"America's New Beer Test"

Really inspiring. It's good to see craft get some recognition. Even though beer is just beer to some folks. Hopefully we can keep craft growing, or at least improving. Putting craft in the lime light more and more should help.

 

Let's attack this at its most reductive: politicians wants votes. However, it's interesting to note that campaign trails have led candidates to craft breweries, eschewing the usual dive bar visit to down a Bud Light with Joe the Plumber.

From The Atlantic today: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/craft-beer-in-mainstream-politics/481098/

 

I'm waiting for a candidate to propose free beer for seniors.

 

Serious analysis notwithstanding I thought this article was ripe for a meme-generator machine. Bernie drinks Heady? Someone get on it already!

 

Politicians making it (& themselves) look lame is the way to bet. Anything else would be surprising. ; )

 

First thing I thought when I saw the pic in the article was "Wow, that's quite a bit of foam!" Then there was the inevitable social media backlash mentioned in the text. No beer-related detail, no matter how tiny, escapes us...

If I owned a brewery and received an announcement that a candidate was planning a stop, I'm not sure how I'd feel. Back in 2004 GW Bush stopped at a famous local Italian deli/bistro and some regulars vowed to never come back. Seems dumb, but as a business owner I'd probably try to say no to safeguard an image of political neutrality regardless of my principles. Mixing your small business up with political posturing can be a gamble considering how polarized and frothing at the mouth everyone on both sides seems to be these days. But can you really tell the president or possible president to be "no, don't curse my business with your presence?" If you say no they'll probably just stop anyway and force out some pics for the media like Paul Ryan's 'I'm just casually washing dishes at a church' stunt back in 2012. On a more personal note, I wouldn't want ANY of these people, D or R, anywhere near me.

 

Other than the unpleasant giant photo of HRC that immediately greets me when I clicked the link to read the article, this is an excellent read.

Eric

 

I believe Bernie Sanders already has

 

Enjoying beer is a brilliant departure from reality. No chance do I want the serenity of my beer world to collide with the insanity, hopelessness, general treachery and deceit filled world of politics, politicians or the state of governance. Unless of course we can circumvent that whole "must be born here" thing so I can write in as president either Bruce Dickinson or King Diamond.

 

Good read!

 

Is that high school or college!

 

I qualify in several categories.

 

Interesting read. But whatever you do. Do not wade into the comments.

 

The American craft beer movement is truly a common bond that seems to unite people from all sides of the political spectrum. It's certainly not pigeon-holed into 1 political ideology or type of people. So many parts of the craft beer movement may seem to have alot of left slanting ideals, but then you throw in the libertarian mix of de-regulation of the beer industry and "let me do my own thing" business and beer making ideals that mix it up into a nice happy place for all to enjoy!

 

Thanks for the warning, but I touched the hot stove anyway. I waded in, and 5 minutes of my life are now gone and can't be retrieved.

 

Teetotalers are annoying twats.

 

Craft breweries are just like any other small business, innovating to compete on the regional or national market. It's a whole new booming business almost everywhere you go now in the country. With it's rising popularity it is almost essential to getting a small portion of the local beer supporters' vote. Maybe some of them just like the beer too.

 

It seems to be no different than the political scene in the town neighboring my home - if you want to know what's going on in politics, you need to be at a local, independently owned doughnut/coffee shop very early in the morning. Anyone running for office in the town knows their campaign MUST include this spot. To maintain some measure of goodwill after being elected, you have to be there at least once a week. If you want to get something done, you better be there more frequently. Sure - the doughnuts are great, but the politicians and wannabees are there because the local people go there and that is where they can tie into the voters and potentially wield some influence. The place truly collects a tremendous cross section of voters, many with loud voices in the community - I can see the local brewery doing the same. I doubt the politicos give a rat's behind about the doughnuts or the beer.

 

If we're being cynical (and, likely, accurate), politicians go anywhere -- craft breweries, bakeries, local football games -- to get more voters. However, it was interesting to dig into the strategy behind why craft breweries are the newest campaign trail addition. It makes sense on a ton of levels. You've got a manufacturing industry that's actually growing; You've got the opportunity to champion small independent business; And the beer demographics in craft are so wide.

And, post-recession, cities that are growing and/or thriving typically have a craft brewery.