Sam Calagione's dominant media presence...

Hey, I'm back from vacation (a little bit more on that soon...but not a lot) and one of the first things I came across* was that Sam Calagione did a Skype interview on MSNBC during Irene's run at the east coast; apparently they sent the employees home, but millions of yeasts' lives 'hung in the balance...' Classic Sam. If I had a link, I'd post it.

Then I got to thinking...in a state full of corporate headquarters, financial companies, and huge chemical and pharmaceutical corporations, MSNBC interviewed Sam Calagione, head of a still relatively small brewery. Why? I'd like to float a proposition: I believe Sam Calagione is the dominant media personality from the state of Delaware -- excepting Joe Biden, who's kind of transcended the state since attaining the vice-presidency -- as evidenced by his status as one of the top unofficial spokespeople for the craft beer industry, a great media interview, and his grinning good looks. Any serious argument on that? And does anyone think that's not good for craft beer in general? I sure as hell think it's a great thing!



*Thanks to regular reader (and designer of the Session Beer Project logo) Steven Herberger!

Down the other leg of the Trousers of Time

Picked this up from Uncle Jack's site,and it's everything he says it is and a bag of crisps. A goofy, cheap-video look at what happened around here in 1996: Dogfish Head, Iron Hill, Flying Fish, Yards, and Victory opened, and pressed on when other places didn't (Independence, Red Bell, Brandywine, Valley Forge, etc.). But don't for a moment think it's serious; it's not. It's goofy and fun and effin' brilliant. Fire it up, have a laugh, and be glad these guys didn't give up.

Now that's an Inauguration Day Special Event

I'm hearing a lot about Inauguration Day beer events: Ommegang has a special Obamagang beer out (which the TTTB, those killjoys, did not allow as a name: "officially" it's Inauguration Ale, but now you know the secret name), bars in DC will be open till 5 AM, everyone's celebrating.

The Grey Lodge is celebrating too, as only they do: based on Scoats's weird obsession with the calendar. On Inauguration Day, January 20th (also known as 1/20), they'll be tapping a deadly weapon: a sixtel of Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA.

This is the kind of beer that makes you start quoting Dirty Harry: "I know what you're thinking, punk. Did you drink six shots of 120 Minute, or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement. But being as this is 120 Minute, the most powerful IIPA in the world and will blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question: do I feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?"

Kind of makes me want to go out and vote for the man all over again. After a couple 120s, who knows, I might try to.

And if my editors are reading this...I really am getting work done this morning. Honest.

Mike Gerhart Leaves Dogfish Head

Heard from a reader (okay, Dan Bengel, who I'm not sure can actually read...) that Mike Gerhart had left his position as Distillery Manager at Dogfish Head. I checked the Dogfish website and found an ad for the position, so I called the brewery to confirm. Sure enough, Sam Calagione's wife Mariah confirmed that Mike had parted on good terms, citing a desire to work closer to family in upstate NY and Vermont. Best of luck to him; microdistilling is popping in both states, and Mike is certainly a skilled distiller.