Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster - Sun Tzu

And the beat goes on...

The situation with Cigar City and the Tampa City Council has not changed since yesterday.  The call has been heard across the country and people are still talking about it.  But I want to urge caution.

In the past 24 hours I have heard claims of racism (the three members voting no were African-American, the three voting for were white), back-room shady dealings, and personal vendetta.  I am not saying any of these are or are not true, but no one has shown me any evidence to support these claims yet.  I would hate for one of these rumors to take hold only to find out it was baseless.  It is not only unfair, but it hurts our cause.

Here is how I see it:

• As long as Cigar City has followed the laws and complied with everything required of them, there is no good reason to deny them their request.
• If there are issues with crime that can be attributed to the operation of the Cigar City Tap Room, we need to know that.  And that means we need evidence of that.  Not hearsay and "what I am hearing on the street."
• If there are traffic or parking -related issues related to the operation of the Cigar City Tap Room, we need to know that, too.  And again, there needs to be data to support that claim.
• However, if there is something else at work here, it needs to be exposed.  It needs to be called out.  And it needs to be addressed in a public forum for all to see.

Maybe that is too simple and reasonable.  But it seems like the best way to go about running a city.

Another comment that was thrown around was "well, that's what happen when you have no beer culture..." Really?  No beer culture in Tampa Bay?  Then explain to me the success of places like Cigar City, Saint Somewhere, Dunedin Brewery, and the Tampa Bay Brewing Company.  Tell me how places like the Oldsmar Tap House, Peg's Cantina, Willard's, the Pour House, and Mr. Dunderbak's survive?  We may not be Portland or San Francisco or Asheville, but considering what the craft beer landscape in Florida looked like even three or four years ago, I would say we are doing pretty damn well.

No beer culture in Florida?  Tell that to Redlight, Redlight in Orlando.  Tell it to Swamp Head brewing in Gainseville.  Tell all the locations of World of Beer they don't know what they are doing.  Explain to the owners of the Independent and the Rex that there is no "beer culture" for them to cater to.

I could go on.

As I mentioned on Twitter earlier today, the notion that Florida has no "beer culture" is like saying there is no "culinary culture" in England.  The claim is antiquated and patently false.  There was also the assertion that a "craft beer leader" - who wished to remain anonymous - in Florida agreed with the claim.  I have been writing about craft beer for over a year, and have traveled quite a bit, met a lot of people from all over.  Apparently I have not met our "leader".

Frankly the idea of a "craft beer leader" is laughable to me.  Craft beer lovers - the writers, the homebrewers, the fans, and even just the drinkers - work together just fine without someone guiding us.  Independent-minded, and just as passionate about our beer as anyone from Colorado, California, or Oregon.

So don't tell me there is no beer culture in Florida.  And don't tell me our "leader" agrees with you.  If he or she does, they are no leader at all.

Hell Hath No Fury...

There is nothing like a good political debate to rekindle one's activist spirit, no?  In case you have been living underneath some kind of Prohibition-era rock for the last 24 hours, you have at least heard about the recent kerfuffle with Cigar City Brewing and the Tampa Bay City Council.  If not, there are plenty of places you can go to read up on it.

• My Creative Loafing article or my Hop Press Article
• Blog Post from Crazy Cat Lady Beer
• Mark Christopher's article on Examiner.com
• and of course Cigar City's own blog

The bottom line is three members of the Tampa City Council want to stop Cigar City from having a tasting room where people can buy locally produced craft beer, drink locally produced craft beer, or have craft beer events.  Never mind that it is a local business, owned and operated by local residents.  Never mind that they employ over twenty people locally.  Never mind that they attract visitor (and their money) to the Tampa Bay area, who then in turn spend their money on restaurants, hotels, and other activities.  One would think that in these difficult economic times, the idea of a local business thriving and succeeding would be encouraged, especially if said business is following all of the rules.

But apparently that is not enough for Tampa Council Members Gwen Miller, Thomas Scott, and Curtis Stokes.  Their claim is that "the neighborhood don't want it", with "it" being the wet-zoning and extended operating hours for serving beer or wine.  They have made very vague claims that alcohol-related crime is up, but when confronted with evidence to the contrary, they defended the allegations with "well, not everything gets reported."

Sorry, in my world that does not fly.  Which certainly makes some of us wonder what this is really about.  Are these three part of the insidious neo-prohibitionist movement that often rears its ugly head in times like these?  That would mean their argument was more of a "moral" one than one based on any kind of facts.  There is some grumbling that this is payback for the Council's long and well-documented battles with owner Joey Redner's father, Joe Redner.  Whatever the reasons, the bottom line is voting against making the zoning and hours permanent is tantamount to voting to kill jobs and keep dollars away from Tampa.  It is inexcusable and Miller, Scott, and Stokes ought to be held accountable.

