Part 1 of the hearing to greatly increase the taxes on licensed beverages.
Part 2 of the House Hearing is scheduled to be heard in Taxes Committee on 3/6/2013
HF 0855: Tax rates increased under the alcoholic beverage excise tax, alcohol health and judicial impact fund established, deposit of revenue provided for, and money appropriated.
Authors:
Almanac sits down with Sen Gazelka (R-Nisswa) and Sen Reinert (D-Duluth) for an in-depth conversation about Sunday liquor sales for Minnesota.
Here a few choice quotes from the video:
Reinert, “you have to make your voices heard.”
Gezelka, “my poll numbers are the people that contact me.”
Source: TPT
We were able to chat for a few minutes on Twin Cities News Talk 1130am. Despite all the fun, we tried our best to point out that the government should be representing consumer not lobbyists. It is high time they listen to constiuents and give liquor store owners the right to be open when they see fit.
Consumers and store owners took to the Capitol today to fight for Sunday liquor sales. Supporters were lined up by the dozen, decked out with T-shirts and signs. The opposition and their lobbyists showed up in suits and ties.
Edward Reynoso, political director of the Teamsters Joint Council 32 and a representative of South Lyndale Liquor spoke in opposition. “Our customers have never asked us for Sunday sales,” Lobbyist Maryann Campo stated. “Our members have made it very clear, they do not want to work on Sunday,’ said Reynoso.
Four Firkins store owner Jason Alvey testified in support of the bill. Alvey expressed his frustration as a business owner, stating that he is unable to meet the needs of his customers and is forced to pay rent on Sundays without be able to generate revenue.
Senator Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa) expressed one of the few concerns from the committee. Senator Gazelka expressed concerns about small stores in the middle of the state having to open on Sundays. Reinert replied, “There is no have to.”
Reinert told MinnPost that if consumers want the longstanding law to change, they have to do something to combat the powerful interests pushing for the status quo.
“You have a powerful lobby in the liquor stores. You have a powerful union with the Teamsters, and those two pair up, and they’re here every day talking to legislators,” Reinert said.
“Everybody always asks me, ‘Who’s asking for this?’ People. Remember those folks out there that we’re supposed to represent that shouldn’t have to have a lobbyist and an organization to make something happen? That’s who’s in favor of it.”
The bill was not held over for inclusion into the liquor omnibus bill. The proposed measure will have to stand on its own, making its way through the Senate and the House. It still stands a chance if enough consumers call their representatives.
Sources: Minnpost, Senate Media Services
It isn’t just consumers that want Sunday liquor sales.
The Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, along with other liquor store owners, say opening on Sundays would simply pull sales from other days and increase operating costs.
Alvey disagrees and says those who oppose Sunday sales don’t have to open seven days a week if a bill, sponsored by Senator Jeremy Miller, becomes law and repeals the ban. Instead, Alvey says liquor store owners could open on Sundays, reap financial rewards, and close on Mondays when he says sales are generally much slower.
Via KSTP TV
Location:
Minnesota State Capitol – Room 112
We need your help to repeal the ban on Sunday liquor sales! Come to the Senate Commerce Committee hearing and make your voice heard! The meeting will begin at 12pm, and will be held at the Capitol building in room 112.
Let us know you’re going at the Facebook event page here:http://www.facebook.com/events/297683660357246/
If you can’t make it, be sure to call your reps and tell them you support SF 0225!
A growler is a 64oz or 750ml container of beer. In most cases growlers are sold directly from the brewery to the consumer. They are a great way to bring home a taste of local beer in an easily transportable container. Growlers are vital to the income of small local breweries, especially those that do not have bottling or canning facilities.
The ability to sell growlers directly to consumers enables Minnesota brewers to have a direct line of revenue from their beer. When a brewery sells growlers they don’t have the added expense of transporting the beer to market and from the retailer, or worry about the additional investment in kegs.
Growlers are all the rage with Minnesota beer fans. Growlers are a great way to bring home a bit of your experience at the brewery. Once you see the fermenters, the bright tanks, and meet the guys and gals making your beer you’ll want to take a jug of it to go. Growlers are great for trips like canoeing or picnics, or even bringing one to a party.
