Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Great articles that you should read.
At this point in the pandemic, you have probably already watched everything good wanted to and stuff you are not proud of, but thanks to the Craft Beer Scribe for sharing there is some beer content created by the Ben brewery, The Ale Apothecary. Head HERE to watch the video. It is really cool. It will leave you wanting to learn more and to drink the beer.
Then please donate some kroner for their postponed festival.
I am a harsh judge of brand design. I know what I like and only a few breweries win kudos from me on this front. When I heard that the venerable Anchor Steam was getting a make-over, I blanched. The old (current) design is great. Is it in-modern, yeah but it still stands out on shelves.
Now we get this yellow/gold look and the art is fine but the color scheme is both too much and too little. Garish brightness and lots of unused space. Maybe this will just be a summer look.
Creativity abounds even in dark times and Temescal Brewing has fused together the 1950s Food-a-Matic with the even older wine window to make a not so automatic beer delivery.
You scan a QR code, place your order electronically and when it is ready, a window opens and you get a beer. Of course it is humans behind those cubbyholes and not robots but it is a bit of whimsy much needed.
Crowns & Hops has recently announced the 8 Trill Pils Initiative, this is a fund that will financially assist Black brewers wanting into the craft brewing world.
This is another great piece in building a pipeline so that more can enter this industry without extra barriers.
That number is based on economic figures posited by Ani Turner. That is the amount of money that could be boosted into the economy over the next 30 years if racial disparities would be stripped away from business decisions.
The new fund starts with a $100,000 check from BrewDog. The Scottish brewer also has invested in Crowns & Hops last year.
Now, the larger societal fixes need to be added to really make this work. We need to get every child speeding towards success. That means schools, healthcare and housing. And specifically from the brewing perspective, we need a robust mentorship program in all aspects from hop farming to label design to brewing.
Finback Brewing has added their voice and platform to a new initiative that I hope will spread across the country, Breathing: Conversations.
Here is the gist of their idea, “We invite all breweries to participate in this conversation and we invite all people to join the dialogue by speaking to each other, telling us your stories and linking all our voices in a collective conversation by using the hashtag #BreathingConversations. The topic of race is a challenging one, potentially uncomfortable, awkward and vulnerable, but it is a conversation we must have. We must hear each other and listen to the voices of the oppressed, of people of color and create a more equitable future.”
Below is an example from Cascade Brewing…
Back in the day, there were some weird gimmicks / marketing / boundary pushing beers. And one of the weirder chapters in the craft beer history book was the high ABV battle between BrewDog and Shorschbrau. Scotland V Germany to create a beer higher in alcohol than some spirits.
There was Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32%. Then the Germans countered with their Bock at 40%, BrewDog came back with Sink the Bismarck which tipped in at 41%. The Bock returned at 43% before The End of History arrived at an eye popping 55%.
All that is preamble to the fact that the two breweries have joined forces (via Zoom) to create a new beer. More news on what it will be is coming.
When Alpine Beer Company became part of Green Flash, I thought it was a good fit. Fast forward and I was ever so wrong. You could probably say that the downfall of Green Flash kinda began with that acquisition. Fast forward again to 2020 and it looks like, if things break right, that the father and son duo Patrick and Shawn Mcilhenney might regain the ol’ system that that was Alpine’s home from 2002 to 2014.
The new company is Mcilhenney Brewing and they will start up again “after the current tenant vacates.”
The renter is of course Green Flash and once they move out, the new can begin.
Though I am nowhere near a fan of country music and this Brad Paisley song is a little too on the nose….
…I do appreciate that the singer went all in to celebrate two friends who just want to have a beer together, by buying a stores worth of beer for them.
Some good news, indeed.
Since the Federal Government can’t be counted on to help, business is stepping into the huge gap to help. Pabst, a beer I don’t really ever drink, is “commissioning 1,000 works from creative professionals.”
Here is what the chief marketing officer has to say, “We know that 1,000 creative commissions isn’t world changing, but it definitely will make a difference,” says Luke Atkinson, “Every commission counts, and the talent we work with will get the added benefit of some exposure.”
30 works are in progress and Pabst “is inviting bartenders, designers, animators, dancers, singers, directors and other creatives to “do what they do best” and reach out to Pabst through Instagram (@pabstblueribbon).”
Kudos to Pabst for chipping in.
Old Town Brewing is setting up a one-stop shop for Oregon beers. Since their parking lot isn’t being used as much, they have turned it into a customer fulfillment center. Here is how it works – “Customers will enter the drive-thru on the north side of the parking lot by motorized vehicle, cycle or foot. Orders and purchases will be placed from your smart phone from the Brewers Market online menu, but contact and on-site imbibing and socializing is discouraged as is cash payments. As people make their way through the booths they can make their selections on the go or place an order in advance for pick-up. Once placed, pull into a designated parking spot at the end of the market where someone will bring their order out to them. Leaving the vehicle is not necessary, walk-ups are allowed with social distancing measures.” That is the write-up from the New School Beer blog who have excellent coverage of how Oregon breweries are doing in these times.