Drinks News

My girlfriend is the best mover - From the beer store

2011-10-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

Do you ever wonder if you are dating the right person? I think everyone has thoughts wondering if they are with the right person. I know I did. Well, I did until this week. I recently moved into a new apartment on the other side of town. I have moved a lot and each time no one was eager to help. My girlfriend was my hero this time. She helped me with everything. She labeled all ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giff the boxes to make the move easier. She helped unload all of the boxes and organized everything. She called and set up Directtv before the move, so I didn’t miss the football games. She even went out to get food, while I was loading the boxes into one of the cars. She tried so hard to make everything easy and pleasant. No one I have ever been with has gone to so much trouble to help do something no one actually wants to do. All of my doubts about her being the “one” have disappeared.

HISTORIC BREW BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE

2011-09-30T01:54:00.000-07:00

Courage Imperial Russian Stout, a beer last brewed in London in 1982, has
been recreated by Wells and Young’s head brewer,
Jim Robertson, who last crafted the beer in Horselydown, London.

The beer, which has become an iconic and much sought after brew, is being
officially launched at the Great American Beer Festival at the renowned
Falling Rock Taphouse, Denver, on the 30th September.

The beer has been maturing since May this year and Robertson admits
brewing the iconic beer has been a joy. He says: “I was one of the last
brewers to produce this beer in London and it has been an honour, a
privilege and, I must admit, a labour of love for me. This beer is a real
test of my abilities as a brewer – it uses a large amount of raw
ingredients and brewing the beer in an automated brewery has been a real
challenge. But I’m incredibly happy with the final brew, and can not wait
to share it with people at the launch.”

The 10% ABV beer, which is set to be produced yearly by Wells and Young’s,
will be available in the US initially, but beer lovers in the UK need not
worry as there are plans to make Courage Imperial Russian Stout more
widely available in 2012.

Leading beer journalist Melissa Cole has been working closely with Jim and
was instrumental in persuading Jim to take on the challenge to brew this
iconic beer again. She says: “This beer is as steeped in history as it is
in flavour, and I'm thrilled to be just a small part of its story because
I personally know of at least three professional brewers that this beer
inspired to get into the industry, that's how amazing it is.

"I can't wait to hear what people think of it because Jim has done such a
great job of re-creating the unique flavour fingerprint of Courage
Imperial Russian Stout, which is so indulgent it should almost be
illegal!"

Russian Imperial Stout is a strong dark stout dating back to the 18th
century when it was produced at Thrale’s Brewery in London to export to
the court of Catherine II of Russia. The high alcoholic strength was
necessary to prevent the beer from freezing in the temperatures of the
Baltic Sea on its voyage to Russia and along with a high degree of hop it
has the keeping quality of a fine wine.

In 1791 the brewery changed hands and the beer became known as Barclay
Perkins Imperial Stout. When the brewery was taken over by local rivals
Courage the beer was renamed Courage Imperial Russian Stout.

Wells and Young’s Brewing Company acquired the Courage brands in 2007 with
Jim Robertson overseeing the transfer of Courage Best and Directors to the
brewery in Bedford.

Courage Imperial Russian Stout has a rich, espresso body with pear
overtones and an intriguing fresh, smoky, fruity finish. The beer is
brewed with chocolate, amber and pale ale malts, Hersbrucker and Styrian
Goldings hops and accredited natural mineral water from the brewery’s very
own well.

Jim adds: “Although the beer has been maturing since May 2011, if you
really have the patience and the willpower, it is best to let the beer
mature in the bottle for up to thirteen years!”

500 years ago, yeast's epic journey gave rise to lager beer

2011-08-26T06:16:00.000-07:00

MADISON - In the 15th century, when Europeans first began moving people and goods
across the Atlantic, a microscopic stowaway somehow made its way to the caves and
monasteries of Bavaria.

The stowaway, a yeast that may have been transported from a distant shore on a piece
of wood or in the stomach of a fruit fly, was destined for great things. In the dank
caves and monastery cellars where 15th century brewmeisters stored their product,
the newly arrived yeast fused with a distant relative, the domesticated yeast used
for millennia to make leavened bread and ferment wine and ale. The resulting hybrid
- representing a marriage of species as evolutionarily separated as humans and
chickens - would give us lager, the clear, cold-fermented beer first brewed by 15th
century Bavarians and that today is among the most popular - if not the most popular
- alcoholic beverage in the world.

And while scientists and brewers have long known that the yeast that gives beer the
capacity to ferment at cold temperatures was a hybrid, only one player was known:
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast used to make leavened bread and ferment wine and
ale. Its partner, which conferred on beer the ability to ferment in the cold,
remained a puzzle, as scientists were unable to find it among the 1,000 or so
species of yeast known to science.

Now, an international team of researchers believes it has identified the wild yeast
that, in the age of sail, apparently traveled more than 7,000 miles to those
Bavarian caves to make a fortuitous microbial match that today underpins the $250
billion a year lager beer industry.

Writing this week (Aug. 22) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
researchers from Portugal, Argentina and the United States describe the discovery of
a wild yeast in the beech forests of Patagonia, the alpine region at the tip of
South America, that apparently solves the age-old mystery of the origin of the yeast
that made cold-temperature fermentation and lager beer possible.

"People have been hunting for this thing for decades," explains Chris Todd
Hittinger, a University of Wisconsin-Madison genetics professor and a co-author of
the new study. "And now we've found it. It is clearly the missing species. The only
thing we can't say is if it also exists elsewhere (in the wild) and hasn't been
found."

The newfound yeast, dubbed Saccharomyces eubayanus, was discovered as part of an
exhaustive global search, led by the New University of Lisbon's José Paulo Sampaio
and Paula Gonçalves. Aimed squarely at resolving the lager yeast mystery, the
Portuguese team sorted through European yeast collections, combed the scientific
literature and gathered new yeasts from European environments. Their efforts yielded
no candidate species of European origin.

Expanding the search to other parts of the world, however, finally paid dividends
when collaborator Diego Libkind of the Institute for Biodiversity and Environment
Research (CONICET) in Bariloche, Argentina, found in galls that infect beech trees a
candidate species whose genetic material seemed to be a close match to the missing
half of the lager yeast.

"Beech galls are very rich in simple sugars. It's a sugar rich habitat that yeast
seem to love," notes Hittinger.

The yeast is so active in the galls, according to Libkind, that they spontaneously
ferment. "When overmature, they fall all together to the (forest) floor where they
often form a thick carpet that has an intense ethanol odor, most probably due to the
hard work of our new Saccharomyces eubayanus."

The new yeast was hustled off to the University of Colorado School of Medicine,
where a team that included Hittinger, Jim Dover and Mark Johnston sequenced its
genome. "It proved to be distinct from every known wild species of yeast, but was
99.5 percent identical to the non-ale yeast portion of the lager genome," says
Hittinger, now an assistant professor of genetics at UW-Madison.

The Colorado team also identified genetic mutations in the lager yeast hybrid
distinctive from the genome of the wild lager yeast. Those changes - taking place in
a brewing environment where evolution can be amped up by the abundance of yeast -
accumulated since those first immigrant yeasts melded with their ale cousins 500
years ago and have refined the lager yeast's ability to metabolize sugar and malt
and to produce sulfites, transforming an organism that evolved on beech trees into a
lean, mean beer-making machine.

"Our discovery suggests that hybridization instantaneously formed an imperfect
'proto-lager' yeast that was more cold-tolerant than ale yeast and ideal for the
cool Bavarian lagering process," Hittinger avers. "After adding some new variation
for brewers to exploit, its sugar metabolism probably became more like ale yeast and
better at producing beer."

Draft beer for everyone: No man left behind!

2011-08-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

Birdman Brewing Company, LLC strives to grant universal access to the wonderful world of draft beer.

Let’s face it. The world can be a pretty messed up place. The line between the ‘Haves’ and ‘Have Nots’ in the world is widening. The rich get richer. The poor get poorer. At the same time, the Federal deficit is growing out of control, and educational funding is being slashed left and right at the national, state and local levels. We see wars that never seem to end and a surge of national disasters. Crime rates are up, and Wall Street seems just one news story away from a big tumble.

But we are here to reassure you that it’s not all doom and gloom. In this uncertain world around us, there is, in fact, one universal constant that brings hope, optimism, happiness and peace. We’re talking about draft beer, people. Good old, free-flowing draft beer. It’s been curing the world’s ales, er…ails, for literally centuries in one form or another.

So it is with this understanding that Birdman Brewing Company, LLC proposes the No Thirsty Man Left Behind Act of 2011. With undying commitment to the vision of granting draft beer access to every man, woman, and 21-or-older-child, we will strive to source draft beer equipment and to provide it to today’s Every Man at a price and value that is accessible to the masses.

In this messed up world, where politicians choose to serve themselves rather than their constituents, we say that it’s time to serve ourselves. And we can think of nothing better to serve, than a draft beer. No man shall be left behind.

Birdman Brewing Company, LLC is committed to providing draft, kegging and homebrewing equipment at a price that leaves no man behind. www.birdmanbrewing.com

CAMRA - ‘People’s Pint’ to help save community pubs and promote responsible drinking

2011-08-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

Issued: Friday April 30^th 2010CAMRA Great British Beer Festival 2011, Earls Court, London, 2nd – 6th August 2011- www.gbbf.org.uk

At the Great British Beer Festival today, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has welcomed the Government’s decision to introduce a 50% excise duty reduction on beers at or below 2.8% ABV from October 2011 in a move that will allow consumers to enjoy a lower priced and lower strength pint in their local.

CAMRA predicts the introduction of low strength beers – dubbed the ‘People’s Pints’ - in pubs could be a huge boost to the licensed trade in light of new consumer research – out today - showing how 1 in 2 regular pub goers would like to see more pubs selling a low strength beer option.

Building on the success of a campaign which CAMRA has been leading since 2009, further new research has shown how pub goers would like to see more pubs selling low strength beers due to factors such as the ability to help regulate drinking levels, their more refreshing taste, their low calorie content, and their lower cost.

CAMRA estimates that someone drinking a pint in a pub could save 50p per pint if they choose a lower strength beer compared to an average 4% ABV bitter.

Mike Benner, CAMRA’s Chief Executive, said:

‘On the basis of today’s research, CAMRA believes the introduction of a low strength beer option in pubs could be a great selling point for all licensees looking to offer diversity and choice to their customers, as well as making it easier to regulate their drinking.

‘Brewers are proving it is wholly possible to brew a low strength real ale packed with flavour, and as we’ve emphasised before, introducing the ‘People’s Pint’ into pubs is a win-win scenario for both the industry and Government in promoting a responsible drinking message.

‘Lower strength beers also offer a great choice to the health-conscious consumer as they have fewer calories than stronger drinks, so there’s no need to ditch your pint if you are counting the calories and research has shown that they are effective in rehydrating***. With lower strength real ales you have a product that is natural, refreshing, and can be part of a healthy lifestyle.

‘A lower rate of duty on lower strength beers is a win-win scenario for the industry and for Government and CAMRA is urging the Government to call for the EU Excise Directives to be amended to enable beers up to 3.5% to benefit from a reduced rate of duty. This would provide a great boost for community pubs and responsible drinking.’

Lower Strength Taste Test

On the eve of the Great British Beer Festival CAMRA conducted a taste test to find out whether beer experts could differentiate between a low and mid strength real ale. In a tasting consisting of real ales from 2% to 3.5% ABV, even a panel of experienced drinkers did not manage to correctly differentiate the products.

As part of its continued campaigning, CAMRA is calling on the Government to extend the announced duty relief rate up to 3.5% ABV. Bearing in mind 19 different British real ales will be on show throughout the Festival week at or below 3.5% ABV, CAMRA is inviting consumers to come down and see for themselves the amount of flavour packed into low strength beers by Britain’s skilled craftsmen, and conduct their own taste tests.

4th Annual NY Craft Beer Week :: September 16 - September 25, 2011

2011-08-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

New York City's Top Craft Brewers, Celebrity Chefs, Beer Bars and Acclaimed Restaurants Celebrate Beer Week with an Array of Delicious Events & Promotions

Special Events in all Five Boroughs Featuring

Exclusive Press Preview Event at Brooklyn Brewery, 4th Annual Freaktoberfest Boutique Beer & Music Festival, Get Real's All-American Craft Beer & Food Festival, Zagat Sponsored "Beer Pairing Menus," Garrett Oliver's "Oxford Companion to Beer" Launch Event, Celebrity Chef Food & Beer Pairing Dinners, Meet The Brewer Events, Beer Tours, and Much More

Plus a New Official Beer for NY Craft Beer Week: Geektoberfest,
and iPhone & Droid Apps for NY Craft Beer Week

New York, NY - August 3, 2011 - The 4th Annual NY Craft Beer Week rounds up the state's premiere breweries, local celebrity chefs, over 100 beer destinations and 30 renowned restaurants across the City for an amazing line-up of special events happening in all five boroughs from Friday, September 16 - Sunday, September 25, 2011. Celebrated events such as the 4th Annual Freaktoberfest Boutique Beer & Music Festival, Get Real's All-American Craft Beer & Food Festival, and Brewer's Choice will return as part of this year's Beer Week. The week will also feature newly conceived boutique events, specialty food and beer pairing menus, educational tastings and tours, and the release of the official beer of the Week: Geektoberfest. Brewed by Shmaltz Brewing, Captain Lawrence Brewing, and Ithaca Beer Co., Geektoberfest includes a special blend of six barrel-aged beers, and will be available on draft at select Beer Week events and participating craft beer bars across New York City.

New York City beer enthusiasts and foodies alike will have the opportunity to enjoy over 100 craft beer destinations with the much-anticipated NYC Beer Passport 2011, the official NY Craft Beer Week program and resource guide. Passports are $10, and patrons will receive promotional deals and discounts on selections from their favorite craft breweries at participating venues. Each venue will feature one specific brewery, and instead of paying $7 per glass of beer, it's only $3 for the same beer through the Passport program (Passports have an offer for one serving at each bar). A majority of the bars will also offer a one-time $2 off a NY State produced beer through Labor Day 2012 to extend the Passport's value for those consumers unable to visit every bar during the Beer Week (offers may vary). Passports will be available for purchase at www.nycbeerweek.com, at each participating venue, a handful of retail outlets including the Strand Bookstore and others TBA, and in a new digital format as iPhone and Droid apps.

Passports include a calendar of all the featured events with a detailed description of each event, special editorial sections written by influential beer writers and industry insiders, FAQ's about NY Craft Beer Week, a list of all the participating restaurants with Zagat's "Beer Pairing Menus," a list of all the bars and retail outlets involved with NY Craft Beer Week, and much more.

Premiering this year is the NY Craft Beer Week mobile app for the iPhone and Droid, developed by technology partner Seed Labs. Both the free and paid apps will include: instant access to all updated content on nycbeerweek.org, a dedicated page for each venue (highlighting their brewery of choice, special offers and events schedule), a GPS powered map allowing users to find venues by distance, proximity to subway stops and featured brewery along with subway and walking directions, a searchable list of beers, and Foursquare-like functionality that will allow users to compete for fame, glory and prizes by "checking in" at venues and "checking off" beers they drink while simultaneously updating their Facebook and Twitter social networks on their activity. Badges that can be earned through "checking in" range from champions of various beer styles and beers from given geographic areas to conquering the full range of participating venues in each neighborhood. The free version of the app will serve as a companion to the printed passport, while the paid version will sell for $10 and allow users to redeem all of the deals offered in the printed passport.

Please see the initial list below highlighting the special events and promotions happening during the 4th Annual Craft Beer Week. Many more events and additional detailed information will be announced soon.

*Brooklyn Brewery Presents "Exclusive Press Preview Event" (Thursday, August 25, 6:30 pm)
-Come celebrate the release of the NYC Beer Passport. Fellow journalists and all participating breweries, bars, chefs, etc will enjoy locally produced artisan foods paired with craft beers provided by Brooklyn Brewery as well as other breweries.

*NYC Passport 2011
-Passport holders have access to special promotions at 100+ craft beer venues all over New York City (during the Beer Week and throughout the next year)!

*Zagat Sponsored "Beer Pairing Menus"
-Happening throughout the entire Beer Week, Zagat will present three- or four-course beer and food pairing menus at several prestigious restaurants. Each prix fixe menu includes a unique beer pairing for each course with prices varying between the restaurants.

*4th Annual Freaktoberfest Boutique Beer & Music Festival (Southpaw, Park Slope: Friday, September 16, 7 pm, $50)
-Sponsored by Shmaltz Brewing Company, Southpaw, Smuttynose and Beertender Brooklyn, more than 20 brewery owners will pour specialty beers while famous sideshow performers host the event and offer special performances alongside local indie-rock bands, burlesque dancers, and DJs. Freaktoberfest is the official "Opening Night Celebration" of NY Craft Beer Week. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketweb. More info is available at freaktoberfest.blogspot.com.

*Brewer's Choice (City Winery: Thursday, September 22)
-15 Brewmasters present their best beers and favorite food pairings in an intimate walk around tasting event for more than 400 people. More info at www.nycbrewerschoice.com

*Get Real's All-American Craft Beer & Food Festival (Friday, September 23 & Saturday, September 24)
-A one-of-a-kind tasting event, Get Real's All-American Fest will feature 80 of America's finest craft beers on tap, a cask bar with 30 cask-conditioned ales, the tri-state area's best homebrews, food tastings from some of NYC's top restaurants and food artisans, educational seminars, and, new for 2011, the first All-Americas Craft Chocolate Fest featuring some of America's top artisanal chocolate makers. Event details can be found at getrealny.com.

*The Ultimate Brewmaster's Degustation @ Mas (farmhouse) (Date and Price TBA)
-A reprisal of the phenomenal dinner held during the 2010 Beer Week. The special menu for the night at fine dining standout, Mas (farmhouse), will feature six courses prepared using creative reinterpretations of beer, and each course will be paired to a beer from different breweries. Many of the beers being featured during the dinner will have their brewmasters in attendance. Additional details will be announced soon.

*Brewer's Brunch (Sunday, September 25: Location and Price TBA)
-The best way to cap off an extended week of outstanding beers is to kick back with your friends and relive the best moments. With the hair of the dog in full effect, expect to find a broad selection of beers, reinventions of classic brunch cocktails using beer, and a broad gathering of industry luminaries as a leisurely brunch is enjoyed and the Beer Week is brought to a celebrated close. This is the "Official Closing Event" of the Week. Additional details will be announced soon.

*Garrett Oliver's Oxford Companion to Beer Launch Event (Location, Date & Price TBA)
-Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster and award-winning author of The Brewmaster's Table (2005), Garrett Oliver will host a special event celebrating the launch of his new book, Oxford Companion to Beer. Additional details will be announced soon.

*"Meet The Brewer" Events
-Occurring at several participating beer bars throughout Beer Week, top NY craft brewers will offer extensive selections from their beer line-ups, and will offer tasting notes.

Josh Schaffner, Director of NY Craft Beer Week, comments about the upcoming craft beer extravaganza, "Over the past four years, the concept of a Beer Week has progressed from non-existent to the most exciting series of events for the year in every beer drinking city throughout the country. NY Craft Beer Week is no exception; travelers come from throughout the world just to engage with the beer community, while local consumers eagerly anticipate the special events and the arrival of new Passports. It is with great excitement that there are now more beer-centric bars, restaurants and stores participating in the Beer Week than ever before, and a new set of smart phone apps will make the offerings even more accessible to all."

Brooklyn Brewery's Brewmaster Garret Oliver says, "NYC Beer Week is a great opportunity for people to check out the creativity and talent of New York's brewers. New York City is famous for having the best of everything, and NYC Beer Week is going to show off America's most diverse and exciting beer scene."

NY Craft Beer Week is proud to have Brooklyn Brewery, Shmaltz Brewing Co, and Empire Brewing Co as sponsoring breweries, Zagat Survey as a food partner, Just Food as a charitable partner, and Ace Hotel as the official hotel partner. Ace Hotel is a 12-story boutique hotel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan with 260 rooms and is offering a Beer Week rate of 15% off on their normal room reservations during the Beer Week. Reservations can be made using this link: http://acehotel.com/beerweek .

About NY Craft Beer Week
NY Craft Beer Week is a ten-day celebration of all things craft beer in the five boroughs of New York City. It is as much about civic pride as it is about appreciating the splendors available to us and celebrating the people who make it all happen. NY Craft Beer Week's focus is to fuse libation education with community appreciation, providing opportunities to discover new favorite breweries, beers, bars, stores and restaurants for enjoyment throughout the year. Learn more at: www.nycbeerweek.com.

About the Official Beer of NY Craft Beer Week: Geektoberfest
Brewed by Shmaltz Brewing, Captain Lawrence Brewing, and Ithaca Beer Co., Geektoberfest will feature a blend of six barrel-aged beers. All of the beers are originally brewed in the state of New York, and Geektoberfest will only be available on draft during NY Craft Beer Week. The beer represents each brewery and the folks at NY Craft Beer Week's exuberant appreciation of the mecca they call home, New York.

Can Traditional Pub Games save the Great British Pub?

2011-08-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

Issued: Friday April 30^th 2010CAMRA Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London, August 2nd – 6th 2011, www.gbbf.org.uk

New research issued today at the Great British Beer Festival by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale suggests the return of traditional pub games like Shove Ha’penny, Bar Billiards, Skittles and Darts would encourage more young adults to visit pubs at a time when 25 pubs across Britain are closing every week. The revival of Traditional Pub Games campaign has been supported by World Darts Champions Adrian Lewis and Keith Deller.

The independently commissioned research highlighted that the numbers of regular pub-going (visiting pubs once a week or more) young adults aged 18-24 years old has been on the decline over the last 5 years, seeing figures drop from 36% in 2006 to 25% in 2011.

In recent years many pubs have been dominated by Gaming Machines that customers have to pay for, leaving consumers with less disposable income to spend at the bar. But new research shows young adults are demanding the return of traditional pub games which would result in more 18-24 years olds using pubs.

49% of adults aged 18-24 who had heard of a traditional pub game* suggested they would ‘Very likely’ or ‘Quite likely’ visit pubs more often if free traditional pub games were made available.

Colin Valentine, CAMRA National Chairman, said:

‘Pubs have had it tough in recent years with high increases in beer tax, below cost pricing in supermarkets, introduction of the smoking ban, and of course Britain’s economic problems all playing a part in a disturbing 25 pubs closing every week.

‘Our new research shows there is a worrying trend in younger adults visiting pubs less often. The pub industry needs to be working together on a plan to attract these groups back into pubs. Drinking in pubs gets young adults off the streets, and providing safe environments for people to enjoy alcohol is good for society.’

‘The research highlighted that one fun way of attracting 18-24 year olds back into pubs could be to offer free Traditional Pub Games. These games are part of our heritage and can be enjoyed by large numbers of people at no cost. This means more money can be spent at the bar which helps pubs and breweries.’

‘Of course pubs get a cut from Gaming Machines, but I am sure more profits can be made through a variety of food and drink.’

Current World Darts Champion Adrian Lewis and legendary 1983 winner Keith Deller have thrown their support behind this campaign.

Adrian Lewis said:

‘I am 100% behind CAMRA’s campaign to bring back great traditional games in to the pub like my sport darts. I started off playing darts with my family in my local pub in Stoke on Trent and through this met a lot of friends playing in the pub team. This has helped me fulfil my dream to become World Champion. I urge everyone to get behind CAMRA’s campaign to help keep our traditional games alive in the Great British pub.’

Keith Deller commented:

‘I have been a Professional darts player for 30 years. When I started playing darts there was a dartboard in every pub. The great thing about pub games is it gives people who are on their own the chance to get out and make new friends in pubs. We should all get behind CAMRA on this campaign and support what is great about being British and keep the pubs alive.’

Great British Beer Festival offers Traditional Pub Games to visitors

The Great British Beer Festival, 2-6 August, will host a large number of traditional pub games for pub-goers and licensees to try including Long Alley Skittles, Roll the Barrel, Shuffle Board, Shut the Box, Northamptonshire Skittles and Table Skittles.

John Cryne of the Festival Games stand, said:

‘Traditional Pub Games are very popular at the Great British Beer Festival. They look simple to play but are challenging and very addictive once you get started. We would encourage everyone who visits the festival to have a go and if they enjoy them return to their local pub and encourage the licensee to try them out on the local customers. If people are not sure where to start, they can contact CAMRA and we can offer advice.’

WITH ONE OF THE CITY’S LARGEST SELECTION OF CANNED BEERS, PERCY STREET BARBECUE WILL OFFER SPECIAL “CAN OF WHEAT” MENU

2011-08-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Tuesday, August 23, Chef Erin O’Shea will offer a special “Can of Wheat” beer pairing menu at Percy Street Barbecue (900 South Street, 215-625-8510). Percy Street boasts one of the city’s largest canned beers list, with over 60 selections of craft and domestic beers. For “Can of Wheat” Chef O’Shea will focus on wheat beers, perfect for summer sipping, and pair them with four courses of her Southern-inspired cuisine. The menu will be served beginning at 5 p.m., and throughout the evening, for $50 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Reservations are recommended.

“Canned beers are no longer just “lawn mower” beers, many craft brewers are offering complex and interesting beers in a can. For this special menu, we wanted to take the best, hot weather beers from our list and pair them with down-home, southern cooking,” says Chef O’Shea.

The “Can of Wheat” four-course menu will include:

1st - Open faced Country Ham Sandwich with heirloom tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, paired with Sly Fox Royal Weiss, a fruity, Bavarian style wheat beer;

2nd- Rock Shrimp with Butter Beans, cantaloupe salad and crispy chicken skin, paired with 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon, a crisp, dry and refreshing American wheat beer brewed with real watermelon;

3rd - Mushroom stuffed Turkey Breast with creamed collards, sweet corn and field peas, paired with Wild Onion Summer Wit, a Belgian-style wheat beer spiced with orange and coriander;

4th - Kentucky Fried Peaches with black pepper ice cream and a sugar wafer, paired with Avery White Rascal, an unfiltered Belgian White Ale.

Co-owned by Steven Cook and Michael Solomonov, Percy Street Barbecue is the city’s premier restaurant for smoked meats and down-home sides, all served in an austere, Texas-inspired location on the city’s lively, eclectic South Street corridor. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Percy Street “an A,” praising the flavorful smoked meats and simple, straightforward presentations that the team developed with a barbecue tour of Texas prior to opening. Chef Erin O’Shea is one of the country’s best – and only – female barbecue pit mistresses, and has been featured in Bon Appetit magazine.

Percy Street Barbecue serves dinner seven days a week and is open for all-day dining on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 11:30 am. For more information, or to reserve a spot for “Can of Wheat”, please call (215) 625-8510 or visit www.percystreet.com and follow them on twitter @percystreet.

Great British Beer Festival celebrates 5 year real ale revolution

2011-08-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

CAMRA Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London, August 2nd – 6th 2011, www.gbbf.org.uk

On the day Britain’s biggest beer festival opens its doors to an anticipated 65,000 people over 5 days, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is delighted to report new research showing how the real ale industry has grown exponentially over 5 years.

New consumer research out today has shown how in just 5 years, the number of drinkers trying real ale, Britain’s National Drink, for the first time, has risen by a staggering 40%, creating a whole new market for good beer to thrive, in stark comparison to when CAMRA was formed in 1971 and a handful of global brewers dominated the market.

Such an increase comes at a time when the real ale brewing sector has welcomed over 200 new breweries into the market place, with the market growing by over 25% in the process. There are now over 800 breweries operational across the UK.

CAMRA’s research is released at a time when its flagship event, the Great British Beer Festival, bids farewell to Earls Court after a 5-year stint at the exhibition centre. At the Festival this week, CAMRA is showcasing over 300 brewers from across Britain, which in 2006 would’ve constituted half the brewers in the country!

Colin Valentine, CAMRA National Chairman, said:

‘It’s strange to think that at the turn of the 21st century, the real ale market was in decline, and many predicted a further downturn in fortunes. Yet in the present day, real ale brewing is recognised as one of the most vibrant areas of the small business sector, and we now enjoy more brewers than at any time since the end of the Second World War.