Growlers sound great, right? So why can’t you get one at every brewery? Size. Growlers are limited to Minnesota breweries that produce less than 3,500bbls of beer annually. The breweries that can sell growlers are limited to 500bbls in growler sales. Once a brewery passes that magic 3.500bbls number the right to sell growlers is forever gone. The growlers you bought are about as useful as flower pots.
Why is 3,500bbls the magic number? The number is based on the production limit for brewpubs. Last year, I spoke to a brewery owner about the limit, he told me it was a terrible place to have the limit, saying most breweries don’t even start breaking even until they reach 3,500bbls. Why would you punish a local business for being successful?
Brittany Krekelberg, Badger Hill Brewing Co-Founder says, “Part of the expanding American palate, not only includes craft beer, but also the experience of visiting a local brewery and being able to purchase a growler to take home.”
Shouldn’t you be able to enjoy a growler from every brewery in Minnesota, regardless of production size? That is the argument being put forth by the Minnesota Brewers Association (different from the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild) a group of about a dozen Minnesota packaging breweries. The association is behind the “Save the Growler” movement. An initiative that would allow all Minnesota breweries the right to sell growlers, regardless of size. The group isn’t trying to change the limit on growler sales, 500bbls a year seems to be enough.
“We’re all doing this because our customers and locals have built a phenomenal community centered around our beers,” says Excelsior Brewery’s Ben Flattum. “Part of our responsibility, in return, is to ensure that everyone is up to date on legislation and circumstances that could limit their choices going forward.”
There isn’t any proposed legislation yet, but I was assured that it is being worked on. In the meantime, if you want to “Save the Growler” check them out on facebook, twitter, and sign up for their mailing list at SaveTheGrowler.org.
The quest: to bake a cake with Midweek Beer Geek’s Featured beer: Odell’s Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout.
The mission: to find the best recipe I could (I’m not that crafty or scientific for my own recipe!). It had to be easy, delicious, and would pair smoothly with the Lugene.
The journey: I settled on a bundt cake. I had so many ideas. I researched a TON of great recipes, but this one seemed fitting & would feed a thirsty crowd.
Follow me to chocolate-bacon-stout bliss!!
Chocolate Stout Cake with Ganache & Candied Bacon
1 cup of stout, preferably chocolate
2 sticks (1cup) unsalted butter
1 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups All purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
Candied Bacon:
4 -6 strips of trimmed bacon
2 tbsp whiskey
2 tbsp butterscotch schnapps
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp of stout beer
Ganache:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
8 oz dark or semisweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp sugar
First I cooked the candied bacon in a medium skillet. Cook the bacon til it’s cooked through. Drain off excess grease. Add the liquors & sugars to the pan. Cook bacon until bubbly & liquid cooks down. Set aside on a nonstick surface to cool. Do not clean pan- use for next steps!
Candying bacon.
Spray/grease bundt pan. Turn oven on to 350.
Cake:
Add 1 cup stout & 1 cup unsalted butter ( 2 sticks!) to bacon pan. Cook over medium heat until melted. Add cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. **as mixture sits it will separate. Just stir before adding to egg mixture. Cool slightly.
Making butter & stout mixture.
Whisk flour,sugar,baking soda & salt in a large bowl & blend. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer, beat eggs & sour cream in a large bowl. Add chocolate stout mixture to eggs & beat just to combine. Add flour mixture & beat briefly on slow speed. With a spatula fold batter until well combined.
Pour batter into bundt pan.
Bake at 350 for 40-45 mins. Check with toothpicks til picks come out clean.
Set aside til cool. Flip upside down onto serving plate.
Almost done!
Ganache:
In a small sauce pan, add heavy cream & sugar. Combine until sugar is dissolved & almost to a boil.
Pour over chips in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth. Pour over cooled cake.
Finely chop up candied bacon. Sprinkle onto moist ganache.
Let ganache cool & setup. Serve & enjoy!!
Bacon! And enjoying at Midweek Beer Geek! Plus Chocolate Cheese!
**Trimming bacon or using a lean bacon (cottage style) will make cook time a lot easier & tastier!
**Want more bacon?? Add bacon into the cake- pour half the batter into pan, sprinkle bacon & them pour rest of batter. Bake as directed.
Recipe source:
http://lepetitbrioche.blogspot.com/2012/02/dark-chocolate-stout-bundt.html?m=1
