Above: Bathwater?

Last week, Minnesota politicians discussed a raise the state alcohol tax. This would be the first time there has been a raise in the alcohol tax since 1987, but the issue itself isn’t what made headlines, not in Wisconsin at least. What got some Wisconsinites riled up was an offhand jab by Minnesota state Rep. Kurt Zellers. Prior to the vote, he criticized the new tax increase that would amount to around seven cents per beer. “To say that it’s only seven cents a beer, that’s like promising a case of Summit to the part and showing up with that bathwater called Leinenkugels,” Zellers was quoted by the Associated Press.

This statement didn’t go unheard, especially by the one person that mattered most. His wife was waiting for him at home with the response, “Honey, I heard what you said last night on TV and I am quite fond of the Summer Shandy that’s produced by Leinenkugels.”

Given the fact that Leinenkugels Summer Shandy is their most popular beer, and just last month became the first Leinenkugel brew to be sold in all 50 states, it’s not much of a surprise that she defended her beer of choice. Needless to say, Keller’s comment landed him in the good bit of trouble at home, and the following day when the House session continued, he apologized to first the Leinenkugel family and then to his wife. Jake Leinenkugel, president of Leinenkugel brewery, didn’t take terrible offense to the comment however. “As a guy, I’ve made a lot of stupid statements in my career, and my wife has set me straight plenty of time,” Leinenkugel told The Chippewa Herald, “So I felt for him.” He continued by saying, “The main thing is we all do it. The Fact that he got back on the floor (and apologized) says a lot.”