California doesn’t seem to go out of their way very often to make things easier for craft breweries or those wanting to try new things in the beverage industry, but for once, they have eased the burden on many up-and-coming craft breweries.
With the signing of AB 1014 by California Governor Jerry Brown, breweries are now exempt from having to follow the unnecessary and burdensome building requirements designed for food facilities for their tasting rooms, where only beer will be poured. Previously, breweries wishing to have a tasting room at their brewery would be required to follow the same requirements which would often lead to tens of thousands dollars worth of improvements such as installing several industrial sinks and redoing electrical wiring and plumbing.
The Lost Abbey brewery in San Marcos, California ran into this very issue last year when the Health Department handed them a cease and desist order to stop tasting room operations. The Health Department told them they had been operating illegally for the previous four years without the required health permit, while the Alcohol Control Board said they were 100% in compliance with the license they were issued four year prior. Luckily for The Lost Abbey, the Health Department would either receive a lot of complaints about their targeting of the tasting room or realize they don’t know what they’re doing (or both) and dropped their cease and desist, just days before The Lost Abbey began cutting concrete and making the necessary changes to be in “compliance”.
Back to AB 1014, “This bill will relieve craft brewers from the unnecessary burden of installing restaurant grade equipment that simply isn’t needed to pour a taste of beer,” said Tom McCormick, Executive Director of the California Small Brewers Association. “This is a common sense law that garnered bipartisan support at the Capitol. Yet another example that good beer brings people together.”
The bill, authored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego and Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, passed both the Senate and Assembly floor votes unanimously.
“We are an industry the state can be proud of,” said McCormick. “Craft brewers by nature tend to have environmentally sound practices, we employ a lot of people and we give back to our communities in many ways.”
Each week, beer blogger Lee Williams highlights the most notable upcoming beer releases that belong on every craft beer lover’s radar. This is Mutineer’s fourth edition of the weekly series.
Full Sail Brewing of Hood River, Oregon started releasing some of its more experimental offerings back in 1998. The Brewmaster Reserve series is Full Sail’s current outlet for such beers, a rotating schedule of beers that seek to appeal or expand palates beyond the usual session styles. A different Brewmaster Reserve beer is released every 8 to 10 weeks. The latest addition to the line up is a Dubbel called Sanctuary. Continue Reading »
Just days away, The Lost Abbey Patron Saints & Sinners Club will begin membership registration December 1 at 6 A.M. PST. Two separate clubs, the Patron Saints Club focuses on Lost Abbey’s year-round and seasonal beers whereas the Patron Sinners Club focuses on the rarities found in Lost Abbey’s coveted barrel room. Each club receives a special bottling available only to their club such as Sinners ’09 mentioned in Mutineer Magazine Issue 8.
There are also some new additions to the clubs this year. Saints and Sinners will receive a six piece Lost Abbey Crystal Tumbler set or Lost Abbey Tulip Stemware set, and new beers have been thrown into the mix of the Sinners club to include Framboise de Amarosa and The Angel’s Share Grand Cru. Membership also entitles you to VIP access to additional bottle allotments, product discounts, a special Patron Saints and Sinners Dinner and access to Sanctum Sanctorum (online portal exclusively for Patron club members with information on the latest releases, events, rare bottlings, etc.). Continue Reading »
Cover Story – Bartenders Mecca
by JJ Bagley
The Edison in Los Angeles has established itself as one of American’s top bars, with bartenders flying in from around the country to participate in the incredible Radio Room. Discover the passions behind the creators of the Radio Room and get the skinny on who these star mixologists are in the Issue 7 cover story. Continue Reading »
Beer: Red Poppy Ale
Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Style: Barrel Aged Brown Ale
Suggested Glassware: Chalice
From years of trying Abbey style ales Co-owner of Pizza Port Vince Marsaglia developed a love for them and was set on creating some of his own, but he needed a brewer who could bring his vision to life. When brewer Tomme Arthur was brought on-board in 1997 The Lost Abbey was born. Red Poppy is one of their Non-Denominational Ales and is “Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in our oak barrels for over 6 months.” Red Poppy is modeled after the Flemish Red Ales that have a distinctive sour characteristic. This is my favorite style of beer and Red Poppy is a great representation with its sour cherry flavors. Continue Reading »
