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.
Friday, July 31, 2009
NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE OFFERS AT HOME DRAUGHT EXPERIENCE THROUGH LAUNCH OF DRAUGHTKEG™
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.
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.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Michigan Brewers Guild Announces Two New Fall Festivals
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.
(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.
Friday, July 24, 2009
‘Super-Complaint’ prompts OFT probe into Pub Market CAMRA Demands a ‘Fair Share’ for Consumers
Issued: Friday 24th July 2009Status: 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.”
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