Misc News – Aug 12

Results of the 3rd Annual Strassenfest Homebrew Contest, held by the Dubois County Suds Club. 91 Entries. Best of Show – Chris Norrick (OHVA) Winter Wit #58. Complete results (Hint: John Mills' State Fair BOS wins it's category). 

Driving Under the Influence of…Bread. Turns out breathalyzer results can be inflated by bread. To confirm, I had two sourdough English muffins this morning with butter and cinnamon sugar. A half hour later blew 0.02. Seriously. This could be a problem.

Alarmists say the Russian harvest problems will raise the price of beer (and bread). article

Roger Baylor passes on the 4-minute video "Life in a Beer Nation". Mainly Pilsen, CR, with helicopter shots and a theme of "Beer builds beautiful bodies".

Consolidation continues. Anchor Brewing sold to some liquor guys. Pyramid, Magic Hat, and TacTarnahan's sold to North American Breweries who own Labatt's USA, Genesee, Dundee, and Seagram's Smooth. Mendocino Brewing buys Butte Creek's organic brands.

AB-InBev's sales in the UK are up 18.6% on the strength of the World Cup advertising. Just think how much they would have gained if England had a real soccer team. article

KegMate attaches an iPad to a beer tap to provide stats about the beer, who's poured from it, what they rated it, etc. Open source. Open mouth. Insert "whaaaa?"

Half Acre comes up with another terrific label. “Bairn will be available in both bombers and draft at the brewery, plus some jaunts around town. This beer is an ode to all things Phil. Our friend, coworker and brewing confidant, Phil Wymore, has been busy having a child and gearing up to start his own brewery in St. Louis. This beer is a nod to his beautiful little girl, Lily — probably the most sincere and “nice” label you see come out of Half Acre. So, as Phil departs from Half Acre he’s leaving us and you with this Saison brewed with lemon and chamomile.”

In some areas of England are giving questionnaires to people pulled in for alcohol-related offences. They ask where they were last served and by whom. "These have then been used as evidence if a pub’s licence comes up for review or, in some cases, to instigate a review to force new conditions on trading." article So inebriated people can affect a pub's future – not under oath, not in person, maybe out of spite because they weren't served.

While we're talking about bad ideas. How about a nice Beer Popsicle?