Much Ado Over a Label
We ran across an interesting story about a beer label in BeerNews.com. It involves Hangin’ Frank India Pale Ale, a product of Short’s Brewing Company of Bellaire, Michigan.
Like many beer names, Hangin’ Frank is derived from a local legend. In this case, it’s Frank Fochtman, the former owner of the City Park Grill in Petoskey, who hanged himself a century ago. It is said that Fochtman’s ghost, Hangin’ Frank, haunts the establishment to this day.
The label, which depicts a hanging man, stirred up a hornets’ nest at BeerAdvocate.com after “Aesopsgato” claimed that Frank looked like a lynching victim. Other BAers jumped in and, after the thread drew more than 250 replies, forum moderators locked it.
Short’s quickly reacted to the outcry, announcing that it had redesigned the label to make Frank look Caucasian. Whether that design change ends the controversy remains to be seen.
Big Lists of Big Beers
BeerAdvocate has posted the beer list for its Extreme Beer Fest, February 19-20, in Boston. There are more than 100 beers from at least 27 breweries.
The Potable Curmudgeon has assembled a list of 60 potent brews that will be served at Gravity Head 2010, which begins on February 26 at the New Albanian Brewing Company in New Albany, IN.
Great Brew in Your Town? Do Tell.
Jason and Todd Alstrom, the creators of Beer Advocate, have decided they need to do some more beer traveling. They’re looking for “unexplored and emerging beer scenes.”
This is where you come in. Let the Alstroms explain:
In 150 words or less, tell us why we should come to your hometown for beer. The most convincing, passionate entry will result in our actually coming out to your hometown for beer, visiting your local breweries and beer bars, and of course you helping us to host an official BA gathering–plus other exciting fun.
If you’re a registered BA user or a subscriber to Beer Advocate, feel free to can weigh in on on the BA discussion board. And even if you don’t have a nomination to offer, the thread has plenty of places and establishments to help you plan a trip of your own. There were well over 120 replies the last time we looked.
So what are you waiting for?
Dates Set for Boston Beer Week
Jason and Todd Alström, the founders of Beer Advocate, have announced that the inaugural Boston Beer Week will take place June 11-20 at numerous locations within the “128-Belt.” The signature event will be Beer Advocate and Harpoon Brewery’s annual American Craft Beer Fest on June 18-19, which will feature more than 400 American craft-brewed beers from over 80 breweries.
The official Boston Beer Week website, which will have details about the Craft Beer Fest and other events, is expected to go live before March 1.
Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer…
“Drabmuh”, a stalwart member of the BeerAdvocate.com community, noticed that most beers in the BA Top 100 represent a small fraction of all recognized styles. So he did some digging through the BA reviews and came up with the top beer in each of 99 styles.
Expecting to hear about it from fellow BA’s with a differing opinion, he’s already put on the flame-proof suit and yelled “Incoming!”
Compiling a list like this is difficult, but Ludwig says it’s more difficult to find–not to mention finish–every beer on the list. But he’ll award points for effort.