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Number of Cicerone Program students up 60% in 2012
More than 15,000 people have passed Daniels’s tests, which cover subjects such as pouring, tasting, pairing, and the properties of yeast. The number of students in his program tripled last year and is up 60 percent more in 2012 […]
More >> Businessweek.
Too many cooks in the kitchen? 25 Colorado brewers collaborate on GABF beer
About 25 Colorado brewers gathered this morning at the Breckenridge Brewery operation on Kalamath Street in Denver to do the kinds of things brewers do – drink a little beer and brew some, too. This was special, though, an unprecedented meeting of the minds and mash to create a first-ever collaborative brew (Porter’s Pride) that will be served at the Great American Beer Festival’s awards ceremony this fall.
More >> First Drafts.
Boston Beer Co. releasing new Samuel Adams Hop Tour variety 6-pack
For the first time together in a 6-pack, we’re excited to release Samuel Adams® Latitude 48 IPA, Samuel Adams® Whitewater IPA, and Samuel Adams® Noble Pils in our newest variety pack: Samuel Adams® Hop Tour™. These three styles are brewed with hops from different growing regions around the world, including Germany, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Australia and right here in the United States. In total, 13 different hop varieties went into brewing these three beers.
Update: Boston Beer Co. rep says that this pack shipped out to wholesalers at the end of August. It first hit the market this week.
DVR reminder: Mike Rowe's "How Booze Built America" premieres on @Discovery tonight. http://t.co/yh3xZIsJ #beer
— BeerPulse (@beerpulse) September 19, 2012
(Brooklyn, NY) – Some fun news from The Brooklyn Brewery, courtesy of a Wednesday afternoon email blast…
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To celebrate Comic-Con 2012 we’ve tapped into our inner nerd and brewed up a limited-edition draft-only hoppy amber IPA named The Defender, a robust hero come to rescue us from the brewing Megaliths. The liquid was designed by Brooklyn Brewmaster Garrett Oliver, the logo by vintage DC Comics logo designer Milton Glaser, and the hero himself by illustrator Tony Millionaire.
On Tuesday, September 25 from 7:30-10:30pm, Brooklyn Brewery and the New York chapter of Comic-Con will launch The Defender at the Brewery Tasting Room in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Open bar and swag giveaways. Costumes encouraged! Space is limited, so RSVP here to reserve a spot (21+ only).
Changes in store for 2012 Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony
Still in catch-up mode on some old (but still relevant) stories…
New for 2012, the GABF awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 13 at 10:30 am. The ceremony will be held in the Wells Fargo Theatre, located on the first floor of the Colorado Convention Center. Attendance will be open to all badged brewery representatives, competition judges, media, sponsors and festival staff [but not the general public].
More >> Great American Beer Festival.
Did you know? 2008 Pennsylvania law forbids scrapyards from buying kegs as theft deterrent
It requires scrap processors and recycling operations to maintain records of all transactions of more than $100 for two years. The records must include a photocopy of the seller’s driver’s license, the license plate number for the seller’s vehicle, a description and weight of the purchased material and amount paid for it. The law bars these firms from purchasing specific items such as beer kegs and catalytic converters that are often stolen from someone other than commercial sellers. Dealers face a $2,500 fine for a first offense.
More >> Citizens Voice.
Sales surge for Gigantic Brewing, startup Oregon brewery that raised $400k
[…] less than two months after they announced their plan, they’d raised $400,000. […] Apparently those people were right. Three months after opening the doors to their southeast-side facility, Gigantic Brewing exceeded their projected taproom sales eightfold, all without paid advertising. Meanwhile, direct sales to grocers and liquor distributors, which constitute the bulk of their business, were sealed before the first batches of beer had even finished fermenting, thanks in part to Portland’s reputation for seeding quality craft breweries.
More >> MSN Money.
Breweries: Gigantic Brewing
Blind tasting panel results raise questions around Westvleteren XII ratings
Westvleteren is currently rated second among all beers on BeerAdvocate and is RateBeer’s highest rated. Yet in a blind test, only one person thought it was the best of just eight beers in its group. Two of the three highest rated beers in our group get relatively "meh" scores by BeerAdvocates–but they are not boosted by the luster of monks.
