Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs bill designed to help New York’s small breweries

"West End Brewery"? Matt still uses that older name on occasion? Didn't know that. They changed the brewing company name from West End to F. X. Matt back around 1980 IIRC.

 

Oh, OK. The wording in the OP made it sound as if Matt themselves were going "retro" (altho' I guess the current labels for Utica Club still use "West End Brewing Co." as a d/b/a)?.

When I lived in NYS in the late '70's and again in the mid-80's, the brewery was usually just referred to as "Utica Club" but I didn't live in Utica. In that era, their Matt's Premium was becoming their flagship brand (was very common to find all over on tap, in clear 12 oz t/a's, brown 12 oz. deposit bottles but especially in 7 oz. clear long neck deposit bottles that some bars even used as salt & pepper shakes). And I always assumed that emphasis on Matt Premium was part of the reason for a name change, as was their expanding distribution area. That was before the Saranac line, of course.

I'd imagine most BA's wouldn't know the old name since it's 30+ years retired, and a "Places" search for "West End" turns up a brewery in Adelaide, Australia and retailers in CO, NC and PA .

 

"In that era, their Matt's Premium was becoming their flagship brand (was very common to find all over on tap, in clear 12 oz t/a's, brown 12 oz. deposit bottles but especially in 7 oz. clear long neck deposit bottles that some bars even used as salt & pepper shakes)."

When I started college in Albany in 1987, we used to get Beer Balls of Matt's all the time. Local, fresh and (most importantly to college students), cheap!

 

Haha Matt's beer balls, and a dancing bear, memories that go together and explain their own haziness.

As far as the OP, though, great news for all who are connected in any way to the craft beer revolution underway in New York State. Even the provision for the farm brewery license. Nice!!!

Guess Shelton will have to figure another way to steer $$$ out of the pockets of fine beer makers and lovers.

 

More like brewers everywhere should be thanking Shelton Bros. in a big way.

Just goes to show you that even in NY, the government can get something done if there is enough of an uproar.

 

Got it backwards cavedave. Without Shelton it wouldn't have happened. As Uncle Jimbo says, you folks in NY should be thanking Shelton.

 

i remember buying Matts beer balls for $11.91 at Wegmans during my college days. they would ink 10/91 on the side of the ball to indicate October 1991. then we would raise hell when it rung up for anything other than $10.91.
that lasted for a short while. maybe 4 beer balls if i recall.
discouned cheap beer is by far the best beer.

we were the king's of Ithaca i tell you!

 

Yeah the law of unintended consequences swings in both directions, you are right about farm brewery desig. not happening otherwise.

As far as brewers everywhere, etc., I don't know if I will notice a difference here in that regard from before Shelton brought suit. What specifically need I be thanking Shelton for along those lines?

Guess I'll go out and buy a bottle of one of my favorite beers, Cantillon Gueuze, and celebrate. Oh, wait.