Happy, happy, happy!  Sprecher now has a facebook page.  Become a fan, it’s easy.  Just sign up on our website:  www.sprecherbrewery.com.

No doubt about it, fall is here.   I think the weatherman’s having a hard time admitting it.  Today’s predicted high: 64F.  Not even close.  Glad it’s sunny out.  Another consolation, the trees are turning.

Have you ever noticed when the weather turns cold people get very interested in gastronomy?  For all your gourmets and gourmands, there are plenty of delicious events on the immediate horizon in Milwaukee.

This Saturday, October 10, stop by the Beer Appreciation Panel at Wisconsin Wine and Dine (Midwest Express Center) featuring Lucy Saunders, author, Grilling with Beer; Adrienne Pierluissi, Sugar Maple; and Anne Sprecher.  Sample and stimulating discussion, 12:45pm-1:30pm, at the Libations stage.  The whole event should be really fun.  Great chefs, demos, beer and wine samples all day Saturday and Sunday.  Visit http://www.jsonline.com/general/47060672.html to learn more and purchase tickets.

Monday night is not usually date night, but you might want to make an exception this Monday, October 12th, and head over to Dream Dance Steak restaurant at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino.  Chef Jason Gorman is pulling out all the stops — a 5-course Sprecher Beer Dinner featuring his signature award-winning New Wisconsin Cuisine paired with 5 special Sprecher beers. (See menu at: www.sprecherbrewery.com) Randy Sprecher will be on hand to discuss the beers and pairings.  Only $60 plus gratuity.   Contact Dream Dance Steak to make your reservation, 414.847.7883.

Cheers!

Last night I went to a networking meeting for Our Milwaukee, a group of locally-owned businesses that support “buying local” whenever possible.  Milwaukee has a fascinating group of local businesses, including Alterra and Stone Creek Coffee, Rishi Tea, Gearge Watts China and Gifts, Beans & Barley, Outpost,  Sprecher and Lakefront breweries, Stan’s Bootery and many more that are listed at:  www.ourmilwaukee.net.   The hit last night was a fabulous presentation of beautiful and tasty gourmet chocolates from Indulgence Chocolatiers owned by Julie Waterman (www.indulgencechocalatiers.com).  Visit the website and you’ll have a feast for the eyes.

If you have a locally owned business or know someone in Milwaukee who does, visit the Our Milwaukee site, www.ourmilwaukee.net, to learn more about this great group of locally owned entrepreneurial businesses.

Cheers,

Anne

p.s. Randy and I will be sampling Sprecher beers in Chicago this evening and tomorrow afternoon.  Visit us at Sam’s on Macey (Sat. 1-4), Armonetti’s on N. Western St (Sat 1-4), Warehouse Liquors (5-8 tonight), and Printers Row (5-8 tonight).

Jason Wilde was the kick-off speaker for Sprecher’s 2nd annual pre-season football and craft beer mini-camp, and he rocked.  Those attending were treated to a brewery tour by Randy Sprecher, and then an hour and a half person to person discussion with Jason, who spoke about the state of the team, flip flop Farve, Ted Thompson, and many other subjects.  Gracious and well informed, Jason was a star, as was his lovely and expectant wife, Paula.

Everyone found the evening to be beyond expectations.  Three sessions remain.  Next week it’s Bill Carollo, former  NFL ref (#63), and current head of the Big Ten officials.  If you want to know what officiating’s all about, come to Sprecher next Wednesday at 6pm. Visit www.sprecherbrewery.com to pre-register.

Jason Wilde kicks of the 2nd annual Football and Sprecher Beer mini-camp tomorrow evening at 6:00pm.  If anyone has the inside scoop, it’s Packers beat reporter and WKLH personality, Jason Wilde.  Cost: $15.  A portion of the proceeds goes to Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services.

Other Speakers: NFL and Big Ten Referee Bill Carollo (8/26), TBA (9/2), and Grilling expert Lucy Saunders (9/9).

Mini-Camp takes place at Sprecher Brewing Company, 701 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, WI.

Learn more and pre-register at: www.sprecherbrewery.com.

August 10th is Sprecher Day & WKLH at State Fair!  Meet folks from Sprecher, WKLH.  Rooty, Race Car Driver Lyle Nowak and many more will be on hand during the fun and games on the Central Mall.  Kids will have a blast!  Brewing demonstration by the Wisconsin Brewers Guild.  Visit the Wall of Coupons,  watch as the Grilling with Beer contestants cook their best recipes, and put your name in for the Sheboygan Brat Eating Contest.  The winner gets his/her name on a keg trophy.  Visit www.sprecherbrewery.com for more details, admission discount coupons and more.

The 2009 U. S. Beer Open Championship results are in and Sprecher won 5 gold medals (Winter Brew, Oktoberfest, Black Bavarian, Mai Bock and Generation Porter), 2 Silver (Pipers Scotch Ale, Sprecher Light), 1 Bronze (Abbey Triple), and #2 Top Ten Brewing Company.  Check it out at: usopenbeer.com.

Is  Sprecher Brewing Company, along with members of the Wisconsin brewing industry, the Wisconsin Grocers Association, the Tavern League – which represents 5,000 bars and liquor stores -  right to oppose the current beer tax increase propsal now in the legislature?

