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my humble and correct opinion
The aroma hop HS16660 now has a name, Erebus™ . Not the worst name around but I do not think that “the primordial deity of darkness in Greek mythology” would be into the aroma therapy of blueberry, citrus, candied fruit, and floral rose. But maybe Hopsteiner knows something about it that I do not.
In a world where an Italian phrase Che Vuoi? has been used for multiple beers, may I suggest using some of the new slang, taken from the mouths of babes (aka Gen Z) like from below….
FYI – Delulu apparently stands for delusional which is probably what this idea is.
I should get punished for that headline but I just want to say that I think the Belgian design of modern art styled glassware and label design is just bright and fun in a way that American design seems to just lean into appropriating other brands IP.
This La Chouffe bottle would really look good on a Thanksgiving table.
Wrexham Lager has some new co-owners in Red Dragon Ventures. News like that might strike craft beer fans as an “oh no” moment but RDV is actually Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney + the Allyn family — which very recently became a minority investor in Wrexham’s soccer teams.
Wrexham Lager was founded in 1882 and now is on the verge ( as I previously posted about ) being sold in America as well as in countries across the world.
The Roberts family, which revived Wrexham Lager in 2011, eleven years after production had halted, will remain a co-owner of the brewery alongside Reynolds and McElhenney. Both of whom have past experience in the drinks sector in spirits with gin and Irish whiskey.
Looks like another celebrity is entering the beer game but with an N/A twist. Tom Holland is founding a company with the un-Marvel name of Bero and will have three non-alcoholic beers initially. Kingston Golden Pils, Edge Hill Hazy IPA and Noon Wheat. Nary a spider pun to be found but certainly some British influence.
It will be direct to consumer via their website with plans to launch in Target next year. Holland has discussed his sobriety which makes a venture into near beer a good call.
This Wednesday has me feeling a lot of emotions. Sad, angry confused to name check just three. But the main takeaway from election night 2024 is that The United States of America is populated by a mean society that must live sad, angry and confused every day.
I am not despairing though. I will not be one of the many voices on the interwebs that says we have lost our fragile democracy. Our institutions are made up of people and the American people are majority mean. So please do not give me your plea to save democracy, we have been barely clinging to it since this country started. We live in a mean quasi free land. That means our government is mean and quasi free too. It is a reflection of us.
Some may be on this blog for some ray of beer sunshine instead of this jolt of reality. I get it. I would much rather post about a new beer or some funny beer gadget than type the word mean over and over.
So, as John Oliver would say on Last Week Tonight, what do we do? In general and in craft beer. First, come to accept that there are a lot of mean people in this country and that this incoming government will embolden them to be 110% mean instead of hiding it. Life is going to get harder for a lot of people.
Second, we need to call out all shitty racist, sexist, all the -ist behaviors fast and hard. We have to let the mean people know they are mean each and every time. This blog will speak up anytime meanness enters craft beer. And we all need to say something if we see something mean. Don’t let them normalize hate.
Understand that the other key attribute of this country is that it is reactionary. This means that the pendulum will swing back and that we will have to do some clean-up and it will not be pretty or easy. As Americans, we should be well used to hiding skeletons in closets.
For craft beer, join your local and state guilds. Link arms with distributors and shopkeepers. Serve your specific community knowing that it will more than likely enrage the mean because your community of beer fans will look similar to those who gathered in pubs back in the 1770’s. The cozier you are with your neighbors the better.
Most importantly, include anyone that wants to be at your brewery. Craft beer needs to expand the customer base. That was true before Tuesday and is still true. Let’s keep bringing open minded people together over a pint, or two. I will probably need that many, at least, today.
The Modern Times fallout continues as Craft ‘Ohana, the parent company of Maui Brewing Co. is partnering up with San Diego based Wings & Arrow Beer Co. to kinda-sorta supervise Modern Times operations.
This is where it gets even more complicated though. Wings & Arrow is part of Great Frontier Holdings which is the overarching group for Ninkasi and Ecliptic Brewing amongst other seltzer holdings.
Got me to thinking about how one cqn have a manager, who has a manager, who has a manager. Eventually there is too much distance between the brew floor and who owns the business.
I have a feeling this will be ongoing.
It is easy nowadays to summon a car to deliver you to a brewery or from one brewery to another. You also will find running clubs associated with a brewery. And if you really want to take your life in your hands, you can bike. I hate to run but even I would take that over bicycling.
My choice A is walking and whilst in Denver, I was able to saunter from a brewery, to another and then another. The next day, I walked around a lake from one corner to another to visit two breweries. I miss being able to do that in Los Angeles as there are relatively few neighborhoods where multiple breweries exist.
Torrance on Del Amo is one. Arts District in DTLA is a second. Both have their charms and drawbacks. And maybe if economic times improve or a new gust of brewery wind hits the sails we will be able to create more walkable beer paths.
It is safe to say that I enjoy a good entrepreneur story and if you don’t like the personalities of Shark Tank there is a different show that you can listen to as a podcast or on YouTube called The Pitch and recently they had a beer episode.
The founder of Hoplark which makes hop water and hop teas is branching out into brewing efficiency. ReCraft has engineered a way to get more utilization of hops and water that might save some money for a brewery.
Take a listen (or watch) HERE.
Anheuser-Busch announced a new $16 million investment in its Los Angeles ( Van Nuys ) brewery with the main takeaways being:
· Expansion of packaging capabilities for the company’s “beyond beer” brands like Cutwater and NUTRL, including variety packaging
· Increased production capacity for 25-ounce cans to meet increasing consumer demand
· Facility upgrades to enhance water conservation and reduce boiler emissions
Anheuser-Busch has been in the Valley since 1954 and is one of more than 120 facilities across the country.
I am down for the third item of water saving but am a bit confused by the first two. Are there not enough variety packs from Bud? Or its ethanol options? And 25 ounce cans? I thought the 19.2 ounce stovepipes were the package du jour.
I also noticed nothing about buying better hops or local malts or making better beer.