000 – Beer Search Party

October 5, 2015August 30, 2018

4K

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4K. That is an amazing figure. Probably by the time that I finish typing this sentence, there will be more breweries in the United States than ever before. OK, that is hyperbole for sure but not by much. If the current trends bear out, there literally will be more breweries than at any time in our country’s history. Granted, we will never know for sure if 4,131 was the high water mark (Back in 1873!)

Now, each time an all-time high is reached the chorus of doomsayers start singing the dirge of over saturation, remember that craft is still not threatening the Industrial Beer Complex. They are running scared for sure and grasping at straws but there is still plenty of beer consumers that can be converted to craft. In addition and here I am cribbing from the Brewers Associations chief economist, Bart Watson, if there were 4,131 breweries in 1873 the per capita equivalent for 2015 would be 30,000 breweries. That is a huge number that would be over saturation.

I think the one-two punch of market share available to steal and the fact that per capita we could handle more leads to a more promising future than others think.

February 27, 2013September 11, 2018

FoodGPS Teaser – The Bruery Batch 1,000

Tomorrow on FoodGPS, I head to The Bruery to check out their Batch 1,000 homebrew contest. (Information on the winner will be there tomorrow)

Here are some photos from the day…..

I was stewarding for Victor from Taps and we started with Russian Imperial Stouts.

But first we had to get the home brews out of storage and into the hands of the judges.

Judges like Patrick Rue and Lee Bakofsky.

August 28, 2012September 11, 2018

15K

I am amazed whenever I see the longevity of some breweries and also of the brewers that man the kettles. I may not want to go near the Beard Beer but it is fantastic that John Maier has been brewing for so long.
“1 Brewer. 1 Brewery. 15,000 Brews: In 1989 John Maier started at the Rogue Ales Brewery in Newport, Oregon and was there for the very first Rogue brew – so began one of the longest standing relationships in the craft brewing industry. To commemorate 23 years, 900+ awards, and 15,000 batches Rogue is releasing 1515 bottles of BREW 15,000. This Belgian Stout will be available through a limited release on www.rogue.com – each bottle will be hand numbered and signed by John. Stay tuned for date of availability…”

July 24, 2012September 11, 2018

Batch 9000 in bourbon

One of the prizes of my cellar collection is a bottle of Bell’s Batch 9,000.

Here is what the brewery website says about it: “Batch 9,000 Ale offers up aromas ranging from the sweet caramel & molasses of dark rum to fruits such as raisins and plums. Brewed with the idea of pushing boundaries in mind, Batch 9,000 Ale is a unique, one-time-only recipe. Well suited for vintage aging, this limited release will continue to develop in flavor & complexity over the years.”

Well now after finishing the series with Batch 10,000 they have gone back to the cellar and are releasing a bourbon barrel aged version of 9,000. Now I just need to find a way to get a bottle so that the original doesn’t get lonely.

December 29, 2010September 12, 2018

Batch 10,000

I might have to buy a bottle of this to pair with my Batch 9,000 that is in my beer cellar. When I would pull them out is still in question but I think they might make a very compelling duo.

“After combing through the catalogs of many malt and hop suppliers, our brewers used over 100 different malts, grains, and other fermentables, and followed them up with a blend of 60 different hop varietals between the kettle additions and dry-hopping. The resulting beer presents a deep, chocolate brown hue and offers roasted and caramel notes from the malts mixed with an assertive hop character. Sharply bitter, the beer possesses a full mouthfeel without being heavy and will withstand aging in your cellar, if you prefer.”