Subject: Digest for the period 5/7/2005 - 5/8/2005
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 01:00:13 -0400

Table of contents
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  1. Mega-Breweries 


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From: Alan Hord  Date: Sat, 7 May 2005 01:14:20 -0700
Subject: Mega-Breweries 


This is such a pregnant topic!  Many people hates them, others ~ like some 
fathers, loves them.  I tolerate and accept them for what they are.  They 
have a place in time and history, and we owe them our gratitude because we 
would not be here without them.



The original American brewer was a homebrewer back in the founding days far 
beyond living memory.  As commercial enterprises organized and expanded, so 
did we have variation, diversification, originality, and collaboration.



However, Prohibition took everyone by surprise: Read your history!



Before the 18th Amendment/Prohibition, there were over 2000 breweries and 
brewpubs in America displaying intense diversity of styles!  Afterwards, 
after 1932 when FDR was elected President, he asked Congress to amend the 
Volstead Act to raise the limit of beer to 3.2% which effectively killed 
Prohibition.  But the World was at War, and so Mr. R directed the breweries 
to make sacrifices on the grain bill to feed our troupes abroad.  Few 
breweries survived both Prohibition and the "directive"; less than 200 
within the next 5 years.  In the next 50 years this niche society fed upon 
itself and the numbers reduced to 20 conglomerates by the 1990's world-wide.



Here's what mega-breweries do for us:

  a.. They retain the masses interested in beer.  That's good.  There are 
historical examples of divergence of style to limited success; Lite Beer, 
Red, Amber Bock, Dry, Ultra, (insert favorite chuckle).
  b.. They retain our libido; no comment, except I'd wager equal time will 
become a factor; no complaints :o)
The point being that we should not unbraid the hand that feeds the mouth. 
We owe them dearly; they kept the American Brewing flame alit through dark 
times and expanded into foreign markets.



That being said, I have a specific use for their products (Stop laughing!):

We all have different tastes.  Mine is typically all-malt-oriented, but I 
falter at times.  My best Alan-is-a-dufus example:

  a.. Imagine it's 115*F in the shade; wicked hot Summer and Satan laughing!
  b.. My Dad, calm as a cucumber, snorking down a Coors Original Draft.  I'm 
abstaining cus that's wot he's got in his fridge (and nuthin' else).
  c.. Who's the fool? (ahem)
Right!  Now, there is a time and proper place for these large breweries, and 
I actually enjoy their handicraft abroad as a signature of stability and 
integrity.



To throw the table the other way, imagine you homebrewers trying to make the 
exact same beer world-wide taste the exact same way in 5-gallon batches. 
Actually I dare you to make the same homebrewed beer twice and have it taste 
the exact same  :o)



Go on, buck up ~ do yourself down.  It takes a professional to survive in 
this industry of mega-brewers.  We're snobs, er, many of us anyways. But I 
take my lumps with tea, and I honor those in my industry that keeps it live, 
as so should you my friends :o)



We all have a place in this world.  Some serve whom they wish, others just 
serve.  Take your pick.  I'm happy to have freedom of choice and grateful of 
the opportunity.  My next brew is going to be the Rye IPA on Big Brew Day, 
but if I were beerless I think I'd reach for my new emergency reserve 
favorite mass-product Budweiser Select (as a last choice if I were 
completely and repeatedly without no alternative)  /:oB



Would anyone be so brave as to join me in a review?  I have no fear, and I 
_will_ try anything new.  Budweiser Select (o' please but be it hot 
weather!!).  Any takers?  :o*



Simply Alan, National near Seattle.

PS - apologies for the novella, but then when was the last time you had a 
good provocative beer yarn to chew on matey? ~ Arrrh, Baltimore ;o)>


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