‘There are promising times ahead for the industry when a new era of discerning consumers are demanding quality products that are locally produced and represent good value for money. The fact many brewers in the current climate are reporting record like for like sales increases shows this renewed interest is not about to end, and the Great British Beer Festival is the showcase for the present growth of the industry.’

London leads charge as one of UK’s fastest growing brewing scenes

2011-08-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

CAMRA Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London, August 2nd – 6th 2011, www.gbbf.org.uk

On the same day the world’s biggest pub comes to London’s Earls Court, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is delighted to report that London’s historic brewing scene has been revived with findings showing the number of commercial breweries operating in the capital has doubled since the end of 2006.

New findings come at a time when CAMRA has released a comprehensive guide to the capital’s licensed outlets and brewers entitled London’s Best Beer, Pubs & Bars, by London beer writer Des de Moor. To celebrate this launch, CAMRA polled Londoners on where they thought was the best area for quality pubs, with the South East of the city coming out on top.

While 150 years ago London was the brewing capital of the world - with the city’s brewers pioneering industrial brewing, inventing the first two global beer styles and sending their products to every inhabited continent on the planet - the city was anything but a brewing superpower in October 2006 when Young’s (then of Battersea) merged with Wells of Bedford, leaving a record low 7 commercial breweries, with only two of any significant size.

Fast forward 5 years to the present day, and with 14 commercial breweries and at least 5 breweries reported to be in development, London is once again awash with exciting new local brews filling the capital’s 6,000 pubs. Such growth comes at a time when there are now over 800 brewers operating in total across the UK.

Des de Moor, London resident and author of London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars, said:

‘Although London’s groundswell of exciting new brewers may not yet reach the production levels of the post-Victorian era when in 1905 the capital’s brewers produced almost a billion pints, the city’s brewing industry is once again revered for its innovation and craft.

‘For too long many Londoners haven’t had a brewery in their locality, and yet in the space of 5 years, each area of the great city now has a brewer to call its own.

‘With the growth of brewing in the capital, a new breed of discerning, savvy consumers have emerged, with beer drinkers who appreciate quality, provenance, craftsmanship, natural ingredients, flavour and character above the bland, processed conformity of international brands.’

Some of the new success stories of London’s brewing scene include small, artisanal brewers such as Kernel, based under a busy railway arch in Bermondsey. After a first commercial brew in late 2009, the producer has gone from strength to strength, now looking to produce over 14 different beers and 950hl (167,169 pints) by the end of the year.

In contrast, the loss of Young’s brewery in Wandsworth is now a distant memory after ex-City accountant Duncan Sambrook came to the area, setting up Sambrook’s brewery in 2008. Today, 2 core beers and 2 seasonals make up the Sambrook’s range, with 250 pubs supplied and 8000hl (1,407,744 pints) produced each year.

Duncan Sambrook, co-owner of Sambrook’s, and one of the founding members of the London Brewers Alliance (LBA), a body comprising brewers in the capital, said:

‘It was at the Great British Beer Festival at Earls Court back in 2006 myself and friends hatched a plan to bring brewing back to the centre of London, and when we first started up, there were more outlets crying out for quality local beer than we originally thought. In fact, the London pub market’s so big it has the potential to support another boom in the next 5 years, so long as London’s beers retain a high quality and continue to push the boundaries.’

U.P. Fall Beer Fest Returns to Marquette’s Mattson Lower Harbor Park

2011-08-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Michigan Brewers Guild Hosts 3rd Annual Event – Saturday, September 10

(Lansing, Mich) – Nearly 30 Michigan craft breweries will gather at Mattson Lower Harbor Park on Saturday, September 10 for the 3rd Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival where attendees will be able to sample from more than 200 different locally-crafted beers – along with food prepared by area restaurants and live, local entertainment.

This is one of four annual festivals presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild. Festival hours run from 1-6pm; Guild Enthusiast members are admitted one hour early – at Noon.

MBG Enthusiast membership is $35 per person, per year and may be purchased in advance online at www.michiganbrewersguild.businesscatalyst.com/membership.html or on site prior to the opening of the festival. Benefits include discounts at participating member breweries, a free t-shirt proclaiming your enthusiasm for Michigan Beer and VIP status at the four official festivals, with one hour early admission.

The Michigan Brewers Guild festivals are eco-friendly events, with cups, plates, cutlery and napkins all made of biodegradable materials. Festival attendees are asked to aid in the proper disposal of all refuse throughout the festival at one of the many recycling stations placed around the grounds, helping to reduce the overall waste sent to landfills to less than 10%. Volunteers will be on hand to assist at the recycling stations, making sure all the recyclables are properly sorted from the food items.

Tickets for the U.P. Fall Beer Fest are $30 in advance ($35 at the gate, if tickets are still available) and are available online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org, at participating member breweries and at select retail outlets. For a list of ticket outlets and other festival updates visit www.mbgmash.org. Each ticket includes 15 drink tokens, each redeemable for a 3-ounce sample of beer. Additional tokens are available inside the festival grounds, for 50 cents each.

The festival is held, rain or shine. Festival attendees must be 21 years of age or older and have valid ID to enter. Designated Drivers are encouraged and DD tickets will be available on line and at the gate for $5 each. Designated Drivers are not permitted to drink beer.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Pilsner Urquell Unveils Master Home Brewer Competition

2011-08-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Competitions in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Chicago to award trips to Prague

CHICAGO (April 7, 2011) – In 1842, Josef Groll brewed the world’s first golden beer and revolutionized an entire industry. Pilsner Urquell, translated as “original source,” remains a revered beer, both for its importance in beer history, as well as its intricate brewing process, including use of soft water, Saaz hops, pale malts and triple decoction.

Pilsner Urquell is inviting home brewers throughout the U.S. to take their shot at brewing a Czech-style pilsner, aiming for the standard Groll first brewed nearly 170 years ago. Three winners have the chance to earn trips for two to Plzen, Czech Republic this fall to tour the historic brewery, as well as attend the International Master Bartender Competition in Prague.

The Pilsner Urquell Master Home Brewer competitions will take place in New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago this August, inviting home brewers from across the country to take on this challenging beer style.

Each competition will feature a panel of experienced judges, including Vaclav Berka, the Pilsner Urquell Brew Master in Plzen. Contestants will need to bring along three 10 to 14-ounce bottles of their home brew. The judges will sample each beer and select winners based on the following criteria:

· 70% -- Accuracy to style (Czech-style pilsner)
· 15% -- Cleanliness (absence of off flavors)
· 15% -- Artistic impression

“Home brewing is becoming more and more popular, and these brewers keep getting more talented, so we’re excited to offer this challenging opportunity,” said Berka, who is only the sixth Pilsner Urquell Brew Master since 1842. “The competitors will need to brew carefully, but the potential prize, including their wonderful batch of beer, should be a strong incentive.”

The dates for the Pilsner Urquell Master Home Brewer competition are:

· New York, NY -- August 8, 2011
· Washington, D.C. -- August 10, 2011
· Chicago, IL -- August 12, 2011

Pilsner Urquell is limiting the competition in each city to the first 50 home brewers who reserve a spot by emailing their name, phone number and competition city to PilsnerUrquellUSA@gmail.com. Pilsner Urquell will follow up directly with contestants to share the exact time and location of the competitions. More information and official rules are available at Facebook.com/PilsnerUrquellUSA .

No purchase necessary. Contestants must be 21 or older, and a legal resident of the United States (except CA). Void in CA and where prohibited by law. Begins at or about on 04/04/11 and ends on 08/012/11. Log on to Facebook.com/PilsnerUrquellUSA for entry details and for official rules.

About Pilsner Urquell

Created in Plzen, Czech Republic in 1842, Pilsner Urquell revolutionized the brewing industry as the world’s first golden beer, creating a new style of beer that became known as pilsner, named after its city of origin. For more than a century and a half, Pilsner Urquell has been offering discerning beer drinkers a balanced and refreshing beer that has become the standard against which all others are compared. Nearly 90 percent of the world’s beer is a variation of the original golden beer, making pilsner the most popular beer style in the world and further establishing Pilsner Urquell as a true original. For more information visit www.pilsnerurquell.com.

For more information, contact:
Thomas Ryan 312-496-2970 Thomas.Ryan2@TenthAndBlake.com

Get the beers in Stephen Fry!

2011-07-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

Stephen Fry named ‘Person I would most like to have a pint with at the Great British Beer Festival’

Stephen Fry has been voted the most popular person to have a pint of real ale with at the Great British Beer Festival, which starts on Tuesday August 2nd.

Over 600 people voted for the person they would most like to enjoy a pint with at the beer festival and Mr Fry stood head and shoulders over other TV celebrities, politicians, royalty, sportsman and other illustrious figures.

Some of the reasons for why beer lovers chose the well educated TV legend included:

“The quipping would be as good as the quaffing.”

“He's a very knowledgeable man who would appreciate the delights of Real Ale”

“His wit and humour would make it a perfect accompaniment to a perfect pint of Ale!”

“Because he would give an anecdote whilst supping a good pint.”

Unsurprisingly, the charismatic Oliver Reed was voted 2nd. Top Gear presenter James May was voted 3rd, with Winston Churchill and Brian Blessed making up the top 5.

Tony Jerome, CAMRA Head of Marketing, said:

‘We thought we would have some fun to find out who real ale lovers would like to have a pint with at the showcase for British real ale. It was not a surprise to see such an interesting man like Stephen Fry coming out on top.

‘I am sure there would be some fascinating debate between Messrs Fry, Reed, May, Churchill and Blessed over a few British ales!’

The women with the highest votes were Kate Middleton and Lady Gaga, who shared 11th spot with David Cameron.

The 600 people who voted were entered into a prize draw to win pairs of tickets to the Great British Beer Festival. To view some of the other suggestions from the lucky winners visit - gbbf.camra.org.uk/blogpost606

OSKAR BLUES BECOMES MOUNTAIN HEADQUARTERS FOR BREWSKEE- BALL CRAZE: "WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU GUYS SOME REAL BALLS!"

2011-07-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

LONGMONT, Colo…Oskar Blues has formed the official OB Brewskee-Ball League, creating the Rocky Mountain arm of the National BrewSkee-Ball League and earning the Oskar Blues Brewery “some real balls.”

Brewskee-Ball http://brewskeeball.com is a sanctioned competitive sport currently played in New York City, San Francisco, Wilmington, N.C., Austin, TX, and now coloRADo.

The Skeeson starts October 3rd, and games will be played each Monday night at 6pm at the Tasty Weasel Taproom in Longmont. The season will go until every team has played each other. The league caps out at 18 three-person teams, and the cost to join is $60. The champs will get FREE entry into the next Skeeson. To sign up, players can email ob@brewskeeball.com. The Tasty Weasel will be offering “Skee fo Free” nights leading up to the tournament, stay tuned to the Oskar Blues facebook page for details: http://www.facebook.com/BrewedAndCannedByOskarBluesBrewery

Created by the owners of Full Circle Bar (http://fullcirclebar.com ) in Brooklyn, NY, Eric Harris Pavony and Evan Tobias re-invented the game of Skee-Ball for adults in a modern and exciting way. Since establishing the first-ever competitive Skee-Ball league in New York City in 2005, Brewskee-Ball has fashioned a loyal network of teams, players and fans across the country.

Dale Katechis, founder of Oskar Blues, got the BrewSkee bug on a recent visit to FCB. Dale, brewery president John Bryant, and a few other OB team members returned from their experience determined to bring BrewSkee-Ball to Colorado. “They talked about brew, and we talked about Skee,” says founder Eric Pavony. “It was clear they had the same obsession with their beer that we had with Brewskee-Ball.”

FCB has garnered the respect and following of craft beer lovers as its selection of American craft beer in cans continues to grow, making Oskar Blues a natural choice for their Rocky Mountain connection. “We were attracted to the idea of canned beers because we had no basement and didn’t know what to do with empty bottles,” says Pavony. “Plus, we liked good beer and by 2009 there was plenty available in lightweight, easily recyclable and portable aluminum cans. We soon found out the many other benefits of the can: they chill faster, keep beer fresher and they look pretty awesome on a magnetic chalkboard. We were in love.” This affection has made FCB's canned beer collection one of the most comprehensive in NYC with nearly 70 different American craft beers. “We were already big fans of Oskar Blues, and their beers were among the first we selected. FCB proudly serves the entire Oskar Blues can arsenal.”

FCB is complete with a professional Skee-Ball stadium where league and tournaments are played. There is a Hall of Fame, Wall of Champions, stadium seating and the bar itself is made from old Skee-Ball lane parts. Friends and fans can also watch all the Brewskee-Ball action on a TV above the bar, which shows live video of the stadium at all times.

Wine Bar - From the beer store

2011-07-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

There’s nothing better than coming home at night to a nice, tall glass of good red wine. AM I right? That’s what my husband and I had been saying for years and I don’t know why it took so long to click, but we finally realized it was time we open up our own wine bar! We found a spot near our house, went through all the legal hurdles involved with getting a liquor license and contracted with some suppliers in the area. I talked to an interior designer and my husband went to Bank-Card-Processing.com to look into credit card processing – it didn’t take long before we were all set! We love owning our own business and there’s never any shortage of great wine for us to try…all our friends have started hanging out in the bar and I sure wish we’d just had the courage to do this about a decade sooner! Making money is great but making our own money is even better – all hail the entrepreneurs!

Become.com - From the beer store

2011-06-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

As I warned you, here comes the first post from the beer store. Today we're interested in Become.com. The website is a retail outlet that features a variety of consumer goods. Let's take a look at a few.

First up we have glass top dining tables. This offering from the home and garden category at Become.com features the sort of furniture that you might expect. Dining room tables with glass tops so you can see who is playing footsie with whom. Devious devices for uncovering illicit affairs but devilishly difficult to keep clean. I like a glass top myself; it's always fun to try to see who is fooling around with whom.

Next up we have the vinyl tablecloth category. This is perfect if you got a glass top dining room table but suddenly found that you have a few connections that you want to keep secret. So, when the neighbors come over trying to hide their affairs, you keep the tablecloth off but, when the office staff comes over for a pool party, you put the tablecloth back on to hide your own connections, right?

Regardless of how all these affairs turn out, wouldn't it be great to collapse in a dish chair? If your glass top table winds up getting you caught in an illicit affair, what better place than a chair that encourages bad posture to nurse your wounds with a scotch or four? And, if you happen to get away with it, well, is there a better place to celebrate with a beer or six than exactly the same chair?

Big Bear Is A Winter Wonder Land

2011-05-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Author of this post is Solomon Dejesus

Being more of a summer kind of person, it usually takes a lot for me to hop in a car or plane and find my way to sub-zero temperatures and frohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifstbite. I finally had a group of friends convince me that the positives outweighed the negatives and to take a weekend trip to frigid Big Bear. We packed up, turned on the home security alarm from deals adt Spring, piled in the car, and headed off on the 10 hour drive to Big Bear.

Much to my surprise, it was an unforgettable vacation and we all had a blast. There were tons of stops along the way in iconic mountain villages with amazing food. Once we arrived we found out that there had been a recent blizzard and the entire landscape was covered in feet of snow. Our cabin was perched right on the mountain, within walking distance of the chair lifts. The first day we were able to relax and then hit the slopes early the next morning. I may have taken a few tumbles and felt like my toes nearly froze off, but I think I changed my mind on enjoying winter vacations deep in the mountains.

Upcoming sponsored posts

2011-05-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

I really don't pay too much attention to this blog. It basically just a place where I can post the press releases that I get emailed to me because of my beer site at About.com. I don't know if many people actually read it or just stumble across it via search engines. I suspect the latter but, just in case someone out there is a faithful reader of Drinks News, I wanted to warn you that some sponsored posts are coming up. This will be totally off topic and seem out of character for the blog. I will label each one of these sponsored entries with "From the beer store" to set them apart from the rest.

New Beer Brings the Best of Two Regions Together

2011-04-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery and Kansas City, Missouri’s Boulevard Brewing Company collaborate on a White I.P.A.

25 April 2011 - Bend, Oregon– Deschutes Brewery and Boulevard Brewing Company today announced that they will release two versions of a new collaboration beer later this summer. The style, which is described by brewmasters Steven Pauwels of Boulevard and Larry Sidor of Deschutes as a White I.P.A., combines Boulevard’s expertise in making Belgian-style witbiers with Deschutes’ mastery in brewing hop-forward ales. The ale will be made at both breweries and released simultaneously throughout each of their distribution territories.

“To say we’re excited about working with Deschutes on this project would be an understatement,” said Pauwels. “We have a lot of respect for Larry and his team, and we look forward to sharing our knowledge with them through the collaborative process.”

Pauwels and Sidor began exploring the idea of brewing together after crossing paths several times at craft beer events around the country. The brewers discovered they had much in common in their brewing philosophies, both pushing the envelope whenever possible, yet remaining dedicated to the time-honored traditions that keep them consistent and grounded.

“It will be interesting to see how similar the brews turn out despite being brewed more than 1,600 miles apart,” said Sidor. “That’s part of the fun of working together with a brewery like Boulevard. We both use the latest technologies but also stay true to traditional brewing ingredients and methods.”

Despite both beers being characterized as White I.P.A.s, there will be differences in packaging and in how they will ultimately taste. Brewed at their Bend, Oregon facility, Deschutes’ version will be the second beer in their new Conflux collaboration series and will be distributed throughout their 18-state region in kegs and 22-ounce bottles. Their first collaboration, brewed with Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, is still aging in wood barrels.

Boulevard’s version, christened Collaboration No. 2, will be distributed throughout their 20-state region as part of the Smokestack Series seasonal lineup in kegs and 750ml bottles. The brewery’s first collaboration, a partnership with distinguished Belgian brewer Jean-Marie Rock, was released in January of 2010.

About Deschutes Brewery
Located on the banks of the Deschutes River in beautiful Bend, Oregon, Deschutes Brewery is in the business of daring people to expect more from their beer. That’s why we started off back in 1988, selling Black Butte Porter at a time when others were sure a dark beer would never catch on. Our brewers love to buck convention, especially if it makes someone nervous. For us, however, the highest praise is a raised glass and a toast of “Bravely Done!” For more information about Deschutes Brewery and its courageously crafted beers, please visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/Deschutes.Brewery or on Twitter at Twitter.com/DeschutesBeer.

About Boulevard Brewing Company

Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard’s portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers is available in fourteen states, primarily in the Midwest, with selected offerings distributed in an additional six states. For more information about Boulevard visit www.boulevard.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/Boulevard or on Twitter at twitter.com/Boulevard_Beer.

First American Hombrewers Association Rally in Rolla, MO

2011-04-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

ROLLA, MO-The Public House Brewing Company, located at 600 N. Rolla St. in downtown Rolla, is excited to announce its first-ever AHA Rally to be held on Saturday, April 23rd, from 1-4pm at the brewery. This event, held in partnership with the American Homebrewers Association, is designed to give homebrewers as well as beer enthusiasts a chance to learn more about brewing beer at home, see demonstrations of various brewing methods, and participate in a Q&A session with Public House owners and brewers.

Event participants will have a chance to taste all four of Public House's core beers: Public House Kolsch, Bird and Baby Mild Ale, Public House American Pale Ale, and Revelations Stout, as well as a special seasonal beer available for the first time that the brewers, Jason Stacy and Rod Murray, have brewed especially to commemorate the brewery's first time hosting an AHA rally.

Co-owners Josh Goodridge and Josh Stacy are thrilled to debut this new brew to the beer-loving public. However, they are keeping the specific style of beer under wraps until the Rally. "People will have to come to the Rally if they want to be the first to taste this new beer. We can tell you, though, if you love good beer, it will definitely be worth your time," Stacy said. "Join us for an afternoon of education, fun, and most importantly...Beer!" Goodridge added.

The event is free to AHA members and admission for non-members is $33 (family discounts available), which includes an AHA membership, a subscription to Zymurgy (the publication dedicated to homebrewing), access to all of the day's events, door prizes, and much more. Space is limited so please RSVP by going to www.publichousebrewery.com and clicking on the Rally link, followed by the "RSVP Now!" link, or call (573) 426-BEER / 426-2337.

Pilsner Urquell Unveils Master Home Brewer Competition

2011-04-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

Competitions in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Chicago to award trips to Prague

CHICAGO (April 7, 2011) - In 1842, Josef Groll brewed the world's first golden beer and revolutionized an entire industry. Pilsner Urquell, translated as "original source," remains a revered beer, both for its importance in beer history, as well as its intricate brewing process, including use of soft water, Saaz hops, pale malts and triple decoction.

Pilsner Urquell is inviting home brewers throughout the U.S. to take their shot at brewing a Czech-style pilsner, aiming for the standard Groll first brewed nearly 170 years ago. Three winners have the chance to earn trips for two to Plzen, Czech Republic this fall to tour the historic brewery, as well as attend the International Master Bartender Competition in Prague.

The Pilsner Urquell Master Home Brewer competitions will take place in New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago this August, inviting home brewers from across the country to take on this challenging beer style.

Each competition will feature a panel of experienced judges, including Vaclav Berka, the Pilsner Urquell Brew Master in Plzen. Contestants will need to bring along three 10 to 14-ounce bottles of their home brew. The judges will sample each beer and select winners based on the following criteria:
* 70% -- Accuracy to style (Czech-style pilsner)
* 15% -- Cleanliness (absence of off flavors)
* 15% -- Artistic impression

"Home brewing is becoming more and more popular, and these brewers keep getting more talented, so we're excited to offer this challenging opportunity," said Berka, who is only the sixth Pilsner Urquell Brew Master since 1842. "The competitors will need to brew carefully, but the potential prize, including their wonderful batch of beer, should be a strong incentive."

The dates for the Pilsner Urquell Master Home Brewer competition are:
* New York, NY -- August 8, 2011
* Washington, D.C. -- August 10, 2011
* Chicago, IL -- August 12, 2011

Pilsner Urquell is limiting the competition in each city to the first 50 home brewers who reserve a spot by emailing their name, phone number and competition city to PilsnerUrquelUSA@gmail.com. Pilsner Urquell will follow up directly with contestants to share the exact time and location of the competitions. More information and official rules are available at Facebook.com/PilsnerUrquellUSA
.

No purchase necessary. Contestants must be 21 or older, and a legal resident of the United States (except CA). Void in CA and where prohibited by law. Begins at or about on 04/04/11 and ends on 08/012/11. Log on to Facebook.com/PilsnerUrquellUSA for entry details and for official rules.

About Pilsner Urquell
Created in Plzen, Czech Republic in 1842, Pilsner Urquell revolutionized the brewing industry as the world's first golden beer, creating a new style of beer that became known as pilsner, named after its city of origin. For more than a century and a half, Pilsner Urquell has been offering discerning beer drinkers a balanced and refreshing beer that has become the standard against which all others are compared. Nearly 90 percent of the world's beer is a variation of the original golden beer, making pilsner the most popular beer style in the world and further establishing Pilsner Urquell as a true original. For more information visit www.pilsnerurquell.com .

Industry bodies show support for CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide

2011-03-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Cask Marque and SIBA to sponsor CAMRA flagship title for 2012 edition

Issued: Wednesday March 30th 2011
Status: For immediate use

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is delighted to announce that both Cask Marque and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) have pledged their support to its best-selling title, the Good Beer Guide, by sponsoring the forthcoming 2012 edition, due for release in September.

CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide is now in its 39th edition and remains a wholly independent guide to the best pubs in Great Britain, as well as the authoritative lowdown on every brewery currently operational across the nation. Pub entries for the Good Beer Guide are chosen by CAMRA’s 120,000-strong membership on the quality of real ale served at the bar.

The 2012 edition represents the 9th time industry watchdog Cask Marque has backed the Guide, with the body sponsoring the pubs section. Meanwhile, the forthcoming edition will be SIBA’s first sponsorship of the CAMRA title, and they will be putting their name to the breweries section. SIBA’s backing of CAMRA’s best selling Guide comes at a time when 54% of drinkers have now tried Britain’s National Drink, and Nick Stafford, SIBA Commercial and Finance Director, said:

‘SIBA represents most local brewers in the UK and they are proving to be a dynamic part of cask ale growth. Real ale consumers have always appreciated local artisans in brewing and SIBA wishes to thank them for their support through sponsorship of this iconic publication.’

Paul Nunny, Cask Marque Director, also expressed his commitment to the Guide. He said:

‘We are pleased once again to sponsor the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. This is our 9th year of our involvement and it helps us in delivering a beer quality message to all Cask Ale drinkers.’

The Good Beer Guide 2012 is due for release in September, and as part of its role to encourage more consumers to try real ale, is set to increase promotion of the Cyclops tasting scheme, an industry accredited initiative which has seen over 200 breweries sign up since its introduction in 2006.

Roger Protz, CAMRA Good Beer Guide editor, said:

‘The Guide is all about attracting people old and new to try the best British beer inside the best 4,500 pubs in the land. Thanks to the support of two of the industry’s foremost campaigners for quality in the beer and pub industry, we are able to continue this mission and we look forward to seeing what the readers think of our new edition of the Guide in September.’

Shiner Beers Welcomes New Jersey

2011-03-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

Texas’ Oldest Brewery Becomes New Jersey’s Newest Craft Star

Shiner, Texas – March 30, 2011 – The Spoetzl Brewery, the country’s fourth largest craft brewer and maker of the legendary Shiner Bock, will begin distribution in New Jersey April 1. The first public appearance will be at the 2011 Atlantic City Beer Festival, with distribution to retailers and on-premise locations across the state beginning the same week.

Shiner will be represented by five leading beer distributors in the state: Hub City Distributing Co. in Lawrenceville, Kohler Distributing Co. in Hawthorne, Kramer Beverage Company in Hammonton, Peerless Beverage Co. in Union and Shore Point Distributing in Freehold.

The people of Shiner are very excited to see their beer in New Jersey. Shiner has been produced since 1909 in the small Texas town (population 2,070) of the same name. Every drop of Shiner beer is still brewed in the town by only 66 brewery workers.

The brewery gets its name from Kosmos Spoetzl, the Bavarian-born and trained brewmaster who was brought to Shiner by the German and Czech immigrants who settled the town and missed the beer they had left behind in their home countries.

“We’re an independent brand with an obsession for quality and a love of our craft; it’s been that way ever since the brewery opened 102 years ago” said Jimmy Mauric, Brewmaster for Spoetzl. “We’re proud to now be in New Jersey.”

Shiner is known for crafting beers true to the brewery’s German and Czech roots but also for creating new brews combining that heritage with innovative twists.

The first Shiner beers in New Jersey will be Shiner Bock, one of the top selling craft beers in the country and the brewery’s flagship brand, first brewed in 1917 and Shiner 102, a unique double wheat beer that is this year’s special anniversary beer. Also available will be the Family Reunion – a variety pack featuring six different Shiner beers. Other varieties and seasonals will follow.

To learn more, visit www.shiner.com.

THIS AIN’T YOUR GRANDMA’S APPLE PIE (BUT IT SURE TASTES LIKE IT!)

2011-03-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine Launches One-of-a-Kind Apple Pie Moonshine

GATLINBURG, TN (March 22, 2011) – Ah... the smell of Grandma’s apple pie cooling on the windowsill, nothing quite like it….or a visit to the apple orchard with heavy cinnamon scents wafting through the air at every turn providing a warm and cozy feeling unlike any other. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine has found a way to bottle that experience and is proud to announce the launch of Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine.

Made of the same delicious combination of flavors – pure apple juice, ground cinnamon and other spices – blended with our homemade moonshine (to give it a little zing!), Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine, at 40 proof, is very drinkable and goes down as easy as a forkful of sweet apple pie. Some like it cold, some like it hot...personally we like it straight out of a mason jar. Apple Pie Moonshine: two great tastes of Americana that taste great together.

Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine is available in the same traditional 750 ml mason jars as other Ole Smoky products, is sold online at www.olesmokymoonshine.com and currently ships to retail stores in seven states (Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee) and, in light of growing demand, expects to be in close to 25 states by this summer and potentially all 50 by next year.

When the state of Tennessee changed its laws in July 2009, allowing the licensed production of whiskey and other spirits across new counties, a group of local families saw an opportunity to showcase the art of superior, mountain-made moonshine. Ole Smoky Moonshine, the first-ever legal moonshine in Tennessee, is a line of authentic products made from family recipes passed down through generations by inhabitants of the Great Smoky Mountains region of Appalachia.

