Over in Gobbler’s Knob, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil the Groundhog — a.k.a. Brewhog — raised up his head this morning and looked around, and this year saw his shadow everywhere. You know what that means. It’s six more weeks of drinking winter beers this year. Or something about a late spring, I can’t keep it straight. You can see a video of Punxsutawney Phil here. And there’s more information about Groundhog Day at the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
This was created back in May, but it escaped my notice. April Kuhn created a cool poster for Drink Philly entitled The Philadelphia History of Beer. According to the website, “[w]hile it doesn’t cover everything that’s occurred in Philadelphia since its founding, it does cover a lot — and it shows why this truly is one of the world’s greatest spots for beer.” If you’d like one of the poster for your very own, they’re on sale online for $10 right now.
This week’s work of art is by John Lewis Krimmel. He was born in Germany, but emigrated to the U.S. in 1809 to join his brother in Philadelphia. Instead of joining the family business, he took up painting and became well-known for his genre paintings depicting everyday life in the city of brotherly love. One of his most well-known paintings was “The Village Tavern,” painted between 1813-14.
The painting is also sometimes called “In An American Inn,” and just from searching around, it appears their may be more than one of them, as there seem to be various references to both that are very, very similar, but not quite exactly the same, with slightly different colors and with the size of what’s depicted more or less, as if Krimmel painted the exact same scene more than once.
Perhaps most curiously, apparently the painting was used by prohibitionists as propaganda. “The depiction of a mother and daughter trying to persuade the drunken father to come home has caused historians of the temperance movement to praise In an American Inn as the first work of an American artist to illustrate this issue.” But that interpretation does not seem obvious to me. Nothing in the woman or the child’s demeanor suggests to me that they’re trying to persuade the man of anything. And the man is raising his glass to her with a smile on his face. And nobody else around them seems particularly alarmed by them being there. In fact, many people in the tavern don’t seem to be paying them any mind whatsoever, as if their presence is not so unusual. It just looks an old-fashioned scene from the TV show Cheers, with several groups in the inn.
The Woodmere Art Museum has in its collection the “Study for ‘Village Tavern,'” oil on wood panel, also done in 1814.
And the Winterthur Library has two early drawings that would eventually become the painting, done in ink and ink wash over pencil.
They contain all the elements of the finished work, but you can see the artist trying out different placements for the characters in the painting.
You can read Krimmel’s biography at Wikipedia or at Terra. There are links to more Krimmel resources at the ArtCyclopedia. You can also see more of his work at the Art Renewal Center, Scholar’s Resource, the Philadelphia Academy and the American Gallery.
Okay people, time to step up to the bar. A month ago, a new project was announced on Kickstarter starring my friend and colleague Lew Bryson. The project is being produced by Rudy Vegliante of Green Leaf Productions and the idea is to create a series of six half-hour television shows starring Lew. With 30 days to go, only 6% of the needed funds to make the show a reality have been raised. A mere 65 people have pledged $3,716 of the $60K needed. Frankly, that’s pathetic.
C’mon, beer people. I’ve pledged $300, and would have gone higher if I wasn’t trying to make a rather large purchase at the moment. Surely, there are more than 65 people who have benefitted from Lew Bryson’s reviews, laughter, rantings, writings, speaking engagements, etc. Just his being in the beer community makes it a better place. We’ve all seen what happens when non-beer people try to make a TV show about beer. At best it comes off half-baked, full of misinformation, half-truths and propaganda. At worst, it’s a disaster. I’ve personally been involved in trying to get several such projects off the ground. None have gotten very far. It’s tough. Most people outside our rarified community don’t quite get why we’re so passionate about it, and that shows in the finished products that have been made so far.
So here’s a chance for one of our own to be the voice of craft beer, celebrating it in a way we can probably all agree with. And with guaranteed laughter, guffaws and unbridled chuckles thrown in for good measure. Lew is the right big galoot for this job.
Lew has just over 2,500 twitter followers, I have a little over 4,000. Even assuming for some overlap, that’s got to be around 6,000. If each one of you pledged just $10, Lew would be home for Christmas, with all the funding he needs. It’s the price of about two pints, give or take. Surely that’s not too much to create a one-of-kind television show about craft beer, by craft beer, for craft beer. Think of it as giving back to the beer community that has enriched your life, in the spirit of the holidays. Give Lew Bryson a Malty Christmas and a Hoppy New Year.
You can get all the details from my previous post or, better still, directly from the Kickstarter project page for American Beer Blogger.
