I’m going to go off the topic of beer for this one:

Here is a list of Taxpayer Funded State Agencies in California:

California Academic Performance Index (API) * California Access for Infants and Mothers * California Acupuncture Board * California Administrative Office of the Courts * California Adoptions Branch * California African American Museum * California Agricultural Export Program * California Agricultural Labor Relations Board * California Agricultural Statistics Service * California Air Resources Board (CARB) * California Allocation Board * California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority * California Animal Health and Food Safety Services * California Anti-Terrorism Information Center * California Apprenticeship Council * California Arbitration Certification Program * California Architects Board * California Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board * California Arts Council * California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus * California Assembly Democratic Caucus * California Assembly Republican Caucus * California Athletic Commission * California Attorney General * California Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California Bay-Delta Authority * California Bay-Delta Office * California Biodiversity Council * California Board for Geologists and Geophysicists * California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors * California Board of Accountancy * California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology * California Board of Behavioral Sciences * California Board of Chiropractic Examiners * California Board of Equalization (BOE) * California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection * California Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind * California Board of Occupational Therapy * California Board of Optometry * California Board of Pharmacy * California Board of Podiatric Medicine * California Board of Prison Terms * California Board of Psychology * California Board of Registered Nursing * California Board of Trustees * California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians * California Braille and Talking Book Library * California Building Standards Commission * California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education * California Bureau of Automotive Repair * California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair * California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation * California Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine * California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services * California Bureau of State Audits * California Business Agency * California Business Investment Services (CalBIS) * California Business Permit Information (CalGOLD) * California Business Portal * California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency * California Cal Grants * California CalJOBS * California Cal-Learn Program * California CalVet Home Loan Program * California Career Resource Network * California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau * California Center for Analytical Chemistry * California Center for Distributed Learning * California Center for Teaching Careers (Teach California) * California Chancellors Office * California Charter Schools * California Children and Families Commission * California Children and Family Services Division * California Citizens Compensation Commission * California Civil Rights Bureau * California Coastal Commission * California Coastal Conservancy * California Code of Regulations * California Collaborative Projects with UC Davis * California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth * California Commission on Aging * California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation * California Commission on Judicial Performance * California Commission on State Mandates * California Commission on Status of Women * California Commission on Teacher Credentialing * California Commission on the Status of Women * California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, Junior Colleges * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office * California Complaint Mediation Program * California Conservation Corps * California Constitution Revision Commission * California Consumer Hotline * California Consumer Information Center * California Consumer Information * California Consumer Services Division * California Consumers and Families Agency * California Contractors State License Board * California Corrections Standards Authority * California Council for the Humanities * California Council on Criminal Justice * California Council on Developmental Disabilities * California Court Reporters Board * California Courts of Appeal * California Crime and Violence Prevention Center * California Criminal Justice Statistics Center * California Criminalist Institute Forensic Library * California CSGnet Network Management * California Cultural and Historical Endowment * California Cultural Resources Division * California Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Branch * California Data Exchange Center * California Data Management Division * California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission * California Delta Protection Commission * California Democratic Caucus * California Demographic Research Unit * California Dental Auxiliaries * California Department of Aging * California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control * California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) * California Department of Child Support Services (CDCSS) * California Department of Community Services and Development * California Department of Conservation * California Department of Consumer Affairs * California Department of Corporations * California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation * California Department of Developmental Services * California Department of Education * California Department of Fair Employment and Housing * California Department of Finance * California Department of Financial Institutions * California Department of Fish and Game * California Department of Food and Agriculture * California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) * California Department of General Services * California Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing * California Department of Health Care Services * California Department of Housing and Community Development * California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) * California Department of Insurance * California Department of Justice Firearms Division * California Department of Justice Opinion Unit * California Department of Justice, Consumer Information, Public Inquiry Unit * California Department of Justice * California Department of Managed Health Care * California Department of Mental Health * California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) * California Department of Personnel Administration * California Department of Pesticide Regulation * California Department of Public Health * California Department of Real Estate * California Department of Rehabilitation * California Department of Social Services Adoptions Branch * California Department of Social Services * California Department of Technology Services Training Center (DTSTC) * California Department of Technology Services (DTS) * California Department of Toxic Substances Control * California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) * California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVets) * California Department of Water Resources * California Departmento de Vehiculos Motorizados * California Digital Library * California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Division