By Robert Farago
December 20, 2007 -
The Great Ethanol Boondoggle continues to evoke the law of unintended (if not unanticipated) consequences. The Economist reports that American farmers in the Pacific Northwest have switched from hops and barley production to corn. The federal tit sucking has sent the price of beer's basic ingredients skyrocketing. "Hit by price increases and shortages, many breweries, particularly the small 'craft brewers' and the even smaller microbreweries, are being forced to raise prices, make do with modified recipes or shut off the spigots altogether." Vanilla Java Porter and Salvation IPA fans aren't the only ones dreading their next trip to the cash register. "Industry giants like Anheuser-Busch and Miller are better off, thanks to long-term contracts. But even Anheuser-Busch has been forced to raise prices for its six-packs." Fuel or beer? Could this be the beginning of the end for ethanol? [thanks to chanman for the link]
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POWERED
December 20th, 2007 at 9:54 am
“Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” - Benjamin Franklin.
So I guess E85 is unGodly and unAmerican.
Times to move back to gas…
December 20th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Boy do I love the Economist (favorite brainiac magazine - well for a fellow economist geek). From what I recall Beer was invented sometime back in 3000 BC(by the Egyptians) to provide nutrition (liquid bread) with the pleasant side effect of making them sleep better at night.
But when we have to forgo alcohol to feed the destruction of brain cells versus powering our cars then I say…uhh, what was I saying?
Anyway…will E85 be te last call for alcohol. I’d better finish my whiskey or beer.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:34 am
If people (especially rednecks, like me, and other “common” folk) have to choose between a fuel that doesn’t really help the environment and beer, E85 is going to lose.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:38 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 20th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Good! Maybe that will get Americans to revolt against this nonsense.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Well, that does it then. When it the price increase is finally passed on to the customers of Coors, Miller Brewing, and Anheuser Busch E85 may be toast.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:47 am
This transgression will not stand…
December 20th, 2007 at 10:50 am
I can see Bud or MGD Gas stations (seems the #1 / #2 products sold at gas stations are fuel and beer anyway) competing against each other now.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Is everyone sure about this being the defining stake in the heart for E85? I’m not so sure. I just moved to TX and have found that the price of liquor/beer is at least(!) 50% higher than AZ - and although people acknowledge it’s excessive price, they just keep paying. Not to mention that I actually have to travel to distant communities to buy liquor - beer/wine being recently ‘allowed for sale’ in what were dry cities/counties. In short, this strain of puritanism against ‘evil alcohol’ is still strong in many regions/states and I’m not so sure this is the ‘it’ that will turn the battle away from the ridiculousness of the fuel.
Additionally, regarding law - American’s seem to be willing to deal with an inordinate amount of pain before they fight back…
Cretinx - I feel your pain.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Drink beer or drive E85, choose one, America.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Well, I don’t drive E85 now and have no intention to ever do so, so beer it is!
December 20th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Thanks for differentiating E85 from Anheuser-Busch and Miller products. I always thought they were the same.
Long live Pyramid Snow Cap!
December 20th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Dearly Beloved,
We are gathered here to celebrate the brief life of E85…
December 20th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Wow, of all the arguments against E85, I find myself moved most by this; a shortage of Beer. I find myself alarmed and angry at the same time.
Alarmed that beer could elevate my awareness, angry that I might not have access to my favorites.
Out-of-state brews I care little for, but alter my local favorites and you’ve got one motivated and unhappy voter!
Long live Bridgeport and Rogue!
December 20th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
A possible end result:
MADD supports E85 to fight DUI.
Let the BATTLE of ACRONYMS BEGIN.
Luckily, I drink Lowenbrau, which is (once again) a German import…
Cheers!
December 20th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I’m off to Boston Harbor with a load of corn.
Anyone joining me?
December 20th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
So I’d guess Stout’s like Guinness would be the E85 alternative for diesel?
December 20th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
So wrong on so many levels….
December 20th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Let me know when E100 stations are available
{mental imagery from a Simpsons episode where Homer is at a gas station taking turns filling his car and himself with ethanol. “One for me, one for you. One for me, one for you.”}
December 20th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
jazbo123…I’ll meet you there.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
I’m going to have to go with the beer because it is better in the long run and E85 will destroy any chance of better solutions and economic productivity. Why you ask? Because cheap beer in the cornerstone of higher education in this country. Without colleges will cease to function properly and those guys currently wittling bongs out of potatoes will never finish their degrees and create a viable alternative fuel.
December 25th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
[...] [Source: The Economist via TTAC] [...]