Okay, I’m climbing back down off my soapbox. Resume holiday merriment.
Me and Lew at Berkeley’s Triple Rock last year.
Today in 1787, Pennsylvania became the 2nd state.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Breweries
Pennsylvania Brewery Guides
Guild: Brewers of Pennsylvania
State Agency: Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
Package Mix:
Beer Taxes:
Economic Impact (2010):
Legal Restrictions:
Beer can be purchased at beverage outlets (cases only), or restaurants (6-packs/restricted quantities) with Liquor Control Board–issued licenses, but not supermarkets. Non-alcoholic beer is an exception, and may be sold in supermarkets, but persons buying it still must be at least 21 years of age.
Sunday sales were prohibited in LCB stores until 2003 (selected locations) and beverage outlets (owner’s option) until 2005.
There are currently seven state liquor stores located within supermarkets. In 2010, a trial was initiated to test selling wine in grocery stores using vending machines. The buyer must present identification, look into a camera to allow an offsite PLCB employee to verify the identification, and blow into a breathalyzer to authorize the sale. (See US Wine Vending Machines) This practice was ended in September 2011.
As of 2007, some convenience stores and grocery stores were trying to fight Pennsylvania’s strict laws on the sale of alcohol, for example Sheetz Weis Markets and Wegman’s. Since 2009, beer sales have been approved in multiple Western Pennsylvania locations of the grocery chain Giant Eagle. In addition, wine kiosks have also recently become available at multiple Giant Eagle locations in the Pittsburgh area.
Special permits may be purchased for certain organizations for fundraisers once per calendar year, and are valid for a total of six days under the same rules governing restaurants.
Grain alcohol prohibited as a beverage.
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.
My good friend Jaime Jurado — who for many years now has been the brewmaster for Gambrinus in San Antonio, Texas — has accepted a new position as the brewmaster for the new Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He’ll begin in his new position on January 1, 2012.
Jurado’s been the Director of Brewing Operations with Gambrinus since 1997. Gambrinus owns several beer brands, including BridgePort, Pete’s (which they recently discontinued), Shiner and Trumer. Prior to that, Jamie brewed at Stroh’s, Courage Brewing and the Lion in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was also President of the MBAA from 2005-06.
From the press release:
Susquehanna Brewing Company (SBC), like The Gambrinus Company, is a family-owned company. Owners, Ed Maier, Fred Maier and Mark Nobile have respected the Chairman of The Gambrinus Company for decades. “Gambrinus brews outstanding and varied beers across a broad portfolio, and the creativity, passion and pursuit of excellence is evident in what it has accomplished. We’ve known Jaime for years, and have seen how he has grown and gained impressive depth, which is attributable to The Gambrinus Company. Jaime comes with best wishes of Gambrinus, and no hurdles,” notes SBC President Ed Maier.
SBC represents a new direction in the exciting trajectory of American craft brewing. Founded by the former beer distributors of United Beverage in Pittston, PA, with a rich history of significant regional breweries in one family, as well as a multi-generation beer distribution enterprise in the other, this is the first successful beer distribution company to take up brewing… but being from brewing across generations, there already exists hand’s-on experience from running a regional brewery in the organization in its President.
Whatever that means?!?
Jaime with Lars Larson from Trumer at the Celebrator’s 18th Anniversary Party.
Questionable press release language aside, I’m happy for Jaime and wish him and SBC the best.
Jamie with my son Porter and my wife at the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas.
A new project was announced yesterday on Kickstarter starring my friend and colleague Lew Bryson. The project is being produced by Rudy Vegliante of Green Leaf Productions and the idea is to create a series of six half-hour television shows starring Lew. Here’s how the project is described on the Kickstarter project page for American Beer Blogger:
AMERICAN BEER BLOGGER is a half hour television series dedicated to all facets of the ever growing craft beer market. From home brewing, to micro beer; viewers will experience the very best of the craft beer culture. In each episode, Lew will visit a different brewer, each of which has their own sets of quirks and ways of doing things. Lew will talk to these brewers, get to know them, will show us first hand the various methods and techniques used in creating a craft beer. From the tiniest bottler to the largest manufacturer, Lew will get his hands dirty. Topics such as bottling, food pairing, manufacturing, distribution, history, technique (and so much more) will all be touched upon as Lew spends a day with these brewers. Some doing well in the business, others not so well. Thankfully, the DIY nature of this business can lead to some pretty unforseeable results as Lew lends a hand and helps out in any way he can. Lew will show us all the kinds of micro-breweries currently out there. From the smallest, hippest label to large manufacturers.
