Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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South Beer Cup Winners Announced

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Regular readers have probably noticed that my usual output has been diminished here of late, that’s because I’ve been in Buenos Aires, Argentina since Monday. I was fortunate enough to be invited to judge at the very first South Beer Cup, South America’s version of the Great American Beer Festival and the Craft Brewers Conference combined. It was put on by the Centro de Cata de Cerveza with support from the very active local homebrew club, Somos Cerveceros.

They had 280 beers from 72 breweries entered in 20 categories from four countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. Along with the local judges, made up of brewers and BJCP certified judges, four experienced judges from North America were on hand to help out. In addition to myself, there was Stephen Beaumont, Doug Odell and Pete Slosberg. The four of us also each gave a short talk during the conference portion of the event.

But more about that later, last evening at a gala awards ceremony held at the rooftop of the American Club. It was a great event, and perhaps the best part was seeing the enthusiasm and passion on display as the excited winners went up to accept their awards, all to some very dramatic music. So without further ado, here s the list of the winners for the first South Beer Cup:

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  1. Pilsner
    • Bronze: Colorado (Brazil)
  2. Oktoberfest
    • Bronze: Buller (Argentina)
  3. Pale Ale
    • Bronze: Davok (Uruguay)
  4. Golden/Blonde Ale
    • Silver: TIE: Duff (Argentina) / Eisenbahn (Brazil)
    • Bronze: Carmela (Argentina)
  5. India Pale Ale
    • Gold: Davok (Uruguay)
    • Silver: Fenicia (Argentina)
    • Bronze: Backer (Brazil)
  6. Amber/Red Ale
    • Gold: Yeska (Argentina)
    • Silver: Antares (Argentina)
    • Bronze: El Viejo Hobbit (Argentina)
    • Honorable Mention: Piltri (Argentina)
  7. Wheat Beer
    • Silver: Baden Baden (Brazil)
    • Bronze: Bier Hoff (Brazil)
    • Honorable Mention: Cabezas Bier (Uruguay)
  8. Dry Stout
    • Silver: Bodebrown (Brazil)
    • Bronze: TIE: Carmela (Argentina) / Kross (Chile)
  9. Imperial Stout
    • Silver: Montecristo (Argentina)
    • Bronze: Antares (Argentina)
  10. Porter
    • Bronze: TIE: Antares (Argentina) / Alumine (Argentina) / La Cruz (Argentina)
  11. Brown Ale
    • Bronze: Fenicia (Argentina)
  12. Barley Wine
    • Bronze: Davok (Uruguay)
    • Honorable Mention: TIE: La Cruz (Argentina) / Una Mas (Argentina)
  13. Smoked Beer
    • Gold: Gulmen (Argentina)
    • Silver: Bamberg (Brazil)
    • Bronze: Berlina (Argentina)
  14. Specialty Beer
    • Gold: Baden Baden (Brazil)
    • Additional Honorable Mentions [w/style]: Baden Baden [Golden] (Brazil) / Dowel [Grape] / Silberweizen [Weizen Bock] / Sixtofer [Scarlet] (Argentina) / Szot [Strong Ale] / Von de Brauer [Red Ale] / Jerome [Diablo] (Argentina)
  15. Honey Beer
    • Silver: TIE: Antares (Argentina) / Fenicia (Argentina)
  16. Kolsch
    • Bronze: Antares (Argentina)
  17. Dunkel
    • Silver: TIE: Bamberg (Brazil) / Eisenbahn (Brazil)
  18. Belgian Dark Ale
    • Bronze: Eisenbahn (Brazil)
  19. Munich
    • Silver: Bamberg (Brazil)
  20. Schwarzbier
    • Silver: Bamberg (Brazil)
  21. Bock
    • Bronze: Blest (Brazil)
  22. Old Ale
    • Silver: Bodebrown (Brazil)

Congratulations to all the winners.

And here’s all the participating breweries:
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Beer In Art #127: Carlos Morel’s Duel In The Taproom

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This week’s work of art is by an artist from Argentina, Carlos Morel. I saw the original in Buenos Aires at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. The painting is known as Payada en Una Pulperia or Duel in the Taproom and was created in 1840.

Morel-payada_en_una_pulperia

The duel depicted in the painting is of the musical variety, with two guitar players squaring off against one another to the general merriment of all the people drinking in the taproom.

