News

Craft beer industry news.

Santa Monica Brew Works Releases Rip City Skates IPA

LA’s oldest continuously operated skate shop, Rip City Skates, has been the hub of Santa Monica’s skate scene for more than 40 years. To celebrate that legacy, Santa Monica Brew Works (SMBW) reintroduces “RIP CITY SKATES IPA”, a West Coast-Style India Pale Ale.

Massachusetts Legislative Session Extended, Leaving Hope for Franchise Law Reform

Massachusetts Legislative Session Extended, Leaving Hope for Franchise Law Reform

The clock seemed to expire last week on Massachusetts craft brewers’ hopes of finally achieving franchise law reform. After finally reaching a compromise with wholesalers after a decade of contentious negotiations, the measure (S. 2841) unanimously passed the Senate but couldn’t get out of the House Ways and Means Committee before the expiration of the legislative session last Friday.

Neil Witte Launches TapStar Draft Service Certification Program

Neil Witte Launches TapStar Draft Service Certification Program

Under normal circumstances, about 10% of all the beer consumed in the U.S. flows from kegs, through draft lines and into pitchers and glasses at bars, restaurants, brewery taprooms and other venues using a combination of physics and chemistry. Few people understand draft system wizardry better than Neil Witte, so who better than the Master Cicerone and draft expert to ascertain the quality of draft service at on-premise retailers?