Mayor Bloomberg Declares July 'Good Beer Month' In New York City

by Mike Pomranz, Posted Jun 30th 2009 @ 5:00PM

The Good Beer Seal of approval. Photo: goodbeerseal.com.

Earlier today, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially proclaimed July to be "Good Beer Month." The declaration came at the request of a local collective known as "the Good Beer Seal."

Founded earlier this year by bar owners Garry Gillis (Burp Castle and Standings), Ray Deter (d.b.a.) and Jimmy Carbone (Jimmy's No. 43), the group strives to "recognize establishments that pride themselves on serving quality, craft beers." With only 15 recognized bars in a city of more than 8 million people, the Seal has yet to become the definitive icon for the city's best spots for suds, but Carbone admits things are still getting off the ground. "We really didn't expect the mayor to make the proclamation," he humbly admits.

For a nascent organization, receiving a mayoral decree after simply writing him a "nice letter" is quite a feat. Carbone believes GBS's support of programs for sustainable food and insistence that members have an "active community presence" was an important factor. "A lot of bars don't make such a good community impact," he told us.

Other requirements include a pub-like atmosphere and "at least 80 percent craft domestic or special imported beers."

Still, July Good Beer Month seems to have taken itself by surprise: Only two major events are currently scheduled. Carbone encourages people who'd like to partake in good beer drinking to keep checking the blog, which will add events regularly.

So pop that top off the bottle, no matter where you are: can't let a mayor with such good intentions down!

Filed Under: Food News, Drink Recipes
Tags: bars, beer, bloomberg, craft beer, dba, good beer, good beer month, good beer seal, jimmy carbone, JimmyCarbone, jimmys no 43, JimmysNo43, july, july beer month, july good beer month, mayor bloomberg, new york, new york city, pubs, summer

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-30-2009 @6:03PM Marumm said... Apparently New York is having July in Portland this year.
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6-30-2009 @7:50PM Andrew said... Did the mayor actually announce this today? Why isn't there any evidence of this taking place? Or is this just a ruse by snooty peddlers of expensive beer? Could somebody post the original press release (none was issued by the mayor's office today or recently, unless it was a double-secret press release not posted on the mayor's website)?
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7-01-2009 @7:37AM christopher said... This should be expanded country wide. I for one will be celebrating.
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7-01-2009 @10:31AM Slashfood Editor said... Hi, Andrew. Thanks for your question. Laura Savettiere in the Mayor's office confirmed the announcement, but said that decrees like this are not made on the mayor's website.

Christopher, I totally agree!

Best,
Alex
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7-05-2009 @8:00AM nick said... Where do we puke?
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7-05-2009 @8:57AM Joel Schuyler said... Great , promote beer drinking mayor, cause people don't do enough of that on their own!
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7-05-2009 @9:09AM Shemp said... If Bloomberg is endorsing this it only means he's already figured out a way to add a tax to beer drinking.......
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7-05-2009 @9:10AM Bill said... Atta boy Mr Mayor Putz
Promote beer drinking and alcoholism, raise the taxes especially on those deadly smokers, while these drunks kill people everyday while drunk driving. Another fine move oh savior of our city
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7-05-2009 @9:19AM smurfysa said... HAY DUDE, HOW ABOUT A GOOD WEED MONTH LIKE APRIL.
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7-05-2009 @9:21AM RONNIE said... ANYTHING THAT SELL'S BIG TIME IN NEW YORK,YOU CAN GUARANTEE KING BLOOMIE WILL PUT ANOTHER STEEP TAX ON(HIS INTENTION'S ARE ALWAYS SINISTER),THEIR IS NO GOOD WILL HERE..HE JUST KEEPS ON TAXING ,AND TAXING.LET'S FACE THE FACT'S, WATER BEING THE MAIN BASIC INGREDIENT OF ALL BEER, HAS BEEN DOUBLE-DIGITALLY TAXED FOR THE PASS THREE YEARS UNDER THIS FINANCIAL GENIUS,AND THAT'S JUST WATER,FORGET ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES(PLEASE NOTE:THIS PAST YEARS INCREASE TO 11% WAS DUE TO THE FACT WE WERE CONSERVING TO MUCH WATER ,SO THEREFORE NOT ENOUGH REVENUE WAS COMING IN TO SUPPORT THE WATER SYSTEM..WHAT A JOKE)AND COMPOUND THIS WITH HIS INCREASES IN THE LIQUOR TAX.I SAY, SEND THIS BUM BACK TO BOSTON,FROM WHENCE HE CAME. THEN WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO DRINK TOO,NOT TO A BOGUS DECLARATION..
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7-05-2009 @9:33AM smurfysa said... LETS MAKE APRIL GOOD WEED MONTH !
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7-06-2009 @9:36AM John said... How about a month for promoting Bourbon?
Lots of good ones out there.
Maybe September? Ya know, the end of summer month.
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7-05-2009 @10:52AM Angiebaby said... Yeah for New York City! Apparently the city has enough unused taxpayer dollars to pay for the paperwork and time their elected leaders have devoted to "Beer Month." It really isn't going to be great if New York City ever gets as broke as it claims to be. I mean, good luck finding a bar that accepts chits for quality, craft beers. And I hate to be the one to burst Mayor Bloomberg's beer bubble, but July is "Beer Month" every where.
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7-05-2009 @12:35PM mo said... why would the mayor promote beer . when he is cracking down on smoking. we have enough people with drinking problems as is .
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7-05-2009 @12:37PM jetol said... This is good that Mayor Bloomberg can promote beer drinking but can condem the small businessmen of ny that are landscapers and give them violations and fines of thousands of dollars for grass clippings on their trucks.
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7-05-2009 @1:13PM Don said... Is the tax on alcohol is being raised like it is in new jersey, if so how timely to get more ill gotten revenue for the city and state.
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7-05-2009 @1:59PM trucker45 said... and this mayor wants to run for president, then he can declare a NATIONAL BEER MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!! wake up people!!!!!
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