§ February 7th, 2012§ Filed under News§ Tagged featuredComments Off
Press Release:
(San Francisco, CA) – Northern California is rich in brewing tradition and is home to some of the best breweries in the world. Hoping to add to this proud history, we are pleased to announce that we will be launching an all-sour, all-barrel aged “gypsy” brewery in the San Francisco Bay Area named The Rare Barrel.
What do we mean by “gypsy” brewery? We plan to partner with the great breweries of the Bay Area for our brewing needs, and we will be building our own barrel warehouse for fermentation, packaging and serving our beers to the public.
Our team is made up of people committed to producing the highest quality sour beer. Co-founders Jay Goodwin, former Brewer and Head of Barrel Aging at The Bruery in Orange County, Alex Wallash, homebrewer and Sales Representative in biotechnology, and Brad Goodwin, entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry, make up our crew of passionate craft beer lovers.
We hope to release more details of our plan over the next few months. We look forward to producing beer with experimental methods, a singular focus on quality sours, and a commitment to the craft beer community.
In the meantime, please feel free to contact us at info@TheRareBarrel.com with any questions or comments. Also, please visit our website at www.TheRareBarrel.com, our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheRareBarrel, and our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/TheRareBarrel.
§ February 7th, 2012§ Filed under News§ Tagged featuredComments Off
Video description: With a little help from our friends, we put together this video to help celebrate Anchor Brewmaster, Mark Carpenter, and his 40 years with Anchor Brewing. Hear from fellow brewers and industry colleagues about Mark’s experience with Anchor and his contributions to beer & brewing.
(Washington, DC) – Earlier today, Flying Dog Brewery DC sales rep, Tommy Hunter, took to Twitter alleging that MillerCoors paid off a bar to put Pilsner Urquell on tap over one of Flying Dog’s beers.
The payola issue has largely been a behind-closed-doors topic of discussion though Crain’s Business did a full investigation of the issue in the Chicago market in 2010. Just as many questions surround why industry people aren’t more vocal about this issue than the alleged practice itself.
Regardless of the truth behind Hunter’s allegations today, after the post went up, we had a nice little discussion on Twitter today.
(Washington, D.C.) – Rumors about side deals for tap lines, one of those common back room conversation topics across the beer industry, rarely surface in the public eye. Today, one Flying Dog Brewery rep has apparently had enough and is fed up with it…
§ February 7th, 2012§ Filed under News§ Tagged featuredComments Off
Tinson’s attorney, Joseph Giamanco of Bolingbrook, filed the suit Monday in Will County court. It said Two Brothers bought the handle from Taphandles and gave it to Windy City to install at Tom & Eddie’s.
When Tinson tried to use it, pulling on the handle with her right hand and holding an empty glass in her left, it broke and sliced through Tinson’s left hand, wrist and arm, the suit said.
Taphandles, LLC plans on being dismissed from the suit, saying that it has not sold tap handles to Two Brothers Brewing.
§ February 7th, 2012§ Filed under News§ Tagged featuredComments Off
Press Release:
“Hop-forward” brews will be available on site and in restaurants, bars and liquor stores.
(Minneapolis, MN) — Can three former college roommates and craft beer lovers open a destination taproom and brewery in a vibrant Minneapolis arts district?
Indeed.
“We see life as an adventure and craft beer is the perfect drink to take along,” said Tom Whisenand, co-founder of Indeed Brewing Company. “It’s something you reward yourself with after you do something great – or something mundane. Either way, at least you’re getting it done.”
Indeed will brew hop-forward, adventurous beers for adventurous drinkers – think chipotle-smoked porter. Better yet, Indeed will be the only Minnesota craft brewery packaging beer in six packs of 12 oz. cans – perfect for taking along in a backpack, kayak or stashing in the refrigerator.
“We want to make the best craft beers possible, and we want to do it in a fun way – an adventurous way. That means we’re going to make beers that defy styles and push the limits,” said Whisenand. “But at the same time, we’re going to make beers that will be a good reward after a long hike, a bike ride or after 10 hours at the office.”
To get there, Indeed brought aboard award-winning brewer Josh Bischoff from Minneapolis’ Town Hall Brewery to helm production. Bischoff recently won a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival in Denver for his experimental beer “L.S.D.” – featuring lavender, sunflower honey and dates – and shared in another six GABF medals during his time at Town Hall.
