Beer News

Brews Labeled “Organic” to Require Organic Hops

Believe it or not, some brews labeled “organic” don’t actually use completely organic ingredients—specifically, hops. That will no longer be legal starting in 2013, thanks to a campaign by the American Organic Hop Growers Association, a coalition of growers primarily in the American Northwest.

This all started when a 2007 ruling by the USDA National Organic Standards Board declared that if a product—in this case, organic hops—was too difficult to acquire and constituted less than 5 percent of a product’s overall weight (excluding water), the required organic certification of the ingredient could be waived, allowing the product to still be labeled with the USDA’s “Certified Organic” seal.

Hops, along with another 41 ingredients, made it on to the “National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances”—essentially a list of ingredients that don’t necessarily have to be organic to constitute an “organic” product.

However, organic hop production has substantially increased in the US since 2007. After multiple petitions and addendums since December 2009, the AOHGA’s efforts finally garnered a ruling on October 28 from the USDA NOSB, unanimously voting in favor of the removal of hops from the National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances, effective January 1, 2013.

The AOHGA’s website declares, “We see the NOSB’s decision as a win-win-win for organic consumers, organic brewers and organic hop growers. We believe it will lead to a healthy and well-functioning marketplace for organic hops and foster additional growth in the organic beer industry.”

Odin’s Smoky Bacon Ale Sizzles in Seattle

People the world over claim bacon makes everything better, and Seattle’s Odin Brewing Company aims to stay true to that consensus with their latest offering: Smoky Bacon Ale.

While Odin doesn’t claim to be the very first to use bacon in the brewing process, Dan Lee, managing member of Odin, tells BA via email about how they came up with their own take on the concept: “The original idea came from a smoked Porter that we produced in our first month of opening, which sold reasonably well, but the smokiness was a little difficult for many to deal with. So… we initially considered making that beer less smoky. After some thought, however, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t the beer itself that was the issue—it was the consumer’s expectation. At that point, we looked around for ways to communicate smoky flavor without turning people off. From there, landing at bacon was a pretty short trip.”

Lee explains that the bacon is added to the brew kettle after it’s cooked to the point of being crisp (but not burnt), so the fat doesn’t affect the mouthfeel or head retention.

According to Lee, “General feedback so far has been way better than expected.” Their first 15-barrel batch sold out in one week, and they’re working industriously to get more on shelves.

Beer Bikes Ruled “Dangerous Nuisance”; Banned from German Roads

If you’re taking a trip to Germany to ride on their famous beer bikes [as previously reported in BA, July 2009], you may need to come up with a new game plan. German courts are cracking down hard on the bikes, citing concerns of safety and public disorder.

A Düsseldorf court ruled on October 6 that any beer bike establishment wishing to operate in Germany must obtain special permission, which it seems they would be unlikely to get. The ruling follows a steady stream of complaints that run the gamut, from overly rowdy bachelor parties to traffic jams.

Beer bike operators are fighting this ruling, appealing to a higher court. They’re reminding the public that numerous jobs would be lost, and that they take extensive precautions, which include scheduled restroom breaks and sober drivers. The bikes are an unquestionable commercial success as well—there have been over 150,000 bike parties in the last year.

Even if the ruling holds, founder of beerbike.co.uk Ard Karsten insists there is still a future for the Beer bike. Karsten tells BA via email that there are plans in the works to bring their karaoke-equipped Beer Bikes to America.

Lost Abbey Witches Wit Label Conjures Controversy

The Lost Abbey, a division of Port Brewing Company in San Marcos, Calif., have found themselves in a bubbly cauldron of controversy over the picture on their label of Witch’s Wit, a Belgian-style Wheat Ale.

The label, which depicts a young 16th-century woman (presumably the titular witch) being burned at the stake, has drawn objection from the Wiccan community over its choice in imagery.

Vicki Noble, a popular figurehead in the Wiccan world, was angered when she saw the brew at a local store and urged her fans to start a campaign against The Lost Abbey. In her email rally, she notes, “Such images are simply not tolerated in our society anymore (thank the Goddess) and this one should not be, either.”

Tomme Arthur, one of Lost Abbey’s owners, stated in Lost Abbey’s blog that he understands why they are upset, but the image (which has been on the brew since 2008) was intended to convey part of a larger story.

Lost Abbey has not committed to making any changes to the label just yet, but they have agreed to discuss it at an upcoming owners’ meeting. In the meantime, Arthur notes, “We remain committed to the art of storytelling and using beer as our medium and hope to keep delivering more amazing beers and stories for years to come.” ■