We’ve seen some problems with legislation in the past affecting brewers, but this is just a sad story. A bunch of homebrewers in Oregon are being barred from showcasing their beer at the local fair due to an arcane rule.
An overlooked, 80-year-old statute that says Oregon home-brewed beer can’t leave the home has forced fair organizers to cancel the competition, which had 335 entrants last year, says Oregon Liquor Control Commission spokeswoman Christie Scott.
Brewers were reminded of the statute after the Oregon Department of Justice clarified the law for a pub seeking to serve home brew at an event, Scott says. “As long as this is the law, we have to enforce it,” she says, adding that the commission hopes to see the statute changed in time for the 2011 fair.
Oregon is a mecca for burgeoning breweries and brewers, and an event like this (300 people!) allows everyone to try a wealth of rare beers that may only be one-of-a-kind treats. The article also says that the same sort of thing happened in Michigan this past year, and guess who was responsible for the rule not being overturned…
Michigan law says homemade beer can travel, but not into the bars where clubs often meet. [Chris] Frey, of Saline, Mich., says the licensed bars that host such meetings, for now, can no longer host them.
“We realized we have put our hosts at risk,” he said.
Frey says state Reps. Douglas Geiss and Deb Kennedy, both Democrats, proposed a change that would have made tastings and competitions in bars legal. It died in committee this year after the liquor commission expressed opposition.
Nice job, liquor commission. The article also goes on to say that two other states, Alabama and Mississippi, actually have it in their rules that it is illegal to homebrew. Maybe now’s a good time to find out what the laws are in your state and make a difference if they’re not up to your liking. With beer becoming such a popular thing, even with stories lawmakers, now is definitely the time for craft beer to find some allies in the government. Amass, readers, amass!
We’ve all heard of the big masters in the brew world like Anheuser-Busch. Most, if not all, know the big draft breweries like 
Ed Murray seems like a rather normal guy. He had a normal job working as a consultant. He drove quite a few miles to and from work. He lives in England. And he really liked beer. But what makes Ed’s story different than any other Englishman was his desire to start a brewery. And the fact that he actually went through with it, and makes a living brewing beer, even without a concrete and meticulously constructed plan. Hell, you can even call it half-assed. Super half-assed.
Luckily, a farmer from their village did have some space available, and although his first proposal of a barn was not feasible, his second suggestion – a disused stable in a block – was a success. Unfortunately the 200-year-old stable, which was still divided into stalls for horses, required a bit of an overhaul. “We had to work on everything,” says Ed. “The masonry walls had to be rendered because wash-down walls are required in the food preparation business.” The floor needed to be given a new surface so if the beer spilt it wouldn’t poison the environment, and a separation tank was installed to treat the effluent.
Though this won’t apply to our Montana readers (damn you, AT&T, get with the program and start working in Montana) some of you may find these useful. 
I’m finding it harder and harder every year to come up with good gift items, not only for other people, but for myself especially. By the age of 23, I feel like I’ve received everything that is really appropriate as a Christmas gift, so my Christmas list the last few years has been pretty sparse. However, if you’re a beer lover, there are endless gadgets, supplies, and products to satisfy the appetite of even the most amateur beer snob.
“Ultimate Beer” by Michael Jackson; 
“How to Brew: Everything You Need To Know To Brew Beer Right The First Time” by John Palmer; 
“Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer” by Marueen Ogle; 
