No brew-haha in Houston
Unlike Los Angeles, there’s no mistaking the origin and quality of the local product put up in mayors’ bet
The mayoral bet over the World Series, a fall tradition as banal as a ballpark hot dog, took a sour turn this year when Los Angeles’ chief executive stepped into an emotionally fraught debate over what is considered a local beer.
On Tuesday, Hizzoner Eric Garcetti pledged on Twitter to send Mayor Sylvester Turner a “uniquely L.A. meal” should the Astros take the best-of-seven series from the Dodgers. He wagered Korean barbecue from a local food truck and beer from Golden Road Brewing Co.
That latter choice turned what could have been a harmless photo op into a fizzy flap with the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild. Golden Road, the brewers and their fans noted archly, is owned by the Belgium-based, multinational conglomerate AnheuserBusch InBev. That gives it about as much local credibility as a certain hamburger chain, one beer fan huffed on social media.
“Might as well send McD’s,” tweeted Three B Zine, a San Diego-based podcast.
Turner took a more palatable course, offering a couple of inarguably local favorites that he hopes ultimately not to be on the hook for: Barbecue from Killen’s and beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Co.
It was the latest spotlight for the 23-year-old Houston brewery, which picked up three medals at the Great American Beer Festival this month in Denver and was named the nation’s best midsize brewery. Saint Arnold owner Brock Wagner said Friday he was honored to see his beer included in the friendly wager.
“One of the things we always wanted to be is something the city of Houston can be proud of,” he said.
Astros and Dodgers fans alike should have no trouble finding the Houston brews at Minute Maid Park. The bar on the main concourse behind the left-field Crawford Boxes has been branded Saint Arnold since 2012 and it’s stocked with the brewery’s lineup.
Wagner said he’ll gladly donate some of his best-selling Fancy Lawnmower Kölsch and Art Car India pale ale for a West Coast flight — win or lose. “We will happily bring some over to city hall for the mayor to ship over there,” he said. “We want (the Dodgers contingent) to have the freshest, best-tasting beer. They’re going to need it to get the terrible taste of defeat out of their mouth.”