LOCAL STUFF
A August 17 Wash Post Style "Galleries" piece by Ferdinand Protzman describes Arlington's Bardo Rodeo brewpub and in particular how Virginia artists have been given free rein to paint the walls, ceilings, floors, and table tops as they desire for ten bucks an hour and supplies. Seems that owner Bill Stewart is a failed but appreciative artist himself and is happy to give work to struggling muralists.
As reported by Josh Kurtzin the Sept 11 Rockville Gazette, the war between those who want to force Maryland Real Beermakers to choose within five years whether to be brewpubs with production limited to 10,000 barrels or micros with unlimited production (State Comptroller Louis L. Goldstein and "several of the country's largest breweries" [let me guess who that would include]) and those who want to let the suds roll up to 50,000 barrels annually (Dels. Kumar G. Barve and Michael R. Gordon) are battling it out. The latter proposal has passed the State Senate; Goldstein is trying to block passage in the State House.
According to Dale Dallabrida in the August 23 Wilmington News-Urinal (contributed by Betsy Perse of First State), Dogfish Head Brewpub in Rehoboth Beach is now retailing its Shelter Pale Ale at 14 locations in the state, with Delaware's two other brewpubs (Brandywine Brewing in Greenville and Stewart's in Bear) soon to follow. Further, Blue Hen (offices in Newark but contract-brewed by Lion in Wilkes-Barre PA) may open a brewpub. Delaware's soon-to-be-fourth brewpub (Iron Hill in Newark) will at first sell take-out only.
BEER BIZ
According to a Sept 24 Wilmington Newz-Urinal piece by Antonio M.Prado (also contributed by Betsy), prices for Lousy American Beer have (at least in Delaware) risen 3 percent since January and are expected to rise 2 percent more this year. This has apparently hurt bizness in some retail outlets and led to consumer shifts to cheaper brands. The article does not however state whether prices for Real Beer have changed. [If not, perhaps continued increases in Coorsweiser will make Real Beer seem less expensive in comparison and lead Joe and Jill Sixpack to broaden their palates.]
"A CAMP SO MUCH FUN THEY COULD BOTTLE IT"
Which is the title of an article by Thomas Swick originally published in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and reprinted in the Phily Inquirer's July 28 Travel section (another Betsy contribution) on Beer Camp, the annual extravaganza in Fort Mitchell KY sponsored by Oldenberg Brewery. Most critical among activities seems to be the singing of "The Beer Camp Song":
We come in all sizes and ages and shapes
We come from both near and afar
We're geniuses, scholars,
we're gangsters and apes
And some of us can't drive a car
We're Fortune 500,
we're Jaguar and mink
We're truckers and bikers,
we sweat and we stink
We've nothing in common,
except what we drink
So pour us another beer
[Unfortunately, the tune is not described in the article, so I can't describe how it is to be sung.]
Anyway, Beer Camp (next one is March 7 through 9, $423 including lodging, food, and all the beer you can drink; call 800-323-4917) includes tastings, games, classes, banquets, and a trip to the American Museum of Brewing History and Arts.
