Monday, July 24, 2006

Going Back to Work?

According to a AP release, It looks like the employees at the soon to be former Latrobe Brewing Company plant in Latrobe, PA, will accept the a contract with City Brewing Company of LaCrosse, WI. (Strange La connection going on here) City Brewing is negotiating to buy the brewery which employs over 120 workers. See the fate of the brewery was in question after one industry leader and beer whore InBev sold the Rolling Rock brand to another industry leader and beer whore Anheuser-Busch back in May for $82 million. A-B quickly announced that it would move all Rolling Rock production to its Newark facility. And really who doesn't want to go to Newark?

Latrobe, and the State of Pennsylvania, feared that the fairly modern facility would be closed and all of the workers would loose their jobs. So the fact that City Brewing is purchasing the facility is welcome news to many peoples ears. Even though City will likely make only contract, alco-pops like Mike's Hard lemonade and other craptastic beverages, it will keep the brewery open and at least 120 workers in Latrobe employed. Which in a small town like Latrobe is huge. And at least City Beverage is not a huge corporation looking to squash the little guys like those above.

And hey I may note really like Rolling Rock, but at least I knew I was supporting a smaller company and a small town when I would drink it. Now, there's no way in hell I would touch a bottle of Rolling Rock.

Oh and this shit is great: "We are going to retain as much of the history and tradition and heritage of this brand," said Andy Goeler, vice president of Anheuser-Busch's import, craft and specialty group. So according to Andy, shit canning 120+ workers, moving a product from its historic place of production, abandoning a fully functioning brewery, and basically telling a small town "we couldn't care less about you or citizen" is preserving history and tradition. I for one hope that the citizens of Latrobe and the rest of PA join me in raising a finely crafted local/regional beer and telling A-B to "Go Fuck Yourself."

Utah Struggles to Combat Its Dull Image

Well no shit Sherlock. If it wasn't for the fact that the skiing was some of the best on this planet would anybody other than Mormons go to this state? In yet another AP release, Utah is struggling to fight its tightass, ultra conservative, multiple wife, commune image. What are top complaints the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau get? Seems that there's not much nightlife and it's difficult to get a drink. Well no shit. That's what happens when you have not only ultra repressive alcohol laws, but you also tax the shit out of everything higher than near beer. (Which is beer at 3.2% ABV, normal mass produced fizzy yellow beers are 4.2% ABV).

Seems Salt Lake City is the worst city to try to find a drink in. See city law prohibits more than two bars from operating on the same city block face. And in downtown SLC, the average city block is 660 feet long. That boys and girls is 300 feet longer than a football field.

Oh and lets not forget the fact that in order to go into a "bar" you have to be a member or a guest of a member, which includes ID, paperwork, and a fee. Well shit, why not just go ahead and tattoo the words "I am Drunk and a Sinner" while you're at it and shove a tracking device up my ass so the Mormon Church can monitor my whereabouts at all times? Oh yeah, As I mentioned above, Utah also taxes all "full-strength beer" at a much higher rate.

Some people still don't get it. It seems that Councilman Dave Buhler, does not see a problem in Salt Lake City.

"Compared to everywhere else in Utah," he said, "we certainly have a lot more going on in our downtown."

Well not shit assclown, because there's nothing going on in UTAH! That's the whole point of the fricken arguement. Just because you don't suck as much as nearly everywhere else in your state, doesn't mean you still don't suck ass!

All I can say is good luck to Mayor Rocky Anderson, who is trying to change SLC and wants the regulations changed and/or lifted. Go get'em Rocky.

So not only is Westmalle better than Miller, but it weights more too!

According to an article by Santa Monica News, it "seems that an empty bottle of Miller weighs less than seven ounces, while a bottle of Westmalle Belgian beer tips the scale at almost twice that." Which is by far not the point of the article, but I thought it was interesting that those that make quality beer, use quality products to protect them.