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Friday, April 26, 2013

Spokane-Style Beer?

This topic is now bubbling up (see here, here, and here), and it's one I'd like to address more fully.  I throw it out there mainly to fire up the rage engine:
No-Li Brewhouse has been crafting beer in the Northwest since 1993. Their branding pays homage to their love of Spokane and the region. Now, No-Li has put Spokane on the map as a major force in the world of craft brews. Earlier this week No-Li announced that they have gotten federal approval for a new style of craft beer. Spokane-Style.

What makes a beer Spokane-Style? Well, first off it must be brewed and packaged in Spokane. But the origin of the beer goes beyond that. To be classified as Spokane-Style all the ingredients must come from within 300 miles of the city.
For the moment, I'll leave you with these questions: How does the federal use of the word "style" change its meaning?  Is 300 miles the right radius for a local style beer?  Why not 100?  500?  Is this a good precedent?  Will designations like "Spokane style" be a boon or curse to consumers? 

7 comments:

  1. I checked the links you gave. I can't say I've read all of it with ultimate attention, but it seems to me that there's no mention about brewing processes. Can, say, a Pils, a Heffeweizen or an Imperial Stout, be of Spokane style as long as they are made using 100% local ingredients, etc.? If so, this is closer to a wine D.O.C. than a beer style proper. (BTW, does all this say anything about allowing water to be chemically treated? And what about the yeasts?)....

    To many questions for something that is clearly a marketing stunt.

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  2. You see? You see what this CDA nonsense has wrought?

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  3. It looks like 300 miles includes Seattle, Vancouver BC and most of Portland Metro, by the way.

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  4. Anon, damned Google maps doesn't give me crow-flying distance, but it's 252 miles via a relatively straight road. I'd say we're outside the catchment area. HOWEVER, Hood River is very much in that zone. Which raises the question: if Double Mountain proposes to sell Hood River Style Ale (perhaps with the requirement that the beer be made with local fruit), would the feds say: nyet, what you're making is actually Spokane Ale.

    Ted, you are absolutely poised to lock down Oakridge-Style Beer.

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  5. Sorry, that's 352 miles Spokane to PDX.

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  6. Nonsense, but give them credit for creative thinking.

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