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Memphis Taproom, Local 44 and Resurrection Ale House visited by PLCB over purportedly "unregistered" beers
A reliable tipster told Meal Ticket last night that Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida's three Philadelphia beer bars — Memphis Taproom, Local 44 and Resurrection Ale House — were visited by agents of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board due to what we were told was the illegal serving of beers "not registered" in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We reached out to Maida for comment on the issue, and she replied in the form of a written statement. Check out her unedited e-mail after the jump; we're requesting comment from the PLCB, as well, and will update when we hear back from that side of things.
Memphis Taproom, Local 44 and Resurrection Ale House visited by PLCB over purportedly "unregistered" beers
A reliable tipster told Meal Ticket last night that Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida's three Philadelphia beer bars — Memphis Taproom, Local 44 and Resurrection Ale House — were visited by agents of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board due to what we were told was the illegal serving of beers "not registered" in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We reached out to Maida for comment on the issue, and she replied in the form of a written statement. Check out her unedited e-mail after the jump; we're requesting comment from the PLCB, as well, and will update when we hear back from that side of things.
In the meantime, all three bars remain open for business — but their draft and bottle lists may be affected.
So, you've been asking (some of you) and you've by now probably heard rumors about what went down yesterday at Local 44, Memphis Taproom and Resurrection Ale House. I thought I'd offer this account of the facts, rather than have it turn into sketchy gossip in a few more hours (probably too late for that, eh?)
You may or may not know by now that the PLCB started an investigation against [us] because someone called in a complaint that we are serving beers that are not registered in PA. We have been going through the list of what was confiscated with our lawyers (and the lawyers of our major distributors) today and we are finding out that some pretty popular beers (widely poured around the city) may in fact, not registered be for sale in PA. As the day progresses, more of the list might prove to be unregistered, or more of it cleared up as bureaucratic mistakes, but for now it's just [a] few, and I think rather than inviting a lawsuit against ME for spreading untruths, I'd rather just let that part of the situation work itself out without using brand names.
Yesterday all three bars were visited by teams of State Police, armed with a list of "un-registered" beers (and guns!).
The beers that were on the "un-registered" list that they came looking for are some really commonly poured beers (some local, some regional) as well as some harder to get Belgian, English and German beers. How these particular beers got on that "to confiscate" list? Not sure. I blame the woeful incompetence of the PLCB itself, but that's just a personal opinion.
Again, until the lawyers are all done poring over the lists and double-checking things, I might prefer to not list out for you what of our inventory was confiscated. Some of it would make you laugh though. Something interesting to point out, some of what they confiscated at one location, they left alone at another. Some of what they took is listed plain as day on the PLCB list of registered beers, which, if you haven't made yourself familiar with it, is located here.
The State Police hold it for the duration of the investigation, and when it comes out that this is all mostly BS, we'll get it back (hopefully unharmed). This could take 2 weeks or 6 months. Who knows. Every beer distributor with a beer on the confiscated list has been in touch with their PLCB contacts on our behalf, so hopefully that will speed things along.
Personally, two of my many concerns during all of this has been that our employees and guests might now feel like we're up to something shady (we're not, swearsies) and, well, perhaps obviously, that there's someone out there with enough of a grudge against us that things took this course. My goal is to make this whole experience as un-drama-filled as possible. Our bottle lists haven't been depleted all that severely, though there are a few favorites that we'll just consider 86'd for a little while.
If nothing else, this will give us a great excuse to hold a couple of "welcome back bottle" weekends at the bars!
All questions welcome, all answers screened by our lawyer, for the time being.
I never realized that beers had to registered. What a farce! Yet another obstacle for small businesses and breweries to encroach on the BudMillerCoors Monopoly. PLCB: yet another bureaucracy helping the rich get richer and poor stay poor.
I'm a Jersey guy, but I've never ever once heard a good thing about the PLCB...needless to say this hasn't changed my opinion. All 3 businesses are wonderful additions to the Philly restaurant scene, the city & state should consider themselves lucky to have them, and NOT persecute them over something so ridiculously trivial (true or untrue). And I have to ask myself: what kind of person would even contact the PLCB in the first place about such wonderful businesses?