of Apprenticeship Standards * California Division of Codes and Standards * California Division of Communicable Disease Control * California Division of Engineering * California Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control * California Division of Gambling Control * California Division of Housing Policy Development * California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement * California Division of Labor Statistics and Research * California Division of Land and Right of Way * California Division of Land Resource Protection * California Division of Law Enforcement General Library * California Division of Measurement Standards * California Division of Mines and Geology * California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) * California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources * California Division of Planning and Local Assistance * California Division of Recycling * California Division of Safety of Dams * California Division of the State Architect * California Division of Tourism * California Division of Workers Compensation Medical Unit * California Division of Workers Compensation * California Economic Assistance, Business and Community Resources * California Economic Strategy Panel * California Education and Training Agency * California Education Audit Appeals Panel * California Educational Facilities Authority * California Elections Division * California Electricity Oversight Board * California Emergency Management Agency * California Emergency Medical Services Authority * California Employment Development Department (EDD) * California Employment Information State Jobs * California Employment Training Panel * California Energy Commission * California Environment and Natural Resources Agency * California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) * California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES) * California Executive Office * California Export Laboratory Services * California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo) * California Fair Political Practices Commission * California Fairs and Expositions Division * California Film Commission * California Fire and Resource Assessment Program * California Firearms Division * California Fiscal Services * California Fish and Game Commission * California Fisheries Program Branch * California Floodplain Management * California Foster Youth Help * California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) * California Fraud Division * California Gambling Control Commission * California Geographic Information Systems Council (GIS) * California Geological Survey * California Government Claims and Victim Compensation Board * California Governors Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons * California Governors Mentoring Partnership * California Governors Office of Emergency Services * California Governors Office of Homeland Security * California Governors Office of Planning and Research * California Governors Office * California Grant and Enterprise Zone Programs HCD Loan * California Health and Human Services Agency * California Health and Safety Agency * California Healthy Families Program * California Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau * California High-Speed Rail Authority * California Highway Patrol (CHP) * California History and Culture Agency * California Horse Racing Board * California Housing Finance Agency * California Indoor Air Quality Program * California Industrial Development Financing Advisory Commission * California Industrial Welfare Commission * California InFoPeople * California Information Center for the Environment * California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) * California Inspection Services * California Institute for County Government * California Institute for Education Reform * California Integrated Waste Management Board * California Interagency Ecological Program * California Job Service * California Junta Estatal de Personal * California Labor and Employment Agency * California Labor and Workforce Development Agency * California Labor Market Information Division * California Land Use Planning Information Network (LUPIN) * California Lands Commission * California Landscape Architects Technical Committee * California Latino Legislative Caucus * California Law Enforcement Branch * California Law Enforcement General Library * California Law Revision Commission * California Legislative Analyst’s Office * California Legislative Black Caucus * California Legislative Counsel * California Legislative Division * California Legislative Information * California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus * California Legislature Internet Caucus * California Library De velopment Services * California License and Revenue Branch * California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program * California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board * California Maritime Academy * California Marketing Services * California Measurement Standards * California Medical Assistance Commission * California Medical Care Services * California Military Department * California Mining and Geology Board * California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts * California Museum Resource Center * California National Guard * California Native American Heritage Commission * California Natural Community Conservation Planning Program * California New Motor Vehicle Board * California Nursing Home Administrator Program * California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board * California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board * California Ocean Resources Management Program * California Office of Administrative Hearings * California Office of Administrative Law * California Office of AIDS * California Office of Binational Border Health * California Office of Child Abuse Prevention * California Office of Deaf Access * California Office of Emergency Services (OES) * California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment * California Office of Fiscal Services * California Office of Fleet Administration * California Office of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Implementation (CalOHI) * California Office of Historic Preservation * California Office of Homeland Security * California Office of Human Resources * California Office of Legal Services * California Office of Legislation * California Office of Lieutenant Governor * California Office of Military and Aerospace Support * California Office of Mine Reclamation * California Office of Natural Resource Education * California Office of Privacy Protection * California Office of Public School Construction * California Office of Real Estate Appraisers * California Office of Risk and Insurance Management * California Office of Services to the Blind * California Office of Spill Prevention and Response * California Office of State Publishing (OSP) * California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development * California Office of Systems Integration * California Office of the Inspector General * California Office of the Ombudsman * California Office of the Patient Advocate * California Office of the President * California Office of the Secretary for Education * California Office of the State Fire Marshal * California Office of the State Public Defender * California Office of Traffic Safety * California Office of Vital Records * California Online Directory * California Operations Control Office * California Opinion Unit * California Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) * California Park and Recreation Commission * California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) * California