I realize I just did a “random beer notes“ column a month or so ago, but darn it, they just keep piling up. And when they are as exciting as a few I have today, I feel obligated to share them as soon as I can. First up are two pieces of news that will thrill craft beer drinkers...
More than one serving a day increases your risk.I realize I just did a “random beer notes“ column a month or so ago, but darn it, they just keep piling up.
And when they are as exciting as a few I have today, I feel obligated to share them as soon as I can.
First up are two pieces of news that will thrill craft beer drinkers in our area. The first of these is that Westfield River Brewing Co. had its first open house and beer tastings last weekend. I’m not sure when it will totally up and distributing brews across the area but it’s clear they are pretty close to doing so, as they started bottling their Black Squirrel Pale Ale. Cheers to that!
The second, similar bit of news is that Tim and Amy Brady, owners of the Fort Putney Road Bed and Breakfast in Brattleboro (but better known to beer fans as the creators of the fantastic “Here for the Beer“ website (www.hereforthebeer.com) just got the deed to a property that they will turn into the Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery, also in Brattleboro.
Tim told me last week that the place will undergo “a pretty massive renovation“ but they hope to have the deck open with a limited menu by Memorial Day. The remainder of the restaurant will be open sometime in June, he estimated. The venue will feature craft brews from around the region and one small-batch beer brewed on premises. For a town as small as Brattleboro, having they another great beer stop (along with McNeill’s, Flat Street, and Fort Putney Road B&B, which has three taps of craft beer) is pretty amazing.
Although I will write much more extensively about the Northampton Brewery’s 25th Anniversary celebration as the August birthday gets closer, I’d be remiss if I didn’t let readers know about the brewery’s special monthly anniversary mug/glass special.
On the 25th of each month through September, the brewery will release a new anniversary beer, each paired with a special etched and printed glass. The April one was just released last week, but mugs are selling quickly. April’s beer was a tasty Dortmunder brew served in beautiful and hefty mug (seidel). I plan on collecting all six (as if I need more beer glassware, but, oh well).
One last bit of news: New York just backed down and changed its beer taxation laws due to a lawsuit filed by Shelton Brothers Distributing. On the face of it, the case seems to have had merit, based on the doctrine of the “dormant commerce clause“ (thanks to my Constitutional law buff pal Shaun Hickson for that). Being a Hamiltonian when it comes to our Founding Fathers, I want to research this more, but I plan on writing a column on it down the road. At any rate, congrats to the Sheltons for their win.