It’s another edition of the Void on this humble beer website in the nation’s capital, where we promise to never shamelessly grift and will actually give you something for your money. It’s been a while since we’ve been here, so let’s get right to it.
It’s baseball season and you want to know where beer is in the ballpark, I’m sure, especially if you’re a sicko reading this blog. Here’s the lowdown. Tired: kegs, wired: cans. As the article says, this presents a bit of a financial problem for breweries who make more money off of draft sales. Also something to keep in mind is that baseball games are shorter this year with new rules changes facilitating things moving along. That has been a boon for bars surrounding parks but potentially hurting alcohol sales inside of them. Many teams have pushed last call later in games as a result, something that’s led to at least one player voicing concerns about the safety of fans. He has a point.
Big news for Atlas Brewing. They will be opening a larger production facility in Anacostia AND a new restaurant on Kent Island, Maryland while STILL keeping the taproom open in Ivy City, DC. More beer for everyone to drink after a shorter baseball game. The truth is, though, you just need two beers.
Brewing at Maryland’s Guinness location has gone bust, as they announced they’ll be laying off 100 workers, around half their workforce, and ceasing brewing operations at the location, while still keeping the consumption spaces in and around the building open. You’ll still be able to drink there, but the situation leaves a sour taste in the mouths of area drinkers as they pushed hard for some law changes that were contentious in the process of opening. What a shame.
But at least you can still get beer in Maryland, unlike if you’re relying on Reyes in Texas.
Guinness isn’t the only big brewer cutting jobs, as AB announced last month its cutting workforce company-wide, and most of those cuts are in regional brands many would know.
It leads one to think that beer is in another downturn. What would that mean? It means nobody drinks beer anymore. Wait no, they do, don’t worry.
It’s another profile of the great Mike Van Hall. Drink in DC long enough and you’ve seen his designs on cans, pictured in the article.
The namesake tree of Lone Oak Brewing in Brookeville, MD came down amid the big wind storm a few weeks ago. They intend to make the best of it, making furniture and some barrels for aging out of the wood.
Have you ever wondered what the history of drinking in the Smithsonian National Zoo is? We’ve got you covered. I’m sure Theresa McCulla does, too, and she talked to the Beer Ladies Podcast recent about her upcoming book and path to beer historian.
What are the 37 best beers to drink in spring? Is that besides any beer you like? If you need a suggestion, here are 37, if you’re in the market for 37 beers.
Passover has passed (welp), but you may still need to know about Kosher beers.
Mikkeller announced the closure of its San Diego tap room and the end of its taproom space in the U.S. Read about the tumultuous past year the company has had.
The British group Campaign for Real Ale stepped in it big time this week. This will require some backstory which is all available in this thread. Long story short: CAMRA gave an award to a pub that has racist figurines hanging in it. And read about this history of racism and segregation in British pubs here.
Which is a shame, because a pub can be an unlikely sanctuary in a time of need.
The Void will return in May, but is always surrounding us.
