But primarily, the beer company is preparing to obtain permits to build a treatment system in the next year or so that would handle the high levels of organic matter in brewery process wastewater that cause problems for municipal treatment systems if discharged directly into the sewer.

“I can see us growing three to four times in size in the next five to 10 years, and there is no way that would work with the current … system,” Mr. Magee said. 

via North Bay Business Journal.

JW: Did it inhibit your process at all?

JH: No, because I just tried to stay away from it all. I wanted to be out of their way. I didn’t want to impede what they were doing either. You’d just be working your ass off, and all of a sudden, Sam would come by and like this entourage of people. It wasn’t normally like that, normally he’d just give you a high-five and go about his business. [laughter]. I don’t miss it. I’ll say that. I don’t miss trying to figure out something else to do in some other part of the building.

More this way >> LouisvilleBeer.com.

[CEO Joe Heron] has already secured regional authorizations in Kroger and True Value banners, as well as in Publix. "Over the last 6 months Joe’s relatively modest-sized sales organization has done an amazing job of getting Crispin listed in a lot of accounts around the country," says Tom. MillerCoors has the relationships to take such placements to the next level. The team has big hopes for the on-premise as well; Joe says they’ve had good conversations with Buffalo Wild Wings and Fado Irish Pub chains.

Worth a read >> Beer Business Daily.

Anheuser-Busch, meanwhile, is relying on a line extension of it Ultra brand. In a recent memo to distributors, the brewer described "Michelob Ultra Light Cider" [not Evolve as LA Times reported on Sunday] as a "less sweet, lower calorie, all-natural alternative" to traditional flavored malt beverages and ciders. A-B also seems poised to plug the product as "naturally gluten-free," a fact depicted in small lettering on a sample of the bottle label shown on the memo to distributors. The drink, scheduled for a May 7 launch, has 118 calories and 4% alcohol by volume, according to the memo.

via Advertising Age.

Cilurzo has become close friends with Brian Grossman and even was ordained a minister to preside over Grossman’s wedding last month.

"He’s going to have a lot to do, but I think more than anything, what Brian is going to be able to do is bring the Sierra Nevada culture from the brewery in Chico and drop it into the brewery in North Carolina," Cilurzo said.

That friendship will also make its way to the bottle later this year when Brux Domesticated Wild Ale hits shelves.

via BlueRidgeNow.com.

Press Release:

(Middlebury, VT) – Winter got you down? Looking for light at the end of the tunnel? Woodchuck Hard Cider has an answer to those deep winter blues… Woodchuck Spring Hard Cider, a limited release.

Much like the maple syrup producers of our home state of Vermont, we are excited that the sap will soon be running and boiled into fresh “liquid gold”. Our Spring Limited Release is an ode to that annual rite of passage as winter releases its grip here in the Green Mountains.

After receiving feedback from the Woodchuck Community regarding last year’s Spring cider, our dedicated Cider Makers went back to work on the Limited Release recipe. It features a refined balance between that fresh full apple character, and pure Vermont maple syrup with a touch of brown sugar.

The 2012 Spring Limited Release represents our commitment to the consumer and showcases the handcrafted care we take with each and every one of our small batch ciders. It’s no coincidence that America’s top maple syrup producing state is also home to America’s finest hard cider brand.

Woodchuck Hard Cider Spring Limited Release. Naturally gluten free, and as always, Independent to the Core.