As Gertrude Stein — who was born in Oakland — famously said, “A rose is a rose is a rose.” On the other side of that coin, an alcohol tax masquerading as a fee is a tax, and a terrible idea, no matter what you call it. Today’s San Francisco Examiner, in their Under the Dome section on City Hall Politics, is reporting that Avalos hopes renaming alcohol fee makes it more potable to business. Apparently small businesses don’t like the newly proposed alcohol tax, but supervisor Avalos has the solution. Forget addressing their concerns, admitting it’s a bad idea or even conceding he was duped by the Marin Institute, no. His answer is to change the name of the “alcohol mitigation fee” to “alcohol cost recovery fee” so that — and I quote — “businesses might find the proposal a bit more refreshing.” How stupid does he think people are? You have to wonder.
Save A Slug, Have A Beer
Add one more reason to drink beer, especially if you’re a nature lover. According to the e-mail I got from Fustigato — I believe from Italy — millions of slugs are killed each year using beer. To save the slugs, they’re suggesting you have a beer, and in fact all the beer in the world. I think the students and alumni of the University of Santa Cruz will get behind this campaign. So remember, you’re not just quenching your thirst when you drink a beer, you’re also saving a slug.
Below is the video.
Widmer’s Craft Brewers Alliance To Buy Kona Brewing
The Oregonian is reporting that the Craft Brewers Alliance (essentially Widmer, with RedHook and distribution of Goose Island and Kona) will purchase Kona Brewing for $13.9 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Kona will become a “wholly owned subsidiary” and Mattson Davis will remain at the helm, with brewing for the mainland continuing to be done at Widmer and RedHook breweries.
Beer In Ads #164: Jean D’Ylen’s Biere Gangloff
Tuesday’s ad is for another French beer, Biere Gangloff. It’s also from around the 1920s, and was done by famed illustrator Jean D’Ylen. Another case of a giant mug, in this case two of them.
Tragedy At Connecticut Beer Distributor
Tragedy struck earlier this morning at Hartford Distributors in Manchester, Connecticut. Apparently, an employee about to be let go opened fire, killing at least three and wounding four more before turning the gun on himself. Later reports are saying that perhaps as many as nine have been killed. Local Eyewitness News 3 has the full story. Additional accounts are at MSNBC and CBS.
Beer In Ads #163: Biere de Maxeville
Monday’s ad is for a French beer, Biere de Maxeville. It’s from around the 1920s, the heyday of the poster. The old man is drinking from one seriously big mug and even the sun looks thirsty.
Craft Beer Numbers Up Again Mid-Year
Good news again this year for craft brewers. The Brewers Association has released the mid-year numbers and they’re positive again this year despite a rocky economy. Volume sales grew 9% over the same period last year and sales dollars are up 12% for the first six months of 2010 as compared to 2009. Last year those same stats were 5% and 9% respectively.
From the press release:
Craft breweries continue to grow despite many challenges, and currently provide an estimated 100,000 jobs and contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. Barrels sold by craft brewers for the first half of the year are an estimated 4.6 million, compared to 4.2 million barrels sold in the first half of 2009.
“While craft brewer sales volume climbed 9 percent in the first half of 2010, overall U.S. beer industry volume sales are down 2.7 percent so far,” noted Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. “There is a movement by beer lovers to the innovative and flavorful beers created by America’s small and independent craft brewers. More people are starting to think of craft-brewed beer first when they buy in restaurants, bars and stores.”
The other great news is the number of new brewery openings, which continues to rise, too. 100 new breweries or brewpubs have opened over the last year. Picking up the press release again:
The U.S. now boasts 1,625 breweries—an increase of 100 additional breweries since July of 2009—and the highest number in 100 years. A century ago in 1910, consolidation and the run-up to Prohibition had reduced the number of breweries to 1,498.
“Entrepreneurs across the land are creating jobs by opening new microbreweries and brewpubs, and we are also seeing many homebrewing hobbyists going pro by starting what have been referred to as nanobreweries,” Gatza added. “Super tiny microbreweries or brew pubs, that make beer for a very localized network of taverns and stores, are starting to become a trend, primarily in the states that allow self-distribution as a means of getting beer to market.”
Beer In Art #87: Paul Wehr’s Drewrys Beer
Today’s work of art was originally advertising art, illustration really, but it’s so good it deserves to be considered fine art. Paul Wehr was an artist/illustrator from Indiana who lived from 1914-1973. This piece, for Drewrys Beer of South Bend, Indiana was done in the 1950s. Drewrys was actually a Canadian brand, but for most of its history was brewed in Indiana. That’s why you can see a Canadian Mountie in the logo. I love hyperrealists — artists like Richard Estes and Ralph Goings — and Wehr’s work reminds me of theirs. Though arguably not quite as photo-realistic, it does seem to presage that art movement and the detail is amazing. I’d love to see how the final ad looked, but alas all I could fine was the artwork Wehr did, a beautiful looking picnic laid out with Drewry beer cans in the center.
In the detailed look below, you can even see the salt on the potato chips. Yum, I’m hungry.
You can also read more about Drewry’s cans at Rusty Cans.
Guinness Ad #29: Horsing Around Again
Our 29th Guinness poster by John Gilroy is, I think, also part of the zoo animal series and features a horse drinking the ringmaster’s Guinness with the slogan “My Goodness — My Guinness.” I’m sorry to say this is the largest version of the ad I could find. If anyone has a larger one, please be kind enough to share it with me.
Beer In Ads #162: Ivan Bilibin’s Russian Beer Ad
Friday’s ad is for a Russian beer by famed illustrator Ivan Bilibin in 1903. The brewery is New Bavaria of St. Petersburg. Bilibin was most known for his fairy tales and other children’s book illustrations. While I don’t know what any of the text says, the artwork is quite striking and beautiful.
