July 10th, 2008 Joe Sixpack
“There is a spiritual side to craft brewing which is difficult to define but I think you know it when you see it.” - Hugh Sisson, Clipper City.
Amen. That’s Hugh speaking about big beer incursions into craft brewing, a la Miller Brewing’s so-called Lite Craft line. In his latest newsletter, Hugh notes that the Brewers Association has attempted to define craft brewing, basically by saying you can’t make authentic craft beer if you’re a megabrewer. There was a lot of harrumphing over that, with some suggesting that size doesn’t matter. If A-B can make, say, a pale ale that is as good as Sierra Nevada’s, shouldn’t it qualify as a craft?
I don’t think so, and neither does Hugh: ”I believe that much of what has happened to US beer in the last 25 years has more to do with entrepreneurs reacting against the ‘beer status quo,’ as well as a passion for fuller flavor, than it does with technical definitions.”Â
Craft beer implies craftsmanship. There is a big difference between a rocking chair made by Thos. Moser and the knockoff you can buy at Pier One. For me, it’s not just about the end product, it’s about the motivation and, yeah, spirituality.
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July 7th, 2008 Joe Sixpack
I finally had a chance to stop in last week at The Institute, the new beer joint at 12th and Green in the Brandywine section of the city (that’s just a block north from the Ridge & Spring Garden intersection). Owners Heather and Charlie have done a tremendous job fixing up the place - definitely worth the visit.
For some, the neighborhood is going to seem dicey on the first visit. Abandoned houses, vacant lots, broken glass - the whole drill. Strange, because five blocks east, west or south puts you into some seriously upscale real estate. Suburbanites, especially, see this and think crime. In fact, the neighborhood - and others like it - aren’t nearly as rough as they look. The people hanging out on the street? By and large, they’re decent, law-abiding people - just like you and me. They are not predators, they are neighbors.  Remember, fear is a product of ignorance.
My advice: Stop in and have a chat with Heather and Charlie, and ask them why they’re so confident in the future of their neighborhood.
The beer? The tap list on my visit was Yards Philly Pale, Sly Fox Weisse, Ommegang Hennepin, Founders Red’s Rye and Centennial IPA, Bear Republic Big Bear Imperial Stout, Philly Brewing Walt Wit and Kenzinger, along with Yuengling, PBR and Miller Lite.
The Walt Wit was a pleasant surprise for me. The first time I tasted it, Walt Wit (which probably has the coolest tap handle in town) seemed thin and kind of average. This time around, there seemed to be more body and a bit more of a spicy punch. On a hot day, it was a beautiful thirst-quencher. I’ll hit that one again soon.
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July 3rd, 2008 Joe Sixpack
One of the things I love about the Daily News is we don’t publish on major holidays. The news can wait a day, and it gives everyone a well-deserved day off.
That means my regular Friday column appears today. Here’s the link.
Enjoy your weekend, enjoy your beer.
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