The Brew Noob

Today this beer blog stands in solidarity by protesting SOPA, PIPA, and any legislation which tries to censor the web.  Cheers to everyone who is helping out by raising awareness and contacting their representatives!

In the last year, censorship has become a bigger issue in the beer community as well, as brewers are increasingly not allowed to sell beers under names of their choosing, in certain states and countries.  A few of the beer brands currently facing censorship:

• Flying Dog’s “Raging Bitch” IPA
• Flying Monkeys Brewing’s “Smashbomb Atomic” IPA
• Shelton Brother’s “Santa’s Butt Winter Porter”
• Lagunita’s “Kronik Ale”, as seen above with the “Censored” labeling

We think brewers deserve the right to name, brand, and package beverages however they express their creativity through making tasty beers, especially for a product which is already highly regulated in its distribution to an adult audience.  Just like adults (of age) are allowed to choose (or not) a beer of their liking through their own purchase decisions…

birra:

Meet the “Wilco Tango Foxtrot” Beer

Front page photo by Autumn de Wilde. Photo on this page courtesy of Great Brewers.

If all those Wilco sandwiches are leaving you a little thirsty, we might have a solution: Lagunitas Brewing Company’s new springtime beer, Wilco Tango Foxtrot. According to the Petaluma, California-based brewery, the imperial brown ale is “rich, smooth, dangerous, and chocolatey.” Just like Wilco! (Well, at least the “rich” part, maybe.) Thanks to Brandon Burke for the heads up.

But before you call your buddies over for a Yankee Hotel Foxtrot drinking party, keep in mind that Lagunitas claims Wilco (the band) did not inspire Wilco Tango Foxtrot (the beer). According to a spokeswoman, the title is derived from the same shortwave radio recording that originally inspired Wilco to call their album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, as well as the phrase “WTF”. Though they also admitted the Lagunitas owner “has probably heard Wilco.” Wilco, however, seem to think the beer is named after them.

In other news, I’ve now spilled some quasi-Wilco beer on my Sky Blue Sky t-shirt. Wilco napkins, where are you?*