Food: July 2008 Archives

Just when you think all is lost, like in the bottom of the seventh and Red Sox J.D. Drew launches a rope over the short right-field wall in Yankee Stadium, tying the All-Star game, something enters the picture to make everything all right. Like MillerCoors locating its headquarters and upward of 400 new jobs into Illinois.

Chicago won out over several other cities for the mega-brewing corporation, just as Belgium beer conglomerate InBev, purchases Budweiser, the last big U.S. beer maker. MillerCoors cited Chicago's labor pool, transportation and business resources as the reason to live the Rockies and Milwaukee for the Windy City. Also, Illinois business development folks are giving the firm, which merged the second and third largest brewers, an $18 million investment package for tax credits over 15 years, job training and a grant to offset upfront capital expenses.

But, MillerCoors is planning a $39.5 million investment in Chicago and Illinois. And, they're bringing good-paying, executive-level jobs to the state. Who said it's cheaper to do business in the Badger State?

While the exact location has not been determined, or MillerCoors folks aren't saying where they want to park the city's newest corporate citizen, this sure looks like a coup for the city and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who can crow about bringing jobs to Illinois, even with a recalcitrant Legislature.

Looks like The Hound will be drinking a few new beer brands during baseball season. Skol!

You still have time to join The Hound in toasting the 75th anniversary --- July 10, 1933 --- of the day when Illinois officially helped end Prohibition by ratifying the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. Yup, hoist one, or two or more. But do it, as all things, in moderation.

Although the national repeal of Prohibition wasn't finalized until Dec. 5, 1933, the brewing industry always recognizes July 10, 1933 as the day the taps would eventually be opened. According to the Beer Institute, once Prohibition was repealed, more than $25 million in economic activity was generated across the nation, producing more than 50,000 jobs at the height of the Great Depression.

The Institute also points out that the beer industry in Illinois now contributes $6.2 billion to the state economy, supporting 64,783 jobs. Who knows how that will shake out if InBev, the Belgium-based brewing company, takes over the largest U.S. brewer, Budweiser.

Anyway, you have until midnight to sip a few beers and toast the end of one of the nation's worst social experiments. Cheers!