The small brewery excise tax story hits ABC
In good news for the craft beer sector, ABC covers the proposed bills in Congress regarding the excise taxes and small brewery status that I blogged about last week. How will you help small brewers? (Bonus video of Rob Tod from Allagash and Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head, of course!) Local rumblings whisper that Rep. Heath Shuler will not respond nor co-sponsor H.R. 4278 because he is a teetotaler, but let me stress: This is NOT an issue about alcohol, it’s about economics and jobs. Write him!

Abita is brewing S.O.S. (Save Our Shore), a benefit beer for the Gulf
Abita Brewing—yet again—is brewing on behalf of the Louisana Coast with S.O.S. (Save Our Shores), a benefit beer for the oil spill disaster. ‘”We just thought that hit home more than anything. Cause what it is, is a distress call. And we’re in distress,” said David Blossman of Abita.’ Seventy-five cents of each bear sold and 100 percent of merchandise sales go directly to charity, which will then be managed by the Northshore Foundation. The beer will available in mid-July.

Beer sales down overall; craft beer sales up
NPR covers the same story year after year, but nonetheless, good news for craft brewers.

Sierra Nevada gets TTB approval for the third in the Pioneer Series
Label approval for the third beer in Sierra Nevada’s anniversary series, Jack & Ken’s Ale, has been approved. (Jack McAuliffe is the brewer at New Albion Brewery.) We are absolutely stoked about this beer, an American-style barleywine brewed with 100% Cascade hops. Also available mid-July.

La Trappe > Koningshoeven > La Trappe
In the ongoing naming battle of the only Trappist brewery outside of Belgium, Beernews.org reports that after Isidor, Koningshoeven is once again going to be La Trappe in the U.S. and Canada. Getting your Trappist designation back also let’s you return to your beer brand! Win.

Things not to do, part #3867
Imbecile.