One of the positive things to come out of this event, however, is how the craft beer community has rallied around Cigar City.  From Wayne Wamble's initial post on Facebook, the cry went out far and wide and craft beer lovers from all walks of life answered the call.  Letters, emails, and articles spread like wildfire.  A new Twitter hashtag was created (#SaveCCB), and a Facebook group was set up by DosBeerigos.  I have said before and I will say it again: Beer People R Good People.

May the Fourth be With You - What Would Yoda Drink?

In honor of “Star Wars Day” last week, I decided it was appropriate to bring back the “fictional characters that I would like to sit and enjoy a good beer with.”  Previously, on the 40^th Anniversary of Sesame Street, we looked at the cast of the beloved children's series and paired them up with what kind of beers to share.  I feel it is only appropriate to address the other major influence in my life with the same respect.

I will preface this by admitting, with great pride, that I am, always have been, and always will be a Star Wars geek.  I remember very distinctly going to see Star Wars with my father when it came out in 1977.  We went to see it in the old Century City movie theatres (this was long before the multiplex that came along when I was a teenager).  I remember riding the escalators up from the underground parking lot, sitting in front of the enormous screen, and watching the most incredible thing I had ever seen.  It fundamentally changed me and has remained to this day one of the most influential things in my life.  Of course, I am talking about the Holy Trinity – The Original Trilogy, not the subsequent prequels and the new Clone Wars, etc.

So, with my uber-geekiness laid out there on the table, let’s answer the question: What Would Yoda Drink?

Yoda – The serene, wise, and backwards talking muppet is the epitome of a true Master.  Never one to rush or hurry, he prefers to sip his craft beer and experience it and all of its nuances.  Barrel-aged and complex brews are his choice; Cigar City’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Hunahpu, Lost Abbey’s Angel’s Share, and Barley John’s The Dark Knight (Returns) are among his favorites.

Ben “Obi-wan” Kenobi – Usually, the “crazy old hermit” is a scotch drinker.  Single malt, almost exclusively.  But when he sits down for a pint, he asks for a bitter.  Why bitter?  Lets see, your best friend betrays you and then leads the movement to wipe out everything you have worked your entire life to preserve, you end up living in an adobe hut on a desert planet all alone, and then you have to look after your former friends whiny-ass son, only to have your old buddy show up and kill you.  Yeah, ol’ Ben has a right to be bitter.  Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam, Oakham Asylum, or some Fullers ESB will do.

“Princess” Leia Organa – The spitfire with cinnabon hair looks killer in a bronze bikini, but she’s no lightweight.  This girl likes to party and nothing better than a good hoppy IPA after a day of “diplomatic missions to Alderaan”.  She loves her Bear Republic Racer 5 and Rebellion Amarillo, but has a special place in her heart form Sun King Brewing’s The Princess Warrior.

Chewbacca – Normally Wookiees are not beer drinkers.  The foamy head gets in their fur and any spills turn the walking carpet into something more akin to a walking bar rag.  But after hours of being hounded by a nerf-herding smuggler (“THIS one goes here, THAT one goes there!”) a strong barley wine makes him less likely to pull anyone’s arms off.  Hair of the Dog Bourbon Doggie Claws From the Wood is his natural choice, but  Kuhnhenn Brown and Hairy Nut Porter will do in a pinch.

Han Solo – The man.  The myth.  The scoundrel.  Cool as winter on Hoth with the hottest ride this side of the mines of Kessel.  Han goes for anything rare and hard to get.  He had Tactical Nuclear Penguin before anyone else, and keeps a case of Pliny the Younger growlers in carbonite under that false floor in the Falcon.  He is at every release party and is usually the one responsible for the short supply.  He’ll share his Samuel Adams Millennium or his collection of 3 Fonteinen brews if he is feeling generous.  Word around Mos Eisley is that he hangs out with Ken Weaver.

Luke Skywalker – The “hero” of the films.  But damn this kid is whiny!  He’s used to blue milk with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, but has been seen shotgunning fizzy yellow water and doing keg stands with Biggs down in Tosche Station.  Maybe someday he will grow up and drink real beer, but his lineage is not great.

Darth Vader – The immediate thought is that the Dark Lord of the Sith should drink Imperial Stouts and the darkest things around, right?  Not so.  You see, Vader used to be Anakin Skywalker, remember?  Just as whiny and immature as his son turned out to be.  Doesn’t want to listen, thinks he’s better than everyone, and force-chokes people to death if they have the gall to challenge him.  He is an honorary board member at InBev.

There are others, of course... but we'll see who picks up the tab this time and who gets invited to the Ewok celebration.

Hey... Lets See If It Works...

