Raise a Glass to Stimulate the Economy

I saw the headline of the following story and thought that “Beer Week,” regardless of the date or location, is a great idea. However, after reading the article about the frosty mug event going on in Sacramento, I thought it was an even better idea – having a beer to help support a declining industry. According to the article, the beer industry in the Sacramento area employs nearly 4,000 people. That’s a huge number and many don’t think of all that are involved in the beer industry. Sure there are brewers, but there are also bottlers, distributers, waiters and waitresses, restaurant and bar owners, and many more feeling the economy’s pinch.

Check out the article below and, if you are in the Sacramento area, please raise a glass this week to support all these hard working people.

Note: Special thanks to my friends at KCRA for the article below and the guys at TheFullPint.com for the graphic!

City Of Saloons: Beer Week Taps History
Organizers Hope Event Brings Cash to Local Breweries

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA.com) -- Bringing the City of Trees back to its day as the City of Saloons -- a moniker bestowed by Mark Twain -- Sacramento's first-ever Beer Week aims to tap into the region's history and add spirits to local breweries in a down economy.

"All businesses are struggling on some level, so yeah, I think this is going to help to get a couple more people out and get a few people enjoying some beer they've never had," said Dan Scott, Beer Week's executive director.

According to the Beer Institute, the beer industry employs nearly 4,000 people in the Sacramento area -- a number that's been dwindling.

In the past year, a handful of breweries, such as the Sacramento Brewing Company, have shut down.

"It really is about the economy. And buying local beer supports our economy. There's a lot of jobs, not just in breweries, but in distribution and wholesalers, in the ingredients," said Rick Sellers, beer director for Draft Magazine.

Beer Week has more than 200 events centered around drinking beer, which Mothers Against Drunk Driving called the perfect combination for danger on the roads if people don't plan ahead.

"Either get a cab, designate a driver or stay at a friend's house," MADD spokesman Silas Miers said.

Sellers agreed: "Responsibility is definitely something we want to encourage with everybody."

Organizers said they hope Beer Week will become an annual event drawing people from around the country. They hope to put Sacramento on the map as a world-class beer destination, which they said means more money for the city as a whole.

Beer Week continues through Sunday.