Business-as-change organization B The Change Media recently released a list of over 200 companies who are using their business organizations as forces of good. New Belgium Brewing Company made the list, honored as Best for the Environment and Best for Workers, in addition to winning an overall award. The accompanying article talks about New Belgium's accomplishments, including their employee ownership program and aggressive reuse and recycling efforts.

As I do frequently, I ask you to permit me a bit of local interest news. With thanks to my mother (Hi, Mom!), a new brewery just opened in my old hometown of York, PA. Collusion Tap Works opened its doors this past weekend, boasting a diverse line-up of 24 different beers at their tasting room and bar.

The legendary Oxford English Dictionary added "kegerator" to its extensive list of entries in its September 2016 update. Of course, they also added "moobs", "Oompa Loompa", and "YOLO", so evaluate this news as you like.

I've given my own thoughts on the matter, but here is some detailed debate on the Big Beer takeover of many craft breweries. Aaron Goldfarb at Serious Eats took a look inside A-B InBev's High End headquarters and chatted with some of the leaders of those breweries. Jacob McKean at San Diego's Modern Times beer rebutted many of the claims from the Serious Eats article (including ABI's Blue Point Brewing Company--who have a flagship Toasted Lager--making the bizarre claim that they are now working with the world's best lager-makers). Finally, Patrick Clinton at The New Food Economy wades into the whole debate with some points of his own, including some reflections from the larger food industry. All are worthwhile reading. For the record, I tend to side more with McKean--big shock, I know.

Schlafly's Ambassador Brewer, Stephen Hale, tells St. Louis's Riverfront Times about his 5 preferred styles of beer for the upcoming fall season.

Finally, this isn't news, per se, but I invite you to check out the first and only craft brewery in the Kingdom of Jordan, Carakale Brewing Company. It is among the safest and most stable countries in the Middle East, but I would imagine such a venture is still incredibly difficult, given the overall turmoil in that region of the world.