Here in New England we just survived an early April ice/snowstorm and an earthquake. By the time you read this, a solar eclipse will also have happened.
Add in a record amount of cicadas predicted to hit the East Coast in a month or two, and you might well think it’s the End Times.
But we beer aficionados like to look on the bright side of things, so today let’s look at some good news from the Brewers Association.
First up is the 27th annual Big Brew Day on May 4. This yearly event is an opportunity to celebrate homebrewing.
The Brewers Association provides plenty of resources to get you involved in the art of homebrewing, including recipes, supplies, tutorials and marketing materials.
The Brewers Association also just announced that its latest group of aspiring brewers and start-ups in its Mentorship Program matches the largest number ever to date: 35. The program has served 200 members thus far in its history. The program provides a 12-week virtual mentorship where each mentee works with three mentors in their areas of interest.
Last but not least, the BA is supporting H.R. 7577, the Creating Hospitality Economic Enhancement for Restaurants and Servers [CHEERS] Act) a bipartisan piece of legislation to support local businesses, restaurants, and bars that utilize draft beer systems and help revitalize the hospitality industry.
The CHEERS Act looks to expand tax incentives for energy-efficient systems that would include keg and tap systems. Draft beer is the most sustainable type of packaging for retailers and suppliers, and the legislation would provide tax relief to small businesses that use them.
Beer notes:
In local news, the Manhan Charitable Foundation’s Brewfest will take place at 6 p.m. in the Boylston Room at Easthampton’s Keystone Mill on April 25. The event will feature beers from local breweries such as Abandoned Building, Bright Ideas, Fort Hill, New City Brewery, Leadfoot Brewing, and Progression.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door through Venmo @MCF1876. The Manhan Charitable Foundation is run by current and former Easthampton Firefighters. Keystone Mill is at 122 Pleasant St.
Speaking of Easthampton, my ongoing search for good old-school West Coast IPAs was rewarded by a recent visit to New City Brewery, where I enjoyed the venue’s Signature IPA, a 6.5% gem that hit all the marks. I also sampled the delicious Microburst Imperial IPA, an 8.2% double IPA that was perfectly balanced between malt structure and hoppy complexity, with no hint of the elevated booziness in the flavor. Both are recommended.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Leave a Reply