow-beer/#comment-982 I'm not so sure there is no distilled alcohol in FMBs. Flavorings are commonly carried in distilled alcohol (think vanilla extract). Several years ago when the feds investigated this, they discovered that some popular FMBs derived 100 percent of their alcohol from their flavorings. I don't know how that stands now, however. The tax implications are serious, too. I calculated in 2002 that Smirnoff saved at least $80 million in taxes by dumping distilled spirits into malternatives under the guise of "flavoring." Of course, taxing distilled and fermented alcohol at two different rates is silly. But I suspect if that ever changes, it'll be beer that bears the brunt. I’m not so sure there is no distilled alcohol in FMBs. Flavorings are commonly carried in distilled alcohol (think vanilla extract). Several years ago when the feds investigated this, they discovered that some popular FMBs derived 100 percent of their alcohol from their flavorings. I don’t know how that stands now, however.
The tax implications are serious, too. I calculated in 2002 that Smirnoff saved at least $80 million in taxes by dumping distilled spirits into malternatives under the guise of “flavoring.”
Of course, taxing distilled and fermented alcohol at two different rates is silly. But I suspect if that ever changes, it’ll be beer that bears the brunt.

]]> By: Lew Bryson http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/today-alcopops-tomorrow-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-981 Lew Bryson Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:08:25 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/today-alcopops-tomorrow-beer/#comment-981 "I have it on good authority that the next salvo from the Marin Institute will be to ask the legislature/BOE to reclassify all malt beverages over 6% abv as distilled spirits." You know, this is exactly the thought I had this morning when I read the triumphant editorializing by the New Drys that accompanied this decision: They're going after beers over 5% next. We've got to get our shit together, because these folks are <i>organized.</i> I've been saying this for five years or so: it's time to realize that they're serious, they're funded, and we have <i>got</i> to stop being afraid of putting across our own positions and thoughts on these matters. If we don't...who the hell will? “I have it on good authority that the next salvo from the Marin Institute will be to ask the legislature/BOE to reclassify all malt beverages over 6% abv as distilled spirits.”

You know, this is exactly the thought I had this morning when I read the triumphant editorializing by the New Drys that accompanied this decision: They’re going after beers over 5% next. We’ve got to get our shit together, because these folks are organized. I’ve been saying this for five years or so: it’s time to realize that they’re serious, they’re funded, and we have got to stop being afraid of putting across our own positions and thoughts on these matters. If we don’t…who the hell will?

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