Brewsci.com

Not only has it rained for like two weeks (don’t try and tell me that it’s better than snow, I was promised 365 days of sun), but when checking on my tax return status I get his message:

Your return has been received and processed, however, your refund cannot be issued at this time.

Due to the state’s persistent cash flow problems, the State Controller has directed FTB to stop sending refund requests to the State Controller’s Office for payment. Refund payments will resume when the State Controller indicates there is enough cash available to make refund payments.

Living in California now means dealing with 8.25% sales tax, but it could be worse.  In the great state of  Taxachussetts, they are looking to focus their solution to the economic downturn a bit more sharply.  For a state that is famous for fighting tariffs on Tea, you have to wonder how the locals are going to react to a tax on their beer.  I have a feeling that a certain special interest may have an issue this.

Massuchesetts isn’t the only state thinking they can tax this ‘recession proof’ product as part of a solution to their financial woes.  Similar ideas are being discussed in Oregon (where they might see an 1800% increase).  Another good story on the Oregon increase can be found here.

Oh and in completely unrelated news.  Kid Rock is getting his own beer.  I really have no words to describe what that means for the world.

In a blog post directed to me by Brewsci.com’s invaluable CTO, Gizmodo reports that the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, California is installing a system developed by EFuel that can turn sugar, water, and yeast into a high grade biofuel coined “ethanol”, through processes called fermentation and distilling (Is it just me or did this company sell something to Sierra Nevada that they already have?). This system, called the EFuel100 MicroFueler, will take the millions of gallons of discarded yeast from the brewery and use it in combination with sugar which is relatively cheap and produce a biofuel that will cost about $1 a gallon. The best part of the EFuel100 MicroFueler is that it can take the old unsold beer from the brewery and convert it to a usable energy source. Furthermore, considering that Sierra Nevada’s Brewery is found close to the campus of Chico State University a walk through a frat house following a thirsty Thursday house party should yield the end of global warming.

I just walked into a store with no intentions of buying a beer but saw deschutes buzz saw brown and had to try it. There are two breweries that when I see a beer of theirs I have not tried I feel compelled to buy it.

They are Deschutes and Full Sail. What about you?