NABC in the news, and why downtown brewing is a progressive phenomenon.

The Tribune’s Daniel Suddeath did a nice job with this article in yesterday's newspaper.

NABC to open downtown New Albany Brewhouse by fall

We’re hoping that things go according to plan, such as we have one. The project is to the point that matters could proceed fairly quickly during July, and the goal remains to have a taproom presence by Harvest Homecoming, with the brewery being installed shortly thereafter, and beer starting to hit the regional market in the first quarter of 2009.

Aside from that, here's a personal opinion.

As a misplaced European, I retain a healthy sense of irony about NABC’s expansion, which will result in a big personal expenditure toward community improvement in an area, downtown, that houses two underachieving councilmen congenitally opposed to any manifestations of progress, whether for themselves (the hardest part to explain) or the people they pretend to represent.

So, make no mistake: The prospect of good beer being brewed downtown is a mortal affront to Dan Coffey, Steve Price, their hapless acolytes and the mantra of collective woe and failure that is their only daily stock in trade. When you spend your days chanting “we can’t,” you have a vested interest in stacking the deck so that no one else can step forward and prove that “we can.” It’s the only “politics” known by the Coffeys and Prices of New Albany, and as such, it’s a petty and vindictive way of reinforcing pathetic self-esteem in an ever-changing world.

It isn’t an accident that we call them “progressive” pints of beer. Insofar as I waste any time at all thinking about people and ideas that can play no part in moving the world forward, it is to provide reinforcement for the people and ideas that can make a difference, and are making a difference. In our own small way, NABC proudly inhabits the latter camp. If it ever ceases to do so, I’ll join Councilman Cappuccino in the rag-picking business.