This content was originally published by The Hop Review, a digital magazine that joined the Hop Culture family in March 2020.
This piece was written by Tom White.
In this week’s Hoplinks, you can start planning your summer festival schedule, a brewery takes a stand, another gets backhanded by the law, state beer taxes are ranked, and the Brewer’s Association advocates for little beers. Let us know what else we missed this week in the comments below.
WARRENVILLE, IL – They’ll be no shortage of quality beer festivals to attend in coming months, but Two Brothers Summer Festival 2016 might catch your eye. In addition to the always quality staple and rare beers on offer, the music lineup includes Cold War Kids and Lord Huron, to name a few. If that sounds like your thing, tickets are now on sale at the link above. [THR Wire]
BEDFORD PARK, IL – While the outspoken presidential candidate continues to gain traction nationally, 5 Rabbit Cerveceria has stepped up their anti-Trump game with the re-release of Chinga tu Pelo. The American Blonde Ale was released last weekend at the brewery in bottles, but keep an eye out for it at your local bottle shop. [Chicago Tribune]
SILVER BAY, MN – In a classic case of local government overplaying their hand, Bent Paddle Brewing has been removed from municipal liquor store shelves due to their opposition to a proposed copper mining project in northeast Minnesota. This is an interesting issue that, while in a small market, could have wider implication around the country now this precedent has been set. [Duluth News Tribune]
INDIANA – The Hoosier state’s largest brewery, Sun King, will soon begin distribution through northern Indiana. This means they’re now distributing across the entire state for the first time and, we might add, making them one step closer to Chicago. Here’s hoping for cross border distribution sometime soon. [Beerpulse]
USA – If you’ve traveled anywhere in the United States and bought a beer or two along the way, you know that state-by-state prices can vary wildly. In this map from the Tax Foundation, each state’s beer excise taxes are ranked so you can see how your homebase compares. Anyone for a road trip to Wisconsin? [Tax Foundation]
USA – The Brewer’s Association makes an excellent case for the benefit of “fractional pours” at your local beer bar. We’ve all hesitated to order a pint of that $8 beer you’ve never heard of but want to try, so the ability to try it before emptying your wallet has always been a big bonus. [Brewer’s Association]
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Photo of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline from our 2013 interview with 18th Street Brewery in Gary, Indiana.