AMERICAN BEER BLOGGER sets out to entertain the viewer as well as educate on this rapidly growing industry. Through humor and a charming, hands-on host, our show will not only be entertaining for the microbeer enthusiast, but also enjoyable for the average viewer as well.
They’re trying to raise $60,000 in two months to fund the project. There’s a variety of pledge levels available if you’re interested in seeing Lew in his very on TV show — and who doesn’t want that? Levels range from a buck to $10,000, with everything in between, getting you various thanks, credit and goodies for each successive level. For example, at the $1,000 level you get an “associate producer” credit and all six episodes on DVD, along with some additional tchotchkes. Below is video of the proposed project.
The teaser trailer was filmed at Stoudt’s Brewery in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, near where I grew up. And it features Lew doing what Lew does best: drinking, talking, eating and laughing … a lot. And that, I think is a very promising beginning. It seems very natural, a casual look at the brewery and the people behind it. I hope lots of people queue up to help the project get made. I know I’ll help out as best I can. You should to.
I think my only quibble — and it’s really a tongue-in-cheek one — is that title. Lew Bryson is the American Beer Blogger! Certainly he’s “an” American Beer Blogger, but “the” American Beer Blogger? It makes it sound like he’s the only one, or at least the only one who can call himself that; the Steam Beer among us California Commons. Plus, it makes him sound like a superhero.
Tuesday’s ad is from 1959, and is for Schaefer, when they were playing around — pun intended — with their round logo with the slogan “What d’ya hear in the best of circles.” Showing a round plate, a round hamburger and the round top of a beer can, it’s “Schaefer all around!”
The struggling former Pittsburgh Brewing, who emerged from bankruptcy in 2007 as Iron City Brewing, has been purchased by a New York-based private equity firm, Uni-World Capital for an undisclosed sum. The investor group led by Timothy Hickman that purchased Iron City from bankruptcy is selling the “company’s Iron City and IC Light labels, some lesser brands and the company’s other assets.” Iron City remains headquartered in Pittsburgh, despite having moved production to nearby Latrobe, PA, where it contracts its beer from the former Rolling Rock brewery that was purchased by Wisconsin’s City Brewing when Anheuser-Busch abandoned it after buying the Rolling Rock brand in 2006. To read more, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the fullest account of this story.
I love contradictions, especially when they have to do with the Amish. I grew up right around the Pennsylvania Amish, and in fact on my mother’s side, I am partly Amish, so to speak. From my grandfather’s generation and before, my family was Mennonite and operated a farm, having come to America from Bern, Switzerland in 1745 as Anabaptists. The Amish and the Mennonites both share an Anabaptist heritage. The Amish are the more well-known of the two, and eschew many modern conveniences such as electricity and cars. Mennonites on the other hand, at least the ones I observed growing up, drove cars but painted all the chrome black so as to avoid anything flashy or showy. Whenever you visit Amish tourist areas, the ones operating the gift shops and tourist attractions who look Amish, are more likely to be Mennonites.
As a result of that childhood, I love all things Amish and we even have a large hex sign on our house in California, if for no better reason than to confuse people — plus, I just think they’re cool. When I play fantasy sports, I often use as a team name: the “Fightin’ Amish,” again because I love the contradiction. The Amish are conscientious objectors and don’t fight, and even have an exemption for military service. Likewise, there’s a great band I like called The Electric Amish that nicely plays on the contradictions between the Amish and modern life. I bring this up because Lancaster Brewing, in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Amish country, has announced their latest seasonal beer, in a can, to be called Rumspringa Golden Bock.
Rumspringa is essentially adolescence, from around age 16 until 18, when an Amish teen has to decide to be baptized and join the church or be “shunned” (ostracized by their community for the rest of the lives — no pressure there). Not surprisingly, most join the church. During the Rumspringa, teens have more freedom then before or after, and though it varies by sect, it’s often thought of as the time when they can “sow their wild oats,” find a spouse, get a little crazy. While I’ve seen documentaries where drinking and other taboos do take place, for most it’s simply a time to decide what to do with their lives, at least as I understand it. The Amish, of course, don’t drink alcohol so I love the apparent contradiction of naming a beer for this time in the Amish life cycle. Plus it’s just a good name for a spring beer. And I’m doubly glad they’re canning it so I may even have a shot at trying some.