Packaged in traditional Mason jars, Ole Smoky flagship products include Original Unaged Corn Whiskey (100 proof “sippin’ moonshine”), White Lightnin’ (100 proof “mixin’ moonshine”), and Moonshine Cherries (fresh maraschino cherries soaked in 100-proof moonshine). Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine is based in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Visit the Ole Smoky Distillery online at www.olesmokymoonshine.com.

IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL BEER CLUB FOUNDER SUZANNE WOODS TO CREATE SAIZANNE, A PEPPERED SAISON

2011-03-22T07:27:00.001-07:00

MAPLE SHADE, NJ – On Tuesday, March 29, beginning at 8:30 a.m., head brewer Chris LaPierre and his girlfriend, beer lover and president of In Pursuit of Ale (IPA), an all-women beer appreciation club, Suzanne “Beer Lass” Woods, will collaborate at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300) to create a special pepper-infused saison they’ll call Saizanne. Combining Woods’ favorite condiment, green and pink peppercorns, with a traditional Belgian-style saison, the beer is the long-time couple’s first joint effort – and sure to become the stuff of local brewing legend.

“When I travel, I bring home pepper grinders for Suzy – and this beer combines them with one of our favorite styles,” says LaPierre. “We’re thrilled to work together for the first time in the four years we’ve been dating to prepare this very special beer.”

Woods, who is a renowned local beer expert and has been featured in a host of publications on the subject, adds, “We’ve talked for a long time about brewing a beer together, but we wanted to make something really special and not just a gimmick.”

The beer will be brewed on March 29 and aged by LaPierre at Iron Hill. Then, at the end of April, Woods and her beer club, IPA, will travel over the bridge from Philly to Jersey to debut the new beer with a festive party. On Saturday, April 30 from 12 noon until 5 p.m., guests can meet and greet Suzanne Woods and sample the beer, which LaPierre says will be unfiltered, light-bodied, bright and complex with earthy, fruity, spicy character and a refreshing finish.

Founded by home brewers Mark Edelson and Kevin Finn and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is the region’s fastest-growing restaurant group, blossoming from one restaurant and brewery to eight locations across the mid-Atlantic. Each is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Their acclaimed beers have accumulated a wealth of awards from the nation’s top beer festivals, and their restaurants have earned more than 100 “Best of” nods from local and national publications.

Suzanne Woods is the founder of In Pursuit of Ale and the author of www.beerlass.com. You can also follow her on Twitter: @beerlass.

For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant or Saizanne, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com. You can also follow them on Twitter (@ironhillbrewery), specifically their Maple Shade location (@IronhillNJ).

Big Apple Cocktail Contest Kicks Off New Scottish Gin Launch in NYC

2011-03-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

Caorunn Small Batch Scottish Gin today announced the “Big Apple Cocktail Contest” for all New York City bartenders. Caorunn (pronounced “ka-roon”) is made from a perfectly balanced mix of six traditional ingredients and the infusion of five Celtic botanicals, including Coul Blush Apple.

Since Carounn is being launched in New York City, the brand is challenging mixology masters to create a cocktail that is uniquely “New York” in flavor and character, brings the Coul Blush Apple botanical to life and complements the other 4 Celtic botanicals, which are Rowan Berry, Bog Myrtle, Dandelion and Heather. These authentic Celtic botanicals give Caorunn its fresh and full bodied taste.

The winning libation will be chosen from among five finalist submissions by Gin Master Simon Buley at a New York City launch event in April. The creator will win a trip to Tales of the Cocktail 2011 in New Orleans where the cocktail will be featured as Caorunn’s Big Apple Cocktail of the Year.

The contest beings March 17, 2011 and entries will be accepted via the website at www.caorunngin.com until April 11, 2011. Submissions should include a photo of the cocktail, recipe, the technique to build the drink and a description of the bartender’s inspiration. Please see website for official contest rules.

About Caorunn

Caorunn is produced by International Beverage Holdings, Limited and is handcrafted at Balmenach Distillery, making it the only gin produced at a working malt whisky distillery. It is made using pure grain spirit, natural ingredients, and highland water and revives traditional gin production methods using low distillation techniques and botanical infusion using a Copper Berry Chamber, which the distillery has 2 of the only 3 still in existence. Caorunn is the gaelic word for ‘Rowan Berry’ – one of the infused celtic botanicals. It is inspired by Celtic tradition and Art Nouveau, which literally means the “art of the new,:” blending the past perfectly with the now. Each Celtic botanical is illustrated in an Art Nouveau/Celtic style in our botanical graphic. The ‘asterix-shaped’ logo reflects the image seen when a Rowan berry is cut open.

About International Beverage

International Beverage Holdings, Limited (www.interbevgroup.com) was established in 2005, as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in more than 80 countries and territories. The company’s success is built on a strong understanding of local cultures and markets along with the creation of a global operational network.

ALASKAN BREWERIES COME TO MISSOURI FOR SCHLAFLY FESTIVAL

2011-03-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

St. Louis, MO—March 4, 2011—Schlafly Beer will showcase the beers of two Alaskan breweries at their annual Repeal of Prohibition Beer Festival, Saturday, April 16th from noon to 5 p.m. at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood. The guest breweries will be Alaskan Brewing Company from Juneau and Midnight Sun Brewing Company from Anchorage. Each brewery will be bringing 8 styles of beer for festival attendees to sample.

Neither Alaskan nor Midnight Sun beers have ever been made available in Missouri.

To honor the occasion, Schlafly will also host a vertical tasting of Schlafly Imperial Stout alongside Alaskan Smoked Porter where guests are served samples of each style of beer from batches brewed in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The Schlafly-Alaskan Vertical Tasting will be Thursday, April 14th at 7 p.m. at the Schlafly Tap Room.

“I am very excited to be participating in the Repeal of Prohibition Festival in April,” says Ann Metcalfe, CFO/HR manager of Alaskan. “Alaskan celebrates its 25th year in business in 2011, and what better way to celebrate than with Schlafly, one of the country’s premier craft brewers, and in St. Louis, one of the great Beer cities of the world?”

Ann will be making the over 2,000 mile journey from Alaska along with Gary Busse, General Manager of Midnight Sun Brewing Company.

“I must admit, other than the Gateway Arch and Albert Pujols, I don’t know a whole lot about St. Louis,” jokes Busse who has never been to St. Louis before. “I’m looking forward to the visit and the chance to sample beers from Schlafly and other area breweries that I’ve never tried before.”

Tickets to the Repeal of Prohibition Beer Festival are on sale now. The cost is $25 before the event and $30 on the day of the event. Tickets to the Schlafly-Alaskan Vertical Tasting go on sale March 15th.

# # #

For more information about Schlafly Beer, please phone 314-241-BEER, or visit www.schlafly.com

CAMRA National Cider and Perry Championships 2010 Devon and Gloucestershire producers top of the tree!

2010-05-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

Cider-

GOLD- Sandford Orchards, Cider (Crediton, Devon)

SILVER- Gwynt y Ddraig, Black Dragon (Llantwit Fardre, South Wales)

BRONZE- Pickled Pig, Porker’s Snout (Stretham, Cambridgeshire)

Perry-

GOLD- Hartlands, Farmhouse Perry (Tirley, Gloucestershire)

SILVER- Rathays, Brandy (Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire)

BRONZE- Ralph’s, Old Badland Perry (New Radnor, Powys)

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today announced the overall winners of the National Cider and Perry Championships 2010. The competition is held annually at the Reading Beer and Cider Festival, Reading, Berkshire.

The winner of the Cider Gold medal is Sandford Orchards Cider, which the judges described as ‘having a fruity aroma with wonderful honeysuckle and banana notes, and a long, sweet aftertaste’.

The winner of the Perry Gold medal is Hartlands Farmhouse Perry, which the judges described as ‘a beautiful perry, well-balanced in aroma and taste, with a great combination of spice and sweetness’.

CAMRA’s National Cider and Perry Championships 2010 in Reading featured 24 ciders and 24 perries, selected from different regions of the UK, and assessed on factors such as aroma, flavour, overall balance and finish by a judging panel consisting of publicans, drinks writers and CAMRA members.

Delighted at the news of the cider competition, Barnaby Butterfield of Sandford Orchards cider, said:

‘I’m staggered, as we’ve been making cider by artisan methods for many years, and we always endeavour to use old fashioned methods. It’s having this recognition that makes all the hard work worth it- I’m totally gobsmacked!’

On hearing the results of the perry competition, Dereck Hartland of Hartlands, said:

‘It’s wonderful news, and to say I’m delighted is an understatement. I can retire a happy man and it’s the highlight of my year!’

Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider and Perry committee chairman, praised the quality of this year’s entrants. She said:

‘The competition today brought out a wide range of tastes and aromas, and was a real showcase for the craft cider and perry industry. CAMRA just hopes that any future Government puts in place measures that will protect this historic industry, and ensure these award winning producers are able to continue producing such quality.’

CAMRA launches ‘Local Cider’ and ‘Local Perry’ stickers

As part of its continuing campaign to promote pubs selling real cider and perry at the bar, CAMRA has launched a new pump clip crowner initiative to make it easier for drinkers to know whether they are drinking local produce. Having launched the initiative this week, CAMRA branches across the UK will be supplying their local pubs that serve local real cider and perry with these pump clip crowners, with the definition of ‘local’ varying to accommodate for areas of the UK where real cider and perry is not as common.

Boulevard Brewing Reports for Fundraising Duty Brewery to sponsor U.S.S. Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning

2010-04-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 30, 2010 – When Boulevard Brewing Company began to consider becoming an official sponsor of the U.S.S. Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning Committee, the Kansas City craft brewer knew right away that it didn’t want to simply cut a check. Instead, Missouri’s largest American-owned brewery saw an opportunity to inform citizens about the new Virginia-class submarine while enlisting their participation in this historic event.

For every barrel of Boulevard beer sold in the state of Missouri during the months of May, June, and July, the company will contribute $1.00 to the Commissioning Committee. “No matter what Boulevard product a customer buys—a six-pack, a bottle of one of our Smokestack beers, or a pint at any Missouri bar or restaurant—money will be contributed to the Commissioning,” said Bob Sullivan, Boulevard’s chief sales and marketing officer. “With 40% of our sales coming from Missouri, we’re on track to be the event’s single largest contributor.”

In April, 12‑pack containers of gold medal-winning Boulevard Pilsner debuted in packages showcasing Boulevard’s sponsorship and featuring an illustration of the submarine. The brewery also created distinctive glassware, server apparel, and other materials retailers can use to promote the campaign. “The number of accounts that have embraced this opportunity has blown us away,” said Tod Smith, director of sales for the brewery. “It’s been really gratifying to see Missourians sense of pride and their eagerness to support our troops.”

The U.S.S. Missouri is the seventh of the new Virginia-class submarines. Longer than a football field and weighing in at more than 7,800 tons, she is manned by a crew of 134, who will go to sea for months at a time. The commissioning will take place on July 31st in Groton, Conn. The ship is expected to see at least 30 years of active duty.

About Boulevard Brewing Company
Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard’s portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers are available in 12 Midwestern states, with selected offerings distributed in an additional eight states.

CAMRA National Mild Month- May 2010 UK real ale drinkers toast increase in fortunes of once ‘endangered’ beer style

2010-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Issued: Friday April 30^th 2010

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has kicked off celebrations for its National Mild in May campaign with the release of new research showing the increasing profile of the Mild beer style.

In a survey to 500 real ale drinkers spread across the UK, CAMRA found that 64% of drinkers have seen an increase in the number of Mild beers served at pubs and beer festivals over the past 5 years. Similarly, 75% of those surveyed also noted the availability of Mild beers in pubs and brewery shops within a 30 mile radius of their home.

The aim of National Mild Month is to encourage local pubs to stock a Mild throughout the month of May, and to encourage trial of this traditional beer style through initiatives such as ‘try before you buys’, third pint sampling measures, Mild beer and food matching events, and Mild beer tasting sessions.

Once classified as an endangered beer style, there are now over 200 Milds brewed in the UK, more than double the number brewed at the end of the 20^th century. CAMRA’s research shows that even a proportion of real ale drinkers are unaware of this huge amount of variety, with 41% unaware of the fact there are over 200 Mild beers brewed in the UK.

Speaking before the launch of CAMRA’s Mild in May campaign, Duncan Woodhead, CAMRA National Beer Styles Co-ordinator, said:

‘This new research really reinforces the fact that today’s discerning drinkers are helping to bring back traditional beer styles such as the Mild into pubs, and from a broader perspective, as a conventionally less bitter, lower in alcohol alternative to other beers, this wider availability of the Mild is great news for getting more drinkers to try the delights of real ale for the first time.

‘In the last 6 months alone, some of the UK’s leading brewers have reverted back to calling their renowned brands a ‘Mild’, and with the overall growth of the real ale industry coinciding with figures showing 50% of UK drinkers have now tried real ale, there’s a real opportunity for the Mild to return to its former glory, when in the 1950’s it was the nation’s most popular beer style.

In the same survey, CAMRA asked real ale drinkers to name their best loved Milds. The top three most popular from the sample of 500 drinkers were Rudgate brewery’s (of Tockwith, York, North Yorkshire) Ruby Mild, which is CAMRA’s current Champion Beer of Britain, Sarah Hughes brewery’s (of Sedgley, Dudley, West Midlands) Dark Ruby, and West Berkshire brewery’s (of Yattendon, Berkshire) Maggs’ Magnificent Mild.

Crystal Mountain brews a summer tradition

2010-04-28T05:14:00.000-07:00

THOMPSONVILLE, MICH – The Michigan Beer & Brat Festival is one of northern Michigan’s fastest growing Memorial Day Weekend traditions and returns to Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Saturday, May 29 (4-9pm).

The Michigan Beer & Brat Festival welcomed over 1,500 to the base of Crystal’s slopes for last year’s event with room to spare for brewers and beer-lovers alike. In celebration of its fifth year, the festival will be extended to five hours (4-9pm) offering more time to sample over 50 different Michigan microbrews from Short’s, New Holland, Bell’s, Founder’s, Keweenau, Arcadia, Right Brain, Tri-City, North Peak Brewing Company, The Livery and others. Beer is only half the equation as over a dozen specialty brats, ranging in flavor from spicy jalapeno to tart cherry, will be served hot off the grill.

Admission to the Michigan Beer & Brat Festival is $5 and includes entertainment. The rebel rootgrass and reggae and swashbuckling folk and blues of Rootstand will be featured on stage (www.rootstand.com).

The Michigan Beer & Brat Festival package, from $79 per adult, per night, includes lodging, admission to the festival plus ten beer and brat tickets – that’s enough to sample five different microbrews. Add unlimited golf to the festival package with rates starting from $129 per adult, per night.

The Michigan Beer & Brat Festival is certainly the highlight but just one of many activities during the holiday weekend. Both the Crystal Coaster alpine slide and Park at Water’s Edge are set to open (weather permitting). The Golf Practice Center will host the annual FREE Golf Demo Day (May 29, 10am-4pm) featuring clubs from Callaway, Titleist, Cobra, Cleveland and more. Plus, free clinics, games, food and prizes.

The Delta Hop is Dawning at the Harpoon Brewery

2010-04-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

The Harpoon Brewery Announces the 31st 100 Barrel Series Beer: Harpoon Single Hop ESB The first beer in the world to be single hop-brewed and commercially released using the new Delta hop

Boston, MA (April 2010) – This April the Harpoon Brewery released the newest installment of their 100 Barrel Series, the Harpoon Single Hop ESB. This is the 31st offering from Harpoon’s 100 Barrel Series, the brewery’s line of unique, handcrafted limited batch beers. The Single Hop ESB was brewed using a single, newly developed hop varietal called the “Delta” hop. It is the first beer in the world to be single hop-brewed and commercially released using the new Delta hop.

The Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Single Hop ESB (Extra Special Bitter) was brewed by Harpoon brewer Charlie Cummings. The idea for this beer surfaced in 2008 when Cummings brewed a couple of test batches on Harpoon’s pilot system. The Single Hop ESB came to fruition when Hopsteiner, Harpoon’s main hop provider, sent a sample of a brand new American-grown hop they were developing to the brewery. Already excited about brewing an ESB, Cummings jumped on the rare opportunity to brew a 100 Barrel Series beer using a single hop varietal, the Delta hop.

"I had been looking forward to brewing this beer for years,” says Cummings. “With the arrival of this brand new hop varietal, Delta, we were able to craft a tasty session ale with unique, strong flavors."

A cross between Fuggle and Cascade hops, Delta hops yield an unrestrained earthy aroma and taste that complement the rich flavors of the traditional British malts and yeast. To ensure that the Delta hop’s natural characteristics remained the focal point of the beer, the hops were added three times during the boil, once during the whirlpool phase, and finally, the beer was dry-hopped with the Delta hops.

The recipe for this beer is a nod to the beloved Harpoon ESB, which was last brewed in 2002. For this version, Cummings used a combination of British malts including Munton’s Maris Otter, Munton’s Crystal, and British chocolate malts. A traditional British yeast strain was used to give the beer a bready backbone to balance the prominent hop character. The result is a deep amber-colored beer with an earthy, fresh aroma and a fruity, biscuity flavor.

Cummings recommends pairing this beer with a traditional British "Ploughman's Lunch" of Farmhouse cheddar, bread, ham, pickled onions, apple, and mustard. Or pair it with something that has a little more kick, such as grilled pork tenderloin in a spicy Mexican mole sauce.

The Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Single Hop ESB is now available in select locations in 22 oz. bottles and on draft. A live chat about the beer with Charlie Cummings and Mike Sutton of Hopsteiner will take place on the Harpoon website (www.harpoonbrewery.com) on Wednesday, May 12th at noon.

Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Single Hop ESB Beer Specifications:
O.G.: 14.8
I.B.U.: 38
ABV: 5.8%

For additional information about the Harpoon Brewery and the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series, please contact Liz Melby at lmelby@harpoonbrewery.com.

About the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series:
Harpoon introduced the 100 Barrel Series in 2003 to showcase the individual brewing talents of their brewers. Every couple months, a different Harpoon brewer is invited to choose a style of beer, formulate the recipe, and brew the beer. That brewer’s signature can be found on the bottle label. The beers in the series are one-offs; they are brewed in limited batches and are available only until the batch sells out. Since the series began 7 years ago, 31 different styles of beer have been brewed. For a complete list of beers that have been released as part of the 100 Barrel Series, visit http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/index.cfm/page/Full-Series-History/pid/28516.

About the Harpoon Brewery:
The Harpoon Brewery was founded by beers lovers, Rich Doyle and Dan Kenary. In 1986 Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first brewery to brew commercially in the state after a dormant period of about 25 years. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and UFO Hefeweizen beers, along with four special seasonal selections. In 2000 Harpoon purchased a second brewery in Windsor, VT, making Harpoon the 10th largest craft brewer in the US. Harpoon has since introduced two lines of limited edition beers, the 100 Barrel Series and the Leviathan Series, as well as the all-natural Harpoon Cider made from freshly pressed, local apples. For more information about Harpoon beers and visiting the breweries, visit www.harpoonbrewery.com.

THE GRIFFIN GROUP ACQUIRES ANCHOR BREWING COMPANY AND ESTABLISHES ANCHOR BREWERS & DISTILLERS, LLC

2010-04-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

Acquisition Continues the Legacy of a San Francisco Icon

(San Francisco, CA) – April 27, 2010 – The Griffin Group, an investment and consulting company focused on beverage alcohol brands, announced its acquisition of Anchor Brewing Company which includes its portfolio of craft beers and artisan spirits, including the award winning Anchor Steam Beer.

The Griffin Group is led by beverage alcohol veterans, Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio, two longtime San Francisco residents who have been working with Anchor Brewing Company’s owner, Fritz Maytag to maintain the iconic brewery and distillery in San Francisco.

“Anchor Brewing Company has a long history in San Francisco and The Griffin Group is ushering in an exciting era while maintaining our proud, time-honored history,” said Fritz Maytag. “Combining Keith and Tony’s passion for the Anchor Brewing Company, their industry experience and expertise only means that Anchor will be enjoyed in San Francisco for generations to come.”

“Since 1896, Anchor Brewing Company has been an icon of San Francisco’s history and culture,” stated Griffin’s Founding Partner, Keith Greggor, “I am honored to bring Anchor Brewing Company into our family of craft beers and artisanal spirits through establishing Anchor Brewers & Distillers, LLC.”

Anchor Brewers & Distillers intends to establish a “Center of Excellence” in San Francisco for craft brewers and artisan distillers from around the world. An epicenter of development, education, entertainment and innovation, all designed to further contribute to the culture and heritage of craft beer and artisan spirits.

“San Francisco is the perfect place to establish this center,” stated Tony Foglio, “Through our extensive portfolio of craft beers and fine spirits our focus will be to educate and satisfy the increasing consumer demand for authentic, quality and natural products that reflect the passion of their creators.”

Continuing the Anchor heritage, Mr. Maytag has been named Chairman Emeritus of Anchor Brewers & Distillers.

The Griffin Group operates as both boutique merchant and investment bank for premiere craft beers and artisan spirits. In addition to the Anchor Beers, The Griffin Group will assume control of the spirits brands including Old Potrero Whiskey, Junipero Gin and Genevieve Gin through the acquisition of Anchor Brewing Company. Additional affiliated companies to be held under Anchor Brewers & Distillers include Preiss Imports, a leading US specialist spirits and beer importer, and BrewDog USA, LLC, the US division of the leading UK craft beer.

The Griffin Group is headquartered in Novato, Marin County, California.

# # #

About The Griffin Group

The Griffin Group is a San Francisco-based investment and consulting company focused on optimizing beverage alcohol brands. Led by spirits industry veterans, Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio, The Griffin Group operates as both boutique merchant and investment bank for premiere craft beers and artisan spirits. The Griffin Group and its affiliated companies own, distribute and market a full portfolio of family-owned, multi-generational craft beers and artisan spirits. The Griffin Group established Anchor Brewers & Distillers, LLC in 2010 to further and contribute to the culture and heritage of craft beers and artisan spirits.

www.tgg.us.com

About Anchor Brewing Company

Fritz Maytag acquired Anchor in 1965 reviving this old brewery with a history dating back to 1870. At a time when mass breweries seemed unstoppable, Maytag started a revolution in beer that initiated today’s craft beer movement. He held the simple belief that beer made from the finest natural ingredients under strict brewing conditions and supervision would find an audience. In 1993 Maytag’s fascination with fermentation led to distillation in addition to brewing, helping establish another new US movement, craft distilling. Today, Maytag is the Chairman of the US Craft Distillers Group.

www.anchorbrewing.com

About Preiss Imports

Henry Preiss is a second-generation fine spirits importer. He has accumulated arguably the finest collection of spirits from around the world. All are from family companies most of which are multi-generational. These products are sought by enthusiasts and cocktail mixologists alike for their superior hand crafted artisanal qualities. Preiss Imports was acquired through Griffin in 2008. It’s portfolio includes: A.H. Hirsch, Armorik, BenRiach, Berry’s Own Selection, BlackBull, BrewDog, Briottet, Cachaca 21, Cadenhead, Chateau Breuil, Chateau du Busca, Chateau Montifaud, Chateau Paulet, Chinaco, Chinchon, Christian Drouin, Coopers, D’Aristi, Darroze, Don Cesar, Duncan Taylor, English Harbor, Etter, F.Meyer, Glen Breton, GlenDronach, Glen Scotia, Inchmurrin & Littlemill, Grand Fond Galion, Granier Mon Pastis, Hazelburn, Hugo, Hum, Kilkerran, King’s Ginger Liqueur, Leopald Gourmel, Lepanto, Longrow, Luxardo, Mandarin Napoleon, Mangoustan’s, Mitchell’s Glengyle, Old Raj, Noyau de Poissy, Pages, Pastis Prado, Pommeau de Normandie, Pontarlier, Saint Paul, Sathenay, Senior & Co, Soberano, Springbank, Toucano, Tres Vieux Marc de Bourgogne, Van Hoo, Vedrenne, Verveine de Velay, Warninks Advocaat, Ypioca.

www.preissimports.com

About BrewDog USA, LLC

BrewDog PLC is UK’s leading craft beer brewery and Scotland’s largest independent brewery. The Griffin Group acquired a minority stake in BrewDog in 2009 and formed a joint venture, BrewDog USA, to further develop BrewDog’s US presence.

www.brewdog.com

Michigan Craft Beer “Enthusiasts” Offered Summer Brewery Tours

2010-04-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

(EAST LANSING, Mich) – One of the benefits of membership in the Michigan Brewers Guild “Enthusiast” program is special VIP tours and tastings at member breweries around the state. To participate in one of these special tours, one must be a current Enthusiast member – a group dedicated to celebrating the growing craft beer industry in the Great Lakes State. Enthusiast memberships are $25 each and are available online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org/beernut.asp. There is no additional charge for the tours, but reservations are recommended and attendees must show their Enthusiast card.

The Summer 2010 schedule begins April 24 at Jamesport Brewing Company in Ludington and ends Saturday, July 31 at New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, and visits more than a half dozen Guild member breweries. The upcoming tour line-up includes:

Saturday, April 24 (1-6pm)
Jamesport Brewing Co
410 S James St., Ludington
Ludington, MI 49431
(231) 845-2522
www.jamesportbrewingco.com

Tom Buchannan, brewmaster will teach beer school 101, pairings and a tasting starting at 1 pm. $1 off pints, $1 appetizers and $1 off flights of beer. Enthusiast members will receive $1 off their first pint. RSVP to Tom: 231-723-2526

Saturday, May 8 (3pm)
The Livery
190 5th St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
www.liverybrew.com

There will be a tour of our pub and building with some local history, followed by a tour of our extensive 1000 sq/ft brewery. All tour participants will receive $1 off pints between 3:00 and 5:00. Contact Steve Berthel at 269-352-1633 or steve@liverybrew.com by May 1 to RSVP.

Saturday, May 15 (Noon)
Saugatuck Brewing Company Inc.
2948 Blue Star Hwy.
Douglas, MI 49406
(269) 857-7222
www.saugatuckbrewing.com

Join Barry Johnson, brewmaster and owner of Saugatuck Brewing Co., for a guided tour of the brewery. Enthusiast members will get $1 off their first pint. RSVP to Barry Johnson: brumstr@comcast.net

Saturday, May 22 (1pm)
Founders Brewing Co.
235 Grandville SW
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(616) 776-1195
www.foundersbrewing.com

This will be a guided tour of Founders, lead by their brewing team, and is limited to the first 25 people. This tour will offer $1 off first pint for enthusiast members as well as a tasting for tour goers. RSVP to Dave: Dave@foundersbrewing.com

Saturday, June 19 (1-2pm)
Arcadia Brewing Co
103 West Michigan Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49017
(269) 963.9520
www.arcadiaales.com

A guided tour by Brewmaster Josh Davies through Arcadia’s production facility. $1 off first pint for Enthusiast members only. RSVP to Josh Davies: jdavies@arcadiaales.com

Saturday, June 26 (1pm)
DarkHorse Brewing Co
511 S. Kalamazoo Ave.
Marshall, MI 49068
(269) 781-9940
www.darkhorsebrewery.com

Join the jolly crew at Darkhorse Brewing for a tour of their new space, brewery and tap room. Bryan Wiggs will lead you through the brewery to educate your mind and soul of the DarkHorse nation. $1 off Enthusiast member’s first pint. Many beers on tap as well as food if you are hungry available in the pub.

