Prohibition's 76th

If history can repeat itself so can I. I did a post last year on Prohibition and other than adjusting the anniversary number from 75th to 76th it's the same. Who am I to rewrite history?

Happy Repeal of Prohibition Day!!! Today is the 76th Anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Called the "nobel experiment" by President Herbert Hoover Prohibition was proposed by the U.S. Senate in 1917, certified and ratified in 1919 and went into effect January 16, 1920.

Amendment XVIII

[The Prohibition Amendment] Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by Congress.

Congress through the Volsteed Act put the maximum alcohol content of beverages at 0.005 percent. Law enforcement officials across the country were then in charge of stopping the manufacture, transportation, import/export and sale of all alcoholic beverages. The result was a rise in organized crime, underground speakeasies, experimental bathtub gin and unstable drinking habits. Not all outcomes of the Amendment were negative. The rise in popularity of jazz happened during those dry years. However, Prohibition was seen as largely ineffective and deemed a failure. What started as a way to increase health, decrease crime and strengthen moral fiber had an almost opposite effect on society. The passage of the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933 re-legalized alcohol an brought an end to the "noble experiment".

The post was from last year but the ideas for the day are new.

Head to Memphis Taproom for cheap drinks.

Celebrate Repeal Day December 5 :: Noon-3pm
December 5th is the 76th Anniversary of Repeal Day! On December 5, 1933 the Volstead Act was repealed and the 21st Ammendment to the US Constituion was ratified, re-legalizing alcohol and ending Prohibition. Make plans to be at Memphis Taproom to celebrate this momentus occasion as we roll back prices and pour all beer on draft for just ONE BUCK from Noon-3pm! Join us in raising a glass in celebration of our inalienable rights!

Check out the Prohibition Taproom

No better day than today for obvious reasons.

If your lucky enough to be in San Fran the 21st Amendment Brewery is the spot.

Wherever you spend the day raise a glass and toast to your right to legally toss a few back. Cheers!

Big Basket of Fruit (Beer)

Fruit beer has never excited me. I don't mean fruit Lambics. When it comes to Lambics I definitely have my favorites: kriek, framboise, peach, apricot and others. I prefer tart or sour over sweet but that's even good occasionally. When I say fruit beer I mean flavored ales. These beers typically spring up when the warm weather hits and it's time for something refreshing and trendy. Blueberry had its day and so did strawberry. This year can you say watermelon? Now before anyone says it's a masculine hang-up or that I think these are girly beers, understand that I enjoy Lindemans Kriek and Peche, have tossed back a few Dirty Hoes (Framboise & Hoegaarden) and sipped on a Southern Tier Creme Brulee. I am very secure with what I drink. My past experiences with fruit beer simply haven't left a good impression. Sugary sweet, no real fruit taste, overly bland or the fizzy soda effect, it's all been bleak. That's why I decided to pick a few fruity brews and give them a fair shot.

Mango
"You can not have'a the Mango". "No...yes..no". Some of you will get that. In this case you can have the mango in your beer. Tropical Mango Pale Ale from St. John Brewers in the Virgin Islands is what you might expect from a tropical based brewer. A light crisp ale.

The sweet smell of mango dominates. It leans more towards a syrupy candy mango than a natural fruit aroma. I expected a candy blast but surprisingly the sweetness is more subtitle in the taste. The brewer says it's a "light pale ale with a mango fruit essence". Essence, I think that mean no actual mangos were harmed in the making of this beer. Everything else here comes up bland. It's only slightly hoppy with very little bitterness and not much malt to speak of. Average at best. To fully appreciate this beer a towel spread out on a sandy beach under the Caribbean sun is needed.

Banana
Sticking with tropical fruit this beer comes from a very nontropical place, England. Wells Banana Bread Beer sounds too good too be true. The taste of fresh banana bread from a glass. It's somewhat true.

The banana bread is in the aroma but it's not overpowering. It's a subtle combination of real banana and the candy flavoring. The label states that fair trade bananas were used in the brewing. The taste isn't too sweet, so no sugary beer here. The fresh banana is there from start to finish. I even wish the flavor were a little stronger. There's only a hint of hops and a little bitterness comes in at the end. Not bad. It's gimmicky and one of those beers you might get because you want something different (or you're doing a post on fruit beers). I prefer a good Hefeweizen with esters providing that great banana effect and delivering overall a better beer.

Watermelon
The first time I had watermelon beer was years ago at Boston Beer Works across from Fenway Park. I think it was served with a slice of watermelon on the rim, seeds and all. I don't remember the taste, but I know I didn't think it would catch on. Jump ahead a few years and look what's brewing for the summer. Roy Pitz Brewing and 21st Admendmaent have both hit the area with their melon best. Since my butt hasn't been on a Capone's bar stool in weeks Roy Pitz was out and a can of Hell or High Watermelon was in.

This is definitely a wheat beer. A slight malty, wheat and spice character with a touch of lemon. The taste follows the aroma. Wheaty, lemon a touch of hops then at the end the watermelon comes through. There is some fruit sweetness but it stays light and crisp. Thankfully this is far from a watermelon explosion. H or HW would pair great with an afternoon of grass cutting or as a way to introduce someone to craft beer.

I thought I was done with the fruit beer tasting when Kelleigh pulled this from her beer stash.

Blueberry
Oh those tricky folks over at InbevAB having fun with the Blue Dawg Brewing name. For shame! Wild Blue Blueberry Lager is macro all the way. We have always been taught "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all". So, my words about this beer are few.

Bluish pink, artificial blueberry aroma, alco-pop influenced, candy sweet, boozy swill. A sugar rush, yes. Beer, no.




A taste of Mango