Wasn't there some big brouhaha in the comments on a food blog regarding a bar bringing a beer up from Maryland that wasn't on the "registered list". I seem to recall the term bootlegger being thrown around a bunch. Anyways, my only hope is that this is by a double agent who's just trying to point out the ridiculousness of our Commonwealth's liquor laws.
From a quick look at the list provided in Leigh's email and some recent hub bub on both Foobooz and Beer Advocate, it appears Pliny the Younger from Russian River could have been the tipping point here. Only a handful of sixtels came to Philly and I guess an unhappy customer or some competition who didn't get a sixtel "blew the whistle". Its a shame in mnay ways. kind of a blow to the Philly Beer community...another bad PR mess for the LCB...general poor human interaction.... sounds like someone needs a drink.
That's a damn shame and it sounds like the PLCB did this half-assedly. Hopefully people will give these three places some extra business this week while it gets straightened out.
The PCLB is a ridiculous progressive relic of Prohibition. In fact there's no good reason it should exist anymore (I don't buy the purchasing power argument), they just can't ween themselves off the tax dollars and control it provides.
Mac and Dennis, while trying to ensure they're the last stop on the pub crawl, ratted these guys out? In all seriousness, WTF. Lame. Someone is just jealous their restaurants suck and these three don't.
Hope things work out for Brendan and Leigh, who are hard working publicans and by all accounts nice people.
who are the assholes who ratted them out :( i absolutely LOVE local 44. this is beyond bs. it's politics. i hate the pclb more than anything else... we might as well be in prohibition the way they restrict sales etc. so over bearing/controlling... /angry rant. sorry, i just want myself and others to enjoy the good beer we deserve!!! and to have the small businesses thrive.
Oy, what a mess. Someone posted the PLCB Consumer Suggestions/Comments e-mail address on a beeradvocate.com forum: RA-LBconsumer@state.pa.us If you're looking to voice your opinion on this particular matter, this might be a good start. Cheers! Leigh
I just decided where to have dinner (and drink plenty beers) tonight.
Curiously Yuengling's black and tan is NOT on the registered beer list, and that's just the beginning. There are a ton of PA beers that aren't registered in PA. This is Puritanical nonsense.
Yueng's Black and Tan is on it, listed in the B section. Similarly, it's Lord Chester is in the L section, but see no listing for the Lager Light. Whew, glad the Bock's listed!
This is just another example of the ridiculous alcohol laws in this state. The Memphis Taproom, Local 44, and the Resurection Ale house are my favorite bars, with possibbly the best selections around. The PLCB shouldn't be wasting time harrassing quality small business owners that have done nothing but help bring up the surrounding neighborhoods by having a quality establishment that serves high quality beers and food and offers great atmospheres. They should be up in Mayfair, Castor Gardens, and Frankford cracking down on the many bars that openly serve minors.
In prior similar cases the raids came at the anonymous behest of some taxing authority. The IRS, PA Revenue or City Revenue needed further evidence for tax evasion cases. Bottles seized from out of state showed tax evasion. It seems Operation Memphis NoTaxRoom is following a similar path. Given the defendants bragging in press releases about bringing alcohol from out of state the tax authority will not be willing to settle without conviction.
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My wife and I frequently visit the Taproom and shamefully have not visited the Local44 or even knew about the Resurrection Ale House!! My mist heartfelt apology to Brendan and Leigh!! We will visit these establishments post haste!! The PLCB should be abolished just as the Johnstown Flood Tax should be!!! Rest assured I will be writing our local and state representatives expressing my absolute disgust with the PLCB.
wow, uncle sam = suziew = kenzorealitycheck = COWARD
good luck sending from portland. i'm so sorry you guys have to deal with this. love your statement, leigh. swearsies. xo
I've had the Memphis Taproom on my list of places to hit for a while now. This whole nonsense has just moved it to the top of my list. After stopping at the stout brunch on saturday we will def be heading over to show our support of quality beer establishments!! Craftbrews forever!
Thanks for giving another burgeoning chain dynasty the best free advertisement they could have wanted.
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