by Harley Zipori Here we are in the Dog Days of Summer. It’s already getting toward the end of August (I’m writing this August 26’th). I think that half the population of Israel has gone on vacation abroad this month. I of course, went in June to beat the rush.
People are slowly trickling back and by September 1, when school is scheduled to start, most people will be back. Of course whoever didn’t travel abroad seems to be camped out on Rothschild Blvd and other protest camps around the country. I myself haven’t visited the Rothschild scene but this week did walk through the much smaller tent protest on Nordau Blvd in Tel Aviv.
It hasn’t been a terribly hot summer. I remember last summer as being much hotter. It’s hot but it’s a heat I remember as being typical for Israeli summers. It would seem to be perfect beer weather but maybe that is just my American upbringing and associations coming out. In the USA, beer is light, tasteless and served ice cold. It is a good summer drink, especially at picnics where it can be served in copious quantities. I remember that real beer drinking Americans didn’t measure beer purchased or consumed by the bottle or six-pack but rather by the case, 24 bottles. Even at the low calorie count and alcohol levels (usually around 3%) of most American mass-produced beers this is still a lot of calories and alcohol to drink.
I myself am not a big fan of drinking in the heat. I already feel a bit lethargic in hot weather and do I really need alcohol to slow me down even more?
Speaking of cases of beer, Tempo was generous enough to give each of the Longshot competitors a case of Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA (India Pale Ale). This is a special beer brewed exclusively with hops grown close to the 48 parallel. This is the latitude of the US-Canadian border in Washington State or Paris or Munich in Europe. It’s a refreshing hoppy beer for sure but my first bottle didn’t impress me too much. Maybe subsequent bottles will grow on me.
This summer festival season is winding to a close. There was no Tel Aviv festal as there was last year in Ramat Hahayal. I do not count the Goldstar Festival as a beer festival. Sorry Tempo if you disagree but since you just organized the Longshot Festival, you clearly know what a beer festival is.
The next event is this weekend at the Mateh Yehuda Beer Happening in Givat Yeshayahu not far from Beit Shemesh. It starts today, Aug. 26 and continues through tomorrow. It will feature brewers from around that area of which there are quite a few. My first blog recounted my visit to the previous beer happening in March. I assume it’s pretty much the same crowd, plus or minus a brewer or two. This will include Ronen, Gal’s and Abir Haelah and others. For details see the web site (Hebrew only).
Next week is the Jerusalem Beer Festival. This year it is held at the Old Train Station in Jerusalem at the corner of David Remez and Derech Hevron. The festival is this coming Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, starting at 6PM. I will be there Thursday evening with my trademark Barmah hat so if you see me, don’t be shy and say hello.
Now it’s my turn for a bit of a rant. I guess it’s a blogger’s privilege to rant about things that they really care about.
The past couple years has seen an explosion in the Israel craft beer scene. There are now no small number of licensed breweries that can officially make beer and sell it in restaurants, pubs and shops. Some of these are contract breweries meaning that anyone can use the services of the brewery to brew beer under their private label. However this does not seem to be enough to make a mark on the Israeli beer culture in general.
I am deeply bothered by the fact that most stores, restaurants and even pubs, do not sell a blue and white craft beer. I have talked with people working with several breweries who are out there every day trying to get their beers on the shelves and menus and beer taps so that people in this country have a choice.
This is the summer of protests. Protests for social justice all over Israel. Protests for freedom in the Arab world. My protest may seem trivial in comparison but it reflects a set of values embodied in all the other protests. It’s a very Israeli protest. Maybe even a Zionist one.
I would like people to join me in making it clear to shops, restaurants and pubs that there is an interest in the general public in buying and drinking Israel boutique beers. So when you visit any establishment that should have Israeli beer, ask if they do. Make it clear to whoever you can talk to there, that you are looking for an Israeli Boutique Beer. There is no need to protest vocally. No signs or demonstrations are needed. All you need to do is ask.
In future blogs I will repeat this plea. I will also try to document as best I can the successes and failures of those breweries trying to promote their beers in the crowded beer market.
I also want to hear what you, the readers, think. Please report where you find beers and just as important, where you think there should be Israeli boutique beer and isn’t.
My email, as always is Maof.Beer@gmail.com.