I do love me some Sierra Nevada.

El Chupa-hop-ra Report

Racked to secondary tonight.  Gravity reading at 1.02.  Great aroma still and a good color.  Stole a taste and ooooooh this baby's gonna be good!

Bottling this weekend.

Brew #2: West Coast IPA - El Chupa-hop-ra?

Admittedly, my brewing schedule is way behind the planned brew-a-month pace.  However, we do what we can, right?  The latest foray was originally going to be a straight-up, American  Pale Ale.  Nothing over the top, just crisp and drinkable and most likely a session beer.

Oh well.

When I arrived at Southern Brewing and started talking to Ben Romano (a fine brewer in his own right), I found myself once again shifting to something little more hoppier.  And then more so.  And then before I could say lupulin, I had a recipe for a hopped-up West Coast IPA in my hands.  Ben convinced me to up the Magnum and Chinook hops.  Such is the burden of a hop-headed homebrewer.

Here is the recipe:

6.6 lbs Golden LME
2 lbs Golden DME
1 lb Crystal 65
8 oz. Vienna

1 oz Magnum (60 minutes)
1 oz Chinook (20 minutes)
1 oz Amarillo (15 minutes)
1 oz Centennial (10 minutes)
1 oz Simcoe (5 minutes)
1 oz Amarillo (end)

I used a dry yeast for the first time, the US-05 recommended by Ben.  My O.G. was 1.07.  According to my BrewPal app, I am expecting an ABV of about 7.2%, and an IBU of 92.  We'll see.  Does this rank as a Double IPA?

After less than 12 hours, the fermenter was bubbling away, and the wafting, bitter hoppiness was floating about.  Going to secondary shortly.  I wish I had some hops on hand to dry-hop with.  Oh well.

Time Flies When You Are Having Sons...

The things that are on my mind this week...

My oldest son turns 10 today.  It doesn't feel possible that a decade ago he arrived in this world (after 5 days of induced labor) and changed my life forever.  That weekend my friend snuck a 4-pack of Guinness cans into the hospital room.  The Nordspawn never developed a taste for beer, unlike his younger brother.  Perhaps that will change over time; I like to think it will.

I am never tired of hearing about collaborations between craft breweries.  Its just one of those feel-good things about the industry that you just don't see much of elsewhere.  The latest release is epic as fas as those involved go.  Fritz Maytag (Anchor Brewing) and Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada).  Giants in the industry.  Legends.  Icons.  Like Mozart and Bach.  All reports say the 30th Anniversary Fritz & Ken Ale is a fantastic beer.  I expect to have a bottle or two in short order.

Last weekend was the Craft Brewers Convention in Chicago.  I do hope to make it there one day.  Everything I have heard back indicate it was an amazing event, and not just because of the great quality (and quantity) of beer available.  The seminars and speakers alone would have been worth the trip.  And then to be surround by so many kindred souls... sounds like heaven.

The weather is heating up in Florida.  We may very well skip Spring and go straight in to Summer at this rate.  And that means its time for the more refreshing beers to move to the front of the line.  I love my big beers and stouts and whatnot, but there is something special about sitting outside on a warm Florida day with a lovely sessionable pale ale or crisp pilsner.  Time to get reacquainted with them, says I...

Now that we are done with the "first quarter" of the year, it is a good time to take stock and see where we are in terms of the "Brew Year's Resolutions".  Some might need to be adjusted and some may no longer qualify.  Lets take a look!

1. Attend GABF in Denver for the first time. - Well, this is not until September.  So...  Grade: N/A
2. Visit more breweries. - I have been over to Cigar City a few times now, and stop in at Peg's Cantina and Brewpub as well as Tampa Bay Brewing Company, but I need to step it up.  There are a few trips planned for this year, so I will make it a point to get to nearby breweries if at all possible.  Grade: D
3. Start rating beers. - I am doing it, but not often enough.  Grade: C
4. More homebrewing. - To date I have exactly one batch done.  Not good enough, and far short of where i should be so far this year. Grade: D
5. More writing. - That I have been doing, but still not consistently enough for my own taste.  I need to double my efforts on that. Grade: B-
6. More drinking. - Also been doing well with this.  I am trying to make sure i try something new at least once a week.  I have had some really excellent beers, too. Grade: B+
7. More reading. - It seems like the more I read, the more books I add to my list.  I have knocked off several books so far and am loving the knowledge I am gaining. Grade; A
8. Certification and Study, part 1 - Cicerone.  Nothing yet.  I am looking to maybe the summertime to really look at this. Grade: N/A
9. Certification and Study, part 2 - BJCP.  See #8.  Grade: N/A
10. Continue to be a vocal craft beer advocate. - Probably to the point of being obnoxious.  Grade: A

So, there is work to be done!