2beerguys beer blog

Help get craft beer recognized by the Whitehouse

In an attempt to recover from his strange comments about the Gates/Crowley issue, President Obama invited both Professor Gates and Officer Crowley to the Whitehouse for a brewski. This was an attempt to put a “cap” on the issue. To seal the bottle one and forever. To put the last bottle in the case — OK enough stupid puns.

So a beer date was made. What would Obama/Crowley/Gates pick? Gates and Crowley live in the Boston Area. Maybe a Harpoon IPA or a Sam Adams Boston Lager. Maybe they would go very local and choose a beer from one of the smaller craft breweries — who knows, Right? Maybe they would choose something made in America?

Well, we know what happened (because this soiree took place last week).

Last week President Obama select a Bud light (made by Belgian/Brazilian owner Anheuser-Busch InBev). Professor Gates preferred a Red Stripe Lager (the Jamaican lager created by Diego – makers of Guinness). Sergeant Crowley has selected Blue Moon, a Belgian-style wheat beer, produced by MillerCoors.

Craft breweries around the country have posted their opinions. Here’s what Magic Hat had to say:

Craft Brewers the country over are chagrined by the President’s choice to consume a beer owned by a company based outside of America’s borders. Bud Light, owned by Belgium-based AB InBev, and Blue Moon, owned by London-based SAB MillerCoors, together control 94% of the beer market in the United States. However, the United States boasts over 1,500 craft brewers, the majority being made up of small Main Street Businesses that employ less than 50 people. In the humble opinions of Magic Hat and American Craft Brewers, it would be a strong show of support for American businesses for President Obama to embrace the free and diverse expression that comes with each American-made craft beer.

Magic Hat Brewing Company urges its thirsty nation to contact the White House directly to ask President Obama to drink American Craft Beer, perhaps one of Magic Hat’s wide array distinctive beers, like the not quite pale ale, #9, the Irresistible Pale Ale, Lucky Kat or the unfiltered and unfettered Circus Boy.

Besides contacting the White house directly, what else can you do?

Contact Your Congressional Representative and ask him or her to join the House Small Brewers Caucus.

What is the House Small Brewers Caucus?

The U.S. House of Representatives Small Brewers Caucus was formed in 2007 by interested Members of Congress. Their mission is to gain a better understanding of all aspects of small, amateur and professional craft brewing, from business and regulatory issues to the brewing process and history of the small brewing community. The members of the Caucus are passionate about small brewers and craft beer. Co-chairs Representative Peter DeFazio (OR) and Representative Denny Rehberg (MT) have themselves been homebrewers and are avid beer enthusiasts.

Currently, only 49 Representatives belong to the Caucus. To put that in some perspective, 344 Congressional districts are home to at least one small brewery and we assume every one of the 435 districts is home to homebrewers and beer enthusiasts.

You can help by asking your U.S. Representative to join the Caucus. Help assure that you have the strongest voice possible speaking on your beer behalf in Congress. For additional information and a list of members, click here.

It’s in your hands now.

Sean
2Beerguys.com

Here are some stories floating about in the internet that summarize this historic event.