Indeed Brewing Company will open its 12,000-square-foot brewery and taproom in a century-old building at the heart of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District this summer. The company plans to self-distribute two flagship craft brews to liquor stores, bars and restaurants, as well as pour pints in its 1,500-square-foot taproom with adjoining patio.
“We want our taproom to be a hub for all things Indeed, like a living room for our brewery,” Whisenand said, “so we can invite people in to get to know us and our beer.”
The brewery founders — Tom Whisenand, Nathan Berndt and Rachel Anderson – were once roommates at the University of Minnesota and photographers at the Minnesota Daily, the school’s student newspaper. The three built media careers of their own in Minnesota and stayed connected through their love of good beer and good people. They said Indeed will be their way of contributing something positive to their home state.
As its summer 2012 opening approaches, Indeed will release more details about its product lineup, taproom opening date and plans for growth.
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Indeed Brewing Company will open in a refurbished Northeast Minneapolis warehouse this spring and be pouring beer by summer 2012. The brewery, at 711 15th Ave. NE in Minneapolis, will have an initial capacity of 3,800 barrels a year and a canning line that can produce 36 cans per minute.
As an invested member of the community, the company will also donate at least one percent of its annual sales to local and national non-profit organizations as part of One Percent for the Planet, a movement that encourages corporate philanthropy for the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
FAST FACTS
THE FOUNDERS
Rachel Anderson, Nathan Berndt, Tom Whisenand
THE BUILDING
ADDRESS: 711 15th Ave NE Minneapolis (to be known as the Solar Arts Building)
TOTAL SPACE: 12,000 sq. ft for Indeed
TAPROOM: 2,600 sq ft total (1,500 taproom, 1,100 patio)
TAPROOM CAPACITY: 130
NEIGHBORHOOD: NE Minneapolis in the heart of the NE Arts District of the Logan Park neighborhood
BUILDING AGE: 1914 (98 years)
HISTORY: Tire manufacturer, Sears Roebuck Distribution Center, and Electrical Transformer Manufacturer.
THE BREWERY
BREWING SYSTEM: Specific Mechanical Two-Vessel 30 BBL Steam Heated Brewing System made in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
BREWING CAPACITY: Approximately 3,800 BBL
CANNING LINE: Wild Goose Engineering MC-250 Automated Canning Line made in Boulder, CO. Capable of up to 36 cans/minute.
DISTRIBUTION: Self-distribute
FERMENTATION VESSELS: Two 60 BBL & Two 30 BBL
BRITE BEER TANKS: One 60 BBL & One 30 BBL
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 4
THE BREWER
NAME: Josh Bischoff
EXPERIENCE: Professional brewer for more than a decade. Lead brewer at Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery for a total of eight years.
AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS: Won a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival in the Herb and Spice category for his beer “L.S.D.” Shared in another six GABF medals over his career at Town Hall Brewery.
§ February 7th, 2012§ Filed under News§ Tagged featuredComments Off
Press Release:
(Denver, Colorado) – Wynkoop Brewing Company’s judging panel has picked its three finalists for the brewpub’s 2012 Beerdrinker of the Year award.
The annual search seeks out and celebrates America’s most passionate beer lovers. Entrants must have a deep understanding of how beer is made, its many styles and its importance in advancing civilization. They must also have a vast array of beer tasting experiences and be good ambassadors for the culture of fine beer.
The 2012 finalists will compete in the Beerdrinker of the Year finals on February 25, at 2 PM, at Wynkoop Brewing Company. The event is open to the public and admission is free. The top three entrants in this year’s resume pool are:
Warren Monteiro, a New York City freelance writer, beer traveler, homebrewer and BeerSensei columnist for Alestreet News. Monteiro has sampled beers in Europe, Central American, India, Sri Lanka, numerous other nations and throughout the United States. In 2011 he visited breweries and beer festivals in England, Belgium, the Netherlands and the US. He samples an average of 350 beers each year.
