Great British Beer Festival celebrates 5 year real ale revolution

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

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

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

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!

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!"

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

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!