An article in today’s NY Times reports that “America’s Craft Brewer” Boston Beer Company is getting very close to surpassing an annual volume of two-million barrels per year; the milestone that under which designates a brewer as a “Craft Brewer”. Such designations are of utility only to trade organizations such as The Brewer’s Association and more importantly the Federal Government, who sets the excise tax at a lower rate per barrel for smaller breweries than for the “Big Boys”.

So will this change the consumer’s opinion of venerable Samuel Adams? Does the volumetric output of a brewery necessarily correlate to its creativity or quality? It would be unfair in my opinion to look negatively at this milestone. In every craft brewer there is a small hint of entrepreneur, even if the main goal is not getting rich but maybe it’s just a little market acceptance; I think it’s just human nature. We all strive for acceptance and success at what we do, especially if we love what we do. The fact that craft brewers love what they do only makes it easier to reach the pinnacle of whatever it is they define as “Making it”.

It only takes one visit to a Craft Brewers Conference to understand that there are many dimensions other than volumetric output to being a craft brewer. It is like a family, a brother (and Sister) hood. It’s a group of rugged individualists who have set out to make a living doing their craft. When guys like Jim Koch find a way to release hop contracts to a very needy craft brewing industry during a worldwide hops shortage, I am sure the little guys were thankful there was a “big brother” that stepped up to help. The industry can use a few more “Big Brothers” and I think Sierra-Nevada and few more brewers are not too far behind the two million barrel mark. Thankfully, the craft brewing industry has been growing year after year opening the way for these top-notch beer-crafters to grow as well as make way for new artisans in the marketplace.

I want to congratulate Jim Koch and the crew at Boston Beer Company. I am happy that they have found a way of delivering for their shareholders and also for delivering many years of great beer to thirsty souls like me. I will continue to refer to Boston Beer Company as a “Craft Brewer” as long as they keep doing what they do and you should too…

"The Hammer"

Yes Mildred, Philly is the best beer-drinking city in America! If you don’t believe me just ask the thousands of Delaware Valley area beer-geeks who will be attending the many festivities that make up the 10 day “Week-O-Beer”…

To be fair, many other cities in the US also stake claim to the “Best Beer City”designation; Portland Oregon comes to mind but heck, I have never been there so Philly it is!

It was a hectic business travel week for me and I was originally scheduled to attend Savor, a beer and food extravaganza in DC and had to forgo the invitation. I was fortunate to be able to squeeze in a little bit of Philly Beer Week on Friday.

The best part of my Philly Beer Week experience was being able to hang-out a bit with my favorite pub owner Philadelphia’s own Fergie Carey. Fergie and his partner Tom Peters are the “Founding Fathers” of Philly’s craft beer scene so to speak, operating several of the best beer bars in the country like Monk’s Café for example or Fergie’s Pub, both in the heart of Center City.

Fergie hooked me-up with a ticket and a bit of VIP access during the opening tap ceremony. Many great Philly beers were served and for me most notably a smoked wheat beer called “Polish Wheat” from Yard’s Brewing Company.

The Reckoner in Motion

The most fun though had to be participating in the procession that carries the “Hammer of Glory” around Philadelphia’s many great craft beer venues. The hammer eventually winds up in the hands of the mayor as he hammers the opening tap into the official first cask of beer week.

Each venue owner tries to find a unique way to transport the hammer to the next destination. The hammer arrived at Fergie’s Belgian Café at 3:30pm via wheel-barrow from “The Institute” pub. After a short but smirkingly solemn hand-off ceremony on bended knee, the journey from the Belgian Café was to be via a kinetic sculpture (basically a giant tricycle) named “The Reckoner”…

Our sworn steed Fergie boarded the beastly trike with the hammer affixed to its stillage behind him. Two of the trike’s creators fired up the boom box with some funky smooth rhythms and proceeded to pedal through the streets of Philly as Fergie steered. Twirlers and a motorcycle led the way as revenge came so sweetly when the procession slowed passage of a school bus caught behind it.

"The Next Steed"

“The Reckoner” arrived at a pub with a great Philly-ish name called “The Kite and Key” and with that pub’s owner on bended knee; Fergie read aloud the solemn orders from a text on his cellphone. The hammer was once again on its way, this time via a hearse transporting not only the hammer, but an effigy of a mortally wounded Blackhawk’s hockey player. With police escort, the hearse and hammer were on their way to “Nodding Head Brewpub” to once again repeat the ceremony.

After a quick beer at the Kite and Key, this mere peasant was pressed into service being asked to help push “The Reckoner” up the slight hill that leads back to the Belgian Café. I was rewarded with a fine Hatachino Nest witbier upon my sweaty arrival.

"O Zapft is"