Performance Review (CPR) * California Permit Information for Business (CalGOLD) * California Physical Therapy Board * California Physician Assistant Committee * California Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services * California Policy and Evaluation Division * California Political Reform Division * California Pollution Control Financing Authority * California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo * California Postsecondary Education Commission * California Prevention Services * California Primary Care and Family Health * California Prison Industry Authority * California Procurement Division * California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) * California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) * California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) * California Real Estate Services Division * California Refugee Programs Branch * California Regional Water Quality Control Boards * California Registered Veterinary Technician Committee * California Registrar of Charitable Trusts * California Republican Caucus * California Research and Development Division * California Research Bureau * California Resources Agency * California Respiratory Care Board * California Rivers Assessment * California Rural Health Policy Council * California Safe Schools * California San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy * California San Joaquin River Conservancy * California School to Career * California Science Center * California Scripps Institution of Oceanography * California Secretary of State Business Portal * California Secretary of State * California Seismic Safety Commission * California Self Insurance Plans (SIP) * California Senate Office of Research * California Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Small Business Development Center Program * California Smart Growth Caucus * California Smog Check Information Center * California Spatial Information Library * California Special Education Division * California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board * California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) * California Standards and Assessment Division * California State Administrative Manual (SAM) * California State Allocation Board * California State and Consumer Services Agency * California State Architect * California State Archives * California State Assembly * California State Association of Counties (CSAC) * California State Board of Education * California State Board of Food and Agriculture *California Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) * California State Children’s Trust Fund * California State Compensation Insurance Fund * California State Contracts Register Program * California State Contracts Register * California State Controller * California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) * California State Disability Insurance (SDI) * California State Fair (Cal Expo) * California State Jobs Employment Information * California State Lands Commission * California State Legislative Portal * California State Legislature * California State Library Catalog * California State Library Services Bureau * California State Library * California State Lottery * California State Mediation and Conciliation Service * California State Mining and Geology Board * California State Park and Recreation Commission * California State Parks * California State Personnel Board * California State Polytechnic University, Pomona * California State Railroad Museum * California State Science Fair * California State Senate * California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) * California State Summer School for the Arts * California State Superintendent of Public Instruction * California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) * California State Treasurer * California State University Center for Distributed Learning * California State University, Bakersfield * California State University, Channel Islands * California State University, Chico * California State University, Dominguez Hills * California State University, East Bay * California State University, Fresno * California State University, Fullerton * California State University, Long Beach * California State University, Los Angeles * California State University, Monterey Bay * California State University, Northridge * California State University, Sacramento * California State University, San Bernardino * California State University, San Marcos * California State University, Stanislaus * California State University (CSU) * California State Water Project Analysis Office * California State Water Project * California State Water Resources Control Board * California Structural Pest Control Board * California Student Aid Commission * California Superintendent of Public Instruction * California Superior Courts * California Tahoe Conservancy * California Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists * California Tax Information Center * California Technology and Administration Branch Finance * California Telecommunications Division * California Telephone Medical Advice Services (TAMS) * California Transportation Commission * California Travel and Transportation Agency * California Unclaimed Property Program * California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board * California Unemployment Insurance Program * California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission * California Veterans Board * California Veterans Memorial * California Veterinary Medical Board and Registered Veterinary Technician Examining Committee * California Veterinary Medical Board * California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board * California Volunteers * California Voter Registration * California Water Commission * California Water Environment Association (COWPEA) * California Water Resources Control Board * California Welfare to Work Division * California Wetlands Information System * California Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch * California Wildlife Conservation Board * California Wildlife Programs Branch * California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) * California Workers Compensation Appeals Board * California Workforce and Labor Development Agency * California Workforce Investment Board * California Youth Authority (CYA) * Central Valley Flood Protection Board * Center for California Studies * Colorado River Board of California * Counting California * Dental Board of California * Health Insurance Plan of California (PacAdvantage) * Humboldt State University * Jobs with the State of California * Judicial Council of California * Learn California * Library of California * Lieutenant Governors Commission for One California * Little Hoover Commission (on California State Government Organization and Economy) * Medical Board of California * Medi-Cal * Osteopathic Medical Board of California * Physical Therapy Board of California * Regents of the University of California * San Diego State University * San Francisco State University * San Jose State University * Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy * State Bar of California * Supreme Court of California * Teach California * University of California * University of California, Berkeley * University of California, Davis * University of California, Hastings College of the Law * University of California, Irvine * University of California, Los Angeles * University of California, Merced * University of California, Riverside * University of California, San Diego * University of California, San Francisco * University of California, Santa Barbara * University of California, Santa Cruz * Veterans Home of California

