Summer is here and the time is right for massive consumption of that fermented beverage we all so dearly love. I’ ve been taking a real liking to the Hefeweizen style and Schells Hefe in particular. Not sure why, I’ ve never really liked the Hefe’ s. Maybe I have had too many Oatmeal Stouts over the years and my buds needed a break. Guess I have refined my palate or maybe just numbed it from too many brews. In any case I need to get me some soon.
I almost never write about anything political. Yeah right, you say? Well, ok, maybe I get on a soapbox once in awhile, so I’ ll try and keep this short. For those in the know, I guess there is some sort of oil leak in the gulf region, at least that’ s what the black box in my living room says. Anyway, there is now a new beer made by Abita brewing out of Louisiana to help those impacted by the oily stuff. The name of the beer is S. O. S. For those that were in the Military that may bring back some memories but, it does not stand for Sh-t On a Shingle. The Abita brewery says it stands for Save Our Shores. You can go to Abita. com for more info and if you find the S. O. S. brand, all I can say is“ Drink Baby, Drink!!” Didn’ t some knucklehead say something similar to that??
We( The Martin family) went camping over the Memorial day weekend near a town called“ Murrays-ville”. Actually the town is called Austin or Spam central. Murray picked us up at our campsite and we took off for Worth brewing and met up with the Terwilligers. We had some lunch and some great beers from Worth and then it was off to see Murray’ s collection. What a great collection, lots of Grain Belt & Hamm’ s stuff. Had a couple of beers at Murray’ s personal bar and then we were off to see the rest of the collection at his storage shed
One place I really liked( besides Murray’ s
basement and storage shed, which contained as much or more beer stuff as his basement did) was a bar called the Wind Drift. It is a bar where everybody knows Murray’ s name. The bar has some very old and rare beer labels that are laminated( unfortunately) into the top. I saw a picnic label for Engesser beer and others that I forget now. I think I was on breweriana overload by the time we hit the Wind Drift. If you ever get to Austin, give Murray a call I’ m sure he will be glad to show you the sights. Thanks, Murray for everything!!
A Border Batch“ meeting” was held recently at the Willis Schafer place near New Ulm. Had a big turnout of members( at least in my view) and seen some great brewery pieces along with plenty of food and beer. A business meeting was conducted without too many interruptions. Not sure what was accomplished( I was too busy enjoying a Growler from Olde Main) so I’ ll just leave the finer points of the meeting to the Prez. I will say, that these meetings are a great way to meet your fellow collectors and see some really nice breweriana.
The 5 th annual Nordlager show in Cloquet is coming up soon. We plan on attending again this year and camping in the city campground. The campsite is within a block of the Northeastern bar and the St Louis river flows nearby. Guess that’ s all for now, except for my quote of the issue.“ I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it”. Garrison Keillor
Jay Martin 16605