More >> Beervana.
Breweries: Westvleteren Brewery
Beers: Westvleteren XII (12)
Westvleteren XII boxes land in Canada, Shelton Bros. mum on U.S. shipment
One of the worlds most rare and sought-after beers has come to Manitoba, but you might want to check with your financial adviser before going for a beer run. The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) has secured a shipment of Westvleteren 12—a world-renowned brew crafted by Trappist monks in Belgium—and a six-pack can be yours for just $85 plus applicable taxes.
According to a Shelton Brothers rep, the company is handling duties for the Western U.S. allocation and, as of last week, was waiting for word on that shipment. The rep didn’t provide any information on the Eastern U.S. allocation shipment.
via Metro.
Breweries: Westvleteren Brewery
Beers: Westvleteren XII (12)
(Grand Rapids, MI) – Founders Brewing Co. recently issued this press release announcing the official launch date for Breakfast Stout: September 21st. That said, the beer is already available at some bars and retail outlets. More below…
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Say goodbye to sunburns and uninspired citrus-soaked summer pilsners; Founders Brewing Co. (www.foundersbrewing.com) offers bold flavor for the craft beer palate this month with the arrival of this year’s Breakfast Stout, available on tap and in bottles across the 23-state Founders footprint beginning September 21. Breakfast Stout carries a suggested retail price of $9.99 for a four-pack of 12-ounce bottles.
Breakfast Stout—a world-class ranked beer on BeerAdvocate.com and a top-50 beer at Ratebeer.com—is brewed with an abundance of oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and Kona and Sumatra coffee, making it the perfect beer to enjoy during cooler weather. Breakfast Stout is available throughout the cooler months (September 21, 2012, through February 28, 2013), making it the clear choice for craft beer enthusiasts who value great taste more than calendar credentials.
“I get asked all the time to name my favorite Founders beer,” says Dave Engbers, Co-Founder, Vice President of Brand & Education at Founders Brewing Co. “To me, they’re like children—you love different things about each one, but you love them all the same. Breakfast Stout is the beer I love to drink after the leaves begin to turn. It pairs perfectly with roaring fires, hearty foods and flannel shirts.”
A countdown to Founders’ Stout Season can be found at www.stoutseason.com, and the Twitter conversation can be followed at #StoutSeason. In addition, a tribute to the sad summer “beer chicken” can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbPeppjecV0.
About Founders Brewing Co.
Established in 1997 by two craft beer enthusiasts with day jobs and a dream, Founders Brewing Co. brews complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics and tons of flavor. Founders ranks among the top 50 largest craft breweries in the U.S., it has received numerous awards from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival and its beers are often rated among the best in the world by RateBeer and BeerAdvocate users. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, Founders is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild and the Brewers Association. For more information, visit www.foundersbrewing.com.
SOURCE Founders Brewing Co.
Press Release:
(Portland, OR) – Widmer Brothers Brewing has brewed a limited-release specialty beer for Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland, a culinary festival that will be held Thursday, Sept. 20, through Sunday, Sept. 23. Krystal Pear, a filtered American-style Wheat Ale fermented with Northwest pears, will be served at all Feast Portland events.
The festival, a celebration of Oregon bounty, will highlight the creations of top regional chefs, brewers, winemakers and artisans, with all proceeds benefitting two hunger-relief organizations, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Share Our Strength.
Widmer Brothers, the founding beer sponsor of Feast Portland, partnered with the Pear Bureau Northwest to create Krystal Pear. The ale’s malt bill contributes fresh cereal flavors of grains and malted wheat to the beer. These are balanced by the use of a new hop called Mosaic, which provides flavors and aromas of fruit such as peach and stone fruit, and the addition of Northwest pears offers the perfect complement to round out this specialty brew.
