Category: Beer in the news

Great articles that you should read.

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Blood, Sweat and Beers documentary

To those who say there aren’t enough “stories” about the people who make the craft beer that we enjoy. I give you an opportunity to change that.

Filmmaker Alexis Irvin has created Blood, Sweat, and Beer. The documentary follows to tracks of brewery building in two very distinct East Coast cities.

You meet the The Brew Gentlemen Beer Company of Braddock, PA. A steel town in the past that is trying to rebuild with new industries and you also meet the owner of a Maryland Boardwalk brewery as he navigates the hot button issue of trademarks.

You will also not need a keen eye to spot all of the California beer folks including Firestone-Walker, Golden Road, Eagle Rock, Beer Paper LA! The Beer Chicks, Sierra Nevada among others.

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Beer in the Pipeline (Literally)

I gotta admit as both grand publicity and outside the box thinking, a beer pipeline from one facility to another is perfect. Whether in practice it works is another story.

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But if De Halve Maan gets this up and running and working without changing the beer, I would be rather amazed. My concern is about cleaning. If tap lines are problematic and need replacing, wouldn’t a pipeline need it as well? If it is just one base beer flowing things shouldn’t be too risky but eventually, that line will gather some strange critters.

I hope it works but some added quality control will be needed.

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Fruits, Vegetables and Craft Beer

Along with a statewide ban on plastic bags, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law an important craft beer bill, AB 2004 which will become the law of the land on New Years Day 2015.

AB 2004 was sponsored by the California Craft Brewers Association and authored by Democratic Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro of Arcata California.  The gist of the law is broken down into two parts:

1) Beer manufacturers are allowed to sell packaged beers at Farmer’s Markets if they get/have a market beer sales permit

2) Breweries are also allowed to sell beer and wine on their own premises during private events

In essence, this creates two new markets for brewing companies to sell to.  In regards to part two, a brewery could sell their own beer at a private party like a company holiday party or wedding but they could not also provide wine or other taps.  Now they can and this could create an additional stream of revenue to destination breweries.  This is a part of the game that a bigger brewery would be interested in.

The Farmer’s Market portion is something that I have seen in Oregon on a limited scale and I think won’t be huge here but it offers an alternative to those who gypsy/contract brew by creating a tap room of sorts to sell their wares to the public.  I don’t think you will see a big brewery on the Santa Monica promenade but nano’s without a taproom or new brewers to an area might be well served to look into this as an option.

Neither may be game changers but both might just provide a boost of income that helps keep some craft breweries above water.

jerry brown org

 

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No Need to Leave the Airport

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Not that the Colorado craft beer calendar isn’t crowded enough now the Denver International Airport will play host to a temporary beer garden.

“The beer garden will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in the center of the Jeppesen Terminal. It’s called “Beer Flights” and is presented by the Colorado Lottery.

Admission is $10 with a valid ID for those 21 or older only. It includes a souvenir glass, a bag of pretzels provided by Southwest Airlines, and access to 10, 2-ounce samples of beer.”

A total of 11 Colorado breweries will be represented.

• Avery Brewing Company
• Breckenridge Brewery
• Bristol Brewing Company
• Dry Dock Brewing Company
• Great Divide Brewing Company
• Left Hand Brewing Company
• New Belgium Brewing Company
• Odell Brewing Company
• Ska Brewing Company
• Pug Ryan’s Brewery Company
• Telluride Brewing Company

How do we get LAX on board with this?

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Irish-American Lager

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I have nothing against the idea of brand extension on the face of it.  You make one type of pie and it’s a good pie, then make another flavor or do another pastry.  Same goes with beer.  You make a great stout, you should be able to also brew a black lager if you want to. Or even an Irish conglomerate spin on an American water lager.

Where brand extension goes awry is the “Why?’.  Are you doing it challenge yourself?  Cool.  Is it a style that complements your current offerings.  Again, cool.  Is it a stylistic one-off or seasonal?  Brew on then.

But when you are doing it because your “growth” is slowing or because the “market” demands it then consumers (and especially craft beer people) quickly see through it as a ploy and nothing more.  And to a certain extent, that is also fine if you are making a good beer for the wrong reason.  The reason being a mere grab at the wallet with NEW!

But what is sad is that there is a huge missed opportunity here.  Guinness could have done a peat smoked barley Irish rauchbier.  Or something else that utilizes a local ingredient or theme.  Instead they are doing a lowest common denominator “American” lager?  As if that is needed.  Quality Kolsch we need.  Quality Pilsner we need.  Quality blonde ales we need.  But a (presumably) adjunct heavy light lager?  I think that not-so-prized category is covered.