These agencies employ hundreds of thousands of workers, directly and indirectly via contract. ALL at taxpayer expense! And let’s not forget the (often lifetime) health benefits and pensions! We’re constantly told that services to children and the elderly will be cut if we don’t raise our already high taxes. Or we’re threatened with less police and fire protection if we don’t fork over more of our hard earned money.

Why can’t we start by removing some of the redundancies?

For example…

California Children and Families Commission
California Children and Family Services Division
California Consumers and Families Agency
California Healthy Families Program
California Access for Infants and Mothers

Couldn’t these 5 agencies be consolidated, streamlined and millions/billions of taxpayer dollars saved?

Or perhaps these:

California Department of Health Care Services
California Department of Managed Health Care
California Department of Mental Health
California Department of Public Health
California Health and Human Services Agency
California Health and Safety Agency
California Office of Binational Border Health
California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
California Primary Care and Family Health
California Rural Health Policy Council

Not to mention the agencies that have been created to deal with your health on the job:

California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA)
California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board
California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board
California Board of Occupational Therapy

Who knew that the State was so concerned with your physical, mental, managed, public, Binational, rural, family, and occupational health? With this many agencies and bureaucracies involved, it’s a wonder that we can stay healthy at all!

Remember, this is just a listing for the State of California! this doesn’t even take into account all of the City, County, and Regional bureaucracies.

Now try to imagine the thousands of agencies, commissions, bureaus and departments ‘acting in your behalf’ at the federal level…

Is it any wonder that we’re untold trillions in debt?

What can we do about it?

Demand accountability and reform from your elected officials and candidates for public office. Hold their feet to the fire. Make them understand that unless they change the way the system works, they will not be part of that system.

You have the power of the pen, the power of your voice, the power of your vote.

USE IT!

August 30th, 2011 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | no comments

Beer and Chocolate

On Sunday July, 11th My good friend Stephen (from New Brew Thursday) and I were fortunate enough to attend a limited seating “Beer and Chocolate” presentation at the Stone Brewing World Gardens and Bistro.

“Dr.” Bill Sysak, Beverage Manager for the Bistro (and host of Master Pairings) and Will Gustwiller, the proprietor/creator/alchemist from Eclipse Chocolat put together an amazing array of pairings. Will’s truffles are probably the most unique and interesting truffles I have ever had. He finds ways to blend flavors you would never expect together into incredibly delicious creations.

Dr Bill spent countless hours with Will going over the specific truffles and the ways to pair beer with them. Some of the pairings were very fluid and complementary, while others were designed to bring out specific flavors in the beer or the chocolate.

