We have recently released a new Short’s Brew called Kolsch 45 that will be available in stores soon. [...] This year, we brewed three batches of Kolsch 45 at our Elk Rapids production facility on April 26th, for limited keg and bottle distribution throughout the state. We are shipping out approximately 40 half barrels and 900 cases of this beer.

via Short’s Brewing blog.

Three activists who travelled to Chicago for a NATO summit were accused Saturday of manufacturing Molotov cocktails in a plot to attack President Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home and other targets.

The attorney for the men say that they were just homebrewing. The photo atop the article sure looks like homebrewing equipment though the article indicates that some other ‘evidence’ may have been found.

via WLS 890AM.

"India is a unique market where strong beer sales far outstrip light beers. A bottle of strong beer is seen as value for money and in summer months considered as a lighter option to Indian whisky, the other liquor of choice in India," says Sanjiv Bali, MD of Mount Shivalik, which brews the popular Thunderbolt brand. "If you don’t have strong beer in your portfolio, it’s almost pointless making a foray into the Indian market," says a senior official of a global liquor major, who didn’t wish to be identified.

via The Economic Times.

Widmer Brothers, located in Portland, OR, is marketing its unique craft brews in variety four-packs of larger 22-oz bottles, which have lower production and packaging costs than standard 12-oz bottles. "Craft beer drinkers are going after larger bottles so they don’t have to commit to an entire six-pack that has just one variety," says Aaron Burget, assistant brand manager, Widmer Brothers.

No word yet on which beers will be featured in the pack…

via Packaging Digest.

The other reason why we don’t give away beer is because we have a firm conviction that if you want to write about our beer, then we don’t want you biased by the fact you got it for free. Free beer always tastes better.

If Bailey wanted to hold firm to his “conviction,” he could have just gave away free samples of these beers (an event, or tour or store tasting, etc.) without any requirement of the drinker to do anything other than show up. “Hey, thanks for coming. Let me pour you a beer.”

There is a lot more that McLeod touches on that deserves more devoted writing. He is right on the money in this post. More on it all soon…

The company is investing more than $3 million in the expansion, which is part of a multi-phased growth project that includes a $1.7m investment in the (four) new fermentation tanks, and a $1.3m investment in the brewery’s bright tank cellar which is due to be complete in the fall. The expansion will increase the brewery’s production capacity by 140,000 barrels per year, estimating to a total annual capacity of 700,000 to 800,000 barrels and will serve the needs of Widmer Brothers Brewing and the Craft Brew Alliance portfolio. The brewery expects to be operating at full capacity by 2013 and will now run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Installation will be complete within the next three weeks.

via OregonLive.com.

The Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Ginger Wheat Ale is an ode to brewer Scott Shirley’s favorite spice, ginger. The earthy, warming flavor of this golden-hued ale is derived from fresh ginger. Honey from a local New Hampshire farm yields a slight sweetness to balance the ginger spiciness. A hint of lemon adds acidity and rounds out the ginger flavor. Cheers!

Brewed on: April 26, 2012

Packaged on: May 10, 2012

via YouTube | Harpoon.

Gabriel Magliaro of Half Acre Beer Co. discusses his brewery’s neighborhood and how it relates to the beer they brew.

via YouTube | Chicago Craft Beer Week.

• Coming soon! Let’s say….5-6 weeks? Patio Pils, our new 6-pack Summer seasonal. Fun fact: this is going to be the first lager we’ve bottled. Lagers are awesome, and you should drink more of them.

• We sure do suck at this. Homefront IPA is no longer on tap or for sale in bottles at the brewery. Instead it will be officially released on May 24th. There was some miscommunication. Oh well. This way we will release it the same time as the 6 other breweries participating across the country! (Bottle Pics)

• (From May 3): Today we’re brewing Bolita Double Nut Brown Ale! Everyone misses it so it’ll be back ASAP. Also, we’re also brewing the 5th batch of 110K+OT. This time we’re calling it an Imperial Citrus Double IPA. We simplified the malt bill but made up for it with tons and tons of hops, and also threw in some curacao peel as well to give it an extra citrusy flavor explosion. That oughta be a tasty one! Look for that one to be a tasting room only treat.

The distinguishing feature of Red Hoptober: El Dorado hops, first released in the fall of 2010 by CLS Farms, a family owned and operated farm on the cooler, northern end of Washington state’s Yakima Valley. [...] The beer will be available August through October, said brewery spokesman Bryan Simpson.

via The Denver Post.