Wisconsin will have a $6.6 billion budget shortfall this year so to some in the legislature  it makes sense that they raise taxes and cut services wherever possible, even though people are  losing jobs, businesses and homes.   Theoretically, increased tax revenue along with cuts in public spending will result in a decreased budget shortfall and all will be well.  But generating operating revenue by increasing taxes at a time when people’s incomes are diminishing seems chimerical, a reactive grasping at straws more than anything.  Be that as it may, doing something is far better than doing nothing.   Best if it’s the right something.

Rep. Terese Berceau and Sen. Fred Risser, both Madison Democrats, proposed a beer tax increase from $2 to $10 per barrel to help fight drunken driving and treat alcohol addiction and mental illness.  The beer tax has not been raised since 1969 and is currently the 3rd lowest in the nation.  According to a May 15 article in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Berceau said her plan would raise tax on a 6-pack from 3.6 cents to 18 cents.  Overall, it would cost beer drinkers $40 million to $48 million.”   Sounds like a lot of money for worthwhile programs, but one must question whether Rep. Berceau’s estimate of the cost to the consumer is accurate.

In other words, if the barrel tax begins at the breweries, the multiplier effect will kick in and an additional fee will be added at each stop along the way (distributor, retailer) so the final cost to the consumer ends up being significantly higher.  Potentially, this means more tax revenue and more funds for worthwhile programs all things being equal.  But all things are not equal at present.  We’ve gone from an economy where a significant majority of the population felt flush to one where a significant majority is counting every dollar and saving rather than spending.   The net effect is less consumers and higher unemployment, evidenced by the recent waves of layoffs as well as stores, restaurants and bars closing due to lack of business.

Personally, I question whether now is the right time to raise the beer tax.  What do you think?

It’s American Craft Beer week!  Share the joy with Sprecher — 4pm tours today through Thursday, only $1.  Reservations suggested.  Make yours at 414.964.2739.

Back again…

Randy and I have been traveling a bit recently.  First to Maui for vacation, then I headed to Chicago for a fabulous Sprecher Sodapalooza dinner at Graham Elliot restaurant on April 30th.  In Maui we stayed with friends so got a nice insider’s view of the island; well, insider’s view for tourists.  Cooler and rainier than normal, the weather didn’t prevent us from enjoying beaches and the many microclimates of the island.  Randy had a great time body surfing at Little Beach in the Wailea area.  Unlike neighboring Big Beach, Little Beach is a nude beach.  If you’re thinking of going to Maui, now’s a great time.  Hotel and airfare prices are dropping fast, especially this month.

Chicago — what a great town!  And Graham Elliot restaurant is just as wonderful.  The dishes Chef Bowles comes up with invoke awe.  On the current menu you’ll find a Spring Pea Bisque, fresh as can be.  But this is not just any spring pea bisque as Graham Elliot’s version contains pink peppercorns, creme fraiche, pea tendrils and a homemade lavender marshmallow!  Surprised?  Try it.  The marshmallow melts while you eat the soup, creating a brilliant combination of sweet and savory.

Sprecher Soda Palooza dinner — the second special dinner Graham Elliot has done (btw: this restaurant will celebrate its 1st anniversary in June) — Fab-O!  First course: lobster with ginger ale;  Second Course: halibut with orange dream;  Third Course: pork tenderloin w/ fried pickle, grits and cole slaw with root beer;  Dessert: popcorn gelato (for real!) homemade milk duds, homemade peanut butter cups  with puma kola sipped through a straw of red vine licorice.   Chef Bowles and his team incorporated each soda as an ingredient in the dish, then served it as a pairing beverage.  They truly took Sprecher soda to a new level.

If you get a chance, visit Graham Elliot, 217 W. Huron St.   In addition to fabulous food, they have great cocktails and a really friendly staff.

American Craft Beer Week, May 11th – 17th.  Celebrate with us.  We’re offering special $1 tours.  Call the Sprecher Gift Shop: 414.964.2739 for reservations.  For more details about what craft breweries around the country are doing, visit the Brewers Association website, beertown.org.

Cheers,

Anne

Good News!  On March 25th, we’ll host the seminar Tasting Synergies, Dispelling Myths: Pairing Wisconsin Artisanal Cheese and Sprecher Beer, Spring version.  Join this knowledgeable and engaging group of presenters — Cheese Expert Sara Hill, Culinary Expert Lucy Saunders, and Brew Master/Beer Expert Randy Sprecher — as they take you on a gustatory journey via award-winning cheeses and beers.   For more details and to purchase tickets, go to www.sprecherbrewery.com.

Meanwhile, back at the Santa Margarita Ranch where Randy and I served a lot of beer and soda to the SLO-IFF (San Luis Obispo-International Film Festival) crowd…We had a great time.  Most of these Californians had never seen or tried our products and all were pleasantly surprised by the beers and sodas.

It was Tribute to the Stunt Cowboy night.  They showed films in a big old wooden barn, and guests got to ride a very old Disneyland express train.  Little did those passengers know the train would be robbed by cowboys on horseback as it chugged along the track.  Eqaually thrilling, two of the cowboys are brothers, Robert and David Carradine.  I don’t know much about Robert’s acting resume other than he was on Bonanza, but I’ve seen David in the Kung Fu television series, Yellow Pages adds and Kill Bill.  In person he looks exactly the same, should you have wondered.

The next morning we attended a screening of Mondovino,  a documentary about Robert Mondavi’s attempt to buy up many vineyards in France and elsewhere.   I enjoyed it, but you have to have patience for a slower-paced film.

Tonight we’re going to see the dogumentary Weiner Take All!

Cheers,

Anne

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