His philosophy of beer drinking: “It’s not a habit, it’s a lifestyle. This is why I constantly travel – to get a taste of a new brew or one I’ve been missing, and to find a way to share it whenever possible. I consider creative beer drinking to be an essential part of the tapestry of art and fellowship contributing to a full life. The beauty of beer hunting now as opposed to the early ‘80’s is that I’ll never catch up!
His home beer bar: Blind Tiger Ale House, New York City.
—- Greg Nowatzki, a Las Vegas, Nevada accountant, home brewer and beer judge. Nowatzki has tasted over 13,600 beers from 84 different countries and all 50 states in the US. He has visited over 500 breweries in 32 different states and the District of Columbia, and attended over 150 beer festivals in 8 states. In 2011 he visited 16 beer festivals (including an 11th consecutive Great American Beer Festival) and visited over 100 different breweries in 7 states.
His beer philosophy: “Everyone likes beer. Some just haven’t tasted enough to find the ones they like yet.”
His home beer bar: Big Dog’s Draft House, Las Vegas, Nevada
—- J. Wilson, a Prescott, Iowa writer, homebrewer, beer judge and beer blogger. He has a 3-tap, 8-foot home bar supplied by a 10-gallon brewing system in his basement. An advocate for beer for 15 years, he organized numerous beer events in his hometown in 2011. The past year was highlighted by a research project in which he fasted for 46 days on water and a dopplebock he brewed with a local brewery. It became a book, Diary of a Part-Time Monk.
His philosophy about beer: “Living life in search of brewvana (an ideal condition of harmony, beer and joy), I seek to educate and advocate on behalf of craft beer, folding good beer into a good life.”
His home beer bar: El Bait Shop, Des Moines, Iowa
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On February 25 at 2 PM at Wynkoop Brewing Company, these finalists will be grilled by a panel of previous Beerdrinker of the Year winners and national beer experts. The judges (in traditional jurist wigs and robes) will challenge the finalists with difficult beer questions, and then choose the 2012 winner.
The winner wins free beer for life at the Wynkoop Brewing Company, $250 worth of beer at their local brewpub or beer bar, and clothing proclaiming them the 2012 Beerdrinker of the Year.
They have their name engraved on Wynkoop’s Beerdrinker of the Year trophy, and earn the mighty acclaim that comes from being recognized as America’s greatest beer lover.
While in Denver (at Wynkoop’s expense) they will stay at Denver’s famed Brown Palace Hotel.
Phil Farrell of Cumming, GA is the reigning Beerdrinker of the Year and will be a judge at this year’s Finals. Wynkoop is now serving Beerdrinker Imperial Stout, a whiskey-barrel-aged, extra-strength stout Farrell brewed last fall with Wynkoop head brewer Andy Brown.
§ February 7th, 2012§ Filed under News§ Tagged featuredComments Off
Press Release:
(Stevens Point, WI) – Point Three Kings Ale, a brew fit for royalty, is the Stevens Point Brewery‘s new spring seasonal offering.
Handcrafted in the style of the popular Kölsch beers brewed in Cologne, Germany, Three Kings Ale will be available from February 1 through the end of May in six-packs and 12-packs of 12-ounce longneck bottles, 12-pack cans and kegs where Point beers are sold.
“Enjoying a Three Kings Ale delivers a taste of spring and the promise of warm weather to come. It’s a great beer to toast the change of seasons as winter recedes and spring approaches,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Operating Partner.
Cologne’s Kölsch Bier tradition
Kölsch originated in the ancient Rhineland city of Cologne, or “Köln” in German, world famous for its Gothic cathedral constructed between 1248 and 1880. The Three Kings name is inspired by the Three Wise Men whose remains are enshrined in the intricately decorated, solid-gold sarcophagus behind the cathedral’s altar. For more than 500 years the city’s coat of arms has featured three golden crowns symbolizing the Three Kings.
Cologne at one time had more breweries than any other city in the world. Today it is home to a dozen or more breweries that brew the local specialty, Kölsch, meaning “of Cologne,” a delicate, pleasantly hopped top-fermented beer with a pale golden hue.
“Kölsch is to ale what pilsner is to the world of lager beers,” Martino explained. “Kölsch has a proud heritage and we are excited to add this refreshing Ale to our seasonal portfolio.”
