Monday Beer Briefing: Trump kicks Mexican beer in gonads, Colorado guilds reunite, Corcoran Brewery needs your help

Weekend hangover. Check. Inability to work. Check. Complete disillusionment with life. Double check. Sounds like your typical Monday morning, right? Well, maybe you’re a little extra bummed on this particular Monday because of this guy, which makes you want to call this guy. We get it. You just don’t feel like moving one goddamn finger today. But how’s about this: We only ask you to move one finger, and that’s it — and maybe use those eyes and that brain (the back part, called the primary visual cortex). That’s all we ask. We’ve compiled a bunch of reading material below for you to waste away your Monday — key headlines that’ll make your morning go a little quicker — even if one includes this joker.

Drumpf doesn’t like beer or Mexico

Gentlemanly pussy-grabber, non-drinker and new President of the United States, Donald Drumpf, doesn’t seem to like Mexico very much. He wants to build a wall on its border, he’s threatened throwing out the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and he blasts out Tweets like this. In fact, when his presidency was announced, one stock in particular plummeted 8 percent on the announcement — Constellation — and that’s 8 percent of some serious shrinkage lately. The stock market overall bizarrely surged after Drumpf was named Prez (usually, it slows no matter who you are). From Vinepair:

Is a Drumpf presidency going to threaten the U.S.’s access to Mexican beer?

It would be an ironic twist, since Mexican beer has been enjoying intense popularity in the U.S. in recent years. In 2015, Corona [which Constellation owns] was the most popular imported beer in America. The Mexican beer market — which dominates the beer export market — sends 75% of its exports just north of the border to the United States.

…

The vice president of communications for Constellation’s beer division, Michael McGrew, was honest when reached for comment. “The reality is that it’s way too early to know how President-Elect Drumpf’s policies on Mexican trade and immigration will affect our business and industry,” he wrote to VinePair in an email. But he was also hopeful. “Overall, we believe that Republican control of the White House and Congress will be good for business and a positive for Constellation as it relates to taxation, repatriation, deregulation and other economic matters.” He stressed Constellation’s history of working with representatives from both political parties in the U.S.

Colorado guilds might reunite

In a country divided by culture and common decency, there was one story that brought a slight smile to our collective grimace last week. Craft Beer Colorado, a recent breakaway beer guild from the Colorado Brewers Guild, has maybe decided to reunite into one state beer association. Fourteen craft breweries split from the Colorado Brewers Guild in June to form a new trade advocacy organization (breweries like New Belgium and Left Hand). Why? Well, things were getting all Dune guild weird — specifically when it came to what is considered the interests of “Craft Beer’” vs. “Big Beer.”

The tipping point seemed to be Colorado’s Breckenridge Brewery, which was acquired by the Belgium-based Beer Voltron and its Budweiser brand in December of 2015. That and other things (like the director) wasn’t sitting well with indie folks. But apparently, organizational leaders met during the Great American Beer Festival, and the two groups have agreed in principle to combine once again. According to an article on the Denver Business Journal:

One of the key points of agreement between the groups is that only craft breweries — those that make 6 million or fewer barrels of beer a year and are owned no more than 25 percent by non-craft-beer interests — will be a part of the organization.

…

Another key point of agreement was that the guild will be led by someone other than 20-year director John Carlson, who stepped aside temporarily in late July as controversy swirled around his leadership.

Let’s help Jim Corcoran, Corcoran Winery and Brewery co-owner, with his medical expenses

We have a profound love for the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains — from the Roanoke River to the Appalachian Trail to Shenandoah National Park. At its foothills sits Corcoran Brewing Co., which was founded in 2011 in Waterford, Va. This is the second business venture for the Corcoran family, which has been making award-winning wines since 2004.

Alas, we were saddened to hear that co-owner Jim Corcoran has been having health problems for the last four years. He was diagnosed with cancer in October 2012 and has been battling it for the last four years. As you might expect, his medical expenses have grown out of control. In fact, Corcoran’s insurance company dropped him as a client, and he needs to raise $20,000 to cover an MRI and travel expenses. You can help him out via GoFundMe:

His current situation is that the cancer is in many of his bones and in his blood. He is hoping to be a candidate for stem cell replacement. A stem cell transplant is a treatment for some types of cancer, and since there is no cure for multiple mylemona, this option for stem cell replacement seems like his best chance to extend his life just a bit longer. The technology today is very advanced and typically now they collect stem cells from the blood rather than the bone morrow. He needs to be in remission and must meet certain requirements to make sure the treatment is successful.

His doctor will determine if he will receive an autologous transplant, which is also called high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. In an auto transplant you get to use your own stem cells – doctors collect stem cells from your blood and freeze them. Next, you have powerful chemo and rarely radiation. The doctors will then thaw his frozen stem cells and they put them back into his blood through a tube placed in a vein.

The time frame will take around 90 days, once they determine he is a candidate.

In addition to his travel, he will need to drive or take the train, and can’t fly anymore due to massive blood clots in both his lungs and legs. Thus, he will need to go back and forth to Arkansas numerous times. In addition, he will need to stay at a hotel for the duration of each of his visits.

Help Corcoran and his family out by donating like a boss!