Morel is considered to be Argentina’s first great painter. He was born in Buenos Airies in 1813 and lived until 1894, painting a great number of watercolors and oil paintings throughout his career. Here’s a translated biography

Guinness Ad #68: Guinness — Him Strong

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Our 68th Guinness ad is an another odd one, the second from a time when sensitivities toward Native Americans weren’t particularly high. Using for a second time the cringeworthy tagline “— Him Strong,” this one shows not the iconic Toucan but a smiling group of Native Americans sitting in a canoe being held up by, presumably, the chief, who has a bottle of Guinness tucked into his pouch.

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And here’s a second ad of the same scene, but from a different angle.

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Minnesota Beer

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Today in 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state.

Minnesota
State_Minnesota

Minnesota Breweries

Minnesota Brewery Guides

Guild: Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild

State Agency: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Alcohol and Gaming Enforcement

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  • Capital: Saint Paul
  • Largest Cities: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, Rochester, Bloomington
  • Population: 4,919,479; 21st
  • Area: 86943 sq.mi., 12th
  • Nickname: North Star State / Land of 10,000 Lakes
  • Statehood: 32nd, May 11, 1858

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  • Alcohol Legalized: December 5, 1933
  • Number of Breweries: 41
  • Rank: 13th
  • Beer Production: 3,567,334
  • Production Rank: 23rd
  • Beer Per Capita: 21.2 Gallons

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Package Mix:

  • Bottles: 35.1%
  • Cans: 49.1%
  • Kegs: 14.9%

Beer Taxes: 3.2 Beer

  • Per Gallon: $0.08
  • Per Case: $0.17
  • Tax Per Barrel (24/12 Case): $2.40
  • Draught Tax Per Barrel (in Kegs): $2.40

Beer Taxes: Over 3.2 Beer

  • Per Gallon: $0.15
  • Per Case: $0.33
  • Tax Per Barrel (24/12 Case): $4.60
  • Draught Tax Per Barrel (in Kegs): $4.60

Economic Impact (2010):

  • From Brewing: $113,322,308
  • Direct Impact: $1,130,070,508
  • Supplier Impact: $639,572,828
  • Induced Economic Impact: $1,008,229,846
  • Total Impact: $2,777,873,181

Legal Restrictions:

  • Control State: No (but see Notes)
  • Sale Hours: On Premises: 8 a.m.–2 a.m. 7 Days
    Off Premises: 8 a.m.–10p.m. (Mon–Sat)
  • Grocery Store Sales: 3.2 Only
  • Notes: Local and/or County ordinance prevails for hours of operation for off-sale licenses. No alcohol off-sale on Sunday. Growler sales allowed until 10 p.m. Monday–Saturday. Certain municipalities may establish municipal liquor stores; they are permitted, but not required, to exclude privately owned stores.

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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.

Beer In Ads #366: Quilmes Cristal

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Tuesday’s ad is another one for Quilmes, probably also from around the 1920s or 30s. It was for their light-colored Cristal. I saw an original of this beautiful sign last night in the home of one of Argentina’s most prominent breweriana collectors. His home was amazing, literally filled with beer collectibles from all over the world, but with a special emphasis on local Argentinian beer.

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Next Session Collects Your Breweriana

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Our 52nd Session takes thing down a notch, and it is a bit easier than last month’s. At least you don’t have to go out and buy anything, although you may want to after reading about everybody else’s collections of breweriana. Our host, Brian Stechschulte, of All Over Beer , has chosen the topic Beer Collectibles & Breweriana, which he explains as:

As host of Session #52, I’ve decided not to focus on the substance of beer, but the material that plays a supporting role. Bottles, coasters, cans, labels, ads, tap handles, church keys, hats, t-shirts, tip trays, glassware and signs have been collected by fanatics ever since beer has been sold. These objects constitute the world of breweriana, a term that surfaced in 1972 to define any item displaying a brewery or brand name. The majority of highly prized objects are from the pre-prohibition era, but ephemera from every period in brewing history, including craft beer, finds a home with each beer drinking generation.

So what old or new beer related items do you collect and why? It’s that simple. This is your opportunity to share the treasured objects your wife or husband won’t let you display on the fireplace mantle. You don’t need to be a major collector like this guy to participate. In my mind, just a few items constitute a collection. Maybe you have mementos from a beer epiphany or road trips? You can focus on a whole collection or tell the story behind a single item.

So open your closets, your cabinets and cupboards; wherever you keep the tchotchkes, logowear and beer “collectibles” that have piled up in your home since falling in love with beer. You know you have them. Don’t pretend otherwise. It will be good therapy to get your obsessions out in the open, and Brian has offered us the perfect opportunity to lie on his virtual couch and unload your breweriana for the next Session on Friday, June 3.

P.S.: Don’t forget about Session #51.5, part two of the Great Online Beer & Cheese-Off, taking place on May 20.