Thinkin’ and Drinkin’: Week of July 1

Happy July 4 holiday, America! While the Craft Brewing Business (CBB) crew is enjoying our holiday weekend, we still took the time to do some thinkin’ along with our drinkin’ to bring you our thoughts in this week’s craft beer industry news. In case you’re new to this whole Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ thing — Friday is the time when the CBB crew kicks back with a couple of craft cold ones and reflects on the stories of the week. What we liked, what we learned and what we thought was just plain cool.

Did you have a favorite story from the week? Any of our features catch your attention? Well, pull up a seat, crack open a crafty beverage and join the conversation. We love hearing from our readers. So, after reading what the CBB crew thought about this week in news, be sure to sound off in the comments below to let us know what you think and, more importantly, what you’re drinking. Cheers!

Homebrewing legal in all 50 states

Jason Morgan, editor:

As an avid craft beer fan, I’ve dabbled in homebrewing — From brewing an oatmeal stout in a buddy’s kitchen to the more guided brew-your-own-beer offering of a unique operation like the Brew Kettle, based in Strongsville, Ohio. I have developed a deep appreciation for the homebrewing roots of craft beer. Mostly because I’m not very good at it. It requires both a mind for the science of brewing mixed with the passion of creation. The creation part I have, the attention to the scientific side — temperature control, sanitation, watching the brew time — that’s where my mind starts to wander.

Nevertheless, I’m excited to hear that homebrewing is now legal in every state. Many commercial craft breweries started in a kitchen. Experimentation through homebrew clubs and working with other aspiring brewers has helped propel the craft into its current popularity. Opening the doors for anyone to try their hand at brewing is nothing but good news for the growing craft beer community. I am looking forward to seeing the new generation of brewers who are getting started in the hobby that may one day turn into a profession.

Craft choice:  Uinta Brewing Baba Black Lager

 Attention: This story is about beer helping puppies

Keith Gribbins, editor

People love dogs, so you can never go wrong adding a dog to a story. Even better — add an adorably old one-eyed mutt — that’s just narrative gold. Being the owner of a one-eyed rescue dog at one point, Chris Crowell’s post on City Star Brewing teaming up with Harley, a tiny cycloptic Chihuahua with access to beer and big dreams, unclogged my heart cockles for the first time in weeks. City Star and Harley are teaming up to educate people about and raise money for the National Mill Dog Rescue, a Colorado Springs-based organization that has saved nearly 8,000 dogs from puppy mills over the past six years. A special beer was brewed in Harley’s name called Ol’ One Eye Honey Wheat, and T-shirts were designed with Harley’s picture along with the phrase: Rescue your thirst for National Mill Dog Rescue! It’s easily the feel good story of the week. And next time you’d like to celebrate a beer with your best canine companion, try ordering some Dawg Grog, the beer for (yep) dogs.

Craft choice: New Holland Brewing’s White Hatter

Workplace beers? KegWorks gives its thoughts on this new ‘trend’

Chris Crowell, editor:

If there ever was a preaching to the choir story, this is it, but I need to throw it out there again because we at CBB think it’s important: Drinking at work can be a good thing. If someone throws out the idea of having beers in the workplace, they aren’t a slacker, or a drunk, they actually might be the smartest person in the office. There is a lot of  backlash and naysaying, almost instinctively, by some people to this topic that seems kind of lazy. Yes, obviously not all workplaces would be improved, at least in performance, with a kegerator, and maybe I’m biased because I’m in one of those creative -type professions, but let’s get serious here, beer helps you think creatively. Hell, CBB was conceived of while drinking. No one is promoting getting drunk at work, but there is clearly a happy (some would say tipsy) medium here that might help a lot of offices function better and with more camaraderie.

Craft choice: Thirsty Dog’s Citra Dog