Roger Protz rightfully asks why the British press hasn’t been all over the news that beer sales by members of the Society of Independent Brewers were up nearly 11% in 2007.
This stunning success story – at a time when giant global brewers are reporting a sharp downturn in sales in Britain – has been met by a resounding silence by the media.
Michael Hardman, SIBA’s press officer, tells him, “This is a great British success story – but nobody wants to know.”
Protz pulls no punches:
The reason is not hard to understand: the media is obsessed with “24-hour” drinking” and “binge drinking” and doesn’t want to write about a good beer story. As Hardman adds, “If you substituted ‘beer’ in the report with the word ‘wine,’ the media would be falling over themselves to write glowing stories.”
It’s not like the ongoing success of “craft” brewers in the United States doesn’t get pretty good coverage.
– I’ve tried not to spend too much time looking at the Philly Beer Week schedule. I know my head would blow up were attending an option. And that’s a best case scenario. If it didn’t then I’d surely destroy at least some of my internal plumbing. They should call it Philly Hedonist Week. Best I stay here in New Mexico.
But it does make you think about Philadelphia boldly declaring itself “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City.” This has led Stephen Beaumont and Don Russell to debate Philadelphia’s beer cred in Ale Street News. (So far just in print, but look for the story to pop up online.)
I’d say I was staying out of it, but since last week I casually mentioned that any such debate begins and ends with Portland, Oregon (see, Jeff, I wrote it again), I’ve already taken a stand.
Were I getting further involved I certainly would use Russell’s post Saturday about the demise of Ludwig’s as evidence for whatever other side. Geez, if Gibson City, Illinois, can support a German restaurant with a solid beer selection shouldn’t America’s Best Beer-Drinking City?
– Conversations here sometimes go directions I would not have anticipated. One last week about buying habits of Gen Yers turned into a discussion about authenticity. Enough to talk about that Lew Bryson then added much you should read at his blog, including an important comment.
I meant everything I said at the beginning of the post about what “authentic” means to me, and that’s what I want…but I want to define it for myself, and I would just as soon not see claims for it made by brewers when it’s not clear what it does mean.
A reminder we all our own definitions, and biases. Me, when I read something like this from Beerdrinker of the Year finalist Matt Venzke I want to shout hallelujah:
“Small breweries are one of the few remaining vestiges of local uniqueness. Internationally, breweries reflect the local character, history and flavor.”
Your mileage may vary.
Geez, if Gibson City, Illinois, can support a German restaurant with a solid beer selection shouldn’t America’s Best Beer-Drinking City?
Declining clientelle with interest in the culture. Even Chicago’s German restaurants (with great beer lists) have dwindled considerably in the last 10 years.
In fact, Libertyville, IL — home of the famed Mickey Finn’s brew-pub and the Firkin good beer bar, used to have 2 wonderful German restaurants within mere miles of each other. Sadly, both have closed due to lack of customers and interest in keeping such an establishment open.
Woah, I never knew about that place in Gibson City. They have to be one the the few places left in IL with a drive in movie theater too.
Well, you know where I stand on the Best Beer City debate so I won’t go into it again (this is a one-time exclusion and not to be considered a commitment in future correspondence), but Ludwig’s died due to poor management, not lack of interest. Nice try, though.
PS: You made mention of Lew Bryson’s “History of Beer” in an earlier post and I emailed you to ask what you were referring to and you never responded. Bad Stan. I’d ask Bryson directly but, if you look at the Philly Beer Week schedule even briefly, you’ll see that he’s likely locked away in a room preparing his system for what will be an All Bryson All The Time nine days.
“PS: You made mention of Lew Bryson’s “History of Beer” in an earlier post…”
I’m not Stan, but maybe when I grow up…
Lew’s article is in this month’s All About Beer (Mar. 08)
Thanks, Steve. You’re the first person I’ve met who aspired to be Stan when he grew up. I have to think about that a bit.
PS: You made mention of Lew Bryson’s “History of Beer” in an earlier post and I emailed you to ask what you were referring to and you never responded. Bad Stan.
Sorry. I honestly did not see it. You know how I treasure email from you.
And, yes, I do worry for SteveH’s future.
Well, if it keeps him off the streets and out of trouble, it’s probably a good thing. Then again, aspiring to be you would likely require him to take to the streets and get into trouble, wouldn’t it?
‘Tis a conundrum.
“And, yes, I do worry for SteveH’s future.”
Because I’m not grown up at my age, or because I’d like to be more connected to the beer biz? Indeed, ’tis a conundrum! 🙂
Jack — if all it took to be successful (as Stan) was being on the streets and in trouble, I’d have been chasing Trump’s fortunes a looong time ago!
But back to biz, I haven’t read Lew’s article yet, saving it for the proper attention it deserves. Anyone else care to comment on the content?
I haven’t seen it either, which is why I asked about it. I suppose I could poke the Big Guy with a stick and get him to send it to me, but that would be wrong.
Now then, where did I put my stick…
Jack – I received the issue last week. Should be hitting newstands everywhere soon. Doesn’t The Best Beer-Drinking City in America get a special shipment?
We don’ read about beer, we drink it.
(I say that only to be clever and amusing, ’cause it’s truly a self-defeating argument for a writer to make.)
Jack, if you promise you’ll stop bothering Stan I’ll send you the piece. If that’s too much trouble, call me, and I’ll read it to you.
Man — you guys sound just like Eagles fans! 😉
Good offer, Lew. Either send it or read it but if you read it , it’ll have to be real slow so I follow it and at a decibel level I can handle.
Either way, I promise I’ll leave Stan alone.
Stan version 2-0 (SteveH), he’s still fair game, right?
Hey thanks for posting about the restaurant in Gibson City. My next roadtrip is planned. The menu looks fantastische too.