I know the photo is a tad fuzzy, so the pairings were as follows:

Tarragon Goat Cheese Truffle paired w/ Stone OAKED Arrogant Bastard
Sweet Potato Spice Truffle w/ Brasserie d’Orval Orval
Roasted Banana Bourbon Smoked Salt Truffle w/ Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Ur-bock
Vanilla Bean Sassafras Truffle w/ De Ranke Noir de Dottgnies
Balsamic Pink Peppercorn Truffle w/ Struisse Pannepot
Lemon Ginger Truffle w/ Oud Beersel Framboise
Black Sesame Anise Truffle w/ AleSmith Decadence 2010

Needless to say, the pairings were magnificent and Will’s truffles were (and are) works of culinary art!

One of my favorite pairings of the evening was the Sweet Potato Spice truffle paired with Orval, as the sweetness of the chocolate and pumpkin pie/sweet potato spice were cut by the mild tartness of the Orval. Simply divine!

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Ur-bock paired with a Roasted Banana Bourbon Smoked Salt truffle. The melding of smoky beer and the bourbon smoke salted truffle was like a chocolate banana barbecue explosion on the palate! Absolutely fantastic!

I think my favorite truffle by itself was the Balsamic Pink Peppercorn truffle. On the surface, these things just don’t go together! But in reality, I can think of no other truffle that merged and integrated such diverse flavors into such a seamless taste experience!

I was so blown away by the pairings and the possibilities for pairing beer and chocolate that I look forward to putting together something like this for VCBW 2011!

Many thanks to Dr. Bill for putting this event together (and letting me participate) and to Will from Eclipse for sharing his incredible creations!

Cheers,

Andy the Beerman

July 26th, 2010 Posted by admin | Beer, Travel | 2 comments

Canadian Craft Brewers

Before I get to all of the exploits and adventures, I want to send out a special thanks to all of my good friends in the BC Craft Beer Scene. When I sent the email asking for beer donations for the trip, I expected a couple responses, not the flood that I actually received:

Driftwood came through with samples of all 4 of their wonderful beers; Driftwood Ale, Farmhand Ale, White Bark and Crooked Coast Amber, thanks Ian!

Rob & Oliver from Vancouver Island sent 2 of their Pod Packs, featuring Pipers, Hermanns, Spyhopper and Sea Dog.

Phillips dropped off 650ml bottles of their finest along with 6 packs of Slipstream and Hefeweisen. Thanks to Matt & Kurtis!

Steve, PJ and Andrew at Russell helped out with a mixed case of their Brewmaster series beers; IP’eh, Marzen, Wee Angry, and Black Death Porter, and threw in some Cream Ale for good measure.

R&B was kind enough to bottle up several of their fine offerings, including Raven Cream Ale, Sun God Wheat, Hoppelganger IPA and the infamous Iceholes Celebration Lager. Thanks, Alli!

Vern at Granville Island kicked in with 2 of his special releases, GIBitter and his wonderful Ginger Beer.

Leslie @ Howe Sound even came to meet me at the Granville Island taproom to drop of samples, that’s dedication! She brought Total Eclipse of the Hop, King Heffy, Pothole Filler, 3 Beavers and Devil’s Elbow IPA.

There was so much great beer that we didn’t get to sample all of it during my trip. What was sampled and shared was incredibly well received, even by the jaded SoCal beer snobs! We featured several of the beers in an episode of New Brew Thursday, a terrific craft beer advocacy podcast. Numerous beers were tasted with Dr. Bill, beverage manager of Stone Brewing and host of Master Pairings, and several we left behind at Churchill’s Pub & Grille for folks that want to drop by and experience BC Craft beer after the New Brew Thursday episode airs in the next week or 2.

As we delve further into the road trip, I’ll share detailed impressions of the beers from various sources, but I’ll tease a bit and let you know that they were all really well liked.

Well, today is a brew day for me. It’s been over a month and I’m itching to brew. I’ll post more in the coming days.

Cheers,

Andy The Beerman

July 22nd, 2010 Posted by admin | Beer, Travel | no comments

Hey Canada…I’m Baaaack!