Saturday, July 31 (1pm)
New Holland Brewing Tour
690 Commerce Court
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 355-6422
www.newhollandbrew.com

This tour will consist of a tour from the New Holland Brewing staff and a guided tasting of 5 beers afterwards for Enthusiasts. Tour members will receive a $1 their first pint at the pub, 66 E. 8th Street, Holland. RSVP to Phil: phil@newhollandbrew.com

At just $25, a Michigan Brewers Guild “Enthusiast” membership makes a locally-focused, affordable holiday gift for the craft beer lover on your list. Benefits include VIP status at our various festivals with early admission, discounts at participating membership brewpubs, special VIP brewery tours, and a free t-shirt proclaiming your Michigan Beer Nuttiness. Purchase your Enthusiast membership online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org/beernut.asp.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT ANNOUNCES 10th ANNUAL BRANDYWINE VALLEY CRAFT BREWERS FESTIVAL

2010-04-21T07:16:00.001-07:00

MEDIA, PA – On Saturday, May 15, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., the region’s most celebrated brewery and dining destination, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000), will host the 10th annual Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival. This exciting event showcases the latest offerings from 25 regional breweries, with all proceeds donated to Media Youth Center. Tickets are $40 online and $45 at the door; advance ticket purchase is advised, as this event often sells out early.

Invited breweries include: Appalachian Brewing Company, Bethlehem Brew Works, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company, Lancaster Brewing Company, McKenzie Brew House, Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Riverhorse Brewing Company, Rock Bottom Brewery, Sly Fox Brewery, Stewart’s Brewing Company, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Troegs Brewery, Victory Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing Company and Yards Brewing Company.

“We have some great memories of this event from the past 10 years, lots of fun times with many amazing beers having been poured and all for a worthy cause. We’ve been holding this event in May because it coincides with American Craft Beer Week. It’s our way of celebrating the culture and contributions of craft beer while also giving back to our community,” says Mark Edelson, Iron Hill Director of Brewing Operations.

The Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival will include unlimited beer tastings and live music; food will be provided by Iron Hill and available for purchase. The event will be held rain or shine. Tickets are available online at www.ironhillbrewery.com.

All proceeds will be donated to the Media Youth Center. Since its inception, the Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival has generated more than $75,000 for the Center.

Since 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has consistently been recognized for its outstanding beers and cuisine, accruing over 100 “Best of” awards from regional magazines. Their hand-crafted beers have also won acclaim and in total, they have received 46 medals/awards from the two most prestigious beer events, the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has eight locations, in Newark, DE; Wilmington, DE; Media, PA; West Chester, PA; North Wales, PA; Phoenixville, PA; Lancaster, PA; and Maple Shade, NJ. All eight locations are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

For more information on the Brandywine Valley Brewers Festival, please call Iron Hill Media at (610) 627-9000 or purchase a ticket online at www.ironhillbrewery.com.

THE EVOLUTION OF BEER GOES GREEN FOR EARTH DAY: OSKAR BLUES ALUMINUM CAN

2010-04-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

Oskar Blues Brewery’s Cans Bring Gargantuan Flavor with Miniscule Environmental Impact

LONGMONT, Colo. (April 20, 2010) - What beverage-packaging material is endlessly, quickly and 100 percent recyclable, doesn’t break down, and holds one of America’s top craft beers? Here’s a hint: It ain’t glass.

As they celebrate Earth Day this April 22, Oskar Blues Brewery is two-stepping up its earth-lovin’ efforts with its celebrated aluminum can at the center of it all.

For Oskar Blues Brewery, aluminum cans have always been the perfect place for its big, mind blowing award-winning craft beers. Cans are portable and unbreakable, and they keep beer fresh by protecting it from light and oxygen. And unlike cans of old, the modern aluminum does not transfer the taste of the metal to the beer. Eww.

Cans are also earth-friendly. Every part of the can is recyclable, with less energy than it takes to recycle glass. It can be recycled and back on the shelf again in about a month. As a bonus, aluminum cans are much lighter than glass, so they consume less fuel to ship.

Its legendary cans are only one of the earth-friendly efforts at Oskar Blues. The company is also working on a zero-waste project with Eco-Cycle Inc. In January and February alone, Oskar Blues saved over 17,000 gallons of water and 13,000 kilowatt hours of energy. They’ve prevented over 150 pounds of pollutants from entering the atmosphere, and saved 35 yards of landfill space and 43 trees.

By joining the canned beer apocalypse, people can help prevent the Earth’s apocalypse. Flavor-busting beer in a can is also the environmentally responsible way to go. No wonder it’s what the smart monkeys drink.

Set in the heart of Colorado craft beer country, Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons began canning its beers in November of 2002 with a hand-canning line in the 60-year-old barn next door to their funky little brewpub. Although it’s now a full-throttle canning operation that is quickly expanding its cult-like following across the nation, Oskar Blues remains true to its original mission of simply blowing minds with what can come out of a can of beer.

For more information about where to purchase Oskar Blues beer visit http://www.oskarblues.com/locations/.

500 Election Candidates sign up to support CAMRA Charter

2010-04-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Issued: Monday April 19^th 2010

Status: For immediate use

Following the launch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter in February, over 500 Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) have signed up to five commitments to speak up for community pubs, real ale and consumers if elected.

Among the supporters are Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas, Labour PPC Ruth Smeeth, Conservative PPC Nigel Evans and Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

On the basis of current polling, well over 100 of these supporters are set to be elected on May 6^th.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive said:

‘The overwhelming response from PPCs is great news for beer drinkers and pub goers across the UK. We expect the next parliament to contain a huge number of MPs who have committed to vital reforms which are necessary to save the UK pub industry.

‘The issues that matter to CAMRA like reform of the beer tie, protection of community pubs and a fair deal for consumers can no longer be ignored by politicians. Many of CAMRA’s key policies including reform of planning law, amendment of licensing law and encouraging responsible drinking featured in each of the main parties’ manifestos last week.’

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat Leader said:

‘I am proud to be a signatory to the charter and to help bring attention to the much-needed support required for well-run community pubs, local brewers and consumer rights which all contribute to community life and boost the local economy.

‘Well-run pubs are important to tackling alcohol misuse, they are not part of the problem. Government policies, such as continually raising duty on beer and refusing to reform the beer tie, have led to a situation in which more than 5 pubs a day are said to be closing. It is hugely important that we stand up for the pub industry during these difficult times.’

Paul Kenny, Labour PPC for Boston and Skegness said: 'I think that CAMRA has done a sterling job over the years and I am very happy to back their Charter. Decent and well-run pubs are the bedrock of our communities and deserve our support.'

Claire Perry, Conservative PPC for Devizes said: 'I absolutely agree with all of your aims and believe a village pub to be one of the pillars of the local community.'

CAMRA is now encouraging all 500 candidates to integrate their support for CAMRA’s Charter and community pubs with their election campaigning by visiting community pubs, gaining local press coverage and getting involved with their local CAMRA branch. So far PPCs have launched campaigns to save a pub in their constituency, and commissioned campaign beer mats.

Beer Filled USB Data Storage

2010-04-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

Finally… a USB for every BEER LOVER! Perfect for everyone associated with beer and the brewing business.

This amazing electronic data storage device is filled with liquid “IMITATION BEER”, has 2GB of storage, red flash, PC compatible, MAC compatible, rewritable, made of clear vue plastic, and is obviously portable.

Our life like “HEAD FOAM” particles will not dissipate, and the golden liquid will not fade from daylight use.

When inserted into any USB port, you are ready to upload, download, store, and transfer any file.

Perfect for MP3 files, to view videos, and to run any of your applications. Buy one or a thousand!

No minimum order! In stock ready for immediate shipping. For quantities of 24 or more, custom pad printing is available for up to 4 colors on one side. The "Beer Filled" USB measures 3” x 1”.

For more information, purchase samples, pricing, distribution opportunities, and to place orders, contact Creaciones de Encargo Mfg. of Ocoee, Florida. creacionesdeencargo@gmail.com, 888-400-6532.

Fearless Critic Media's new book, "The Beer Trials"

2010-04-14T06:26:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, NY— We are in the midst of a beer renaissance, and the beer world now has the new guidebook it deserves: “The Beer Trials,” by Seamus Campbell and Robin Goldstein.

The past few years have seen an explosion of craft breweries across America, more imported beers arriving on the US market than ever before, and unprecedented interest in beer around every corner, from back-road neighborhood pubs to tasting menus from cutting-edge chefs.

At the heart of this new book is a ratings guide to 250 of the most important and widely available beers in the world, from craft brews to macro-lagers. Each bottle in “The Beer Trials” gets a full-page review and rating based on a rigorous set of blind tastings by beer experts led by Seamus Campbell, one of the world’s 96 Certified Cicerones (beer sommeliers). “The Beer Trials” also includes an ambitious but accessible reference guide, which takes readers on a down-to-earth tour of the world’s major beer styles, flavors, and regions.

“The Beer Trials” is the brainchild of consumer advocate and Freakonomics contributor Robin Goldstein, whose previous book, “The Wine Trials,” surprised consumers by showing a lack of connection between price and quality and became the world’s bestselling guide to inexpensive wine.

“In a world in which superpremium wines or liquors can set back consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars per bottle,” says Goldstein, “beer offers unmatched value. Many of the world’s most sought-after beers set you back less than an average bottle of supermarket table wine.”

Only eight of the 250 beers reviewed in “The Beer Trials” cost more than
$5 per 12-ounce bottle equivalent, and 11 of the 21 beers receiving the book’s highest rating cost less than $2.50.

Goldstein’s longstanding interest in the relationship between value and taste led him to the beer mecca of Portland, Oregon, where he recruited co-author Campbell to bring together a panel of his fellow beer experts and blind-taste a broad swath of the world’s most popular beers.

The results of those blind tastings are revealed in “The Beer Trials,”
and some of them might surprise you.
While some of Belgium’s vaunted Trappist ales, for instance, scored sky-high marks (p. 119), others turned out to be disappointing (p. 247), and one Canadian beer beat most of the Belgians at their own game (p.
146). One of America’s most popular European imports, meanwhile, went belly-up in blind tastings—and also turned out to be a Jekyll-and-Hyde act, with one identity in the bottle and a different one from the tap (p. 168).

The authors’ blind tastings yielded some low-brow surprises: a certain high-alcohol malt liquor that seemed quite at home in its brown paper bag—you might well have drunk it from a 40 in your college days—did surprisingly well in the blind tastings, scoring a 6 out of 10 (p. 285), while the so-called “Male Ale” won an impressive rating of 7 (p. 154).

As for America’s most popular imported beer (p. 127), or the one you might know more affectionately as “Natty” (p. 212)? Not so impressive.

Within these pages, you’ll find brews inspired by California secessionist sentiment (p. 79), beer from the heart of wine country (p.
187), the bottle whose alcohol content is higher than wine’s (p. 138), and the IPA that has its eye on you (p. 84).

Chocoholics can satisfy their cravings in fermented form (p. 87); Mexophiles can see how Anheuser-Busch’s foray into beers featuring “natural lime flavor” (p. 110) stacks up to the pride and joy of Sinaloa (p. 230); and sci-fi aficionados can take in the lager from outer space (p. 262).

And if you think you know your favorite brand pretty well, you might want to think again: the book reveals the results of a blind tasting experiment, run by the co-authors, in which beer drinkers performed no better than chance at distinguishing between major pale lager brands—a result that offers some insight into why those mass-market beers spend so much on advertising.

“The Beer Trials” is now available at local and national bookstores, food and wine stores, powells.com, amazon.com, bn.com, and everywhere else books are sold.

NYC MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCOVERS O’HARA’S IRISH STOUT ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY 2010

2010-04-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK…April 12, 2010 – Irish jigs and O'Hara Stout swigs, New York City Mayor Bloomberg celebrates St. Patrick's Day in true Gaelic style at Adrian Flannelly's 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Special Broadcast at Irish Radio USA on Madison Avenue. At the O'Hara's sponsored event, Emer Kelly, O'Hara's U.S. ambassador, presented Mayor Bloomberg with a hurley, which will be proudly displayed in his office. Hurling is an outdoor team sport of ancient Gaelic origin, with the object of the game being for players to use a wooden stick called a hurley to hit a small ball called a sliotar between the opponents' goalposts. Over the crossbar awards the team one point, and under the crossbar into a guarded net awards the team three points.

O'Hara's Irish Stout was the exclusive stout and red beer sponsor of the festive event, which featured notable guests including Speaker Christine Quinn, Grand Marshal of NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Congressman Peter King, Irish Minister Barry Andrews, Musician Jack L, and many others. Pictured here with his new O'Hara's hurley is NYC Mayor Bloomberg and Emer Kelly.

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Paulaner HP USA, purveyor of the world’s finest beers, is headquartered in Littleton, Colo., and imports Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Fuller’s, O’Hara’s Irish Stout, Fruli, Birra Dolomiti and Dixie beers and Vigna Dogarina and Cavallina wines. This list of fine imports is now available throughout the United States at upscale, on-premise establishments. For more information about Paulaner HP USA visit www.paulanerhpusa.com

“HOMETOWN BOYS” LAUNCH HOMETOWN BREW

2010-04-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hometown Beverages Launches New Hometown Pennsylvania Lager and Hometown Light Specialty Beers

OCEANPORT, NJ (April 6, 2010) – Hometown Beverages today announced the launch of America’s new specialty beer for the masses with the introduction of its Hometown Pennsylvania Lager and Hometown Light beers.

Hometown Beverages’ mission is to create traditional American lagers with flavors that are unique to the palate of beer drinkers in their respective area of the country. Hometown Beverages’ new Hometown Pennsylvania Lager is a classic American lager that has a deep golden color and a smooth, crisp and clean taste with subtle hops and earthy malts. Hometown Pennsylvania Lager contains 5.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). New Hometown Light is a classic light American lager that is a clean, refreshing, easy-to-drink beer with personality, taste and only 120 calories per 12 oz. bottle. Hometown Light contains 4.1 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

“We are excited to announce the launch of Hometown Beverages’ Hometown Pennsylvania Lager and Hometown Light,” said Chris Curylo, co-owner of Hometown Beverages. “We wanted to create a beer that would appeal to the palate of beer lovers from specific regions. After conducting in-depth research with beer drinkers, we created the antithesis to the typical heavy craft brew – a genuine, light beer with a distinct local taste. We are confident that Pennsylvanians will love our new Hometown Pennsylvania Lager as well as our flagship beer, Hometown Light. Both are true session beers.”

Hometown Beverages specialty beers speak to the old-fashioned American tradition of enjoying good times with good friends. Hometown Beverages’ complete suite of specialty beers includes Hometown Light, Hometown Pennsylvania Lager, Hometown New Jersey Lager and Hometown New York Lager.

Hometown Beverages’ new Hometown Pennsylvania Lager and Hometown Light specialty beers are available at distributors throughout Pennsylvania and carry a suggested retail price of $24.00 per case. For more information on Hometown Beverages and its specialty beers, visit www.hometownbeverages.com.

About Hometown Beverages

Hometown Beverages is the brewer of America’s best new specialty session beers including Hometown Light, Hometown Pennsylvania Lager, Hometown New Jersey Lager and Hometown New York Lager. Chris Curylo and Bob Selsky, aka The “Hometown Boys,” are co-owners of Hometown Beverages. The company is headquartered in Oceanport, NJ, with brewing facilities in Wilkes-Barre, PA. For more information on Hometown Beverages and its products, visit www.hometownbeverages.com.

MICHELOB BREWING CO. UNVEILS GINGER WHEAT AS PART OF NEW WHEAT BEER SAMPLER PACK

2010-03-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

Four Diverse Wheat Beers Incorporate Brewing Traditions from Around the World

ST. LOUIS (March 17, 2010) — Building from last year’s success, Michelob Brewing Co. returns with a sampler pack featuring four refreshing wheat beers for the spring and summer seasons. Michelob Ginger Wheat is the newest beer in the brewer’s growing collection of styles and is available exclusively in the seasonal sampler pack.

The 2010 Michelob Brewing Co. Spring/Summer Sampler Pack, available nationwide beginning mid-March, includes the all-new Michelob Ginger Wheat, along with the return of year-round favorites Shock Top Belgian White and Michelob Dunkel Weisse, and the spring seasonal Hop Hound Amber Wheat.

“We received a tremendous response to last year’s sampler pack, as beer enthusiasts enjoyed exploring the diversity within the wheat beer style,” said Craig Heisner, brewmaster, Michelob Brewing Co. “With our sampler pack, longtime wheat beer fans, as well as those just now growing to appreciate the style, have an opportunity to sample four very distinct beers. Pick your favorite from our Bavarian-style dark wheat Dunkel Weisse, our Belgian-style wheat ale Shock Top, our American-inspired Hop Hound Amber Wheat, and our new Asian-influenced Ginger Wheat.”

Michelob Ginger Wheat: A twist on the classic unfiltered Belgian wheat ale, brewed with wheat malt, citrus peels and spices, complemented by a spicy ginger aroma and taste.

Malt: Two-Row, Wheat

Hops: Cascade, Willamette; 10 IBUs

ABV: 5.2%

Hop Hound Amber Wheat: An unfiltered American amber wheat ale that delivers a hint of subtle caramel sweetness.

Malt: Two-Row, Wheat, Toasted and Caramel

Hops: Cascade, Willamette, Hallertau; 20 IBUs

ABV: 5.3%

Shock Top Belgian White: An award-winning unfiltered Belgian-style wheat ale with a cloudy and light golden color, brewed with orange, lemon and lime peels and coriander.

Malt: Two-Row, Wheat

Hops: Cascade, Willamette; 10 IBUs

ABV: 5.2%

Michelob Dunkel Weisse: An unfiltered German-inspired wheat ale with a malty body and unmistakable clove and banana tones from the unique Bavarian yeast strain.

Malt: Two-Row, Chocolate, Wheat, Caramel

Hops: Hallertau, Tettnang; 17 IBUs

ABV: 5.5%

“For Michelob Ginger Wheat, we took a Belgian-style wheat ale and looked to Asian cuisine for inspiration,” said Heisner. “The beer has unmistakable ginger aromas on the nose and crisp and spicy flavors on the tongue, without overpowering the other citrus notes. The first sip implores your taste buds to pair the beer with a selection of sushi and the finish cleanses your palate, getting you ready for the next bite.”

The four wheat beers are not filtered during the brewing process, giving them a cloudy, hazy appearance. When unfiltered wheat beers are bottled, the beer’s yeast settles to the bottom. To properly enjoy a wheat beer, pour about three-quarters into a beer-clean glass. Gently swirl the bottle before pouring the remainder to help redistribute the yeast and create a thick head of foam.

Every sampler pack includes a flighting sheet with tasting notes and a summary of each beer’s ingredients to reveal how the brewmasters’ recipes impact the colors, aromas and flavors found among the different styles. The flighting sheet’s glassware and food pairing recommendations provide serving tips to enhance tastings at home. MichelobSamplerPack.com also features an interactive brewmaster tasting video to guide visitors through each beer’s ingredients, color, body and brewing process.

The Michelob Spring/Summer Sampler Pack is available at grocery and convenience stores nationwide through September in 24-packs (six of each beer) and 12-packs (three of each beer).

Visit www.michelob.com for more information about Michelob Brewing Co., a small, state-of-the-art research brewery located next to Anheuser-Busch’s historic St. Louis brewery. At any given time, up to 50 different beers are being brewed in this brewmasters’ playground. Michelob Brewing Co. is a place for our brewmasters to create and experiment, with the best results earning a place in our specialty beer collection.

GOLDENER HIRSCH INN EARNS AAA's 4-DIAMONDS!

2010-01-12T06:42:00.000-08:00

Both Inn and Restaurant Receive Coveted Awards Again in 2010

Park City, Utah--The Goldener Hirsch Inn has earned AAA's Coveted 4-Diamond Award for exemplary service for the second year in a row, and the inn's restaurant under the command of Executive Chef Michael Showers, won its sixth 4-Diamond Award this year, adding to the collection of prestigious plaques that adorn the walls of this intimate, Austrian-style hideaway on the slopes of Deer Valley Resort.

The Goldener Hirsch Inn, a romantic old-world inspired hotel, offers luxurious ski-in/ski-out accomodations in the Silver Lake Village area of Deer Valley Resort, a ski area repeatedly named #1 ski resort in North America by SKI Magazine's discerning readers. The Goldener Hirsch Inn, inspired by a hotel of the same name in Salzburg, Austria, combines the art of gracious, traditional hotel keeping with charming European ambiance. The hotel's twenty spacious rooms are furnished with hand painted European furniture, king-sized beds, wood burning fireplaces and plush linens. From the minute guests walk through the door, they are welcomed like family and many return year after year for annual ski vacations, weddings or summer alpine getaways.

At the Goldener Hirsch Inn's restaurant, Executive Chef Michael Showers features classic American/European menus, including locally raised lamb, Rocky Mountain Elk Flank Steak and the much requested Weiner Schnitzel and four-cheese fondue. Additionally, a rediscovered passion for old world cuisine inspired Chef Showers to develop an extensive Charcuterie program, the only chef in Park City to do so. House-cured lamb and duck proscuittos, various salamis and sausages, as well as confits and pates are getting rave reviews from sophisticated clientele at both the Goldener Hirsch Inn and at its sister restaurant, Ticino, serving northern Italian dishes.

For more information, visit our web site, www.GoldenerHirschInn.com

First-Ever Master Cicerone™ Named

2009-12-11T06:07:00.000-08:00

Highest Distinction in Beer Expertise Earned by Michigan Distributor Representative

Chicago – December 8 – The Cicerone Certification Program™ today announced awarding of the first-ever Master Cicerone™ certification to Andrew Van Til, Account Manager at Elite Brands Michigan, a division of CKL Corporation. Van Til earned the certification through a series of exams culminating with two days of intense written and oral questioning about beer styles, draft systems, beer evaluation, brewing technology and beer and food pairing given November 5 & 6.

Van Til becomes the first person to earn the Master Cicerone title—the third and top level of the Cicerone Certification Program. Founded in 2007, the program tests and certifies beer expertise similar to the wine world’s Master Sommelier program. The Master Cicerone exam included 8 hours of written questions, 2 hours of oral questions and 2 hours of beer tasting and evaluation. Candidates needed a score of 85% across all three areas to pass.

"During the Master Cicerone exam, Van Til distinguished himself with his knowledge of all aspects of beer and his skill in tasting beer and in managing draft beer systems," said Ray Daniels, Director of the Cicerone Certification Program.

Van Til’s professional career has provided him with excellent preparation for the Master Cicerone exam. He has sold directly to consumers in an off-premises store, brewed beer and educated consumers in a brewpub setting and represented a large portfolio of imported and domestic beers through his work for Elite Brands Michigan.
To date, the Cicerone Certification Program has given more than 1000 exams across the three levels of the program. Approximately 800 individuals have earned the first level title of Certified Beer Server and about 75 individuals have achieved the title of Certified Cicerone™. Van Til was one of seven beer industry professionals who took the Master Cicerone exam and the only one who passed.

The knowledge required for the Master Cicerone certification is outlined in the program’s Master Syllabus which can be viewed at www.cicerone.org. The website also includes a free 10-question sample exam that allows anyone to assess their Cicerone aptitude.

The Cicerone Certification Program is a service of the Craft Beer Institute, the Chicago-based beer and brewing education organization. The program is directed by brewer, author and beer educator Ray Daniels. A variety of breweries, beer distributors and retailers sponsor the program. CKL Corporation includes Imperial Beverage, Estate Wines, Leone Imports, Elite Brands Michigan and Elite Brands USA.
* Master Cicerone™, Certified Cicerone™ and Cicerone Certification Program™ are trademarks of the Craft Beer Institute, a Chicago-based beer and brewing education organization.

A STAR IS BORN AS STELLA ARTOIS® CROWNS AVRIL MAXWELL OF NEW ZEALAND ITS 2009 WORLD DRAUGHT MASTER

2009-10-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

After Year-long Global Search, Maxwell Begins Mission of Passion to Teach Bartenders the World Over the Art of the Perfect Pour

October 30, 2009 – Now in its 13th year, the annual Stella Artois® World Draught Master competition epitomizes Stella Artois®’ dedication to delivering superior beer experiences the world over. On Thursday Oct. 29, this year’s competition saw contestants from 26 countries across the globe converge in New York to compete for the coveted title and complete the brand’s time-honored 9-step pouring ritual of perfection.

After a tense semi-final round, which saw the contestants and three competition winner wildcard entries whittled down to a final 10, an enthusiastic audience of Stella Artois® connoisseurs joined the discerning Jury panel to select only those who could demonstrate true passion and dedication to perfection in pouring in a dramatic “Passion test.” A tense head-to-head pouring finale followed, before Avril Maxwell was announced the winner and returned to the stage to claim the coveted title. Maxwell, hailing from New Zealand now begins a global journey to more than 20 different countries across the globe as an ambassador for Stella Artois® and her own quest to ensure every chalice of Stella Artois® is preciously poured and perfectly served the world over.

Maxwell was awarded a unique trophy created by New York fashion designer Tim Hamilton as part of a pioneering design collaboration with Stella Artois®, successfully bringing to life his signature style and dedication to quality and craftsmanship within an entirely new design medium. Hamilton, who introduced his apparel line at the event, also created a limited-edition iconic Stella Artois® Chalice glass in celebration of World Draught Master 2009.

Alexander Lambrecht, Global Marketing manager for Stella Artois®, comments: “The World Draught Master competition is integral to our ongoing quest to deliver superior beer experiences the world over, ensuring that Stella Artois® is served with the same care, consideration and craftsmanship as has gone into more than 600 years of brewing. We are extremely proud to welcome not only finalists from around the globe to compete in New York, but also Stella Artois® connoisseurs and pioneering partners, such as Tim Hamilton, who share our ongoing quest for perfection.”

Runners up in the competition were Joe Oppedisano of Canada (2nd) and Alexey Shtukarev of Russia (3rd). Remaining contestants came from: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil,China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dubai, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Montenegro, Paraguay, Serbia, Singapore, UK, Ukraine and the United States.

In addition, the Stella Artois Online Fans’ Choice went to Oppedisano who was selected by consumers watching the competition streamed live to their computers.

Lambrecht added, “We wanted to create a global conversation about the Stella Artois World Draught Master competition by inviting people into the event via live streaming and providing an opportunity for them to decide on what competitor embodied perfection. “

Celebrate the Autumn Season at Michigan Harvest Beer Festival

2009-10-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Inaugural Event Presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild & metrotimes at Detroit’s Eastern Market – Saturday, October 24 (1-6pm)

(EAST LANSING, Mich) – Based on the success of past events and a steadily growing interest in locally-crafted beer, officials at the Michigan Brewers Guild and metrotimes say they are planning on a sell out crowd of 2500 for their inaugural Michigan Harvest Beer Festival on Saturday, October 24 at Eastern Market in Detroit. The event, which runs from 1-6pm* (rain or shine) will actively promote local Detroit food, Detroit brewing history, and of course, Michigan craft beer. The festival is the culmination of the inaugural “Detroit Beer Week,” which runs October 16-24.

“We expect our combined efforts to result in one of the best local beer events in the region,” said Scott Graham, Executive Director of the Michigan Brewers Guild. “We anticipate more than 40 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs to participate, with nearly 200 different beers available to sample.”

In addition to the vast selection of beers, a variety of harvest foods will be prepared and sold by local restaurants including Detroit Beer Co., Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub and Russell Street Deli, with Traffic Jam & Snug deli / brewery serving up their popular house-made cheese. Live entertainment will also be provided throughout the afternoon by two well-known local bands, the Grand Nationals and Orbitsuns.

The festival will be set up in the Eastern Market parking area, north of shed #5, with ample parking in the surrounding market area. The cost to enter the festival is $35 in advance and $40 at the gate, if tickets are still available (attendance is limited to 2500). Admission includes 15 drink tokens, each valid for one 3-ounce beer sample. Additional tokens may be purchased during the festival for 50 cents each. Admission tickets are now available for purchase online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Select retail outlets are also selling tickets; that list is available on the MASH page of the Guild’s website (www.mbgmash.org), along with the list of participating breweries and beers to be served. Festival attendees must be 21 years of age or older and have ID to enter. Designated Drivers are encouraged and DD tickets will be available on line and at the gate for $5 each.