“Widmer Brothers is thrilled to be the beer sponsor for Feast Portland and to celebrate Oregon’s culinary and brewing leadership with this special beer,” said Kurt Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers Brewing. “We wanted to brew a beer that would pair well with the variety of dishes that will be served during the Feast event, but we also wanted to showcase an ingredient that really represents Oregon. Krystal Pear, which is brewed with Oregon’s state fruit, the pear, really hits on both of those points.”
Krystal Pear is an extremely limited-run brew. It will be available at all Feast Portland events as well as at Widmer Brothers’ Gasthaus Pub and select Feast-participating restaurants throughout Portland.
This year’s Feast Portland is the first edition of what is expected to become an annual event. For more information about the festival, visit www.feastportland.com.
About Widmer Brothers Brewing
What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their 20s, they dreamed of brewing unique interpretations of traditional beer styles. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew and one of the best-selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently brews a variety of beers, including its Rotator IPA Series, Drifter Pale Ale, Nelson Imperial IPA, a high-end Brothers Reserve Series and a full four seasonal lineup. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmerbrothers.com.
Press Release:
(Cleveland, OH) – Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC), Ohio’s most celebrated craft brewer of award-winning lagers and ales, announces its plan to enter the Central Illinois market with Marketplace Selections on October 1, 2012. GLBC’s products are currently available in Chicago. The new Central Illinois territory will expand GLBC’s footprint into areas like Bloomington, Champaign, and Peoria, serving the company’s strategic growth plans. Customers can expect to see GLBC’s year-round family of beers in package and draft, as well as GLBC’s “Taster’s Pack” (a sampler 12-pack).
The new market rollout will involve multiple customer appreciation events, meet-and-greets, tastings, and giveaways throughout the area. GLBC co-owner Pat Conway says of the expansion, “Many breweries choose a strategy of being a mile wide and an inch deep. We prefer to penetrate deeper into existing markets. Expanding our existing Illinois territory is a logical extension of that idea.”
GLBC currently serves 13 states and Washington DC. Founded in 1988 by brothers Pat and Dan Conway as the first craft brewery in the state of Ohio, GLBC is nationally known for its exceptional family of beers including Dortmunder Gold Lager, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, Burning River Pale Ale, Commodore Perry India Pale Ale and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. Visit http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/centralillinois and follow @GLBCinIL on Twitter for exclusive updates and event announcements.
(Brooklyn, NY) – The Brooklyn Brewery sent out an email blast on Wednesday regarding its next draft-only beer release.
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Join us Friday, September 28 for the fourth release from The Worshipful Company of Brewers, where each of our brewers take turns designing their own beer. Worshipful beers will only be served at the Brewery Tasting Room, and compete with each other to possibly graduate to the Brewmaster’s Reserve line.
Our fourth Worshipful beer was designed by Al Duvall (pictured below immersed in his work). A 4.0% ABV Dark Mild ale brewed with crisp pale/black/crystal, chocolate and honey malt, “Dial M for Mild” is a seriously sessionable potable, and will be available on Sep 28 in both Keg & Cask.
The doors to The Packaging Room will open promptly at 5pm. Dial M for Mild will be complimentary from 5-7pm. Brewmaster Garrett Oliver will speak promptly at 6pm.
Press Release:
(Portland, ME) – Shipyard Brewing Company has released the first in its new line of limited edition bourbon barrel aged ales. 2,100 bottles (350 cases) of Bourbon Barrel Aged Double ESB are quickly selling off store shelves in Maine, New Hampshire, Florida, and California.
In October, 350 cases of Bourbon Barrel Aged Smashed Pumpkin will be released in select markets. In December, a limited number of cases of Bourbon Barrel Aged Prelude will also be released.
These brews have all been brewed and carefully cellar-aged in small batches for over 100 days in decanted bourbon barrels. This line of unique beers allows Shipyard’s brew house crew to blend their creativity and passion for beer to create these special, limited release brews.
These 750 milliliter (1 pint 9.4 fluid ounce) bottles are all hand filled, corked, and individually labeled with the bottle number. Recommend serving temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit in brandy-style stemware. The suggested retail price is $14.99 per bottle.