The California Adventure is complete. So much amazing stuff to tell you about; Stone Brewing’s Sour Fest 2010, brewery tastings and tours, brewer interviews and just so much more!

Here are a few teaser pics…

So many awesome people to tell you about, too!

Check back later for updates!

Andy The Beerman

July 21st, 2010 Posted by admin | Beer, Travel | no comments

BC Brewers Rule!

I am going to be doing some serious beer traveling during July. Stone Brewing Sour Fest 2010, Churchills Sour Party, Oregon Brewers Festival…whew!

While I am in lovely California, I have been invited to shoot some footage with my good friends New Brew Thursday. I hope to enlighten the folks in the US to some of the great beer being brewed here in British Columbia.

I recently sent an email to many of the local breweries requesting beer samples to help lessen the financial impact. The brewers have responded in a big way!

At current count, I have been sent 40 large format (650ml, 750ml and 1 liter) bottles, two cases (24) of 335ml bottles and 2 20 liter kegs!

Un-freaking-believable!

Canadians have a reputation for being incredibly nice and friendly. Can’t argue with that!

Now if I can just get someone to donate the shipping…

You guys rock!

Cheers,

Andy The Beerman

June 28th, 2010 Posted by admin | Beer, Travel | 3 comments

Court Rules in Favor of Central City Brewing

As many of you know, there has been recent legal action between Bear Republic Brewing of Healdsburg, CA and Central City Brewing of Surrey, BC.

In a nutshell, Bear Republic filed suit against Central City over possible copyright infringement regarding the use of the “Red Racer” branding for Central City’s canned beer. Bear Republic felt that Central City’s branding infringed on or was purposely designed to confuse people in regard to 2 Bear Republic beers/service marks; Red Rocket Ale and Racer 5 IPA.

The court ruled that although  “RACER 5 is a strong mark deserving of broad protection, and the RED ROCKET is a weak mark deserving of only limited protection“, “Bear Republic has failed to show a likelihood of success in establishing that Central City’s RED RACER mark infringes the RACER 5 or RED ROCKET marks.”

And “the way in which a typical consumer would encounter the products in the marketplace does not support a finding of likelihood of confusion.”

Bottom line, the court denied Bear Republic’s motion for an injunction against Central City.

“Bear Republic has not shown a likelihood of succeeding on the merits in establishing its infringement claims”

As a regular consumer of craft beer, I always felt that there was little merit to the Bear Republic claim. I’ve drank plenty of both brewery’s beer and have never been confused about the two in any way, shape or form. In reading the decision my favorite part is as follows:

“While it is true that beer purchasers are not likely to exercise a high degree of care in purchasing a relatively inexpensive item like beer, it seems likely that drinkers of craft-brewed beer may be generally more discerning drinkers than average beer drinkers, and they would be likely to remember correctly or recognize at least one of the several distinguishing elements between RACER 5 and RED RACER.”

In essence, the judge says that craft beer drinkers are smarter than the average beer drinker! (Leaving out that apparently Bear Republic thinks craft beer drinkers are too stupid to tell the difference between the 2 brands)

I always knew we craft beer drinkers were smarter and more discerning, but now we have a judge’s decision to back it up!

The full court decision can be found here: http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=infdco20100607741

Cheers,

Andy The Beerman

June 10th, 2010 Posted by admin | Beer | one comment

Bureaucrats must be stopped!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had just about enough of faceless government functionaries having WAAAAAY too much influence over our lives.

News is filtering down that the European Union aka EU is trying to influence the way North Americans drink.

April 30th, 2010 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | one comment

I am a Canadian Craft Brewer

This is Awesome!

Fast Tube by Casper

Vancouver Craft Beer Week is a celebration taking place throughout metropolitan Vancouver from May 10 16, 2010. It aims to inspire a broader interest in all aspects of beer in order to cultivate a flourishing craft beer culture in the region. This video is in honor of the tireless efforts of craft brewers from British Columbia, as well as the rest of Canada.