Eastern Market is one of the nation’s oldest farm markets and the area is rife with brewing history. In its heyday, there were more than 40 breweries in the Market area and malt silos still stand as a testament to the rich brewing history. Preservation Wayne, Detroit’s oldest and largest historic preservation organization, has coordinated one of its popular two-hour Eastern Market Brewery Tours which will run the morning of the festival. The group will meet at the Eastern Market Welcome Center (1445 Adelaide) at 10am to begin the tour. The cost of the tour is $20 per person and advanced reservations are required by contacting the organization directly at 313-577-7674. Space is limited to 30 individuals.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

First ever CANFEST announces participating breweries

2009-10-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

Reno, NV (September 2009)—As Reno gears up to host the first ever international canned beer competition, appropriately named CANFEST, the competition is unfolding into an event complete with enticing festivities for attendees, more than 25 breweries from all around the globe, and great ticket/room packages.
The competition will take place in the Grand Sierra Theater October 23, from 6:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m. Tickets are now available through the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino’s website for $35 per person. Special room rates for attendees are available at $35 per night. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Nature Conservancy and The Great Basin Bird Observatory. Please visit the Grand Sierra’s website at www.grandsierraresort.com or call 1-800-648-3568 to book rooms and tickets using the promotion code CANFEST.

Among the festivities lined up for CANFEST, Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association, will be speaking on the history of American beer, craft beer, and the trend of canned beer. Ginger Johnson, founder of WomenEnjoyingBeer.com, will give a presentation on the reasons patrons enjoy canned beer, why women love beer, and the relationship between beer and the arts. A question and answer forum of canned brewery owners and brewers specifically intended to answer the public’s questions regarding beer and canned beer is another great addition to the competition.

A display of mobiles built by local artists entirely from recycled beer cans, a promotion that directly benefits Sierra Arts, a local non-profit that helps establish and spread arts programs in the Truckee Meadows.

Each brewery has been asked which cheese, chocolates and ice creams pair best with their individual beers. Many stations will feature exclusive pairings with these foods for the public to sample.

The following breweries have confirmed their attendance:

USA
21st Amendment - CA
Anderson Valley Brewing Company - CA
Big Sky Brewing Company - MT
Bohemian Brewery - UT
Buckbean Brewing Company - NV
Caldera Brewing - OR
Capital Brewery - WI
Coors - CO
Four Peaks Brewing - AZ
High Noon Saloon & Brewery - KS
Mammoth Brewing Company - CA
Maui Brewing - HI
New Belgium Brewing Company - CO
Northwoods Brewing - WI
Oskar Blues Brewery - CO
Prescott Brewing - AZ
Rochester Mills Brewing Company - MI
Sleeping Lady Brewing Company - AK
Steamworks Brewing Company - CO
Surly Brewing Company - MN
Ukiah Brewing Company - CA
Uncommon Brewers - CA

MEXICO
Tecate

BELGIUM
Brouwerij Bavik

ENGLAND
Greene King

IRELAND
Guinness

JAPAN
Sapporo

CANADA
Archibald Microbrasserie

For more information, please contact Constance Aguilar from Abbi Public Relations at constance@abbipr.com or by calling 775.323.2977. Visit www.buckbeanbrewsnews. blogspot.com for regular updates and new information regarding CANFEST.

CHIFA TO HOST VICTORY BEER DINNER

2009-10-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On November 5 at 7 pm, superstar Chef Jose Garces and local brewing powerhouse Victory Brewing Company will partner for a one-night-only Beer Dinner at Chifa (707 Chestnut Street, 215-925-5555), Chef Garces’ Latin-Asian restaurant. The event will feature five courses of Chifa’s inspired cuisine paired with Victory beers, and will be the premiere food event featuring its newest offering, Yakima Twilight, a double IPA. The cost will be $55 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Space is limited and reservations are required.

“The distinctive, often unusual flavor pairings in our dishes at Chifa are an ideal mate for artisanal beers,” says Chef Garces. “Victory’s beers are flavorful and diverse, much like our cuisine, so they complement each other perfectly.”

The menu, featuring Chef Garces’ signature small plates style, will include: Hiramasa with aji Amarillo leche de tigre, passion fruit and roasted corn paired with Prima Pils; Octopus Ceviche with purple olive and avocado paired with WildDevil; Grilled Thai Sausage with tamarind chile sauce and jasmine rice paired with Golden Monkey; Smoked Rib Eye with revuelto de chorizo and huacatay chimichiri paired with Yakima Twilight; and for dessert, Coconut Tapioca with semisweet chocolate cremeux and quinoa chicaronnes paired with Baltic Thunder. Victory Brewmaster and Owner Bill Covaleski will be on hand to discuss the beers and offer helpful hints for those who are new to pairing beer and food.

Chifa opened in early 2009 to critical acclaim; The New York Times praised the restaurant’s unusual ability to “kill two cravings [Asian and Latin] with one dish,” while Philadelphia magazine called Chef Garces’ innovative interpretations of Peruvian cuisine “a cross-cultural thrill ride…A meal at Chifa is a night out, a form of entertainment, an infusion of world culture, a culinary education, something to brag about the following day.”

Chifa is open for dinner seven days a week beginning at 5 p.m.; dinner is served until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday. Chifa is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, or to make a reservation, please visit www.chifarestaurant.com, or call (215) 925-5555.

Inaugural Detroit Beer Week Announced

2009-10-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

Friday, October 16 – Saturday, October 24, 2009

(DETROIT, Mich.) – Following the success of “Beer Week” events held in other cities such as Philadelphia, New York and San Diego, a group of Industry Professionals is organizing the first ever Detroit Beer Week, to be held the third week of October, 2009.

The week-long series of beer-centric events will be held at participating venues in Detroit, with satellite events at Metro-Detroit brewpubs. These events will consist of brewery tours, tasting flights, meet-the-brewer sessions, food pairings, and a wide array of other unique activities. Events will be hosted by Detroit Beer Week staff and the Detroit Beer Barons, a group of Metro-area brewery personalities.

“We wanted to stay away from the traditional ‘drink this beer, get a keychain’ –type promotions, and instead focus on events that give value to the consumer and to the venue hosting the event,” stated Jon Piepenbrok, principal organizer of the events, AKA Chief Imaginationer.

The grand finale of Beer Week is the Inaugural Harvest Festival, hosted by the Michigan Brewers’ Guild and Metrotimes on Saturday, October 24, in Eastern Market.

While the Guild is not organizing Beer Week events, they have given their full support and cooperation to the organizing committee. “When the Guild announced the Harvest Festival in Eastern Market, we not only saw an opportunity to promote Michigan Beer in southeast Michigan,” stated Jon Piepenbrok, “but to promote the Great City of Detroit, as well; and the Guild has been extremely supportive of our efforts, even including information about events on their website at www.michiganbrewersguild.org.”

The participating venues include Slow’s Bar BQ, Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub, Park Bar, Motor City Brewing Works, Traffic Jam & Snug, Atwater Block Brewery, Detroit Beer Company, Wolfgang Puck Grille, Michael Symon’s Roast, 24Grille, and Fender’s Pub at the Omni Hotel.

A complete, updated list of events and information can be found on www.facebook.com. Keyword search: Detroit Beer Week.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Lompoc Brewing announces Oktoberfest release party

2009-09-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

PORTLAND, Ore. - Sept. 4, 2009 - The brewers at Lompoc Brewing are welcoming autumn with a release party of their newest seasonal, Lompoc Oktoberfest. The event will take place Sept. 11 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Sidebar, Lompoc's new tasting room located at 3901A N. Williams.

Staying true to the theme, the evening will feature a buffet of sausages and snacks, as well as five other specialty and barrel fermented beers, and the opportunity to mingle with the Lompoc brewers.

Pale orange in color, Lompoc Oktoberfest features a clean malt flavor artfully balanced by a touch of Perle hops. A portion of the grains used was roasted in the oven at Lompoc's Fifth Quadrant restaurant, giving the beer a slight biscuity flavor. The beer is 5% ABV and 15 IBUs. Lompoc Oktoberfest will be on draft in all five of Lompoc's pubs beginning Sept. 14.

Party attendees will also have the opportunity to preview tasters of Monster Mash, Lompoc's Halloween seasonal. An imperial porter, Monster Mash is a dark ale with strong chocolate and roast flavors and a touch of red fruit. It weighs in at 8% ABV and 50 IBUs.

Other beers on the menu include Smoked Gold, a twist on the brewery's popular Fool's Gold that includes the addition of beechwood smoked malt for a subtle note of wood smoke (4.6% ABV, 16 IBU); Flower of the Gods IPA, a summer seasonal hopped with Simcoe and Tettnangers for a slight citrus flavor followed by a spicy finish (6.4% ABV, 60 IBU); Barrel Fermented Red, Lompoc's Proletariat Red 100% fermented in a vintage white English oak barrel for a malty and full bodied ale with a deep, rich red color and a slight touch of oak (6.2% ABV, 45 IBU); and Bourbon Barrel Aged LSD, a deep mahogany strong ale crafted with seven specialty malts, then aged in bourbon barrels for three months and cellared for an additional 10 (6.9% ABV, 58 IBU).

For more information, call 503.288.3996 or visit www.newoldlompoc.com.

BC Wins Red Bull Soapbox Race

2009-09-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

WINNER!
The Beer Connoisseur™
Wins One For Beer

The Beer Connoisseur Race Team competed in its first event this past Saturday and managed to take home the first place trophy! This is a huge win for beer.

It was the first time the Red Bull Soapbox Race was held in Atlanta, and the turnout was tremendous.

Before a crowd of nearly 50,000, the BC team kicked things off with a walk through the brewing process. The team members, decked out in traditional lederhosen and feathered caps, each carried one of beer’s four main ingredients: water, barley, hops and yeast.

Dancing to the lilting sounds of yodeling, the team ended its 30-second skit by pouring the ingredients into the copper mash tun-themed racecar and sending it down the starting ramp with a push. The rest, as they say, is history.

BC scored the highest in overall creativity and was the second fastest down the course, beaten by only six-tenths of a second by a team called the Barby Doll Bandits.

It couldn't have been a more beautiful day for this fun event. Thirty-nine teams participated in all, their cars careening down the track and whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Win or lose, the race was well worth the hard work that each team dedicated to making it a success.

Check out our race footage on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ BeerConnoisseurMag#play/all/ uploads-all/0/kd...

And visit our Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/ beerconnoisseur

for more coverage of the event.

BAVARIAN BEER, DANCE AND GAMES ABOUND AT THE VILLAGE AT SQUAW VALLEY USA’S EIGHTH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST

2009-09-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Event Features Everything from a Bratwurst Tossing Contest to Authentic German Music

Olympic Valley, CA. (September 3, 2009) – While the aspen trees put on a spectacular display of foliage, welcome the arrival of fall at The Village at Squaw Valley USA, when The 8th Annual Village Oktoberfest celebrates beer, bratwurst and Bavarian-style fun from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 3.

Beer lovers and those that enjoy traditional German fun will gather at The Village at Squaw Valley USA for a variety of entertainment, including performances by Joe Smiell and his 20-piece Bavarian band on the main stage. The Almenrauch Schuhplattler and Alpentanzer Schuhplattler Austrian Dance Troops will be another lively addition to the entertainment line-up.

The Village at Squaw Valley Oktoberfest will also provide plenty of interactive fun and prizes. A crowd favorite, the Oktoberfest Games can get quite intense as festival-goers compete in Stein Holding, plus Keg and Barrel-Rolling Races. Meanwhile, the Bratwurst Toss will put a whole new spin on the game of catch. Guests are encouraged to get into the spirit of the event by wearing traditional Lederhosen and Austrian clothing.

Along with the free entertainment, event attendees will find plenty of refreshments at the Biergarten, including Gordon Biersch, who will tap a traditional barrel of Festbier to kick-off the festival, Spaten Premium lager, Spaten Oktoberfest, Trumer Pilsner, Buckbean Black Noddy, and Franziskaner Hefeweizen. The first glass of beer is $10, which includes a 1/2-liter festival stein and one beer. Additional beer tickets will be available for $5.

There are beverage options for everyone, like non-alcoholic Clausthauler, and to feed the sweet tooth in everyone, Sprechers Root Beer floats. Guests also can savor traditional German bratwurst with sauerkraut and a variety of other items served at the eight Village restaurants.

The event and entertainment are free, but proceeds from beer sales benefit the Tahoe Truckee Lacrosse Foundation. Must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to purchase beer.

For more information on The Village at Squaw Valley Oktoberfest, visit www.TheVillageAtSquaw.com or call (530) 584-6266.

IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT INTRODUCES A GLUTEN-FREE MENU WITH OVER 40 DISHES

2009-08-18T13:23:00.000-07:00

WILMINGTON, DE – Popular food-and-beer destination Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, with eight locations in the Mid-Atlantic region, recently launched a special Gluten-Free Menu to meet the needs of their gluten-intolerant fans. Diners unable to consume gluten, commonly found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats, often have trouble finding appropriate dishes when dining out at restaurants and this new menu is Iron Hill’s way of welcoming them to their table. The gluten-free menu is available in addition to the regular lunch and dinner menus.

“We believe it’s critical to offer our guests a wide assortment of delicious food options, regardless of any dietary restrictions that they may have,” says Iron Hill Director of Culinary Training David Anderson, who created the special menu. “Our gluten-free menu is an important step towards providing all of our guests, even those whose diets are limited, with a way to enjoy a great meal with us. We took several Iron Hill favorites and recreated them to make them accessible to this audience.”

Available during both lunch and dinner hours at all eight Iron Hill locations, the new gluten-free menu includes over 40 modified dishes, such as: Brabant Mussels with white wine, leeks, garlic, parsley, lemon and cream; Voodoo Shrimp with honey barbecue sauce, white rice, sour cream and green onion; Fiery Baked Chipotle Wings, served with blue cheese dressing and vegetable sticks; Grilled Salmon with baby arugula, imported olives, red onion, grape tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, feta and balsamic vinaigrette; and Char-Grilled Angus Sirloin with grilled fingerling potatoes, asparagus, sun-dried tomato-portobella mushroom relish (see photo below).

Since 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has consistently been recognized for its outstanding beers and cuisine, accruing over 100 “Best of” awards from regional magazines. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has eight locations in the Mid-Atlantic region: Wilmington, DE; Newark, DE; West Chester, PA; Lancaster, PA; Media, PA; Phoenixville, PA; North Wales, PA and Maple Shade, NJ. For more information about Iron Hill and their new gluten-free menu, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com.

CAMRA’s ‘Good Beer Guide 2010’ launched on Thursday 10th September 2009

2009-08-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Britain

’s best-selling pub guide returns for 37^th edition

The Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide 2010, will be launched on Thursday September 10^th 2009.

The Good Beer Guide 2010 is now in its 37^th edition, and is a definitive pub listings bible, cataloguing the 4,500 best pubs in the UK, as well as all breweries currently in operation around the country. The Guide is sponsored by industry accreditation body, Cask Marque.

The Guide features both urban and rural pubs, giving details of food, pub history, architecture, transport links, beer gardens, accommodation, disabled access and facilities for families.

Pubs are surveyed by local CAMRA members and scored on a variety of aspects that make a great pub. These include customer service, the clientele mix (i.e the pub appeals to 18 and 80 year olds), value for money, décor and of course the quality of the real ale. CAMRA members therefore guarantee to supply the reader with the most up to date publication to help locate the best pint of real ale.

Magic Hat Night of the Living Dead 12-Pak Set To Haunt Stores! Diabolical New Casket of Beers is Eerily Perfect for the Fall Season

2009-08-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

South Burlington, VT, August 12th, 2009 – The Magic Hat Brewing Company has summoned from beyond the brand-new Night of the Living Dead Variety 12-Pak to celebrate the burial of warm days and the exhumation of nights that chill.

An Apparition of Ales to Terrify Autumn Thirsts

The Night of the Living Dead Variety 12-Pak contains a cabal of beers carefully selected to scare the howl out of autumn thirsts and exorcise the season’s most frightening fluid cravings. Every time one is opened, three bottles of four different ales materialize:

#9® is a not-quite-ghostly-pale ale with a light-to-medium body, a smooth malty sweetness, and supernaturally dry finish.

Circus Boy® is the unfiltered and unfettered hefeweizen whose light-bodied, wheat malt flavors rise up from the grave to delight the living.

Roxy Rolles rambles on as this popular winter offering rolls into the fall seasonal slot, paving autumn’s road to darkness with a warm blend of roasted malts and spicy hops that send shivers up the spine.

Belgian Chocolate Stout is the brewery’s Fall 2009 Odd Notion and a fitting final nail in summer’s coffin. Five different malts and Belgian yeast possess each bottle, which combine to create a fiendishly complex and spicy character that heats bones and lights bonfires in the soul.

Extrasensory Tastes Uncorked For Each & Every Season

The Night of the Living Dead 12-Pak can be found at retail haunts from the beginning of August to All Hallow’s Eve. Visit the Magic Hat Sip Code Locator at magichat.net/sipcode for locations near you. Like all Magic Hat Variety 12-Paks, it’s a ghoulishly good time buried in a portable crypt containing two year-round ales, the seasonal phantasm of the moment, and a limited-batch Odd Notion materializing for the first and possibly only time anywhere in this world or the next.

Magic Hat Brewing Company and Performing Arts Center, creators of #9®, Circus Boy®, Lucky Kat®, and four seasonal offerings, supports the arts community and reminds you that safe sex is great sex. “Get tested, Get a condom, Get it ON!”

European Beer Consumers Union- EBCU

2009-08-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

Beer Drinkers Call for Clarity in Beer styles

The European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) today launches a campaign across Europe for clarity and honesty in defining beer styles.

EBCU members have become increasingly concerned that brewers have been defining beer styles in different ways and fear that some styles are being over-simplified to the detriment of the consumer. EBCU has therefore decided to take action by establishing a list of approved beer judges drawn from national beer consumer organisations. This will ensure that the various beer competitions taking place in Europe truly reflect traditional beer styles. To support EBCU has developed descriptions of the more common beer styles so that consumers can judge for themselves without confusion.

Terry Lock, the Chair of EBCU, said, “We believe it is time that the beer competitions are seen as fair. For example a competition to find the best “Tripel” should truly reflect that beer style and not be judged to a set of criteria that suits a particular brewer. By having a number of independent consumer judges, and issuing guidelines on beer styles, we feel that we can protect the consumer from being misled. We also want to raise awareness of beer styles amongst ordinary drinkers, so we are launching an initial list of beer style descriptions today at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival to reach out to over 60,000 drinkers, which has got to be a good start.

“Wine drinkers would not be tricked into believing that a Riesling was a Chablis, or a Burgundy a Rioja, so why should beer drinkers have the wool pulled over their eyes by clever marketing? What we are calling for is consistency and clarity for the beer drinker.”

The launch of the EBCU Beer Judge accreditation scheme and beer descriptors will take place at 1.00pm next to the Biere Sans Frontieres stand (stand no W3) at the Great British Beer Festival on Thursday 6th August.

New Beer in Pugsley’s Signature Series: Smashed Pumpkin

2009-08-05T09:42:00.001-07:00

PORTLAND, MAINE – (July 30, 2009) – Shipyard Brewing Company announces the release of a new beer in its Pugsley’s Signature Series line. Smashed Pumpkin will be available in late August exclusively in 22 oz. bottles and on draft.

Smashed Pumpkin is a big-bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. The OG and final Alc./Vol. provide the structure and body. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich Malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. 1.088 OG, 9.00% Alc./Vol.

To fully enjoy all the flavors, this ale is best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Smashed Pumpkin pairs well with sharp cheeses, nuts, lamb, hearty stews and desserts like flan or pumpkin pie. Chefs find this an excellent beer to cook with in dishes such as braised short ribs.

Pugsley’s Signature Series is named after Shipyard’s master brewer, Alan Pugsley. Pugsley is from England where he worked with Peter Austin at the world-famous Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire before moving to the United States in 1986.

Shipyard Brewing Company is located on the historic waterfront in Portland, Maine and produces 15 varieties of award-winning English style and seasonal beers. Its products are distributed in over 35 states.

www.shipyard.com

CAMRA calls for “People’s Pint” to save pubs and help promote responsible drinking

2009-08-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

55% of all drinkers support lower strength beer option in pubs

Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London (August 4th-8th)

Issued: Wednesday August 5th
Status: For immediate use

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has launched a campaign at this week’s Great British Beer Festival, which could save drinkers 60 pence on a pub pint of lower strength beer as well as giving them greater choice.

CAMRA is calling on the Government to introduce a “People’s Pint” by abolishing excise duty on all beers at 2.8% abv or below. As well as saving consumers 60 pence on a pub pint of lower strength beer the move would make it easier for drinkers to enjoy a night out while drinking within sensible limits. Alcohol Concern has expressed support for CAMRA’s new campaign.

A 60 pence reduction on a pub pint of lower strength beer would help get people back into pubs at a time when pubs are being battered by the recession, huge increases in beer tax and fierce competition from supermarkets selling alcohol as a loss leader. Pubs are currently closing at a rate of more than seven a day.

CAMRA will be showcasing Welton’s Brewery‘s 2.8% abv beer ‘Pride ‘n’ Joy’ at the Great British Beer Festival being held in Earls Court, London this week. Visitors can comment on ‘Pride ‘n’ Joy’ at gbbf.camra.org.uk/beers

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:
‘Zero duty on lower strength beers is a win-win scenario for brewers, pubs, consumers and the Government. Quality lower strength beers can be packed with flavour- a lower alcohol content does not need to translate into a reduction in flavour. For the consumer, this proposal means greater choice as well as a saving at the bar if they opt for a beer of 2.8% abv or less. For the Government, this is an opportunity to make it easier for people to drink responsibly whilst also supporting the tens of thousands of jobs under threat as a result of falling beer sales and pub closures.’

Don Shenker, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive, said:
‘We support CAMRA’s call to revisit the issue of alcohol duty in order to encourage the drinks industry to produce lower strength beers. People are entitled to have more choice and greater control over their own drinking. Having more lower strength drinks on the market allows people to enjoy a night out while making it easier to stay within safe drinking guidelines.’

CAMRA’s “People’s Pint” campaign follows alarming new figures from research body AC Nielsen which suggest that off-trade sales through supermarkets could overtake beer sales in pubs next year and that there is a need for lower priced beers in pubs.

Mike Benner continued:
‘Pubs provide a safe and sociable place for adults to enjoy alcohol responsibly and it is essential that the Government supports our campaign to enable pubs to compete more effectively with ludicrously low supermarket beer prices. With 55% of drinkers in favour of a lower alcohol beer option*, the demand is clearly there and the Government is free to introduce a zero-rate on beers of 2.8% abv or less under existing EU rules and should therefore do so.’

CAMRA claims that while pub prices for lower strength beers could be up to 60 pence a pint lower, the effect on supermarket prices would be minimal.

Ray Welton, Head Brewer at Welton’s Brewery, said:

‘There’s always the element of lower strength beers being unique selling points, and I know of a few pubs where licensees are thriving because of offering a low strength beer option to their customers. A low strength beer allows people to enjoy a beer when they may wish to moderate their drinking levels. There is certainly already a consumer demand for a low-strength beer option in pubs, but to further this, there needs to be a national campaign in order to champion its merits.’

CAMRA reaches 100,000th member milestone!

2009-08-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London (August 4th-8th)

Consumer group vows to ‘keep up the fight for beer drinkers and pub-goers’

Issued: Tuesday August 4th
Status: For immediate use

Members of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, are today thrilled to announce a landmark moment in their 38 year history as their numbers swell to 100,000 members. The beer consumer group is delighted to confirm this milestone on the opening day of the Great British Beer Festival, at Earls Court, London.

Despite many campaigning successes over its 38 year history, CAMRA is pledging to push middle-age to one side as it steps up its campaigns to save Britain’s pubs and get a fair deal for beer drinkers. As the UK heads for a general election next spring, CAMRA is pushing for reform of the beer tie, fair taxes on beer, minimum pricing regulations to stamp out loss-leaders in supermarkets, zero duty rate on low strength beers, planning law reforms to protect pubs and for a central Government policy framework to protect and promote well-run community pubs.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:
‘We are overjoyed at reaching 100,000 members, brought together by our passion for great British beer and community pubs. But while we may relax and raise a glass or two to celebrate at the opening of the Great British Beer Festival today, we are not complacent and tomorrow the hard work campaigning for drinkers’ rights will continue.’

CAMRA was formed in 1971 by Michael Hardman, Jim Makin, Graham Lees and Bill Mellor, when an idea of a campaign arose whilst they were bemoaning the state of British beer and pubs during a holiday in Ireland. Popularity for the then-named Campaign for the Revitalisation of Ale quickly grew, and membership levels rose sharply, with CAMRA boasting over 5,000 members by the end of 1973.

In the early years of the organisation, CAMRA quickly formed three key campaigning tools, which remain integral to this day. The year 1974 saw CAMRA publish the Good Beer Guide for the first time, selling 30,000 copies in the first 7 months of its release. In the same year, the Corn Exchange, Cambridge, played host to the first CAMRA beer festival, with half of the beer supply in the venue selling out in the first day. And lastly, CAMRA’s first national celebration of real ale in September 1975, the Covent Garden Beer Festival, which was a predecessor to today’s Great British Beer Festival.

On hearing the landmark figure of 100,000 members, co-founder Michael Hardman, said:
‘We would never have believed in 1971 that one day we would have 100,000 members. We would have hailed it as a roaring success if we had managed to attract 1,000 like-minded souls, but we didn't bank on the huge support that was lying in wait for just such a campaign to come along. The secret of CAMRA's success from its early days right up to now, is the contribution made by these members: an eclectic bunch of young and old, rich and poor, men and women, bosses and workers, fat and thin, northern and southern.

‘These are the remarkable and highly knowledgeable people who have made CAMRA Europe’s most successful single issue consumer organisation and fostered the emergence of thousands of new breweries around the world dedicated to providing an alternative to the bland offerings of multi-national companies for whom profit is all and quality an obstacle to its achievement.’

In recent years, CAMRA’s rising membership figures have been attributed to an increasing number of consumers trying real ale for the first time. In the last year alone, membership numbers have increased by 9.7%, and since the beginning of the twenty-first century, numbers have almost doubled!

In a poll to UK consumers, CAMRA asked the public what they thought the organisation’s biggest campaigning success has been over 38 years. Results showed that 41% believed it be the continued existence of real ale in the majority of pubs, with 11% thinking it to be the greater flexibility in pub opening hours.

Keith Spencer, CAMRA National Membership Director, spoke with great pride of the milestone. He said:
‘It’s a real honour to be one of 100,000 devoted real ale fans who devote so much of their free time to campaign for good beer and good pubs. Such a landmark deserves a grand celebration on a local and national level. CAMRA has had a rich campaigning history and we can look back fondly on some of the achievements that have lead up to this milestone. Let’s all raise a glass to the 100,000 and hope we can continue to increase our numbers in years to come.’

After a major national celebration at the Great British Beer Festival, starting on August 4th, the 100,000 member celebrations look set to continue with local CAMRA branches organising their own celebrations throughout the country.

The Livery - Benton Harbor Celebrates its 4th Anniversary with Hand-Forged MicroBrews & The Fabulous Thunderbirds

2009-08-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

(BENTON HARBOR, Mich) -- Proving its reputation as a premier entertainment venue -- as well as award-winning microbrewery -- The Livery in Benton Harbor proudly welcomes The Fabulous Thunderbirds to its 4th Anniversary celebration, August 14-15. It will be a weekend full of hand-forged microbrews, mouth-watering food and, well, fabulous music!

“Our passion for beer is equal to our passion for great and eclectic music,” says brewmaster Steve Berthel. “We have a long-standing reputation for both and it is with great pride that we welcome the Fabulous Thunderbirds to our 4th Anniversary celebration.”

On Friday, August 14, the Thunderbirds will perform at 9pm (tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of show). Then, on Saturday, August 15, they will perform at The Livery's 4th Anniversary Festival. Festivities start at 2pm with an all-you-can-eat bar-b-cue and complimentary glass of each beer served throughout the day. The band takes to the stage at 7:30pm. Tickets for this day-long celebration are $65 in advance or $75 the day of.

“During the festival, patrons will receive a token for 8oz. samples of each of the four special release beers,” Steve says. “Besides our three real ales on the beer engine, and eight mainstay selections, we will be featuring four special releases.”

These include Carvaceous - a blend of a barrel aged imperial pale ale and a barrel-aged imperial IPA; Agent 99 - a barrel-aged Belgian-style quadruple; 4th Anniversary Ale - an imperial brown rye that is hopped like an IPA; and a dark Belgian-style tripple that is barrel-aged with nectarines.”

