SOB's "Homebrew Event For Charity" A Success!

Given the fact that we were not able to serve our homebrew at this event, relying on commercial beers to make up this loss, it looks like we are going to be able to donate close to $2,000 to the Mid-Morning Kiwanis group's Children's Education Funds. We would like to thank all those who donated items for the silent auction as well as are media friends, attendees and all the volunteers who made this happen. In the coming months, we will meet to discuss the possibility of holding this event next year. We are attempting the petition the state to allow us to serve homebrew samples and will have more information on how you can help change this ridiculous statute. The federal government allows this, but not the state of Wisconsin. Stay tuned for more information on our quest this antiquated law.

Proposed Increase of Federal Excise Tax a Serious Threat to Small Brewers and Your Beer Choice – Contact Your Senators Now!

Small brewers are facing an imminent and extremely serious threat to their businesses. The consequences of remaining silent have the very real potential of reducing your choice of beer and dramatically increasing the price of any beer that you purchase.

The Senate Finance Committee in Washington, DC is currently considering a proposal to increase and equalize the excise tax for alcohol beverages as part of healthcare reform deliberations. This proposal would triple the excise tax for 4.5% ABV beer and impose even higher excise tax rates for higher ABV beers.

If such a proposal becomes reality, there is no question that many small brewery businesses will suffer, some will close and consumers will face higher prices and diminished choice in the marketplace.

The Brewers Association brewery members and leadership have been actively engaged in building the case against an excise tax increase, recently submitting a letter to the Committee outlining our opposition.

We need you to speak out now. Today or tomorrow at the latest.

If you live in the following states it is most urgent that you contact your Senator who is on the Senate Finance Committee:

Senate Finance Committee Members:
Baucus, Max (MT), Chairman
Bingaman, Jeff (NM)
Bunning, Jim (KY)
Cantwell, Maria (WA)
Carper, Thomas R. (DE)
Conrad, Kent (ND)
Cornyn, John (TX)
Crapo, Mike (ID)
Ensign, John (NV)
Enzi, Michael B. (WY)
Grassley, Chuck (IA)
Ranking Member Hatch, Orrin G. (UT)
Kerry, John F. (MA)
Kyl, Jon (AZ)
Lincoln, Blanche L. (AR)
Menendez, Robert (NJ)
Nelson, Bill (FL)
Roberts, Pat (KS)
Rockefeller, John D. (WV)
Schumer, Charles E. (NY)
Snowe, Olympia J. (ME)
Stabenow, Debbie (MI)
Wyden, Ron (OR)

ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO SMALL BREWERS EXCISE TAXES

Small brewers are small Main street businesses, typically employing 10 to 50 employees.

* Small brewers represent only 4% of the entire U.S. beer market by volume, with 95% of them being very small businesses (producing 15,000 barrels or less per year).

We strongly oppose proposals to increase the excise tax on beer.

* Proposals to increase and equalize the tax among all types of alcohol will tax small brewers at the highest rates because our specialty, gourmet and innovative beers typically have higher alcohol contents.

* Brewers already pay a disproportionately higher share of taxes compared with other products – federal, state and local taxes represent over 40% of the retail price for beer while the same taxes equal nearly 24% of the price for all other purchases.

Higher taxes will worsen the economic recession – resulting in less competitive products, reduced sales and revenues, lost jobs and, for some small brewers, business closures.

* $1 per case excise tax increase will typically cost the consumer at least $1.69 due to successive mark-ups as the case moves from brewer to wholesaler to retailer.

* Many small brewers are struggling to deal with the consequences of the 2008 spike in ingredient and operational costs.

SOBs win second place in the National AHA Big Brew You Tube Contest!

The SOBs produced a video showcasing their part in the AHA Big Brew Day, a nationally recognized Homebrew day, held on May 7th of this year, and for that, garnered second place! The video can be seen here.

Buy Someone a drink - Anywhere in the U.S.!

GiveReal.com allows people to buy real drinks for friends, family and colleagues anywhere in the country. From the GiveReal.com website, or through Facebook, friends can buy drink credits, which can be redeemed by using any major credit card at over 500,000 bars and restaurants.

Utah Tears Down "Zion Curtain"

Beginning July 1st bars in the state of Utah will no longer required to be a “private club” thanks to a new state liquor law signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman on March 30th. The new law eliminates the rule where customers are required to fill out an application and pay a fee before being allowed into a bar. It also allows restaurants to remove the partitions, commonly called the “Zion Curtain”, that separate the bartenders from the customers within restaurants allowing them to directly serve patrons over the bar counters. These changes have been the most radical changes made in 40 years. The changes are being made for efforts to increase the state’s tourism industry which is currently $6 billion per year.

Schlitz Beer Announces "Schlitz Guys"

Oshkosh, WI-- In a different approach to market the release of their original Schlitz Beer recipe the brewery has created the "Schlitz Guys"-- a team of 45+ "average joes" that will be traveling throughout Wisconsin for promotional stops at various waterholes and taverns.

Former Deputy Sheriff, OFFL team owner and MOGHOS golfer Joe Friday is excited to be part of the "Schlitz Guys" team, even though it's not what he expected. "I was told there'd be chicks on these stops, but so far it's just a bunch of old guys," said Friday. "But hey-- the beer's cold and as long you don't mind the old farts pawing at you most of the night it's okay-- I just didn't see that coming."

At each promotional stop Friday and company will sit on a bar stool, drink Schlitz and be available for autographs, words of wisdom and flatulence-release contests. The "Schlitz Guys" tour will continue for at least another week with schedule stops at Omro, Larson and perhaps Pickett.

Having trouble finding the hops you need?

Hops have become hard to find and expensive. If you brew an IPA or other hop-dripping beer, you've probably spending more on hops than malt. What are your alternatives if you can't find the variety your recipe calls for? Check out this handy Hop Substitution Guide (source: Zymurgy magazine).

AHA Club-Only Competition Schedule

The SOBs are actively participating in the AHA Club-Only Competition series. The contests are held throughout the US and they vary from Big Beers to Meads. The competition schedule is shown below, in our Competition Corner. More information is available at beertown.org.Proposed Increase of Federal Excise Tax a Serious Threat to Small Brewers and Your Beer Choice –