Visit the webpage for event updates and tickets for select events; http://vancouvercraftbeerweek.com/

Follow VCBW on Twitter; http://twitter.com/VCBW

April 21st, 2010 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | one comment

BC Beer Awards

For Immediate Release ——

The Vancouver Craft Beer Week organizing committee is proud to announce the first ever BC Beer Awards by Brewery Creek. On Monday, March 22nd, an expert judging panel will review over 150 beers from all across British Columbia at the Alibi Room, Vancouver’s premier tap house. Judging for the event is NOT open to the general public. Media are invited to join judges and volunteers at 9:00am to witness the judging process, as well as learn about the intricacies of craft beer and to find out more about the upcoming Vancouver Craft Beer Week.

The only blind judged beer competition in British Columbia, the BC Beer Awards judging panel boasts such beer experts as:

• Don Tse – A BJCP Certified beer judge, freelance beer writer and consultant, Don has been writing professionally about beer for seven years. His articles have appeared in beer publications such as All About Beer, Ale Street News and Beers of the World.

• Abram Goldman-Armstrong – A beer writer in Portland, Oregon, Abram has been a BJCP National Rank Judge since the age of 21, judging at competitions such as the Great American Beer Festival, the Okanagan Fest-of-Ales, and Portland’s Spring Beer and Wine Fest. He co-organizes the North American Organic Brewers Festival, the world’s largest organic beer festival.

• Megan Flynn – The publisher of Beer Northwest, a quarterly magazine covering beer, food, and lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest, Megan travels North America in search of the best beer and beer personalities, continuing to develop her pallet into one of the most diverse on the continent.

• James Nevison – Columnist for The Province newspaper, where his “Wine Guy” column appears weekly each Thursday. He is the co-author of five bestselling wine books, the latest is Had a Glass: Top 100 Wines for 2010 under $20, $25, and $30. Recently James was named a “Top 40 Foodie Under 40” by Western Living magazine.

Winners will be announced at the BC Beer Awards by Brewery Creek award show on Friday, May 14th, one of Vancouver Craft Beer Week’s signature events. For further information please contact:

Vancouver Craft Beer Week

Marketing Director

Christopher Bjerrisgaard

604.813.1210

chris@vancouvercraftbeerweek.com

http://vancouvercraftbeerweek.com

http://twitter.com/vcbw

Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Location: Alibi Room

157 Alexander Street

Vancouver, BC V6A 1B8

Cheers,

Andy the Beerman

March 16th, 2010 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | no comments

Vancouver Craft Beer Week

If you haven’t heard, Vancouver is hosting Canada’s FIRST EVER craft beer week, May 10-16 2010!

You can follow VCBW on Facebook or Twitter for updates on events.

Vancouver Craft Beer Week will be a celebration of all things craft beer, featuring brewmaster’s dinners, pub crawls, brewery tours and tastings, a homebrew competition, a Women in Beer event, The 1st Annual BC beer Awards and a slew of other great events.

Brewmaster dinners will include local luminaries like R & B Brewing, Russell Brewing, Storm Brewing and more. In addition, there will be dinners/pairings hosted by some of the best brewers from the US including Green Flash and Deschutes. Restaurant’s slated to participate include some of Vancouver’s best and most cutting edge fine dining establishments like Salt, Refuel, The Irish Heather, Habit, Cascade, R.T.L, Jake’s Steakhouse and more!

The BC Beer Awards will feature over 150 entries from ALL of British Columbia!

The Vancouver Homebrewer Awards and cometition will feature some of the best and brightest local homebrewers. The Best of Show brewer will be given the opportunity to brew a batch of their award winning beer at either The Mark James Group’s Yaletown Brewpub or Dix BBQ!

The pub crawl will cover some great local breweries and brewpubs on a walking tour and then shuttle across the water to Granville Island to enjoy even more great locally brewed beer!

More events will be added in the coming weeks, so check back often, and be sure to follow VCBW on Facebook and Twitter

Save the Dates: May 10-16 2010!

Be a part of Canadian Craft Beer history

Cheers,

Andy The Beerman

March 15th, 2010 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | no comments