About the brewery:
The Livery, at 190 5th Street in Benton Harbor, is one of some 70 licensed craft brewing operations in the state of Michigan. One hundred years ago, the building known as the Palace Livery provided a vital service making it a gathering place for residents of and travelers to Southwest Michigan. Four years ago, the former horse stable and carriage shop was been brought back to life as "The Livery" -- one of Michigan's most exciting and unique microbreweries.

The Livery features a diverse selection of beer styles, ciders and wines, an outdoor beer garden and a Cafe serving custom roasted coffee and espresso. All of the "Hand Forged Microbrews" are painstakingly created by brewmaster Steve Berthel on a 10 bbl. brewing system of his own design. Music and other live entertainment are regularly featured in The Upper Livery entertainment venue.

The Livery is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild. www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

About the band:
For over thirty years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group's distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It Up.”

Founding member Kim Wilson spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation. “We started as a straight blues band.” vocalist and harmonica player Wilson says. “We now incorporate a mixture of a lot of different styles. We're an American music band and we're higher energy than ever before.” The Fabulous Thunderbirds features Jay Moeller on drums, Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller on guitar, and Randy Bermudes on bass.

Wilson’s musical talents have garnered him multiple Blues Awards and Grammy Nominations. The Blues Foundation 2008 blues Music Awards named Wilson "Instrumentalist - Harmonica" category. In 2006, he was named “Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year” in 2006, and “Lookin’ for Trouble!” was named Blues Song of the Year in 2004. Wilson has contributed to the work of many other great artists such as the legendary Muddy Waters (who called him his “son”), contemporary artist Bonnie Raitt, guitar legends Stevie Ray Vaughn and brother Jimmy Vaughn, and Martin Scorsese’s movie “The Blues." With his current movie project “Cadillac Records,” Wilson continues to focus on the music he loves.

With over 20 albums recorded and millions sold, Kim Wilson and The Fabulous Thunderbirds tour the world performing their own unique style of music. Ranging from pop anthems like “Powerful Stuff” which was featured in the Tom Cruise movie “Cocktail," to the low down blues of "Chicago," this brand of honest music brings fans back time and again.

Having shared the stage with The Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, Carlos Santana and blues legends BB King and Buddy Guy and countless others, The Fabulous Thunderbirds continue to tour Europe and the North America, bringing more great music to their fans worldwide.

Their new CD (tentative title “Pay Back Time”) is to be released in mid-2009.

Porterhouse Productions Announces Traverse City Microbrewery & Music Festival

2009-08-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to invite you to join us for the First Annual Traverse City Microbrewery & Music Festival (TCMMF) on Saturday, August 29, 2009, on the beautiful front lawn and woods of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City, Michigan. This event aims to be one of the greatest in the state with beers from around the Midwest, focusing especially on Michigan brews. Outside of great craft beer, we will feature national touring musical acts on two stages. Hear the musical influences of Blues, Zydeco, World, Acoustic, Bluegrass, Gypsy Jazz, Afrobeat through the music of The Legendary Buckwheat Zydeco Band, Clumsy Lovers, Caravan of Thieves, Mike Moran + Levi Britton, Delilah Dewylde & The Lost Boys, Luke Winslow-King and more. TCMMF will be alive with music and art experiences as musicians and artists will roam and meander through the crowd.

Breweries include: Right Brain, Shorts, Founders, Bells, Jolly Pumpkin, Tri City, New Holland, Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada, Michigan Brewery, Three Sergeants, Red Hook, Goose Island, and Many More… Plus regional mead, cider and some very special brews! Education will be featured on a second stage in the Dining Tent that will include workshops on Mead, Homebrewing, Lord of Gourd and more with acoustic music in between.

This beer festival will be unlike any other in Michigan and we hope to make this a favorite of beer lovers, music lovers and brewers. We also have a strong dedication to the local harvest and many local foods will be paired with great beer.

Tickets On Sale at Oryana, Right Brain Brewery, Old Town Coffee, and online at www.porterhouseproductions.com .

The First Annual Traverse City Microbrewery + Music Festival will take place on the front lawn of the historic State Hospital, now The Village at Grand Traverse Commons (Division and 11th Streets). TCMMF is an excellent opportunity to enjoy hand-crafted beers, barley wines and non-alcoholic ales as well as local food and culture. We will have an early two-hour “Brewer’s Happy Hour” where serious craft beer patrons can engage in conversation with brewers and enjoy their company before the admission of the public as well as free catered food pairings and festival merchandise. Attendees will vote for their favorite beer and we will award a lucky brewery with a People’s Choice Award.

The TCMMF will benefit local nonprofits that work with and on behalf of youth. TCMMF is designed to honor local and regional brewers by being the first in the state to not charge a tap fee (!), pay 100% for the craft beer and offer to support the brewers with rooms and top hospitality. It also falls on a weekend full of community events that have endorsed the TCMMF including the popular Cherry Roubaix Bike Race and The Big Jon Salmon Classic. Community associations including Michigan Brewers Guild, Convention Visitors Bureau and Downtown Development Association have given their approval as well. We will be in full gear to celebrate!

The Traverse City Microbrewery + Music Festival celebrates the quality and
diversity in beer styles and breweries that exist in Michigan and across the Midwest.

The event’s beneficiaries are The Good Work Collective, which is a brand new 501(c)3 youth empowerment and community networking organization; Little Artshram, which fosters alternative education through a unique combination of permaculture, art, environmentalism, and social activism; The Historic Barns Harvest Festival slated for October 3 of this year; WNMC 90.7, Traverse City’s local college radio; local farmers and others. The Good Work Collective will help encourage the sustainability component of the festival, and has begun to do so by implementing a recycling/green program including compostable serving ware and wind- and solar-power stages for the annual event.

Our goal is to maintain a long-standing tradition of providing vendors and patrons with an event filled with music, fun, delicious brews, sustainable practices, local food and to excel culture with creative events hosted by the good people of Northern Michigan, The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, and the community of Traverse City. A key partner in this equation is Porterhouse Productions who will manage the event production and promotion. Porterhouse has created awarding winning Beer Festivals, concerts and events across the Northern Rockies and now in Northern Michigan. Visit www.porterhouseproductions.com .

For sponsorship information, vending, volunteering or to get involved, please contact sam@porterhouseproductions.com .

TCMMF is now accepting applications from those interested in participating in the event - from vending to breweries to sponsors and artists. Please contact sam@porterhouseproductions.com .

In honor of the creativity and hard work that is put into creating craft beer, we look forward to celebrating the breweries and beers of our region at the First Annual Traverse City Microbrewery + Music Festival on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City, Michigan.

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION

* 21+ with ID
* General Admission : $25 = 8 pours, live musical entertainment from six or more bands, 5 - 10PM
* Brewer’s Happy Hour : $50 = 3 - 5 PM early happy two-hours, meet brewers before the GA rush, access to catered food pairings and limited festival merchandise, and 8 pours, live musical entertainment from six or more bands, 5 - 10 PM
* Attendees receive 4 oz. pours per token in corn composting cups
* For more information, visit www.porterhouseproductions.com
* Food will be available for purchase
* Shuttles will run every ½ hour to locations around TC.
* Designate a Driver, Shuttle, Walk, Ride a Bike!

MUSIC HEADLINERS

The Legendary Buckwheat Zydeco and Band / www.buckwheatzydeco.com
Clumsy Lovers / www.clumsylovers.com
Caravan Of Thieves / www.caravanofthieves.com
Delilah Dewyld & The Lost Boys / www.myspace.com/ delilahdewyldeandthelostboys
Mike Moran + Levi Britton / www.mikemoran.com /
Luke Winslow-King / www.myspace.com/ lukewinslowking
… and more including stellar local Michigan artists!

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

>Friday, August 28
8AM-8PM : Set up
2PM : Brewery tent set up
8PM-2AM Pre-Party at Right Brain Brewery, North Peak and local taverns.

>Saturday, August 29
8AM-3PM : Brewery Load In
3PM : Brewers Happy Hour, limited tickets available
5PM : Public Doors
10PM : Event Curfew
10PM-2AM : Village Commons Afterglow and Volunteer Appreciation party

Champion Beer of Britain announced - CAMRA toasts Best Beer in Britain

2009-08-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Ruby Mild shines through!

Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London (August 4th-8th)

Issued: Tuesday August 4th
Status: For immediate use

Rudgate Ruby Mild of York, North Yorkshire has been voted the best beer in Britain – CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2009 - after a year of local tastings panels and regional competitions culminated in a final judging at the Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London today.

Ruby Mild, which has an abv of 4.4%, is described in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2009 as a ‘nutty, rich ruby ale, stronger than usual for a mild.’

The York brewed real ale was chosen as the overall winner from over sixty finalists in seven categories (Best Bitters, Bitters, Golden Ales, Milds, Speciality, Winter Beer and Strong Bitters) including beers from tiny micros to major regional brewers.

Roger Protz, Chairman of the final judging panel said:
‘It’s a tremendous boost for the mild category. It’s good to see a classic British traditional beer making such a comeback in the age of golden ales and much paler beers in general. The judges were impressed by rich, fruity character, and the fact that it’s quite hoppy and bitter for a mild ale. Its victory should invigorate the whole mild ale category.’

An elated Craig Lee, Rudgate’s brewery owner, said:
‘It’s an excellent achievement, we’ve come close in previous years, and we are really proud to have won the Champion Beer of Britain. It’s unbelievable, and we hope our beer helps popularise the cause of real ale. ’

Rudgate’s victory comes in the wake of new research from CAMRA showing 50% of adult drinkers have now tried Britain’s national drink, real ale! This comes at a time when there are currently over 670 brewers in the UK, more than at any other time since the Second World War.

CAMRA’s research shows-
50% of all adult drinkers have now tried real ale, compared to 35% in 2008
67% of male drinkers have now tried real ale, compared to 50% in 2008
30% of women drinkers have now tried real ale, compared to 16% in 2008

Over the last few years, CAMRA has concentrated its efforts on encouraging people to try real ale as its previous research showed a high level of conversion amongst those who try it with 40% converting to drinking it afterwards.

Further new research from CAMRA shows that out of all the consumers having tried real ale, 64% of people have tried a beer brewed in their local area, revealing why trade bodies such as the Society of Independent Brewers has reported a 7% year-on-year volume growth for local brewers for the last two years*.

Complete List of Champion Beer of Britain winners

Champion Beer of Britain- Rudgate, Ruby Mild (York, North Yorkshire)
Second- Oakham, Attila (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)
Third- West Berkshire, Dr Hexter’s Healer (Thatcham, Berkshire)

Mild category
Gold- Rudgate, Ruby Mild (York, North Yorkshire)
Silver- Bank Top, Dark Mild (Bolton, Lancashire)
Bronze- Highland, Dark Munro (Birsay, Orkney)

Bitter category
Gold- Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Guildford, Surrey)
Silver- Butcombe, Bitter (Bristol, Avon)
Joint Bronze- Humpty Dumpty, Little Sharpie (Reedham, Norfolk)
Joint Bronze- Triple fff, Alton’s Pride (Alton, Hampshire)

Best Bitter category
Gold- Southport, Golden Sands (Southport, Merseyside)
Silver- Buntingford, Britannia (Royston, Hertfordshire)
Joint Bronze- Evan Evans, Cwrw (Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)
Joint Bronze- Thornbridge, Lord Marples (Bakewell, Derbyshire)
Joint Bronze- Vale, VPA (Brill, Buckinghamshire)

Golden Ale category
Gold- Dark Star, American Pale Ale (Ansty, West Sussex)
Joint Silver- Adnams, Explorer (Southwold, Suffolk)
Joint Silver- St Austell, Proper Job (St Austell, Cornwall)

Strong Bitter category
Gold- West Berkshire, Dr Hexter’s Healer (Thatcham, Berkshire)
Silver- Thornbridge, Kipling (Bakewell, Derbyshire)
Bronze- Grain, Tamarind IPA (Harleston, Norfolk)

Speciality Beer category
Gold- Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Pentlow, Essex)
Silver- Wentworth, Bumble Beer (Wentworth, South Yorkshire)
Bronze- Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout (Ripley, Derbyshire)

Winter Beer of Britain winner (announced in January 2009)
Oakham, Attila (Cambridgshire)

…………………..

Bottled Beer of Britain winners (Champion Bottled Beer of Britain competition sponsored by Travelodge)
Gold- Titanic, Stout (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Silver- Great Gable, Yewbarrow (Gosforth, Cumbria)
Bronze- White Shield Brewery, White Shield (Coors, Burton-on-Trent)

CAMRA Champion Bottled Beer of Britain competition winner to be sold in Travelodge hotels

2009-08-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

Great British Beer Festival 2009, Earls Court, London (August 4th-8th)- www.gbbf.org.uk

Issued: Tuesday August 4th

Status: For immediate use

As part of a pioneering new sponsorship arrangement for the Champion Bottled Beer of Britain competition, Titanic Stout from the Titanic Brewery, Stoke-on-Trent, will now be sold by Travelodge in its 100 Bar/Cafes.

Chosen by a panel of judges, Titanic Stout is described by the brewery as an ‘old-fashioned ale, consisting of a dark combination of malt and roast with hops and a strong, well balanced flavour.’ Travelodge, through sponsoring the competition, is committed to selling the winning beer and is delighted that a drink of the calibre of Titanic Stout was chosen.

Paul Harvey, Managing Director of Travelodge, and one of the competition judges, said:
‘Titanic Brewery has produced a wonderful beer in Titanic Stout and it fully deserved to win. I am delighted that we will now be able to sell an award-winning beer in our hotels and I expect it to be a real hit with our customers.’

Keith Bott, Managing Director of the Titanic brewery, said:
‘We are delighted to win. It’s the second time we’ve won in 5 years and in fact our stout has been in the top three for five out of six years running. We are over the moon to be recognised as the best real ale in a bottle in Britain.’

Roger Protz, a world-renowned beer author, and long-time CAMRA member, describes Titanic Stout as ‘jet black in colour but with the ruby edge that is typical of the style. The aroma is big and deep, with an espresso coffee and bitter chocolate note, underscored by biscuity malt and tart hops. Liquorice comes through on the palate, while the biscuity malt builds on the tongue. The finish is long, with intense notes of coffee, chocolate and burnt cake from the malts and a lingering hop bitterness.’

Support the Community of Beer Enthusiasts and Small Brewers: Contact Your Congressional Representative

2009-08-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Beer Enthusiasts and Homebrewers,

We’re asking you to contact your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to join the House Small Brewers Caucus. What is the House Small Brewers Caucus?

The U.S. House of Representatives Small Brewers Caucus was formed in 2007 by interested Members of Congress. Their mission is to gain a better understanding of all aspects of small, amateur and professional craft brewing, from business and regulatory issues to the brewing process and history of the small brewing community. The members of the Caucus are passionate about small brewers and craft beer. Co-chairs Representative Peter DeFazio (OR) and Representative Denny Rehberg (MT) have themselves been homebrewers and are avid beer enthusiasts.

Currently, only 49 Representatives belong to the Caucus. To put that in some perspective, 344 Congressional districts are home to at least one small brewery and we assume every one of the 435 districts is home to homebrewers and beer enthusiasts.

You can help by asking your U.S. Representative to join the Caucus. Help assure that you have the strongest voice possible speaking on your beer behalf in Congress.

You’ve come to appreciate the flavor, diversity and quality of your homebrew or locally brewed beers from America’s small breweries. In these uncertain economic and legislative times you can imagine how important it is to educate Congress about the community of homebrewers, beer enthusiasts and small brewers.

Ask your Representative to join the Caucus. Following are resource materials to assist you, including a brief message you can use to make your contact, either sending it “as is” or modifying it to add your personal message.

Thanks for all you do in support of America’s small brewing community.

Charlie Papazian

President, Brewers Association

Gary Glass

Director, American Homebrewers Association

_________________________________________________________

Below is a list of the 49 U.S. Representatives who are currently Small Brewers Caucus members. If your Representative DOES NOT appear on this list, please take a moment and email your Member of Congress about joining the Caucus.

If your Representative is already a member, please email him/her a brief thank you for their support of both small brewers and you, the craft beer drinker and enthusiast.

Please visit the official U.S. House of Representatives web site http://www.house.gov/ to access your Representative’s personal web page and contact information – just enter your zip code in the “Find Your Representative” search box in the upper left-hand corner and then click on your Representative’s name on the page that displays to enter his/her personal web page.

House Small Brewers Caucus Roster (as of July 28, 2009)
District Representative District Representative
AR-02 Vic Snyder
MT-AL Denny Rehberg
AZ-05 Harry Mitchell
NE-02 Lee Terry
CA-01 Mike Thompson
NY-12 Nydia Velazquez
CA-02 Wally Herger
NY-17 Eliot Engel
CA-06 Lynn Woolsey
NY-22 Maurice Hinchey
CA-49 Darrell Issa
NY-24 Mike Arcuri
CA-50 Brian Bilbray
OK-03 Frank Lucas
CO-01 Diana DeGette
OK-04 Tom Cole
CO-02 Jared Polis
OR-01 David Wu
CO-03 John Salazar
OR-02 Greg Walden
CO-05 Doug Lamborn
OR-03 Earl Blumenauer
CO-07 Ed Perlmutter
OR-04 Peter DeFazio
GA-05 John Lewis
PA-06 Jim Gerlach
HI-02 Mazie Hirono
PA-08 Patrick Murphy
IA-02 Dave Loebsack
PA-15 Charles Dent
KS-03 Dennis Moore
SC-01 Henry Brown, Jr.
MA-01 John Olver
TX-23 Ciro Rodriguez
MA-09 Stephen Lynch
TX-25 Lloyd Doggett
MA-10 William Delahunt
VA-05 Tom Perriello
MI-01 Bert Stupak
VT-AL Peter Welch
MI-02 Peter Hoekstra
WA-02 Rick Larsen
MI-04 Dave Camp
WA-04 Doc Hastings
MI-06 Fred Upton
WA-08 Dave Reichert
MI-11 Thaddeus McCotter
WI-02 Tammy Baldwin
MO-03 Russ Carnahan

Suggested letter for your U.S. Representative

Dear Representative _____________,

As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to join the House Small Brewers Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Peter DeFazio and Denny Rehberg.

The purpose of the Small Brewers Caucus is to provide Members of Congress and their staff an opportunity to learn about activities of the American craft brewing community, which includes over 1,500 small and independent American brewery businesses, and beer and homebrewing enthusiasts that participate in and contribute to local community activities and economies. The Small Brewers Caucus also offers opportunities to learn about the science and art of beer and brewing, the dynamics of running a small business as a brewery, the associated regulatory and societal issues and the value of craft beers and small brewing activities.

As a beer enthusiast and ardent supporter of America’s small professional and amateur brewers, I appreciate the many contributions their small, independent businesses make to their local communities. From their flavorful and distinctive locally brewed beers to their community involvement, small breweries are important economic and social hubs in their local communities.

Please contact the Washington office of either Representative DeFazio (202-225-6416) or Representative Rehberg (202-225-3211) to learn more about the Small Brewers Caucus and to join. Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

Green Dragon Hosts Inaugural Indie Beer Fest

2009-08-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR, August 4, 2009 – On August 29th from 11:00am to 9:00pm, the city of Portland will close down SE 9th Street between SE Belmont and SE Yamhill for the 1st Annual Oregon Indie Beer Fest. The event will feature 30+ small, independent Oregon-based brewers that brew no-more-than 1000 barrels per year, providing festival goers with exciting, hard-to-find beers. To prepare us for this unique gathering, Green Dragon will be tapping some of these independent brews each day of the week (August 24-28) leading up to the festival.

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste 60+ hard-to-find craft beers and meet their makers during the Indie Beer Fest, and will be able to take their favorites home with them in bottles, growlers and kegs to go. And if the beer is not enough to keep cool, tours of the Green Dragon’s 1,040 square foot, glow-in-the-dark cooler will be held hourly. Other activities include:

12:00 to 5:00 - Dog Wash
12:00 to 4:00 - Washers Tournament
11:00 to 9:00 - Free Pinball
11:00 to 9:00 - Free Shuffleboard

Indie Beer Fest is 100% dog-friendly and owners are encouraged to bring their companions with them. A portion of the proceeds from the Indie Beer Festival will benefit the Portland-based Pixie Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing animal adoption in a nurturing environment and affording access to spay and neuter services for everyone.

With a $10.00 paid admission, each attendee will receive 5 taster tickets. Additional tickets will be sold for $1.00 each.

Established in 2007, the Green Dragon is listed by Imbibe magazine as one of the “100 Best Places to Drink Beer in America,” and by DRAFT Magazine as one of the “Best Beer Bars in America.” Green Dragon features 19 taps that rotate rapidly between hard to find, esoteric beers. Location: 928 SE 9th Street, Portland, OR 97214.

Van Duzer and his Cruiser Nearing Washington, D.C. while Raising Awareness about the Vast Benefits of Bicycling

2009-07-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Colorado-based Bicycle Advocate Promotes a Two-wheeled Lifestyle

Ft. Collins, CO – July 31, 2009 – One month, 2,000 miles and countless friends later, Ryan Van Duzer is nearing Washington, D.C. on his two-wheeled, cross-country expedition. On June 20, Van Duzer departed from San Diego on a three-speed cruiser bike and is scheduled to arrive in the nation’s capital by August 10 for a celebration of his journey with the League of American Bicyclists and the National Geographic Society. While the trip is ending soon, you can still experience Duzer (a witty character with bikes on the brain), donate to Community Cycles (www.ryanvanduzer.com), and sign up for Team Wonderbike (http://www.teamwonderbike.com) before his trip ends.

The cross-country trip appropriately concludes in Washington, D.C., where he will proudly share his message of bicycle advocacy. With some details still to be determined, Van Duzer will be the toast of a public event in National Geographic’s courtyard where he will meet with representatives from the League of American Bicyclists as well as Bicycle Friendly Business designees and members of the Congressional Bike Caucus.

“The League of American Bicyclists is excited to welcome Ryan Van Duzer to D.C.,” said Andy Clarke, League of American Bicyclists President. “Duzer embodies the League’s philosophy that bicycling can be used for fun, fitness and transportation. We are eager to hear his stories of how America is truly becoming a bicycle-friendly nation one community at a time.”

As he pedals across the nation, Van Duzer spreads the gospel of New Belgium Brewing’s Team Wonderbike and his life-long passion for biking. He continues to meet with advocacy groups, bike lovers, and city planners from America’s Bicycle Friendly Communities (http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/) as recognized by the League of American Bicyclists.

“My trek so far has encouraged my belief that people everywhere love simple things – a home cooked meal, a trusty bike, a good beer,” said Van Duzer. “As I start heading toward our nation’s capital I am enthusiastic about how we as a country can benefit by more people embracing the two-wheeled lifestyle.”

People across the country have been tuning in to Van Duzer’s personal story through his charismatic video diary, blogs, and Twitter and Facebook updates. Track his journey at http://www.newbelgium.com/duzer and come along when he gets to your area to share a meal, a beer or a bike ride.

New Belgium Brewing, maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale, is sponsoring Van Duzer’s travels as part of its Team Wonderbike initiatives (http://www.newbelgium.com/team-wonderbike). Team Wonderbike was created by New Belgium to inspire and encourage folks to use their bike instead of their car as often as possible. Team Wonderbike membership is currently 18,000 strong, with more joining daily as Van Duzer’s trek gets people thinking, “If he can ride across the country, I can ride to work!”

“With the help of the League of American Bicyclists, we are seeing the magic of a nationwide network of bicycle advocates pulling together,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium Spokesperson and Team Wonderbike Spokes Model. “We’ve seen people across the country join Ryan on rides or offer him a place to sleep. We’ve witnessed the bicycling community rally together for a cause. It’s nothing short of inspirational.”

Visit http://www.newbelgium.com/duzer to look at the map and watch Duzer’s video blog.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit, and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE OFFERS AT HOME DRAUGHT EXPERIENCE THROUGH LAUNCH OF DRAUGHTKEG™

2009-07-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (June 29, 2009) – Newcastle Brown Ale, America’s No. 1 imported ale, today announces the launch of the Newcastle DraughtKeg™. This innovative new product incorporates patented technology together with Newcastle’s unique flavor and refreshing, smooth finish, offering consumers a portable and authentic draught beer drinking experience that can be enjoyed anywhere.

Featuring the same superior technology originally created by Heineken USA, the Newcastle DraughtKeg provides long-lasting freshness and portability through a pressurized draught system that utilizes a patented internal CO2 system with a mini tap. This feature helps keep the beer fresh for up to 30 days after tapping and delivers the same taste experience as a pint of Newcastle poured in a pub.

“The launch of the Newcastle DraughtKeg is a milestone event for the brand, offering access to the one and only Newcastle on tap at fine establishments everywhere, including your home,” said Colin Westcott Pitt, brand director, Newcastle Brown Ale. “The fact that it’s portable gives you the opportunity to share the pub experience with friends wherever you are. You become a handyman of sorts, providing instant home improvement by bringing the Newcastle DraughtKeg into someone’s house.”

DraughtKeg’s compact, recyclable steel packaging and portable design holds 1.33 gallons (5 liters) of Newcastle, which serves up to 10 pints of refreshing draught beer. The Newcastle DraughtKeg is also compatible with the Krups® BeerTender®, an appliance designed exclusively for the DraughtKeg. The BeerTender chills and maintains the ideal temperature for the DraughtKeg, creating a stylish draught system for an at-home pub experience.

The Newcastle DraughtKeg will launch in select markets beginning in July 2009. While the price point is at the discretion of each individual retailer, Newcastle suggests an approximate retail value of $22.99. The product will be offered at select grocery and liquor stores where Newcastle is sold.

For media inquiries, including interview scheduling, please contact Formula at
310-578-7050.

About Newcastle Brown Ale

In 1927, in the Northeast of England, Colonel Jim Porter created a uniquely crafted bottle of ale with its own distinct color, taste and character that quickly became a local favorite. Best served cool, Newcastle Brown Ale has since become a world favorite. Newcastle Brown Ale is imported by the nation's premier beer importer, Heineken USA, headquartered in White Plains, New York. For more information, please visit NewcastleBrown.com.

About Heineken USA
Heineken USA Inc., the nation’s premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world’s most international brewer. Brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world’s most international beer brand; Heineken Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from FEMSA Cerveza of Mexico. Please visit EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

Michigan Brewers Guild Announces Two New Fall Festivals

2009-07-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

UP Oktoberfest - September 12, Marquette & Harvest Fest - October 24 at Eastern Market, Detroit

(EAST LANSING, Mich) – Coming off a widely successful 12th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti this past weekend (where attendance sold out at just over 8000 at historic Depot Town’s Riverside Park), the Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) announces two new fall festivals for craft beer enthusiasts.

The UP Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, September 12 in Marquette, followed by Harvest Fest -- presented with Metro Times -- on Saturday, October 24 at Eastern Market in Detroit.

“We have been looking to add a few new events to our annual calendar,” says Scott Graham, MBG executive director. “Oktoberfest gives us the opportunity to reach out to craft beer connoisseurs in the Upper Peninsula, while the Harvest Fest brings us to historic Eastern Market in Michigan’s largest city. With both, we hope to draw attendance from our existing beer fan base, as well as introduce a whole new group of people to some of the finest craft beers in the Midwest.”

Further details about these events will be released in the coming weeks and will also be posted online at www.MichiganBrewersGuild.org.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

‘Super-Complaint’ prompts OFT probe into Pub Market CAMRA Demands a ‘Fair Share’ for Consumers

2009-07-24T04:35:00.000-07:00

Issued: Friday 24th July 2009
Status: For immediate use

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today exercised its ‘super-complaint’ power to require the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to fast-track consideration of anti-competitive practices in the UK pub market which are resulting in high prices in pubs, lower amenity, restricted choice and pub closures.

CAMRA’s ‘super-complaint’, ‘A Fair Share for the Consumer’, highlights that high rents and ‘tied’ beer prices are driving many good pub landlords out of business and contributing to the destruction of Britain’s pubs through pub closures and chronic under investment in pub facilities. Currently more than seven pubs close every day.

