Election Season, et al.

So things are going nuts in the beer world. NUTS, I tells you. Especially here in Massachusetts, where we are taking up a potentially very expensive ballot question next week. Specifically, a yes vote repeals the inclusion of alcohol under the MA state sales tax (which stands currently at 6.5%) if the alcohol in question has already been subjected to the MA state excise tax (which is a little more complicated). The measure was passed in 2009 as a budget-balancing measure, and supporters of the repeal have argued that it encourages drinkers, particularly those within driving distance of the New Hampshire border, to drive there to buy alcohol, since New Hampshire has no sales tax. WBUR recently did a great story that drew me to look closer at the excise tax, which is assessed by volume and alcohol content, rather than retail price. It's really low. Seriously. So I honestly don't have a problem with the sales tax being assessed on top of it, particularly if used to fund programs I don't want to see cut.

NPR just did an interesting story on Mexican Beer Dermatitis, which causes unsightly red splotches, swelling, and pain that lasts for weeks or even months. All because we have been conditioned to put a wedge of lime in our beer, and do so in places that encourage sun exposure and discourage washing the lime juice off of our hands. So basically, this is skin ceviche. Gross. I thought the Men of the Square Table disposed of this a long time ago.

Speaking of American macrolagers of dubious flavor content, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals just rejected an appeal to reinstate the antitrust lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch Inbev for, essentially, being too damn big. Interestingly, the 8th Circuit sits in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of Anheuser-Busch. Nah, it's probably nothing.

Turning to beer packaging, The Lost Abbey Brewery of Southern California has gotten a stern talking-to by the Wiccan community regarding its label for Witch's Wit, a summer Belgian-style wheat beer. The contention, as reported in the New York Times is that the label either glorifies anti-witch imagery, or promotes violence against women. I am dubious of both allegations, but particularly the latter. Wrote one protestor, “Can you imagine them showing a black person being lynched or a Jewish person going to the oven? Such images are simply not tolerated in our society anymore (thank the Goddess) and this one should not be, either.” The last documented lynching occurred in 1946 (unless you believe Clarence Thomas). The holocaust ended with liberation in 1945. Burning fell out of favor as an execution method in the 18th century. Sidenote: it was not until 1878 that it was officially classified as cruel and unusual punishment. See Wilkerson v. Utah, 99 U.S. 130 (1878). So really, I don't see the hubbub. But apparently they're going to change their label. Since I collect beer labels, if anyone out there finds a bottle of this [it's pretty out of date, being a summer beer], please let me know. :)

Finally, a useful link: How to Give Your Beer the Right Glass and a Proper Pour. Great stuff.