More about Bourbon Barrel Aged Double ESB:
Malt: 2-Row Pale Ale, Crystal and Chocolate
Hops: Progress, Challenger and Goldings
Yeast: Top-fermenting English
Color: Tawny, burnt orange. Fined, but not filtered.
Aroma: Raisins, whisky, nuts
Body: Elegant, silky
Finish: Warming, vanilla, charcoal and lingering
IBU: 78-80
SRM: 29.72
ALC/VOL: 13.2%
More about Bourbon Barrel Aged Smashed Pumpkin:
Malt: Pale, Whole Wheat, Munich
Hops: Willamette and Saphir
Yeast: Top-fermenting English
Color: Honey
Aroma: Oak spiced, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon
Body: Light to medium
Finish: Warming, smooth and velvety
IBU: 35
SRM: 14.85
ALC/VOL: 11.4%
About Shipyard Brewing Company: Founded in 1994, Shipyard Brewing Company is located on the historic waterfront in Portland, Maine and produces 17 varieties of award-winning English style and seasonal beers. Its products are distributed in over 35 states. The Brewers Association ranks Shipyard as the 16th largest craft brewery in the U.S. and 24th overall, making it one of the top 15 rising breweries in the country. In 2011, the brewery produced 129,285 barrels (1,781,260 cases) of its award-winning brews. This marks a 31.7% increase over 2010.
In the 50s, the U.S. Government tested drinkability of beer close to an atomic bomb explosion
Thanks to my friend, science historian Alex Wellerstein, we are now in possession of a 1957 U.S. government study called "The Effect of Nuclear Explosions on Commercially Packaged Beverages," which addresses this very question: After the bomb, can I drink the beer?
More >> NPR.
Tennessee’s 17% beer wholesale tax part of nation’s highest beer taxes
The main reason some of the country’s best beers can’t be had within state borders is because Tennessee has a 17 percent beer wholesale tax. Tennessee, like much of the country, has a three-tier system of alcohol distribution. Producers of alcohol must sell their wares to a wholesaler, which then sells it to a retailer. Brewpubs are exempt from this system in the state, but breweries are not. This results in the somewhat absurd scenario in which breweries that want to sell their own beer on site, or simply provide tastings, must first sell their beer to a wholesale distributor and then buy it back. After paying that 17 percent tax.
More >> Metro Pulse.
Oskar Blues’ founder on rapid growth in new craft breweries
It’s a little scary because I guess we’ve learned a little bit along the way and we’ve learned that draft beer doesn’t make you any money. The entire industry knows that. Then I hear of a guy that is a home brewer and is going to cash in his 401k and open a little craft brewery and start delivering kegs around town. Well, it’s not my place to call him and say, "you’re crazy," but there is going to be some fallout […]
More >> CNBC.
Breweries: Oskar Blues Brewery
Czech hop harvest projected to be down 26 percent
From the ‘better late than never’ department…
The Hop Growers Union of the Czech Republic said preliminary figures show a yield of about 0.95 – 1.00 metric tons per hectare compared with the average of 1.11 metric tons per hectare. They cited freezing temperatures in February and a drought in spring. The country’s overall production is expected to fall by 26 percent to 4,500 metric tons from 6,088 metric tons in 2011.
More >> Yahoo! News.
Mendocino Brewing Q2 sales volume up 15% on Kingfisher, contract brewing growth
North American Operations: Our net sales for the second quarter of 2012 were $4,627,500 compared to $4,135,900 for the same period in 2011, an increase of $491,600, or 11.9%, mainly due to increased sales volume. The sales volume increased to 23,900 barrels in the second quarter of 2012 from 20,900 barrels in the second quarter of 2011; a net increase of 3,000 barrels, or 14.6%. Sales of MBC’s brands decreased by 200 barrels, Kingfisher sales increased by 1,300 barrels due to increased shipments to Canada and sales of contract brands increased by 1,900 barrels due to new contracts.
via SEC 10-Q (released in August).
Breweries: Mendocino Brewing