Mike Benner, Chief Executive, said, “Exploitation of ‘beer tie’ agreements and the unfair method of setting pub rents are harming consumers and society as a whole. It is enshrined in EU law that consumers must get a fair share of the benefits arising from exclusive purchasing deals such as the ‘beer tie’, but this is often not the case. We hope that the OFT will act to deliver a fair share for Britain’s 14 million regular pub goers. Reform of the ‘beer tie’ along with a framework of support from Government is urgently required to save the pub from extinction.”

‘Tied’ Beer Prices

More than half of the pubs in the UK are run under ‘tie’ arrangements which prevent pub landlords buying beer and other products on the open market meaning many pub landlords are forced to pay over the odds by around 50 pence a pint.

Mr Benner said, “The ‘tied’ model works best when it is a true partnership, where the risks and benefits are shared equally between pub owning company and the pub landlord. Unfortunately, this is not the current reality. Pub-owning companies are able to earn excessive profits by increasing the cost of beer to their ‘tied’ pub landlords who have no choice but to accept high prices and pass them onto the consumer. This practice has led to higher prices in pubs and has widened the gap between pub and supermarket prices encouraging people to shun the pub for their armchair.”

Pub rents; a flawed system

CAMRA is calling for the OFT to review the way in which pub rents are set as excessive rents translate into higher prices for pub-goers. The current system is open to abuse as it is based on a whole range of entirely hypothetical assumptions and specifically ignores the fact that ‘tied’ pub landlords have to pay above market prices for beer and other products.

Mike Benner said, “Pub landlords should not be denied access to the information and assumptions used to calculate a rent figure. An independent and affordable rent dispute system is urgently needed to avoid pub landlords being forced into agreeing excessive rents because they cannot afford to contest it. The rent charged to ‘tied’ pub landlords must fully take into account the financial penalty they face as a result of being unable to purchase beer and other products on the open market. The current system is seriously flawed and is leading to higher prices in pubs and contributing to the high rate of pub closures.”

Beer Choice; securing access to market for small brewers

Mike Benner said, “There is enormous consumer interest in local produce and it is crazy that local brewers are prevented from selling their beers to local pubs. We believe a ‘guest beer’ regulation, so that ‘tied’ pub landlords can buy a guest real ale from a brewer of their choice, should be introduced to overcome this. This alone would boost consumer choice and have the impact of driving down pub beer prices through competition.”

Pub Closures; stamp out restrictive covenants

CAMRA is calling for regulation to prevent pubs being sold with ‘restrictive covenants’ preventing them from being used as licensed premises in the future.

Mr Benner said, “At a time of accelerating pub closures it is disgraceful that companies are allowed to sell pubs and deliberately prevent them ever being reopened. Pubs are at the heart of so many of our communities and it is for the market and the community to decide if a pub is a viable and sustainable business.”

The Way Forward

Mr Benner added, “In parallel to its ‘super-complaint’ CAMRA, along with the Fair Pint Campaign and the Federation of Small Businesses, are participating in efforts to achieve an industry-wide mediated settlement to overcome the current unfairness of the ‘beer tie’ and pub rents. If mediation is successful then it is possible the OFT would decide to use its powers to make the outcome of the mediation legally binding as an alternative to further action including reference to the Competition Commission for a lengthy market investigation.”

“Total abolition of the ‘beer tie’ would be a grave error and would be likely to turn the current storm of pub closures into a hurricane and lead to increased domination of the beer market by global brewers. Abolishing the ‘tie’ would be the classic example of ‘chucking the baby out with the bath water.”

“Our ‘super-complaint’ will give the OFT the opportunity to take swift action to ensure the ‘beer tie’ works fairly in future. Clearly there are a number of reasons why Britain’s pubs are under pressure, not least the recession and our punitive beer tax regime, but the evidence is clear that the ‘tie’ must be reformed if these valuable small businesses are to survive and thrive. In response to the BEC report, some companies have taken some positive steps to improve matters and we welcome that progress, but legally-binding reform is still required to ensure a fair deal for consumers.”

“EU competition rules demand that exclusive supply agreements between pub owning companies and pub landlords must result in a fair share of the benefit for consumers. The ‘tie’ is a restrictive agreement, but it should work through countervailing benefits for pub landlords to enable them to run a viable and sustainable pub providing good value and quality to their customers. With increasing pub prices, failing pub businesses and unprecedented pub closures, the model is faltering and must be reformed as a matter of urgency.”

Legalize Cachaça

2009-06-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 12th, marks the anniversary of a tragedy committed exactly 265 years ago.

In 1744, the Portuguese Crown declared that the production, distribution, and sale of Cachaça, Brazil’s noble spirit, would be illegal in the Portuguese Colony of Brazil. Fortunately for us all, the Brazilians rebelled and the virtues of Cachaça won.

Here we are 265 years later, and Brazil’s noble spirit, Cachaça, is still being tortured. Cachaça was invented nearly five hundred years ago in Brazil, in the early 1500’s, 100 years before its Caribbean cousin, Rum. In many countries, such as here in the United States, Cachaça is recognized officially as Brazilian Rum. Not Cachaça. This we do not understand, as Cachaça is not Rum. Cachaça is made from Fresh Cane Juice and Cachaça can only come from Brazil. As the Third Most Consumed Spirit, in the world, and the key ingredient to Brazil’s National Cocktail, the Caipirinha, we believe Cachaça deserves to be recognized as just that: Cachaça, and not Brazilian Rum.

Now we ask you to join us in the fight on International Cachaça Day, this Friday June 12th, to recognize Cachaça’s true place in our hearts, on our minds and at our bars. Join us in cities around the world to show your support for this critical cause: Recognize Cachaça. Brazil’s Noble Spirit.

For more information, contact us at legalizecachaca@liveloveleblon.com.

COLD FRONT IS COMING THIS SUMMER WITH LAUNCH OF NEW COORS LIGHT COLD ACTIVATED CANS

2009-05-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

Beer Drinkers Always Ensured Beer “As Cold As the Rockies” with Mountains that Turn Blue on New Cold Activated Can

MILWAUKEE and GOLDEN, Colo. – A nationwide cold front is forecasted to arrive May 15 in the form of the new 8-, 10-, 12- and 16-ounce Coors Light and Coors Banquet Cold Activated Cans. Triggered by mountains that turn blue when beer is at the optimal drinking temperature, the new cans join the 24-ounce can and the Cold Activated Bottle as signature offerings from Coors Light and Coors Banquet.

Featuring cold activated mountains on two sides, plus a Vented Wide Mouth® for a smooth, refreshing pour and a Frost Brew® Liner to lock in Frost Brewed® taste, the Cold Activated Can reinforces Coors Light’s continuing commitment to providing beer drinkers the best way to enjoy the “World’s Most Refreshing Beer.”

The launch of the new Cold Activated Can will be backed by a robust marketing program, beginning with a “cold front” teaser campaign that launches April 27 at www.TheColdFront.org. Legal-drinking-age consumers can track the cold front’s progress on the interactive site through reported sightings and news updates. On May 15, there will be special celebratory activities in select markets as the cold front officially arrives.

"Consumers want to know when their beer is cold and ready to drink, and beer retailers certainly want to avoid serving warm beer,” said Royce Wills, Coors Light marketing director. “The Cold Activated Can is the ultimate cold cue, delivering confidence that your Coors Light has been chilled to the perfect temperature for ice cold refreshment. This is important enough to American beer drinkers that at Coors Light, we’ve made cold beer our policy.”

The new 8-, 10-, 12- and 16-ounce Coors Light and Coors Banquet Cold Activated Cans will be available at participating convenience, grocery and liquor stores nationwide starting May 15.

Ever since Bill Coors invented the aluminum can in 1959, beer innovations and packaging enhancements have been a hallmark of the company, with the goal of delivering the coldest, most refreshing beer to adult consumers. Other recent Coors Light and Coors Banquet innovations and packaging enhancements include:

– Cold Activated Bottle: Mountains on the label turn blue when the beer is cold enough to drink.
– Vented Wide Mouth Can: The industry’s first built-in vent and eight percent wider opening delivers a smoother, draft-like drinking experience.
– Super Cold Draft: An innovative draft system that pours Coors Light below freezing.
– Frost Brewed Liner: The tinted blue liner protects the refreshing taste of the beer inside.
– Plastic Bottle Cooler Box: The industry’s first ice-ready, one-time use cooler package.

For more information on the new Coors Light and Coors Banquet Cold Activated Cans, go to www.TheColdFront.org from April 27 through May 15. The site also will have the latest updates on Cold Front locations and videos to share with friends. Please also visit www.CoorsLight.com for general information on all cold innovations.

About MillerCoors
Built on a foundation of great beer brands and more than 288 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers. MillerCoors is the second largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales. Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment. Miller Lite is the great tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies. MillerCoors brews full-calorie beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft; and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light. The company also imports Peroni, Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell and Molson Canadian and offers innovative products such as Miller Chill and Sparks. MillerCoors features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company. MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel’s craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wis., and two microbreweries, the Leinenkugel’s 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver. MillerCoors vision is to become the best beer company in America by driving profitable industry growth. MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact. MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.

Brewers Association Releases Top 50 Breweries List

2009-04-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

Boulder, Colorado • April 13, 2009 – Brewers Association, which represents the majority of brewing companies in the U.S., announced the annual list of top 50 brewing companies. Released are lists for both Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies¹ of small and independent craft brewers (see Craft Brewing Statistics) plus a Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies list. Rankings are based on sales volume in 2008.

"In 2007, 35 of the top 50 brewing companies were small and independent craft brewers. In 2008 there were 37," states Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association. "Craft brewers continue to have success and generate excitement behind the flavorful beer movement, but not without recent challenges including price increases for raw materials and supplies, as well as access to market issues."

Changes from last year's list include breweries moving up or down in the rankings based on volume sales. There was one new entrant into the Top 50 Craft list, The Saint Louis Brewery, and two craft brewers have claimed spots in the Top 50 Overall list—Big Sky Brewing Co. and Mac & Jack's Brewery. Consolidation of MillerCoors, last year's number 2 and 3 brewers, opened up a slot, and the merger of Widmer Brothers and Redhook into the company now named Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. opened up another slot filled by emerging small and independent craft brewers.

A more extensive analysis of statistics on the craft beer segment in 2008 will be released April 22 during the Craft Brewers Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The Association's full 2008 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual breweries, will publish in the May/June issue of The New Brewer on May 19.

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume

(Based on 2008 sales)

Rank	Brewing Company	City	State
1	Boston Beer Co.	Boston	MA
2	Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.	Chico	CA
3	New Belgium Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
4	Spoetzl Brewery	Shiner	TX
5	Pyramid Breweries Inc.	Seattle	WA
6	Deschutes Brewery	Bend	OR
7	Matt Brewing Co.	Utica	NY
8	Boulevard Brewing Co.	Kansas City	MO
9	Full Sail Brewing Co.	Hood River	OR
10	Magic Hat Brewing Co.	Burlington	VT
11	Alaskan Brewing Co.	Juneau	AK
12	Harpoon Brewery	Boston	MA
13	Bell's Brewery, Inc.	Galesburg	MI
14	Kona Brewing Co.	Kailua-Kona	HI
15	Anchor Brewing Co.	San Francisco	CA
16	Shipyard Brewing Co.	Portland	ME
17	Summit Brewing Co.	Saint Paul	MN
18	Stone Brewing Co.	Escondido	CA
19	Abita Brewing Co.	Abita Springs	LA
20	The Brooklyn Brewery	Brooklyn	NY
21	New Glarus Brewing Co.	New Glarus	WI
22	Dogfish Head Craft Brewery	Milton	DE
23	Long Trail Brewing Co.	Bridgewater Corners	VT
24	Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.	San Jose	CA
25	Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co.	Newport	OR
26	Great Lakes Brewing Co.	Cleveland	OH
27	The Lagunitas Brewing Co.	Petaluma	CA
28	Firestone Walker Brewing Co.	Paso Robles	CA
29	SweetWater Brewing Co.	Atlanta	GA
30	Flying Dog Brewing Co.	Frederick	MD
31	BJ's Restaurant & Brewery	Huntington Beach	CA
32	Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants	Louisville	CO
33	BridgePort Brewing Co.	Portland	OR
34	Odell Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
35	Victory Brewing Co.	Downingtown	PA
36	Mac and Jack's Brewery	Redmond	WA
37	Big Sky Brewing Co.	Missoula	MT
38	Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants	Chattanooga	TN
39	Karl Strauss Brewing Co.	San Diego	CA
40	Breckenridge Brewery	Denver	CO
41	Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe	Eureka	CA
42	Otter Creek Brewing Co.	Middlebury	VT
43	Utah Brewers Cooperative	Salt Lake City	UT
44	North Coast Brewing Co.	Fort Bragg	CA
45	Blue Point Brewing Co.	Patchogue	NY
46	Boulder Beer Co.	Boulder	CO
47	Pete's Brewing Co.	San Antonio	TX
48	McMenamins Breweries	Portland	OR
49	Anderson Valley Brewing Co.	Boonville	CA
50	The Saint Louis Brewery, Inc.	St Louis	MO

Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume

(Based on 2008 sales)

Rank	Brewing Company	City	State
1	Anheuser-Busch InBev	St. Louis	MO
2	MillerCoors Brewing Co.	Chicago	IL
3	Pabst Brewing Co.	Woodridge	IL
4	Boston Beer Co.	Boston	MA
5	D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc.	Pottsville	PA
6	Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.	Chico	CA
7	Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc.	Woodinville	WA
8	New Belgium Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
9	High Falls Brewing Co.	Rochester	NY
10	Spoetzl Brewery	Shiner	TX
11	Pyramid Breweries Inc.	Seattle	WA
12	Deschutes Brewery	Bend	OR
13	Iron City Brewing Co.	Pittsburgh	PA
14	Minhas Craft Brewery	Monroe	WI
15	Matt Brewing Co.	Utica	NY
16	Boulevard Brewing Co.	Kansas City	MO
17	Full Sail Brewing Co.	Hood River	OR
18	Magic Hat Brewing Co.	Burlington	VT
19	Alaskan Brewing Co.	Juneau	AK
20	Harpoon Brewery	Boston	MA
21	Bell's Brewery, Inc.	Galesburg	MI
22	Goose Island Beer Co.	Chicago	IL
23	Kona Brewery LLC	Kailua-Kona	HI
24	Anchor Brewing Co.	San Francisco	CA
25	August Schell Brewing Co.	New Ulm	MN
26	Shipyard Brewing	Portland	ME
27	Summit Brewing Co.	Saint Paul	MN
28	Stone Brewing Co.	Escondido	CA
29	Mendocino Brewing Co.	Ukiah	CA
30	Abita Brewing Co., L.L.C.	Abita Springs	LA
31	The Brooklyn Brewery	Brooklyn	NY
32	New Glarus Brewing Co.	New Glarus	WI
33	Dogfish Head Craft Brewery	Milton	DE
34	Long Trail Brewing Co.	Bridgewater Corners	VT
35	Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.	San Jose	CA
36	Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co.	Newport	OR
37	Great Lakes Brewing Co.	Cleveland	OH
38	The Lagunitas Brewing Co.	Petaluma	CA
39	Firestone Walker Brewing Co.	Paso Robles	CA
40	SweetWater Brewing Co.	Atlanta	GA
41	Flying Dog Brewing Co.	Frederick	MD
42	BJ's Restaurant & Brewery	Huntington Beach	CA
43	Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants	Louisville	CO
44	BridgePort Brewing Co.	Portland	OR
45	Odell Brewing Co.	Fort Collins	CO
46	Victory Brewing Co.	Downingtown	PA
47	Straub Brewery	Saint Marys	PA
48	Cold Spring Brewing Co.	Cold Spring	MN
49	Mac and Jack's Brewery	Redmond	WA
50	Big Sky Brewing Co.	Missoula	MT

For additional statistics, see Craft Brewing Statistics.

¹The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewer's brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

Open Content is Proud to Announce the Launch of Drink Me Magazine

2009-04-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, Calif., (April 14, 2009) – Drink Me magazine launches its first issue this month in San Francisco. Published by Open Content, Drink Me is the only lifestyle and entertainment publication about drinking and bar culture created for enthusiasts.

“Thirty months in the making, we’re finally here,” says Daniel Yaffe, president of Open Content. “It’s been a long and exciting road. We hope our readers take time to explore and enjoy as we offer up all the alcohol culture one could ever ask for, bottled up and ready to drink with a little tag that reads, ‘Drink Me.’ Welcome to our world…”

The first issue spotlights a number of drinking and cultural phenomena both locally and abroad, including Relax, It’s only Wine, an article that captures the digressions of a sommelier, Mixologistas, an in depth analysis of the trend of women bartenders, as well as Does this Count as Overtime? a look into corporate Japanese drinking culture.

Drink Me magazine will not only be offered in bars, clubs, cafes, and alcohol retailers around town, readers can also find the magazine online at www.drinkmemag.com. The publication’s online component creates a community of artists and writers from around the globe to share their unique and diverse social and epicurean alcohol traditions. In addition to its global social networking element, the site is a hub for posting alcohol-related events, entertainment, and cultural education.

“We’re looking forward to interacting with everyone online,” says Daniel Yaffe, president of Open Content, “And what better way to launch, than with a launch party with everyone who has given tremendous support to Drink Me.”

The official Drink Me magazine launch party took place on March 31, 2009 with many more events to come. Visit www.drinkmemag.com for updated listings.

ABOUT DRINK ME MAGAZINE
Drink Me is the only lifestyle and entertainment publication about drinking and bar culture created for enthusiasts. Drink Me is creating a community to share the diverse social and epicurean traditions of alcohol. We go beyond recipes to bring substance back to beer, wine and spirits. Drink Me explores and celebrates alcohol, and the drinking-wells they're enjoyed in.

CAMRA launches new ‘Cider’ book

2009-04-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

‘Sweet cyder is a great thing, a great thing to me’ (Thomas Hardy)

Issued: Wednesday April 15th

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has released a new book unearthing the secrets of one of Britain’s most legendary craft industries- the production of cider and perry.

‘Cider’ is a lovingly-crafted exploration into the world of apples and pears, celebrating some of the industry’s pioneering characters and events, whilst travelling the length and breadth of cider country to form one of the most comprehensive cider and perry publications to date.

‘Cider’ is written, compiled and visualised thanks to a collaboration of leading experts on the subject, bringing together freelance journalists, producers and even self-confessed enthusiasts from the CAMRA membership! Due to this panel of knowledge, no stone is left unturned for the reader, with information on where to find cider retailers at home or abroad, how to match cider with food, and, as a light-hearted aside, how to produce your own cider or perry!

Andrea Briers, Chair of the CAMRA National Cider and Perry Committee, said:
‘This book is a lavishly illustrated, true insight into the world of cider and perry making, and one that captures some of the characteristics making this industry so treasured. The cider and perry world is simply brimming with diverse customs and history, and to a majority of people this element of Britishness remains undiscovered.’

In homage to the work of European producers, ‘Cider’ also devotes attention to Spanish, French, Austrian and German producers that have influenced the industry. As the book notes, ‘the temperature climate of Europe’s Cider Belt gives rise to a landscape and a culture that’s all pastures and orchards.’

Domestically, cider is currently undergoing a revival in the noughties, and ‘Cider’ lovingly reports that, ‘In the past five years, the number of producers has blossomed and more real cider and perry is now being produced than 15 years ago. Most of these cidermakers are hobby producers, though several are reaching the tipping point where they are able to pack their day jobs in and produce full time.’

Briers continues:
‘CAMRA’s National Cider and Perry Month in October has been a catalyst for change over the last few years and has really helped raise the reputation and renown of craft producers. The aim of this ‘Cider’ book is to make more consumers aware of one of Britain’s oldest drinks, and to champion the delights of fresh, well-crafted produce coming from some of the nation’s most innovative artisans.’

‘Cider’ is published on Wednesday April 15th, and is available from all good retailers, as well as from the CAMRA shop (www.camra.org.uk/shop), priced £12.99 for CAMRA members, and £14.99 for non-members.

Amstel Light's One Dam Good Bier Campaign Is Back to Give Consumers a Taste of Amsterdam

2009-04-16T07:27:00.001-07:00

WHITE PLAINS, NY--(Marketwire - April 13, 2009) - Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer from Amsterdam, today kicks off the second stage of its popular One Dam Good Bier campaign by taking adult consumers on an exciting journey to "Amstel's Amsterdam" to experience a progressive twist on the art, nightlife, music and magic from the city in which it is brewed.

Each aspect of the campaign channels the free-spirited and fun culture of "Amstel's Amsterdam," including a redesigned and highly interactive Web site, innovative new packaging, new outdoor and print ads and a sweepstakes that gives adult consumers the opportunity to win a trip to Amsterdam. The crux of the brand's new campaign will be "Amsterdam Live!" -- a national touring event series inspired by Amsterdam's own "Melkweg," a nightclub that fuses together multiple art forms including live music, film, art and celebrity DJs -- all under one roof.

"We witnessed an incredible reaction to the launch of One Dam Good Bier last year as consumers made the connection between Amstel Light and Amsterdam," said Kheri Holland Tillman, vice president of marketing, Amstel Light. "The brand saw a dramatic shift in consumption as a result of One Dam Good Bier. Now, we're taking the campaign to the next level by offering memorable experiences that speak to the diverse culture and fun of Amsterdam while reinforcing Amstel Light's heritage and brewing tradition. Amstel's Amsterdam is all about enjoying One Dam Good Bier and having One Dam Good Time."

The campaign will continue to be anchored by the bold statement One Dam Good Bier, a line that describes the quality of Amstel Light and lays claim to the emotional imagery of Amsterdam. The second phase of the campaign will use "Amsterdam Live!" to bring to life Amstel's take on Amsterdam, where being unconventional and unexpected is celebrated. "Amsterdam Live!" will launch in June and tour major U.S. markets throughout the summer.

Verpakking (Packaging)

This summer, Amstel Light is launching new bottle graphics and new packaging that embodies the brand's roots and tradition by emphasizing that a "taste of Amsterdam is brewed in every bottle." The package creative features images of the Amstel River and canals running through the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam, as well as a synopsis of the beer's connection to the city. The new packaging will be showcased on 6- and 12-packs. While the bottle shape and appearance remain the same, the design of the label now highlights the word "Amsterdam."

Digitale Ervaring (Digital Experience)

Amstel Light's Web site (www.amstellight.com) has been redesigned to give adult consumers a chance to actually step inside "Amstel's Amsterdam." By hopping on a virtual bike and riding through the streets of Amsterdam, site visitors will have the opportunity to explore Amstel Light's take on the city's unique traditions and culture. Users will enjoy their own progressive experiences as they interact with "Amstel's Amsterdam" in unexpected ways, such as learning an authentic Dutch Roar (a traditional Dutch rallying cry), creating music by moving the mouse over a series of Amstel Light "bottles" and downloading their favorite Amsterdam-themed art.

Reclamecampagne (Advertising Campaign)

The Richards Group created the brand's new print and outdoor advertising campaign by using powerful and emotional images of Amsterdam to illustrate the fun energy and spirit of Amstel Light's connection to the city. The ads feature both the picturesque imagery and the festive atmosphere that have become synonymous with the city of Amsterdam, such as scenic views of the canals and groups of revelers enjoying the nightlife.

De Prestaties van het merk (Brand Performance)

Amstel Light pioneered the premium light beer category when it was introduced to the U.S. in 1982. Today, almost 50 percent of the U.S. beer market is composed of light beer drinkers and Amstel Light remains the only light beer in the category that tastes like a full-flavored and distinct European-style import with the benefits of being a light beer.

In Opslag en Bevorderingen (In-store and Promotions)

As part of Amstel Light's in-store merchandising efforts, an authentic replica of an Amsterdam street light and pub sign will serve as the display in stores. All in-store collateral, including price cards, cooler decals and mail-in rebates will feature descriptions of the "Unlock the Taste of Amsterdam" sweepstakes. Adult consumers will have the chance to enter, via text message, a unique code found on their Amstel Light bottle cap to win the grand prize -- a three night, four day stay in Amsterdam for one winner and three friends. In addition, adult consumers who enter the sweepstakes will be randomly entered to win one of 10 exclusive Dutch-style bikes.

About Amstel Light

Amstel Light is a leading imported light beer brand in the U.S. The Amstel Brewery was founded in 1870 in Amsterdam, Holland by two businessmen, DePester and J.H. van Marwijk Kooy. By 1886, Amstel had become Amsterdam's largest brewer of lager beer. In 1982, Amstel Light was born as an import to the U.S. Characteristic of this beer is a unique selection of raw materials and an intense fermenting process. The result is a premium imported light beer containing only 3.5% alcohol and approximately 35% fewer calories than regular lager beer. Amstel Light is imported by Heineken USA, headquartered in White Plains, New York, the nation's premier beer importer. For more information, please visit www.amstellight.com.

About Heineken USA

Heineken USA Inc., the nation's premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world's most international brewer. Brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world's most international beer brand; Heineken Premium Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from FEMSA Cerveza of Mexico. Please visit www.EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

CHEF JOSE GARCES TO OPEN VILLAGE WHISKEY, AN INTIMATE CELEBRATION OF THE CLASSIC SPIRIT

2009-04-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

PHILADELPHIA, PA – In June, prolific Chef Jose Garces will debut his newest creation, Village Whiskey (118 South 20th Street, 215.662.1088), an intimate, 30-seat neighborhood bar. Chef Garces will serve a wealth of whiskies and inventive cocktails alongside simple, inexpensive bar food, prepared with his signature flair.

As one of the most comprehensive collections of its namesake spirit available in Philadelphia, Village Whiskey will feature a veritable library of 80 to 100 varieties of whiskey, bourbon, rye and scotch from Scotland, Canada, Ireland, United States and even a few Japanese options. For those who desire something other than whiskey, a carefully chosen list of wines with a focus on sparkling wines; and a beer list comprised exclusively of American craft beers will be available. A menu of Chef Garces’ bar snacks, burgers and tempting raw bar selections, all under $20, will complement the cocktails.

“I’ve always been a whiskey lover,” says Chef Garces, who owns Garces Restaurant Group which has four Philadelphia restaurants including Amada, Tinto, Distrito and Chifa. “It can be enjoyed in so many ways, whether as a cocktail or just sipped on the rocks. Village Whiskey is the kind of place I would want to go to unwind after a long day at work.”

An exciting array of 16 House Cocktails, developed by bar manager Paul Rodriguez, will be divided into two categories, Prohibition, or classic cocktails, and Repeal, more contemporary, modern takes. The venerable Manhattan will be a mainstay, mixed using house-made bitters. In addition to their own bitters, other one-of-a-kind, house-made mixers will be offered.

Classic “Prohibition” cocktails will include: Old Fashioned, with Noah’s Mill 114-proof bourbon, Boissiere Italian vermouth, Fee’s Brothers oak-aged bitters, cherry and orange; Sazerac with Sazerac rye, Herbsaint absinthe, Peychaud’s bitters and lemon; and Philadelphia Fish House Punch, a favorite of George Washington’s interpreted by Chef Garces in the style of his wildly popular sangrias at Amada and Tinto, with rum, brandy, peach brandy, lemon, lime, orange and maraschino. Contemporary “Repeal” cocktails will include: Village Idiot, Fighting Cock Kentucky straight 108-proof whiskey with The Bruery Black Orchard seasonal black wheat beer and ginger; The Latin Quarter Club, Cazadores reposado tequila, Flor de Cana rum, Johnny Walker Red, grapefruit and grapefruit bitters; and Sansom Street Flip, Charbay blood orange vodka, seasonal fruit and egg white. Cocktails will range in price from $11 to $18.

“Village Whiskey is a modern reinvention of a saloon, so our drinks are both recognizable and brand-new,” says Chef Garces, who is taking a departure from his popular Latin restaurants by opening this all-American bar.

Menu items, specially crafted by Chef Garces and Chef de Cuisine Dave Conn to complement the standout properties of whiskey and whiskey cocktails, will include: Raw Bar selections of seasonal oysters and clams; Charcuterie and Cheese Plate options; American Bar Snacks, such as housemade cheese puffs, spicy cheddar popcorn and honey-roasted Smokey Mountain peanuts; and a selection of House-Cured Pickles, served with a cocktail fork in a miniature mason jar, including Baby Carrots and Kumquats with cider vinegar and thyme and Herb Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes with Ricotta.