Brewing Three Kings Ale
Like the Kölsch beers of Cologne, Three Kings Ale features a soft, mild maltiness and delicate fruity character derived from warm-fermenting the beer with authentic Kölsch ale yeast, according to Stevens Point Brewmaster John Zappa.
Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Northern Brewer hops impart a crisp but subtle hoppiness to Three Kings Ale, brewed with two-row barley, Munich malt – and a hint of malted wheat “for character,” Zappa said. “Three Kings Ale is a delicious, well-balanced, crisp yet smooth Ale. It is a very nice session beer,” he said.
The Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point Brewery, founded in 1857, uses only the highest-grade barley malts, specialty malts, grains and the choicest hops to brew their handcrafted beers, including flagship Point Special Lager, which won the gold medal in the American Premium Lager category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival.
In addition to Point Three Kings Ale, seasonal specialty brands include Point St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a dark, abbey-style ale available from November through February; Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat, an award-winning unfiltered wheat ale; and Point Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style Märzen beer for the fall.
Point’s year-round specialty beers include Point 2012 Black Ale, a robust dark ale; Point Horizon Wheat, an unfiltered wheat ale; Point Belgian White, a Belgian-style wheat ale; Point Burly Brown American Brown Ale; Point Cascade Pale Ale, a hoppy American-style pale ale; and Point Amber Classic, an American-style amber lager. The brewery’s year-round craft beers also include the Whole Hog Limited Edition Brewmaster’s Series of “big beers,” including year-round Whole Hog Six-Hop India Pale Ale and seasonal offerings, Whole Hog Raspberry Saison, Whole Hog Russian Imperial Stout, Whole Hog Barley Wine Ale and Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale.
Gourmet soft drinks from the Stevens Point Brewery include Point Premium Root Beer, Point Premium Diet Root Beer, Point Premium Orange Cream, Point Premium Vanilla Cream and Point Premium Black Cherry Cream Soda. Point Premium Root Beer, made with pure cane sugar, natural vanilla and Wisconsin honey, was awarded a gold medal by the Beverage Testing Institute.
§ February 7th, 2012§ Filed under News§ Tagged featuredComments Off
Press Release:
(Houston, TX) – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced plans to release the fourth brew of its popular “Movable Yeast” series: Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian.
It is an alternate version of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA made with Belgian Trappist yeast. A limited supply of 60 barrels (approximately 20,000 12-ounce servings) of Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian will be released on Thursday, February 9, 2012. It will be available on tap at the brewery (for weekday tours only) as well as at select bars and restaurants throughout Texas.
The concept behind the Movable Yeast series is to focus on the flavor contribution of yeast. This release was created by brewing a regular batch of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA, which debuted in 2004, and splitting the wort (unfermented beer) into two 60 barrel fermenters. One fermenter was pitched with the usual Saint Arnold yeast to make Saint Arnold Elissa IPA and the second fermenter was pitched with Belgian Trappist yeast to create Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian.
“I encourage everyone to start by appreciating the aroma, which is full of cloves with a grapefruit undercurrent,” said Saint Arnold founder/brewer Brock Wagner who has used these same tasting techniques as a judge at the Great American Beer Festival. “When you put it up to your mouth it is basically an explosion of flavor, full of malt, spice and hops. The notes from the Belgian Trappist yeast work very well with the big Cascade flavor.”
As was the case with the other brews in the Moveable Yeast series, Wagner encourages craft beer enthusiasts to try Bitter Belgian side-by-side with Elissa IPA to get the full impact of the Belgian Trappist yeast.
The previous brews in the Moveable Yeast series were greeted with rave reviews and strong demand as craft beer enthusiasts enjoyed learning about the significant role yeast plays in influencing the aroma and flavor of craft beer. The reception for the first beer in the series, Saint Arnold Weedwacker, was so strong that the brewery added it its year-round lineup. However, production pressures at the brewery necessitated a one-year hiatus for the series.
Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian will not be bottled. It will start showing up on draft in select bars and restaurants throughout Texas at the end of next week, although some accounts may choose to hold off on tapping their kegs for special occasions. Supplies tend to last just a few weeks.
About Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Saint Arnold Brewing’s ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 38 dedicated employees. The brewery was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold’s five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.
Press Release:
about 3 hours ago