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Closer to Me

The big news this week (apologies to Stone in Deutschland) is the move of rightly famed brewmaster Victor Novak from OC to LA as he will be moving to Golden Road Brewing (so much closer to me) from TAPS.

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This move leads to many Questions with a capital Q:

~Will this mean that the GRB haters will pause or will they find another excuse to complain?

~Who will take the reins at TAPS?  ‘Cause past proteges have done VERY well.

~What will change at GRB?

~Will the barrel program get bigger?

All will have to wait until September when the move happens and probably later to see how the fit is.

 

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A Stone in the Marienpark

Stone Brewing Co. has finally pulled the trigger on their on “East Coast” brewery expansion with their “announced plans to open a production brewery and expansive destination restaurant in Berlin, Germany.”

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I am glad to see this move progress. It has been talked about for awhile and it will be very interesting to see how a really physical export of American craft beer fares in Europe.

“With an anticipated opening in late 2015 or early 2016, Stone is making an initial investment of more than $25 million to renovate a historic gasworks complex in Marienpark Berlin, turning the more than two acres (9,290 square meters) of indoor and outdoor space into a world-class operation that will welcome beer enthusiasts from around the globe. Stone will be the first American craft brewer to independently own and operate a brewery in Europe. Stone Brewing Co. – Berlin will encompass three components: a brewery and packaging hall, a Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens restaurant and a Stone Company Store.”

What remains unsaid is how much they will Deutsch-afy this outpost. Will they brew any maltier beers? Will they just do what they do in Escondido? Or somewhere in between? I hope they take this opportunity to do something different. Embed Stone in the community. One step could be to have a lead brewer from Germany who has some free reign in the Brewhouse.

“Additionally, the company launched an Indiegogo crowd-participation campaign today, so fans can participate in the venture by purchasing special collaboration beers to be brewed with award-winning, renowned craft brewers from around the world at Stone Brewing Co. – Berlin once the facility is operational.”

This is probably the weirdest part of the press release. Why is this part of it? I would not have used crowd sourcing at all. Need extra funds? Sell those same rewards for the same price via your own website. Add a certificate stating you are helping to build the new brewery and call it a day. This is because, I believe that crowd funding is for smaller entrepreneurs without access to conventional loans.

When all is said and done, this is a really positive step forward. My questions are more along the line of, how will this turn out rather than hyper-critical.

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Yanks v Brits

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Though I am not terribly fond of the logo and font used on the graphic, I am down with the overall goal of this transatlantic test.

“This July and August, London- based Fuller’s Brewery invites you to explore the differences and similarities between American craft beers and the traditional British styles that inspired them. And aside from having a great educational beer experience, you are entered to win weekly giveaways and a trip to London (including a VIP tour of the Fuller’s brewery) just for sharing your comments with us.”

I love giveaways.  And especially if it involves a brewery tour and not a logo’d pint glass.

“How does it work? Go to one of the participating bars or restaurants , and try a Fuller’s beer side-by-side with a beer from one of our partner breweries, Upland Brewing Co. and Epic Brewing. Then go back to the British Class Meets American Craft website and write in your thoughts. You’ll be automatically entered to win!

No participating bars or restaurants near you? No problem! Just go to your local bottle shop and create your own comparison by picking up a Fuller’s beer and an American craft beer of the same style.”

This is a nice mix of breweries.  Granted no/zero Upland beers here in L.A. but a compare and contrast of Fuller’s to Epic would be much fun.

“Fuller’s and other British breweries pioneered many beer styles that inspired American craft brewers in their quest to improve the condition of American beer (pale ale, ESB, porter, and IPA, to name just a few). We look forward to hearing your thoughts as you compare the characteristics of Fuller’s British ales to American beers.”

Let’s hope the internet trolls don’t spoil this.

 

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Ska in SoCal

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Ska Brewing Company is the latest Colorado brewery to announce that they are coming to SoCal.  But this is big because it is the “first new market in five years.”

Why now? Because they have added “a new high-speed canning line that has relieved capacity issues for the Southern Colorado brewery.’

And what beers will be coming to our Golden state? The flagship Modus Hoperandi India Pale Ale and Ska’s popular canned seasonal beers; Mexican Logger, Euphoria, and the Seasonal Stout Series.

I am looking forward to seeing their beers on our shelves.