A ground-to-order Angus Beef Burger, a Veggie Burger, a Bison Burger or an Vienna All-Beef Hot Dog with all the trimmings are each served alongside duck fat French fries and Sly Fox cheddar sauce. Burgers will be topped with Village Whiskey’s house-made thousand-island dressing, Bibb lettuce, beefsteak tomato and a potato-beer bun, with optional toppings including bacon, caramelized onion, truffles, artichokes and a selection of cheeses. The menu, which will be served all day, will range in price from $4 to $20.

The welcoming space that houses this amazing library of liquor was designed by Jun Aizaki of Creme Design Collective, the creative force behind Garces’ four other Philadelphia restaurants. Here, Aizaki was inspired by American saloons and speakeasies, drawing from illustrations of turn-of-the-century social clubs and old-fashioned liquor advertisements.

“Village Whiskey is effortlessly cool – the kind of place you’d bring a date, but also a great spot for a night out with friends,” says Aizaki.

The space will evoke the free-wheeling spirit of a speakeasy or saloon with dim lighting, posters for various alcohols, a tin ceiling and antique mirrors. Black and white tiled floors, white tiled walls, sumptuous russet leather banquettes, marble topped tables and wooden drink rails add to the traditional bar decor. Behind the pewter bar with comfortable dark walnut stools, whiskies will be proudly displayed like leather-bound books.

Born in Chicago to Ecuadorian parents, Chef Jose Garces credits his family with inspiring and nurturing his interest in food from a young age. Today, he is the owner of four of Philadelphia’s most successful restaurants: Amada (217-219 Chestnut Street, 215-625-2450), Tinto (114 South 20th Street, 215-665-9150), Distrito (3945 Chestnut Street, 215-222-1657) and Chifa (707 Chestnut Street, 215-925-5555). He is also the executive chef at Chicago’s acclaimed Mercat a la Planxa (38 South Michigan Avenue, 312-765-0524). In 2008, Chef Garces saw the publication of his first cookbook, Latin Evolution (Lake Isle Press).

Village Whiskey will be open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. until 1 a.m. For more information, or to make a reservation, please visit www.villagewhiskey.com or call 215.662.1088.

Craft Brewers Ask Public to Sign Declaration of Beer Independence While Celebrating American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17)

2009-04-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of Small and Independent Brewers to Host National Celebration

Boulder, Colorado • America's small and independent craft brewers (see Craft Brewing Statistics) are making special plans for the annual American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17), a national celebration highlighting the culture and contributions of craft beer. These brewers want the week to inspire beer enthusiasts to declare their independence by supporting breweries that produce fewer than 2 million barrels of beer a year and are independently owned. In the works are special brewery tours, beer and food pairing events, special release craft beers and festivals all across the U.S. A Declaration of Beer Independence is available on the program web site and the American Craft Beer Week fan page on Facebook, which participating breweries are encouraging beer enthusiasts to sign. Local breweries and restaurants will also post a copy of the Declaration of Beer Independence so that patrons can show their support.

Full information at: www.AmericanCraftBeerWeek.org and http://tinyurl.com/acbw-fb

NEW BELGIUM BREWING TO DISTRIBUTE SUNSHINE WHEAT IN CANS

2009-04-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

A Longtime Favorite Becomes the Second New Belgium Brew to Don Aluminum

Fort Collins, CO – April 15, 2009 – New Belgium Brewing today announced that it will be packaging and distributing Sunshine Wheat in aluminum cans in Colorado only this spring. New Belgium, known for its commitment to quality and sustainability, will begin distributing a short run of cans in April. New Belgium installed its first canning line in 2008 and began rolling out Fat Tire in cans last summer.

A filtered wheat beer, Sunshine Wheat swirls in the mouth with ripples of coriander and orange peel tartness, settling into a sea of honey and apple tones. A recent web poll on www.newbelgium.com indicated that Sunshine Wheat was in the top three favorites for the next canned New Belgium beer.

“People have been asking for a more portable Sunshine Wheat for a while, so we’re excited to make this our second canned offering,” said Bryan Simpson, spokesperson for New Belgium. “Cans have many intrinsic benefits that New Belgium values; they are easily recyclable, transport lighter than glass and can be easily packed in and out when camping or enjoying the Great Outdoors.”

The cans, which are 100% recyclable, will feature Sunshine Wheat’s original watercolor artwork with color twist to reflect a summery green and yellow.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Amber Ale and other Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

Toast the Arrival of Spring with Founders Cerise Cherry Ale

2009-04-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich) – In the “Cherry Capital of the World” it’s no wonder that Founders Brewing Company produces a popular craft beer that highlights this sweet and juicy Michigan fruit. Cerise Cherry Ale, the warm weather seasonal, was released April 1 and is available through August.

“We are excited about this beer, it supports our local agriculture and blends so well with the cherries,” says Alec Mull, Founders’ Director of Operations. “Cherries and beer are a marriage made in heaven, or in our case, here at Founders.”

As much as 53 gallons of Michigan cherries are used in every batch, masterfully crafted by Founders’ Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. The Michigan cherries are harvested throughout West Michigan in communities such as Benton Harbor, Coloma, Grand Rapids and, of course, Traverse City.

“Cherries are added during five separate stages of the Cerise fermentation process,” says Kosmicki. “This creates a refreshingly tantalizing beer with intensive flavors, balanced somewhere between tart and sweet.”

More than 9,300 cases of Cerise will be sold this year in Michigan and nearly a dozen other states throughout the Midwest and along the East Coast.”

Cerise – which is defined as a “deep, vivid purplish red” color – is one of the most popular taproom beers at Founders. New to the line-up, it replaces the former fruit beer –Rubeus.

Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue SW in downtown Grand Rapids, is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild. www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

FLYING FISH BREWERY ANNOUNCES EXIT 4, THE FIRST IN A LIMITED-EDITION, BIG BOTTLE SERIES HONORING THE GARDEN STATE

2009-04-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

CHERRY HILL, NJ – New Jersey’s largest craft brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company (1940 Olney Avenue, 856-489-0061), is flaunting its home-state pride with a new Exit Series of Big Bottle Beers. A fanciful tribute to the New Jersey Turnpike and all the Garden State has to offer, these special brews are Flying Fish’s first foray into large bottles. The first in the series, Exit 4 American Trippel, a Belgian-style bottle conditioned ale, was just released.

“At Flying Fish, we’re proud to hail from the great state of New Jersey,” says Gene Muller, who founded the brewery in 1995. “Our success comes from being focused on our home base, and this is a great opportunity for us to celebrate that in a very public way.”

Exit 4 American Trippel is named for the exit nearest Flying Fish Brewing Company’s headquarters, and is Belgian-inspired to represent their role as one of America’s first craft breweries to embrace Belgian-style beers. Future Exit Series Big Bottles will be named for other exits, chosen based on videos, photos and testimonials submitted to Flying Fish by fans at www.exitseries.com. This series will continue with three or four beers a year to eventually encompass all turnpike exits.

“We were among the first craft breweries to commit ourselves to using the Internet to build and enhance our business, and this new site allows us to reach out to our fans in a tangible way,” says Muller. “New Jersey is great because the people here are great, and we want to make sure that they can participate in this special series of beers.”

With a hazy golden hue and aromas of citrus, banana and clove, Exit 4 American Trippel bears heady malt flavors that give way to a subdued, bitter finish. As a bottle conditioned ale, it will develop as it ages. This one-time-only release is now available until it sells out across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Flying Fish was the world’s first ‘virtual’ microbrewery, establishing an Internet presence as early as 1995. That presence helped to generate press interest and woo investors to the fledgling brewery, which would not open for business until late 1996. Today, Muller and his team oversee four full-time styles, as well as a variety of seasonal beers. Their brews have been featured at the Great British Beer Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival and Canada’s Biere de Mondial Festival. They have won medals at the Great American Beer Festival, Real Ale Festival and the World Beer Championships, and are the only New Jersey brewery featured in Best American Beers. Flying Fish was recently named “Local Hero: Beverage Artisan of 2009” by Edible Jersey magazine.

For more information about Exit 4 or Flying Fish, please visit them online at www.flyingfish.com or call (856) 489-0061.

WINEBID.COM® BUYS ANTINORI'S FIRST PREMIERE NAPA VALLEY AUCTION LOT

2009-04-08T07:36:00.000-07:00

Napa, California: – Every year WineBid.com, the premier Internet auction of fine and rare wines, participates in the Premiere Napa Valley Wine Auction. More that 200 Napa Valley Vintners create wines solely for this event.

In the 2009 Auction WineBid.com was very pleased to win lot #181 donated by Antica Napa Valley, which is the Antinori family's Napa estate. The highly-limited production wine is the estate's 2007 Townsend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and it will be released in mid-2010. It is the first time the Antinori's Napa Valley estate has offered a lot for Premiere Napa Valley.

Though Antica Napa Valley's first vintage, a 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, was released only in 2007, the estate is part of a noble wine-making history that goes back 26 generations. Marchesi Piero Antinori, the current president of the family's international wine-producing enterprise, first visited the Napa Valley as a young man in 1966. Nearly 30 years later he acquired an estate on a high plain in the rugged, hilly terrain of Napa Valley's eastern rim, partly because the hilly terrain with its rocky soils reminded him of Tuscany. The Antinori family chose the Townsend Vineyard for its Premier Napa Valley lot because the vineyard's grapes produce wines of exceptional power and finesse.

"The Antica wine was one of our top picks as we tasted through the lots at the Premier Napa Valley tasting. We are looking forward to being able to offer this wine to our customers in 2010,” said Jerome Zech, WineBid.com's Chief Executive Officer.

Established in 1996, WineBid.com is the largest online auction for fine and rare wines with more than 54,000 registered bidders. At WineBid.com each bottle of wine is appraised, inspected and stored in our climate controlled warehouse in Napa, California.

For more information about bidding or consigning, visit our website at www.winebid.com or call (888) 638-8968.

2009 IACP Award Winners

2009-04-08T07:33:00.001-07:00

Winners announced at Awards Ceremony in Denver

ATLANTA (April 6, 2009) – The International Association of Culinary Professionals held its 2009 Awards Gala and Ceremony on Saturday, April 4 during the 31st Annual IACP International Conference in Denver. Lynne Rossetto Kasper from the American Public Media's "The Splendid Table" hosted the celebration, which honored top culinary professionals for their extraordinary accomplishments.

During the evening, awards were presented for the IACP Cookbook Awards, Bert Greene Awards for Food Journalism, Awards of Excellence, and Food Photography and Styling Contest.

The IACP Cookbook Awards encourage and promote quality and creativity in both writing and publishing, and honor the best cookbooks published each year. Cookbook Awards were presented in 15 categories, including the Jane Grigson Award and the Design Award.

The prestigious IACP Book of the Year award was presented by incoming IACP President Scott Givot, CCP (Gala & Co.), to A16: Food & Wine, authored by Nate Appleman and Shelley Lindgren with Kate Leahy (Ten Speed Press).

More than 400 books were entered in the competition by publishers from Australia, Canada, England, France, India, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the US.

The Bert Greene Awards for Food Journalism recognize the best food writing each year. Awards were presented in four categories: Essay, Internet, Magazine and Newspaper. A special "Best of NOLA" journalism award was presented as well.

The IACP Awards of Excellence honor the top culinary professionals in their field. Awards are presented in six categories, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Anne Willan (La
Varenne) to Winston L. Shelton (Winston Industries) for his remarkable equipment and technology contributions to the culinary industry.

This year's Photo Contest was presented by IACP's Food Photographers and Stylists Section. Awards were presented for Best of Show and People's Choice.

A Community Service Award was also presented, to Chef Hugo Matheson (The Kitchen Café) for his exemplary service in the Denver and Boulder area.

View all 2009 Award Winners at:
http://www.iacp.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=677

National Mild Month

2009-04-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, and Britain’s pubs and brewers, will once again be championing the Mild beer style with a variety of events throughout May to promote this traditional drink.

Mild beers tend to be of a low alcohol by volume, and are usually dark in colour, due to the use of well-roasted malts or barley, and are conventionally less hopped than bitters. Past CAMRA Champion Milds include Beckstones Black Dog Freddy, Hobson's Mild and Oscar Wilde Mild by Mighty Oak.

CAMRA is encouraging all its local branches to get behind the campaign and send out a dominant message as to the importance of the Mild. Past events such as 'Mild Trails' and tasting sessions have been highly successful, and with local brewers signing up to show their support, Mild Month 2009 could prove a pivotal year for this wonderful beer style.

Ruth Tyrrell, CAMRA National Beer Styles Coordinator, said:
‘Milds are at the heart of British brewing heritage, and we are urging all licensees to support the initiative by stocking a mild throughout the month of May, or even organising events such as ‘try before you buys’ and ‘meet the brewer’ sessions. One of the main aims of Mild Month is to show licensees that serving a range of beer styles offers diversity to the consumer, and could prove beneficial to their trade, which is important at the moment when so many pubs are closing.’

National Mild Day will be celebrated on Saturday May 9th and more details of this date will be released on the CAMRA website nearer the time- www.camra.org.uk

RETURN OF THE BIERE DE MARS

2009-04-08T07:29:00.001-07:00

(Fort Collins, CO. April 6, 2009) - With a sour flash of Brettanomyces yeast, citrusy notes of lemon verbena and a dry finish, New Belgium’s Biere de Mars evokes the hearty character of the Belgian countryside. Brewed with barley, oats and wheat malt, Biere de Mars is the latest offering in the brewery’s newly created Lips of Faith program. Lips of Faith offerings feature spiced, fruit and wood beers on a regular rotation (http://www.newbelgium.com/beer).

“Picture rolling hills, brick farmhouses and an area once rich in mining,” says New Belgium’s brewmaster Peter Bouckaert. “I want you to visualize the organic architecture of Victor Horta, a curving banister with soft light falling from the window. This is what we tried to put into this beer.”

A wild Brettanomyces yeast strain added for bottle-conditioning creates a refreshingly sour flash across the palate. Lemon peel coupled with lemon verbena imparts some fruitlike character and a citrusy finish. Peter has allowed for a five-month shelf life during which the beer should mature nicely.

Biere de Mars is an old favorite at New Belgium that has not been produced in over three years. It will be available on draft and in 22-oz. bombers through the brewery’s Lips of Faith program throughout the year.

About New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit, and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

HomeBrewing.com Domain Acquired by Niche Stores

2009-04-08T07:28:00.001-07:00

Specialty website holding company Niche Stores adds another premium domain to its roster

AUSTIN, Texas, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Niche Stores, an Austin-based boutique of category-specific internet properties announced today that it has acquired the domain name HomeBrewing.com, for an undisclosed sum.

"The HomeBrewing.com domain has been at the top of our dream list for quite some time as we have developed other successful properties within this category and we are simply ecstatic to have made this acquisition," said Niche Stores CEO/Founder Christian Lavender. "Category-specific domains are truly worth their weight in gold. Given the fact that the home brewing supply market accounts for several hundred million dollars per year in retail sales we know this domain is quite precious. Even if our intention had been to make a quick profit from the resale of the domain it would have justified the significant acquisition price, as we have already been approached by several large brewing companies offering us large premiums over our original purchase price. However, our long term vision is to leverage the domain to dominate the lucrative home brewing equipment sales market. The perfect domain name coupled with our development and marketing expertise should give us a strategic advantage in reaching this goal," added Lavender.

Niche Stores builds and operates numerous websites within internet verticals that can uniquely succeed on the web by efficiently reaching a global audience of niche consumers. The acquisition of generic keyword website domains within new verticals is a key strategy for Niche Stores. These types of internet addresses can draw significant amounts of direct type traffic and are logically favored by Google and Yahoo in search engine results pages.

"Despite the current economic environment and the decline of the housing market, internet real estate continues to be an excellent form of value investing. HomeBrewing.com is an important square on the internet monopoly board for us," added Lavender.

About Niche Stores

An Austin, Texas-based firm, Niche Stores, specializes in founding, developing and operating online businesses built on generic domain name brand platforms. Niche Stores and its partner's track record include the acquisition of Kegerators.com, Mandolines.com, OhmMeters.com and DogHomes.com. Niche Stores currently operates margarators.com, grasstools.com, dogpools.com, and homebrewing.com.

Source: Niche Stores

CONTACT: Niche Stores, +1-512-394-7955

Web Site: http://www.nichestores.com/

ALL VOTES ARE IN: THE PALM PASSES THEIR SPRING DINING STIMULUS PLAN

2009-04-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Legendary Restaurant Rolls Out a Value Driven Dining Package with its $17 Business Lunch and $39 Steak Dinner

(WASHINGTON, D.C.; April 7, 2009) --- The Palm Restaurant Group (www.thepalm.com) announced today the roll out of their “Spring Dining Stimulus Plan” with an all-new Business Lunch Menu and $39 Biggest Steak dinner, available at Palm Restaurants nationwide.

Renowned as the restaurant to “seal the deal”, lawyers, politicians, and businessmen and women alike have long chosen The Palm as their fine dining “meeting room” to schmooze and network with colleagues, partners, and clients. The all-new Business Lunch Menu offers diners, now challenged with decreased budgets and limited expense accounts, a value menu without compromising the size and quality of ingredients The Palm is known for.

“In appreciation of the long-standing loyalty of our business and social diners, we’re offering two great menus at a great value – our own ‘economic relief package’ for our guests to continue celebrating at The Palm with family, friends and colleagues,” said John Bettin, CEO of The Palm Restaurant Group.

The Business Lunch, priced between $17 and $22 depending on the location, includes choices of:

STARTER
Mixed Green Salad, Caesar Salad or Soup of the Day

ENTRÉE
Twin Tenderloin Filets, Blackened Steak Salad, Chicken Parmigiana, Chef’s Fresh Fish of the Day, or a Palm Burger.

Served with Palm’s Signature Half and Half – cottage fries and fried onions

DESSERT
New York Cheesecake or Key Lime Pie

The Palm is also premiering its Biggest & Best Steak Dinner offer. Guests will enjoy choice of

STARTER
Mixed Green Salad
Caesar Salad
Monday Night Salad – finely chopped romaine, iceberg, tomato, onion, roasted pepper, radish, scallion and anchovy
Lobster Bisque – brandy, cream and fresh lobster meat

ENTREE
14 ounce Filet Mignon – choice of sauce: brandy peppercorn, port wine demi-glace, or classic bordelaise
9 ounce Filet Mignon Oscar – jumbo lump crabmeat, asparagus, fresh tarragon and hollandaise sauce
Wild Alaskan Halibut

Served with any Palm Signature Side

The Biggest & Best Steak Dinner Menu is offered all for only $39 per person and available at all Palm locations nationwide, through May 31, 2009.

Year of the Lobster
Earlier this year, the company announced enormous savings on their signature jumbo Nova Scotia Lobster. In celebration of The Palm’s Year of the Lobster, 3lb lobsters are priced at $62, and only $12 for each additional pound (savings of almost half what other fine dining establishments are charging). Guests are invited to join in the celebration of 40 years of serving the finest lobsters with a year long of special offers. Please visit www.thepalm.com/lobster for more details.

About The Palm
The Palm Restaurant proudly serves USDA prime-aged beef, fresh jumbo Nova Scotia lobster and premium seafood cooked to perfection with service and atmosphere like nowhere else. Known as the "place to see and be seen," the famed walls of each Palm are adorned with the caricatures of celebrities, politicians and socialites who make up its impressive customer base. Through four generations, the two families who opened the original Palm in 1926 on the East side of Manhattan have maintained co-ownership of the restaurant company. The Palm currently has more than 25 restaurants across the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico, including its newest location in Tribeca, New York City. For more information on The Palm, visit www.thepalm.com.

New Belgium Brewing Pedals into Indiana on April 20

2009-04-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

Brewery Brings Bombers of Fat Tire, 1554 and Mothership Wit
to the Hoosier State

Fort Collins, CO – April 7, 2009 – New Belgium Brewing, the third-largest craft brewer in the U.S., today announced that 22-ounce bombers of Fat Tire, 1554 and Mothership Wit will be available throughout Indiana beginning April 20. Indiana is one of four new markets for New Belgium in early 2009.

“We’re excited to be rolling into Indiana,” said Bryan Simpson, spokesperson from New Belgium. “There’s a savvy bike scene and an appreciation for good beer so it should be a great fit all around.”

New Belgium is nationally recognized for its progressive environmental practices. By tapping into one of its core values of environmental stewardship, consumers can enjoy their new favorite beers even more. All of New Belgium’s beers are produced at a brewery where choices like reduced greenhouse emissions, green building techniques and water conservation are a cultural way of life.

Indiana residents looking to learn more about New Belgium can check out the New Belgium newsletter, The Tinkerer: http://www.newbelgium.com/the-tinkerer or New Belgium’s site: www.newbelgium.com. For those who love man’s greatest invention (the bicycle) as much as New Belgium, join Team Wonderbike today: http://www.teamwonderbike.com/.

Here are the beers New Belgium is bringing to Indiana:

Fat Tire
Like the ageless delight of pedaling a bicycle, Fat Tire Amber Ale’s appeal is in its feat of balance: Toasty malt flavors (sorta like biscuits just pulled from the oven) coasting in equilibrium with crisp hoppiness. Delicious stability - in the world of sometimes-precarious beer flavors – is perhaps what prompted one consumer to say, “This beer just makes you smile.”

Fat Tire’s depth of flavor, achieved with neither a disproportionate sway toward hops or malts, tandems well with a full spectrum of today’s engaging cuisines. Salmon, dry-aged cheeses, roasted chilies, omelets at midnight, sweet potato French fries and just about anything with grill marks or garlic are just a few of the edibles we like to partner up with our Amber Ale.

1554

Other than being dark in color, 1554 has little in common with Porters or Stouts. The beer is fermented at relatively high temperatures using a European lager yeast that imparts a refreshing, zesty acidity. Chocolate and coffee tones in the nose give way to a surprisingly clean finish. With 1554 we hoped to create a beer similar to what folks enjoyed nearly five-hundred years ago without ignoring five-hundred years of technological innovation.

Mothership Wit

New Belgium’s first organic beer offering, Mothership Wit elevates the zesty Wit or White beers of Belgium with wheat malt, coriander and orange peel spicing - all of which are organically grown. The Mothership experience begins with a cloudy pale yellow appearance capped by a creamy white head. Next is the alluring, slightly spicy, floral nose. The refreshing taste is the result of a gravitational balance of citrus and sour flavors held in suspension by a bright burst of carbonation.

By mid-2009, New Belgium beers will be available in 26 states across the United States. Fat Tire is the brewery’s flagship brew, with its other year-round and seasonal Belgian beers recognized for their mature flavors, unique history and high quality ingredients.

About New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

TALES OF THE COCKTAIL ANNOUNCES THE OFFICIAL COCKTAIL OF THE 2009 EVENT

2009-04-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

WHAT:

Tales of the Cocktail, the annual culinary and cocktail festival, announces the winning bartender and recipe of their annual Cocktail Competition to determine the “official cocktail” of the event.

Tales of the Cocktail in partnership with Culinary Concierge Magazine and CocktailTimes.com invited bartenders to submit a winning recipe for the Official Cocktail Competition of the 7th Annual Tales of the Cocktail.

For our seventh anniversary, we stirred things up with our annual cocktail competition and asked bartenders to create a julep that we can use as our official cocktail at this year’s event.

Originally, the term julep would have been used to refer to a medicinal potion, but in the American South it was used to refer to a heavily iced beverage of some type of spirit, sugar and mint.

Today, a “mint julep” is usually thought of as that classic drink of the Kentucky Derby, served in its quintessential silver cup. In truth however, a julep can take a variety of forms, and we have found a recipe that would help us illustrate this fact.

Bartenders all over the world have been turning back the clock to rediscover forgotten drinks and recipes with flips, bucks and cups, which are appearing on many menus around the world.

The annual Official Cocktail Competition finals took place at in April. Judges throughout the process, included author, David Wondrich, Mixology Research Engineer, Robert Hess, TV Personality Lorin Gaudin, Yuri Kato, Editor of CocktailTimes.com and Chris Hannah of Arnaud’s French 75 Bar.

WHEN: Monday, April 20, 2009
2:00 pm (Start Time)
rsvp@talesofthecocktail.com

WHERE: Cure
4905 Freret Street
New Orleans, LA 70115

About Tales of the Cocktail
Tales of the Cocktail is an internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture held annually in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community—award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers—for a five-day celebration of the history and artistry of making drinks. Each year offers a spirited series of dinners, demos, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours and parties all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made.

About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society
The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society is a non-profit organization committed to preserving the unique culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans and the storied bars and restaurants that have contributed to the city’s world-wide culinary acclaim. This organization supports members of the hospitality industry through education and the production of events like Tales of the Cocktail and, most recently, Trails of the Cocktail, a scholarship program for emerging talent in the New Orleans cocktail industry.

Every summer spirits from around the world descend on America’s most soulful city. This summer will be no different as Tales of the Cocktail returns. Join us for a spirited schedule of cocktails, cuisine and culture that will stir even the most idle of souls.

For more information on Tales of the Cocktail, visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com and register your name to receive email updates, ticket-sales announcements and to view the exciting line-up of events and celebrity presenters for 2009. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW.

Beer Festival - Kingston & Leatherhead Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

2009-04-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June 2009
New Venue – Kingston Workmen’s Club and Institute
Old London Road, Kingston, KT2 6ND
just behind the ’falling down telephone boxes’
and 4 minutes walk from Kingston rail and bus stations
Opening times
Friday 11am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 11pm,
Saturday 11am to 9pm
-More than 45 real ales plus a range of cider and perry
-Hot and cold food available all sessions
-Seating in Function Room, Lounge, small outdoor drinking area
Admission
Friday lunchtime FREE, Friday evening £3, Saturday £2
CAMRA members £1 discount [cards must be shown on door]

Firemans Brew

2009-03-20T01:51:00.000-07:00

Extinguish your thirst with Fireman’s Brew, a premium micro-brew created by two Los Angeles based Firefighters. Conceived while battling a brushfire high above the Glendale Mountains, Fireman’s Brew grew out of their vision to create a line of premium handcrafted ales that would quench their thirsts after an exhausting day on the fire lines. Originally created by firefighters for firefighters, Fireman’s Brew is now available at on and off-premise throughout Southern California.

Fireman’s Brew offers a diverse menu of flavors, aromas and textures that combine the finest of all-natural ingredients and artesian spring water to deliver a bold, full-flavored, traditional taste of a handcrafted micro-brew.

Fireman’s Brew is offered in three distinct varieties:

* Fireman’s Brew Blonde: This smooth, golden beer is made with real Saaz hops to create a truly fine Pilsner style lager – with a crisp and refreshing taste. (5.0% Alc./Vol.)
* Fireman’s Brew Redhead: A smooth, rich, amber ale combining five different styles of malt and several different Yakima Valley hops to deliver a flavorful red ale with a rich caramel flavor. (5.5% Alc./Vol.)
* Fireman’s Brew Brewnette: This smooth, traditionally-styled, rich dark southern German dobblebock is made with Perle and Hallertau hops and a combination of eight varieties of malt – to create a strong yet easy to drink beer. (10.8% Alc./Vol.)

Founder and creator Rob Nowaczyk is an active duty Los Angeles County Firefighter (Station #7 West Hollywood) and true hometown American hero. Throughout his eighteen years of civil service as both a firefighter and paramedic, Rob has responded to the call to help aid and rescue thousands of lives from tragedy. Rob is also the winner of the 2009 Dodge Ram Challenge – a nationally televised competition that pitted teams of working class heroes against each other through a series of extreme stunts and physical challenges.

In addition, the company is committed to giving back to the heroic cause upon which it’s founded. To that end, Fireman’s Brew donates a percentage of proceeds from every product sold to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation – a foundation dedicated to serving the families of fallen firefighters nationwide. Fireman’s Brew is the only beer recognized by the Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Fireman’s Brew retails for $8.99 / 6-pack of bottles. Brewed locally in Inyokern, CA.
www.firemansbrew.com